Farai Dziva|Controversial preacher, Talent Madungwe has claimed that God condemned WhatsApp and Facebook -among other social media platforms.

“I was in heaven in October, from the meetings I had with God, political opposition parties must be banned not only in Zimbabwe but worldwide because they are rebel parties causing the suffering of people.

So long there is opposition parties, nations won’t prosper because there must be a one party state just like China has been,” he told H-Metro.

“God is also not happy with WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

“The social media platforms are causing people to do all sorts of evils such as pornography, gossiping and other bad things but God also said if it’s used for business, its ok”.

Madungwe further spoke of his controversial encounters with God in heaven.

“I go there in heaven for meetings since I am the deputy commander of the army just behind Michael.

“Sometimes we meet here on earth but many times I just prefer to go there.
I can even summon the almighty to come.

“We decided to ban all the bibles except the King James Version because other bibles were not correctly translated.

“At first I was very disturbed by what people thought of me being delusional or mad but I have since gotten over it,” concluded Madungwe.

Political commentator Ken Mufuka, has advised Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo against picking up a needless fight with United States of America President Donald Trump.

The remarks come after Moyo used language towards the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols, that “has been associated with Zanu PF apparatchiks, who visit opponents by night”.

Wrote Mufuka:
Trump loves a fight. If Moyo lives on planet earth, he would know that the world does not owe Zimbabwe anything and that Trump is a street fighter.
Trump’s reaction is unpredictable.

Trump is like a drunken Irishman, who joins a street fight without knowing what the fight was for. Trump can easily cut off food aid to the eight million starving Zimbabweans.

There is really nothing called illegal sanctions. If the US refuses to trade with Zimbabwe and cuts off Visa, MasterCard and American Express Services, there is nothing we can do about it.

Minister Moyo issued a strong-worded statement railing Nichols for blaming Zimbabwe’s economic crisis on a kleptocratic ruling elite rather than the so-called illegal sanctions. Credit :The Standard

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has said political actors who are not unwilling to join POLAD should wait for the 2023 polls.

Addressing a Rally in Tshovhani Stadium in Chiredzi saluted political actors who are part of the dialogue.

Mnangagwa said those who were not part of the dialogue should wait for 2023 elections.

“We said all parties should come on the table for dialogue.

There are some who did not come on the table for the dialogue.

Most parties have come on board and we discuss with them on how we can move forward.

Elections are held once in every five years. After five years, we go back to our political parties and seek a new mandate from the people,” declared Mnangagwa.

Farai Dziva| Zimbabwean opposition leader Pastor Timothy Chiguvare of the People’s Progressive Party says God has anointed him to rescue the African continent from perennial misery.

Said Pastor Chiguvare in a statement:

GOD HAS ANOINTED ME TO STOP THE TEARS OF MANKIND AND TO PUT A QUALITY SMILE ON THE FACES OF THE MOST SUFFERING NOT ONLY IN ZIMBABWE BUT THROUGHOUT THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

If you all Zimbabweans have also witnessed what I have seen so far , this entitles us all as a nation to take the most appropriate action against the offenders – ZANU PF must go yesterday! TOGETHER WE CAN TURN OUR CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES.

As an apostle of peace ; love ; forgiveness ; reconciliation ; justice and democracy I am here to warn the entire African continent that :- “A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims but accomplices. An accomplice is a person who helps another in a crime etc.”

“Yes! I have a dream that one day Zimbabwe, a nation sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression; will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has vowed to have all corrupt councillors removed from their positions.

Speaking at the commissioning of 76 Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) buses in Bulawayo last week, Mnangagwa said that the treasury was disbursing funds to promote and enhance devolution.

He added:

However, I warn those running RDCs and urban councils to shun corruption. If you shun corruption, I will shun removing you. Those who commit corruption and I will part ways.

His remarks come when his critics have often opined that his anti-corruption campaign is only rhetoric which lacks concrete action to back it.

Meanwhile, a number of prominent government officials including former Tourism Minister, Priscah Mupfumira, former Local government Minister, Ignatius Chombo and former Transport Minister, Joram Gumbo were recently arrested over corruption with some saying they will soon be released, as is always the case.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Bulawayo has said that its bakery situated at the association’s offices at Entumbane high-density suburb has already started producing cheap bread.

ZNLWVA Bulawayo spokesperson, Christopher Sibanda told Southern Eye that they started producing bread on Tuesday, the day of the launch, after receiving a donation of wheat from Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube. Sibanda added:

We have already started baking bread and we have groups of 10 people who work, so they take turns in working…on the day of launch, bread was being sold for ZW$ 5.

We have the capacity to produce cheap bread compared to what other confectionary companies are charging.

The development comes after the ruling party this year also launched community bakeries to head off the huge shortage of bread grounding the country due to the depletion of wheat reserves.

Meanwhile, some observers believe that the war veterans’ project will not meet a demand of more than 10 000 a day in the City of Queens and Kings considering that their ovens are operated manually._Newsday

By A Correspondent- Advocate Thabani Mpofu of the “fulcrum”, the “pith” fame who is representing opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa in his leadership wrangle with Thokzani Khupe has said the alleged break-in into his house was not enough to warrant his silence.

The defiant lawyer said he had “every reason to believe” that the raid was carried out by State agents looking for information.

He added:

They took my laptop, my wife’s phone and cash. They had all the time to even re-arrange stuff. I think we had passed out.

So far there are a number of incidents which are puzzling which have been experienced by the lawyer. In June, Mpofu sustained minor injuries as his vehicle where he was a passenger overturned in Muzarabani days after he had been roped in by Chamisa to represent him again in the above-mentioned matter.

A few weeks later, some “mysterious” men were photographically captured red-handed, fiddling with the right left-wheel of Advocate Thabani Mpofu’s car.

Some analysts opined that this spate of unfortunate incidents was artificial, designed by Chamisa’s opponents to silence the lawyer.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) chief executive, Patrick Mavhura and ex-head Finance, Administration and Human Resources, Benenia Shumba were this Monday back in court facing new corruption charges.

Mavhura and Shumba are alleged to have connived with ZBC’s former manager of Administration and Human Resources, Stephen Kundishora to facilitate a change of ownership of a vehicle from ZBC into Shumba’s name at no cost.

Magistrate Hoseah Mujaya remanded them to November 25 on $1500 bail each also ordering them to report twice a week to the police and not to interfere with state witnesses.

The duo also have a pending corruption case before the same court in which they allegedly siphoned more than US$340 000 in advertising revenue from the national broadcaster

-StateMedia

BULAWAYO City are now 90 minutes away from making a quick return into the Premier Soccer League after grinding a result against a determined Mosi Rovers in a Zifa Southern Region Division One match played at Chinotimba Stadium yesterday.

An eighth minute scrambled goal by on fire Cannan Nkomo was all that fans witnessed although both teams had some goal scoring opportunities. Watched by club board members Horace Ndubiwa and Ernest ”Maphepha” Sibanda as well as five Zifa councillors, Amakhosi gallantly defended their slender lead with the defence of experienced Zephania Ngodzo and Zibusiso Sibanda standing firm.

“As we have always said, we are playing each game as a cup final and grinding results which is what we did today. We played a very tactical game and the boys stuck to our game plan. We now need to wrap up the campaign with a win next week, we remain fully focused to achieve that,” said Try Ncube.

His opposite number Mandlenkosi Moyo expressed his disappointment at the loss as his boys played extremely well.

“Look, football is about goals and that lucky goal was all that made the difference. It’s unfortunate that we had to lose like this,” said Moyo.

City’s closest rivals, Talen Vision won 2-1, taking the race to the final game of the season, with City at the top of the log.

Outspoken Zanu PF Buhera South MP, Joseph Chinotimba has attended the installation of the new Mufundirwa headman in Bikita amid loud whispers that he was eyeing the position at the next opportune time.

Chinotimba belongs to the Mufundirwa clan and his house is the next in line of the headmanship. There are eight houses with a claim to the headmanship of the Mufundirwa which is of the Shumba totem.
Traditional chiefs from all over Bikita gathered at Madziire Primary School where the installation of Shayamano Jiri who becomes Headman Mufundirwa took place.

Jiri is under Chief Budzi and he succeeds Chipapa Muchara who died in 2015.
Headman Mufundirwa told The Mirror that his appointment took him by surprise as there are many houses with a claim to the chieftainship and any of them could have landed the post.

“I’m honored to be the new Headman Mufundirwa. There are eight households and I am in the third household. Our people are scattered all over including in Buhera, Chimanimani and Bikita. They migrated to different places after our land was turned into a conservancy”, he said.
The area under Mufundirwa is in Ward 24 and it stretches from Dewure River to Save Valley Conservancy.

Chief Budzi said one of Headman Mufundirwa’s key tasks is to stop deforestation that is rampant in the area.
The event was attended by MP Anna Ranganai, Bikita District Development Coordinator (DDC) Bernard Hadzirambwi and Masvingo Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) Fungai Samuel Mbetsa.

mirror

President Mnangagwa has sworn in two Cabinet Ministers and six deputies at State House this afternoon after he announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Friday where he re-assigned others and created new portfolios.

The two Ministers and deputies took oath of loyalty to the Constitution and their office. The new Ministers are Dr Jenfan Muswere who assumed the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services while Cde Daniel Garwe became the Minister of newly created portfolio of National Housing and Social Amenities portfolio.

Deputy Ministers who were sworn include Cde Marian Chombo who was appointed Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde Dingimuzi Phuti, (ICT, Postal and Courier Services), Cde David Musabayana, a former Minister of State for Mashonaland East Province, is the new Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Other Deputy Ministers include Cde Tinoda Machakaire, (Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation), Cde Clemence Chiduwa (Finance and Economic Development,) and Cde Raymore Machingura (Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation and Science and Technology Development.)

Paul Nyathi|The High Court has removed from the court roll a case involving the late former President Robert Mugabe in which three Mazowe farmers are challenging their eviction from Teviotdale Farm in 2009.

The case will only resume once the late former President’s estate is registered. High Court Judge Justice Owen Tagu said an application for substitution of Cde Mugabe as a respondent with another party is not yet before the court because selection of an executor of his estate is not yet complete. There was no order as to costs.

The farmers, Adonia Makombe, Sahungwe Hungwe and Nyika Chifamba, claim that they were evicted from the farm to pave way for the former first family’s company, Gushungo Holdings (Private) Limited.

Meanwhile, former First Lady Grace Mugabe earlier today pounced on the three farms in Mazowe in the company of her daughter Bona and son-in-law Simba Chikore and caused havoc, threatening to shoot workers while also shouting that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was running the country like a tuck-shop.

The Former First Lady also told farmers in Mazowe that in three years’ time, both the farmers and the current government of President Mnangagwa will be “history”, as she went about trying to evict farmers who have offer letters which they got when her husband was still in power.

“When we showed her the offer letters we got in 2006 when her husband was still in power, she shouted obscenities at the current President and said she wanted nothing to do with his government and just wanted the farm.

The opposition Movement for Democratic change will be launching a fully-fledged media empire soon.

The Secretary General of the MDC Charlton Hwende announced that the party is recruiting media practitioners to be employed by the project.

Said Hwende, “Vacancy for media personnel MDC Changing Times newspaper , MDC online Radio and MDC TV. Journalists interested please email your CV to [email protected].”

The spokesperson of the MDC Daniel Molokele confirmed that the party will be applying to the relevant authorities to get media house licences.

The MDC has always complained that the state owned media is not covering the party in a fair anad balanced manner.

FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe pounced on three farms in Mazowe in the company of her daughter Bona and son-in-law Simba Chikore and caused havoc, threatening to shoot workers while also shouting that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was running the country like a tuck-shop.

The Former First Lady also told farmers in Mazowe that in three years’ time, both the farmers and the current government of President Mnangagwa will be “history”, as she went about trying to evict farmers who have offer letters which they got when her husband was still in power.

“When we showed her the offer letters we got in 2006 when her husband was still in power, she shouted obscenities at the current President and said she wanted nothing to do with his government and just wanted the farm.

The farms in question are under the ownership of Sahungwe Hungwe, Adonia Makombe and former Dynamos executive member Nyika Chifamba, all of whom got their offer letters from former Minister Didymus Mutasa in 2006.

“She invaded my farm and wants to take it over but I am the one with offer letter. She came with her security team and Simba Chikore and locked the gate and threatened to shoot my gate keepers,” Hungwe told Zimbabwe Voice on Monday.

“She hired bouncers from Mbare and Gushungo Diary security guards who came and tormented our farm employees. What happened first is that Simba Chikore came alone on Saturday morning and threatened us out. When we showed him offer letters, he calmed down but proceeded to call Grace Mugabe who came in less than an hour in the company of Bona.”

Bona, the only daughter of Grace and the late former President Robert Mugabe, is married to Simba.

Hungwe said Grace has previously shown interest in the farms even when her husband was still in power, but Mugabe specifically told Didymus Mutasa not to give in on Grace’s demands to out-muscle the indigenous farmers who got the offer letters in 2006.

“She came with her daughter in tow, and caused pandemonium. She said lots and attacking His Excellency (President Mnangagwa), yet the farms were given to us by Mugabe’s administration. Akati majaira ku runner nyika se tuckshop (Mnangagwa is running Zimbabwe like his tuckshop). I will call my son right now, and in three years’ time you will all have left this farm,” Grace is quoted as having said.

By “son”, she meant Saviour Kasukuwere, a former Zanu-PF politcal commissar who is now in self-imposed exile following the removal of power of Mugabe.

“She tried calling Kasukuwere, but the phine would not get through. She made threats that in three years’ time we will all be history.

“We got the offer letter in 2006, when her husband was the President,” Hungwe narrated his ordeal. “We did not fight or insult

them back; we need to prepare for farming on our farm, but Grace continues disrupting our activities and she wants to own and control all farms in Mazowe.”

The offer letters, which Zimbabwe Voice is in possession of, was issued on 3 July 2006 by Didymus Mutasa, who then was Minister of State for National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement in President Robert Mugabe’s office.

“Where is Grace Mugabe getting those powers from? She has been allowed free reign and has been bullying the whole of Mazowe even when she has no offer letters for some of the land she claims is hers. We have the offer letter and she doesn’t have papers.

“We have been there since 2006 but she has been eyeing this farm. She called Borrowdale police and when I showed them farm offer letters. They went back vakatoti hatidi kubatiswa madhaka. They locked us out; they removed our farm security and replaced with 28 guards from Gushungo Diary.

“She was clearly spoiling for a physical fight but we respected her; hatina kudzorera (we did not fight back despite the provocation) even though she clearly wanted to cause a scene,” Hungwe said.

Grace Mugabe is also said to have gone to a gold mining claim in Mazowe and told a consortium of war veterans mining there that in three years, they will kneel down to her.

Sources told Zimbabwe Voice that after Grace failed to nudge Didymus Mutasa into pushing the three farmers out, she somehow managed to seize the farms in 2011 under controversial circumstances.

Hungwe says the three – him, Makombe and Chifamba – then approached the High Court in 2018 to settle the ownership issue once and for all. According to the High Court ruling, which cited as respondents Grace Mugabe, her late husband, police commissioner Godwin Matanga and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

The High Court ruling, under case number HC 5860/18, ordered Grace and her proxies to vacate the property and not to interfere with activities at the 104 hectares farms.

“Whereupon, after reading all documents… it is ordered that… eviction of all persons claiming possession of subdivision 1, 2, 3 of Lot A of Teviotdale Farm, Mazowe District, Mashonaland Central province,” reads part of the ruling delivered in February this year.

Sources say Grace Mugabe also tried to reach out to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office for help with evicting the three farmers, but has met no assistance. The police also refused to help when Simba Chikore tried to enlist them to assist with the eviction, as they said the High Court ruling was clear who owned the farm.

Zimbabwe Voice

Political commentator Ken Mufuka, has advised Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo against picking up a needless fight with United States of America President Donald Trump.

The remarks come after Moyo used language towards the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols, that “has been associated with Zanu PF apparatchiks, who visit opponents by night”.

Wrote Mufuka:
Trump loves a fight. If Moyo lives on planet earth, he would know that the world does not owe Zimbabwe anything and that Trump is a street fighter.
Trump’s reaction is unpredictable.

Trump is like a drunken Irishman, who joins a street fight without knowing what the fight was for. Trump can easily cut off food aid to the eight million starving Zimbabweans.

There is really nothing called illegal sanctions. If the US refuses to trade with Zimbabwe and cuts off Visa, MasterCard and American Express Services, there is nothing we can do about it.

Minister Moyo issued a strong-worded statement railing Nichols for blaming Zimbabwe’s economic crisis on a kleptocratic ruling elite rather than the so-called illegal sanctions. Credit :The Standard

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) insists that polystyrene material known as kaylite remains banned according to the Statutory Instrument 84 of 2012.

The agency has since arrested 80 kaylite distributors within Harare since last month.

Speaking during a tour at Planas Pvt Ltf, a Polythylene Telephthalate (PET) and Polypropylene Plastic (PP) manufacturer and distributor, EMA Inspector Gilbert Mugunzva said:
“According to the SI 84 of 2012, manufacturing and commercial distribution of polystyrene known as kaylite remains banned.

“As a result Planas which used to be the major producer of kaylite have since changed their production lines, machines and they are now producing a packaging material which is called PP and PET.

“These are the packaging material according to legislation.”

Added Mugunzva:
“We are here to try and publicise that kaylite is still banned in Zimbabwe.

“The manufacturing, distribution is prohibited and people who are still using the product are doing it against the law.”

As an agency, Mugunzva said they have arrested 80 people within Harare.

“Those who are still using kaylites risk being arrested and the public should desist from buying food packed in kaylites for health reasons.”H-Metro

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has said political actors who are not unwilling to join POLAD should wait for the 2023 polls.

Addressing a Rally in Tshovhani Stadium in Chiredzi saluted political actors who are part of the dialogue.

Mnangagwa said those who were not part of the dialogue should wait for 2023 elections.

“We said all parties should come on the table for dialogue.

There are some who did not come on the table for the dialogue.

Most parties have come on board and we discuss with them on how we can move forward.

Elections are held once in every five years. After five years, we go back to our political parties and seek a new mandate from the people,” declared Mnangagwa.

Farai Dziva| Zimbabwean opposition leader Pastor Timothy Chiguvare of the People’s Progressive Party says God has anointed him to rescue the African continent from perennial misery.

Said Pastor Chiguvare in a statement:

GOD HAS ANOINTED ME TO STOP THE TEARS OF MANKIND AND TO PUT A QUALITY SMILE ON THE FACES OF THE MOST SUFFERING NOT ONLY IN ZIMBABWE BUT THROUGHOUT THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

If you all Zimbabweans have also witnessed what I have seen so far , this entitles us all as a nation to take the most appropriate action against the offenders – ZANU PF must go yesterday! TOGETHER WE CAN TURN OUR CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES.

As an apostle of peace ; love ; forgiveness ; reconciliation ; justice and democracy I am here to warn the entire African continent that :- “A people that elect corrupt politicians are not victims but accomplices. An accomplice is a person who helps another in a crime etc.”

“Yes! I have a dream that one day Zimbabwe, a nation sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression; will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.”

Farai Dziva|Controversial clergyman, Talent Madungwe has claimed God revealed that opposition parties should be banned.

“I was in heaven in October, from the meetings I had with God, political opposition parties must be banned not only in Zimbabwe but worldwide because they are rebel parties causing the suffering of people.

So long there is opposition parties, nations won’t prosper because there must be a one party state just like China has been,” he told H-Metro.

“God is also not happy with WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

“The social media platforms are causing people to do all sorts of evils such as pornography, gossiping and other bad things but God also said if it’s used for business, its ok”.

Madungwe further spoke of his controversial encounters with God in heaven.

“I go there in heaven for meetings since I am the deputy commander of the army just behind Michael.

“Sometimes we meet here on earth but many times I just prefer to go there.
I can even summon the almighty to come.

“We decided to ban all the bibles except the King James Version because other bibles were not correctly translated.

“At first I was very disturbed by what people thought of me being delusional or mad but I have since gotten over it,” concluded Madungwe.

Controversial Prophet Talent Madungwe is at it again as he delved into divisive Prophet Passion Java and took a swipe at Apostle Talent Chiwenga saying “he is not a preacher but studies errors in people and churches”.

In an interview with H-Metro, the astonishing prophet waded into flashy Prophet Java saying only God is perfect.

“Some prophets are in it for the money, they’re open for business.

“God is not happy with some prophets who concentrate on earthly things which are benefiting them and not the word.
“They have realized how desperate and ignorant people of Africa are, that’s why you’ll never see them in America doing what they do here in Zimbabwe
“It’s bad, but no one is perfect expect God alone, so people shouldn’t put much faith into these kind of prophets as if they are angels and start worshipping them,” he said.

Prophet Madungwe also dug into controversial Harare pastor, Apostle Talent Chiwenga whom he lambasted as a provocative church leader.

“That one, he does not preach but he studies errors in various churches and in other pastors and prophets.
“That is what he always does.
“He must preach the word of God and not to concentrate on other people’s errors.

“As a pastor or prophet whose job is to preach the word of God, you would wonder if he is really what he claims to be,” said Madungwe.H-Metro

By A Correspondent- A self styled prophet from Johanne Marange Apostolic Church has sent his sixth wife packing because she breached church rules by delivering her fifth baby at hospital.

The woman had complications and had to deliver by caesarean.

Cuthbert Masembure (45) said he had to part ways with his wife because she breached church rules which do not allow members to get treatment from hospitals.

On Tuesday last week Masembure was dragged to court by his wife Nyaradzo Makuvari (37), who now stays at her parents’ home for maintenance.

However, Murambinda Resident Magistrate Dennis Mangosi was left in a dilemma after he found himself dealing with a maintenance case where the defendant has five different wives and a total of 18 children.

Masembure told Mangosi that paying maintenance for three children involved in the claim is difficult as he has 15 other children sired with five different wives. He left the court in stitches when he said he looked forward to more children.

Masembure married Makuvari who was the wife of his late brother.

Makuvari was claiming $100 dollars per child and Mangosi ordered that Masembure pays $95 for each child.

-Mirror

By A Correspondent- The government last week inadvertently dismissed doctors who were on maternity leave and some who were training outside the country even though they did not take part in the ongoing strike.

This was revealed by Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) president Shingai Nyaguse in a statement.

He said:

“Junior and middle-level doctors have been dismissed from work for not being able to report for duty due to incapacitation.

Some on maternity leave and some who are training outside the country have also been served with letters accusing them of absenteeism.

Hundreds of doctors were served with dismissal letters for failing to report for duty without leave, with 500 more expected to be sacked when the disciplinary hearings are concluded.

The Minister of Health and Child Care, Obadiah Moyo, defended the dismissals claiming that the doctors, who have cited incapacitation, were in breach of the law.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Addressing a Rally in Tshovhani Stadium in Chiredzi the president thanked the political actors who are part of the dialogue and said those who were not part of the dialogue should wait for 2023 elections.

Said the President:

“We said all parties should come on the table for dialogue.There are some who did not come on the table for the dialogue. Most parties have come on board and we discuss with them on how we can move forward. Elections are held once in every five years. After five years, we go back to our political parties and seek a new mandate from the people.”

POLAD last week headlined for resolving to take the anti-sanctions calls to the western community and the UN and setting aside an $88 Million budget.

-StateMedia

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By A Correspondent- Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has signed a waiver that allows foreign children to enter the country without carrying additional supporting documents such as birth certificates and consent letters, the department said on Sunday.

The waiver has been applicable since Friday, after the minister’s signature, it said in a statement. This improvement in our admissions policy builds on the work the department has been doing to contribute to economic growth and investment.

As of Friday, 8 November 2019, foreign children can enter and depart the country without being required to provide birth certificates, consent letters, and other supporting documents relating to proof of parentage,” Motsoaledi said in the statement.

The department had communicated the changes to immigration officials at ports of entry and to the airline and maritime industries.

South African children were still required to provide supporting documents, in line with the requirements of the Children’s Act.

The same applied to unaccompanied foreign children, he said. Foreign children who required a visa for South Africa did not need to carry the supporting documents for inspection at a port of entry, as these would be processed together with their visa applications.

“It is significant that we have completed the policy changes in the week in which President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted the second investment conference. We anticipate that this change will have a positive impact on tourism as we approach the holiday season,” Motsoaledi said.

-Wires

By A Correspondent- A four year old girl who was snatched away from her home in Bulawayo’s Emganwini suburb by a stranger has been reunited with her family after she was found in Tsholotsho.

Nosipho Ndlovu went missing on October 30 from her grandmother’s home after a destitute, Simphiwe Mlilo (21), took her on the pretext that she wanted to buy her some chips.

Mlilo was arrested on Friday after she was found with the girl in Tsholotsho.

In an interview, the mother of the girl, Ms Simelinkosi Ncube, confirmed that her child was safely back home though she could not give further details.

“We are happy she is back home and I am still traumatised by the whole incident. However, I am not at liberty to make any comments as there are some family formalities that we have to follow,” said Ms Ncube.

“We are also trying to do investigations and map a way forward and only then can we open up and share the story with members of the public”.

The family approached the state media last week seeking assistance in locating the girl who was reportedly found with no injuries.

“I’m deeply humbled by their support and thank all of them from the bottom of my heart. I sent alert messages to all the borders and contacted the police force everywhere in Zimbabwe and it worked.”

According to former ZBC DJ Ezra Sibanda, the girl’s return was a collective effort from all members of the public.

“We contacted Police Chiefs in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South. Three Officers under Lupane-Tsholotsho, namely, Constable Nyoni, Sergeant Sibanda & Constable Mpofu took up the case.

“On Friday afternoon they found the woman who stole the child, recovered the young girl but the woman ran away though she was finally caught.”

Narrating the family’s ordeal to the state media last week, Nosipho’s grandmother Mrs Moli Nkomo said they did not suspect that Mlilo could disappear with her grandchild.

“Simphiwe came to my house last week on Wednesday looking for Nosipho’s mother, Simelinkosi Ncube. However, she was not around.

“We know Simphiwe as she was staying with my daughter-in-law who had found her stranded in town. When she arrived here, she asked to go with Nosipho to buy airtime so that she calls her mother, I did not suspect anything. She told my granddaughter that she was going to buy her chips and she agreed to accompany her,” said Mrs Nkomo.

-StateMedia

HARARE – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says his government will fast track visa applications for foreign doctors and nurses – opening new opportunities for over 500 Zimbabwean doctors facing the sack for demanding improved pay.

Johnson, who faces a general election next month, said the scheme would enable the National Health Service (NHS) to continue to attract the finest medical staff after Britain has left the European Union.

The Conservative Party’s new “NHS visa” will ultimately form part of the party’s planned points-based immigration system to be introduced after Brexit.

The move reflects concern within the health service that it will struggle to attract the staff it needs when Britain is outside the EU.

Under the scheme, the cost of a visa for health professionals would be halved from £928 to £464, while applicants would be guaranteed a decision within two weeks.

Applicants going to work in the NHS would receive preferential treatment with extra points under the points-based system, and no cap on numbers entering through the NHS route.

They would also be able to pay back the cost of the immigration health surcharge through their salary if the charge is not already covered by the NHS trust offering the job.

The Conservatives have already announced a fast-track visa route to attract specialists in science, engineering and technology.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said an Australian-style points-based system would allow Britain to control the numbers coming into the country while remaining open to essential professions such as nursing.

“That means the best of both worlds – attracting talent from around the world so our NHS continues to provide brilliant service while ensuring that it isn’t put under strain by opening Britain’s borders to the entire world,” she said.

Zimbabwe faces a health services calamity after the government last week sacked 211 doctors, set to rise to over 500 – a third of doctors working in public hospitals.

A strike over pay which has been ongoing since September 3 has paralysed public hospitals for two months.

The country is in the grip of a major downturn that has provoked biting shortages of fuel, medicine, and currency as well as surging prices, which doctors’ unions have said means their members are struggling to afford even the cost of transport to work.

State doctors say the value of their pay shrank 15-fold over the past year.

The doctors last month defied a court order to return to their wards, rejecting a pay rise offered by the government that they said failed to meet everyday costs.

With the government playing hardball with the doctors, an exodus that would leave Zimbabwean hospitals in a parlous state could be on the horizon, with the United Kingdom the likely destination.

Last year, Britain cancelled 79,000 operations because of staff shortages and equipment failures, according to official data. Vacancies continue to put the health service under strain, with the NHS reporting last year it was short of 100,000 staff including, 10,000 doctors and 35,000 nurses.

By A Correspondent- A teacher at Premier High School in Bulawayo has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for rap_ing a 12-year-old pupil that he was coaching English extra lessons.

Shadreck Kantsholo (47) from Pumula South suburb rap_ed the minor at her home.

Kantsholo pleaded not guilty to a rap_e charge before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Sibongile Marondedze who convicted him due to overwhelming evidence.

The magistrate sentenced Kantsholo to 15 years in prison and suspended five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next three years.

Kantsholo said: “I’m so shocked that I’m being charged with rap_e of all things imaginable! When the police came to arrest me, I thought it’s for some relish that I didn’t pay for. I never rap_ed the girl; I just went to their home to teach her English.”

For the State, Ms Samantha Gubede said the teacher committed the crime on September 22 at around 1PM.

“While the complainant’s parents had gone to church, during an English lesson, the accused person went behind the minor, stretched his arms and f0ndled her brea_sts and pressed her against a table,” she said.

The court heard that he undressed and ordered the minor to take off her clothes. He rap_ed her but stopped after noticing that the door was open.

Ms Gubede said when the teacher was about to rap_e her again, the minor bolted through the front door and alerted neighbours who came to her rescue.

The minor was referred to Mpilo Central Hospital for examination.

The complainant’s father reported the matter to the police leading to Kantsholo’s arrest.

-StateMedia

Correspondent|CONSTRUCTION of a mausoleum at the National Heroes Acre in Harare which was meant for the burial of former President Robert Mugabe is currently underway.

Construction work started in September, as a special honour to the country’s founding President, who has already been buried at his rural home Kutama, Zvimba, at the insistence of his family. At the time of Mugabe’s burial on September 28, Government had started working on a mausoleum the family had earlier requested.

The former President’s two sons, Robert Jnr and Chatunga, were part of those who went to identify the site. Government conferred special honour on Mugabe and decided to construct the mausoleum at the hilltop at the National Heroes Acre.

In an interview yesterday, National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) executive director Dr Godfrey Mahachi confirmed construction of the project was currently underway.

“The construction of the mausoleum at the national shrine is currently underway, but we do not have much details pertaining to the project, since it is still under the Department of Public Works.

“There were people on site yesterday (Saturday), meaning the construction of the mausoleum is on course.

“I talked to our curator who works at the National Heroes Acre this morning and he advised us that the Department of Public Works is handling all issues to do with the project,” said Dr Mahachi.

In addition, Dr Mahachi said the mausoleum will only be handed over to National Museums and Monuments once complete.

“After the project has been completed it will then be handed over to the National Museums and Monuments department. This is what we have been advised by the Department of Public Works,” he said.  

A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people.

Source: Byo24

Paul Nyathi|ZANU-PF recorded an outright victory in the Tsholotsho and Hwedza Rural District Council by-elections held at the weekend.

The ruling party retained council seats in Tsholotsho Rural District Council’s Ward 16 and 20.

In Ward 20 Zanu PF candidate Tshoni Mkandla polled 414 votes beating MDC Alliance’s Mazithulela Khupe who came a distant second with a paltry 21 votes.

In Tsholotsho’s Ward 16, Zanu-PF’s Isaac Moyo polled 623 votes to beat his rival Soul Ncube from the opposition MDC Alliance who got 147 votes.

The party also won a council by-election held on the same day in Wedza, Mashonaland East.

The ruling party’s Matabeleland North chairperson, Richard Moyo, commended the party leadership in the province, saying the victory was a show of confidence in President Mnangagwa’s leadership.

“Our victory in the two wards in Tsholotsho is a clear sign that the electorate still has confidence in our President and the party despite the economic challenges in the country. However, we would like to assure our people that the Zanu-PF led Government is people oriented and we are in the process of addressing the challenges facing the nation,” he said.

MDC Alliance’s Matabeleland North provincial deputy chairperson Jabulani Hadebe accused the ruling party of vote buying and intimidation.

The Tsholotsho by-elections were called after Zanu-PF expelled the sitting councillors on charges of embezzling Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) funds.

Matabeleland North Provincial Elections Officer Mr Mark Ndlovu said the by elections in the two Tsholotsho council wards were conducted in a peaceful manner.

The latest victory for Zanu-PF in by-elections held post the 2018 harmonised elections, comes barely three months after the ruling party retained the Mangwe, Lupane East National Assembly seats, two wards in Bubi and Nkayi districts and Masvingo North Ward 1 council seat.

The ruling party has also won in Nyanga, Bikita, Bulawayo and Masvingo, with MDC Alliance managing to win only the recently held Glen View South National Assembly by-election.

Paul Nyathi|Newly appointed Education Minister, Cain Mathema is faced with am immediate dilemma of solving the issue of high students drop out from schools, particularly girls, throughout the country.

Mathema whose appointment to the Education Ministry has been highly condemned by critics is himself a victim of dicing with girls still of school going age.

He hit headlines in 2016 when he married 23 year old Bathabetsoe Nare his current wife while she was a university student who was an intern at his offices.

Mathema reportedly left his first wife for a house helper, whom he married customarily in 2009. The maid was only 20-years-old at the time. He later left her for Nare after her met her while she was on attachment at a government complex in Bulawayo in 2014.

About 20 400 pupils in the country dropped out of primary school in 2018, some after being married off, statistics by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) have shown.

The Government has since put in place measures to ensure every child has access to education.

Reasons for dropping out vary but the most dominant are financial constraints and absconding, which accounted for 15 919 drop outs. “Reasons for dropping out include absconding, death, expulsion, illness, marriage, pregnancy and financial constraints. A total of 9 200 pupils absconded school under unclear circumstances and 6 717 dropped out due to financial challenges,” read the report.

“About 1 154 pupils died during the same year and 2 164 dropped out due to other reasons which were not specified during data capturing. A total of 112 students were expelled while 180 dropped out of school due to early and unintended pregnancy and an additional 231 dropped after they were married off.”

According to Unesco, 624 primary school pupils dropped out of school due to illness.

“According to the statistics, about half the boys who dropped out had just absconded from school compared to girls. Of the total figure of pupils who dropped out of primary school in 2018, boys accounted for 11 070,” read the report.

In an interview, former Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima said Government was already working towards addressing the challenge.

“First, I believe some pupils end up dropping out because of the ignorance of their parents and guardians. According to Government policy, no child should be excluded from school due to non-payment of school fees and we have since reinforced that in the new Education Amendment Bill,” said Prof Mavima.

He reminded members of the public that the Government runs the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) which is still operational to help the less privileged.

“It’s the duty of every parent and guardian to ensure that less privileged children have access to free basic education. School heads are also obligated to ensure that no child is sent home for non-payment of fees as we have programmes like BEAM to cater for those with challenges,” the Minister said.

According to Prof Mavima, the countrywide school feeding programme was rolled out so that children do not drop out due to hunger or poverty challenges.

“The Government has since provided resources to cater for the protein component of the feeding scheme which includes beans, soya chunks and cooking oil. Yes, we were having challenges with the programme due to grain shortages but it is improving and we are happy that some schools are sourcing the grain through various partnerships,” he said.

Prof Mavima urged schools to use their resources to source grain while Government works on providing resources so that pupils have enough food during lessons.

He said schools that afford to roll out the feeding programme without assistance from the Government should go ahead so that the number of drop outs is reduced.

“Besides these programmes, we recently launched a programme meant to end early and unintended pregnancies as these account for a lot of drop outs in both primary and secondary schools. Together with our partners we are confident that when these projects are fully implemented, the number of drop outs will go down,” said Prof Mavima.

Additional reporting: State Media

At least four people were seriously injured at Morgan Tsvangirai House, the MDC headquarters in Harare, in a suspected ugly intra-party violence on Saturday.

Property worth thousands of dollars, including a vehicle belonging to party National Executive Member Douglas Mwonzora, was damaged.

The violence took place while the party’s Standing Committee, chaired by President Nelson Chamisa, was holding a meeting at the headquarters.

Sources within the party yesterday said the fight erupted after supporters aligned to Mr Mwonzora came to the head office after they got wind that youths sympathetic to Mr Chamisa wanted to stop the former secretary-general from attending the crucial meeting.

Mr Mwonzora has been in the eye of a storm within the party for his outspokenness and calling for an extraordinary congress to select new leadership after the High Court nullified the appointment of Mr Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri as co-vice presidents three years ago.

This follows an application by the party’s Gokwe district organising secretary, Mr Elias Mashavire, challenging the decision by the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai to unilaterally hand-pick party leadership ahead of others in the contest to succeed him.

Since then, Mwonzora has been accused of working with former vice president Dr Thokozani Khupe, who is now leading a splinter party — MDC-T.

At least three party activists and a passer-by were left injured at Harvest House and filed reports of assault with the police.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the skirmishes and said investigations were in progress.

“We have received reports on intra-party political violence at Harvest House on Saturday. Youths aligned to different factions clashed and left some injured. We have four people who have filed reports of assault including a passer-by who was caught in the crossfire,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“We have one Bernard Nyaika, aged 35, who made a report of assault. Other people who filed reports are Neighbour Login Masale and one Blessed Mushonga, and a passer-by who was caught in the crossfire. As police we are carrying out thorough investigations to establish what took place on the day in question.”

Last week, Mr Mwonzora launched a scathing attack on the party leadership accusing them of paying youths to issue “irresponsible statements”.

Source: State Media

Tell Zim|MDC national vice chairperson Job Sikhala, who is battling subversion charges and last week had his case moved from the Bikita Magistrates’ Court to Masvingo High Court, has said he will not be cowed into silence by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

The fiery opposition leader said his party will take the offensive to Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s doorstep.

Sikhala, who addressed an impromptu rally outside the Bikita Magistrates’ Court after his court appearance last week, said he knew the law very well and was convinced he did not commit any crime.

He claimed that what he is alleged to have said about removing Mnangagwa from power was within his rights.

“I am not just the accused person but I am one of the best and most brilliant lawyers in this country. I am not bothered at all about this process. In authoritarian and tyrannical systems that are founded on abuse of the rule of law and constitutionalism, this is very common.

“There is nothing to be surprised about because our regime, like its sister regimes of the past, try to survive on the use of various institutions of the State to thwart any form of perceived or real threat to their grip on power,” said Sikhala.

Sikhala declared that Zanu PF could silence any other person but not him, saying he was prepared to die fighting for the freedom of the people of Zimbabwe.

“You can silence other people but not Job Sikhala. A person like me will never be silenced, there will be blood. We are prepared to die for the freedom of the people of Zimbabwe.

“Just like the great military commander Josiah Tongogara, who died fighting for the freedom of our people, Job Sikhala is prepared to die. This generation of today has its own liberation fighters in the form of Advocate Nelson Chamisa and Job Sikhala.

“If they think they will cow us into submission, they are mistaken because this is the beginning and we are now coming for them. Hokoyo Mnangagwa! We will never be afraid. We shall keep demanding the freedom of our people. As long as our people are suffering we will never be silenced,” said Sikhala.

He said Mnangagwa did not care about the suffering masses as he lives an extravagant lifestyle hiring private jets from Dubai to fly him even on local trips to the tune of millions of dollars.

“We have relatives who are teachers whose salaries cannot even buy underwear but we have a President who spends millions hiring private jets. People have no jobs and we will not be silent about it.

“The use of the judiciary for purposes of settling political scores has never been a sustainable strategy in several jurisdictions including our own during the period of Ian Smith. Command justice is only applied by people who lack confidence on how to manage the state of affairs.

“Since the coup in November 2017, we noticed excessive use of military and police power to abuse citizens of our country. We will keep fighting for our people. Even Smith never thought one day he would be removed from power but it happened,” said Sikhala.

Sikhala rallied people to throng the Masvingo High Court on January 27 to send a message to President Mnangagwa that he will not subvert the will of the people.

“We need to flood the High Court on January 27. We need thousands of our supporters to come and make a statement that we stand with our leaders when they are demanding our freedom and our liberation. Musi wa27 hakudyiwi kuMasvingo,” said Sikhala.

Sikhala found himself in trouble with the law in July while campaigning for the Bikita East Ward 30 local authority by-election when he allegedly said that he would remove President Mnangagwa from power.

MDC national youth secretary for information and publicity Steven ‘Sakorzy’ Chuma said the Zanu PF government needed to be removed from power ‘because it has caused immense suffering in the country’. 

Paul Nyathi|The biggest question on most motorists’s mouths at the moment is how much they will be parting with by festive season to buy a litre of fuel.

Fuel was selling at $1.05 at the beginning of the year and has been going up almost on a weekly basis surging towards the $20 per litre terrifying price.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) yesterday announced fuel price increases of 11 cents and 10 cents for petrol and diesel, respectively.

The price of petrol which was at $16,66 per litre is now $16,77, while diesel is now $17,53, up from $17,43 per litre.

According to the authority, the price changes are due to the FOB (Free on Board) price movement and the revised duty regime.

Zera said operators may, however, sell at prices below the cap depending on their trading advantages.

Paul Nyathi|Anti Riot police in full gear were yesterday dispatched to attend an accident scene involving a contracted ZUPCO Bus and a train in Harare.

Pictures from the accident scene show members of the police Support Unit in their anti riot head gear with button sticks attending to the accident scene not officers from the Traffic Section within the police force.

20 passengers onboard the overcrowded bus contracted to ZUPCO were critically injured after the bus was hit by a train at Lytton Road rail crossing in Harare.

The injured people were ferried to Harare Hospital where no doctors were not available to attend to them.

Government last week fired over two hundred doctors following a sixty day industrial action.

State run Sunday Mail revealed details on the accident in an official Tweet on Sunday.

A bus contracted to ZUPCO which plies the City – Southlands route was hit by a train after the driver failed to stop at the Lytton Road rail crossing in Harare. The bus was overloaded and over 20 passengers were injured and ferried to Harare Hospital – Pictures by Kuda Hunda pic.twitter.com/7Ex7vpqtwg

— The Sunday Mail (Zimbabwe) (@SundayMailZim) November 9, 2019

The bus which plies the City –Southlands route collided with the train after the driver failed to stop at the rail crossing. Most of the old buses contacted to ZUPCO visible look road unworthy.

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Finance ministry permanent secretary George Guvamatanga has revealed that the government is not considering removing the 2% tax on mobile transactions despite criticism that it is fuelling inflation.

The government collects an average of $100 million every month through the tax, which was declared illegal by the High Court in September.

Guvamatanga (GG) told Alpha Media Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube (TN) on the platform In Conversation with Trevor that assessments by the government had shown that assertions that the tax was causing price instability on the market were not true.

The former banker also spoke about the state of the economy, command agriculture and the austerity measures, among other issues. Below is an excerpt from the interview.

TN: You have moved from the private sector as the managing director of Barclays Bank, being the president of the Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe, you are now in government, how has that transition been to you?

GG: Actually, it is just over a year since I crossed over from the private sector to government, and it has been a very good experience, which is quite different from a narrow view within the banking sector where all you need is to create value for one or a couple of shareholders.

The difference now is that in government, you need to make value for 14 million shareholders and that’s the biggest difference.

So you are not only looking at one issue, aspect or one sector.

There is need to take full consideration that there are over 14 million shareholders whom you have to please all the time — that is the difference.
TN: What’s been your biggest surprise coming into this job?

GG: My biggest surprise is everything that you hear about people in government not working.

You need to carry an extra jacket on your chair so that when you leave your office to your other activities, it would appear that you were in the office.

People actually work and there are lots of professional individuals in government, who are highly qualified, dedicated and committed people.

There is actually better structure in government than you would find in the private sector in terms of governance and guidance.

You have the executive, legislature and Parliament and that is why at times you will find, when things are not well sometimes we have to answer to Parliament.

This is very different from the private sector where you sit with your board and sign a resolution and you are done.

Government is very different as the structure that is there is much more pronounced than in the private sector.

For me that has been a great surprise when I noticed that there is much better structure, more policies, guidance and most of the leadership is not discretionary. So the room for discretion in government is very narrow than what you would find elsewhere.

TN: You are filling big shoes really where there has been big men before you like the late Charles Kuwaza and the late Elisha Mushayakarara. These were men that were feared and were bigger than life. I hear whispers that you are the same. People are scared of George, is that true?

GG: I wouldn’t say that I am feared or that my preference is to be feared. My preference is to be supported.

However, what people are supposed to understand as well is that I am the treasurer of the country.

Technically, I could be the de facto financial director for the country. If you are a CEO and you find that your finance director is liked by everyone, then he is not doing the job because he would have to manage very limited resources and manage them well and there are various conflicting and competing demands.

Sometimes there comes a delegation of 20 and I would have said 10 and it will be 10.

Something comes and we believe that it is not the best value for the use of government resources and we say no, this is not the way we are going to deal with this. You, therefore, become unpopular. But you see it is not a populist contest.

I have said that if you are sitting on a budget and I need departments and ministries who are saying they are the best men who have to control the budget, I think we have got a problem.

TN: Let’s move on to the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), is it still on track?

GG: I will say largely it is still on track by understanding what we want to achieve with the TSP. The major achievement we wanted was fiscal consolidation. We wanted to be able to control deficit. We were running deficits, which were in double figures and government sometimes could pay the civil servants two months late.

So we needed to address those issues and make sure that we lived within our means.

We also wanted to contain the trade deficit or trade gap that was also running away.

Those were two of the major objectives of the TSPs to say how do we stabilise the economy and we have managed to achieve that.

The budget deficit for 2019 will definitely come in single digits and we have narrowed the trade deficit from around $1,7 billion or $1,8 billion previously to around $300 million to $400 million, which to us were the major objectives of the TSPs.

The other major objectives of the TSPs was actually to slowly deal with structural issues that were there in the market.

Some subsidies that we were running in the market like for fuel, power and grain, much as we are aware that these reforms are very difficult on our people, it does not necessarily mean that this is the wrong thing to do, but actually the right thing to do.

We are particularly cognisant of the impact on our people and how do we then alleviate the difficulties and the challenges facing our people?

That is why we have come up with various social protection nets to make sure that while we carry out reforms, we make sure that we do protect the more vulnerable members of society.

TN: Then tell me about fuel. Are you no longer subsidising fuel as a fact?

GG: With the move of the last price change on Monday, oil companies buying fuel are doing so at the interbank rate.

The subsidising rate is gone, so there is no longer any subsidy.

Anyone who is saying that people are benefitting and there is cross movement of money, that is gone and we have dealt with that.

TN: The other issue you raised were the social safety nets. Which are the key social safety nets that you have come up with so that people deal in a sort of comfortable way with the austerity that they have to face?

GG: We have sort of always run a harmonised cash transition programme to identify vulnerable groups in our society.

We have also run other programmes like (the Basic Education Assistance Module) Beam, which is really to support in the education sector. In the past we used to run into arrears but we have made sure that given the difficulties that people are facing, the expense on the social side is always met. People might actually be surprised that government pays out cash to certain members of society.

That amount would range from anything from about $85 upwards per person.

On the global figure what we have spent on the protection excluding grain and everything else goes in excess of $543 million, an amount as government we have spent to make sure that we protect the vulnerable members of society.

It is also part of our (Staff Monitoring Programme) SMP where there is a social protection target, which we have met.

TN: You said that the TSP has largely succeeded, then what have been the failures?

GG: The failures have been around inflation. We are out of the inflation target and we are also out of our reserve money target.

The growth of money supply has been much larger than what we expected or planned for.

Those two areas have actually been failures and we now need to go back on track and deal with those as well.

TN: What have been the reasons for those two failures?

GG: When we came up with the TSP we did not factor in the drought, we still believed that we would have a good season.

We did not factor in Cyclone Idai and we did not even consider that because our power is largely generated off water and that if you have a drought then you do not have water at Kariba Dam, which is currently at 19% capacity.

Because of that the electricity generation also went down and when it did, productivity came down.

So we have had to deal with three major shocks and trying to manage those shocks also created its own challenges and then resulted in certain aspects and TSPs getting off target.

TN: Finance minister Mthuli Ncube has spoken about command agriculture becoming smart agriculture. Explain to us what the difference is between the two.

GG: I will also link that to the TSP because one of the elements is that we talk about a market-led economy where we want to reduce government’s involvement in the market. When we talk about the market-led economy despite the price madness that we are seeing now, government has never come in with price controls even when we have seen how wild market players have been.

As part of the TSP we sincerely believe that the market should lead the economy.

The transition or the movement from how we now fund agriculture is that rather than government funding directly through injection of money and treasury bills, we have said to the banks, we will give you guarantees. Play your traditional role as banks.

We are working with CBZ, Women Empowerment Bank and we are working with Agribank and all the others that are now coming on stream.

TN: There is always a question to ask, why those banks?

GG: Those were the first ones to react and the others wanted to get a feel of how this would look and now that they have seen it is working because to date working with the partners that I have already alluded to we have enrolled and funded half the contracted hectrage for 2019 and 2020.

TN: What is the quantum in terms of the money that the government has provided?

GG: At the moment, our partners have actually disbursed money off their liquidity while we finalise on the numbers.

To date, we almost have a billion disbursed into agriculture through smart agriculture.

We have got another scheme and there is always confusion around agriculture schemes, we have got the command agriculture, where people actually have to borrow and have to repay and they do repay.

I was looking at the numbers for the 2018-2019 season, we have actually had the highest repayments despite the fact that we have a drought and I will explain why this is so.

We have already received about $105 million to $120 million of repayments from last season, which account for about 20-25% of the total disbursement.

As a banker, 25 % is still not good enough but it is better than nothing and, therefore, it is not a free scheme because people have to repay and there is now an understanding that why did people repay faster this season, it is because now we have moved to the banks and they do not lend money to people who do not pay back.

I think all the farmers had to make the call on whether they are called or labelled a defaulting farmer and be unable to access funding from the participating bank or I pay whatever I owe now and be able to access a bigger loan for the season of 2019-2020.

TN: Clarify to this, is the traditional command agriculture dead?

GG: Yes, traditional command agriculture is dead. It is gone.

TN: No politicians behind the scenes?

GG: There is no way you can come in as a politician. There is no way because for one to be able to access the inputs, you have to go to the banking partners, open an account and be credit rated and then one is given an electronic voucher you take wherever you pick up the inputs, so you cannot go as a politician to the partners and say “I am Guvamatanga the secretary and I need money,” because you need to have a voucher and you need to have signed to the money being used.

It’s very easy for us now to reconcile the inputs distributed against the voucher because there is no room in that process for anyone to ask for money and inputs.

Command agriculture in its traditional form as we said in the TSP, is dead even in our budget as well.

TN: Let’s move on to how much, the numbers have been bandied all over, how much has been disbursed towards command agriculture — the traditional one under your watch?

GG: Under my watch, I came in when there was an outstanding amount from the previous season, which was around $71 million and that is what I signed off and it was paid. Let me explain that since inception in 2016, the total for command maize, wheat and soya is just over $900 million.

So when people come here and sit and talk amounts of $3 billion, I do not know where they are getting those figures because it’s not more than a billion since inception.

We have got another programme, which targets vulnerable members where they get 20kg of seed, 50kg of fertiliser and a little bit of chemicals — that one is not paid back.

It is for the people in the deep rural areas to secure themselves in terms of food and that has also run from 2016 up to date and it accumulated approximately $600 million since inception. For this season we have contracted over $200 million for that scheme.

TN: Who handles that amount, is it Treasury or you have contracted a company to handle that as well to give the money and seeds to the vulnerable people?

GG: In terms of the contracting and so forth we obviously have the Ministry of Agriculture taking a position and then they come to Treasury for funding and then we fund them and that is how government works.

I know there is also a name that is always thrown around. Sakunda does not participate in the presidential scheme in any way or form. In the presidential input scheme there is cotton as well in there which is actually the bigger part of that scheme, which is managed by the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe.

TN: So we have the United States ambassador making allegations around Sakunda being given $300 million, so you are basically dismissing those allegations.

GG: That’s not correct, there is an issue that is there of the legacy debt owed to Sakunda and let me explain. When we had all these schemes, government was also making a commitment with all of the suppliers that would provide them with foreign currency because what we were issuing was local currency.

For anyone who wanted to import like the fertilisers and chemicals imported and some of the equipment is imported as well and so for all of those suppliers, whether it is FSG, Sakunda e.t.c., there is not one single contractor in all these schemes. They then have to import the inputs and we had promised as government from 2016 that we would provide foreign currency and we never provided that enough foreign currency and we do have issues that we are dealing with at the moment for various players and most people are affected by what we are calling legacy debts.

As government we had unsettled foreign obligation with Sakunda. We then had to design a mechanism to settle the debts.

The issue for Sakunda became more urgent because we also wanted assistance from them.

TN: How much did you owe Sakunda?

GG: I think what we owed for the legacy debt was just over $150 million that we had not settled. We gave them the local [part], but the $150 million, they had to use their own resources and their own bankers to fund. So their own bankers were now coming to them and saying we are not giving you inputs for 2019. We are not giving you fuel because within their partners, there are also suppliers of fuel and that was going to create a grid lock and so we had to find a mechanism of bridging while we finalised on the overall legacy debt issue with them.

TN: Thank you for clarifying the issues around Sakunda. Let us move on to the spectacular collapse of the local currency end of August and September. What is your understanding of what caused that?

GG: There are various reasons, which would actually cause a currency to collapse. But let me give you facts and figures. As of today we are sitting on over US$650 million in foreign currency accounts. The money is here. We have about $150 million in cash with banks and I am not talking about cash in people’s pockets, mattresses and various other corners.

We are already on US$800 million. Then we do have over half a billion dollars of United States dollars sitting offshore for export proceeds that have not been repatriated to Zimbabwe.

If you check the trends, we normally sit on US$200 million because that is an acceptable number, as you export the money comes in, but US$500 million starts to show you a developing trend.

In total officially we are sitting on US$1,3 billion that should have come into the market but is being held for one reason or the other.

So when you now start to be holding that money to increase what you are holding, it means that what you are feeding into the market is reduced and when you reduce supply and there is demand then the rates will go up.

Let me explain another phenomenon, traditionally when we were in our best years, Zimbabwe’s currency always moved in October and November.

In fact, when I was a trader at the bank that is how I used to make money because I would create my cash flow so that in October, November and December that is when all my cash flows would actually come through because you then have your tobacco, which is one of the major sources of foreign currency in the country drying up and as you get into November and December, it will start to affect mining activities, mines flood and the mining output is reduced, but we had the impact of reduced power, which also affected gold production and we started to feel the impact during the same period.

We then have a reduction in gold, tobacco going away and an increase in demand, which normally comes from the need to fund agriculture.

We need to change that model and we are in the process of doing so. What is very interesting is that we want to fund our agriculture in August and September in foreign currency requirements during our worst foreign currency infill period.

Our best is April to July, which means that if this is an agricultural economy, we should be able to pay for our agricultural inputs.

TN: Are we changing into that now?

GG: We will be changing it. That increased demand and reduced supply naturally you would find that the rates increase because everyone will now panic and say there is no foreign currency, but foreign currency is there.

TN: We saw after that the RBZ freezing certain accounts, Sakunda being one of them. The impression given being that these entities were playing the market, is that a fact?

GG: The central bank will always deal within normal banking systems. If there is increased activity in an account, you would normally want to see what is happening within that account.

There were several accounts that were frozen by the RBZ, but the freezing of accounts does not necessarily mean that there is a problem.

Every day all the banks in this country report to reserve bank and all the transactions that are considered to be suspicious or abnormal, and every bank as part of the regulation now is supposed to have someone called an anti-money-laundering officer, which is now a requirement. We will soon be requesting that even the mobile operators have the same officer.

TN: Is there anything concrete happening in the mobile payment system and monitoring of them to ensure that there is no money laundering happening. Is there a concrete bill coming up?

GG: We are now also considering having anti-money-laundering officers within the mobile money operation systems because there has been an increase in activities there and we need to make sure there is monitoring and these things happen from time to time but they are never reported.

TN: So your answer basically is that these guys were not playing the market.

GG: No, they were not playing the market.

TN: Let’s move onto the monetary policy committee, which met last week and it looks like the interbank market is still being fine-tuned to use your words. Why is it taking so long to do this thing and why don’t we just go to the ideal situation?

GG: The ideal situation is really transparent and you need an electronic system that cannot be manipulated for you to monitor the system and that is what the RBZ governor announced. That we are actually moving to a real trading system that cannot be manipulated because there is real time.

As the market is trading, the exchange rates are monitored.

What we have heard now is that the market is trading at some kind of rate whilst the RBZ is reporting another.

Once we have an electronic platform to trade, this will increase the level of transparency, but at the moment there is so much information asymmetry in the market and that is really a recipe for inefficiency and abuse, which is what we have actually seen.

TN: Any specific time as to when the Reuters system is going to start operating?

GG: I think the central bank is working towards a time that is before the end of this year.

TN: Let us move on to whether there is a new currency that is coming out?

GG: We already have a new currency, which is specified by the law called the Zimbabwean dollar with a simple ZWL, which is the local currency. So there is no new currency that is coming in. We brought in the new currency when we introduced the local currency. What we are now simply doing is to alleviate the problem and challenge of notes and coins because when the new currency was introduced it was not supported by its own notes and coins and we adopted the bond notes and coins as a form of the physical cash to support the new currency and we are saying that the time is right to bring in notes and coins, which support the currency that is already there.

So that is what we are now simply doing by bringing in notes and coins, which are proper money.
TN: So the ZWL is going to be a note that is not going to look like a bond, but will look like a new note, which formalises what has already been put in place.

GG: Yes, we will then expect that those who were trading in cash that their business is going to die and those who were actually working on having one price for cash and another one for electronic money and mobile money transfer, that will no longer work because the cash will be available in the bank, on ATMs and we want to normalise the situation again.

TN: Obviously you are not going to be telling the viewers when this is going to happen otherwise there is going to be a stampede.

GG: No, I think if there is going to be a stampede this time around, it is going to be a good one because the one that can happen now is one that as government we will be happy to see. We will be happy to see everyone now going under their mattresses and bringing our bond notes back into the banking system.

The bond note will still be working though. So I am not saying rush in buying or using it.

Initially the bond notes and the new notes will be working side by side and they will be having the same value. At some point we will cut them off and we will not tell you when we will be removing them. At some point we will decide to just to remain with the new notes and coins. We are ready for that stampede.

TN: Let us move on now to the IMF staff monitored programme, my understanding is that the scheme that was there in September is being recommended to the new managing director that the SMP should be suspended, which could be dire for this country. Is that your understanding as well?

GG: That is not my understanding of that situation. We had a team in Washington during the annual meetings, which had extensive discussions with the IMF. I think in terms of the targets, which are also public, most of them according to the SMP are on course as we have met those targets. But we were off when it comes to the inflation, reserve money and the discussions we were having with IMF were around how we can recalibrate and get back on track, but our view actually is that we want to continue with the plan as it was.

TN: So you are comfortable with the plan that you have said is on course?

GG: We are comfortable with the plan. If we need to recalibrate, it may be one or two targets but everything else we do not want to change.

We want to remain on course and continue with the SMP. The point I am making — the SMP is not some secret document, it is there on the IMF website and obviously in due time they can make an announcement in terms of how we have fared. When it comes to the performance and we do acknowledge that there were some mistakes, which the IMF was concerned about, but when you look at the overall programme if you were going to mark it, I think it’s a pass.

TN: The minister of Finance has said that austerity is behind us and that now we should brace ourselves for growth. What are some of those changes that some of us are not seeing?

GG: We have been given the weather forecast for the 2019-2020, which seems to indicate that we will have from normal to below normal rainfall in certain areas. I think that Zimbabwe being an agricultural economy, we have taken adequate measures that there is availability of inputs so that people can grow crops. We should be able to grow our food and feed ourselves for starters.

At the moment we have been derailed because we had to import food and that required forex that we could have been using for other developmental issues within the economy. So with a good rainfall and agricultural preparation, we then expect that agriculture would pick up.

But we are also then saying on power generation, which is critical for production, we are now questioning where we are going to find power on a realistic level to say even if we have good rains, Kariba can only go back to normal levels of power generation around June/July because of the inflows, which will take time.

So if that is the case, where do we get additional power so the Ministry of Energy has been working hard to make sure that we have additional power, which can support both mining and agriculture?

Once we have taken care of those issues we believe we would have created a stable platform for growth and productivity.

This was an abridged version of the conversation.

A commentator, Ken Mufuka, has advised Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo against picking up a needless fight with United States of America President Donald Trump.

The remarks come after Moyo used language towards the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols, that “has been associated with Zanu PF apparatchiks, who visit opponents by night”. Wrote Mufuka:

“Trump loves a fight. If Moyo lives on planet earth, he would know that the world does not owe Zimbabwe anything and that Trump is a street fighter.

“Trump’s reaction is unpredictable. Trump is like a drunken Irishman, who joins a street fight without knowing what the fight was for. Trump can easily cut off food aid to the eight million starving Zimbabweans.

“There is really nothing called illegal sanctions. If the US refuses to trade with Zimbabwe and cuts off Visa, MasterCard and American Express Services, there is nothing we can do about it.”

Minister Moyo issued a strong-worded statement railing Nichols for blaming Zimbabwe’s economic crisis on a kleptocratic ruling elite rather than the so-called illegal sanctions.

Paul Nyathi|Two Bills, the controversial Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill (MOPA) and the Companies and Other Entities Bill are ready and now await President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s signature to start functioning.

The controversial and highly condemned MOPA seeks to repeal the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and provide mechanisms to regulate the conduct of demonstrations.

The bill which the ruling ZANU PF party claims to open up the maximum democratic space has been tagged a reincarnation of POSA, as it still heavily limits the people’s right to demonstrate and be heard by government.

The Companies and Other Entities Bill will make business much easier by modernising the 1951 legislation.

Parliament has sent the two Bills passed by both Houses, plus the Micro-finance Amendment Bill, to the President for his assent, before they become law.

The Micro-finance Amendment Bill reduces the types of institutions that can do this business to credit-only micro financiers and deposit-taking micro financiers, omitting money-lenders.

The three Bills were passed in the last session of Parliament.

Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa on Friday conferred immunities and privileges to foreign nationals employed by the United Nations Office for Project Services.

The conferment of the privileges and immunities to the UNOPS and its foreign employees exempts them from lawsuits and legal processes and taxes and rates and other taxes on the importation of goods as is accorded to the government of any foreign State, among other benefits.

The President’s conferment of the privileges and immunities as stated in General Notice 2021 of 2019 was published in Friday’s Government Gazette in terms of the Privileges and Immunities Act (Chapter3:03).

Source: State Media

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has suspended one of its investigations officers.

In a statement released Sunday 10 November, Zacc said, “The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission would like to advise its stakeholders and the general public that Investigations Officer, Mr. Augustine Mahwana aka Chigadzamabwe National Registration Number 26-108754-E23 0772108005 has been suspended and relieved of his official duties with effect from 1 November 2019 until further notice.

“Stakeholders and the general public are advised not to deal with him on any matters concerning the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.”

The anti-graft body did not state the reason why Chigadzamabwe was suspended.

Paul Nyathi|Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni says her ministry is not recruiting, contradicting her earlier sentiment that they were failing to get people to recruit as ward development coordinators in Matabeleland North Province because the people there didn’t have the minimum five O’Level five subjects passes.

The ministry came under heavy attack after principal director in the Ministry, Air Commodore Evan Dumba (Retired) reading a contribution on her behalf told legislators during the 2019 pre-Budget seminar in Victoria Falls last week that they advertised for jobs in July and were failing to get people with just 5 O’level passes from the province.

However, Members of Parliament criticised the ministry for failing to execute its mandate.

In a statement, Minister Nyoni disassociated herself with the statement saying that there was a job freeze, hence her ministry was not recruiting as claimed by the senior official in a speech attributed to her.

“The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development wishes to advise the public that there is currently a national recruitment freeze for the above posts.

“Treasury has not given concurrence to fill up the posts. The recruitment falls under the remit of the Public Service Commission (PSC) not the ministry. Until such concurrence has been given the posts remain frozen,” said Minister Nyoni.

Source: State Media

The new bank notes and coins that are set to be introduced into the market tomorrow are expected to ease cash shortages and save the transacting public from being charged extortionate premiums by mobile money operators when getting hard cash, President Mnangagwa has said.

The President said there is no going back on the ban of the multi-currency system.
He said no country can develop without its own currency.

The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces made these remarks at his first anti-sanctions rally at Tshovani Stadium here yesterday.

The rally follows the Sadc-initiated anti-sanctions campaign that saw the region resolving to set aside October 25 as a day to send a message to the United States that the embargo is no longer necessary.

“Right now people are being pained by the ever increasing prices in shops, it is because we are in a transition.
“We are transitioning from the low levels and we need to resuscitate our economy.

“We have no choice but to resuscitate our economy. ln that process, we have some people who want to take advantage to profiteer.

“You were not getting money from the banks, but on Monday (tomorrow) we are going to inject more money in the banks until we reach a level where you lose appetite to go and get cash from EcoCash.

“You will simply go to the bank if you have money in your account and withdraw it to buy what you want. Right now, we are told that if you want $100 bond you should transfer $150 into an agent’s
account.
“You are losing the other $50 for nothing.

This is because there are cash shortages in the banks. We are now injecting money in the banks to correct that.”State media

Farai Dziva|The four-year-old girl who was kidnapped by unknown assailants has been found.

This was announced by former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation radio and television presenter Ezra Thsisa Sibanda.

See full statement below :

The 4 year old girl snatched from her house in Emganwini, Bulawayo on the 30th of October 2019 has been found well and alive in Tsholotsho.

Working with the family we unleashed a wave of searches using social media, amazing Chronicle Newspaper helped by carrying out the story and local radio presenters all sent alert messages. Im deeply humbled by their support and thank all of them from the bottom of my heart.

I sent alert messages to to all the borders and contacted police forces everywhere in Zimbabwe and it worked.

It was a collective effort from everybody and its clear when people work together, we can solve crime.

Emganwini Police were not eager to take up the case, let alone investigate but only interrogated the parents and did nothing. We contacted Police Chiefs in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South.

3 Officers under Lupane-Tsholotsho, namely, Constable Nyoni, Sergeant Sibanda & Constable Mpofu took up the case.

Late Friday afternoon they found the woman who stole the child, recovered the young girl but the woman ran away. She was finally caught this afternoon and remains in police custody.

Once again thank you so much for your prayers.

The big job is to help the child with proper checks from doctors, counselling and integrating her back to the same place where she was snatched.

The mother has arrived in Tsholotsho and united with her daughter. They are heading back to Bulawayo tonite. Im so relieved and excited. God is great!!!

By A Correspondent- Angry axed-security guards disrupted train travelling from Mamelodi to Tshwane station by barricading the railway line on Friday.

The guards used concrete pillars and different rubbles to prevent trains from transporting commuters to their destinations.

The disruptions affected mostly commuters using trains from Pienaarspoort in Mamelodi to Tshwane station and Joburg.

The security guards and cleaners started picketing on Monday at Pretoria Station in Tshwane demanding their jobs back after their contracts were terminated.

South African Cleaners, Security and Allied Workers Union national organiser, Andries Potsane said the security guards need their jobs back because most of them were breadwinners.

“They need their jobs nothing else. Their children suffering and struggling to cope. You can’t take some else job when you know that jobs are scarce in South Africa” he said.

He said please no one should touch other people’s jobs without having something else for them.

Potsane blamed Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) for everything that the security guards were going through.

He said that since the picketing started other security guards have failed to write their exams.

“We blame you PRASA as our leaders who should think for us,” he said.

General Industries Workers Union of South Africa’s shop steward, Lawrence Phora said they are in solidarity with the workers who lost their jobs.

“As ordinary workers, PRASA should provide alternative because members have been left unemployment,” he said.

According to PRASA’s spokeswoman, Nana Zenani the contract with the security company ended on 31 October this year.

She said the contract was found to be irregular by a special investigative unit report.

Metrorail spokeswoman, Lillian Mofokeng said the money owed to security companies was paid on Thursday.

“We apologise for the delay,” she said.

Mofokeng said she heard their grievances and will escalate them to the superiors.

“Give us a chance to take your grievances to our bosses,” she said.

-DailySun

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa says that beginning on Monday, Zimbabweans who are hard-pressed for cash will start withdrawing their cash from the banks with no problems at all.

Mnangagwa made the commitment which might soon come back to haunt him while he addressed a so called anti-sanctions rally at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi on Saturday.

Further, the President said there is no going back on the ban of the multi-currency system. He said no country can develop without its own currency.

Said President Mnangagwa at the rally: “Right now people are being pained by the ever increasing prices in shops, it is because we are in a transition.

We are transitioning from the low levels and we need to resuscitate our economy. We have no choice but to resuscitate our

economy. In that process, we have some people who want to take advantage to profiteer.

“You were not getting money from the banks, but on Monday (tomorrow) we are going to inject more money in the banks until we reach a level where you lose appetite to go and get cash from EcoCash.

“You will simply go to the bank if you have money in your account and withdraw it to buy what you want. Right now, we are told that if you want $100 bond you should transfer $150 into an agent’s account.

“You are losing the other $50 for nothing. This is because there are cash shortages in the banks. We are now injecting money in the banks to correct that.”

-StateMedia

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) will tomorrow release the new Zimbabwe dollar notes and coins into the market, with depositors set to start withdrawing limited amounts when banks open in the morning.

The new notes come in $2 and $5 denominations while $2 bond coins will also be released into circulation concurrently.

Banks started exchanging part of their electronic balances for the new notes with the RBZ at the weekend ahead of their planned release into the market. Our Harare Bureau understands that the Central Bank will during the course of the week announce new daily and weekly withdrawal limits, which it says will be in line with best international practice.

Authorities plan to gradually drip feed around $1 billion of cash into the market over the next six months that will take the amount of physical cash in circulation to around 10 percent of total money supply. Zimbabwe has about $19 billion in circulation, with only 4,5 percent being cash.

The RBZ Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is also set to meet on Friday to assess the market’s reaction to the new notes, and if necessary, prescribe appropriate interventions.

RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya told our Harare Bureau that release of the new notes will neither be inflationary nor raise money supply.

“Banks will this weekend begin exchanging their RTGS balances for physical cash with the RBZ before they are released to the public on Monday.

“We will make sure that we drip feed the physical cash into the market in order to ensure that there is sufficient cash in the economy. What we are doing will not increase money supply because we are just substituting existing electronic money with physical cash. The goal here is to create convenience for the transacting public and also offering them a choice of either using electronic money or cash.

“We believe this will also help in eliminating queues at the banks where people spend countless hours of productive time queuing for cash.

“The fears that people are expressing on social media are a legacy of the hyperinflation era, but we rest assure them that there will be no repeat of that because there will be no increase of money supply; there is absolutely nothing to fear.”

Economist and member of the RBZ Monitory Policy Committee, Mr Eddie Cross said concern over inadequate security features, prevented the introduction of higher denomination notes. He said introduction of the new notes would drive down premiums being charged for cash. Premiums of up to 60 percent are being charged for bond notes with coins pegged at 40 percent.

“The primary objective is to bring sufficient cash into the market, to do away with queues at the banks and ATMs and to bring cash into free supply without any premium. The new cash which will be introduced next week (this week) and will be sold to commercial banks on a 1:1 basis for RTGs dollars. There will be no impact on money supply or inflation. We are not creating new money, we are replacing existing money with cash — so it won’t have any impact on the national macro-economic fundamentals.

“If this injection is not enough to solve the problem, we will introduce more currency. The reason for the relatively small notes — the $5 and $2 notes and coins — is because we were concerned about the security features. The security of these notes is not adequate and if we introduce a higher value note there will be counterfeits notes produced.”

The Central Bank is seeking to eliminate cash shortages, which the country has experienced since 2016 as well as huge premiums being charged for cash. The Zimbabwe dollar was reintroduced in June this year following the outlawing of the multi-currency system.

-State media

THREE police constables who were off duty but hatched a plan to extort money from illegal diamond dealers in Chiadzwa, disguised as detectives from the minerals section, have been arrested together with a civilian accomplice they worked with to commit the crimes.

The quartet — identified as constables Chuma, Muteti, another Chuma and a civilian Norest Magurei — were exposed after one of the three complainants tipped off police officers stationed at a nearby base in Marange about the covert operations of the suspects who were moving around with a Toyota Sprinter.

They were quickly arrested and investigations carried out by the arresting officers revealed that the three constables, who work at Dangamvura and Mutare Central police stations, were off duty but travelled to Marange to dupe the complainants abusing their positions.

Officer Commanding Manicaland Police Commissioner Dr Wiklef Makamache said apart from the criminal trial the officers were facing at the courts following their arrest, the force had also instituted disciplinary action against them.

“They have been suspended from active police work till the finalisation of the disciplinary hearings we are going to conduct,” he said.

“The position of the President of the country is that of zero tolerance against corruption and our Commissioner-General has echoed the same sentiments. We have thus reactivated and reconfigured our systems within the police force so that we sweep clean our rank and file of all traces of corruption.

“The arrest of these three officers who abused their duties as peace officers and also abused the system for their own personal gain shows the seriousness we have in fighting corruption. We are re-branding as the ZRP and in so doing we are eliminating rough elements within our midst.”

Dr Makamache said in the morning of November 2, the suspects who were driving a Toyota Sprinter approached the first complainant and threatened to arrest him accusing him of being an illegal diamond dealer.

The complainant who feared to get arrested gave the suspects US$60.

Moments later the suspects approached another complainant in the same area. Using the same modus operandi they were given US$30 after they threatened to arrest the complainant saying they were detectives from the minerals section.

Satisfied that their plan was working well, the suspects approached another complainant who only gave them US$10. Soon after handing them the money, the complainant went to nearby police and made a report.

On Monday the accused persons appeared in court facing criminal abuse of duty and extortion charges.

They were each granted $100 bail and the case will go to trial on November 22.

-State media

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

A Bulawayo man left a court in shock with his claims that he fathered 25 children with three different women in an apparent bid to avoid paying more in maintenance for his four-year-old child.

Thembelihle Ngwenya revealed his bed-hopping antics at the Bulawayo Maintenance Court after one of his alleged mistresses Sheila Sibanda applied for an upward variation following countrywide price increases.

In a bid to evade an increase in maintenance from $50 to $400 per month towards the upkeep of his four-year-old child he had with Sibanda, Ngwenya who is employed by Brooklyn Express as a conductor claimed he was the most in-demand dad in Bulawayo with 25 other children he sired with three different women.

This was after Sibanda claimed the $50 per month that was granted in November 2017 was no longer sufficient to take care of the child’s needs.

“The respondent (Thembelihle Ngwenya) was on 8 November 2017 asked to make a monthly contribution of $50 towards the upkeep of the child we had together.

“The money is however no longer enough to take care of the child’s needs and I am therefore applying for an upward variation from $50 to $400 per month,” Ngwenya’s claim reads in part.

In response, Ngwenya pulled a shocker when he argued that he could not afford to pay more than $50 as he was no longer employed and had 25 other children to look after.

“I am unable to contribute that much. I have three wives and 25 other children. I am also no longer employed after my contract was terminated on 14 October 2019,” said Ngwenya before he offered to pay between $30 and $40 per month.

Sibanda, however, shot down her ex-lover’s claims saying he was still employed and that he didn’t have those children in question he claimed to have sired with his three wives.

That prompted Bulawayo provincial magistrate Enias Magate who presided over the case during its initial appearance on 29 October to postpone it to 5 November to allow Ngwenya to bring birth certificates of “his” children and proof that he was no longer employed by Brooklyn Express.

Fearing the humiliation of a trial, Ngwenya who had initially ranked his performance in the bedroom as incredible didn’t come to court leading the provincial magistrate to grant an order in his default which compels him to pay $100 per month with effect from the end of this month.

The ruling was also after Sibanda had obtained a letter from Brooklyn Express confirming that Ngwenya was still employed as a conductor and earning $70 per week.

-State Media

Another bread price increase looms after the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) hiked wheat price by about 67 percent, millers and bakeries have said.

Millers were previously purchasing wheat from GMB at $3 548 per tonne and the price is now pegged at around $5 900 per tonne.

Zimbabwe consumes about 38 000 tonnes of wheat monthly in the production of bread, confectioneries and other flour-related products.

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) media and public relations manager, Mr Garikai Chaunza said millers could not absorb the steep hike, hence the price will be passed down to consumers.

“We see the margin increase as being high, whose costs we cannot afford to absorb,” said Mr Chaunza.

A standard loaf of bread currently retails at around $15 with in-store bakeries charging between $10 and $12. National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe president, Denis Wala said bakeries have no option but to increase the prices of all wheat or flour-based products.

“If there is a movement in the cost of raw materials it means that the price of bread is also likely to increase.

“When we are looking at the issue of raw materials we are not only looking at flour but there is also issue of electricity and we all know that Zesa recently reviewed their tariffs.”

In a terse response, Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos said: “The past week has seen the reduction in the price of bread. I think it is still early to comment, let us wait to hear what the respective associations say in the coming week.”

-State Media

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A man from Nkayi District clobbered his neighbour with a hoe, stabbed her on the neck and went on to drink the blood that was oozing from the lifeless body.

This was revealed when Christopher Sibanda (28) of Sikhobokhobo Village appeared before a Bulawayo judge, Justice Thompson Mabhikwa during a Hwange High Court circuit which sat on Friday.

Sibanda, however, escaped the death penalty after a special verdict was passed due to his insanity.

Justice Mabhikwa found Sibanda not guilty of murder arguing that he could not be held to account as he was a mental patient.

He commuted him to Mlondolozi Mental Institution.

According to a statement of agreed facts between the State led by Mrs Martha Cheda and defence counsel, Mr Daniel Ncube of Legal Aid Directorate, on 27 June 2018 at around 3pm, Sibanda met Ms Sibusisiwe Sigauke along a footpath in Sikhewu village.

He was carrying a hoe handle, an adze, knife, black satchel and black pot.

The court heard that Ms Sigauke was coming from Kana Business Centre on her way home.

Without warning or provocation, Sibanda struck the deceased several times on the head with a hoe handle before stabbing her on the neck with a knife.

She died on the spot.

A passerby, Leonard Masuku who was using the same path found Sibanda sitting on top of deceased’s body and was sucking blood which was oozing out of the wound on her neck.

He rushed back to Kana Business Centre where he reported the matter to the police.

Upon his arrest police recovered a blood-stained knife and hoe handle which was broken into three pieces as a result of the attack.More in Home

Following his arrest Sibanda was taken to court before being referred to Mlondolozi Prison for psychiatric evaluation where he was found to have been mentally unstable at the time of commission of the offence.

The State and defence counsel submitted that the court retain a special verdict to the effect that Sibanda be found not guilty of murder because of insanity as guided by section 29 (2) (a) of the Mental Health Act.

-State media

Just like the 2018 elections, the subsequent by-elections have been marred by serious electoral malpractices.

Regrettably, several attempts by the MDC to engage ZEC, have not surprisingly, failed to any positive results.

Indeed, it is evident to the MDC, that both the by-elections in Tsholotsho and Wedza have not been spared.

Intimidation of voters through village heads continues.

A declaration of resettlement areas as no go areas for the MDC continue to stuff out right to campaign as well the right of citizens to make political choices in line with section 67 of the Constitution.

We therefore place it on record that the election environment is still characterised by closure of democratic space and abuse of state entities to the benefit of ZANUPF.

ZEC continues to look the other way where complains are raised.

Clear electoral fraud, bribery and criminal abuse of office by Obadiah Moyo was ignored, resultantly ZANUPF has found an incentive to continue on that path.

The run up to today’s by- elections at Tsholotsho was full of abuse of State institutions to ZANUPF’s advantage including biased distribution of food aid.

The long and short of it is that the by-election results will without doubt reflect a dividend of lack of holistic electoral reform.

ZEC had no capacity to run a credible election it must be disbanded, reconstituted and allow Zimbabwe to be on a new path towards a cure of the crisis of legitimacy which is causing unpalatable suffering of the masses.

It is no longer an MDC issue, but a national one; electoral reforms are urgent.

This also explains why the MDC, through its RELOAD strategy, is insisting that until comprehensive reforms are conducted; elections results will never be a true reflection of the Zimbabwean voters.

Jacob Mafume
MDC Secretary for Elections