Farai Dziva| Emmerson Mnangagwa has written an official letter to the newly-appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson expressing his wish to meet with him in person.

Johnson was on Wednesday invited by Queen Elizabeth to Buckingham Palace to form a government following the formal resignation of Theresa May over Brexit.

“Allow me to, first of all, extend my very sincere personal congratulations, as well as those of my Administration, on your election as leader of the Conservative Party and, thence, your appointment to the Office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

I wish you every success in your endeavour as you take on this immensely challenging task and lead the United Kingdom into a future filled with promise and potential.

I look forward to meeting you in person shortly, and to working with you and your administration as, together, we strive to return our once-formidable bilateral relationship to its rightful level, distancing ourselves from past differences and focusing instead on the future.

A key component of those reforms is re-engagement with all those nations from which we have become somewhat estranged over the past two decades or so.

Rebuilding our relations with the United Kingdom lies at the very core of that re-engagement process and is an objective to which I and my Administration are fully committed.

We are, of course, equally committed to early readmission to the Commonwealth family of nations, a process which is already underway.

In this regard, Honourable Prime Minister, I know I can count on your continued support.

In expressing, once again, my heartfelt congratulations to you, Honourable Prime Minister allow me to end by asking you to accept, as well, the assurances of my highest and most respectful consideration,” wrote Mnangagwa.

Farai Dziva|PPPZ leader, Pastor Timothy Chiguvare has already set his focus on the 2023 elections and he believes he has what it takes to lead Zimbabwe.

See Chiguvare’s statement :

Yes we are, we can and we will end Corruption, indolence, incompetence and inefficiency that is ripping apart most , if not all, urban and rural local authorities in Zimbabwe.

PPPZ IS NOW READY TO DELIVER A TRUSTED KNOWLEDGEABLE AND TRANSPARENT SERVICE THAT PROVIDES THE BEST FOR ALL OF US AS A RAINBOW NATION.

My ability to add value to the nation of Zimbabwe is an art form that has taken years of experience to perfect.

Farai Dziva|Former ZBC presenter, Ezra Tshisa Sibanda, has urged the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission to pull all high profile criminals behind bars.

See Sibanda’s argument: The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has taken Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira on alleged corruption charges.

According to ZACC , The Minister of Tourism has been taken in and is currently in their custody.

I hope the new ZACC will do better than the previous which was good at arresting and achieving little or no conviction.

All the sharks previously accused of corruption are still walking scot free.

All the corrupt thieves should be behind bars no matter who they are or what position they hold.

ZACC should also investigate sports bodies, Zifa, Cricket, SRC etc. ..

This was revealed by Social Welfare minister Sekai Nzenza during parliament (Wednesday).

She said:

“… I really appreciate (Hon Madzimure’s) concern regarding the pensioners.  I am also quite concerned particularly with the difficulties that are being experienced by the majority of the people, especially when we look at the price hikes in comparison to their purchasing power.  

I have been talking to the Minister of Finance and Economic Development.  He is in the process of reviewing the pensions upwards in light of the current difficulties that we have.

 However as the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, I have held several negotiations with the workers through the Tripartite Negotiating Forum that was made into legislation on the 5^th June, 2019 by our President.  

That forum has enabled us to have a social platform where we have employers, Government and workers discussing issues of social-economic interest.  As a result, we have at present the cushioning allowance which will be made available this month.  

Following that, as from the 1^st August, we will once again begin negotiating to ensure that we protect the survival and livelihoods of the majority of the people.”

By Own Correspondent| PHD Founder and leader Walter Magaya who for the past few weeks hogged the headlines over alleged sexual abuse has called on christians to join him in prayer as he seeks new direction for his ministry and personal life.

Magaya said this in a video where he is visiting his spiritual father T B Joshua at The Synagogue Church of All Nations, (Scoan) in Nigeria.

He said:

“I bless you in Jesus mighty name. It is very true, one believer cannot make, two are better. I want you, to join me in prayer as we refocus our life, as we give a new direction to our ministry, as we give new direction to my personal life.

I want you to join me in prayer may God bless you you and I can bring a change join me as I create a new way, as I create a new life (line), in Jesus’ mighty name, you as a child all over the world I call you here in the house of God at SCOAN, praying from Tuesday the 25th of July 2019 join me in prayer today, join me in prayer tomorrow, may God bless you. Saturday I’ll meet everyone in South Africa, Sunday I will meet everyone in Zimbabwe. God bless you.”

By A Correspondent- A local church pastor yesterday admitted to stealing a cell phone after conducting home prayer session.

Denzel Chimusewu pleaded guilty to theft of trust property when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda.

The man of cloth told the court that he took the cell phone and converted it into his own use because he was in desperate need of money after receiving news that his uncle was robbed.

The matter was deferred to today for sentencing.

The State had it that on July 5, Chimusewu stole a Samsung J5 handset from Sarah Marwodzi after he had gone to conduct prayers at her residence in Epworth.

Chisemu is alleged to have asked for the phone to make a quick call before disappearing with it.

Further allegations are that, on July 22, the complainant met the accused at Chiremba Shops leading to his arrest.

The cell phone valued at $750 has not been recovered.-HMetro

By Own Correspondent| Opposition Movement for Democratic Change has said the recent High court ruling which exposed state media bias towards Zanu Pf vindicates the party which is on record saying last year’s harmonised polls were rigged.

Said Luke Tamborinyoka in a statement:

The High Court ruling that the Zimbabwe Newspapers and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation were biased in favour of Zanu PF in their coverage of the 2018 election vindicates the MDC position that the last plebiscite was rigged.

Apart from the machinations of ZEC, which astonishingly revised downwards its own figures three times before announcing a fudged poll result, the ruling by the High Court simply casts aspersions on the credibility of the 2018 election.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, the High Court ruled that during the 2018 elections, Zimpapers and ZBC, the biggest media houses in the country, conducted themselves in a manner that was in breach of the Constitution.

The High Court ruled that the two media houses were not impartial. It is profound that the High Court said the two media houses failed to comply with the Constitution, which demands that they afford equal and impartial coverage to all contesting candidates and parties.

The MDC has been calling for a comprehensive reform agenda, including media reforms, to ensure that Zimbabwe’s elections are vaccinated from the errant behavior of national institutions that brazenly support Zanu PF in violation of the national constitution.

The High Court thus vindicates the MDC position, in particular its RELOAD document whose signposts to legitimacy include political pressure, genuine and sincere dialogue, a national transitional mechanism, a comprehensive reform agenda and free and fair elections.

ZBC and Zimpapers are national institutions that must simply comply with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. They must provide fair and equal coverage to all contesting parties. In the last election, Mr. Mnangagwa and Zanu PF were accorded unfettered coverage while the MDC and its leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, received scant coverage, if at all.

It is our firm belief that the public media failed to discharge their mandate. This hugely contributed to the illegitimate 2018 lection which perpetuated the country’s vicious cycle of disputed elections.

The 2018 election then bred an illegitimate outcome and an equally illegitimate leader. The unfortunate net result of this compounded illegitimacy is the current economic crisis and the attendant power, fuel, and cash shortages, among other national challenges.

The MDC believes in a return to legitimacy as the only prudent way forward. Such legitimacy can only be achieved through a free and fair election. The party will unstintingly follow its roadmap that will be ignited by peaceful political pressure until a free and fair election is held.

It is only a legitimate government that can begin to prudently transact the people’s business in a manner that will positively transform the lives of ordinary citizens.

MDC: Change that delivers.

Luke Tamborinyoka
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent| Five men who connived to defraud Harare Central Hospital of $63 000 by diverting payments for pharmaceutical supplies to their personal accounts were yesterday convicted by a Harare magistrate.

Prosecuting George Manokore proved beyond reasonable doubt that on December 21, 2010 the hospital requested for pharmaceutical products valued at $8 400 from Larryscope Pharmaceuticals and on February 11, 2011 they supplied the products and the hospital acknowledged receipt of products.

Manokore through the State witnesses, Petros Dhokwani, Reginald Mthombeni Larryscope finace director and Peggy Chengeto Zvavamwe then Harare Central Hospital CEO proved that Stansfield Dhokwani, Nicholas Mnjanja received proceeds of crime while Albert Chisema, Gift Ziyambe and Colleen Makuyana defrauded the hospital.

The State’s first witness Dhokwani gave a blow by blow account of the roles each of them played in the offence which presiding magistrate Barbra Chimbodza applauded the State for in her ruling.

Chisema and Ziyambe forged a letter purportedly emanating from Larryscope Health Care, advising the hospital to transfer all the payments into Dhokwani’s company, Floralsplah Investments’ bank account.

Acting on the misrepresentation the hospital transferred all the money into Floralsplash Investment bank account, after which Dhokwani used the same modus operandi whenever the hospital requested supply of pharmaceuticals from Larryscope.

The State alleges after the hospital had transferred the money, Dhokwani and his accomplice would then withdraw the money and convert it to their own use.

The offence came to light after Larryscope Health Care made a follow up on the debt at the hospital and discovered that payment was made into Dhokwani’s company bank account.

The matter was remanded to today for sentencing.-HMetro

By A Correspondent- Deputy Headmaster of Majini Primary School in Beitbridge, has been fined four head of cattle for insulting and undermining Beitbridge’s Paramount Chief Vho Stauze (David Mbedzi) during a recent sports gala held in the area.

Velempini Hondo was reported to the Chief Matibe of Beitbridge East by the Limpopo Civic Association (LCA) who said they were incensed with people undermining traditional leaders in the area.

He was tried and sentenced on Monday afternoon.

LCA is a cultural, heritage and tradition grouping of people living within Beitbridge and Gwanda districts.

A representative of the LCA, Jabulani Makhado said they decided to report Hondo to headman Siyoka who referred the matter for trial at Chief Matibe’s Court.

“On 26 June, Hondo presented himself in an unbecoming, nuisance, un-respectful, unprofessional and un African to the person of David Mbedzi who is Chief Stauze and was part of the teaching staff attending schools’ sports gala at Luwade Primary.

“During the same occasion, Hondo’s team lost to the one coach by the chief and he then insulted him verbally with obscenities and physically. After which he went away and we then took the matter up as the concerned members of the community and reported to the local Headman Siyoka.

“The head man then referred the matter to Chief Matibe where Hondo pleaded guilty and was fined four herds of cattle and he also paid a $100 admission of guilty fine,” said Makhado.

He said the Chief Matibe Community Court will soon send Summary of Judgment to Ministry of Justice through Magistrate’s court for effecting of judgment.

By A Correspondent- A 21-year-old man died on the spot after he fell from a moving pick-up truck where he had been seated at the edge of the load box. Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, confirmed the incident which occurred in Shangani on Monday at around 5PM.

He said Talent Nyoni of Shangani area was seated at the edge of the loading box of a MadzaT35 truck when the vehicle went over a hump and he fell over.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal accident which occurred in Shangani where a man fell from a T35 truck and died on the spot. Talent Nyoni and three other passengers were seated in a loading box of the vehicle which was being driven by Mosi Masuku (70).

“The vehicle was travelling along a dust road which connects Shangani and Filabusi areas when it approached a hump and Nyoni who was seated at the edge of the loading box slipped and fell off the moving vehicle and died on the spot. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene,” Chief Insp Ndebele said.

He urged motorists to ensure that their passengers were seated properly in the loading box in order to avoid accidents, adding that drivers need to check constantly on the sitting positions of their passengers when travelling.

Chief Insp Ndebele also urged passengers to avoid putting their lives at risk through reckless behaviour such as sitting at the edge of a load box. In another incident, a woman died on the spot while seven other passengers were seriously injured when a vehicle they were travelling in overturned.

Chief Insp Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred near Mthwakazi Business Centre at the 16-kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Kezi Road. He said the vehicle veered off the road and overturned three times.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident which occurred near Mthwakazi Business Centre along Bulawayo-Kezi Road. The driver of the vehicle, an Isuzu Twin Cab, was travelling from Kezi to Bulawayo with eight passengers on board.

“Upon reaching the 16-kilometre peg along the said road, he tried to overtake a vehicle that was in front of him and in the process encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic while another vehicle was approaching.

“The driver tried to move back into his lane but lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and overturned three times,” Chief Insp Ndebele said.

He said a woman died on the spot while seven other passengers sustained varying injuries and were ferried to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for treatment. He said investigations were underway-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- An MDC ward chairperson, Nobody Makoni has been hauled to court by his ex-wife, Beauty Benny for neglecting his 10th child with her.

Appearing before magistrate Sheila Nazombe, Beauty claimed that Makoni earned his salary in foreign currency thus he was able to pay $425 monthly maintenance.

”He works for the Nelson Chamisa-led Movement for Democratic Change and he earns money in foreign currency, I understand that he has 10 children but some are now grown up and they are working whilst some have married. He earns about R18 000 plus additional figures via his Eco Cash,” said Beauty.

However,Makoni told the court that he was not employed at the moment and did not receive any salary in foreign currency.

”Yes, I am a ward Chairperson for the MDC but it’s not a paid job. I am a volunteer. I am not employed and I have other children to look after said Makoni,” said Makoni.

The presiding magistrate ordered Makoni to bring his EcoCash statement to court tomorrow for continuation of trial.-HMetro

Harare magistrate Ms Yeukai Chigodora yesterday cancelled a warrant of arrest she had previously issued to Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Chakari Constituency Andrew Nkani (55) after he failed to show up at court.

Nkani was facing fraud charges.

Asked by Ms Chigodoro why he failed to show up at court on Monday, Nkani responded saying he was told by his lawyer that he was supposed to come back to court on August 6.

Mrs Chigodora cancelled the warrant of arrest and deferred the matter to August 6.

It is alleged that sometime in 2011, the complainant Andrew Karonyo and other 99 teachers, formed a housing cooperative called Progressive Teacher’s Union of Zimbabwe Housing (PTUZ) cooperative.

On January 29 2013, the cooperative was issued with a certificate of registration by the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development. The cooperative started looking for residential stands to allocate to its members.

The court heard that during that same year, Nkani was introduced to Karonyo by officials from the ministry as an approved auditor who had a running project with the City Of Harare.

It is alleged that the Karonyo called for a general meeting with the PTUZ members and invited Nkani as well as officials from the ministry.

The court heard that Nkani advised the PTUZ members that he had 100 residential stands in Budiriro 5 Extension measuring 300 square metres.

He allegedly advised members that to qualify for allocation of the stands, each member was supposed to contribute $800, which added up to $80 000 for members.

It is the State’s case that the whole cooperative agreed and a memorandum of agreement was signed to that effect.

The court heard that in November 2014, the cooperative managed to raise the required $80 000 and part of the money amounting to $63 000 was transferred from PTUZ Housing Cooperative BancABC account into Forward Housing Cooperative Bank account and the difference of $17 000 was paid directly to Nkani as cash.

It is alleged that Nkani acknowledged receipt of all the payments.

The cooperative then engaged Nkani for the allocation of the stands and he started giving some excuses saying he was expecting to get a permit and offer letter from the Harare City Council.

Nkani allegedly advised the cooperative that there were supposed to raise another $2 000 for the development permit to be issued and $5 000 for drawing of water and sewer diagrams.

It is alleged that Nkani further asked the cooperative to raise another $4 000 for the offer letters.

The court heard that the Karonyo kept on asking for the stands from Nkani, who then managed to allocate40 stands.

It is alleged that of the allocated stands, Karonyo discovered that there were double allocations on five stands, but Nkani insisted that the stands were theirs and did not recognise those who were claiming ownership.

It is alleged that the cooperative could not take the stands as they were already developed.

Koronyo, as the chairman of the cooperative, made several efforts to have Nkani handover the outstanding stands and resolve the issue of double allocations, but nothing materialised.

As a result of Nkani’s actions the Koronyo suffered prejudice in the sum of $63 000 and $17000 was recovered.

NewsDay|THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) yesterday unveiled a cocktail of more measures on the administration of fuel, insurance and chrome ore exports, among others, to buttress the local currency regime.

Government last month outlawed the use of multiple currencies and introduced the Zimbabwe dollar, a decade after it became worthless.

In the RBZ Exchange Control Circular Number 8 of 2019, the RBZ said to facilitate increased accessibility of fuel in the country and to reduce pressure on the interbank foreign exchange market, direct fuel imports are now permissible.

This will be by way of allowing licensed oil marketing companies to open and operate nostro foreign currency accounts (FCAs), where corporates shall transfer funds into.

“Oil marketing companies licenced by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority shall be required to open and operate a nostro FCA (transitory) which requires prior exchange control approval, wherein exporting corporates, embassies, non-governmental organisations, international organisations and individual organisations and individuals with access to foreign currency shall transfer funds into,” the RBZ said.

The central bank assured international organisations and embassies staff that their salaries shall continue to be freely transferable into individual nostro foreign currency account at the discretion of the embassy or organisation.

However, the apex bank added that this forex shall be converted to local currency when the individual wants to use it for domestic transactions. The same modus operandi applies to the humanitarian cash transfer programmes, grants and donations.

Furthermore, in line with Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, the RBZ has directed all insurance premiums, including medical insurance payable by both individuals and corporates to local insurance companies or medical aid societies for various products and service, to be paid in local currency.

“For insurance premiums that have already been paid in foreign currency, insurance companies are advised that in the event of a claim, the component of foreign currency reimbursement or payment should be given to the policy holder for purposes of retaining the foreign currency or liquidating to local currency for purposes of paying service providers,” the bank said.

“For risk that the local insurance companies cannot absorb for corporates, as is the current practice, the insurance company should seek the approval of Insurance and Pensions Commission (Ipec) to externalise the risk. Where such approvals are granted by Ipec, the concerned corporate or institution is required to remit the insurance premiums direct to the external insurance company upon obtaining prior exchange control approval.”

Turning to blocked funds, non-repatriated funds to foreign entities or individuals, the RBZ said those to be registered will be for the period January 2016 to February 21, 2019.

These include foreign payments such as disinvestments, loan repayments, payments for goods and services.

“Blocked funds registration shall be limited to non-exporting companies’ institutions and individuals. Government, parastatals and other public institutions are not being registered under this arrangement. Disinvestments proceeds from the Zimbabwe stock exchange shall not be considered under the blocked funds since the remittances are allocated 15% of the available foreign currency on the interbank market in terms of guidelines for utilisation of foreign exchange communicated under circular number 2 of 2019,” the central bank said.

“The window for the submission for the registration of blocked funds, which started in February 2019, shall be closed on August 30, 2019. In this regard, authorised dealers are advised to communicate with their clients who have not yet registered their blocked funds to expeditiously do so before the set deadline.”

The central bank further directed large-scale chrome producers and smelters to pay chrome deliveries from small-scale producers through nostro FCA transfers to enhance operations of chrome ore production and exports.

This means no cash payouts are allowed to small scale chrome producers because they are required to open nostro FCA (exports) for purposes of receiving payment for chrome deliveries.

To ensure timely repatriation of export proceeds, with effect from August 15 this year, any exporter with recoverable overdue export receipts of US$400 000 and above, shall be required to access new export documentation on a prepayment basis.

The High Court ruling that the Zimbabwe Newspapers and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation were biased in favour of Zanu PF in their coverage of the 2018 election vindicates the MDC position that the last plebiscite was rigged.

Apart from the machinations of ZEC, which astonishingly revised downwards its own figures three times before announcing a fudged poll result, the ruling by the High Court simply casts aspersions on the credibility of the 2018 election.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, the High Court ruled that during the 2018 elections, Zimpapers and ZBC, the biggest media houses in the country, conducted themselves in a manner that was in breach of the Constitution. The High Court ruled that the two media houses were not impartial.

It is profound that the High Court said the two media houses failed to comply with the Constitution, which demands that they afford equal and impartial coverage to all contesting candidates and parties.

The MDC has been calling for a comprehensive reform agenda, including media reforms, to ensure that Zimbabwe’s elections are vaccinated from the errant behavior of national institutions that brazenly support Zanu PF in violation of the national constitution.

The High Court thus vindicates the MDC position, in particular its RELOAD document whose signposts to legitimacy include political pressure, genuine and sincere dialogue, a national transitional mechanism, a comprehensive reform agenda and free and fair elections.

ZBC and Zimpapers are national institutions that must simply comply with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. They must provide fair and equal coverage to all contesting parties.

In the last election, Mr. Mnangagwa and Zanu PF were accorded unfettered coverage while the MDC and its leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, received scant coverage, if at all.

It is our firm belief that the public media failed to discharge their mandate. This hugely contributed to the illegitimate 2018 lection which perpetuated the country’s vicious cycle of disputed elections. The 2018 election then bred an illegitimate outcome and an equally illegitimate leader.

The unfortunate net result of this compounded illegitimacy is the current economic crisis and the attendant power, fuel, and cash shortages, among other national challenges.

The MDC believes in a return to legitimacy as the only prudent way forward. Such legitimacy can only be achieved through a free and fair election. The party will unstintingly follow its roadmap that will be ignited by peaceful political pressure until a free and fair election is held.

It is only a legitimate government that can begin to prudently transact the people’s business in a manner that will positively transform the lives of ordinary citizens.

MDC: Change that delivers.

Luke Tamborinyoka
MDC Deputy National Spokesperson

Minister of tourism Prisca Mupfumira, has spent the day officially being held for questioning by a newly-empowered anti-corruption commission. 

Mupfumira was detained on Thursday morning over the alleged disappearance of millions of dollars at the country’s pension fund when she was social welfare minister.

She is the first senior government official to be held by the commission which was overhauled by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on July 15.

“We can confirm that the minister of tourism is currently in our custody for questioning and possible due processes,” the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said in a brief statement on Thursday. It did not give any details.

According to Zimbabwean laws, a suspect must appear in court within 48 hours after his or her arrest.

Mupfumira, a senior member of the ruling ZANU-PF party, previously oversaw the $1bn state pension fund. She was fired by former President Robert Mugabe in weeks before a military-led coup that toppled him in November 2017. 

She was reappointed after Mugabe’s removal and given a new portfolio. 

In an audit report in June, the ZACC has accused several prominent officials of abuse of funds. The scandal has been labelled as the “National Social Security Authority Scandal”.

The anti-corruption commission was given the power to arrest suspects, but critics question whether it will be effective.

The opposition cast doubt on Mnangagwa’s decision to appoint High Court Judge Loice Matanda-Moyo as the commission’s chair, alleging a potential conflict of interest because she is married to Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo, the retired army general who announced the coup against Mugabe.

By A Correspondent| A local church pastor yesterday admitted to stealing a cell phone after conducting home prayer session.

Denzel Chimusewu pleaded guilty to theft of trust property when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda.

The man of cloth told the court that he took the cell phone and converted it into his own use because he was in desperate need of money after receiving news that his uncle was robbed.

The matter was deferred to today for sentencing.

The State had it that on July 5, Chimusewu stole a Samsung J5 handset from Sarah Marwodzi after he had gone to conduct prayers at her residence in Epworth.

Chisemu is alleged to have asked for the phone to make a quick call before disappearing with it.

Further allegations are that, on July 22, the complainant met the accused at Chiremba Shops leading to his arrest.

The cell phone valued at $750 has not been recovered.-HMetro

Government has embarked on several mining projects including resuscitating mines that have closed shop to achieve the target of $12 billion for the mining sector by 2023 set by President Mnangagwa, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando has said.

The target is fivefold the $2,7 billion realised in the mining sector in 2017. Addressing Zanu-PF supporters in Mashava over the weekend, Minister Chitando said the increased target was in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of creating an upper middle income economy by 2030.

“We are working to realise the vision of our President to ensure that Zimbabwe becomes an upper middle income economy by 2030,” said Minister Chitando.

Following the revival of the Zimbabwean Dollar, the country needs to embark on massive gold and other minerals production in order to keep the currency floating.

This target will remain the biggest dream that Zimbabwe can have at the moment.

Former Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister, Ambrose Mutinhiri will see his tractors go under the hammer to settle a $54 000 debt with the State-owned power utility, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).

Mutinhiri was dragged to court over an outstanding $54 798,86 debt to ZETDC and the Sheriff of the High Court will today put his two tractors under the hammer to recover the money.

According to a notice in the local Press yesterday, a Massey Ferguson 5365 tractor and a John Deere tractor 1850N are set to be auctioned and sold to the

highest bidder at Newton Farm along Hwedza Road.

In its application at the High Court, ZETDC claimed that Mutinhiri owed the power company $54 798,86 for power supplied to his Milton Farm in Marondera and at one Barbara Mutinhiri’s residence.

The ZEDTC lawyers stated that Mutinhiri had failed, neglected or refused to pay the sum due, despite written demand.

The power distributor stated that, as a result of Mutinhiri’s failure to abide by the parties agreement, it was now seeking payment of the whole outstanding

amount, including interest at the prescribed rate, which would be calculated from the date of issue of the summons to date of payment in full, plus cost of the legal suit.

Zimbabwe has been experiencing massive power cuts lasting for up to 18 hours due to failure to clear debts with neighbouring countries to enable Zesa to import more electricity in the face of reduced generation due to dwindling water levels in Lake Kariba.

Farai Dziva|Farming policies in Zimbabwe are now outdated, the MDC has said.

The party is in the process of crafting new farming policies.

Below is a statement compiled by the MDC Secretary for Agriculture :

The agriculture sector has become a point of weakness in the Zimbabwean economy where over five million Zimbabweans are food-insecure despite billions public funds being invested in the sector.

Even in a season of good rains, the country continues to produce way below two tonnes per hectare compared to countries like Zambia and Malawi.

The farming model is terrible, outdated and archaic.

The introduction of command agriculture more than anything has been a cover up for patronage networks of the military State. Agriculture has become a cover up for State capture and shady transactions between state actors and cartels.

Parliament exposed the rot in the past week when it was revealed that just under USD 3 Billion was siphoned from treasury under the guise of funding command agriculture. Both the permanent secretary and the head of accounts in the Ministry of Agriculture expressed ignorance about the money.

The money amounted to 75% percent of the total national annual budget. That 75% can disappear in the name of agriculture is unacceptable.

Then came the corruption around the sale of command agriculture maize at an exaggerated price of 390 per tonne at GMB. The pricing was meant to benefit Zanu PF politicians who are maize producers while bankrupting the country through GMB.

Zimbabwe’s approach to agriculture is not only ineffective, with outdated models but also a dog’s breakfast. Those in Zanu PF are behaving in the sector like cat fish mudding the water then loot in the chaos.

At the end of the day there is no food security, there is no response to climate change and the State is bankrupted by cartels colluding with those in power.

To solve the crisis in Agriculture, the MDC restates the following:

1. Bringing finality to the land question, at the present moment people are still fighting over land there is evidence to this effect. We restate that there must be a land audit to ascertain ownership and productive capacity as well as issuing of title to current occupants.
2. Financing agricultural infrastructure: In order to fully empower the newly resettled farmers there is need for seasonal, capital and land loans which can be provided by commercial banks as well as the Rural Development Fund.
3. Agricultural markets: It is crucial that markets for agricultural produce be restored. The current situation in the tobacco industry is unfortunate, must be curbed. Marketing for cereal produce such as maize, wheat must be given a priority.
4. Investment in equipment: A functional and organized farm must have access to farming mechanisation for tillage, harvesting and transportation, storage will be vital for driving agriculture.
5. Harnessing water resources for agriculture: More than 80% of our arable land relies on rain-fed farming but do not have access to proper irrigation facilities.
6. Access to agricultural inputs: There must be incentives for local blending of compound fertilizers, and exploration of long-term opportunities for cheaper and more sustainable domestic production. Financial support for seed and fertilizer production must be transparently and inclusively offered while constraints on the revival of local input supply industries must be removed.
7. Irrigation intensification and expansion: Improved irrigation is critical to increasing agricultural productivity. Investments in irrigation and a shift from dry land to irrigated agriculture is required.
8. Ensure both use and exchange value for land through the introduction of a regulated land market. MDC: (1999 – 2019) Celebrating 20 Years of Tenacity and Courage

Hon. Rusty Markham
MDC Secretary for Agriculture
Contact: +263772278460

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Farai Dziva|Former ZBC presenter, Ezra Tshisa Sibanda, has urged the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission to pull all high profile criminals behind bars.

See Sibanda’s argument: The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has taken Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira on alleged corruption charges.

According to ZACC , The Minister of Tourism has been taken in and is currently in their custody.

I hope the new ZACC will do better than the previous which was good at arresting and achieving little or no conviction.

All the sharks previously accused of corruption are still walking scot free.

All the corrupt thieves should be behind bars no matter who they are or what position they hold.

ZACC should also investigate sports bodies, Zifa, Cricket, SRC etc. ..

By A Correspondent- A 21-year-old man died on the spot after he fell from a moving pick-up truck where he had been seated at the edge of the load box. Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, confirmed the incident which occurred in Shangani on Monday at around 5PM.

He said Talent Nyoni of Shangani area was seated at the edge of the loading box of a MadzaT35 truck when the vehicle went over a hump and he fell over.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal accident which occurred in Shangani where a man fell from a T35 truck and died on the spot. Talent Nyoni and three other passengers were seated in a loading box of the vehicle which was being driven by Mosi Masuku (70).

“The vehicle was travelling along a dust road which connects Shangani and Filabusi areas when it approached a hump and Nyoni who was seated at the edge of the loading box slipped and fell off the moving vehicle and died on the spot. The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene,” Chief Insp Ndebele said.

He urged motorists to ensure that their passengers were seated properly in the loading box in order to avoid accidents, adding that drivers need to check constantly on the sitting positions of their passengers when travelling.

Chief Insp Ndebele also urged passengers to avoid putting their lives at risk through reckless behaviour such as sitting at the edge of a load box. In another incident, a woman died on the spot while seven other passengers were seriously injured when a vehicle they were travelling in overturned.

Chief Insp Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred near Mthwakazi Business Centre at the 16-kilometre peg along the Bulawayo-Kezi Road. He said the vehicle veered off the road and overturned three times.

“I can confirm that we recorded a fatal road accident which occurred near Mthwakazi Business Centre along Bulawayo-Kezi Road. The driver of the vehicle, an Isuzu Twin Cab, was travelling from Kezi to Bulawayo with eight passengers on board.

“Upon reaching the 16-kilometre peg along the said road, he tried to overtake a vehicle that was in front of him and in the process encroached onto the lane of oncoming traffic while another vehicle was approaching.

“The driver tried to move back into his lane but lost control of the vehicle which veered off the road and overturned three times,” Chief Insp Ndebele said.

He said a woman died on the spot while seven other passengers sustained varying injuries and were ferried to the United Bulawayo Hospitals for treatment. He said investigations were underway.-StateMedia

Farai Dziva| MDC Alliance MP Willias Madzimure on Tuesday called on Constantino Chiwenga or his counterpart Kembo Mohadi come to Parliament to explain the current power cuts.

Madzimure is the MP for Kambuzuma.

“The issue of power cuts has gone to a serious level and people are now mugged in the industries while going or coming from work because it will be dark and there have been a lot of deaths due to use of gas, (while) the prices of gas are very high.

It is common knowledge that there will not be inflows of water to Kariba Dam and can one of the VPs come and address this House to inform the nation on whether the government has failed to solve this problem,” said Madzimure.

ZACC has the best chairperson ever in the history of Zimbabwe @bbmhlanga @iMisred @ChronicleZim @263Chat @cnbcafrica @nickmangwana @TogarepiPupurai @Butroes @SABCNewsOnline

— Lewis matutu (@MatutuLewis) July 25, 2019

1. She is the current Tourism and Hospitality minister and is a Senator for Mashonaland West province.

2.In December 2014, Mupfumira was appointed Minister of Public Services, Labour and Social Welfare, replacing Nicholas Goche.

3. She is a Zanu Pf Politburo member .

4. She was first implicated in corruption at NSSA by Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa in parliament in 2018. Mliswa accused Mupfumira of graft arguing that her political connections to the presidium made her untouchable. He said this when he was chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy.

5. She was named as one of the corrupt officials by the Zanu Pf youth league and her name appeared together with other political heavyweights including Jorum Gumbo, Obert Mpofu and RBZ Governor John Pagwesese Mangudya on a list published by Lewis Matutu a few weeks ago.

6. During her tenure as Public service minister, Mupfumira reportedly ordered the reinstatement of corrupt officials at PSMAS in 2015. She ordered PSMAS board chairman Jeremiah Bvirindi to reinstate suspended managing director Henry Mandishona despite him facing a slew of allegations, including prejudicing the financially crippled institution of nearly US$300 000 in a space of four months.

7. She has been on an intense Zimbabwe Tourism marketing campaign this year. In 2019, she visited Dubai to market Zimbabwe, Cape Verde to attend the 1st UNWTO Ministerial Conference, England, to increase engagement with citizens domiciled in Europe to encourage them to come and invest back in the country, particularly in the tourism sector.

We are expecting prosecution this time…… The @nssazw forensic audit has all the evidence https://t.co/AtCaDD8w1R

— Hon. Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 25, 2019

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By A Correspondent- STATE-controlled media acted unconstitutionally by reporting in an impartial manner during the 2018 general election, a High Court judge has ruled.

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC) and Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) through their titles Herald, Chronicle among others were found to have failed to live up to their constitutional obligations by High Court judge, Justice Joseph Mafusire.

In a matter that was opposed by both Zimpapers and ZBC, Justice Mafusire ruled in favour Fitinne Trust and two others, who argued that the media groups were heavily biased in their reportage and failed to accommodate dissenting views, violating the Constitution.

“It is hereby declared that ZBC and Zimpapers have conducted themselves in material breach of section 61 of the Constitution in that they have not been impartial and free to determine independently the editorial content of their broadcasts or other communication and they have not afforded fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions,” reads part of a July 19 judgment released yesterday at the Masvingo High Court.

Justice Mafusire without being specific also ordered that Zimpapers and ZBC ensure that they stick to their constitutional mandate

“ZBC and Zimpapers are hereby ordered and directed to excise impartiality and independence in the editorial duties and free to determine independently the
editorial content if their broadcasts or other communication and to afforded fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions
by ensuring that their communications do not show bias in favour for one political party or its candidates against others,” reads the judgment.

Media bias, especially by State-controlled and owned media was a major highlight in the reports by election observer missions, which were accredited to observed the 2018 general elections.

Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn), in a comprehensive compendium of the election observer mission recommendations, noted that there was a need to license more players, especially in broadcast to cater for dissenting and opposing views.

“General standards on freedom and independence of the media apply, the liberalisation of licensing is one of the ways that these obligations can be realised in practice,” Zesn said.

By A Correspondent- Tourism and Hospitality minister, Prisca Mupfumira, has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission (ZACC) where she is reportedly being questioned.

The ZACC, led by Justice Loice Matanda Moyo confirmed Mupfumira’s “arrest” adding that the organisation was not in a position to speak about the development but would issue a statement to the media as the day progressed.

Reports indicate Mupfumira, who before her current Cabinet post was Labour and Social Welfare Minister, has been nabbed on allegations of corruption and abuse of office at NSSA.

Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa is on record accusing Mupfumira of graft which he claimed was unearthed by the auditor general Mildred Chiri’s NSSA forensic audit.

The NSSA report, which was supposed to be tabled before parliament has however been missing and the current Public Services minister Sekai Nzenza has come under fire for “refusing” to table the report to parliament as required by the law.

In her response to parliament, Nzenza is on record saying she had no legal obligation to present the report.

She said:

“I caught the tail-end of the question, but I know what the question
is about. It is about when I will present the results of the NSSA forensic audit I tabled here. I have now done enough consultation; there is no legal obligation for me to table it. However, I can table it once annually. If they read it – I can present it only once on an annual basis, that is what it says.”

On Wednesday, legislators suggested that Nzenza should be charged with contempt of parliament for failing to execute her mandate and present the NSSA report before parliament as required by the law.

While ZACC did not disclose the specific nature of the charges that Mupfumira is facing, inside sources confirmed that the net is closing in on the tourism minister for graft at NSSA.

By A Correspondent- ZANU-PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu has said the Gukurahundi issue was resolved in 1987 with the signing of the Unity Accord and apologising for the mass killings will needlessly open old wounds.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has been cited as one of the architects of Gukurahundi as State Security minister at the time, has refused to be drawn into apologising for the massacres after shifting blame on his predecessor, Robert Mugabe.

“The Gukurahundi issue was resolved on December 22, 1987 by former President R G Mugabe and the late Vice-President (Joshua) Nkomo. If discussions on Gukurahundi are to happen, Zanu-PF, as the custodians of the Unity Accord, should define the agenda and own the process,” Mpofu wrote in a column titled Exploring the Causes of Gukurahundi (Part 2) published by a State-owned publication.

“Finally, let bygones be bygones. If the government is to be dragged into formally apologising, this will open closed wounds, which may be catastrophic to the party and government.” 

In June, traditional leaders from Matabeleland and Midlands met Mnangagwa at Bulawayo’s State House, where they demanded an apology for the Gukurahundi massacres.

In March, the President met the clergy and civic society groups, where the issue of an apology was also topical.

In an interview yesterday, Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni said Mpofu was offside in saying an apology was inessential.

“We are saying it was genocide and there is no such thing as a Unity Accord, government or agreement that can erase genocide. All the arguments put forward by Mpofu show lack of understanding of the issue. He is talking of the political perspective, yet we are talking of a legal issue,” Ndiweni said.

“We are talking about a legal issue. If I may give an example; should we find the bones of a Gukurahundi victim, those bones become a scene of a crime and if the person who committed the crime is located, there is no Unity Accord to the crime committed, there is no agreement, there is no politics that comes into play, but the law will simply take its course.”

In November last year, Chief Vezi Mafu (Maduna) of Filabusi petitioned the United Nations (UN) seeking the setting up of an independent inquiry into the Gukurahundi massacres.

In February this year, Matabeleland chiefs wrote to the South African Parliament, requesting permission to be allowed to present “facts” about the 1980s mass killings in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces to lobby the regional powerhouse to push for an independent investigation into the atrocities.

In his article, Mpofu – while admitting that Gukurahundi left victims “with permanent psychological and physical injuries” – suggests that the victims had healed and moved on following the signing of the Unity Accord.

“One of the most tragic effects of events in the 1980s is that it served to harden ethnic and political differences in Zimbabwe, resulting in ethno-political polarisation, which has continued to characterise Zimbabwe’s present day political and social landscape,” Mpofu wrote.

“What has remained contentious among many scholars is the fundamental question which asks if Zanu-PF is perceived to be a symbol of fear and violence, yet it has continuously won more parliamentary seats during elections in those areas that were hit most by Gukurahundi…

“Given the above fundamental questions, this paper proposes two broad assumptions for this reality: (a) The people who were affected by Gukurahundi accept that the issue was resolved by former President R G Mugabe and the late Vice-President J N Nkomo. More importantly, they have healed and moved on and are now focused on the future and not on the past.”

The article, however, drew scorn from Zapu, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) and Ibhetshu LikaZulu pressure group that have been in the forefront of demanding redress for the Gukurahundi massacres.

“We are aware that Mpofu’s sentiments about the Gukurahundi-Genocide could be a way of trying to buy his sympathy since the Zanu-PF youths are up in arms against Mpofu, who they continuously accuse of corruption,” MRP president Mqondisi Moyo commented.

Ibhetshu LikaZulu co-ordinator Mbuso Fuzwayo added: “He must go hang.”

Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa noted: “He (Mpofu) has no moral leg to stand on and talk of the infamous Unity Accord, for he is part of the killing machine that arm-twisted our leadership in 1987 into signing a document that was never negotiated by Zapu.

“There is no way the Unity Accord could have dealt with a crime of genocide.”

Mnangagwa has announced a cocktail of measures in address the issue such as facilitating exhumations and reburials.

By A Correspondent- Government has set up an inter-ministerial taskforce to deal with the fuel and energy crises which have seen most companies closing shop and production declining.

Addressing a post Cabinet Press conference on Wednesday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the committee, which will comprise of Energy minister Fortune Chasi, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube as well as Industry and Commerce minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu has been tasked to come up with mechanisms to deal with the crises.

“Cabinet was briefed on the fuel and energy supply situation in the country by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Sekai Nzenza as the acting Minister of Energy and Power Development.

The minister informed Cabinet that a total of 40 million litres of the combined fuel product is currently being pumped into the country. On the power front, it was reported that the Minister of Energy and Power Development (Fortune Chasi) is currently in South Africa for electricity supply negotiations with Eskom.

The nation will be appraised of the outcome of the negotiations at an appropriate time. In the meantime, Cabinet resolved to set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee to work closely with the Energy and Power Development minister in order to facilitate a collective approach in the resolution of the prevailing power and energy supply challenges,” Mutsvangwa said.

Zimbabwe has been experiencing long hours of darkness due to low power generation at the Kariba Dam due to low water levels. Long fuel queues have also become the norm.

Cabinet also considered a preliminary report by Finance minister on the 2019 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review.

The fiscal policy review confirmed the position that as a consequence of the reform measures being undertaken by government, the country’s economy was now heading towards macro-economic stabilisation.

However, a more comprehensive presentation on the subject matter will be made to Parliament during the minister’s mid-year fiscal review and supplementary budget statement scheduled for July 31, 2019,” Mutsvangwa said.-Newsday