By A Correspondent- A break-in at the Harare home of prominent lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu on Wednesday night is being treated as “suspicious”, he said on Friday.
Mpofu, who represented MDC leader Nelson Chamisa in his 2018 presidential election court petition, said unknown individuals broke in as he slept with his wife.
“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,” Mpofu told ZimLive by phone from Harare.
Mpofu said he had “every reason to believe” that the raid was carried out by state agents looking for information.
“I won’t be cowed into silence,” he added.
In June, Mpofu was slightly hurt after a vehicle in which he was a passenger overturned in Mashonaland Central. He suspected foul play in that incident.
Last month, Chamisa appointed Mpofu to lead an internal “Integrity and Accountability Panel”.
Over 300 undocumented foreign nationals have been found hiding in a Hillbrow building, and three suspects have been arrested for hijacking the 21-storey building.
The undocumented nationals, from Malawi and Zimbabwe, were taken in for processing and verification of their stay in the country, says police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters.
“Three suspects, two women and a man, were arrested for hijacking the building after police were able to locate the rightful owner,” Peters says.
Six Malawian nationals – four juveniles and two pregnant women – have been released pending their appearance before immigration authorities to prepare for their direct deportation.
FESTIVE SAFETY
The operation kicked off the Safer Festive Season Campaign in Gauteng, and was attended by Police Minister General Bheki Cele, together with the Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale, Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, and Johannesburg Metro Police Department Chief David Tembe.
In other operations under the campaign, police traced 124 suspects on whom warrants of arrests were executed for a range of crimes. Roadblocks were mounted at strategic points in all the five districts in the province and saw unroadworthy cars impounded and fines issued for contravention of road traffic regulations.
“A stolen police firearm was found on a wanted suspect, a Mozambican national, who was also driving a suspected stolen vehicle on the N12 in Alberton,” says Peters.
Three other firearms were also recovered – one in a roadblock on the N3 and two during a hostel raid in Thokoza. In addition, confiscated counterfeit goods estimated at R25m and confiscated liquor valued at R1.4m were confiscated.
“Residents of Gauteng can look forward to high visibility in known hotspots such as shopping centres and malls; more roadblocks to address road fatalities; visits by the police to places of entertainment; and more shut-downs of illegal liquor outlets; and generally more crime prevention operations,” says Peters.
Pictures of an elderly municipal police officer in Harare at a vending stall have emerged. The unnamed female, is seen pulling up a plastic bag before walking away, looking frail and vulnerable.
The development has drawn questions as to her name and particularly her age.
Below was a comment passed by the popular Talitha Dube: “Municipal police or whatever they are too old to be working yet our youthiz are unemployed.
“It started with a 76 yr old pres, then a 56 yr old youth leader Togarepi Pupurai .
“Something ain’t right in Zim. Then there is opposition that is not opposition.”
By A Correspondent- A Chipinge village head was left counting losses after his homestead was torched by his subject who accused the traditional leader of bewitching him and harbouring intentions to evict him from the village.
This came to light during the appearance of Joseph Kuwayani (43) of Mutowe Village under Chief Musikavanhu before Chipinge magistrate, Joshua Nembaware, facing charges of malicious damage to property.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty.
In mitigation, Kuwayani said he was remorseful for his actions as he committed the offence in anger after the village head had threatened to bewitch him.
“I am sorry for my actions Your Worship. I was angry after the village head threatened to bewitch me and also evict me from my homestead. I am asking for your lenience when passing sentence,’ said Kuwayani.
He was sentenced to 20 months in prison of which five months were conditionally suspended for five years. A further five months was suspended on condition he restitutes the complainant $5 000 on or before February 28 in 2020.
Prosecutor Shamiso Ncube told the court that on October 13, this year, Kuwayani was drinking at Daisyhill Business Centre in Chipinge.
He then gathered that the village head, Edgar Garwi (72), was planning to chase him away from the village.
The news did not amuse him.
He left the business centre and passed through another villager, Gift Ngirandi’s homestead where he asked for a box of matches. He was given the match box without divulging his intentions.
Kuwayani then proceeded to Garwi’s homestead where he set alight one of the thatched huts.
He went and hid behind another hut before setting it on fire too.
He escaped from the homestead, but was positively identified by one of the villagers who had reacted to the inferno. Property worth $5 000 was destroyed.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| There have been rumours of a coup in Zimbabwe. Most people are so worried and industry have down sized after rumours have gone wild. Despite the difficulties Zimbabwe is not ready for another coup.
In this era of deliberate and increasing economic and political progress, it is fascinating that the coups d’état, the scourge of mid-twentieth century development, is still making its presence felt.
Zimbabweans have debated the factors that cause a nation’s armed forces to overstep their official role as protector of national territorial integrity and seize power. After the 2017 coup which was not a coup Zimbabweans always expect the repeat of 2017. However a coup in any name is triggered by serious triggers which are beyond economical meltdown. One school of thought in Zimbabwe relates the risk and occurrence of coup that was not a coup to the state of the national economy and the military’s stake therein. Based largely on the experiences of Zimbabwe such economic theories have seldom been applied to Our country and never to any imagination on Zimbabwean mind. Zimbabwe makes for a very interesting case study, as there has been no empirical analysis of a coup theory despite its experiencing a coup d’état, at least some failed coup attempts, and 37 years of direct one man rule since independence in 1980.
Zimbabwe’s coup d’état which was not a coup has often been attributed to political and institutional factors, but the role of the economy and economic factors has to date never been tested on the Zimbabwean experience.
The exclusion of economic factors as a motivation for Zimbabwe’s military coup implies that academics have either overlooked the role of the economy in the context of Zimbabwean politics, or that economic factors really do not have any role in motivating Zimbabwe’s coup d’état which was not a coup and were thus justly excluded. It is argued that poor economic conditions are indeed linked with, and may have had a motivating role in, coups in other countries but it has never been a factor in Zimbabwe.
The economic conditions in Zimbabwe now do not have the power or reason to trigger a coup. Zimbabweans have grown to be used to the status quo and do not find any reason to rebel.
The result was that ‘in the attempt to construct a permanent but personal power base, Mugabe had undermined all attempts at nation building, had ruined the economy, and had aggravated tribal rivalries. The political instability of Mugabe’s wife lifestyle, gave General Chiwenga the legitimacy needed to mount a coup d’état which was not a coup.
The official and hypothesised reasons for Zimbabwe’s coup d’état or operation restore legacy are varied and complex.
It should be noted that a
‘coup d’état’ refers not to any takeover of the state but to a successful and overt seizure of power by the military so there must be an analytical distinction for the term to have any usefulness. The distinction between
successful and unsuccessful coups must be drawn since it is often difficult to know whether an
unsuccessful coup conspiracy ever existed. Because the coup attempt was put down or prevented before it picked up any momentum, a ‘conspiracy’ may refer to anything from a half-hearted discussion between a few officers to an actual plot. The significant attention bestowed upon this phenomenon is most likely a reflection of the notion that repeated coups d’état can permanently and negatively impact a nation’s prospects for development.
There are many approaches to explaining the occurrences of military coups, these can be placed into four non-mutually exclusive categories: the vulnerability or loss of legitimacy of the civilian regime; the internal dynamics of the military; international trends. While it is important as it implies that the coup must be intended, deliberate and involve a transfer of power there was only a grabbing of power from one person and handing it over to his deputy.
However, even the military’s internal intrigues and interests do not exist in a controlled vacuum. Rather, these are impacted by factors such as national security, institutional interests and governmental competence, and are moreover inevitably set against an economic context. For this reason, the economic context of military coups must be taken into account but not seriously in the case of Zimbabwe.
It should be noted that military coups occur because of a given context; that is, the military will plan and launch a coup not only because of internal fissures or interests but because of a wider socioeconomic or political situation in a given country. It is this context that perhaps marks the difference between an attempted and a successful coup. More importantly, it suggests that certain factors, such as a weak economy, may predispose a nation to vulnerability to military coups d’état. But there will be no military coup simply because it is November.
Military coups are not done as a commemoration so the excitement that there was a coup in November so we should expect one in itself a fallacy. What normally causes a coup is when it is perceived that the civilian government to be illegitimate, encroaching on military prerogatives, or governing poorly.
One branch of coup theory that has widely been ignored concerns the economic aspects of instability and coup risk. This is a serious misgiving thought given that an ailing economy is often a main cause or precondition of political instability and loss of political legitimacy, no matter how people will declare Zimbabwe poorly governed this will never tickle the army to a coup. The military, the economy and coups d’état do not always mix.
Although there is much disagreement among scholars on specific points, there has been some consensus that poor economic performance increases coup risk in a given state it is just a risk.
The danger of fixating on the military’s economic self interest as the main cause of coups d’état is that it may be oversimplified and trivialised into a ‘greed versus grievance’ debate.
Now the rumours doing rounds that the army is preparing for a coup is a mischievous wishful thinking. The idea of spreading the rumour of a coup in Zimbabwe is satanic and surely diabolic.
The rumours are well calculated as to divide the government and the army. It is a sick joke meant to bring distrust between the army and the government.
The rumours of a coup plays a very destructive role in our economy. And it is calculated to undermine peace and tranquillity which we have enjoyed for decades.
There will be no coup and the factors raised above do not fit the shoe.
Zimbabweans must resist the unpatriotic people who shed and send false news. Zimbabwe united must never be defeated.
By A Correspondent- Tobacco farmers have been forced to cut production by 16% following a dry spell and other reasons.
This will also result in lower export receipts next year the state media reports.
This was revealed by tobacco grower statistics that show a 16% decline in registrations for the 2019/2020 season.
The TIMB CEO Andrew Matibiri was quoted by the state media saying the decline may be temporary:
“There is a -16 percent variance over the same period last year, We believe this is transitory as more are expected to register as they plant their crops in the fields.
Some farmers that spoke to the publication have however announced their retirement from tobacco farming as they are now venturing into other crops. According to the publication, the RBZ governor is on record saying forex generated from Tobacco sales is enough to import fuel for a greater part of the year.”
By A Correspondent- A police officer from Bulawayo breathed a sigh of relief after he was acquitted of trying to rape a 54-year-old teacher after failing to locate his girlfriend whom he had come to visit.
It had been alleged that Wesley Shayanewako (35) stationed at Nkulumane Police Station punched the woman and tried to sexually abuse her.
The teacher was, however, rescued by a neighbour who found the cop already wearing a condom, naked. Shayanewako pleaded not guilty to assault and attempted rape before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.
The magistrate said the State failed to prove that Shayanewako assaulted and attempted to rape the woman as witnesses gave contradicting testimonies.
“In coming up with the judgment, the court considered evidence that was presented and it’s clear that Shayanewako didn’t commit the alleged offence. He’s therefore acquitted and discharged,” said magistrate Dube.
Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on December 21 last year at around 7PM, Shayanewako went to visit his girlfriend at her home and found the complainant seated at a veranda. He said Shayanewako was with a friend and both were dressed in uniform. He allegedly demanded sex from the woman and claimed to be ‘horny’ and the woman refused.
“He pushed her down to the floor and tried to remove her pants. Upon realising the accused’s determination, she grabbed his aroused manhood which had a condom on it and screamed for help,” Mr Solani said.
“The accused person fled from the scene after a neighbour called Baba Shanty came and asked them what was happening.”
The complainant was left holding a condom after the cop quickly dressed up and fled from the scene. Mr Solani said on the following day, the cop met the woman at Coolland Bar and punched her several times after accusing her of spreading lies about him. He said the complainant reported him to the police leading to his arrest.
By A Correspondent- United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a programme to fast track the visa applications for overseas doctors, nurses and other health care workers.
Johnson said this would go a long way in ensuring that the National Health System (NHS) of the United Kingdom is fully capacitated and is not suffering from a shortage of critical staff.
watch the video downloading below….
Under the scheme, the cost of a visa for healthcare professionals would be halved from 928 pounds ($1,190) to 464 pounds ($590), while applicants would be guaranteed a decision within two weeks.
Applicants coming 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.
This news will not be welcomed by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa whose government has already fired 211 doctors for going on strike demanding better pay and working conditions.
The doctors are reported to be earning US$80 per month. The Mnangagwa government is threatening to fire a third of the doctors over the strike which has now gone past 60 days.
By A Correspondent- A Chipinge granny escaped death by a whisker after she was stabbed three times on the head by her mentally-challenged son.
This was revealed yesterday when Daniel Muchongoyo (34) of Maronga village under Chief Musikavanhu appeared before Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware facing physical assault charge.
Muchongoyo exhibited signs of mental disorder in court, prompting the magistrate to remand him in custody to November 20 to allow for his mental examination by two doctors in terms of the Mental Health Act (MHA).
“What’s wrong with your behaviour? Are you normal? I think you need to be examined by two doctors in prison to ascertain your mental status. You are remanded in custody and ordered to be examined by two doctors in terms of the MHA,” Nembaware said.
Prosecutor Shamiso Ncube told the court that on November 3, the complainant, Agnes Muchongoyo (60), who is Daniel’s mother, was at her homestead preparing breakfast for her family.
After eating, Daniel threw away the plates, to the chagrin of his mother.
She inquired from him why he had thrown the plates away and Daniel became angry and moved away from her.
He went on to arm himself with a knife which he took to his room.
She followed him to inquire why he had armed himself with such a dangerous weapon.
He allegedly became aggressive and charged towards her. He went on to stab her thrice on the head. The mother fell to the ground, screaming for help and neighbours rushed to her rescue.
She sustained a deep cut on the head and was rushed to Chipinge District Hospital where a police report was made, leading to Daniel’s arrest.
The knife was recovered and will be produced in court as an exhibit.
By A Correspondent- As the govt intensifies it is Electronic Government (e-government) drive, the parliament clerk has said MPs will receive tablets before this month ends.
Addressing a pre-budget seminar in Vic Falls early this week the parly clerk said:
You will have the tablets before we close this Parliament session. Our suppliers are expecting to have the tablets on 26 November and immediately thereafter we will give to members
The move was in response to some MPs’ queries that they were saddled with parly paperwork business.
By A Correspondent- Four senior teachers at a school in Chiredzi allegedly connived to write examinations for their partners.
According to a whistleblower, the quartet (names withheld) would open the sealed envelopes after exams and rewrite some papers for their partners, mostly external candidates, before sealing them again and forge signatures and dispatch the exam papers.
The teachers are alleged to have written Geography, English and Mathematics papers for their lovers.
“The teachers are said to have come up with a rendezvous where they would take the extra papers and write the exams while their partners fake sitting for the exam,” a source disclosed.
“After the exam, the signed envelopes would be taken to a room and torn open and their partners’ exam papers would be replaced by the ones they would have written. Extra envelopes would be used before signatures are forged.”
The deal turned bad after one of their (teachers’) relatives discovered that they were rewriting exams for their partners and let the cat out of the bag. The pictures of the torn envelops and exam papers seen by a local publication show that they were taken on a bed meaning they were not immediately taken to the strong room as required by Zimsec examination board.
Further investigations by a local publication showed that one of the candidates was a Form Four student at the school who was having an improper association with one of the teachers.
Another candidate is also married to one of the teachers. It also turned out that some of the partners are married and stay in Chiredzi town. The scam is alleged to have been going on since 2017 mainly in exchange for sex.
The matter was reported to Chiredzi district schools inspector Petronella Nyangwe, who dispatched a team to the school, but appears to have died a natural death.
Nyangwe could not be reached for comment as her mobile phone was not reachable.
Provincial education director Zedius Chitiga said he needed to study the pictures before he could give a comment.
Primary and Secondary Education permanent secretary Tamisang Thabela, said she would investigate the matter when reached for comment.
Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavhima said he had not been briefed about the issue, but promised to find out.
Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) public relations officer Nicky Dlamini said investigations were underway.
“Yes, I can confirm that we received a report through our hotline and investigations are already underway. We are going to dispatch a team of investigators to the school to find out what was really happening,” Dlamini said.
The four teachers could not be reached for comment as their mobile phones were not reachable.
By A Correspondent- Senior Doctors here have demanded the reinstatement of Junior doctors who were fired by the government following their labour action of not reporting for duty for over 60 days.
Speaking to the Health Times, Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association said:
“For the way forward the punitive disciplinary hearings must stop forthwith and those dismissed must have this decision reversed. A livable wage must be dispatched. Robust dialogue in good faith should take place with key stakeholders to help direct the capacitation and of the workers and the public health institutions. These must be given timelines to yield results.
The government fired 211 doctors recent;y as a punishment for their continued strike.
By A Correspondent| Bulawayo Metropolitan province reportedly needs an additional 25 schools to curb overcrowding issues that have seen most schools resorting to hot sitting for them to cater for all students.
This was revealed by Housing and Community services assistant director Mrs Thumamina Khumalo who said:
“The city is in dire need of more schools to eradicate the challenges associated with hot sitting. My education officers estimated that we need around 25 new schools with Emganwini, Pumula South and Cowdray Park being the most affected.
We pray for the economic situation to improve and access to the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) funding in achieving this goal.”
A Zimbabwean soldier clearly fires live ammunition at protesting citizens
State Media|Minister of Defence: ZDF will continue fulfilling its mandate. This was said by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri in a speech read on her behalf by her ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Mark Grey Marongwe, during the graduation ceremony of junior staff course number 36 at Manyame Air Base yesterday.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) will continue discharging its duties effectively and fulfil its mandate in line with the dictates of the Constitution to create an enabling environment for economic development.
“The Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs considers this endeavour of training of staff in the ZDF as one of the components critical for the effective fulfilment of its constitutional mandate prescribed in Section 212 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe; which is to protect Zimbabwe, its people, its national security and interests, territorial integrity and uphold the Constitution,” said Muchinguri-Kashiri.
“The knowledge imparted in courses of this nature also empower the ZDF to maintain peace and stability and contribute to the creation and sustenance of an environment conducive for equitable economic development.
“The mandate of the ZDF extends to civic duties, that include rendering support to the ZRP in the maintenance of law and order, which they do under command of the ZRP and assisting the Department of Civil Protection, which is charged with coordination and management of disasters and hazards.”
Muchinguri-Kashiri applauded the ZDF Special Forces for the critical role they played in rescuing thousands of marooned civilians, providing food and medicines, as well as repairing roads and other infrastructure after Cyclone Idai hit Manicaland and Masvingo this year.
She said the ZDF sailed through in training programmes despite the current harsh economic conditions exacerbated by the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the United States and the European Union.
“Despite the current tough economic conditions, occasioned largely by the imposition of sanctions against Zimbabwe by Britain and its allies, the ministry has gone out of its way to ensure that resources are availed to ZDF training and personnel development programmes,” said Muchinguri-Kashiri.
The course, the second since the commencement of the Second Republic, had 25 students, with five of them from Zambia, Tanzania and Malawi. The regional factor is in line with President Mnangagwa’s engagement and re-engagement process.
The graduation ceremony was attended by Commander Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo, representing Commander ZDF General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, and Air Marshal Elson Moyo among others.
So you know Zimbabwe is having a weird moment about alcohol right.
Well actually mostly about beer and fizzy drinks.
Well for the whiskey lovers, there is some excellent news. Drinking whiskey will make you live a longer, healthier life, and be more creative.
A study was presented to the American Association for the Advancement of Science found a link between whiskey and mortality.
University of California neurologist Claudia Kawas and her team have been studying the lifestyle habits of people who live until their 90s. The group has been researching people of this age group for some 15 years – and they have found that those who drank two units of alcohol every day were less likely to die prematurely.
And wait, there is more. Whiskey contains ellagic acid a powerful antioxidant that can eliminate harmful, cancerous free radicals in the body. Whiskey even contains more of it than red wine, which has always been considered on the ‘healthier’ spectrum of alcoholic drinks.
The risk of heart attack is released by 50% and you are half as likely to suffer from dementia.
And we didn’t need a scientific study for the creativity part. Whiskey inspires ‘Dutch courage’
Which kinda explains some of our beer buddies who tend to be less creative.
But yeah well it is the weekend before work comes back for many folks so, drink away!
This has been one of the most deluded weeks for the Zimbabwe government – even by its own inherently schizophrenic standards – firstly claiming that providing low salaries to workers was economically prudent as it attracted foreign direct investment (FDI), since companies preferred investing in countries with cheap labour, then yesterday announcing that it intended inviting back foreign-based specialist doctors – yet, clearly failing to adequately care for its own local medical practitioners.
Wow! Could this get any worse? I am pretty sure we have not heard the last of these laughable pronouncements – which, however, fall far short of being comical, as ordinary Zimbabweans have bore the brunt of such brazenly atrocious policies by the government for decades.
Quite frankly, what would inspire a whole minister of health to be so excitable – whilst, touring and inspecting a private health institution – to seemingly forget that his government has dismally failed to attend to the demands and needs of its own health care workers with any gravity of seriousness?
As every Zimbabwean knows by now – likely through most traumatic experiences of not receiving any medical attention at public health institutions, or witnessing loved ones dying for lack of care – doctors have been incapacitated from attending to their duties, due to the inadequacy of their remunerations from government.
As much as they have tried to plead their case with relevant authorities, this has, nonetheless, been greeted with the usual cruel hard-heartedness and unforgivable arrogance – whereby, instead of the government negotiating in good faith, they have resorted to threats and firing of the clearly shortchanged and aggrieved doctors.
Who is to blame here? Who has wronged whom?
For a clearer understanding of the doctors – and by extension, all other civil servants, including teachers, nurses, etc, as well pensioners – let us rewind the clock to exactly a year ago, when every employee’s salary was pegged in United States dollars, as that had effectively been the currency of choice since the introduction of the multi-currency system in 2009.
Notwithstanding that people were now receiving their monies from banks in Bond Notes, purely as a consequence of US dollar cash shortages – as the exchange rate was at par at 1:1 – employee contracts, however, never changed, and their salaries were still legally in the Greenback.
Nonetheless, fast forward to 2019, enter a new phase of the government’s crazed economic policies, with the 20 February introduction of the RTGS dollar as the new local currency, and the liberisation of the interbank exchange rate – which was characterised by a steady decline of the Zimbabwe currency against the US dollar.
This was the genesis of the ‘stealing’ of employee salaries, as they continued to receive their monies in local currency at a rate of 1:1 against their contractually binding US dollar remuneration – despite the fact that the RTGS dollar was swiftly losing strength, and as such, their payments needed to be adjusted accordingly.
Furthermore, on 24 June – through Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 – the administration outlawed the multi-currency system, and also introduced yet another local currency in the form of the Zimbabwe dollar.
Workers continued to receive their salaries in the new local currency – with brazen disregard of prevailing interbank exchange rates, which would have maintained these at their US dollar equivalent, in line with their contracts of employment.
Thus, when workers and pensioners demanded their right for salaries to be pegged at prevailing interbank exchange rates, the government treated this as some insane request for pay increments – thereby, offering them pitiful so-called ‘cushioning allowances’, and ‘cost of living adjustments’ (COLA), under the excuse that they (government) had no money.
Government had no money for what? Civil servants were not asking for anything more than what they were already entitled to in accordance with their employment contracts as of October 2018 – a salary that was in US dollars.
Therefore, all the government was supposed to do was continue providing its workers their salaries at the same value as in October 2018 – but, as the depreciating Zimbabwe dollar had now become the only legal tender in the country, then these had to be valued at the prevailing interbank exchange rate.
Simple!
What does government need more money for? If they could pay their employees a salary of, for example, US$500 in October 2018, then only what civil servants demand is the same salary today. Yet, in order to receive the same value in Zimbabwe dollars, it needs to be at the prevailing interbank exchange rate of US$1:ZW$15, which makes it ZW$7,500.
However, if the same employee is currently being given ZW$1,000, then it means the employer – the government of Zimbabwe – has deprived him or her of ZW$6,500.
As such, who has stolen from whom? Who has wronged whom? Thus, if there is anyone who should be taken to labour court for breaching the contract, should it not be the employer? So, where does the government get the audacity to conduct disciplinary hearings against its workers, whom it has clearly wronged and dispossessed of their rightful remunerations?
If anyone deserves to be fired, it certainly is not the incapacitated employee – whose compromised salary is clearly not enough to report for duty, considering the ever-rising and unaffordable cost of living – but, the minister responsible for this dispossession of rightful salaries.
Given this shameful background of the obvious unfair treatment of its employees by Zimbabwean authorities – which will further compromise the already wretched health delivery system, as there surely will be a huge upsurge in emigration of our valued medical practitioners – how do they imagine inviting back specialist doctors currently in the diaspora?
Will this government’s deranged and delusional thinking ever end? Let us not forget why these specialist doctors left the country in the first place – the same reason that our current medical practitioners will be moving to foreign lands…the ruthless and uncaring treatment, and abuse they are receiving at the hands of their employer.
An employer, whose spokespersons would rather utter uncharitable and reckless statements on both social and mainstream media to the effect that they preferred that these ‘murderous doctors were fired’! Who is being ‘murderous’ in this regard?
Who has deprived our valued doctors the ability to attend to our ailing loved ones? Who has decided to fire these medical practitioners – whose cause it totally understandable – instead, of conducting genuine negotiations? Who is forcing these indispensable gallant men and women out of the country, to serve other people, whist their fellow compatriots are left desperate? Who has effectively driven our critically sick loved ones to their deaths?
Why then would any right thinking foreign-based specialist doctor decide to return under such grave conditions? The Zimbabwe government should first sort out its own affairs at home before dreaming of any fantastical and unrealistic ambitions.
Former president Jacob Zuma was hospitalised for a whole week when the Pietermaritzburg High Court turned down his application to appeal a judgment that found him guilty of defaming former minister Derek Hanekom. The Jacob Zuma Foundation on Friday confirmed that embattled Zuma had been admitted at a Durban hospital for an unknown ailment.
Earlier last month Zuma suffered another defeat when Judges Thoba Poyo-Dlwati, Bhekisisa Mnguni and Esther Steyn dismissed the application in which he and his co-accused France arms manufacturer Thales were seeking leave to appeal a high court ruling against application for the permanent stay of prosecution for the arms deal fraud and corruption charges.
The foundation said it was unknown what Zuma was suffering from, and asked for him to be given space to recoup. The foundation also said the public would be advised at a later stage as to when would Zuma be able to appear before the commission. Zuma was only discharged on Thursday, the day Judge Dhaya Pillay turned down his application in the Hanekom matter.
When the litigation case was heard in the Durban High Court, Pillay had found Zuma guilty of defamation by posting on his Twitter account that Hanekom “was known enemy agent”.
Zuma had made the statement in response to EFF leader Julius Malema’s statement that alleged that Hanekom had collaborated with opposition parties in getting Zuma removed as state president through a vote of no confidence. Instead of Zuma complying with the previous judgment by removing the tweet, he kept it and appealed the ruling.
Zuma had been due to appear before the commission next week, but commission spokesperson Mbuyiselo Stemela told the media that Zuma’s legal team had revealed that he was unable to attend due to illness.
Paul Nyathi|An enterprising South African businessman ‘ambushed’ South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and gifted him with socks from his brand.
27-year-old entrepreneur Sibusiso Ngwenya, better known as Skinny Sbu after the popular sock brand he founded, took his chance and moved so quickly that he approached the President before his security could stop him. Sbu told the President.
“Mr President, may I introduce you to South Africa’s biggest sock brand, it’s called Skinny Sbu Socks, I hope you enjoy this pair and I hope you get to give it to your family. They’re by me, my name is Sbu, I’m skinny and I make socks.”
Ramaphosa graciously accepted the socks and thanked Sbu.
Watch video downloading below:
Would the same ever be done to our own President Emmerson Mnangagwa?
There was drama at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo on Thursday after a woman believed to be a Zanu-PF supporter tried to hand President Mnangagwa a note as he arrived in the city.
After landing at the airport, Mnangagwa, as per tradition, briefly interacted with party supporters who had come to welcome him.
It was at that moment that a heavily built woman handed a note to Mnangagwa which was quickly taken away by one of his security aides.
Mnangagwa continued with the interaction before he was whisked away to the Bulawayo State House where he put up for the night.
The woman was swooped by dozens of security agents who, by the time Mnangagwa left, had formed a circle around her.
The contents of the note could not be established at the time of going to print.
A 28-year-old maidservant from Nairobi in Kenya accused of stealing a huge sum of money from her male employer stunned court attendees, when she claimed she had been paid for her nonpareil sexual services, and that she did not steal the money.
Ruth Khaecha, who worked as a house-help for Nairobi businessman Paul Kanyi Mwangi, said the tycoon put Ksh800, 000 on her breasts after she offered him unrivalled intimacy on January 15 this year.
The sexual intercourse, she said, happened at Kanyi’s home in Balozi Estate, Muthaiga North in Nairobi.
Khaecha was arrested and charged with stealing Kanyi’s money.
The court heard that after making away with the cash, the suspect travelled to her father’s home in Kakamega. The accused allegedly used the money to buy a parcel of land in Kakamega.
She also used the money to acquire two motorcycles and a solar panel, which she gifted her father, Solomon Bwoya.
Denying the theft charge, Khaecha told the court that Kanyi enjoyed her sexual services and found it necessary to reward her with Ksh800, 000.
The suspect told the court that on the material day, Kanyi arrived home carrying nine envelopes.
“He invited me to his bedroom to help him arrange the envelopes in his wardrobe,” said Khaecha.
“All through, I did not know what the envelopes contained, though I suspected there was money in them. I knew a man’s weakness. As we were arranging the envelopes in the wardrobe, he started caressing me, telling he had carried money in the wrappers. I removed the contents in one of the sleeves, and confirmed that it was true he had money in them,” said Khaecha.
“It was not the first time Kanyi and I were having sex. This time around, I decided to give him excellent service, knowing too well the reward he will offer me will be life-changing for my children and I. When we were done having sex, he placed Ksh800, 000 on my breasts,” she said.
The suspect told the court that she began her secret affair with Kanyi the moment she was employed as a nanny in Kanyi’s home in October 2018.
Khaecha told Makadara Chief Magistrate, Heston Nyaga, that she realised Kanyi’s wife was not satisfying him in bed the moment he started making sexual advances at her.
“I decided to help her [Kanyi’s wife] satisfy his man, and, in the process, I get money to provide for my children,” she said.
State Prosecutor Shadrack Otuke asked Khaecha whether she did not feel any guilt that her actions would lead to the end of Kanyi’s marriage.
“I did what any person would do when such an opportunity comes knocking,” she said.
“I suffered a lot while growing up after my mother died. I wouldn’t want my children to experience the hardships I went through. So, I had to do what I could to change our lives,” said Khaecha.
The accused told the court that after receiving the envelope that contained money, she kept it in a bag in her bedroom, and only counted the notes when she arrived at her parents’ home in Kakamega.
Khaecha told the court that she had worked as Mr and Mrs Kanyi’s house-help for two-and-a-half months on a Ksh6, 500 monthly salary.
She said she was forced to terminate her services in early January 2019 after Kanyi’s wife grew suspicious of their affair.
Denying claims that he had paid Khaecha for sex, Kanyi told the magistrate that while at work on January 15, he received a phone call from the watchman at the estate informing him that Khaecha had left.
“I rushed home, searched where I had kept my money, and found it was missing. Khaecha was nowhere to be seen, and my phone calls to her weren’t going through,” said Kanyi.
The businessman said he, thereafter, filed a report at Muthaiga Police Station.
The suspect was traced to her rural home.
“I was shocked mid-January this year seeing Kanyi arrive at my parents’ home accompanied by several people. Of course, I had earlier told him where I hail from in Kakamega. I gave him the money that was left — Ksh70, 000. I had no issue returning it, given he gave me the cash willingly,” said Khaecha.
Makadara Chief Magistrate Heston Nyaga said he will rule on the matter on November 22.
State Media|Eight years after smashing an axe into his wife, seven years after being convicted of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and sentenced to jail, and six years after losing his appeal, Gordon Tsuro, the head of the Marriages Department at the Registrar-General’s Office in Harare, was finally picked up from his office this week and sent to prison to serve his three-year sentence.
Until his six years of freedom in a legal limbo was exposed by state media, Tsuro had gone about his normal day-to-day life without a care in the world, going to work, socialising and the like.
But once the authorities read about his peculiar case in the newspaper, records were checked and the legal bureaucracy swung, or perhaps creaked, into action.
The critical missing link was apparently the letter from the High Court Registrar to the Harare Magistrates Court stating the appeal had failed. That letter finally turned up six years late.
But, better late than never, the process finally started at the end of October and armed with a warrant of arrest, the police picked up Tsuro on Wednesday, took him the following day to the Harare Magistrates’ Courts where he had been originally convicted, and the necessary papers were signed to send him to jail to serve his punishment.
If he had started his sentence the day it was given, and had behaved himself in jail to earn the one-third standard remission for good behaviour, Tsuro would have been out in 2014, five years ago, and now be well into his post-prison life.
Tsuro (48) was on June 26, 2012 convicted and jailed three years by then Harare Regional Magistrate Mr William Bhila, for seriously injuring his wife, Ms Rosemary Charlie, after striking her with an axe in a domestic dispute.
During trial, the court heard that the couple had a misunderstanding over residential stand documents as they were going to bed at around 8.40pm. Tsuro wanted the documents for Charlie’s house where building had started. But they were at her workplace and could not be obtained that night. So Tsuro grabbed an axe from under the bed and after forcing his wife to sit smashed her in the head and legs with the axe, before breaking her arm.
The couple’s landlord, Edward Gwekwete, rescued her and took her to hospital.
Tsuro was charged with attempted murder, but was finally convicted on a lower charge of very serious assault.
He immediately appealed to the High Court against both the conviction and sentence and was granted bail as is common in these cases until his appeal was heard.
But neither Tsuro nor his lawyers, Mupinu and Mugiya, pursued the appeal. So almost a year later on May 15 2013, deadlines being missed, the Registrar of the High Court formally dismissed the appeal. It is now that Tsuro entered legal limbo.
The Magistrates Court should have been told that the appeal had failed, and then Tsuro would have been arrested and formally committed to prison.
The waters were a little muddied by the lawyers, Mupindu and Mugiya, who applied for reinstatement of the appeal, but the Registrar advised them to file a court application if they wanted the automatic process reversed.
However, Mupindu & Mugiya had renounced agency in 2013 before a new law firm by the name Mugiya & Macharaga assumed agency, but there are no indications on the relevant court record, 580/12 that an application for reinstatement of appeal was ever pursued. So there never was an acquittal.
Contrary to the record, on September 13 2019, Harare lawyer Mr Norman Mugiya of Mugiya & Macharaga claimed his client was acquitted by the High Court, but could not state the date, judges or prosecutor who handled the case.
“It’s an old case and I think my client has since been acquitted. I am not sure of the judge and prosecutor who were involved. I will check the case number for you,” he said.
Officials at the High Court and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) head office said they were only aware of Appeal Case Number 580/12 that was dismissed for non-compliance with the rules.
The Herald is reliably informed that on October 24 this year, the Registrar of the High Court Mr Donald Ndirowei sent a copy of the High Court record to the Harare Magistrates’ Courts to enable the lower court to issue a warrant of arrest against Tsuro, which was eventually issued this week.
The Herald also established that the magistrate’s court record did not show any sign of acquittal or reinstatement of the appeal.
A perusal of the court record shows that State papers prepared at Zengeza Police Station, did not state that Tsuro was a senior Government official.
It should have been different, according to legal expert Advocate Wellington Pasipanodya.
He said the Registrar of the High Court should have timeously informed the magistrate’s court of the dismissal of the appeal to enable the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
“Once the Registrar of the High Court has dismissed the appeal, he
or she instructs the Clerk of the lower court to ensure the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the convict.
“After issuance of the warrant, the clerk of court in turn conveys the dismissal to the police. The police, armed with a warrant of arrest, will then bring the convict before a magistrate for committal to prison,” he said.
Mr Pasipanodya explained the process of a criminal appeal.
“When a convict files an appeal at the High Court, he or she must prosecute it through payment of record preparation fees, payment of notice of setdown fees as well as physically inspecting the record.
“In the event that one fails to comply with the rules of appeal, the Registrar of the High Court may deem the appeal to have lapsed,” he said.
By Jefferson Chitando|All over the World, Governments have named streets, buildings, airports and other important infrastructure after great achievers in order to protect legacies.
The same was done in Zimbabwe after independence but ironically almost everything that the Government could lay its hands on was named after Robert Mugabe, the first post-colonial President of the country.
Every major road in every town in Zimbabwe is in fascist fashion named after Mugabe; the biggest airport, major buildings, schools, faculty buildings are Robert Mugabe and there is Robert Mugabe Highway from Norton to Murombedzi Growth Point.
But this is a misnomer and a disgusting distortion of history as Mugabe is not the only politician who made immense contribution to the liberation of this country. In fact such an arrangement is an insult to those who fought the liberation struggle and a shame to all Zimbabweans.
There are many politicians who made equal sacrifice and suffered detention and exile the same way as Mugabe. Some even served more years in prison than Mugabe.
An obvious example of an overlooked national hero in terms of honour and recognition is Eddison Mudadirwa Zvobgo.
He was a brilliant lawyer, a flamboyant politician and an eloquent speaker who gave a face and character to the watershed Lancaster House Conference talks of 1979.
It’s amazing that Zvobgo does not have even a spoon named after him. Such is the kind of mockery that this nation got from its Government since 1980 and the new dispensation would not be right to leave that kind of arrangement intact.
There are heroes in many spheres of life; the liberation struggle, academia, sports, education, philanthropy and to say that the only legacy we know and respect is the Mugabe legacy is an insulting fallacy.
Zvobgo went into detention at the same time with Mugabe between 1963 and they both spent 10 continuous years behind bars. His prison experience was so suffocating that he almost suffered mental break-down. He witnessed the death in prison of Leopold Takawira whose cell was next to his. Zvobgo was in Mozambique for the armed struggle and was the spokesperson for Zanu.
His presence throughout the struggle was so vivid that he is a politician who is in the league of such nationalists as Dr Joshua Nkomo, Robert Mugabe and Hebert Chitepo. A litany of streets have been named after Chitepo while Nkomo is probably the only politician who survived the war and has been lucky to have a street named after him and his giant statue erected in Bulawayo.
For some modicum of decency, the Government seriously needs to consider reversing the litany of streets named after Mugabe so that other deserving heroes are also acknowledged.
It should be noted that there is no slighting of the tremendous role Mugabe played in the history of this country but naming everything after one man doesn’t give Zimbabwe a good picture.
In fact it affects the Zimbabwe brand in a negative way.While it might sound regionalist (indeed it is not because even hero status is proposed by regions), it is our call for the people of Masvingo to mobilise resources and honour people of their own area. They should put together funds to erect a statue in Masvingo in honour of the late Eddison Zvobgo.
Incidentally Zvobgo is the man who fought so hard for the name of the City of Masvingo to be reversed from Nyanda to Masvingo. He wanted the City to take ownership of the Great Zimbabwe Monuments ahead of any other region in the country. He addressed meetings throughout the Province to garner support for the change of the name.
It is not enough to just erect a statue but a prominent street must be named after this rare breed of a politician.
It must be borne in mind that Nkomo’s statue in Square in Bulawayo did not come on a silver platter. People of Matabeleland had to make noise and indeed there was resistance from Government until the authorities capitulated.
We propose that Dr Zvobgo’s statue be erected at or near the corner of Robert Mugabe in the CBD of Masvingo City. In addition, a prominent street in the city or in the capital city in Harare must be named after him.
Remember Zvobgo is the charismatic politician with the rich quotable quotes before and after the war.
The City of Masvingo has not one CBD street named after the illustrious sons and daughters of the Province. Even the names of faculty buildings at the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) are dominated by national heroes from other regions. GZU faculty centres are named after the likes of Mugabe (Mugabe School of Education), Chitepo (Herbert Chitepo School of Law) and others.
Apart from Zvobgo there are many other outstanding achievers from the province who deserve such honour. We have the likes of Simbi Mubako, Hamadziripi, Dr Simon Mazorodze, Simon Muzenda, Sheba Tavarwisa, Josiah Tungamirai, Dzinashe Machingura?
The fleet of buses at Beitbridge Border last week enroute to Bulawayo.
RURAL communities in Matabeleland region will start benefitting from subsidised Zupco services after President Mnangagwa yesterday commissioned 76 buses with most expected to ply routes in Matabeleland North and South provinces.
The President commissioned the buses at the City Hall Car Park in Bulawayo reiterating his Government’s commitment to ease the high cost of transport.
“This fleet is expected to go a long way towards revamping our public transport delivery system and reduce the high transport costs that had become the norm in both rural and urban areas. These buses have a subsidy by Government so they will remain cheap,” said President Mnangagwa.
“This programme attests to my Government’s commitment and determination to improve the quality of life of the ordinary people in line with our vision to become a middle-income society by 2030. In this regard, we are determined to ensure that our developmental programmes leave no one behind.”
President Mnangagwa said it is the Government’s vision to have an efficient, reliable, safe and affordable transport sector.
“In line with my Government’s commitment to provide social safety nets for vulnerable groups and after the realisation that our commuting public has often fallen victim to unscrupulous operators who are charging exorbitant bus fares, we resolved to recapitalise Zupco,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the country is going to have in excess of 1 500 buses brought from China, Belarus and South Africa.
“Some of the buses are from Belarus. Of the 500 coming from Belarus, 300, we have agreed, will come to Zimbabwe as knocked down kits to be assembled here locally to provide employment,” said the President.
He said Zupco is presently ferrying more than 300 000 commuters to various destinations per day across the nation but the number was set to increase with the delivery of more buses.
“Today we are commissioning an additional 76 buses as I speak, the delivery of the balance of the buses is ongoing, they are already over 76 because others are on the road coming.
“The majority of the buses we are commissioning today will ply the rural areas in Matabeleland North and South provinces,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the improvement of the public transport system in the country was being complemented by the ongoing Road and Rail Rehabilitation Programme.
“These programmes must be collectively seen in the context of facilitating economic activity, industrial development, trade and access to services within our respective communities from the ward level upwards,” said President Mnangagwa.
He urged local authorities to rehabilitate and construct modern and complementary infrastructure such as bus termini, appropriate bus stops among others to ensure safety, timeliness, efficiency and convenience to the commuting public. “I equally urge the various stakeholders to adopt modern technologies to minimise leakages and optimise operations in the implementation of this programme.
“Users of these buses and commuters alike must look after them and keep them clean, ngiyalicela ma driver ukuthi lingabi lobutshapha, angikufuni lokhu. Ngicela ukuthi libambe kuhle impahla lezi, siyezwana?” said President Mnangagwa.
Acting Zupco chief executive officer Mr Evaristo Madangwa said they are offering affordable transport services in Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Mutare, Kwekwe, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Gokwe and recently in Chiredzi.
“We are set to re-open our Gwanda and Hwange depots and commence operations in those towns. These outlying depots will be our springboard for reaching out to remote rural areas,” he said.
“We have made significant progress in reopening other dormant depots like Karoi, Rusape and Kariba. The re-opening of these depots will result in total national coverage so that all Zimbabweans will benefit from this noble national programme.”
Mr Madangwa said they are on course to reach the target of 1 000 omnibuses under the Zupco franchise to complement the buses.
“We are on target to reach the target fleet size having secured 312 commuter omnibuses to date of which 80 of those omnibuses are plying Bulawayo routes. We have got 507 buses countrywide,” he said.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Judith Ncube said the buses would improve mobility in the city.
Acting Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Mlandu Ncube said the buses would contribute towards the attainment of a smart transformative city by 2020.
A 34-year-old Harare man has appeared in court after swindling a local bank of ZWL$88 000.
Irvine Kazamula of Ruwa was granted bail by a Harare magistrate this Friday and ordered to surrender his traveling documents and report to the police once a fortnight.
The court heard that on different occasions, the accused who works as a Reconciliation Clerk at Steward Bank used his position at work to misrepresent facts by claiming that different subscribers had made failed transactions and deserved reimbursements.
He would then allegedly transfer the funds from the bank to other accounts, hence prejudicing the bank of more than $88 000 which was never recovered.
Kazamula will be back in court on the 11th of next month.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- “During a post cabinet briefing held on Tuesday, Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said government does not dispute the need to give a cost-of-living adjustment to workers but it was faced with various competing national demands which include payment of annual bonuses that will take a significant portion of resources,” reported Bulawayo 24.
“In addition, said Mutsvangwa, government is putting measures to “contain loss of the workers purchasing power and request worker representatives to provide three nominees to attend a Tripartite Negotiating Forum Technical Committee workshop.”
“The workshop is aimed at coming up with a Social Contract that is aimed at bringing the parties to a common position.
“This may result in the freeze of incomes and prices,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
What good will it be to the worker whose salary has increased by a misery 50% in the last 12 month given that prices have surged upward by a staggering 350% in the same period. Freezing the wage and prices will be tantamount to the worker accepting a 300% wage cut! Worse still, most of the workers were being paid far below the US$650 poverty datum line to start with.
Zanu PF rigged last year’s elections and was cocksure the party would deliver economic recovery too. Well the regime must now admit that it has failed to revive the economy and, more significantly, the party must now step down.
By blatantly rigging last year’s elections Mnangagwa confirmed that Zimbabwe was still a pariah state ruling by corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and murderous thugs. No one like to do business in a pariah state – have all should know this by now after all Zimbabwe’s economic nose dive has lasted these last 20 years after Mugabe confirm Zimbabwe was a pariah state.
The only sure way to end Zimbabwe’s pariah state is for Zanu PF to step down so the nation can appoint an interim administration whose primary task would be to implement the democratic reforms leading to the holding of free, fair and credible elections. Zimbabwe needs a fresh start!
Both Zanu PF and MDC leaders cannot be appointed in the interim administration because they were the key players in the 2008 to 2013 GNU which failed to implement even one meaningful democratic reform. Not one!
The people of Zimbabwe have suffered and many have died since Zimbabwe gained her independence in 1980 all because the country failed to establish a healthy and functional political system. The nation’s top priority right now is to end the tragic human suffering and lose of lives.
The country has another golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms designed to dismantle the dysfunction de facto one-party dictatorship and replace it with a democratic system of government. It would be unforgivable to fail the nation once again all because we sort to appease the corrupt and tyrannical ruling elite!
Zanu PF must step down, the party rigged last year’s elections and is, per se, illegitimate. That is not negotiable!
President Emmerson Mnangagwa presided over the graduation ceremony
State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday capped 2 652 students at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust)’s 25th graduation ceremony.
Among those who graduated were the leader of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), Dr Peter Magombeyi, who was however, not present.
The graduates were drawn from the Faculties of Applied Sciences, the Built Environment, Commerce, Communication and Information Science, Engineering, Science and Technology Education and Medicine.
The colourful ceremony began shortly after 10AM when President Mnangagwa, who is the Chancellor of all State universities, led the academic procession into the Nust Sports Grounds where the graduands, their friends and relatives were waiting.
Out of the 2 652 students who graduated, six were holders of Doctoral degrees, 678 Masters’ degrees and 1 968 undergraduates in different disciplines.
Of the 1 968 undergraduate recipients, 1 063 (54,01 percent) were male while 905, which translates to 45,99 percent, were female.
At Masters level there were 373 males and 305 females while those who graduated at PhD level, four were males while two were females.
In his report, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Mqhele Dlodlo, said Nust remains one of the key centres of educational excellence in the country and regionally as evidenced by collaborations with universities from other neighbouring countries in various areas of partnerships.
He said despite numerous challenges, the university made great strides in redirecting Nust to the realisation of its mandate as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) university.
“We are in the process of enhancing the design of the main campus. In addition to that, we are also increasing our footprints throughout the Sadc and further afield by way of affiliations and associations with STEM biased institutions led by like-minded institutional leadership. To top it all, if the other Vice Chancellors in the convocation were to enumerate the achievements of their alumni, we would all be awe-stricken, to say the least. That simply points to Zimbabweans and our education system as next to none,” said Prof Dlodlo.
The university has since its inception in 1991 expanded its basket of distinguished offerings to 45 teaching departments in seven faculties along with institutes, centres of excellence, a graduate school of business in support of its entrepreneurial thrust as a university and affiliate institutions both within and outside the country.
Collectively, Nust offers 50 undergraduate and 48 post graduate degree programmes.
“Our mostly young research community is unbelievably vibrant, as shown by our diverse products of research. Buttressed by a robust staff development programme and research and innovation office with an internationalisation portfolio, academic departments have been steadily increasing the number of PhD holders in their establishments,” said Prof Dlodlo.
He said the Faculty of Medicine has had a breakthrough in the discovery that three phytochemicals provide effective malaria treatment and are working in commercialising the result.
Prof Dlodlo said the Nust Institute of Development Studies under the Faculty of Commerce concluded in December last year a three-year research project that sought to mitigate drought related vulnerabilities among livestock farmers in Beitbridge district.
He said the university is working on plans to improve its existing programmes as well as introduce more innovative and industry driven programmes that seek to address current challenges and gaps in the economy.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira, his Permanent Secretary Professor Fanuel Tagwira, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof Mthuli Ncube, State Security Minister Owen Ncube and the chairperson of the Nust Council Eng Alvord Mabena attended the event.
Also present were Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Judith Ncube and her Matabeleland South counterpart Abednico Ncube and Vice Chancellors from other State universities as well as senior Government officials.
State Media|Judicial Service Commission (JSC) yesterday launched a revised protocol on multi-sectoral management of sexual abuse and violence, a document which will regulate how different stakeholders, including the police, will deal with sexual abuse and gender-based violence.
The document, which is a modification of the 2012 protocol, is a reaction to new trends and sophisticated crimes like cyber crime which are a threat, especially to women and children.
The protocol implores stakeholders to improve pre-trial and post-trial support services with special attention to people with disabilities.
Speaking at the launch in Harare, JSC secretary Mr Walter Chikwana said the 2012 protocol scarcely provided for procedures of dealing with survivors with disabilities.
“The revised protocol acknowledges the marginalisation of people with disabilities and their exclusion from the majority of interventions which seek to eliminate and prevent sexual abuse,” he said.
“This vulnerable group often fails to access the basic of services such as health and education, let alone justice. The incorporation of the rights of people with disabilities into the Constitution and the ratification of the right of people with disabilities heightens our resolve to include interventions for them.”
Mr Chikwana said this year alone, enough funding was extended to the courts for payment of witness expenses, monitoring and evaluation and stakeholder capacitation to the production of the protocol.
The commission is worried that 60 percent of the budget went towards production of the protocol and stakeholder capacitation.
“I implore all stakeholders to prioritise core mandate aspects and allocate more resources to payment of witness expenses for survivors and their escorts to court, renovation of victim friendly units and repair of VFU equipment like recording machines, television monitors,” said Mr Chikwana.
He said abuse of technology was promoting sexual abuse and violence, especially against children. Cyber crimes prompted stakeholders to include online safety in the protocol.
The JSC was supported by the European Union, UNFPA, SIDA, UNICEF and Irish Aid.
After the launch, the JSC will conduct training to various stakeholders to conscientise people involved in victim friendly systems on the contents of the protocol and how to implement it.
Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has unexpectedly created an additional Ministry into his cabinet at a time when expectations were that he was going to trim down his cabinet in the wake of austerity measures that his economic policies have been calling for.
Mnangagwa unceremoniously divided into two, the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to create a new ministry named National Housing and Social Amenities.
Murehwa North Constituency MP Daniel Garwe has been appointed to head the new Ministry.
In his reshuffle, Mnangagwa replaced fired former Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Priscah Mupfumira with Former Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu.
The Ministry has been renamed Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry.
Ndlovu has been the Acting Minister since August 8 when Mnangagwa fired Mupfumira, who was then in remand prison following her arrest on a slew of corruption charges involving US$95 million.
Dr Sekesai Irene Nzenza becomes Industry and Commerce Minister, while Professor Paul Mavima replaces her in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
Ambassador Cain Mathema moves from Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage to replace Mavhima in Primary and Secondary Education.
Minister Kazembe Kazembe moves from Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services to Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, replacing Minister Mathema.
Former ICT Deputy Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere has been promoted to Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister.
Murehwa North Constituency MP Daniel Garwe has been appointed Minister of the new National Housing and Social Amenities portfolio.
The President also appointed new deputy ministers and reshuffled others.
Dingimuzi Phuti has been appointed Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services.
Marian Chombo becomes Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works.
David Musabayana, a former Minister of State for Mashonaland East Province, is the new Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The new Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation is Tinoda Machakaire, who replaces Yeukai Simbanegavi, who has been named Deputy Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities.
Clemence Chiduwa has been appointed Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development.
Cde Raymore Machingura is the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation and Science and Technology Development.
Jennifer Mhlanga is Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
THE Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has predicted heavy rains accompanied by violent thunderstorms with possible flash floods with effect from this evening.
The announcement comes at a time when the country has been eagerly waiting for the rainy season to commence after months of hot weather and drought which has resulted in more than 9 000 cattle dying.
“Relief is on the way as the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has forecast significant rainfall and slightly lower temperatures in most parts of the country during the coming week,” said the MSD in a statement.
The department said significant rainfall is expected across the country with effect from tomorrow until November 16, 2019.
“During storms, avoid metal objects and tall isolated trees. Where possible stay indoors. Motorists are advised to be vigilant when driving through storms. Take caution on the road as flash flooding and gushes of water may lead to treacherous road conditions. Visibility may also be compromised during heavy downpours.”
The MSD said the heavy rains, which are a result of a cloud band from Botswana and Zambia, are expected to start affecting the Western parts of the country starting on November 10, 2019.
The wet conditions should move eastwards covering the whole country by Monday which should result in moderate to heavy rains across the country.
The rains should persist in most areas for much of the week, with localised heavier falls (in excess of 50mm in 24 hours) being highly likely in some places.
“The public is advised that the combination of this moisture together with heat can trigger violent storms which will be accompanied by lightning, hail and wind,” said the MSD.State media
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa was yesterday awarded an honorary Doctorate degree in the Philosophy of Education (Honoris Causa) by the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) during the institution’s 25th graduation ceremony in Bulawayo.
In his acceptance speech, President Mnangagwa, who is also the university’s Chancellor, challenged institutions of higher learning to churn out graduates who are adequately equipped with essential skills to drive the country’s modernisation and industrialisation agenda in line with his vision of transforming the economy into an upper middle-income status by 2030.
“As I receive this honour, I challenge all our universities and colleges to ensure that the graduates they churn out are equipped to provide solutions, services and products that will propel our modernisation and industrialisation agenda towards the attainment of Vision 2030,” he said.
President Mnangagwa urged institutions of higher learning to strive for qualitative change to the country’s education in line with the new development trajectory of Zimbabwe and the ever-changing socio-economic dynamics.
“Equally, we must all aim to realise functional education which meets the needs of our communities and aims at improving their quality of life. I challenge graduates to press on to do the extraordinary by inventing, designing and manufacturing products and artefacts from locally incubated ideas and researches,” he said.State media
A bitter sweet atmosphere engulfed the dusty streets of Glen Norah yesterday as MDC President Advocate Nelson Chamisa paid homage to one of the illustrious torch bearers of the struggle for democracy, Gogo Murwira.
Addressing mourners gathered at number 375, the People’s President saluted the exuberance of courage exhibited by Gogo Murwira in the fight for democracy.
Gogo Murwira who became a confluence of two struggles, the liberation struggle and the democratic struggle was further described as an oasis of wisdom and a larger than life character whose quest for freedom is unparalleled.
A picture of President Chamisa holding Gogo Murwira’s hand at a rally held sometime in Glen Norah aptly became a connecting dot between the past, present and future.
Rightly so, President Chamisa assured mourners that change is on the horizon hence people should not lose hope in the fight for democracy.
The empathetic and compassionate MDC leader explained that he is aware of the nauseating social, political and economic ordeals stalking ordinary citizens at the hands of ZANU PF maladministration and misgovernance.
A deluge of hope was outpoured as President Chamisa abundantly explained a coterie of measures that the party has in place to ameliorate the dwindling standards of living.
The MDC Youth Assembly national leadership led by Chairman Obey Sithole, Vice Chair Cecelia Chimbiri, Spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma and Deputy Spokesperson Womberai Nhende also attended the event before proceeding to Glendale where they attended yet another funeral of MDC National Executive member, Benhilda Zhantali’s mother.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Frank Lampard has been named Premier League Manager of the Month after a perfect October.
The Chelsea boss won all three of his league games last month against Burnley, Southampton and Newcastle.
The victories meant the Blues jumped into fourth place in the table, six points above fifth-placed Arsenal.
“Winning an individual award like this is the perfect time to appreciate the close staff who have worked so hard since pre-season and the players, as they are the ones who go out and perform,” Lampard told the Premier League. “I am delighted for everybody.
“Out of the Premier League games we played in October, the one away against Burnley was the highlight because of the way we were so dominant in our performance and it is a very tough place to go.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was also nominated but was pipped by Lampard having drawn at Old Trafford.
Brighton coach Graham Potter missed out on the award having won two and lost one last month.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers and Dean Smith of Aston Villa both had the same records as Potter.
The Foxes did pick up one award last month, however as Jamie Vardy has been crowned the EA SPORTS Player of the Month for October after scoring four goals in three games.
Vardy has been impressive as Rodgers’ side maintained their strong start to the season last month.
The Foxes are currently in third place in the Premier League table, eight points off leaders Liverpool after 11 matches. — Sportsmail
A bitter sweet atmosphere engulfed the dusty streets of Glen Norah yesterday as MDC President Advocate Nelson Chamisa paid homage to one of the illustrious torch bearers of the struggle for democracy, Gogo Murwira.
Addressing mourners gathered at number 375, the People’s President saluted the exuberance of courage exhibited by Gogo Murwira in the fight for democracy.
Gogo Murwira who became a confluence of two struggles, the liberation struggle and the democratic struggle was further described as an oasis of wisdom and a larger than life character whose quest for freedom is unparalleled.
A picture of President Chamisa holding Gogo Murwira’s hand at a rally held sometime in Glen Norah aptly became a connecting dot between the past, present and future.
Rightly so, President Chamisa assured mourners that change is on the horizon hence people should not lose hope in the fight for democracy.
The empathetic and compassionate MDC leader explained that he is aware of the nauseating social, political and economic ordeals stalking ordinary citizens at the hands of ZANU PF maladministration and misgovernance.
A deluge of hope was outpoured as President Chamisa abundantly explained a coterie of measures that the party has in place to ameliorate the dwindling standards of living.
The MDC Youth Assembly national leadership led by Chairman Obey Sithole, Vice Chair Cecelia Chimbiri, Spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma and Deputy Spokesperson Womberai Nhende also attended the event before proceeding to Glendale where they attended yet another funeral of MDC National Executive member, Benhilda Zhantali’s mother.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Former Miss Zimbabwe Lorraine Maphala-Phiri says her transition from being a beauty queen to a successful entrepreneur has been worthwhile for her and she owes it all to her mentor, Sipho Mazibuko.
Reflecting on her business ventures, the former Miss Summer Strides paid homage to her modelling mentor, Mazibuko, who runs Strides Modelling Academy for not only giving her guidance in modelling, but also empowering her with life and business skills.
Taking to her social media pages this week, Lorraine said: “In 2002 when I was crowned Miss Summer Strides, my then mentor and owner of the pageant took me with her on one of her business trips to South Africa and she said ‘girlie, you won’t buy shoes and bags for yourself with that prize money, but you’ll order bags and shoes for resale’.
“That’s when the entrepreneurial seed was planted and I never looked back, talk about passing on the baton.”
She said she took Mazibuko’s advice but sadly, things did not go according to plan as most of her business ventures flopped likely due to the fact that she was still young and had no proper knowledge on how to run a business.
“Since 2002, I’ve tried and failed in so many business ventures mostly because I didn’t have the financial literacy nor the know-how to run a structured business,” the beauty recounted.
Her first business venture, a clothing line she launched using her fame as Miss Summer Strides, Lorraine said, was successful in its infancy, but later folded.
“I once started my own clothing line (Maphala Fashions 14) and it did well when I launched. But because I had no knowledge of how to promote it, the sales went down and I later gave up on it as it was not going the way I wanted it to,” she said.
“I was only 17 years old then and didn’t know how to separate business money from my personal money so I ended up using the profits.”
Three years later, the beauty was to be crowned Miss Zimbabwe and the entrepreneur in her was awakened. During her travels locally, she noticed that there was something missing, there was no place in Zimbabwe where one could buy authentic human hair and with her entrepreneurship mind, she saw an opportunity. At that time, most people used to purchase human hair online or from other countries.
Two years later in 2007, she came up with the idea of Real Hair by Lorraine.
“As someone who was in the beauty industry, I’d always been obsessed with beauty and hair and noticed that there was no place where people could buy real human hair. I decided to fill the gap and launched my business,” said the soft spoken beauty.
The business sadly failed again as she once again used her profits for her upkeep and failed to invest in the business.
“This business ran for two years, but because I still had no knowledge of running a business, as and when I’d make money, I’d use it for my stuff and even buy my mother stuff. So I didn’t invest in the business which made it fail,” she said.
After this setback, her husband Sonny Phiri offered her a job at his Nissi Finance company in 2009. She accepted the offer and as fate would have it, this is where she learnt how to run a business. While working, she still had the zeal to make her Real Hair business a success.
She decided to sell her car to get funds to restart her business.
“I still wanted my business to go on and so I sold my car and bought stock for my business. At first, I’d borrow my husband’s car and sell products from the boot,” she explained.
A year later, Lorraine had raised enough funds to restart the hair business. She rented space at a boutique in Bulawayo and since then, business has been thriving.
She has since opened a shop at Zonk’Izizwe shopping complex which she has named Real hair by Lorraine Studio. It is a hair studio which specialises in weaving, braiding, ethnic hair as well as human hair supplies. The studio also has a nail bar and recently, she added a barber section.
The business, Lorraine said, though thriving, has not really been doing well due to the economic situation in Zimbabwe.
She, however, thanked the people of Bulawayo and some from as far as Harare and South Africa who visit the studio when they are in town, for supporting her.
“My business has been doing well, but I can’t say everything is going well due to the current situation in Zimbabwe. The support from the people of Bulawayo is what’s keeping my business running and I’d like to thank them.
“I’ve come far and I’m happy with the progress I’ve made so far, but still, it is work in progress. Sipho Mazibuko, thank you for passing on the baton, may God bless you and all that which concerns you,” said a grateful Lorraine.
So successful and influential is Lorraine that she has been invited to several business forums and workshops to inspire other women. Recently, she was at the Academy for Women Entrepreneurship where she shared her story and also learnt from others.
“The Academy for Women Entrepreneurship is a six-month programme which has been helping and teaching me the pros and cons of running businesses. It has other women who are entrepreneurs and we share our knowledge and collaborate in other fields,” she said.
Despite the hardships, Lorraine said it has been a great journey and she is glad she did not give up. She also thanked her husband for pushing her and giving her a shoulder to lean on.- state media
People at Nyaga City fighting for fertiliser distributed through the Presidential Inputs Scheme. Where are @PoliceZimbabwe & @AgritexS officers? Is this the correct proceed&procedure? This is absurd; a good indicator of a poor season to come pic.twitter.com/2M1YPYZpk4
Parliament has undertaken to buy laptops for all legislators before the end of the year as Government intensifies its Electronic Government (e-government) drive through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
Government launched e-government to enhance online connectivity and improve public service delivery as well as modernise Government systems and processes.
Addressing a pre-budget seminar held here recently, the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda, said laptops for MPs would be delivered at the end of this month.
He was responding to concerns by MPs who said they were saddled with a lot of paperwork in Parliament business. “You will have the tablets before we close this Parliament session. Our suppliers are expecting to have the tablets on 26 November and immediately thereafter we will give to members,” said Mr Chokuda.
He did not reveal the cost of the laptops. Chegutu West Member of Parliament Cde Dexter Nduna had asked what Government was doing with regards to embracing the use of technology in the country.
Speaking during the same occasion, Information Communication Technologies, Postal and Courier Services Minister Kazembe Kazembe said they were targeting to have “Paperless Government Business” by 2030.
“Our idea is to have a paperless Government business. We want the Judiciary, Parliament and all Government departments to embrace ICT as we are targeting a Smart Zimbabwe by 2030 where we will have a smart economy, Smart tourism, Smart business and Smart everything in Government,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Clerk of Parliament has appealed to Treasury for funds to purchase a bus for the House of Assembly staff who he said usually get stranded at work after Parliament sittings.
Mr Chokuda said after every sitting, Parliament workers remain behind compiling reports and there would be no transport to take them home by the time they finish. Some end up spending the night at Parliament building waiting to go home in the morning yet they would also be expected to report for duty at 8AM. – state media
Farai Dziva|MDC Caston Matewu has said genuine war veterans have never been rewarded for their tireless efforts during the liberation struggle.
Read Matewu’s argument below :
We owe a lot to those who fought for our independence against the brutal rule of Ian Smith.
Those gallant fighters sacrificed a lot for our freedoms and we unreservedly honour them.
This country has not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our war veterans; as a civilian, I owe an unpayable debt to all our military and those who fought so that I could even fathom write this message today.
39 Years down the line, our economy lies in ruins, unemployment at its peak, extreme poverty is the order of the day. It is grossly disturbing that the political elite are abusing the name of our impartial and dedicated war veterans to rape this nation of its resources and abuse the very country they fought for.
The world has moved on since 1980, there have been great technological advancements. We now need a leadership that understands the issues people of today face, a leadership that understands the economics of today that will lead Zimbabwe and her people to prosperity.
We want a leadership that will adequately recognise our veterans and give them the benefits they deserve.
Never must we allow a few who loot billions from our public purse in the geese that they fought for this country, the true heroes of our liberation struggle lost limbs, legs and various body parts, but they continue to wallow in poverty while those in the echelons of power enjoy milk and honey.
Now is the time for our generation to prepare for the generation of tomorrow
I hope you will understand my concern as a fellow mother.
I have a 26-year-old son, educated and civilised but I don’t understand what has become of all these values. He is madly in love with a 47-year-old mother and he wants to marry this woman, chembere iyoyi . As family we have tried to discourage him but he won’t take heed.
As a mother I cry myself to sleep most of the time. We went to see this woman, all she said was talk to your son ini ndiri kutodiwawo hangu, handina kuponda munhu. Our son was so respectful asati asangana nembuya iyi.
Could this woman be using juju? Please help, we are so confused, his brothers wanted to go and beat this woman up iye akati angatofa because that woman is his soulmate and the love of his life.
His father said we would disown him if he married this old woman. Akupenga mwana uyu mufunge, he said, “munhu anozvarwa kamwe chete saka penyu neni makatopedza”, he is not deterred by any threats. This woman is well off and my son drives her around sababa, they even go to this woman’s church.
Don’t you think the church is lost kunyararira zvakadai.
What does the law say? How can we rescue our son from this chembere? Worried mother
Farai Dziva|Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube has literally conceded failure to solve the nagging economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
Mthuli Ncube told a daily publication the stabilisation of the Zimbabwe dollar would take two years.
“I think (it will take) a minimum of two years (to stabilise) because we have to make sure that the domestic currency can retain value.
It is about to make sure that the domestic currency is very stable and retain value and build confidence on it and then the pricing moves away from US dollar pricing,” said Mthuli Ncube.
Zimbabwe outlawed the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions on the 24th of June this year at the same time reintroducing the Zimbabwe dollar, putting an end to the multicurrency regime the country adopted a decade ago.
Farai Dziva|Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube has literally conceded failure to solve the nagging economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
Mthuli Ncube told a daily publication the stabilisation of the Zimbabwe dollar would take two years.
“I think (it will take) a minimum of two years (to stabilise) because we have to make sure that the domestic currency can retain value.
It is about to make sure that the domestic currency is very stable and retain value and build confidence on it and then the pricing moves away from US dollar pricing,” said Mthuli Ncube.
Zimbabwe outlawed the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions on the 24th of June this year at the same time reintroducing the Zimbabwe dollar, putting an end to the multicurrency regime the country adopted a decade ago.
Two years after the military coup that removed Robert Mugabe from power, Zimbabwe has entered a new spiral of decline that threatens to take the country back to the worst days of his era.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who came to power in that coup, had promised a “new beginning” for Zimbabwe.
That initially bought him some valuable breathing space, and even goodwill from the international community, which seemed willing to give him an opportunity to make good on his pledge.
It hasn’t taken long for the euphoria—always rooted more in the demise of Mugabe than in the rise of Mnangagwa—to vanish.
The first indications that so-called reform was likely to be superficial came in July 2018 with Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential elections.
It was all too familiar, including when security forces used live ammunition against protesters, killing at least six people.
Then, early this year, more protests against huge increases in the price of fuel triggered more repression, with more protesters killed by security forces.
The regime’s response in poorer urban areas also expanded to include a campaign of mass arrests, abductions and rape.
Since then, the authorities have intensified their campaign against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, while also targeting civil society activists for “subverting” the government.
That repression demolished one of the two pillars of Mnangagwa’s “new Zimbabwe”—a supposedly sincere commitment to political reform and national dialogue.
By the summer, the second pillar was also collapsing. Far from being “open for business,” as Mnangagwa proclaimed, Zimbabwe has experienced an economic and social meltdown. The International Monetary Fund has forecast that the economy will contract by 5.5 percent this year.
Inflation reached 300 percent in September and was still rising, the second-highest in the world behind Venezuela.
The value of the reintroduced Zimbabwean dollar is in freefall, and the Reserve Bank—the source of the infamous hyper-inflation of the previous decade—is once again printing excessive amounts of money.
Meanwhile, there are acute shortages of water, fuel and electricity across the country. Power cuts of up to 18 hours a day have destroyed daily life and what little is left of manufacturing.
Most serious of all is the food crisis. The United Nations World Food Program issued a warning in August that over 5.5 million people, one third of Zimbabwe’s population, will be at risk of famine by early 2020, with 2.5 million already “marching towards starvation.”
In September, it revised these estimates upwards, with 8.5 million people now likely to require emergency food aid.
Both the health care and educational systems are in crisis.
With hospitals lacking basic equipment, health professionals are warning of a “silent genocide.”
Meanwhile, doctors have been striking as their salaries no longer allow them to make ends meet.
Teachers’ unions have also announced their members will only work for two days a week, given their low salaries.
Zimbabweans, who have far too much experience in finding ingenious ways to survive, are approaching the limits of their ability to eke out an existence.
This year has definitely ended any notions that the country’s problems flowed purely from Mugabe rather than from the rule of his party, ZANU-PF.
It has also dispelled the idea that in Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe had found its Gorbachev or de Klerk—a courageous leader making a genuine attempt to break with a failed system.
It hasn’t taken long for the euphoria—always rooted more in the demise of Mugabe than in the rise of Mnangagwa—to vanish.
There are, of course, some mitigating circumstances, including several natural disasters, from a severe drought that has damaged harvests and the water supply, to the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, which swept through Southern Africa in March.
But years of economic mismanagement and neglect of the country’s infrastructure meant Zimbabwe was hit harder than its more stable neighbors in Mozambique and Malawi.
It is difficult to see what the ZANU-PF regime can do to get the country out of this abyss, and it appears to be completely out of ideas.
All Mnangagwa could offer in his state of the nation address in early October was a call for “time, patience, unity of purpose and perseverance.”
The party’s kleptocratic nature prevents it from embracing a technocratic and transparent approach to economic policy.
Actual political reform—the introduction of a constitutional state with free elections, independent state institutions, checks and balances and a thriving civil society—is anathema to the very basis of ZANU-PF rule.
But those are the kinds of changes needed to uproot a patronage-based economy still entrenched under Mnangagwa that guarantees the wealth of the ZANU-PF elite and of the military hierarchy underwriting its rule.
Mnangagwa has been trying to project the image of change—to help secure enough external assistance to stabilize the economy without disturbing the foundations of this authoritarian system. With the deepening crisis, this project has clearly run its course.
Now the regime is trying to deflect any responsibility onto Mugabe personally and onto the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union.
Mugabe’s tenure was undoubtedly disastrous, but that is no alibi for the current ruling elite led by Mnangagwa and two former generals, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo, both key figures in the coup. All three were staunch supporters of Mugabe for decades and deeply complicit in that era of misrule.
The country was also in a deep crisis long before the imposition of Western sanctions. In any case, the sanctions—which freeze assets and ban travel for some ZANU-PF and military figures involved in human rights abuses, and target companies controlled by many of those corrupt figures—are too narrowly focused to determine the fate of the entire economy.
Responsibility instead lies at the door of the only party ever to have held power in Zimbabwe. Hopes would normally rest with the opposition defeating such a failed government at the ballot box.
Zimbabwe’s democratic façade, however, barely conceals the reality of a military-party junta.
Based on the past two decades, placing hopes in the ballot box will likely lead to more disillusionment, and for now, the outcome of street protests is equally grim and predictable.
So what are the prospects for change? As the crisis grows, the regime will face some acute dilemmas.
The support of South Africa, China and Russia has not translated into substantial financial backing because they are all aware of just how dysfunctional ZANU-PF is.
The crunch will come when the regime struggles to find the means to pay civil servants—and therefore to maintain the machinery of government and the state apparatus—and the army on which its rule ultimately depends. If it cannot pay them, those sectors may crack and ZANU-PF’s impregnability could crumble.
That would carry the grave risk of a failed state, but it may create a situation in which elements of ZANU-PF and the military see the wisdom in reaching out to other political forces for a genuine national dialogue, and to the international community for emergency assistance and a long-term economic stabilization package.
If that happens, they could serve as catalysts for a fundamental reconfiguration of the country’s politics. But it means that things in Zimbabwe may have to get even worse before they can get better.
About the author:
James Hamill has been a lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester since 1991.
He has a long-standing research interest in South African politics, particularly in the country’s post-apartheid development, and is a frequent visitor to the country. He has published articles on South Africa in International Relations, Diplomacy & Statecraft, The World Today, Politikon:
The South African Journal of Political Studies and The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal …
Two years after the military coup that removed Robert Mugabe from power, Zimbabwe has entered a new spiral of decline that threatens to take the country back to the worst days of his era.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who came to power in that coup, had promised a “new beginning” for Zimbabwe.
That initially bought him some valuable breathing space, and even goodwill from the international community, which seemed willing to give him an opportunity to make good on his pledge.
It hasn’t taken long for the euphoria—always rooted more in the demise of Mugabe than in the rise of Mnangagwa—to vanish.
The first indications that so-called reform was likely to be superficial came in July 2018 with Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential elections.
It was all too familiar, including when security forces used live ammunition against protesters, killing at least six people.
Then, early this year, more protests against huge increases in the price of fuel triggered more repression, with more protesters killed by security forces.
The regime’s response in poorer urban areas also expanded to include a campaign of mass arrests, abductions and rape.
Since then, the authorities have intensified their campaign against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, while also targeting civil society activists for “subverting” the government.
That repression demolished one of the two pillars of Mnangagwa’s “new Zimbabwe”—a supposedly sincere commitment to political reform and national dialogue.
By the summer, the second pillar was also collapsing. Far from being “open for business,” as Mnangagwa proclaimed, Zimbabwe has experienced an economic and social meltdown. The International Monetary Fund has forecast that the economy will contract by 5.5 percent this year.
Inflation reached 300 percent in September and was still rising, the second-highest in the world behind Venezuela.
The value of the reintroduced Zimbabwean dollar is in freefall, and the Reserve Bank—the source of the infamous hyper-inflation of the previous decade—is once again printing excessive amounts of money.
Meanwhile, there are acute shortages of water, fuel and electricity across the country. Power cuts of up to 18 hours a day have destroyed daily life and what little is left of manufacturing.
Most serious of all is the food crisis. The United Nations World Food Program issued a warning in August that over 5.5 million people, one third of Zimbabwe’s population, will be at risk of famine by early 2020, with 2.5 million already “marching towards starvation.”
In September, it revised these estimates upwards, with 8.5 million people now likely to require emergency food aid.
Both the health care and educational systems are in crisis.
With hospitals lacking basic equipment, health professionals are warning of a “silent genocide.”
Meanwhile, doctors have been striking as their salaries no longer allow them to make ends meet.
Teachers’ unions have also announced their members will only work for two days a week, given their low salaries.
Zimbabweans, who have far too much experience in finding ingenious ways to survive, are approaching the limits of their ability to eke out an existence.
This year has definitely ended any notions that the country’s problems flowed purely from Mugabe rather than from the rule of his party, ZANU-PF.
It has also dispelled the idea that in Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe had found its Gorbachev or de Klerk—a courageous leader making a genuine attempt to break with a failed system.
It hasn’t taken long for the euphoria—always rooted more in the demise of Mugabe than in the rise of Mnangagwa—to vanish.
There are, of course, some mitigating circumstances, including several natural disasters, from a severe drought that has damaged harvests and the water supply, to the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, which swept through Southern Africa in March.
But years of economic mismanagement and neglect of the country’s infrastructure meant Zimbabwe was hit harder than its more stable neighbors in Mozambique and Malawi.
It is difficult to see what the ZANU-PF regime can do to get the country out of this abyss, and it appears to be completely out of ideas.
All Mnangagwa could offer in his state of the nation address in early October was a call for “time, patience, unity of purpose and perseverance.”
The party’s kleptocratic nature prevents it from embracing a technocratic and transparent approach to economic policy.
Actual political reform—the introduction of a constitutional state with free elections, independent state institutions, checks and balances and a thriving civil society—is anathema to the very basis of ZANU-PF rule.
But those are the kinds of changes needed to uproot a patronage-based economy still entrenched under Mnangagwa that guarantees the wealth of the ZANU-PF elite and of the military hierarchy underwriting its rule.
Mnangagwa has been trying to project the image of change—to help secure enough external assistance to stabilize the economy without disturbing the foundations of this authoritarian system. With the deepening crisis, this project has clearly run its course.
Now the regime is trying to deflect any responsibility onto Mugabe personally and onto the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union.
Mugabe’s tenure was undoubtedly disastrous, but that is no alibi for the current ruling elite led by Mnangagwa and two former generals, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo, both key figures in the coup. All three were staunch supporters of Mugabe for decades and deeply complicit in that era of misrule.
The country was also in a deep crisis long before the imposition of Western sanctions. In any case, the sanctions—which freeze assets and ban travel for some ZANU-PF and military figures involved in human rights abuses, and target companies controlled by many of those corrupt figures—are too narrowly focused to determine the fate of the entire economy.
Responsibility instead lies at the door of the only party ever to have held power in Zimbabwe. Hopes would normally rest with the opposition defeating such a failed government at the ballot box.
Zimbabwe’s democratic façade, however, barely conceals the reality of a military-party junta.
Based on the past two decades, placing hopes in the ballot box will likely lead to more disillusionment, and for now, the outcome of street protests is equally grim and predictable.
So what are the prospects for change? As the crisis grows, the regime will face some acute dilemmas.
The support of South Africa, China and Russia has not translated into substantial financial backing because they are all aware of just how dysfunctional ZANU-PF is.
The crunch will come when the regime struggles to find the means to pay civil servants—and therefore to maintain the machinery of government and the state apparatus—and the army on which its rule ultimately depends. If it cannot pay them, those sectors may crack and ZANU-PF’s impregnability could crumble.
That would carry the grave risk of a failed state, but it may create a situation in which elements of ZANU-PF and the military see the wisdom in reaching out to other political forces for a genuine national dialogue, and to the international community for emergency assistance and a long-term economic stabilization package.
If that happens, they could serve as catalysts for a fundamental reconfiguration of the country’s politics. But it means that things in Zimbabwe may have to get even worse before they can get better.
About the author:
James Hamill has been a lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester since 1991.
He has a long-standing research interest in South African politics, particularly in the country’s post-apartheid development, and is a frequent visitor to the country. He has published articles on South Africa in International Relations, Diplomacy & Statecraft, The World Today, Politikon:
The South African Journal of Political Studies and The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal …
Minister @InfoMinZW Hon. Senator Monica Mutsvangwa today presided over the induction of new board members for the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). Among other issues she urged the board members to expedite the licensing of community radio stations. pic.twitter.com/WC6oydlyZg
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) November 8, 2019
By A Correspondent| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a sugar daddy, Cain Mathema the new Minister Of Primary And Secondary Education.
Mathema has an appetite for young girls and was exposed for dating his maid while married to his wife of more than 30 years, and that was discovered later on a date when she had turned 20. He soon dumped her for a 23 year old student, the latter who he then conducted a marriage ceremony with.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
The announcement was made on Friday, a day after a ZimEye article criticised Mnangagwa of failing to reshuffle his ministers 15 months after the disputed 2018 elections.
Commenting on the development, former Education Minister David Coltart said, “Putting Cain Mathema in charge of education is simply appalling.”
Mathema (76) in 2016 married a 23 year old girlfriend in a posh English wedding that sent tounges wagging. Mathema wedded his youthful wife Bathabetsoe Nare at a colourful wedding in Bulawayo. Nare, a former Midlands State University student graduated in November this year. Mathema could be seen in the video dancing in a jovial mood with his wife. News24 reports that Mathema left his first wife for a house maid, 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.
ANALYSIS:
One wing of opinion says the young lady entered the relationship willingly. This is more so because she was 23 at the time of marriage. But how old was she when the dating began? There also seems to be a pattern. Before her, Cain Mathema had been dating his own maid which relationship was only discovered after she had turned 20. Evidence shows there is a strong possibility she was below the age of 16 when the relationship started. There seems to be a pattern of targeting young girls.
There are thus serious legal concerns. Mathema’s case of being a “likely” danger to minors falls under The Child Protection Act, PART III, regarding safeguarding.
The Act puts the burden of incrimination against a parent on the basis of a mere “likely,” meaning a parent must exercise due care even on the basis of a mere fear. This is so especially if there are reasonable grounds for that apprehension.
A copy of the Act’ index reads as below:
PART III PREVENTION OF NEGLECT, ILL-TREATMENT AND EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS
7. Ill-treatment or neglect of children and young persons.
8. Corruption of children and young persons.
9. Medical examination and treatment of children and young persons.
10. Begging and public entertainment. 10A. Restriction on employment of children and young persons.
11. Safeguarding of child audiences at public entertainments.
12. Power to bind over person having custody of young girl, child or young person to exercise proper care.
Meanwhile, the full list of appointments is below –
Minister @InfoMinZW Hon. Senator Monica Mutsvangwa today presided over the induction of new board members for the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). Among other issues she urged the board members to expedite the licensing of community radio stations. pic.twitter.com/WC6oydlyZg
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) November 8, 2019
By A Correspondent- Scores of party supporters were bussed to the mining indaba conference in Gweru where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was scheduled to speak on Wednesday.
Although the event was a strictly formal business meeting, the rather unsophisticated supporters were invited to beef up numbers to avoid the embarrassment of addressing empty chairs that has afflicted the president in recent times.
This move only came back to bite the party after the supporters who were clad in party regalia caused a raucous at feeding points after being denied access to lunch. Anti-riot police had to called in to quell the restive crowd.
Dosman Mangisi, the Zimbabwe Mining Federation spokespersonMangisi confirmed witnessing the fracas that saw riot police being called in.
“I did see that happening because I was part of the security. One big thing to note is that the small-scale miners were excited to interface with the Head of State and government, the chief principal of the mining sector. It was an inaugural event. The event has already been placed on the annual calendar.
However, Mangisi downplayed the incident claiming that said there was nothing wrong with what the Zanu-Pf did at the event.
Zanu PF has strong grassroots in the rural areas, as people in the rural mining district are bonafide members of the ruling party, they felt it necessary to be in solidarity with it since it champions empowerment programmes. It was not a party event at all. The issues articulated were all mining-related..
However, Some delegates who had paid for the two-day event and those accredited were reportedly relegated to less comfortable places whilst Zanu-Pf supporters occupied front seats, a local publication reports.
Some miners who spoke to the publication expressed disappointment, saying they never anticipated the event o become a political gathering.
By A Correspondent- Sakunda Holdings will next Monday present oral evidence before the Public Accounts Committee led by opposition MDC Vice president Tendai Biti on the contracts for Command Agriculture and Presidential Input Support with Government.
The Health committee will also hear oral evidence from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Child Care on the quality of health care systems and mechanisms that have been put in place to fight life threatening diseases in Zimbabwe such as Cancer, Diabetes and Tuberculosis on Tuesday.
On Thursday at 10 am, the Energy and Power Development portfolio committee will also receive oral evidence from ZERA, Solgas solar, Tokwe Mukosi Pvt Ltd Mini Hydro, Southern Energy, Plum Solar and Manako Pvt Ltd on the state of affairs in the renewable energy sector.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube is expected to present the 2020 National Budget on Thursday.
By A Correspondent- State owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) has arrested 3 259 illegal diamond panners in Chiadzwa in the past year, a security official with the state owned mining firm has said.
In a security update presented to the all stakeholders diamond indaba at a Mutare hotel on Wednesday this week, ZCDC chief security officer Mr Elias Mvere said the illegal panners continue to be a threat to the national economy.
“Illegal diamond panners commonly referred to as gwejas remain a cause for concern to the operations of the ZCDC and continue being a threat to the national economy. The panners are operating from all bases on the mountains and some are offered rented accommodation by local villagers and shop owners.
“The intelligence we have suggests that the panners are being sponsored by illegal buyers and syndicate managers. In the last indaba, the security department noted that it had effected a total of 1 375 arrests. Notably, only 30 percent of those arrests were of individuals from Manicaland. Since then, the department has made a total of 3 259 arrests. Twnty-one percent of the arrests were illegal panners from outside Manicaland.
“This represents an increase in illegal panners arrest from the province. This highlights the need to further engage the local leadership so that cases of illegal panners can be eliminated. In spite of this, we greatly applaud the role that the kraalheads, headmen and chiefs have played in fostering dialogue between ZCDC and the local community,” he said.
Mr Mvere thanked members of the community around the mining area for assisting ZCDC in curbing illegal mining activities.
“We would like to applaud the community for their continued support which has helped us to thwart illegal panner intrusions through reliable and accurate information. Diamond ore areas identified with codes like RBZ and Ushonje raised a lot of interest from illegal panners. However, more often than not, the security reactions were able to counter these intrusions with the help of community members,” he added.
Issues relating to illegal diamond panners have been a borne of contention for mining companies in Marange since the discovery of the precious gems.
By A Correspondent- 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.
By A Correspondent- A senior Mutare High Court judge, Justice Hlekani Mwayera, has acquitted a Chipinge man who murdered his father in cold blood with a machete and later hid in a mango tree on the basis that the suspect suffered from mental disorder when he committed the offence.
Justice Mwayera came out with the special verdict in terms of Section 29 (2) of the Mental Health Act (Chapter 15:12). A psychiatrist who examined the suspect concluded that he was a mental patient.
Circumstances to the case were that the suspect, Witness Mutengwi from Mapinge Village under Chief Mutema in Chipinge, killed his father, Patikai Madoro, on June 26 last year.
Public prosecutor Mr Malvin Musarurwa told the court that on the day in question at around 4pm the accused, for no apparent reason, struck the deceased with a stone and later on with a machete on the head several times.
The deceased died on the spot.
“The body was later taken to Chipinge District Hospital mortuary and a post-mortem done by Drr Brian Makumbe concluded that the cause of death was due to exsanguinations. The stone and the machete were recovered from the scene and were produced in court as exhibits,” he said.
During trial the State called the wife of the deceased, Miriam Kwanga, who chronicled how the crime was committed.
She told the court that the suspect, who is her stepson, was a mental patient. Kwanga said the accused person struck the deceased with a stone followed by several strikes with a machete. She observed a deep cut on the deceased’s head and brains which had been splashed on the ground.
Neighbours, who were also witnesses to the murder, told the court that the suspect was a mental patient. Solomon Sithole said he was assisted by Zondai Muyambo to apprehend the accused person a kilometre away from the scene who was now hiding in a mango tree.
The court is, however, yet to decide whether the suspect will be taken to a mental institution to get treatment or he will be placed in the hands of a guardian or relative.
By A Correspondent| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a sugar daddy, Cain Mathema the new Minister Of Primary And Secondary Education.
The announcement was made on Friday, a day after a ZimEye article criticised Mnangagwa of failing to reshuffle his ministers 15 months after the disputed 2018 elections.
Commenting on the development, former Education Minister David Coltart said, “Putting Cain Mathema in charge of education is simply appalling.”
Mathema (76) recently married a 23 year old girlfriend in a posh English wedding that sent tounges wagging. The full list of appointments is below –
By A Correspondent- A herd boy is at loggerheads with his baby-mama over the paternity of their child following the woman’s indecisiveness on whom to pinpoint as the biological father of the four-year-old child.
All this was revealed on Wednesday when Vimbai Mupikata approached the courts seeking for maintenance for her one minor child whom she claimed to have sired with Abisha Muwandi.
The couple appeared before Mutare magistrate Miss Prisca Tendai Manhibi recently.
She told the court that she has been married to Muwandi but had left her marriage because of several misunderstandings in 2017.
Muwandi, however, denied fathering the child and told the court that Mupikata was in the habit of telling him that the child was not his whenever she got angry, therefore planting doubts in his mind on the paternity of the child.
“She changes the goalposts every time Your Worship. When she left home the last time, she claimed that the child was not mine and that she was going to the rightful father and now she wants me to believe that the child is mine? She should stick to one truth and not change her mind willy-nilly because, as we speak, I believe that the child in question is not mine,” he told the court.
He furher said Mupikata left in 2017, with her child claiming that she was taking the child to her father.
“I was shocked when I received the summons Your Worship. We were happily married when she suddenly packed her bags and left after telling me that the child was not mine and that she was going to the real father. How then am I supposed to believe that the child who was not mine last year, is now mine?,” he asked the court, stating clearly that he would not pay the maintenance.
Mupikata, however, swore that the child was Muwandi’s and denied ever uttering the words that the child was not his.
“The child is yours and you will maintain her. Why did you sleep with me without protection if you did not want a child with me? We should go for DNA tests if you doubt me,” said the visibly angry Mupikata.
The court ordered the pair to go for DNA tests and adjourned the matter to a later date for the maintenance matter ruling.
“You cannot be going around having unprotected sex and coming here telling us that you cannot afford to look after your child,” said Miss Manhibi.
By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Department of Veterinary Services on Friday announced the suspension of importation of live cloven-hoofed animals and related products from South Africa with immediate effect.
This follows that outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the neighbouring country. As a result, importing live cattle, goats, sheep and pigs from South Africa has been banned.
Department of Veterinary Services director, Dr Josphat Nyika said in the statement:
In line with provisions of the Animal Health Act, CAP 19:01, the Department of Veterinary Services has suspended the importation of live cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, goats, sheep and pigs) and their products from South Africa with immediate effect until a full report on the outbreak has been availed by the South African Veterinary Authorities.
The suspension of imports from South Africa is a precautionary measure designed to prevent the spread of infection into Zimbabwe through the importation of live animals and animal products.
The Department continues to monitor the situation with a view to normalizing trade with the Republic of South Africa as soon as the outbreak is controlled.
By A Correspondent- An 82-year-old Bulawayo woman was robbed of jewellery worth US$50 000 by two pistol brandishing men who claimed to be police officers.
Ms Valerie Sonya Pilossof from Khumalo suburb lost a gold wrist watch, a diamond ring and a gold ring to the men on Monday.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the robbery yesterday and said the suspects were on the run.
“On November 4 2019 at about 11AM, complainant arrived at her Khumalo residence and found two unknown men seated in the lounge. Ms Pilossof then requested them to identify themselves and they said they were police officers but did not produce any identification documentation or explain why they were in her house,” said Chief Insp Simango.
She said the men grabbed the elderly woman and forcibly took her gold Baumercier wrist watch.
“They also forced Ms Pilossof to remove her gold and diamond rings and surrender them threatening to harm her if she resisted. At the same time one of the accused persons produced an unknown object that looked like a pistol and pointed it at the complainant,” she said.
According to Chief Insp Simango, the two fake police officers further demanded that the complainant shows them her offices.
“Ms Pilossof told them that she did not have any offices and does not operate any businesses within her house or elsewhere. The duo ordered her to lie down on the floor and remain so if she did not want to be hurt and then they disappeared,” said Chief Insp Simango.
She said Ms Pilossof immediately made a report to the police who attended the scene.
By Jane Mlambo|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed former Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo’s ex-wife Marian to deputize July Moyo in the local government ministry.
Ironically, Ignatius Chombo served as Local government minister for a long time before he was moved to home affairs and finance.
Other new names who made it into Mnangagwa’s cabinet includes Queen Bee’s best friend Tinoda Machakaire who is now the deputy minister of youths while Chipinge central legislator Raymond Machingura has been appointed deputy minister of higher and tertiary education.
Kazembe Kazembe now heads the ministry of home affairs replacing Cain Mathema who has been shifted to Primary and Secondary education.
Mangaliso Ndhlovu takes over the tourism ministry from Prisca Mupfumira who was booted out after being arrested on corruption charges.
Sekai Nzenza takes over from Ndhlovu in the ministry of industry and commerce.
By A Correspondent| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a sugar daddy, Cain Mathema the new Minister Of Primary And Secondary Education.
The announcement was made on Friday, a day after a ZimEye article criticised Mnangagwa of failing to reshuffle his ministers 15 months after the disputed 2018 elections.
Commenting on the development, former Education Minister David Coltart said, “Putting Cain Mathema in charge of education is simply appalling.”
Mathema (76) in 2016 married a 23 year old girlfriend in a posh English wedding that sent tounges wagging.
Mathema wedded his youthful wife Bathabetsoe Nare at a colourful wedding in Bulawayo. Nare, a former Midlands State University student graduated in November this year.
Mathema could be seen in the video dancing in a jovial mood with his wife.
News24 reports that Mathema left his first wife for a house maid, 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.
The full list of appointments is below –
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa was on Friday conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in Science and Education at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
He was conferred with the honour during a graduation ceremony which he presided over at the University.
2 652 graduands from various faculties which include Medicine, Engineering, Applied Science, Commerce, Communication and Information Science were expected to graduate with various degrees.
Graduands are comprised of six doctorates, 378 masters and the remainder are graduating with bachelor degrees.
MDC leader Nelson Chamisa says Zimbabweans must not wait for any signal from him because signals are everywhere in the country.
Said Chamisa, “We must all be the change we want to see. There is no need to wait for any other signal. Signals are everywhere and there is no justification for any further waiting.”
Chamisa was highly expected to deliver an address on Friday to give a direction to Zimbabwe on the next action to take after the state banned the mass demonstrations that were planned few months back.
Media reports had said Chamisa, through his spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda, said the time had now come to draw the line through his Hope for the Nation Address (HONA) that will give the signal to his increasingly restive supporters who are agitating for demonstrations.
“The president is looking at the issues that affect the citizens and drawing the line towards where the solutions will be found.
“He is also going to talk about the challenges that the nation faces and find solutions, he will give Zimbabweans the signal on the way forward because he believes that the time for action has now come,” Sibanda was quoted saying.
Meanwhile, Chamisa met with a German Minister and they discussed a number of economic issues.
Great exchange on the economic cooperation and the future ..I enjoyed meeting with German’s Dr Stefen Oswald from Federal German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Deputy Ambassador Dr Oefike.The future is set! pic.twitter.com/xlWZ9QzTu0
“Great exchange on the economic cooperation and the future. I enjoyed meeting with German’s Dr Stefen Oswald from Federal German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Deputy Ambassador Dr Oefike. The future is set!” Chamisa posted on Twitter after the meeting.
By A Correspondent- The government has fired 211 doctors after they were found guilty of abstention from duty without leave or reasonable cause.
This was revealed by Health Services Board (HSB) chairperson Dr Paulinus Sikhosana in a statement.
Said Dr Sikhosana:
To date, 279 doctors have been served with charge letters, 213 hearings completed and 211 doctors found guilty of absenting themselves from duty without leave or reasonable cause for days ranging from five or more.
The 211 doctors found guilty have been discharged from the health service. Three (3) doctors appeared in person before the disciplinary tribunals and two (2) doctors had their determinations reserved pending verification of their cases.
Dr Sikhosana added that 516 out of 1,601 medical doctors employed in the public sector are expected to appear before the disciplinary tribunals.
Earlier this week, the government fired 77 doctors who had been on strike for over two months as they demanded better pay and improved working conditions
Muckraker|Government officials this week came up with a solution they thought would finally put an end to the doctors’ strike, which has needlessly dragged on forever.
Some genius discovered that you cannot have a doctors’ strike if you do not have any doctors at all. That is some genius plan. In other words, once you fire doctors, there will no longer be a doctors’ strike, simply because there will be no doctors to go on strike.
At a press conference following Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Health minister Obadiah Moyo, still posing as a real doctor, declared: “For now, the situation is that there are no doctors coming to work except for those whom we are grateful for, who are providing emergency cover. So that’s the situation.”
No doubt, this will be a precedent for all other departments. Once teachers start striking too much, we will simply fire the whole lot. Without teachers, there will be no teachers’ strike.
We urge all other nations in the region to take a leaf from our cunning management of the country. We are world-beaters in finding simple solutions to what seem like complex matters. Why pay workers when you can simply fire them and save money for other useful stuff, like private jets and big cars?
(Dis)honourable MPs
Speaking of putting money to good use, Muckraker would like to congratulate our (dis)honourable Members of Parliament for leading the way.
It was reported that the 350 MPs spent a good five days in the adventure capital of Victoria Falls for a pre-budget seminar. Asked why MPs had to go all the way to the prime tourist resort for such meetings, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube suggested that, this way our MPs would focus and not be distracted.
The MDC, a party that sells itself as the alternative government, came out defending its attendance. In a statement headlined Our MPs are true representatives of the people, the MDC declared: “We have stood tall on the side of the people who want us at every step to raise the issue of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy, which has cost us our allowances for several months, putting paid to the false narrative that we are lured by cheap trinkets and luxury.”
It must come as a shock to the nation to hear that the MDC MPs are not lured by luxury. This is especially because they too cheered when they were informed that government is spending a whopping US$16 million on cars for MPs and ministers.
“We have agreed with a supplier that we are going to provide a letter of credit for the purchase of your vehicles. We have already spoken to the bank and that supplier and we have agreed that they be delivered at one time,” Reserve Bank boss John Mangudya said, to wild applause.
We wait for news of just one “people’s representative” turning down a car. The scent of new car leather is a drug to the average African politician.
Sex tourism
Just when over half the country is going hungry, according to the United Nations, the people’s representatives were eating on the people’s behalf in a sparkling tourist resort in Victoria Falls.
Muckraker has no idea why people are angry about this. What would become of the country’s international image if our leaders were to also die of hunger? Imagine headlines screaming Hunger is so bad in Zimbabwe even politicians are dying. How would we hide from such international shame?
What country would we be if we lost our politicians to drought? We all know politicians must be the last people to go hungry. They are the guardians of the country.
Our leaders must look fat and healthy. We cannot have skinny politicians showing up at world events. What would other countries think of us? It would be embarrassing.
The theme for the pre-budget seminar was “Prudent deployment of resources”. We were happy to hear that our MPs also deployed their resources prudently among some of the local talent, in more ways than one.
When you scrutinise what happened in Victoria Falls and you also consider what happens at such big events as the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, you begin to realise that the concept of “sex tourism” is not as alien to Zimbabwean society as our leaders would have us believe. These hypocrites are even quick to demand the removal of the word “sex” from the sex education curriculum. Who is fooling who?
But we should be patriotic in our assessment of the Victoria Falls jamboree. This is what we would like to see; our leaders spreading taxpayer dollars. Such generosity must be applauded in these times of drought and austerity.
Refreshing plan
Meanwhile, in order to stop inflation, the government has come up with a new, refreshing plan. They are proposing that wages be frozen. This was announced by cabinet on Tuesday.
“In addition government was also putting measures to contain loss of the workers’ purchasing power and requested the Apex Council to provide three nominees to attend a Tripartite Negotiating Forum technical committee workshop in Kadoma from November 10 to 15.
The workshop is aimed at coming up with a social contract that is aimed at bringing the social partners to a common position. This may result in the freeze of incomes and prices,” the cabinet statement said.
In simple terms, a worker currently spending ZW$1 200 per month on transport per month, but earning ZW$800, must have their salary frozen for a while. That way, we are told, things will not get worse.
Who are the adjudicators of the Nobel Prize for Economics? Our government surely deserves a nomination.
Tweet apology
Muckraker was quite entertained this week as the Ministry of Information tried to weasel its way out of a disastrous tweet mocking striking doctors.
“On 2/11/19 this Twitter handle was maliciously compromised and an inappropriate message was posted on it. On being alerted to this, we deleted the message, changed our security information. We apologise to any person or group of persons offended or disrespected by the message,” the Ministry tweeted.
The only shocking thing was that the Ministry thought it necessary to apologise for a tweet insulting citizens for exercising their right to strike. When did that become an issue in government? Have not citizens been called anything from “Satan” to “sellouts”?
Whoever wrote that stray tweet is in that position because they think that way. Having contempt for citizens is a requirement to serve in those offices. Anyone who remotely shows a streak of being a normal human being, a person with basic decency or compassion, cannot possibly ever find a job there.
A teacher at Sakhile Primary School in Heidelberg suffered a face wound when a pupil threw a pencil case at her.
A grade 4 pupil from Sakhile Primary School in Heidelberg, Gauteng, has been suspended after allegedly assaulting a teacher on Tuesday.
Gauteng basic education spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed the incident.
“It is alleged that a grade 4 learner threw a pencil case towards an educator while she was busy at her table. Unfortunately, it hit her in the face,” said Mabona.
The teacher was taken to a local hospital and discharged the same day.
“We can confirm that she is recuperating at home. Our employee wellness officials are in constant liaison with the educator for necessary support,” Mabona said.
Mabona told TimesLIVE that the child left through a gap in the palisade fencing but later resurfaced at the school, accompanied by his grandmother and aunt.
The department’s circuit manager and the school principal told them what had happened, and informed them the child was suspended with immediate effect.
The parents were assured departmental procedures would unfold and the pupil would be allowed to write his examinations. The matter would be heard after November 20, Mabona said.
“Learner ill-discipline will not be tolerated in our environment, which must always be conducive for teaching and learning,” Mabona said.
Police were called to the school but the matter will be handled by the school governing body.
ARTUZ Statement|Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) marked the 24th day of the job action for a living wage by collaborating with other Public Workers’ Trade Unions and staged a historic protest against the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
The protest action is a direct response to the erosion of workers’ salaries by the skyrocketing inflation due to the unstable macro and micro-economic environment which has resulted in the plummeting living standards of teachers and all civil servants alike over the last 2 years.
The protest was called for by the Apex Council after ARTUZ had organized an indefinite job action which commenced on 14 October 2019, alongside all other affected civil servants.
The protest was designed to end the impasse between the government and its workers who are now incapacitated and can no longer execute their duties nor attend to their workstations at all.
Police clearance had been granted for the handing over of a petition to the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance.
Thus a procession of all the Public Sector Unions was intended to proceed to the offices of the Ministry of Finance which is headed by Prof. Mthuli Ncube. However, as the protest had gained momentum, the ZRP came in full force and illegally barricaded both sides of Livingstone Avenue.
This prompted ARTUZ President Obert Masaraure and Secretary-General Robson Chere to lead the protestors to face the police and go past the barricade as there was no basis at law for the police to stop the exercising of the right to assembly and petition.
This resulted in the ZRP resorting to its heavy-handed tactics and with maximum force manhandled the ARTUZ leaders and membership. ARTUZ officer Tryvine Musokeri was the most affected as he was brutally dragged away by 6 armed policemen.
This behaviour from the government and the brutality by the ZRP is once again a clear demonstration that the Government of Zimbabwe has no desire to sincerely engage with its workers.
Further, it corroborates the recent findings of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly Association which found that the Government of Zimbabwe grossly violates labour rights using the security forces.
Moreover, it flies in the face of the ILO convention and declarations on the right to petition by workers for which Zimbabwe is a party. ARTUZ remains resolute in its fight for a living wage of USD $475.00 as per the 2012 salary awards. Our force will not abate and our strength will never wane, we shall fight on!
I perfectly understand the fact that all of you are feeling guilty about your premature celebrations following the military ouster of Gushungo around this time last year.
In fact, all of you were tricked into toppling the iconic African revolutionary by war veterans and the military after their scare tactics failed to work.
They thought by parading a few tanks in the streets, Gushungo would capitulate and hand over power.
The boys in military fatigues got the shocks of their lives when the very calm, but stern-looking former school master reprimanded them and threatened them with expulsion, ordering them back to the barracks.
Back to the story, I was saying most of you can’t be feeling half as clever as you thought you were last year when you celebrated the fall of Gushungo.
I will not even mention the clueless MDC leadership which was once again hoodwinked into wading in to solve the Zanu-PF succession conundrum.
They too must be feeling like mugs together with their ZCTU brothers and sisters.
In less than a year, money vanished from the banks and resurfaced on the streets and prices of just about everything multiplied several times over. Fuel shortages are back.
And these clueless guys are not done with you.
By the time they are done with you, you will all be ready to march to Zvimba to beg your leader to return to politics and lead you.
Remember it has been done in Malaysia.
How do MDC leaders feel?
When Morgan Tsvangirai was on his deathbed, the MDC leadership connived with the Zanu-PF leadership and agreed to parade and humiliate him in front of the international media.
You could tell that some of them were so excited by the prospect of succeeding Tsvangirai that they walked with a spring in their step.
Very naive indeed. They should have insisted on a more private and discreet meeting and not hold a rally at Morgan’s house while images of his emaciated body were flashed across the world.
They took away the man’s dignity and could have hastened his departure from this world.
Fast-forward to last week. When ED visited one of his deputies, Dr Shinanagunz, who is recovering from his house.
It was done in a truly sensitive way to the dignity of a human being.
Lizard Lacoste did not take hordes of journalists on his visit to the Retired General.
He did not even invite Chamisa and other leaders of the MDC when he visited as should be the case.
The privacy and dignity of the Retired General and his family was protected to the extent that his wife, whose hands are affected by a medical condition, was able to cover them, which was a commendable thing.
Again those mugs at the MDC must have been left feeling like low-lives after what they did to Tsvangson.
DeadBC!
The story of hundreds of buffaloes, which drowned in a river while fleeing from marauding lions in Botswana made sad international headlines.
As usual, for entertainment, we tuned in to the one and only television station DeadBC’s main news for the daily comedy of errors.
At least for now we are being spared from the torture of watching and listening to MaSibanda who, if she is still interested in reading the news, can be given the 11pm late bulletin.
Back to the buffaloes, the story was read out and MacDonald Gurira continued with the sad narration, concluding by adding that villagers had collected the dead buffaloes and taken them home, presumably for consumption.
The story was crying out loudly for an editor.
You don’t collect heavy animals like buffaloes like you do mbeva (mice) or amacimbi (mopani worms).
The story would have been more complete if it had indicated how those huge animals were so easily collected.
But again, maybe the story was written by one of those relatives who cannot be fired.
Nation of failures
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya was this week not pulling his punches as he defended the weakness of the bond saying it was all to do with a poorly performing economy.
The problems lay in part in the poor performance of the manufacturing and farming sectors, he said.
Such truthfulness is refreshing! The chefs are not producing on the farms!
We produce soya beans that makes cooking oil that lasts only one month per year!
Treason indeed.
Asiagate
It was interesting to receive information that Gift Banda was being barred from running for a post in the Zifa elections because he was still being rehabilitated over the Asiagate match-fixing scandals. As a result, he had failed the credibility test.
Zifa needs to decide on whether to remain stuck in the past or move on and not use the match-fixing scandal to victimise perceived opponents.
Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa and goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda were caught up in the match-fixing scandal, but they are part of the Afcon qualifiers and doing a commendable job for now.
Some of the most strident journalists doing commissariat journalism at The Horrid newspaper against Banda were also involved in the Asiagate match-fixing scandal.
A famous picture of one of the journalists barking instructions from the bench in Malaysia and allegedly telling players it was time to concede a goal is available.
Just in case. Gushungo woyeee! Ntombizodwa woyeee! Dr Amai Stop it! PhD (Fake)
MASVINGO – The Government’s economic ineptitude has come to the fore again after it emerged that its 13 state of the art training centres dotted around the country are charging RTGS$5 for accommodation per person per night.
This is at a time when lodges and hotels of their standards are charging RTGS$880 per night. Most of the hotels are charging $2 200 per night. The charges are so ludicrous that they are giving a big strain on the cash- strapped Government.
The training institutions which are owned by the Public Service Commission are being used by private companies to book their staff for key training workshops. In some cases groups of people on holiday book the facilties.
The 13 institutes which are run by the Public Service Commission are Avord, Bikita, Toronto, Ruwa, Domboshava, Senga, Elan- geni, Eskhovheni, Chinhoyi, Highlands, Murehwa, Inyati and Thuli.
An investigation by The Mirror in which the reporter paused as someone who wanted to book accommodation for a workshop showed that the majority of the training institutions charged RTGS$5 while a few charged RTGS$10.
All the principals talked to said that they did not know when Government is going to review the fees.
Public Service Commmission Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said ”Institutes charge rates that are approved by Treasury. In view of changes in the operating enviroment, PSC proposal to review accomodation rates significantly is already under consideration by Treasury and it is expected that new rates will shortly be in force.”
Efforts to get a comment from the Treasury chief Mthuli Ncube were futile.
RTGS$5 is now the equivalence of US33c at the current market exchange rates.
The principals at these institutions who talked to The Mirror said the charges are so meaningless the colleges cannot buy three packets of washing powder after book- ing 50 people for a night. A 2kg packet of BOOM washing powder costs $93 at OK Supermarket.
“We need to do laundry for sheets every day. We need to buy detergents for toilets, we need floor polish and pay Zinwa for water that the guests are using and the net effect is that we are provid- ing service for free and soon these institutions will be run down,” said a principal without realizing that he was speaking to the Press.
“The cost for accommodation is $5 but it will be reviewed as promised by the Government, we don’t know when this will happen,” said one of the principals.
Warriors Midfielder Marvelous Nakamba on Aston Villa debut
Aston Villa midfield anchorman, Marvelous Nakamba, turned down the offer to be the Warriors captain when he was given the armband by the technical team.
This was revealed by Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare when he appeared on ZTN’s premier football show The Couch on Wednesday. Said Mpandare:
He is not comfortable wearing that thing at all. He was offered at one time and said no.
Warriors coach Joey Antipas named Wales-based central defender Alec Mudimu captain during the Somalia World Cup qualifier.
With Musona, who was captain at the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt, set to be recalled to the Warriors, analysts have urged Antipas to give back the armband to the “Smiling Assasin”.
The 24-member squad invited for camp ahead of Warriors’ Afcon qualifiers has been named.
The selection was trimmed from 32 players as to cut the costs. The eight dropped are Jordan Zemura, Douglas Nyaupembe, Tivonge Rushesha, Adam Chicksen, Phineas Bamusi, Jonah Fabisch, Admiral Muskwe and Evans Rusike.
Goalkeeper Martin Mapisa was replaced by Chapungu’s Talbert Shumba.
Other locally-based players in the squad are Dynamos keeper Simbarashe Chinani, ZPC Kariba defender Ian Nekati, Manica Diamonds centre-back Partson Jaure and Highlanders striker Prince Dube.
Notable foreign-based players included are Macauley Bonne, Marshall Munetsi and Khama Billiat. Former captain Knowledge Musona is also part of the team.
Zimbabwe will face Botswana in their first qualifier in Harare on the 15th of November. They will travel to Zambia for their second game four days later.
Warriors squad for camp:
Goalkeepers Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka-RSA), Simbarashe Chinai (Dynamos), Talbert Shumba (Chapungu).
Correspondent|A video of a policeman being (as claimed), assaulted by a male citizen in Harare CBD has surfaced online.
An activist who has access to the Information Ministry Twitter account said the video shows the man beating the police officer and disarming him of his button stick before. The police officer tries to take it back but is overpowered.
The ZANU PF activist named Charity Maodza has claimed that the man is an MDC person and that he assaulted the police officer.
However the video on its own shows the civilian is under attack by several officers and he only managed to seize the baton stick, overpower the first officer and withdraw from the scene having taken the weapon away.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has just been conferred with an honorary degree from the National University of Science and Technology with a Doctorate in Philosophy of Education degree For his work in championing education 5.0 in the country.
Accepting the award Mnangagwa said, “As I receive this honour I challenge all universities to produce graduates who can offer solutions to the country, who learnt functional education that can improve lives. NUST must move forward, it has a responsibility to churn out graduates grounded in science who can invent and produce.”
Mnanagwa said his government is committed to supporting local talent and challenged the Universities to prioritise internship.
“I want to reiterate my government’s commitment to support innovative talent and these innovation hubs show our resolution to transform our country locally. l challenge universities to have a paradigm shift in curriculum and internship. We need disruptive thinkers, who have a vision, let’s create new ways for ourselves.
“I’m confident, with a positive mindset and common purpose of unity, nothing is insurmountable. As the graduates go out, strive to be life changers, problem solvers, love your country, serve your communities and families.”
Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Prof. Amon Murwira, congratulated President Mnangagwa for attaining the honorary doctorate, whose motto is ‘Think, Do and Industrialise’. – Byo24
Outcomes of the first Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum. Roscongress to continue working on the African track until the next Forum
African leaders with President Vladimir Putin at the Russia Africa Summit
The development and consolidation of mutually beneficial ties with African nations and their integration associations is now one of Russia’s foreign policy priorities.
The Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum took place on 23–24
October in Sochi. The event’s motto was “For Peace, Security and Development”. This is the first time in the history of modern Russia that an event of this kind has been held at such a high level, and it is unprecedented in the history of RussianAfrican relations. Official delegations from African countries and business representatives expressed great interest in the further development of relations, and in deepening and intensifying Russian-African cooperation. Wide-ranging preparatory work was carried out in the run-up to the Russia–Africa Economic Forum, serving the purpose of strengthening and expanding interaction between Russia and Africa. Priority areas of economic cooperation in which concrete results can be achieved in the coming years were outlined. The main areas identified were energy, including renewables, infrastructure development and
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especially railway and housing construction, modern and high-tech extraction and processing of mineral resources, agriculture, digital technologies, oil and gas exploration, medicine, science and education. At the Summit a final declaration was adopted by the participants. The document outlines a set of goals and objectives for the further development of Russian-African cooperation in politics, security, the economy, science, technology, culture and humanitarian fields. It is worth noting that the declaration includes a new mechanism for dialogue, the Russian-African partnership mechanism, which calls for the Russia–Africa Summit to be held once every three years. “In order to coordinate the development of the Russian-African relationship, the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum is to be established and the Russia–Africa Summit is to be its supreme authority, which will be held once every three years,” the document states. “During the time between the summits, the Russian Federation is to hold annual political consultations with ministers of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation and the African countries taking current, past and future chairmanship of the African Union.” The declaration also states the shared determination of Russia and Africa to take this cooperation to the next level, responding to the challenges of the 21st century at a time when exchanging technological products, generating and trading globally in knowledge and competencies is growing in significance.
The Russia–Africa panel discussion will become a permanent fixture at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, while Roscongress will continue working on the African track until the next Forum.
1.Working with participants
The Russia–Africa Economic Forum was attended by more than 6,000 participants and media representatives from Russia and 104 foreign countries and territories. Among the participants were over 1,100 representatives of international business, around 1,400 representatives of Russian business, over 1,900 members of official foreign delegations and over 300 Russian delegation members.
All 54 African states were represented officially at the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum, 45 of which were represented by their heads of state (Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, the Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe). The Forum’s events were attended by the heads of executive bodies of eightAfrican regional organizations: the African Union Commission, the African Export–Import Bank, the East African Community, the G5 Sahel, the Arab Maghreb Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Economic Community of West African States. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development representatives attended as well.
109 foreign ministers and the Vice President of Liberia Jewel Howard Taylor and Vice-President of Burundi Joseph Butore also attended the events.
Among the most eminent representatives of international and Russian business who regularly participate in Roscongress Foundation events are Chair of Unitel Isabel Dos Santos, from Angola; Chief Executive Officer at Gemcorp Capital LLP investment company Atanas Bostandjiev, from the UK; President of Transmashholding Andrey Bokarev; General Director and Chairman of the Board of KAMAZ Sergey Kogogin; Chairman of the Board of Directors of URALCHEM Dmitry Mazepin; and President of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov.
The following eminent representatives of international business were participating in a Roscongress Foundation event for the first time: Naspers Group CEO Bob van Dijk and CEO of Naspers Ltd Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, from South Africa; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Egyptian National Railways
Ashraf Raslan; CEO of energy company MYA Energy Youssef El Alaoui, from Morocco; CEO of CalBank Limited Frank Adu Jr., from Ghana; CEO of Centurion NJ Ayuk JD, from South Africa; and CEO of C-Nergy Ghana Limited Michael Cobblah.
Representatives of Russian federal authorities participating in the Forum included Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District of the Russian Federation Yury Trutnev, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation Vladimir Ustinov, and 11 ministers of the Russian Federation (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, Ministry of Economic Development, and Ministry of Energy), seven heads of Russian federal agencies and services (Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare, Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport, Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation, Federal Agency for Mineral Resources, and Federal Agency for Fisheries).
“The historical significance of the Russia–Africa events is clear to many generations of people who lived through the USSR. Modern Russia, which already has experience of successful cooperation with African countries under its belt, is ready to make an offer to the African continent that will secure mutually beneficial partnership and the joint realization of the potential accumulated through decades of painstaking work carried out by several generations of Soviet and Russian people,” said Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee Anton Kobyakov.
Business programme of the Russia–Africa Economic Forum
Discussions devoted to the potential for developing cooperation and interaction on the African continent formed the basis of the Russia–Africa Forum business programme. The Economic Forum opened with a plenary on ‘Russia and
Africa: Uncovering the Potential for Cooperation’. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdelfattah Al-Sisi spoke as the co-chairs of the Russia–Africa Summit.
“Over the last five years, trade flows between Russia and Africa have more than doubled and, as our colleague has just pointed out, surpassed the USD 20 billion mark. Is this a lot, or not so much? <…> It seems to me that this figure is too small. Please bear in mind, ladies and gentlemen, that our trade with Egypt accounts for 7.7 billion, or 40%, of this 20 billion figure. We have many potential partners in Africa, it is true, and we are talking about potential partners with strong opportunities for development and huge growth potential,” said Vladimir Putin, opening the Russia–Africa Economic Forum.
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdelfattah Al-Sisi underlined the special role of the Russian Federation in strengthening peace, stability and economic progress between Russia and Africa at the plenary. In particular he noted: “We hugely appreciate the fact that the Russian Federation is devoting its efforts to strengthening cooperation with Africa, and we view the Economic Forum as an important venue for demonstrating opportunities to develop investment and trade between our nations, which will help to strengthen our ties in line with the
2063 concept [agenda] developed by the African Union.” Participants in the plenary programme also included:
from the Russian side – Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin; Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kobylkin; Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Export Centre Andrey Slepnev; and President and Chairman of the Management
Board of VTB Bank Andrey Kostin; from the African side – Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the
African Union Commission Amani Abou-Zeid; Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Stergomena Lawrence Tax; President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) Benedict Okey Oramah; and CEO of Naspers Ltd Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa.
Director of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Irina Abramova moderated the plenary.
During the plenary, the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin presented the Map of Russian Competencies for Africa, an information and analytical software solution that introduced guests from African countries to Russian competencies in various spheres and the competitiveness of Russian products on international markets. The Map of Russian Competencies for Africa includes 39 products representing seven competencies: medicine, mineral resources, digital state, education, transport infrastructure, energy and agriculture. Over 170 Russian companies and organizations submitted a total of 280 proposals.
“The African nations are now undergoing a series of transformations spanning infrastructure, the digital sphere, and the human sphere. The task of these transformations is to increase the quality of life of the people who make up this wonderful continent. Russia has amassed a vast array of competencies in recent years, and we are now ready to implement joint projects aimed at improving people’s quality of life,” said Oreshkin.
The map was available during the Forum, where it was displayed on touchscreen panels in the exhibition area. At the end of the Forum it will be scaled to include other foreign countries and made available online at export.economy.gov.ru.
The discussions were organized into three thematic pillars: ‘Forging Economic Ties’, ‘Creating Joint Projects’, and ‘Collaborating in the Humanitarian and Social Sector’. In total, 31 sessions were held, covering the development of trade and economic relations, existing and potential joint projects in the oil and gas sector and agribusiness, the creation of transport infrastructure, construction, and nuclear energy. 268 speakers participated in the discussions, including Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Veronika Skvortsova; Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Mikhail Kotyukov; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov; Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM Alexey Likhachev; Сhief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee of ALROSA Sergey Ivanov; President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Bank Andrey Kostin; CEO of Rostec State Corporation Sergey Chemezov; and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov.
Furthermore, the Russia–Africa News Agencies Forum was held on the sidelines of the Forum, providing a platform for discussion of the media’s role in Russian–African relations.
All events on the business programme were conducted in the four official languages of the bodies and institutions of the African Union: English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese.
Agreements and business negotiations
“92 agreements, contracts and memoranda of understanding were signed at the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum. Documents worth a total of RUB 1.004 trillion were signed, excluding agreements whose value is a trade secret. Looking at the figures by sector, most of the documents signed were in export and foreign trade, international cooperation, high technologies, transport and logistics, extraction of mineral resources and oil and gas exploration, and investments and banking activities,” said Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee Anton
Kobyakov. “Trade between Russia and Africa has doubled over the last five years, and all the prerequisites are in place for this figure to grow further. Six of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world today are in Africa. This is a continent that is home to the youngest and fastest-growing population on the planet. Mutually beneficial partnership, therefore, is crucial to the development of our countries’ economies, and the Russia–Africa Forum will play a leading role in this process. The next edition of the Forum will take place three years from now. It is important that we undertake to continue our intensive work during this time in order to strengthen dialogue through meetings of various kinds alongside our African colleagues, while working on the agenda for the business programme at the next
Forum.”
Key agreements include:
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Russian Federation and the African Union on basic principles of relations and cooperation was adopted at the Summit in the presence of Vladimir Putin and Abdelfattah Al-
Sisi.
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the African Union on economic cooperation was signed by Tigran Sargsyan, the Chairman of the EEC Board, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Export / Foreign trade:
Sberbank, the Russian Export Center, VEB.RF and Gemcorp Capital LLP investment company signed a framework agreement on the creation of a mechanism to finance trade between Russia and African countries. The agreement is designed to develop cooperation with African countries through the organization of credit mechanisms for joint foreign trade projects and opens up opportunities for increasing Russian export volumes by way of financial support for the supply of Russian products to the African continent, including but not limited to Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Value of agreement – RUB 320.3 billion.
EFKO Group and Egyptian company United Oil signed an agreement of intent. The two sides plan to create a joint enterprise for the production of fat and oil products. Vegetable oils and food ingredients will be produced for regional markets in Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The parties also plan to construct a grain terminal in the Mediterranean Sea for the transshipment of 2 million tonnes of freight per year.
Total project investment – RUB 19.2 billion.
Investments / Banking activities:
The International Agency for Sovereign Development (IASD) has signed agreements with and become a consultant to the governments of the Republic of the Niger, the Republic of Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The agency will bring in investments to fund the development programmes of these countries.
Total project investment – RUB 159.9 billion.
Industry / Construction:
URALCHEM and Grupo Opaia SA have signed a memorandum of understanding on the construction of a urea production enterprise in Angola. The project also calls for the construction of port infrastructure. The Russian company will be responsible for all issues related to design and the manufacturing process, while Grupo Opaia SA will oversee the sale of fertilizers and their distribution to the country’s state farms. Project cost – RUB 83.3 billion.
Russian State Development Corporation VEB.RF, the Russian Export Center and Moroccan company MYA Energy (part of Marita Group Holding) signed a memorandum of cooperation in order to finance the construction of an oil refinery in Morocco with a capacity of up to 5 million tonnes per year.
Total project investment – RUB 35.6 billion.
Transport / Logistics:
Major Russian transport engineering company Transmashholding signed an agreement with Egyptian National Railways on the supply of 1,300 passenger cars to Egypt. The agreement on the supply of cars to Egypt also outlines a proposal for the assembly of cars made from Russian-produced components in Hungary. The cars will then be exported to Egypt.
Total project investment – RUB 71.1 billion.
High technologies:
Russian service robot manufacturer Promobot and Nigerian company Pailz Global Ventures signed an agreement on the supply of one Promobot V.4 robot in the value of USD 22,000. Additionally, a distribution agreement was signed that will see ten Russian robots delivered to Nigeria in 2019– 2020. The promobots will be used at health clinics and airports in Nigeria, as well as in the entertainment sector.
Total project investment – RUB 15.2 billion.
The following memoranda were also signed:
an agreement between LUKOIL and the Ministry of Mines and
Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea;
a memorandum of cooperation between Russian Railways and the Ministry of Transport and Channels of Communication of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
a memorandum of cooperation between Russian Railways and the Federal Ministry of Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
To promote the further development of Russian–African economic and financial relations, as well as cooperation in humanitarian and social spheres, to further facilitate business networking, and promote the image of Russia, the Roscongress Foundation signed 13 agreements on cooperation with the following organizations: the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority; the National Agency for Investment Promotion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chad; the ExpoLink Egyptian Exporters Association; the Nigerian Agency for Investment Promotion and Strategic Projects; the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burkina Faso; the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture; the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mali; the Federation of Businesses of the Congo; and the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique.
Thus, the number of countries, trade partners, entrepreneurs, financial, trade and business associations, with which the Roscongress Foundation has established interaction on the basis of international partnership agreements increased from 94 to 107.
569 meetings were held at the Forum’s working space, which was organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Russian Export Center.
Exhibition
The exhibition tied together various sectors of the Russian economy, including agriculture, heavy and light manufacturing, military and civilian engineering, and much more. The Russian Export Center organized a large-scale exhibit, State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM presented renewable energy sources, and Transmashholding brought modern developments in passenger transport to the attention of participants: the two-car RA-3 railbus, which went into operation at the end of August 2019, the control car of the Moscow-2019 train, which was commissioned by the Moscow Metro, and both sleeper and non-sleeper locomotive-hauled cars, built according to the principle of two-car coupling. A VR area was set up at the stand, giving visitors the opportunity to tour a passenger car of the future.
GAZ presented the latest developments in automotive engineering, including mobile medical stations. The Roscongress Foundation and Gazprom jointly organized the Innovation Space, an innovation cluster that formed part of the exhibition. Thirteen high-tech Russian companies working in water supply systems, biological fertilizers, internet services and telemedicine presented their projects at stands: Agratek Bio, RDP.RU, VIST Mining Technology, Bionovatic, Smart Mini-Clinic (AMCIA), Finteka, Zeldis Pharma, Istochnik Zdorovya, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Gamaleya, Avtonomika, Intelligent
Scanning Systems and Kalancha. As part of the exhibition, Goznak presented technologies related to the manufacture of products for cash circulation, as well as various identification documents and systems.
An exhibit showcasing the defence industry was presented in a single exhibition space at the main venue of the Sirius Park of Science and Art.
Thirty industry leaders, including Russian Railways, PhosAgro, United Aircraft Corporation, and PROTEI participated in the exhibition, presenting sought-after solutions for mobile network operators and comprehensive security systems for implementing the ‘safe city’ concept among other technologies aimed at foreign markets.
Representing the African side at the exhibition were Djibouti, which presented modern logistical platforms, as well as Kenya, DR Congo, and the Moroccan national carrier Royal Air Maroc.
Participants of the Russia–Africa Economic Forum took a special interest in the Discover Russian Cuisine festival, where international head chefs opened the festival’s extensive gastronomic programme. The Forum’s guests and participants were delighted by the regional products on offer at the gastromarket. The highlight of the gastronomic programme was a huge samovar, which was used to serve different varieties of Krasnodar tea. Head chefs from Luxembourg, France, Belgium and Russia participated in the programme.
Goznak also held sales of commemorative coins minted by the Bank of Russia at its stand. Visitors at the stand showed an interest in new minting technologies based on composite materials and in the commemorative banknotes presented in window displays.
Media
The Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum was covered by around 800 media representatives (over 500 Russian and 250 international) representing 43 foreign countries: Algeria, Angola, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guinea, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, the Ghana, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Volunteers
650 volunteers fluent in English, French, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish and representing cities including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Arkhangelsk, Volgograd, Armavir, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don and Sochi participated in organizing the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum.
Cultural programme
A Gala Reception hosted by the President of the Russian Federation was held as part of the Summit and Forum cultural programme. The spouses of the heads of African states visited the Sochi Olympic Park and the Rosa Khutor resort on 24 October. In the evening, participants and guests of the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum were invited to a gala concert featuring stars of Russian figure skating. The world-class ice show synthesized figure skating, theatrical performances, music, acrobatics and cutting-edge stage sets.
Roscongress Information and Analytical System
The Information and Analytical System of the Roscongress Foundation continued developing its Summary service, a joint effort by the Roscongress Foundation and the Russian News Agency TASS, which provides readers with a condensed version of key discussions, describing the conclusions, problems, and solutions mentioned therein. A total of 34 short analytical summaries have been prepared following the outcomes of the Russia–Africa Economic Forum.
A special publication covering the outcomes of the Russia–Africa Economic Forum, ROSCONGRESS INSIDER, will be made available on the official website of the event summitafrica.ru/en and on the Roscongress Informationa and Analytical System website roscongress.org/en.
РAround 9,100 hotel rooms in 30 hotels in Adler, Imeretinskaya, Krasnaya Polyana and central Sochi were booked in the run-up to the Russia–Africa Summit, as well as around 900 vehicles. Sochi International Airport facilitated around 700 take-off and landing operations and saw a passenger throughput of 2,500 people per hour during the days of the Russia–Africa Summit and Economic Forum.
The government has fired 211 doctors after they were found guilty of abstention from duty without leave or reasonable cause.
This was revealed by Health Services Board (HSB) chairperson Dr Paulinus Sikhosana in a statement. Said Dr Sikhosana:
To date, 279 doctors have been served with charge letters, 213 hearings completed and 211 doctors found guilty of absenting themselves from duty without leave or reasonable cause for days ranging from five or more.
The 211 doctors found guilty have been discharged from the health service. Three (3) doctors appeared in person before the disciplinary tribunals and two (2) doctors had their determinations reserved pending verification of their cases.
Dr Sikhosana added that 516 out of 1,601 medical doctors employed in the public sector are expected to appear before the disciplinary tribunals.
Earlier this week, the government fired 77 doctors who had been on strike for over two months as they demanded better pay and improved working conditions.
Independent|IN the famous television series MacGyver, played by Richard Dean Anderson, the main character had a knack for mysteriously engineering daring escapes from danger and saving the day.
With Finance minister Mthuli Ncube set to present his 2020 fiscal statement next week, the troubled Southern African country may be in need of its own MacGyver. In Ncube, Zimbabwean felt they had found the man who could fix the country’s economy like the amazing television character.
And this is going to be no mean task.Traditionally, the two most powerful tools government and the central banks use to steer the economy in the right direction are fiscal and monetary policy. When used correctly, the two can stimulate the economy and achieve set economic objectives.
Until Ncube showed up last year, the relationship between fiscal and monetary policy was disconnected. Government used the central bank to create money to finance fiscal deficits, a situation that triggered high inflation.
Under Ncube’s care, he has tried to rein in money supply growth in the economy. Fiscal and monetary tools help in stimulating the economy and slowing it down when it heats up.
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing low aggregate demand and Ncube is in a quandary as to how to stimulate the economy. The prevailing debate is: which one is the better tool?
Generally, government uses its spending and taxation powers to bring about changes in the economy such as aggregate demand.
The combination and interaction of government expenditure and revenue collection is a delicate balance that requires good timing and a little bit of luck to get it right.
The direct and indirect effects of fiscal policy can influence personal spending, capital expenditure, exchange rates, deficit levels, and even interest rates, which are usually associated with monetary policy.
In his pre-budget consultative meeting, Ncube realises the task at hand is near-herculean.“Mr Speaker Sir, I have noted the huge resource requirements being demanded by all ministries. As you are all aware, the capacity of the budget to finance expenditures is dependent on the capacity of the economy to generate revenues. From our deliberations, you will agree with me that revenue generation capacity is still low due to a number of challenges,” he says.
“The budget ceilings that have been given by Treasury, are therefore derived from the anticipated resources envelope from taxes and what we can borrow from the market without destabilising the economy. We also need to be mindful that unrestrained expenditures financed through unsustainable means are the major source of economic instability we are battling today.”
Ncube says an analysis of only eight bids submitted by different ministries show funding requirements of ZW$112 billion, a figure that by far exceeded the total resource envelope for the 2020 Budget.
Economic analyst Victor Bhoroma says the solution to Zimbabwe’s economic problems need more than just fiscal policy.“The solution lies with implementing the necessary reforms in governance, reining in on government expenditure, supply side intervention to grow production, strengthening institutions (rule of law, property rights and policy consistency) and confidence building. The only worry about a local currency is excessive money printing by the central bank which makes multiple currencies dearer options when forced to choose,” he says.
Bhoroma says government needs to limit expenditures.“Limiting government expenditure to tax revenues. Incentives to the productive sectors of the economy (mining and manufacturing, among others) to export and improve capacity utilisation, restoring institutional credibility (rule of law, property rights, policy consistency, central bank independence, judicial independence and title deeds for land holders to boost production,” he says. “Inclusive governance and dialogue to build domestic and international confidence.Transparent and accountable economic management (dealing with corruption decisively)”Against such an uphill task, Ncube has a daunting task ahead of him.
Among the highlights of the 2019 US$8,2 billion budget was a gross domestic product (GDP) annual growth projection of 3,1%, the privatisation of five parastatals to generate US$350 million, 5% salary cuts for senior government officials with the declaration that the multi-currency regime remains in place.
However, a year later, the reality on the ground depicts a totally different picture to what had been envisaged by Ncube in his fiscal statement last year.
The devastating impact of the power cuts, which last up to 18 hours daily, the drought and the catastrophic Cyclone Idai in the eastern parts of the country, among other challenges, have rendered government’s 3,1% growth projection way off the mark.
The International Monetary Fund has projected that the economy will instead contract by 7,2% this year.The multi-currency regime has since been banned through Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 issued on June 24 this year, making the Zimbabwean dollar the sole legal tender.
However, economist John Robertson said the 2020 budget is likely to be much ado about nothing.“I expect a lot of waffle that adds up to promises that, again, will not be kept and the government ends up looking for someone to blame,” Robertson said.
“The best we can hope for is a stable exchange rate, but there is not much to show that will happen.”
He pointed out that lack of reforms will render most proposals in the budget futile.“I do not think there is nothing to look forward to. I just hope next year will not be worse. They are always talking about reforms, but I cannot see any evidence of it,” Robertson said.
Business consultant Simon Kayereka said the Treasury boss should address a number of issues, among them the 2% tax on electronic transactions and money supply.
“Issues that should be addressed include removing the 2% tax, which is punitive. He should reduce money supply which is stoking inflation, as well as putting measures to ensure currency stabilisation,” he said.
Ncube sees the country’s GPD shrinking by 6,5% owing to a drought and power outages in the current financial year.Ncube needs plenty of luck — or to be a financial MacGyver. Unlike MacGyver, the last scene may be one where Ncube, Zimbabwe’s poor version of the television hero, kills the once pretty girl — Zimbabwe — he once promised to rescue.
Watch video of Mthuli Ncube just after being sworn in.
FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube says it will take at least two years for the Zimbabwean dollar — which was demonitised in 2009 before being re-introduced in June — to operate as a stable currency.
The local unit has been losing value against the United States dollar and other currencies. The US dollar was trading at 1:15 against the local currency on the interbank market this week.
Speaking to editors on Wednesday ahead of the 2020 National Budget statement scheduled for next week, Ncube said: “I think (it will take) a minimum of two years (to stabilise) because we have to make sure that the domestic currency can retain value. It is about to make sure that the domestic currency is very stable and retain value and build confidence on it and then the pricing moves away from US dollar pricing.
“It is about building confidence in domestic currency and usually that takes two years or so and that is okay and I have no issue with that as long as the domestic currency is retaining value in the process. If we allow it to depreciate faster, people will return to (the) US dollar.”
The introduction of a local currency was criticised by financial experts who argued that the country did not have solid economic fundamentals to shore up the Zimdollar.
The fundamentals include low and stable inflation, high levels of productive capacity, increased exports, foreign currency reserves, political and economic stability, reduction of high debt ratios and attaining substantial gross domestic product growth rate of at least 7%.
Ncube, however, says the currency is undervalued and there is need for the government to restore confidence in order to stabilise the Zimbabwean dollar.
“Absolutely, our currency is undervalued. There is no question about it. The study that we did, the Reserve Bank did their own independent study and we both confirmed each other’s result, working out from the equilibrium exchange market rate is giving us an exchange rate of no higher than seven so the rest is confidence, premium, and political stability,” he said.
Ncube said the transitional structures in place are aimed at achieving a tallying ratio between the dollar and the electronic transfer which is normally between 15 % and 75%.
“If you look at the cash in circulation for the rand, 15% is in circulation, 75% is electronic so we want to get to that part. That is where we are headed. But we cannot get there in one year, that’s why you see we have these transitional structures,” he said.
Meanwhile, permanent secretary in the Finance ministry George Guvamatanga said some companies, including food outlets and restaurants transacting US dollars, had been formally registered as tourist entities.
“Statutory Instrument (SI) 142, which is actually the law, is very clear and anything outside that is illegal. But I think some of the shops were very smart because they went through the back door and went to the Ministry of Tourism and registered.
“So we had two options: either to issue a SI to correct that and I have that SI and that is not an option because we don’t want to be throwing around SIs. The other option was to talk to and understand what they were trying to do. So, before I left the office I had done a letter to the Ministry of Tourism and that’s all I can say,” Guvamatanga said.
Upon introduction of the Zimbabwean dollar as the sole legal tender, government made an exception for companies in the tourism sector to continue transacting in US dollars.
Farai Dziva|Gift Kamuriwo was sacked as the Black Rhinos team manager following a match-fixing incident in the 3-0 defeat to Herentals last month.
According to Soccer24, Kamuriwo confessed to the Rhinos executive board that he received money from a Herentals official to influence the outcome of the game.
The former Warriors player revealed this following internal investigations after the club bosses raised a red flag.
Both the technical team and players were summoned for questioning by their officials and the investigations pointed to a match- fixing scam.
Rhinos secretary-general, Wellington Mabiginye confirmed the developments in an interview with the Herald.
“These things happened, I think some three weeks ago, but as a club we have been doing our internal investigations because we didn’t want to tarnish anyone’s image by rushing to conclusions,’’ he said.
“Our team manager confessed to taking the bribe and he has been sacked for that.
“But that is just part of the disciplinary action in motion. Usually, as the army, we don’t have to involve police when we encounter such mischief.
“We have our own processes which may still find someone going to Chikurubi if convicted.”
Farai Dziva|Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has given an update of the fitness of Khama Billiat ahead of the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
The two rivals clash for the second time in seven days after meeting in the Telkom Knockout last week and the fitness of the Zimbabwean winger had become a topical issue after he did not travel to Port Elizabeth for yesterday’s clash with Chippa United.
But speaking during the Soweto derby press conference held at Killarney Country Club today, which Billiat also attended, Middendorp confirmed that the Zimbabwe international and his other teammates who had sustained injuries, will be in the squad for the Pirates game.
“I have feedback already that the other players (Billiat, Lebogang Manyama and Eric Mathoho) are available for selection in the next game. The reports I have received from home is that even Reeve Frosler and Kearyn Baccus should be ready for Saturday.
“The games before and after the Soweto Derby are tricky. This one is more complicated and needed some juggling. Playing a Derby two weekends in a row and having a midweek game was always a challenge. A huge compliment goes to the players. They are really coming to the party and adapting well to the situation.” he added.
I have a 26-year-old son, educated and civilised but I don’t understand what has become of all these values. He is madly in love with a 47-year-old mother and he wants to marry this woman, chembere iyoyi . As family we have tried to discourage him but he won’t take heed.
As a mother I cry myself to sleep most of the time. We went to see this woman, all she said was talk to your son ini ndiri kutodiwawo hangu, handina kuponda munhu. Our son was so respectful asati asangana nembuya iyi.
Could this woman be using juju? Please help, we are so confused, his brothers wanted to go and beat this woman up iye akati angatofa because that woman is his soulmate and the love of his life.
His father said we would disown him if he married this old woman. Akupenga mwana uyu mufunge, he said, “munhu anozvarwa kamwe chete saka penyu neni makatopedza”, he is not deterred by any threats. This woman is well off and my son drives her around sababa, they even go to this woman’s church.
Don’t you think the church is lost kunyararira zvakadai.
What does the law say? How can we rescue our son from this chembere? Worried mother
A local bishop claims the prophetic movement in Southern Africa was wrongly introduced and there are no true prophets in Zimbabwe at the moment.
Bishop CB Matondo of Grace Fellowship Ministries Church blames the young generation of prophets for valuing celebrity status, fame and fortune, which is not of God.
Matondo, says the Prophetic Movement in Southern Africa was founded on a wrong foundation and principles.
Bishop CB Matondo
“The younger generation of prophets who are between 30 to 45-year age group are valuing the gift of prophecy more than the office of prophecy, functions and character of a true prophet.
“The new wave of the Prophetic Movement which focused mainly on a celebrity status, fame and fortune was wrong and not of God.
“True prophets are humble and bear fruits of the spirit not just an ability to tell people their ID numbers and names,” he said.
Matondo said there are no true prophets locally.
“The new wave of prophets who had gone to find prophetic power sources in West Africa had ruined the Prophetic Movement.
“Some people were hurt by these prophets, others lost money to them and some had lost faith in Christianity because of these prophets.
“Character is the only genuine sign that one is a genuine man of God and at the moment true prophets do not exist in Zimbabwe.
“Prophetic gift does not qualify one to be called a prophet as there are several other factors which need to be considered before one can label themselves as a prophet,” he added.
Bishop Motondo said that one cannot start as a pastor and then change office to become a prophet. “It is clearly not possible and demonstrate a misunderstanding of the 5 fold ministry and the offices thereof.
“I had been sent to restore the Prophetic Movement and make right what was wrong with the Prophetic Movement in Southern Africa,” he said.
A local bishop claims the prophetic movement in Southern Africa was wrongly introduced and there are no true prophets in Zimbabwe at the moment.
Bishop CB Matondo of Grace Fellowship Ministries Church blames the young generation of prophets for valuing celebrity status, fame and fortune, which is not of God.
Matondo, says the Prophetic Movement in Southern Africa was founded on a wrong foundation and principles.
Bishop CB Matondo
“The younger generation of prophets who are between 30 to 45-year age group are valuing the gift of prophecy more than the office of prophecy, functions and character of a true prophet.
“The new wave of the Prophetic Movement which focused mainly on a celebrity status, fame and fortune was wrong and not of God.
“True prophets are humble and bear fruits of the spirit not just an ability to tell people their ID numbers and names,” he said.
Matondo said there are no true prophets locally.
“The new wave of prophets who had gone to find prophetic power sources in West Africa had ruined the Prophetic Movement.
“Some people were hurt by these prophets, others lost money to them and some had lost faith in Christianity because of these prophets.
“Character is the only genuine sign that one is a genuine man of God and at the moment true prophets do not exist in Zimbabwe.
“Prophetic gift does not qualify one to be called a prophet as there are several other factors which need to be considered before one can label themselves as a prophet,” he added.
Bishop Motondo said that one cannot start as a pastor and then change office to become a prophet. “It is clearly not possible and demonstrate a misunderstanding of the 5 fold ministry and the offices thereof. “I had been sent to restore the Prophetic Movement and make right what was wrong with the Prophetic Movement in Southern Africa,” he said.H-Metro
Farai Dziva|Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube has literally conceded failure to solve the nagging economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
Mthuli Ncube told a daily publication the stabilisation of the Zimbabwe dollar would take two years.
“I think (it will take) a minimum of two years (to stabilise) because we have to make sure that the domestic currency can retain value.
It is about to make sure that the domestic currency is very stable and retain value and build confidence on it and then the pricing moves away from US dollar pricing,” said Mthuli Ncube.
Zimbabwe outlawed the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions on the 24th of June this year at the same time reintroducing the Zimbabwe dollar, putting an end to the multicurrency regime the country adopted a decade ago.
Farai Dziva|Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube has literally conceded failure to solve the nagging economic crisis in Zimbabwe.
Mthuli Ncube told a daily publication the stabilisation of the Zimbabwe dollar would take two years.
“I think (it will take) a minimum of two years (to stabilise) because we have to make sure that the domestic currency can retain value.
It is about to make sure that the domestic currency is very stable and retain value and build confidence on it and then the pricing moves away from US dollar pricing,” said Mthuli Ncube.
Zimbabwe outlawed the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions on the 24th of June this year at the same time reintroducing the Zimbabwe dollar, putting an end to the multicurrency regime the country adopted a decade ago.
THERE is growing disquiet within the rank and file of the military over the rising cost of living, poor salaries and difficult working conditions, with government now desperate for solutions to avert a security crisis.
Senior and middle-level officers, some of whom are directly involved in civil-military relations and intelligence, revealed widespread unease over the deteriorating economic situation in the country, underpinned by skyrocketing prices, high cost of living and hyperinflation, which has rendered salaries worthless.
The development has alarmed government, now frantically looking for resources to placate the army. Finance minister Mthuli Ncube told editors on Wednesday that he was alive to the prospects of instability and pledged to avail more resources to the military.
“On the security cluster, let me tell you, if you do not have peace, you will have (instability). There is need to get them a decent three meals a day; a decent uniform and then there is housing. I know the issues well. I am well briefed on their issues. We want to deal with that,” Ncube said.
Army officers who spoke to the Zimbabwe Independent revealed disgruntlement was at an all-time high in the armed service, particularly within the junior ranks.
They said junior officers are unhappy about the unfulfilled promises made by the authorities in the aftermath of the military coup which toppled the late former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
Some senior Zanu PF officials have also openly expressed fear that the party could lose future elections if economic solutions are not found.
Military sources said troops are also disappointed by the scrapping of certain privileges and trappings of comfort they briefly enjoyed soon after the coup.
The army, soon after the toppling of Mugabe, had become extremely powerful, taking over some of the roles previously reserved for the civilian intelligence service and the police. For instance, sources said, in the first few months after the coup, soldiers took over the presidential close security tasks from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), while the Zimbabwe Republic Police were relegated to peripheral roles.
However, after Mnangagwa secured a razor-thin victory in last year’s disputed general election, he went on a purging spree, removing some influential generals from the military and reconfiguring other sections as he solidified his grip on power. The CIO is now back in charge of Mnangagwa’s close security and the spy agency has seen the privileges it enjoyed under the old Mugabe order being restored.
Mnangagwa’s mistrust of the military grew exponentially when his second-in-command, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, made indications that he planned to take over power in 2023. Chiwenga was the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces when Mugabe was ousted.
“There is widespread disgruntlement in the army mainly over the terrible state of the economy. If you read the weekly situation reports submitted to the Office of the President and Cabinet by various army departments, you will be shocked by the level of frankness with which these issues are articulated. The biggest complaint among soldiers is that they have not been spared the economic crisis and their families are going hungry like everyone else. They also have rentals and bills to pay,” a military source said.
A senior army official also said frequent meetings are being held involving high-ranking officers from various departments and regiments where open and frank conversations about the state of affairs in the country are discussed and reports are produced. However, sources said, commanders — who are accused of enjoying higher perks than their juniors — have developed a habit of watering down the reports to conceal the level of restlessness in the rank and file.
“To tell you the truth, the bosses are edgy. There are fears that if the grievances raised by the restive soldiers are not urgently addressed, the situation could have grave consequences. In fact, in one of the meetings recently held, one of the senior officers stated that the economic mismanagement by government was equivalent to Zanu PF people digging their political graves using a table spoon. Someone then joked that, in fact, they were now digging with a proper shovel. It’s a very delicate situation,” the source said.
Sources further said the army’s Directorate of Signals has been receiving alarming situation reports (or sitreps as they are called in military parlance), as reported by the Independent in February. The reports have continued to flow in.
“The signals gauge the morale of the army sent by the Directorate of Signals to each army unit. Of late, they have been very worrying, particularly since January when things started going bad,” an officer said.
“Basically, sitreps serve the purpose of gauging and determining the morale levels within the army. What I can say is that morale is at its lowest ever.”
The developments also come at a time government is battling a huge rebellion from the rest of its employees, who on Wednesday protested over the same grievances but were restricted by police.
This week, government announced it had fired 77 doctors who have not been reporting for duty for the past two months, citing incapacitation and was investigating more of its workers. The strike has paralysed the health sector. In terms of the constitution, however, the security forces are prohibited from going on strike.
Government, battling to mobilise foreign currency to finance key budgetary priorities, has said it cannot afford to meet the salary demands of its workforce, having already seen its paltry 70% increment rejected. On average, low-ranking civil servants earn around ZW$700 per month, an equivalent of US$42, according to the prevailing parallel market exchange rate.
Conditions within the barracks, military sources said, have deteriorated, as Zimbabwe reels from the devastating impact of a multifaceted economic crisis.
Contacted for comment, Zimbabwe National Army spokesperson Colonel Overson Mugwisi yesterday said after he consulted his superiors, the army decided it would only respond to the Independent’s inquiries into the conditions of service within the military today.
Farai Dziva|A South African woman is still in shock after her husband murdered the couple’s son.
Read the full story that was published by TrendsDaily below :
A man identified as Thabang Ngobeni, 25, stabbed his 3-year-old son to death n a veld near the Bremer Street informal settlement in South Africa because he believed that sacrificing the child would “cleanse him of the evil that has befallen him.”
The body of the boy, Mohau was found in the veld with multiple stab wounds to his face and chest.
“We were alerted to the situation shortly after 16:00,” said Hercules CPF chairman, Johan van Staden. “The body was found not long afterwards.
Xander Loubser of Bestcare paramedics was part of the search party that found the child’s body.
“When we found him, his little body was already cold,” said Loubser.
Sam Ngobeni, the murder suspect’s father told journalists that his son said he had taken the child into the veld to “offer him to God”
It is alleged that the suspect returned home later and just sat down on a chair, emotionless, his hands and clothes still covered in blood.
“He didn’t try to run away. He just sat there and told us not to worry about Thabang anymore,” a family member said.
The mother of the late toddler Thandi Ngobeni, 24, is still in shock and struggling to come to terms.
After undergoing troubles they could not resolve, Thabang and Thandi separated some time ago, but are still legally married.
“How it could have happened. I do not know what got into him,” said a traumatised Ngobeni. “I was so shocked, I did not know what to say or do. All I want is closure.”
According to family members Thabang apparently took Mohau into a veld near the informal settlement on Bremer Street where the toddler was physically assaulted and stabbed multiple times.
By Own Correspondent| Luckson Chikutu popularly known as Manluckerz is probably one of Zimbabwe’s finest cultural export. The award winning arts activist has been flying the country’s flag high in Europe.
He is probably one of the most recognisable Zimbabwe’s
cultural ambassador in Sweden where he has been domiciled for the past twenty
years.
The National Arts Merit Award nominee is the frontman of the
Zim-Traditional Unity, a band which comprised of five different nationals. He
has been working with the band members for more than 15 years.
“I started working with them
since 2001 and some started in 2004 till today we are so tight, we are a team
and we do teamwork. They are contributing a big strength in our cultural
relationships with other cultures.
“They do like the Zimbabwean
traditional music. They got inspired with how I work with them. They normally
call me as a neutral person, a man,” said the soft spoken Manluckers.
The rainbow band is made up of
Martin Larsson- Sweden, Joseph
Semafumu-Uganda, Mia Törngren-Sweden, Celso Paco-Mozambique, Göran
Larsson-Sweden, Ben Joe-Senegal, Isaac Mutasa-Zimbabwe and Jesina Chikutu- Zimbabwe-Sweden.
The band members are itching
to one day perform at grand national festival in the country.
“Their expectations are to participate one day
in one of the biggest event in Zimbabwe. They also want to show Zimbabweans
that our culture is rich and we should feel proud of it, not being ashamed with
it,” said Manluckerz.
The Mberengwa duo comprising of
twins Tafadzwa and Tanaka of the Musandu family, Mposi Village under headman
Guta, Chief Mataga are on the run.
This follows a defiance of a
cultural initiation ceremony where they were expected to inherit artefacts
which include witchcraft from their late father’s estate.
In Zimbabwe, witchcraft can be
inherited from one’s mother or some maternal ancestor who was her-self a witch
or possession by an alien spirit or acquired through medicines provided by
another witch.
Similarly, men can also become
heir to witchcraft from their ancestors and may acquire it through means such
as those already alluded to in relation to women.A neighbor of the twins who
spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from
the immediate family confirmed the occultic happenings surrounding the Musandu
family.
“Twins a male and a female are
actually on the run after a ceremony where they were set to be initiated in the
dark operations of witchcraft had to be abandoned midway,” said the neighbor.
“The process was already underway, where the duo was expected to assume ownership of all their father’s estate including the traditional artefacts and the presiding traditional officer was already undertaking the initiation process when they eloped”.
“They are assumed to have skipped
out of the country and the process needs to be completed for their father’s
spirit to rest or else they would know no peace,” said the villager.
Under local cultural values, the
twins have to come back to complete the initiation process.
What makes the matter complex is
that the law enforcement agencies cannot have their hand in the matter since
there is no law which criminalizes witchcraft in the country.
Such cases are often regarded as
family issues and the law heavily subscribes to the local culture which values
families.
Witchcraft is a manifestation of
mystical forces which may be in-born in a person, inherited, or acquired and
the commonly used methods of detecting witches in Zimbabwe include divination
either by spirit possession or the throwing of bones which is undertaken by a
traditional healer.
The belief in occult forces is
deeply-rooted in Zimbabwe, regardless of the levels of education, religion and
social class.
Zimbabweans generally tend to
believe that a realm of the occult exists and regularly interacts with the
physical sphere of existence.
A man identified as Thabang Ngobeni, 25, stabbed his 3-year-old son to death n a veld near the Bremer Street informal settlement in South Africa because he believed that sacrificing the child would “cleanse him of the evil that has befallen him.”
The body of the boy, Mohau was found in the veld with multiple stab wounds to his face and chest.
“We were alerted to the situation shortly after 16:00,” said Hercules CPF chairman, Johan van Staden. “The body was found not long afterwards.
Xander Loubser of Bestcare paramedics was part of the search party that found the child’s body.
“When we found him, his little body was already cold,” said Loubser.
Sam Ngobeni, the murder suspect’s father told journalists that his son said he had taken the child into the veld to “offer him to God”
It is alleged that the suspect returned home later and just sat down on a chair, emotionless, his hands and clothes still covered in blood.
“He didn’t try to run away. He just sat there and told us not to worry about Thabang anymore,” a family member said.
The mother of the late toddler Thandi Ngobeni, 24, is still in shock and struggling to come to terms. After undergoing troubles they could not resolve, Thabang and Thandi separated some time ago, but are still legally married.
“How it could have happened. I do not know what got into him,” said a traumatised Ngobeni. “I was so shocked, I did not know what to say or do. All I want is closure.”
According to family members Thabang apparently took Mohau into a veld near the informal settlement on Bremer Street where the toddler was physically assaulted and stabbed multiple times.TrendsDaily
By A Correspondent- A teacher at a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church-run primary school in Bulawayo has been convicted for hitting a Grade Three pupil against a desk resulting in the child losing a tooth and two other lower frontal teeth becoming loose after he reportedly failed to solve a Maths problem.
Sanele Khumalo (57) who was a teacher at Queen Elizabeth Adventist Primary School pleaded not guilty to assault but was convicted by Western Commonage magistrate Gladmore Mushove.
Meanwhile, Khumalo will be handed his jail package on 5 December after his lawyer pleaded with the court to give him time to pay the boy’s medical bills so that he can receive a “lighter sentence”.
According to a medical report, following the brutal attack, the pupil suffered permanent damage to his front tooth.
Khumalo was convicted after a full trial with a number of witnesses testifying, including three doctors who examined the boy roundly confirming that from their observation it was clear that considerable force was used for the tooth to break.
In her judgment, Mushove ruled that there was overwhelming evidence that the accused indeed committed the “heinous” crime.
“Looking at the flow of the evidence from the complainant to the mother and the doctors the court was satisfied that the accused indeed assaulted the complainant,” she said.
According to court papers, on 11 October 2017 and at around 8 am the boy was in class when accused who was his teacher at that time flew into a rage after he reportedly failed to solve a long division sum.
The enraged Khumalo, the court heard, severely hit the complainant’s head against the table once which resulted in him losing his tooth with the other two becoming loose.
A medical report was produced in court as an exhibit amid fears that the pupil suffered a permanent disability as a result of the attack.
In his defence, Khumalo said on the day in question he was monitoring the pupils and when he got to the complainant’s desk, he just gave him a little pat on the shoulder but the boy reacted by accidentally hitting his head on the desk.
His lawyer also submitted that the there was no evidence that the accused committed an offence adding that the evidence which was led by the complainant was at variance with that of his mother, the dentists and teacher-in-charge and also with the statements given to the State one-and-a-half years later.
Meanwhile, in September a deputy head at Nyamandlovu Primary School was found guilty of committing a “serious breach of trust” when she brutally assaulted a Grade Seven Pupil several times on the head with a mopane switch as punishment for making noise.
Victoria Vambe (52) was arrested after the 12-year-old pupil’s father learnt of the crime and notified the police.
This was after the boy, who sustained bruises on the scalp and swollen eyes, also developed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the assault.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF supporters, who were bussed to the mining indaba in Gweru to beef up numbers ahead of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s address on Wednesday, caused a raucous at feeding points as they threatened to run away with the delegates’ food if they continued to be denied access to lunch.
Anti-riot police had to called in to quell the restive crowd.
In a bid to avoid the embarrassment of addressing empty chairs at crucial events like what happened at previous events in Harare and Mashonaland Central, the Zanu PF Midlands provincial leadership took a decision to bus its supporters from all districts to fill up the Gweru Convention Centre, where Mnangagwa was guest speaker.
Midlands State University students, college students and mothers with babies on their backs as well as the elderly were also bussed to the venue that was supposed to be purely a formal business meeting of mine owners and government officials, among other stakeholders.
The situation degenerated into chaos as the Zanu PF supporters occupied front seats with delegates, who had paid for the two-day event and those accredited, failing to get comfortable places inside the venue.
During lunch time, the Zanu PF supporters clogged VIP delegates’ feeding points and riot police had to be called in to crush the restive activists who were clad in party regalia.
However, Dosman Mangisi, the Zimbabwe Mining Federation spokesperson said there was nothing wrong with what Zanu PF did at the event.
“Zanu PF has strong grassroots in rural areas, as people in the rural mining district are bonafide members of ruling party, they felt it necessary to be in solidarity with it since it champions empowerment programmes. It was not a party event at all. The issues articulated were all mining related,” he said.
Mangisi confirmed witnessing the fracas that saw riot police being called in.
“I did see that happening because I was part of the security. One big thing to note is that the small-scale miners were excited to interface with the Head of State and government, the chief principal of the mining sector. It was an inaugural event. The event has already been placed on the annual calendar,” he said.
Mangisi denied reports by miners that they had failed to get food as the organisers had to feed Zanu PF supporters.
“Delegates were well fed. It’s only that the event finished a bit late, and people had to go.
Delegate cards were less in terms of the numbers,” he said.
Asked on whether the organisers expected the large numbers that turned up at the meeting causing confusion in the process, Mangisi said: “We were expecting the figures, Midlands has 20 associations and each association was supposed to bring 200 miners.
“We had people from Mt Darwin, Plumtree, Mutare and Makuti, which are far from Midlands. Each province was supposed to bring 2 000 miners as targets. And there are about 1,5 million miners in the country. The conference hall has an 8 000 sitting capacity.”
However, miners, who spoke to a local publication expressed disappointment, saying they never anticipated the event to become a political gathering.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s health system has been plunged deeper into crisis after the country’s Health Service Board discharged an additional 134 doctors for absenting themselves from duty without leave or reasonable cause for days ranging from five or more.
The doctors downed tools over two months ago demanding the pegging of their salaries to the prevailing interbank rate as a precondition for their return to work.
The doctors are also demanding that government capacitates hospitals with basic health services to enable them to save lives.
A total 516 out of 1,601 medical doctors employed in the public sector are expected to appear before the disciplinary tribunals.
In a statement Friday afternoon, HSB said 211 doctors “found guilty have been discharged from the health service”. Three (3) doctors appeared in person before the disciplinary tribunals and two (2) doctors had their determinations reserved pending verification of their cases,” HSB said.
“Cognizant of the need for continuous dialogue with its employees, on 10 October 2019, the Health Service Board met with both the Senior and Junior doctors.
“On 29 October 2019, the HSB again met the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctor’s Association (ZHDA) in the presence of the Executive Director for the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) where the ZHDA presented a position paper,” HSB said.
“Again, the ZHDA demanded the pegging of their salaries to the prevailing interbank rate as a precondition for their return to work.
“In line with section 4 of the Labour Act (National Employment Code of Conduct), the disciplinary hearings continue, whereby 516 out of 1,601 medical doctors employed in the public sector are expected to appear before the disciplinary tribunals,” the board added.
Doctors have said they want to go back to work, but were without the means to do so.
“On September 3, 2019, doctors nationwide made it clear that they were not embarking on a strike but that they had become incapacitated. The will and desire is there, but the means to execute their duties does not exist,” ZHDA is on record as saying.
Minister @InfoMinZW Hon. Senator Monica Mutsvangwa today presided over the induction of new board members for the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). Among other issues she urged the board members to expedite the licensing of community radio stations. pic.twitter.com/WC6oydlyZg
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) November 8, 2019
By A Correspondent- A top Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) official has been fingered in a well-orchestrated police corruption scam by a subordinate who has since been granted protection by the High Court after exposing the alleged dirty deals.
Assistant Commissioner Clever Macheka’s alleged shenanigans were exposed when Assistant Inspector Mutindi approached the High Court challenging his unlawful transfer after denouncing the habit of extorting suspects at police stations for the top cop’s benefit.
Mutindi dragged the chief staff officer human resources (PGHQ) and police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to court after he was unceremoniously transferred from Hatfield Police Station to four other stations within a 13-month period.
“My question is how many I/C Crimes are being abused, but are silent for fear of victimisation and how are we going to curb corruption when senior officers are sending members to get money for their benefit? This is typical of the old dispensation,” Mutindi said.
“Surely even if Assistant Commissioner Macheka would want to extort money from members can someone transfer a member to four stations within 13 months?
“It is glaringly clear that he is abusing his office for selfish reasons and if left unchallenged, he would abuse more and corruption would be perpetrated infinitely.”
Mutindi’s matter was on Wednesday brought before High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero, who ruled in his favour and slapped the chief staff officer human resources (PGHQ) with costs.
Mutindi had submitted through his lawyer, Norman Mugiya, that his transfers were meant to induce him to resign because he had refused to be part of a corrupt police force.
“The four transfers of the applicant (Mutindi) at the instance of the first respondent (chief staff officer human resources (PGHQ)) be and are hereby declared to be unlawful and wrongful and accordingly set aside,” Justice Chikowero ruled.
“The first respondent is ordered to allow the applicant to remain stationed at ZRP Chitungwiza until and unless a transfer is to be initiated in terms of the law and a proper notice and the provision of all payable allowances is made. The first respondent is ordered to pay costs.”
According to court papers, Mutindi was initially stationed at Hatfield Police Station, transferred to St Mary’s and hardly four months later, was moved to ZRP Chitungwiza and later to Waterfalls Police Station without any reasons.
“What I discovered is that these harassing transfers were doctored by Assistant Commissioner Clever Macheka after I refused to be pressured to comply to his unlawful demands of extorting accused persons at ZRP St Mary’s and give him cash in order to buy favour with him,” Mutindi said.
“When I refused to co-operate with the said Assistant Commissioner Macheka he told me that I would pay for it and he would not rest until I am transferred to a fixing station or to be frustrated until I leave the organisation. I refused to budge, hence the reason why I am now suffering.”
Mutindi added: “When I refused to do what is clearly unlawful he then decided to use his influence to fix me as he is now doing. Consistent with his promise to fix me, I was transferred from ZRP St Mary’s to ZRP Chitungwiza administration within two weeks and he told Chief Inspector Mutabvuka never to allow me anywhere near the crime division”.
Minister @InfoMinZW Hon. Senator Monica Mutsvangwa today presided over the induction of new board members for the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ). Among other issues she urged the board members to expedite the licensing of community radio stations. pic.twitter.com/WC6oydlyZg
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) November 8, 2019
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man was left reeling after discovering that his live-in girlfriend had been lying about being pregnant apparently as a way of putting a stamp on their “shaky” relationship.
Moses Sibanda from Emkhandeni suburb who supposedly wasn’t ready to become a father said his ex-lover Sarah Moyo lied to him on two separate occasions that she was carrying his baby.
But Moyo got more than she had bargained for. When Sibanda discovered that there was no baby at all he started verbally abusing her while labelling her a witch.
That prompted Moyo to approach the courts seeking a restraining order against Sibanda.
“I was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Moses Sibanda until we finally separated some time in October this year. After we broke up, he started verbally and emotionally abusing me by sending insulting messages while accusing me of being promiscuous.
“I blocked him on WhatsApp but he continued sending me those insulting messages through text messages. He is also accusing me of being a witch and useless woman.
“I pray that he should be ordered not to verbally abuse me and communicate or talk with me whenever we meet,” begged Moyo.
In response, Sibanda didn’t dispute his ex-lover’s accusations. He said it was punishment for lying to him that she was carrying his baby.
“It is true that I sent her insulting messages. What happened is that after we separated, she lied to me on two separate occasions that she was pregnant. After lying to me we reconciled before I finally dumped her after I discovered that she had been lying to me.
“From the time we separated I have never been to her place and it is also my request to the court to grant a reciprocal order since she is also verbally abusing me,” said Sibanda.
In her judgment the presiding magistrate Adelaide Mbeure granted a reciprocal order in which she ordered the two parties not to verbally abuse, communicate and visit each other’s homes.
We owe a lot to those who fought for our independence against the brutal rule of Ian Smith. Those gallant fighters sacrificed a lot for our freedoms and we unreservedly honour them.
This country has not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our war veterans; as a civilian, I owe an unpayable debt to all our military and those who fought so that I could even fathom write this message today.
39 Years down the line, our economy lies in ruins, unemployment at its peak, extreme poverty is the order of the day. It is grossly disturbing that the political elite are abusing the name of our impartial and dedicated war veterans to rape this nation of its resources and abuse the very country they fought for.
The world has moved on since 1980, there have been great technological advancements. We now need a leadership that understands the issues people of today face, a leadership that understands the economics of today that will lead Zimbabwe and her people to prosperity.
We want a leadership that will adequately recognise our veterans and give them the benefits they deserve. Never must we allow a few who loot billions from our public purse in the geese that they fought for this country, the true heroes of our liberation struggle lost limbs, legs and various body parts, but they continue to wallow in poverty while those in the echelons of power enjoy milk and honey.
Now is the time for our generation to prepare for the generation of tomorrow
Farai Dziva|MDC Caston Matewu has said genuine war veterans have never been rewarded for their tireless efforts during the liberation struggle.
Read Matewu’s argument below :
We owe a lot to those who fought for our independence against the brutal rule of Ian Smith.
Those gallant fighters sacrificed a lot for our freedoms and we unreservedly honour them.
This country has not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our war veterans; as a civilian, I owe an unpayable debt to all our military and those who fought so that I could even fathom write this message today.
39 Years down the line, our economy lies in ruins, unemployment at its peak, extreme poverty is the order of the day. It is grossly disturbing that the political elite are abusing the name of our impartial and dedicated war veterans to rape this nation of its resources and abuse the very country they fought for.
The world has moved on since 1980, there have been great technological advancements. We now need a leadership that understands the issues people of today face, a leadership that understands the economics of today that will lead Zimbabwe and her people to prosperity.
We want a leadership that will adequately recognise our veterans and give them the benefits they deserve.
Never must we allow a few who loot billions from our public purse in the geese that they fought for this country, the true heroes of our liberation struggle lost limbs, legs and various body parts, but they continue to wallow in poverty while those in the echelons of power enjoy milk and honey.
Now is the time for our generation to prepare for the generation of tomorrow
Two years after the military coup that removed Robert Mugabe from power, Zimbabwe has entered a new spiral of decline that threatens to take the country back to the worst days of his era.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who came to power in that coup, had promised a “new beginning” for Zimbabwe.
That initially bought him some valuable breathing space, and even goodwill from the international community, which seemed willing to give him an opportunity to make good on his pledge.
It hasn’t taken long for the euphoria—always rooted more in the demise of Mugabe than in the rise of Mnangagwa—to vanish.
The first indications that so-called reform was likely to be superficial came in July 2018 with Zimbabwe’s disputed presidential elections.
It was all too familiar, including when security forces used live ammunition against protesters, killing at least six people.
Then, early this year, more protests against huge increases in the price of fuel triggered more repression, with more protesters killed by security forces.
The regime’s response in poorer urban areas also expanded to include a campaign of mass arrests, abductions and rape.
Since then, the authorities have intensified their campaign against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, while also targeting civil society activists for “subverting” the government.
That repression demolished one of the two pillars of Mnangagwa’s “new Zimbabwe”—a supposedly sincere commitment to political reform and national dialogue.
By the summer, the second pillar was also collapsing. Far from being “open for business,” as Mnangagwa proclaimed, Zimbabwe has experienced an economic and social meltdown. The International Monetary Fund has forecast that the economy will contract by 5.5 percent this year.
Inflation reached 300 percent in September and was still rising, the second-highest in the world behind Venezuela.
The value of the reintroduced Zimbabwean dollar is in freefall, and the Reserve Bank—the source of the infamous hyper-inflation of the previous decade—is once again printing excessive amounts of money.
Meanwhile, there are acute shortages of water, fuel and electricity across the country. Power cuts of up to 18 hours a day have destroyed daily life and what little is left of manufacturing.
Most serious of all is the food crisis. The United Nations World Food Program issued a warning in August that over 5.5 million people, one third of Zimbabwe’s population, will be at risk of famine by early 2020, with 2.5 million already “marching towards starvation.”
In September, it revised these estimates upwards, with 8.5 million people now likely to require emergency food aid.
Both the health care and educational systems are in crisis.
With hospitals lacking basic equipment, health professionals are warning of a “silent genocide.”
Meanwhile, doctors have been striking as their salaries no longer allow them to make ends meet.
Teachers’ unions have also announced their members will only work for two days a week, given their low salaries.
Zimbabweans, who have far too much experience in finding ingenious ways to survive, are approaching the limits of their ability to eke out an existence.
This year has definitely ended any notions that the country’s problems flowed purely from Mugabe rather than from the rule of his party, ZANU-PF.
It has also dispelled the idea that in Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe had found its Gorbachev or de Klerk—a courageous leader making a genuine attempt to break with a failed system.
It hasn’t taken long for the euphoria—always rooted more in the demise of Mugabe than in the rise of Mnangagwa—to vanish.
There are, of course, some mitigating circumstances, including several natural disasters, from a severe drought that has damaged harvests and the water supply, to the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, which swept through Southern Africa in March.
But years of economic mismanagement and neglect of the country’s infrastructure meant Zimbabwe was hit harder than its more stable neighbors in Mozambique and Malawi.
It is difficult to see what the ZANU-PF regime can do to get the country out of this abyss, and it appears to be completely out of ideas.
All Mnangagwa could offer in his state of the nation address in early October was a call for “time, patience, unity of purpose and perseverance.”
The party’s kleptocratic nature prevents it from embracing a technocratic and transparent approach to economic policy.
Actual political reform—the introduction of a constitutional state with free elections, independent state institutions, checks and balances and a thriving civil society—is anathema to the very basis of ZANU-PF rule.
But those are the kinds of changes needed to uproot a patronage-based economy still entrenched under Mnangagwa that guarantees the wealth of the ZANU-PF elite and of the military hierarchy underwriting its rule.
Mnangagwa has been trying to project the image of change—to help secure enough external assistance to stabilize the economy without disturbing the foundations of this authoritarian system. With the deepening crisis, this project has clearly run its course.
Now the regime is trying to deflect any responsibility onto Mugabe personally and onto the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union.
Mugabe’s tenure was undoubtedly disastrous, but that is no alibi for the current ruling elite led by Mnangagwa and two former generals, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo, both key figures in the coup. All three were staunch supporters of Mugabe for decades and deeply complicit in that era of misrule.
The country was also in a deep crisis long before the imposition of Western sanctions. In any case, the sanctions—which freeze assets and ban travel for some ZANU-PF and military figures involved in human rights abuses, and target companies controlled by many of those corrupt figures—are too narrowly focused to determine the fate of the entire economy.
Responsibility instead lies at the door of the only party ever to have held power in Zimbabwe. Hopes would normally rest with the opposition defeating such a failed government at the ballot box.
Zimbabwe’s democratic façade, however, barely conceals the reality of a military-party junta.
Based on the past two decades, placing hopes in the ballot box will likely lead to more disillusionment, and for now, the outcome of street protests is equally grim and predictable.
So what are the prospects for change? As the crisis grows, the regime will face some acute dilemmas.
The support of South Africa, China and Russia has not translated into substantial financial backing because they are all aware of just how dysfunctional ZANU-PF is.
The crunch will come when the regime struggles to find the means to pay civil servants—and therefore to maintain the machinery of government and the state apparatus—and the army on which its rule ultimately depends. If it cannot pay them, those sectors may crack and ZANU-PF’s impregnability could crumble.
That would carry the grave risk of a failed state, but it may create a situation in which elements of ZANU-PF and the military see the wisdom in reaching out to other political forces for a genuine national dialogue, and to the international community for emergency assistance and a long-term economic stabilization package.
If that happens, they could serve as catalysts for a fundamental reconfiguration of the country’s politics. But it means that things in Zimbabwe may have to get even worse before they can get better.
About the author:
James Hamill has been a lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester since 1991.
He has a long-standing research interest in South African politics, particularly in the country’s post-apartheid development, and is a frequent visitor to the country. He has published articles on South Africa in International Relations, Diplomacy & Statecraft, The World Today, Politikon:
The South African Journal of Political Studies and The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal …
