State Media|The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is investigating CBZ Bank and Ecobank for allegedly illegally releasing $59 180 of the new bond notes and coins to two clients.

Pictures of wads of bank notes and a bucketful of coins channelled to the black market circulated on social media platforms, sparking a public outcry at a time when depositors were struggling to withdraw money from banks.

Lucky depositors were getting as little as $100 each, amid reports that some illegal currency traders were already in possession of large amounts of the new notes and coins.

RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya yesterday said preliminary investigations into the suspected illegal issuance of coins and notes revealed that a CBZ Bank customer was involved.

“Investigations by RBZ at CBZ indicated that an amount of $44, 180 was withdrawn by one of their customers. In this regard, CBZ Bank together with their customer are now assisting the Zimbabwe Republic Police with further investigations,” he said.

“As advised in our earlier Press statement (involving Ecobank), appropriate disciplinary measures shall be taken against those bent on damaging confidence by placing such pictures on social platforms.

“Such behaviour causes unnecessary anxiety and despondency within the economy.”

Last night, CBZ Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Blessing Mudavanhu declined to comment, referring all questions to the bank’s corporate affairs manager Mrs Laura Gwatiringa, whose phone was not going through.

In the case of Ecobank, Dr Mangudya said the central bank had found out that the bank notes circulating on social media had emanated from the bank.

“Preliminary investigations by RBZ at Ecobank indicate that an amount of $15 000 was withdrawn by one of their customers.

“Ecobank, together with their customer, are now assisting the Zimbabwe Republic Police with further investigations,” he said.

No comment could be obtained from Ecobank.

Dr Mangudya said the apex bank will strongly punish the implicated banks to ensure illegal activities do not recur.

Before the presentation of the 2020 National Budget in Parliament yesterday, Makonde MP Cde Kindness Paradza rose on a point of privilege and called for the punishment of banks involved in channelling money to the black market when genuine depositors were not getting money.

State Media|Education leads Government spending with a combined $10,7 billion allocated to the Ministries of Primary and Secondary, and Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, with priority on setting up and equipping six innovation hubs.

Presenting the 2020 National Budget in Harare yesterday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said $8,5 billion was budgeted for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and $2,2 billion for Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.“Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all students remains the country’s top priority in the education sector as Government commits to leave no child behind,” said Prof Ncube.

Similarly, the energy for change, innovation and creativity and ultimate inclusive economic growth needs investments in human capital base. “Under the 2020 budget the major focus will be on completing the setting and equipping up of the first six innovation hubs and operationalising them to ensure existing innovations in the different universities are developed into prototypes that will be industrialised at the industrial parks,” he said.

He added that resources will be allocated to stimulate and support innovation and industrialisation. The Government will also initiate a graduate internship programme designed to equip graduates with entrepreneurial skills and business experience to enable them to become productive and play a key role in national development. “The apprenticeship programme initiated last year with 1000 new apprentices being recruited will see another cohort of 1 000 apprentices being recruited by the beginning of next year,” he said.

Starting from next year, the Government will provide sanitary wear for school going children to ensure the products are available to girls and enable them to attend their classes in comfort and dignity.

The minister said the budget responds comprehensively to the plight of girls in enhancing their dignity.

“In anticipation of the finalisation of the Education Act, the budget is required to have a provision for the supply of sanitary wear for female learners.

“Based on equity consideration, the proposal is to begin with rural primary and secondary learners from Grade four to Upper sixth form and a provision of $200 million has been made under this budget,” he said.

HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, good afternoon to you and in fact good afternoon to Ministers.  We hardly see them; we only see them when the President is here. Mr. Speaker Sir, I stand before you as a worried citizen.  On the right side I have colleagues, Members of Parliament belonging to the opposition.  They are not here today and I am now starting to doubt their agenda.  Are they for the people or they are for themselves? – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] –

          This institution is an institution that belongs to the people of Zimbabwe.  When we come here, national interest is first.  We were elected by the people to come and represent them.  There was an election which was disputed; it went to the Constitutional Court and a decision was made.  His Excellency, Cde. Mnangagwa won the matter and as such, the process that was carried out allowed him to be the Head of State, which really means he is the head of the three pillars of the State; Parliament, Judiciary and the Executive. 

I am worried that the councilors from the same party that also contested the same election appear before the very same President whom they do not respect.  The decision that they make seems to be a decision which is not consistent with even their resolution that they passed.  They say that they passed a resolution at their party conference to say that they will not respect the President but how come their councilors do the same?  I thought that Members of Parliament were more mature, senior and they would be able to do what is expected of them. 

Mr. Speaker Sir, time has come that this institution comes up with rules that will empower you to be able to deal with any Member of Parliament who behaves in a manner which is not befitting of this institution – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] – We have national issues at hand.  Mr. Speaker Sir, with the hypocrisy that they exhibit, they contribute to every Bill in this Parliament and that Bill ends up with the President signing.  So, when the President is signing the Bill and they are contributing, who do they expect to sign that?  It shows that they are aware that the President signs the Bills.  They contribute to the bills and the bills are signed by the President, so how then can they not be part of this.  They have been complaining about reforms in many ways and they are expected to be in this House to address the very same reforms that they say are not moving the country forward. 

This event today is a critical event in terms of the country moving forward.  The Minister of Finance and Economic Development will present the budget which equally they contributed to.  We were in Victoria Falls together – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] –  Mr. Speaker Sir, we were in Victoria Falls together and the Ministers who were presenting their papers were appointed by the President.  So, how can you separate a Minister appointed by the President?  They are willing to listen to the Ministers but they are not willing to listen to the President.  Whoever is giving them a strategy certainly is not a good a strategist, it is not sustainable – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] –

They need to go back to the drawing board as Zimbabweans and review their strategy because for four years they cannot sustain this.  It is impossible.  I see a day when they will be sitting down here and respecting the President.  What will the nation say of them?  What is the nation saying of them today with the inconsistencies of having councilors respecting the President and them not respecting him?  The Office of the President must be respected and when we come to this institution politics must be outside.  They can go and campaign and say whatever they want about the President but when we come to this institution, it is a sacred institution.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I would like you to take corrective action to ensure this does not happen.  I am the one who got up the last time to plead for a rescission on the judgement that you had made that they must not ask Ministers.  Today, I am equally one with my constituents who are saying that they are not sincere and as such wakuda shamhu in munyu chaiwo chaiwo  Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to say you are the head of Parliament and as such, we submit to you and we must show respect.  I think they are disrespecting you by pushing you to the edge.  You are a reasonable leader who forgives, we have seen that but I think they have really pushed you to the edge.  It is a pity I am not in that seat, otherwise I would have done things – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] – Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to really implore my colleague Members of Parliament wherever they are that I think you are losing the plot.  This nation is bigger than any individual, so is this institution. 

Let me lastly say that I was a bit worried when I read that my colleague Cde. Julius Malema had mentioned that he wanted to mediate in the G40.  Let me say this to Hon. Malema, that there is a law in this country.  As much as he fights against corruption in South Africa, we equally fight against corruption.  The best that he can do to mediate is talk to his fellow friends to come and face the laws of this country.  They committed a crime and as such, there is no political matter which is stopping them from being here other than that they committed crimes which are well known and they must face the courts of this country because we are a law abiding country. 

He is misinformed by thinking that there is any political motive on that. It is purely a law issue which can only be addressed by the courts, so the mediator is already, there being the courts.  We do not need him to mediate in matters which are before the courts in this country.  May he stick to his principles of being an Hon. Member of Parliament who fights corruption in his country and allow us to fight corruption in this country.  If he has decided to be an external affairs officer for the G40 then he must come out in the clean.  I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Order, order.  I want to thank Hon. Mliswa for his observations. I do not want to be prophetic about that “shamhu” but I can assure you it is coming – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.] – I cannot say in what form, it would be reviewed at the appropriate time because enough is enough – [HON. MEMBERS:  Hear, hear.]

Also watch video :loading below. ..

PUPILS at Prince Edward are living in fear of bullying from seniors at the school after a video of a senior pupil beating a junior before a fight broke out leaked.

The pupil being bullied in the video fights back with other pupils and social media users calling for action to be taken.

In the circulating video clip, a form four pupil in a white shirt is seen kicking a form three pupil in the face while other pupils watched with some recording the action.
The other pupil eventually fights back in a nasty exchange.

H-Metro spoke to a pupil who said he was at the scene when the fighting was taking place on the school grounds.

“What actually happened is that the form four boy in a white shirt got furious after his younger brother was beaten up and he confronted the junior leading to the fight.

“The fight went on and we could not get them apart as they equally exchanged serious blows but bullying is real here,” he said.

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema implored schools to set up anti bullying campaigns and mechanism.
“No to bullying in schools, nobody in Zimbabwe should be bullied whatsoever.

“Teachers and school heads must set an example making sure that this does not go unpunished.

“No one can live alone, we appeal to communities, schools and everyone involved so we can fight this behaviour,” he said.

The school headmaster Dr Aggrippa Sora confirmed the incident saying he will be meeting with the parents of the pupils today.

“This incident is sadly an act of settling scores and a form four student knowing that he is about to finish his education at the school decides to leave a bad mark thinking that he will be untouchable.

“The school does not condone such behaviour, no boy should touch another boy and disciplinary hearing is in progress.

“We are going to give strong recommendations to the Ministry and send a strong message to the kids that such behaviour cannot be tolerated.

“We assure all stakeholders that swift action is going to be taken and the situation is under control as we will try to have anti-bullying campaigns in the school,” said Dr Sora.
— HMetro

Farai Dziva|The country’s main opposition party, MDC has described claims that party leader Nelson Chamisa has dropped his illegitimacy challenge against Emmerson Mnangagwa as baseless.

Read full statement below :
Allegations by Newsday that Pres. Advocate Nelson Chamisa dropped illegitimacy challenge are FALSE and UNFOUNDED.

ED is Illegitimate. Period.

The MDC and indeed our President’s stance remains very clear and unequivocal … ED is illegitimate Period.

It remains our considered view as the people’s party that Zimbabwe still does not have a popularly elected President. The results of the 2018 Presidential elections as announced are definitely not a true reflection of the people’s electoral will.

The MDC has no doubt that our own candidate, Advocate Nelson Chamisa was the outright and undisputed winner of the 2018 Presidential elections with over 2.6 million votes.

The MDC remains fully guided by the resolution from the recent Gweru Congress that clearly gave the guidelines of the roadmap towards the return to political legitimacy.

The details of the roadmap are clearly explained under our strategic policy document, RELOAD.
The restoration of normalcy in Zimbabwe will only happen once there is unconditional acknowledgment that there is real need of a genuine or credible all inclusive national dialogue facilitated by a neutral convenor.

The same dialogue process must also be able agree on a transitional mechanism that will facilitate the implementation of comprehensive reforms.

Once this is all done, free and fair elections will then be held, that will enable Zimbabwe to have an undisputed popularly elected President.

As such, unless and until that happens first; the issue of political illegitimacy will remain unresolved. Simple.

MDC: Change That Delivers
Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

The interview by Simba Chikanza (SC) with Adv Jacob Mudenda was recorded partly on audio and the rest on video. It began with Simba Chikanza showing Adv Mudenda his official name badge presenting himself as a journalist doing research over the Interparliamentary Union (The Union of all parliaments around the world). 

Adv Mudenda was happy doing the brief interview which later became heated over the last question.

SC: Many of the things that are coming on Zimbabwe; right now, I have just met some Tanzanians who were criticising us, heavily, just here.

Well, we are being told that we are now 7 times worse, more, than when we were during Robert Mugabe times. I think that is one matter that I am going to need a short engagement with you Sir.

Mudenda: There are exigencies (sic)

SC: Excuse me?

Mudenda: There are exigencies (sic)

SC: Let me just, while we are, let me just get a picture with you if you don’t mind Sir.

SC: Right, where are we here? Right so, here. Meeting Advocate Mudenda.
Mudenda: Thank you.

SC: You seem to have forgotten me, I don’t know why.

Mudenda: Yeah, I am trying to recollect.

SC: Splendid. Looking forward, I will be with you shortly.

Mudenda: Yeah

SC: Thank you Sir.

Mudenda: Someone will be joining me soon.

SC: Oh, someone will be joining you?

Mudenda: Yes.

SC: Okay, so someone will be joining you. Okay. So what I will do maybe, once they come maybe, I will go away. I am just having a very light one.

Mudenda: Okay.

SC: Oh, thank you Sir. Yeah, the criticism against us is very scathing, it is very heavy, this gentleman from Tanzania who was saying he runs an NGO, and works between Uganda and Tanzania, and he says your country is now 7 times worse than when Robert Mugabe.

Mudenda: What reasons does he give?

SC: Err, we didn’t go into deep, we didn’t get deeper than that, other than him saying the conduct of both government and institutions. He alleges the judiciary as well, and parliament and he mentioned specifically the withdrawal of allowances.

Sir. Ndokutorerai (shall I get you a ) chair?

SC: Sir, the withdrawal of allowances Advocate Mudenda, that has extremely, extremely criticised yourself. On what basis. You have here a topic, local and international policy analysts here, they say you have caused the deterioration of parliament, and.
Mudenda: I have what?

SC: You have made parliament to deteriorate. The value of parliamentarianism is, should be.
Mudenda: Into what?

SC: You are now a spokesman of a military cartel rather than parliament. And in this case Advocate Mudenda, you have a discussion, a topic, that you yourself, you allowed into parliament, you brought this discussion, and that is the 1 August brutality. It is clear even ZBC broadcast this.

Mudenda: (nod and sound in affirmation).

SC: They broadcast this, announcement that the military would be used to change 2018 election results.

Mudenda: (nod and sound in affirmation).

Mudenda: Yes

SC: The same MPs who are meant to be part of your own parliament Advocate Mudenda, they are part of your parliament. And you are the one who allowed this discussion to get into. You allowed it to be discussed.

Mudenda: No, you see the members of parliament have threatened to go to court, so that matter is subjudice.

SC: Sorry?

Mudenda: The matter is subjudice and I am not discussing that.

SC: Because they have threatened to go to court?

Mudenda: Yeah I’m not discussing that.

SC: But then, Sir, aren’t you concerned?

Mudenda: I am not discussing that.

SC: Aren’t you concerned?

Mudenda: I am not discussing that. I am not discussing that.

SC: That we have a clear matter.

Mudenda: I am not discussing that.

SC: You talked about a threat Sir, you talked about a threat advocate.

Mudenda: I am not discussing that.

SC: You talked about a threat.

Mudenda: Can you stop it. Alright?

SC: Advocate, Advocate, a crime is being committed right now. People are dying.

Mudenda: Go to court. Go to court.

SC: Go to court where? People are dying right now in Zimbabwe advocate.

Mudenda: I am not.

SC: I have got; I have got victims of 1 August.

Mudenda: Can you also respect my point of view. Alright?

SC: Do you also respect the people who are suffering, Sir? Do you respect the victims who still have bullets in their bodies, Sir…the victims who still have bullets in their bodies right now?

Mudenda: Can you stop it. Alright. Can you stop it.

SC: Advocate, Advocate, you are the highest you are the most respected person in Zimbabwe you are here to represent parliamentarianism. What parliamentarianism is. You are the person we refer to; we respect you sir. We respect you. And I’ve come to you to ask you about this thing which we are being criticised for; our nation is being criticised right here, Sir.

Mudenda: Can you still stop it. This is not the forum.

SC: Why is it not the forum Sir?

Mudenda: Can you stop it.

SC: But you are the Speaker of Parliament.

Mudenda: Can you stop it. Haaah.

SC: I have got people who are crying I have got victims. Are you concerned that you are no longer the Speaker of Parliament you are now the Speaker of a military cartel?

Mudenda: Can you stop it.

SC: Stop what advocate, stop what?

Mudenda: Can you stop it.

SC: Stop what?

Mudenda: Can you stop it.

SC: But you are destroying our country. You are destroying a whole community. You are right now, even the perception of our nation (sic) Advocate Mudenda.
Are you happy that parliamentarianism has been violated advocate Mudenda? Tell me.

Mudenda: [NO RESPONSE]
So you are not willing to address concerns about parliamentarianism, you are here to represent parliamentarianism and you are mentally torturing MDC MPs adding to the physical torture to victims of violence on 1 August which was done to change election results and this was broadcast on the ZBC. Advocate Mudenda, you are a respected man. You are the highest, the most respected person Sir.
Mudenda: Can you slow down so I can eat.

SC: I shall slow down, but I hope you realise here, that I have got people who are dying, there is a crime that is being committed.

Mudenda: Can I have my breakfast?

SC: You can sir, you can sir, I shall wait.

A crime is being committed Advocate.

Mudenda: Can you move off can you move off.

SC: I am not Sir.

I have got a legitimate criminal concern here, a legal concern sir;
I have got a legitimate legal concern.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN – MUDENDA’S AIDE TRAVELED WITH HIM FROM ZIMBABWE:
Sorry sorry I thought I had given you enough time.
SC: No you can’t do this.

SC: Advocate Mudenda people are dying right now people are dying right now and you are mentally torturing MDC MPs. On what basis do you withdraw their allowances for 5-months merely because they are expressing what you brought before Parliament?
Mudenda: Can you move out.

SC: I am here I am not going to move out I am a guest here and I am also; I am very much here; I am very much here; but I will wait on you because this is important, because you are an employee; you are a civil servant Sir; you are a civil servant. This is your job. This is your job, to be accountable to members of the public; to the international community; to prove that you’re doing the job of a speaker of Parliament not a speaker of a military cartel advocate Mudenda.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
No you cannot shut me I’m going to slow down I will allow him to eat but I’m not going to leave here. I am here I am a guest here; I am an invitee to this conference where you are as well; Thank you.
Tine vanhu varikufa right now hamadzedu dzirikufa kuZimbabwe, akomana, varume, mauya kunoku imimi, saka ndanyarara ikozvino. Ndakumirirai. Ndakumirirai.
This is a legal matter, it is also a criminal matter; I am waiting here.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
I think the honorable speaker has come here to have something to eat.

SC: Yes I will wait for him. I will wait for him Sir
As you can see I have withdrawn, I have withdrawn, I was sitting there when you are sitting so now I have moved away now so we will wait sir. I have got Zimbabweans who are waiting across inside Zimbabwe and around the world. They’re waiting; this is the most respected person; The highest person in the country in Zimbabwe next to Emmerson Mnangagwa.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
So why are you shouting?

SC: I am not shouting I am waiting sir.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
I think it is more about threatening than anything.

SC: What threat did you hear? What threat did you hear there?

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN: I haven’t heard.

SC: No no no. Please don’t be unreasonable what threat did you hear here? What threat did you hear tell me, can you justify what you said.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:
Know what I am simply saying you know when you are talking on top of your voice if you really want to interview you the Speaker you should interview in a manner that is (sic).

SC: According to your allegations I am quiet. Thank you.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN: Thank you.
POLICE ARE THEN SUMMONED IN AND DISRUPT THE INTERVIEW. THEY ASK QUESTIONS AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THEY ANNOUNCE THAT THERE IS NO CASE AND WALK AWAY FROM MUDENDA. 2 COPS ALSO GO ON SELFIE VIDEO WITH SIMBA CHIKANZA OVER THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

The strategy, known as the big flush, has been used in two previous drought years.

Residents of Zimbabwe’s drought-hit southern city of Bulawayo are on Wednesday being encouraged to flush their toilets at the same time each day.

The city has recently been hit by severe water rationing and needs synchronised flushing to unblock the sewage system.

Bulawayo’s sewage system wasn’t designed for water cuts.

But severe water rationing, lasting up to 72 hours a week, has been imposed on all parts of the city.

That’s playing havoc with sewage reticulation, as the system needs regular flows of water through it.

As a solution, the Bulawayo City Council has called on residents who do have water, to flush their toilets at the same time each day, at around 6 am and 8 pm.

The state-run Chronicle said the strategy, known as the big flush, has been used in two previous drought years.

CHAOS broke out at Beitbridge Border Post yesterday when a mob of cross border drivers attempted to burn a Toyota Quantum carrying the body of a gang leader accused of unleashing a reign of terror against them in Musina.

Border authorities had to call anti-riot police to quell the potentially volatile situation.

According to security sources, the body of Knowledge Mukachana (32) was being transported to Chief Chimombe area in Gutu for burial. “The man was notorious for robbing Zimbabweans and other travellers near a checkpoint 2km before Musina town. Unfortunately he was stoned to death by a mob on Monday after he attempted to rob some motorists heading to Zimbabwe.

“So when he arrived here, some of his victims wanted to set the vehicle carrying his body on fire and anti-riot police had to be called in to escort the body to a safe zone,” said an official with the Ferret Squad.

The Ferret Squad is made up of various security agencies including the police who are charged with enforcing security at the country’s ports of entries.

According to the official, Mukachana was notorious for robbing his fellow countrymen and in most cases travelled in a Toyota Wish.

“Many cross border traders lost huge monies to him and his gang hence they wanted to burn him to ashes. In some cases, transporters lost clients because the victims thought the transporters were conniving with the deceased and his terror gang,” said the official.

The officer commanding Beitbridge chief superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said he was yet to get details on the incident.

“We only heard about his death in South Africa and we are yet to get finer details on the matter,” he said.

Government has committed to provide sanitary wear for female learners between Grade 4 and Upper Sixth. Finance Minister has allocated $200 million for this. BEAM gets $450 million and food assistance $1 billion.

This was revealed in the Budget for 2020 presented by Finance Minister at parliament today.

More to follow

State Media|Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is investigating allegations of corruption regarding the release of bank notes after a picture of a person with a bulk of new notes went viral this morning.

The bulk of the sealed notes appeared more than the $300 withdrawal limit from banks, resulting in an uproar from social media users.

“Govt through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is investigating allegations of abuse of newly released bank notes. Cash was collected by banks using their CIT (cash in transit) vehicles on Monday. All serial numbers were recorded in the register. The offending banks will be named and severe action taken,” said the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services on social media this morning.

Meanwhile, excited depositors on Wednesday flocked to their banking halls in Bulawayo to withdraw new notes and coins following the cash injection on Monday into the formal system by the RBZ.

Long queues were seen at most banks and building societies in the Central Business District as depositors sought to get cash, which had become a rare commodity in the past few months. The news crew visited several banks that include Standard Chartered, CABS, ZB Bank, EcoBank and CBZ where banks were disbursing the new $2 and $5 notes and $2 bond coins.

“The money arrived at our branch here yesterday at 8PM,” said a banking official on condition of anonymity.

Some banks were issuing out only $2 coins while others issued both notes and coins. Others like CBZ Fife Street facilitated that customers access the cash through the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Most banks had their withdrawal limit at ZWL$100 per day while some were said to be giving up to $300 as per weekly limit.

Depositors who spoke to the news crew expressed excitement over the availability of cash at banks. They commended the Central Bank for injecting more cash in the formal system saying parallel market cash dealers had made life hard for them.

“I am happy to get cash from my bank but the problem is that the denominations are small. Goods are expensive and this means I have to carry a lot of cash,” said a ZB depositor.

The depositors said they hoped the banks will be consistent in availing cash to end the selling of cash by dealers.

Some depositors however complained that the use of coins attracts punitive premiums at some retail shops that prefer notes.

The depositors also suggested that RBZ prints higher denominations of $10 and $15 for transactional convenience.

RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya has said that the Central Bank will continue to drip-feed the market with notes and coins until the state of equilibrium is reached. The RBZ intends to increase the amount of cash in circulation to about 10 percent of total money supply, which translates to roughly $1,9 billion. Dr Mangudya said the process of injecting additional cash went smoothly on the first day and the RBZ will continue to top up banks with cash to meet demand.

He said the RBZ was determined to stop cheating by banks through strict monitoring of compliance with bank use and promotion regulations

CBZ caught smuggling new notes and coins to black market. Popular Twitter personality @matigary has said the Bank has been caught smuggling notes and coins to the black market where eco cash agents are charging 50 per cent for every withdrawal.

Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ Holdings) has been implicated in parallel market money laundering schemes, Mining Zimbabwe has learnt.

The handle which is believed to be owned by Taurai Chinyamakobvu has expressed its intolerance with the situation at hand and called for an explanation from the Bank and decisive measures to be taken against the Bank.

“It’s not enough to demand an explanation to these
@CBZHoldings
seals on the coins. Consequences on wrongdoing must be swift & decisive. Citizens must never be taken for granted, ever” reads the tweet. The central bank governor has been blamed for failing to put measures on how to stop the situation which was so obvious would happen considering the economic climate at hand.

“It would be silly to imagine RBZ did not anticipate that banknotes would not be on the street. This has happened over and over when new notes are introduced. OVER & OVER. The QN is why was it not anticipated & nipped in the bud. Controls nhai Mangudya?” Reads the tweet.

More to follow…

Source – Mining Zimbabwe

Newsreaders Friday night requested we republish the full Jacob Mudenda interview in Serbia on 13th October 2019.

MUDENDA WITH SIMBA CHIKANZA FOR AN INTERVIEW- Begins with the humiliation Zim is receiving here, a Tanzanian politician says “Zim is now 7 times worse than it was under Bob.” Mudenda asks why. He is told it’s because you’re torturing MDC MPs and 1 Aug victims.. FINAL VIDEO ON ZIMEYE pic.twitter.com/23KwitUSSM

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 13, 2019

INTERVIEW OF ZIMBABWE’S SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT WITH SIMBA CHIKANZA AT THE IN-HOTEL IN SERBIA ON SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2019. 

The interview by Simba Chikanza (SC) with Adv Jacob Mudenda was recorded partly on audio and the rest on video. It began with Simba Chikanza showing Adv Mudenda his official name badge presenting himself as a journalist doing research over the Interparliamentary Union (The Union of all parliaments around the world). 

Adv Mudenda was happy doing the brief interview which later became heated.

Watch video below. ..

FULL VIDEO OF INTERVIEW (PLUS AUDIO) LOADING BELOW…

SC: Many of the things that are coming on Zimbabwe; right now, I have just met some Tanzanians who were criticising us, heavily, just here.

Well, we are being told that we are now 7 times worse, more, than when we were during Robert Mugabe times. I think that is one matter that I am going to need a short engagement with you Sir.

Mudenda: There are exigencies (sic)

SC: Excuse me?

Mudenda: There are exigencies (sic)

SC: Let me just, while we are, let me just get a picture with you if you don’t mind Sir.

SC: Right, where are we here? Right so, here. Meeting Advocate Mudenda.

Mudenda: Thank you.

SC: You seem to have forgotten me, I don’t know why.

Mudenda: Yeah, I am trying to recollect.

SC: Splendid. Looking forward, I will be with you shortly.

Mudenda: Yeah

SC: Thank you Sir.

Mudenda: Someone will be joining me soon.

SC: Oh, someone will be joining you?

Mudenda: Yes.

SC: Okay, so someone will be joining you. Okay. So what I will do maybe, once they come maybe, I will go away. I am just having a very light one.

Mudenda: Okay.

SC: Oh, thank you Sir. Yeah, the criticism against us is very scathing, it is very heavy, this gentleman from Tanzania who was saying he runs an NGO, and works between Uganda and Tanzania, and he says your country is now 7 times worse than when Robert Mugabe.

Mudenda: What reasons does he give?

SC: Err, we didn’t go into deep, we didn’t get deeper than that, other than him saying the conduct of both government and institutions. He alleges the judiciary as well, and parliament and he mentioned specifically the withdrawal of allowances. Sir.

Ndokutorerai (shall I get you a ) chair?

SC: Sir, the withdrawal of allowances Advocate Mudenda, that has extremely, extremely criticised yourself. On what basis. You have here a topic, local and international policy analysts here, they say you have caused the deterioration of parliament, and.

Mudenda: I have what?

SC: You have made parliament to deteriorate. The value of parliamentarianism is, should be.

Mudenda: Into what?

SC: You are now a spokesman of a military cartel rather than parliament. And in this case Advocate Mudenda, you have a discussion, a topic, that you yourself, you allowed into parliament, you brought this discussion, and that is the 1 August brutality. It is clear even ZBC broadcast this.

Mudenda: (nod and sound in affirmation).

SC: They broadcast this, announcement that the military would be used to change 2018 election results.

Mudenda: (nod and sound in affirmation).

Mudenda: Yes

SC: The same MPs who are meant to be part of your own parliament Advocate Mudenda, they are part of your parliament. And you are the one who allowed this discussion to get into. You allowed it to be discussed.

Mudenda: No, you see the members of parliament have threatened to go to court, so that matter is subjudice.

SC: Sorry?

Mudenda: The matter is subjudice and I am not discussing that.

SC: Because they have threatened to go to court?

Mudenda: Yeah I’m not discussing that.

SC: But then, Sir, aren’t you concerned?

Mudenda: I am not discussing that.

SC: Aren’t you concerned?

Mudenda: I am not discussing that. I am not discussing that.

SC: That we have a clear matter.

Mudenda: I am not discussing that.

SC: You talked about a threat Sir, you talked about a threat advocate.

Mudenda: I am not discussing that.

SC: You talked about a threat.

Mudenda: Can you stop it. Alright?

SC: Advocate, Advocate, a crime is being committed right now. People are dying.

Mudenda: Go to court. Go to court.

SC: Go to court where? People are dying right now in Zimbabwe advocate.

Mudenda: I am not.

SC: I have got; I have got victims of 1 August.

Mudenda: Can you also respect my point of view. Alright?

SC: Do you also respect the people who are suffering, Sir? Do you respect the victims who still have bullets in their bodies, Sir…the victims who still have bullets in their bodies right now?

Mudenda: Can you stop it. Alright. Can you stop it.

SC: Advocate, Advocate, you are the highest you are the most respected person in Zimbabwe you are here to represent parliamentarianism. What parliamentarianism is. You are the person we refer to; we respect you sir. We respect you. And I’ve come to you to ask you about this thing which we are being criticised for; our nation is being criticised right here, Sir.

Mudenda: Can you still stop it. This is not the forum.

SC: Why is it not the forum Sir?

Mudenda: Can you stop it.

SC: But you are the Speaker of Parliament.

Mudenda: Can you stop it. Haaah.

SC: I have got people who are crying I have got victims. Are you concerned that you are no longer the Speaker of Parliament you are now the Speaker of a military cartel?

Mudenda: Can you stop it.

SC: Stop what advocate, stop what?

Mudenda: Can you stop it.

SC: Stop what?

Mudenda: Can you stop it.

SC: But you are destroying our country. You are destroying a whole community. You are right now, even the perception of our nation (sic) Advocate Mudenda.

Are you happy that parliamentarianism has been violated advocate Mudenda? Tell me.

Mudenda: [NO RESPONSE]

So you are not willing to address concerns about parliamentarianism, you are here to represent parliamentarianism and you are mentally torturing MDC MPs adding to the physical torture to victims of violence on 1 August which was done to change election results and this was broadcast on the ZBC. Advocate Mudenda, you are a respected man. You are the highest, the most respected person Sir.

Mudenda: Can you slow down so I can eat.

SC: I shall slow down, but I hope you realise here, that I have got people who are dying, there is a crime that is being committed.

Mudenda: Can I have my breakfast?

SC: You can sir, you can sir, I shall wait.

A crime is being committed Advocate.

Mudenda: Can you move off can you move off.

SC: I am not Sir.

I have got a legitimate criminal concern here, a legal concern sir;

I have got a legitimate legal concern.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN – MUDENDA’S AIDE TRAVELED WITH HIM FROM ZIMBABWE:

Sorry sorry I thought I had given you enough time.

SC: No you can’t do this.

SC: Advocate Mudenda people are dying right now people are dying right now and you are mentally torturing MDC MPs. On what basis do you withdraw their allowances for 5-months merely because they are expressing what you brought before Parliament?

Mudenda: Can you move out.

SC: I am here I am not going to move out I am a guest here and I am also; I am very much here; I am very much here; but I will wait on you because this is important, because you are an employee; you are a civil servant Sir; you are a civil servant. This is your job. This is your job, to be accountable to members of the public; to the international community; to prove that you’re doing the job of a speaker of Parliament not a speaker of a military cartel advocate Mudenda.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:

No you cannot shut me I’m going to slow down I will allow him to eat but I’m not going to leave here. I am here I am a guest here; I am an invitee to this conference where you are as well; Thank you.

Tine vanhu varikufa right now hamadzedu dzirikufa kuZimbabwe, akomana, varume, mauya kunoku imimi, saka ndanyarara ikozvino. Ndakumirirai. Ndakumirirai.

This is a legal matter, it is also a criminal matter; I am waiting here.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:

I think the honorable speaker has come here to have something to eat.

SC: Yes I will wait for him. I will wait for him Sir

As you can see I have withdrawn, I have withdrawn, I was sitting there when you are sitting so now I have moved away now so we will wait sir. I have got Zimbabweans who are waiting across inside Zimbabwe and around the world. They’re waiting; this is the most respected person; The highest person in the country in Zimbabwe next to Emmerson Mnangagwa.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:

So why are you shouting?

SC: I am not shouting I am waiting sir.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:

I think it is more about threatening than anything.

SC: What threat did you hear? What threat did you hear there?

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:

I haven’t heard.

SC: No no no. Please don’t be unreasonable what threat did you hear here? What threat did you hear tell me, can you justify what you said.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:

Know what I am simply saying you know when you are talking on top of your voice if you really want to interview you the Speaker you should interview in a manner that is (sic).

SC: According to your allegations I am quiet. Thank you.

UNKNOWN/ UNNAMED MAN:

Thank you.

POLICE ARE THEN SUMMONED IN AND DISRUPT THE INTERVIEW THEN THE BELOW HAPPENS….

BREAKING – JACOB MUDENDA HUMILIATED AFTER SENDING SERBIAN POLICE TO CHASE AWAY JOURNALIST AFTER BEING CONTRONTED OVER MENTALLY TORTURING MDC MPs AND 1 AUG VICTIMS, WHICH WAS DONE TO CHANGE 2018 ELECTION RESULTS | FULL STORY TO FOLLOW pic.twitter.com/RQwnMVX86m

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 13, 2019

Paul Nyathi|MDC MPs on Thursday boycotted the Budget Presentation in parliament due to the presence of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the joint seating of both houses.

MDC Presidential Spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda told reporters that all MDC MPs were at a funeral in Marondera and did not deliberately bunk parliament.

“They are attending the funeral of a high ranking family within the MDC in Marondera. That is what I understand,” said Sibanda.

Independent member of parliament for Norton Constituency Temba Mliswa demanded Parliament takes disciplinary action on the MDC Parliamentarians.

Speaking before the presentation, Mliswa described the MPs as “hypocrites” and questioned how the MDC could take part in formulation of Bills that are signed into law by a President whose legitimacy they do not recognise.

“When one comes here national interests come first. There was a decision made by the courts following last year’s elections and that has to be respected,” said Mliswa.

He was referring to the judgement by the Constitutional Court last year on the MDC challenge of the 2018 elections.

“The decision that they made is a decision that is inconsistent. I thought MPs were more mature, more senior and they would be able to do what is expected.

“Mr. Speaker time has come that this institution comes up with rules that will empower you to be able to deal with any MP who behaves in a manner that is not befitting of this institution,” he said.

“The hypocrisy that they exhibit, they contribute to every Bill in this Parliament and at the end the President signs it so when they contribute and the President signs how then can they not be part of this.

“This is a critical event in terms of the country moving forward. The Minister of Finance will be presenting a budget which equally they contributed to. We were in Victoria Falls together.”

Mliswa said the MDC will not be able to sustain its strategy for the next four years, challenging them to seek a better plan.

There was expectation the opposition MPs will attempt to humiliate Mnangagwa who was in attendance, by walking out but surprisingly none pitched up.

They argue Mnangagwa stole the 2018 election from their party leader Nelson Chamisa.

On Monday party spokesperson Daniel Molokele maintained his party’s position on Mnangagwa remained the same despite reports they had dropped the illegitimacy mantra.

Jane Mlambo| Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube has offered incentives to corporates that generate jobs for young people, ZimEye can report.

Presenting the 2020 national budget, Ncube said the new measure is aimed at reducing the cost of hiring young people as government will also share the cost.

“Under the 2020 Budget, a fiscal incentive is being introduced to support employers who generate jobs for our young job seekers. Any additional job created will attract a percentage tax credit to the employer.

“This measure will reduce the employers cost of hiring young people through a cost-sharing mechanism with Government.

“To operationalise YETI, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will work closely with ZIMRA, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour, EMCOZ and other relevant organisations to work out the respective legal and administrative framework,” said Mthuli Ncube.

EIGHT University of Zimbabwe students were on Tuesday night arrested for violence that left 10 people injured as well as a trail of destruction of property.

The skirmishes started when a dispute arose over Student Representative Council election results announcement.

Of the injured, two were campus security personnel.

The scuffle was between students aligned to the two major student bodies Zimbabwe National Student Union and Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union.

National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said it was wrong for students to behave violently adding that they needed proper grooming.

“Police will make sure that such violent behaviour does not prevail at our local universities.
“A number of buildings and properties were damaged during the violence at the university.

‘’Police officers were called in as reinforcement to assist university security in controlling the student,’’ he said.

He said a few rioters were taken into custody and police are still searching for the real culprits behind the violence.H-Metro

Jane Mlambo| Government has allocated ZWL200 million towards the provision of sanitary wear to school going girls, in a major breakthrough for the country.

Presenting the 2020 national budget, finance minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said the program will begin with rural girls from grade four to form six.

More to follow….

Farai Dziva|The country’s main opposition party, MDC says it will only participate in a dialogue process that is facilitated by a neutral figure.

Read full statement below :
Allegations by Newsday that Pres. Advocate Nelson Chamisa dropped illegitimacy challenge are FALSE and UNFOUNDED.

ED is Illegitimate. Period.

The MDC and indeed our President’s stance remains very clear and unequivocal … ED is illegitimate Period.

It remains our considered view as the people’s party that Zimbabwe still does not have a popularly elected President. The results of the 2018 Presidential elections as announced are definitely not a true reflection of the people’s electoral will.

The MDC has no doubt that our own candidate, Advocate Nelson Chamisa was the outright and undisputed winner of the 2018 Presidential elections with over 2.6 million votes.

The MDC remains fully guided by the resolution from the recent Gweru Congress that clearly gave the guidelines of the roadmap towards the return to political legitimacy.

The details of the roadmap are clearly explained under our strategic policy document, RELOAD.

The restoration of normalcy in Zimbabwe will only happen once there is unconditional acknowledgment that there is real need of a genuine or credible all inclusive national dialogue facilitated by a neutral convenor.

The same dialogue process must also be able agree on a transitional mechanism that will facilitate the implementation of comprehensive reforms.

Once this is all done, free and fair elections will then be held, that will enable Zimbabwe to have an undisputed popularly elected President.

As such, unless and until that happens first; the issue of political illegitimacy will remain unresolved. Simple.

MDC: Change That Delivers
Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson

Jane Mlambo|Opposition legislators have boycotted the national budget presentation by the minister of finance and economic development Professor Mthuli Ncube currently underway in parliament.

Unlike the last time when they walked out on President Emmerson Mnangagwa, this time they did not bother the drama but chose to completely stay away.

The seats usually occupied by opposition legislators were filled by Zanu PF MPs and other ministers including sports minister Kirsty Coventry.

In his budget presentation, Professor Ncube said the government will target a budget of not more than one percent while continuing to compensate former white farmers who were evicted in 2000.

Farai Dziva|The country’s main opposition party, MDC has described claims that party leader Nelson Chamisa has dropped his illegitimacy challenge against Emmerson Mnangagwa as baseless.

Read full statement below :
Allegations by Newsday that Pres. Advocate Nelson Chamisa dropped illegitimacy challenge are FALSE and UNFOUNDED.

ED is Illegitimate. Period.

The MDC and indeed our President’s stance remains very clear and unequivocal … ED is illegitimate Period.

It remains our considered view as the people’s party that Zimbabwe still does not have a popularly elected President. The results of the 2018 Presidential elections as announced are definitely not a true reflection of the people’s electoral will.

The MDC has no doubt that our own candidate, Advocate Nelson Chamisa was the outright and undisputed winner of the 2018 Presidential elections with over 2.6 million votes.

The MDC remains fully guided by the resolution from the recent Gweru Congress that clearly gave the guidelines of the roadmap towards the return to political legitimacy.

The details of the roadmap are clearly explained under our strategic policy document, RELOAD.
The restoration of normalcy in Zimbabwe will only happen once there is unconditional acknowledgment that there is real need of a genuine or credible all inclusive national dialogue facilitated by a neutral convenor.

The same dialogue process must also be able agree on a transitional mechanism that will facilitate the implementation of comprehensive reforms.

Once this is all done, free and fair elections will then be held, that will enable Zimbabwe to have an undisputed popularly elected President.

As such, unless and until that happens first; the issue of political illegitimacy will remain unresolved. Simple.

MDC: Change That Delivers
Daniel Molokele
MDC Spokesperson

A BULAWAYO man has been arrested for allegedly fatally assaulting his wife with an electric cable and a log accusing her of having an extra-marital affair.

Mike Nyoni (24) of Pumula South suburb allegedly assaulted Ms Moderate Ngwenya (21) on her thighs and butt0cks before hitting her on the head several times using a log.

Ms Ngwenya sustained serious head injuries, a laceration on the skull, swollen forearms, bruises on the lower limbs and on the chest.

She was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where she died while in the casualty ward waiting to be admitted.

Ms Ngwenya leaves behind a two-year-old daughter who is under the care of her in-laws.

Nyoni, who is said to be a gold panner, was arrested on Monday at Renkini bus terminus and is assisting police with investigations.

A source told the Chronicle news crew that a misunderstanding broke out between Nyoni and his wife while they were in Pumula North suburb where their relatives live. He attacked her all the way back home to Pumula South.

“This incident began in Pumula North where Mike was accusing his wife of cheating on him. He was assaulting her using an electric cable all the way from Pumula North until they got here. He finally took a log which he then used to assault her all over the body,” said a source.

According to the source, Nyoni contacted his wife’s alleged boyfriend and told him that he had assaulted her and she was in hospital.

The source said Nyoni’s mother Ms Thandekile Moyo was present when he finally assaulted her using a log.

“His mother was there when this happened. She tried to stop him but she failed and ran to her neighbour’s house as he had become violent,” the source said.

Chronicle news crew visited Nyoni’s residence in Pumula South suburb and spoke to his stepfather Mr Felani Ngwenya who said he was not in a position to comment on the issue.

“I cannot comment on the matter because I do not know much about what happened. It will be best if you contacted my wife as she is the one who was present when the incident happened,” he said.

Ms Moyo who was not at home was not reachable on her phone.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango said the incident occurred on Friday last week and investigations into the matter are underway.

She urged members of the public to resolve their differences amicably as opposed to resorting to violence.

This incident comes days before the start of the 16 days of activism campaign against gender-based-violence.

This campaign runs annually from November 25 to December 10.State media

By A Correspondent| Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared G40 an enemy of the State, warning any Zanu PF members interacting with its members that they would be dealt with.

Addressing journalists after a Zanu PF politburo meeting last night, party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said Mnangagwa warned Zanu PF members against getting into bed with G40, the faction that allegedly engineered his ouster from power in 2017 at the height of factional politics.

“He challenged the politburo leadership to be more visible at the grassroots and associate with programmes of government, always giving people a message of hope, those hobnobbing with G40 elements stand warned,” he said.

Zanu PF youth league has accused leaders appointed by Mnangagwa into government and party structures of sabotaging him and failing to attend important meetings because they belonged to G40.

Moyo, however, said the warning by Mnangagwa was targeting all Zanu PF members.

“He never classified at what level. Anybody, doesn’t matter at what level if they are hobnobbing with G40 then they stand warned,” he said.

“G40 is not a threat to Zanu PF. It’s a threat to the country including the MDC. It’s a threat to security and security affects everyone.”

-StateMedia

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

USD = ZW$15.9344
ZWL$ = RAND0.9371
Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

USD = ZW$21.30 zimrates
USD = ZW$21.00 zwl365
USD = ZW$21.00 bluemari
USD = ZW$15.30 cash zimrates

– Marketwatch

THINGS took a turn for the worse in the warring MDC on Tuesday when party hooligans stormed a meeting that was being chaired by its leader Nelson Chamisa, threatening to deal with former secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora in full view of the party’s big guns, the Daily News reported.

Tuesday’s ugly developments were confirmed by both Mwonzora and the MDC itself – badly exposing the folly of some of the main opposition’s officials, including Chamisa’s spokersperson Nkululeko Sibanda, who have ridiculously accused journalists of writing falsehoods about the party’s upheavals.

A senior party official who attended the Tuesday meeting told the DailyNews yesterday that had Chamisa not intervened and asked the thugs to leave – before ordering MDC security personnel to escort Mwonzora after the meeting – the former SG would have been “mincemeat”.

Molokele also confirmed Tuesday’s incident, which came hard on the heels of an attack on Mwonzora’s car by some MDC youths during last weekend’s meeting of the national executive council (Nec).

This comes as there is growing animosity towards Mwonzora by some party officials. This week, in a move which has seen its former SG’s political future coming even more under the spotlight, the MDC said it would initiate disciplinary proceedings against him — fuelling growing suspicion that the party’s bigwigs are pushing him to the exit door.

Mwonzora, a widely respected member of the MDC’s Nec, has never been forgiven by some officials after he expressed interest in challenging Chamisa for the leadership of the MDC ahead of the party’s congress which was held in Gweru in May this year.

MDC secretary-general Chalton Hwende fuelled the talk that the country’s biggest opposition is readying itself to jettison Mwonzora when he said this week that the party’s leadership is taking allegations by the youths against his predecessor very seriously, and would initiate disciplinary proceedings against him.

Mwonzora has had a love-hate relationship with some MDC bigwigs and youth assembly members since he expressed his interest to contest Chamisa at the party’s Gweru congress.

-Daily News

By A Correspondent- Suspended Gweru town Clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza’s salary perks which saw her receiving hefty benefits and drawing over $100 000 from the cash-strapped local authority, has sparked outrage among ratepayers.

A local publication carried out an investigation into the town clerk’s salary perks and benefits and revealed shocking commitments made by council for her services as from June 2017.

Soon after the story broke on Tuesday, residents took to social media to vent their anger on the package of the embattled town clerk, with some threatening to boycott payment of council rates in protest.

Posting on the official Gweru Residents and Ratepayers’ Association (GRRA) WhatsApp group, residents also questioned former mayor Charles Chikozho over the packages and demanded to know what motivated him and his team to sign the contract.

“@Chikozho mayor and your guys, what inspired you to agree to such nonsense?” posted one resident.

“As for me I will not pay a single cent to council. I cannot pay to feed one person,” posted another resident.

Former mayor Chikozho pleaded with the residents who were fuming on the social media group: “The matter is before a disciplinary authority (and) am of the view that it’s not proper to respond … I don’t want (to) influence the proceedings at this moment.”

However, a resident using the moniker “The Village Priest” pressed Chikozho further: “Cllr, the question was, what inspired you to agree to those conditions? This question does not in any way jeopardise investigations of incompetence of TC, what had you seen for you to agree to give her those perks?”

Cornelia Selipiwe, GRRA director, told Southern Eye that the town clerk’s perks had angered ratepayers, who felt she should not bleed the financially-crippled council.

“We are worried with such a contract; she is selfish and dangerous to the organisation. Our city has no money, we don’t need such a person, her appetite for high life was exhibited when she wanted to move into the mayor’s mansion and those curtains she wanted to buy for US$38 000, but why did the former mayor and councillors accept that scenario?” the GRRA leader asked.

Selipiwe also confirmed that some residents have been threatening to boycott payment of council rates in protest against the town clerk’s perks.

David Chokore, the Gweru United Residents and Ratepayers Development Association leader said: “We have never and will never begrudge anyone for getting what they truly deserve. From the available reported allegations, which remain uncontested to this day, there is rampant corruption and general collapse of council service delivery.”,

Gwatipedza told Southern Eye that it would be sub judice for her to comment on the matter since the independent tribunal set to hear her case was still seized with the matter.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Zanu PF apologist on social media, Kudzai Mutisi, has criticised Members of Parliament for keeping quiet and lacking the cojones to confront Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) officials for the leakage of new notes to the black market.

Mutisi chided ZANU PF secretary for youth affairs and Chief Whip in the National Assembly Pupurai Togarepi for tweeting “cryptic riddles” while ignoring the new notes scandal.

Mutisi wrote on Twitter:

We have a number of MPs here on Twitter… None of them has the balls to confront @ReserveBankZIM honchos about the leakage of cash to the black market… @TogarepiPupurai would rather tweet some cryptic riddles… If @KMutisi was your MP, l would be at RBZ this morning.

Mutisi’s comments come as a picture of an individual holding “bricks” of new banknotes while seated in a car went viral on social media.

Government officials, including those at the RBZ and political elites and their children, have often been accused of driving the illegal cash business

watch the video loading below……

watch the video loading below…..

By Nelson Chamisa|Just had a great meeting with the (Australian) Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Tony Sheehan and the Australian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bronte Moules on various issues affecting our two great countries. We continue to appeal and mobilize for more support in the humanitarian area considering the health crisis and drought situation in the country.

By A Correspondent- Speaker of parliament, Jacob Mudenda on Wednesday rescinded his decision to stop opposition legislators from debating in parliament as punishment for failure to recognise President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe.

Announcing his ruling, Mudenda said he had put into considerationthe fact that the country’s Constitution makes it mandatory for the president, his deputies and ministers to be accountable to parliament.

Said Mudenda:

“Accordingly, my previous ruling is hereby suspended to avoid any possible paralysis of parliamentary proceedings. I so rule.”

-DailyNews

THE introduction of the new currency has triggered the resentment of the ZWL$0,25 cents bond coins by retailers, Zim Morning Post has learnt.

Attempting to purchase goods and services using a ZWL$0, 25 cents bond coin has become a nightmare for consumers.

This comes as informal traders and transport operators in Zimbabwe’s capital are declining to accept the coins as legal tender.

Zimbabwe’s skewed arrangement is such that cash is the preferred method of transacting in an economy where the majority of citizens earn a living from trading in the informal sector.

Sten Zvorwadza, National Vendors Union Zimbabwe (NAVUZ), Chairperson said it has become a common place for Zimbabweans to apply speculative assumptions on the use of small denominated coins.

“This has happened numerous times in the past and the government has failed to give proper direction when it happens,” Zvorwadza said.

“It is the duty of government to explain to the nation that such behaviour is unscrupulous and unacceptable.

“The news on the introduction of the new Zimbabwe currency has also fuelled the high levels of speculation leading to declare the 25 cent coins unacceptable in trade. The other emerging reason is that inflation has rendered the 25 cent coins valueless and accepting them is adding an unnecessary burden of counting valueless coins.

“Informal traders are highly sensitive when it comes to information and they react that way to mitigate against risk of collecting coins that would otherwise be valueless in the short or medium term. The role of government is to put the record straight by casting the true position of the coins being rejected as a measure to protect the vulnerable informal traders.”

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has introduced new ZWL$2 and ZWL$5 dollar notes to increase the amount of physical cash in the economy to meet transactional demand.

The notes will be an addition to the already circulating bond notes.

This comes as current proportion of cash to broad money supply of 4 percent is low compared to the regional and international levels of 10 – 15 percent.

This low ratio has resulted in an undesirable cash premium which the RBZ would like to see eliminated.

“The Committee felt that there was need to boost the domestic availability of cash for transactional purposes through a gradual increase in cash supply over the next six months,” RBZ governor John Magudya said after the central bank Monetary Policy Committee met on October 28 and 29 at the bank chambers.

“The Committee also noted the need to review upwards the cash withdrawal limits to ease the burden on the transacting public. The additional cash injection will be carried out through the non-inflationary exchange of RTGS money for physical cash.”

A snap survey carried out by Zim Morning Post on Wednesday, established that retailers, vendors and commuter omnibus operators are not accepting the 25 cents bond coins.

“We do not take this,mazuda.

“Go and give your children to play with,” said one vendor operating along Harare street.

-Zim Morning Post

Government has outlawed the fitting of new electric geysers, but existing geysers can continue to be used.

Owners of electric geysers are encouraged to switch to solar, while new solar geysers can have an electric back-up, although that must be set to operate outside peak demand periods.

The ban was announced by Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi in regulations gazetted last Friday.

Energy experts have noted that heating water in geysers absorbs 40 percent of electricity used by an average home and that Zimbabwe has over 250 000 electric geysers.

The regulations banning the use of new electric water heaters, dubbed the Electricity (Solar Water Heating) Regulations, are contained in Statutory Instrument 235 of 2019.

They were promulgated in consultation with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) in terms of section 65 (q) of the Electricity Act.

The banning of new electrical geysers is part of Government efforts to reduce demand for electricity and promote the use of renewable sources of energy.

“These regulations are meant to regulate the installation, licensing, operation, repair, maintenance, retrofit and upgrade of solar water heating systems for the production of sanitary hot water to save electricity,” reads section 2 of the regulations.

The regulations shall apply to all property developers, architects, engineers and users of electricity and users of hot water, but will not apply to existing premises with electrical geysers.

Exemptions allowing new electric geysers are possible, but have to be approved by Zera.

There are four grounds for exemption: premises with technical limitations; premises supplied with hot water from a co-generation plant in or next to the premises; premises using electricity generated from renewable energy and the excess is used to heat water as a dump load; and such other premises as the authority may determine.

Zera has to process applications in 30 days and give reasons if it turns the request down.

Back-up water heating systems may be installed to cater for when there is extended cloud cover or a breakdown.

“The back-up water heater systems that utilise traditional fuels, including electricity, gas, or similar fuels, may be separately installed in buildings or be integrated into the solar heating system to ensure that there is an adequate supply of hot water at all times, especially during periods of extended cloud cover,” reads the regulations.

“The conventional back-up system shall be designed to supplement a solar water heating system by operating when absolutely necessary to supply the energy deficit from solar collectors due to adverse weather conditions or solar water heating system defects.

“All geysers with an electricity back-up to be inhibited from using electricity during peak hours.”  And the regulations make it clear that as before, all geysers have to conform to local authority by-laws.

Those installing solar water heaters now have to be more professional and issue an installation certificate giving the date of installation, capacity of the solar water heating system, details of the installer and warranty for the premises.

Solar geysers will help the country to save 300MW a year.

-State Media

THE kit the Warriors intend to use for their opening 2021 AFCON qualifier tomorrow is being held at the ZIMRA offices at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, just a day before the match.

The Warriors face the Zebras of Botswana at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow evening but some bureaucratic bottlenecks have seen the Umbro kit, which the team intends to use in that game, stashed at the ZIMRA offices. The Warriors kit sponsors sent the equipment in time for tomorrow’s game but the ZIMRA officials have been holding on to it because they want certain procedures to be cleared first.

ZIFA officials have desperately been trying to get the equipment, which they believe shouldn’t be levied any duties, since it’s coming to be used by the country’s senior national football team. However, sources have told The Herald that there appears to be some disagreements with ZIMRA officials and this has seen the equipment being held at the airport for days now.

This has forced ZIFA to use old kit for the Warriors’ training programme which got underway in Harare on Tuesday.

“Umbro sent the equipment because the deal stipulates that there is are kits for the AFCON qualifiers, kits for the World Cup qualifiers and kits for other tournaments like CHAN,” sources told The Herald.

“But the kit has been held up by the ZIMRA officials for some days now because they want to establish whether it’s supposed to come in for free or certain duties have to be paid for it to be cleared.

“The ZIFA officials have been running around for days now to try and secure the supporting letters to show that, indeed, the kit should come in for free since it’s meant for a national programme given the national team’s matches are national projects.

“Maybe it will be released on Thursday (today) no one knows but you know that such equipment should be used even during camp which has been on since Sunday.”

-State Media

LEAD President Linda Masarira has questioned the flooding of new notes on the black market which she said puts in doubt the government’s commitment to normalize the economy.

In a Tweet aimed at the Finance minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Masarira demanded an explanation on how bunches of new notes have flooded the black market despite banks limiting withdrawal limits to ZWL$300 per week.

“Dear @MthuliNcube I am humbly requesting for an explanation on how the new notes have found themselves in cars which operate as black market banks. As long as hard cash is not available in banks yet available on the black market there is no hope of normalizing the economy,” questioned Masarira.

This followed a circulating picture showing bricks of new two dollar notes stashed inside a car.

Dear @MthuliNcube

I am humbly requesting for an explanation on how the new notes have found themselves in cars which operate as black market banks. As long as hard cash is not available in banks yet available on the black market there is no hope of normalizing the economy pic.twitter.com/2kiE1Xt4gS

— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) November 13, 2019

Wednesday, 13^th November, 2019.

The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m.

PRAYERS

(THE HON. SPEAKER in the Chair)

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE HON. SPEAKER

RULING BY THE HON. SPEAKER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE

THE HON. SPEAKER: Following my ruling in the National Assembly on the 23^rd of October 2019 regarding the eligibility of MDC-A Members of Parliament to question Vice Presidents, Ministers and Deputy Ministers on policy issues   and the subsequent point of order raised by Hon. Mliswa on the same on Thursday 24^{th of} October 2019, I have reconsidered my ruling taking into consideration the role of Parliament as augmented in Section 119 of the Constitution. It is the role of Parliament to   protect and uphold the provisions of the Constitution. The Chair has subsequently reflected on the matter and makes the following ruling:

Subject to the provisions of Standing Orders 62 (2) and 64, National Assembly private members’ business takes precedence over Government business on Wednesdays and Fridays. As part of their oversight and representative roles, Hon. Members are obliged to pose questions with or without notice to Vice Presidents, Ministers and Deputy Ministers. This happens every Wednesday afternoon during Private Members Business in the National Assembly and on Thursdays in the Senate.   They also raise issues for debate in the House by way of Motions on particular issues which invariably have to be responded to by appropriate Ministers under whose Portfolios such issues may be applicable.

Hon Ministers must respond comprehensively to such questions as required of them by Section 107 (2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which states that:

“Every Vice President, Minister and Deputy Minister must attend

Parliament and its Committees in order to answer questions concerning matters for which he or she is collectively or individually responsible.”

This is a constitutional obligation imposed by the Constitution on both the Members of Parliament and the Ministers. It is for this reason that our Standing Orders create a charge of contempt for Ministers who fail to adhere to this constitutional obligation. Failure to adhere to these Standing Orders may result in contempt charges being raised against Ministers in terms of Standing Order 63 (2) of the National Assembly.   In addition, in terms of Standing Order Number 26 of the National Assembly, Ministers are expected to respond to issues raised in Committee Reports within a period of ten sitting days.

Accordingly, my ruling of 23^rd October, 2019 is hereby suspended sine die to avoid a paralysis of Parliamentary processes, I so rule.

By Paul Nyathi|Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube may be riding on cloud nine hoping that by introducing over ZWL$30 million of the new currency he has solved the cash shortage situation in the country and consequently killing the black market foreign currency exchange schemes, but the move may just come back to haunt him.

With just two days of the currency being introduced, the money has landed in the hands of black market foreign currency dealers who appear to have more of it than the formal banking system. How this has happened boggles the mind.

Zimbabweans finally got some access to new low-denomination currency on Tuesday, but banks maintained an existing weekly withdrawal limit of $20, while the Reserve Bank assures that the withdrawal limit is $300 per week.

As the Banks struggle with the currency issuing coins to depositors, the black market is flooding with the a combination of both the new currency notes and the old Bond Notes.

Perhaps in his move to release the money, Mthuli Ncube forgot that the flourishing black market was also faced with a shortage of the loyal currency and they have since hijacked all of it back into their system, certainly with clandestine help from elements within the central bank.

Paul Nyathi|MDC Member of Parliament and party Vice Chairman Job Sikhala on Tuesday took swipe at the Speaker Of Parliament Jacob Mudenda over his move to report ZimEye.com journalist Simba Chikanza to State Security Agents, the CIO after he questioned him in an interview (click to read) in the Serbian capital last month.

Chikanza questioned Mudenda on his two unconstitutional moves in parliament where by Mudenda partisanly used his powers to suspend MDC Parliamentarians from asking questions to ministers in parliament as per the constitution and also withdrew their allowances as punishment for refusing to recognise Emmerson Mnangagwa’s presidency.

Below is the full text of the debate raised by Sikhala on a point of privilege.

ALSO WATCH THE VIDEO: LOADING BELOW…

HON. SIKHALA:  I rise on a point of privilege Mr. Speaker concerning the events of the 15^th October, 2019.  On the 15^th of October, 2019, Mr. Speaker Sir, there was an altercation that took place in the City of Belgrade in Serbia between you Mr. Speaker Sir and a Zimbabwean journalist called Simba Chikanza.  After that altercation, it is now reported and also through an affidavit that has been deposited to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, (IPU)  that you Mr. Speaker Sir, went and reported the said journalist to the Director of National Intelligence, Isaac Moyo that Simba Chikanza is a security threat in this  country. 

Simba Chikanza, Mr. Speaker Sir is a Zimbabwean who in terms of the Constitution is entitled – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections] – Mr. Speaker Sir, Simba Chikanza is a Zimbabwean who is entitled to the protection by the laws of this country over the issue of his security.  May you please guarantee, as he has raised a red alert that he has been classified as a threat to national security, that he is guaranteed to come to his country without harassment, intimidation or arrest?  It is said that his classification as a threat to State security was motivated by your report to the Director General of CIO.  Can you guarantee Simba Chikanza’s security in our country as a citizen of this country?  I thank you.

THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, sometimes it is important that you get the facts straight.   Leaders of delegations to conferences such as IPU are accorded state security and I was privileged to be covered by the state security of Serbia.  It was what the security in Serbia thought, to the extent that my security had to be secured, they did take the necessary measures including beefing up the security around my presence in Serbia.  It is normal practice that the security services in Serbia are obligated to inform my country of origin of what has transpired.  It is the communication between the security services of Serbia and security services here in Zimbabwe.  They were obligated to give a report and liaise with the security services here in Zimbabwe.  What transpires between the two organs is not privy to me.  It is a matter between the two security agencies in Serbia and Zimbabwe.  So, I did not make any report to the Director General of Zimbabwe Intelligence Services.

Watch also video downloading below:

Paul Nyathi|Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and his Reserve Bank Governor John Mangudya have been buoyant over the newly introduced currency claiming that it has come as a solution to the country’s cash crisis. The effectiveness of the currency will be tested this weekend when the country will be without its dominant mobile money platform, EcoCash.

The country’s biggest mobile money service provider announced during the week that it will suspended service over the weekend for almost thirty six hours while undergoing major system upgrade.

Banks started distributing the new money in $2 and $5 notes as well as $2 bond coins on Tuesday a day after its official expected launch.

Government including President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself have expressed hope that the new notes, worth about ZWL $30 million (about US$2 million on the official exchange), will end a cash crisis that has ravaged Zimbabwe for more than two years.

The big question that will be put to test at the weekend will to see if the money introduced will be enough to keep the monetary system running in Zimbabwe if there’s also a mobile money shutdown.

The impact of the cash crisis has been best captured by consumers being forced to pay premiums of up to 50% to get their cash from mobile money agents as well as a run-away Zimdollar vs US Dollar parallel market exchange rate currently at 1:20 against 1:15 on the official interbank market.

The new bank notes means Zimbabwe now has official currency notes since 2009 when the country, ravaged by massive hyperinflation, abandoned its own currency and embraced multi-global units such as the US Dollar and the rand from neighboring South Africa.

Nonetheless, Zimbabwe again slipped into hyper-inflation but the government, which brought the quasi-currency bond notes into the finance system in 2016, is adamant that having a substantive currency is the best way forward. The new notes have evidently been on demand, with banks forced to institute withdrawal limits of ZWL100 (about $7) per day.

In the absence of cash, Zimbabweans have over the past few years heavily relied on mobile money and point of sale platforms for settlement of transactions. According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s latest stats, mobile and internet based transactions amounted to ZWL14.57 billion (around $1 billion) for the month of August 2019, representing a 17.2% increase from the previous month. It is against this backdrop that Zimbabweans will likely feel the hard pinch of a planned mobile money outage. EcoCash says it “will be carrying out a major system upgrade”. All services on the platform will be down starting 9pm local time this Saturday till 9pm the following day.

For some, the disruption to EcoCash has come earlier, with some users taking to Twitter to express their frustrations at being unable to make payments at supermarkets. Zimbabwe listed Cassava Smartech, which now holds EcoCash, confirmed via Twitter that online merchant services were currently down as of Tuesday evening. For many shoppers, cash is always the default option but then cash has been in short supply in Zimbabwe.

Demand for cash has somewhat always been elevated in Zimbabwe despite the over reliance on mobile money, most likely because money supply is low. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Zimbabwean central bank admits that the country’s “broad money supply of 4% is low compared to regional and international levels of 10% to 15%”.  In a

, the reserve bank says “cash-based transaction values increased by 17.7%, to close at $1,046.71 million” for the month of August 2019. Transactions settled using bank cards were however also higher, rising by 20.46% to ZWL2.22 billion for the same month.

My wife had to use cash around 11am this morning after failing for some time to use #ecocash. I heard this 4rm countless other people. The sight in BM borrowdale now is bewildering. If you're swiping you are being asked to come to the front of the queue because ecocash irikunetsa

— wilfred marerwa (@vamarerwa) November 12, 2019

In EcoCash’s absence this weekend, the newly introduced bank notes will certainly find more takers and users but as has been the case over the years, they may not be enough, with even more shoppers and users likely to be stranded. There is even more skepticism among economic analysts that the new notes will effectively help solve the financial crisis.

“We believe that the introduction of new notes will do little to alleviate (cash) shortages… cash withdrawals from banks have dried up due to severe shortages of physical cash, leaving the public reliant on mobile money agencies who are charging a premium. There is a growing risk that the government will revert to printing money to fund the fiscal deficit, a policy that contributed to hyperinflation in the 2000s,” said Nathan Hayes, an analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit, on Wednesday.

QZ

Paul Nyathi|There has been widespread reporting that the Nelson Chamisa led opposition MDC has dropped a key position questioning the legitimacy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, paving the way for possible talks between the chief political rivals to resolve Zimbabwe’s political and economic crises.

The opposition party has refused to recognise Mnangagwa’s presidency since the disputed polls of July 31 last year, and accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) of poll theft.

Chamisa has often referred to Mnangagwa as an illegitimate president.

But Mnangagwa has remained resolute that any talks must be predicated on the opposition recognising his poll victory.

The issue became a stumbling block and scuppered numerous efforts to bring the two protagonists together.

Media reports have since Monday declared that when the MDC’s national executive council (Nec) met at the weekend and reversed the party’s challenge of Mnangagwa’s legitimacy because it allegedly released a statement that did not refer to the legitimacy of Mnangagwa and, instead, concentrated on electoral reforms only.

But it’s this really what the MDC said?

Below is the full statement released by the MDC from which claims that the party endorsed Mangwana are made.

“The MDC national executive met today (Saturday) for seven hours and spent the better part of the meeting deliberating on the deteriorating situation in the country, particularly the worsening plight of the ordinary citizens. The executive, a key organ of the party, discussed and charted the way forward on the following key national issues.

1.The national situation
The national executive deliberated on the deteriorating political, economic and social situation in the country. In particular, the executive noted the rising cost of basic commodities as well as the slow genocide in the country’s hospitals, where the illegitimate regime has fired yet another batch of doctors for raising legitimate concerns about their wages and working conditions. They haven also raised issues about lack of medicines and other medical consumables to enable them to save lives.

2.Food insecurity
About 8,5 million people in the country are food insecure and the party noted with serious concern that the illegitimate regime had begun politicizing food in the rural areas. The party resolved to do all within its remit to stop the abuse of a key livelihood issue such as food.

3.Legitimacy crisis
The executive affirmed that the economic governance crisis in the country and the challenges facing the nation are symptomatic of the legitimacy crisis arising out of the stolen election of 2018. Unless and the until the legitimacy crisis is resolved, there will be no reprieve on the dire national situation as the people running government do not have the requisite confidence and mandate from the people.

The executive noted that the legitimacy crisis has led to the breaking down of the social contact, particularly between the leading and the led.

4.Elections
The party’s continued participation in by-elections has exposed the dire need for prudent electoral reforms. A compromised election management system, the murkiness around voting material, the abuse of traditional leaders and the use of food as political weapon continues to be rampant in the countryside, justifying the need for genuine electoral reforms. To this end, the party’s parliamentary caucus will table an alternative Electoral Bill that guarantees the holding of credible and legitimate elections that do not breed contested outcomes.

5.Increasing brutality against citizens and the leadership
The party noted the increasing brutality against the citizens and the people’s leadership and affirmed that the illegitimate regime of Mr. Mnangagwa will not succeed to break the collective spirit of the MDC in prosecuting the democratic struggle. The party stands in solidarity with citizens and leaders that are being persecuted.

The party resolved to set aside a day every year to remember and salute all survivors of political violence, living or dead, who have been victims of State-sanctioned brutality.

6.Parliament
The party deliberated on developments in parliament, particularly Zanu PF’s attempt to reverse the democratic gains enshrined in the Constitution. The national executive resolved that the people’s deployed to the August House must use the arena of Parliament to table alternative Bills as well as pro-poor motions that further citizens’ rights, widen democratic space and further the people’s democratic agenda. The party resolved to continue pressing for alignment of laws to the Constitution, and not amendment of the Constitution, itself made and affirmed by the people themselves in a referendum.

7.Dialogue
The party reiterated its commitment to a sincere, honest and credible dialogue process. The dialogue must unlock the impediments that have stood in the way of credible, free and plebiscites. As such, any honest and credible dialogue process, under a mutually agreed convener, must focus on a comprehensive reform agenda to ensure the security and freedoms of citizens as well as ensuring a free, fair and credible election that must yield a people’s government.

1. Local government
   The executive noted the challenges faced by MDC-led councils and bemoaned the fact that in most of these councils are MDC-led but are not MDC-controlled. Zanu PF has centralized most of the key operations of local authorities, such as procurement. The party noted that Zanu PF has usurped key operations of councils in a manner that has curtailed the autonomy and the full independence of local authorities, in the process grossly interfering with service delivery. The party resolved to continue supporting the local authorities that it runs to ensure that they deliver prudent and affordable services to the people.

9.Resolving the national crisis
The party resolved to stand on the side of the people. The party will continue mobilizing locally and internationally for a cogent and robust #FreeZimbabwe campaign that must eventually yield a legitimate people’s government.

MDC Communications

Special Notice from The MDC|President Chamisa is away attending the Progressive Alliance Forum, a grouping of Socialist, Labour and Social democratic parties. In his absence Hon Lynnette Karenyi has been appointed the Acting President of the Movement For Democratic Change.

Independent|FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube faces a daunting task of devising a cocktail of fiscal measures to stabilise the rapidly imploding economy when he presents the 2020 national budget this afternoon amid widespread pessimism.

The budget presentation comes at a time Zimbabwe is in the throes of a deepening economic crisis characterised by a debilitating liquidity crunch, an acute foreign currency shortage, low capacity utilisation estimated to be less than 30%, power outages lasting up to 18 hours and runaway inflation estimated at 353% (year-on-year).

Ncube will present his 2020 budget with little to show from last year’s budget. Some analysts say his 2019 budget proposals are virtually dead in the water.

Among the highlights of the 2019 US$8,2 billion budget was a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annual growth projection of 3,1%, the privatisation of five parastatals to generate US$350 million, 5% salary cuts for senior government officials with the declaration that the multi-currency regime remains in place.

However, a year later, the reality on the ground depicts a totally different picture to what had been envisaged by Ncube in his fiscal statement last year.

The devastating impact of the power cuts, which last up to 18 hours daily, the drought and the catastrophic Cyclone Idai in the eastern parts of the country, among other challenges, have rendered government’s 3,1% growth projection way off the mark.

The International Monetary Fund has projected that the economy will instead contract by 7,2% this year.

The multi-currency regime has since been banned through Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 issued on June 24 this year, making the Zimbabwean dollar the sole legal tender.

He presents a budget at a time the local currency has been severely weakened against the United States dollar, resulting in runaway inflation that has eroded incomes to the extent that civil servants have warned that it will not be business as usual as they are incapacitated.

Doctors have withdrawn their labour since last month, saying they cannot cannot continue to work because of poor wages. Their colleagues in the civil service rejected a 60% increment they say has since been eroded by inflation.

The ravaging effect of inflation makes a mockery of the tax-free threshold of ZW$700 introduced by Ncube in his mid-term fiscal budget earlier this year. He will present the budget looking to come up with a package to placate a restive civil service, including striking doctors.

He will present the budget amid calls by the business sector to remove the 2% tax on electronic transactions, which was introduced on October 1, 2018, as they argue that it is punitive and counter productive.

In his 2020 budget paper, Ncube speaks of the 2020 budget enhancing revenue collection through advancing the ongoing Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and other administrative reform initiatives on broadening the tax base and closing revenue leakages.

He has projected a growth rate of 4,6% based on an improved rainfall season to enhance agricultural production and electricity generation, improved foreign currency availability and recovery in aggregate demand among other factors.

He projects nominal GDP of ZW$209,3 billion in 2020, revenues at ZW$24,8 billion and expenditures at ZW$28,5 billion. However, economist John Robertson said the 2020 budget is likely to be much ado about nothing.

“I expect a lot of waffle that adds up to promises that again will not be kept and the government ends up looking for someone to blame,” Robertson said. “The best we can hope for is a stable exchange rate, but there is not much to show that will happen.”

He projected the GDP growth rate to contract substantially due to the rolling power cuts and the drought.The budget, Robertson said, would be hindered by political decisions that are contrary to what needs to be addressed to resuscitate the economy.

He pointed out that lack of reforms will render most proposals in the budget futile.“I do not think there is nothing to look forward to. I just hope next year will not be worse. They are always talking about reforms but I cannot see any evidence of it,” Robertson said.

Business consultant Simon Kayereka said the Treasury boss should address a number of issues among them the 2% tax on electronic transactions and money supply.

“Issues that should be addressed include removing the 2% tax, which is punitive. He should reduce money supply which is stoking inflation, as well as putting measures to ensure currency stabilisation,” he said.

FORMER Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko will stand trial on December 3 for alleged criminal abuse of office after a Harare magistrate dismissed his application for exception.

Mphoko, represented by Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara, wanted to have the charges quashed claiming they were calculated to “prejudice and embarrass him.”

He said the charges forced him to reveal sensitive information protected by the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

Ruling on the application was nearly postponed to another date as regional magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya was busy, but Advocate Zhuwarara submitted that Mphoko had no home in Harare and would be forced to sleep in a car.

Mr Mujaya dismissed the application, saying the charges had reasonable clarity and the ex-Vice President would not be prejudiced in any way when he entered a plea.

In the application, Mphoko said State papers did not particularise which provisions of the Constitution he allegedly violated.

“The charges are vague to the point of being indecipherable,” said Adv Zhuwarara.

“The charge does not particularise whom the accused is alleged to have ordered to release, Moses Juma or Davison Norupiri.

“The charge forces the accused to reveal information precluded from publication or conveyance by the Official Secrets Act.

“The accused is at the pain of the law and has trouble responding to the charges. The law requires that he tells you everything, yet he will be exposing himself to the possibility of another charge under OSA.”

Adv Zhuwarara said Mphoko needed immunity before revealing his defence.

The State represented by acting Prosecutor-General (PG) Mr Nelson Mutsonziwa said the application was in the wrong forum because Mphoko never approached the PG with the issue of the alleged classified information.

“We don’t know the information that he has,” he said.

“What if he has nothing? The procedure was for him to bring the information before the PG who after applying his mind to the application could issue a certificate of nolle proseque.

“Where evidence is sensitive, it can be led in camera. The court cannot decide on such a matter. It is in the wrong forum and it is invalid.

“There is no ambiguity in the charge and it is not misleading in any way. The police who were ordered to release two accused persons at Avondale Police Station are witnesses in the matter.”

State Media|Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda yesterday reversed the ruling he made last month barring MDC-Alliance legislators from posing questions to Cabinet ministers.

He made the decision after finding certain constitutional rights overrode his decision.

Adv Mudenda had banned the MPs during the Question Time on October 23 after Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said it was improper for opposition legislators to expect their questions to be answered by ministers appointed by a President they did not recognise.

This followed the walk-out by MDC-Alliance legislators on President Mnangagwa when he presented the State of the Nation Address and officially opened the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament.

“Following my ruling on the 23rd of October regarding eligibility of MDC-Alliance parliamentarians to question vice presidents, ministers and deputy ministers during question time, I have reconsidered my ruling taking into consideration provisions of Section 119 of the Constitution,” said Advocate Mudenda.

He said the section provided for the role of Parliament in protecting and upholding the Constitution, adding that the Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders also gave private members’ questions precedence on Wednesdays and Fridays as part of their oversight.

Adv Mudenda said the vice presidents, ministers and their deputies were also obliged by the Constitution to attend committees and Question Time to respond to issues they were collectively or individually responsible for.

He said because of the said provisions, he had decided to reverse the earlier ruling.

“In light of the above, my ruling of the 23rd of October is suspended sine die (indefinitely) to avoid the collapse of Parliament process,” said Adv Mudenda.

Norton legislator Mr Temba Mliswa, who had moved a motion requesting the Speaker to reverse the ban, thanked him for the decision.

“I want to thank you Mr Speaker Sir for reversing the decision which shows that you are a listening leader,” said Mr Mliswa.

Adv Mudenda warned that he would soon invoke provisions of the Parliament’s Standing Orders by charging ministers that continue to bunk Parliament’s Question Time.

He gave the warning after he wrote to the President during the course of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament raising concern on the behaviour of some ministers who do not attend sessions without seeking leave of absence as required by the Standing Rules and Orders.

State Media|Government has outlawed the fitting of new electric geysers, but existing geysers can continue to be used.

Owners of electric geysers are encouraged to switch to solar, while new solar geysers can have an electric back-up, although that must be set to operate outside peak demand periods.

The ban was announced by Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi in regulations gazetted last Friday.

Energy experts have noted that heating water in geysers absorbs 40 percent of electricity used by an average home and that Zimbabwe has over 250 000 electric geysers.

The regulations banning the use of new electric water heaters, dubbed the Electricity (Solar Water Heating) Regulations, are contained in Statutory Instrument 235 of 2019.

They were promulgated in consultation with the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) in terms of section 65 (q) of the Electricity Act.

The banning of new electrical geysers is part of Government efforts to reduce demand for electricity and promote the use of renewable sources of energy.

“These regulations are meant to regulate the installation, licensing, operation, repair, maintenance, retrofit and upgrade of solar water heating systems for the production of sanitary hot water to save electricity,” reads section 2 of the regulations.

The regulations shall apply to all property developers, architects, engineers and users of electricity and users of hot water, but will not apply to existing premises with electrical geysers.

Exemptions allowing new electric geysers are possible, but have to be approved by Zera.

There are four grounds for exemption: premises with technical limitations; premises supplied with hot water from a co-generation plant in or next to the premises; premises using electricity generated from renewable energy and the excess is used to heat water as a dump load; and such other premises as the authority may determine.

Zera has to process applications in 30 days and give reasons if it turns the request down.

Back-up water heating systems may be installed to cater for when there is extended cloud cover or a breakdown.

“The back-up water heater systems that utilise traditional fuels, including electricity, gas, or similar fuels, may be separately installed in buildings or be integrated into the solar heating system to ensure that there is an adequate supply of hot water at all times, especially during periods of extended cloud cover,” reads the regulations.

“The conventional back-up system shall be designed to supplement a solar water heating system by operating when absolutely necessary to supply the energy deficit from solar collectors due to adverse weather conditions or solar water heating system defects.

“All geysers with an electricity back-up to be inhibited from using electricity during peak hours.”And the regulations make it clear that as before, all geysers have to conform to local authority by-laws.

Those installing solar water heaters now have to be more professional and issue an installation certificate giving the date of installation, capacity of the solar water heating system, details of the installer and warranty for the premises.

Solar geysers will help the country to save 300MW a year.

Chiredzi Town is in mourning after residents lost six of their own in a head-on collision between a commuter omnibus and a haulage truck at Maranda turn off, 166km from Masvingo on the Beitbridge Highway on Tuesday.

The six have now been identified by police as Reuben Madzingo (24), Tawonga Mazana (28), Farai (38) and Collen Ernest Chipungu (37), Delight Zireva (31) and Vimbai Beta (41).

Beta was a farm manager at Farmware in Chiredzi.

Information gathered by The Herald shows that five of the six were businesspeople involved in commodity broking and were travelling to Polokwane, South Africa, on a routine business trip, while Madzingo had been sent by his father to buy spare parts for their tractor.
Chipungu owned the kombi and was driving.

They left Chiredzi around 3am, and three hours later, the lorry coming north encroached into their lane, resulting in the vehicles colliding head-on.

Zireva was a newly-wed after tying the knot in April last year and he left behind a wife who is expecting. Beta lost his wife some years back in a car accident, and is survived by three children.

Madzingo was a former student of Zimbabwe School of Mines, who was waiting for his final examinations results, while Mazana was still cutting his teeth in business.State media