EDITOR — Everyone is aware of the challenges the country has in terms of accessing cash. We have challenges in accessing basic things like cash, and power but now many uncouth business people are capitalising on this crisis. At most fuel stations, fuel attendants are refusing electronic money in favour of hard cash. What is mind boggling is that everyone is aware of the situation with regards to cash but they are just making it hard for motorists.
Getting cash is difficult these days and those who have the cash usually charge premiums. The government sadly is aware of this and is taking no action to rectify this situation. Just this past week the Puma Service Station along Willowvale in Highfield was doing this. Despite having POS machines, the fuel attendants were saying that they don’t take virtually money.
It is quite unfortunate because they were even refusing to take coins. We wonder if this money is banked or supplied to the black market. Disappointed.
The United States Embassy in Harare has blasted the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Nick Mangwana over his unfounded claims on censorship laws in the United States.
Trying to justify the government arrest of four prominent artists at the weekend over a film production, Mangwana inferred that government was justified in the purge as the USA would have done the same.
Artists are quite free to express themselves through their art or theatre. But it's not a lawless jungle. I don't believe in the USA you can have a play that venerates Al Qaeda or such terrorists. That is an example of a caveat to the freedom of expression
Opinion By Nick Ncube|last time the nation heard of a Censorship board was when Ignatius Chombo was the Minister of Home Affairs.
Then Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo announced a new Board of Censors that was to face the colossal task of regulating public entertainment in the digital age. The appointment of the board was in terms of the Censorship and Entertainment Control Act Chapter 10: 4. The board was very colourful if not controversial and included Former Cabinet minister, educationist and historian Cde Aeneas Chigwedere who was to chair the board and would be deputised by Mrs Konzani Ncube the Provincial Administrator of Bulawayo Metropolitan province.
Other members were set to include Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, former President Mugabe’s daughter Mrs Bona Chikore, Mrs Runyararo Magadzire, Chief Nyamukoho Samson Katsande, Mr Regis Chikowore, Mr Shingai Rukwata Ndoro, Mr Chenjerai Daitai, Mr Tungamirai Muganhiri and Catholic priest Father Fidelis Mukonori.
The board was tasked with playing a critical role in controlling and regulating the media and film industry and examining any article or public entertainment submitted to it.
On announcing the board , then Minister Chombo told journalists after the announcement that the board, which would serve for five years instead of the previous three, had been entrusted with safeguarding people’s rights and trust. The nation last heard of the board during the announcement and there hasn’t been any word or action since then. The nation’s moral fibre is decaying and the entertainment world is surely losing the sense of Ubuntu and one wonders whether we still have a Censorship board in Zimbabwe.
Obscenities in Zimdancehall
The Zimdancehall genre is a worrying genre that has lost all respect for our cultural values and persona as Zimbabweans. The misogyny and berating of women is embarrassing for an educated nation like ours. Women are reduced to mere sex objects in most Zimdancehall songs , music is no longer about love it is about sex , lust and being a macho man.
The boys and girls in the Zimdancehall genre have found ways of smuggling dirty lyrics onto day time radio. We have seen the upsurge of raunchy lyrics such as Jah Signal’s Stonyeni. Loosely translated Stonyeni means sex or at most a woman’s private parts. Boom Beto sang about kudonhedza musika which basically is a song about a woman’s behind. These songs are being played on day time radio.
The Zimhiphop genre has also decided not to be outdone and they are coming up with hideous lyrics of all sorts and manner which are making their way to radio stations and thoroughly enjoying airplay. Zimbabwean prolific rapper Stunner pulled a shocker on us when he released a track titled Hure rekure , these are obscene songs which berate our women and should be banned completely.
Radio Self Censorship
Zimbabwe’s media reforms have seen the introduction of private radio stations, these private radio stations unlike the state owned media have relaxed regulations around them. There is a strong need for these radio stations , Star FM , ZiFM and all their subsidiaries and other private players to practice self regulation and voluntary censorship for the good of the nation. Our moral fibre as a people is of paramount importance and it begins with what we expose our children to in the entertainment sector.
The print media has a Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe and maybe radio stations operating in Zimbabwe need a similar platform. Peer monitoring and regulation works and this was proven by the Tafadzwa Musarara lead Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe who embarked on a self regulation exercise which saw the price of grain products stabilising.
All station executives , presenters and broadcasters need to carry out a bit of self introspection and ensure that they are playing a positive role towards building a better Zimbabwe.
Tribal slurs and mockery on radio
The Ndebele language has suffered various forms of abuse on some of these radio stations and even music lyrics. Words are improperly pronounced , the Ndebele are mocked in several ways and it’s okay for that to be on radio ? Certainly not !!!
There is a very derogatory track by a Zimdancehall artist titled Umdala wethu . This track makes a starkmockery of the Ndebele language and its people. It’s a shame that it takes its name from Father Zimbabwe Joshua NKOMO who was popularly known as Umdala wethu.
While the constitution of Zimbabwe provides for freedom of expression and artistic expression those freedoms should not disrespect the language and culture of others.
Thee same Constitution through the Act of Parliament empowers the Board of Censors to ensure that these freedoms are reasonably limited so that they do not infringe on other people’s rights.
In today’s environment where there is heightened scrutiny by members of the public, Internet and social media use, the censorship board might be faced by many challenges in administering the Act that empowers them, there is need for Cyber regulatory acts to also empower the Board of Censors.
Radio presenters are also dishing out fictitious facts and churning out poison of dangerous proportions on day time radio. What are they teaching our kids ? What type of society do they hope to build ? Is this the modern way of doing things ? Is this the media reform and freedom we have been advocating for ? It is now risky if not dangerous to listen to some radio stations with respectable people near or around you.
Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Information please intervene
While media reform is of paramount importance, we need to ensure that we have good reforms and not dangerous reforms. We still have a society to build and societal norms to uphold. We have children that still need to be raised in good , clean and sane environments. Our broadcasters are poisoning our children with all the misogyny, sexual predator type of lyrics and everything that is deemed morally wrong.The ministry of Information doesn’t seem bothered by the conduct of presenters , music selectors and artists while on national radio. The ministry of Home Affairs who are the custodians of the Censors board is no where to be seen or found. Who then shall we turn to ? We need mature , family friendly broadcasts during day time radio.
I would like to openly challenge Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana to take up the issue with his counterpart in the ministry of Home Affairs and do something to save our society and the little that is left of our moral fibre.
That Umdala wethu song is an insult to the Ndebele language and Ndebele people it needs to be banned and taken off the airwaves.
Nick Ncube is a researcher and blogger based in Ontario Canada and is originally from Tsholotsho
The son of the legendary Tsonga disco pioneer Giyani “Penny Penny” Kulani has reportedly committed suicide after apparently telling his mother about his suicidal thoughts several times.
The 23-year-old Nicholas reportedly disappeared after telling his grandfather that he was coming back before committing suicide on Thursday afternoon at Soshanguve train station, north of Pretoria.
The son of the legendary star made a short appearance on his father’s reality show Papa Penny Ahee. He lived with his grandparents in Soshanguve.
According to Celeb Gossip, Penny Penny said the family is still shocked and haven’t come to terms with the son’s death.
“He woke up in the morning and he was very good. So around 3pm after taking a bath he just told the grandfather that he’s coming back [after going out]. At around 10pm, we received a call that he had not returned home. We tried calling him but his phone went onto voicemail. We tried calling his friends and they didn’t know where he was. That’s when we started to suspect something was wrong,” Penny said.
“Around 11pm, the grandfather was looking through his room and found a letter with the message that ‘I’m going to kill myself at Soshanguve train station’. That’s when the grandparents called the police and they were told that it [suicide] happened around 4pm. I drove there [from Limpopo] the same night. We went to check and found that it was indeed him. Apparently, people tried to stop him.”
He said the family didn’t think that Nicholas would do what he did.
“I don’t know what his problem was. He used to tell his mother sometimes that ‘I’m going to kill myself’. During the day on Thursday, he sent his mother a picture with the peace sign. The mother didn’t think much of it,” Penny added.
Nicholas’ funeral will be in Soshanguve on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Cpt Stephen Maluleka said they did not have “an inquest case opened of that nature at Rietgat police station for the past week”.
Further to our earlier communication, we regret to inform you that the Kwese Play service will no longer be available in Zimbabwe. Econet Media sincerely apologises for this unexpected turn of events and for the inconvenience caused.
In recognition of your unwavering support Econet Media is offering you airtime equivalent to the purchase value of the Kwese Play Roku device you acquired.
You are free to use the airtime for all your voice or data transactions. The airtime shall be valid for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of credit.
To facilitate the credit process, by return email, please supply your purchase receipt number or serial number of the Kwese play Roku device and the mobile number to be credited with the airtime. Upon successful verification we will credit your airtime within 24 hours. Please note the offer for airtime is valid until 15 August 2019.
Should you choose not to keep the obsolete Kwese Play device, please return the device to the nearest Econet Wireless shop for safe disposal.
An elite private school in Masvingo has shocked the country after it hiked its school fees for the 3rd of 2019, to ZWL$35 000 per term.
In a letter to parents, Riverton Academy said that the move had been necessitated by the introduction of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, which abolished the multicurrency system and established the Zimbabwe Dollar as the sole legal tender.
The letter to parents reads:
Dear Parent,s/IGuardiatifs, RE: TERM 3 2019 AND AUGUST VACATION FEES
In view of Statutory Instrument (SI) 42 of 2019 in which the Zimbabwean dollar was made the sole legal tender in any transaction in Zimbabwe. Riverton Academy has revised the school fees for Term 3, 2019. The increase in the prices of most provisions for the dining hall, hostels, fuels and the quest by the Academy to maintain high educational standards of its products and services makes it unavoidable to increase school fees for Tenn 3. These developments are outside the control of the school and as a result. the Academy has set the school fees for Term 3, 2019 as shown in the table below: LEVEL 1. SECONDARY SCHOOL BOARDERS – ZWLS35 000.00 2. PRIMARY SCHOOL BORDERS – ZWLS26 500.00 3. PRIMARY SCHOOL DAY SCHOLARS – ZWLS 9 000.00 4. ECD – ZWLS 5 500.00
Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commissioner Thandiwe Thando Mlobane said the ZACC files that were reported to be missing have been returned.
She was speaking during an interview with Star FM on Monday.
On Sunday ZACC chair Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo was quoted by The Sunday Mail saying some dockets were missing.
“I received reports of former commissioners who took dockets and have not returned them. I have tasked the investigations department to compile the list of all dockets that are missing.
“However, I am yet to receive the information from the department. I assure the nation that once the information is received the perpetrators will be brought to book,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.
Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira has been the first high profile minister to face the music after ZACC arrested her over alleged corrupt dealing at NSSA when she was Public Service Minister.
A PHILANTHROPIST and a farmer have hauled Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Hon. Perrance Shiri and the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to court challenging the restrictive measures banning the sale of maize grain in the country and giving the state-run Grain Marketing Board (GMB) a monopoly over trade in the commodity.
In an application filed in the High Court recently, Hon. Allan Markham, a philanthropist and Clever Rambanapasi, a farmer, argued that Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 Grain Marketing (Control of Sale of Maize) Regulations, 2019, which was recently gazetted by government had made GMB the sole trader of maize in the country and made it illegal for people to trade in maize among themselves and banned the transportation of more than five bags of maize grain except in situations where one is delivering to the state-run body.
The regulations also empowered Zimbabwe Republic Police officers to seize maize grain suspected of being moved without authority and compliance with the law.
But through their lawyer Tendai Biti of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Hon. Markham, who is a philanthropist who buys and sells maize in communities to support many charities and Rambanapasi, a farmer based in Murewa in Mashonaland East province, protested that through the regulations, Hon. Shiri had set up a monopoly and a dangerous one which bars anyone who trades in grain whether he or she is a buyer or seller to only do so through the GMB and at a fixed price.
Hon. Markham and Rambanapasi charged that the consequences and effect of the restrictive regulations and of declaring a product a controlled one is drastic as it affects the contractual right of farmers and traders of buying grain from any party or individual and has a serious effect on livelihoods especially in rural communities where communal farmers produce subsistence maize.
Rambanapasi, who runs a small piggery project in Murewa, argued that maize is an essential ingredient in pig production and he buys the grain from rural communities in various villages to feed his pigs while Hon. Markham, who as a philanthropist supports some charities in the country, said he buys maize from communal farmers, which he uses to feed vulnerable communities in high density suburbs.
The duo said the regulations had affected people who engage in barter trade in communities and had also affected the freedom to contract and freedom to trade as professional millers, retailers and other organisations and individuals, who previously had the right to buy maize everywhere could no longer do so except from GMB.
Hon. Markham, who is also the legislator for Harare North constituency and is an entrepreneur with extensive interest in the agriculture sector and Rambanapasi said the restrictive regulations has an effect on due process rights protected under Section 56 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe of which both procedural and substantive due process requires that one has notice, and one has choices and opportunities, which have been taken away by Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 Grain Marketing (Control of Sale of Maize) Regulations, 2019.
The regulations on grain, Hon. Markham and Rambanapasi said, has the effect of depriving one of his property and appropriating the same to the GMB at a price that is already fixed and does not make economic sense.
Hon. Markham and Rambanapasi want Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 Grain Marketing (Control of Sale of Maize) Regulations, 2019 to be declared as ultra vires the Constitution in particular Section 56, 58, 64 and 71 of the Constitution.
The philanthropist and farmer also want Part V and Part VI of the Grain Marketing Board Act particularly Section 29, 33,34,35 to be declared ultra vires Section 56, 58, 64 and 71 of the Constitution.
The four artists arrested in Harare over the weekend.
ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) officers have charged four prominent artists with contravening the draconian Censorship and Entertainments Control Act after they allegedly exhibited an unsanctioned film.
ZRP officers charged Daves Guzha, the Director of Rooftop Promotions, Peter Churu, the Manager of Theatre in the Park Tendai Humbasha Maduwa, a film producer and Kudakwashe Brian Bwititi, a film script writer with contravening section 9(1)(a) of the Censorship and Entertainments Control Act.
Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizira alleged that Guzha, Churu, Maduwa and Bwititi publicly exhibited and launched a film titled “The Lord of Kush” at Theatre in the Park in Harare on Saturday 27 July, which had not been approved by the Board of Censors.
Mutizira charged that the quartet launched the film, which has some undesirable contents as they depicted the abduction of a child of a Zimbabwean Ambassador to Pakistan by some unnamed religious group without first applying to the Censorship and Entertainments Control Unit.
The prosecutor said if launched and shown to the world, the film would invoke conflicts among religious groups.
Guzha, Churu, Maduwa and Bwititi, who were represented by Tinomuda Shoko and Moses Nkomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, were each granted bail amounting to ZWL$200 by Harare Magistrate Barbra Mateko, who remanded them out of custody to Thursday.
In court, the artists’ lawyers raised complaints several complaints against ZRP officers whom they accused of apprehending them without informing them of the reasons of their arrest and were also detained from Saturday evening to early Sunday morning for several hours without any charges being preferred against them.
Guzha, Churu, Maduwa and Bwititi were only charged with the offence of contravening section 9(1)(a) of the Censorship and Entertainments Control Act on Sunday around 9:am, when they returned to Harare Central Police Station and upon the arrival of their lawyers.
MDC President Nelson Chamisa is this week taking suffering Zimbabweans through a week of prayer and fasting over the harsh economic situation in the country.
Today is day two of the fasting session.
Watch video downloading below off Chamisa’s call for prayer and action.
The private sector has said it is ready to pay a cost reflective power tariff of up to US$0,14 per kilowatt-hour to guarantee constant supply of electricity in the country.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chairperson Mike Kamungeremu, revealed this at a breakfast meeting held in the capital yesterday.
This development comes on the back of similar calls by the industry at the recently ended Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) 2019 Conference that also requested a power tariff hike as part of strategies to address power crisis the country faces.
This comes at a time when a kilowatt-hour is costing ZWL$9,68 cents an equivalent of US$.01 a scenario that has caused the state entity to operate at a gross loss.
Mr Kamungeremu indicated that running business on generators was highly unsustainable and emphasised the private sector could do all things necessary to normalise power supply.
He bemoaned instances where the power utility (Zesa) was importing electricity at higher prices only to be consumed at a lower price locally.
“Industry is okay with tariff increase even US$0,14 per kilowatt-hour, we need it because we need constant supply of power. Our expectation is if tariff goes up we have guaranteed supply of power.
“We have come to this position because what we cannot afford is to continue operating on generators, we need electricity, it remains the cheapest form of power, so what I can tell is that even if the tariff is increased it will still be way cheaper than operating on generators.
“We cannot continue operating on generators like indicated. If you run your business using your generators, you will be using US$0.30-40 per kilowatt-hour.
“There are some businesses right now which run very big plants, they cannot use generators or solar — for those they need power and for that to happen the tariff must go up.
“At the moment electricity is costing ZWL$0.0968 per kilowatt-hour which translate to about a cent in US dollar terms, yet the same power is being imported at US$0,04, the cheapest, and up to US$0,12 per kilowatt-hour and as business we know ZESA cannot sustain such,” said Mr Kamungeremu.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Power Development Magna Mudyiwa, said Government was seriously concerned with the current electricity pricing structure, which has been rendered ineffective by recent policy measures.
She lamented commercial farm owners and industry’s reluctance when it comes to electricity bill settlements.
“The Ministry is seeking an interim bridging funding package to rescue Zesa from liquidity while a tariff review is being considered. It is of concern that our tariff has gone below 1c per kilowatt-hour. I therefore encourage the industry and private sector to consider paying cost reflective tariffs. Profits are good but for the utility to remain operational, it has to service its debts, procure resources and maintain equipment.
“I dream of a day that industry and commercial farms pay upfront for electricity they use. Prepayment will assist Zesa to recover the current debt and avoid it altogether in the future,” said Mrs Mudyiwa.
Cabinet has approved an arrangement where ZETDC can ring-fence large-scale power consumers that generate foreign currency so that it may assist ZETDC to import power for use locally. Industry is encouraged to work with Zesa in this endeavour.
UNDER pressure MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa has thrown Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Tinashe Kambarami under the bus, describing his attempt to suspend Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube as unprocedural.
The party was thrown into panic after Bulawayo residents, reacting to the Town Clerk fiasco, called on the Government to dissolve the BCC and replace it with a Commission, developments interpreted as a rejection of the MDC Alliance.
In an interview with local media on Sunday, Mr Chamisa said the decision by Clr Kambarami to suspend Mr Dube was done without consultation and blessings of other councillors.
“We didn’t like the way there was that exchange between the Deputy Mayor and the Town Clerk; that is totally unacceptable, it was not called for,” said Mr Chamisa.
“In any event all the things are supposed to be done by way of consultation, by caucus, it has to be informed by our broad trust in the local authorities and all those tenets were violated and this is why we need remedial action or correction to make sure that things are done according to plan,” said Mr Chamisa.
“If there is corruption it has to be investigated, but with the full knowledge of those who are in council, the Mayor as the head. I wouldn’t want a situation where the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.”
On July 11, Clr Kambarami and Ward 4 councillor Silas Chigora violently ejected Mr Dube from his office after he refused to take a letter “suspending” him from duty.
Clr Kambarami, who was the acting Mayor in the absence of Clr Solomon Mguni who was in South Africa, accompanied by Clr Chigora, recorded the proceedings as they shoved Mr Dube out of his office at the City Hall after he told them that their actions neither had substance nor legal basis.
They then called for backup in the form of councillors Tawanda Ruzive, Arnold Batirai and Felix Mhaka before Mr Dube left the office which they proceeded to lock and insert a key blocker.
Clr Mguni reinstated Mr Dube, but his office was not immediately accessible as Clr Kambarami was still holding onto the keys.
A special full council meeting was held last Monday to ratify the reinstatement of the Town Clerk.
Mr Chamisa held a crisis meeting with Bulawayo councillors and Members of Parliament on Saturday where he reportedly berated Clr Kambarami and his crew.
Sources who attended the meeting held at a city hotel said Mr Chamisa lashed out at Bulawayo councillors for being immature and an embarrassment to the party, amid claims he is contemplating wielding the axe on some of them.
“He expressed displeasure with what happened in Bulawayo saying it was embarrassing for the party and should not happen again. He said if there were any investigations against the Town Clerk, they should have been done procedurally. He attacked the councillors for being immature and trying to use their positions to enrich themselves. He backed the Mayor for reinstating the Town Clerk stating that he did a noble job,” said the source.
“Chamisa also took a swipe at Deputy Mayor Kambarami saying he should not assume that he has Mayoral powers. He said he knew that Kambarami was ambitious and wanted to be the city’s Mayor but the party also had to carefully manage regional politics.”
The source also revealed that in the meeting, it was also revealed that Clr Kambarami was getting his orders from some MDC Alliance executive members in Harare.
“Some members who are in the national structures of local governance are trying to control councils by giving directives on which companies to award tenders. They have done so with other councils where the party is in charge and wanted to do the same here in Bulawayo.
“They even forwarded names of certain companies that they said should be prioritised in the awarding of tenders,” added the source.
“In Bulawayo they wanted to work with Kambarami who seemed favourable to their idea. But most of the councillors came out terrified following the meeting with Chamisa as he was told the brutal truth that party members in the province were trying to sanitise.”
The source said to show that the stakeholders meeting was not even genuine, it did not include the biggest residents associations — Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association and Bulawayo United Residents Association but was dominated by party affiliate organisations who did not even raise pertinent issues regarding developments in Bulawayo.
MDC Alliance Bulawayo spokesperson Mr Swithern Chirowodza said after the closed door meeting between Mr Chamisa, MPs and the councillors, the city fathers seemed very distraught.
“What I saw after the meeting with the councillors and MPs, is that the councillors were sad. That is all I can say at the moment. It looks like the president is going to wield the axe on some councillors. They were sad,” said Mr Chirowodza.
Clrs Mguni and his deputy Kambarami could not be reached for comment as they were not answering their phones yesterday.
State Media|CITY of Harare is set to conduct a forensic audit to probe council operations into land sales, market operations and employees’ skills from 2016 to date, Mayor Herbert Gomba has said.
Addressing a Press conference yesterday at Town House, Clr Gomba said the core purpose of the audit was to identify areas and how service delivery was affected and determine the way forward.
“I have called this Press conference to announce that my council is setting up a forensic audit into council operations from 2016 to 2019 on procurement of goods and services and other council operations,” he said.
The mayor also said the city is going to engage the services of the Auditor-General Mrs Mildred Chiri.
“My council is going to engage the services of the Auditor-General to establish gaps and enhance service delivery.
“The findings of the audit will help us chart the way forward while helping us to do away with practices and individuals that stand in the way of progress and ensure that we put in place robust systems that strengthen our service delivery mandate”, said Clr Gomba.
SOME people living with HIV in Bulawayo are failing to access antiretroviral (ARV) drugs due to shortages in the city blamed on distribution inefficiencies as Government says the country has adequate supplies.
The ARVs shortage in Bulawayo has led to those on Line Two regimen — a stronger and expensive version of ARVs — to be sent back home as there are no stocks for the medication.
Those who find some regimens in stock are getting a week’s supply of the life saving medication instead of the usual three months’ supply.
In an interview, a local HIV activist, Mr Dumisani Nkomo, said he is on Line Two and was one of the affected people.
“At first we thought it was an error but it is now evident that we no longer have enough ARVs for HIV positive members of the public. I for one am on Line 2 but during my last visit, I was told that I had to take something else while waiting for supplies which means we may easily default to Line 3,” said Mr Nkomo.
“We feel like someone is gambling with our lives and it is important that whosoever is responsible is aware that most HIV positive people did not apply for this but were victims of abuse, infidelity and many other reasons.”
He said it was important for Government to ensure there are always enough supplies so that people do not relapse.State media
BELGIAN coach Jean-Francois Losciuto has emerged as a leading candidate to be appointed substantive Warriors head coach.
The Warriors coaching job remains vacant after the departure of the country’s most successful gaffer, Sunday Chidzambwa, who resigned last week.
Rahman Gumbo is the stand-in Warriors coach. Losciuto has a lot of international football experience on the African terrain, having assisted Sunday Oliseh in the Nigerian set-up from 2015 to 2016.
The former head coach of South African side Black Leopards has also coached in Egypt, Togo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso and his native Belgium. Zifa seems to have been charmed by the Curriculum Vitae of the 47-year-old tactician, after they tentatively agreed to settle for a foreign coach during their Friday’s executive meeting.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Zifa referred this publication to the statement they released after last week’s meeting. “There is no development regarding that issue,” said the association’s spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela.
“We released a statement over the weekend and in that statement we explained everything and for now there is nothing as yet.”State media
POLICE have arrested three soldiers for allegedly shooting and killing a 37-year-old member of the Zion Christian Church during a confrontation near the Government-run Reception and Support Centre for Migrants in Beitbridge.
The area is located a few metres from the One Independence Barracks where army servicemen are stationed.
It is a route popular with smugglers and border jumpers entering or leaving the country via the Limpopo River.
The Officer Commanding Beitbridge district, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo, confirmed the incident which happened on Saturday at about 8PM.
“We have three suspects in custody who are assisting us with investigations. They will soon appear in court charged with murder,” he said.
The Chronicle understands that the now deceased, Jevas Masvina of Stauze suburb (formerly Ma-two rooms), was among eight congregants from the Zion Christian Church headed for a night vigil on a mountain near the army base when tragedy struck.
It is reported that the soldiers had a confrontation with the congregants. Sources close to investigations said Masvina was heading to church along with other church members when they disembarked from a vehicle which seemed to have been overwhelmed by a load of passengers.
“Along the way they came across three armed men who were wearing clothes resembling those of Zimbabwe National Army soldiers.
“The suspects (soldiers) then ordered Masvina and his colleagues to surrender and lie down, but instead the congregants picked stones and charged at the armed men suspecting them to be armed robbers.
“The suspected soldiers then fired two shots and unfortunately Masvina was shot on the left rib cage and died on the scene.
“Realising that they had killed the man, the trio vanished into darkness and the matter was in turn reported to the police,” said an official close to the case.State media
ZIMBABWE’S Warriors were too powerful for hosts Mauritius when they hammered the Indian Ocean Islanders in the first leg of the Africa Nations Championships qualifier at the Auguste Vollaire Stadium in Flacq yesterday.
The strength of the Mauritius team could not be immediately established after they also fielded a football team in the Indian Ocean Islands Games which reached the final against Reunion on Sunday.
That match ended 1-1 with Reunion goalkeeper Mathieu Pelops saving all five penalties in the shootout which his team won 1-0.
The Warriors, who are hunting for a record fifth appearance at the tournament to be hosted by Cameroon next year, got off to a strong start courtesy of goals by Nqobizitha Masuku, Never Tigere and a brace by Leeroy Mavhunga.
The Warriors went ahead after 19 minutes after Tigere’s shot went in via a deflection from teammate Nqobizitha Masuku.
Mavhunga ensured the Zimbabweans had a healthy lead going to the breather with his 44th minute strike. Tigere scored midway through the second half before Mavhunga sealed the win with another late goal in the 87th minute, his third for his country in the last two games.
The match, which was supposed to be played on Sunday at the New King George V Stadium in Curepipe, was moved to a new venue yesterday after incessant rains made the pitch at the original venue unplayable. The win ensured the Warriors will head into the second leg scheduled for Barbourfields this weekend with a healthy lead.
It was also a big lift for the Zimbabweans who are still trying to recover from the hangover of the failed Afcon campaign which later resulted in the resignation of head coach Sunday Chidzambwa last week, just two days after beginning the Chan preparations.
The team is currently under the tutelage of interim coaches Rahman Gumbo and Lloyd Mutasa.State media
MIGHTY Warriors coach, Sithetheliwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, is bullish the senior women’s national football team will do well at this year’s COSAFA Women Championships.
The regional tournament begins tomorrow in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with an opening match between Zimbabwe and Angola at Nelson Mandela Bay.
The senior team and the Young Mighty Warriors left yesterday for South Africa.
“We want to do better than we did last year. A lot of development is going on in women’s football and you can see that we are no longer experiencing high scores like before meaning there are no longer any small teams.
“So, we have to apply our tactics well, starting with the match against Angola on Wednesday.
“The training sessions that we had, the players showed great response. They looked sharp. I am sure we will compete well,” said Sibanda. Sibanda welcomed Mighty Warriors striker Rudo Neshamba and former skipper Onai Chingawo back into the squad.State media
Farai Dziva|An opposition MP has hinted that Emmerson Mnangagwa “can be impeached.”
Addressing a rally in Epworth Constituency, MP Ethrage Kureva said:
“Among the processes we will be using to oust Mnangagwa out of office for his failure to deal with economic problems, which have seen the country go 18 hours without electricity daily, is impeachment and we are working with those in Zanu PF to ensure it’s successful.”
“The impeachment strategy is also on the table and Zanu PF legislators are willing to come on board.
They are also unhappy with the government and sad economic state of affairs.
So as the MDC, we are looking to use the factions in the party to bring pressure on his doorstep,” an MDC official told NewsdayNewsDay.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has called on Parliament to consider urgently de-linking constituency delimitation from the National Census to accommodate changes in settlement patterns in the 2023 elections.
ZEC’s appeal comes at a time when Zimbabwe is targeting to complete the electoral law reform process before the lapse of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament as the country lays the foundation for the 2023 harmonised elections.
ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba told a stakeholders’ conference in Kadoma over the weekend that there have been several changes in settlement patterns since the last delimitation.
“The last delimitation exercise was done in 2008, since then several changes have taken place in our law and in settlement patterns. The 2013 Constitution linked delimitation to the National Census and also there has been rapid urban expansion which may affect existing boundaries,” she said.
“Several communities were displaced by natural disasters and developments and the result of all these changes is that some villages or wards no longer exist, for example in Mwenezi where people were displaced by the Tokwe-Mukosi dam or Chipinge where people were displaced by the cyclone. We also have areas where whole new locations have sprouted, for example in Harare South.
She added: “We also have a situation where some locations are ordinarily seen as belonging to Harare, but are in fact in other provinces, for example Mt Pleasant Heights which is in Mazowe District. All these point to the need for delimitation.State media
ZIMBABWE is on course to adopt a national dress with First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa having started preparatory meetings and consultations countrywide.
Barely three months after hosting a successful inaugural food and cultural festival, the First Lady started consultations on the national dress in Harare yesterday with various stakeholders airing their views.
A national dress expresses an identity, which is usually associated with a geographic area or a period of time in history. Such costumes often come in two forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for traditional festivals and formal wear.
The search for the national dress started in 2005, but did not yield any results, prompting Amai Mnangagwa to take it upon herself to ensure the programme succeeds.
Speaking at an all stakeholders’ preparatory meeting at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), the First Lady said the national dress should reflect a lot more on the country’s traditions, history, national heritage and aspirations.
“What brings us together today is a subject of great national importance which should have been concluded over the past 39 years of our independence,” she said.
“As the mother of the nation, I am convinced that all Zimbabweans regardless of colour, creed, sex, age or location will be willing and keen to contribute to this national project involving my full participation.
“The dress should reflect a lot more on our traditions, history, national heritage and aspirations. It should also be appropriate on social and religious gatherings.
“It should give us our national identity that conveys a message that I am Zimbabwean without even saying a word.”State media
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has appointed Industry and Commence Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu as Acting Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry while substantive minister Prisca Mupfumira battles her corruption allegations in court.
Minister Mupfumira is facing a slew of criminal abuse of public office charges involving $95 million.
Last Saturday, the State invoked Section 32 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, which allows it to seek the further detention of a suspect up to 21 days to conduct further investigations.
This has seen President Mnangagwa moving in to appoint Minister Ndlovu as Acting Minister to allow the ministry to operate unhindered. In a statement yesterday, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said: “The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet has announced that His Excellency the President Cde ED Mnangagwa has appointed Minister N. Ndlovu as the Acting Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry pending finalisation of court processes involving the substantive minister Honourable Mupfumira.”
Minister Mupfumira was arrested last Thursday by the reconfigured Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of corruption involving $95 million of National Social Security Authority (NSSA) funds.State media
Farai Dziva| A Parliamentarian has said Zimbabweans should not accept the proposed Marriage Bill.
The MP described the bill as a “marriage destroyer.”
Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa said: “This Bill is a marriage destroyer. It should not be allowed to be debated or go through this House before thorough public consultations.”
“What is this hurry for? Zimbabweans have the right to debate more on this Bill than rushing it as the Minister is proposing now.”
However, Mushoriwa was asked to withdraw the “marriage destroyer” part by the Speaker.
By Farai D Hove| Several months after it was completed, the NSSA forensic audit report has remained a secret confined only to political leaders from ZANU PF. Labour Minister Sekesai Nzenza yesterday refused to release the NSSA audit report.
Speaking during her press conference, Nzenza began by saying she has got nothing to hide from the public.
“People can investigate me if they wish. As far as I know, I am not in being investigated, however those who are saying I’m being investigated, why don’t you ask them?
“As far as I know I have absolutely nothing to hide,” she said.
She was then asked when she will make the report public and to this her male aide (name not given), sitting by her side quipped in saying, “it’s important that you understand that this is not just a simple write up.
“We have shared the report with the… special Anti-Corruption unit in the president’s office. There is work to be done, and the minister once she has been briefed, we will collect all the inputs…and once those are at hand, we will discuss with the minister and she will be able to come-up to you …and we will call another press conference just to appraise you. But we are hoping that this is something that can happen very soon. We are having some discussions, and we should be having some summary reports this week. And the minister will be able to appraise the public on some of the issues… And going on, as the details come out, we will be able to give to the public what is authentic, what is correct,” he said.
But isn’t this is a public document, why is being kept a secret?, one journo asked, and to this, Nzenza herself said.
” It will be made public, it will be.”
During the presser, Nzenza also however elaborated saying, “but I want to say that in all those spots, there are some irregularities that required expert lawyers to unpack each one of them.
“So when you have a forensic report like that and its showing four absolutely key areas, it’s not the kind of report you simply present to the public. It needs to be unpacked, and presented not only to the public, but also to parliament.”
By Patrick Zhuwao| Dear Moms, Comrade SG. Since the November 2017 coup I have not been able to visit you and bring you flowers. So today as we commemorate nine years since your passing on, I am writing this letter to you instead. I am sorry to tell you that Zimbabweans who were the victims of “kuiitiswa” (being played) during the coup, are experiencing unprecedented levels of suffering and poverty. With violent crime spiralling out of control, there is real danger that the contagion of Zimbabwe’s economic and political meltdown will cause massive destabilisation within SADC.
As one of the political players who sought to manage ZANU PF’s leadership transition prior to the coup, I know that some actions that occurred should not have been allowed to occur, and that some of the things that should have been done were not done. It is so unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation where several of our fellow comrades from ZANU PF are in exile and compatriots that are in the diaspora are fast losing hope of returning to Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, dishonesty in tackling and articulating issues has become the norm with knavery prevailing in policy prescriptions to such an extent that hunger, disease and poverty are now endemic. The knaves in control of the country have collapsed infrastructure with electricity available only at the dead of night, everything in short supply, and unemployment rampant.
These knaves have brazenly stolen from the nation and all Zimbaweans under the guise of the infamous Command Agriculture Programme. It is shocking that of the US$3 billion that cannot be accounted for under the Command Agriculture, US$1.7 billion was taken within twenty days of the coup. These knaves have reversed the gains of the land reform programme and destroyed the agricultural sector with tobacco seed sales declining to 54% meaning that foreign currency inflows from tobacco will be severely curtailed next year.
Civil servants who worked loyally for government are being dismissed without due process. Those that have remained at work are extremely demoralised, can barely afford to look after their families, let alone come to work. Most civil servants have resorted to turning up for work only twice a week. Service delivery has ground to a halt with birth certificates and passports not being accessible.
This crisis which encompasses and transcends political, social and economic dimensions requires the attention and energy of all Zimbabweans irrespective of political persuasion and affiliation. It is critical that Zimbabweans work together to reconstruct and rebuild our country. We need to harness energy from all of our people to work towards saving Zimbabwe as we get our farmers to produce, resuscitate industry, reopen our mines, rescue the judiciary, restore the rule of law, and engage the international community. As part of my contribution, I am embarking on this third series of articles, Zhuwao Transformation Brief (ZTB), which seeks to contribute towards resolving the crisis in Zimbabwe. ZTB will discuss individual-centred approaches that focus on how to effect real and practical national transformations within the context of Zimbabwe’s socio-economic and political realities.
The ZTB is built on two pillars the first of which unpacks how we were all played (kuitiswa) to extents that ordinarily sober minded people contributed to and were persuaded to endorse the November 2017 coup. The second pillar focusses on how to take the lessons of “kuitiswa” to effect real transformations to resolve the Zimbabwean crisis.
The transformation theme draws heavily on lessons from 2014 from which time most Zimbabweans and the world were subjected to massive manipulation by a small group of kleptomaniacs. The ZTB will interrogate how to build personal resilience and strengthen individual livelihood options in ways that have impact at national levels.
It is time to take charge of our personal and national destinies to free ourselves from the shackles of those who wrongly think they have control and authority over us. It must be recognised that there are certain enabling aspects that are important facilitators for personal transformation and development. By way of an example, two thirds of our people who are farmers need to be enabled and facilitated to produce. Such facilitation requires that our farmers be accorded with title deeds in order to unlock the inherent value that exists in the land. #AsanteSana. #IweNeniTineBasa. Umsebenzi lo Umkhulu. Originally published on patrickzhuwao.com
The MDC is seriously concerned by a Chiredzi traditional leader allegations against politicians who are abusing our national army to interfere in a local chieftainship dispute.
According to media reports, Chief Tshovani recently wrote a letter to the army Commander General Valerio Sibanda complaining about the alleged abuse of soldiers by politicians in preparations for a ceremony to instal a new chief.
This is also in spite of the fact that the chieftainship dispute is a matter that is already under the courts.
As a Social Democratic party, we are totally opposed to the interference of national politicians in local governance matters such as chieftainship disputes.
We also reiterate our demand for comprehensive political reforms that will ensure an end to all forms of abuse by politicians of our national army and police.
MDC: (1999 – 2019) Celebrating 20 Years of Tenacity and Courage
Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) board has implicated financial actors with Roads Authorities and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development as complicit in prejudicial behaviour that cost the administration US$71 million in questionable “special projects”.
The administration’s board chairman Engineer Michael Madanha, admitted to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday that “significant processes” were flouted in respect to the special projects.
“Concerning the US$71 million which was the total amount signed for special projects in the past, we are analysing these amounts to assess the level of prejudice.
“The major culprit is the one who passed the interim payment certificate (IPC)to authorise the payments. There is a process to follow. When a contractor does work, these is measurement of those works, which were done. Each category of work has got rates. And at the end of the month, what the contractor did is measured and then pass an IPC, which will then authorise payment from Zinara.”
Zinara is a Government entity established in 2002 whose mandate revolves around collection and distribution of various funds it collects for fixing and maintenance of the country’s roads. To this extent the way Zinara was operating flouted numerous procedures as its role was simply to disburse funds to road authorities.
The “special projects”, which were indicated in Auditor-General Mildred Chiri’s 2016 – 2017 forensic audit on Zinara cost a total of US$71 million.
The board chair said Zinara has now moved away from implementing “special projects” that came through the road authorities and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.
“Special projects are not included in the National Budget, but are road projects we were told to fund by the Ministry of Transport. These projects typically were of high amounts.
“The board did not allow for the engagement of contractors for special projects. What we have done (as the new board) is actually to determine that Zinara will no longer implement (special) projects. We have reverted to our core functions, which do not contemplate implementation on the part of Zinara.
“We will not have this problem again in the future,” said Eng Madanha.- state media
Farai Dziva|The US Embassy has said Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana’s sentiments on Freedom of Expression lack credibility.
See the U.S. Embassy Tweet:
Sorry @nickmangwana
, you picked the wrong example.
The first amendment of the U.S. constitution protects our freedom of speech and expression. Even offensive speech is protected, except in the case of imminent violence.”
Mangwana cited examples from “first class nations” to elaborate how Zimbabwe is abiding by the universally accepted Freedom of Expression provisions.
Farai Dziva|Members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation are tormenting teachers for indicating that the tough economic situation is grossly affecting their work.
This was said by Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe.
Majongwe told a daily publication:
We are advised overzealous DSIs are on the prowl in Chikomba, Chipinge and parts of Matabeleland South, harassing teachers because of incapacitation issues.
We know that several of our leaders have been summons by the President’s Office across the country. A case in point is in Chivhu where several heads were summoned to CIO offices and were instructed to charge teachers.
“Because of this harassment we will be advising the ILO and Education International of the harassment we are going through.
Our demands for a living wage are legitimate and justified. There is nothing political about asking for money for food and rent. The CIO has no business in schools.”
By Own Correspondent| The Minister of Health, Obadiah Moyo has revealed that government is set to acquire 100 new ambulances to service provincial, district and rural health centres.
Moyo said this during Parliament’s question and answer session.
He was responding to MDC Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda who wanted to be appraised of the government’s policy towards upgrading rural health centres.
Said Moyo:
“The issue of ambulances is very critical in all this because we want to be able to move patients from one level to the next where they will be able to get assistance.
I just indicated that we are getting 100 ambulances and we want to see an equitable distribution of these ambulances so that we can be able to take care of the problem.
At the same time, at the lower level, at the rural healthcare centre level, we want to see an integrated rural healthcare centre, which means that it will have all the facilities to be able to assist.”
By A Correspondent| A High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere has relaxed the bail conditions for 6 activists charged with plotting to overthrow a constitutionally elected government.
The six, who were arrested shortly after their arrival from the Maldives where they were attending a training workshop organised by the Center for Non-Violence Action and Strategies (CANVAS) were charged with treason.
The activists however had their bail conditions relaxed by the High Court judge following an application by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
Said the ZLHR in a statement:
High Court judge Justice Erica Ndewere has relaxed bail conditions for 6 human rights defenders George Makoni, Stabile Dewa, Rita Nyampinga, Frank Mpahlo, Gamuchirai Mukura and Tatenda Mombeyarara. The six were charged with subverting a constitutionally elected government. They will now report once a week and not once everyday at a ZRP station.”
High Court Judge Justice Erica Ndewere has relaxed bail conditions for 6 HRDs George Makoni, Stabile Dewa, Rita Nyampinga, Frank Mpahlo, Gamuchirai Mukura&Tatenda Mombeyarara charged with subverting govt to report once a week at #ZRP station instead of reporting once everyday.
By Own Correspondent- The Zanu PF Youth League said that it will soon release a fresh list of corrupt government officials.
Deputy secretary for youth affairs, Lewis Matutu, said that the new list will be made up of corrupt government employees, parastatals, local authorities and the private sector.
He said:
The country cannot be held to ransom by some few corrupt individuals who are benefiting at the expense of majority Zimbabweans.
The Youth League has compiled another list of names of those allegedly engaging in corrupt activities and some names are still coming. The list will be put in different categories.
The first category of party bigwigs will be submitted to the Commission of Inquiry in line with party guidelines.
Category two will be a list of Government employees, parastatals, local authorities and the private sector and that will be announced in public.
Now, you will see a big list of names. We have compiled a big list of names allegedly implicated in corrupt activities.
Matutu’s senior, Pupurai Togarepi said that the fresh list will be a long one and there is a need for people in ZANU PF to self-introspect.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says that a man from Insuza torched a hut where a family of eight were sleeping. The suspect then went out and hanged himself.
Police said in a statement:
In Insuza, on 24/07/19 a family of eight escaped unhurt when the hut they were sleeping in was set on fire by a 33-year-old man.
This follows a misunderstanding between the 33-year-old man with one of the family members who was his girlfriend.
The man was found dead, hanging from a tree branch, the following day.
Members of the public are urged to solve their disputes peacefully and not resort to violence.
In another development, police said that five suspects were arrested for a spate of robberies committed in Kadoma and Sanyati.
Police said in a statement:
Five suspects, Tongai Kaurai (28), Maxwell Mangena, Trust Ndunduma, Prince Chiweshe and Nesbert Mazise were arrested in connection with a spate of robbery cases which they committed in Kadoma and Sanyati.
The quintet was targeting motorists and their passengers in the robbery cases were property (cash, cellphones, metal detector, groceries) worth $10 888-00 was stolen and $4 820-00 was recovered
By A Correspondent- The water levels in Lake Kariba have continued to plummet, raising fears that the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) may be forced to further restrict water available for power generation.
If that were to happen, ZESA will have to intensify load shedding.
As of last month, water levels in Lake Kariba had fallen to 27 per cent. The current situation resulted from one of the worst droughts in living memory, induced by the El Nino phenomenon.
A local publication revealed that a senior official had revealed that water levels have now fallen to only 24 per cent.
Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi confirmed the developments at Lake Kariba.
He said:
“Generally, the power supply will be affected and that means we will have to rely on imports, but we need to increase investment in the power industry as a long term solution.
We also need to conserve power and aggressively invest in the industry to safeguard the future.
Failure to invest in the energy sector over the years has resulted in debilitating power cuts which have grounded industry close to a halt.”
The country’s power utility is also heavily indebted to neighbouring countries, that is, Eskom of South Africa which is owed US$27 million while Hydroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) of Mozambique is owed US$4O million. As a result, Zimbabwe has been unable to import significant amounts of electricity.-DailyNews
File Picture of a Zimbabwean Soldier moving in to disperse crowds of opposition Movement for Democratic Change supporters outside the party’s headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe, August 1, 2018.
NewsDay|A MEMBER of the Zimbabwe National Army Beitbridge 1 Independent Company at dusk on Saturday allegedly fatally shot a worshipper at a prayer site close to their camp in the border town.
Two of the suspected three soldiers clad in camouflage, one of whom opened fire, fled the scene after realising they had killed an unarmed civilian.
The deceased was leading a sermon on a hill with a handful of other prayer warriors when he was shot.
The officer commanding Beitbridge Police District Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo confirmed the incident, but did not give details.
“I left the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) team still making follow ups and have not gotten any feedback as yet,” he said.
The officer commanding 1 Independent Company at Beitbridge Major Ndumiso Ncube did not respond to questions sent to him.
NewsDay understands that the deceased, shot while holding his church walking stick, was with Celeb Angu (26), Trevious Masingake (24), Takawira Maddie (52) Zephania Mangondo (37), Farai Bosvo (39) and two infants aged two and three when they were attacked.
Masingake later informed the police.
The group, led by the now-deceased, parked their Toyota Wish car about 500 metres from the Beitbridge Aerodrome to go uphill to a well-known prayer site for an all-night session.
Just after alighting from their car, the soldiers, all armed with AK-47 rifles and whose camp is 500 metres from the site, approached them.
One of the soldiers, without provocation, aimed his rifle at the worshippers and shot the deceased just below the left armpit.
Other worshippers are said to have fled, save for Sangu, Bosvo and one Steven Chiremba.
The soldiers gave a chase, but failed to catch the worshippers and returned.
They then ordered the remaining three to lie down, telling them that they were under arrest for an unspecified offence.
It was then that the soldiers realised they had killed one of the worshippers and fled the scene, leaving a colleague behind, who kept shouting “Koza come back” to his colleagues.
Sengu and other church members later regrouped and walked to Beitbridge Police Station, where a report under Beitbridge Urban RRB3961509 was made.
Sam Meyiwa, the father of slain Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, has passed away. He was in and out of hospital after suffering a stroke last year.
Over the years Meyiwa complained about police’s failure to solve his son’s murder.
The former Bafana Bafana captain was shot and killed in Vosloorus in 2014.
A suspect was arrested but later released after police failed to link him to the murder.
File Picture of ZANU PF elections primary elections.
Zanu PF Masvimgo provincial elections directorate has approved ten of the twelve applications for the Zaka East constituency primary elections set for this Saturday.
The province this week received 12 applications from aspiring candidates but only 10 were approved with one being said to have been withdrawn at the 11th hour while the other was dismissed after the candidate was reportedly found missing in the Zaka East voters’ roll.
Successful candidates who will battle for honours this Saturday include Clemence Chiduwa, Talent Chivange, Nyasha Gavaza, former Zaka West legislator Vincent Mawere among others.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial spokesperson Ronald Ndava said the successful candidates will start campaigning as a team from Monday and no one is allowed to go it alone.
“This is a primary election where all the candidates will have to move as a group campaigning. They will be telling people what they stand for and no one is allowed to campaign alone. The successful candidate will be the one to represent Zanu PF for the Zaka East parliamentary by-election,” said Ndava.
The Zaka East parliamentary seat fell vacant after the death of Katson Gumbwanda on June 25 this year.
Zaka East has always been a traditional stronghold for Zanu PF.
Jane Mlambo| A young librarian at Mt Selinda High School in Chipinge, Tinashe Kuzuwazuwa has started a campaign to mobilize books for onward donation to cyclone ravaged schools in Chimanimani district.
Kuzuwazuwa who hails from Chipinge town has since put out a call for book donations from well-wishers and will take advantage of the forthcoming International Book Fair to mobilize books for the affected children.
“Asking for your Support at The Zimbabwe International Book Fair – Harare Gardens from 29 July to 03 August 2019 . Our own librarian Tinashe Kuzuwazuwa in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Library Association will be having book bins for donation of books or any reading materials towards schools hit by Cyclone Idai in Chipinge and Chimanimani. Please pass by and drop something or contact her on +263 77 302 3535,” reads part of the call for book donations.
In an interview with ZimEye, Kuzuwazuwa said most school libraries were damaged by cyclone leaving pupils with very few reading material hence the need to also chip in with books.
“Most of the libraries and books were damaged during the cyclone leaving students with very few reading materials,” said Kuzuwazuwa.
She further noted that most donations to Chimanimani and Chipinge were foodstuffs and clothing while no-one paid attention to children’s need for reading material.
“People have been donating other commodities but no-one has donated books yet they are equally essential for the development of children.
“Reading is a therapy… it can give the children hope and inspiration after going through such a traumatising exprience,” added Kuzuwazuwa.
Cyclone Idai which hit Zimbabwe early this year left a trail of destruction at most schools in Chimanimani and parts of Chipinge.
Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare Minister Sekai Nzenza today refuted social media claims that she had gone into hiding and that she was being investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
There were social media reports at the weekend claiming that the minister was bribed by arrested Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira to hold on to a forensic audit report of state pension fund, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), which implicates the Tourism minister.
Mupfumira is currently in police custody after being arrested by ZACC last Thursday for allegedly abusing US$95 million from NSSA.
When asked at a press conference if she had been bribed, Nzenza categorically refuted the claims.
“That did not happen. That is nonsense. I am not dwelling on nonsensical stories. I have a mandate to deliver to the public to ensure that money entrusted to NSSA is managed properly and within best practice. Those are weekend social media stories that people enjoy, share and circulate,” she said.
The minister said she was not holding on to the forensic audit report but was allowing due processes to be completed before she makes the report public.
The report details gross financial irregularities at NSSA, and reportedly implicates a number of senior government and corporate officials.
Mupfumira became the first cabinet minister to be arrested by the recently constituted ZACC.
She appeared at the magistrates courts on Saturday for routine bail hearing but the magistrate ruled that she be detained for 21 days as there were high chances she could try to conceal evidence.
ZACC has vowed to aggressively fight corruption after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has declared a zero tolerance to corruption.
The price of sugar has gone up again, with the latest hike being almost 100 percent with immediate effect.
According to the latest prices from Tongaat Hullett, a 1 kg packet which used to retail for ZWL$5.50 will now be going for $8.61 while a 2kg packet which used to retail for $10.44 will now be going for $17.22
Radical Mthwakazi Cessation proponents operating under the Mthwakazi Republic Party have declared war against MDC National Chairperson Thabitha Khumalo.
In social media statements the grouping warned Khumalo of unspecified action after a video circulating on social media with Khumalo calling on the people of Matabeleland to change the constitution if they do not want to be led by Shona speaking people in Bulawayo.
The group published the following statement against khumalo:
Thabitha Khumalo statement on Saturday that Matabeles must first change the constitution of the country and the Urban Councils Act if they want to fight Shona hegemony in Bulawayo is drunk talk.
This smacks of a person whose body and head are totally covered in a blanket of ignorance, an MP who is out of touch with revolutionary political events happening in Matabeleland particularly in Bulawayo.
As far as this revolution is concerned the constitution of Zimbabwe is declared null and void in Matabeleland. In the prosecution of Matabeleland struggle, we are not going to observe the constitution of the oppressor which is clearly one of his pivotal tools which he uses to suppress our efforts. We shall bulldoze. That piece of paper called the Zimbabwe constitution may look precious to Thabitha but to us it is just like toilet paper, not binding and meaningless.
We cannot be held to ransom because of Ndebele- Shona inter marriages that have been happening since time immemorial. Matabeles have freedom to have sexual relationships with any foreigners, shonas included. However, such sexual relationships must not be used and abused by any foreigner, shonas included, to dominate and oppress Matabeles.
Thabitha Khumalo’ s long inter- marriage lectures are not acceptable in Matabeleland because we know that bush better than her. We advise that she gives those lectures to Shona people who clearly do not have an idea how marriages work. It seems they do not marry Matabeles for love but for the purpose of politically dominating and abusing them.
Thabitha Khumalo and Welshmen should be seen challenging the MDC Alliance tribal tendency that has become it’s culture that the Presidency and all other high positions in the party are a reserve for people of Shona origin, challenge the MDC tribal tendency which has become its culture in the city of Harare and all other cities in Mashonaland that all councillors and mayors should be Shona.
By the way, please tell the world why Thokozani Khupe who was an elected Vice President of MDC T left Mashonaland in a huff last year when Shona youth wanted to burn her inside a thatched hut. Did they not tell her point blank that a Ndebele from Matabeleland cannot be the president of MDC? Why must we allow Shonas to lead us in Matabeleland and our cities whereas we are not allowed leadership positions in Mashonaland let alone in the country?
This shows that Thabitha Khumalo and Welshman Ncube have become political careerists who stand for the Shona supremacist system in Matabeleland and not the people of Matabeleland. They are now a big threat to the survival of Matabele nation.
The battle lines have been drawn. It is only a fool who cannot see that. People of Matabeleland have been pushed too far and cannot take it anymore. Enough is enough!
Who knows what will happen when those angry young men that were carrying knobkerries and axes are given machine guns? It will be foolish to think that they are interested in listening to misplaced marriage lectures by Thabitha or anyone else. It will be equally foolish to think that they are joking or playing games.
Last but not least we warn Matabeles against pinning their hopes on Zanupf to solve disputes between them and MDC Alliance or any other Shona political project. Its like an impala calling a lion to save it when it is being attacked by a hyena. The lion will see easy food.
In the land of Matabele, MDC Alliance and Zanupf are unwanted political predators that must be removed as soon as yesterday. The restoration of Matabeleland statehood is the solution here. It is only Matabeles that will solve their own problems in Matabeleland not Zanupf, not MDC A.
This offensive political posturing by Thabitha Khumalo and Welshman Ncube to publicly promote and protect Shona supremacism at all costs in Matabeleland is evidence enough that MDC Alliance and Zanupf are joined at the hip like siamese twins. They share the same agenda in Matabeleland, this is, to invade, tribally dominate, discriminate and finally destroy Matabele nation.
Thabitha Khumalo and Welshman Ncube should be warned that the bubbles that they see on the water surface mean that there is serious agitation under water. Do not underestimate the anger of the people of Matabeleland.
We say Shonalisation of Matabeleland ends here, enough is enough! We will free ourselves through whatever means possible. If it means taking up Aks to shoot our way to independence, we shall do that without hesitation.
With our AKs and necklaces we shall liberate ourselves!
President Emmerson Mnangagwa chairs his inaugural cabinet meeting as Head of State and Government while flanked Ministers Sithembiso Nyoni, Obert Mpofu, Simon Khaya Moyo and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda (far right) at Munhumutapa offices in Harare.
Business Times|Zimbabwe’s thermal power stations may soon fail to feed onto the national electricity grid after coal suppliers warned their stockpile lasts for 12 days, plunging the country into colossal power crisis as miners struggle to access diesel to mine the fossil fuel, Business Times heard this week.
The economy is on its knees due to rolling power cuts that can last for 20 years, erratic fuel supplies, runaway inflation and a weakening domestic currency which threatens to drag the economy to the pre-dollarisation era.
Business Times established that the country’s largest coal producers have less than a month’s supply of coal as they are struggling to access the diesel required to run their machines. Despite increasing the fuel price twice this week, supplies remain erratic across the country with long winding queues becoming the order of the day.
Zimbabwe has four coal producers; Makomo Resources, Hwange Colliery Company, Zambezi Gas and Garlpex but only the first three contribute significantly to output.
Makomo Resources director Raymond Mutokonyi told this paper that the situation has reached alarming levels and will soon affect electricity generation. Makomo is the largest coal producer in the country.
“Due to crippling fuel shortages we are now forced to operate four times a week. Most of our machines including excavators require diesel to function. If we have a situation whereby the liquid commodity is in short supply, we cannot continue with operations,” Mutokonyi said.
“All combined coal miners are left with coal stockpile of around 12 days making it difficult to produce more electricity in the coming weeks. If the diesel situation persists we are rushing to stage four of load-shedding,” said Mutokonyi.
He said fuel shortages have seen our production levels going down by 50 percent on quarterly levels. Mutokonyi said the sector is doomed if the central bank does not react swiftly to the urgent situation.
Four out of the country’s five power stations are thermal powered.
These are Hwange, Munyati, Bulawayo and Harare and contributed more than half of the 915 MW that was generated yesterday. The country’s largest thermal power station, Hwange, sources its coal from, Makomo, Hwange Colliery and Zambezi Gas.
Zimbabwe’s sole hydro power station, Kariba, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year commissioned two units of 150MW each generated 408MW yesterday against the installed capacity of 1050MW due to low water levels.
Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Station has been supplying the cheapest electricity in the country at a cost of ZWL$0,02 per kilowatt hour (kWh). Thermal power stations Hwange, Bulawayo, Munyati and Harare, produce electricity at a cost of between ZWL$0,08 and ZWL$0,16 per kWh.
Zimbabwe has a daily peak demand of 1500MW but is currently generating less than 1000MW from its five power stations. In the past, Zimbabwe turned to regional power utilities to plug to offset electricity demands. However, failure to settle debts has seen regional power utilities switching off the Southern African nation. ZESA owes about US$75m to regional power utilities.
So dire is the power crisis that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been forced to set up an inter-ministerial committee amid revelations Energy and Power minister Fortune Chasi is failing to avert the energy crisis, barely three months after taking over the Energy portfolio. This development also comes at a time when the country’s largest labour union is threatening to organise general strikes in protest of the rising cost of living. Zimbabwe’s annual inflation raced to 175.66 percent in June, the highest in 10 years.
The committee which is chaired by Chasi comprises of seven key ministers. These are Mthuli Ncube (Finance and Economic Development), Nqobizita Mangaliso Ndlovu (Industry and Commerce), Prisca Mupfumira (Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry), Perrance Shiri (Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement), Winston Chitando (Mines and Mining Development), Kazembe Kazembe (Information and Communications Technology) and Monica Mutsvangwa (Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services). Chasi is currently in South Africa where is expected to negotiate a payment arrangement with the country’s power utility Eskom.
The panic move by Cabinet was disclosed by Mutsvangwa yesterday.
“Cabinet met yesterday (Tuesday and resolved to set up an inter-ministerial Committee to work closely with the Minister of Energy and Power Development in order to facilitate a collective approach in the resolution of the prevailing energy and power supply challenges in the country. It is critical at this point that we putour heads together and this this is why Cabinet resolved to come up with an inter-ministerial Committee,” Mutsvangwa said.
Over the weekend, business almost came to a grinding halt when the country’s largest mobile money platform, EcoCash, went offline due to a technical glitch that was caused by power cuts. EcoCash has helped to increase financial inclusion and is the preferred payment in the wake of the prevailing cash shortages.
Central bank statistics obtained last night show that diesel consumption has shot to the current 3,6 million litres a day from 3 million litres in March as companies turn to diesel-powered generators as an alternative source of energy.
Other than low capacity levels, the power stations are beset by ageing equipment with machinery at the thermal power stations having exceeded its lifespan.
Experts say the power crisis throws Zimbabwe’s plans to attract foreign investors under the banner Zimbabwe is open for business, off track. According to the African Development Bank, Zimbabwe needs US$34 billion to upgrade its key infrastructure which includes energy, transport, ICT and water and sanitation.
“I’ve not been arrested, in fact, I’ve never spoken to anyone from ZACC in my life and they haven’t told me they’re arresting me.
If they’re on their way to arrest me, then I’m waiting for them. I’ve never stolen from anyone and suggestions that I’m corrupt are nonsense; it’s rubbish.
Some desperate people are trying to implicate me in these silly things. I’ve nothing to hide from anyone. I’m concentrating on my life and right now I’m in my office doing party work. All those who believe that I stole from anyone please bring the evidence.
File Picture of Robert Mugabe junior with his father
THERE are fears for the health of former President Robert Mugabe after stark pictures emerged on social media showing the ex-dictator looking weak and frail alongside his favourite son.
Mugabe, 95, who had always dressed impeccably during his 37 years in power as first Prime Minister then President seems to have swapped his sharp suits for tracksuits.
Son Robert Junior is believed to have posted these three photographs of his dad – two of him seated in June and one last Friday in a wheelchair – on his social media accounts.
They have been circulating on Twitter and Instagram and have been published in Zimbabwe and other African countries.
The former hardman who ruled what used to be Rhodesia with a rod of iron from 1980 until he was toppled in a coup in 2017 has been receiving regular hospital care in Singapore.
In the photo of Mugabe in the wheelchair he looks slumped and shrivelled and is sporting a white beard and is wearing a black Adidas tracksuit with matching Adidas trainers.
Son Robert Junior, 27, who plays basketball for Zimbabwe is also wearing a black Adidas t-shirt in the photograph that is thought to have been taken recently while in Singapore.
Photographs he is said to have posted in June show Robert Junior sitting with his father also kitted out in his favourite tracksuit and his second wife Grace who he married in 1996.
Mugabe health fears: Former Zimbabwe dictator looks frail in pictures released by his son.
It is not clear if they were taken in Singapore where he receives medical care or at his lavish mansion in Harare.
A relative was quoted by a Zimbabwe newspaper saying: “Of all Mugabe’s children he is the one who has spent the most time with him.
“He has been a rock to the former president”.
Robert Junior has been taping his father’s memoirs since he was deposed in a coup in 2017 by his long term protégé Emmerson Mnangagwa who is now president.
Mugabe’s health is in question after President Mnangagwa said the ex-leader could no longer walkMugabe health fears: Concern for the Zimbabwean has been sparked following the release of new images.
Mr Mugabe’s last major public appearance was at a press conference in July 2018 on the eve of Zimbabwe’s election in which he vowed he would not vote for the man who ousted him.
However his relationship with President Mnangagwa – known as The Crocodile – has thawed since then and when he won the election Mr Mugabe sent his congratulations.
At a rally at Mugabe’s rural home in November, Mnangagwa said Mugabe was no longer able to walk and was being treated at a hospital in Singapore and was not well.
He said:”He can no longer walk but we will take care of him”.
Following the outage of its service over a week ago, Econet is asking it’s customers to stick with it in the harsh times.
Econet highlighted the sharp increase in the cost of operations due to a disproportionate increase in fuel cost (fuel to power it’s sites) as the primary reason why things are not as smooth as they used to be.
Furthermore, despite the sharp increase in fuel price, Econet still can’t get enough supply of it for it’s 1300 base stations which are being overworked as it is.
As for powering it’s sites with solar power only, Econet says they need $60 million to make that possible. In a full page ad in most media houses, Econet said:
Positives realised by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration following the removal of his predecessor Robert Mugabe have been overshadowed by failure to respect human rights and define the role of the military in governance.
This has been said by the International Republican Institute (IRI)/ National Democratic Institute (NDI) joint observer mission to Zimbabwe’s elections last year.
In its latest report, the Washington based mission, through US Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, called on Mnangagwa to implement political reforms in order to move the country forward.
“The delegation heard reports of low levels of trust in government institutions due to insufficient public outreach and systematic intimidation of opposition and civil society activists, mismanagement of public funds and poor governance marked by inflation, currency instability and shortages of fuel, food and medicines were also issues that were brought to the attention of the delegation.
“These serious issues overshadowed many of the positive actions taken by the government since the 2018 harmonised elections,” said Carson.
“The delegation strongly urges the government to continue to advance security and legal reforms that guarantee citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly.”
According to Carson, positives noted include steps to enact a comprehensive legislative agenda by the Justice Ministry, Parliament, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Information Ministry.
Mnangagwa has taken steps to repeal the much vilified Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Public Order and Security Act although critics argue government had done no more than change the names of these laws.
Mnangagwa’s administration is struggling to shrug off a pariah State tag left by predecessor Mugabe who ran the country to the ground over three decades characterised by a weak economy and disregard for basic human rights.
Earlier, NDI Regional director for southern and east Africa Dickson Omondi raised concerns over the sustained involvement of the army in civilian matters such as protests.
“The delegation heard multiple concerns about the role of the military in putting down public demonstrations and its expanding influence in government operations.
“Citizen groups expressed deep concern about the violence that transpired on January 14 in which the security forces reportedly used excessive force to break up demonstrations by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU),” said Omondi.
Omondi questioned government’s sincerity to investigate the perpetrators of the deadly violence in August last year and the implementation of the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry.
“Though the Motlanthe Commission was a positive step, the failure of the government to take any public or visible action towards the perpetrators of the August 1 shootings reinforces a culture of impunity and overshadows any progress that has been made so far,” he said.
In the aftermath of the killing of six people by the military after protests broke out over delays in announcement of election results, Mnangagwa set up a commission of inquiry headed by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to investigate circumstances around the incident.
Motlanthe recommended, among other things dialogue, compensation for victims of the army shootings and criminal charges against perpetrators.
Unconfirmed reports have claimed that one of the robbers who attacked and stole from women in a car in Ballantyne Park on Saturday, have been arrested by the ZRP Criminal Investigations Department’s Theft from Car (TFC) section.
Farai Dziva|The Mwenezi community has been stunned by an incident in which a 24-year-old man sneaked into his sister’s blankets and fondled her private parts.
The incident happened in Nkomati Village under Chief Chitanga in Mwenezi on June 18, 2019.
Felix Zhou(24) bolted out of the room when his sister lit a candle and noticed that her brother was trying to undress her.
Zhou claimed he was feeling cold .
The matter was heard by Mwenezi Resident Magistrate Honesty Musiiwa who convicted Zhou of indecent assault.
He was sentenced to six months in jail although he was given the option of performing community service.
By A Correspondent| The woman could not take her husband’s cheating and decided to take her life and that of her baby.
Details of her identity and how and where she killed herself and the baby were still sketchy by the time of writing but sources privy to the developments said the woman committed suicide over her cheating husband.
Citizens however took to social media to express their shock at the death of the young woman and her minor.
We publish below some of the comments on social media.
I wish everyone who is bashing and judging her would know how depression really affects people. Veduwe depression is very real if not noticed and dealt with these are some of the consequences. May their souls rest in peace.
Tendai Zenda: She had no right to take the child’s life. She is just a vindictive person. The man is a bad person. He obviously was not paying attention to his family. May he be haunted by the little soul that he wasted by complicity.
Plaxedes: Cute baby kuenda asina chaatadza dai akangozvifuudza wega. Mweya wemadzinza unoteera. May their soul rest in peace.
Tendai Salo: Very sad ….women ..its time we take men as bonus..if they cheat on you..and we put all the love to our kids…R.I.P…Little Angel
This is a developing story. More details to follow.
Farai Dziva|Members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation are tormenting teachers for indicating that the tough economic situation is grossly affecting their work.
This was said by Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe.
Majongwe told a daily publication:
We are advised overzealous DSIs are on the prowl in Chikomba, Chipinge and parts of Matabeleland South, harassing teachers because of incapacitation issues.
We know that several of our leaders have been summons by the President’s Office across the country. A case in point is in Chivhu where several heads were summoned to CIO offices and were instructed to charge teachers.
“Because of this harassment we will be advising the ILO and Education International of the harassment we are going through.
Our demands for a living wage are legitimate and justified. There is nothing political about asking for money for food and rent. The CIO has no business in schools.”
JUSTICE, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi says a report towards implementation of political and electoral reforms will soon be presented to President Mnangagwa and Cabinet for approval.
Government has since established an inter-ministerial taskforce on political and electoral reforms chaired by Minister Ziyambi.
Speaking during a seminar on political and electoral reforms in Kadoma at the weekend, the Minister said Government was committed to implementing political and electoral reforms to enhance democracy.
“I have a team of senior officials (inter-ministerial committee) to look into it (electoral reforms) and come up with important issues arising from elections and this is the work that we are doing which is work in progress.
“At this stage it would be very premature for me to start giving a road map before I even present what we have done so far to the President, then subsequently to Cabinet for approval soon,” he said.
Ziyambi said while Government was eager to carry out political and electoral reforms in the shortest possible time, this cannot be done within two months as has been called for by the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda.
This is because the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs also needs to be accorded an opportunity to produce critical recommendations to be fed into a report that will be presented to President Mnangagwa.
“I understand, Honourable Speaker is saying let’s do it fast within the next two months but we also want the committee to produce a report so that we can have it and see the issues outstanding that are not within our matrix and then we also present and follow the necessary channels.
“But also out of the respect of the work that has been happening, I have said let’s hold on and hear what the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee is doing; we get some of the critical recommendations that come out of that and feed into the report that we will present to His Excellency and subsequently then we come up with a matrix on how to implement going forward,” said Ziyambi.
The Government hopes to amend the Electoral Act by mid next year in sync with recommendations made by observer missions during last year’s harmonised elections.
The electoral reforms are part of the Government’s efforts in transforming the political and economic environments, as it seeks to entrench democratic values and freedoms in line with Vision 2030 of achieving an upper middle income economy.
They are also in line with the Second Republic’s pledge to incorporate views of other players into different laws that affect society and open up the democratic space to enhance good governance.
Ziyambi said the two-day seminar, which ended yesterday was important as it allows the inter-ministerial taskforce to gather relevant information pertaining to the political and electoral reforms.
He said as Government was working towards implementing electoral reforms, it has been acknowledged that there were other issues that could not wait to be tackled.
“A case in point is the Public Order and Security Act (Posa). We agreed that let’s proceed while we are doing the work that we are doing. We are also moving fast to unbundle AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act), Professor (Tafataona) Mahoso is working tirelessly so that we come up with three bills (Freedom of information; Data protection; and Protection of personal information),” he said.
“So we are unbundling, we are freeing up the space, we have the maintenance of peace which is very contentious and some are telling us that the right to demonstrate is very absolute don’t touch a demonstrator; the police must never be involved.”
Ziyambi said recently 10 ambassadors from the most powerful nations came to his office and said police should not be involved in demonstrations.
“I reminded them that in England, if you are in London if you want to demonstrate, you go to the mayor to seek clearance and the mayor of London has got police with arresting powers,” he said.
Farai Dziva|The US Embassy has said Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana’s sentiments on Freedom of Expression lack credibility.
See the U.S. Embassy Tweet:
Sorry @nickmangwana
, you picked the wrong example.
The first amendment of the U.S. constitution protects our freedom of speech and expression. Even offensive speech is protected, except in the case of imminent violence.”
Mangwana cited examples from “first class nations” to elaborate how Zimbabwe is abiding by the universally accepted Freedom of Expression provisions.
By Farai D Hove| Floating rumours that ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu has been arrested, were dismissed Monday afternoon when the accused himself spoke out.
A ZANU PF Twitter account notorious for rumour mongering had published the claims. They follow allegations that Mpofu has been involved in diamond and gold related corruption activities from the times he was Mines Minister during the Robert Mugabe days.
It was claimed he has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission.
Mpofu has before appeared on mines committee meetings under the same allegations.
But the politburo member told ZimEye, “I am here as you can see.
“Obviously some desperate people are trying to implicate me in these silly things. I have nothing to hide from anyone.
“I’m concentrating on my life and right now I’m in my office doing party work. All those who believe that I stole from anyone please bring the evidence.”
Meanwhile, a ZANU PF Twitter account previously known for giving accurate party updates announced saying:
“Social media has been abuzz that ZANU PF Sec for Admin Dr Obert Moses Mpofu has been picked up for questioning by ZACC, we can, at this time, confirm that the message is FAKE NEWS Dr OM Mpofu has not been arrested as alleged by those who started the social media story.” ZANU PF Patriots said.
It added that Dr Mpofu is currently in Lupane on party business.
“The Admin Secretary is actually ceased with campaigning for the ZANU PF candidate in the upcoming Lupane East by-election. ZANU PF PATRIOTS thrives to give you correct information in real time every time.”
Farai Dziva|Cameroonian legend and former Inter Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o believes Real Madrid star Eden Hazard is very close to the level of Argentine superstar Leo Messi.
Eto’o, who played with both Messi and Hazard at Barcelona and Chelsea respectively, heaped praise on the Belgian, whom he also thinks can win the Balon do’r at Real Madrid.
“Hazard has to win the Ballon d’Or,” Eto’o said according to Goal.
“He hasn’t been valued enough but now he’s at one of the best teams in the world all eyes will be on him.
“He’s close to Messi’s level and I hope that he plays Barcelona when he’s not at 100 percent.” added Eto’o.
Dear Customer
Further to our earlier communication, we regret to inform you that the Kwese Play service will no longer be available in Zimbabwe. Econet Media sincerely apologises for this unexpected turn of events and the inconvenience caused.
In recognition of your unwavering support, Econet Media is offering you airtime equivalent to the purchase value of the Kwese Play Roku device you acquired.
You are free to use the airtime for all your voice or data transactions. The airtime shall be valid for thirty (30) days from the date of credit.
To facilitate the credit process, by return email, please supply your purchase receipt number or the serial number of the Kwese play Roku device and the mobile number to be credited with the airtime.
Upon successful verification, we will credit your airtime within 24 hours. Please note the offer for airtime is valid until 15 August 2019.
Should you choose not to keep the obsolete Kwese Play device, please return the device to the nearest Econet Wireless shop for safe disposal.
Farai Dziva| Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is set to join Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning, according to Spanish media reports.
The Welshman, whose future at Los Blancos has been shrouded in uncertainty amid reports that he is not in coach Zidane Zidane’s plans, is reportedly on the verge of a move to China.
Last week, Zidane suggested that he hoped that Bale moves on quicky as it would be “best for everyone” and according to Spanish publication Marca, a move to China is imminent.
The publication further reports that the deal will be a 3-year one which will see the Welshman earning €22 million per season.
Farai Dziva|CAPS United stumbled at home against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The Green Machine lost 2-1 in a match played at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The Green Machine had a slow start to the game and played second fiddle for the larger part of the first half.
Ngezi delivered a great performance on their side and could have secured a lead as early as in the 7th minute, but Polite Moyo’s header hit the crossbar.
The visitors continued to experience a spell of dominance, and they finally broke the deadlock on minute 22 when Donald Tegeru scored from a close range.
CAPS United’s right flank proved to be the most vulnerable and coach Lloyd Chitembwe was forced to make a tactical change a just after the half-hour when Valentine Musarurwa replaced Carlos Rusere.
The change, however, didn’t bring any effect as Ngezi netted their second goal from that channel through Tichaona Mabvura on the 42nd minute.
Makepekepe pulled one back on the stroke of half-time courtesy of Hardlife Zvirekwi’s grounder.
The goal seemed to have given the hosts some momentum on the middle park, but they were frustrated upfront and never made any threatening raids until the last minutes of the game.
Substitute Kelvin Ndebele was denied by the cross-bar while Method Mwanjali’s shot was saved by Nelson Chadya.
Dominic Chungwa also had an opportunity earlier on, but his effort was superbly denied by the keeper.
The match ended 2-1 in favour of the visiting Ngezi Platinum team.
DEFENCE MINISTER OPPAH MUCHINGURI MUST WITHDRAW HER HARSH AND IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENT OF TURNING ZIMBABWE INTO A WAR THEATRE , A SECURITY THREAT TO THE ENTIRE SADC REGION.
There is no hope for Zimbabwe until the UN and AU helps us to break the unholy alliance between the corrupt ruling party Zanu PF and the military that protects them.
Or else the people’s revolution will be the best because UN and AU will swiftly intervene by deploying UN and AU Peace-Keepers with a special mandate to protect the civilian population and that move alone will force those who are making threats today to immediately go into exile.
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri’s harsh and irresponsible statement is a very clear security threat to the entire SADC region.
PPPZ leader Timothy Chiguvare is very bitter about the harsh and irresponsible statement of Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri and in his response he said: “the Defence Minister’s threats are a clear sign of desperation from an incompetent administration that has failed the people of Zimbabwe .”
When revolutions are won by those driven by selfish ambition and greed , the oppressor merely changes faces. What Zimbabweans are seeing today is that the democratically elected government of President Robert Mugabe has been replaced by a military government that does not allow protests.
Farai Dziva|An opposition MP has hinted that Emmerson Mnangagwa “can be impeached.”
Addressing a rally in Epworth Constituency, MP Ethrage Kureva said:
“Among the processes we will be using to oust Mnangagwa out of office for his failure to deal with economic problems, which have seen the country go 18 hours without electricity daily, is impeachment and we are working with those in Zanu PF to ensure it’s successful.”
“The impeachment strategy is also on the table and Zanu PF legislators are willing to come on board.
They are also unhappy with the government and sad economic state of affairs.
So as the MDC, we are looking to use the factions in the party to bring pressure on his doorstep,” an MDC official told NewsdayNewsDay.
Farai Dziva|They say when two elephants fight, the grass suffers…
Professor Jonathan Moyo has replied to comments made by Professor Lovemore Madhuku on his stance on the arrest of Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira.
Moyo argued that Mupfumira should be granted bail but Professor Lovemore Madhuku told ZimEye.com the former got his facts wrong.
See part Moyo’s response below :
What, in terms of the new Constitution, are the exceptional cases that may necessitate the continued detention of an accused person? Those are the cases where the State manages to show, manages to prove beyond reasonable doubt that an accused person is not entitled to bail!
So, upon the arraignment of an accused person, that person must be admitted to bail, with or without conditions. This does not overlook that the Constitution anticipates that there may be exceptional cases, which may necessitate the continued detention of an accused person!
The accused person simply has to stand up in court & indicate their desire to be admitted to bail. It is for the State to either consent or oppose bail. The State must place before the court the exceptional reasons that justify the continued detention of the accused person!
The right of an accused person to be released with or without conditions sets in upon their arraignment before a court. They must be released. That’s why, in terms of the procedure brought by the new 2013 Constitution, an accused person has no obligation to apply for bail!
Any law inconsistent with the new Constitution is automatically invalid, and invalid from the commencement of the Constitution in 2013. A person who has been arrested & who appears in court for the first time is entitled to their immediate release with or without conditions!
Farai Dziva| Controversial Former MDC-T spokesperson Linda Masarira’s son was last week sentenced for stealing his mother’s mobile.
Kuzivakwashe Muhlanga was convicted of theft last week.
“On July 3 Masarira and her husband left home for a road test for 30 minutes and came back home but did not see Muhlanga at home and her cellphone together with its accessories was missing.
Masarira then reported the case to Malborough Police station, leading to the arrest of Muhlanga.
The Police took Muhlanga to Masarira’s house where the cell phone, valued at $650, charger and earphones were recovered in his room,”the court was told.
Farai Dziva| A Parliamentarian has said Zimbabweans should not accept the proposed Marriage Bill.
The MP described the bill as a “marriage destroyer.”
Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa said: “This Bill is a marriage destroyer. It should not be allowed to be debated or go through this House before thorough public consultations.”
“What is this hurry for? Zimbabweans have the right to debate more on this Bill than rushing it as the Minister is proposing now.”
However, Mushoriwa was asked to withdraw the “marriage destroyer” part by the Speaker.
Dear Father
In the name of and through the son Lord Jesus Christ,
Thy Kingdom come and your will be done in Zimbabwe as it is in Heaven.
May your will be done on the soil of Zimbabwe,
May Your will be done in the halls and chambers of parliament,
May Your will be done in the halls of justice and courts,including the prisons,
May Your will be done in our homes,
May Your will be done in the cabinet room and all offices of government,
May Your will be done in the Chambers of all the local authorities, urban and rural,
May Your will be done in the house of prayer, the church.
Lord, we are sinful and have purposed to keep your word out of our politics, policies, schools, colleges and universities.
We have endeavored to take the Bible and Ten Commandments out of the hearts and minds of our young ones.
We have departed from your presence in our churches.
We have taken out genuine praise and worship to you from our assemblies of worship to replace it with fleshly deification of fellow mortals and self edification.
We have replaced your true word with the word of the world that tickles our ears and gladdens our flesh.
We fear the mortals and human monsters more than we fear you, the author and government of the universe.
We trust in armies and riot police more than we trust your angels.
We trust in guns and bullets than we trust in prayer and fasting.
Appreciating the sacrifices of our forebears, We however now honour and believe in the blood of departed fellow human beings more than we honour and believe in the blood of your son Jesus Christ, the messiah and messenger of the new covenant.
We have killed and shed blood of the innocent, peace-loving and guiltless.
We have oppressed the orphans, the widows, the weak and the vulnerable.
We have placed faith in man made education, schools and teachers ahead of the teacher of teachers, the Holy Spirit.
We have placed hope in manmade hospitals and clinics ahead of the hospital of hospitals, the Church.
We trust doctors and nurses more than we trust the genuinely sent true priests and true prophets.
We count on and depend on pills and medicine more than we depend on prayer and The Holy Spirit.
We have erected shrines and altars to worship idols and the dead.
We have offended you through our flag, currency and other national symbols.
We forget that you Lord says believe in Your God to be established and we believe your prophets in order to prosper
Hear us, Oh Jehovah
Forgive our manifold sins, ubiquitous iniquities and multiple transgressions.
Accept our confession, contrition and penitence.
Forgive us and our sin Oh Lord and heal our land,
Restore your glory and authority,
Restore the Holy Spirit and your power,
Restore our faith and worship.
May you Restore your WILL in this land,
May you Restore our nation,
May you Restore our economy,
May you Restore our strong society,
May you Restore our families,
May you Restore our peace, our love and our hope and with it our faith,
May you Restore our unity,
May you Restore all citizens and citizenship,
May you Restore our infrastructure,
May you Restore our boom and prosperity,
May you Restore the love of our leaders,
May you Restore good governance
May we be the template of the world in leadership, multiracialism, peace, unity in diversity and love.
May our leaders lead in righteousness, humility and the grace of your love under your divine guidance and counsel.
May all our leaders be filled with the spirit of wisdom, truth, knowledge, understanding and revelation.
Teach us your paths,
Show us your ways,
Lead us in your truth,
That we may dedicate time to you in worship, fasting and praise,
Annually, we shall come before you at the beginning and at the end of the year
There shall be thanksgiving to you, Our Lord God.
This Zimbabwe shall be the blessed land of the free, peace-loving, Happy, prosperous and corruption-free.
We are a nation of warriors but you are the MIGHTY WARRIOR.
Lord, we are called by your name,
We are your people called by your name
You are Our God,
You are our Creator Author and Owner.
Bless us Father Jehovah,for blessed is a nation whose God is the Lord.
Glory Be to God the Almighty,
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
By A Correspondent| A 28-year-old pastor has been arrested for the murder of one of his followers allegedly committed in April despite police not being able to locate the body.
Pastor Henny Chabalala of the Liberty PHD Ministries in Siyandhani village in Giyani, Limpopo, was arrested on Thursday for the murder of his friend and neighbour Godfrey Pulasi.
He appeared in the Modimolle magistrate’s court on a charge of motor vehicle theft.
Pulasi, 31, was last seen alive on April 5 when he, Chabalala and two other friends left the village for Maputo in Mozambique to perform rituals for the church, police said.
Col Moatshe Ngoepe said Pulasi’s remains were still missing but the man of the cloth is now facing a murder charge.
“The preliminary police investigations have revealed that the suspect was also in possession of the victim’s cellphone and used it on several occasions.
“Even though the victim has not yet been found, the police have charged the suspect with murder, while the search operation for Pulasi and investigations as to what led to his disappearance are still ongoing,” Ngoepe said.
“It is alleged that on April 5, the suspect and his two friends, joined by the victim, took a journey to Maputo on foot, apparently with the purpose of performing rituals for his church.
“Along the way, the suspect and the deceased got exhausted and decided to return home. Meanwhile, their two companions continued with the journey. The following day, on the 6th, the pastor was arrested at Kruger National Park for trespassing and was detained at Saselamani police station,” Ngoepe said.
He said Chabalala was found in possession of Pulasi’s identity document. Pulasi’s mother refused to speak to Sowetan in detail but said she was still in pain and always cries when talking about her son’s disappearance.
Chabalala’s enraged father, who only identified himself by their surname, vehemently denied that his son had murdered Pulasi.
“You came here to do what? Because my son’s arrest does not concern you. I know the truth, now my son is being arrested in Modimolle. Do you want to pay his bail?” he shouted angrily when Sowetan questioned him on the matter.
He also demanded to know why Sowetan went to Pulasi’s family.
“I saw you going to that family. What were you doing there? If you continue with what you are doing, I will join my son in the police cells. Police will arrest me after I have done something bad to you. Leave my house. My son is innocent,” he said.
According to a resident who asked not to be named, Pulasi and Chabalala were close friends.
Ngoepe said in the trespassing case, Chabalala had paid a R5,000 fine. He is due back in court on August 28 on the theft of a motor vehicle charge.
By Victor Bhoroma| The introduction of the foreign exchange interbank market by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) in February 2019 was a major milestone towards free market economics. Even though there are fears of government manipulation, the foreign exchange market provides the basis upon which currencies can be valued or traded freely by all market players instead of it being an unsubstantiated proclamation as was the case with the Bond Notes to US Dollar rate of 1:1. Zimbabwe has traditionally been an overregulated or command economy with the government playing overstretching roles in key economic sectors such as energy and petroleum, agriculture, mining, banking, media and broadcasting, telecoms, health and transport services among others. It did not matter whether the roles were conflicting or not; from legislation, regulating, business ownership (competitor/supplier), consuming, financing and tax collecting at the same time or in the same industry.
Typical cases of excessive
regulation can be observed on how Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA),
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ)
and Grain Marketing Board (GMB) play conflicting roles in their respective
sectors. The services offered by these organizations speak volumes about the
demerits of command policies to the economy. The conflicting roles have
nurtured inefficiency in resource allocation thus creating market shortages,
limited innovation and growth, high levels of unemployment, corruption and limited
private sector investment to the detriment of economic development.
A free market
economy is a system based on supply and demand with minimal or no government
controls. Supply includes goods and services, natural resources, capital and
labour. Demand includes purchases by consumers, businesses and the government. Free
market economics compel corporates to grow and innovate so as to satisfy demand
with a clear motive of attaining economies of scale and profit maximization. A key feature of a
free market is the absence of forced transactions or conditions such as price
controls, property seizures, government threats and dictatorial economic
policies. In essence, production and consumption of
goods and services is voluntary. Individuals are free to acquire, consume or
produce as much as their own needs require. While there are no pure free market
economies in the world (even in first world countries) with most countries
practicing different levels of mixed economics. However, the degree of freedom
in the economy relates positively to growth in private sector investment and
economic prosperity.
A classic
example of how free market policies develop the economy can be found in the
unbundling of an inefficient Postal and Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) in
the year 2000 to form NetOne (mobile telecoms), TelOne (fixed telecoms) and Zimpost
(postal services). The sector was liberalized soon after, resulting in the
licensing of Telecel, Econet, Africom and TeleAccess. A host of other private
sector investors also got operating licenses for Optic-Fibre installations,
internet service provision, mobile financial and technology services. Today
telecommunications in Zimbabwe is a highly competitive, multi-billion dollar
sector which contributes close to 10% of Zimbabwe’s GDP and is highly
integrated with financial services. The sector has churned out innovations in mobile
payments, internet and data services which have improved financial inclusion even
in the remotest parts of the country and creating jobs thereby lifting thousands
out of poverty. Zimbabwe’s payments ecosystem is one of the most digitalized in
Africa, with over 95% of national payments being done through electronic means.
The
telecommunications sector is still regulated to ensure that the consumers are
protected and to prevent unfair business practices but there is no question
about efficiency in the industry. The ongoing efforts to privatize selected
players in the sector will go a long way in unlocking private sector investment
and inducing competition. Free market policies could have happened to
electricity generation, broadcasting services, railway transportation, aviation
and grain marketing thereby unlocking multiplier effects to the whole economy in
terms of enterprise growth, direct and indirect employment creation, tax
revenues and innovation.
Recently the
government enacted Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 (Grain Marketing Control of
Maize Regulations) which bans the buying and selling of maize among
unauthorized persons in Zimbabwe. The law further prohibits any person or
entity from buying or acquiring maize from producers other than through GMB. The
Statutory Instrument also bars the transportation of bulk maize from one area
to another and limits producers to transporting a maximum of 5 bags not
exceeding 50 Kgs per bag, from one area of the country to the other without any
authorized person or police officer confiscating the maize. Simply put, the
government is legally the sole buyer and seller of maize in Zimbabwe.
This has
massive repercussions to the milling industry as it creates artificial
shortages and price increases for a basic commodity that is key to every
household in Zimbabwe. The country is
facing starvation with a grain shortfall of more than 1 000 000 metric tonnes
this year and requires over $300 million to import maize from the region and
beyond. Such a restrictive laws have affected market maize supply in the past
and will lead to poor production of the staple crop as more farmers divest to less
restricted cash crops.
The economic
growth witnessed in the late 20th century by Asian countries such as
South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates
(UAE), Qatar, China and Malaysia can never be explained without the role of
free market economics in those countries. Free market policies have allowed
these economies to close the gap with yesteryear economic giants such as United
States, Germany, France, Italy and Russia in a space of less than 50 years.
Free market policies have demonstrated that a country can be an economic
powerhouse regardless of its limitations on natural resources, area or
population size.
The biggest
constraint to free market economics in Zimbabwe is political interference on
the operations of State Enterprises and Parastatals (SEPs) especially
regulatory bodies. Political interference leads to short sightedness in policy
formulation or implementation, bureaucracy in the awarding to licenses or
permits to new entrants (blocking competition), lack of transparency,
artificial shortages, mismanagement and inefficient service provision of public
goods and services. Other constraints on the local market include implicit or
explicit threats of force by the government, prohibition of specific exchanges,
strenuous licensing requirements, fixed exchange rates, unsustainable
subsidies and quotas on purchases of goods. Free market policies require strong
institutions such as rule of law, protection of property rights, enforcement of
contracts and an independent judiciary.
Globalization and
the need harness private sector investment has brought to the fore the need for
government to deregulate the economy, provide independence to state entities and
allow market forces to play their part. In addition, the collapse of industry
defining state entities such as Air Zimbabwe, NRZ, ZimGlass, ZBC, Hwange
Colliery, Kingtons, CSC and ZiscoSteel has demonstrated that government cannot
play all economic roles at the same time without creating market
inefficiencies. Over regulating the economy has dented Zimbabwe’s economic
recovery path and there is a cause more than ever to let free market policies
lead in the allocation of national resources instead of government interfering
in every industry. This does not mean the government absolving core
responsibilities of providing a safe and stable business environment, providing
public goods and managing the negative effects of economic growth such as
pollution or environmental degradation among others.
Victor Bhoroma
is economic analyst. He is a marketer by profession and holds an MBA from the
University of Zimbabwe (UZ). For feedback, mail him on [email protected] or alternatively follow him on Twitter @VictorBhoroma1.
Two Chiweshe men, Takemore Mutemaringa (27) and Brian Tembo (30) were jailed three years for stealing their MP’s barbed wire valued at $23 000.
The duo appeared before Guruve magistrate, Artwell Sanyatwe, and pleaded guilty to the charge. Sanyatwe sentenced them to three years and suspended two years on condition that they resituate the $23 000 to the complainant Mazowe Central legislator Sydney Chidamba.
The State, represented by Prosecutor Albert Charehwa, told the court that the duo cut Chidamba’s paddock perimeter fence on July 21.à
1The wire was sold to Phillip Mhlanga who would later assist police with investigations leading to the pair’s arrest.
By A Correspondent| The resignation of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Zimbabwe (Icasz) lecturer, Last Mapuranga, has disclosed unpleasant practices at the institution.
Mapuranga, resigned from his job citing illegal awarding of better grades to students who would have failed the examinations. He also indicated that the institution contracted underqualified lecturers.
In his resignation letter dated 3 June, Mapuranga said:
“Chief executive, Sir, I recall I have engaged you more than twice about the structure of the programme to no avail. I think the programme was structured to enrich the pockets of some people and not for the benefit of the candidates.”
The institution could however not stomach the allegations. Resultantly, it has through its lawyers Dube, Manikai and Hwacha, asked Mapuranga to retract his statement which it says is defaming.
ICSAZ also demands that Mapuranga issues a public apology.
Meanwhile, the defiant Mapuranga has maintained his position, insisting that he has evidence of irregularities in the Icsaz exam system.-Newsday
By A Correspondent| Some teachers in Chikomba District are reportedly being harassed by State Security personnel after they declared incapacitation to report for duty.
The teachers are said to have applied for unpaid leave since they can no longer afford to continue reporting for work.
This was revealed by Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe.
He said:
“We are advised overzealous DSIs are on the prowl in Chikomba, Chipinge and parts of Matabeleland South, harassing teachers because of incapacitation issues.
We know that several of our leaders have been summons by the President’s Office across the country.
Case in point is in Chivhu where several heads were summoned to CIO offices and were instructed to charge teachers.
He added that the PTUZ will approach the International Labour Organisation over the matter.
He said:
Because of this harassment we will be advising the ILO and Education International of the harassment we are going through. Our demands for a living wage are legitimate and justified. There is nothing political about asking for money for food and rent. The CIO has no business in schools.
Teachers constitute a part of several workers whose salaries were eroded by the soaring inflation.
Bankers recently wrote to their management teams proposing a number of solutions to their incapacitation.
They suggested that the banks convert some offices into their bedrooms as they can no longer afford to go to and from work as transport costs have continued to rise.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent| Addressing hundreds of supporters in Lupane over the weekend, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa unveiled President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “retirement package”.
Said Chamisa:
“I will give him (Mnangagwa), a farm together with (VPs) Chiwenga and Mohadi. I want to say sit and be quiet. I will give you whisky and I’ll give you women. Whatever you want I’ll give you.”
Should Chamisa apologise for his statement?
Click on the link below to vote….
Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has come under fire over recent statements in Lupane where he reportedly offered President Emmerson Mnangagwa women and whisky as retired package. Should Chamisa apologise for his statement?
State Media|JUSTICE, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi says a report towards implementation of political and electoral reforms will soon be presented to President Mnangagwa and Cabinet for approval.
Government has since established an inter-ministerial taskforce on political and electoral reforms chaired by Minister Ziyambi.
Speaking during a seminar on political and electoral reforms in Kadoma at the weekend, the Minister said Government was committed to implementing political and electoral reforms to enhance democracy.
“I have a team of senior officials (inter-ministerial committee) to look into it (electoral reforms) and come up with important issues arising from elections and this is the work that we are doing which is work in progress.
“At this stage it would be very premature for me to start giving a road map before I even present what we have done so far to the President, then subsequently to Cabinet for approval soon,” he said.
Ziyambi said while Government was eager to carry out political and electoral reforms in the shortest possible time, this cannot be done within two months as has been called for by the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda.
This is because the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs also needs to be accorded an opportunity to produce critical recommendations to be fed into a report that will be presented to President Mnangagwa.
“I understand, Honourable Speaker is saying let’s do it fast within the next two months but we also want the committee to produce a report so that we can have it and see the issues outstanding that are not within our matrix and then we also present and follow the necessary channels.
“But also out of the respect of the work that has been happening, I have said let’s hold on and hear what the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee is doing; we get some of the critical recommendations that come out of that and feed into the report that we will present to His Excellency and subsequently then we come up with a matrix on how to implement going forward,” said Ziyambi.
The Government hopes to amend the Electoral Act by mid next year in sync with recommendations made by observer missions during last year’s harmonised elections.
The electoral reforms are part of the Government’s efforts in transforming the political and economic environments, as it seeks to entrench democratic values and freedoms in line with Vision 2030 of achieving an upper middle income economy.
They are also in line with the Second Republic’s pledge to incorporate views of other players into different laws that affect society and open up the democratic space to enhance good governance.
Ziyambi said the two-day seminar, which ended yesterday was important as it allows the inter-ministerial taskforce to gather relevant information pertaining to the political and electoral reforms.
He said as Government was working towards implementing electoral reforms, it has been acknowledged that there were other issues that could not wait to be tackled.
“A case in point is the Public Order and Security Act (Posa). We agreed that let’s proceed while we are doing the work that we are doing. We are also moving fast to unbundle AIPPA (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act), Professor (Tafataona) Mahoso is working tirelessly so that we come up with three bills (Freedom of information; Data protection; and Protection of personal information),” he said.
“So we are unbundling, we are freeing up the space, we have the maintenance of peace which is very contentious and some are telling us that the right to demonstrate is very absolute don’t touch a demonstrator; the police must never be involved.”
Ziyambi said recently 10 ambassadors from the most powerful nations came to his office and said police should not be involved in demonstrations.
“I reminded them that in England, if you are in London if you want to demonstrate, you go to the mayor to seek clearance and the mayor of London has got police with arresting powers,” he said.
