NewsDay|FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube and his Labour ministry counterpart Sekai Nzenza are in a quandary as civil servants yesterday declared a massive demonstration next Wednesday over unfulfilled promises by government.

The Apex Council leadership said yesterday they have had enough of unfulfilled promises by government on salary demands.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s broke government has repeatedly said it could not afford the demand while the International Monetary Fund warned that a civil servants’ salary hike would trigger inflation.

Apex Council organising secretary Charles Chinosengwa told NewsDay that the
workers’ body had already given notice to the police of the strike, where they also expect all 16 civil service unions, including the health professions to join in.

Currently, Ncube is in Victoria Falls where he is discussing 2020 budget proposals with legislators and other stakeholders.

The civil servants plan to march to his offices on Wednesday next week.

Chinosengwa said civil servants now want the lowest paid to be remunerated US$475 equivalent at the prevailing intermarket bank rate in the face of the spiralling cost of living, where the bread basket for a family of six is now pegged at $4 000.

“The Apex Council met yesterday (Wednesday) and the main agenda was to discuss on lack of feedback by government on our demands, whereby the employer promised to come back to us within two weeks, but there has been no response,” he said.

“We met with different civil servants’ unions to discuss the issue of incapacitation and we were not amused that the Finance minister (Ncube) went to the Press to announce that we, civil servants, will get cost of living adjustments — which we have not yet got, but immediately after his statement prices of basic commodities began to shoot up.

“Yesterday, we then wrote to his counterpart the Minister of Labour Nzenza telling her that it is now two weeks after they said they will commit to our salary adjustments. As a result, Apex Council has resolved to engage in a demonstration next Wednesday in Harare, which will include all civil servants, and right now, we are in the process of notifying the police.”

Chinosengwa said the demonstrators will gather at Public Service House and then march to Ncube’s Finance ministry offices with a petition.

“We want them to adjust our salaries to the interbank rate so that they are in tandem with the October 2017 salaries of US$475 for the lowest paid worker. The reason why we are demanding rating of salaries with the interbank rate is because the food bread basket has gone up to $4 000 for a family of six,” he said.

“We have given notice to all 16 civil servants’ unions to join us. We are also planning to invite the Health Apex to also join us in the demonstration.”

The Apex Council organising secretary said civil servants were struggling and heavily indebted as they were borrowing money to report to work.

He said if government does not heed their call, then they will embark on weekly demonstrations or sit-ins.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said he hoped that the demonstration by the Apex Council was a sincere move.

“We were not part of the meeting, but all along, we believed that the Apex Council is part of the problem and if there are going to be demonstrations, then we say ‘welcome to our world’ to them.

Ours had been incapacitation, whereby our members are currently on strike and reporting to work only two days in a week, on Monday and Friday with effect from October 21,” he said.

“All along, we were trying to extend our hands to our colleagues the Apex Council and Zimta [Zimbabwe Teachers Association], but now we welcome them and we hope they are sincere and that they are not being sent by government to disturb the process that we had already begun.”

Zhou said the PTUZ perceived demonstrations as useless and they favoured stayaways as there will be no services rendered.

“We want real action. This government will not listen to demonstrations and petitions. It is just firefighting and buying time. There is need for action for government to take action,” he said.

A few individuals have sought to tarnish the ZIMPARKS image in a bid to derail the growth of the tourism sector.

Recently social media has been awash with all sorts of falsehoods, exaggerations and mischief regarding the sell of elephants.

The truth of the matter is that ZIMPARKS sold a total of 101 Elephants for the period 2026 to 2019. The table attached clearly demonstrates the number of elephants sold, the sales and expenses thereof.

The tabulated figures are authentic and will dispel the malice perpetuated by misguided elements.

The table also demonstrates the number of elephants sold by ZIMPARKS since 2016 and revenue realized thereof and how the funds were utilized.

Claims that elephant sale proceeds were misappropriated by politicians are false and unfounded because ZIMPARKS can not afford that luxury when it’s not even getting enough to fund conservation.

Funds generated from live sales are used in conservation of elephants in the protected area and its immediate surroundings.

ZIMPARKS does not get funding from fiscus so such funds go a long way in addressing the conservation requirements. Zimparks relies on internal commercial  business and on public private partnership arrangements to generate financial resources to support all its operations.

Zimparks finances are audited by both internal and external auditors. For transparent purposes, Zimparks has gone further starting this year to hold annual general meetings with its shareholders, stakeholders and the general public.

The sale of elephants abroad is a transaction that has to pass through the board, be recommended to the minister for approval by the Permanent Secretary and get approval from the minister.

The transaction has to further get a nod from the Office of the President and Cabinet. The transaction is done according to national law in particular the Parks and Wildlife Act: Chapter 20:14 and International laws, especially CITES.

Both receiving and giving properties are assessed based on national and international guidelines. The giving population is assessed in terms of its biological sustainability. Thus zimbabwe has a surplus of elephants and sustainable removals are being done without damaging the intrinsic biological capacity of the population to self replace.

The receiving site is subjected to suitability assessment by a Zimbabwean team. Elephants only go to facilities that have been cleared by the importing country. The captured elephants are those at weaning age and above.

The capture of the elephants is done under humane conditions , and upholding animal welfare aspects by qualified veterinarians.

Elephants are transported to insitu  bomas where they are acclimatized and get used to management in bomas and preparation for long distance transportation. They are fed, watered and given veterinary care for at least 3 months.

Security in bomas is 24 hours. The animals are screened of diseases to the requirements of the importing country.

Animals are airlifted to destination country following IATA regulations and are accompanied by qualified veterinarians and capture experts. It’s a process and there is no way this type of transaction can be a secret.

Payments for the animals is done through official channels and in foreign currency, if they are to be exported. Completed CD1 form is proof of payment showing the right amount of money coming into the country through commercial banks as payment for the elephants. So ZIMPARKS has no secrets, it’s working with various stakeholders is open to all.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

My name is Denford Ngadziore, the Harare Province Youth Secretary and on the 17th October during a court hearing between our Party MDC vs Mashavave of Thokozani Khupe, I attended the court together with other leaders at the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe at corner. of Third and Kwame Nkrumah Avenues.

While inside the court, soon after Advocate Thabani Mpofu withdrew the case between the Party vs Mwonzora and Mudzuri, Mr Mwonzora said to me “you (MDC people) including your President who claims to be an Advocate of Law, are silly. Look, you are going to give me legal fees because of your stupidity. After you give me my legal fees I can assure you it is going to be a long battle which I will win. ”

He said this in the presence of Warship Dumba, Rice, Cephas Makuyana and James Makore. 
Again, when we went outside the court, he asked one Mufambi from Drivarazekwa (who defected to Khupe’s Party) why they brought in few people given the money they had been given to boost the numbers.

Mufambi responded by saying others were at Africa Unity Square and soon after the Judgement they would do as earlier agreed. It also happened that during and after the court process, Sen. Mwonzora was interacting and being praised by the Khuphe people who include the recently defected Rhino Mashaya.

Soon after the court hearing, Senator Mwonzora, in the company of Warship Dumba and Mashaya Rhino told one of our Harare Province Youth Executive member Tangai Magava, Tinei and Dumisani Makwanya that he felt pity that I and other Councillors and MPs would be recalled from their public offices soon after Khupe had won her case. He further said that he will do this in order to isolate President Nelson Chamisa from Members of Parliament and Councillors so that if they feel the possibility of losing positions, then they will dump president Chamisa.

There are many people in the structures who were at court who saw and heard Mr Mwonzora saying these words and I hope, if given opportunity to testify before the Party disciplinary committee, would corroborate my submissions.

Independent|AS Zimbabwe slides into hyperinflation, there has been mistrust between government and business. Forget the much-hyped Tripartite Negotiating Forum which was revived early this year—prices in Zimbabwe are now rising weekly, even daily in some cases.

The manufacturing sector, which is operating sub-optimally due to antiquated equipment, high production costs and erratic power supplies, is in limbo and cannot match regional peers.

During a mock survey carried out by Econometer Global Capital, we observed that most businesses are now in survival mode and have adopted the cost recovery pricing model in this inflationary environment.

For instance, a 900-watt generator for home use which would cost US$100 was last priced at ZW$2 500 at a time the parallel market exchange rate was hovering around 1:19. That has been the case in supermarkets where prices indexed in Zimbabwe dollars are now twice as expensive as those in neighbouring South Africa.

This points to an unstable and rising cost structure, frequent repricing of goods and a subsequent decline in the quality of earnings for business.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently met local retailers over price hikes but the blame-game prevailed. Manufacturers blamed retailers and vice versa.

All this points to structural deficiencies in the economy.

Local industry cannot export due to some of the factors alluded to above and hence their pricing model has been designed to ensure that they do not trade out of business. Yesteryear memories of consumers becoming bargain hunters, a development that resulted in retailers failing to restock, remain fresh. Unlike in the past, Zimbabwe’s inflation is not being driven by excessive money supply (notes in circulation) but an unstable currency, government’s fiscal indiscipline and a general lack of confidence.

While doing so, inflation has been heading northwards, tracking foreign exchange movements and price of fuel.Resultantly, buying power has diminished. With low exports and high production costs, this will be a vicious cycle for the economy.

SO much has happened in our economy in the past week. The state media went to town about…

Officially, month-on-month inflation has slowed down but our analysis shows otherwise. A kilogramme of commercial grade beef which used to cost US$5 is costing ZW$120 for the same quantity.

In the past, the price of a dozen eggs would track US dollar movements but now low buying power has made this benchmark inaccurate. So in the final analysis, we can conclude that while business is in survival mode, it has also taken two extra steps to ensure that it continues to restock and retain the going concern status. Authorities and business will not have a convergence point unless the macro-economic environment is stabilised.

Doing so requires Zimbabwe to go beyond the “open for business” mantra and overhaul the business climate for both domestic and foreign investors. — Econometer Global Capital.

Paul Nyathi|The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwehas lifted a freeze on Croco Motors’ bank accounts, following investigations which absolved the company of any wrongdoing.

RBZ Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) director-general Mirirai Chiremba on October 29, 2019, wrote a letter to Croco Motors in which he said that no irregular transactions were observed. He wrote:

“With reference to the above, we wish to advise that the FIU has concluded its analysis of your company’s bank accounts. The analysis did not reveal any irregular transactions.”

“You are, therefore, advised to continue with your normal operations as the directive has now been lifted.”

In September this year, the FIU sent a directive to all banks to freeze the accounts of several companies to facilitate investigations after there was a sudden spike in the exchange rate.

Croco Motors was one of the companies that were under the RBZ’s radar.

The RBZ said it had frozen all outgoing transactions on bank accounts held by Access Finance, Croco Motors, Spartan Security and Sakunda Holdings to facilitate a money laundering investigation.

Sakunda, which has now diversified after starting off as a petroleum company, is owned by Kudakwashe Tagwirei, an ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and now part owner of the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe.

Spartan Security is linked to the Mnangagwa family through one of his sons.

A memo sent to all banks by the central bank acting head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Wonder Kapofu, said: “The FIU is carrying out analysis on the above-named entities and their sister group companies. As we carry out further analysis, you are directed to freeze, with immediate effect, all accounts held in the names of the listed entities until further notice.

“You shall not process any withdrawals or transfers from the accounts. You should however allow deposits or other flows into the accounts.”

Source: Daily News

Paul Nyathi|As Zimbabweans continue to find alternatives to morning bread, one of the country’s top bakers, Bakers Inn has been forced to bring down the price of the basic commodity.

The bakery reduced the bread prices by around $1 a loaf after the Government started supplying millers with cheaper wheat to try and make bread affordable.

The National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe (NBAZ) chief executive Mr Ngoni Mazango confirmed the new prices in a Press statement yesterday and said Bakers Inn had already reduced the price.

“The Government has supplied millers with subsidised wheat which by and large reduced the price of flour. In response to this development, Bakers Inn Bakeries has decided to extend the benefit to the consumer despite the escalating costs of other inputs like power, diesel, local and imported raw materials,” he said.

Mr Ngoni Mazango said that the wholesale price of a loaf has been reduced from $14 to $13.

“Baker’s Inn as from Tuesday 29 October, 2019 reduced its wholesale price from $14 to $13. The recommended retail price is between $14 and $14,50. Consumers were having to pay as high as $15,75 in the last weeks. This price will hold for as long as Baker’s Inn Bakeries have subsidised flour.”

State Media|Police Commissioner-General Tandabantu Godwin Matanga has reassigned four deputy Commissioners-General with effect from today.

In an interview last night, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the changes were with immediate effect.

Deputy Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba moves from crime to operations, while Deputy Commissioner-General Mind Elliot Ngirandi takes over crime from human resources.

Deputy Commissioner-General Learn Ncube moves from operations to administration, while Deputy Commissioner -General Lorraine Chipato leaves administration for human resources.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said the transfers have been effected to utilise relevant skills and mentoring senior officers with a view of improving the ZRP performance in terms of the prevention, detection and investigation of crime.

“The transfers have been effected in order to maximise the utilisation of relevant skills and mentoring of senior officers in the Zimbabwe Republic Police with a view of improving performance with regards to the ZRP constitutional mandate of preventing, detecting and investigating crime. ”

State Media|By doubling the amount of cash in circulation, the RBZ hopes to ease pressures that have seen high premiums for cash, yet by keeping the top denomination at $5, it is hoped that significant payments in the formal sector will remain digital rather than see people shovelling coins out of wheelbarrows.

That should ease demand for cash, making it flow better through the system.

Taking into account the inflation of the past year, the latest move puts the total value of all local currency notes and coins, including those still to be issued, back roughly where it was a year ago.

Many, though, still think that some people will continue to sleep outside banks to head the queue for small daily allocations of cash and that the market for notes and coins will continue, although premiums will fall significantly because of extra supply.

But as long as there is even a tiny premium, some will find it worthwhile to queue overnight.

Economists here thought the RBZ should think of ways to stop all the new cash being almost absorbed into the informal sector, as has happened with earlier allocations.

They also dismissed fears that the cash injection would trigger inflation, arguing that price hikes were a result of many internal and external factors within an economy and that at 10 percent of deposits, the amount of cash in circulation was still below by international standards.

Addressing Members of Parliament attending the 2020 National Budget seminar at Elephant Hills Resorts here, Dr Mangudya said the cash will entail new $2 bond coins, $2 and $5 notes of the new Zimbabwean dollar reintroduced in June this year. During the same address, the central bank governor said fundamentals were showing that the local currency, renamed Zimbabwe dollar in June after the Government outlawed the use of multi-currency adopted in 2009, should exchange at $5-$8 against the US dollar.

The central bank is seeking to eliminate the prevailing cash shortages, which the country experienced since 2016 as well as huge premiums being charged for cash.

Dr Mangudya said the regional average of the total cash to deposit ratio was 12 percent, but countries such as Tanzania have up to 15 percent of their deposits in the form of cash.

At the moment, Zimbabwe has about $19 billion in circulation, with only 4,5 percent being cash.

The actual money supply is skewed, with about half being funds held in foreign currency accounts, while the balance are local dollars, which have not been expanding in number since the Government moved to a primary budget surplus a year ago.

“Zimbabwe has the lowest (cash to deposits) ratio,” Dr Mangudya said. “Zambia has 10 percent, Tanzania 15 percent, Rwanda 9,65 percent, Uganda 17,65 . . . We want to increase to 10 percent over the next six months on a drip feed basis.”

Dr Mangudya said if the total deposits were converted into US dollars at the ruling interbank rate of 15,5, the country essentially had US$1,2 billion deposits, which is very little to sustain the economy, stressing the need to enhance forex generation.

“Fifty percent is foreign currency, the amount held in foreign currency accounts (FCAs) is about US$700 million,” he said. “Fifty percent of Zimbabwe’s money supply is foreign currency and $9-10 billion is real domestic currency.”

The central bank chief said the local currency, which has lost ground against the United States dollar since February when the 1:1 pegging to the greenback was abolished, had depreciated extensively due to lack of confidence in it as store of value.

He said while the interbank exchange rate stands at 15,5, “the real exchange rate should be $5-$8. The balance is confidence and risk premium,” he added.

Measures were underway to enhance confidence in the local currency, including floating exchange rate system and allowing a willing-buyer, willing-seller trading system.

“We believe in a free market system,” said Dr Mangudya.

“If we close the free market, we create the parallel market. Between July and September there was consistency between parallel and official exchange rate of 15-20 percent disparity.

“Our wish is to narrow the gap, which is why the RBZ adopted the willing-buyer, willing-seller exchange rate system. This would also be enhanced through formalisation of the economy, which currently is about 60-40 informal to formal.”

The volatility in the currency was to be expected following currency reforms that resulted in the country de-dollarising after outlawing the multi-currency system, said Dr Mangudya.

Zimbabwe had faced relentless instability from its reform agenda due to the absence of external funding support unlike countries like Argentina, which got US$57 billion and Greece, which received US$360 billion from the IMF for their reforms.

“We do not have a lifeline, we are by ourselves,” he said.

As such, Dr Mangudya said, the solution lay in being productive and addressing structural rigidities in the economy.

The central governor reiterated his remarks on Tuesday when he said 50 corporates in Zimbabwe held half the country’s $19 billion total money in circulation, meaning all the rest of us “share $9 billion and need to grow entrepreneurship.”

Economist Persistence Gwanyanya said the introduction of cash was part of transition to a normal economy, since all other countries use their own fiat money currency.

“Money was being sold at premiums as high as 50 percent, which is not desirable and which is also inflationary in nature, so that issue needs to be sorted out with the coming of a new fiat currency,” he said.

“In my view it’s not going to cause inflation, inflation is a function of many other factors like confidence, like manipulation of the market, so we should be wary of those things as this fiat money is introduced.

“Our people are enterprising on currency, that’s what it is because there are no jobs. That’s a source of livelihood for our people, so you also need to know the circumstances that confront us that any weakness can be taken advantage of by the market which is largely informalised and experiences high levels of unemployment.”

Mr Gwanyanya said currency was not a permanent solution to the country’s problems.

“We should start to seriously produce, otherwise we will not get out of our currency crisis,” he said. “If we don’t produce, so what we are doing are only short-term solutions, what is really important is to tackle the issue of production head-on and tackle the issue of confidence head-on so that our currency becomes stable.”

Paul Nyathi|Former MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has warned young people involved in political leadership never to agree to be used in factional fights.

Mwonzora said this in an interview with ZimEye.com on Thursday apparently responding to members of the MDC Youth wing who have been issuing statements to the effect that he is not loyal to party President Nelson Chamisa.

Watch the full live interview in the video downloading below:

State Media|President Mnangagwa will today witness the historic inauguration of Botswana’s fifth post-independence leader when president-elect Mokgweetsi Masisi takes the oath of his second term in office this morning at the University of Botswana Indoor Sports Arena here in Gaborone.

The swearing in ceremony will be the first to be held in public and away from the Botswana Parliament building where the previous four presidents all took the oath of office.

The President will join his counterparts — President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and President Edgar Lungu of Zambia and representatives of other Sadc Heads of State and Government who are also here to witness the historic ceremony.

President Mnangagwa arrived last night at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport where he was welcomed by the Batswana secretary for Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Ms Bonolo Khutmotaka and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Botswana Batirai Henry Mukonoweshuro.

President Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party romped to victory during the October 23 elections, claiming 38 of the 57 elected seats in the National Assembly.

The main opposition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) secured 12 seats while the Botswana Patriotic Front won three.

Over 760 000 people out of the 924 000 registered voters went to cast their ballots during the hotly contested election to choose members of the National Assembly and local authority representatives.

No country can develop without its own currency, President Mnangagwa said yesterday while defending economic policies adopted by the Government to revive the economy.

The President was speaking at the Second Zanu-PF National Youth League Assembly meeting at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

Giving a brief economic overview, he urged the youths to embrace the journey to Vision 2030, stressing that success could only come through hard work.

“The course we have taken as a party and Government to resuscitate and reform our economy is the correct one, never doubt that,” he said.
“We must strengthen our resolve to correct wrong decisions we made with regards to our economy. No country can succeed, grow or modernise without its own currency.

The issue of a basket of currencies we introduced towards the end of 2009, the culprits were me and (Patrick) Chinamasa and a few others. It worked for the purposes it was created but now under the Second Republic we want to move forward and be a sovereign State with its own currency.”

He said Government reintroduced the Zimbabwe dollar in June as part of wider efforts to grow the economy after its collapse, largely due to illegal sanctions.

“So we are in transition. It can never be an event, but a process. I am happy that process is stabilising and we continue to be focused on the goals we have set for ourselves to have our economy back on its feet and that all the fundamentals required to support our currency are put in place to achieve our desired goal of having the Zimbabwe we want,” President Mnangagwa said.State media

MDC Senator Douglas Mwonzora has responded to the below allegations passed by Harare Councillor Denford Ngadziore at the recent Supreme Court hearing pitting MDC President Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

My name is Denford Ngadziore, the Harare Province Youth Secretary and on the 17th October during a court hearing between our Party MDC vs Mashavave of Thokozani Khupe, I attended the court together with other leaders at the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe at corner. of Third and Kwame Nkrumah Avenues.

While inside the court, soon after Advocate Thabani Mpofu withdrew the case between the Party vs Mwonzora and Mudzuri, Mr Mwonzora said to me “you (MDC people) including your President who claims to be an Advocate of Law, are silly. Look, you are going to give me legal fees because of your stupidity. After you give me my legal fees I can assure you it is going to be a long battle which I will win. ”

He said this in the presence of Warship Dumba, Rice, Cephas Makuyana and James Makore.
Again, when we went outside the court, he asked one Mufambi from Drivarazekwa (who defected to Khupe’s Party) why they brought in few people given the money they had been given to boost the numbers.

Mufambi responded by saying others were at Africa Unity Square and soon after the Judgement they would do as earlier agreed. It also happened that during and after the court process, Sen. Mwonzora was interacting and being praised by the Khuphe people who include the recently defected Rhino Mashaya.

Soon after the court hearing, Senator Mwonzora, in the company of Warship Dumba and Mashaya Rhino told one of our Harare Province Youth Executive member Tangai Magava, Tinei and Dumisani Makwanya that he felt pity that I and other Councillors and MPs would be recalled from their public offices soon after Khupe had won her case. He further said that he will do this in order to isolate President Nelson Chamisa from Members of Parliament and Councillors so that if they feel the possibility of losing positions, then they will dump president Chamisa.

There are many people in the structures who were at court who saw and heard Mr Mwonzora saying these words and I hope, if given opportunity to testify before the Party disciplinary committee, would corroborate my submissions.

Farai Dziva|Professor Jonathan Moyo has indicated that Herald editor Tichaona Zindonga was fired for “being a sellout.”

According to Moyo Auxillia accused the journalist of being a sellout as he sought her protection.

See Moyo’s presentation below :
Word from @HeraldZimbabwe is that many at @Zimpapers are celebrating the fall of a dwarf in giant robes. When @TichZindoga was summoned by the Wing Commander, the Zimpapers board chair, he was told that he had been fired because he was incompetent, inexperienced and a sellout!

After telling @TichZindoga that he had been fired, Wing Commander Tommy Sithole ordered him to “take 15 minutes to clear your office. Take what is yours & never comeback. You failed to do your job”. Shaken, Zindoga started crying; begging to be retained as deputy editor!

When the Wing Commander told him that he could not be retained as deputy editor, @TichZindoga begged to be demoted to his earlier position of political editor. An irritated Sithole then barked at him: “Chief you are not listening to me. You are not wanted here. Just go!”

Earlier, Sithole had assigned his 1980s @Zimpapers editorial colleague, Davison Maruziva, to assess @TichZindoga as #Herald editor. Maruziva’s report was a big NO. He found that Zindoga had no capacity and that he referred everything to @nickmangwana, who also has no capacity!

After Sithole told @TichZindoga to go and clear his office where his dismissal letter would be sent in 15 minutes, the sun fell down on him. He phoned @nickmangwana who said he was in Egypt and could not help. Nick later texted some officials calling Zindoga “stupid and reckless”!

When he did not get any joy from @nickmangwana, a devastated @TichZindoga phoned information minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, asking her to intercede for him. Monica expressed indignant surprise: “Uchiripo ikoko? Awusi kudiwa. Kana vakuru varamba. Chienda. Chibva ipapo iwe”

As a backdrop, @TichZindoga had read the writing on the wall and saw the trouble coming. He sought help from Auxillia Mnangagwa who hit the roof and said “urimutengesi iwe”. Shocked, Zindoga went to Isaac Moyo, CIO Director General, to ask for “protection”. It was a long shot!

Zanu PF Youth League Secretary Lewis Matutu has said his party is ready to take the fight to the US Embassy.

Matutu said it’s time to go inside the US embassy and request them to leave because Zimbabweans are reportedly not benefiting from their presence.

Matutu was speaking at the Anti Sanctions March held on 25 October 2019.
Credit: Open Parly

Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has warned that striking doctors risk being blacklisted.

Mutodi also warned that once they have been blacklisted they will not be employed anywhere in the world.

“Striking doctors can be rest assured that once dismissed there will be no re-hiring. No one is above the law no-matter the profession and if the court says go back to work you must comply. Gvt will also blacklist the money mongering doctors so they are not employable elsewhere,” Mutodi wrote on Twitter.

Paul Nyathi|Shortly after coming into power in November 2017, President Emmerson Mnangagwa gained himself a nickname, “Mr Mega Deals” as he went around the world meeting some fairly unknown investors and claiming to have clinched mega deals with them.

To date, virtually NONE of those mega deals have come to fruition.

ZimEye.com on Thursday managed to hook up with one of the brokers of these mega deals who expressed his dismay on how these fake investors loot money from Africa and leaders like Mnangagwa who rush to “clinch” these unscrupulous deals.

On May 17, 2018, Mnangagwa endorsed a $5,2 billion coal-to-liquid project deal signed between Verify Engineering and South Africa’s Nkosikhona Holdings.

The joint venture was to see a coal to fuel plant being established in Zimbabwe.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare, Mnangagwa said the project was to help Zimbabwe become self-sufficient in fuel manufacturing.

“I am confident that this project will contribute to our energy security and self-sufficiency in terms of liquid fuels, fertiliser and a range of other chemicals,” he said.

The $5,2 billion deal between the government and Nkosikhona Holdings to turn coal into liquid fuels raised eyebrows from the onset with analysts saying the South African company’s credentials were suspect.

Critics also alleged Nkosikhona Holdings did not have known history in extractives according to the company’s online profile.

The company did not appear among South Africa’s liquid fuel producers, but Mnangagwa signed. The deal like all others flopped.

Watch full ZimEye.com interview with the businessman who brokered the mega deal that never materialised.

By A Correspondent- Disciplinary hearings for striking doctors will start today, with the Health Services Board (HSB) set to pass default judgments on doctors that abscond the process.

Doctors have been threatening not to attend the hearings claiming that they did not have transport fares to travel.

The hearings follow revelations that Government would need not less than $4 billion a month in salaries for the health sector only, if it were to give in to the striking doctors’ demands.

HSB board chairman Dr Paulinus Sikosana told our Harare Bureau yesterday that in the event doctors snub the hearings, the Labour Act provided for default judgements.

“Yes, they have indicated that they will not turn up for hearings, however the Labour Act provides for disciplinary hearings to proceed even in absentia by those that are supposed to appear before the hearings,” said Dr Sikosana.

He said the HSB had tried to negotiate with the striking doctors on several occasions but to no avail as they adopted an “uncompromising” stance.

Dr Sikosana said the sticking issue has been pegging their on-call allowances to the interbank rate, a position Government has said was unaffordable.

“The salary bill for the Ministry of Health (and Child Care) is $430 million per month, if we were to use the minimalist interbank rate of USD1:$10, that would translate to $4 billion per month. The Government will go broke, they can’t afford it. 

“So what is needed is a compromise stance,” said Dr Sikosana.

He said the situation has also been the same with senior doctors.

Although our Harare Bureau could not immediately establish the number of doctors who are set to undergo the disciplinary hearings, sources said almost half of the country’s 1 600 public sector doctors have not been reporting for duty, a majority of whom are from central and provincial hospitals.

Dr Sikosana said Government approached the courts as a “last option and in terms of the Labour Act”, which says that any employee who decides not to report for work without authority for at least five days, should be subjected to legal and disciplinary action “and that’s what we are following”.

By A Correspondent- Police in Botswana have since January this year arrested more than 4 000 Zimbabweans for attempting to illegally cross into the neighbouring country. 

The border jumpers, 2 479 men, 1 521 women and children were intercepted at the border while attempting to cross into Botswana. 

Addressing delegates during a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) mass crime awareness campaign at Dingumuzi Stadium in Plumtree on Tuesday, Botswana senior police officer, assistant superintendent Mothokomedi Ponyane from Tshesebe police crime office, said the increase in cases of illegal border crossing have become a cause for concern. 

He said border jumping posed a security threat to both countries hence the need to fight it from both ends.

The campaign ran under the theme “Join hands in fighting crimes of passion.”

 “The most problematic issue in Botswana is illegal border crossing. Betweeen January and September this year, statistics show that we arrested 4 387 Zimbabwean nationals crossing into Botswana through border jumping. Out of this total number 2 479 are males and the remaining comprise of both women and children,” said Asst Supt Ponyane. 

He urged members of the public to obtain the required travel documents to avoid arrests.

Botswana together with the ZRP are carrying out border crime meetings and patrols along the border to combat incidents of border jumping. 

Ass Supt Ponyane said through the patrols they have not only addressed border jumping issues but have managed to recover smuggled goods. 

“We have forums where the two countries meet to discuss issues of cross border crime. In our meetings we also share information regarding the arrest and release of criminals both in Botswana and Zimbabwe. After sharing information on criminal issues, we set aside days when we conduct patrols along the border. Through these exercises we managed to recover property that was smuggled into Botswana. In one incident I understand it was a case where dagga was smuggled into our country,” he said. 

“Let me confirm that so far we are enjoying a good working relationship with the ZRP. I want to appeal to all Zimbabwean citizens to join hands with the ZRP to fight crime along our borders particularly illegal border crossing and smuggling of goods. We must work together for the betterment of our two countries and ensure our borders are safe”. 

Industry and Commerce Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu said police in Plumtree have recorded more than 1 000 criminal cases this year. 

In a speech read on his behalf by the Member of Parliament for Mangwe Constituency Cde Hlalani Mguni, Minister Ndlovu expressed concern over the increase in cases of crime in the area, saying it has destroyed the spirit of ubuntu. 

Police in Plumtree continue to record crimes such as rape, robbery, murder, assaults and unlawful entry and theft. 

“Our crime situation is not good in Plumtree. Our statistics reflect an upward trend in cases of crime.  Between  January and December 2018 we recorded a total of 771 cases compared to 1 124 cases recorded between January and September this year reflecting a huge increase,” he said. 

Minister Ndlovu said most of the perpetrators were deportees and measures should be taken to ensure their movement is monitored. 

“Some of the crimes are committed by our deportee brothers and sisters who are desperate to raise money to take them to their destinations. Authorities will continue to gather intelligence through stakeholder liaison to ensure that when deportees are released their movement is monitored,” he said. 

The other stakeholders that attended the crime awareness campaign include Environmental Management Agency (EMA) officials, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) workers and officials from Plumtree town council.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- An 80-year-old Magunje grandpa allegedly killed his 60-year-old wife over infidelity.

The incident was reported by police national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who revealed that the case was one of numerous murder cases related to love. 

He said:

In Magunje, a male adult aged 80 killed his wife, 60, with an axe, accusing her of having an extramarital affair. The victim was discovered lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen by relatives on October 26, 2019, at around 0600hours.

Nyathi urged members of the public to engage third parties to resolve issues amicably. He also warned that the law shall take its course in the event that one takes the law into their hands.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent-Disciplinary hearings for striking doctors will start today, with the Health Services Board (HSB) set to pass default judgments on doctors that abscond the process.

Doctors have been threatening not to attend the hearings claiming that they did not have transport fares to travel.

The hearings follow revelations that Government would need not less than $4 billion a month in salaries for the health sector only, if it were to give in to the striking doctors’ demands.

HSB board chairman Dr Paulinus Sikosana told our Harare Bureau yesterday that in the event doctors snub the hearings, the Labour Act provided for default judgements.

“Yes, they have indicated that they will not turn up for hearings, however the Labour Act provides for disciplinary hearings to proceed even in absentia by those that are supposed to appear before the hearings,” said Dr Sikosana.

He said the HSB had tried to negotiate with the striking doctors on several occasions but to no avail as they adopted an “uncompromising” stance.

Dr Sikosana said the sticking issue has been pegging their on-call allowances to the interbank rate, a position Government has said was unaffordable.

“The salary bill for the Ministry of Health (and Child Care) is $430 million per month, if we were to use the minimalist interbank rate of USD1:$10, that would translate to $4 billion per month. The Government will go broke, they can’t afford it. 

“So what is needed is a compromise stance,” said Dr Sikosana.

He said the situation has also been the same with senior doctors.

Although our Harare Bureau could not immediately establish the number of doctors who are set to undergo the disciplinary hearings, sources said almost half of the country’s 1 600 public sector doctors have not been reporting for duty, a majority of whom are from central and provincial hospitals.

Dr Sikosana said Government approached the courts as a “last option and in terms of the Labour Act”, which says that any employee who decides not to report for work without authority for at least five days, should be subjected to legal and disciplinary action “and that’s what we are following”.

-DailyNews

Own Correspondent|Controversial Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has warned that striking doctors risk being blacklisted.

Mutodi also warned that once they have been blacklisted they will not be employed anywhere in the world.

“Striking doctors can be rest assured that once dismissed there will be no re-hiring. No one is above the law no-matter the profession and if the court says go back to work you must comply. Gvt will also blacklist the money mongering doctors so they are not employable elsewhere,” Mutodi wrote on Twitter.

Both the Minister of Health, Dr Obadiah Moyo and his deputy, Chamunorwa J. Mangwiro (MP) are reportedly outside Zimbabwe at a time when the health sector is on its knees.

Public health institutions do not have adequate medicines and equipment and health caregivers are on day 60 of their industrial action over unsustainable salaries and poor working conditions.

The decision to leave this essential ministry under the leadership of an acting Minister particularly when there are unresolved issues has been viewed by some as a lack of concern to address the issues. Posting on Twitter, Dr Bhebhe said:

Doctors day 60 incapacitated

The confusion is shocking.

The Minister at @MoHCCZim is out of Zim, galavanting in foreign lands. The Deputy Minister also has been out for months on some unknown foreign mission. They left the Minister of Information as the Acting Minister @MoHCCZim

Health caregivers have vowed not to return to work until their grievances have been addressed. They have since rejected a number of offers which the government had offered arguing that the offers were insignificant given the inflationary nature of the economy.

Public health institutions are reportedly engaging personnel from the Zimbabwe National Army to save the situation.

Pindula

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has hinted on the launch of a new newspaper organisation which he has linked to a project by the G40 cabal that is pushing for a Savior Kasukuwere presidency.

In a cryptic Tweet, Charamba who has admitted ownership of the @Jamwanda2 handle, alleged that the project is funded by the Ford Foundation through OSISA.

It is also rumoured that a European country has poured money into the project.

“Masikati maZimbo!! Maswera sei? Just what is the link between the forthcoming Zimbabwe Times, Ford Foundation, OSISA, Sipho Malunga and resurgent NPF? Just wondering hangu!,” said Charamba.

It is believed that foreign donors feel that Zimbabwe no longer has an independent media organisation after Alpha Media Holdings owner Trevor Ncube reportedly sold part of his stake in the company to Mnangagwa’s son in law Gerald Mlotshwa.

State Media|Government has discouraged the dissemination of fake news on media platforms as it results in panic among citizens. International Communications Services Director in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Ivanhoe Gurira, made the remarks yesterday during a public discussion forum on the impact of fake news and disinformation on society.

The event was organised by Perch Media and had panellists comprising Dr Gurira, Mr Cris Chinaka from ZimFact, Ms Koliwe Majama, a media consultant, and Ms Debra Katswe from Katswe Sisterhood.

Dr Gurira said it was the responsibility of media institutions to report issues based on facts and they should shun the habit of breaking unverified news.

“Fake news erodes the trust and confidence of citizens in the Government,” he said.

“The fake news also disturbs the democratic process of any nation and as such it should be eradicated.”

Dr Gurira said Government was putting mechanisms in place to ensure that information on social media and online platforms was regulated through the Cyber Security and Protection Bill, which will be gazette soon.

He said the ministry was developing a National Media Information Policy.

He said the new dispensation made tremendous efforts in disseminating information to the public through the introduction of post-Cabinet media briefings.

Journalists raised concern of some institutions such as Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority, which usually denounces social media claims of fuel price increases and few days later announce the same figures.

Mr Chinaka said there was need to educate the public on digital literacy.

“As Zimbabweans, we brag about being learned and literate, but in terms of digital literacy we are actually one of the worst people because we easily believe everything that is circulated on social media,” he said.

“Therefore, there is need to educate our people on how to use the internet and how to verify information before spreading it to others.”

Media practitioners recommended that Government allows licensing of more community radio stations and other channels of communication to increase official channels.

Zanu PF Youth League Secretary Lewis Matutu has said his party is ready to take the fight to the US Embassy.

Matutu said it’s time to go inside the US embassy and request them to leave because Zimbabweans are reportedly not benefiting from their presence.

Matutu was speaking at the Anti Sanctions March held on 25 October 2019.
Credit: Open Parly

Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has warned that striking doctors risk being blacklisted.

Mutodi also warned that once they have been blacklisted they will not be employed anywhere in the world.

“Striking doctors can be rest assured that once dismissed there will be no re-hiring. No one is above the law no-matter the profession and if the court says go back to work you must comply. Gvt will also blacklist the money mongering doctors so they are not employable elsewhere,” Mutodi wrote on Twitter.

An 80-year-old Magunje grandpa has allegedly killed his 60-year-old wife over infidelity.

The incident was reported by police national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who revealed that the case was one of numerous murder cases related to love.

He said:
In Magunje, a male adult aged 80 killed his wife, 60, with an axe, accusing her of having an extramarital affair. The victim was discovered lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen by relatives on October 26, 2019, at around 0600hours.

Nyathi urged members of the public to engage third parties to resolve issues amicably. He also warned that the law shall take its course in the event that one takes the law into their hands.Daily News

Farai Dziva|Auxillia Mnangagwa literally caused the firing of Herald editor Tichaona Zindonga, it has emerged.

According to Jonathan Moyo Auxillia accused the journalist of being a sellout as he sought her protection.

See Moyo’s presentation below :
Word from @HeraldZimbabwe is that many at @Zimpapers are celebrating the fall of a dwarf in giant robes. When @TichZindoga was summoned by the Wing Commander, the Zimpapers board chair, he was told that he had been fired because he was incompetent, inexperienced and a sellout!

After telling @TichZindoga that he had been fired, Wing Commander Tommy Sithole ordered him to “take 15 minutes to clear your office. Take what is yours & never comeback. You failed to do your job”. Shaken, Zindoga started crying; begging to be retained as deputy editor!

When the Wing Commander told him that he could not be retained as deputy editor, @TichZindoga begged to be demoted to his earlier position of political editor. An irritated Sithole then barked at him: “Chief you are not listening to me. You are not wanted here. Just go!”

Earlier, Sithole had assigned his 1980s @Zimpapers editorial colleague, Davison Maruziva, to assess @TichZindoga as #Herald editor. Maruziva’s report was a big NO. He found that Zindoga had no capacity and that he referred everything to @nickmangwana, who also has no capacity!

After Sithole told @TichZindoga to go and clear his office where his dismissal letter would be sent in 15 minutes, the sun fell down on him. He phoned @nickmangwana who said he was in Egypt and could not help. Nick later texted some officials calling Zindoga “stupid and reckless”!

When he did not get any joy from @nickmangwana, a devastated @TichZindoga phoned information minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, asking her to intercede for him. Monica expressed indignant surprise: “Uchiripo ikoko? Awusi kudiwa. Kana vakuru varamba. Chienda. Chibva ipapo iwe”

As a backdrop, @TichZindoga had read the writing on the wall and saw the trouble coming. He sought help from Auxillia Mnangagwa who hit the roof and said “urimutengesi iwe”. Shocked, Zindoga went to Isaac Moyo, CIO Director General, to ask for “protection”. It was a long shot!

Farai Dziva|RBZ officials have been accused of working in cahoots with unscrupulous Ecocash agents- in cash hoarding syndicates.

This was said by MDC official Antony Taruvinga.

“Bond notes and coins, which are not available in banks, are being sold at a premium of as high as 50% through Ecocash on the streets around the country.

The RBZ is the source of all the cash problems. We are learning that instead of providing cash to the banks, they divert it to their agents on the streets including Ecocash agents, to sell the cash for abnormal profits.

Everyday is a profit day for these cartels. The people are at pains. This government is so corrupt, and ED and Mthuli have become bystanders and spectators in the game. They have lost control. The cartels are becoming richer by day,” argued Taruvinga.

By A Correspondent- Fifteen Form Six pupils at Gebhuza Secondary School in Hwange have been arrested after they shared an alleged leaked Economics Paper 3 question paper on social media.

The paper which was written on Monday started circulating on WhatsApp at midnight on Sunday.

The 15 were charged with revealing the contents of an examination material prior to the exam, unlawful access to examination material and engaging in fraud or dishonest conduct with regards to the exam.

The pupils were released so they could continue writing their exams while investigations continue.

Acting Matabeleland North police spokesperson sergeant Namatirai Mashona confirmed the incident and said.

On 28 October at midnight, one pupil received a message on WhatsApp platform with the first page of Economics Paper 3 exam with 8 questions out of the 12 that make up the paper which was to be written at 9AM.

“The student forwarded the message with the questions to two other pupils who went to school just before 8AM where they shared with other pupils. While they were still sharing the economics teacher approached them and checked the questions. He advised them not to rely on WhatsApp messages,” said Sgt Mashona.

The teacher then raised alarm after realizing the questions the students had been working on were the same as those on the question paper.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the pupils.

By A Correspondent- Gweru police are investigating a 35 –year-old teacher at Guinea Fowl High School for allegedly having a se_xual relationship with a 17 -year –old boy in her class.

Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the case but stated that a formal complaint hasn’t been lodged yet.

“Police acting on a tip off concerning alleged abuse of a 17-year-old boy by his 35-year-old teacher went to Guinea Fowl High School on Tuesday and interviewed the headmaster, the school development committee representatives and the teacher in question,” said Insp Goko.

The female teacher, Insp Goko said, dismissed the allegations when interviewed.

“During investigations, it came to light that the female teacher and the pupil share the same house. At school she teaches him (subject mentioned) and after that they are in the same house. Investigations also revealed that there is a third teacher who stays in that house,” he said.

“So the headmaster told the police that the school was investigating the matter. The female teacher refuted the allegations saying they were unfounded. She said she knows the pupil because she teaches him and after work or classes they share the same house.”

Insp Goko said the pupil could not be interviewed by the police because he is sitting for his final Ordinary Level examinations.

The matter is still under investigation.

-Wires

By A Correspondent- Recently held Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) public hearings on access to documentation has divulged that some medical institutions were withholding birth confirmation records for non-payment of medical bills and other absurd reasons, a move that is contrary to government policy.

A rape victim told the commission that she was not issued with her child’s birth records with the medical institution arguing that she was underage. She testified:

A rape victim who testified before the commission said she was abused by her uncle while she was 13 years old and conceived a child.

My relatives did not believe me, but de- fended my uncle. They did not even report the matter to the police.

When I gave birth at Matibe Hospital in Mberengwa, nurses refused to issue me with a birth confirmation record, saying I was underage.

I was told to first report the case to the police before they could issue me with a birth certifi- cate for the child.

ZHRC chairperson, Elasto Mugwadi said that withholding birth records over non-payment was against government policy and a violation of children’s rights since it is the parent who would have entered into the contract with the institution, not the child.

By A Correspondent- A Form 2 pupil at Maranatha High School in Bulawayo’s Nketa suburb was found hanging at his home in Nketa 7 in a suspected case of suicide.

Nqobile Lusinga (15) allegedly hanged himself from the roof trusses of his bedroom after his teachers quizzed him about money and a cellphone that he had in his possession.

According to sources Nqobile stole US$100 from his aunt whom he stays with and used it to buy a phone.

Nqobile allegedly confessed that he had stolen money from his aunt when he was cornered.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the suspected suicide case.

“On October 29, the deceased’s aunt phoned the deceased’s mother after he was found in possession of money and a cell phone. The deceased’s mother went to school for verification and found out that her son had stolen cash amounting to US$100 and used it to buy a new phone,” she said.

“Deceased’s mother ordered the now deceased to go home and bring the change he was left with and he never returned to school.”

When his parents who live in Cowdray Park followed him home they found him hanging in his bedroom with an electric cable around his neck.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- LEAD President Linda Masarira has responded to her husband Gilbert Kaingidza’s allegations instead accusing him of attempting to kill her.

Masarira, whose husband told ZimEye that he fled to South Africa and feared for his life after Linda confiscated his documents including his passport and drivers’ licence revealed that his wife was a Zanu Pf spy who was on government payroll.

However, Masarira dismissed the allegations and said Kaingidza had fled to South Africa simply because he was a fugitive wanted by the police for domestic violence.

She said:

” I will not be distracted by naysayers and propaganda from erstwhile husband on the run for attempting to kill me. He ran away from the Police on the 18th of October 2019 and jumped the border. My struggle is real and I will continue to advocate for transformation of livelihoods …without fear or favour.

@Gatsheni2019 took advantage of my silence on his abusive nature to conclude his assignment on destroying my image and person which he confessed early in October and audios are available. Politics is a dirty game and yes this is a time for me to be muddy*ed*

It has never been easy for women to be original and have a successful political career. Look at what happened to Margaret Dongo, once again the second woman after Margaret to have the courage to stand alone and fight for socioeconomic justice is going through the same damnation, slander and assassination of character.

In turmoil and tenacity, I thrive. I will not stop fighting for a better Zimbabwe which will ensure sustainable human development and economic growth. Enjoy the fun-day that has been created for you those who feed on propaganda.

Responding to Maynard Manyowa who had commented on her thread, Masarira said:

I have the right to respond Maynard. Mazvirokwazvo marriage hapachina ndakanyengerwa ndikanyenfereka and hazvinyadzise kubuda pachena kuti for the first time in my life ndakaitiswa. It’s not something to be ashamed of. I am not ashamed of my life’s experiences at all.

Watch the video below for Masarira’s husband, Gilbert Kaingidza’s allegations against Linda where he claimed she is a Zanu Pf spy who is funded by Mnangagwa.

Video loading below…..

By A Correspondent- The MDC led by Nelson Chamisa will resist President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “selfish” move to amend some constitutional provisions.

An MDC Senator and former Constitution Select Committee of Parliament (Copac) co-chair and now deputy secretary for international relations, Douglas Mwonzora, said:

The resolution by the Zimbabwean Cabinet to initiate key amendments to the Constitution represents a long march backwards.

The current Constitution represents an incremental gain in Zimbabwe’s democratisation agenda. We have to resist these selfish amendments.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi announced recently that cabinet had resolved to remove the running mate clause saying it created two centres of power in the Executive and was a borrowed concept from America after all.

Under the running mate clause, a presidential candidate chooses a Vice-President before elections and in the event that the President fails to complete his term for any reason that Vice-President automatically becomes President.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Word from The Herald is that many at Zimpapers are celebrating the fall of a dwarf in giant robes.

When Tichaona Zindoga was summoned by the Wing Commander, the Zimpapers board chair, he was told that he had been fired because he was incompetent, inexperienced and a sellout!

After telling Zindoga that he had been fired, Wing Commander Tommy Sithole ordered him to “take 15 minutes to clear your office. Take what is yours and never come back. You failed to do your job”. Shaken, Zindoga started crying; begging to be retained as deputy editor!

When the Wing Commander told him that he could not be retained as deputy editor, Zindoga begged to be demoted to his earlier position of political editor. An irritated Sithole then barked at him: “Chief you are not listening to me. You are not wanted here. Just go!”

Earlier, Sithole had assigned his 1980s Zimpapers editorial colleague, Davison Maruziva, to assess Zindoga as Herald editor. Maruziva’s report was a big NO. He found that Zindoga had no capacity and that he referred everything to Nick Mangwana, who also has no capacity!

After Sithole told Zindoga to go and clear his office where his dismissal letter would be sent in 15 minutes, the sun fell down on him. He phoned Mangwana who said he was in Egypt and could not help. Nick later texted some officials calling Zindoga “stupid and reckless”!

When he did not get any joy from Mangwana, a devastated Zindoga phoned information minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, asking her to intercede for him. Monica expressed indignant surprise: “Uchiripo ikoko? Awusi kudiwa. Kana vakuru varamba. Chienda. Chibva ipapo iwe”!

As a backdrop, Zindoga had read the writing on the wall and saw the trouble coming. He sought help from Auxillia Mnangagwa who hit the roof and said “urimutengesi iwe“. Shocked, Zindoga went to Isaac Moyo, CIO Director-General, to ask for “protection”. It was a long shot!

Ironically, while The Herald is burning, having had four editors within 12 months, Trevor Ncube’s newly promoted editors find the burning Herald House attractive. Recently Wisdom Mudzungairi sought to be Herald editor, while Faith Zaba sought to be Sunday Mail editor!

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by MDC vice president Tendai Biti has given three Finance ministry officials an ultimatum to appear before it on Friday, November 15 or face arrest for contempt of Parliament.

The three officials are the ministry’s director of budgets Zvinechimwe Churu, director of capital expenditure Fidelis Ngorora and the accountant-general. Speaking to reporters on Monday after the officials’ latest snub, Biti said:

We regret and are saddened to note that they have defaulted on our request for them to attend this meeting. We are also saddened by the continuous disrespect of Parliament so we are giving the ministry of Finance one last chance before we direct the clerk of Parliament to issue a warrant of arrest in terms of the Parliamentary Privileges Act.

Biti revealed that the officials failed to turn up in the first instance saying that they had been attending a workshop and on the second occasion they said they were not aware that they were supposed to appear before Parliament.

PAC expects the officials to explain the contents of the documents in connection with how over $3 billion received from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) by the ministry was used without Parliament’s approval.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is cutting ties with the controversial South African businessman, Zunaid Moti amid reports he is on a mission to destabilise the Sadc region and topple constitutionally elected governments through funding opposition parties, including the MDC, Zimbabwe Morning Post can exclusively reveal.

This publication has it on good authority that Moti sent an emissary to court the MDC leadership, especially president Nelson Chamisa and vice-president Tendai Biti with offers to fund them.

This was done before the Botswana elections.

Zim Morning Post is in possession of a leaked conversation between Moti and Botswana opposition leader Duma Boko of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), wherein he instructs him to fly to South Africa in the company of Biti and Chamisa.

In the conversation, Moti asks Boko to invite Biti and Chamisa to his house for a meeting.

“How is Biti? Ask Tendai and Chamisa to come to see me with you. I need to talk problems in Zimbabwe where I lost a lot of money with the government (sic).

“I need to talk to them and see if we can take Zimbabwe over after we take over Botswana.

“The government did me wrong. I helped them with a lot of money and I lost $300 million,” Moti said.

Boko confirmed to Moti that he spoke to Chamisa about the matter in March.

Despite being funded by Moti, Boko’s UDC party went on to lose two seats this year. In the 2014 national elections, the party put a surprise performance when it garnered 17 seats in Parliament, with this now reduced to 15 seats

Moti’s bitterness with Mnangagwa’s government stems from allegations that he smuggled out chrome from African Chrome Fields mine in Kwekwe.

He had a joint venture with Petroleum mogul Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

Moti’s operations in Zimbabwe have been under scrutiny, with reports that Moti is a personal friend of ailing vice-president Constantino Chiwenga.

Chiwenga is currently in China on medication and is not able to fight in Moti’s corner, said our source.

His relationship with Mnangagwa is said to have soured after he refused to offer him his private jet in 2017 when his life was in danger following his sacking as vice-president by the late former President Robert Mugabe.

“Mnangagwa and Moti enjoyed a good relationship because when Moti came into Zimbabwe with the view of investing in Midlands, he was assisted by ED.

“So in times of need, Moti turned his back on him because he feared Mugabe’s wrath,” explained our source.

Moti is on record showering praises on Mnangagwa for helping him when he started investing in the country.

“We went into Zimbabwe when Mr Mnangagwa was still in charge of the province. And we went in there looking for investment in the darkest hour. And that’s when we met Emmerson (Mnangagwa), His Excellency, and he really had a very inviting approach to us,” he was quoted as saying.

He added:

“There was not a lot of red-tape involved with investing in Zimbabwe at that stage because nobody really wanted to invest…We started to understand Zimbabwe as a Mnangagwa investment, because he was there guiding us in the investment and policies.”

In his quest to get opposition parties into power, Moti sponsored Botswana’s UDC which, however, went on to lose at the recent polls.

In the conversation with Boko, Moti offered at least 5 000 t-shirts to UDC for their campaign and requested a meeting with Boko in South Africa.

“I am sending you 5000 t-Shirts for the launch. Those mother fxxkers (sic) should know that you are the President. I want you to come here.. you do not need to spend more than three hours here,” he said.

Another source said Moti wants to assume a kingmaker role in Southern Africa using his wealth to destabilise the region and expand his business empire.

“He (Moti) wants to be the kingmaker in Southern Africa. That is why he is trying to work with opposition parties in the region. He is currently trying to arrange a meeting with the MDC leadership through the assistance of Boko,” said a source close to him.

— Zim Morning Post

Expelled Herald Deputy Editor Tichaona Zindoga sought the protection of the First lady Auxilia Mnangagwa and the Central intelligence Oganisation Boss Isaac Moyo after being fired by the Zimpapers Board chairperson Tommy Sithole.

This was revealed by Professor Jonathan Moyo who tweeted a thread detailing how Zindoga was fired after being lebelled a sellout and a stupid person by various government officials.

When Zindoga was appointed, there was an outcry from some quarters in Munhumutapa building who said he was an MDC sympathiser and would not toe the line.

Read the thread below:

Word from Herald Zimbabwe is that many at Zimpapers are celebrating the fall of a dwarf in giant robes. When Tich Zindoga was summoned by the Wing Commander, the Zimpapers board chair, he was told that he had been fired because he was incompetent, inexperienced and a sellout!

After telling Tich Zindoga that he had been fired, Wing Commander Tommy Sithole ordered him to “take 15 minutes to clear your office. Take what is yours and never comeback. You failed to do your job”. Shaken, Zindoga started crying; begging to be retained as deputy editor!

When the Wing Commander told him that he could not be retained as deputy editor, Tich Zindoga begged to be demoted to his earlier position of political editor. An irritated Sithole then barked at him: “Chief you are not listening to me. You are not wanted here. Just go!”

Earlier, Sithole had assigned his 1980s Zimpapers editorial colleague, Davison Maruziva, to assess Tich Zindoga as Herald editor. Maruziva’s report was a big NO. He found that Zindoga had no capacity and that he referred everything to Nick Mangwana, who also has no capacity!

After Sithole told Tich Zindoga to go and clear his office where his dismissal letter would be sent in 15 minutes, the sun fell down on him. He phoned Nick Mangwana who said he was in Egypt and could not help. Nick later texted some officials calling Zindoga “stupid & reckless”!

When he did not get any joy from Nick Mangwana, a devastated Tich Zindoga phoned information minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, asking her to intercede for him. Monica expressed indignant surprise: “Uchiripo ikoko? Awusi kudiwa. Kana vakuru varamba. Chienda. Chibva ipapo iwe”!

As a backdrop, @TichZindoga had read the writing on the wall and saw the trouble coming. He sought help from Auxillia Mnangagwa who hit the roof and said “urimutengesi iwe”. Shocked, Zindoga went to Isaac Moyo, CIO Director General, to ask for “protection”. It was a long shot!

Byo 24