Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Top Chipinge coffee farmer and owner of Farfell Estates Mr Richard Le Vieux has thanked President Mnangagwa for resolving the ownership dispute of a portion of the farm enabling exports of the crop and other produce to continue.

Mr Le Vieux said this when he appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Rural Resettlement, Water and Climate Change chaired by Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena today. The farm was at the centre of a wrangle pitting Mr Le Vieux, who also grows macadamia nuts and avocados for export at the estate and indigenous farmer Mr Remembrance Mbudzana.

“I want to say His Excellency the President and the ministry of foreign affairs have acted swiftly to address the situation of destabilisation of a successful export enterprise and I want to go on record thanking them for that not for me but for the country and the business which is an employer and exporter and an important economic actor in that remote place,” he said.

“I am glad to report to everybody here today that the situation at the Estate is calm and exports are going full speed and we can now plan further investments beyond the investments which we have made which amounts to million and I am not talking about investments made 20 years ago, but like our avocado factory that was only made three years ago. So the resolution of this issue means we can continue with our investments and continue with our growth.”

Mr Le Viex said the Mozambican minister of agriculture had visited his Estate and offered him land to establish a similar venture in that country.

More to follow…

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Employees at Agribank have been awarded a 100 % hardship allowance, following threats by the staff to sleep at the bank. The employees had brought their blankets to work to reinforce their threat.

According to web-based publication, Zim Morning Post, the hardship allowance will be disbursed this week which means that the workers will be getting double their salaries this month, in a bid to cushion them from rampant inflation. According to official figures, year-on-year inflation currently stands at 176 percent for the month of June.

Following a meeting attended by Agribank Chief Executive Sam Malaba and other top executives, an official from Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union(ZIBAWU), Tiri Marimo said,

It was resolved that all the non-managerial employees will get a 100 percent cushioning allowance meaning that they will get double the salary to curb the current economic hardships being faced by the employees.

An executive from the bank, however, insisted that the hardship allowance had not been prompted by the threat of industrial action arguing that the bank had already made the decision.

Well, we value our human resource and we had planned to award this cushion allowance to follow trends in the banking sector.

For instance, FBC and MBCA did the same and we strive for world-class standard and well-being of our staff.  It was a coincidence that the staff threatened to stage an industrial action

By Dorrothy Moyo| The Zimbabwe Congress Of Trade Union leaders have reported they have received the below threat sent in envelopes with a bullet inside each.

The unedit message states in part:

We are aware that you are planning ghetto meetings disguised as labour fora, to mobilise the people including rowdy elements for a stay -away on 22 July. If our businesses are destroyed during that stay-away, be warned that these bullets will get into your ass. We have got plenty bullets for you and your family. This time we are not going to sit and watch while you mobilise hooligans to destroy our businesses. We have hired mercenaries to deal with you once and for all – unless you stop what you are planning. Peter Mutasa we are aware that you deserted your house at number 8978 Kuwadzana Phase 3 and now residing at a known safe house in Borrowdale. Japhet MOYO, your children are vulnerable vanodyiwa nemagora. It’s now game on handel tione.

COMMUTER omnibuses in Bulawayo have hiked fares following the latest fuel price increase.

The kombis moved from $1,50 to $2 as operators moved to cushion themselves against the continuously rising costs.

The fare hike comes at a time a huge chuck of the commuting public has turned to the much cheaper Zupco buses which are charging 50 cents for a single trip.

Tshova Mbayiwa chairperson Atlas Moyo said they have not yet found a common position on the new charge.
“We have not agreed to raise the transport charges. Today I had to confront two people who had raised their charges to $2.

“This thing of raising charges will affect us because we are competing with buses. Buses are coming in numbers and for us to remain viable in business, we have to maintain the $1,50 charge,” Moyo said.

He, however, said they were due to meet to discuss the matter.

Bulawayo United Public Transporters Association (Bupta) leader Keeper Ndlovu also said he was yet to meet fellow members over the issue.

However, a survey conducted by this publication yesterday indicated that most kombis were already charging commuters $2.

Some members of the public told Daily News yesterday that the kombi operators can raise the charge at their own peril, saying they will resort to Zupco buses.

Fuel prices went up last week exactly a month after the last increases, as the local currency falters against the US dollar.

Diesel now costs $5,84 per litre, up from 5,07 dollars per litre, while petrol now sells for 6,10 dollars from the previous 5,26.
– dailynews

Zimeye will be livestreaming a post cabinet presser.

Refresh this page for latest updates.

With his patently dubious testimony at the Motlanthe Conmission, in which he sought to shield the military from responsibility for the deaths of unarmed civilians, Gabriel Chaibva still made the cut and is a member of the @ZACConline It’s an absolute joke. Farcical. https://t.co/ZjBRvzensv

— Alex T Magaisa ?? (@Wamagaisa) July 16, 2019

By A Correspondent| Teachers here have threatened closing schools early if the issue of their salaries is not addressed.

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) said in a statement, teachers had no option but to stop reporting for duty starting July 22 2019 if the issue of their paltry salaries is not addressed.

Said ARTUZ:

*Schools closing on 22 July if salaries' crisis is not resolved.*

16 July 2019.

Teachers will be going for an early holiday if government fails to address salary crisis by Monday 22 July 2019.

Teachers are now incapacitated and can no longer render services.@OpenParlyZw

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) July 16, 2019

*Schools closing on 22 July if salaries' crisis is not resolved.*

16 July 2019.

Teachers will be going for an early holiday if government fails to address salary crisis by Monday 22 July 2019.

Teachers are now incapacitated and can no longer render services.@OpenParlyZw

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) July 16, 2019

ALLEGING that a member of the ZNA one Murombo wants to topple the President of Zimbabwe is beyond banter. Auxillia Mnangagwa must be schooled on how the state is run. What she did is dangerous, very dangerous. This country does not deserve this rubbish. She is brewing instability

— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) July 16, 2019

By A Correspondent- Leaders of the Apex Council, the union that represents civil servants, are staging a demonstration today in Harare against government’s wage offer, which they consider too small to cushion them against rising inflation.

Reports indicate that the Apex Council was scheduled to meet with government officials to talk about civil servants’ remuneration but the later did not turn up for the Indaba.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has engaged political parties in its efforts to improve voter registration in Bulawayo province and avoid losing some constituencies when the commission concludes its delimitation exercise.

In an interview Monday, district elections officer Mrs Sithembiso Khupe said the commission requested political parties to invite Zec officials when they have meetings so that they discuss voter registration and delimitation issues.

She said Bulawayo had the least registered voters in the country and Zec was concerned over lack of interest in voter registration by people in the city.

“Two weeks ago, we had a meeting with the MDC Alliance and on Friday last week we met Zanu-PF members in our efforts to make sure that we have more registered voters in Bulawayo province. Our aim is to ensure that political parties understand the importance of voter registration.

“Voter registration is an ongoing process. Unfortunately, people are not coming to register to vote. We’re recording zero returns every month. We’re therefore engaging political parties to encourage their members to register to vote,” said Mrs Khupe.

She said Bulawayo has 257 000 registered voters, the lowest in the country, yet it’s expected to have 400 000 when delimitation of boundaries is concluded in 2022.

“Bulawayo might lose constituencies due to the low numbers. Currently the nation has over 5,6 million voters and we have 210 constituencies. When we divide the number of voters in the country by the number of constituencies it gives us 27 000.

“This means that every constituency should have at least 27 000 voters. In Bulawayo six of our constituencies have less than 21 000 voters, meaning they don’t qualify to be constituencies. They will have to be collapsed and we’ll be left with less constituencies,” said Mrs Khupe.

She said the reduction of constituencies is a disadvantage as the province will lose out when it comes to allocation of resources.

“Our resources will go to other constituencies and I’m sure the people of Bulawayo don’t want that to happen. The political parties that we have met so far have promised to work harder and ensure that more of their members register to vote.

“We have written letters to all the political parties and we’ll continue engaging them. We have to work together to make sure that we have more registered voters and we keep our constituencies,” said Mrs Khupe.

Zec recently roped in the Bulawayo City Council to assist in drumming up support among residents on its six-month mobile Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise in the city to boost the number of registered voters. The last delimitation process was conducted in 2007, shortly before the harmonised elections held in March 2008.

Zec’s new phase of the biometric voter registration programme comes months after a survey carried out by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) warned that Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and North provinces are in danger of losing six constituencies combined in the next delimitation exercise citing few registered voters.

Bulawayo, which currently has 12 constituencies, would most likely end up with 10, the survey found.

A security guard employed by a Bulawayo company to man the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) offices in the city centre died yesterday after he shot himself three times in a suspected case of suicide, police confirmed.

Amos Mboni (56) from Njube suburb shot himself using his employer’s service gun at the Zimra yard at the corner of Fort Street and 8th Avenue after reportedly going for four months without pay.

Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.

“The deceased was employed by a security company and when he arrived at his work place at 6AM, he was handed a revolver by his colleagues who were knocking off from duty,” he said.

Insp Ncube said people who were in the building heard three gun shots and rushed to the scene.

They found the deceased bleeding as a result of gunshot wounds.

“The victim had shot himself three times.

Two times on the left nipple while the third shot hit his collar bone.

He died on the spot,” he said.

When The Chronicle visited the scene, the police had collected the body and some employees were cleaning blood splattered on the floor.

In an interview at their home, one of Mboni’s daughters who declined to be identified said her father was depressed.

“It’s so unbelievable that my father shot himself. My father left home depressed because he had not been paid for almost four months at his workplace. I was the one who was now working and fending for the family and it was stressing him. The landlord would ask him for money for rent everyday but he didn’t have it,” she said.

Mboni’s sister who also declined to be named said she was not convinced that her brother had committed suicide.

“He left home around 5:20AM. He starts work at 6AM and said he would come back in the evening. Amos loved his children, it’s murder, how can he possibly shoot himself thrice? she asked.

Efforts to get a comment from the security company were fruitless.

-State Media

Reports suggest that 43 people were murdered over the weekend in Cape Town, South Africa. The tragedy was confirmed on Monday by Premier Alan Richard Winde, a South African politician and businessman and current Premier of the Western Cape and a Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament. In a statement, Winde said:

[The] SAPS started running a national joint operational and intelligence structure operation on Thursday night in the areas of Philippi, Steenberg and Delft.

We welcome the fact that 143 arrests were made, and guns and drugs confiscated, but despite this heavier police presence, and [Police] Minister Bheki Cele himself going out on patrol, 43 people were still murdered – some of them in the very areas where the operation was held.

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers were deployed in Cape Town on Monday to assist South African Police Service (SAPS) in a clamp-down on gang-related crime. This was after Winde had revealed that of the 43 people murdered, 25 were shot and 12 stabbed.

Winde also argued that the weekend murder rate required that Bhekokwakhe Hamilton Cele, the South African Minister of the Police and president Cyril Ramaphosa swiftly process the paperwork so as to occasion the deployment of the army to assist the police.-News24

Both WhatsApp and Telegram, along with other instant messaging platforms, have end-to-end encryption – which makes the message safe to send and receive. End-to-end encryptions only allow the sender and the receiver to read the contents of the images, and even the company has no human-readable copies of the messages sent.

However, according to the research, the vulnerability, dubbed as “Media File Jacking” can bypass the end-to-end encryption in the said apps and works on Android by default for WhatsApp and on Telegram if certain features are enabled. Watch the following video:advertisement

https://youtu.be/FHvkGUh8S_c

In the above video, Symantec showed that through the vulnerability, they were able to change the faces in a photo to look like Nicolas Cage. As hilarious, and amazing as that is, there is more to fear than a real-life version of his movie.

Let’s say someone sent you a receipt or an invoice. A hacker could alter the information about the account, routing number, or the amount! Suddenly, rather than reimbursing someone for last night’s dinner, you just got duped into sending a stranger $50. Watch the following video:

https://youtu.be/bKBk6NBHw5s

The exploitation of the vulnerability may also come in the form of audio-spoofing where an attacker exploits the relations of trust between employees in an organization a the attacker can also program the new and manipulated file to mimic the voice of another person.

What’s being done about this?

There is one big thing you can do to protect yourself when using WhatsApp and Telegram: become invisible. Symantec is encouraging users to by disabling the feature that saves media files to external storage in order the mitigate the possible attacks using the exposed vulnerability.

So you need to remove your gallery’s visibility. In WhatsApp, turn off “Media Visibility” in the settings menu. In Telegram, toggle off “Save to Gallery” from the settings as well.-TechZim

WATCH ..Heartrending video of an abused six year old girl from Kambuzuma Harare pic.twitter.com/2kYy2eTQ4v

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 16, 2019

Zanu-PF party Politburo member Cde Chief Air Marshall (Retired) Perrance Shiri has called on members not to be swayed by opposition elements who want to make the country ungovernable through demonstrations.

Addressing thousands of supporters in Mazowe North during victory celebrations for party legislator Cde Campion Mugweni, Cde Shiri, said: “We will not entertain the burning of houses, cars and property, be it in cities or here in rural areas, especially here in Mash Central.

“We value peace, whoever wants to burn houses let him go and burn his mother’s hut or burn his own car, not to disturb the country’s peace.

“We need peace. There is no country without challenges.

“If there are problems, we put our heads together and find a solution, not resorting to violence.

“If you are possessed with the demon of violence, pack your bags and go to Chamisa’s houses, not here in Mashonaland Central. Let us be vigilant against such elements.”

About seven MDC supporters in Mazowe North were arrested for leading a shutdown protest that resulted in the closing of shops, burning of tyres and road blockades earlier this year.

Zanu-PF provincial chairman Cde Kazembe Kazembe rapped economic saboteurs, saying they were throwing spanners in Government’s economic transformation activities.

“We are very much aware of those who are throwing spanners in the works and we know that these are just jealous failures who are being pained by Government’s long strides in stabilising the economy,” he said.

“They have seen that the New Dispensation is fast achieving in all areas and now they want to frustrate such efforts by Government, and you recently saw what some of them did during Cde Subusiso Moyo’s visit to the UK.”

At the same time, the party urged people to embrace Statutory Instrument 142 that banned the use of foreign currency in local shops. “Government has crafted a law that bans the use of foreign currency in local shops,” said Minister Kazembe.

“We now use bond notes or RTGS. There is no reason to sell goods in US$ and prices should reflect the value put in the manufacturing of the commodity, not to distort prices.

“We have seen taxis, kombis and buses joining the game of hiking prices and Government responded by introducing ZUPCO buses.

“These buses should ply all the routes because we have good roads.”

-State Media

GOVERNMENT has warned universities against raising fees with without its approval, amid reports that some varsities countrywide had yesterday attempted to unilaterally hike fees.

Universities increased fees for parallel and block students, leaving out conventional ones whose public outcry usually draws attention.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira yesterday said fees for all undergraduate categories remain unchanged.

“All fees to do with undergraduate studies have not been increased as such communication passes through my office. I have not signed an ordinance to that effect.

“Fees remain the same until we put alternative payment methods as currently we are working on introducing grants. As for the undergraduates, there is no compromise except for post-graduate, there is that leverage since it is optional,” he said.

The minister said despite people being under pressure financially, universities should not be careless by wantonly hiking fees.

Lupane State University (LSU) director marketing and public relations Zwelithini Dlamini said they had proposed a fees increase for self-financing programmes.

“We are proposing a 20 percent fees increase for parallel and block programmes. The lecturers should be paid from the fees and any other cost thereof.

“This will be approved by the parent minister through the fees ordinance,” he said.

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)director of information and public relations Mr Anderson Chipatiso said their fees remained unchanged.

“In terms of our fees structure nothing changes. We are a public institution and we our operations are guided by the parent ministry,” he said.

Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) spokesperson, Dr Tapera Musekiwa said they are yet to conduct fees review.

“Our fees are determined at Government level. We have not increased fees because the fees review committee is the one that sits down first and deliberate on the issue before it submits to university council.

“After justifying their move to the council it then deliberates also and submit to the parent ministry,” he said.

Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) Director Public Relations, Mr James Gutura said their fees also remain unchanged.

Midlands State University which had reportedly hiked fees from about $800 to $2 000 yesterday had their Information and Public Relations Director Miriam Mawere not forthcoming despite numerous attempts to get in touch with her.

“Kindly refer to the notice on our website. In the meantime may you please put your questions in writing, I am in a meeting but will respond soon after the meeting,” said Mrs Mawere.

Contacted further she acknowledged having received the questions and promised to answer within a short space of time which she never did until the time of going to print.

Further contacted Mrs Mawere just said: “I am now on my way from the meeting will get back to you shortly.”

-State Media

Opposition MDC Vice President Lynette Karenyi Kore was over the weekend elected as the Women’s Academy for Africa (WAFA) Deputy Treasurer General.

The MDC would like to congratulate its Vice President Lynette Karenyi for landing a top international post. The elections were held at the end of the WAFA Training of Trainers workshop that was held at Maputo in Mozambique.

WAFA seeks to promote gender equality based on social democracy, good governance, justice and solidarity. The organisation aims to promote gender equality, and political advancement of women from Labour, Socialists and Social Democratic parties across Africa.

WAFA is currently represented across nine African countries. The countries are Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is investigating over 200 cases of corruption-related crimes emanating from a varied spectrum of the economy and arrests will be effected soon, chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo has said.

She said her commission was out on a mission to aggressively fight corruption and was different from previous bodies given that it was now headed by a judicial officer.

Justice Matanda-Moyo, who is also a High Court judge, said this in an interview at State House where seven ZACC commissioners were sworn in by President Mnangagwa.

“I do not have a person whom we can say he or she is an actual accused person. After we are through with our investigations that is when I will say this one I am taking to court and that one I am not taking to court. So for now we are still doing the investigation(s). We have got the Auditor-General’s report, NSSA audit report, Hwange issues, we have got Command Agriculture, we have got so many cases that we are handling at the moment. We have over 200 cases we are handling,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.

She said she was impressed by the calibre of the commissioners that was sworn-in yesterday, saying they were from varied backgrounds thereby enriching the commission.

“We are quite happy with the curricula vitae of the commissioners, we have got auditors, accountants, police, lawyers, so we have got a very good team and I am confident that ZACC is going to perform with the type of commissioners that I have got,” she said.

Asked how different her commission was from previous ones, Justice Matanda-Moyo said:  “I am very different. I am a judge and judges are honest people in society and once we take up particular missions we take it to its logical conclusion, so we are a very serious commission.”

The President appointed eight commissioners from a list of 12 that was submitted to him by Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders Committee chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda which conducted public interviews last month.

At least 38 candidates were interviewed at Parliament Building in a process that was open to members of the public.

The decision to constitute a new ZACC body followed the resignation of the previous ZACC chairperson and commissioners in January this year.

Parliament received 152 nominations by the closing date of February 28, 2019 after flighting an advertisement inviting those interested to serve as commissioners to apply.

In terms of Sections 237 and 254 of the Constitution, Parliament’s Committee on Standing Rules and Orders is mandated to nominate candidates for possible appointment by the President, to serve as ZACC commissioners as provided for in Chapter 13 of the Constitution.

After receipt of applications, the CSRO then carried out an exhaustive analysis of the nominated candidates to establish their suitability to serve on the commission, and shortlisted 38 candidates.

-State Media

This is in preparation for the planned delimitation exercise earmarked for 2022 that will determine the number of wards and constituencies per province. Delimitation is the process of dividing the country into constituencies and wards for the purpose of electoral boundaries.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) in Bulawayo has engaged political parties in its efforts to improve voter registration in the province and avoid losing some constituencies when the commission concludes its delimitation exercise.

In an interview yesterday, district elections officer Mrs Sithembiso Khupe said the commission requested political parties to invite Zec officials when they have meetings so that they discuss voter registration and delimitation issues.

She said Bulawayo had the least registered voters in the country and Zec was concerned over lack of interest in voter registration by people in the city.

“Two weeks ago, we had a meeting with the MDC Alliance and on Friday last week we met Zanu-PF members in our efforts to make sure that we have more registered voters in Bulawayo province. Our aim is to ensure that political parties understand the importance of voter registration.

“Voter registration is an ongoing process. Unfortunately, people are not coming to register to vote. We’re recording zero returns every month. We’re therefore engaging political parties to encourage their members to register to vote,” said Mrs Khupe.

She said Bulawayo has 257 000 registered voters, the lowest in the country, yet it’s expected to have 400 000 when delimitation of boundaries is concluded in 2022.

“Bulawayo might lose constituencies due to the low numbers. Currently the nation has over 5,6 million voters and we have 210 constituencies. When we divide the number of voters in the country by the number of constituencies it gives us 27 000.

“This means that every constituency should have at least 27 000 voters. In Bulawayo six of our constituencies have less than 21 000 voters, meaning they don’t qualify to be constituencies. They will have to be collapsed and we’ll be left with less constituencies,” said Mrs Khupe.

She said the reduction of constituencies is a disadvantage as the province will lose out when it comes to allocation of resources.

“Our resources will go to other constituencies and I’m sure the people of Bulawayo don’t want that to happen. The political parties that we have met so far have promised to work harder and ensure that more of their members register to vote.

“We have written letters to all the political parties and we’ll continue engaging them. We have to work together to make sure that we have more registered voters and we keep our constituencies,” said Mrs Khupe.

Zec recently roped in the Bulawayo City Council to assist in drumming up support among residents on its six-month mobile Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise in the city to boost the number of registered voters. The last delimitation process was conducted in 2007, shortly before the harmonised elections held in March 2008.

Zec’s new phase of the biometric voter registration programme comes months after a survey carried out by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) warned that Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and North provinces are in danger of losing six constituencies combined in the next delimitation exercise citing few registered voters.

Bulawayo, which currently has 12 constituencies, would most likely end up with 10, the survey found.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A leaked audio purportedly a recorded “rant” by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa against a military official “she” calls Murombo has divided opinion among commentators.

Independent legislator in the National Assembly, and former ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson, Temba Mliswa said that the audio is doctored and a poor impersonation of the First Lady.

Writing on microblogging site Twitter, Mliswa said:

Listen to Auxillia Mnangagwa rants at Army officer about a coup against her husband by chinhu chedu #np on #SoundCloud Well tried hogwash!

Why the desperation to tarnish FL honestly? There are the economy and fighting criminals to deal with. Let’s unite to fight crime.

Wouldn’t a video of this occurrence be more credible than this doctored audio? I maintain it’s not her but a poor and malicious impersonation.

There are forensic audits needing release and scrutiny in order to pave the way for a corrupt-free society and economic growth, let’s not lose focus.

The FL is hardworking and any parallels drawn with the former are spiteful and relevance seeking. Anyway, u can’t pull a good woman down&I know such poppycock won’t deter her.

Shame for those losers who’ve nothing better to do with their time than create falsehoods. They need to turn to new careers.

Zimbabwe’s mobile network connectivity was in a bad state over the last weekend, with callers and the transacting public reporting challenges in making calls and getting mobile money transactions to go through.

The disruptive service unavailability comes at a time mobile money services are playing a key inclusive role of bridging the financial divide by providing services to those who have no access to formal banking systems. It is also serving a key role in mitigating for the shortage of physical cash. This also comes at a time mobile and data network provision is seen as the bedrock of global and digital economy.

“I don’t know how many customers we have lost today due to network challenges”, said Mercy Siyachitema, a till operator at a butchery at Tichagariga Shopping Centre in Glen View 3, Harare.

“Customers are failing to make the usual Ecocash payments. And this is at a time we can’t keep meat in the butchery for longer periods of time, as we are running mostly on generator. Stocks have to move fast,” she said.

Mercy is likely not the only small business owner whose business depends on the reliable availability of power, and on mobile connectivity for customers to transact and do business with her. Even the use of POS machines, which use embedded mobile data SIMs, has also been affected by the disruptions.

The challenges in connectivity come at a time both voice and data subscriptions and traffic have been on the decline and their performance will likely get worse if players in the sector continue to be hamstrung by energy related issues, among others.

According to a report by the Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) the telecoms industry recorded a 4% decline in mobile voice traffic from 1.467 billion minutes, to 1.404 billion minutes in the first quarter of 2019.

Active internet subscriptions also declined by 3.3% to 8.4 million, from 8.7 million which saw the internet penetration rate drop by 5 percentage points to 57.9%.

But power challenges threaten to cause a further decline in telecoms product usage in the second quarter of 2019, according to analysts owing to the non-availability of electricity to power mobile network base stations.

Industry sources say they have since recorded the highest number of ‘down times’ at their sites at any given time, due to unavailability of power through load shedding.

“A new record of site down times was actually set last week. As we speak, many sites are down due to ZESA load shedding and fuel stock out,” said a source familiar with developments at one of the country’s mobile network operators.

Players in the industry have resorted to the use of costly diesel generators to power base stations, but current fuel shortages have meant that not all of them can be refuelled on time, said the source, estimating that some of the bigger NMOs were now using over 100,000 litres of diesel per month.

“With the price of diesel now over $5 per litre, you can imagine the huge cost all the operators – especially Econet and NetOne, which have the widest network coverage – are spending on just trying to keep the networks up in the current circumstances of daily power blackouts,” the source said.

The increased cost of doing business has also come at a time the telecoms sector has been charging what are now very sub-economic tariffs, following the movement in the exchange rate after the introduction of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019.

The local currency through which the telco operators are paid has been severely hit by the exchange rate, which some say has reduced their incomes in real terms by a factor of close to 600% since the new interbank market was introduced.

The move saw the value of the local dollar weaken to an exchange rate of 1:9 from 1:2.5. At current tariffs, local telecoms players will find it very difficult to buy foreign currency, which has become so expensive.

The cost of doing business with local service providers has also gone up, rendering current tariffs very uncompetitive – which have remained the same since the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Zimbabwe dollar.

-263Chat

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday called on Finance minister Mthuli Ncube to loosen his purse and prioritise the ailing health services sector, which is facing chronic shortages of drugs and medical equipment.

Speaking at the handover of medical equipment and drugs at National Pharmaceutical Company in Harare, Mnangagwa said government had heeded calls by medical practitioners at public health institutions and purchased required medical equipment and drugs from India to alleviate problems faced by the sector.

“As government, we must give priority to the health sector because it is equally important that our people are healthy. And when you are not well, we should have a health system that should assist our people,” he said.

“I have a Minister of Finance … but I think we should be able to persuade him politically to loosen up so that we give more and more attention to this sector.”

Government has been criticised for not prioritising the health sector which was allocated of $694,5 million (9,3%) in the national budget, a far cry from the target of 15% set in 2001 by members of the African Union during a conference in Abuja, Nigeria.

Mnangagwa said those with chronic ailments like cancer and those in need of dialysis should be able to access medical services free of charge.

“What we have not achieved, which I think is necessary, is that as we go forward we should establish more liberal policies towards giving access to have free health services for children and the elderly,” he said.

The President said people in remote areas should be able to access health services without travelling to urban areas and should benefit from the donated equipment.

He urged pharmaceutical distributors and government health institutions to ensure drugs are not pilfered, but benefit patients.

State institutions have been experiencing drug stock-outs attributed to inadequate funding allocated to the health sector, drug pilferage and leakages in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Mnangagwa said after his meeting with doctors to hear their concerns, he sourced funds and purchased 85% of the medical equipment they had requested.

Mnangagwa said government had received drugs and medical equipment from the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed, who has also promised to fully equip State health institutions.

He said the country also received and disbursed huge consignments of medical drugs donated to Cyclone Idai victims by other donors, including Tanzanian President John Magufuli.

He applauded the courageous doctors who met him, saying their act of courage was benefiting several hospitals

The consignment of the medical equipment had 36 infant incubators, 50 multiparameter monitors for adults, 30 multiparameter monitors for paeds, 10 operating theatre tables (electric), 10 operating tables (hydraulic), 20 EEG
electroencephalography machines, 10 respiratory aid ventilator, five video endoscopy sets, five video colonoscopy sets, five video gastrocopy set, 5 ICU ventilators for adults, five ICU ventilators paeds, four X-ray machines and 10 anaesthetic machines.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo is expected to attend the 21st Ministerial Committee of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation in Lusaka on Friday to discuss the political and security situation in the region.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said the meeting will be held on Friday after a meeting of senior officials that started yesterday and ends tomorrow.

“Among other issues, top on the agenda of the 21st MCO (Ministerial Committee of the Organ), will be: On Inter-State Politics and Diplomacy, the MCO will discuss the political and security situation in the Region, with particular attention to political developments in the Kingdom of Lesotho,” reads the statement.

“The MCO will receive and review reports on elections held in the period between July 2018 and June 2019.

“These include the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe. MCO will also take note of the Member States that will hold elections in the second half of 2019, that is, Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia; Further, the MCO will review the application by Burundi to become a member of SADC after receiving an assessment report from a Mission that was undertaken from 20 to 24 May 2019. If admitted into SADC, Burundi would be the 17th Member State.”

The meeting will also consider security challenges in the region, some of them caused by natural disasters such as cyclones.

“Finally, the MCO will consider security challenges afflicting the region such as tropical cyclones, floods and droughts; ineffective early warning mechanisms; rising threats of terrorism and extremism in the region; cyber-crime; illegal immigration; inefficient border management and poaching,” reads the statement.

The next meeting is expected to be hosted by Zimbabwe in June 2020. Zimbabwe is set to chair the Sadc Organ On politics, Defence and Security Cooperation after the bloc’s summit meeting to be held in Tanzania in August this year.

Sadc executive secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax was in Harare last month, where she briefed President Mnangagwa on the country’s obligations in guiding the region on issues of politics, security and peace.

Outspoken political commentator, Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to rein on his wife Auxillia following a leaked conversation in which she is threatening an army officer whom she accused of spying on her.

Ruhanya said if the circulating audio is that of the first lady, then Zimbabwe has not seen anything yet adding that former President Robert Mugabe’s wife was kindergarten.

“If the audio circulating is that of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa then Zimbabwe hasn’t seen anything yet. If it is true then Grace Mugabe was just kindergarten. I said it way back that Zim was in trouble with such an ignoramus First Lady. If true again, ED must rein this BS!”

If the audio circulating is that of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa then Zimbabwe hasn't seen anything yet. If it is true then Grace Mugabe was just kindergarten. I said it way back that Zim was in trouble with such an ignoramus First Lady. If true again, ED must rein this BS!

— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) July 16, 2019

NewsDay|FIVE beneficiaries of the estate of the late national hero, Vitalis Musungwa Gava Zvinavashe’s Trust have petitioned the High Court seeking an order to remove the current Trustees accusing them of failing to distribute dividends to the recipients and also failing to provide accounting details of how the Trust has been administered since January 2017.

The beneficiaries, Thompson, Tapera, Maxwell, Augustine and Desmond Zvinavashe are seeking the removal of Margaret Mutamba and Richard Musungwa Zvinavashe, Shingai Mutumba and Clemency Ruzengwe from administering the Zvinavashe Trust.

In his founding affidavit, Thompson said in the event that the order sought is granted by the court, he together with his co-beneficiaries of the Trust should

be ordered to appoint an interim board of trustees comprising of two professional trustees and three other trustees from the members of the family.

“The application and order sought is based on the following; non-payment of dividends to the beneficiaries in contravention of clause 16 of the Trust Deed.

Current beneficiaries have the right to distributions as set forth in the trust document. It is respectively averred that since January 2017, applicants were

not favoured with their share of Trust dividends,” he said.

“That failure, in my view, directly offends the spirit of the Trust Deed particularly clause 6,3 of the Trust Deed which is sacrosanct. Respondents are not

giving information to the beneficiaries pertaining to all Trust property held in the Trust Deed as communicated in clause 5 of the Trust Deed.”

Thompson also said, alternatively, if their order is not granted in terms of how they have suggested, the court should appoint an interim board of trustees it

deems fit and proper in terms of clause 4 of the Trust Deed.

Thompson further said the court should also order Mutumba and Ruzengwe to deliver all professional reports of the Trust and all records pertaining to their

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I DO not know what we have to say or do to get those in authority here to understand that if they do nothing, Zimbabwe is headed for a political s…

duties as trustees and all documents in their possession or control to the interim board appointed by the five beneficiaries, who are applicants in the matter,

or by the court.

“Respondents are not keeping proper set of accounts in respect of their transaction and no auditing has been done with regards to the financial dealings of the

Trust. That conduct is contrary to clause 9 of the Trust Deed,” he said.

“Furthermore, respondents are not making information available to the applicants pertaining to the Trust. Applicants, being beneficiaries are entitled to

accounting records. An accounting is a detailed report of all income, expenses and distributions from the Trust. Respondents are required to provide an

accounting annually, and this has not been done and if it were done, the applicants were never made aware of the same.”

Just last month, High Court judge Justice Sylvia Chirawu-Mugomba lamented the absence of an alternative dispute resolution in the same estate where Margaret

and Richard have been at each other’s throat ever since Zvinavashe was interred at the National Heroes Acre.

Justice Chirawu-Mugomba presided over an application in which Margaret approached the court seeking a court order to bar Richard from entering stand number 730

Cowie Road, Tynwald in Harare because he has been disturbing her peace.

According to court papers, Margaret and Richard have been embroiled in bitter fights over Zvinavashe’s estate and at some point the said fights landed Richard

in the dock after he allegedly chased Margaret out of the premises despite her having been granted lifetime usufruct over the Tynwald property by the late army

general.

The current application is pending.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa fears a looming military coup against her husband President Emmerson Mnangagwa, former Zanu-PF spin doctor Professor Jonathan Moyo has said.  

Posting an audio clip of Auxillia shouting at a senior military officer over the phone whom she accuses of spying on her, the First Lady threatens to visit his office and engage in a fight.

“Herewith a shocking audio of Auxillia Mnangagwa in an unprecedented rant by a First Lady in which she makes shocking allegations of army spying against her and reveals startling fears of what she says is a loading coup against her husband,” said Moyo.

Follow the ZimEye.com exposè below:

In the audio clip, Auxillia challenges the army officials of invading her privacy and targeting Mnangagwa through tracking her phone.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he was moved by the plight of doctors’ working conditions and their tools of the trade and he sourced the equipment that they required.

He said this at the handover ceremony of hospital equipment sourced from India at NatPharm (Monday).

Said Mnangagwa:

“The doctors came to State House and explained their working conditions. The conditions of service, the equipment, the tools of their trade. I really felt sympathetic.

So, I promised them that despite the lack of resources, I will do my best to source the equipment you want. You submit your list and indeed they did so. This is less than three months ago.”

President Mnangagwa said following submission of the list, he got resources to purchase what the doctors longed for.

“I am glad to say in excess of 85 percent of what they requested has so far been purchased and the first phase of the equipment is the one displayed here. More than what we have is still coming,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said the doctors should be thanked for their courageous gesture, which has resulted in all central hospitals benefiting from this essential equipment.

He urged the doctors and nurses who will be using the new equipment to guard against thefts and abuse.

He handed over a consignment of medical equipment which included infant incubators and resuscitators for the neonatal intensive care unit, multi-parameter monitors for adults and paediatrics, operating theatre tables (electric and hydraulic), portable electroncephalography machine, respiratory aid ventilator, and video endoscopy, gastroscopy and colonoscopy sets.

He also handed over intensive care unit ventilators for adults and paediatrics, mobile X-ray machines and anaesthetic machines.

-StateMedia

Zimbabweans have reacted to last night’s ZimEye.com live streaming of an audio clip which purports that First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, in a recorded phone call ranted at Zimbabwe National army boss, Lieutenant Colonel Murombo.

The director of the Harare-based Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI), Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya believes the first lady’s remarks may result in chaos in the country. We present below a full thread.

If the audio circulating is that of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa then Zimbabwe hasn’t seen anything yet. If it is true then Grace Mugabe was just kindergarten. I said it way back that Zim was in trouble with such an ignoramus First Lady. If true again, ED must rein this BS!

The state cannot be run in the manner Auxillia Mnangagwa rants against security forces. Remember Grace Mugabe once did the same nonsense. Zimbabwe is not a personal project. The conflation between the family and the state must be stopped. Lets create a Weberian ideal type State!

Pres Mnangagwa has a national obligation to put to order his wife. Her rants against one Murombo a ZNA member exposes deeper schisms in the party/state/military complex. This country deserves better than this Auxilia Nonsense. Grace did that against Chiwenga, ED, Charamba!

Auxilia has absolutely no right to attack security forces in the manner alleged in the circulating audio. Her language is uncouth, unprofessional and have grave consequences on cohesion in party, government and state. This lady must be far away from public office. Its sad!

ALLEGING that a member of the ZNA one Murombo wants to topple the President of Zimbabwe is beyond banter. Auxillia Mnangagwa must be schooled on how the state is run. What she did is dangerous, very dangerous. This country does not deserve this rubbish. She is brewing instability

If ruling class has lost its consensus, i.e. is no longer “leading” but only “dominant”, exercising coercive force alone, this means precisely that the great masses have become detached from their traditional ideologies, and no longer believe, what they used to believe previously

The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear – Antonio Gramsci, State and Civil Society. Auxillia Mnangagwa rants captures this succinctly.

Auxilia Mnangagwa is paranoid completely, it is the role of the security to know and then protect VIPs. Her rants are rubbish. She must know that she is not the State. This idea of attacking state workers as we hear by Auxilia is just nonsense. Stop it Auxxilia!

RANTS against state workers, security forces is not stimulating critical thinking. Its stimulating critical chaos, rot, tomfoolery and BS

THE civil trial involving Bulawayo deputy mayor Councillor Tinashe Kambarami and a political pressure group, 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust, opened at the Bulawayo High Court yesterday.

1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust is seeking an order nullifying Clr Kambarami’s election as ward councillor, citing his criminal record.

Clr Kambarami was in July last year convicted of theft by Bulawayo provincial magistrate, Ms Sharon Rosemani, under case number CRB 1981/18.

He was fined $80 or 18 days in prison for stealing an extension cord from an electrician he had hired to work at his offices.

1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust, through its lawyer Mr Godfrey Nyoni of Moyo and Nyoni Legal Practitioners, filed a court application at the

Bulawayo High Court citing Clr Kambarami, the Bulawayo City Council, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and MDC as respondents.

The organisation wants an order declaring Clr Kambarami’s nomination and subsequent election as councillor for Ward 3 in Bulawayo null and void on the basis that he was convicted for stealing an extension cord from an electrician he had hired to do manual work at his offices.

In her founding affidavit, Ms Dorothy Ndlovu, who is the applicant’s secretary, said the application is premised on the provisions of the Electoral Act which disqualify a convicted person from being nominated as a candidate for council elections.

“It has come to our attention as an organisation that the first respondent (Clr Kambarami) has a criminal record and should not have submitted his nomination papers to Zec.

“He was charged and convicted of theft on July 27, 2018 under case number CRB1981/18,” she said.

Ms Ndlovu said as an organisation they could not sit back and watch an illegality being perpetuated.

“We believe and rightly so, that it was and is our duty to seek that this clear illegality be corrected. The first respondent’s election ought to be set aside,” she said.

Mr Nyoni said in terms of section 119 (2) (e) of the Electoral Act, Clr Kambarami, by virtue of his conviction, was supposed to have been disqualified from contesting the elections.

According to section 119 (2) (e) of the Electoral Act, a person shall be disqualified from being nominated as a candidate for or from election as a councillor if he or she has been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty.

“It is important to note that Kambarami was convicted on his own plea of guilty to theft. It is common cause that theft is a crime that involves dishonesty.

“The first respondent was therefore supposed to be disqualified for nomination as a candidate for the elections and his subsequent election to the post of deputy mayor for the City of Bulawayo was a nullity right from the onset,” Mr Nyoni said.

He said the law disqualified Clr Kambarami and whatever then happened thereafter was not in terms of the law.

“When the nomination court sat there is a form known as VN1 that the first respondent (Kambarami) signed and it states that any person signing it should not have been involved in any crime involving dishonesty.

“It is clear that the first respondent was disqualified by the law because his conviction happened during the period between the nomination court and elections.

“Whatever is done outside the law is a nullity,” said Mr Nyoni.

He said Clr Kambarami failed to disclose his criminal record to Zec prior to his nomination in the run up to the July 30 harmonised elections.

“The first respondent is disqualified by operation of the law and the principle of legality is that his occupation of the office of deputy mayor and councillor should be declared null and void.

“The applicant (1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust) represents citizens of this country who have a direct interest in this matter since it is in the interest of the public and their constitutional right,” said Mr Nyoni.

He said Clr Kambarami was given a chance to voluntarily relinquish his posts as councillor and deputy mayor and he declined.

Clr Kambarami’s lawyers, Messrs Dickson Moyo and Maqhawe Ndlovu of Samp Mlaudzi and Partners, said the High Court had no locus standi to handle the matter, arguing that the application was an election petition.

“Our submission is that this is an election petition, which is supposed to be heard by the Electoral Court as defined in terms of the Electoral Act and it is nowhere near a court application for declaratur.

“The Electoral Court, which existed through the General Notices, expired on December 31, 2018 and extending its tenure through this court would be improperly constituted,” said Clr Kambarami’s lawyers.

They further argued that there has to be a tribunal that has to be set in terms of section 174 of the constitution to handle the disqualification of Clr Kambarami.

However, Mr Nyoni contended that a tribunal could only be set up for a person convicted after legally occupying the office.

Section 41 (7) of the Urban Councils Act states that a councillor who is convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of six months or more shall forthwith cease to exercise his or her functions or to be entitled to any remuneration as a councillor, and subject to subsection (8), he or she shall cease to be councillor at the expiry of 30 days from the date of such sentence.

On August 1, 2017, Clr Kambarami engaged the complainant, Mr Washington Chirikuudzi (68), to do some manual work at his business offices.

Clr Kambarami then asked the complainant to leave his tools at his offices inside a safe before knocking off.

When the complainant returned the following morning, he discovered that his extension cord was missing.

When Mr Chirikuudzi inquired about the whereabouts of his cable, Clr Kambarami admitted that he took it and promised to return it.

However, Clr Kambarami did not return the cable despite pleas from the complainant.

Mr Chirikuudzi got fed up with Clr Kambarami’s excuses and reported the matter to the police leading to the deputy mayor’s arrest.

Clr Kambarami was elected deputy mayor in September last year after beating his closest rival, Clr Mlandu Ncube of Ward One.

Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has called for Health Minister Obadiah Moyo to be arrested for corruption after a leaked letter showed how Zanu-PF plans to use medical drugs as a campaign tool in the Lupane East by-election.

Chamisa said the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) should step in and investigate potential abuse of office by Moyo.

Zanu PF political commissar Victor Matemadanda wrote to Moyo on July 2 requesting medicines for six clinics in the constituency ahead of the August 3 by-election.

Moyo’s response dated July 5 was leaked on social media. In the signed letter copied to NatPharm managing director Flora Sifeku, permanent secretary Agnes Mahomva and the director of pharmacy, one R Hove, with the subject: ‘Request for assistance in respect of the Lupane East by-election campaign’,

Moyo said: “Your letter of July 2, 2019, requesting for medicines for Lupaka, Gomoza, St Paul, Lake Alice, Lusulu and Lupanda clinics refers. I have instructed the permanent secretary Dr Mahomva to activate NatPharm to supply the clinics mentioned with medicines.”

Chamisa said it was a clear breach of electoral laws and incontrovertible evidence of abuse of office by Moyo.

NatPharm supplies drugs to all government hospitals in the country, most of them sourced from international donors.

“In Lupane, there’s a by-election coming. Matemadanda writes a letter to the minister of health saying please supply drugs to Lupane clinics because there’s a by-election we must win. That level of corruption is serious. The minister replies and says yes, I will supply the drugs to help Zanu-PF win. That’s abuse of public office,” Chamisa told supporters at a rally at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo on Sunday.

“A minister caught doing this should simply step aside. ZACC must step in and investigate such corruption and arrest that person.”

Chamisa said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s pledge of “zero tolerance to corruption” rings hollow in the face of such conflation between the party and government.

Said Chamisa: “I’ve just given him just one example of corruption. Is one equal to zero?”

The MDC leader said his party would soon embark on a programme of “political and diplomatic pressure” which should culminate in dialogue between him and Mnangagwa about how to solve Zimbabwe’s deepening economic and political crisis, sparked by a disputed election which Mnangagwa won in July last year.

Chamisa maintained that this dialogue should lead to a “transitional authority” taking over the running of the country with a mandate to institute wide-ranging electoral, economic and media reforms before the next elections in 2023.

The MDC is planning nationwide street protests, he said.

“We’ll be blowing the whistle soon, stand ready to show your displeasure with what’s happening in the country,” Chamisa told thousands of cheering supporters.

“The time is coming, the day is coming. When we send the signal, let’s all unite behind the call. We don’t want violence but a peaceful, peaceful, peaceful expression of our circumstances.”

A SECURITY guard employed by a Bulawayo company to man the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) offices in the city centre died yesterday after he shot himself three times in a suspected case of suicide, police confirmed.

Amos Mboni (56) from Njube suburb shot himself using his employer’s service gun at the Zimra yard at the corner of Fort Street and 8th Avenue after reportedly going for four months without pay.

Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.

“The deceased was employed by a security company and when he arrived at his work place at 6AM, he was handed a revolver by his colleagues who were knocking off from duty,” he said.

Insp Ncube said people who were in the building heard three gun shots and rushed to the scene.

They found the deceased bleeding as a result of gunshot wounds.

“The victim had shot himself three times.

Two times on the left nipple while the third shot hit his collar bone.

He died on the spot,” he said.

When The Chronicle visited the scene, the police had collected the body and some employees were cleaning blood splattered on the floor.

In an interview at their home, one of Mboni’s daughters who declined to be identified said her father was depressed.

“It’s so unbelievable that my father shot himself. My father left home depressed because he had not been paid for almost four months at his workplace. I was the one who was now working and fending for the family and it was stressing him. The landlord would ask him for money for rent everyday but he didn’t have it,” she said.

Mboni’s sister who also declined to be named said she was not convinced that her brother had committed suicide.

“He left home around 5:20AM. He starts work at 6AM and said he would come back in the evening. Amos loved his children, it’s murder, how can he possibly shoot himself thrice? she asked.

Efforts to get a comment from the security company were fruitless.

President Mnangagwa yesterday swore in seven commissioners from the eight appointed members of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) as Government intensifies its anti-graft drive.

The swearing in of the commissioners at State House followed public interviews that were conducted by Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders Committee chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda last month.

Following the interviews of about 38 candidates, Parliament submitted the constitutionally prescribed 12 people from which President was obliged to appoint eight to sit as members of ZACC. The seven commissioners that were appointed are Gabriel Chaibva, Jessie Fungai Majome, John Makamure, Thandiwe Thando Mlobane, Kuziva Phineas Murapa, Frank Muchengwa and Retired Major Michael Dennis Santu.

Another commissioner, Mabel Ndakaripa Hungwe was not sworn in as she could not attend the function.

In an interview yesterday, Commissioner Majome said she was ready to play her part in fighting corruption.

“My main mandate as Commissioner is to implement the clear provision of the Constitution regarding the functions of ZACC which is one of the two institutions which are in Chapter 13 of the Constitution which is devoted to combating crime. Its role is to act as a means to ensure that Zimbabwe decisively deals with the menace of corruption that is from policy and enforcement level. ZACC is given the mandate to take what I term as helicopter view around corruption in terms of its causes, effects and detection as well as superintending and holding people to account as required by the criminal law. My role is to work together in order to close ranks with corruption and have the confidence in institutions,” said Comm Majome.

Comm Makamure said there was need for ZACC to work with other stakeholders to fight the vice.

“We believe that this is a very important institution in Zimbabwe created by the Constitution to fight corruption. The value I will bring is quite immense in terms of my experience working with Parliament of Zimbabwe and other Parliaments in the region.

Given that Parliament is a key stakeholder in the fight against corruption, so we would want to promote more engagement between the commission and these key institutions like Parliament and civil society because the fight against corruption is stakeholder driven,” said Comm Makamure.

Comm Chaibva said his major asset to the anti-graft body was his personal integrity.

“Technically, academically, morally, and intellectually I am highly qualified. There is not a single day have I been accused by anybody of anything. I have no skeletons in the cupboard; I am a person of undisputable integrity. I am my own man. I am a jack of all trades, whatever assignment that I might be given by the commission I will be able to carry it out,” said Comm Chaibva.

Comm Murapa said their major asset was their independence.

“We are bringing our independence to start with, that we operate independently and this is key in fighting corruption because if you do not operate independently you will not fight it. The President emphasised that point that we are independent and that we should do our work as we feel we should do,” said Comm Murapa.

Comm Muchengwa said his investigative skills acquired as a former senior police officer will be handy to the Commission’s work.

“As a former police officer, I have had the background of investigating cases, encountering challenges, I was head of commercial crime unit at Harare Central Police, this is where I made headlines in unearthing complex cases and it is now an exception that I have been appointed commissioner, investigation is my priority,” he said.-StateMedia

BULAWAYO City Council Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube is still locked out of his office from where he was violently ejected by Deputy Mayor Councillor Tinashe Kambarami and his sidekick last Thursday.

Mr Dube was removed from his office by Clr Kambarami working closely with Ward Four Clr Silas Chigora as they claimed that they were suspending him from work over a number of allegations including abuse of office.

However, on Friday, Bulawayo Mayor Solomon Mguni, who was away on study leave, lifted the alleged suspension. Mr Dube yesterday said the Deputy Mayor is yet to deliver his office keys.

“I have not stopped my duties but he (Clr Kambarami) is still refusing to open the office. The Mayor is back in office so I’m leaving everything in his hands,” he said.

Mr Dube said he would only be able to speak on the obtaining issues after legal matters have been dealt with but was humbled by solidarity messages he got from the public.

He filed assault charges against Clr Kambarami and Clr Chigora leading to the duo’s arrest on Friday. The two appeared in court on Saturday and were granted $100 bail each.

Clr Mguni said he was still waiting for Clr Kambarami to act as he was directed.

“The Town Clerk is at work. His office keys are with the Deputy Mayor. I am also waiting for the Deputy Mayor to hand over the case to me. We are handling the matter amicably. You will be advised of the outcome in due course.

It’s just that I have not yet met with the Deputy Mayor so that he briefs me on what happened during my absence. I am sure it’s not his intention not to return the keys. Maybe he is busy somewhere,” he said.

Clr Mguni said the BCC regrets Thursday’s developments but did not guarantee that similar incidents would not recur.

“I may not make assurances about the future, but we want to apologise to the residents of Bulawayo on the unfortunate incidences of Thursday and Friday. We could have handled the situation better than we did,” he said.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association co-ordinator Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu said it was tragic that Clr Kambarami was personalising the Town Clerk’s issue.

“From the onset this suspension of the Town Clerk was a sham, it was done unprocedurally.

The Deputy Mayor should not use his emotions on this case. He seems to have personalised the case instead of addressing it on its merits. This has a far reaching bearing on service delivery as well as the merits and demerits of the case,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said residents would engage the Chamber Secretary Mrs Sikhangele Zhou and Clr Mguni to explain the developments at City Hall.

Mr Ndlovu said what transpired last week erodes public confidence in councillors and council management hence they need to handle the matter properly. 

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde July Moyo on Friday said Mr Dube’s treatment was unfortunate.

He said certain procedures have to be followed before Mr Dube takes over his office as some of his office documents might have been removed from it.

Mr Dube has reportedly resisted the meddlesome conduct of MDC Alliance councillors who are interfering in the local authority’s operations.

The councillors are said to be miffed especially by the Town Clerk’s refusal to let them interfere in the distribution of the $5 million ward retention fund, procurement processes and the employment of community groups and control of the subcommittee on allocation of stands and premises.

A Zimbabwean human rights activists, Dzikamai Bere, has won a United States award for his role in promoting transitional justice in the country.

Bere, a programmes coordinator with the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, has already received an invitation letter from the US Presidential Precinct, an institution training young leaders, to attend the function that will be held in the Washington DC, US on July 25. The function is dubbed, ‘Salute Africa: A Tribute to Mandela Washington’.

Part of Bere’s invitation letter dated June 13 by Niel Piper, the executive director of the Presidential Precinct reads:

At this international gathering of business and political leaders, we would like to present to you our Presidential Precinct Young Leader Award.

Through this award, we seek to honour visionary alumni of the Precinct, who are promoting social, political and cultural progress for the world’s developing democracies. We cannot imagine a more deserving candidate than you to receive this distinction.

Your contributions as a leading advocate for transitional justice in Zimbabwe and parallel efforts to broaden the constituency of individuals engaged in this critical endeavour are exemplary. In accepting this award, we would ask that you speak to the assembled young African leaders and dignitaries about how your experience through the Presidential Precinct has impacted your leadership on behalf of the National Justice Working Group in Zimbabwe (NJWGZ) and other platforms.

Bere said that he was humbled by the recognition.-Newsday

GOVERNMENT has warned universities against raising fees with without its approval, amid reports that some varsities countrywide had yesterday attempted to unilaterally hike fees.

Universities increased fees for parallel and block students, leaving out conventional ones whose public outcry usually draws attention.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira yesterday said fees for all undergraduate categories remain unchanged.

“All fees to do with undergraduate studies have not been increased as such communication passes through my office. I have not signed an ordinance to that effect.

“Fees remain the same until we put alternative payment methods as currently we are working on introducing grants. As for the undergraduates, there is no compromise except for post-graduate, there is that leverage since it is optional,” he said.

The minister said despite people being under pressure financially, universities should not be careless by wantonly hiking fees.

Lupane State University (LSU) director marketing and public relations Zwelithini Dlamini said they had proposed a fees increase for self-financing programmes.

“We are proposing a 20 percent fees increase for parallel and block programmes. The lecturers should be paid from the fees and any other cost thereof.

“This will be approved by the parent minister through the fees ordinance,” he said.

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)director of information and public relations Mr Anderson Chipatiso said their fees remained unchanged.

“In terms of our fees structure nothing changes. We are a public institution and we our operations are guided by the parent ministry,” he said.

Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) spokesperson, Dr Tapera Musekiwa said they are yet to conduct fees review.

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“Our fees are determined at Government level. We have not increased fees because the fees review committee is the one that sits down first and deliberate on the issue before it submits to university council.

“After justifying their move to the council it then deliberates also and submit to the parent ministry,” he said.

Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) Director Public Relations, Mr James Gutura said their fees also remain unchanged.

Midlands State University which had reportedly hiked fees from about $800 to $2 000 yesterday had their Information and Public Relations Director Miriam Mawere not forthcoming despite numerous attempts to get in touch with her.

“Kindly refer to the notice on our website. In the meantime may you please put your questions in writing, I am in a meeting but will respond soon after the meeting,” said Mrs Mawere.

Contacted further she acknowledged having received the questions and promised to answer within a short space of time which she never did until the time of going to print.

Further contacted Mrs Mawere just said: “I am now on my way from the meeting will get back to you shortly.”

An investigation by the BBC can reveal that Mr Ahmad received two sets of expenses, claiming to be in two different countries, for the same nine-day period during the 2018 World Cup.

According to documents seen by the BBC, the Fifa vice-president twice claimed for payments from African football’s ruling body, Caf, for work carried out between 23 June and 1 July.

First, the documents indicate he signed for daily allowances that stated that he was in Egypt for this spell – before later adding his signature to a document claiming he was in Russia at the same time.

As a vice-president of football’s world governing body, Mr Ahmad should have been paid his daily World Cup allowance of $450 by Fifa since they organise the tournament – meaning he may have received three sets of payments for the nine-day spell in question.

Caf, whose headquarters are in the Egyptian capital Cairo, has no role in organising the event.

“President Ahmad took [sic] contact with the Fifa administration to support him in its action for Caf’s reforms and to get the process more transparent,” Caf replied to BBC Sport in a statement.

“The details of this cooperation will be announced very soon. For now, as the President have [sic] a very deep respect of the institutions, he keeps his answers for Fifa’s teams, which will lead the future audit.”

In June, Fifa and Caf announced that the former will install its own Secretary General to oversee administrative reform in the governance of African football’s ruling body from 1 August.

The decision to appoint Senegalese Fatma Samoura as a General Delegate to Caf is unprecedented in the 115-year history of Fifa, which has never had recourse before to help guide the administration of a confederation.

Mr Ahmad, who took charge of African football in March 2017, is currently being investigated by both Fifa’s Ethics Committee itself and by French anti-corruption authorities – with an unusual kit deal involving a French gym equipment supplier among the lines of inquiry.

The 59-year-old from Madagascar, whose organisation is currently hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, has strenuously denied any wrongdoing in previous statements.

Double Double Payment?
In early June 2018, Mr Ahmad travelled to Moscow to attend both the Fifa Congress on 13 June and the World Cup, which ran between 14 June and 11 July.

Documents seen by the BBC indicate that Mr Ahmad flew from Russia to Egypt on 23 June for a four-day stay before heading back to Moscow after a trip home to Madagascar between 27 June and 1 July.

Nonetheless, the documents suggest that, on 28 September last year, Mr Ahmad collected $18,450 from Caf for a 41-day stay in Russia between 7 June and 17 July.

His signature can be seen at the bottom of a page detailing the expenses, which came under the heading ‘Mission: World Cup Russia 2018.’

Three weeks earlier, on 9 September, Mr Ahmad had collected $4,050 from Caf for a nine-day period between 23 June and 1 July, which came under the heading ‘Visit to Caf Bureau’.

Mr Ahmad left Moscow on 23 June to fly back to Caf headquarters in Egypt, landing the following day.

The BBC understands Mr Ahmad may have been in neither Egypt nor Russia for the period 27 June to 1 July but in Madagascar, as documents suggest he intended to travel home at that time.

The BBC specifically asked Mr Ahmad and Caf if it could confirm that he was in the island nation at the time but received no response in the statement it was given.

BBC Sport also sought comment from Fifa to ask if it paid Mr Ahmad for the same 41-day period, as per convention, but has also yet to receive any response.

Nor did Fifa answer a question about whether it paid Mr Ahmad for work undertaken on behalf of Fifa in Qatar between 23-25 October 2018.

Despite travelling to the host nation of the next World Cup on behalf of Fifa – with these expenses labelled ‘Mission FIFA – Qatar’ on a Caf document – it appears that Mr Ahmad claimed expenses, amounting to $1,350 from the African football body once again.

Mr Ahmad also failed to respond to the question in his statement despite being specifically asked by the BBC.

‘No Salary’
Shortly after taking charge of Caf in March 2017, Mr Ahmad told the BBC that he would not be taking a salary from Caf “for the simple reason it doesn’t respect good administration”.

“The salaries of all Caf employees, from administrators to the executive committee and president, all have to be transparent,” he said in May 2017.

The BBC can reveal that just two months later, Mr Ahmad agreed to receive a monthly salary of $40,000 per month, so amounting to some $480,000 per year, with an annual bonus of $80,000.

While this figure may have been determined by Executive Committee members without his input, Mr Ahmad did not reject the salary nor make it public.

Once again, no response was given when a question on this specific topic was put to both Mr Ahmad and Caf.

Ironically, the man whom Mr Ahmad displaced – Issa Hayatou – had gone without a salary for most of his 29-year reign.

The Cameroonian, who ruled Caf with an iron fist, took charge in 1988 but only accepted a salary, equivalent to $30,000 per month, in July 2016 – just eight months before the end of his decades-long rule.

He had however received a ‘representational payment’, which had grown to $90,000 per year by the time he left office.

Mr Ahmad, who took charge of Caf in March 2017, has two years left of his four-year term.- BBC Sports

State Media|The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is investigating over 200 cases of corruption-related crimes emanating from a varied spectrum of the economy and arrests will be effected soon, chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo has said.

She said her commission was out on a mission to aggressively fight corruption and was different from previous bodies given that it was now headed by a judicial officer.

Justice Matanda-Moyo, who is also a High Court judge, said this in an interview at State House where seven ZACC commissioners were sworn in by President Mnangagwa.

“I do not have a person whom we can say he or she is an actual accused person. After we are through with our investigations that is when I will say this one I am taking to court and that one I am not taking to court. So for now we are still doing the investigation(s). We have got the Auditor-General’s report, NSSA audit report, Hwange issues, we have got Command Agriculture, we have got so many cases that we are handling at the moment. We have over 200 cases we are handling,” said Justice Matanda-Moyo.

She said she was impressed by the calibre of the commissioners that was sworn-in yesterday, saying they were from varied backgrounds thereby enriching the commission.

“We are quite happy with the curricula vitae of the commissioners, we have got auditors, accountants, police, lawyers, so we have got a very good team and I am confident that ZACC is going to perform with the type of commissioners that I have got,” she said.

Asked how different her commission was from previous ones, Justice Matanda-Moyo said: “I am very different. I am a judge and judges are honest people in society and once we take up particular missions we take it to its logical conclusion, so we are a very serious commission.”

The President appointed eight commissioners from a list of 12 that was submitted to him by Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders Committee chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda which conducted public interviews last month.

At least 38 candidates were interviewed at Parliament Building in a process that was open to members of the public.

The decision to constitute a new ZACC body followed the resignation of the previous ZACC chairperson and commissioners in January this year.

Parliament received 152 nominations by the closing date of February 28, 2019 after flighting an advertisement inviting those interested to serve as commissioners to apply.

In terms of Sections 237 and 254 of the Constitution, Parliament’s Committee on Standing Rules and Orders is mandated to nominate candidates for possible appointment by the President, to serve as ZACC commissioners as provided for in Chapter 13 of the Constitution.

After receipt of applications, the CSRO then carried out an exhaustive analysis of the nominated candidates to establish their suitability to serve on the commission, and shortlisted 38 candidates.

Herewith a shocking audio of Auxillia Mnangagwa in an unprecedented rant by a first lady in which she makes shocking allegations of Army spying against her & reveals startling fears of what she says is a loading coup against her husband.

NO COMMENT!https://t.co/z7Q7lFdMyQ

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) July 15, 2019

The government intends to decentralise industry so that a factory is built in each of the country’s 63 districts in a move meant to stimulate economic development.

This was revealed in the launched Zimbabwe National Industrial Policy (ZNIDP), to be implemented from 2019 to 2023. Part of the policy reads:

The government will promote industrialisation through the provision of incentives and targeted financing, policy support and business development services for the establishment of micro, small, medium and large scale manufacturing industries in rural areas in line with available local resources.

There shall be a deliberate thrust to develop factories in every district under the one district one factory concept. This will enhance the empowerment of marginalised rural communities.

The policy document further says that industrialisation will be based on the local resource endowment of specific areas;

Industrialisation will also be based on the local resource endowment of specific areas. Processing of traditional agricultural products such as sorghum, rapoko, marula fruits and mopane worms can spur the creation of new factories in source areas.

Local flora and fauna can also be used as raw materials in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines and as such, also offer value addition opportunities.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Highlanders FC and FC Platinum played a 1-1 draw in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

FC Platinum scored first in the 39th minute through Cameroonian striker Albert Eonde. Highlanders equalised in the second half through an Ariel Sibanda penalty.

Speaking after the match, FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza said:

The guys worked very hard. It is about character and fighting for each other. I am happy the boys are pushing and we are still on top.

Last week we had just 13 players available and today we had three youngsters from the under-19s. It is not easy at all.

His counterpart, Mandla Mpofu expressed unhappiness with the draw. He said:

We cannot make those kinds of mistakes that we made at this stage, but overall we played very well. It is two points lost than a point gained.

We are not happy with the result. The position that we are in is not looking good and we are not scoring goals; it is one aspect we have to work on.-Newsday

1/1 In Bikita, a one year old male infant was assaulted by his father after he started crying. The child’s health deteriorated and he died twelve days later. Parents are warned against using excessive force on minors.

— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) July 15, 2019

https://youtu.be/1a1uAgjYbrM

BREAKING: Is This Auxillia Mnangagwa In Military Coup, Telling Soldier To “Shoot My Husband, Not Me” ? https://t.co/VvZchNuXAZ via @ZimEye

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) July 15, 2019

Teachers received their July payslips today, no increment no cushion, same paltry salary. We are giving gvt up to Friday 19 July 2019 to pay us a living wage. Real action coming if our ultimatum is ignored.#NotoSlavewages

— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) July 15, 2019

https://youtu.be/1a1uAgjYbrM

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa today officiated at the hand- over ceremony of medical equipment some of which include paediatric and diagnostic machines sourced from India to capacitate central hospitals around the country.

The handover ceremony, which was at NatPharm headquarters in Harare this afternoon, saw Mnangagwa commissioning the equipment was bought under the accelerated purchase system, and is targeting to refurbish Parirenyatwa, Harare Central, Chitungwiza Central, Mpilo and United Bulawayo hospitals.

This is the first consignment, with more expected in the next two months.

Health and Child Care ministry sources said the equipment includes state-of-the-art theatre furniture and key medical machines.

Below are pictures of some of the equipment:

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed optimism on the recently appointed anti graft commissioners adding that they have a major role entrusted to them in spearheading the fight against corruption.

He said:

“This morning I swore in seven new commissioners of the recently empowered and strengthened Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

The new commission has a major role to play in spearheading our battle against graft. Their success is all our success.”

By Own Correspondent- A Lupane woman has left her community shocked after it emerged she was married to two men and had children with both of them.

Ms Siphathisiwe Mkandla (48) of Manansa village in Malunku ward cohabited with Mr John Mpala (55) and Mr Dolete Mlotshwa for the past three years.

Mr Mpala collapsed and died at their matrimonial home last month after complaining of chest pains and was buried at his uncle’s homestead in Sindombe area in the same ward.  Mr Mlotshwa is a gold panner in Inyathi.

A local publication was told that the three lovebirds lived together at Ms Mkandla’s homestead in Manansa village.

Mr Mlotshwa was reportedly once a domestic worker at Ms Mkandla’s homestead before they got married.  Messrs Mpala and Mlotshwa would take turns to visit Ms Mkandla in her bedroom hut for conjugal rights, which community leaders described as taboo.

Ms Mkandla confirmed that she was married to the two men and said she loved them both.

“I was pained by my husband’s death. He arrived home at around 6PM coming from a piece job and complained of a painful heart. He collapsed and died immediately after taking a bath. We had separated and he came back home on the insistence of our children who said he was leading a lonely life,” she said.

“At that time I was staying with Mlotshwa who was working in Inyathi and would be away for some time. They were both my husbands and I loved both of them. They never fought and they would buy each other gifts.” 

Mr Mpala’s family is reportedly locked in a wrangle with Ms Mkandla over his belongings including cattle, which the woman claims was left for the couple’s children. 

Malunku Ward 17 councillor Siduduzile Nkala said the whole community was still in shock.

Headman Ngubo, in whose area of jurisdiction the issue occurred said it was unheard of for two men to marry the same woman and live harmoniously together.

“This is taboo and is unheard of. She was married to two men who stayed together sharing food and they took turns to sleep with her. The woman built her homestead where she lived with both men,” said Headman Ngubo.

“What’s shocking is that the three ate from the same plate as a happy family. The two men had their separate bedrooms and took turns to sleep with the woman in her own bedroom. I told all my village heads that such things should not be allowed because it’s taboo.” 

Messrs Mpala and Mlotshwa were literally submissive to Ms Mkandla in whose name the homestead was registered while they were not formally in the village records.  Ms Mkandla was initially married to Mr Mpala and separated after bearing three children who are all adults.

Mr Mpala went to stay with his relatives in Sindombe area on the boundary with Nkayi.  During their separation, sources said, Ms Mkandla married Mr Mlotshwa with whom she has five children.  About three years ago, she reportedly reconciled with Mr Mpala who moved in with her in Manansa and the three started staying together.  Before he moved in, Mr Mpala had dragged Mr Mlotshwa to Chief Mabhikwa’s court where he (Mr Mlotshwa) was fined a cow for having an affair with a married woman.-StateMedia

GWANDA RURAL District Council is seeking to dispose of 11 lions to augment its finances.

In a recent notice to prospective buyers and wildlife lovers, the local authority called for expression of interest to buy the lions, indicating that site visit will be conducted at a day yet to be announced.

“Gwanda RDC is in possession of 11 lions currently being kept in captivity at Doddieburn Ranch in Gwanda District. The council holds a valid permit for such activities, issued in terms of the Parks and Wildlife Act, Chapter 20:14,” the council notice read.

“Council wishes to dispose of the lions and thus seeks interested parties to lodge an expression of interest for the purchase of same.”

The local authority indicated that interested parties are advised to submit written letters, expressing interest to buy all or some of the lions.

“Furthermore, the interested party must make a commitment to abide by all the laws of the land governing such sales. The group consists of six-adult male lions, three-adult female lions, one sub-adult male and one female cub,” the council said.

The local authority advised interested parties to file their papers at council offices in Gwanda direct to the chief executive, Ronney Sibanda, before July 19.

Meanwhile, Gwanda municipality is also seeking land developers to service 337 medium density and 331 high density houses set for constructiont on a rocky mountainous area.

Gwanda town clerk Priscilla Nkala, in a notice, said the council was inviting eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in servicing the stands.

“Interested consultants should provide information, demonstrating that they possess the required qualifications, finances and relevant experiences to perform the services,” Nkala said.

She said the shortlisted consultants would be invited to submit detailed technical and financial proposals.

“A compulsory site inspection will be conducted on July 15 and interested bidders should meet at the Municipality of Gwanda boardroom, after which a tour will be done,” Nkala said.

At least 59% of the rural population is projected to be food insecure at peak (5,529,209 people) – 2019 ZimVac Rural Livelihoods Assessment Report. Details shortly @ndakaripa @CanEmbZimbabwe @afzimbabwe @LandWomen @MaminiminiObert @basera_john @PGambara @peezack @Connmwanawashe

— Agriculture Nexus News (@AgricNexus) July 15, 2019

ANTI-CORRUPTION Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) has written a letter of complaint to Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi alleging lack of progress and interference by senior Zanu PF officials in a fraud case involving a Gokwe Zanu PF councillor.

The councillor, Samson Chigaba, is accused of using a fake Gokwe Rural Council rates receipt book to dupe unsuspecting villagers.

Chigaba, who is also a headmaster at Dzvuke Primary School, Mateta in Gokwe South, was arrested early 2017 and the matter was, however, removed from remand under unclear circumstances after trial had commenced.

Act-SA director Obert Chinhamo, in his letter addressed to Hodzi and copied to chairperson of the complainants dated June 19, 2019, stated that community members from Gokwe South were alleging interference in Chigaba’s case.

Chigaba’s ward falls under Primary and Secondary Education minister Paul Mavima’s constituency and villagers are suspecting that the accused could have used his Zanu PF connections to escape the charges.

“We have learnt through concerned community members from Gokwe South that there is alleged interference in the prosecution of Samson Chigaba who is a councillor at Gokwe South Rural District Council. It is alleged that the prosecution has been stopped due to interference by some high profile individuals,” Chinhamo’s letter reads.

“That being the case, we are kindly asking for your intervention to ensure that the matter is prosecuted to its logical conclusion.”

Chigaba appeared at Gokwe Magistrates’ Court and was granted ZW$100 bail. His case was remanded to November 9, 2017. Chinhamo said the matter was never prosecuted due to alleged interference and hence the outcry from villagers.

Allegations against Chigaba are that between December 6, 2015 and December 21, 2016 he used counterfeit Gokwe South Rural District Council receipt books to collect levies from unsuspecting villagers and converted the money to his own use.

Standard|President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his party, Zanu PF, have a ticking bomb on their lap. And they look quite cozy with that.

The so-called “mabhemba” wars — a group reference to violence involving militias who use all manner of weapons that include machetes, guns, swords, spears, bows and arrows, knives, as well as clubs — are festering in Midlands province. They are spreading to other parts of the country too.

Most of the violence has tended to mostly centre on the illegal extraction and sale of gold. Rival groups raid and fight each other for the gold. They maim and kill without remorse. And they do it with impunity too. The Midlands city of Kwekwe is the epicentre of the violence, but it’s happening in numerous other places that include rural areas.

In the rural areas, the militias fight for control of land, minerals while also settling family, ethnic and community disputes in a bloody way.

At the best, the police is helpless because the gangs are controlled by influential politicians with vested interests in illegal gold mining. At worst, the cops are getting bribes and conniving with the militias. As a result, most of the cases of murder and grievous harm to rival militias are being swept under the carpet. The judiciary is not helping matters either. Its officers are taking bribes to throw the crimes, but there is also a chance that, like the police, they are enmeshed in the “mabhemba” or machete wars and take home some rich pickings.

It’s not as though the goons behind these wars are unknown. The gang leaders walk around town and elsewhere with a spring in their step because they know that nothing will happen to them. They are the foot soldiers of the powerful politicians-cum-businesspeople. They pay their godfathers with gold and foreign currency and thus acquire immunity from arrests and prosecution. The militias talk about who their godfathers are with much ease, and have repeatedly named one Cabinet minister and senior Zanu PF members as the real warlords in Midlands.

There are two ominous aspects to these militia wars. One, as already averred, they have a political dimension. The gangsters are controlled by Zanu PF politicians. That’s why they have been attacking and, in some cases, killing opposition supporters in the past. They have, of late, also been targeting musicians who they regard as being anti-Zanu PF.

Two, the militias mostly have their origins in the illegal exploitation of natural resources — mainly gold in this case.

Now, that combination is worrying. Look around Africa for starters. The more than one hundred militias that have operated on the continent are or have been led by individuals with political ambitions. It’s been like that wherever you find militias. DRC, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Algeria, you name it. The lead warlords are always gunning for a share of political power. As they do that, they control regions or areas that are rich in natural resources that they use to launder money and fund their activities.

It would always be unfair and naïve to assume that the Midlands machete wars will remain as the ad hoc waves of violence targeting rival groups whose members go about wearing tattered clothes smeared with brown mud and looking like scarecrows. The truth is, they now pose a real national security threat. The wars are spreading unchecked. The militias are sponsored. They are busy creating a culture of violence that will repeat itself in all places where illegal, artisanal and established mining is taking place.

After that, they will spread to fights for the control of land, factories and ethnic groups.

But most worryingly, they are likely to degenerate into political militias. All you need are crazy and ambitious politicians who will see an opportunity to gain relevance through the use of organised violence. In their present form, the militia wars are centralised around Zanu PF. They are being led by a few individuals whose ultimate loyalty is to the ruling party.

Things may not stay the same, though. In the aftermath of the 2017 coup, Zanu PF looks fragile. Mnangagwa has not been able to sew the party together as much as his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, did. Current factional fissures can lead to splits. Once you have well-defined splits, opportunists will merge to lead various political groups.

That’s the time when some of them will look at the opportunity of turning the militias into more organised war gangs that will inevitably fight for control of territories that are rich in mineral and other natural resources.

There is another very present danger. In Africa, a coup almost always sires another coup. Zimbabwe is not an absolute exception. As it stands, there has been talk of fierce behind-the-scenes jostling for power in the post-coup period. The military, clearly, has a heavy presence in the current political dynamics here. Where the army has a say in where political power goes or doesn’t go, you know a coup is brewing on the horizon. It was like that during Mugabe’s time, and look at what happened in 2017.

More directly, there are reports — predictably refuted, of course — that Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, the former army boss — are not the best of friends despite ganging up to remove Mugabe.

Let’s say Chiwenga, a former general who would still enjoys strategic support in the army, gets really crazy and does a Mugabe on Mnangagwa.

That might present a very good chance for the militias to turn into a solid political militia.

It would be easy for the coup to be ethnicised. Mnangagwa is from the very cauldron of the machete violence, the Midlands, which is dominated by the Karanga ethnic community. Chiwenga is from Wedza in Mashonaland East, which is predominantly Zezuru.

Mnangagwa and/or his loyalists would then draw reinforcements from the Midlands-based militias to stage a war against Chiwenga in retaliation.

It’s easy for politicians from the Midlands who are loyal Mnangagwa to sell the hypothetical coup as a war against the Karanga.

Ethnic — pretty like religious conviction is a ready tool that warlords use.

It’s unflattering on the current president that he has in the past been accused of being the main godfather of some of the violent militia groups in the Midlands.

If that is true, then it would be easy to morph the gangs into an all-out rebel group backing Mnangagwa against Chiwenga and the Zezurus and whoever their other sympathisers might be.

And it’s also unflattering that the president has remained quiet as the militias spread mayhem in the Midlands and, now, other provinces.

Midlands is his home province and Kwekwe, his hometown.

Add to that, the fact that Owen Ncube, the man he made State Security minister last year, has repeatedly featured as a likely actor in this script of violence.

But things must done differently. The president and his government must get the police to act on this sweltering violence and stop the corruption related to it. And civil society, the opposition, human rights defenders, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the legislature must also play that part before the bomb explodes right in our faces.