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.
Zodwa Wabantu has finally balanced the masses on why she loves her men young, ‘adventurous’ and ‘outgoing’. Zodwa is well known for her cougar tendencies, among other things. Her preference for younger men was first displayed when she introduced the nation to her then boyfriend Ntobeko Linda, whom she ended up proposing to.
The couple later broke off the engagement with Zodwa going as far as requesting to get half of her lobola back.
A few months later, the entertainer came out with another Ben 10 named Vusi and the couple has been together for about 4 months now. Zodwa has finally eased our wondering minds with an explanation on why she prefers dating the younger male citizens of the country.
In a video she posted on Instagram, Zodwa explains that dating a younger guy is ideal for her demanding lifestyle. The entertainer says an older man would ultimately domesticate her and she wouldn’t be able to accommodate that kind of situation. Well, there you have it folks, Zodwa just doesn’t want stress.
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.
The National Management Committee met in Harare at the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House on the 10th of October 2019 to look at number of socio- economic and political situation in the country in a bid to come up with a youth driven solution to the crisis.
The economic situation has reached alarming levels with prices skyrocketing and inflation going up. Life for the ordinary person has become unbearable. Citizens are waking up at the blessing of waterless taps, empty fridges and without electricity. There are literally queues everywhere from transport queues to fuel one, in the registrar office, in hospitals and other such vital places. Prices are indexed in US dollars but the regime is still stuck in the not so popular Zimbabwean dollar.
Cognizant of these hardships the National Management Committee resolved the following
1) Action The youth assembly has resolved that we press factory settings and face the incompetent regime to act on the crisis in Zimbabwe.
2) Structures The YA resolved that they be urgent structure audit and verification as well as the need to speed up branch formation process for the Assembly to be able to carry out its mandate with vigor and vitality.
3) Elections We noted with urgency the ongoing delimitation process in Bulawayo metropolitan province and resolved to urgently deploy national executive members to assist Bulawayo province in the voter registration process that is ongoing.
4)Local Government We resolved to urgently look into the situation in our local authorities in a bid to enhance effective service delivery and the role of youth deployees.
5) Regional and International solidarity The management resolved to relocate the youth assembly as a critical voice in the geopolitics of the world and establish platforms of solidarity with like minded movements across the continent.
6) Provincial Councils The management committee resolved to suspend all Provincial council meetings that had been scheduled to pave way for branch Making process and holding grass meetings by the national executive which the organising department shall conduct soon.
Gift Ostallos Siziba Secretary General MDC Youth Assembly
If I could talk to President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, I would tell him this:
Dear Comrade President, do you remember coming to London sometime in the late 1980s presumably in pursuit of international support for COSATU, of which you were then Secretary-General?
I attended a joint news conference you held with the Secretary of the British Trades Union Congress, the late Mr. Norman Willis. I asked Mr. Willis why he wasn’t asking his British trade union member to stop processing mails and parcels sent from Britain to South Africa, and vice versa? Did the British trade union movement not realise that many of the Africans the apartheid regime had detained were picked up from “the shop floor”? They needed the solidarity of workers everywhere, especially fellow workers in trade and industry, I added.
Norman Willis brushed the question aside! He confirmed for me the famous statement by the late leader of the PAIGC in Guinea-Bissau, Amilcar Cabral, that “it’s only in fables that you can cross a river in a boat piloted by the crocodile’s friend”!
Of course, British trade with the apartheid regime enriched Britain and its workers a great deal, and the British TUC wasn’t going to disrupt that by taking such a decisive action to help to free a bunch of black workers whose trade union – and human – rights, were being trampled underfoot, thousands of miles away.
Comrade President, even if you appreciated the import of the question I asked Mr. Willis on your organisation’s behalf, you would not necessarily have known that so widespread was the international support for you and your people that the questioner wasn’t even from South Africa at all, or indeed, anywhere near it, but from faraway Ghana, in West Africa!
Yes, international support for the blacks of South Africa was solid and far-ranging, and cost some of those international supporters a lot of personal sacrifices.
Nowhere else was the support for the black struggle against apartheid waged with such consistency and justified anger as at the United Nations. Every session of the General Assembly and sometimes, the Security Council had an item on its agenda condemning apartheid and calling for the liberation of your oppressed nation. To the annoyance of “the crocodile’s friends”, the UN called for a boycott of the apartheid regime. Some limited sanctions were also imposed on it.
A special anti-apartheid committee was set up, and the Decolonization Committee also refused to allow the South African argument that apartheid was its “internal affair” to prevent it from persistently issuing condemnations against apartheid. The UN was, in fact, the first front of the anti-apartheid war.
One would have thought, therefore, that when the blacks of South Africa achieved victory over apartheid in May 1994, co-operation with the UN would be one of the hallmarks of its foreign policy. But alas, Comrade President, this does not appear to be the case. In September 1961, the Secretary-General of the UN at the time, Mr. Dag Hammarskjoeld, was travelling to Ndola in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in pursuit of peace for war-torn Congo, when his plane was cruelly shot down.
The Secretary-General and 15 other persons on board perished. It has been established that military action was going on in the Congo and the neighbouring countries at the time, carried out by mercenaries recruited and paid by British, American, Belgian and South African companies that had either connections with Union Miniere, the Belgian company that was milking the Congo of copper, uranium, diamonds and other minerals, on behalf of Western shareholders. Behind them stood powerful forces, including the CIA and M16 of Great Britain.
All the Western countries indisputably POSSESS first-hand intelligence reports on how Mr. Hammarskjoeld’s assassination was carried out. But despite requests from the UN that they should release documents relating to the crash to various enquiry bodies set up by the UN, very little has been given.
Currently, an ‘Eminent Person’, Judge Mohamed Othman, former Chief Justice of Tanzania, is in charge of reviewing what previous UN enquiries have done before, and plugging the informational holes in their reports on Hammarskjoeld’s assassination.
As could be expected, the “crocodile’s friends” (in this case, the USA, the UK, Belgium and France, in particular) have steadfastly refused to allow the ‘Eminent Person’ to see all the more important secret documents on the crash. This is in spite of the fact that the information therein is over 60 years old and, therefore, according to their own laws, may be released!
But Comrade President, what is most puzzling is that South Africa has joined the USA and its murderous friends in refusing to release all the relevant documents it possesses to the UN’s ‘Eminent Person’. This is very strange, indeed, because it is known that an employee of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, at great risk to her life, tried to submit some documents that had come into her possession, to the Commission at the very end of its sittings.
However, she was fobbed off by silly bureaucratic niceties placed in her way by a very highly-placed personage on the Commission, for reasons known only to himself. The documents subsequently became “lost”!
Comrade President, it is my considered opinion that you owe the world, on behalf of your country, a moral duty to ferret out all documents relating to the crash and deliver it, without delay, to the UN’s Eminent Person.
Now, Comrade President, we all know, to our chagrin, that some black South Africans do not want to remember the part played by their fellow blacks on the continent in their eventual liberation. But this, Comrade, is not just a matter for the continent, but the whole of the UN. What are the Swedes and other Scandinavians – great supporters of yours – to think? The Latin Americans? The Asians?
No Comrade, please you need to save the honour of South Africa.
Please, you do not owe the apartheid regime any protection. If the ANC agreed to keep the apartheid era’s murderous secrets under wraps, that agreement was invalid. For it was reached by your negotiators under duress.
And international and national laws do not recognise agreements procured by duress.
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.
RIHANNA To TRUMP: You Are The ‘Most Mentally ill Human Being In America’
Paul Nyathi|American musician, Rihanna, has called President Donald Trump “the most mentally ill human being in America right now.”
Gracing the November issue of Vogue, the 31-year-old singer spoke about the gun violence in America and called the president out following the two mass shootings in 24 hours back in August 2019.
“The fact that it’s classified as something different because of the color of their skin? It’s a slap in the face. It’s completely racist,” Rihanna said.
“Put an Arab man with that same weapon in that same Walmart and there is no way that Trump would sit there and address it publicly as a mental health problem,” said the singer.
“The most mentally ill human being in America right now seems to be the president.”
Picture the same being said by for example our very own Aleck Macheso on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and see what would happen to him.
Several people have been arrested in recent days for simply saying Mnangagwa Has failed to govern which in its own is somewhat a fact.
Paul Nyathi|Uganda under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s newly found soul mate, Yoweri Museveni, has announced plans to impose the death penalty on homosexuals.
The bill, colloquially known as “Kill the Gays” in Uganda, was nullified five years ago on a technicality, but the government said on Thursday it plans to resurrect it within weeks.
The government said the legislation would curb a rise in “unnatural sex” in the east African nation.
“Homosexuality is not natural to Ugandans, but there has been a massive recruitment by gay people in schools, and especially among the youth, where they are promoting the falsehood that people are born like that,”
the country’s ethics and integrity minister, Simon Lokodo, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
“Our current penal law is limited. It only criminalises the act. We want it made clear that anyone who is even involved in promotion and recruitment has to be criminalised. Those that do grave acts will be given the death sentence.”
Mr Lokodo said the bill, which has the support of the country’s president, Yoweri Museveni, will be reintroduced in parliament in the coming weeks.
He said it was expected to be voted on before the end of the year.
The minister was optimistic the bill would pass with the necessary two-thirds of members present, he said, as the government had lobbied legislators ahead of its reintroduction.
Uganda’s constitutional court overturned the law – formerly known as the “Kill the Gays” bill because it includes the death penalty – on a technicality in 2014.
Uganda faced widespread international condemnation when the previous bill was signed off by Mr Museveni in 2014.
The United States reduced aid, imposed visa restrictions and cancelled military exercises. The World Bank, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands also suspended or redirected aid.
Mr Lokodo said Uganda was prepared for any negative response.
“It is a concern,”
he said.
“But we are ready. We don’t like blackmailing. Much as we know that this is going to irritate our supporters in budget and governance, we can’t just bend our heads and bow before people who want to impose a culture which is foreign to us.”
Under British colonial law, gay sex in Uganda is punishable with up to life imprisonment.
Activists warned the new bill risked an increase in violence and Pepe Julian Onziema from Sexual Minorities Uganda, an alliance of LGBT + organisations, said its members were fearful.
“When the law was introduced last time, it whipped up homophobic sentiment and hate crimes,” said Mr Onziema.
“Hundreds of LGBT+ people have been forced to leave the country as refugees and more will follow if this law is enacted. It will criminalise us from even advocated for LGBT+ rights, let alone supporting and protecting sexual minorities.”
Mr Onziema said three gay men and one transgender woman had been killed in homophobic attacks in Uganda this year – the latest last week when a gay man was bludgeoned to death.
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
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.
By Martin Samuel Wades|There is absolutely no doubt that the song about Aston Villa’s Marvellous Nakamba is racist. It says his dad’s a ‘rasta’, presumably because he’s black. It says John McGinn is his ‘master’, and we don’t need to explain what is wrong with that.
Finally, it makes stereotypical presumptions about a certain part of his anatomy. And Villa fans may think that counts as praise. It doesn’t. Those who believe all black men are well-endowed tend to believe other labels, too: that they are thick, or lazy, or carry Ebola, or are Rastafarians.
Yet what is also true is that few had a clue what the racist chant said, or that it even existed, until Villa made their misgivings public. There is a clip of it on YouTube and the words are unintelligible. To find out what was being sung required detective work that would have made Coleen Rooney proud.
In this way, it is much like Louie, Louie by The Kingsmen which the FBI investigated on the grounds of obscenity for 31 months before concluding that, as absolutely no one had a clue what lead vocalist Jack Ely was singing about, obscenity couldn’t be an issue.
Villa was right to call out the racism of a minority. Yet, in doing so, they gave the stupid song a wider audience than it ever deserved, or would have achieved, given the singers had mangled the English language as thoroughly as they had indulged in shameful black stereotyping.
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.
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.
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.
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,”
Khama Billiat has described the reports suggesting that he was no longer interested staying at Kaizer Chiefs as mere social media speculation.
The 29-year-old commented on these rumours for the first time on Friday ahead of the Shell Helix Ultra Cup.
The reports linked him with a return to Mamelodi Sundowns who were said to have secretly contacted the player in the August transfer window, a development which led Chiefs to sound a warning to their rivals.
“I can’t confirm that [they contacted me] because I don’t know what was happening. I didn’t get anything to my phone and everything [I know] I just read on social media,” revealed Billiat, according to Kick-Off.com.
“Like I said, I don’t know what was happening, and I just thought it was rumours.”
The Zimbabwe international says he is happy at Amakhosi and will try to enjoy his time there.
“I’m happy, this is my home and I have to make my environment as best as I want it to be – it’s exactly what I hoped for and I just hope it will be like this forever,” he added.Soccer 24
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.
Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott was on Friday hit with a 14-day ban in all domestic club football after using offensive language to mock Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane in a video posted on social media.
Elliott admitted to the offense and issued an apology when the video surfaced earlier this season.
The 16-year-old who made his senior team debut in a 2-0 League Cup win at MK Dons last month impersonated Kane during last season’s Champions League final when Liverpool beat Spurs in Madrid.
According to a statement by the FA, the video constituted an “aggravated breach” of its rules as it included reference to disability.
The player was also fined £350 and asked to complete a “face-to-face education course.Soccer 24
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.”
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.
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.
The National Management Committee met in Harare at the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House on the 10th of October 2019 to look at number of socio- economic and political situation in the country in a bid to come up with a youth driven solution to the crisis.
The economic situation has reached alarming levels with prices skyrocketing and inflation going up. Life for the ordinary person has become unbearable.
Citizens are waking up at the blessing of waterless taps, empty fridges and without electricity.
There are literally queues everywhere from transport queues to fuel one, in the registrar office, in hospitals and other such vital places. Prices are indexed in US dollars but the regime is still stuck in the not so popular Zimbabwean dollar.
Cognizant of these hardships the National Management Committee resolved the following
1) Action
The youth assembly has resolved that we press factory settings and face the incompetent regime to act on the crisis in Zimbabwe.
2) Structures
The YA resolved that they be urgent structure audit and verification as well as the need to speed up branch formation process for the Assembly to be able to carry out its mandate with vigor and vitality.
3) Elections
We noted with urgency the ongoing delimitation process in Bulawayo metropolitan province and resolved to urgently deploy national executive members to assist Bulawayo province in the voter registration process that is ongoing.
4)Local Government
We resolved to urgently look into the situation in our local authorities in a bid to enhance effective service delivery and the role of youth deployees.
5) Regional and International solidarity
The management resolved to relocate the youth assembly as a critical voice in the geopolitics of the world and establish platforms of solidarity with like minded movements across the continent.
6) Provincial Councils
The management committee resolved to suspend all Provincial council meetings that had been scheduled to pave way for branch Making process and holding grass meetings by the national executive which the organising department shall conduct soon.
Gift Ostallos Siziba
Secretary General
MDC Youth Assembly
The Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda is off to Serbia for the Interparliamentary Union’s 141st assembly. Commenting on the development, Dr Angela Hatifanani speaks to ZimEye:
Today I visited Jairos Jiri Association Community Based Rehabilitation Masvingo Provincial Office.This is the Centre known for giving life skills and practical trainings to physically handicapped people in Masvingo Province.
I was told that the centre used to enrol more than 100 students.Unfortunately,the centre nolonger enrol students due to financial constraints.Despite having good infrastructure the centre is facing great water challenges due to the breakdown of its water connections.This calls for assistance from all stakeholders,local and central gvt ,and the donor community to support the vision of the late great man,Mr Jairos Jiri.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
BBC|In an extreme case of a candidate being forced to fulfil election promises, the mayor of a Mexican village was forced from his office, tied to a bakkie and dragged through the streets.
According to the BBC, Jorge Luis Escandón Hernández suffered no major injuries and was rescued by the police.
11 people were arrested in Las Margaritas, a municipality in the state of Chiapas, for their role in the attack.
Police intervened to free Mayor Jorge Luis Escandón Hernández, who reportedly suffered no major injuries.
It was the second attack by farmers demanding that he fulfil his campaign promise to repair a local road.
Extra officers have been deployed to the village in Chiapas state.
Mayors and local politicians in Mexico are often targeted by drug gangs when they refuse to cooperate with their criminal schemes but it is less common for them to be attacked over their campaign promises.
Mr Escandón said he would press charges for abduction and attempted murder.
Video taken by bystanders outside the mayor’s office showed a group of men pulling him out of the building and forcing him onto the back of the vehicle.
Footage captured later by a CCTV showed him being dragged along, tied with a rope around his hands to the back of the truck through the streets of Santa Rita, which forms part of Las Margaritas.
UNA SU ARRASTRADA. Alcalde de #LasMargaritas, Jorge Luis Escandón Hernández, es sujetado a una camioneta que lo arrastra en pleno parque central, luego de haber sido secuestrado de la propia alcaldía #Chiapas#VideoViralpic.twitter.com/ptdP7g2w92
It ook dozens of municipal police officers to stop the vehicle and rescue the mayor. Several people were injured in scuffles between the police and those who had abducted the mayor.
In an earlier incident four months ago, a group of men trashed his office when they did not find him there.
In the lead-up to the mayoral election in Las Margaritas, Mr Escandón was himself arrested on suspicion of taking part in a brawl with supporters of a rival candidate.
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.
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.
A man charged with disorderly conduct for saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa has failed to revive Zimbabwe’s economic fortunes was acquitted on Thursday, his lawyers said.
Saymore Mashorokoto, 45, is free to speak more after magistrate Langton Ndokera threw out the charges.
Mashorokoto was arrested together with Evermore Kakurira, 46, in September and charged with disorderly conduct, according to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
The two men were accused of telling one Tichaona Svinurai, a fellow resident, that Mnangagwa “had dismally failed to revive the country’s political and economic fortunes and that he should hand over power to opposition MDC Alliance party leader Nelson Chamisa.”
They were accused of contravening section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors said by uttering such words to Svinurai, the pair had acted in a disorderly conduct and “used threatening, abusive, or insulting words intending to provoke a breach of the peace or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that a breach of the peace may be provoked.”
Charges were later dropped against Kakurira.
Meanwhile, the trial of a Bindura councillor also charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly stating that “people in Zimbabwe are stressed owing to President Mnangagwa’s failure to fix the country’s economic crisis after winning the 2018 presidential election” commenced on Thursday.
Ward 3 councillor Brian Kembo pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Ndokera.
By A Correspondent- Prominent lawyer and rights defender, Beatrice Mtetwa, has said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration has so far failed to distinguish itself from that of the late former president, Robert Mugabe as far as respecting human rights is concerned.
Mtetwa was speaking in Harare on Wednesday evening at a discussion forum on the role of the State in safeguarding human rights, that was convened by Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) publishers of the Daily News and the Daily News on Sunday.
She said:
In practice, even the Second Republic is not living by that. If citizens need to enjoy their rights to protest, we know that every road into town will be blocked by the police and the army.
The government is not listening to the grievances of citizens. It is behaving exactly as it did in the First Republic. We have seen court orders not being respected in the Second Republic.
She added that the talk about constitutionalism was not being backed by tangible action as the government is still stopping the citizens from enjoying their rights.
Mtetwa was responding to Justice minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi who had said that the government was playing its role of ensuring that people enjoyed their freedoms.
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.
A MAN who admitted to being part of a gang of thieves who allegedly broke into several houses in Bulawayo and stole household goods worth nearly $120 000, yesterday stunned a packed courtroom when he said the other three people who were arrested with him were not his accomplices.
There was a moment of silence at the Western Commonage Magistrate Courts when Tawanda Gumbomunda (23) said police had arrested the wrong people as his accomplices were still at large.
The other three people who were arrested with Gumbomunda are Prince Ncube (19), Qinisani Tshuma (24) and Gabriel Ncube (25).
The four allegedly broke into Mr Geneva Sibanda’s home in North End suburb while he was away in Victoria Falls and stole household property worth $46 000. Gumbomunda told magistrate Ms Tancy Dube that he did not know the men he was jointly charged with.
“Your Worship, l plead guilty to unlawful entry and theft but to my surprise the men that l committed the offences with are not here. I don’t know the men I’m being jointly charged with,” he said.
Ncube, Tshuma and Gabriel pleaded not guilty to theft and unlawful entry and the magistrate remanded them in custody to October 15 for continuation of trial.
The trio told the court that they had previously admitted to committing the crime because police officers had assaulted them and they feared being assaulted again.
However, the investigating officer, Constable John Mugabe, said Gumbomunda was lying.
“Your Worship, accused Number One is trying to protect his friends. They stay together in Cowdray Park that’s where I found them with their house fully packed with stolen property. They have many pending cases of unlawful entry and theft,” he said.
“During the same month, the gang broke into another house in the same suburb and stole household property worth $69 000 when the owner was away in Germany.”
Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on August 22 this year at around 12AM, the gang allegedly broke down Mr Sibanda’s door to gain entry into his house and stole property worth $49 000. “While inside the house, the accused persons stole a refrigerator, PA system, four suitcases with clothes, an electric jar, microwave, speakers, 35-inch television set, television stand, 21 plates, two DVD players and blankets,” he said.
During the same month, the gang proceeded to another house in the same suburb where they took a water pump, two refrigerators, carpets, curtains, two television sets, clothes, garden chairs and cell phones while the owner of the house was in Germany.
Mr Solani said the gang was caught by Mr Sibanda’s neighbour stealing property and he alerted the police.
“Mr Sibanda’s neighbour heard some noises at the complainant’s place and went to see what was happening. He saw a silver Toyota vehicle parked at the complainant’s gate and the accused persons were busy loading the stolen property. When they realised that they had been seen, they immediately drove off,” he said.
The suspects were arrested while they were trying to sell the stolen property in Cowdray Park suburb after an anonymous tip-off.
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.
By A Correspondent- Delta Beverages corporate has reportedly increased beer prices, a development that is likely to see many boozers resorting to being sober.
The company is said to have already circulated the price increase notice with retailers in Harare.
A local publication 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Al Jazeera|A cargo plane carrying presidential staff crashed in eastern Congo on Thursday, killing all eight passengers and crew, a presidential advisor said yesterday.
The plane, carrying President Felix Tshisekedi’s driver, a logistics manager and some soldiers, was headed for the capital Kinshasa and went off radar on Thursday afternoon, an hour after departing, a statement from the civil aviation authority said.
It crashed in a forest in Maniema and broke up upon landing.
“There are no survivors. The bodies were all burnt to ashes,” said advisor Vidiye Tshimanga.
The cause of the accident was not yet clear.
Local media showed a crowd of hundreds of Tshisekedi supporters hitting the streets of Kinshasa after the news broke yesterday morning, fearing that the plane crash had been some kind of failed coup attempt against Tshisekedi.
The president took over from long-standing former President Joseph Kabila this year.
A man who admitted to being part of a gang of thieves who allegedly broke into several houses in Bulawayo and stole household goods worth nearly $120 000, yesterday stunned a packed courtroom when he said the other three people who were arrested with him were not his accomplices.
File picture of people waiting outside the Western Commonage Magistrates Courts in Bulawayo
There was a moment of silence at the Western Commonage Magistrate Courts when Tawanda Gumbomunda (23) said police had arrested the wrong people as his accomplices were still at large.
The other three people who were arrested with Gumbomunda are Prince Ncube (19), Qinisani Tshuma (24) and Gabriel Ncube (25).
The four allegedly broke into Mr Geneva Sibanda’s home in the North End suburb while he was away in Victoria Falls and stole household property worth $46 000. Gumbomunda told magistrate Ms Tancy Dube that he did not know the men he was jointly charged with.
“Your Worship, l plead guilty to unlawful entry and theft but to my surprise, the men that l committed the offenses with are not here. I don’t know the men I’m being jointly charged with,” he said.
Ncube, Tshuma and Gabriel pleaded not guilty to theft and unlawful entry and the magistrate remanded them in custody to October 15 for a continuation of trial.
The trio told the court that they had previously admitted to committing the crime because police officers had assaulted them and they feared being assaulted again.
However, the investigating officer, Constable John Mugabe, said Gumbomunda was lying.
“Your Worship, accused Number One is trying to protect his friends. They stay together in Cowdray Park that’s where I found them with their house fully packed with stolen property. They have many pending cases of unlawful entry and theft,” he said.
“During the same month, the gang broke into another house in the same suburb and stole household property worth $69 000 when the owner was away in Germany.”
Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Solani said on August 22 this year at around 12AM, the gang allegedly broke down Mr Sibanda’s door to gain entry into his house and stole property worth $49 000.
“While inside the house, the accused persons stole a refrigerator, PA system, four suitcases with clothes, an electric jar, microwave, speakers, 35-inch television set, television stand, 21 plates, two DVD players and blankets,” he said.
During the same month, the gang proceeded to another house in the same suburb where they took a water pump, two refrigerators, carpets, curtains, two television sets, clothes, garden chairs and cell phones while the owner of the house was in Germany.
Mr Solani said the gang was caught by Mr Sibanda’s neighbor stealing property and he alerted the police.
“Mr Sibanda’s neighbor heard some noises at the complainant’s place and went to see what was happening. He saw a silver Toyota vehicle parked at the complainant’s gate and the accused persons were busy loading the stolen property. When they realized that they had been seen, they immediately drove off,” he said.
The suspects were arrested while they were trying to sell the stolen property in the Cowdray Park suburb after an anonymous tip-off.
Seretse Ian Khama (L) shakes hands with Mokgweetsi Masisi
Paul Nyathi|Botswana’s former president, Ian Khama, is vigorously campaigning against his successor, President Mokgweetsi Masisi after forming a breakaway party following policy differences.
The elections will take place on October 23 where Masisi will run for the presidential race for the first time, he came to power in April 2018 succeeding Ian Khama, who had served the maximum 10 years.
The Independent Electoral Commission has set dates for the diaspora and election officers and police officers. Batswana living outside the country will vote at all designated external polling stations on 12 October 2019.
Elections officers and police officers who will be on duty at polling stations on polling day will vote on 19 October 2019 at constituency headquarters. Botswana will hold general elections on 23 October.
Meanwhile in an interesting development, a voter in the diaspora would be allowed to vote for both council and parliamentary candidates. Historically, voters based outside the country are allowed to vote for only parliamentary candidates.
High Court Judge Justice Godfrey Nthomiwa has ordered that the IEC should allow and facilitate for a Mr Bakotelo Mmipi to vote for council and parliamentary candidates of his choice in London, the United Kingdom.
Mmipi had taken the IEC and its secretary to court on an urgent application for declining to allow him to vote for a council candidate after he transferred his polling station from Lerala-Maunatlala in the central part of Botswana to the UK.
PREMIER Soccer League chairman Farai Jere says the explosion of the business of football to become a multi-billion-dollar global industry has been one of the greatest success stories since World War II.
And, the domestic top-flight league, he says, are on a grand mission to ensure they are not left behind by the roaring train.
This has led them to come up with a host of interventions, like their inaugural International Football Symposium, in Victoria Falls.
The Harare businessman, who took over as the league’s boss in September last year, told delegates his league was being driven by a burning desire to join the big tent, where their counterparts in South Africa and Zambia, were feasting from commercial partnerships.
The old model, where survival was sorely pitched on gate receipts, said Jere, had become outdated. He said while the local top-flight league continued to punch above its weight, when it comes to CAF inter-club competitions, as witnessed by success stories written by FC Platinum and Triangle in recent months, the potential to do even better was there.
The decision to hold the symposium, in a resort town synonymous with the best in tourism in this country, Jere said, was a masterstroke in an age where football, and business, had become Siamese twins.
‘‘We meet, ladies and gentlemen, against a background of the success which our two representatives clubs – FC Platinum and Triangle United – have written in the CAF inter-club competitions,’’ Jere said.State media
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.
Defiant traders in Harare are still charging their products and services in foreign currency.
Despite the promulgation of a new law stipulating a $6 000 fine for anyone found pricing goods and services in foreign currency, some traders still take the law into their own hands.
Investigations by The Herald revealed that the products are being priced in a way that indirectly forces people to buy in foreign currency.
When paying in local currency, charges will be too high, leaving buyers with no other option but to pay in foreign currency.
The SI 212 published last Friday in terms of Section 2 of the Exchange Control Act (Chapter 22:05), makes it illegal for one to pay or to receive payment in foreign currency in any domestic transaction.
It means that it has become a civil offence to pay or receive payment in foreign currency.
The SI further expands the circumstances where such receiving or paying in foreign currency is unlawful.
It also says quoting, displaying, charging, soliciting for payment or receiving payment for goods, services, fees or commission in any other foreign currency is an offence. The resistance by some traders in the city indirectly seeks to dollarise the economy.State media
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.”
The Labour Court has declared the 40-day industrial action by doctors unlawful and ordered them to return to work within 48 hours.
This comes after the Health Services Board (HSB) had taken the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) to the Labour Court to show cause why the collective job action should not be terminated.
Justice Rogers Manyangadze, sitting with Justice Lawrence Murasi, declared the strike unlawful and ordered the job action to be terminated forthwith. No disciplinary action will be taken against the doctors.
“Members of the respondent who participated in the said collective job action be and are 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 the respondent who fail or neglect to comply with this order.”
Parties to the Health Service bipartite negotiating panel agreed to a 60 percent increment on health sector-specific allowances last week, but the doctors’ representatives turned down the offer.State media
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).
Government has opened the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) franchise to commuter omnibus operators in a move likely to increase convenience for urban commuters.
Officials from Zupco and a few transport operators yesterday penned a deal which will see the implementation of a pilot operation.
The new deal comes as the transport utility is being revived by the Government as part of measures to build a safe and reliable transport system in the country.
Speaking after commissioning a second batch of 47 Zupco buses recently, President Mnangagwa said Government was working tirelessly to fulfil its promise of bringing in 1 500 buses by end of the programme.
By late afternoon yesterday, kombis with Zupco stickers were ferrying passengers at popular ranks in Harare’s central business district at a cost of $2.
On average, kombis charge $4. Zupco acting chief executive officer Mr Evaristo Madangwa confirmed the development to The Herald, saying the move was inspired by the plight of commuters.
“People were struggling to move from one point to the other and we decided to cast our net wider, this time including kombis in our system. “We will be slowly growing our capacity as time moves. If people see a kombi with a ZUPCO sticker, they should pay the same amount they would have paid on a bus,” Mr Madangwa said.
Asked on the sustainability of the project, Mr Madangwa said: “In January when we introduced buses people said it is not sustainable but here we are.
“We have a working model and we will continue to improve it to ensure people have transport all the time.” Under the deal, day-to-day running of the vehicles will be handled by ZUPCO.State media
LONDON. – On-loan Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos has dismissed the possibility of extending his stay at the Emirates, saying he is determined to fight for a place at Spanish football giants Real Madrid next season.
Ceballos joined Los Blancos on a six-year deal from Real Betis for 18 million euros in the summer of 2017, however, he struggled to tie down a regular spot in his first two seasons at the Bernabeu.
The midfielder, who can play in a variety of positions, started just four games during his debut campaign in Madrid before earning a further 13 starting appearances in 2018-19.
With his chances set to be limited again this season, Ceballos took it upon himself to secure a loan move away from the Spanish giants. It appears a warning from Spain boss Roberto Moreno played a big part in his decision to head out on-loan as he looks to ensure he is in the coach’s plans for Euro 2020. So far, his move to north London for the 2019-20 campaign has proven to be a successful one and he is earning plenty of admirers in England. -AFP.
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
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! A woman from Sizinda in Bulawayo scalded her husband with hot water for cheating on her and refusing to have sex with her.
The lady identified as Patience Zulu, who interestingly already has a little bun in the oven, is said to have inflicted pain on her husband, Thabo Ncube, with boiling water on the face and private parts while he was asleep.
The unsuspecting Ncube, who had come home late that particular day, reportedly suffered severe burns on the face and minor injuries on his jewels.
Consequently, he was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital leading to Zulu’s arrest.
Appearing before Western Commonage magistrate Stephen Ndlovu, she pleaded guilty to a physical abuse charge.
“Your Worship, since I fell pregnant my husband has not had sex with me. What angered me most is that I always see used condoms in his pockets when washing his clothes. When I request for my conjugal rights he always says he is tired,” she said.
She added: “Last week on Tuesday, I got angry after he came home late, as a result we had an argument. I had to scald him with hot water while he was asleep. It was not my intention to injure him but I just wanted to inflict pain on him.”
It would seem Zulu still has a soft spot for her wounded better half. “I beg for your forgiveness, I was angry and I still love my husband,” she further told the court.
Magistrate Ndlovu warned and cautioned her. Recently, a Bulawayo woman scalded her husband with hot water, peeling off his skin in a fit of rage for reportedly failing to pick her up from church.
Davies Chitagu had an altercation with his wife, Alice Chigwida, over why he had come home late and failed to pick her up from St Mary’s Cathedral.
Chigwida is said to have waited for Chitagu to fall asleep before boiling water and pouring it all over his body.State media
HIGHLANDERS coach, Hendrik Pieter de Jongh, believes there are good quality players in his side and the country as a whole but what lacks is discipline, a strong mentality and the correct attitude.
The Dutch gaffer signed a four-month performance based contract with Highlanders FC last month, with a clause that states that he has to win at least 70 percent of the matches that he will be in charge of. Since taking over the reins at Bosso, the coach is yet to lose a match winning two and drawing one in all competitions.
The much travelled coach says his Bosso outfit has good players who just need to change a few aspects of their game to reach their full potential.
“There is a lot of talent in the country believe me, the problem is discipline, attitude, mentality and organisation. You look at our side we have good players, there is Nqobizitha Masuku for me he is very important, he has played for Buildcon I like how he plays, very aggressive and has a good pass.”
“Then you have Peter Muduhwa, if he improves on his focusing he can be one of the best defenders in the country, no doubt about that. We have different quality in our team. Our keeper is 30 years old, he is a very good guy for a coach to work with, his attitude is good. His only problem is that he is sometimes too relaxed.
Prince Dube is top quality but needs to change his mentality and l have been talking to him about that.”State media
Farai Dziva| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has commended doctors and nurses for remaining resolute in difficult circumstances.
Chamisa released a statement after visiting Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Harare Hospital yesterday.
“Today( yesterday) I visited public hospitals for a first hand account and prayed with the sick.
The situation is dire.Many are dying. Health institutions falling.Our doctors and nurses must be saluted and paid well for being caring and patriotic under difficult circumstances,” said Chamisa.
The University of Zimbabwe recently suspended and later reinstated two senior consultants from the College of Health Sciences in what observers labelled a “circus”.
UZ Vice Chancellor Prof Mapfumo
The two consultants, well- known paediatric surgeon Mr Bothwell Mbuvayesango and cadiac specialist Dr David Chimuka, were accused of breaching their UZ contract of employment resulting in the initial action taken by the university against the two. Mr Mbuwayesango was suspended without pay and benefits pending investigations while Dr Chimuka’s contract was terminated, moves that irked fellow lecturers from the medical school resulting in them indicating their intention to collectively withdraw labour, demanding reinstatement of the two. Senior Health Reporter Paidamoyo Chipunza (PC) interviewed UZ Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo (PM) on this and other issues.
PC: Prof Mapfumo, the UZ reinstated two senior consultants it had suspended for barely 24 hours. Can you shed more light on circumstances surrounding the two decisions?
PM: Yes, it is true, that is what happened. But the initial decision was part of our internal monitoring of how our staff discharge their duties. So if we pick up things that require our action to correct them, we then take such action and in this case, we thought there was a breach related to how the doctors were fulfilling their contractual obligations with the university. I am, however, not at liberty to discuss this supposed breach in public because it has to do with someone’s contract but it’s really issues to do with whether they compromise the deliverables that we expect in their discharge of duty.
PC: So what then came out to the public is that these two doctors were accused of inciting mass job demonstrations in the health sector. What is the university’s policy regarding involvement or implication of its staff in such actions?
PM: Putting that into context, UZ lecturers are not on strike, so we expect them to deliver their duties normally. I want to decouple what is happening in the broader health sector and what the UZ consultants are expected to do. They can offer their services elsewhere in private practice, in public hospitals but that is a different contract they can have. They should not compromise their core obligation in terms of contract to deliver what UZ expects from them.
PC: Having said that, further accusations against UZ are that you then victimised these two for their involvement in a contract that does not involve the university. How do you respond?
PM: We want to decouple that and say the “power action”, as it came out in the media, was not about victimisation. There was no victimisation. Yes, we are a university and we also have to watch what is happening in the country and that is how we get involved to also help on how we solve some of the key challenges facing the nation, so we cannot also disassociate ourselves from what is happening but the point on decoupling is really on contractual obligations.
We are not saying we are penalising a member because they did whatever elsewhere, we are saying don’t compromise the delivery of services in the university on the basis of what is happening elsewhere when you have a duty here. More so when here we are not in quarrel.
PC: If that was your position, why then did you reinstate the two barely 24 hours from suspension and termination of contract. Can one say your initial decision was ill informed?
PM: No, it wasn’t ill informed. Following their suspension, the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA) requested for dialogue, which we then had on Wednesday. They made their submissions and I also had my submissions and our position as a university was to say we do not want this connectivity because your contract is different with the contract you might be having elsewhere.
ZiMA also argued that the medical field was interconnected at the same time they were also revealing to us information that they thought we didn’t have, which could help in our determination. We also looked at the implications of our decision considering the atmosphere and our role is really not to add fuel to what is happening but to help in finding solutions to those problems. So we did not take away the fact that UZ correctly followed its due processes but we then became conscious of the wider environmental issues.
PC: Others believe the way things unfolded in those two days was more of a circus, how do you respond?
PM: It might look so but it’s not. Remember part of what we have to do as a university is to be responsive and dynamic to what is happening on the ground. Yes, UZ absorbs that pressure and those kind of perceptions from the public but I honestly applied my mind to all the decisions. We are here to make decisions.
Yes, there could be variations to a decision but I was not there to demonstrate that I can fire them, no, that wasn’t about that because we were not fighting anyone and the fact that there was a mediator, we also had to open up to their concerns and that is exactly what we then did. In fact, the reversal was culmination of a huge process that started early in the morning before 8am until 8pm. So no, it wasn’t a circus but it was actually a result of deliberations that had taken place the whole day.
PC: So following those deliberations, can one safely say no interruption of lessons then occurred as had been hinted before by lecturers from the medical school?
PM: I haven’t heard anything to the contrary of what we discussed with ZiMA, the whole Department of Surgery and the two concerned senior consultants. I want to believe lessons are proceeding as usual.
PC: Let us talk about junior doctors. At some point there were propositions that they should be treated as students since they will still be on internship. How far have those discussions gone according to your knowledge?
PM: The university signs off junior doctors after completion of their five years. This is when they are then transferred to the Ministry of Health and Child Care from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education. So the two ministries are still discussing on when this handover-takeover should happen but we are also looking at our internal regulations as a university.
PC: So, who funds the education of junior doctors because some of the perceptions out there are that doctors’ studies are funded by taxpayers’ money?
PM: I would say it’s a mixture really because the system that is there is that they are still students, even when they are being hosted in another ministry where they are then paid salaries from the taxpayers’ money. So they are removed from a place where they are paying school fees to where they are actually being paid in the last part of their training, which is why the two ministries are talking.
PC: Talking of school fees payment, how has been the uptake of the recently introduced student grants for financially disadvantaged students?
PM: We are still working on the modalities on how to channel them before we assess the uptake. We have other institutions that have come to offer loans before. so we know uptake has been low because of certain things. So we are working on the framework of giving out these loans so that uptake is high while ensuring that it remains a revolving fund. So as UZ, students have not yet started accessing the loans.
PC: On other issues, what is the update regarding the UZ’s industrial park?
PM: We are accelerating establishment of the industrial park with the thrust that we want to have more and more focus in building capacities to produce. We have developed modules that will look at critical areas such pharmaceuticals, electronic equipment, food processing, engineering and value addition of agricultural products. Those that excel in concerned faculties will then go to the industrial park for further development of their innovations. We are hoping to start advertising for those programmes in February 2020 for possible enrolment in August in line with the Education 5.0 model.
PC: As we conclude our discussion, you might want to talk about some of the challenges the university is facing in its day-to-day operations?
PM: The current economic situation has not spared the university. We are faced with rising costs of almost everything yet we have not increased our tuition fees, making it difficult to cope. We are, however, trying to ensure that our agro side of the industrial park increases productivity and that has helped us to a greater extent.
Issues of water availability have also been of concern to the university. We do not have council water, we rely on borehole water but because the water table has gone down everywhere, we are also beginning to feel the pinch. So we are trying to draw water from our industrial park, which is a distance of about 10 kilometres to the campus reservoir. We, therefore, appeal to the corporate world to assist us in making this dream possible. Herald
Farai Dziva|Former Warriors midfielder Norman Mapeza will be one of the highest paid coaches in the ABSA Premiership.
The 49-year-old tactician signed a three year-deal with Chippa United.
According to South African publication Kick Off, Mapeza will only be behind Mamelodi Sundowns’ Pitso Mosimane and Bidvest Wits’s Gavin Hunt, who take home between R600 000 to R800 000 a month excluding bonuses.
The publication further reports that Mapeza will be taking home between R350 000 to R450 000 monthly, making him one of the highest paid coaches in the South African top division.
h
Farai Dziva|Former Warriors midfielder Norman Mapeza will be one of the highest paid coaches in the ABSA Premiership.
The 49-year-old tactician signed a three year-deal with Chippa United.
According to South African publication Kick Off, Mapeza will only be behind Mamelodi Sundowns’ Pitso Mosimane and Bidvest Wits’s Gavin Hunt, who take home between R600 000 to R800 000 a month excluding bonuses.
The publication further reports that Mapeza will be taking home between R350 000 to R450 000 monthly, making him one of the highest paid coaches in the South African top division.
Farai Dziva|Norman Mapeza has revealed why he joined Chippa United.
He said taking the job was just a new challenge he wanted to explore.
The Zimbabwean gaffer was recently appointed the new head coach of the struggling ABSA Premiership side on a three-year contract.
He took over from Duran Francis, becoming the club’s third different coach this season.
The 47-year-old who left FC Platinum in September had declared that he was taking a break until the end of the year but made a u-turn and accepted the offer to move to South Africa.
According to TimesLive, Mapeza said his decision to join Chippa was pushed by the desire to grow.
“For me, the Chippa job is a challenge that I wanted to experience,” he said.
“You know as coaches and as footballers, we will always look to go somewhere. I was a footballer before, and my wish was to go and play my football in Europe‚” he said.
“If you look at good coaches‚ for you to grow you need opportunities like this.
“I will give you an example. If [Mamelodi Sundowns coach] Pitso Mosimane goes today and gets an offer to go and coach Aston Villa‚ I don’t think he will say no because it is a new challenge for him and that is what he wishes for as a coach. As coaches, our wish is to grow.”
As Transform Zimbabwe political party, we acknowledge the role of the church in changing and transforming our nation, pre and post Independence.
The church has a pivotal role in the politics of the nation and even in the bible, they gave guidance to the Kings and Queens of the time.
Our nation has grossly suffered from dibilitating economic challenges, fragmented society, lawlessness and intense polarization. The political, social and economic situation is continuing to deteriorate and surely, a Transitional government is the way for our nation to recover. The electioneering mode in Zimbabwe refuses to die down because for a very long time now, we have not had conclusive elections. Zanu Pf has always found ways to manipulate the outcomes. The courts have equally not assisted, with the supreme court failing to conclude the previous election.
As Transform Zimbabwe, we applaud the church for at least coming up with a practical solution in solving the political, social and economic crisis our nation is facing. The current electoral system has failed to usher change and transformation into our country. In this kind of situation, elections won’t yield any positive results up and until we have revived the genuine ethics and values of politics. Our politics has been so toxic that they are suffocating the people of Zimbabwe. So it’s time as nation, we prioritize national interest above political interests. We need to revive our country, put food on the table for the general population, genuinely engage in electoral reforms before we go to another general election. Zanu Pf will continue to enjoy the advantage of incumbency and their grip on key institutions will never allow for free and fair elections. Therefore elections in the current setup will not change our fortunes.
So we salute and applaude the call by the church under ZHOCD (Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations) to suspend all electoral process. Thinking that the idea is trampling above people’s constitutional right is hypocricy because we have a situation where ZanuPf has clearly rigged, MDC has failed to respect the Constitutional court ruling. This proves how our laws and current electoral system is polluted.
As Transform Zimbabwe, we propose and support, an extra judicial solution. This will be a people driven process without political meddling.
When you are stuck in a pit, you should stop digging. As Zimbabwe, we are in a dungeon because of this polluted electoral system.
So an extra judicial solution, which ushers in a transitional arrangement, is a genuine solution to the national cancer.
As Zimbabwe, let’s embrace the idea of extra judicial to make sure that we put food on table, address electoral reforms and emerge stronger than ever. A church led process will once again deliver this nation, everything else has failed.
Farai Dziva|Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume has defended the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations’ position on the postponement of elections.
See Ngarivhume’s argument below :
As Transform Zimbabwe political party, we acknowledge the role of the church in changing and transforming our nation, pre and post Independence.
The church has a pivotal role in the politics of the nation and even in the bible, they gave guidance to the Kings and Queens of the time.
Our nation has grossly suffered from dibilitating economic challenges, fragmented society, lawlessness and intense polarization. The political, social and economic situation is continuing to deteriorate and surely, a Transitional government is the way for our nation to recover. The electioneering mode in Zimbabwe refuses to die down because for a very long time now, we have not had conclusive elections. Zanu Pf has always found ways to manipulate the outcomes. The courts have equally not assisted, with the supreme court failing to conclude the previous election.
As Transform Zimbabwe, we applaud the church for at least coming up with a practical solution in solving the political, social and economic crisis our nation is facing. The current electoral system has failed to usher change and transformation into our country. In this kind of situation, elections won’t yield any positive results up and until we have revived the genuine ethics and values of politics. Our politics has been so toxic that they are suffocating the people of Zimbabwe. So it’s time as nation, we prioritize national interest above political interests. We need to revive our country, put food on the table for the general population, genuinely engage in electoral reforms before we go to another general election. Zanu Pf will continue to enjoy the advantage of incumbency and their grip on key institutions will never allow for free and fair elections. Therefore elections in the current setup will not change our fortunes.
So we salute and applaude the call by the church under ZHOCD (Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations) to suspend all electoral process. Thinking that the idea is trampling above people’s constitutional right is hypocricy because we have a situation where ZanuPf has clearly rigged, MDC has failed to respect the Constitutional court ruling. This proves how our laws and current electoral system is polluted.
As Transform Zimbabwe, we propose and support, an extra judicial solution. This will be a people driven process without political meddling.
When you are stuck in a pit, you should stop digging. As Zimbabwe, we are in a dungeon because of this polluted electoral system.
So an extra judicial solution, which ushers in a transitional arrangement, is a genuine solution to the national cancer.
As Zimbabwe, let’s embrace the idea of extra judicial to make sure that we put food on table, address electoral reforms and emerge stronger than ever. A church led process will once again deliver this nation, everything else has failed.
The Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda is off to Serbia for the Interparliamentary Union’s 141st assembly. Commenting on the development, Dr Angela Hatifanani speaks to ZimEye:
I would like to congratulate my brother & Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed @PMEthiopia, for winning the @NobelPrize for peace. This is a victory for Political Reforms, Peace & for all the progressive leaders on the African continent. At 43 years of age, you have prevailed! pic.twitter.com/dYXv4sX1aZ
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 this 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.- state media
Farai Dziva|Former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger belives Belgian star Eden Hazard will eventually excel at Spanish Giants Real Madrid.
Madrid paid Chelsea a reported €100 million for Hazard to try and fill the void left by the Portuguese superstar Ronaldo, who joined Juventus after nine remarkable seasons in the Spanish capital in which he broke record after record but Wenger insists despite that he will spark eventually, Hazard cannot feel the shoes of the five-time word player of the year.
“He will be the answer but not in replacing Ronaldo that is for sure- He will not score 50 goals a year becuase thats not how they play football,” Wenger told Bein Sports.
“They need another goal scorer in Real Madrid because Benzema is now 32 and if they had someone younger around him to score the goals, maybe they could do very well.”
“He’s not scared of anybody – I don’t think Real have yet to see the real Hazard, he’s not as sharp physically as he can be. That’s why I believe they will discover the real Hazard.” added the Frenchman.
I would like to congratulate my brother & Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed @PMEthiopia, for winning the @NobelPrize for peace. This is a victory for Political Reforms, Peace & for all the progressive leaders on the African continent. At 43 years of age, you have prevailed! pic.twitter.com/dYXv4sX1aZ
I would like to congratulate my brother & Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed @PMEthiopia, for winning the @NobelPrize for peace. This is a victory for Political Reforms, Peace & for all the progressive leaders on the African continent. At 43 years of age, you have prevailed! pic.twitter.com/dYXv4sX1aZ
By A Correspondent- The man adjudged to be the foulest-looking at Mr Ugly Zimbabwe will this year walk away with a cow for that feat as the competition, which was not held last year, makes a return this month.
The much-loved pageant taking place at the City Sports Bar in Harare on October 23 will be held under the theme ‘‘Let’s celebrate the beauty in ugliness’’. Musician Mbeu and his Mhodzi Tribe band are set to provide entertainment.
Event organiser, David “Apama” Machowa said: “A beast will be the first prize for the ugliest person and it’ll be up to the winner to choose whether they want to walk away with it or be given money instead.”
Apama said so far, 13 contestants have registered to participate.
“Thirteen contestants meticulously chosen from Bulawayo, Masvingo and Kariba among other cities and towns have confirmed participation. Judging from the contestants this year, it’ll be challenging to come up with the ugliest person as competition is stiff,” he said.
The unique Mr Ugly Zimbabwe ‘‘beauty’’ pageant started in Beitbridge in 2009 and has gained popularity since. In 2012, the organisers made it a national event. At the first national competition in 2012, there were just five competitors, but the figure went up to 36 in 2015.
There was controversy following the 2015 contest when crowd favourite and reigning champion William Masvinu claimed that the winner Mison Sere was “too handsome” to win since his ugliness wasn’t natural as it was based on missing teeth.
Now, there are plans to develop the pageant to have a Mr Ugly Africa and Mr Ugly World pageants.
ZIMNAT LIFE is risking a possible lawsuit in pursuit of the diaspora dollar over data protection breaches and gross misrepresentations to Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan (DFCP) clients of their role in the delivery of the bespoke cover.
It is well known in the diaspora community that DFCP is also underwritten by Madison Life of Zambia and is available to diaspora Zambians worldwide. DFCP which is now re-insured by the world’s biggest reinsurer, Munich Re, is set for exponential growth and global expansion starting with key African diaspora markets.
DFCP is globally trademarked and was developed and is wholly owned by Diaspora Insurance, who are the Intellectual Property (IP) owners.
In 2011, Diaspora Insurance approached Zimnat Life to underwrite their now household name Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan for the Zimbabwean diaspora market. The role of Zimnat in the whole relationship was just to underwrite the product and issue policy documents.
Speaking today, Diaspora Insurance Chief Executive Officer Jeff Madzingo said ‘…an inference that Zimnat Life has interest in the DFCP brand beyond underwriting is outright mischief and scandalous. Their deceit is motivated by the greed and we instructed our lawyers to take on Zimnat Life over the issue of misrepresentation and breach of data protection contract.’
‘For the record, Zimnat Life was in 2012 offered an opportunity to buy exclusive underwriting (for Zimbabweans worldwide) and/or shareholding when DFCP started and needed resources to capacitate for growth but Zimnat Life lacked the vision to take up the offer… So for all these years, Zimnat Life was enjoying free lunch literally..’ he added. ‘Zimnat life has not invested a single penny in the business nor have acquired a single client. They do not even know how all the DFCP clients were acquired,’ said Mr Madzingo.
Diaspora Insurance relationships with underwriters are governed by some Service Level Agreements and Data Protection Agreements which is why for years their underwriters do not directly interface with or contact their clients. Such arrangements are not uncommon, especially in the first world.
After respecting the data protection rules for years Zimnat Life decided to breach the agreements and started bombarding DFCP clients directly when Diaspora Insurance started offering DFCP through more secure international insurer/reinsurer. “In all this discourse, the client is principal and our motivation to switch underwriters was informed by the need to treat our customers fairly and making sure their hard-
earned money buys them long-term protection with guaranteed benefits underwritten in the world’s leading financial capitals,’ said Dr Sibert Mandega, executive director of Diaspora Insurance. ‘Our philosophy is to guarantee our clients’ peace of mind by constantly reviewing the risks carried by our business partners and the economic environment they operate in and make strategic changes to our business in the best interest of our clients,’ he explained.
The Diaspora Insurance executive director said the new Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe policy banning the multicurrency use, prevailing hyperinflationary environment and other inside info factors influenced their decision to disengage Zimnat Life as it would be impossible for their clients to derive expected benefits on a long-term insurance product like DFCP.
Documents in our possession show that on May 24 2018, the United Kingdom-based, Diaspora Insurance entered into an Information Processing Agreement with ZIMNAT under which the underwriters agreed not to contact DFCP policyholders directly.
Mandega added: ‘..but we were surprised to learn that they have been bombarding clients with emails and phone calls distressing them with all sorts of unfounded falsehoods…’
In another article published on 4 October 2019 by The Herald, ZIMNAT misrepresented the actual position on the matter after claiming that Diaspora Insurance had been an appointed agent of ZIMNAT Life Assurance for the DFCP. It was not clear how Destiny Finance Ltd could have been appointed an agent on their own brand and IP. It further claimed that it had been granted permission to ring-fence the facility.
“The Government has been unequivocally supportive of diaspora-related products. Circular 13 of 2019 from IPEC dealing with the authority to offer selected insurance policies in foreign currency, coming after the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, gives provisions to this effect,” ZIMNAT was quoted by The Herald.
When this reporter reviewed the referred Circular 13 they could not find any collaborative information to the effect that Zimnat was given permission to ring-fence on any policies. In reality, Section 3 specifies that only the following insurances could be issued in foreign currency; international travel insurance, motor in transit, customs bond, bank cash and safari operations insurance. The Circular 13 clearly stipulates RBZ rules when it comes to flow of premiums and claims which should go through normal banking system.
Contacted for comment and challenged to produce tangible evidence proving ownership status of DFCP and also to confirm who their claimed international reinsurer was, Zimnat group PR and Marketing Executive, Angela Mpala declined to comment beyond the statement published in The Herald.
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man has pleaded with the courts to grant him a protection order against his former girlfriend of one week who subjects him to assaults and insults whenever they meet.
Davison Ngirazi of Njube suburb is fed up of his ex-girlfriend, Khanyiso Ndlovu and he told the court he has had enough from his former lover.
“She always follows me wherever I am and throws stones at me. She also insults me using vulgar language,” said Ngirazi.
What seems to pain Ngirazi more is that at a time he has found love elsewhere, Ndlovu is not willing to give up.
“We fell in love for a period of a week and then separated. I am now in love with someone else. The respondent is now disturbing our affair as she makes unnecessary calls at midnight. She is just forcing me to fall in love with her again but I have moved on and I don’t want anything to do with her. May the court assist me so that the respondent stays away from me. I don’t want to see her near me. I wish to live in peace,” said Ngirazi.
Responding to Ngirazi’s accusations, Ndlovu said he was just a heartless man.
“I have understood everything Ngirazi said but all I can say is that he is so insensitive. He did not tell me that he was in a relationship so he was just using me,” she said.
Western Commonage magistrate Urgent Vundla ordered Ndlovu to refrain from emotionally and physically abusing Ngirazi.
By A Correspondent- Ecocash agents in the central business district are demanding 150% for cash out, ZimEye can reveal.
A snap survey in the city centre revealed that the agents who operate outside Eat n Lick along First street in Harare are demanding one to part with $25 for one to cash out $10.
Others are however charging between 30 to 60 percent asking one to part with between $13 to $16 for one to get $10 coins.
Said one disgruntled woman only identified as Faina:
“I don’t know why they opened the Ecocash platform again because these agents are thieves. They should have just closed the platform for good and avail cash in the banks.”
Added another man who also could not stomach the latest development:
“This is just too much. How can i give the ecocash agent more than what i am getting? Where are they getting the money to steal from us like this? Government should act unless they are part of these stealing agents.”
Several people who also spoke to ZimEye called on government to just make cash available as a way of dealing with the ecocash agents.
Added one woman identified as Shylet:
“Citizens must just team up and boycott ecocash. if they continue doing what they are doing, we will end up beating them up and take the law into our own hands because it seems the police are failing to reign them in. This is daylight robbery.”
By A Correspondent- Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said Mnangagwa was sincere in his invitation for dialogue with the opposition, among other stakeholders, but warned that organising violent protests could blight the prospects for dialogue to discuss the economic crisis gripping the country.
Said Charamba:
“President Mnangagwa’s concept for dialogue is wider. Soon after elections he asked for dialogue,” Charamba said.
“What Zanu-PF and this government will not countenance is someone who asks for dialogue while pointing a gun at the head of the government. And metaphorically the gun in this sense is queuing hooligans on the streets to terrorise and destroy property and cause mayhem.”
He said the onus was upon MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to formally engage Mnangagwa on the need for dialogue, while spelling out issues that needed to be thrashed out at the negotiating table.
“The first interlocutor for dialogue would have been Chamisa. For the first time we saw ED referring to Chamisa by his first name. So now Chamisa is now ripe for dialogue. For now he (Chamisa) is really pushing for it,” Charamba said.
“He is the one who has the issues, so he must tell us about those issues. He is the one who is feeling discomfort so he is the one who has to tell us about why he wants us to dialogue.”
By A Correspondent- Modelling competitions are exciting ways to strut your stuff and make your way into the fashion industry.
Many modelling competitions lead to contracts with premier agencies that will take you all over the world.
With some walking practice and a fresh hairstyle the ultimate goal for those who take to the ramp, is to rock the runway in no time, leading to some valuable prize monies and gold statuette.
However, this was not the case at the Miss Curvy modelling show at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) last Saturday as the top three ladies who flaunted their assets to show their fuller figure with so much aplomb were given FLOWERS as their prizes.
It was an event where Ellain Ncube (Nust) was crowned the Queen with Ntando Khumalo (Bulawayo Polytechnic) and Hazel Ncube ( Bulawayo Polytechnic) respectively coming out as the first and second princesses.
The trio was reportedly set to respectively pocket US$500, US$250 and US$125 at the amateur pageant that was organised by Democratic Alliance agency where curvy girls from various local colleges and universities take part.
While Vusa Ngwenya who was part of the organisers of the show was continuously not available for a comment, the first princesses, did not mince her words.
“We haven’t been rewarded with anything yet. We have not even heard a single word from the organisers after receiving flowers on the day of the event,” said Khumalo who last year was the second princess at the same modelling competition.
The 2019 edition of the modelling show was marred by crowd trouble as people tried to get into the venue for free.
We received death threats just before our Exec & General Council meetings. @japhet_moyo@ZctuZimbabwe SG, @flotaruvinga Vice Pres & myself have received messages threatening us abt making certain decisions.
By A Correspondent- A woman from Sizinda in Bulawayo scalded her husband with hot water for cheating on her and refusing to have sex with her.
The lady identified as Patience Zulu, who interestingly already has a little bun in the oven, is said to have inflicted pain on her husband, Thabo Ncube, with boiling water on the face and private parts while he was asleep.
The unsuspecting Ncube, who had come home late that particular day, reportedly suffered severe burns on the face and minor injuries on his jewels.
Consequently, he was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital leading to Zulu’s arrest.
Appearing before Western Commonage magistrate Stephen Ndlovu, she pleaded guilty to a physical abuse charge.
“Your Worship, since I fell pregnant my husband has not had sex with me. What angered me most is that I always see used condoms in his pockets when washing his clothes. When I request for my conjugal rights he always says he is tired,” she said.
She added: “Last week on Tuesday, I got angry after he came home late, as a result we had an argument. I had to scald him with hot water while he was asleep. It was not my intention to injure him but I just wanted to inflict pain on him.”
It would seem Zulu still has a soft spot for her wounded better half.
“I beg for your forgiveness, I was angry and I still love my husband,” she further told the court.
Magistrate Ndlovu warned and cautioned her.
Recently, a Bulawayo woman scalded her husband with hot water, peeling off his skin in a fit of rage for reportedly failing to pick her up from church.
Davies Chitagu had an altercation with his wife, Alice Chigwida, over why he had come home late and failed to pick her up from St Mary’s Cathedral.
Chigwida is said to have waited for Chitagu to fall asleep before boiling water and pouring it all over his body.
The Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association (CAMERA) is in the process of conducting door to door devolution implementation campaigns in Chitungwiza and Seke rural.
The purpose of this campaign is to afford citizens a platform to share, converse and develop a common position around the implementation of devolution as provided for under chapter 14 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
A door to door campaign of this nature was held in Chitungwiza’s
ward 13 on the 8th of October 2019. A set of questions is being used
in reaching out to the citizenry in gathering their views and aspirations on
the envisaged scope and framework through which devolution should be
implemented in line with the supreme law of the country. Some of the questions
being discussed during these door to door campaigns include the following:
a)
How can citizen participation
in governance processes be enhanced through devolution implementation?
b)
What formula should be used in
the allocation of resources to lower tiers of government?
c)
What form of powers should be
given to citizens in the devolution of governmental powers and
responsibilities?
d)
To what extent should local
authorities be independent so as to improve service delivery?
e)
What should be the roles of
provincial and metropolitan councils in a devolved set up?
f)
What should be the new role of
central government, especially the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works
and National Housing in the implementation of devolution?
CAMERA calls upon interested stakeholders, especially general citizens, to actively participate in determining a framework through which devolution can be implemented in Zimbabwe.
This call is aimed at improving service delivery through enhancing social accountability and facilitating the creation of a development-oriented devolved state.
By A Correspondent- The rapid expansion of Mutare into nearby rural communities has not only disrupted communal life but also created instant wealth for villagers as owners are selling huge tracts of land for urban residential development with the blessings of rural district councils.
Families that have big plots in Dora and Zimunya areas are earning more as private land developers stampede to have their signatures and acquire land for resale to prospective home-seekers.
However, while a few are pocketing thousands of dollars, the bulk of the villagers who have small pieces of land are feeling the brunt of this growth because their source of livelihood which was hinged on crop farming and animal husbandry has been badly affected.
Houses have been built on pastures while maize fields are now shopping malls.
Demand for land is high in the eastern border city and the housing waiting list has since surpassed the 100 000 mark.
With the new master plan yet to be approved by Government which will enable the city to expand towards Riverside, Arda Transau, Penhalonga and Zimunya, Mutare has run out of land.
This has prompted private land developers to buy land from villagers through rural district councils and develop them for resale to the urban folk who desperately want land nearby.
On average a stand covering 300 square metres is being sold for anything above US$8 000 or the equivalent using the interbank rate.
Mutare Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa said the city was expanding quickly and land owners in adjacent rural communities were realizing huge profits.
He said council was not actively involved in the current expansion drive because the city’s master plan which is meant to guide on how the local authority would develop towards the villages is yet to be approved.
“What is happening at the moment is that private land developers are buying land from farm owners and villagers through rural district councils and develop the same in accordance with urban council standards,” he said.
“We have some developers who are seeking the technical expertise of Mutare City Council in designing the new settlements but we have some who are doing things their way which is usually divorced from our expectations. Since the city is growing in the direction they are building these settlements it means that the new locations will be swallowed into our plans in the near future so everything must be done through us.
“If the new settlements are built contrary to the expectations of the urban local authority it will be difficult for Mutare City to incorporate them as they are because they will be failing in terms of standards. When the master plan gets approval, council will acquire land and expand. Some of the land is State land while some belong to private owners,” he said.
A communal farmer from Dora Dombo Mrs Kutenda, who declined to give her first name, said her life has been badly affected by the expanding urban settlements.
“I have since sold most of my livestock because I don’t have anywhere to take them for grazing. We used to do farming here at Manyandure Farm but as you can see there are houses all over. My plot is too small. I can’t sell it. Life has become expensive for me because our new urban neighbours are competing with us to buy everything here.
“Prices of livestock even chickens have gone up because our new neighbours are offering more. What is left for us is to look for jobs and compete with these people. We are no longer villagers. If we don’t change and match the new set up our lives will be unbearable here,” she said.
Deforestation is rampant as the new stand owners cut down trees for firewood, creating an ecosystem imbalance that had been kept in check for years by villagers.
Some of the villagers are subdividing their pieces of land to urban dwellers looking for space to do poultry, piggery and green house projects.
By A Correspondent- A ranger with the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority lost his AK47 with 15 rounds of ammunition to illegal gold panners in Chimanimani under as yet unclear circumstances on Tuesday this week.
The ranger, William Kamanga (35) is battling for life at Mutambara Mission Hospital in Chimanimani East after the illegal panners hit him on the head with a machete as they were wrestling with him.
The incident happened in an area managed by the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management.
“The information we are getting is that Kamanga had arrested an illegal gold panner Liberty Musweweshiri. Kamanga was reportedly in the company of another parks ranger David Tinago when the incident happened. The arrested illegal panner is said to have wrestled with Kamanga before seven other illegal panners joined the fight,” a source told The Manica Post.
The AK47 gun discharged two rounds of ammunition as they were wrestling.
“The illegal panners managed to disarm Kamanga and disappeared with the AK47 gun which had 15 rounds of ammunition. But before they disappeared they hit Kamanga twice on the head with a machete. He was rushed to Mutambara Mission Hospital where he is receiving treatment,” added the source.
Musweweshiri is suspected to have fled to Musanditevera — a no man’s land area in Chimanimani between the Zimbabwean and Mozambican border.
“It is still a mystery how the illegal panners successfully disarmed a ranger with a loaded AK47. We suspect the rangers connived with the illegal panners and a misunderstanding could have led to what happened in this instance,” said the source.
Chimanimani is very rich in gold. It also has diamonds and is a tourist attraction because of its scenic mountains.
Illegal panners have besieged the Chimanimani mountains in search of gold for sometime now causing serious environmental damage.
No immediate comment could be obtained from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the development yesterday.
“We are investigating a case of robbery of a firearm from a Zimparks official in Chimanimani. It is alleged the incident occurred after the officer and his colleague arrested a suspect who wanted to influence the official to allow him extract gold illegally. After being arrested a group of seven illegal panners came and wrestled with the officer. They took away the rifle (AK47),” he said.
By A Correspondent- Vice President Kembo Mohadi will on Sunday address a rally in Bulawayo where he is expected to speak at length on economic challenges in the country and how the party and Government are working to address them.
Zanu-PF Politburo member Absolom Sikhosana yesterday told our Bulawayo Bureau that the rally will be held at Stanley Square at 2pm and called on the people of Bulawayo to attend.
He said:
“Everybody agrees that the situation we are experiencing now is a difficult one.
“When a nation experiences such hardships, it becomes important for the leadership to avail itself to the people so that they can respond to the concerns of the people.
“This will also help instil confidence by way of explaining some of the challenges that people are facing and are unable to comprehend. VP Mohadi will therefore address a rally at Stanley Square at 2pm on Sunday, where all residents of Bulawayo are invited to attend,” said Sikhosana.
He said VP Mohadi will answer questions and concerns from the people, which will make a difference to their minds and lives.
“VP Mohadi’s address will help us tackle our challenges as a nation and move in one direction with a clear understanding of where we are and where we are going.
“I’m appealing to the people of Bulawayo in their various formations, be it churches, political parties, social clubs and other institutions to come and listen to the Vice President,” said Sikhosana.
By Own Correspondent| Police are looking for a Gweru pharmacist Simbarashe Ruzive (35) who allegedly fled from hospital after being involved in an accident in which his suspected girlfriend Angela Taso died.
Midlands Police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the accident which happened at Zvamabande Turnoff along Mhandamabwe Shurugwi Road on Saturday as Ruzive drove from Chivi back to Gweru.
Sources told a local publication that there were two couples in the car; the pharmacist, his friend Remember Gamare and their two lgirlfriends Taso and Shingirirai Chipoka (19).
Taso died on the spot while the other three who escaped with minor injuries were taken to Zvamabande Hospital where they were supposed to be admitted.
At Zvamabande Ruzive allegedly sneaked from the hospital and took the car of the Good Samaritan who had brought them to hospital and fled with it.
The car was found an hour later dumped at Madamombe in Chivi after it had run out of fuel.
The accident is said to have happened after Ruzive failed to control his Isuzu vehicle and it veered of the road before overturning several times.
“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 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,” said Goko.
By A Correspondent- Chiefs in Shurugwi are demanding that the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) compensates over 200 families they evicted from Lazy Nine Farm under Chief Banga two years ago.
The army gave a short notice that Lazy Nine Farm was a military protected area, where military training through use of live ammunition was conducted, which could expose the public and their livestock to danger.
The ZNA then forcefully evicted over 200 families within 12 days.
Villagers incurred huge losses in property and livestock.
Efforts to stop the evictions were fruitless as Chief Banga, then Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya and the district development co-ordinator (former district administrator) Reason Machiya failed to reach a consensus with ZNA as it insisted on the evictions using a notice signed by 5 Infantry Brigade Commander, a G Chitsva.
Speaking to Southern Eye, Chief Banga said the manner in which the eviction was conducted led his people to lose property and livestock as they sought for shelter elsewhere and feared being shot if found on the farm.
Lazy Nine Farm was occupied by villagers from Banga, Gato, Mushwe, Mufiri and Bera areas.
The farm demarcates Chivi North, Shurugwi and Zvishavane.
Chief Banga said he had already engaged the Shurugwi district administrator to notify the army that his people want compensation for loss of land and property.
“I have engaged chiefs Nhema and Mupakame to write a petition to the army seeking compensation for the loss my people suffered two years back. Some people up to now do not even have proper shelter and some do not even have farming land where they relocated,” Chief Banga said.
Chief Nhema said the evictees own the land.
“The army must compensate these families. The families are the true custodians of Lazy Nine Farm after they were first evicted from their ancestral land in 1978 by white settlers, who took the land for cattle ranching,” he said.
“In 1997, the villagers engaged government and they were given back their land. Later, the army came in using the other side of the farm.”
Midlands provincial development co-ordinator (formerly provincial administrator) Abiot Maronge distanced himself from the matter, stating that everything concerning Lazy Nine Farm evictions was in the hands of the army.
“This case is in the hands of the army. My office is also waiting to hear from the army,” he said.
Angry villagers said they were still counting losses caused by the untimely evictions.
Efforts to get an official comment from the army were fruitless, with Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri referring all questions to Zimbabwe National Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore, whose phone was not reachable.
Human rights activist and Midlands Senator Lillian Timveos said there was need for an urgent response from both the army and government in facilitating a resettlement programme and compensation to the affected families.
“The said land belonged to them initially, hence all parties involved must quickly come up with a good resettlement programme with good compensation. Human rights are key fundamentals in a democratic State,” she said.
One of the displaced villagers, Ronald Mukuku, who relocated to Mukandapi area, said he lost a four-roomed house he had just finished building using his pension funds.
“They (army) must pay us all our losses. I am in pain becuasue all my pension money went down the drain. I left my homestead in a matter of days weeks after completing building my four-roomed house,” he said.
The army also recently evicted hundreds of villagers from Gutu-Mpandawana’s western part without any compensation, claiming it was a protected area.
Paul Nyathi|Following a huge influx of Emergency Passports applications, government through the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to create a committee that will sit and determine who gets the emergency passport document.
The committee will be responsible for going through all the urgent passport applications to decide which applicant genuinely deserves an urgent passport.
The centralised Zimbabwean passport processing office in Harare has for the last three years been battling to contend with the high demand for the travel documents with a backlog of over 300 000 applications.
The passports are taking up to a year or more to be processed. The delays have seen most applicants opting to apply for the more expensive urgent passport which coats $253 and under normal circumstances should be processed in less than seven days.
To reduce the number of applications for the urgent passport processing, government introduced the committee which will determine who is elligible for the document.
The move also comes in the wake of reports of massive corruption at the passport office whereby some applicants were paying bribes of around US$200 to have their passport applications processed expeditiously.
The passport backlog is so bad that some applicants were being asked to come back in 2022 to collect their documents. The government is battling a backlog of over 350 000 passports while only producing less than 800 passports per day.
Africa Report|Despite having Nigerian officials at the top of the Untied Nations system, including a deputy Secretary-General, Abuja has not yet paid its dues.
Nigeria is yet to pay up its assigned annual contribution to the UN some 10 months into 2019.
Every nation needs to pull its weight as the international system is under siege from an aggressive US administration.
UN Secretary-General António Guterreshas admitted that the body might not be able to pay staff salaries next month.
Cash-strapped Zimbabwe and most recently, conflict-riven Syria are two of the 129 of the UN’s 193-member states to have paid their 2019 dues as of October 7.
This amounts to $1.99bn, equivalent to 70% of the total assessment for the year, with a balance of $1.3 billion still needed to offset expenses of the body.
According to Guterres, this is probably “the worst cash crisis facing the United Nations in nearly a decade. The organisation runs the risk of depleting its liquidity reserves by the end of the month and defaulting on payments to staff and vendors.”
He urged defaulting countries to pay urgently and in full. “This is the only way to avoid a default that could risk disrupting operations globally,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
“To date, we have averted major disruptions to operations,” Guterres said in a statement, adding that “these measures are no longer enough.”
“We are now driven to prioritise our work on the basis of the availability of cash, thus undermining the implementation of mandates decided by inter-governmental bodies,” Dujarric said, adding that the Secretary-General had noted the issue was a recurrent problem.
Things are so bad that Guterres had to enforce large spending cuts at UN affiliates worldwide beginning this January or the global body would have been unable to organise the 74th General Assembly debate and the high-level meetings last month.
Short on cash, big on aesthetics
Nigeria suffers its own difficult debt profile as it continues to pursue an overhaul of its infrastructure nationwide and service outstanding loan repayments amidst declining oil revenues.
But Nigeria’s failure to pay contrasts with its strong presence in the UN system.
Abuja sent a multitude of delegates to this year’s UN General Assembly sessions, led by foreign affairs minister Geoffrey Onyeama, and President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the gathering of world leaders in late September.
At least three governors and half a dozen ministers were on the trip accompanied by a retinue of aides and carry-ons racking up thousands of dollars in estacodes (travel allowances).
Two Nigerian nationals are also currently among the organisation’s most high-ranking officials including;
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and
The current president of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Bande whose yearlong tenure runs from this September to September 2020.
Big (bad) brother
Nigeria is following in the footsteps of large states like the US, Brazil, Israel and Iran, who are also delinquent.
Interestingly, of the opening five speakers at the UN General Assembly debate this year, only Turkey and Egypt have paid up.
According to the Financial Regulation 3.5 of the UN, member states ought to pay their contributions to its budget within a 30-day period at the beginning of every year – 31st January 2019, in this case.
By January 31 this year, only 34 countries had followed through with their financial commitments.
The amount allocated to each country is decided by the General Assembly, on the advice of the Committee on Contributions which takes into consideration the gross national income, population, and debt burden.
The US is the largest contributor to the global body’s budget, doling out 22% of the annual budget, now capped at $2.5 billion in recent years thanks to American law.
As things stand, the US government currently owes $381 million for prior regular budgets and $674 million for the 2019 regular budget.
Why this is important: Humanitarian, political and social services across the world, including crisis hotspots like northeastern Nigeria, could grind to a halt if the debtors refuse to pay. Penny wise, pound foolish?
