The 2020 Budget Objectives and Thrust

The 2020 National Budget marks the transition from austerity to a growth stimulation and employment generation era.

Strong emphasis is now on reviving key sectors of the economy through promotion of production oriented investment and productivity, without losing focus on fiscal responsibility.

21.  The growth thrust is being prompted by glaring supply side deficiencies which have undermined stabilisation efforts.

Currently, average industry capacity utilisation stands at around 35%, while industrial output is below 60% of 1980 levels.

This position reflects through high import dependence (40% of GDP), high unemployment and informalisation levels in the economy.

22.  Therefore, the 2020 Budget prioritises the following areas:

•       Growth and productivity;

•       Job creation;

•       Competitiveness; and

•       Strong, Sustainable and Shared Development.

23. The proposed supply side interventions combined with continued and strengthened stabilisation reforms, coupled with progressing of the reengagement process with the international community, will constitute integral pillars of the 2020 Budget.

24. To contextualise the 2020 National Budget, it will be helpful to highlight both global and domestic economic developments and outlook to 2020.

By Farai D Hove| The most popular politician Zimbabwe has ever had since 1980, Nelson Chamisa will this week unveil his much awaited HONA – Hope Of The Nation Address.

The people’s president will deliver his speech on Wednesday the 20th November.

The address is set to reveal his plans for Zimbabwe’s future. 2 weeks ago Chamisa said his party has not been idle at all contrary to claims by the state media.

He has since promised to drop the bombshell revelation on Wednesday. VIDEO BELOW

Coming into office a few days later, we committed to saying goodbye to the ways of the past, and to doing things differently.

I immediately moved to give the people their voices back, opening new channels of communication between the people and their representatives.

Criticism of the government and the presidency would no longer be taboo, but welcomed, even encouraged. I answered tough questions on my Facebook page, as I promised to be a listening president.

We immediately went into an election, in which opposition parties were free to campaign wherever, whenever and however they liked. Even when I narrowly survived the Bulawayo bombing attack weeks before the election, nothing changed. The campaign continued unimpeded.

On July 30th 2018, eight months after coming to office, we held the freest and fairest elections in the country’s history. While no electoral process is perfect, all international monitors noted the new and free environment of the campaigns, and the vast improvement in the electoral process.

And we will continue to work closely with our partners in the international community to improve and refine our democracy. To build a resolute and open society, a free and fair country for all its citizens.

Part of this is reforming antiquated legislation and opening up the political space. We are repealing AIPPA, replacing it with three new laws, consistent with the ethos of the new Zimbabwe: The Freedom of Information bill, the Protection of Personal Information bill and the Zimbabwe Media Commission bill.

Developed in consultation with a diverse range of stakeholders, these laws meet international media freedom standards and ensure the right to freedom of expression and freedom of media.

Just last week we removed the much maligned POSA, a remnant of the old Zimbabwe that limited the right to protest, and replaced it with a new Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill, devised with input from civil society and our friends around the world.

These have been key demands of the international community, and should be interpreted as a sign of our commitment to reform. Yet the impetus for change and reform comes from within. We are not reforming to appease the nations of the world, but because reform is necessary to build the future our people desire. Of course, there is still much work to do, but we are heading in the right direction.

In November 2017, we also found ourselves mired in an economic mess. A dark and dangerous fiscal tunnel, with no apparent light at the end of it.

Today, we have a balanced budget for the first time in living memory, and we have restored our own currency, enabling us to take control of both our fiscal and monetary policy.

Of course, too many Zimbabweans still suffer, but austerity is a painful but necessary part of the recovery process. Led by our internationally recognised Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, we will continue to restructure, revamp and rebuild our economy. We cannot and will not hold up our hands. We must reform or perish.

The people of Zimbabwe know perseverance. Just because the process is tough, we will never take our eyes off the prize. We must never give up until we have achieved our goals: A middle income economy by 2030.

We are investing in this process like never before. A process of wholesale economic, political and social reforms.

I call on the nations of the world to help us speed up this process, to support the people of Zimbabwe as we undertake these painful but necessary reforms.

If the goal of sanctions is to stimulate the reform process, their effect is the opposite. They slow down our progress, inhibit our economic recovery and empower those who do not wish to see Zimbabwe change.

Their removal will therefore be an important step on the road to a better future for all the people of this country.

We as leaders have a duty to set a new course for our people. A course where not only is our fate in our own hands, but where no one is left behind. A course with a balanced budget, an open political space, and a thriving economy providing the jobs and opportunities our people deserve.

I shall never stop working towards these goals and will never waver in my determination to realise the dreams of all those who took to the streets two years ago. I am confident that with patience, perseverance and our unbending commitment to reform, we will get there.

-cnbafrica

Former Minister of Labor, Dr Sekai Nzenza has been accused of failing to pay back US$8 000 out of US$13 715. 83 she borrowed from the National Social Security Authority earlier this year.

The Standard reports that Nzenza borrowed the money saying that it was for work purposes but her former Ministry which has paid back US$5 715.83 advised NSSA that the minister should pay back the remainder because it was not used for government business.

Meanwhile, the minister is saying that there was no underhand dealing in the matter as the money was transparently sent when she was stranded during her New York and Morocco government-sanctioned trips. She added:

NSSA came to the rescue and sent money so we could get home safe. I wrote to the chairman Dr (Cuthbert) Chidoori on the 25th of February to let him know that the ministry owes money to NSSA.

I made him aware that this was a serious corporate governance matter and now that there was a board, any such situations should be managed through the correct channels.

Nzenza who was recently accused of ordering NSSA to pay $1,8 million to a group of local experts she handpicked to unpack the NSSA forensic audit report at a cost of US$120 000, is of the view that the purported scandal is only meant to tarnish her image.

Pindula

CHIREDZI – President Mnangagwa has given a stern warning to his Minister of Transport Biggie Matiza to either perform or face the chop particularly in respect of Chilonga River Bridge that cuts off Chiredzi South from the rest of the country during floods.

Addressing a rally at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi on Saturday, Mnangagwa summoned Matiza who is the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development to the podium and told him of the crisis that the people of Chiredzi face as a result of the absence of a bridge on the river.

Tens of lives are lost almost every year because of the low bridge which is across Runde River. A whole constituency is cut off from the rest of the country during floods creating transport, health and food crisis in Chiredzi South. The bridge is also critical for linking Sango Border Post and Chiredzi thereby shortening the distance from Beira to Mutare and Harare.

Mnangagwa told the rally that he got a briefing on the bridge and said it was urgent that Matiza mobilises US$20 million required for the construction of the bridge which will be more than 100m.

Mnangagwa said his Cabinet reshuffle last week was based on performance where those who were not getting the results were given the boot. He said the reshuffle was not the end of the story as more would come and non-performers would be kicked out.

He instructed Matiza to deal with the issue of the bridge as soon as possible. He said Matiza would be fired if he did not construct the bridge in the shortest possible time.

“I was appraised of the need to construct Chilonga Bridge. Pano ndauya naminister Matiza karume kapfupi asi kakomana kangu, kakararama pakachinja cabinet but nguva yake ichakwana. Wanzwa nyaya yandataura yeChilonga Bridge ndinoda kuti rigadzirwe ndiko kuti mazuva ako awedzerwe kana zvikasaitika mazuva anoita mashoma (I have Minister Matiza with me here. He survived the recent Cabinet reshuffle but his time will come if he doesn’t give attention and prioritise this project. He must deliver on the Chilonga Bridge in order for him to stay long in Cabinet)”, said Mnangagwa.

This year the bridge was allocated $8million but the money was eroded by inflation.

Masvingo Mirror

By A Correspondent- MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa has revealed that he met with ED’s confidant and godfather Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi.

Chamisa reportedly spoke his mind and told the Bishop what needs to be done by who for the country to move forward.

Speaking to the publication the advocate said:

“I told Bishop Mutendi that Mnangagwa must stop seeing the MDC as an enemy. The MDC is not a fly-by-night party . . . it’s a party of the infrastructure of politics in the country and must be respected in that regard. Mnangagwa is not helping anything by disfiguring the MDC. That doesn’t help at all. We are saying . . . we are open to frank and open discussions with Mnangagwa. We have said this openly, but they can’t prescribe the parameters of dialogue.

“I told Bishop Mutendi that we are willing to talk to Mnangagwa anytime. I impressed upon him that he (Mutendi) should give Mnangagwa sound advice. This country lacks a nation builder because Mnangagwa is acting like a party leader. The nation needs a father, but we have none. I also told the bishop that churches must continue to pray for the country so that we get out of the current crisis.”

Dialogue calls between the 2 parties have been made by various stakeholders however the 2 men in question are yet to make efforts to meet for what Chamisa calls a “genuine dialogue”.

-DailyNews

The MDC has announced that Harare ward 44 councillor Resias Masunda has died. Cllr Masunda died at a Harare hospital in the capital yesterday after a long illness.

More details to follow

Dear Advocate Mudenda,

So, last year when the MDC members of Parliament did not rise from their seats to respect Zanu Pf’s “dear” President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, you unleashed police officers to eject them from the august house.

And then when they decided not to attend fearing they could be ejected again, you are angry with them for bringing Parliament into disrepute. 

But be honest, Mr. Speaker Sir. Would you not have got them ejected again if they had not stood up to respect President Mnangagwa?

So are you angry because you missed an opportunity to eject them again as you did last year? 

You may say what you want, Mr. Speaker Sir, but you need to tell the public what regulations bind the MPs to stand up when the President enters the august house? And what regulations criminalizes MPs to miss a Parliamentary session?

Parliamentary business should be run on rules, and if current rules are no longer applicable, those that make the rules should develop a new set of rules that suit the situation, and rules should never be applied in retrospect. Use of double standards to resolve issues is a no go area

State Media|A Harare-bound bus was yesterday reduced to a shell after it caught fire near Tree Tops Tollgate, about 20 kilometres from Gweru along the Gweru-Bulawayo Highway.

No one was injured as more than 40 passengers managed to disembark, but they lost some property.

The losses could have been huge were it not for some members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) who stopped and helped offload goods in the trailer.

The City Bus that was on its way from Gaborone, Botswana, caught fire at around 12.30pm after the driver made an emergency stop following a mechanical fault.

The bus company said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

The fire is said to have emanated from the right rear wheels and quickly spread.

One of the passengers, Ms Gloria Mwale, a cross border trader from Kwekwe, told our Bulawayo Bureau at the scene that they all safely disembarked.

She said the fire was threatening to spread to the trailer where 90 percent of the goods belonging to the passengers were loaded.

The goods included electrical gadgets, blankets, smartphones, chargers and clothes.

“Fortunately, an army truck came from nowhere and the brave soldiers disembarked and rescued our goods which were in the trailer,” said Ms Mwale.

“I had orders for my clients and if the goods had been burnt, I don’t know what I was going to do.”

Another passenger, Mr Admire Chebundo from Harare, said they left Gaborone at around 8Ppm on Saturday and the bus developed mechanical problems when it was leaving Bulawayo.

“At one time, the driver and other crew members tried to fix the problem,” he said. “Then we heard that the brakes were binding. We are lucky that the fire started when we had all disembarked from the bus.”

City Bus operations manager Ms Juliet Bokosha said: “I can confirm that the bus caught fire in Gweru and the majority of the goods were saved. Investigations are ongoing.”

Gweru deputy chief fire officer Lyndon Hove said the bus was completely gutted when his crew arrived at the scene.

State Media|THE accreditation of delegates expected to attend the 18th Zanu-PF Annual People’s Conference to be held at Goromonzi High School in Mashonaland East Province will start this week, secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo has said.

The announcement comes as preparations for the conference are in their final stages, with the theme having been announced by the Politburo on Wednesday last week.

The annual conference will be held under the theme “Modernise, Mechanise and Grow the Economy Towards Vision 2030”.

According to the party’s website, the conference will run from December 10 to 15.

In a statement, Khaya Moyo said only bona fide delegates will be accredited according to laid-down party regulations.

“In preparation for the forthcoming Zanu-PF 18th National People’s Conference to be held at Goromonzi High School, Mashonaland East Province, in December 2019, the security and accreditation team will be accrediting delegates as reflected per the attached,” he said.

“Only bona fide delegates will be accredited according to laid-down party regulations.”

Delegates set to attend the conference will be accredited at their respective provinces except Politburo members, the Central Committee, local and foreign guests, local and foreign media, ushers and drivers, and officials and security personnel who will be accredited at the party’s head-quarters.

Harare province has been divided into technical committees and tasked to contribute $500 000, five beasts, fruits and vegetables towards ensuring the conference is a success.

The party has also set health requirements for delegates attending the conference, with pregnant women being advised not to attend, as well as breastfeeding mothers as children are susceptible to infections among large crowds.

Over 7 000 delegates are expected to attend the annual conference, with at least 2 000 foreign delegates having confirmed their participation.

The conference is expected to consolidate national efforts towards reviving the country’s economy, with President Mnangagwa aggressively pursuing economic recovery through the implementation of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (2018–2020).

The TSP is premised on fiscal consolidation, economic stabilisation, and stimulation of growth and creation of employment.

At the 2018 annual conference, the party came up with a number of resolutions which included the endorsement of President Mnangagwa as the party’s sole presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.

DCCs

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF is working on the amendment of its constitution to include District Coordinating Committees (DCCs) after the Politburo last week okayed their inclusion, legal affairs secretary Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana has said.

The Politburo endorsed the Harare DCC elections held recently, with Bulawayo province now preparing for its elections.

Mangwana said the amendment process will be ratified at the Zanu-PF conference in Goromonzi.

“The amendment procedure has already started and the Politburo had endorsed it and that is why we saw DCC elections being held in Harare and Bulawayo,” he said. “The procedure will be ratified at the forthcoming conference.”

The Politburo endorsed newly-elected Harare’s DCC executive members as part of a restructuring exercise to strengthen the party ahead of the 2023 national elections.

DCCs were reintroduced after the party dissolved the Harare and Bulawayo provincial party structures.

The DCCs are the building blocks of the party structures in the two metropolitan provinces.

DCCs were disbanded in 2012 after it was felt that they had been hijacked by elements that sought to manipulate party structures to foment factionalism and disharmony in the party.

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has increased the price of fuel with effect from today (Monday).

ZERA said the new prices were premised on the interbank market rate and will see a litre of blend petrol (E20) retailing at $17,07 while diesel will sell at $17,74 per litre.

Last week, the price of petrol was pegged at $16,77 while diesel was at  $17,53 per litre.

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

“Operators may however sell at prices below the cap depending on their trading advantages.

“All stakeholders are advised that the petroleum, price releases by ZERA can be verified on the official ZERA website, Facebook or twitter,”  ZERA said in a statement.

Zimbabwe’s economy will rebound next year, as Government has set a solid foundation for growth despite being plagued by the worst drought in four decades in the 2018/2019 season, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

He warned cash barons who were abusing the newly introduced $2 and $5 notes, adding that authorities have since identified some of the culprits, who will soon face justice.

Government’s bold decision to reintroduce a new currency, he said, will help to industrialise the economy and create jobs.

Speaking at an anti-sanctions rally after commissioning a state-of-the-art hospital in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East, President Mnangagwa said the country’s economic progress was unique since it was being undertaken without support from international financial institutions.

“We are happy that when we instituted austerity measures, yes, the economy went down by minus 6,5 (percent) in terms of growth. But when everything has stabilised, through what we call fiscal consolidation of expenditure and revenue, next year, which is just the month after next, our economy will start to rebound from minus 6,5 (percent) in 2019 to plus 3 percent in 2020,” he said.

“There are other countries that are undergoing economic and political reforms, like we are doing ourselves. Egypt got US$12 billion, Argentina got US$100 billion, Greece several billions to resuscitate their economy, but not a single cent has been given to Zimbabwe in the process of reforming our economy.”

Notwithstanding the teething challenges experienced in transitioning from a multi-currency system to a mono-currency, he added, a local currency was a prerequisite for development.

“Firstly, there is no single country which has developed its economy, which has industrialised its economy, without its own currency.

“You go to SA, they have the rand; Botswana they have the pula. In Zambia, they have the kwacha. All these countries suffer good and bad times with their currencies and they forge ahead.

Should we continue with other people’s currencies? No! We should have our own. That is why we said let us take the brave route.”State media

Correspondent|Former opposition MDC legislator for Bulawayo South, Eddie Cross has said that the government’s decision to dismiss striking doctors was ill-thought.

Mr Cross said that it took the government of Zimbabwe thousands of dollars and over a decade of investment in the human capital and other countries will gladly jump at the opportunity to hire them. He said:

Our medical training has always been world-class. Why? I do not know, but our doctors and nurses find ready acceptance outside the country.

Just yesterday (Wednesday), I saw a BBC programme on that country’s National Health Service, where the commentator was saying they have 100 000 vacancies which they cannot fill and arguing for a priority immigration policy — made for Zimbabwe!

Cross added that the doctors did nothing wrong by asking for a sustainable salary and better working conditions saying that everyone would do the same under the prevailing circumstances.

His remarks come when health caregivers in public health institutions are on industrial action that was initiated on the 3rd of September this year by junior and middle-level doctors who are saying that they are incapacitated to report for duty.

State Media|Banks continued to dispense limited amounts of money to their clients, while some money changers continued to hold on to large sums of the new notes and coins, either obtained legally by accumulating through the informal sector or through questionable allocations by banks.

The money changers who were earlier last week happy to openly display the notes were now a bit cautious and had stashed the money in cars and were only showing it to clients who showed interest in transacting.

While some money changers were sitting on bundles of the new notes and coins, depositors had to stand for hours on end in long winding queues at most banks in the CBD as banks limited withdrawals to between $80 and $300 per person.

CABS and POSB were dispensing $80 on Friday, while CBZ and FBC were dispensing $100.

ZB Bank, Steward Bank, Stanbic Bank, Nedbank, Ecobank and Standard bank were disbursing $300, the maximum that an individual is allowed to withdraw per week.

Bank officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were having to limit the amount they were dispensing to ensure they served as many clients as possible.

Depositors who spoke to The Herald said they were delighted that they were able to access cash, although it was coming in small amounts.

Mr Anesu Mandeya, who arrived at his bank early in the morning, said he was happy that he managed to withdraw his money, although he had to queue for several hours.

“When I got here this (Friday) morning at around 5am there was already a very long queue and I did not expect to get any money because I was number 120,” he said.

“To my surprise, the queue was moving very fast and we all got our money before lunch.”

A security guard at one commercial bank, who did not want to be named, said the queues were longer than usual, but most customers were being served.

“The bank is giving out $80 per person and has been serving about 100 customers daily, but today more than 300 people managed to withdraw cash,” he said.

While some of the queues were orderly, there was chaos at other banks where some people were jumping the queues.

“We arrived at the bank around 5.30am and I was at number 86 but to my surprise some people who came after us and were behind us managed to withdraw money ahead of us because they connived with the security guards or bought numbers from people that were ahead of us,” said one of the depositors.

The RBZ recently announced that it would inject an extra $1 billion into the economy over the next six months to satisfy legitimate demand for cash.

The release of the new $2 and $5 banknotes and $2 coins started on Monday last week.

State Media|Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has praised the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) for swiftly acting against two banks alleged to have allowed their depositors to make withdrawals above the stipulated limit.

CBZ Bank and Ecobank are in the eye of a storm after two of their depositors got $44 180 and $15 000, respectively, at a time when other depositors were being allowed a maximum of $100 per day.

The RBZ reported the two banks to the police on Thursday last week and the two institutions are reportedly assisting with investigations.

Responding to questions during a post-Budget breakfast meeting in Harare last Friday, Prof Ncube said it was important for RBZ to ensure such behaviour was nipped in the bud.

“In terms of the cash that you have seen floating in places where it should not be, clearly the Governor (of the RBZ Dr John Mangudya) has acted swiftly on the couple of banks whose staff were involved,” he said.

“So it was a strong message coming from the Reserve Bank.”

The RBZ has threatened to fine any banks caught on the wrong side of the law.

CBZ Bank on Friday sought to exonerate itself from any wrongdoing, saying its investigations regarding the $44 180 circulating on social media established that the transaction was “authorised”.

“The results confirm that a withdrawal of $1 and $0,25 bond coins took place at one of our branches. The withdrawal, by a corporate customer, in the gaming business, was an authorised transaction that fulfilled regulatory requirements,” said CBZ.

“The funds in the container were a display of a subsequent pay-out to a punter at the aforementioned corporate customer’s premises.”

There were indications last night that Ecobank would issue a statement on the matter.

ZRP national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said that investigations were continuing.

“We are conducting joint investigations with the RBZ,” he said. “Once we feel that we have anything that we want to advise the public, we will communicate appropriately.”

Prof Ncube called on banks to reduce charges and also pay interest on bank balances.

“On bank charges, we also feel as Government that they are on the high side,” he said. “We will continue to engage them to bring down the charges.

“Instead, I will add my own comment which is around interest on deposits. We want a decent interest on domestic deposits, and a decent interest rate on FCAs (foreign currency accounts).”

Paul Nyathi|Chiefs from Matabeleland North led by Speaker Of Parliament Jacob Mudenda’s home area chief, have recommended Minister July Moyo to remove Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni from his post, since his elder brother, Mr Joram Ndiweni, who is based in the UK is allegedly still contesting the chieftaincy.

According to the Chiefs, on the advice of ZANU PF Secretary of Administration Obert Mpofu as it has since emerged, in Ndebele custom, chieftainships pass from father to the eldest son, which is a deliberate incorrect interpretation of the Ndebele culture.

The Ndebele culture, which the Chiefs are custodian to, has never stated that the eldest of the outgoing chief’s sons is an automatic successor but states that the new chief is chosen from amongst the sons where in the family elders consider varied advantages amongst the sons to come up with an heir.

That the norm amongst most cases has seen the eldest son taking over the Chieftainship has never changed the culture.

As was the case with the Ndiweni Chieftainship when Chief Khayisa Ndiweni died in 2010, Chief Ndiweni’s widow, Agnes, advised government that the family had gathered and agreed to install her last born son, Nhlanhla ahead of his two brothers Jotum and Douglas.

According to the Chiefs Jorum was meant to be the heir on virtue of him being the eldest of the sons causing an unnecessary furore.

In an affidavit presented to government at the time of appointing Nhlanhla, the Ndiweni family said that Jorum “would never make a respectable chief that the people of Ntabazinduna deserve” because of “various other deeper stuff that make him not to be the chief.”

The family also disqualified the other son Douglas as he “cannot be trusted, he is dishonest (and) a rabble-rouser.”

After the appointment of Nhlanhla, Jorum tried to contest the appointment but was advised of the futility of his contestation by the family and appeared to have dropped the case and backed his younger brother until recent when Nhlanhla clashed with Obert Mpofu who sources within the saga accuse of trying to incite Jorum to revive the appeal.

The sources further accuse Mpofu of trying to use the Matabeleland Chiefs to get rid of Nhlanhla who has been fighting Mpofu over cattle belonging to the Ntabazinduna royal family which Mpofu illegally took over from a farm during the land resettlement programme.

Chiefs from the province convened in Bulawayo on Saturday and recommended that Chief Ndiweni be removed from the position allegedly pending finalisation of the dispute.

Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi, who is Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs’ deputy president, said the provincial assembly only got to know that the battle was raging on recently and were shocked that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works had not told them.

This followed a directive from the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs that the provincial assembly should address the issue, said Chief Mtshane.

“The issue was discussed because of the challenge by the elder brother who is saying he is ready to take over the chieftaincy,” he said.

“When he (Chief Ndiweni) was appointed, we sent a delegation of chiefs to the family and they gave us Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Kayisa’s name.

“No one mentioned the issue of the court challenge by the elder brother until recently when we were given the documents from the ministry that prompted us to meet as the provincial assembly.”

Chief Mtshane said the provincial assembly, chaired by Chief Shana of Jambezi, Jacob Mudenda’s home area, used its powers and recommended the national chiefs’ council to rescind the appointment.

“As traditional leaders, we resolved that the matter must go back to the family so they resolve the issue and if they agree or fail to agree, they will then come back to us,” he said.

“The family decides and we only help as the assembly.”

Chief Mtshane said in Ndebele culture, the first born son assumes chieftaincy unless he declines and even then has to justify his refusal to assume office a highly incorrect interpretation of the Ndebele culture.

Chief Ndiweni, who could not be reached for comment, reportedly approached the Ministry of Local Government recently enquiring why he had not been sworn in since his appointment in 2014.

He is said to have written to the President’s Office noting his displeasure, resulting in the Minister of Local Government being ordered to address the issue.

The minister forwarded the matter to Chief Charumbira who referred it to the provincial assembly, hence the Saturday meeting.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, under whose ministry the traditional leaders fall, referred questions to the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Richard Moyo.

Chief Ndiweni was appointed by former President Robert Mugabe, resulting in his traditional anointment by the family in 2014.

No Government official, and none of Chief Ndiweni’s brothers — Joram, now aged 75, Douglas and Ian — attended the ceremony which was presided over by some family members and members of the community.

Chief Ndiweni had not been sworn in as the case is pending at the High Court.

Additional reporting: State Media.

By Dorrothy Moyo| The Deputy Chief Of the Chiefs Council has said the prolific Chief Ndiweni can be removed by ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Speaking at the weekend, Mtshana Khumalo said:

“The appointment, removal and suspension of chiefs must be done by the President on the recommendation of the provincial assembly of chiefs through the National Council of Chiefs and the Minister responsible for traditional leaders and in accordance with the traditional practices and traditions of the communities concerned.

“Disputes concerning the appointment, suspension and removal of traditional leaders must be resolved by the President on the recommendation of the provincial assembly of chiefs through the minister responsible for traditional affairs.”

He also said Ndiweni remains chief until a resolution is reached. He said:

“We recommended that the process must be redone after Chief Ndiweni’s brother Joram who is in London objected to his appointment. He wrote a letter to the district administrator in Umguza saying the process had not been procedural and there is a court case,” he said.

“We sat this Saturday and made a recommendation to the family that the process must be redone. It’s a process that must first be ratified by the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs and the Chiefs Council will make a resolution. He is still the chief, we made a recommendation and the National Chiefs Council may amend it, add or subtract.”

State Media|National Social Security Authority (NSSA) pensioners have not only suffered from questionable investments, as uncovered by a forensic audit, but also from a 15-month moratorium on new investments.

The moratorium resulted in the value of US$150 million in cash holdings seriously eroded by inflation in the later part of the moratorium.

The ban on new investments was imposed by then Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Priscah Mupfumira in February last year, around the same time that a full forensic audit of NSSA was started.

The rationale for the moratorium was to prevent further investments that could be regarded as suspicious, criminal or just incompetent.

On assuming office in September last year, the new minister Dr Sekai Nzenza, maintained the moratorium as the forensic audit was still in progress.

Sources at NSSA allege that after the introduction of the interbank market in February, the 1:1 rate collapsed, leading to the erosion in value.

There are concerns that the money lost value at a time when pensioners are earning a pittance, which can barely buy a 10kg bag of maize-meal.

Reads part of a dossier availed by sources within NSSA; “Since late 2018, NSSA board was instructed by the minister not to carry out commercial and trading activities of its investable funds. As a result, an amount of US$150 million then remained in NSSA bank accounts earning no interest and no financial gain.”

The Herald has established that Minister Nzenza lifted the moratorium in April this year, a month after the forensic audit was concluded and two months after the present board took office.

The moratorium was lifted on condition that the board would follow through on all the findings and recommendations of the forensic audit report.

Responding to the allegations, NSSA board chairman Dr Cuthbert Chidoori said: “At the time the current board came into office (February 2019), it found out that in February 2018, the then Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare (MPSLSW), had called for a forensic audit on NSSA activities covering the period 1st January 2015 to 28 February 2018.

“The minister had also put a moratorium on all investment activities pending the conclusion of the forensic audit. This all happened during the tenure of the previous board whose tenure expired on 12th October 2018.

“The authority was, therefore, unable to carry out normal investment activities since then, resulting in accumulation of large cash balances.”

Dr Chidoori said when Minister Nzenza came into office, she only “reaffirmed the moratorium” since the forensic audit was not yet complete.

He said Minister Nzenza directed that the moratorium should remain in force until there was a new board.

“The minister explained to the current board during their induction that the reinforcement of the moratorium was indeed necessary after noting the lack of due diligence and the losses incurred on some investments in NSSA,” said Mr Chidoori.

“The minister was also waiting for the outcome of the forensic report on investment and suspected massive irregularities and some of them which have turned out to be criminal.”

The forensic audit was completed in March this year and the moratorium was lifted the following month after the board gave assurances it would follow through on all the findings and recommendations in the forensic report.

Last week, Minister Nzenza described as “hogwash”, claims that she made unilateral and unprocedural decisions in the selection and remuneration of the ICT specialist and lawyers tasked with unpacking the forensic audit report.

Dr Chidoori said procedures in the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act were followed to clean up NSSA.

Explaining the process of the board’s clean-up programme he said: “To follow through on all the recommendations detailed in the forensic report, the board identified the five key areas where there were serious irregularities namely, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Properties, Investments, Human Resources and Corporate Governance.

“There was also a concern on NSSA

policies and practices which required research to bring them into line with best practices as far as social security provisioning is concerned,” he said.

“With the concurrence of the minister, a team of six expert lawyers was appointed in full compliance with the procurement laws and regulations of Zimbabwe for a period of 30 days. They were required to comb through the detailed forensic audit report, together with the massive boxes of the annexures and to identify organisations and individuals within and without NSSA, who were to blame for the plunder of NSSA resources identified in the report.

“Notwithstanding the delays suffered in preparing and obtaining approval of the contracts, the expert lawyers produced a comprehensible report for the board and the ministry for their adoption on the way forward.”

Dr Chidoori said the forensic report unearthed scams in NSSA, where huge sums of money which runs into hundreds of millions of US dollars had been lost through the shenanigans of some individuals at NSSA.

Twenty-four workers have been sent on forced leave to pave way for investigations, and those absolved will return to work.

The audit found most of the 24 were irregularly appointed without being the first in their interviews, where these were held.

The NSSA board will seek to regularise these appointments.

“The forensic report has uncovered huge amounts of money which were given to staff as loans in breach of the conditions of service,” said Mr Chidoori.

“There are allegations of lavish lifestyles by NSSA staff, while pensioners wallow in poverty, possibly necessitating a lifestyle audit. The board will seek to recover all monies, including monies which may have been given to staff who are no longer with NSSA.”

NSSA last week announced significant increases in pensions, with the minimum general pension rising to $200 a month from $80, and those who were getting above the new minimum having a 65 percent rise.

By A Correspondent- Junior doctors have mocked Health Minister Obadiah Moyo’s remarks that the government will avail ZUPCO buses for doctors to alleviate their incapacitation.

In a post on microblogging site Twitter, Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association (ZHDA) secretary-general, Mthabisi Anele Bhebhe expressed shock and queried whether Minister Moyo knows what a doctor does.

He wrote:

“The Minister of Health will expect a doctor to use a Zupco bus to see patients. Does he know what exactly doctors do, the work schedule of a doctor and the essence of time? Akusi kujairirwa here uku?”

Junior and middle-level doctors have been on strike since the 3rd of September over poor remuneration and working conditions.

The government responded to the job action by firing hundreds of doctors, leaving public hospitals bereft of both doctor and patients.

Zimbabwe’s economy will rebound next year, as Government has set a solid foundation for growth despite being plagued by the worst drought in four decades in the 2018/2019 season, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

He warned cash barons who were abusing the newly introduced $2 and $5 notes, adding that authorities have since identified some of the culprits, who will soon face justice.

Government’s bold decision to reintroduce a new currency, he said, will help to industrialise the economy and create jobs.

Speaking at an anti-sanctions rally after commissioning a state-of-the-art hospital in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East, President Mnangagwa said the country’s economic progress was unique since it was being undertaken without support from international financial institutions.

“We are happy that when we instituted austerity measures, yes, the economy went down by minus 6,5 (percent) in terms of growth. But when everything has stabilised, through what we call fiscal consolidation of expenditure and revenue, next year, which is just the month after next, our economy will start to rebound from minus 6,5 (percent) in 2019 to plus 3 percent in 2020,” he said.

“There are other countries that are undergoing economic and political reforms, like we are doing ourselves. Egypt got US$12 billion, Argentina got US$100 billion, Greece several billions to resuscitate their economy, but not a single cent has been given to Zimbabwe in the process of reforming our economy.”

Notwithstanding the teething challenges experienced in transitioning from a multi-currency system to a mono-currency, he added, a local currency was a prerequisite for development.

“Firstly, there is no single country which has developed its economy, which has industrialised its economy, without its own currency.

“You go to SA, they have the rand; Botswana they have the pula. In Zambia, they have the kwacha. All these countries suffer good and bad times with their currencies and they forge ahead.

Should we continue with other people’s currencies? No! We should have our own. That is why we said let us take the brave route.”State media

The MDC Women’s Assembly notes with great concern the deterioration of our country’s health delivery system due to the strike by the doctors and nurses in Zimbabwe.

The doctors, nurses and other health professionals went on strike about two months ago citing incapacitation due to the economy that is collapsing on a daily basis.

The food basket for a family of five was pegged by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) at 4000 RTGS; yet most workers including doctors are earning less than 2000 RTGS.

The situation is so dire with many workers and the general populace such that they are failing to make ends meet. Most people are failing to access national services as they are either closed or dilapidated due to the uncaring illegitimate regime and its misplaced priorities.

The recently announced budget by Mthuli Ncube falls far short of the people’s expectations. The budget is not pro-poor thereby leaving about 75% of the Zimbabweans’ needs unaddressed. It is a budget for the few and not for the many.

Indeed, the budget is clearly a continuation of ZANU PF legacy of plunder and blunder for the past 40 years.

Whilst we applaud the Mbare woman Mrs Gwena, who has taken upon herself the duty of being a midwife in her community, we blame the illegitimate regime for having failed to take good care of the expecting mothers as it is its responsibility to so.

The illegitimate regime cannot surrender its responsibility of health maternity delivery to a rum shack practice of the 15th century. This is a reversal of the UN SDG 3, Good Health and Wellbeing; to which Zimbabwe has affixed its signature.

Auxillia Munangagwa was supposed to convince her husband to pay the doctors and nurses well than go and donate foodstaffs to the old woman.

We do not expect our mothers, sisters and children to give birth in such unhealthy conditions where they are exposed to so many risks related to child bearing.

This practice is uncalled for and we condemn it in the most strongest terms.

We are not living in the stone age era where women used to give birth in their homes exposing them to so many health risks.

The illegitimate regime has now fully backtracked on its commitment of health for all.

Auxillia Munangagwa really needs to reflect on whether her daughter would use such facilities in the same manner desperate women are using Mrs Gwena.

Indeed, what Auxillia did is not only deplorable but a desperate bid to cover up for the failings of her husband’s illegitimate regime.

Zimbabweans deserve a better government that cares for its citizens’ health and wellbeing.

The self-imposed “health ambassador” of Zimbabwe has failed dismally in executing her duties and this is a classic case of a PR exercise that has gone dismally wrong.

This is why in the MDC we have made it clear in our SMART policy document on how we intend to address fundamental issues that safeguard citizens’ rights to world-class health facilities.

The MDC in its SMART policy document offers an alternative to all this chaos that has been created by the illegitimate regime.

Indeed, a good and sound health delivery system is key priority area in every developmental state.

We demand that the Ministry of Health and Childcare take this issue of Mbare very seriously by providing the expecting mothers with a clean and proper facility for delivery as per WHO standards.

Zimbabweans deserves a better government that will put its priority on citizens’ health and not on superfluous leadership life style.

In an MDC led government, the citizen rights and health priorities will be supreme.

The MDC led government will pursue social liberation policies aimed at completing the unfinished business of national liberation struggle and shall strive for democratic structural economic liberation, rehabilitation and transformation of Zimbabwe.

The MDC is a people mandate driven party that seeks to work for the establishment of a dynamic and participatory democracy in which the Government is accountable and subordinate to the its citizens; guaranteeing provision of first class health and all essential services.

Indeed, under an MDC led government, never again shall our top leaders seek health services abroad while destroying our national health services.

MDC: Change that Delivers

BARBRA TANYANYIWA
MDC WOMEN ASSEMBLY SPOKESPERSON

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THE government will miss its audacious target of clearing the passport backlog by year end after it emerged that a combination of delays in shipping material and foreign currency was standing in its way.

This comes as the registrar-general’s office is facing an unenviable task of clearing a backlog of 386 000 passports due to debilitating shortages of foreign currency and a hardening of stance towards the government by international suppliers.

Registrar-General Clemence Masango, however, was optimistic that his department would have cleared the backlog by the end of first quarter of 2020 — barring a degeneration of the current situation — which he said had improved from the August position where his office was only processing 60 passports a day against a target of 3 000 passports.

Normally, passport applications should be processed within three months, but since 2016 the registrar-general’s office had been struggling to import essential supplies such as paper due to lack of foreign currency.

Zimbabwe is currently in the grip of a huge economic crisis — the worst in more than a decade — which has triggered shortages of power, foreign currency, water and critical medicines at State hospitals.

Byo 24

By A Correspondent- A 16 year old boy is nursing injuries on his b-uttocks after he was brutally assaulted at the Marange Diamond fields.

The development comes against the backdrop of denials by the government that there are no more human rights abuses at the diamond fields.

But the 16 year old lad (name withheld) was assaulted until blood started gushing from wounds sustained during the assault.

The minor was assaulted by the guards after he was found outside the ZCDC fireguard.

The Marange Diamond Trust leader Moses Mukwada confirmed the development and said:

” We have one young man aged 16yrs. Akarorwa me ZCDC guards zvakaipisisa mushu mekunge abatwa achitsvara kunze kwe fireguard ye ZCDC.”

By Own Correspondent- MDC Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Prince Dubeko Sibanda says the opposition party is not reading much into its poor performance in local government by-elections in Tsholotsho, saying it was a good start to its strategy to penetrate rural areas.

Sibanda said MDC fielded a candidate for the first time in Ward 20, which consists of mainly resettled villagers who are predominantly Zanu-PF supporters.

“There are a number of factors that contributed to our loss,” he said.

“For starters in Ward 20, Tsholotsho South, it was the first time ever that we fielded a candidate in the ward against Zanu-PF.

“Zanu-PF won uncontested previously.

“That we got 21 votes in a purely resettlement area for me is a good start.

“We all know that Zanu-PF threatens to take away the land from the people if they do not vote it.

“In Ward 16 despite Zanu-PF’s vote-buying tactics, we increased our vote tally from what we got in 2018.

“Even in Lupane East constituency we increased our vote tally.”

The two by-elections in Tsholotsho were held on November 9 and were won by Tshoni Mnkandla (Ward 20) and Isaac Moyo (Ward 16), both from Zanu-PF.

In August, Zanu-PF’s Mbongeni Dube won the Lupane East constituency by-election where he beat MDC’s Dalumuzi Khumalo.

Zanu-PF also retained Ward 22 in Bubi and Nkayi’s Ward 23.

-Standard

State Media|President Mnangagwa left Harare for Dubai this morning where he will attend the Global Business Forum on Africa 2019.

The GBF Africa, which runs from tomorrow to Tuesday in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, encourages international revenue flows into Africa by engaging leading decision makers on the global investment scene.

President Mnangagwa was accompanied by several captains of industry and some senior Government officials.

He was seen off at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Minister of State for Harare Province Oliver Chidawu, Minister of State Security Owen Ncube, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana and service chiefs, among others.

The opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has said that participating in elections presided over by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) which they accuse of being biased in favour of the ruling ZANU PF was strategic.

Speaking in an interview with Daily News reporter, Blessing Mashaya, MDC Secretary for Elections, Jacob Mafume said:

We continue to participate to expose the chaos and bias in Zec, its incapacity to run a credible election and its unwillingness to implement recommendations of the 2018 observer missions.

To date, they have not released the 2018 election report as required by law, neither have they done so for subsequent by-elections.

Earlier this year, Chamisa announced that the party would no longer be participating in the ZEC-run elections if the commission was not dissolved.

The party accuses ZEC of having connived with the ruling ZANU PF to manipulate the 2018 presidential elections in favour of the ZANU PF’s candidate President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Pindula

Former Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo says suggestions that he was the brains behind former First Lady Grace Mugabe are preposterous because that would have meant coming between President Robert Mugabe and his wife.

In an interview with Alex Magaisa, Moyo said: “It’s news to me that you say many saw me as the brains behind Mrs Mugabe. But the presumption that anyone, especially a person like me could become the brains behind Mrs Mugabe is preposterous and can only come from people who know nothing useful about Mrs Mugabe and especially about President Mugabe.

“Becoming the brains behind Mrs Mugabe would have meant coming between the President and his spouse. That would have been reckless and suicidal.

“This equally applies to the notion that I should have restrained Mrs Mugabe. As who? Surely, only her husband and family members could do that.

“In any event, my respect for President Mugabe would never have allowed me to poke my nose into his family. Never.”

Below is an excerpt from the interview:

BSR: Mrs Mugabe took centre stage in the firing of both vice presidents, Joice Mujuru in 2014 and Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2017. It worked in the case of Mujuru but backfired spectacularly in the case of Mnangagwa as the tables were turned against Mugabe. Many people thought Mrs Mugabe took it too far in both cases. You went along to most of her rallies and many saw you as the brains behind the instrument that she was. Were her actions part of the plan or she was a loose cannon? Did you have any misgivings about her approach? Did you ever try to restrain her?

ANSWER: I am aware of the view that Mrs Mugabe took centre stage in the firing of both Joice Mujuru in 2014 and Mnangagwa in 2017 but I think the view is not entirely correct. The movers and shakers and the brains behind the firing of Joice Mujuru in 2014 were Chiwenga and Mnangagwa.  They did this as part of their 2008 succession handshake. Mrs Mugabe was their recruit in 2014 but she was not the main player. It’s important to understand that in 2014, Chiwenga, Mnangagwa, and President Mugabe acted in and with a common purpose against Joice Mujuru in 2014. While Mrs Mugabe did hold rallies and said some tough and even nasty things against Joice Mujuru, she did not take centre stage in Mujuru’s firing. The three men did the job with a supporting cast that had others, including me as then information minister. This too is a story yet to be properly told.

The 2017 scenario was different, and indeed Mrs Mugabe took centre stage in the firing of Mnangagwa on 6 November last year. It’s news to me that you say many saw me as the brains behind Mrs Mugabe. But the presumption that anyone, especially a person like me could become the brains behind Mrs Mugabe is preposterous and can only come from people who know nothing useful about Mrs Mugabe and especially about President Mugabe. Becoming the brains behind Mrs Mugabe would have meant coming between the President and his spouse. That would have been reckless and suicidal.This equally applies to the notion that I should have restrained Mrs Mugabe. As who? Surely, only her husband and family members could do that. In any event, my respect for President Mugabe would never have allowed me to poke my nose into his family. Never. People who say the nonsense that I was the brains behind Mrs Mugabe or that I should have been the one to restrain her must know that I did not go to school only to come out as naïve as suggested by their nonsense.

Otherwise, clearly many things went wrong last year. Many. A lot that was said and done at those interface rallies was unwise and most unfortunate, not least because it gave hostage to fortune.

BSR: During the offensive against Mujuru and her faction in 2014, you all seemed to be united, including Mrs Mugabe, Chris Mutsvangwa and Mnangagwa. However, no sooner had Mnangagwa settled into office as the new Vice President than factions began to emerge, and the fights started again. What was the cause of the quick fallout? Did you not know that the fall of Mujuru would open the way for Mnangagwa which would place him in pole position to succeed Mugabe?

ANSWER: As I have already indicated, it is not correct to say factions began to emerge no sooner had Mnangagwa settled into office as one of the two vice presidents. Factions preceded Mnangagwa’s elevation to the vice presidency. But I think the important question you ask is whether we knew that the fall of Joice Mujuru would open the way for Mnangagwa and place him in pole position to succeed Mugabe. Frankly, we did not know that. More accurately, I should say I did not know. And here is why.

It is important to understand that the Joice Mujuru saga in 2014 directly pitted her against President Mugabe. The proverbial system presented her as using her position as vice president to fight President Mugabe to force him out of office. Throughout the Mujuru saga in 2014, there was never an indication that Mujuru’s ouster would open a door for Mnangagwa. This is because it was always clear that Mujuru’s replacement, in the event she was removed from office as vice president, would be Oppah Muchinguri. This was the deal. The idea that a man would replace a woman was a no, no. We all understood that.

More significantly, I drafted the amendments to the party’s constitution ahead of the Zanu PF December 2014 Congress. I did the drafts for Mnangagwa and Chiwenga who would comb through them and cause me to redraft 70 by 70 times. I used to have endless meetings with Mnangagwa at his office, many more with one of his assistants but most of the meetings were between Mnangagwa, Chiwenga and myself at Chiwenga’s house or at some house used by Mnangagwa on Churchill Avenue, just after Second Street towards Avondale. During the drafting, the only position that was contemplated for Mnangagwa was that of Prime Minister in government and National Chairman in the party. But the Vice Presidency was always going to Oppah Muchinguri, for her to replace Joice Mujuru.

Closer to the December 2014 Congress, about two or so weeks, inexplicable concerns started mushrooming about Oppah Muchinguri’s suitability as a replacement for Joice Mujuru. Mnangagwa asked me to remove from the amendments we were working on, the provision that “one of the two vice presidents shall be a woman”. He said this was a directive from President Mugabe. This was the bombshell that caused the fallout. I could not believe my ears. I did as I was directed and from then on, the draft amendments were not sent back to me as had become the approach but were finalised between Mnangagwa and Patrick Chinamasa with Mnangagwa saying he was working directly with President Mugabe.

BSR: Many people were concerned that Mrs Mugabe was on a relentless drive to succeed her husband. When we wrote the story of Mamvura driving the bus, it was because there was a clear possibility that she could take control of the bus and yet she seemed ill-equipped and ill-experienced for the job. Did you understand people’s concern that she could actually end up on the wheel? Do you think she was ready to drive the bus?

ANSWER: I think every rational person understood the various permutations and possibilities but none of them justified a military coup. The proposition that the coup was done to stop Mrs Mugabe from succeeding her husband is uncivilised and undemocratic. But on whether I understood people’s concerns that Mrs Mugabe could have ended up on the wheel, the answer is yes, of course I did. How could I not? I however think that people should have been equally concerned about Mnangagwa ending up on the wheel. The fact of the matter is that Mamvura is now driving the bus.

State Media|At least 5 000 teachers will be recruited in 2020 following concurrency from Treasury, Primary and Secondary Education Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela has said.

In a statement, Mrs Thabela said recruitment will be done in two batches. She said the Ministry will soon start registration of all unemployed but qualified teachers to fill in the vacant positions.

“The Government approved and authorised the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to recruit 5 000 teachers in 2020. These teachers shall be recruited in two batches. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will be carrying out a registration exercise for prospective teachers who will possibly fill in vacancies for the 2020 financial year,” said Mrs Thabela.

She said all interested unemployed and qualified teachers should approach nearest district education offices for registration starting tomorrow. For the registration process, Mrs Thabela said the teachers are expected to bring original teacher qualification certificates, birth certificates and identity documents.

She said prospective teachers already registered should approach the same district offices to check if their names are still appearing on the database.

GUKURAHUNDI could have been avoided if the late vice-president Joshua Nkomo had accepted the post of ceremonial president at independence, former War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube has said.

Instead, the veteran nationalist opted for a ministerial post, only to be fired two years later by then prime minister Robert Mugabe on charges of plotting to overthrow his government.

Mugabe claimed arms meant to overthrow his government had been uncovered on farms owned by Zapu and its military wing, Zipra — a development that marked the beginning of Gukurahundi.

Dube, in his book Quiet Flows The Zambezi published by Pathisa Nyathi’s Amagugu Publishers set to be officially launched this week, argues it was political miscalculation on the part of Nkomo to turn down the ceremonial presidential post.

“He (Mugabe) perceived Nkomo to be a threat to his rule. In line with that perception, Mugabe proposed that Nkomo assume a post of ceremonial president,” Dube wrote.

“He knew very well that the Lancaster House constitution was entrenched for only a period of 10 years, after which amendments could be made.or him to be ceremonial president and thus turned down the offer opting for the ministerial post of Home Affairs.

“Nkomo was afraid the ceremonial post was going to undermine his dignity and he was going to be thrown away when the time came.

“I am, however, of the view that if Nkomo had become ceremonial president, the Gukurahundi would have been avoided. Things would have been avoided.

“Things would not have gone that bad if he appreciated what a man Mugabe was — one who would not countenance opposition. Signing the Unity Accord on 22 December, 1987 was too late…”

As a result, over 20 000 people are said to have been killed in Matabeleland and Midlands in the internationally condemned crackdown that Mugabe defended as necessary to fight dissidents bent on toppling his government.
Mugabe never apologised for the mass killings, only describing them as a “moment of madness”.

Dube wrote that Mugabe had an over-inflated ego, believing that no one but him could rule Zimbabwe, a belief he argues triggered his ouster.

– Standard.

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By Own Correspondent| A 16 year old boy has been brutally assaulted at the Marange Diamond fields.

The development comes against the backdrop of denials by the government that there are no more human rights abuses there.

But the 16 year old lad (name withheld) was assaulted up to blood gushing levels.

The Marange Diamond Trust leader Moses Mukwada said,

” We have one young man aged 16yrs. Akarorwa me ZCDC guards zvakaipisisa mushu mekunge abatwa achitsvara kunze kwe fireguard ye ZCDC.” – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY

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Zimbabwe’s month-on-month inflation rate quickened to 38,75% in October from 17,7% the previous month as analysts warned that Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s 2020 budget will be rendered useless by soaring prices.

On Friday, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) said the inflation rate had hit a four month high in October, a day after Ncube said the monthly inflation rate would fall to single digits in the first quarter of 2020.

According to Zimstat figures, a surge in the prices of food and alcoholic beverages was behind the resurgence in the inflation rate.

Ncube unveiled a $63,6 billion budget for next year where he said the economy was expected to grow by 3% after a 6,5% contraction in 2019, but analysts and industrialists described the figures as too ambitious.

“I think it has to be appreciated that this budget is coming against a background of a slowing economy,” Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce CEO Chris Mugaga said.

“Projections of a fiscal deficit on the gross domestic product (GDP) of 1,5% are not realistic.

“We also look at the issue of expenditure pattern. I don’t think we can have an expenditure of below $80 billion for 2020 given the inflationary trends we are having.

“So generally if we look at the numbers, I think I will agree to say a supplementary budget will certainly be on the way.

“I don’t think I will be surprised with a supplementary budget of a minimum of about 30% of the $63,6 billion.”

Ncube said the budget deficit in 2020 was projected at 1,5% of the GDP from 4% this year. He said economic growth would be driven by better agriculture output and improved electricity supplies.

“Balancing books will be a tall order in 2020 and with the realities of inflation, they are way off the mark,” Mugaga added.

“We can’t have inflation below three digits.”

Former Finance minister Tendai Biti said Ncube’s projected revenues of $58,6 billion next year were “an illusion.”

“A budget of $63 billion is an illusion and unachievable but also reflects the extent of hyperinflation,” Biti said on Twitter.

“Without sorting currency issues, power shortages, corruption and productivity constraints, Zimbabwe is now in recession and decisive measures are required.”

Mugaga said the cut in corporate tax to 24% from 25% was not likely to incentivise the private sector as the taxes remained too high amid the economic meltdown and power cuts.

Ncube also announced that value added tax would be reduced to 14,5% from 15% next year.

But Sekai Kuvarika, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries CEO, was upbeat, saying some of the incentives contained in the budget were steps in the right direction.

“What is important for industry is an enabling environment,” she said.

“When we have a stable currency, a stable macroeconomic environment and competitive business environment, we are able to generate that growth.

“I don’t want to comment on whether this is the right quantity of incentives, but what I can clearly say is that when you have your income tax reduced by 1%, it has been reduced.

“So it’s a step in the right direction and I think it will be incremental.

“Our expectation is that this direction will continue over the next few years.”

Nigel Chanakira, a former banker and prominent businessman, said Zimbabwe’s economic recovery depended on improved international relations.

Chanakira said the country’s biggest challenge was lack of foreign currency.

“The exchange rate is running away and that triggers hyperinflation and the expectation becomes very bad.”

Chanakira said Zimbabwe needed to sort out its politics first if it expected economic relief.

A stalemate between President Emmerson Mnanagagwa and the opposition following a disputed election last year has cast a shadow of uncertainty over Zimbabwe, which is struggling to recover from almost two decades of economic stagnation.

Source:  – The Standard November 17, 2019

By Douglas Togaraseyi Mwonzora|Recently, the government of Zimbabwe, through the Minister of Home Affairs, introduced the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill to Parliament (MOPA). This Bill, that has since replaced the reviled Public Order and Security Act (POSA), inter alia seeks to govern public demonstrations and gatherings. It is therefore a very important factor in Zimbabwe’s march towards democracy.

What is striking is that out of the 23 in POSA the new Act retains a whopping 20 Clauses as they are word for word. It makes minor amendments to 2 Clauses and repeals only a single provision of POSA. Further key provisions of this Act are duplicated word for word from the Regulation of Public Gatherings Act No. 205 of 1993 of South Africa enacted before that country attained its independence. This Act is therefore simply POSA by another name and appears not to have been made with any democratic design in mind.

The Act completely repeals section 27 of POSA which gave the police power to temporarily ban demonstrations in certain geographical districts.This provision had already been successfully challenged in the Constitutional Court anyway. The other change is that whereas under POSA, the Minister of Defense had the power to authorise the deployment of the army to assist the police during public demonstrations, this power is now vested with the President. The third change is that while under POSA the police had the power to detain any person who failed to produce identity documents, the Act now allows those persons seven days to produce same without the need to detain them.

The Act still contains a provision for the police to ban possession of certain items which could be used as weapons for a period of three months in any police district. These items include knives, machetes, axes and any “traditional weapon whatsoever”. Anybody who is found in possession of these items during the ban is liable to up to six months imprisonment. What the government failed to realise is that some of these items are tools of trade in poorer communities. The bans therefore effectively interferes with the livelihoods of these communities.

The Act enjoins organisations who want to embark on public processions, demonstrations and public meetings to appoint conveners and deputy conveners for these events. These people are supposed to write and sign all correspondence regarding these events as well as hold necessary consultative meetings with the police. In their notice to the police they are supposed provide their names and addresses. The law does not place an obligation on the part of the police to protect these conveners from anyone who may want to harm them in the performance of their duties as conveners. However, what is fundamentally important is that conveners are made criminally and personally liable for acts done in violation of the law during the events that they would have convened.

Although our law recognises that organisations can be liable to criminal prosecutions this law places criminal liability on the part of the convener personally. Further conveners are personallyliable for civil damages brought at the instance of third parties for deaths, injuries or destructions to property that can occur during the demonstrations even if these are not caused directly by them.

To add to their lot these conveners, once convicted in a court of law, can be ordered to personally pay compensation for loss of life, injury or property even in the absence of a civil suit by any affected person. What the law is effectively seeking to do here is to completely indemnify organisations while creating full and sometimes strict liability on the part of conveners who are mostly relatively junior officers in their political parties or organisations. The result is that because of these civil and criminal liabilities to conveners no person may be keen to convene public demonstrations or meetings irrespective of the justice of the cause for these demonstrations or public meetings. Effectively therefore this law bans demonstrations.

The Act gives the police wide powers to interfere with the demonstrations. Among other things they have the power to change the routes of demonstrations, place conditions as well as halt any demonstration at any time. Further this Act outlaws demonstrations in the vicinity of the Parliament, courts as well as other protected areas.

However, in the case of Parliament, the Act allows demonstrations within the precincts of Parliament only where there is written authority of the Speaker of Parliament. It is clear that if the target of the demonstration is the Parliament itself then this consent may never be given. Similarly demonstrations in the vicinity of courts can only be allowed where there is written consent of the Judge President or the Chief Justice. Otherwise no demonstration is allowed within 100 meters of any courtroom!

Apart from their power to halt demonstrations and disperse the participants therein even in the case of a lawful demonstration, the police are given the right to use both lethal and non-lethal force. If a person who is participating in a demonstration or who is interfering with a lawful demonstration kills or injures, attempts to kill or injure or shows manifest intention to injure or kill anybody the police are allowed to use the lethal force of firearms.

Similarly where a participant or non-participant in a demonstration destroys or attempts to destroy property, the police can use lethal force. Unfortunately the law does not specify as to who the lethal force will be used against. Thus for lethal force to be attracted, all what the opponents of an otherwise lawful demonstration need to do is initiate violence. This provision is dangerously prone to abuse by police officers who may side with any of the parties in the clash.

While the law now provides that a person who cannot produce an identity document when called by the police to do so has up to seven days to produce same, it nevertheless makes it a criminal offence for anyone to fail to produce the documents after the period. This completely ignores the fact that failure to produce these document may not be due to the fault of the accused person. For example one may fail to produce the documents because of administrative inefficiencies of the government, or because they are orphaned or because they may be offspring of victims of Gukurahundi who may not have the papers. The law just creates strict liability for them.

The police are given power to cordon certain areas in order to contain or forestall pubic violence and disorder. Once they have established the cordon they can search anyone without warrant. Anyone who leaves or enters a cordoned area is criminally liable and may be jailed for up to six months imprisonment.

MOPA also allows the police to search without warrant any person, vehicle or vessel entering or leaving Zimbabwe. In that search they are allowed by this law to “seize anything”. Unfortunately, this law allows stops and searches in respect of any persons and vehicles within Zimbabwe. This is an unnecessary violation of other people’s rights.

Perhaps the most controversial part of this Act is the power given to the President to deploy the army to assist the police during public demonstrations. The question is whether it is even necessary to deploy the army against its own people at all. Firstly, the army is not trained in law enforcement. Secondly, the recent history of Zimbabwe has shown that deployment of the army leads to unnecessary loss of life. After all, the police are well trained in law enforcement including the suppression of violence. They do have and can use firearms if necessary. In the case of Zimbabwe relevant police units which can deal with violence do exist. Further even under the Regulation of Public Gatherings Act of apartheid South Africa, after which the Bill borrows so much, the suppression of violent demonstrations remained the duty of the police and not the army.

Section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe allows people the right to peaceably demonstrate. Although this right is not absolute there is no reason to unduly interfere with it as this Bill does. Therefore this Act unnecessarily abrogates the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Zimbabwean people. It is a bad law.

Douglas T Mwonzora is an opposition MDC Senator for Manicaland and a practicing constitutional lawyer

This article is extracted from a contribution to The Standard when the Act was still a Bill.

By Own Correspondent| A 16 year old boy has been brutally assaulted at the Marange Diamond fields.

The development comes against the backdrop of denials by the government that there are no more human rights abuses there.

But the 16 year old lad (name withheld) was assaulted up to blood gushing levels.

The Marange Diamond Trust leader Moses Mukwada said,

” We have one young man aged 16yrs. Akarorwa me ZCDC guards zvakaipisisa mushu mekunge abatwa achitsvara kunze kwe fireguard ye ZCDC.” – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY

ONE person died on the spot while several others were hospitalised after an object believed to be a grenade exploded in their house in Silobela.

The incident happened in Dambridge area Mtshogwe Village under Chief Malisa Silobela last Monday. Police confirmed the death of a 19-year-old teenager when the object which was picked by one of the children while playing, later detonated and left the rest of the family members injured.

“For now, we do not have finer details as to what exactly happened, our officers are still on the ground but I can confirm that there is a suspected case of a grenade that exploded in Silobela area. 

“More details will come as investigations continue,” said Midlands police spokesman Inspector Joel Goko.

Kwekwe Civil Protection Unit (CPU) chairperson who is also Acting Kwekwe District Development Co-ordinator Mr Fortune Mpungu also confirmed the incident.

“It is true, we received reports of a grenade that exploded within a homestead killing a 19-year-old student on the spot. 

“Three other family members who were injured were rushed to Silobela Hospital while others were rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital depending on the magnitude of the injuries,” said Mr Mpungu.

He said the grenade was picked up by a child who brought it home.

“I am told that it was a child who was playing who then brought the explosive home which later exploded causing the unfortunate loss of life. As the CPU we therefore urge villagers to avoid picking up strange things and bringing them home. 

“Children should be closely monitored when playing,” he said.

He said they were in the process of engaging the services of the Zimbabwe National Army to assist in raising awareness as well as searching the area.

“This is not the first incident, just a few months back another grenade was picked up by the road side though it did not injure anyone. 

“We are therefore engaging the ZNA to come and assist in raising awareness to the villagers not to pick anything up when playing. We also want the forces to conduct a search of some sort in the area as it seems to be infested with these explosives,” said Mr Mpungu.

-State media

Zimbabwe’s economy will rebound next year, as Government has set a solid foundation for growth despite being plagued by the worst drought in four decades in the 2018/2019 season, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

He warned cash barons who were abusing the newly introduced $2 and $5 notes, adding that authorities have since identified some of the culprits, who will soon face justice. Government’s bold decision to reintroduce a new currency, he said, will help to industrialise the economy and create jobs.

Speaking at an anti-sanctions rally after commissioning a state-of-the-art hospital in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East province, President Mnangagwa said the country’s economic progress was unique since it was being undertaken without support from international financial institutions.

The expansion of the hospital was bankrolled by China, as relations between Harare and Beijing continue to strengthen.

“We are happy that when we instituted austerity measures, yes, the economy went down by minus 6,5 (percent) in terms of growth. But when everything has stabilised, through what we call fiscal consolidation of expenditure and revenue, next year, which is just the month after the next, our economy will start to rebound from minus 6,5 (percent) in 2019 to plus three percent in 2020,” he said.

“There are other countries that are undergoing economic and political reforms, like we are doing ourselves. Egypt got US$12 billion, Argentina got US$100 billion, Greece several billions to resuscitate their economy, but not a single cent has been given to Zimbabwe in the process of reforming our economy.”

Notwithstanding the teething challenges experienced in transitioning from a multi-currency system to a mono-currency, he added, a local currency was a prerequisite for development.

“Firstly, there is no single country which has developed its economy, which has industrialised its economy, without its own currency. You go to South Africa, they have the rand; Botswana they have the pula. In Zambia, they have the kwacha. All these countries suffer good and bad times with their currencies and they forge ahead. Should we continue with other people’s currencies? No! We should have our own. That is why we said let us take the brave route.”

The country would leverage on domestic resources and fiscal discipline to grow the economy, he said, adding Government would continue to responsibly manage its finances.

President Mnangagwa said: “We were eating what we did not kill. Government was borrowing needlessly and we have stopped that and told ourselves that we should not continue on that path. We said let us make do with what we have because excessive borrowing will catch up with us.”

Authorities, the President added, had identified some of the ring leaders of illegal cash trading, including a prominent woman.

“We have seen those that want to abuse our new money. There are two banks that we identified. There was also a woman, and some officials whose names we will not mention. But we know them and they are going to face the music. Shamhu yemunyu irikuuya. We say no to corruption!”

President Mnagagwa said economic growth can only be attained in a peaceful environment, and law enforcement agents are now better trained to deal with civil disobedience following lessons learnt from opposition-led unrest in August last year and January this year. 

“We are going to continue to consolidate that growth. What is required is unity among our people. What is required is peace among our people. We must shun violence and violent demonstrations in this country because we want to build. You don’t build fighting. When the children of Babylon wanted to build a tower, God threw different tongues, so when there is chaos, we will not build.

He added: “After last year’s elections, the MDC caused violence. They claimed they had won, but we asked them how they had won. They went to court and the law allows ballot boxes to be opened. They did not go that route because they had gone for a workshop in Livingstone where they gave themselves votes. In January, they caused violence, killing and beating our police officers . . .We will not tolerate violent demonstrations. The Constitution allows peaceful demonstrations and you must not violate the freedom of other people or destroy the property of other people.”

President Mnangagwa applauded Sadc for standing behind Zimbabwe in campaigning against sanctions.

-State Media

The Provincial Chiefs Council in Matabeleland North has reportedly removed Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni from his post.

Chief Ndiweni, from Ntabazinduna, also has a pending court case after his brother based in the UK challenged his ascendancy to the throne.

Chief Ndiweni is not the first born in the family and he is said to have received backing from his mother to take the crown, something that did not go down well with other family members resulting in the court challenge about five years ago.

The Mat North chiefs deliberated on his status in a meeting on Saturday and resolved to recommend to the national chiefs council that he be removed as he was not the rightful heir to the throne.

“His appointment has always been controversial and so was his installation. His family is divided on the issue but as per tradition he is not a chief because he is not the first born and his elder brother is still alive and he went to court to fight for the throne,” a source said.

Chief Ndiweni has of late been caught in the eye of a storm after dabbling in politics and was also arrested for destroying a villager’s property. He was convicted and later appealed against the conviction and sentence.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Gukurahundi could have been avoided if the late vice-president Joshua Nkomo had accepted the post of ceremonial president at independence, former War Veterans minister Tshinga Dube has said.

Instead, the veteran nationalist opted for a ministerial post, only to be fired two years later by then prime minister Robert Mugabe on charges of plotting to overthrow his government.

Mugabe claimed arms meant to overthrow his government had been uncovered on farms owned by Zapu and its military wing, Zipra — a development that marked the beginning of Gukurahundi.

Dube, in his book Quiet Flows The Zambezi published by Pathisa Nyathi’s Amagugu Publishers set to be officially launched this week, argues it was political miscalculation on the part of Nkomo to turn down the ceremonial presidential post.

“He (Mugabe) perceived Nkomo to be a threat to his rule. In line with that perception, Mugabe proposed that Nkomo assume a post of ceremonial president,” Dube wrote.

“He knew very well that the Lancaster House constitution was entrenched for only a period of 10 years, after which amendments could be made.

  “Nkomo knew what it meant for him to be ceremonial president and thus turned down the offer opting for the ministerial post of Home Affairs.

“Nkomo was afraid the ceremonial post was going to undermine his dignity and he was going to be thrown away when the time came.

“I am, however, of the view that if Nkomo had become ceremonial president, the Gukurahundi would have been avoided. Things would have been avoided.

“Things would not have gone that bad if he appreciated what a man Mugabe was — one who would not countenance opposition. Signing the Unity Accord on 22 December, 1987 was too late…”

As a result, over 20 000 people are said to have been killed in Matabeleland and Midlands in the internationally condemned crackdown that Mugabe defended as necessary to fight dissidents bent on toppling his government.

Mugabe never apologised for the mass killings, only describing them as a “moment of madness”.

Dube wrote that Mugabe had an over-inflated ego, believing that no one but him could rule Zimbabwe, a belief he argues triggered his ouster.

-Standard

By A Correspondent- Exiled former cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has for the first time posted pictures of his journey after crossing Ruya river to Mozambique fleeing the armed soldiers of the then Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga.

Posting on Twitter Moyo said:

“Sight after crossing Ruya River into Mozambique. At this time Trevor Ncube was lying on Twitter and to readers of his newspapers that we were under arrest at KGVI barracks. The other gentleman is a Mozambican. Details are in a coup story, yet to be told!”

By A Correspondent- Mike Burns together with his playing partner Neil Nesbitt, are excelling in neighbouring SA’s Inter-provincial Masters doubles competition as they have won their section.

The South African Masters, a yearly competition for squash players above 35 has another Zimbabwean Bulawayo duo, Darshan Vaghmaria and Kalpesh Parshotam, who came second in the same section.

Speaking about their recent victory, Neil Nesbitt said:

It was a very good experience, very tight matches but some of the points went our way this year where they haven’t gone our way in previous years so we managed to pull through.

Experience from previous years helped a lot and we were just more consistent than other years, the luck of the certain points going our way, against Border it was 11-10, 10-11 and 11-10 so that gives you an idea of how one point the other way would have been a different outcome.

Burns and Nesbitt are both from Bulawayo, the Country’s second-largest city.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- An SDA Pastors’ wife has taken to social media to raise 4 000 lunchboxes and other commodities to help the inmates at Chikurubi who according to her post are being treated in an inhumane way as some of them are eating on the ground and drinking dirty water.

Posted Nyary Moyo on her Facebook:

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to visit Chikurubi maximum prison and the situation on the ground is baaad.

With the current economic crisis, it’s bad for inmates. I saw men eating from the ground because they don’t have plates, I saw people eating from patched lunchboxes, how bad can it be to patch an old ice cream lunch box.  Because of the water crisis, everyone gets a bucket of grey water to drink, bath, and use the bathroom per day, the poor ones have no shoes, no decent uniforms and no soap.

To not do something would be criminal, please help us raise 4 000 lunchboxes and slippers to donate to these inmates.

Lunchboxes come in handy because they get their supper before their locked up in their cells at 3pm, so they use them as storage to eat later.

Please help with used ice cream lunchboxes and slippers. For more info contact 0738 135 849 or 0773 728 388

This post has exposed how the economic meltdown has made ZPS treat inmates as they fail to provide even the most basic human need, clean water.

By Own Correspondent| Speaking during an 1873fm discussion last night, Zvimba South MP Phillip Chiyangwa said people will be quieter and more sober when they have money.

He said once you discover money you will stop talking too much; the reason why you are so loud and noisy is you are still in hunger, and poverty. He said, “ukaziva mari kutaura kwako kunoita kushoma. Waona? Kutaurisa kwese uku inzara poverty, everything! ” VIDEO:

………. 

State Media|THE Bulawayo City Council reportedly got no objections to its 2019 supplementary budget and 2020 budget projections and have since forwarded the two to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for final determination.

This means residents will over the coming couple of months — if the budget is approved — have to endure a rate increase of 716 percent divided between the two budgets. According to an update report posted to councillors by the local authority’s director of financial services, Mr Kimpton Ndimande at the close of the objection period on 25 October, the local authority received no objection to the rates and rental increases.

“In line with the Urban Councils Act, I hereby submit a report on the status of the 2019 second supplementary revenue and capital budget and the proposed revenue and capital budget for year 2010, after the closure of the objection period on 25 October 2019. At the close of the objection period, council had not received any objections from ratepayers. In view of this, council has submitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works the 2019 second supplementary budget and the proposed 2020 revenue and capital budgets,” reads part of the report.

According to the Urban Councils Act, a budget statement is subject for review if at least 30 residents register their objection to it.

The Act reads; “If a statement has been advertised within the period stipulated of 30 days objections to the proposed tariffs, charges or deposits are lodged by 30 or more persons who are voters or who are users of the services to which the tariff, charges or deposit relates. Whether there are less than 30 such users of services concerned but not less that 50 per centum of the number of such users, such tariffs, charges or deposits shall be recommended by the council, together with the objections so lodged, and they shall not come into operation unless resolution is again passed by a majority of the total membership of the council.”

According to a council confidential report, the local authority is pushing for an initial immediate 300 percent increment before further increasing the rates by a further 416 percent in January as part of its 2020 budget projections. This will, however, be not the end of the ballooning rates as the local authority has already stated that these rate will be further reviewed in June 2020.

The report states that while some councillors noted that the budgetary increments were rejected by a majority of residents the proposed rates will, however, carry forth after being endorsed by a joint sitting of the finance and development committee and the general purposes committee.

The local authority recently resolved to set up a crisis committee, comprising of the finance and development and general purposes committee, that will be responsible of monitoring budget performance and take any action inclusive of rates increase without consulting residents, with the chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, revealing that this was a strategy that was also implemented during the 2007-2008 financial year. The setting up of this committee means council does not have to continuously consult residents as the crisis committee would just increase the service charges without consultations.

VETERAN freedom fighter and former Cabinet Minister Retired Colonel Tshinga Judge Dube has penned his autobiography which is set to be launched at the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo on Friday.

In his autobiography titled: Quiet Flows The Zambezi, Rtd Col Dube tells his story in a riveting way, documenting his early life, taking the reader through his participation in the armed struggle up to the time of the ceasefire.

Rtd Col Dube then reveals in the book untold stories about tensions that characterised the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in its formative years because of great suspicions between the Zipra, Zanla and Rhodesian Army forces. 

He takes the reader through the Gukurahundi period, tells the story of how he set up a trap that resulted in the apprehension of mercenary leader, Simon Mann, who with other mercenaries were en route to Equatorial Guinea where they were going to stage a military coup against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in 2004.

The riveting account ends with the historical political events in Zimbabwe where Rtd Col Dube gives an insight into the ushering of the New Dispensation through Operation Restore Legacy in November 2017 when President Mnangagwa took over from President Mugabe. 

The autobiography edited by Fikile Nyathi was published by Amagugu Publishers. 

The book’s cover sums up what is contained inside as there are two pictures of Rtd Col Dube one in a suit and the other in military camouflage during his days in the armed struggle. There is also the picture of Mann in prison garb while the other picture is that of late Zipra commander Rogers Alfred Nikita Mangena.

Rtd Col Dube said the book is an autobiography of a former Zipra cadre.

“Basically the book is a story of a former Zipra cadre who like most of the boys grew up in a village in Matopo. 

He began to taste the cruelty of colonial regime when they were flushed out of their land to a desolate area far away. 

He proceeded to study in a missionary school and was influenced to the nationalist movement. He later joined and trained as a guerilla fighter and met all the hazards that go with the war.” 

Rtd Col Dube was born on 3 July 1941 at Fort Usher in Matobo District, Matabeleland South. He holds an MSc Degree in Electrotech from MADI Institute of Engineering in Moscow, Russia. 

An expert in military communications, Rtd Col Dube also holds a Higher Diploma in Chemical Weapons Convention in the Hague and has chaired the Zimbabwe National Authority of OPCW for 15 years. 

He once served on the board of the United Nations Disarmament to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and served both Dr Butros Gali and Dr Kofi Annan.

A long-time chief executive of the Zimbabwe Defence Industries for 22 years, Rtd Col Dube served on many parastatal boards. On the political field he was the Member of Parliament for Makokoba in the last parliament and also served as Minister of War Veterans in the Old Dispensation.

Standard|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will on Wednesday make an address to the nation from Harare’s Africa Unity Square in what could be a test to police, who are being accused of effectively banning the opposition party gatherings.

Chamisa’s “hope of the nation address” will be done in front of party supporters and diplomats, his spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said.

He said police were yet to clear the event.

“Yes, I can confirm that the president will give his ‘hope of the nation address on Wednesday at the Africa Unity Square. The address is set to be attended by church leaders, diplomats, women, children and other political parties,” he said.

“Having the meeting at the Africa Unity Square is important because he is addressing the country, Africa and the world. 

“So there is no obvious reason to anticipate that the police will block the address.”

Police have sanctioned only one out of 10 MDC rallies that were scheduled across the country.

“The MDC looks like a banned organisation in Zimbabwe,” Sibanda said.

“Nine out of 10 rallies have been banned by the police. Our rallies are literally banned everywhere.

“We now have what appears to be a competitive authoritarian regime and I am sure the greenlight given to today’s rally (in Harare) is aimed at creating a façade that there is democracy in the country.

“We are in a worse situation than during the late former president Robert Mugabe, at least he would not ban everything as it were.”

He said police appeared to have banned MDC activities, especially in Harare. They have lately been seen camping outside the MDC party headquarters, Morgan Tsvangirai building in the capital.

“That in itself, makes the MDC appear like a banned party ,” he said.

Chamisa, who was in Sweden, is expected back home on time to address a rally in Mabvuku today.

Correspondent|A 19-year-old high school pupil has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing US$4 200 from a car that had been involved in a road accident last August along the Chivhu-Gutu road.

Tambaoga Dovi, a Form Four student at Chiriga Secondary School, has however appealed against both conviction and sentence at the High Court.

High Court Judge, Garainesu Mawadze heard that Dovi and one Jonathan Chikoromondo, on 21 August this year at around 0300 hours witnessed an accident along the Chivhu-Gutu road, in which a 41-year-old man was involved. The pair rushed to the scene, but did not help any of the injured persons.

Instead, the two opened the driver’s door and stole US$4 200 which they later shared. Nothing was recovered.

They were sentenced to 24 months in prison each, with six months imprisonment suspended for five years.

However, Dovi’s sentence was set aside on appeal by Justice Mawadze who ruled that he was still a pupil and it was also unwise for him to restitute the stolen money.

“What pricked my judicial conscience is the fact that the 19 year-old accused is not only a youthful first offender but is currently in form four at Chiriga Secondary School,” Justice Mawadze said.

“The implication of an effective prison term is that the accused is no longer attending school, thus ruining his future. Currently other pupils are busy writing their examinations.”

However Justice Mawadze said there was no doubt that Dovi’s moral blameworthiness was very high.

“The accused exhibited a very high degree of cruelty. He decided not to help the injured but to steal the money. Such conduct is immoral and deserves censure.

“Be that as it may, some degree of leniency was required. The accused is a youthful first offender. He is no longer attending school as he was incarcerated. There was an element of sudden temptation when he saw the cash,” the judge said.

Justice Mawadze added that the trial magistrate had conceded that he did not carry out proper inquiry to properly assess the sentence and this constituted a misdirection.

“Further, the sentence of 24 months imprisonment is rather severe in view of the accused’s age, the amount involved and other mitigatory factors.

“I shall direct the trial magistrate to immediately call the accused from prison and to carry out proper inquiry into community service. The trial magistrate should take into account the period that accused has already served from 9 September 2019 and also that he is attending school possibly writing examinations,” said the High Court Judge.

State Media|ONE person died on the spot while several others were hospitalised after an object believed to be a grenade exploded in their house in Silobela.

Silobela is one of the areas that was hardest hit by the highly armed 5th Brigade Gukurahundi Soldiers who were trying to track then notorious dissident Richard Gwesela.

The soldiers used almost full war time arms and equipment in the area as they butchered innocent citizens who were accused of hiding Gwesela.

Local residents in the area have in several documentaries confirmed that the soldiers would close people inside a but before bombing the hut with hand grenades.

The latest incident happened in Dambridge area Mtshogwe Village under Chief Malisa Silobela last Monday.

Police confirmed the death of a 19-year-old teenager when the object which was picked by one of the children while playing, later detonated and left the rest of the family members injured.

“For now, we do not have finer details as to what exactly happened, our officers are still on the ground but I can confirm that there is a suspected case of a grenade that exploded in Silobela area.

“More details will come as investigations continue,” said Midlands police spokesman Inspector Joel Goko.

Kwekwe Civil Protection Unit (CPU) chairperson who is also Acting Kwekwe District Development Co-ordinator Mr Fortune Mpungu also confirmed the incident.

“It is true, we received reports of a grenade that exploded within a homestead killing a 19-year-old student on the spot.

“Three other family members who were injured were rushed to Silobela Hospital while others were rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital depending on the magnitude of the injuries,” said Mr Mpungu.

He said the grenade was picked up by a child who brought it home.

“I am told that it was a child who was playing who then brought the explosive home which later exploded causing the unfortunate loss of life. As the CPU we therefore urge villagers to avoid picking up strange things and bringing them home.

“Children should be closely monitored when playing,” he said.

He said they were in the process of engaging the services of the Zimbabwe National Army to assist in raising awareness as well as searching the area.

“This is not the first incident, just a few months back another grenade was picked up by the road side though it did not injure anyone.

“We are therefore engaging the ZNA to come and assist in raising awareness to the villagers not to pick anything up when playing. We also want the forces to conduct a search of some sort in the area as it seems to be infested with these explosives,” said Mr Mpungu.

Additional reporting: Paul Nyathi ZimEye.com

State Media |NOTORIOUS fortune seekers, mostly gold panners, have announced themselves on Harare’s door step.

The illegal miners have set up camp at Kintyre Estates, where they are tearing into a mountain supporting the walls of Lake Chivero.

As a consequence, they are increasing the pollution of an already toxic Lake Chivero through the use of chemicals such as mercury.

Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba confirmed this: “The illegal miners are discarding heavy chemicals such as mercury into Lake Chivero and as such have put the water body and human life at risk. We have referred the issue to both Government and the police so that they can be stopped.”

The gold panners and their supporting businesses have sought accommodation in nearby Norton, where they have invaded the usually sleepy town, which until recently enjoyed a low crime rate, affordable housing and prospects of economic prosperity.

Others have been operating in Hatcliffe Extension, where they are threatening anything that stands in their way — be it roads, entire suburbs, schools, Glen Forest cemetery and any other important infrastructure.

According to Chiedza Chipangura, an official with the Zimbabwe Miners Federation and a former chairperson of the Norton Miners Association, “gold is everywhere in Zimbabwe”.

This means if left unchecked, these fortune-seekers could soon be digging up buildings in Harare and disturbing the network of fibre optic, electricity cables and water pipes.

“As I speak, there is a gold rush in Chidamoyo, Hurungwe. Even Harare is sitting on top of gold and if the illegal miners are not tamed, we might wake up to see them digging up the streets,” Chipangura said.

Harare can actually learn from what these makorokozas have done to towns such as Shurugwi, Kwekwe and Kadoma, where they turned everything upside down in search of gold.

Chegutu and Norton are the latest victims of the marauding gold panners, who will stop at nothing to get the precious mineral.

Norton’s plea

Until recently, Norton was just a small town some 40km west of Harare, a bastion of tranquillity and economic growth. Strategically located near Lake Chivero, Harare’s major source of fresh water, Norton’s rich farm lands and vast organised mining activities came under attack with the arrival of the gold panners.

Founded in 1914, the town prides itself in having factories, a pulp and paper mill and even a brewery.

Thousands of people, the majority of them coming from Harare and Chegutu, flocked to Norton. Among those that fell in love with the town included the late national hero and music superstar, Oliver Mtukudzi, who called Norton his home until he breathed his last.

However, the town’s reputation as one of the fastest growing and safest urban settlements came to a screeching halt when illegal gold panners began scouring for the precious metal in areas surrounding the town.

The influx of the machete-wielding miners has resulted in some of the residents regretting their decision to set base in this town.

As a result of all the bad things associated with the violent panners, Norton has, to a larger extent, become an undesirable destination for many.

Among the prime farming areas that have been invaded by the panners are Kent Estates, Westband and Donnington farms, thereby reducing agricultural land to dangerous pits and gullies.

The panners, among them the feared “Mashurugwi” gangs, are travelling from as far afield as Shurugwi, Silobela, Gweru, Gokwe and Mutare. Apart from stealing and forcibly taking ore from mines, the panners are also wreaking havoc at shopping centres.

Most bars are now no-go areas for locals, as the panners, who have a penchant for violence, attack locals at the slightest provocation. Rival illegal panners often take their feuds to the drinking spots, resulting in some of the locals being caught up in the crossfire.

Many locals are believed to have lost both life and limb.

As news of the miners’ violent activities become more frequent, distressed calls by Norton residents for authorities to put an end to this madness are growing louder by the day.

The burning down of a house in Norton Ward 12 by a gang of panners who were fighting over a commercial sex worker has proved to be the final straw.

Civic and political leaders, farmers, miners and the residents have since joined hands as they moot ways of ending this menace.

Laston Tachiona, the Norton Ward 12 councillor, is regretting the residents’ decision to rent out accommodation to the illegal miners.

“This is a disaster. Since the miners are our fellow brothers and countrymen, we embraced them and rented out rooms to them. It appears we are now being punished for being compassionate,” Tachiona said.

Ward 12 covers the high-density suburbs of Maridale, Kingsdale and Garikai, where the majority of the panners are living. Tachiona says as a result of the panners’ violent dispositions, the residents are now observing a curfew of some sort.

“We are telling locals not to patronise the drinking spots that are frequented by the miners. We are also encouraging them not to drink late into the night. As residents, we need to stay away from these people whose motives are always dangerous,” said Tachiona.

Letwin Nyagano, vice-chairperson of the Norton Development Association, said the presence of the violent panners is bad for both social and economic development.

“They come here, forcibly take gold ore and beat up beerhall patrons. The gold they forcibly take is channelled towards the black market and we are not in any way benefiting from associating with the illegal miners,” Nyagano said.

Her counterpart, Liziwe Musevedza, the chairperson of the Norton Residents Development Trust, echoed the same sentiments.

“All they do is drink and fight. They are not adding any value to our community,” Musevedza said.

Temba Mliswa, Norton House of Assembly member, has been very vocal on the issue, calling upon authorities to find ways of dealing with the panners.

Mliswa even suggested that locals take up martial arts as a way of defending themselves from the dangerous miners.

Mululeki “Mayor” Ncube, a Norton-based journalist, said the local authority has seemingly run out of ideas in their efforts to bring sanity to the town.

“The panners are a law unto themselves and the residents are distraught and helpless. Something must be done urgently,” Ncube said.

Chipangura, who represents the Zimbabwe Miners Federation in Mashonaland West Province, said the problems that are associated with illegal gold miners are not only confined to Norton.

“There are people holding on to mining claims and are not productive, resulting in panners invading such claims. If those that own claims can be productive, we can do away with such problems,” Chipangura said.

The illegal miners have also encroached onto farming land in nearby Zvimba East.

Ruzai Muchaurawa, the Ward 25 Councillor in the Zvimba Rural District Council, confirmed the presence of artisanal miners in Zvimba.

“The illegal miners are coming from Norton and are giving us sleepless nights. Something should be done urgently,” Muchaurawa said.

With the gold panners’ foot already in the country’s capital city Harare, will authorities finally take notice and curb this marauding force of brutality, destruction and thievery?

Only time will tell.

By Farai D Hove| The same person who embarrassed herself endorsing the recent rigged Mozambican elections, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has been appointed to lead a SADC Observer Mission (SEOM) to Namibia, for presidential and legislative elections scheduled for November 27.

The Mozambican polls were marred by clear vote rigging filmed on camera with the incumbent, hiring buses to carry non Mozambican nationals to vote at polling stations outside the country, in places as far as Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

Oppah was appointed by her boss, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The state media reported saying her appointment is in line with Mnangagwa’s mandate as the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation chairperson.

The revelations are contained in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade statement which the spokesperson, Mr Sheperd Gwenzi said Munchinguri will be accompanied by an Alternate Head of Mission Patrick Chinamasa and other Government officials.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri is expected to launch SEOM in Namibia tomorrow before releasing a preliminary election statement on Friday.

“Zimbabwe as chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation will lead the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the Republic of Namibia’s presidential and National Assembly elections to be held on 27 November 29,” said Mr Gwenzi.

“As mandated by His Excellency, President Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Hon Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs will lead the SEOM to Namibia covering the period 13 November 2019 to 4 December 2019,”

He added that the team would ensure that the elections are held in a transparent manner.

“The core mandate of the SEOM shall be to determine the adherence of the Republic of Namibia to democratic values and principles envisioned in the SADC Treaty, the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; the provision of the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections,” he said “Elections will be observed based on three-phases, the pre-election phase, the election phase and the post-election phase.”