Nehanda|At an estimated USD$10 000 a day, flamboyant businessman and Intratrek Zimbabwe Managing Director Wicknell Chivayo has hired one of South Africa’s best lawyers in Advocate Francois Joubert SC to beef up his legal team comprising Wilson Manase and Advocate Lewis Uriri.

A slew of cases against the businessman have been crumbling like a deck of cards in the courts but he has had to deal with a string of appeals that many feel have little chance of success.

Joubert, a practicing advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa will represent Chivayo in cases between him and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a Supreme Court appeal and another one in which he is being jointly charged with former ZPC board chairperson, Stanley Kazhanje.

Nehanda Radio understands Chivayo had initially filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court seeking nullification of a decision by the Justice Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi who had denied Joubert a residential exemption certificate so that he can practice in Zimbabwe. We understand Chivayo has since withdrawn his application after the Minister submitted a favourable affidavit.

Chivayo rose to fame after winning various government tenders worth USD$600 million dollars. The primary accusation thrown at him was that he leveraged his close relationship with former President Robert Mugabe’s family to get the tenders, an accusation he strongly denies.

Some of the tenders he won were the Gwanda 100 MW solar ($202 million) with his technical partner Shanghai giants Chint Electric Co Ltd, Munyati refurbishment 100 MW ($113 million) with Indian partners Jaguar Overseas, Gairezi Hydro 30 MW Bharat heavy Equipment Limited at ($112 million) and Harare Repowering ($171 million dollars) with Jaguar Overseas Ltd.

After the November 2017 military coup that toppled Mugabe, Chivayo’s legal problems began. Some of the cases brought against him appeared frivolous or without evidence. The cases predictably collapsed in court with stinging rebukes coming from judges who were not amused.

A defiant Chivayo has continued to fight successfully after winning all his High Court cases and being acquitted by regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire.

Ten days ago Chivayo took another giant step towards quashing all the cases against or involving him before the courts after a judge granted $1 000 bail pending appeal to the former Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) board chairman Stanley Kazhanje.

Kazhanje was convicted and sentenced to an effective one-year jail term for allegedly concealing a US$10 000 payment from Chivayo, the Intratrek Zimbabwe chief executive. It is the reasons given by Justice Amy Tsanga in granting bail however that will have cheered both Kazhanje and Chivayo.

Justice Tsanga noted that Kazhanje may not have disclosed his past relations with Intratrek but it equally could not have been said on the basis of facts that were argued, that he had an interest in the transaction, being the Gwanda Solar Project.

“Strictly speaking, there was no evidence placed before the court a quo that he had a personal interest in the Gwanda solar project,” she said.

“The prospects of success on conviction are, in my view, therefore, not manifestly doomed to failure. If there is a possibility of conviction being set aside, it stands to reason that so will sentence.”

Last month a ‘ray of light’ in the saga emerged as construction at the Gwanda Solar Farm resumed with Chivayo personally on site to supervise progress. This was after High Court judge Tawanda Chitapi’s ruling wherein he ordered Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and Intratrek Zimbabwe to find common ground with a view of fast tracking completion of the solar power project.

The judge submitted that ZPC and Intratrek must not “merry dance in boardrooms and court rooms but must go to successfully implement the project for the benefit of Zimbabwe” adding that the power to be generated was not for use by Wicknell Chivayo and Intratrek but for the nation at large.

ZPC had a pending appeal at the Supreme Court whose motive Justice Chitapi described as “improper.” “It is disgraceful that national projects are stalled by contracting parties having merry dances in boardrooms instead of project sites and seeing the project to fruition,” the judge said.

“The public wants electricity for use at home and in industries. The public is not interested in bickering for self-interest and egos on the part of State actors and their contractors.”

If ZPC wished to cancel the contract, the judge said, it had to pay Intratrek US$25 million dollars in damages.

“It has already been observed that the subject matter of the contract is of national importance. It is of public interest. The public wants electricity for use at home and in industries.

The public is not interested in bickering for self-interest and egos on the part of State actors and their contractors,” Justice Chitapi said. Nehanda Radio

Prices of goods and services in Zimbabwe are pegged at an average of 50 percent above those obtaining in South Africa despite relative convergence between the Rand and the local unit on the interbank market over the last month.

While wages and fuel — the biggest contributors to production costs — are lower in Zimbabwe compared to South Africa, local products and services are priced inordinately higher than the neighbouring country. Economic analysts believe this could indicate unfair pricing models by local businesses through arbitrage.

NHMK Capital founder and chief executive Mr George Manyere contends that since the convergence of the Zimbabwe dollar and the South African unit last month, prices of goods in the two countries should align.

“As from 23 September 2019, the prices of goods and services in Zimbabwe and South African including the cost of labour should theoretically be expected to be aligned since the currencies are at par according to the interbank exchange rate,” he said.

“However, this is not the case as the Zimbabwean economy continues to suffer from the threat of hyperinflation and significant rent-seeking behaviour caused by the huge arbitrage opportunities that exist in the market.”

A comparison of prices in the two countries shows that a 2kg pack of brown sugar is retailing at R19,60 while it costs $29,99 locally, which is a variance of 53 percent.

While a 2 litre bottle of cooking oil costs R32,50 in South Africa, it is selling for $51,99 in Zimbabwe giving a price difference of 60 percent.

There is a 43 percent difference in the price of a 2kg box of Maq washing powder which is pegged at R39,99 in South Africa and $56,99 locally.

A 2kg pack of rice costs 122 percent more in Zimbabwe at $54,99 while in South Africa it is selling at R24.75.

Zimbabwean workers earn at least 90 percent less than their South African counterparts and this, according to the analysts, indicates local workers are subsidising their employers.

“Prices in Zimbabwe are on average 51 percent higher than those in South Africa implying that there is scope for downward revision of prices if the country pegs the currency to the ZAR or adopts it as the reference currency,” Mr Manyere.

“In essence, poverty levels are increasing in Zimbabwe resulting in huge salary gaps when compared to South Africa.

“The adoption of the ZAR as reference currency will indeed result in a gradual increase in salaries and a reduction in prices, thereby resulting in the market self-correcting and improvement of people’s lives.

“It will also result in improved competitiveness as wages will not respond instantaneously.

“Lower wages will attract new investment and expansionary projects.

Confederation of Zimbabwean industries president Mr Henry Ruzvidzo said businesses were placing a premium on the products to ensure that they can replace their stock.

He said the Rand exchange rate was stable, but the currency in Zimbabwe was volatile.

“There is a premium put (by business) on the pricing which may not relate directly to the exchange rate if you are comparing with the Rand,” said Mr Ruzvidzo.

“What is needed in Zimbabwe is stability of the exchange rate; people need to be able to predict in a month, in a year or two years the movements of the exchange rate.

“But, at the moment the movements are totally unpredictable and this makes businesses very vulnerable.”

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dr Chris Mugaga also concurred that the price differences in South Africa and Zimbabwe were reflection of the volatility of the local unit.

He said inflation was not the only driver of the exchange rate.

“If one thinks when the Zimbabwean dollar is trading at 15 to the US dollar then it means it is at par with the South African Rand, that is actually a myth that needs correcting.

“Or when the Kenyan shilling is at 100 to the dollar and the Zimbabwean dollar is trading at 15 then the Zimbabwean dollar is actually stronger, that is another myth.

“In currency determination, we do not use the absolute number, we use the real exchange rate determination. “The issue of pricing in Zimbabwe is a function of the exchange rate, it’s a function of confidence, it’s a function of money supply and other factors that include foreign currency shortages.

“If the market is to stabilise today and businesses wants to increase prices of their goods, they will lose customers because people will simply not buy.

“We all know that salaries are low and this is a reflection of imbalances, not a reflection of overpricing,” said Dr Mugaga.

Consumer protection advocates are now calling for immediate introduction of the Consumer Protection Bill which was gazetted last year. The Bill seeks to protect consumers by establishing the Consumer Protection Agency and Regulation of Consumer Advocacy Organisations.

Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) executive director Rosemary Siyachitema said slow progress in promulgating the Consumer Protection Bill was hampering efforts to fully protect consumers.

“Last year, we had Parliament doing consultations and we went with them. This was a step forward,” she said.

“Unfortunately, all of a sudden the Bill has become stuck. (There is) no progress whatsoever.

“The Bill will allow many people to participate in consumer protection matters.

“We are a very small organisation trying to do big things,” she said.

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce chair Joshua Sacco said Parliament had now passed the Bill. It now awaits Presidential assent.

THE business community in Masvingo has implored the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to expedite the re-introduction of the local currency to replace the bond note and maintain a blanket ban on the use of foreign currency.

The RBZ has said the country will soon have a new currency which will replace the bond note.

Making a contribution during a Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) stakeholder meeting at a local hotel here last week, Hilthru Enterprises director Mr Benjamin Taguma Mazarire said it was not prudent for the country to use foreign currency especially the United States dollar.

He said it was practically difficult to control inflation when the country was using foreign currency.
He, however, called for a strong policy formulation which will retain value of the local currency.

“I think we made a blunder when we accepted the use of the multi-currency system, especially the US dollar. We could not have embraced the use of this money because of its strength against other currencies. Our economy will not prosper if we keep on using a borrowed currency, as we do not have control over it. However, we need strong policies for the currency (local)to retain its value.”

Mr Mazarire said it was folly to believe that the use of the US dollar was stabilising economies, as events on the ground proved otherwise.
“We have this illusion that the US dollar makes the economy stabilise and yet the opposite is true. You can have a look at all the countries which have used this currency and realise that their economies were left struggling. The currency is too strong and we need to have futuristic plans than short term. We commend Government’s decision to outlaw the use of foreign currency because it is not helping us, as business,” he said.State media

By Commissioner John Makamure|This is the inaugural contribution of bi-weekly articles from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) that are meant to inform the public of the elaborate steps being taken by the crime-fighting body to uproot the scourge of corruption currently plaguing the nation. . .

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Corruption is commonly defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Key international organisations such as the United Nations, World Bank and Transparency International are unanimous on this definition.

Forms of corruption include bribery, nepotism, cronyism, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, abuse of office and money laundering.

Corruption can be classified into petty and grand corruption.

The former is everyday abuse of entrusted power by low and mid-level public officials in their interactions with ordinary citizens, who often are trying to access basic services in hospitals, schools, police departments and other agencies.

Grand corruption is abuse of high-level power that benefits the few at the expense of the many, and causes serious and widespread harm to individuals and society.

The administration of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has identified corruption as the number one enemy to economic revival and sustainable socio-economic development.

This is why key policy documents such as the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and Vision 2030 have elaborated on the urgent need to implement measures to fight corruption without fear or favour if the policy targets are going to be realised.

It is against this background that the new Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), headed by renowned High Court Judge Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo, was established to lead the fight against the vice.

Upon assuming office in July, the commission immediately embarked on a strategic planning exercise in order to provide the organisation with a sense of direction and measurable goals and objectives.

I am happy to say that the five-year strategic plan (2020 – 2024) is now in place.

For the first time, Zacc’s strategy is results-based in line with the Integrated Results-Based Management System that Government has adopted.

The two key result areas of the strategy are: investigation of corrupt cases and arrest of the culprits; and prevention of corruption.

Because of the current frightening high levels of grand corruption, the commission has decided to allocate 60 percent of its resources to investigations and the remaining 40 percent to prevention programmes.

Basically, the commission is determined to thoroughly investigate all suspected cases of grand corruption and ensure that the culprits are prosecuted.

We are aiming for a very high conviction rate, which can only come about if the commission carries out thorough investigations, and submit high-quality dockets to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution.

We are of the view that Zacc must be granted powers to prosecute corruption cases, while the NPA must concentrate on other numerous criminal matters.

This will certainly speed up prosecution of corrupt cases.

Zacc can prosecute through the recently established Anti-Corruption Courts.

Conviction alone is not enough.

We would like to see assets recovered from the culprits for the benefit of the nation.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) estimates that US$500 million worth of assets are lost annually through corruption.

Zacc is strengthening its asset recovery unit in order to recover this wealth for the country.

The strategic plan identifies six expected outcomes from the work of the commission. They are as follows:

a) Increased investigations for prosecutions;
b) Increased asset recovery;
c) Improved access to Zacc services;
d) Enhanced awareness of the dangers of corruption by citizens and institutions;
e) Improved anti-corruption legislation and policies; and
f) Improved Zacc work performance
Achievement of all these outcomes will go a long way in realising the Zacc vision of “A citizenry and institutions that uphold integrity and good governance for a corruption-free Zimbabwe by 2030.”

A corruption-free Zimbabwe will see higher levels of gross domestic product (GDP) being realised and the well-being of society being enhanced.

The Zacc Strategic Plan will be complemented by the development of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy through a highly inclusive process.

This is because citizen groups are a vital cog in any anti-corruption initiatives.

The new Zacc will bring all stakeholders on board regardless of political, religious, gender or any other affiliation.

The commission will, in the next couple of weeks, embark on provincial consultative meetings to gather citizen views on the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

We expect business membership organisations, church groups, trade unions, women’s groups, youth organisations and civil society organisations in their various forms to participate fully in these consultative meetings.

This will forge national ownership of the strategy.

Another area the new Zacc is prioritising is policy and legal reform.

It is true that Zimbabwe boasts of good pieces of legislation to fight corruption.

These include, among others, the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) 2013; Prevention of Corruption Act; Anti-Corruption Commission Act [Chapter 9:22]; Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act; Bank Use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Act; Serious Offences Act; and Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

While we are rich in terms of statutes, there is still need to make the legal framework robust enough.

For example, important pieces of legislation such as the Anti-Corruption Commission Act are still to be fully aligned with the Constitution.

Zacc is working on proposals for full alignment, and we are giving this exercise the urgency that it deserves.

In the same vein, a law to protect whistleblowers is long overdue.

Whistleblowing is the act of drawing public attention, or the attention of an authority, to perceived wrongdoing, misconduct and unethical activity within public, private or third-sector organisations.

Although there are provisions in the Prevention of Corruption Act to protect whistleblowers, these provisions are not considered comprehensive enough.

Lack of easily accessible anonymous complaints mechanism, lack of protection from employer reprisals in the workplace and lack of physical protection (including relocation) have severely hampered the work of the commission.

Nearer home, countries with whistleblower laws are South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Botswana.

Now that the new Zacc has settled down, we would like to vigorously pursue the fight against corruption through robust prevention programmes, criminalisation, law enforcement, asset recovery, collaboration, public education and publicity/information exchange.

We equate the fight against corruption to a real war experience.

Normally, a war constitutes a series of battles.

As Zacc, we may be happy to win battles, but we will only celebrate the day we win the war against corruption.

Commissioner John Makamure is the Zacc spokesperson and chairs the committee on prevention and corporate governance. For reporting corruption, use Toll Free Line: 080101010.

Paul Nyathi|Government and representatives of civil servants have scheduled an urgent meeting for Monday on negotiations over conditions of service and bonus payments this after revelations that the government workers have issued the employer with a threat for a massive job action.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza confirmed that the meeting will take place indicating that consultations on bonus payments with the Apex Council have not yet taken place.

Government last week released pay day dates for its employees for the period up to December but there was no indication of when the bonus will be paid if any at all. Of

Nzenza expressed concern over the rising cost of living, which is militating against Government efforts to cushion its workers.

“Once a figure has been agreed upon, we then seek Treasury concurrence. The price hikes continue to affect buying power. I am hoping that the bonuses will help ease the burden of rising costs, especially of basic commodities,” she said.

Apex Council secretary Mr David Dzatsunga said while the bonus issue was important, what was urgent was the need for a salary review.

“We are meeting on Monday and the main focus at the moment is on salary review. We have already given Government our position on salaries, which is to say we want our salaries pegged at the October 2018 level of US$400.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday received an Honorary Doctorate in Peace and Governance from Bindura University of Science and Technology (BUSE) for his role in promoting peace and development.

The honour was bestowed at BUSE’s 18th graduation ceremony in Bindura yesterday.

The university said it had accorded the President with the doctorate for policies that promote the rule of law, deepen democracy and strengthen international cooperation.

BUSE applauded President Mnangagwa for his “intellectual dexterity to steer the State with unparalleled skill”, as well as for being a reformer who has opened the country to business and investment.

In his acceptance speech, President Mnangagwa dedicated the doctorate to peace-loving Zimbabweans for promoting harmony in the country.
“I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to the Bindura University of Science and Technology for the conferment of Honorary Doctor (Honoris Causa) in Peace and Governance.

I humbly dedicate this award to all Zimbabweans who have, over the years, remained committed to peace, security, unity and stability of our beloved country.”

President Mnangagwa said his administration will continue to promote peace and stability, as these are key ingredients to develop the country.

“Rest assured that my Government, under the Second Republic, will continue to entrench these tenets as we strive for sustainable economic development and prosperity.

“In addition, the strengthening of strong, transparent, accountable and ethical institutions will remain key as we deepen democracy in our country, building the Zimbabwe we all want.”

The Second Republic, he said, tolerates divergent views that are relayed without threatening the country’s peace and stability.
“All our activities across the socio-economic and political spectrum must therefore be underpinned by unity of purpose, love, peace, harmony, as well as an environment where divergent views are accepted and tolerated.

The President implored the successful graduates to be patriotic and aim to develop the country though the knowledge and skills attained at the university.

“Love your country, serve your communities and families with humility and compassion. Be patient, bold, confident, upright and courageous. Our future is bright. No matter the challenges you may encounter, be strong and persevere; the knowledge and skills gained from this great institution – Bindura University of Science and Education – are invaluable and will surely lead to your success, when appropriately applied.”State media

The situation has reached another level https://t.co/js9SuPIdFd pic.twitter.com/1dj8XC5UKV

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 12, 2019

By A Correspondent- At least 45 passengers aboard a Smart Express bus on Saturday escaped death by a whisker after the bus overturned while negotiating the steep Vumba curves at the 15km peg from Mutare at Lower Vumba Gardens.

Some of the passengers who spoke to a local publication alleged that the driver was drunk after gulping beer in Mutare, a charge which the driver rejected.

The unnamed driver had this to say:

When I was negotiating a curve, I heard something breaking under the bus and I knew it was the U-bolt. I lost control of the vehicle but I managed to avoid hitting trees, otherwise, people would have died.

20 passengers were injured in the accident and were rushed to hospital by guests who were attending a wedding at Vumba Gardens.

The accident follows another Smart Express bus which killed over 50 people along the Harare-Mutare Highway in November last year.

-Manicapost

By A Correspondent- The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Judith Ncube said she will engage those responsible for the recruitment of student nurses in Bulawayo following an outcry over last week’s “unfair” recruitment.

Ncube made the remarks on Tuesday after her office was inundated by unsuccessful applicants who were seeking clarification on how the process was done.

Said Ncube:

I have been busy attending to more than five delegations who flocked my office this morning seeking answers on what really transpired in the selection of student nurses. Indeed, it’s a serious public concern that should be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo recruited 24 trainee nurses with only 4 being locals while the rest were from Harare, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central.

United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) reportedly recruited only 4 students from Matabeleland while 23 were from outside the province.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- He is one of Bulawayo’s young and well-known business entrepreneurs, a fate that is coupled by the fact that he is younger brother to celebrated former Manchester City and Portsmouth striker Benjani Mwaruwari.

His spending power of the Benjamins has never been doubted and courtesy of his elder brother’s football exploits in the lucrative

English Premier League, Mzansi’s Super Diski, France and Switzerland, he is a young man who really felt how it is to grow up pampered and protected.

In his boyhood days, in the high density suburb of Nkulumane, an environ from which he completed his primary education while going to Amavene Primary School, Chris (34), used to be on the steering of whatever sleek toy that Benjani would have bought.

Do you still remember that yellow Hummer H2 and the blue Peugeot 206 that usually zoomed past the streets of Bulawayo with everyone who cared to give a gaze, seeing Chris on the driver’s seat?

It was a development that suggested he was living the life of the rich and famous.

While no one wondered who was oiling the wheels, many-especially ladies — would have asked themselves, how in the following years was Chris’ wedding going to be like?

Wonder no more, as we reveal that on 28 September 2019, Benjani’s sibling might have stunned many when he exchanged vows with his longtime sweetheart Ayanda Sibanda (27), in a low profile event at the Bulawayo Magistrates Court.

“Sometimes there is a need of not going flashy. I’m the one who proposed the idea of exchanging our vows in September to avoid the long, usually busy December period at the courts. It was a move that was also welcomed by our two families. After the court process we went for pictures and we had lunch at home,” said the rather coy Chris.

Pressed on, he, with a smile, let the cat out of the bag.

“Our big wedding function will take place sometime in December in Bulawayo. Benjani, who has always been supportive, has already confirmed that he will travel from England to grace the event,” he said.

Question: Should people expect any big names in their bridal team? “We are yet to finalise on the list of the people that will be part of our bridal team. However, anything is possible,” said the towering and soft-spoken father of one.

Ayanda and Benjani’s lookalike have been together for eight years.

-Statemedia

The Zimbabwe Medical Association is once again appalled at the relentless and senseless attack on the medical profession by the state.

We were alarmed, but not entirely surprised to hear that the Vice Chancellor has suspended, without pay, two prominent surgeons purportedly for “inciting a strike”.

Messrs Mbuvayesango and Chimuka are senior professionals whose selfless contribution to the training of medical practitioners and unrewarded, dedicated and unheralded service to the Zimbabwean population is embarrassingly glaring.

Mr Mbuwayesango is the distinguished paediatric surgeon who separated the conjoint twins and has been a selfless teacher and represents Zimbabwe at COSECSA.

Mr Chimuka is a Cardiothoracic surgeon who had resuscitated our open heart programme until the government allowed the supplies to run out in 2018. Their crime is to support the demand that government should restore the capacity of the decaying public hospitals and the health professionals who can no longer afford to come to work. Even the Labour Court recently struggled to dismiss this claim.

ZIMA fully supports all doctors in Zimbabwe who find themselves in the untenable situation where they are expected to care for patients while they: barely have any equipment or drugs to use, are barely remunerated sufficiently to ensure that they turn up for work, are under the constant fear of being victimised for airing their genuine concerns and grievances.

We urge the government to urgently put an end to this misguided, misinformed and self- defeating madness before completely destroying what is left of the exasperated, strained, poorly funded and poorly governed heath delivery system.

ZIMA calls upon the Government to use dialogue and not confrontation to resolve
crises.

ZIMA calls all doctors to stand together against this unprecedented assault on the
profession.

ZIMA calls on all Zimbabweans to pray for preservation of life during these trying times for the medical profession.

GENUINE AND WELL MEANING DIALOGUE IS THE ONLY SOLUTION

ZIMA National Executive Council

2020 National Budget Strategy Paper. 2020 Budget to focus on growth, productivity, job creation, competitiveness and development. https://t.co/izpVzNiioc

— Prof. Mthuli Ncube (@MthuliNcube) October 12, 2019

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) secretary-general, Reverend Kenneth Mtata, has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa of impending anarchy as a result of unresolved socio-economic and political crises in the country.

Mtata said that there was a necessity to adopt far-reaching solutions to the crises so as to avoid recurrence of the same issues in the future. He said:

If we continue to address the symptoms, we are going to face this crisis for 20 more years. There is, for example, an urgent need for negotiations, and these negotiations are not about two individuals but must be for the whole nation.

Things are such that this can lead to a very desperate situation because citizens are suffering. There is a high risk of chaos if the situation is not solved urgently.

Earlier this week, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHoCD) recommended that the country suspends elections for seven years to focus on resolving the issues and rebuilding the nation.

Zimbabwe is grounded by the worst economic crisis since 2008. The country has a huge deficit in food, power, water, fuel and cash which have together with the inflation have inflicted pain on the general populace.

-DailyNews

By Own Correspondent| Six people were injured and have been rushed to a nearby clinic while several others sustained minor scratches after a Bulawayo bound passenger train derailed in the Dorset area of Shurugwi yesterday evening.

National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) spokesperson Mr Nyasha Maravanyika confirmed the mishap.

He said the passenger train was coming from Chikwalakwala Border Post when the incident occurred around 6pm.

“The six who were injured have been taken to the nearby Dorset Clinic where their conditions are being monitored. Investigations into the cause of derailment are still underway. We will avail more information soon,” he said.

-StateMedia

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been conferred with an  Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Peace and Governance Degree by the Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE).

Receiving his additional degree, Mnangagwa urged the university to focus on its mandate of science education. 

The president made the remarks this Saturday at the university’s 18th graduation ceremony where he also conferred degrees and diplomas to 1 920 graduands, 927 of them being female and the remainder 993 being male.

BUSE and the new graduates were challenged to contribute to the speedy attainment of the industrialisation and modernisation.President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his government was committed to continue upholding peace security unity and stability. 

“Rest assured my government under the Second Republic will continue to entrench these tenets as we strive for sustainable socio-economic development. In addition, the strengthening of strong transparent accountable and ethical institutions will remain key as we deepen democracy in our country, building the Zimbabwe we want,” said president Mnangagwa.

BUSE’s Vice Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje  briefed the gathering on new developments in the past and the new five year strategic plan in line with vision 2030.

“The University has crafted a new five year strategic plan which shall guide the University for the next 5 years. The plan seeks to address the critical skills gap identified in the National  critical skills report of 2018,” he said.

Of the 1 920 graduates that were capped, the majority, 1 115 were first degree graduands while 247 were Master degree graduands.

Prior to the graduation ceremony, president Mnangagwa officially opened the university road which leads up to BUSE Mount Darwin campus and the national sports academy.

zbc

Strong winds hit Honde Valley uprooting trees in their wake. "We pray that no lives are lost in this violent weather phen" – The Source pic.twitter.com/q6piGTUUV5

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 12, 2019

• 

• 

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• 

• 

Controversial social media abuser Acie Lumumba has fired shots at Mnangagwa commenting on current events. ED has failed, he tweeted and the tweet has since gone viral.

ED has failed.

— #ThePeoplesChampion???✊? (@acielumumba) October 8, 2019

Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) secretary-general, Reverend Kenneth Mtata, has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa of impending anarchy as a result of unresolved socio-economic and political crises in the country.

Mtata said that there was a necessity to adopt far-reaching solutions to the crises so as to avoid the recurrence of the same issues in the future. He said:

If we continue to address the symptoms, we are going to face this crisis for 20 more years. There is, for example, an urgent need for negotiations, and these negotiations are not about two individuals but must be for the whole nation.

Things are such that this can lead to a very desperate situation because citizens are suffering. There is a high risk of chaos if the situation is not solved urgently.

Earlier this week, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHoCD) recommended that the country suspends elections for seven years to focus on resolving the issues and rebuilding the nation.

Zimbabwe is grounded by the worst economic crisis since 2008. The country has a huge deficit in food, power, water, fuel and cash which have together with the inflation have inflicted pain on the general populace.

– Daily News

Zimbabwe’s security services are yet to find the bombers who in June 2018 apparently attempted to assassinate President Mnangagwa in Bulawayo at White City Stadium. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said this week that there’s a need to revisit the matter as the government suspects the work of the “Third Force”.

Said Ziyambi: We had a bombing where our president was almost killed and where some of our people were killed, people have remained silent as to the identity of the people who did it. When we say there is a third force doing this, fingers are pointed at the State, but from our own position, we are saying we need to have a relook at this.

The bomb killed some aides and left several people, including Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s wife Marry, injured. Following the bombing, Mnangagwa blamed it on the Generation 40 faction that had been ousted from Zanu-PF during the November 2017 coup.

Source – Pindula News

ZANU PF Youth League Political Commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu has urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to dissolved the Politiburo, Cabinet and the Presidential Advisory Council.

Posting on Facebook, Tsenengamu said, “Cde President get rid of the saboteurs around you who are in cabinet, politiburo and PAC. Time is running out, you have to act now. They are full of mischief and not sincere.”

The radical ZANU PF Youth leader has been vocal calling for a ZANU PF and MDC to unite for the good of the nation.

“We all have our differences yes but I think for Zimbabwe’s sake let us major on what brings us together more than that which divides us,” Tsenengamu recently said. “For a s long as two majnor political parties in Zimbabwe continue to play hide and seek games prioritising to score cheap political points, then sustainable development remains a pipe dream. Let us dialogue.”

A ZANU PF source who spoke to us alleged that Tsenengamu belongs to a certain clique of ZANU PF members called the reformers who are eager to see some ZANU PF members removed from Senior posts and an arrangement with the opposition forged.

The church has  been making frantic efforts to unite MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and Mnangagwa.

Watch video below. ..

The ZRP is on the hunt for a Gweru pharmacist Simbarashe Ruzive(35) who allegedly fled from Zvamabande Hospital after he was involved in a fatal crash that claimed the life of his girlfriend Angela Taso. Ruzive failed to control his Isuzu car and it veered off the road overturning several times. The crash occurred at Zvamabande Turnoff along Mhandamabwe Shurugwi Road on Saturday as Ruzive drove from Chivi back to Gweru.

According to sources who spoke to the Masvingo Mirror, there were 4 people on board of which 3 escaped with minor injuries. Ruzive fled from the hospital by sneaking out and in the processing stealing a car belonging to a good samaritan who had ferried them to hospital after the accident. The car was later found dumped in Chivi, Masvingo after it ran out of fuel

Midlands Police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the accident:

“I confirm that Taso died on the spot in an accident which happened on Saturday at the 25km peg along Masvingo – Shurugwi road. The other three were ferried to Zvamabande where Ruzive fled from the hospital before he was admitted. He fled with the car of the man who gave the three transport to the hospital. He is still missing because we never received any information that he came back. The three did not sustain any injuries and they were therefore discharged from hospital,”

-Online

Prophet orders congregants to divorce. It is alleged Bishop Philip Chipato, who also doubles up as a prophet, encouraged married male congregants to divorce their wives who no longer attend church services.

An Apostolic church bishop in Bulawayo has been accused of wrecking church members’ marriages by ordering married congregants to divorce their partners who would have stopped coming to church.

A pastor who requested anonymity said Chipato preached castigating married female congregants who had somehow stopped coming to church.

It is further said as a result Bishop Chipato reportedly ordered one of his pastors, Cleopas Midzi, to divorce his wife Vimbai Denhere who had stopped attending church services.

“Vimbai stopped coming to church and after about two weeks Bishop Chipato started to teach a series of lessons demonising married partners who would have stopped coming to church. He also ran a series of sermons preaching against such truant members while encouraging their partners to divorce them,”said a source.

An elder of the church who requested anonymity said as a result Midzi divorced his wife. Contacted for a comment Vimbai said:

“I stopped going to that church (Word Apostolic Church) because I did not like the things that were done at that church. His teachings were not in conformity with the word of God. After a month Chipato influenced my husband (Midzi) to divorce me and left me with two children and he is not taking care of them.

The bishop denied all allegations.

-Online

PROSECUTOR-GENERAL (PG) Kumbirai Hodzi has petitioned the High Court on an urgent basis seeking an order to bar self-exiled former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere from accessing title deeds for his Mutare property which was forfeited to the State before the High Court quashed the ruling.

Kasukuwere was last year arrested and charged with criminal abuse of office, but when he took the matter to the High Court for review, Justice Tawanda Chitapi quashed all the charges saying there was no evidence suggesting that the former Zanu PF political commissar committed any criminal offence during his tenure in government service.

Early this week, the High Court again issued another order releasing Kasukuwere’s forfeited title deeds to a property on Lot 4 of Subdivision D Manchester in Mutare district, registered under 8010/2003, which had been held as surety when he was granted bail.

But according to prosecutor Zivanai Macharaga of the President’s Office Special Anti-Corruption Unit, the order for the release of the title deeds was issued at a time when Hodzi had petitioned the Supreme Court against Justice Chitapi’s ruling and the matter is still pending under case number SC550/19.

In his founding affidavit, the PG said he feared that Kasukuwere would dispose of his property once the title deeds are released to him, leaving the State with no other recourse in case it wins the Supreme Court challenge.

“Kasukuwere has shown that he is ready to deal with the property and may possibly dispose of it. I seek an urgent intervention of the court to interdict Kasukuwere from dealing with the property or disposing of it pending the resolution of the dispute under SC550/19,” Hodzi said.

The PG’s submission was also supported by Tafadzwanashe Mupariwa from the National Prosecuting Authority, who insisted that it was clear that the former minister intended to sell his Mutare property once released back to him.

“Kasukuwere has acted in a manner which shows that it is his intention to deal with the property in a manner that will prejudice the interests of the applicant (PG) and the due administration of justice,” Mupariwa said.

“Should the application not be dealt with now, the applicant may not be able to have recourse to the property as it will be difficult for him to retain the property as recognisance in the event that he succeeds in his appeal under SC550/19.”

The matter is pending.

-Newsday

The situation has reached another level https://t.co/js9SuPIdFd pic.twitter.com/1dj8XC5UKV

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 12, 2019

Self exiled former Higher and tertiary education minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has described as unprecedented, a video of school children stoning a President Emmerson Mnangagwa campaign billboard.

Moyo, a fierce critic of Mnangagwa following the November 2017 military coup that displaced former President Robert Mugabe has never missed an opportunity to ridicule the Zimbabwe ruler over his incapacity to turn things around in the country.

What is happening here? Unprecedented! pic.twitter.com/UPotRtCs8N

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) October 12, 2019

TWO women from Bulawayo have been sentenced to nine months in prison for stealing cellphones during a burial at Luveve cemetery.
Nolwazi Dube (18) and Minenhle Mare (25) from Pumula suburb stole a Samsung J6 belonging to Ms Talent Ndiweni (26) and Ms Thembo Hlalaphi’s (26) Samsung J2 both valued at $3 500.

Dube and Mare pleaded guilty to two counts of theft before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.

The magistrate sentenced Dube to six months in prison before suspending three months. She suspended another three months on condition that Dube performs 105 hours of community service at Pumula Police Station.

Ms Dube also sentenced Mare to an effective three months in prison.

The State, represented by Mr Tapiwa Solani, said the two women stole the cellphones last week on Thursday at around 11AM.

“The accused persons were given a Samsung J2 cellphone by Ms Hlalaphi for safe keeping while she was busy with burial. After the burial the accused persons sold the phone,” he said.

On count two on the same day, Dube and Mare hatched a plan to steal a cellphone from Ms Ndiweni.

“The accused persons pretended to be asking for time from the complainant before snatching her Samsung J6, and ran away,” Mr Solani said.

Ms Hlalaphi testified that when she gave Dube and Mare her cellphone, they used it to record the proceedings.
She said Dube is her niece.

“I was burying a relative and I handed over my phone to my niece who was taking a funeral video. By the time I was placing flowers on the grave, the accused persons were nowhere to be found. They sold my phone without my consent,” she said.

The total value of stolen cellphones was $ 3 500 and nothing was recovered.

By A Correspondent- Although Emmerson Mnangagwa was filmed on ZBC LIVE broadcast smiling as his office announced they are deploying the military to change election results, Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Sibusiso Moyo has said that soldiers who on August 1, 2018, shot and killed civilians in the streets of Harare will be prosecuted next year.

The announcement was revealed in an article published by the Spectator of Australia, in which Moyo pleaded with Australia to support Zimbabwe’s Commonwealth readmission agenda saying the country was making reforms.

He said:

Zimbabwe has rapidly begun the task of implementing the commission’s key recommendations that include reforming legislation on law and order, freedom and the liberalisation of the media and electoral reforms and we can expect prosecutions of those responsible to begin next year after the police and prosecution services have completed their post-inquiry investigations.

The prosecution of the killer soldiers is part of the recommendations that were made by the Motlanthe Commission of Enquiry which was set by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The Commissionn observed that the soldiers had used excessive force on unarmed civilians.

-TheSpectator

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), which represents Junior and Middle-level doctors, has said that its members will continue with the industrial action despite a court ruling ordering them to go back to work within 48 hours.

Speaking to a local publication after the Labour Court’s judgment, ZHDAacting secretary-general Tawanda Zvakada said that the doctors were willing to go back to work only if their grievances were addressed.

He said:

“The ruling does not capacitate us in any way. Members will still not go to work because they are not able to. We value our patients, but this is beyond our control. We also have families that rely on us for survival.

His remarks were echoed by senior doctors who said the ruling was insignificant as it did not provide solutions such as transport needed by workers.

The doctors have been on strike over the deterioration of their salaries and poor working conditions since the 3rd of September this year and nurses have also joined the strike.

-Newsday

The situation has reached another level https://t.co/js9SuPIdFd pic.twitter.com/1dj8XC5UKV

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 12, 2019

The Economist Intelligence Union, a member of The Economist Group has released a 2023 election forecast predicting a comfortable win for the ruling party ZANU PF.

The EUI which has over 60 years in intelligence gathering and reporting on countries also projected that the Zimbabwean dollar will be Z$7.1 : USD$1 in 2024.
The report was released on 9 October 2019.
Read an extract of the projection below:

In the most recent presidential election, in July 2018, Mr Mnangagwa won 50.8% of the votes just enough to avoid a run-off against his nearest rival, Nelson Chamisa of the MDC. Mr Chamisa secured 44.3% of the vote, with the remainder spread across the other 21 candidates.

In the legislative election, which was held at the same time, ZANU-PF secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority, with 179 out of 270 seats. ZANU-PF remains in a dominant position because any group splitting from the ruling party would lose access to the benefits of incumbency. Nevertheless, the emergence of divisions within ZANU-PF cannot be ruled out as the economic situation remains perilous. The opposition has little political authority or ability to hold the government to account.

The next presidential and legislative elections are due to be held in 2023. We expect ZANU-PF to win comfortably given its stranglehold on the political scene (although the elections are unlikely to be free or fair). Because of the ruling party’s dominance, we deem early elections to be unlikely, despite significant political and economic tensions.

PROSECUTOR-GENERAL (PG) Kumbirai Hodzi has petitioned the High Court on an urgent basis seeking an order to bar self-exiled former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere from accessing title deeds for his Mutare property which was forfeited to the State before the High Court quashed the ruling.

Kasukuwere was last year arrested and charged with criminal abuse of office, but when he took the matter to the High Court for review, Justice Tawanda Chitapi quashed all the charges saying there was no evidence suggesting that the former Zanu PF political commissar committed any criminal offence during his tenure in government service.

Early this week, the High Court again issued another order releasing Kasukuwere’s forfeited title deeds to a property on Lot 4 of Subdivision D Manchester in Mutare district, registered under 8010/2003, which had been held as surety when he was granted bail.

But according to prosecutor Zivanai Macharaga of the President’s Office Special Anti-Corruption Unit, the order for the release of the title deeds was issued at a time when Hodzi had petitioned the Supreme Court against Justice Chitapi’s ruling and the matter is still pending under case number SC550/19.

In his founding affidavit, the PG said he feared that Kasukuwere would dispose of his property once the title deeds are released to him, leaving the State with no other recourse in case it wins the Supreme Court challenge.

“Kasukuwere has shown that he is ready to deal with the property and may possibly dispose of it. I seek an urgent intervention of the court to interdict Kasukuwere from dealing with the property or disposing of it pending the resolution of the dispute under SC550/19,” Hodzi said.

The PG’s submission was also supported by Tafadzwanashe Mupariwa from the National Prosecuting Authority, who insisted that it was clear that the former minister intended to sell his Mutare property once released back to him.

“Kasukuwere has acted in a manner which shows that it is his intention to deal with the property in a manner that will prejudice the interests of the applicant (PG) and the due administration of justice,” Mupariwa said.

“Should the application not be dealt with now, the applicant may not be able to have recourse to the property as it will be difficult for him to retain the property as recognisance in the event that he succeeds in his appeal under SC550/19.”

The matter is pending.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) secretary-general, Reverend Kenneth Mtata, has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa of impending anarchy as a result of unresolved socio-economic and political crises in the country.

Mtata said that there was a necessity to adopt far-reaching solutions to the crises so as to avoid recurrence of the same issues in the future. He said:

If we continue to address the symptoms, we are going to face this crisis for 20 more years. There is, for example, an urgent need for negotiations, and these negotiations are not about two individuals but must be for the whole nation.

Things are such that this can lead to a very desperate situation because citizens are suffering. There is a high risk of chaos if the situation is not solved urgently.

Earlier this week, the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHoCD) recommended that the country suspends elections for seven years to focus on resolving the issues and rebuilding the nation.

Zimbabwe is grounded by the worst economic crisis since 2008. The country has a huge deficit in food, power, water, fuel and cash which have together with the inflation have inflicted pain on the general populace.

-DailyNews

THE situation at the country’s major public hospitals has deteriorated to alarming levels, with patients reportedly dying on stretcher beds before being attended to, while most wards are virtually empty as nurses and doctors continue with their industrial action.

Yesterday, a gloomy cloud hovered over Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after more than 50% of the nursing population stayed away, with patients being turned away in droves.

This came as the Labour Court ruled against the industrial action, but the doctors dismissed the ruling as a nullity, saying they remained financially incapacitated.

Justices Lawrence Murasi and Rodgers Manyangadze, who presided over the matter, ordered the striking medical staff to report for duty within 48 hours and censured government against taking disciplinary action against them.

“Members of the respondents who participated in the said collective job action be and hereby ordered to report for duty within 48 hours from the date of this order and the applicant shall be entitled to take disciplinary action against members of respondents who fail or neglect to comply with the order,” the judges ruled.

“Applicant (government) shall not take any disciplinary action against members of the respondent who participated in the collective job action from September 2019 up to the date of the order.”

The judges referred the case to an arbitrator, who should deal with the issue within 14 days.

At their last meeting on Thursday, the health professionals said they could no longer sustain themselves and needed their employer to relook their grievances, which include salaries commensurate with the bank rate.

“Our contracts have salaries pegged in US dollars, so the employer must consider aligning our salaries with the current interbank rate.

“Look at us, look at my plastic shoes, my unkempt hair. Do I look like a nurse?” a nurse who declined to be named asked rhetorically.

-Newsday

TWO women from Bulawayo have been sentenced to nine months in prison for stealing cellphones during a burial at Luveve cemetery.
Nolwazi Dube (18) and Minenhle Mare (25) from Pumula suburb stole a Samsung J6 belonging to Ms Talent Ndiweni (26) and Ms Thembo Hlalaphi’s (26) Samsung J2 both valued at $3 500.

Dube and Mare pleaded guilty to two counts of theft before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.

The magistrate sentenced Dube to six months in prison before suspending three months. She suspended another three months on condition that Dube performs 105 hours of community service at Pumula Police Station.

Ms Dube also sentenced Mare to an effective three months in prison.

The State, represented by Mr Tapiwa Solani, said the two women stole the cellphones last week on Thursday at around 11AM.

“The accused persons were given a Samsung J2 cellphone by Ms Hlalaphi for safe keeping while she was busy with burial. After the burial the accused persons sold the phone,” he said.

On count two on the same day, Dube and Mare hatched a plan to steal a cellphone from Ms Ndiweni.

“The accused persons pretended to be asking for time from the complainant before snatching her Samsung J6, and ran away,” Mr Solani said.

Ms Hlalaphi testified that when she gave Dube and Mare her cellphone, they used it to record the proceedings.
She said Dube is her niece.

“I was burying a relative and I handed over my phone to my niece who was taking a funeral video. By the time I was placing flowers on the grave, the accused persons were nowhere to be found. They sold my phone without my consent,” she said.

The total value of stolen cellphones was $ 3 500 and nothing was recovered.

-State Media

Doctors respond to 48-hour ultimatum to return to work. Yesterday, a gloomy cloud hovered over Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after more than 50% of the nursing population stayed away, with patients being turned away in droves.

The situation at the country’s major public hospitals has deteriorated to alarming levels, with patients reportedly dying on stretcher beds before being attended to, while most wards are virtually empty as nurses and doctors continue with their industrial action.

This came as the Labour Court ruled against the industrial action, but the doctors dismissed the ruling as a nullity, saying they remained financially incapacitated. Justices Lawrence Murasi and Rodgers Manyangadze, who presided over the matter, ordered the striking medical staff to report for duty within 48 hours and censured government against taking disciplinary action against them.

“Members of the respondents who participated in the said collective job action be and hereby ordered to report for duty within 48 hours from the date of this order and the applicant shall be entitled to take disciplinary action against members of respondents who fail or neglect to comply with the order,” the judges ruled.

“Applicant (government) shall not take any disciplinary action against members of the respondent who participated in the collective job action from September 2019 up to the date of the order.”

The judges referred the case to an arbitrator, who should deal with the issue within 14 days. At their last meeting on Thursday, the health professionals said they could no longer sustain themselves and needed their employer to relook their grievances, which include salaries commensurate with the bank rate.

“Our contracts have salaries pegged in US dollars, so the employer must consider aligning our salaries with the current interbank rate. “Look at us, look at my plastic shoes, my unkempt hair. Do I look like a nurse?” a nurse who declined to be named asked rhetorically.

Parirenyatwa, which is one of the biggest referral hospitals in the country, was empty yesterday, with only a few student nurses checking in on a handful of patients still admitted. Many patients were discharged when the doctors’ crisis intensified. The facility, which is usually a hive of activity, was eerily quiet with both the outpatients and casualty departments deserted.

Contacted for comment after the Labour Court ruling, Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association acting secretary-general Tawanda Zvakada said: “The ruling does not capacitate us in any way. Members will still not go to work because they are not able to. We value our patients, but this is beyond our control. We also have families that rely on us for survival.”

But he said they were willing to go back if their concerns were addressed. The senior doctors, who have also claimed incapacitation, said the court ruling was inconsequential as the cost of living remained higher than their wages.

“Prices are still high, but if they want us to report for duty, they should send transport to pick us up because we are still incapacitated as before,” a senior doctor said on condition of anonymity. There were reports that some patients were dying on stretcher beds before being attended to because of the industrial action.

On Thursday, NewsDay Weekender witnessed a man, Learnmore Ndemere, with a heart condition being turned away. His relatives looked crestfallen as they congregated to map the way forward. “His body is now swelling up, look at his feet, face, hands even. Honestly, how can we take someone so sick back home?” one of the relatives asked with tears rolling down their cheeks.

Ndemere’s father pleaded with the government to find a lasting solution to the doctors and nurses’ strike. Health ministry spokesperson Donald Mujiri referred questions to the Health Services Board, whose chairperson, Paulinus Sikhosana, said he was travelling and could not comment on the matter.

Source – NewsDay

Harare Residents Trust  (HRT) has called for accountability in Harare City Council following reports that residents in Crowborough were given half the stands they were supposed to by Council.

The City Fathers allegedly duped the residents by giving them 150 square meters of land instead of the agreed 300 square meters.

However the residents were still required to pay the full amount for the 300 square metres.

“Council was supposed to allocate 300 square meters to each resident but now two people share the 300 square meters and yet they use the same account number to pay Municipal bills,” alleged one resident.

“Currently, residents are paying a bill for 300 square meters yet they are using 150 square meters,” he added.

Responding on the matter Harare Residents Trust (HRT) expressed its displeasure at the news and has called for accountability in the matter.

“The Harare Residents Trust is worried about the lack of accountability for the city fathers and is appealing for transparency on the way they bill rate payers,” it said.

This is not the first time the City fathers lack of accountability and transparency in the way they bill rate payers has come to the fore.

Currently they have problems with their billing system and have had to send residents projected figures of bills which has caused much consternation with the residents.

-Open Council

VOTE BELOW…

Do you think Zimbabwe was right to pledge USD$1 Million to the Global Fund at a time doctors are on strike due to incapacitation?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 12, 2019

;

By A Correspondent- The opposition MDC led by advocate Nelson Chamisa is contemplating spearheading an all-stakeholders Conference over the socio-economic crisis in the country.

The News Day reports that the party intends to engage churches, students, workers and all suffering Zimbabweans, including disgruntled Zanu PF supporters in a bid to build a united front to enhance the citizens’ determination.

Speaking to the publication, an unidentified party insider said:

We are consulting everyone so that this stops being an MDC against Zanu PF issue. We want a Zimbabwean solution. So as the movement which represents the majority, we want to convene an all-stakeholders conference, which will solidify the resolve of the people.

The development comes when the crisis in the country continues unabated. The Zimbabwean economy is inflationary, risking reminding people of the 2008 record high hyperinflation.

The health sector is also collapsed with public institutions operating without essentials such as machines and medicines for patients and the health workers industrial action which started on the 3rd of September this year is doing less to help the situation.

Zimbabwe has other issues including a huge deficit in water, fuel, electricity, food, foreign currency and cash.

-Newsday

MONROVIA – Liberian police on Thursday closed a radio station critical of President George Weah, accusing it of inciting violence, and used tear gas to disperse people protesting against the move.

Roots FM, owned by Henry Costa, is one of the leaders of a group that organised a large anti-government street protest on 17 June, paralysing several areas of the seaside capital Monrovia.

Costa is a fierce critic of Weah, a former international football star who became president of the country in January last year.

Heavily armed police riot units ringed the radio station building on Thursday morning, making it impossible for workers to move in and out.

They also fired tear gas on the station’s supporters gathered outside.

Costa, who is in the United States from where he usually produces a show for his radio station in Liberia, was defiant.

“It is indeed a very sad day, but I can assure you that we will never be silenced,” Costa told AFP in a telephone interview.

Liberia’s solicitor general said the station was blackmailing people and instigating violence.

“They have begun criminal acts of extortion and blackmail. They use their media to spread inflammatory messages against Liberian citizens, and engage in incitement.

“Beginning today there will be no public demonstration that is not … sanctioned by the government of Liberia,” Cyrinus Cephus told a press conference.

The Press Union of Liberia last week denounced Roots FM and Freedom FM, another radio that is owned by a government official, for “always insulting people on radio.

“That is not journalism. You cannot ask people to give you money or you talk bad about them. That is destroying the image of good journalism in Liberia. I call on the government to take action against Roots FM and Freedom FM,” its president Charles Coffey said.

-EWN

French President Emmanuel Macron reserved rare praise for Zimbabwe for its deepened fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria.

President Macron said this while addressing the Sixth Replenishment Conference organised by the Global Fund Forum in Lyon, France, on Thursday.

President Mnangagwa, who returned home last night, attended the high-level meeting and pledged US$1 million as part of Harare’s obligations to the Global Fund

Nation states contribute to multilateral funds to keep good accounts and eligibility for funding.

And, President Macron had special words for Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe has improved its combat mechanisms in combating HIV, tuberculosis and malaria,” said President Macron while speaking in French.

President Mnangagwa led the Zimbabwe delegation at the Global Fund Forum.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, who also accompanied President Mnangagwa to the forum, confirmed on his Twitter handle that President Macron had indeed praised Zimbabwe.

“President Macron mentioned Zimbabwe as a country that has done well in the area of HIV, TB and malaria control, and in the use of Global Fund resources,” tweeted Prof Ncube.

The Global Fund conference in Lyon saw governments, philanthropists and businesses pledging US$14,02 billion for the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB.

The target was to raise US$14 billion, and the funds will be channelled towards saving 16 million lives and averting 234 million infections by 2023 in over 100 countries, mainly Nigeria, Tanzania, DRC, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa acknowledged the crucial role played by the Global Fund in Zimbabwe’s health sector, and pledged US$1 million towards the organisation.

Created in 2002, the Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in low- and middle-income countries.

Said President Mnangagwa: “Since 2002, the Global Fund has approved nearly US$1,7 billion to Zimbabwe, of which over US$1,3 billion has been disbursed.

“Let me express my profound gratitude for this invaluable support. As we build strong institutions, infrastructure and integrated services, we appeal for support and seek partnerships to strengthen primary healthcare, build and retain a competent health workforce to achieve universal health coverage.”

State Media

RURAL teachers under the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) will next week Monday dump invigilation of final Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) examinations and all of their other duties to engage in industrial action until government gives in to their demands of a better salary.

 Exams started on 30 September and end 22 November.

 ARTUZ which is the smaller union of the three that represent teachers in Zimbabwe said they will not be forced to normalise an abnormal situation that government continues to ignore.

 Union President Obert Masaraure told NewZimbabwe.com the chaos that will follow was all government’s fault.

 “Teachers will not be attending to invigilations and any other responsibilities until the salaries are reviewed, we can no longer afford to normalise the abnormality obtaining in our schools,” said Masaraure.

 “Government has failed to pay our teachers a living wage and our education is now in turmoil. We warned them to review our salaries way back they turned a deaf ear, now teachers have resolved to down tools at a time when learners are sitting for examinations.”

 Teachers like doctors who are already on day 36 of industrial action, are demanding their salaries to be paid at an interbank rate since their contracts indicated that they were earning US dollars.

 Masaraure urged government to do away with Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s austerity measures.

Added Masaraure: “We urge government to drop its austerity measures and review our salaries for the good of education.

 “From 14 October going forward teachers will be withdrawing labour until our salaries are indexed with interbank rate.”

Hwange Thermal Power Station, the country’s second largest power plant, is operating with critically low stocks of coal due to low supplies from the miners amid fears the situation will impact already depressed power production.

The coal supply situation at the power station is likely to worsen in the summer season, which is set to commence soon, as miners’ open cast operations will be affected by the rains, sources said.

Information obtained by Business Weekly shows that the power plant is operating with a strategic reserve of about 60 000 tonnes, against a recommended minimum stockpile of 200 000 tonnes.

Sixty thousand tonnes of coal last just 10 days, raising the danger that the plant may run out of feedstock in the event that any of the major coal miners experience production challenges.

Despite frequent breakdowns, Hwange Power Station carries most of Zimbabwe’s load power needs, as production at Kariba Hydro Power Station, the country’s largest in terms of capacity, is severely constrained due to low levels of usable water in Lake Kariba for power generation.

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing power cuts which have seen businesses and households enduring long hours of load shedding.

“The situation is desperate and the authorities need to urgently take action,” said an anonymous source.

Another source told Business Weekly that the Zimbabwe Power Company, the power generation unit of State power utility, Zesa Holdings, was struggling to pay for coal supplies from the miners.

One of the companies is understood to be owed nearly $30 million “and this is seriously hurting the operations of the miners because the tariff is too sub-economic.”

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has since approved a 320 percent tariff increase to 162,16 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to help Zesa improve power supply.

The new tariff increase comes barely a month after ZERA approved another tariff hike.

Only in August this year, ZERA reviewed electricity tariffs to 38,61c/kWh to improve supplies in the country, after the US dollar tariff of US9,86c/kWh approved in 2011, but now payable in local currency, was eroded to as little as US1,01c/kWh following the currency changes in February this year.

But despite the tariff adjustment in August, the generation and distribution power utilities insisted the tariff remained insufficient to mobilise enough financial resources to support their operations.

This week, ZERA said the hike was part of efforts to restore normal electricity supply after the 38,61 cents/kWh was rendered ineffective by inflationary pressures.

“With the new tariff, we should be equal to task although it came a little bit late given that we are now getting into a rain season,” an official with ZESA said yesterday.

“The ability to pay has been enhanced and no one should be delayed (in terms of payments) in the supply chain.”

The Coal Producers Association (CPA), said capacitating the producers of the fossil fuel through timely payments was critical to boost supplies.

“We are way below required minimum stock levels and this is quite dangerous,” Ray Mutokonyi, the chairperson of CPA told Business Weekly in an interview.

“We need to start building the stocks now because we are going to be affected by the rains since most of our operations are open cast. Zesa needs to pay the producers on time,” he said.

As part of its submissions for a tariff hike, Zesa said it was spending $72 million on coal procurement. The coal prices also move in line with changes in the interbank market foreign exchange rate.

The power utilities also cited financial obligations related to power imports (US$19,5 million per month) in justifying the request for a tariff hike.

ZERA said the 38,61 cents tariff which the energy regulator approved in August had become inadequate for constant maintenance of equipment for consistent electricity supply, resulting in an acute deficit.

“At that level (38,61cents/kWh), the tariff was not enough to cover the operating costs of the electricity companies including coal, diesel and essential equipment leading to a shortfall of ZWL320 million in August 2019,” ZERA, the regulator said.

ZERA said it expects a, “significantly improved electricity supply position from Zimbabwe Power Company as the company can procure enough coal stocks.

“This will reduce load shedding hours and improve the reliability of supply from Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company as the company is able to import electricity from the Southern African Power Pool.”

Delta Beverages corporate has reportedly increased beer prices, a development that is likely to see many boozers resorting to being sober as the precious liquid is now beyond the reach of many.

The company is said to have already circulated the price increase notice with retailers in Harare.

The Daily News reports that several clubs and bar owners were on Friday charging an average of $12 for a pint of beer (brown bottle), up from $8 while a 750ml bottle had gone up to $20 from $12.

The publication further reports that some clubs were going beyond $20 citing other costs including fuel for generators.

The prices are going up, days after the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) raised fuel prices thereby triggering a wave of price increase in the country.

AN illegal immigrant who was jailed for a £70,000 benefits scam is again behind bars after she was caught getting a job with a fake residence permit.

Zimbabwean national Grace Jinjika was jailed for four-and-a-half years in 2015 after she illegally claimed benefits between May 2005 and October 2013.

Having been released from that sentence, the 42-year-old of Flatford Place, Kidlington, appeared again at Oxford Crown Court today.

She pleaded guilty at that hearing to one count of fraud and one of having an identity document with improper intention.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Jonathan Stone said that Jinjika first came to the UK nearly 20 years ago on a six-month visa.

She went on to repeatedly apply for leave to remain and was repeatedly refused.

In 2015 she was jailed for fraudulently claiming benefits including council tax and housing benefit to the value of about £70,000.

Prosecutors said she was not deported after that sentence as the UK was not deporting criminals back to Zimbabwe at that time.

After her release Jinjika went on to get a job as a carer with the company Oasis in Abingdon.

The court heard that as part of her application she had supplied a copy of a fake residence permit.

She went on to work there from January 2019.

The company said later if it had been known Jinjika was not legally allowed to work she would not have been hired, but it did praise her work.

It was also revealed that she was initially released from her jail term in May 2017 and her post-release licence period expired in August last year.

As the offences were committed in November last year she was not in breach of any licence period.

In mitigation at yesterday’s hearing, her defence barrister said his client had a number of health difficulties and had been diagnosed with HIV and bipolar disorder and was taking medication for her condition.

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said: “In this case I have heard that you worked caring for other people and you were considered to be an extremely good worker.

“Nonetheless as you know you should not have been here, you should have not have been taking these jobs.”

She was jailed for 12 months on each count to run concurrently and must pay a victim surcharge.

The ruling ZANU PF party says the European Union is pushing for face-to-face unconditional dialogue between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC president Nelson Chamisa.

ZANU PF secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu, on Thursday told the Daily News that EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen, urged dialogue between the country’s major political parties when he visited the party’s headquarters on Tuesday. Said Mpofu:

“We had a meeting with the EU ambassador and a representative from the Zimbabwe Institute. The meeting was very cordial, but tense. The meeting was initiated by the EU ambassador.”

“They were engaging us on issues to do with dialogue Europe pushes for ED, Chamisa talks everyone unconditionally “[sic].

Chamisa has rejected Mnangagwa’s claim to legitimacy after the Constitutional Court dismissed the former’s application seeking for the nullification of the 2018 presidential election results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Mnangagwa has invited Chamisa to be part of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), a dialogue platform involving all losers in last year’s presidential election, a request the latter has flatly rejected.

State Media|Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi has filed an interdict pendente lite (pending litigation) at the High Court seeking to bar former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere from dealing with or disposing of his Nyanga property pending a Supreme Court ruling.

Kasukuwere, who is currently on self exile has been declared by those around him as the next President of the country at the 2023 elections.

In the application, the PG said the High Court’s decision to release the property was grossly irregular.

He added that Kasukuwere did not have locus standi in judicio (the right to bring an action, to be heard in court, or to address the court on a matter before it) until he had purged his contempt.

The magistrate who presided over the matter, Mr Hosea Mujaya, the clerk of Harare magistrates court and the Registrar of Deeds are cited as respondents.

On October 9, 2019, the High Court ordered the immediate release of Kasukuwere’s property, Lot 4 of Subdivision D Manchester in the District of Mutare, Zimbabwe, registered under title deed 8010/2003, to the State.

The High Court decision follows Kasukuwere’s High Court application for release of the property after it was forfeited to the State.

The property was forfeited to State because of his non-appearance for his criminal abuse of office case at the magistrates’ court on the grounds that he was receiving medical attention in South Africa.

“The applicant has applied for leave to appeal against the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court under case number SC550/ 19 and the application is pending,” read the application.

The PG insisted that Kasukuwere was likely to dispose of the property now that the title deeds have been returned to him.

“Respondent has shown that he is ready to deal with the property and may possibly dispose of it.”

The application for review is already set down for hearing, he said.

“Pending the finalisation of the application under SC5550/ 19, the applicant seeks to preserve the property since he has strong prospects of success under SC550/ 19.

“The applicant seeks an urgent intervention of the court to interdict Kasukuwere from dealing with the property or disposing of it pending the resolution of the dispute.”

“Should the application not be dealt with now the applicant may not be able to have recourse to the property as it will be difficult for him to retain the property as recognisance in the event that he succeeds in his appeal.”

The application for review is already set down for hearing, he said.

“The question of whether Kasukuwere was in contempt of court was raised and the judge a quo ruled that since charges have been quashed the issue did not arise,” read the application.

“The decision by the judge a quo to proceed to determine the matter in such circumstances was grossly irregular. The fact that the applicant’s charges were quashed does not purge his contempt and fugitive status.”

Some ZANU PF members have taken to social media to call for a cabinet reshuffle that will see Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube and Youth Minister Kirsty Coventry being reshuffled as they are accused of being incompetent.

Former Zimbabwe Youth Council Director Livingstone Dzikira said, “There is an urgent need for a Cabinet Reshuffle, Mthuli Ncube the Finance Minister has proven to be a complete disaster.”

Dzikira’s statements were echoed by ZANU PF activist Emmanuel Sunduza who added that Kirsty Coventry should be removed also.

Aspiring ZANU PF Harare DCC Zone 3 Secretary for Disability and Disadvantaged Rowdy Gift Mabhaudi said, “I was just assessing her (Coventry) just now and listening to her speak, I really need to understand like Westlife What makes a man…”

Another former ZANU PF Youth leader Tongai Kasukuwere said the whole cabinet failed but people were afraid to mention other names because they were scared of them.

Mnangagwa’s cabinet was celebrated by all and sundry when it was first announced with people saying he has appointed a team of technocrats. 
The so called  technocrats who made it into cabinet were Professor Mthuli Ncube (finance and economic development), former Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry (youth, sport, arts and recreation), Obadiah Moyo (health and child care) and Winston Chitando (mines and mining development).

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri has called for the distribution of inputs to all deserving people regardless of political affiliation.

Speaking during the launch of the traditional seeds input programme at Marymount in Rushinga District last week, Minister Shiri said everyone has a responsibility to ensure food security, hence the need for equitable and fair distribution of inputs.

“As Zimbabweans, we should unite in ensuring food security and success of the growing of traditional seeds.

Everyone should benefit regardless of political affiliation. Last year, we failed to realise a good harvest because of poor rains due to climate change.

Having realised that climate change is wreaking havoc, we set down with experts you advised us to revert to traditional crops like millet, rapoko and sorghum.

These crops are drought resistant and farmers are guaranteed of a harvest even when drought strikes,” said Minister Shiri.

He said it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure that Zimbabwe regains its breadbasket status.

“We are currently importing maize from Tanzania and South Africa.

Zambia said we should sign an agreement with them for them to produce maize for us annually and we should not forget that we used to feed Zambia.

So it is not possible for us to be fed by other nations when we have the capacity to produce our own food. Food security should start at household levels and that is why we are rolling out these inputs distribution programmes. As farmers, you should also ensure that you also invest in your ventures.

You should be prepared to sell your chickens and goats for you to buy pesticides that kills all pests that attacks your crops,” he said.State media

Farai Dziva|The country’s deepening economic challenges are forcing hard-pressed Zimbabweans to resort to unorthodox means for survival.

Even professionals have been reduced to beggars and street dealers.

Read full report below – that was published by a state run publication:

A final year nursing student at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo allegedly stole an assortment of medical instruments including 200 surgical blades and 46 syringes worth $230, a magistrate heard yesterday.

Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Ulukile Mlea-Ndlovu heard this when Kwanele Mazolo (31), whose address was not given, appeared before her facing theft charges.

Mazolo, a third year student, was remanded out of custody to October 22 on $200 bail.

Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said last Saturday at around 7:55PM, the accused person allegedly stole 200 surgical blades and 46 syringes belonging to Mpilo Central Hospital and shoved them into an opaque plastic bag.

“The accused person took a black plastic bag and put 200 surgical blades and 46 syringes that she had stolen at Mpilo Central Hospital,” he said.

A syringe is a medical device that is used to inject fluid into or withdraw it from the body while surgical blades or scalpels are used for cutting skin and tissue during surgical procedures.

The court heard that on leaving the hospital building, Mazolo was searched by a security guard manning the premises as part of the routine security procedures leading to the discovery of the stolen medical tools.

On being quizzed, Mazolo failed to give a satisfactory answer and she was apprehended.

“The accused person was apprehended after she was searched and found in possession of the stolen equipment which she failed to account for,” said Mr Mageza.

A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person.Credit- state media

TWO women from Bulawayo have been sentenced to nine months in prison for stealing cellphones during a burial at Luveve cemetery.

Nolwazi Dube (18) and Minenhle Mare (25) from Pumula suburb stole a Samsung J6 belonging to Ms Talent Ndiweni (26) and Ms Thembo Hlalaphi’s (26) Samsung J2 both valued at $3 500.

Dube and Mare pleaded guilty to two counts of theft before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.

The magistrate sentenced Dube to six months in prison before suspending three months. She suspended another three months on condition that Dube performs 105 hours of community service at Pumula Police Station.

Ms Dube also sentenced Mare to an effective three months in prison.
The State, represented by Mr Tapiwa Solani, said the two women stole the cellphones last week on Thursday at around 11AM.

“The accused persons were given a Samsung J2 cellphone by Ms Hlalaphi for safe keeping while she was busy with burial. After the burial the accused persons sold the phone,” he said.

On count two on the same day, Dube and Mare hatched a plan to steal a cellphone from Ms Ndiweni.
“The accused persons pretended to be asking for time from the complainant before snatching her Samsung J6, and ran away,” Mr Solani said.

Ms Hlalaphi testified that when she gave Dube and Mare her cellphone, they used it to record the proceedings.
She said Dube is her niece.

“I was burying a relative and I handed over my phone to my niece who was taking a funeral video. By the time I was placing flowers on the grave, the accused persons were nowhere to be found. They sold my phone without my consent,” she said.
The total value of stolen cellphones was $ 3 500 and nothing was recovered.State media