CONFUSION reigns supreme ahead of the introduction of new coins and bank notes of the Zimbabwe dollar with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) yesterday releasing a statement that it will be injecting new two dollar bond coins into circulation by November 11 instead of $2 coins.
In a public notice, RBZ governor John Mangudya said the $2 coins will be used interchangeably with the $2 bond notes which are already in circulation.
“In line with the pronouncement made in the 2019 Mid-Term Monetary Policy Statement and the Press statement of October 2, 2019 to increase the level of physical cash in circulation, the RBZ wishes to advise the public that with effect from November 11, 2019, it shall issue a two-dollar bond coin which will circulate alongside the two-dollar bond note,” Mangudya said.
The central bank last week announced during a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in Harare that it was going to introduce new currency notes and coins in the next two weeks to ease the liquidity crisis.
The new bond coins are likely to create confusion in the market.
Attempts to get clarity on the issue failed as Mangudya had not responded to questions sent to him by the time of going to print.
The RBZ, which has already announced the features of the $2 and $5 notes said the two dollar bond coin features a bi-metal with the outer rim being copper-nickel plated and the inner core being aluminium bronze plated and serrated rim profile with a groove and edge lettering.
“The currency’s features will also include inscription of the words ‘Two Dollar Bond Coin’ and the numeral and symbol ‘2$’ on the observe side and inscription of the letters ‘RBZ’ and the numeral ‘2018’ on the reverse side,” the statement read.
Zimbabwe has been facing acute cash shortages while the use of electronic money has failed to stem the problem, creating a three-tier pricing model which government is battling to close. The cash shortages have also led to frequent price increases, causing inflation.
By A Correspondent- Harare Residents’ Trust has claimed that an investigation committee has disclosed that Harare City Council does not have by-laws on wetlands.
This comes when there was public outcry when Longcheng Plaza was constructed in a wetland in Belvedere.
The report also comes when residential stands are still being allocated in wetlands. Below is the trust’s statement in full.
A special investigation committee has discovered that the City of Harare had no by law which protect wetlands for the past three years. This is purely a failure by the Council as wetlands are being invaded.
There have been a serious invasion of wetlands in most suburbs in Harare in the name of stands and urban farming. Most of the land have been made commercial and residential stands.
Council is not doing anything not even conducting awareness campaigns to educate residents on the importance and how to protect wetlands. This then poses questions to the environment committee because they are responsible for the protection of wetlands.
One would wonder and question the existence of the environment committee if it’s failing to advocate for the drafting of a by-law which can protect this precious land.
Over four thousand cattle died within a month in Masvingo due to the El-Nino induced drought.
A visit to Mavhorondiya village in Zimuto revealed a desperate state of affairs with communal farmers fearing for the worst as their main source of livelihood is decimated.
The veterinary service department director for Masvingo Dr. Earnest Dzimwasha says according to their records 4 000 cattle died in October although the figure could be higher as some incidents are not reported.
“Chiredzi and Mwenezi are among the worst affected when it comes to cattle deaths. If only the farmers could sell some of their livestock so that they can buy feed for the remaining beasts,” said Dr Dzimwasha.
With the rural folk deriving their livelihood from livestock and subsistence farming prolonged dry spells can only spell doom.
Hope is not entirely lost though as the villagers are patiently waiting for the heavens to open up and avert a looming disaster.
This comes after over eighty elephants died in Zimbabwe and hundreds more across Southern Africa as the effects of climate change continue to pose a threat to Zimbabwe’s eco-system.
Although rangers in the affected areas have devised a plan to pump water into a dam for livestock but the situation has become so dire that both domestic and wild animals are sharing the same sources. – State Media
By A Correspondent- Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor John Mangudya said that arrangements have been made towards the purchase of Cabinet Ministers’ vehicles at a cost of US$16 million.
Mangudya made the revelations while responding to questions from Members of Parliament at the ongoing 2019 pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls.
He said:
“The Minister gave me an assignment about the purchase of Ministers’ vehicles and we have agreed with the supplier of vehicles. We are going to buy these vehicles through a letter of credit so that you all get them in one lot.
The cars will be purchased using money drawn from foreign currency generated from exports, Mangudya claimed.
Meanwhile, vehicle assemblers, Quest Motors and Willowvale Motor Industries (WMI), have said they have the capacity to produce quality vehicles and are ready to provide the vehicles if requested to do so.
By Victor Bhoroma| Zimbabwe suspended its local currency on the 9th of April 2009 and adopted a basket of multiple currencies such as the South African Rand, British Pound, Botswana Pula, Japanese Yen, Euro and the United States Dollar. The country’s own currency had been rendered worthless by record hyperinflation of 231 million in 2007. The hyperinflation era left a trail of de-industrialization and market shortages of basic goods and services. The government had no option but to follow market demands in accepting the United States Dollar as legal tender after three failed attempts to redenominate the local currency through removing zeros. The adoption of the US Dollar left the central bank’s money printing machinery redundant but it stabilized the economy and tamed the scourge of hyperinflation (largely caused by excessive money printing to fund quasi-fiscal activities and budget deficits). Adopting multiple currencies allowed Zimbabwe to eliminate exchange rate risks, build real savings, manage interest rates, improve its investment climate, resume financial intermediation, reduce transaction costs in trade and retool production through accessing foreign lines of credit. Economic growth rate averaged 7% per annum with all economic sectors registering successive growth between 2009 and 2015.
Dollarization
had its fair share of problems for the country as the government lost its
control on growing the economy through government expenditure. Dollarizing the
economy also opened floodgates of foreign currency externalization from
Zimbabwe at all levels. Between 2015 and 2017, over US$3 billion was
externalized from the Zimbabwean economy by corporates, politicians and
business tycoons to Mauritius and the Far East.
Some may argue that foreign currency externalization
only grew after the 2013 national elections due to decline in investor
confidence and fears of possible economic mismanagement. However there is no
doubt that foreign businesses found it lucrative to sell their merchandise in
Zimbabwe due to the high prices charged locally. This is largely because of the
US Dollar inflated cost of doing business prevalent in the local market. To
make matters worse, profits made by these foreign
businesses were not retained in Zimbabwe as savings or re-investments as such
they did not contribute to economic growth. Without sufficient protectionist
policies, local manufacturers often found it difficult to compete with imports
from South Africa due to the high cost of production locally. That still
remains the case despite the change of currencies.
Cracks in the multicurrency regime surfaced in August
2015 when Treasury passed the RBZ Debt Assumption Bill which involved the
government assuming the RBZ legacy debt of over US$1.4 Billion through issuing
Treasury Bills (TBs). The objective of this debt assumption bill was to clean
the central bank balance sheet and allow it to resume its clearing role through
the RTGS system (Electronic money printing). After the debt assumption, broad
money supply grew by over US$1 billion in less than 12 months and Nostro accounts
declined due to foreign currency externalization. Alert investors started
offloading 5 year TBs on the local market at a discount in favor of offshore credits
after it became clear that the central bank had no capacity to repay the TBs in
foreign currency without introducing a local currency in the near future. Cash
shortages started to creep in by February 2016 and have lasted to this day. The government re-introduced the Zimbabwean Dollar with the banning
of multicurrencies on the 24th of June 2019, despite adverse
warnings on implementing monetary reforms before addressing fundamental aspects
that support currency value. The local currency started trading on the interbank
market in February 2019, but has lost more than 85% of its value in the last 8
months. Official Inflation has quickened to over 353% as of September 2019 and
the economy is as volatile as the currency in use.
Zimbabwe
was neither the first country to fully dollarize (currency substitution,
popularized by the US Dollar), nor was it the first to attempt to de-dollarize.
Countries such as Cambodia, Bolivia, Vietnam, Peru, El Salvador,
Chile, Israel, Poland and Georgia
among others have dollarized before. De-dollarization has never been successful
as a policy but as a benefit to pragmatic economic reforms. Only a handful
(Notably Israel, Poland, Vietnam and Georgia) have managed to fully
de-dollarize due to a combination of some factors listed below;
Free
Market Policies
Georgia has a transition economy
almost the size of Zimbabwe with a GDP of about US$18 billion, though its
monetary policy is run through a constitutionally independent National Bank of
Georgia. Under its Larization Plan (borrowed from its domestic currency, the
Lari), the national bank offered incentives for voluntary conversion of foreign
currency mortgage loans to the domestic currency. There was also mandatory
issuance of small loans in the domestic currency only so as to reduce foreign currency
obligations in future.
Georgia runs a free floating
exchange rate and took reforms to stabilize inflation rate below 7% as the key
condition for adopting the Lari. Free market forces played an important role in
achieving fast and long-lasting de-dollarization. The country achieved a lower
level of dollarization by stabilizing the macroeconomic environment, without
resorting to restrictive regulations.
Domestic
Money Supply and Macroeconomic stability
High inflation rates induced by
growth in domestic money supply growth are toxic to any de-dollarization
efforts. In the mid-1980s, the Peruvian government
decided to combat dollarization induced by massive growth in money supply and
inflation. The government forced conversion of foreign currency deposits to the
local currency (Peruvian Sol). This policy turned out to be counter-productive,
provoking financial disintermediation and capital flight. The inflation rate
reached quadruple digits in the 1990s and the Peruvian sol lost its essential
functions. After this painful experiment, government authorities radically
changed their de-dollarization strategy. Their new plan focused on achieving
macroeconomic stability by creating a fiscal surplus, significantly lowering
public debt, and stabilizing inflation by introducing an inflation targeting
regime, which was followed by significant currency appreciation from 2003-2011.
The macro stabilization policy was complemented by prudential regulations to
better account for earned foreign currency, and to develop a market for
securities with a long maturity in domestic currency. As a result, Peru managed
to reduce dollarization and is set to achieve its 2020 de-dollarization
targets.
Institutional
stability and confidence
Trust
and confidence in the government and monitory authorities are key determinants
in de-dollarizing the economy. It allow consumers and businesses to hold large
sums of the local currency, save and accept future payments in the local
currency. The Vietnamese example proves that de-dollarization policies
instituted by the central bank can work if there is pragmatism in policy
implementation and confidence in the market despite the existence of a planned
economy. The Vietnamese government operates a fixed foreign currency surrender
scheme on exports similar to that of Zimbabwe and maintains tight controls on the parallel foreign exchange market. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) aims to
reduce the proportion of foreign currency in total outstanding debts to below
7.5% in 2020 and below 5% by 2030. Despite strict controls on amount of foreign
currency to withdrawn by individuals or travelers, the limits set on provision
of foreign currency for importing commodities that can be manufactured in
Vietnam stands out as the best. This has allowed Vietnam to realize successive
trade surpluses of over US$1.6 billion in 2017 and 2018 and reduce pressure on
the foreign exchange market. The market retains confidence in the Vietnamese
Dong despite government controls on the economy.
The
Zimbabwean government has been leaning towards the South African Rand in the
past few weeks, with the local currency interbank rate being pegged at 1:1 to
the Rand.There is no doubt that achieving macroeconomic stability is the main
driver of a successful de-dollarization as evidenced in Georgia, Vietnam and
Peru. There are ways to facilitate the process of natural de-dollarization,
driven by genuine fiscal consolidation (including privatization of state
entities), macroeconomic stability, improved institutional integrity, political
stability and stable production.
It is true that dollarization undermines the country’s monetary policy
framework and takes away its lender of last resort function. However it is
critical to point that if there is no discipline in growing broad money supply
on the part of the central bank and confidence in the monetary policy as is the
case in Zimbabwe, de-dollarization will be mission impossible.
Victor Bhoroma
is economic analyst. He is a marketer by profession and holds an MBA from the
University of Zimbabwe (UZ). For feedback, mail him on [email protected] or alternatively follow him on Twitter @VictorBhoroma1.
Paul Nyathi|In a poll run on ZimEye.com Twitter page on Sunday before kick off of the much talked about crunch Premier Soccer League match between Dynamos and Highlanders, readers gave Highlanders a narrow chance to edge their bitter rivals.
43% gave it to Bosso, against 41% who tipped Dynamos. 16% predicted the correct result which was a draw.
It's the big "Battle of Zimbabwe" Soccer match today, Dynamos "Dembare" vs Highlanders "Bosso"
Midlands based referee Munyaradzi Majoni has generally been blamed for influencing the unexpected result with some embarrassing officiating.
The encounter ended 1-1, with Highlanders first to score through Tinashe Makanda, before a late equaliser from Evans Katema ensured a share of the spoils.
Majoni appeared overwhelmed with handling the country’s flagship clash, something that irked Highlanders coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh, who felt the referee failed to protect his players and denied them numerous free-kicks.
Besides failing to collect maximum points on a bumpy Rufaro Stadium pitch, the uneven playing surface, which De Jongh felt was worse than his backyard garden, affected Highlanders’ newfound passing game.
Both sets of players struggled to string meaningful passes on the bumpy surface.
Before kick-off, mind games were at play, as Dynamos’ officials denied the Highlanders’ team entry into the stadium, keeping the gates locked for about 35 minutes.
When the gates were eventually opened, the passage to the away team’s dressing room was closed, forcing Bosso players to access the pitch via the stands.
De Jongh expressed shock at how professional football is run in Zimbabwe, saying it was the first time in his 29-year career coaching in 12 countries that he had witnessed the away team being denied entry into the match venue and access to the dressing rooms.
He also blasted the state of the Rufaro Stadium pitch as not fit for professional football, more so the so called “Battle of Zimbabwe”.
The Bosso coach also questioned referee Majoni’s handling of the match, saying he gave Bosso a raw deal by denying them free kicks in the Dynamos half. He claimed 18 free kicks for Bosso were in their own half while just two were awarded in the Dynamos half.
De Jongh blamed lack of communication between his defenders for Dynamos’ equaliser, although he should equally shoulder the fault by making a wrong substitution.
Meanwhile, Hwange’s 13-match winless streak ended with a 1-0 win over Mushowani Stars at the Colliery Stadium. The coalminers moved a place up the table into 16th, as their fight for survival continues.
“Maddening poverty currently gripping Zimbabwe should have been employed by MDC as a moral justification to boycott the conference and demand a cheaper venue for the conference.”
Should the MDC MPs have boycotted the budget meeting in Vic Falls?
Have your say:
"Maddening poverty currently gripping Zimbabwe should have been employed by MDC as a moral justification to boycott the conference and demand a cheaper venue for the conference."
Should the MDC MPs have boycotted the budget meeting in Vic Falls
THE Felton Kamambo led Zifa executive committee has scored a first by taking the senior national team out of the capital for a crucial African Nations qualifier.
The Warriors take on Botswana at Barbourfields Stadium on November 15 in a 2021 Total Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
From the inaugural Zifa president, one Moroni Mushambadope who was appointed by Zimbabwe’s first Sports Minister Joice Mujuru in 1980 but lasted just three months after he was replaced by Nelson Chirwa, all the presidents have presided over the senior national team playing crucial matches in Harare with Bulawayo only being given friendly matches or dead rubber Afcon qualifiers like in 2007 when the Warriors beat Malawi 3,1 in a dead rubber 2008 Afcon qualifier. Other matches played in Bulawayo have been the regional Cosafa matches.
Soon after assuming office Kamambo publicly promised that his committee will take the national team to all corners of the country instead of having it as a preserve of the capital only.
Even the World Cup preliminary match against Somalia was initially slated for Emagumeni before flight challenges faced by the Somalis, coupled with sportsmanship on the part of Zifa, saw the match being shifted to the National Sports Stadium.
“To us we are saying Zimbabwe is not Harare. Bulawayo, like every other part of the nation deserves to watch their team, a national asset that belongs to every Zimbabwean. We wi continue to rotate matches for the benefit of our fans and its also our hope that Bulawayo will rise and come in numbers to cheer the boys next week,” said acting Zifa vice president Phillemon Machana.
The Warriors will troop into camp in Bulawayo on Monday.
Chivi magistrate Ms Perseverance Mukumba jailed Sibanda after convicting him of four counts of contravening the Posts and Telecommunications Act.
A Chikombedzi man has been jailed 40 years for stealing TelOne copper cables in Mashava. Greatjoy Sibanda (34), of Makondo Village under Chief Sengwe, was convicted of digging up 14 metres of insulated underground copper cables worth $1 890.
Chivi magistrate Ms Perseverance Mukumba jailed Sibanda after convicting him of four counts of contravening the Posts and Telecommunications Act.
The Act outlaws wilful damage, interference with or theft of telephone lines and apparatus.
Sibanda was initially facing five counts, but the court withdrew one of the counts after plea.
Each of the four counts attracted 10 years behind bars. The court heard that TelOne had long suffered serious prejudice following a spate of theft of its underground copper cables.
Prosecutor Mr Nathan Zaranyika told the court that on June 5 this year at around 4am, Sibanda dug and removed 14 metres of underground insulated copper cables from the Mashava-King Mine TelOne telephone line.
He used a hacksaw to cut the cables interrupting faxes, telephone calls, among other services offered by the fixed telephone operator.
After removing the cables he took them to a secluded bush where he burnt it to remove the insulation intending to sell it.
A TelOne alarm in the mining town Mashava betrayed him after it rang while he was digging it out.
A police reaction group comprising detectives and the dog section swooped on him while he was still burning the cable to remove the insulation, leading to his arrest.
Police recovered the cable, a hacksaw and a satchel at the scene that were used in court as exhibits.
Former Botswana President Ian Khama wants investigations to be launched to prove the country’s intelligence and anti-corruption bodies were being used to settle personal vendettas.
Ian Khama
Former Botswana President Ian Khama wants investigations to be launched to prove the country’s intelligence and anti-corruption bodies were being used to settle personal vendettas.
Khama denied allegations that he instructed the reserve bank of Botswana to open offshore accounts now linked to South African businessperson Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe and terrorism.
The feud between Botswana’s re-elected President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his predecessor Ian Khama was now involving more countries and banks.
An investigator has sworn before court that Khama and former head of intelligence Isaac Kgosi carried out a mass looting scheme that saw the reserve bank sending billions of public money to countries including South Africa and Hong Kong.
Khama told Eyewitness News last week that intelligence was abused in a clandestine conspiracy to discredit the opposition.
“It’s then when you have an organ like that, which is used by the presidency to go after its opponents and they actually accept to do it.”
Khama’s friend, South African businessperson Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe who allegedly co-masterminded the looting alleged the same.
“To infiltrate and fight the opposition, it even suggests the elimination of targets where necessary.”
Motsepe-Radebe wanted South African agencies and Interpol to clear her name.
Matanda-Moyo said her commission is currently investigating 30 people, the majority of them ministers, so more arrests are likely.
Loice Matanda Moyo
A sitting cabinet minister in Zimbabwe’s government is facing charges of abuse of office, bringing to two the number of high ranking officials in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, nabbed by the country’s corruption watchdog, this year.
The chair of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), Loice Matanda-Moyo, confirmed that the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs (Monitoring and Implementation of Government Programs) Joram Gumbo, is scheduled to appear in a Harare court, Tuesday, to answer to allegations of abuse of office, during his tenure as minister of transport.
“Yes, it’s correct that the ZACC has taken in the former minister of transport and currently he is being questioned by ZACC with the view of taking him for a remand before the courts tomorrow (Tuesday),” said Matanda-Moyo.
Gumbo faces several charges including renovating a government property and renovating it for one million U.S dollars, involvement is a fuel deal worth $US$2.7 which was never delivered, and reinstating persons who were under investigation for corruption.
“He is accused of having leased his niece’s property for Zim Airways, and paid a million dollars for its renovations and payment of rentals, and did not declare that he was conflicted in that matter,” explained Matanda-Moyo.
“He is also accused of being involved in the CMED (Central Mechanical and Engineering Department), a fuel deal he was involved in where US$2.7 million was paid to a second company and no fuel was delivered,” she continued.
“And he is also accused of having directed the reinstatement of persons facing corruption charges, and they had not been cleared by the courts, and others,” added Matanda-Moyo.
Gumbo is the second minister in President Mnangagwa’s government under active investigation for corruption. The first to be investigated and arrested was former Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira, who was arrested in July over allegations involving the National Social Security Authority that she was in charge of as then minister of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare.
Mupfumira is currently out on bail.
Asked about the status of the case and possibility of Mupfumira being charged for the alleged misuse of US$94million, Matanda-Moyo said ZACC’s responsibility is solely to investigate, not prosecute.
“ZACC only investigates matters. So people have got this wrong impression that it is ZACC which then prosecutes the matters. ZACC’S duties end with investigations,” explained Matanda-Moyo. “I do agree that sometimes we do lose control of the matters along the way, but for us we are doing our part as ZACC, in investigating the matters and taking the matters to court.”
Matanda-Moyo said her commission is currently investigating 30 people, the majority of them ministers, so more arrests are likely.
“We are investigating about 30 high profile matters and most of them are ministers. But we are just waiting to get all the evidence. We cannot simply push the docket through without thoroughly investigating them otherwise it will result in acquittals,” said Matanda-Moyo.
The Commission appealed to the public to discretely report incidents of corruption, and Matanda-Moyo said while many are assisting the Commission with making reports, investigations have been difficult as many fear reprisals.
She said she’s hoped that would change once laws protecting whistleblowers are implemented.
“So I’m really pleased that people are coming forward with reports of corruption, but perhaps what’s only lacking is the legislation pertaining to whistleblowers protection in Witnesses Protection Act. So once we get that legal framework in place I want to believe that our people would then be prepared to bring all the evidence that they have, because whilst they are reporting, some of them are not yet comfortable to come forward with information, without such protection,” said Matanda-Moyo.
According to Matanda-Moyo, the Commission is investigating about 1,000 cases, due to tips from the public.
The lawyer representing Gumbo, Selby Hwacha, said his client was not arrested, but was just questioned, but could not confirm whether he would appear in court on Tuesday.
The farmers who moved to Zambia are responsible for the boom in maize production in that country and, in an ironic twist, are now feeding Zimbabwe, which evicted them.
As Zimbabwe continues to struggle to produce sufficient quantities of the staple maize grain two decades after the government started redistributing commercial farms from whites to black farmers, a frequent claim comes up. The farmers who moved to Zambia are responsible for the boom in maize production in that country and, in an ironic twist, are now feeding Zimbabwe, which evicted them.
But, does this claim hold up to scrutiny?
Background Zimbabwe has, since 2000, struggled to produce sufficient quantities of its staple maize grain. The 2018/2019 maize harvest of 777 000 tonnes is significantly lower than the 1,8 million tonnes the country requires to feed itself.
Maize output has declined considerably since 2000, when the Zimbabwean Government began redistributing commercial farmland from whites to blacks. Although bad weather has affected some seasons, the disruption of commercial agriculture and its subsequent effect on the broader economy has had a telling effect on farm output across all major crops.
Although tobacco has recovered in recent years, with record production being attained in 2017/2018, maize production remains erratic, even though the 2016/2017 season saw output going above two million tonnes for the first time since 2000.
Basis of claim Zimbabwe’s need to import to make up for the 2018/2019 maize deficit revives the debate about why the country is now being outperformed in grain production by its regional peers such as Zambia and Malawi, often relying on them for food imports.
Zambia, in particular, is cited as an example.
While Zimbabwe’s maize output plummeted along with the rest of the economy since 2000, Zambia’s grain production took off around the same time. This, coupled with the fact that Zambia took in at least 100 Zimbabwean farmers who had been dispossessed of their farms, gave ammunition to critics of Zimbabwe’s land redistribution programme.
Conflating correlation with causation, proponents of the claim credited Zimbabwean farmers with Zambia’s surging maize output.
Perhaps surprisingly, the claim found an unlikely voice on March 18, 2016 when former President Robert Mugabe told party supporters:
“Right now we are buying maize from Zambia, Zambia took in some white farmers who were here and gave them land. That’s why they have a maize surplus.” Mugabe was unwittingly endorsing a claim routinely made by white supremacists on websites such as AfricanCrisis.org. Writing on the site, Jan Lamprecht claimed:
“Finally, a success story in Africa — one that boggles the mind, and as usual, for Africa, it comes from whites. This story demonstrates the tremendous knowledge and skills which white commercial farmers have over the black peasant farmers. Take note in this story that 100 white farmers, starting from scratch, in Zambia, produced 70 percent of Zambia’s maize crop in one year. They outperformed 150 000 black peasants.”
Zambia’s boom, Zimbabwe’s gloom Between 1990 and 1999, Zambia’s annual maize output averaged a million tonne, compared to Zimbabwe’s 1,7 million tonnes per year.
Then, as Zambia’s output improved to an average 1,17 million tonnes per year between 2000 and 2009, Zimbabwe’s average output declined to 934 000 tonnes during the same period. The gap has grown wider during the current decade, with Zambia averaging 2,8 million tonnes per year, compared to Zimbabwe’s 1,12 million tonnes.
In 2008, when Zimbabwe produced 525 000 tonnes of maize, the lowest since 2000, Zambia reaped 1,2 million tonnes of the staple starch.
When Zimbabwe produced its biggest maize crop since 2000, 2,156 million tonnes in 2017, Zambia broke its record with a 3,6 million tonne haul. The advent of multi-party democracy in Zambia in the early 1990s has coincided with economic stability. Zimbabwe, in stark contrast, suffered hyperinflation between 2007 and 2008 and is, in 2019, on the verge of yet another episode of hyperinflation.
How Zambia did it On average, smallholder farmers produce 90 percent of Zambia’s maize, according to a 2019 study funded by the European Commission.
In the 2018/2019 season, Zambia’s government projected that 94,5 percent of the country’s maize crop was produced by small-and-medium scale farmers. Driving the success of Zambia’s smallholder farmers is the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), which the government introduced in 2002 as the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP).
Under the FISP scheme, the government provides subsidised farm inputs to hundreds of thousands of farmers. In the 2018/2019 season, FISP targeted a million smallholder farmers, who each paid a 400 kwacha deposit (US$30) towards inputs, with government contributing 1,700 kwacha (US$128), which adds up to just under US$160 per farmer and US$160 million all told.
As a consequence of sustained investment in smallholder farmers, Zambia’s fertiliser consumption and maize yield per hectare significantly exceeds Zimbabwe’s. In the past decade, Zambia’s yield has averaged 1,5 tonnes per hectare, while Zimbabwe’s average is 700 kilogrammes per hectare. While Zambia’s farm input scheme took root and delivered results, Zimbabwean farmers had to contend with high inflation, which made planning impossible, as well as having to sell to a state grain monopoly that struggled to pay them on time.
Conclusion There is no evidence to support the assertion that Zimbabwean farmers, who have taken up large scale commercial farming in Zambia, are responsible for that country’s remarkable improvement in maize production. Smallholder Zambian farmers, supported by their government through an input support scheme introduced in 2002, are responsible for at least 90 percent of the country’s maize output. — Zimfact.
Such superfluous expenditure came at a time when State hospitals are operating with neither doctors nor painkillers.
MDC MPs walking out of Parliament
By Sibanengi Dube|MDC Alliance MPs who rode to parliament on a pro-poor ticket were this week part of hundreds of parliamentarians who blew $5 million at the resort town of Victoria Falls in the name of a pre-budget conference. Air-tickets, five star hotel rooms, three course meals, allowances and single malt whisky seem to have taken precedent in the MaChinjas’ list of priorities.
As to why other affordable venues were discarded in favour of Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most expensive venues is difficult to virtue even as a fleeting deride.
Maddening poverty currently gripping Zimbabwe should have been employed by MDC as a moral justification to boycott the conference and demand a cheaper venue for the conference.
Such superfluous expenditure came at a time when State hospitals are operating with neither doctors nor painkillers.
Medical doctors are pleading poverty to the extent of failing to raise bus fares to go to work while the government can’t afford to import even painkillers because of ‘sanctions.’
The same government without money for painkillers then ropes in MDC to join a week long spending spree in Livingstone. If this is not madness, then one should assist me to find an appropriate term.
Zanu PF is being consistent here. The gorillas have nothing to lose by displaying a DNA which they have always exhibited since 1980. MDC parliamentary Chief Whip, Prosper Mutseyami, missed a political penalty shoot-out. Mutseyami should have declined to lead his colleagues to an opulent feeding trough sponsored by starving and bare-footed taxpayers who can’t even afford coarse salt.
A three star hotel or B&B within the outskirts of Harare would have done the trick, than splashing taxpayers’ cash on parties, air tickets, cruises and cross border shopping escapades.
Do these charlatans expect citizens to believe that only Victoria Falls is good enough to accommodate them as they carry out their parliamentary responsibilities?
Only a fool will commit such resources to extravagances before even fulfilling a single essential on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model.
The MDC is now skating on a thin high moral ground for accepting invitation to dip their fingers in the cookie jar in the name of attending parliamentary duties. These chaps are constantly subjecting the poor people’s faith in their cause to a fitness test.
Tsvangirai’s parliamentary red brigade are short minded and appear to have conveniently thrown away their scripts to make ends meet. MDC MPs should by now have raised their profiles beyond the seduction of mammon, stipends or allowances.
A Z$3200 attendance fee, fuel coupons and air tickets were enough for MDC MPs to throw away their hymn books and start singing from Zanu PF tunes. What about all the election rhetoric of being pro poor and keeping Zanu Pf government under check? This was a missed opportunity to show solidarity with the suffering population instead of enjoying the trappings of power.
Shockingly one senior MDC chap I spoke to, seems convinced that the fruitless expenditure incurred was consistent with their ‘strategic’ contributions at the conference.
He believes that their contributions helped to put the interests of the poor in Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s ZW5.5 billion budget deficit he is expected to reveal soon. Since when has Zanu PF started factoring in MDC contributions to the national agenda? Did the MDC MPs’ presence in Victoria Falls change anything?
One would have anticipated the MDC to push for a pre-budget consultative meeting around the country in the run-up to the budget presentation so as to get public input, instead of jumping at the slightest opportunity to nibble marinated fillet and sip cold ones in a bushy resort as the poor famish.
A 26-year-old man suffered a massive heart attack, and doctors believe he experienced the near-death experience because of his substantial dependence on energy drinks.
According to a medical report, a young man from Texas drank between eight to 10 energy drinks every day, which is over a gallon of energy drinks daily. “The patient stated that he drank any kind of energy drink he could get access to,” the report stated. In energy drinks alone, he consumed 1.6 grams of caffeine per day, four times the amount recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
His worrisome energy drink habit appeared to have caused him to experience pain in his chest and left arm pain that lasted nine hours, excessively sweating, nausea, and vomiting. He was taken to the emergency room at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, Texas.
The medical staff examined the man, but they found that his vital signs were normal, including heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and oxygen levels. The man had no history of diabetes. A urine toxicology test found that the man was not on any illicit drugs or stimulants. The patient admitted to smoking a pack of cigarettes per day for the two years before his heart attack.
After further examination, doctors realized a problem with the man’s cardiovascular system. Doctors performed a cardiac catheterization, and inserted a thin tube into the groin, neck, or arm. Physicians discovered a blocked artery and believe that the excessive amounts of caffeine caused a blood clot. There was a buildup on the walls of his coronary artery that transports oxygenated blood.
The man was discharged from the hospital after two days. Doctors prescribed prescriptions for an “antiplatelet agent, an ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker and a statin.”
A report titled “STEMI Associated with Overuse of Energy Drinks” was published in Case Reports in Emergency Medicineoutlines the troubling case.
“Energy drink consumption is a growing health concern due to limited regulation and increasing use, especially in younger demographics,” said the paper’s co-author Daniel Solomin. “With substantially higher caffeine content than soft drinks or coffee beverages, in some cases, as well as other poorly studied substances, there is significant potential for harm, especially when consumed in large quantities.”
He added that he was not asking the court to extend time within which to file their heads of argument, but for them to be formally admitted on record.
Mrs Mohadi
Vice President Kembo Mohadi has approached the High Court seeking to give his side of the story in the divorce wrangle with estranged wife Tambudzani.
VP Mohadi filed his application for condonation of the late filing of heads of argument and upliftment of bar in case number HC 9929/18.
Magistrate Mr Noah Gwatidzo, Tambudzani, Irene and Abigail Mohadi and Malcom Ambrose are cited as respondents.
“The parties in casu have been embroiled in several legal cases. Tambudzani in HC 8991/18 filed an application for review against the decision of Mr Gwatidzo,” read the application.
“In HC 9929/ 18 Tambudzai filed another application for review by the same magistrate and when she filed her heads of arguments in HC 9929/18 they were mistakenly placed in the file for HC 8991/18.
“Heads of argument for HC 9929/18 were filed. However, heads of arguments for HC 8991/ 18 were not filed due to my mistake as I failed to realise in time that these were two different cases in which decisions by the same magistrate were being brought under review.”
VP Mohadi said the mistake was only realised on June 6, 2019 and heads of argument were filed out of time on June 10, 2019.
He said the delay in casu is of about one month and cannot be said to be inordinate.
“The applicant has real prospects of success in the main matter because the ruling by the magistrate is not grossly irregular as a dismissal of a matter for non-appearance is not a dismissal of the matter on the merits,” read the application.
“The points in limine raised by Tambudzani were baseless and seriously without any merit.
“The magistrate was correct in dismissing them. Furthermore, the ruling by the magistrate addresses all the points and justifies why they were dismissed.”
VP Mohadi insisted that facts raised in the application were very important and their resolution will assist in resolving a similar case which is pending before the courts.
He added that he was not asking the court to extend time within which to file their heads of argument, but for them to be formally admitted on record. VP Mohadi was last year granted a protection order against Tambudzani and she applied for a review of proceedings after he filed for contempt of court.
She is also claiming $13 000 per month for maintenance pending finalisation of the divorce.
“We cannot disclose the prices of the bread yet, but what we can assure residents is that our prices will be reasonable and affordable in comparison with other local prices,” Sibanda said.
Zanu PF baked bread
THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has announced plans to embark on an ambitious project to produce “affordable” bread for Bulawayo residents who cannot afford the commodity.
The ex-combatants will unveil their bread-making machine at their Entumbane high-density suburb offices today, the Southern Eye was told.
ZNLWVA Bulawayo spokesperson Christopher Sibanda told Southern Eye that the bread-making project was aimed at alleviating the plight of residents who are failing to purchase the commodity.
“We cannot disclose the prices of the bread yet, but what we can assure residents is that our prices will be reasonable and affordable in comparison with other local prices,” Sibanda said.
The price of bread, like other basic commodities and services, has been skyrocketing as producers cite inflation and a harsh operating environment.
It was only last week when Bakers Inn reduced the price of the commodity from $15 to between $14.
The ZNLWVA bread-project comes two months after more than 100 residents, including war veterans, underwent training on how to make bread in Bulawayo using Dutch ovens as part of Zanu PF’s empowerment projects.
Party supporters also underwent training in confectionery, petroleum jelly-making, shoe and floor polish-making, building of Dutch ovens and the making of dust ovens.
The trainings were held at Zanu PF’s Bulawayo Davies Hall offices.
Zanu PF bread making projects where party supporters are seen using pit ovens have been ridiculed by critics as primitive and unsustainable.
Meanwhile, Sibanda also revealed that the ex-combatants had also sunk a borehole in Entumbane suburb to aid residents who are going for days without the precious liquid after council introduced a 72-hour water rationing programme.
“The borehole was finished about four to five days ago. There is plenty of water that can supply the rest of Entumbane,” Sibanda said.
“Both the oven and the borehole were our idea, what we only did was to ask advice from specialists on how we can partake the project.”
“Your worship, when the docket was availed to us, we noted that there are some amendments that need to be attended to,” she said.
Prisca-Mupfumira
The trial of fired Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira failed to start yesterday and was pushed further to December 9. Initially, the court had set November 4 and 5 as the trial dates for four of the nine charges she is facing.
Regional Magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya set December 9 to 13 as the new trial dates.
This was after the State led by Ms Sharon Fero made an application for postponement of the case on the basis that after perusing the docket, they noticed there were some amendments which needed to be done.
“Your worship, when the docket was availed to us, we noted that there are some amendments that need to be attended to,” she said.
“From the time the parties last appeared in court to today, there wasn’t ample time for the State to make the amendments and prepare for trial.”
She then proposed December 9 to 13 as the new trial dates.
However, the defence team Mr Charles Chinyama and Mr Farai Mushoriwa had no kind words for the State, arguing that it needed to put its house in order.
They indicated that they were yet to be furnished with the relevant documents to enable them to prepare for their defence despite having asked for them on the last court appearance.
Mr Chinyama said the State was reducing a trial court into a remand court.
Also in the morning session, the magistrate had expressed displeasure in the manner the State was handling the matter.
Mupfumira, who is facing abuse of office, was also arrested on fresh charges of money laundering after allegedly conniving with a local bank to defraud the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) of millions of dollars.
The former minister is being jointly charged with former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Ngoni Masoka.
Another charge which is also before the trial court emanated from an incident where she used money from the ministry to sponsor people who attended her child’s wedding in Cape Town, South Africa.
In a public notice, RBZ governor John Mangudya said the $2 coins will be used interchangeably with the $2 bond notes which are already in circulation.
NewsDay|CONFUSION reigns supreme ahead of the introduction of new coins and bank notes of the Zimbabwe dollar with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) yesterday releasing a statement that it will be injecting new two dollar bond coins into circulation by November 11 instead of $2 coins.
In a public notice, RBZ governor John Mangudya said the $2 coins will be used interchangeably with the $2 bond notes which are already in circulation.
“In line with the pronouncement made in the 2019 Mid-Term Monetary Policy Statement and the Press statement of October 2, 2019 to increase the level of physical cash in circulation, the RBZ wishes to advise the public that with effect from November 11, 2019, it shall issue a two-dollar bond coin which will circulate alongside the two-dollar bond note,” Mangudya said.
The central bank last week announced during a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in Harare that it was going to introduce new currency notes and coins in the next two weeks to ease the liquidity crisis.
The new bond coins are likely to create confusion in the market.
Attempts to get clarity on the issue failed as Mangudya had not responded to questions sent to him by the time of going to print.
The RBZ, which has already announced the features of the $2 and $5 notes said the two dollar bond coin features a bi-metal with the outer rim being copper-nickel plated and the inner core being aluminium bronze plated and serrated rim profile with a groove and edge lettering.
“The currency’s features will also include inscription of the words ‘Two Dollar Bond Coin’ and the numeral and symbol ‘2$’ on the observe side and inscription of the letters ‘RBZ’ and the numeral ‘2018’ on the reverse side,” the statement read.
Zimbabwe has been facing acute cash shortages while the use of electronic money has failed to stem the problem, creating a three-tier pricing model which government is battling to close. The cash shortages have also led to frequent price increases, causing inflation.
THE new $2 bond coin goes into circulation next Monday. The news was given yesterday in a statement by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya and follows last week’s announcement of the impending introduction of the coin plus the $2 and $5 notes.
The new coin and notes will circulate alongside the existing bond notes and coins. The new coin is similar to the present $1 bond coin.
“The two-dollar bond coin will have the following features and characteristics: (a) bi-metal with the outer rim being copper-nickel plated and the inner core being aluminium-bronze plated; (b) serrated rim profile with a groove and edge lettering; (c) inscription of the words “Two Dollar Bond Coin” and the numeral and symbol “2$” on the observe side and (d) inscription of the letters “RBZ” and the numeral “2018” on the reverse side.”
Yesterday’s statement was silent on the notes, but Dr Mangudya has indicated that specimens for the new $5 notes would be out soon after the gazetting of the Statutory Instrument by Government which formalises the introduction of the notes and coins.
Citizens have been clamouring for more cash in circulation. Kombis demand cash and vendors and tuckshops normally accept cash.
Some small shops offer lower prices for cash, but the gap between cash and mobile money is less than the premium dealers, sometimes the same shopkeepers, demand for those buying notes and coins.
The black market exchange rate also has the premium built in depending on whether one is buying US dollar notes for cash or digital transfer.
This suggests that as the premium charged on the black market falls, so the gap between cash prices and mobile money prices will narrow to the same degree since the gaps in prices for US dollar notes and for groceries in small shops are artificial and driven purely by the premium.
Cash barons have been charging a premium of up to 60 percent.
Section 32(3b) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act was used to deny Mupfumira bail and keep her in custody for three weeks.
Minister Joram Gumbo
Paul Nyathi|Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring Joram McDonald Gumbo, who was questioned and released yesterday, is expected to appear in court today on charges of criminal abuse of office involving US$37 million. The charges arise from four separate incidents during his tenure as Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister.
He was arrested yesterday morning and spent the day being questioned by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) at their Mount Pleasant headquarters in Harare before being released in the evening to spend the night at home pending his appearance in court today.
Gumbo gave his warned and cautioned statement to ZACC yesterday.
Former Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon Prisca Mupfumira, was recently arrested on serious charges involving corruption and abuse of office. When she appeared in court after being arrested her lawyer applied for bail but the Prosecutor-General issued a certificate forbidding the grant of bail for 21 days, so the magistrate accordingly refused it and remanded her in custody for the 21 days.
Section 32(3b) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act was used to deny Mupfumira bail and keep her in custody for three weeks.
Will the same be applied on Joram Gumbo?
In summary section 32(3b) states that where a person is brought before a judge or magistrate for remand after being arrested on reasonable suspicion of having committed a serious economic crime listed in the Ninth Schedule to the CP&E Act [the crimes for which Joram Gumbo is being charged with] and the Prosecutor-General issues a certificate stating:
that the crime involves significant prejudice to the national interest,
that it is necessary to detain the person for up to 21 days in order to investigate the crime properly,
that the police officer who arrested the person was of or above the rank of assistant inspector.
Then, if the judge or magistrate is satisfied there is a reasonable suspicion that the person committed the offence, the judge or magistrate must order the person’s detention for 21 days or for any shorter period specified by the Prosecutor-General.
ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo confirmed the arrest and Gumbo’s scheduled court appearance for his initial remand hearing today.
In the first of the alleged incidents, Gumbo is accused of corruptly facilitating the awarding of a US$33,3 million tender to Indrastemas & Homt Espana of South Africa for air traffic control equipment without following the procurement procedure.
He allegedly authorised the company to supply the equipment to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) without going to tender.
Secondly, Gumbo will have to answer to charges of showing favour to his relative, the politician Mavis Gumbo, by awarding her a contract to rent out her house to Zimbabwe Airways.
As part of the deal, it is alleged Gumbo directed the release of US$1 million for the refurbishment of Ms Gumbo’s property and customising it into the airline’s headquarters.
The house is located at 1436 Gletwin, Shawasha Hills, just south of Glen Lorne and about as far from the airport as you can be in Harare, and the charges will be that Government lost US$1 million in refurbishing the property and Ms Gumbo received huge amounts of money in monthly rent from a Government investment.
Thirdly, Gumbo stands accused of corruptly reinstating CMED chief executive Mr Davison Mhaka, despite a disciplinary tribunal finding him guilty of misconduct after he authorised payment of US$2,7 million to a fuel company for the supply of fuel that was never delivered.
Despite the tribunal finding Mr Mhaka guilty and his subsequent dismissal by the CMED board, Gumbo intervened and directed his reinstatement without explanation.
Fourthly, Gumbo is accused of disregarding the decision of the CAAZ board to fire its general manager Mr David Chawota after finding he had awarded the air traffic control equipment contract to Indrastemas &Homt Espana without following laid down procedure.
Political scientist and public policy analyst Mr Teddy Ncube said the latest arrest showed Government’s commitment to fighting corruption and also showed ZACC with its new powers of arrest was gaining relevance and independence.
“The arrest of Minister Jorum Gumbo should be analysed within the context of the new dispensation’s reform trajectory,” he said. “Of importance is the message that none is above the law.
“If a high-profile figure like Hon Gumbo can be arrested, it is safe to say that our justice system is undergoing serious changes in the right direction. Very few are the cases in our history where such a huge political name can be arrested whilst in office. As such, this further proves how ZACC is gaining relevance and distinguishing itself as an independent organ.”
Harare-based lawyer Mr Obert Gutu said Gumbo’s arrest reignited the focus on high-level corruption because of late, there appeared to have been a moratorium on arrests by ZACC ever since it was given arresting powers.
“We will only get to know about the exact details when he is formally brought before the courts of law,” he said. “The criminal justice delivery system is benchmarked on the fundamental principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by a competent court of law.”
Mr Gutu said the public now expects the prosecuting authorities “to put all their ducks in a row”.
“We don’t want a situation whereby the relevant law enforcement agencies arrest in order to investigate,” he said.
South Africa-based law expert Mr Tendai Toto said the initiative to fight against corruption was real, but the completion of the process was problematic.
He said there has yet to be a completed case of corruption, that is cases ending in acquittals or in convictions with appropriate sentences and other associated remedies.
“Also of note is that it takes two to tango,” said Mr Toto. “The fight against corruption is disrespected by the lack of evidence and witnesses coming forward in fear of reprisals and or exposing themselves as accomplices.”
Mr Toto said there was need to bargain with witnesses, affording them immunity and adequate protection in the high profile corruption cases in order for the State to secure credible and reliable witnesses.
Head of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) Mr Tabani Mpofu said: “I cannot comment on individual cases as they arise, lest I be misconstrued. Suffice it to say that the fight against corruption continues unabated and it will continue for as long as this scourge afflicts our society.”
“Whether the demonstration is going to continue or not on Wednesday, that will depend on the outcome of today’s meeting.”
Minister Sekai Nzenza
State Media|Government has called civil servants’ representatives, the Civil Service Apex Council, to a National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting today, the eve of a planned demonstration, to address their concerns. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said she had received formal notification in a letter dated October 31, on plans for a protest march, but wants dialogue to continue in earnest.
Whether the demonstration will go ahead will depend on the result of today’s meeting, Apex Council chairperson Mrs Cecilia Alexander said yesterday.
“The item on the agenda is to receive feedback from Government in response to our position paper that we presented on October 31 where we notified Government that most civil servants are now failing to even afford to come to work and also even fend for their families,” she said.
“You may be aware that we organised a demonstration which is taking place on Wednesday (tomorrow), where civil servants are going to march and handover petitions to the Ministry of Public Service and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
“Whether the demonstration is going to continue or not on Wednesday, that will depend on the outcome of today’s meeting.”
Civil servants have already had two effective pay rises this year and the minimum pay in State service is now $1 023 a month, while they have been promised bonuses and are likely to get another pay rise.
Minister Nzenza acknowledged receipt of the letter from the Civil Service Apex Council that gives Government notice for the protest march.
The Government had responded by informing the Apex Council that “it is seized with internal consultations” regarding the position submitted by Apex in the last National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) meeting .
“Apex Council has been notified that an NJNC meeting will be convened soon after the consultations to give the NJNC feedback and possibly engagement to find a mutually suitable position on the matter,” said Minister Nzenza.
“Meanwhile, Apex Council has been advised to allow dialogue to continue in earnest without threat of protest action. Government reiterates it’s commitment to finding mutually agreed solutions to challenges facing the workers.”
Minister Nzenza said Government hoped that the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) work currently going on in clusters will be expedited to lead to a social contract to bring stability on prices and incomes.
The Apex Council says the Civil Service Apex Council met on October 30 and “unanimously” resolved to demonstrate tomorrow.
It says the protest has been instigated by Government’s lack of response to the workers’ position paper tabled at the NJNC, despite the “mutually agreed concurrence to treat the matter as urgent”.
Civil servants want to protest over recent remarks by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube that Government did not have the resources to benchmark salaries against the interbank foreign currency exchange rate.
The Apex Council said the move by Prof Ncube effectively pre-empts and nullifies the NJNC.
Prof Ncube has not ruled out further increases, only the effective setting of salaries in US dollars translated at the interbank rate into the actual Zimbabwe dollar payments.
A parent, whose daughter was barred from sitting for Ordinary Level examinations this year due to fees arrears, is suing the school at the High Court.
Mavis Jakarasi has taken Arundel School to court seeking a declaratory order saying the school had no authority to prevent her child from sitting the examinations since examination and centre fees had been paid.
The respondents are the Trustees of Arundel School. In her application, Jakarasi said her daughter has been a student since the beginning of 2019 and registered to sit for her Cambridge ‘O’ Level examinations for October and November, 2019.
However, due to fees arrears the child was not attending school since the beginning of third term of 2019 because she was constantly being sent back home.
“The problem arose when my child appeared to sit for her first examination on October 15, 2019, English Paper 2. The respondent’s school official, the Headmistress Mrs Pauline Makoni and her officials refused to allow her to sit for her examination,” read the application.
Jakarasi said she approached Justice for Children for assistance and the lawyers issued a letter of demand for the school to allow the child to sit for her examinations but she turned down.
She was advised that tuition had been raised to $44 000 for the term, and that the amount she owed them had equally increased on the day her daughter missed her second exam. Jakarasi paid $18 000 and her daughter was allowed to sit for her History examination on October 18, 2019.
On October 21, 2019, the student was barred from writing her Mathematics examination and the school demanded that she pays the balance first.
“Though I owe tuition arrears, the school’s decision to bar my child from writing examinations that are not property or a program of Arundel School, but an independent external examinations body, on the basis of fees I owe to the school is unacceptable,” read the papers.
“Cambridge Examinations is an independent body to which I made full payment. That payment includes the examination fee and the centre fee. The child is thus fully paid to use Arundel School as an examination centre.
“The respondents have ample mechanisms available to them at law to pursue debt recovery against me than to bar her child from writing her examinations.”State media
GIANTS Dynamos, who have called Rufaro their home since time immemorial, have joined in the chorus criticising the state of the playing surface at the Mbare venue.
The Glamour Boys coach Tonderai Ndiraya agreed with his Highlanders counterpart, Hendrik Pieter de Jongh, who revealed he was shocked the pitch was being used for professional football.
This followed the 1-1 league draw in the country’s oldest football rivalry on Sunday.
Players from both teams struggled to apply themselves on the surface which had areas that were dry and bumpy while the middle part of the ground was soaked in mud. Apart from the teams’ shortcomings, and the struggle by the referee to impose himself, both coaches were in agreement that the state of the ground was one of the reasons the fans were robbed of entertaining football.
“The playing surface wasn’t too good for flowing football, to start with. I think it was a difficult pitch for both teams to play some good football,’’ said Ndiraya.
“Naturally, when you get a pitch like that, all your tactics become very difficult to implement.’’
Rufaro needs serious attention as per the recommendation by the stadium inspection team earlier this year. The ground, which is owned by the Harare City Council, reverted to natural grass two years ago after the artificial turf installed by FIFA a decade earlier had suffered because of poor maintenance.
Rufaro was among a host of football stadiums condemned by the First Instance Board which comprises members from PSL and ZIFA and is in charge of inspecting football facilities to ensure they meet the requisite standards.
“Football is for the fans — whether Dynamos, Highlanders, Platinum — for everyone. But football has to be played on a good ground, on a good pitch,’’ said the Bosso coach.
“This pitch is so bad and it doesn’t make it possible for good football.” With the stalemate, Dynamos failed to break a jinx that has now extended to four years without beating their opponents in a league game.
The giants are equal on 40 points with Highlanders occupying seventh place and DeMbare eighth on the log standings.
“I thought a 1-1 draw was a fair result, a good result for us for that matter, especially the fact that we were coming from behind,’’ said Ndiraya.State media
A soldier reportedly shot and killed his wife and seriously injured his mother-in-law before killing himself by the same gun following a misunderstanding at their home in Manyame Park, Chitungwiza, early yesterday morning.
The soldier, attached at Kaguvi Barracks (formerly Old Cranborne Barracks), but based in Masvingo, was later found dead in a garden in the area after allegedly committing suicide using his service gun, an AK 47 rifle.
The motive for the murder cases and attempted murder case remains unclear.
But it is alleged that the two were on separation, with the wife living with her mother. The incident occurred at around 3am.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that investigations are being conducted in connection with the death of a 24 year-old woman in a shooting incident where another woman aged 41 years has been seriously injured.
“The suspect in this case is also alleged to have committed suicide. More details will be released in due course,” he said.
ZNA deputy director public relations Major Alex Zuva said investigations were continuing, and a statement will be issued soon.
Although the details were still sketchy, sources close to the investigations said the soldier who was on duty that night fled the army barracks and headed to Manyame Park.
“From information that we have gathered so far, the soldier was based in Masvingo, but was currently attached in Cranborne.
“He was on duty and at around 3am he disappeared and went to Manyame Park while armed with an AK rifle. He then knocked the door and the wife opened.
“Without saying anything, he shot her once in the head and she died on the spot.
“After hearing noise, the mother-in-law went to check on what transpired and she was also shot on the right ear.”
The soldier then fled the scene after the incident and some neighbours went to check.
The mother-in-law was taken to a local hospital where she is reported to be in a critical condition. The body of the soldier was later recovered in a garden in Manyame Park after he also shot himself.State media
BOND notes and coins will continue being used as legal tender in Zimbabwe for a limited period alongside new notes and coins, which will be put into circulation this month, a senior Government official has said.
Last week, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announced the introduction of new bank notes by mid-November as it moves to end long running cash shortages in the economy.
Finance and Economic Development permanent secretary, Mr George Guvamatanga, dismissed assertions that bond notes would be immediately demonitised once the new notes were introduced.
“The bond notes will still work though, so I am not saying come rush and change the bond note (for the new notes). Initially the bond notes will work alongside the new notes and coins and they will have the same value,” he said.
“At some point we will cut off, if you continue holding them, we will not tell you when we will cut off, but at some point, we will cut off and only remain with the new notes and coins.”
Mr Guvamatanga said the main motivation behind the introduction of the new notes was to alleviate the current cash shortages.
“The new currency when we introduced it (in June this year), was not supported by its own notes and coins and we adopted the bond notes and coins as a form of the physical cash to support the new currency. We are now saying the time is now right for us to bring in new notes and coins, which support the currency that is already there,” he said.State media
FARMERS living close to Charara National Park here have expressed concern over marauding lions which are killing their livestock.
Nyaodza (Ward 26) councillor Wiseman Mumba said cases of human-wildlife conflict were on the increase with lions reportedly having killed 19 cattle since January. “Last year we lost 40 cattle here in Nyaodza, including donkeys,” he said.
“We also lost many goats to hyenas. Since January this year we lost 19 cattle to lions. And, just recently two donkeys were killed by lions which had strayed from Charara National Park along Nyaodza River.”
The marauding animals which include elephants, lions, hyenas, baboons and monkeys often attack livestock and destroy crops for farmers dotted along Charara national park bigger zone.
“We have made several reports to the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, but nothing has been done yet to help us,” said Clr Mumba.
“Whenever we report the cases, parks people say they have no fuel, vehicles and times they just say their vehicles have no tyres. This is a challenge and it’s not helping to reduce attacks on our livestock.”
However, he said they had not been any reports of attacks on humans. Elijah Gunda, a Nyaodza farmer who lost an ox to the lions is bitter. “Parks people are not helping us at all,” he complained bitterly.State media
Denmark pays its students $1,000 a month to go to university and charge no tuition fees. Students are seen as an investment in the future rather than a cost.
Denmark pays its students $1,000 a month to go to university and charge no tuition fees. Students are seen as an investment in the future rather than a cost.pic.twitter.com/RJ8qf3STha
Farai Dziva| Constantino Chiwenga is expectes to return home soon, Zanu PF insiders have said.
Chiwenga has been battling a stomach ailment suspected to be a result of poisoning.
ZANU PF sources quoted by Bulawayo24 said a meeting was held recently at Mnangagwa’s farm to discuss the former army commander’s return.
“I can authoritatively tell you that there was a meeting held at the farm of Number 1 recently where among other issues, the update on the health of the General was discussed.”
“You are aware that there has been widespread speculation on the souring relations between Number 1 and the General so there has to be a way of having the two show a united face when the General comes back because according to reports he has fully recovered and is expected in the country anytime soon,” sources told the publication.
Farai Dziva|Chippa United coach Norman Mapeza says the referee was a bit harsh on them in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
Chippa crashed out of the tournament after losing 4-3 on penalties and also finished the game with ten men following Tercious Malepe’s red card in the extra-time.
Mapeza believes the expulsion plus a couple of yellow cards for his players was too harsh, but there was nothing the team will do about it.
In a post-match interview with SuperSport TV, the Zimbabwean gaffer said: “I think the referee was a little bit harsh on us but at the end of the day I’m still new here.
“I don’t want to talk much about the referees, I don’t know how they operate, so it’s unfortunate to end up getting those six yellow cards, definitely it’s going to affect us in our next few matches but you know it has happened and there’s nothing we can do.”
The result handed Mapeza’s second defeat since taking over at the South African club last month.
A soldier reportedly shot and killed his wife and seriously injured his mother-in-law before killing himself by the same gun following a misunderstanding at their home in Manyame Park, Chitungwiza, early yesterday morning.
The soldier, attached at Kaguvi Barracks (formerly Old Cranborne Barracks), but based in Masvingo, was later found dead in a garden in the area after allegedly committing suicide using his service gun, an AK 47 rifle.
The motive for the murder cases and attempted murder case remains unclear.But it is alleged that the two were on separation, with the wife living with her mother.
The incident occurred at around 3am. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that investigations are being conducted in connection with the death of a 24 year-old woman in a shooting incident where another woman aged 41 years has been seriously injured.
“The suspect in this case is also alleged to have committed suicide. More details will be released in due course,” he said.
ZNA deputy director public relations Major Alex Zuva said investigations were continuing, and a statement will be issued soon.
Although the details were still sketchy, sources close to the investigations said the soldier who was on duty that night fled the army barracks and headed to Manyame Park.
“From information that we have gathered so far, the soldier was based in Masvingo, but was currently attached in Cranborne.
“He was on duty and at around 3am he disappeared and went to Manyame Park while armed with an AK rifle. He then knocked the door and the wife opened.
“Without saying anything, he shot her once in the head and she died on the spot.
“After hearing noise, the mother-in-law went to check on what transpired and she was also shot on the right ear.”
The soldier then fled the scene after the incident and some neighbours went to check.
The mother-in-law was taken to a local hospital where she is reported to be in a critical condition. The body of the soldier was later recovered in a garden in Manyame Park after he also shot himself.
In February last year, a soldier allegedly fired about 20 shots with an AK47 rifle, killing his wife, her two siblings and injuring his 18-month-old son before shooting himself in a suicide attempt in New Magwegwe suburb.
Carlos Tinashe Chapeyema (23) was based in Gweru and attached to the Zimbabwe National Army Infantry Battalion Brigade in Battlefields, Kwekwe.
Chapeyema and his wife lived in Mutare, but she had recently returned to her parents, accusing the soldier of physically abusing her.
In March, a Harare man allegedly shot dead his estranged wife and brother-in-law in Gletwin Park. Petros Pomborokani escaped after the murder in March this year and police are still struggling to locate him. – state media
Patients seeking treatment at Harare City Council clinics were yesterday left stranded, while others had to wait for long periods to be attended to after nurses failed to turn up for work citing incapacitation. By end of day yesterday, most nurses had heeded a call by their workers’ union to stop reporting for work.
Patients on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and those with chronic diseases such as diabetes had to wait for long periods before getting medication as available administrative staff tried to cope with the pressure.
City Health director Dr Prosper Chonzi said the municipality might have to collapse other units, discharge patients who are stable and consolidate services should the situation remain unchanged.
“We have to come up with strategies to minimise damage and mitigate challenges,” he said.
“We might need to get all the sisters-in charge who are currently reporting for duty to go to our 12 Polyclinics so that patients get services there,”
Dr Chonzi said this could result in family health and satellite clinics being closed until normal services resumed. “Our system is driven by nurses and in their absence we have difficulties in offering normal service,” he said.
The nurses, through their representative body, the Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Nurses Workers Union (ZURCNWU) said they had taken the position in light of the current economic challenges.
The nurses demanded that their salaries of about $1 000 be reviewed taking into account the prevailing interbank rate.
“We also want to bring it to your attention that your failure to address our members’ issues coupled with this current increase in the price of fuel and basic commodities has left them severely incapacitated that they are now unable to report for duty,” read a statement signed by the ZURCNWU executive committee.
The situation at government hospitals remained desperate, with doctors vowing not to report for work as they await the final outcome of their disciplinary hearings.
The Health Services Board and the Ministry of Health and Child Care could not be reached to comment on the latest development, with some officials saying they wanted to first update Cabinet on the state of healthcare. -state media
The Braai Out Zw event organisers who had declared war on Delta Beverages for sabotaging them by making their Biggest Braai Festival event clash with theirs in Harare this past weekend were left smiling after hundreds turned out for their event as chaos rocked the former.
Both events ended up being held on Saturday after Delta Beverages postponed their event because of the anti-sanctions march last month, something which did not go down well with Braai Out organisers who felt Delta were not being fair on them.
According to our sister newspaper The Herald, the Castle Lager National Braai Day (braai festival) seemed to have been ill-fated as it was chaotic from the entrance points to the meat and beverages serving points. As if that was not enough, the sound did not do event organisers any favour as it was also terrible, forcing main act Winky D who had delayed to take to the stage, to abort his performance. Missiles were also thrown on stage during Freeman’s act because of the poor sound.
“The sound was so poor that fans thought the musician (Winky D) was being sabotaged,” reported The Herald yesterday.
Close sources added that scores of people ended up ditching the biggest braai at Old Hararians Sports Club for the braai out at Kingfisher Park, which was just a few kilometres away. Those who attended the Braai Out Zw which was headlined by Jah Prayzah and Selmor Mtukudzi said they had a good outing as the event was well organised. Trevor Dongo also made a surprise appearance and added onto the fun. Commenting on the sound at the event, one patron in apparent reference to the biggest braai, simply said: “you took all the good sound in Harare. The sound was on point and everything was flawless.”
Braai Out Zw organiser, Nigel Kudzai Chinovhiringa, who days earlier, had ranted about how Delta Beverages were ‘sabotaging’ his event, was ecstatic yesterday. He said they exceeded their expectations as the turnout was amazing.
“The event was a major success as it had a good turnout which exceeded my expectations due to the other braai event which took place just near us. Words can’t even describe how I’m feeling,” said Chinovhiringa.
He said as a result of the success of the braai out’s third edition, they are now looking into developing the concept to other regions in the country.-state media
Warriors’ back-to-back 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled for later this month have had the football authorities at ZIFA scratching their heads. They have a bill of close to US$200 000 needed to foot the opening fixtures of the 2021 Afcon campaign against Botswana and Zambia. The matches are set to be played in a space of four days.
The Warriors are set to go into camp next week ahead of the home game against Botswana at Barbourfields on November 15, before travelling to Zambia to meet former African champions Chipolopolo on November 19.
ZIFA acting vice president Phillemon Machana, who is also the board member responsible for finance, yesterday told The Herald that they face a hectic month because of the back-to-back assignment.
Many of their prospective partners have taken the back seat in this harsh economic environment where prices of goods and services have been spiralling out of control.
Machana said they have secured quotations for air tickets for 13 players based in Europe, 11 in South Africa and one in Zambia and they were also working on the logistics for the players’ allowances, accommodation and local transport.
“What I can only say is that it’s very expensive to host back-to-back games of this kind,’’ he said.
“Imagine up to 70-80 percent of our players called for this game are coming from outside the country and that would mean they have to be flown in.
“From the quotation that we have, we would need something like US$4 700 to bring in one player from Europe, inclusive of the airfares and accommodation for the duration of the two games.
“The association needs about US$80 000 to travel with the whole team to Zambia and this includes accommodation.
“This figure also covers the air tickets for the referees and payment of the match commissioner for the home game.
“Then we will need camping for the two games. We need transport and the allowances for the players, among many other things, yet the economy is screaming like this.
“And we still have people (ZIFA creditors) coming after our accounts every time we have these games. For now it seems like we are on our own in this. We have been knocking on the doors of both the Government and private sector.
“For some reason, they haven’t been able to come on board. Maybe, it’s the economy. But make no mistake, we will make sure that the games are fulfilled with what is available to us although we are saying the door is still open to anyone who wants to chip in.’’
He said they were desperately in need of partners.
“We have always stated that ZIFA need partners, be it in providing accommodation, transport, water, allowances for players or anything that helps lessen the burden on the association,’’ he said.
“We welcome anyone who wants to partner us. We are a very transparent organisation.
“In the past we have always held that sponsors can assist in kind or that they can deal directly with the service providers, remembering that this is a national project, not a ZIFA baby.’’
The Warriors are expected to begin camp in Bulawayo next Monday, for the home match against Botswana.
ZIFA are happy that the Government has been helping with securing passports for the players born, and raised abroad, like Macauley Bonne, Adam Chicksen, Jordan Zemura, Tivonge Rushesha and Cliff Moyo.
“We appreciate that the Government has come in a big way to help in this issue. It has taken long for players like Bonne, but we are happy with what is happening,’’ said Machana.
“It’s a demonstration of common purpose and it shows this is for Zimbabwe as a whole. We hope results will come as expected. When we succeed, we succeed together.
“Of course, there are challenges in the economy, but we have to concentrate more on the positives. The goal is to win our matches. It has been long since we had such a high-profile match in Bulawayo.
“So we want the supporters in Bulawayo to come in their numbers and support the boys. We have to fill up the stadium.’’
Warriors squad:
Goalkeepers: Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka) Martin Mapisa (Velez CF) Simbarashe Chinani (Dynamos)
Defenders: Douglas Nyaupembe (Stockport County) Ian Nekati (ZPC Kariba) Cliff Moyo (Kidderminister Harriers) Divine Lunga (Lamontville Golden Arrows) Adam Chicksen (Bolton Wanderers) Jordan Zemura (Bournemouth) Ronald Pfumbidzai (Bloemfontein Celtic) Teenage Hadebe (Yeni Malatyaspor) Alec Mudimu (CEFN Druids) Partson Jaure (Manica Diamonds) Kelvin Moyo (Chippa United)
The Zimbabwe National Army bomb disposal squad and police successfully detonated a grenade that was found in Bulawayo’s Sunninghill suburb.
The grenade was found on a road by a man who was walking in the suburb on Friday. Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango yesterday confirmed the incident.
Police suspect that the grenade is from the liberation war era but it is not known how it found its way onto the road.
“Police and ZNA bomb disposal squad on November 2 successfully detonated a live grenade in Sunninghill suburb. The grenade was found by a 31-year-old man as he was walking down the street in the suburb. After discovering the object, he reported the matter to the police who together with ZNA officers attended the scene and successfully set it off. They removed the grenade from the scene and detonated it at a nearby bushy area without injuring anyone,” said Chief Insp Simango.
She said the grenade had its safety pin stuck on its shell and it was safely detonated.
Chief Insp Simango urged members of the public not to tamper with objects that they do not know.
“We want to applaud the person who noticed the explosive and reported it to responsible authorities. We also want to appeal to members of the public that if they come across alien objects, they should not tamper with them as some of them might be lethal. We are grateful that the explosive did not explode on anyone despite being found in a residential area,” said Chief Insp Simango.
Zimbabwe National Army 1 Infantry Brigade Public Relations Officer Captain Brian Muchero could not comment on the matter saying he was not in office.
Four months ago, a grenade was found in Emganwini suburb and it was believed to have been left during the liberation war.
The explosive was discovered by a builder who was digging at a house undergoing renovations.
At that time, Cpt Muchero described the explosive as an M962 fragmentation hand grenade.
He warned the public not to tamper with such objects.
An M962 grenade has a killing radius of about 15 metres and general blast radius of about 200 metres.- state media
A LOCAL church leader was on Friday arrested for allegedly duping a Chitungwiza businessman of foreign currency needed for a consignment of Bibles for his congregation.
Apostle Isaiah Zhanje of Jesus Christ New Life International Church’s grace luck ran out after he was offered more money by Tinashe Sithole for a laptop he was selling leading to his arrest.
He was detained at Chitungwiza police station under police reference RRB 4136120 and is expected to appear in court today.
Narrating how he was duped, Sithole told H-Metro that he lost US$57 after he was made to believe that the man of cloth had more than one farm, trucks and containers urging him to visit his Harare offices where he conducts church services.
“This apostle came to my workplace dropping flyers for his ministry showing a Daventry House address where he claimed he conducts church services every Sunday,” said Sithole.
“For three weeks he would pass through my place at Chikwanha Shopping Centre asking me to charge his cellphone.
“Apostle Zhanje would talk more about his wealth more than inviting us to his church or even quoting Holy Scriptures.
“I believed him since I was looking for a container and we signed an agreement on a rent to buy basis and got the copies certified before a Commissioner of Oaths.
“It was at the Commissioner of Oaths where he refused to produce a national identity card and convinced him to certify the agreement using a fake birth certificate.
He was made to believe that the container was at Westgate and paid US$57.
Afterwards, Apostle Zhanje could not be seen and would not answer Sithole’s calls.
Sithole was shown a laptop by Apostle Zhanje and asked to pay part payment or full amount since they had agreed to make big deals.
“I sent a text message fooling him that I had US$400 he wanted for his laptop and that is when he responded by calling me,” Sithole.
“Upon his arrival at Chikwanha, I informed police leading to his arrest.
“He never told anyone about his arrest including church members that I doubt if he has any ministry he is leading.
“Kana iriko kereke yake zvoreva kuti Sunday Havana mufudzi nekuti avemumaoko evemutemo vomboshumirawo kwaari,” said Sithole.
— HMetro
By A Correspondent| A fatal crash involving two commuter omnibuses along Seke road this evening left several passengers battling for life.
One of the drivers of the kombis involved in the accident was lying in the middle of the road in a pool of blood minutes after the tragic accident after sustaining serious head injuries.
Several commuters who were in the other kombi involved in the crash were rushed to hospital but eye witnesses at the scene of the accident told ZimEye that several had been seriously injured.
Said witnesses who arrived at the scene of the accident which occurred just after Hatfield at an area known as PamaOrange:
“The seriously injured driver who is battling for life and bleeding profusely made a turn and he wanted to cross the busy Seke road. But he probably did not notice that the other kombi coming from Chitungwiza was fast approaching. He thought that he could cross before it and he hit it in the middle and this is why it overturned.
Several people have been seriously injured and it will not be shocking to hear that some of them died.”
Added another eye witness:
“The man that you are seeing being assisted by medical personnel misjudged the speed of the kombi coming from Chitungwiza towards the city centre but this kombi was speeding resulting in the fatal crash.”
Police details attending the scene of the accident did not reveal any details regarding the number of the casualties or deaths insisting that a comment should be obtained from the relevant police department.
The place where the accident occurred is now regarded as a black spot considering the number of accidents that occur at this same area.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
Farai Dziva|ZINASU has accused authorities at Bindura University of Science Education of plotting to rig SRC elections.
See below a statement on the alleged plot to rig SRC elections at the university:
The Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) has cancelled the Student Representative Council (SRC) election which was supposed to be held today the 4th of November 2019.
The election has been postponed to the 11th of November 2019.
No reasons were cited for the postponement by the Dean of Students Dr. Makadho when he communicated the news on Sunday the 03rd of November 2019.
What is shocking is that Sunday is not a working day and the Dean was not in his office.
We are afraid that during the period between today and the 11th of November, the election may be rigged in favour of SPP or ZICOSU who can be easily controlled by the administration. It is clear that the authorities were panicking because of the imminent and inevitable victory of ZINASU which conducted a very vibrant campaign.
ZINASU campaign shook the whole small mining town to the extent that several vehicles without number plates were seen wherever ZINASU took its campaigns. It is also clear that the ZINASU had outdone its opponents, SPP and ZICOSU masquerading as the “Diplomats”.
By A Correspondent- CBZ Holdings Limited last week held a two-day young entrepreneurs mentoring programme to capacitate youths with skills to sustain and grow globally competitive businesses.
Speaking at the fourth edition of the CBZ youth entrepreneurship programme workshop, group marketing executive Matilda Nyati said the initiative created a platform for youths to network.
“I am glad that this programme has provided a fertile ground for youths to meet and enrich their entrepreneurship skills.
“This initiative is designed to offer training services to entrepreneurs with the capacity to sustain and grow them locally and globally.
“The two-day training workshops, will basically be a learning and bonding journey for participants and an ultimate winner will be announced at the end, but I would say every participant is a winner and will gain knowledge from this workshop,” she said.
Empowered Life Trust director Jonah Mungoshi said: “It is a practical and results-based initiative to produce growth-oriented and profitable businesses that are run professionally by youths from all the country’s 10 provinces.”
Since 2016, 3 000 young people have been trained under the programme and 400 business have been started.
“Many young Zimbabweans graduating from universities, colleges and high schools have no option, but to become entrepreneurs due to lack of employment. The programme seeks to improve Zimbabwean youths, including those who are in the rural areas, through offering business opportunities which will in turn create employment opportunities,” Mungoshi said.
By A Correspondent- Tshabalala residents on Thursday last week forced the abandonment of a maize distribution exercise as they protested the hijacking of the programme by Zanu PF officials in the area.
Government, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), is distributing food aid to hungry urbanites, particularly the vulnerable such as the elderly and orphans across the country.
Food monitoring agencies estimate that over 1,5 million urban dwellers are facing severe food shortages, a situation worsened by the harsh economic climate.
There have been several reports of Zanu PF officials hijacking the food aid programme despite the ruling party’s denials, and on Thursday, frustrated Tshabalala’s ward 21 residents protested the unfair distribution exercise, forcing it to be abandoned.
The incident took place at Tshabalala Hall. Ward 21 councillor Tinewimbo Maphosa (MDC Alliance) confimed the protests.“What happened on Thursday is that known Zanu PF members were distributing aid to their supporters and disgruntled residents, including war veterans and youths, then confronted the officials and told them that what they were doing was illegal,” the councillor said.
Maphosa said following an intervention by the Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare ministry officials, the residents agreed that going forward, the food distribution would be done by church representatives.
“The residents agreed that no politician should be involved in the distribution of food. These Zanu PF politicians were leaving out deserving people and giving the aid to their own people. If you look at Sizinda and Tshabalala, there are a lot of widows and orphans,” he said.
About three weeks ago, Zanu PF politburo member Absalom Sikhosana complained to Vice-President Kembo Mohadi that social welfare officials were sidelining Zanu PF officials from food distribution in the city.
Last week, Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said those who claim party officials were hijacking the government food aid programmes must report to party offices.
By A Correspondent- Parliament has urged government to deal with key factors that are hindering industrialisation in the country in its forthcoming 2020 budget expected to be announced on November 14.
The Felix Mhona-led Budget and Finance Parliamentary Portfolio Committee told delegates at the 2020 pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls that the deteriorating energy situation in the country and acute shortage of foreign currency were seriously affecting industry.
The factors to be tackled include erratic electricity and water supplies so that the country is at par with other African countries in the Accelerated Industrial growth for Africa.
“Erratic key enablers of industry such as water, electricity and good transport networks is affecting industrial growth and heavy reliance on generators for power back up is unsustainable,” the Budget and Finance Portfolio Committee report read.
“The acute shortages of foreign currency, unstable macro-economic environment epitomised by rising inflation, legacy debts for companies, and negative growth and influx of consumables, constituting 82% of import expenditure, are affecting business.”
Mhona said at recent public hearings by the committee, participants noted that lack of proper manufacturing infrastructure could affect the industrialisation programme.
“The public noted with concern the lack of proper infrastructure and control systems at most ports of entry, resulting in rampant smuggling which is hurting the local industry.
The business community raised concern that they are subjected to double taxation through corporate tax and the 2% (intermediated electronic) transaction tax. Members of the public also vehemently opposed the 2% tax and called for its scrapping,” the committee said.
Recently when different captains of industry appeared before the Budget and Finance Portfolio Committee to speak on their 2020 budget proposals, they bemoaned the need for clarity on deficit financing in the country.
“They said there is need for adequate funding of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority so that it plugs loopholes to improve border systems efficiency as well as modernisation of infrastructure at the country’s ports as the country prepares for industrialisation,” Mhona said.
On tax incentives, the committee said companies that invest in new plant and equipment and demonstrate the number of new jobs that are likely to be created from the new investment should be awarded significant tax incentives.
“The 2020 Finance Act should provide for rationalisation of duty regimes for imported raw materials and finished products by removing inconsistencies like on fluorescent bulbs where no duty is charged on finished products yet there is duty on components for the local manufacture of the same products,” the committee said.
To ensure that mining was also in line with the industrialisation agenda, the committee said there was need to review the numerous taxes charged to mining companies so that they are in line with best practices.
“The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority must respect the contracts it has with miners, where they pay for electricity in foreign currency and yet they do not get the power. It must respect the uninterrupted power agreements,” the committee said.
By A Correspondent- The fissures emerging from within the rank and file of the ruling Zanu PF party have grabbed the attention of MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, who is looking to capitalise on the internal fights to upstage President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chamisa, who has refused to recognise Mnangagwa’s presidency, said his party was eagerly following the challenges in Zanu PF and the internal fights which saw Mnangagwa calling on the Zanu PF youth league to flush out remnants of the G40 faction in his party.
“We are watching what is happening. We are very clear about the developments. We also know in Zanu PF, there are developments there. We are closely watching. Action is coming, but action will only come when we have done what has to be done. You may think that we are not doing anything; we are pulling all our strength to make sure that we tighten all the screws so that when we do what has to be done, there will not be any problem,” Chamisa said in a video he recorded live on Facebook.
The MDC, which has been struggling to make inroads into rural Zimbabwe, said it was activating a plan which would help them field 210 parliamentary candidates and councillors in all wards in the next general election so that they match and beat Zanu PF.
“We are already preparing for our candidates where we don’t have a seating MP, particularly in the rural areas. We want to make sure that we go big on the rural strategy; we go big on rural elections. I know you have been wondering what’s happening on the issue of by-elections, we know what we are doing. We are studying, assessing our weak points, our strong points, where our competitors are manipulating our parents in the rural areas, so that we deal with it and are able to move forward,” Chamisa added.
By A Correspondent- Teachers and civil servants felt insulted by Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube for saying that they will get bonuses because of the government’s austerity measures.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PUTZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said civil servants have failed to get bonuses only once in 38 years, and Minister Ncube’s statement is preposterous.
Said Majongwe:
For the past 38 years, civil servants have been getting a bonus save for just one year.
To want to make the nation believe that we are getting a bonus because of austerity is not only misleading but dangerous. He wants us to glorify a tool that is behind our suffering as if we have ever failed to get a bonus.
Ncube posted a message on his social media account where he announced that civil servants will be able to get a bonus “thanks to austerity”. He, however, did not elaborate on when the bonus will be paid.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF youths in Mashonaland East have vowed to defend President Emmerson Mnangagwa at all costs, saying they will effect a citizens arrest to anyone who insults their leader.
Speaking at a victory celebration event held at Masenda Secondary School, ward 6, in Mudzi West on Saturday, provincial youth chairperson Kelvin Mutsvairo said the youth league will do anything to defend Mnangagwa’s rule and that they will deal with anyone who criticises their leader.
“We are going to defend President Mnangagwa until eternity, we will also defend Zanu PF as a party until eternity. We are going to deal with anyone who insults our President. If the police fail to arrest anyone insulting the President, we, as youths, will do so in our own capacity,” he said.
Mnangagwa is currently under pressure from both internal cadres and opposition party members over how he is running the country’s economy. Last week, Mnangagwa told party youths that there were some G40 elements in Zanu PF who were burning the midnight oil to destabilise the party as well as criticising his rule. The ruling party leader has been relying on the youth league’s support who have been attacking perceived economy saboteurs, among them party officials.
Meanwhile, Mudzi West Zanu PF ward 6 councillor Arnold Katsande said it is high time the constituency, a Zanu PF stronghold, was electrified.
Katsande, who is one of the Zanu PF youthful councillors, has embarked on a road rehabilitation programme in his ward.
“Zanu PF is a party that fulfils its election promises. We are happy that we have youthful councillors who have excelled in delivering their election promises,” Mutsvairo said.
By A Correspondent- A 40 year old Guruve teacher was last week sentenced to an effective four years behind bars after stealing building materials worth $30 000.
Isaah Wachenuka (40) of Chipangura Secondary School was convicted after full trial by Guruve magistrate Shingirai Mutiro.
Prosecutor Carson Kundiona told the court that on August 19 and at Chipangura School, Wachenuka unlawfully took duplicate keys to a storeroom.
He connived with his son and two other school children, who are yet to be sentenced for stealing various building materials.
Police then promised $800 reward to anyone with information on the theft and following a tip-off they recovered some of the stolen building material from the teacher.
In another case, a 32-year-old Mvurwi farm worker was sentenced to four years by Mutiro after he stole a motor bike, five crates of eggs and 15 litres of petrol valued at $26 000 from his employer.
George Zimbudzi Tigere Mazuva will, however, spend three years in prison after the magistrate conditionally suspended a year.
The court heard that on October 3, Davison Chirenje (62) left his motorbike parked in a kitchen with its ignition keys, the convict stole the motorbike, petrol and eggs.
Soon after the discovery of the theft, Chirenje filed a police report at Mvurwi Police Station who then found the stolen bike in Muzarabani after it was sold to one Dhirau. Upon interrogation, Dhirau implicated Mazuva, leading to his arrest.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special advisor on national peace and reconciliation Professor Clever Nyathi recently resigned from his position.
Sources at the Office of the President and Cabinet in Harare alleged that Nyathi resigned over disagreements with the Harare Administration on how to handle the National reconciliation project.
After the November 2017 coup Nyathi who is a conflict resolution specialist was appointed as labour minister and dropped after few hours when Mnangagwa realised he had no legal right to appoint Professor Nyathi.
Other special advisors are Ambassador Chris Mutvangwa and Senator Joshua Malinga.
Nyathi who was born in Motobo in 1950 has a combined 25 years of top level public sector, private sector and academic management experience, including high level institutional management and capacity building, including process facilitation and building national capacities for conflict transformation.
Over the past 6 years, he has worked and consulted for UNDP in various capacities as senior professional in conflict transformation capacity building, dialogue facilitation and practice.
Nyathi has not yet spoken out to the public regarding the alleged resignation.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo told Western diplomats before and after making an intemperate rant against the United States ambassador last week that he was not the originator of the statement.
Moyo issued a signed statement on October 31 which he also read at a media conference, threatening to expel Ambassador Brian Nichols for alleged meddling in Zimbabwe’s domestic affairs.
Now diplomatic sources have told ZimLive that Moyo – a well-regarded figure in diplomatic circles – gave signals before and after the statement was issued that it had been foisted on him by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office.
Before raging against Nichols, the two men met in Moyo’s office.
“SB is good,” one diplomat said. “We are satisfied he didn’t originate the statement, it was sent down from Mnangagwa’s office for him to take ownership of it.”
The revelations point to deep divisions within the government on how to approach United States sanctions on Zimbabwe – with Mnangagwa favouring aggressive diplomacy.
Moyo has been leading Zimbabwe’s efforts to re-engage with Western countries whose earlier optimism about Mnangagwa’s regime has given way to the kind of belligerence that typified Western diplomats’ dealings with longtime leader Robert Mugabe, who was ousted by the military in 2017 in a conspiracy with Mnangagwa.
Moyo is anxious not to end up on a list of 142 individuals and entities subject to a United States travel ban and asset freeze.
In the statement, he threatened that Zimbabwe would expel Ambassador Nichols and stop all contact with the United States embassy.
He appeared particularly angry with comments by Nichols blaming Zimbabwe’s economic woes on official corruption, citing the specific case of Sakunda Holdings owned by Kudakwashe Tagwirei which is accused of looting billions of dollars. Tagwirei is a benefactor of the regime, bankrolling some of the broke government’s programmes, like the controversial Command Agriculture which a parliamentary committee recently said was a conduit for industrial-scale theft from state coffers.
A decision by the United States to impose sanctions on State Security Minister Owen Ncube, accused of overseeing abductions of government critics and shutting down the internet during fuel protests in January, also rattled the regime coming a day after Mnangagwa led poorly-subscribed anti-sanctions marches on October 25.
The United States embassy is treating the statement issued by Moyo as “bluster”, ZimLive understands.
Said a diplomatic source: “Try to imagine a visa office in South Africa, or USAID withdrawing from Zimbabwe. Can you? Can they (the government)? I suspect not.”
Government spokesman Nick Mangwana dismissed any suggestion that Moyo was denouncing his own statement.
“Firstly, as you can see from the statement, it was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable SB Moyo himself. I can assure you that his signature was not forged.
“Secondly, the statement was certainly prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the President or his office did not have an input in its content or tone.
“And lastly, it is in not correct that the minister disowned the statement. Any such suggestions are just mischievous as the circulation of that statement was done per his expressed instructions.”
State Media|Nurses at all council clinics in Harare have gone on strike with effect from today citing incapacitation.
By midmorning on Monday only sisters-in-charge had reported for work at most local authority owned clinics.
In an interview with The Herald this morning, City Health director Dr Prosper Chonzi said the latest development was a big blow to health sector considering the current withdrawal of labour by doctors at government hospitals.
“As you know, most patients were now receiving treatment from clinics because of the current industrial action at central hospitals. This development will leave more patients stranded and with no alternatives to care,” said Dr Chonzi.
NewsDay|THE fissures emerging from within the rank and file of the ruling Zanu PF party have grabbed the attention of MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, who is looking to capitalise on the internal fights to upstage President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chamisa, who has refused to recognise Mnangagwa’s presidency, said his party was eagerly following the challenges in Zanu PF and the internal fights which saw Mnangagwa calling on the Zanu PF youth league to flush out remnants of the G40 faction in his party.
“We are watching what is happening. We are very clear about the developments. We also know in Zanu PF, there are developments there. We are closely watching. Action is coming, but action will only come when we have done what has to be done. You may think that we are not doing anything; we are pulling all our strength to make sure that we tighten all the screws so that when we do what has to be done, there will not be any problem,” Chamisa said in a video he recorded live on Facebook.
The MDC, which has been struggling to make inroads into rural Zimbabwe, said it was activating a plan which would help them field 210 parliamentary candidates and councillors in all wards in the next general election so that they match and beat Zanu PF.
“We are already preparing for our candidates where we don’t have a seating MP, particularly in the rural areas. We want to make sure that we go big on the rural strategy; we go big on rural elections. I know you have been wondering what’s happening on the issue of by-elections, we know what we are doing. We are studying, assessing our weak points, our strong points, where our competitors are manipulating our parents in the rural areas, so that we deal with it and are able to move forward,” Chamisa added.
The opposition leader said this week he would be presenting a Hope of The Nation Address, in which he will outline the path which the MDC wants the country to take in the face of an economic meltdown.
“We are very clear about what has to be done. I know the suffering that is out there. I have been without electricity myself here for almost 16 hours and I can tell you that I am retreating to my village because it’s better there,” Chamisa said.
“We are going to be delivering the Hope of The Nation Address. It’s going to deal with a lot of issues; our perspectives, economically, politically and socially, our thoughts and the way forward in our view and what has to be done for this country.”
Chamisa said he was working towards building a stronger party with a branch denoted by every polling station in the country.
“We are in the process of working on a number of activities to strengthen our party. We are now moving from being a top-heavy party to being a grassroots-driven party that has lower structures,” he said.
“That’s what we are already working on to make sure we strengthen our branches, so every polling station is going to have branch structures. We are trying to work on our election preparedness, targeting our first time voters. We want to capture young people so that they take us forward.”
Mnangagwa has been battling to ensure a united Zanu PF since he came to power following a coup in November 2017 amid fears that some parliamentarians were out to impeach him with the help of MDC legislators.
Addressing a youth league meeting last Thursday, Mnangagwa said he was aware of the seemingly vanquished G40 elements in the party and they needed to be flushed out.
“I, however, commend those who have remained loyal and faithful to the party and its leadership, especially these moments of manifestations by those we perceive to be one of us. I encourage you all to continue to work hard for the good of the party and guard against the whims of the enemies of our party. We still have elements of the G40 participating among us as wolves in sheep’s clothing these must be flushed out, not only in the youth league, but also within the rank and file of the party in general,” said Mnangagwa in a speech that has excited Chamisa.
Sportslens|Aston Villa narrowly missed out on the chance to secure their biggest league victory of the season on Saturday.
The Midland outfit were a goal up against Liverpool until the 87th minute, only to eventually succumb to two late goals.
Trezeguet opened his Villa account in the 21st minute after putting John McGinn’s free-kick beyond Alisson’s reach, and the hosts held on for as long as they could.
However, they were made to wait for their fourth victory of the campaign after Andy Robertson arrived at the back post to head Liverpool level after Sadio Mane’s cross caught the hosts unaware, and things got worse when the Senegalese grabbed a winner from a corner in the 94th minute.
The defeat hurt given that Dean Smith’s men were impressive for the majority of the game, and Premier League legend Ian Wright reckons they are going to be fine going forward.
The former striker also singled out Marvellous Nakamba and Trezeguet for praises, and the duo will hope to keep impressing going forward.
“Villa were brilliant today, like the manager said, they were very disappointed because it was a lack of concentration,” Wright said on BBC MOTD.
“When you look at someone like Nakamba, very impressive Nakamba today…Trezeguet his best game for Villa for me today, and then you’ve got Mings and Engels at the back.
“I think Villa are gonna be fine, they were really good.”
Nakamba put in a tireless performance against the Reds, winning more tackles (five) and gaining possession more often (nine times) than any of his team-mates.
The holding midfielder has hit the ground running at Villa Park since arriving from Club Brugge during the summer, and he is proving to be one of the best in his position in the English top-flight.
TRIANGLE FC’s fairytale run in the Caf Confederation Cup came to a halt at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday after they failed to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit suffered at the hands of Mauritanian champions FC Noudhibou a week ago.
A 3-2 victory over 10-man FC Noudhibou was not enough to send the Lowveld side into the mini-league stage of the competition. Two disallowed goals in each half, rushed efforts and a genuine second-half penalty call turned down summed up a bad day in office for coach Taurai Mangwiro’s Sugar Boys, who tasted the bitter side of the continental club game.
The visitors finished the game one man short after substitute Sidi Yocub was shown a straight red card in the 70th minute for stepping on Kudzai Chigwida in an off the ball incident.
On a day Triangle needed three goals without reply to progress, they found themselves trailing as early as the sixth minute. Skipper Ralph Kawondera needlessly lost possession in the middle of the park to pacey striker Side Touda, who raced into the hosts’ box before feeding his striking partner Yassim Elwely to slot home with ease.
A minute later, the hosts thought they had restored parity through Collins Dhuwa, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Triangle would go into the break with one foot out of the competition.
Mangwiro made two first-half substitutions in a bid to add more fire power upfront.
Defender Obey Mwerahari and Gerald Bero made way for Simba Makoni and Brian Chikwenya as the hosts searched for goals in vain.
Triangle drew level in the 49th minute through Makoni’s close range header. What followed after was 10 minutes of thrilling drama. Kawondera had an effort ruled out for offside by South Sudanese referee Ring Malong. Moments after that incident, Triangle had a penalty appeal turned down after what appeared to be a clear handball offence inside the box. However, Kawondera sent the hosts into the lead in the 53rd minute.
Three minutes later, Elwely sealed his brace after finishing off a devastating counter attack from the visitors. At that point it was clear Triangle were on their way out of the competition.
Tinashe Chivandire scored their third goal in the 81st minute, but it was way too late to recover from the blow that had been delivered by the visitors. A disappointed Mangwiro felt his side was let down by poor officiating.
“I would like to say sorry to the nation, we were not good enough today. We gave it a fight, but we fell short. It was a matter of being so near yet so far. I do not want to take anything away from the visitors, they fought well, but my question is; was the playing field level? Were we given a chance to compete or it was a matter of fulfilling the fixture? Not that I am perfect, but all I want is to be given a fair chance to compete. I thought we were not afforded that chance. How do you explain the selection of match officials for these games? Yes, the biggest undoing was to allow them to surge ahead, but the response from the boys was sound,” said Mangwiro.
FC Nouadhibou general manager Mauril Njoya, who stood in for coach Santiago Martinez in the post-match interview said: “I did not recognise my side today. Our opponents played well but they were unlucky.”
Own Correspondent|Cape Town City’s shocked the local football scene at midnight to announce the termination of Benni McCarthy’s contract, the 41-year-old coach has now moved quickly to break the silence.
McCarthy leaves City after three seasons at the club, a job which was his first appointment since qualifying as as a UEFA A License accredited coach in 2016.
The former Bafana Bafana striker took to social media to thank the club for handing him the opportunity, while also admitting bitter disappointment.
I’m disappointed to end my time at the Club but I would like to nevertheless thank the Club,& particularly the players,the fans and the community of Cape Town for their support and commitment over the last two years.I’m proud of my time at the Club and wish them all the best ?? pic.twitter.com/S4K7poOzv0
McCarthy posted: “I’m disappointed to end my time at the Club but I would like to nevertheless thank the Club and particularly the players, the fans and the community of Cape Town for their support and commitment over the last two years. I’m proud of my time at the Club and wish them all the best.
It now remains to be seen what the future holds for both McCarthy and City’s coaching seat. Rumours of his possible replacements have already been thrown about. They include the likes of Muhsin Ertugral, Cavin Johnson, Fadlu Davids and Stuart Baxter.
Meanwhile, the Citizens have a league game this week. City will host Polokwane City at home on Wednesday at 19:30.
Reuters – The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Monday detained and charged a cabinet minister and long-time ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa for abuse of office alleged to have cost the government $3.7 million, the second high-profile graft case this year.
Joram Gumbo, a minister in the presidency, was arrested on suspicion of directing a government-owned airline formed in 2017 to use a property owned by his relative as its headquarters, according to a charge sheet seen by Reuters.
Gumbo, who was transport minister at the time, is also accused of abusing his position by forcing the re-appointment of the head of a state-owned company after the official was found guilty of corruption and fired by a tribunal. ZACC said the government had suffered total losses to the tune of $3.7 million.
His arrest comes as critics accuse the president of lacking the drive to carry out the political reforms needed to help Zimbabwe recover from its worst economic crisis in a decade.
The ZACC, which Mnangagwa appointed in July, says it is on a drive to bring corrupt officials to account. In July, tourism minister Prisca Mupfumiraa was charged with corruptly misusing $95 million from the state pension fund.
When Mnangagwa took over as leader after the late Robert Mugabe was ousted in 2017, he promised to stamp out the graft that had become endemic under his predecessor.
Although some Mugabe-era ministers have been arrested for corruption, they are free on bail while their cases are stuck in courts, frustrating citizens who feel that officials can use their influence to escape punishment.
Gumbo is due to appear in court on Tuesday, a ZACC official said.
Report: ED panics over General Chiwenga’s return. ZANU PF sources who spoke to this reporter said the meeting was attended by Mnangagwa loyalists. President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently called an emergency meeting at his Sherwood farm in Midlands recently and discussed, among other issues, the impending return of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to the country from China.
“I can authoritatively tell you that there was a meeting held at the farm of Number 1 recently where among other issues, the update on the health of the General was discussed. You are aware that there has been widespread speculation on the souring relations between Number 1 and the General so there has to be a way of having the two show a united face when the General comes back because according to reports he has fully recovered and is expected in the country anytime soon.”
The source claimed. “There has been reports also that a faction of ZANU PF linked to the General was calling for the re-admission of Saviour Kusukuwere into the party and that matter was also discussed.”
President Mnangagwa is expected to issue a statement regarding the health of Chiwenga soon. In August Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba said Zimbabweans must wait for the announcement that will be done by the President regarding Chiwenga.
“When he comes back, President Emmerson Mnangagwa will make an announcement and so we need to wait for that announcement,” he said.”He is still in China, but he is doing amazingly well, and he is ebullient and very sharp.”
In July, Mnangagwa told a Zanu PF meeting that Chiwenga was recovering well in South Africa and was able to do physical exercises on his own. However, a month later, the government announced that he had been flown to China for further tests.
Police have given public sector workers permission to march for better pay on Wednesday in what is widely seen as a test of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s willingness to tolerate dissent.
A notice received from police by the Apex Council of public sector unions said the protest could go ahead but also warned that police would stop the march if it turned violent.
“The regulating authority still reserves the right to stop the gathering should it turn out to a public order threat or violent. Police will monitor,” Oscar Mugomeri, police commander for Harare central district, wrote in the letter.
Mugomeri could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Unions say Mnangagwa’s government has not responded to demands for U.S. dollar-indexed salaries to cushion public sector workers against inflation that economists say reached 380% in September.
Daily life in Zimbabwe is getting harder, with prices of basic goods, fuel and electricity rising as hope fades for a quick economic recovery under Mnangagwa, who took power after the late Robert Mugabe was ousted in a coup in 2017.
Mnangagwa has banned several opposition protests and faces accusations that he is using Mugabe’s heavy-handed tactics.
Police have been on high alert since January, when fuel protests turned violent and at least a dozen people were killed during a security crackdown.
Unions want the lowest government employees paid the equivalent of $475 (7,251 Zimbabwe dollars) a month compared to the 1,023 Zimbabwe dollars they earn now.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, who projects the economy to contract by 6.5% this year, has said the government cannot meet the workers’ demands.
Charles Chinosengwa, spokesman for the Apex Council, which represents 230,000 workers – excluding the health and security sectors – said unions were mobilising members from across Zimbabwe.
“This is strictly a labour issue. We don’t need support from politicians, we are saying hands off to politicians,” he said.
Shortages of foreign currency, fuel and power are among the most visible signs of a crisis that has revived memories of 2008, when hyperinflation wiped out savings and forced the government to abandon its currency.
Mnangagwa says Zimbabweans should be patient while his government pursues economic reforms, including gradually cutting subsidies on fuel and electricity and the re-introduction of the domestic currency.
FORMER Transport Minister Joram Gumbo has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for criminal abuse of office.
ZACC spokesperson, Commissioner John Makamure confirmed the arrest.
“I can confirm he has been arrested. He is facing criminal abuse of office,” said Commissioner Makamure.
One of the cases Gumbo is being questioned over is the Zimbabwe Airways deal which saw Government losing millions of dollars.
Gumbo also faces allegations of authorizing renovations of a relative’s house to the tune of $1 million of public funds with a view to turn the property into Zimbabwe Airways headquarters.
Sources also revealed that the former Transport Minister should explain the rationale behind reinstating CMED boss Davison Mhaka despite having been convicted of misconduct by a disciplinary tribunal.
Farai Dziva|The semifinal draw for the 2019 Chibuku Super Cup has been conducted.
Highlanders will take on ZPC Kariba while Ngezi Platinum Stars will play against the winners in the quarterfinal match between holders Triangle United and Harare City.
The Triangle – City quarterfinal clash was postponed to a later date due to the Sugar Boys’ involvement in the Caf Confederation Cup.
Farai Dziva|Chippa United coach Norman Mapeza says the referee was a bit harsh on them in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
Chippa crashed out of the tournament after losing 4-3 on penalties and also finished the game with ten men following Tercious Malepe’s red card in the extra-time.
Mapeza believes the expulsion plus a couple of yellow cards for his players was too harsh, but there was nothing the team will do about it.
In a post-match interview with SuperSport TV, the Zimbabwean gaffer said: “I think the referee was a little bit harsh on us but at the end of the day I’m still new here.
“I don’t want to talk much about the referees, I don’t know how they operate, so it’s unfortunate to end up getting those six yellow cards, definitely it’s going to affect us in our next few matches but you know it has happened and there’s nothing we can do.”
The result handed Mapeza’s second defeat since taking over at the South African club last month.
Farai Dziva|Highlanders coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh has blasted Dynamos’ dirty tricks just moments before their league meeting started at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Bosso players and staff spent 35 minutes outside the venue as the gates were still closed and had to scale the fence into the supporters’ zone to gain access into the stadium.
“How is it possible that we had to spend 35 minutes out of the stadium,” De Jongh told Soccer 24.
“I have never seen that in my life, it’s a lack of organisation. It’s not possible that you stay 35 minutes outside the stadium and the gates are not opened.”
The gaffer also slammed the condition of the pitch at Rufaro Stadium which had patches of mud due to the heavy rains which poured on the previous day.
“Football is for the fans and has to be played on good ground, on a good pitch,” he said.
“This pitch is so bad and it doesn’t make it possible for good football.”
The visitors surged ahead in the 71st minute after Tinashe Makanda slotted home a low shot. Dynamos replied ten minutes later through Evans Katema’s header as it ended 1-1.
A LOCAL church leader was on Friday arrested for allegedly duping a Chitungwiza businessman of foreign currency needed for a consignment of Bibles for his congregation.
Apostle Isaiah Zhanje of Jesus Christ New Life International Church’s grace luck ran out after he was offered more money by Tinashe Sithole for a laptop he was selling leading to his arrest.
He was detained at Chitungwiza police station under police reference RRB 4136120 and is expected to appear in court today.
Narrating how he was duped, Sithole told H-Metro that he lost US$57 after he was made to believe that the man of cloth had more than one farm, trucks and containers urging him to visit his Harare offices where he conducts church services.
“This apostle came to my workplace dropping flyers for his ministry showing a Daventry House address where he claimed he conducts church services every Sunday,” said Sithole.
“For three weeks he would pass through my place at Chikwanha Shopping Centre asking me to charge his cellphone.
“Apostle Zhanje would talk more about his wealth more than inviting us to his church or even quoting Holy Scriptures.
“I believed him since I was looking for a container and we signed an agreement on a rent to buy basis and got the copies certified before a Commissioner of Oaths.
“It was at the Commissioner of Oaths where he refused to produce a national identity card and convinced him to certify the agreement using a fake birth certificate.
He was made to believe that the container was at Westgate and paid US$57.
Afterwards, Apostle Zhanje could not be seen and would not answer Sithole’s calls.
Sithole was shown a laptop by Apostle Zhanje and asked to pay part payment or full amount since they had agreed to make big deals.
“I sent a text message fooling him that I had US$400 he wanted for his laptop and that is when he responded by calling me,” Sithole.
“Upon his arrival at Chikwanha, I informed police leading to his arrest.
“He never told anyone about his arrest including church members that I doubt if he has any ministry he is leading.
“Kana iriko kereke yake zvoreva kuti Sunday Havana mufudzi nekuti avemumaoko evemutemo vomboshumirawo kwaari,” said Sithole.
— HMetro
The Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) has cancelled the Student Representative Council (SRC) election which was supposed to be held today the 4th of November 2019.
The election has been postponed to the 11th of November 2019. No reasons were cited for the postponement by the Dean of Students Dr. Makadho when he communicated the news on Sunday the 03rd of November 2019.
What is shocking is that Sunday is not a working day and the Dean was not in his office. We are afraid that during the period between today and the 11th of November, the election may be rigged in favour of SPP or ZICOSU who can be easily controlled by the administration. It is clear that the authorities were panicking because of the imminent and inevitable victory of ZINASU which conducted a very vibrant campaign.
ZINASU campaign shook the whole small mining town to the extent that several vehicles without number plates were seen wherever ZINASU took its campaigns. It is also clear that the ZINASU had outdone its opponents, SPP and ZICOSU masquerading as the “Diplomats”.
Farai Dziva| MDC Youth Assembly leader Obey Sithole has described Zanu PF politicians as insincere individuals who cannot be trusted by the people of Zimbabwe.
Below is Sithole’s argument:
Zimbabweans have suffered for far too long at the hands of ZANU-PF.
Along the way ZANU-PF fought and some of it’s people were shown the exit door. Now those same people want to cheat Zimbabweans by saying they can lead better. They can’t be any different from the current form of ZANU-PF because they were there when this country was destroyed.
Genuine change is found in MDC ably led by the people’s President Adv. Nelson Chamisa.
MDC: Change that delivers!
Zimbabweans have suffered for far too long at the hands of ZANU-PF.
Along the way ZANU-PF fought and some of it’s people were shown the exit door. Now those same people want to cheat Zimbabweans by saying they can lead better. They can’t be any different from the current form of ZANU-PF because they were there when this country was destroyed.
Genuine change is found in MDC ably led by the people’s President Adv. Nelson Chamisa.
MDC: Change that delivers!
Farai Dziva|ZINASU has accused authorities at Bindura University of Science Education of plotting to rig SRC elections.
See below a statement on the alleged plot to rig SRC elections at the university:
The Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) has cancelled the Student Representative Council (SRC) election which was supposed to be held today the 4th of November 2019.
The election has been postponed to the 11th of November 2019.
No reasons were cited for the postponement by the Dean of Students Dr. Makadho when he communicated the news on Sunday the 03rd of November 2019.
What is shocking is that Sunday is not a working day and the Dean was not in his office.
We are afraid that during the period between today and the 11th of November, the election may be rigged in favour of SPP or ZICOSU who can be easily controlled by the administration. It is clear that the authorities were panicking because of the imminent and inevitable victory of ZINASU which conducted a very vibrant campaign.
ZINASU campaign shook the whole small mining town to the extent that several vehicles without number plates were seen wherever ZINASU took its campaigns. It is also clear that the ZINASU had outdone its opponents, SPP and ZICOSU masquerading as the “Diplomats”.
The Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) has cancelled the Student Representative Council (SRC) election which was supposed to be held today the 4th of November 2019.
The election has been postponed to the 11th of November 2019.
No reasons were cited for the postponement by the Dean of Students Dr. Makadho when he communicated the news on Sunday the 03rd of November 2019.
What is shocking is that Sunday is not a working day and the Dean was not in his office.
We are afraid that during the period between today and the 11th of November, the election may be rigged in favour of SPP or ZICOSU who can be easily controlled by the administration. It is clear that the authorities were panicking because of the imminent and inevitable victory of ZINASU which conducted a very vibrant campaign.
ZINASU campaign shook the whole small mining town to the extent that several vehicles without number plates were seen wherever ZINASU took its campaigns. It is also clear that the ZINASU had outdone its opponents, SPP and ZICOSU masquerading as the “Diplomats”.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently held an emergency meeting at his Sherwood farm in Midlands recently and discussed, among other issues, the impending return of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to the country from China.
ZANU PF sources who spoke to this reporter said the meeting was attended by Mnangagwa loyalists.
“I can authoritatively tell you that there was a meeting held at the farm of Number 1 recently where among other issues, the update on the health of the General was discussed.
“You are aware that there has been widespread speculation on the souring relations between Number 1 and the General so there has to be a way of having the two show a united face when the General comes back because according to reports he has fully recovered and is expected in the country anytime soon,” the source claimed.
There has been reports also that a faction of ZANU PF linked to the General was calling for the re-admission of Saviour Kusukuwere into the party and that matter was also discussed.
President Mnangagwa is expected to issue a statement regarding the health of Chiwenga soon.
In August Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba said Zimbabweans must wait for the announcement that will be done by the President regarding Chiwenga.
“When he comes back, President Emmerson Mnangagwa will make an announcement and so we need to wait for that announcement.
“He is still in China, but he is doing amazingly well, and he is ebullient and very sharp,” he said.
In July, Mnangagwa told a Zanu PF meeting that Chiwenga was recovering well in South Africa and was able to do physical exercises on his own.
However, a month later, the government announced that he had been flown to China for further tests.
Farai Dziva| Constantino Chiwenga is expectes to return home soon, Zanu PF insiders have said.
Chiwenga has been battling a stomach ailment suspected to be a result of poisoning.
ZANU PF sources told Bulawayo24 a meeting was held recently at Mnangagwa’s farm to discuss the former army commander’s return.
“I can authoritatively tell you that there was a meeting held at the farm of Number 1 recently where among other issues, the update on the health of the General was discussed.”
“You are aware that there has been widespread speculation on the souring relations between Number 1 and the General so there has to be a way of having the two show a united face when the General comes back because according to reports he has fully recovered and is expected in the country anytime soon,” sources told the publication.
Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa is in panic mode following indications that his deputy Constantino Chiwenga is set to return to Zimbabwe, Zanu PF insiders have said.
Chiwenga has been battling a stomach ailment suspected to be a result of poisoning.
ZANU PF sources quoted by Bulawayo24, said a meeting was held recently at Mnangagwa’s farm to discuss the former army commander’s return.
“I can authoritatively tell you that there was a meeting held at the farm of Number 1 recently where among other issues, the update on the health of the General was discussed.”
“You are aware that there has been widespread speculation on the souring relations between Number 1 and the General so there has to be a way of having the two show a united face when the General comes back because according to reports he has fully recovered and is expected in the country anytime soon,” sources told the publication.
Prominent ZimDancehall chanter, Soul Jah Love, real name Soul Musaka has understated the quality of fellow musician Freeman, born Energy Sylvester Chizanga‘s 2019 album Gango (Braai pan).
Chibaba, as Jah Love is passionately called by his fans said his album, Zvihombe, did better than other albums this year as per the fans’ ratings.
He said:
“Zvihombe, as the title suggests, and no one has reached the level it got to. Freeman tried, but the fans have spoken, they say it was a half-baked product, hanzi mugango manga makazara nzondora dzisina kunyatsoibva.
(Fans have said Freeman’s album was half-baked, there were too many half-cooked chicken feets in the braai pan).
“Seriously, no one did anything that we can talk about, hapana akanyatsoimba.”
Meanwhile, Freeman’s song, Ngaibake which features Sungura maestro, Alick Macheso has been popular amongst merrymakers and is being played in many clubs and at many events.
Some have argued that the song will together with MuGarden, Winky D and Gemma Griffiths song will be contending for the best collabo of 2019.
– DailyNews
A polygamist from Honde valley killed his one-year-old son while attacking his first wife after he had decided to spend the night in his second wife’s bed instead of his first wife’s bed where he allegedly was supposed to spend the night.
According to Manicaland Police Provincial Spokesperson:
“Chiripamawoko went to the second wife, Prisca Museka’s kitchen, where Nyamahondo was and demanded to know why he intended to put up with the second wife ahead of her that night.
“The misunderstanding over conju_gal rights led Nyamahondo to pick an axe-handle and swung it at Chiripamawoko who was holding their infant son.
“The child was hit in the head sustaining serious injuries.
The child was then rushed to Chavhanga clinic for medical attention from where he was referred to Hauna hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.”
The man is now facing murder charges for fatally striking his son.
– DailyNews
By Own Correspondent| The investigative “Steve Zwitter”has thrown into the open pointers on who the notorious Charity Maodza Twitter account is.
Zwitter performed a detailed psychoanalysis that goes back to 2018 and displays structured similarities in communication patterns that strongly suggest that the same person(s) who manage the Information Ministry twitter account are the same ones who have been repeatedly insulting victims of violence particularly activists in the last year.
The period of analysis spans 16 months to date.
A pattern was picked up under the cache phrase Wanzwa Butter, and Good Riddance, which means the same in both English and Shona.
Their latest tweet Monday morning was:
How is asking for a living wage, "political," what is your monthly income at the @InfoMinZW @CharityMaodza ?@SteveZwitter
ZimEye has since requested an urgent comment from the respected Ministry Of Information, Publicity And Broadcasting, after it sought to exonerate itself from a message it posted mocking the striking doctors as satanic.
Can you please urgently comment on this evidence. Is @CharityMaodza not an employee in the @InfoMinZW ministry? How was it compromised when it's clear the account is protected by cellphone access. Prove what you say was a compromising of the ministry account @nickmangwana. https://t.co/KVKatgzE8M
In a poorly calculated move the Information ministry handle noted that following what they said as compromising of their online security, they have since changed password after the deleting the message that caused so much noise online.
They responded after a period of more than 4 hours.
Posting on Twitter, the ministry said;
On 2/11/19 this Twitter handle was maliciously compromised and an inappropriate message was posted on it. On being alerted to this, we deleted the message, changed our security information. We apologise to any person or group of persons offended or disrespected by the message
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) November 3, 2019
Yesterday the ministry Twitter handle posted the message below…
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has allowed a second Cabinet Minister to be arrested as his anti-corruption drive once more took centre stage Monday following weeks of inaction.
BREAKING: Minister in the President's Office in Charge of Policy Implementation, once the Transport Minister, Joram Gumbo has been arrested over the "Simba Chikore" Zimbabwe Airways plane deal. ZACC has charged Gumbo with "criminal abuse of office." FOLLOW THIS AND MORE ON ZIMEYE pic.twitter.com/gISALVtA1f
Highly placed sources said that Minister in Mnangagwa’s office in charge of Policy Implementation and a close Midlands associate of the Zanu PF leader Joram Gumbo was picked up by investigators from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission early Monday.
“He has been arrested and been quizzed as we speak. He has already engaged Selby Hwacha as his lawyer,” a source said.
Gumbo has reportedly sucked in President Mnangagwa and former Finance Minister Patrick Chainamasa in the deal.
“He is claiming he is innocent and has implicated Mnangagwa and Chinamasa. Gumbo is alleging (former President Robert) Mugabe sometime in 2012 set-up a Cabinet committee chaired by Mnangagwa to structure the deal. Basically he is claiming he did not sign any papers. All were signed by the Cabinet committee chairperson (Mnangagwa) and Chinamasa,” said another source.
It could not immediately be established which police station Gumbo was being held but sources said he was called on Sunday to report to police on Monday.
While top legal practitioner Hwacha was not immediately available for comment this publication can report that Gumbo is being questioned over the murky Zim Airways deal in which government paid over US$70 million million for several aircraft from Malaysia a few years ago but to date nothing has been delivered.
Former First Lady Grace and her son-in-law Simba Chikore who Gumbo appointed Air Zimbabwe chief operating officer during his tenure as Transport Minister are also implicated in the deal but there was no information yet on whether they will be picked up.
Gumbo at one time claimed he had been a “consultant” in the aircraft deal that sent tongues wagging.
It is could be yet another test case of Mnangagwa’s resolve to fight deepening corruption after former Tourism Minister Priscah Mupfumira was arrested a few months ago over the plunder at the National Social Security Authority.
A FEMALE dancer at a Bulawayo strip joint Private Lounge was allegedly thrown from the third floor of the nightspot by Queen of Zimbabwe er0tica Beverly Sibanda in a cat-fight that went awry.
Chronicle offices were inundated with calls from people saying that Bev had seriously injured the woman and social media was awash with different versions of what had happened.
Bev was in Bulawayo to perform at Club 263 and was accommodated at the Private Lounge.
Messages circulating on social media alleged that Bev and the dancer had a tiff upstairs in one of the rooms after the dancer allegedly called Bev a pr0stitute. Thereafter in a fit of rage, Bev reportedly pushed the dancer off the balcony of one of the rooms and she landed in the garden.
Workers at the joint rushed the injured dancer to hospital in a pick-up truck.
When contacted for comment Bev denied that she was involved in the fracas.
“How can I throw a girl from a balcony when her door was locked. It doesn’t make sense! I heard the story. If I had thrown someone off the balcony like that, I should be in police custody and I wouldn’t have performed. The person should be in hospital,” said Bev.
According to Bev she had a heated exchange with some male patrons at Private Lounge garden who were hurling insults at dancers calling them pr0stitutes.
“There was a group of men in the garden who were saying the strippers are pr0stitutes. I started defending the dancers saying they shouldn’t do that. When they saw it was me, they apologised,” said Bev.
She said reports that she threw someone off the balcony were designed to tarnish her image before directing further questions to Private Lounge manager, Ms Thelma Zuva.
Ms Zuva said there was no person thrown from the third-floor balcony, but there was dancer who jumped from the first floor.
“Bev and the girl didn’t have any physical contact. Even the dancer is fine and she is back at work. She wasn’t thrown from the third floor. She actually jumped from the first floor during an altercation with her peers. The first floor isn’t that high from one of the rooms,” said Ms Zuva.
She said the reason that Bev is coming into the picture is that she was staying on the same floor with the dancers.
Ms Zuva said she suspects that the men who were reprimanded by Bev were the ones who were spreading the news that she threw a person off the third-floor balcony.
Asked the whereabouts of the dancer, conveniently Ms Zuva said the dancer was by her side.
By Henry Madiro- The Zimbabwean situation has been worsened by a clueless central bank, finance minister minister who is myopic and a government that only serves the interests of a few..
When the bond note was introduced it was meant to prop the United States dollar and provide change to easy the doing of business by transacting public. Some of us who had foresight we protested against this.
We even tried to explain the obvious but it fell on deaf ears or the Reserve Bank governor was just ignorant. He pointed out that he would retire if the bond note failed but alas he is still there compounding our problems. The Reserve Bank since it was made the bank of last resort it looted the Nostro accounts of all banks.
This was done systematically whilst they introduced the bond slowly. The US dollars vanished from the banks and they started dishing out the bond notes to selected runners so that they buy foreign currency from the streets.
The tobacco farmers lost their earnings when the interbank was introduced. It was deliberately done in a way that the farmers lost everything and most of them are unable to go back to the fields this coming season. The new notes would be drip fed into the economy however not through banks but through runners and the black market.
It is only i’ Zimbabwe that one has to buy money from the streets. Banks can no longer dispense cash. The Civil servants and the common worker are the ones who bear the brunt of this chicannery. Indeed it is the clueless Reserve Bank that has worsened our situation in Zimbabwe.
When he was tipped of the vacancy at the treasury Mthuli Ncube became agitated and spoke like a wise man from the East. Everyone’s hope was raised that the messiah was coming to liberate us.
He is seen in a video stating that the first thing he would do was to remove the bond note which he believed was bad money that was driving bad money out of the economy. We were very hopeful indeed but little did we know that this professor was myopic and ignorant of economics.
A high school teacher would be a better economic minister. Soon after his appointment he made reckless statements that so business and people losing confidence and prices started shooting up. The most affected was the pensioner, followed by the Civil servants and then the common man.
The myopic minister did not stop it was like giving a whistle to a mad puppeteerHe continued make trials and errors at the expense of the common man. Because he had paid the bill for the scarfman in Switzerland at Davos he remained in his post until today.
This small man is worse than a village idiot because everyone in the village knows. We are patiently waiting for his second budget but alas what can a village idiot produce that can benefit the common man. His fellow jesters in the ruling party are beginning to see the light and are starting to ask questions.
The government of Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has proven that it is anti people. It has failed to provide its own money to the transacting public. It has become an oligarchy with its main aim to satisfy the greedy cartels. It seems the government is no longer for the people but for the few. Deliberately it is making sure that those few milk our country dry leaving us the poor citizenry in a sorry state.
I am wondering whether my father who lost his life in the struggle was fighting for us to struggle and wallow in poverty as we are doing today. May his soul rest in peace.
Zimbabwe is a rich country endowed with both natural and human resources but due to poor policies and Mal governance we have been overtaken by Rwanda a country that came out of civil strife. Our government has to self introspect and make sure it does the right things for us to enjoy the fruits of our country.
It is a shame that we have the most educated populace in Africa and the world yet our leadership can’t consult and come up with policies that lift us from this quagmire we are in.
It is my belief that Zimbabwe has the potential to come out of its doldrums if the Reserve Bank plays it right on currency issues. We can do it if we disappoint Mthuli Ncube and appoint even a high school economic teacher who is well versed with our problems.
Lastly our government has to smell the coffee and stop propping the cartels and be a government that serves the interests of the people. Let’s remind these guys that we cannot have banks that do not dispense cash and businesses that sell cash.
We are tied of having our graduates working as money changers. We want you as a government to remember the grievances of the second Chimurenga and realign yourself towards fulfilling those dreams.
You still have a chance to stand up and counted as the government that returned to the founding principles of the liberation struggle. Sure even the Rhodesian government under sanctions had money for its citizens. Maybe the cash shortages are attributed to sanctions too.
Henry Madiro is a politician social commentator and a concerned citizen. Writes in his own right on issues affecting his community.
By A Correspondent- ZESA Holdings has said political bigwigs will not be spared as the power utility disconnects electricity to defaulting clients to recover $1,2 billion in unpaid bills.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) — a subsidiary of Zesa — recently revealed that it is implementing credit control measures to recover debts.
However, concerns have been raised that whenever Zesa disconnects power it targets small clients while leaving VIPs who owe substantial amounts.
To recover money from defaulting clients in September, ZETDC took Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo to court over a $400 000 electricity bill.
Minister Moyo is among prominent people that include former Cabinet Ministers Cde Sydney Sekeramayi and Cde Didymus Mutasa that have been taken to court over debts owed to the power company.
In an interview on Friday, Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said there would be no sacred cows in disconnections.
“Zesa does not have bigwigs, does not have politicians, does not have big fish but it just has customers. We deal with customers as customers.
“We have customer categories and we have a policy of dealing with customers who are in arrears, who are in debt. There is no favouritism, there is no sacred cow as far as customers are concerned. We are looking for $1,2 billion that is owed by our customers,” said Mr Gwasira.
He said he did not have offhand, figures on the number of defaulting clients that have so far been disconnected as well as the amounts that have been recovered following the clamp down.
Mr Gwasira said the power utility cannot continue to provide electricity to clients who are failing to honour their obligations.
He said failure to pay for power compromises effective service delivery.
“If we disconnect power from you it protects you from getting a higher bill because you are already failing on this level. Once we discuss and say you will pay in this manner then we reconnect you. We are in the business of selling power not of disconnecting power,” said Mr Gwasira.
He said if disconnection and payment plan does not work, the power utility will take the legal route to recover arrears.
Zesa has categorised its defaulting clients into commercial and domestic.
Commercial entities include hotels, supermarkets, bakeries, shops, restaurants, mines, agriculture which are power intensive.
By A Correspondent- Government is concerned about the high rate of teacher absenteeism in schools as this is contributing to poor pass rates and negating the country’s vision to uplift every citizen through education.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, speaking at the 2019 pre-budget seminar here, said he had been studying the trend for some time.
He said he had noted that most teachers are not in school due to among other reasons, poor remuneration, poor working conditions and infrastructure.
Similarly, Government is concerned about some schools that withhold results of pupils who owe them school fees as it disadvantages learners from advancing with their education.
“There is an issue that I have been studying for a long time, the issue of teacher absenteeism. It is not easy to fix but we have to deal with it either through incentives or improving conditions of service and building of schools,” said Prof Ncube.
He implored parents to be involved in school activities.
“For example, Matabeleland South has 250 schools where pupils are not passing their Ordinary Levels. There are many such schools countrywide. Whenever parents are not involved in the activities of the school, those schools perform worse,” he said.
In some provinces such as Matabeleland South, teachers cross the border to neighbouring countries to do menial jobs to supplement low salaries.
Prof Ncube said the 2020 budget will surely allocate resources towards infrastructure and schools’ development to improve working conditions for various sectors in the public service including education.
By A Correspondent- Mystery surrounds the death of a middle-aged Norton man whose body was retrieved from a well at his family home in Katanga’s Ward 7, Norton on Saturday.
According to some sources, 27-year-old Norbert Jongwe (Jnr) only returned from a long sojourn to South Africa on Friday and he did not last 24 hours in Zimbabwe.
It is said that his father, Norbert Jongwe, 62, known in the locality as Mzambiya, was in the process of fetching water from his well for his small in-house poultry project, when he noticed that the tin was unable to scoop any water.
He decided to peep inside the well and caught the horrific sight at the bottom.
Norton police officers were swiftly alerted and they retrieved the body as a shocked crowd watched. What appeared to be two stab wounds on the stomach of the corpse heightened speculation of foul play.
While police officers at the scene could not speak to the media, the elder Jongwe told neighbours that his youngest son arrived home on Friday afternoon, having left for South Africa in 2015. He spent most of his time in the company of a teenage relative. The deceased told his father that he had plans of buying some livestock and that he had brought some goods from South Africa which would arrive a few days later.
So far, no one knows, at least in public, what transpired on Friday night at House No. 305, Katanga.
Whatever it is, it resulted in a young man losing his life just a few hours after re-uniting with his kith-and-kin for the first time in four years.
By A Correspondent- There was fracas at a popular Bulawayo strip club, Private lounge, when a scuffle broke out between raunchy dancer, Beverly Sibanda and another dancer after the latter allegedly insulted Sibanda that she was a prostitute.
According to the Chronicle, the dancer whose identity has not yet been identified sustained critical injuries from the assault and has since been hospitalised.
Sibanda is alleged to have thrown out the dancer from the third floor of private lounge in a cat-fight that went awry. Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media alleged that Bev and the dancer had an altercation after the dancer allegedly called Bev a prostitute.
Thereafter in a fit of rage, Bev reportedly pushed the dancer off the balcony of one of the rooms and she landed in the garden.
The dancer was then scurried to the hospital in a pick-up truck by private lounge workers who witnessed the incident.
In an interview with the publication, Bev refuted the allegations and said that she only had an altercation with some of the male patrons at the club who were hurling insults at dancers calling them prostitutes.
“How can I throw a girl from a balcony when her door was locked. It doesn’t make sense! I heard the story. If I had thrown someone off the balcony like that, I should be in police custody and I wouldn’t have performed. The person should be in hospital.
There was a group of men in the garden who were saying the strippers are prostitutes. I started defending the dancers saying they shouldn’t do that. When they saw it was me, they apologised,” said Bev.
Private Lounge manager, Ms Thelma Zuva, dismissed the claims and said that the dancer had willingly jumped from the first floor during an altercation with her peers.
