Washington, July 12: US President Donald Trump on Thursday reportedly claimed that Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has died. According to Yahoo News White House correspondent Hunter Walker, Donald Trump declared Arnold Schwarzenegger dead during his speech at a social media summit at the White House. Here it may be noted that Schwarzenegger is alive.
Donald Trump and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Photo Credits: Getty Images)
“Arnold Schwarzenegger… You know what? He died… I was there,” Walker quoted Trump as saying. “The president was talking about Apprentice ratings when he quipped that Schwarzenegger ‘died.’ Real life and death stuff,”
Walker said in another tweet. The former professional body-builder reacted to his “death news” with a dig at Trump with whom his ongoing feud is no secret.
“I’m still here. Want to compare tax returns, @realDonaldTrump?” Schwarzenegger tweeted.
Trump has been at loggerheads with former California Governor since 2016, when Schwarzenegger, a Republican, announced in 2016 that he would not be casting his vote for Trump. “For the first time since I became a citizen in 1983, I will not vote for the Republican candidate for President,” he had said in his statement.
Thando Mahlangu was allegedly publicly humiliated and kicked out of the Gautrain station in Johannesburg because his traditional garb was deemed ‘inappropriate’.
The stage is set for a South African Equality Court hate speech battle between the Gautrain operators and an Ndebele cultural activist, who was allegedly kicked off the rapid transit train because of his traditional attire last year.
The Citizen reported in November last year how Thando Mahlangu was allegedly publicly humiliated and kicked out of the Gautrain station in Johannesburg because his traditional garb was deemed “inappropriate”.
The 34-year-old, from KwaMhlanga in the former KwaNdebele homeland, had taken the train from Pretoria to Johannesburg and went about his errands. On his return, Mahlangu was told he was no longer welcome aboard the train.
Gautrain operators, Bombela Concession Company, have since apologised to Mahlangu but the cultural activist would have none of it and demands R1.5 million in damages for humiliation.
Mahlangu’s lawyer, Nqabayethu Buthelezi, said they have been given July 25 as the date of the preliminary hearing, which he said was for the Equality Court to iron out administrative issues.
He said their replying affidavit will be filed by Monday.
“This matter has taken long and we are fired up that it will finally be heard. What encourages us is that the Equality Court is quite fast and, once the hearing starts, the matter should be wrapped up in no time,” Buthelezi said.
Mahlangu’s lawyers argue that his right to dignity was violated, he was humiliated in public just for being himself, denied a public service and was instead treated like a criminal.
Kesagee Nayager, Bombela Concession Company spokesperson, confirmed receipt of the notice to appear in court.
“We respect the rule of the law and will await for the court’s outcome in this regard,” she said.
Mahlangu said he was hopeful that his dignity will be restored by the court, saying he was deeply hurt by the incident, which he said made him feel small in his proud attire.
“Not only was my dignity hurt but also that of my people, AmaNdebele and that of Africans. I wondered how many people have experienced this and did not stand up for their rights. I will not back down. I will see this through,” he said.
He called on people to dress up in their traditional attires and support him on this David and Goliath legal tussle.
The Malawian Constitutional Court is set to start hearing a petition seeking to nullify presidential election results on July 29 amid revelations that Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has failed to comply with the order on disclosure of information, including documents they used to declarer the presidential winner in the in the May 21 Elections.
Disgraced MEC chairperson Jane Ansah and her commissioners.
MEC is the second respondent in a case which President Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is the first respondent while the country’s immediate past vice-president Saulos Chilima of UTM Party is the first petitioner with Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera as second petitioner.
Chilima and Chakwera are challenging the presidential vote and seeking nullification.
Court documents which indicate that having been ordered on 27 June 2019, to disclose and produce the documents directed by the judges within 11 days, MEC has not complied with the said order by failing to produce the documents.
MEC according to the Court has failed to produce original presidential results sheets for all the 5002 polling centres (Form 66C equivalent to the popular V11 Forms in Zimbabwe) duly signed by poll officials and other agents of candidates and or political parties including those of the second petitioner.
The Jane Ansah led electoral commission has also failed to produce original presidential results tally sheets, list of polling centres and results per each polling centre constituency.
The court also ordered MEC to produce presidential tally sheets for all the 28 districts (Form 73C) but has also failed.
MEC has also failed to produce log books for 12 districts of Thyolo, Blantyre, Machinga, Phalombe, Mulanje, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mangochi, Lilongwe, Dedza, Nkhotakota and Rumphi.
The court ordered MEC to produce list of Data entry clerks but again they have failed to submit the list.
While MEC has not submitted the documents, lawyers representing President Mutharika complained to the court that Chilima has not complied with an order to file “paginated bundles” to their client by July 1 this year.
In a petition dated July 9 2019, private practice lawyer Frank Mbeta submits that Chilima’s legal team has not shared the documents they will rely on in court.
But lawyer George Mtchuka Mwale of Chilima’s legal team said they complied with the court order by filing all relevant documents.
Mbeta said he has received Chakwera’s paginated bundle.
On June 27, the court directed parties to the case to exchange or serve each other relevant documents, including responses, before July 29 when hearing of the substantive matter to the case is set to start.
Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda certified the case as a constitutional matter and assigned a five-judge panel comprising Healey Potani, Mike Tembo, Dingiswayo Madise, Ivy Kamanga and Redson Kapindu.
Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko yesterday dismissed an application for refusal of further remand by MDC legislator for Kuwadzana East Chalton Hwende. Hwende is charged with subverting a constitutionally-elected Government.
His lawyer, Mr Reginald Mutero, submitted that the State would suffer no prejudice if his client was removed from remand. He told the court that the State was failing to furnish a trial date on time, thereby violating his client’s constitutional rights.
Mr Mutero said the State could just call Hwende back to court by way of summons. “The State cannot use the remand process to violate the accused person’s rights,” he said.
Mr Mutero said according to the Constitution, his client has the right for a speedy trial.
The State opposed Hwende’s application, arguing that he was facing a very serious offence which requires vigorous investigations and formalities before he could be furnished with a trial date.
In dismissing the application, Mrs Mateko said Hwende was facing a serious offence. She said investigations in the matter could not be taken lightly since it was not a simple case.
“Four months cannot be taken as a delay considering the complexity of the matter,” said Mrs Mateko. “The court is satisfied by the progress made by the State so far, therefore the application is dismissed.”
Mrs Mateko deferred the matter to August 19.
It is alleged that during the period extending from December 28 to 31, 2018, Hwende posted on his Twitter handle messages that in their nature had the effect of inciting people to revolt against Government both in his personal capacity and as a Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana East constituency.
State Media|THE High Court erred in various respects when it cleared businessman Wicknell Chivayo of fraud in a case he allegedly swindled Government of $5,6 million and that the State has excellent prospects of success on appeal, the Supreme Court ruled this week.
High Court judge Justice Owen Tagu recently cleared Chivayo of any liability in the $5,6 million fraud charge involving Zimbabwe Power Company’s Gwanda project.
Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi successfully sought leave to contest the decision at the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court judge Justice Bharat Patel this week allowed the PG to appeal the High Court decision saying Justice Tagu had erred.
Justice Patel ruled that all the four grounds of appeal raised by the State were meritorious.
“To conclude, I am satisfied that all the grounds of appeal in this matter, as amended, carry good prospects of success as the intended appeal before this court. The application for leave to appeal accordingly succeeds . . .”
Justice Patel found that the charge sheet and State outline in Chivayo’s case disclosed an offence and that the High Court had erred in ruling otherwise.
“In the premises, I take the view that the learned judge a quo misdirected himself in finding that the facts alleged in the charge sheet and State outline do not disclose an offence.
“Consequently, he erred by upholding the exception to the charges of fraud levelled against the respondents, quashing those charges and acquitting the respondents , on a view of the facts that could not reasonably be entertained . . .
“On a proper view of those facts, he could not reasonably have inferred the innocence of the respondents,” he said.
It was also the Supreme Court’s finding that the High Court also erred in finding that the matter was civil and that criminal charges could not be preferred against Chivayo.
“I am of the firm view that the learned judge a quo misdirected himself at law and in making the foregoing findings and consequently holding that the State could not resort to the institution of criminal proceedings in circumstances where the facts alleged, if proven, clearly demonstrated the commission of fraud by the respondents. I am satisfied that the second ground of appeal has excellent prospects of success on appeal,” ruled Justice Patel.
The Supreme Court also held that Justice Tagu had interfered with unterminated proceedings in the magistrate’s court, which is another strong ground of appeal.
“In short, the learned judge a quo erred at law in interfering with unterminated criminal proceedings, in the absence of exceptional circumstances warranting such intervention.
“It follows that the fourth and final ground of appeal also holds sufficient prospects of success on appeal,” the Supreme Court ruled.
Chivhayo is being represented by Advocates Lewis Uriri and Slyvester Hashiti instructed by Mr Wilson Manase of Manase and Partners.
Mr Chivayo was charged with three counts of fraud, while the other two counts of breaching Exchange Control Regulations suffered a stillbirth, shortly before the trial commenced.
State Media|Government yesterday slammed an attack by opposition protesters on a Zimbabwean delegation in London led by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Busi Moyo, who is on a four-day re-engagement programme to strengthen ties and lure investors.
In a statement, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service Mr Nick Mangwana, who is part of the delegation, described the attack as tragic and embarrassing to peace-loving Zimbabweans.
“The delegation in London had great engagements with different stakeholders. Government of Zimbabwe condemns the violent attacks against the delegation by a group of opposition protesters outside Chatham House in London. It’s tragic that the sceptre of violence during protests we see in Zimbabwe forcing the security services to act has reared its ugly head in foreign land discrediting, not the Government, but the hoodlums themselves and embarrassing peace-loving Zimbabweans,” said Mr Mangwana.
“The attacks have not, however, disrupted Minister SB Moyo’s successful engagements in the UK in any way. Undeterred, his programme continued with fruitful meetings with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, investors and tonight we end with engaging a progressive Zimbabwean Diaspora and other key stakeholders, whose support for our country’s economic and political reform efforts remains steadfast.
“The Government of Zimbabwe remains committed to peaceful dialogue with all parties, with a view to building our country around shared values, including the principles of respectful disagreement and non-violence. We affirm the right of Zimbabweans to protest but to do so peacefully.”
Minister Moyo was attacked by placard-waving protesters who were demanding the release of MDC-Alliance national deputy chairperson Mr Job Sikhala who has been arraigned before the courts for allegedly trying to subvert a constitutionally-elected Government.
The charges stemmed from a rally in which he addressed opposition supporters in Bikita last weekend where he called for the overthrowing of President Mnangagwa before 2023 when his current term officially ends.
In a video clip that went viral on social media, Minister Moyo is seen battling to get into his waiting official car with aides pushing away his attackers who were mostly women donning the Zimbabwean flag.
The paltry crowd could be seen showering the delegation with bottled water and calling the delegation names.
On Thursday, Minister Moyo had lunch with the powerful Westminster Africa Business Group in London where he invited them to grab investment opportunities that were abound in Zimbabwe.
The Westminster Africa Business Group, which brings together politicians and businesses in the interests of the UK and Africa, has been doing that since 1947.
Yesterday, Minister Moyo addressed business leaders at the Royal Institute of International Affairs also known as Chatham House.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr Kindness Paradza said it was a shame that the MDC thugs had allowed to be used by the country’s detractors to scuttle the re-engagement programme.
“It is very unfortunate that our citizens allowed themselves to be used by those who don’t want to see this administration succeeding. What they fail to understand is that the very same minister whom they attacked and abused is currently pushing to avail to all our citizens in the Diaspora, primary documents such as birth and death certificates, identification cards and passports, through our embassies that are dotted around the world.
“Actually, London had been identified as one of the venues to launch this program. Both Minister SB Moyo and his Home Affairs Minister counterpart (Ambassador) Cain Mathema had committed themselves to preside over the launch.
“But because of this hooliganism, which we strongly condemn as Parliament, my fear now is that London may miss this opportunity,” said Mr Paradza.
He added that his Committee, which is championing the Zimbabwe Investment and development Agency Bill, had made provisions to include incentives for Diasporans wishing to invest back home, and the agenda was being pushed by Minister Moyo.
“Shame on you all those who took part in this criminal act,” said Mr Paradza.
A NUMBER of pupils who have not paid school fees at Barham Green (BG) Primary School in Bulawayo were yesterday chucked out of class while others wrote end of term examinations.
The pupils were put in separate classrooms or asked to play outside while others remained for the examinations.
It is against Government policy to send pupils home or punish them for failing to pay school fees or levies. Pupils whose parents fail to pay school fees and levies, according to the policy, should be allowed to attend classes while school authorities take measures to force defaulting parents to pay.
A Chronicle news crew arrived at the school and witnessed some of the pupils playing outside while others were in the classrooms writing examinations.
Parents condemned the practice which they said started on Tuesday when examinations commenced. “My child in Grade 6 was not allowed to write the end of term examinations since Tuesday because I have not been able to pay his school fees,” said one of the parents.
Parents were in disagreement with the act, saying the school authorities were infringing on their children’s rights to education.
They further expressed concern over the economic situation which hindered them from paying school fees on time.
Acting Bulawayo Provincial Education Director (PED) Mrs Olicah Kaira said school authorities are not allowed to chase pupils from school due to non-payment of fees.State media
Barcelona have signed France striker Antoine Griezmann from La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid after paying his 120m euros (£107m) buyout clause.
The Frenchman will sign a five-year deal, the club announced on Friday.
“Barcelona has paid the 120 million euro buyout clause to release Antoine Griezmann from Atlético Madrid,” reads a statement on Barca’s official website.
“The player will sign a contract with his new club for the next five seasons, through to 30 June 2024, with a buyout clause of 800 million euros.”
Griezmann made 257 appearances at Atletico, scoring 133 goals. He won a Spanish Cup, Europa League and UEFA Super Cup with the club.Soccer24Zimbabwe
TURKISH topflight side Yeni Malatyaspor have confirmed the signing of Kaizer Chiefs defender Teenage Hadebe on a two-year deal.
Hadebe did get regular playing time last season under Ernst Middendorp although some Chiefs fans appeared to question whether he was the right fit in central defence.
The 23-year-old was at times guilty of giving away silly fouls and generally did not seem to win over the Amakhosi faithful.
The Bulawayo-born star made 19 appearances in all competitions in what was a season of disappointment for the Middendorp-coached outfit.
Nonetheless, it seems he has been shipped out to Malatyaspor though Chiefs are yet to officially confirm his departure.
The Turkish club’s official website said: “EY Malatyaspor tied the colours of Zimbabwean national team stopper Teenage Hadebe and Australian midfielder Luke Brattan.
“Transfer work continues without interruption for EY Malatyaspor, two players have been added to the squad. “South African team Kaizer Chiefs’ Zimbabwean defender Teenage Hadebe, who (has signed) a two-year contract. The 23-year-old is expected to join the camp today.” — Sport24.co.za
SUSPENDED Zifa board member Chamu Chiwanza has vowed to challenge the decision by the association’s emergency committee and says he will also spill the beans over what happens at 53 Livingstone Avenue.
Former Zifa vice-president, Omega Sibanda, who was also fingered by the association as fanning trouble in the game, said he knew the procedures to follow to clear his name and would only wait for the conclusion of the process started by the Sports Commission.
Chiwanza, who was suspended following an emergency committee meeting on Wednesday, is set to appear for a hearing to answer various charges. These include his contested nomination for the post of the Zifa board member, instigating anarchy in the Warriors camp during the recent Afcon sojourn in Egypt and plotting to destabilise the current board.
“These are fabricated allegations by people who are trying to run away from taking responsibility for their deficiencies,’’ Chiwanza said.State media
MISUSE of farming inputs by some criminal elements, insufficient seed and lack of proper machinery have rendered most prison farms idle with little production that is insufficient to feed the ballooning prison population.
A number of Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) staffers have over the years been arrested and prosecuted for diverting farming inputs either to their farms or to the parallel market.
The country’s prisons have a carrying capacity of 17 000 inmates but, currently, close to 20 000 are in languishing jail.
ZPCS, which has failed to sustain itself, now relies on Treasury funding to feed the inmates.
Ideally, ZPCS with all the cheap labour, land and farming expertise is expected to produce enough food for inmates all year round plus surplus for sale, but the production has been extremely poor over the years.
Prisoners are gobbling almost close to $2,5 million monthly in basic foodstuffs like mealie-meal, cooking oil and sugar.
Daily the prisoners require 11 560kg of mealie-meal, 7 706ml of cooking oil, 9 633kg of sugar, vegetables and other foodstuffs.
ZPCS Commissioner-General Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi lamented the underutilisation of the farms.State media
President Mnangagwa has set September 7 as the day for National Assembly by-elections in Mangwe, Matabeleland South and Glen View South in Harare that fell vacant following the deaths of Obedingwa Mguni of Zanu-PF and MDC-Alliance’s Vimbai Tsvangirai Java, respectively.
The proclamations were published in yesterday’s Government Gazette. The President made the proclamations in accordance with Section 39 (2) of the Electoral Act.
“The Speaker of Parliament notified me on 24th June, 2019 in writing of a vacancy which has arisen by reason of the death of Honourable Obedingwa Mguni on 1 8th June, 2019 who was elected member of the National Assembly for Mangwe Constituency.
“Now therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President as aforesaid, I do, by this proclamation (a) order a new election for the constituency of Mangwe (b) fix Friday the 26th July 2019, as the date on which the nomination court shall sit, commencing at 10 o’clock in the morning at Magistrates’ Court, Fifth Avenue Gwanda for the purpose of receiving nomination of candidates for election as a member of the National Assembly constituency for Mangwe and (c) fix Saturday the 7th of September 2019, as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of Section 46 (17) (c) of the Electoral Act,” the said in the proclamation.
For Glen View South, the nomination court will sit at Magistrates Court at Rotten Row on July 26 at 10am. Mguni collapsed at Parliament and was pronounced dead at West End hospital following diabetes-related complications. Mrs Tsvangirai Java died from injuries she sustained in an accident just outside Kwekwe in May on her way from Bulawayo.State media
Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko yesterday dismissed an application for refusal of further remand by MDC-Alliance legislator for Kuwadzana East Chalton Hwende. Hwende is charged with subverting a constitutionally-elected Government.
His lawyer, Mr Reginald Mutero, submitted that the State would suffer no prejudice if his client was removed from remand. He told the court that the State was failing to furnish a trial date on time, thereby violating his client’s constitutional rights.
Mr Mutero said the State could just call Hwende back to court by way of summons. “The State cannot use the remand process to violate the accused person’s rights,” he said.
Mr Mutero said according to the Constitution, his client has the right for a speedy trial.
The State opposed Hwende’s application, arguing that he was facing a very serious offence which requires vigorous investigations and formalities before he could be furnished with a trial date.
In dismissing the application, Mrs Mateko said Hwende was facing a serious offence. She said investigations in the matter could not be taken lightly since it was not a simple case.
“Four months cannot be taken as a delay considering the complexity of the matter,” said Mrs Mateko. “The court is satisfied by the progress made by the State so far, therefore the application is dismissed.”State media
Sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe are outdated and should be removed as they benefit neither Zimbabwe nor the United States of America, the authors of the hostile policy, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Busi Moyo has said.
He said this on Wednesday when he had lunch with the Westminster Africa Business Group in London, United Kingdom.
Minister Moyo said the removal of the sanctions was now long overdue. “It (sanctions) is something which is now in a former page; in a book which you have read before twice and which we do not want to read anymore. It is not serving the US, the US businesspeople or Zimbabwean people and, therefore, it is outdated,” said Minister Moyo.
“We have been directly dealing with Americans themselves and that is why I was telling you that Americans have seen light in Zimbabwe. They have started coming in serious hordes of numbers in terms of corporates. “They (General Electric from the US) are going to be building a 2 400MW hydro power station in Zimbabwe.
They are going to be investing in the health sector, rolling out a wide and an elaborate health centre. “They have been offered to go into methane gas deposits and they are already on the ground.”State media
Government yesterday slammed an attack by opposition protesters on a Zimbabwean delegation in London led by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Busi Moyo, who is on a four-day re-engagement programme to strengthen ties and lure investors.
In a statement, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service Mr Nick Mangwana, who is part of the delegation, described the attack as tragic and embarrassing to peace-loving Zimbabweans.
“The delegation in London had great engagements with different stakeholders. Government of Zimbabwe condemns the violent attacks against the delegation by a group of opposition protesters outside Chatham House in London.
It’s tragic that the sceptre of violence during protests we see in Zimbabwe forcing the security services to act has reared its ugly head in foreign land discrediting, not the Government, but the hoodlums themselves and embarrassing peace-loving Zimbabweans,” said Mr Mangwana.
“The attacks have not, however, disrupted Minister SB Moyo’s successful engagements in the UK in any way. Undeterred, his programme continued with fruitful meetings with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, investors and tonight we end with engaging a progressive Zimbabwean Diaspora and other key stakeholders, whose support for our country’s economic and political reform efforts remains steadfast.State media
Farai Dziva|A 78-year-old Gwanda man allegedly axed his wife for refusing to have sex with him.
According to Chronicle, Bishop Sibanda (78) of Zhokwe Village allegedly axed his estranged wife Mrs Agnes Sibanda before he force-marched her to their matrimonial home following their separation.
Sibanda pleaded guilty when he appeared before Gwanda Provincial magistrate, Mr Lungile Ncube.
Sibanda was charged with assault.
In mitigation, Sibanda told the court that he had committed the offence because he was sexually starved.
Sibanda was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.Hovever the sentence was wholly suspended for five years.
Farai Dziva|Opposition party Transform Zimbabwe says the national clean- up day is the right solution to environmental pollution.
See the Transform Zimbabwe statement below :
There are so many ways the Government of Zimbabwe can adopt in improving its environmental performance other than setting aside a day for National cleaning which Transform Zimbabwe views as a reactive exercise.
The government must promote recycling of waste material. Business involved with recycling must be given tax incentives and government grants. The current scenario is that companies and individuals find it cheaper to dump waste than to recycle due to the absence of motivation from the Government.
Failure to enforce the Polluter Pays Principle(PPP) through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is what makes people care less about their environment. EMA must have arresting powers and it’s officials need further training on effecting an arrest as a way of putting the Environmental blueprints into action to deter would be offenders.
Municipalities must also encourage grading of waste as a way of reducing the tonnage of what landfills must receive. Some of the waste which is biodegradable must find its way to farmers as a way of promoting composting that will replace synthetic fertilisers that are leaching into river systems thereby degraging water bodies and making water purification very expensive.
The government must promote local industries and when they operate on full capacity they must then impose high taxes for second hand goods and counterfeit products finding their way into the the country rendering it a dumpsite. The Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) must man our points of entry and confisticate sub standard products that can harm our environment.
The business sector such as shops and manufacturers must be discouraged through policy for wasteful packaging and ensuring that plastic packaging is expensive as a way of promoting reuse.
Efilling must be prioritised in business starting from government departments. Paper must not be used as our main source of communication if it means our capacity to recycle or reuse is defunct.
The waste department in councils must have Community Liaison Officers(CLO) who link communities and the council as a way of promoting sound dumping techniques and also efficiency in refuse collection. They can also train the citizens on the importance of cleanliness and recycling.
Waste accumulation at areas such as Forbes boarder post which is a gateway between Zimbabwe and Mozambique shows lack of a Waste Management Plan at our border posts. Such things we take as minor can lead to conflict with our neighbours as this has led to the pollution of Munene river in the neighbouring country.
Government must not compromise or politicise policies that promote protection of wetlands or ecologically sensitive areas. Land for housing must be allocated far from catchment areas as tempering with wetlands would promote pollution and siltation thereby altering the quality of life of those who live in urban areas.
The situation in Harare where sensititive wetlands were sacrificed for human habitation in the case of Leong Chen Settlement and many others. Most urban centres preferred money over the protection of wetlands. The government of Zimbabwe ignored the dictates of the Ramsar Convection which aim to protect wetlands and it also acts in contempt of Section 73 of the Constitution which gives people the right to live in an unpolluted environment.
Industries and so called investors must commit themselves in the reduction of carbon emissions by investing in technological innovation that reduce carbon emissions. They must provide annual reports through National Social Security Authority (NSSA) of their target emissions so that we see which sectors are not environmentally friendly.
Lastly the government must ratify recommendations of all conventions that seek to protect the environment to ensure sustainable development.
These simple approaches would safeguard the country from wasteful expenditure and humiliation where the President of a country would abandon a fruitless trip in Rwanda to rush home and hold a broom for a few minutes then take off to Niger for yet another fruitless trip. Looking at the distance between the two countries it would have saved us thousands in revenue if he had connected the trip to Niger from Rwanda. The current efforts by the president must now move to sustainable initiatives and away from being photo ops for social media selfies.
We have sound policies that give us a good fight in 2023. For more information on our policy position, please visit our website http://www.tz.co.zw or send us an email on [email protected]
Farai Dziva|Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo has said justified the ban on the use of the United States Dollar as legal tender in Zimbabwe.
Moyo made the remarks in an interview with BBC World Services.
“The whole point is for you to understand the whole roadmap from the time we introduced the US dollar and the multiple currencies that depreciated the whole productivity and lowered exports in the country,” he said.
Moyo emphasized that it was important for Zimbabwe to take its fate in its own hands by promoting exports to ensure foreign currency inflows.
“It is a right of every sovereign nation to have its own currency and it is a more organised way for exporters to have access to foreign currency,” he said.
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF MP for Chivi South, Killer Zivhu has sensationally claimed that everyone is a thief.
In a tweet that has gone viral on social media, Zivhu wrote:
“Everyone is a thief as long as there is nothing to steal u remain innocent when your time comes to be near what can be stolen- tichakuverengaiwo some of u the the only advantage u have is u are just Zimbabweans without names so no one bothers to write about what u have stolen.”
Zivhu would not elaborate whether he was referring to Zanu PF members or Zimbabweans in general.
Masvingo based political analyst Jeffryson Chitando challenged Zivhu to qualify his assertion.
“That’s a sweeping statement and I hope that the MP will qualify his statement.”
Farai Dziva|The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is demanding payment of accreditation fees for the Bikita East, ward 31 By-election in United States Dollars.
Although the government has banned the use of the US Dollar as legal tender in Zimbabwe, the commission is demanding payment of accreditation fees for observers and monitors in foreign currency.The by-election will be held on Saturday, July 13.
“We are simply implementing a directive from the head office.
Unfortunately our hands are tied so there is nothing we can do,” said a ZEC official.
Three political parties have fielded candidates for the by-election.
Zanu PF is being represented by Thomas Mataga while MDC is being represented by Moses Maposa. Peter Mavenga is representing NCA .
By Own Correspondent- Airport authorities have dismissed a picture that circulated on social media claiming that a Fastjet aircraft failed to land at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport on Wednesday night due to load shedding.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) public relations and communication manager, Anna Julia Hungwe, told the state media that the reported incident could have happened in January this year, and quickly rectified, and not recently.
She said:
Nothing of the sort ever happened to fastjet. The airport manager at JM (Nkomo) said there was nothing like that.
Social media has its own way of doing things; this world is full of people who want to see things the other way.
If anything like power outages happens, air traffic control will simply say to an airline ‘you can’t land at a given airport and our alternative is Harare or Bulawayo’.
Hungwe said that CAAZ is always ready for power outages and has generators on standby for critical areas. She said:Yes, we have power outages, remember the country does not have adequate electricity, but we have generators that light all critical areas immediately.
We are always ready for power outages. Some people are twisting it and making it appear as if Zimbabwe should not be visited.
If we had such power challenges, airlines should be complaining but they are coming; and landing and departing.
So we wonder what people are saying.
There is no way air traffic control can let an airline go and land at an airport that does not have electricity.
Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi admitted to receiving “some dark pictures”, and he said that there was a need for uninterrupted power to airports, through solar.
By A Correspondent- Bulawayo city council said that the scheduled water cuts that were in place before the current shutdown could be abandoned once water supplies resume in about two weeks’ time.
However, water-shedding will only be suspended if residents reduce daily water consumption and stick to their rationing levels.
This was revealed by the council’s Director of Engineering Services, Engineer Simela Dube.
Said, Dube:
The problem we are facing at the moment is that of reducing daily consumption because we are facing a situation where we could end up increasing water shedding and rationing because people are not sticking to their water rationing levels.
Residents, who contribute 72 per cent of the daily consumption, must realise the importance of sticking to their rationing figures because this will see us not resorting to water shedding.
As long as our daily consumption is around 120 megalitres a day, we are safe and don’t need to shed water.
Last week Bulawayo City Council started implementing major rehabilitation works under the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP) funded by the African Development Bank.
The programme is meant to improve municipal water supply and sanitation services in the city.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- The media environment has greatly improved in the Second Republic as evidenced by the absence of harassment and detention of journalists, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo has said.
Minister Moyo said this at the end of the Global Conference for Media Freedom in London yesterday.
He said the conference had noted that the journalism profession and media space was under threat in a number of countries and Zimbabwe was an exception.
“As we went through the second plenary session it was clear in the debate that journalism is under threat in many countries and the profession itself was under threat,” said Minister Moyo.
He said Zimbabwe was not on the list given its “positive handling and defence of media freedom and journalism” since the coming in of the new dispensation.
Minister Moyo added that no journalist has either been abducted or barred since November 24, 2017.
“And this obviously an encouraging disposition for Zimbabwe,” he said.
Last week, Government gazetted the Freedom of Information Bill, which seeks to repeal the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
The Bill seeks to give effect to Section 62 of the Constitution which provides for the right to access to information as enshrined in the Declaration of Rights.
Other Bills that are under consideration include the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill and the Protection of Personal Information/Data Protection Bill.
The United Nations and the UK have since welcomed the reforms that Government is undertaking.
The Bills are part of the Second Republic’s efforts to fulfil the reform agenda aimed at seeing the country pursuing a new trajectory in its domestic and foreign policies.
The Global Conference for Media Freedom ended with several accounts from around the world including Malaysia, depicting an overall need to review operations of the media including in the First world.
Canada will host the next conference of this annual event.-StateMedia
Contrary to media sympathetic to Zanu PF reporting false information about MDC members. It was sad that a member of SB Moyo security team lashed out at a Zimbabwean female protesting peacefully against the regime's continued harassment of its citizens @WeArePindula@ZimEye
— UK and Ireland for President Chamisa (@CCCUKAndIreland) July 12, 2019
By A Correspondent| The journey would have lasted 2 hours 28 minutes driving at an average speed of 112 kilometers per hour.
The driving distance between Harare to Gweru is 277.71 kilometers while the flying distance is equal to 138 miles which is equal to 223 km.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa however hired a private jet to cruise the 223km journey to the Midlands State University (MSU) graduation ceremony where he was the guest speaker today.
Findings by this publication established that Mnangagwa hired the Dubai jet for his 34 minutes flight to Gweru, which is in his province of Midlands.
The jet landed at Gweru Thornhill Air Base at 09:46 am after leaving Robert Mugabe International Airport at 09:12 am.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s housemaid was recently jailed 3 years after she was found guilty of stealing US$25k from the cabinet minister.
Tracy Manase (59) from Chizemo village, under Chief Mutambara, who appeared before magistrate Nortilda Muchineripi, pleaded guilty to the charges pleading with the magistrate for leniency.
The complainant in the matter is Joyce Mukono (49) from Zimre Park in Harare and is not employed.
According to the State, in March this year, the complainant gave her sister Mutsvangwa, who was the accused’s employer, US$25 000 for safekeeping.
Manase reportedly took the US$25 000, resigned from her workplace at the end of May and went to her rural home in Chimanimani.
On an unknown date in the month of June the complainant asked for her money back and Mutsvangwa informed her that the money had gone missing.
The complainant carried out her own investigations and found out that the accused was hiring workers at her rural home and paying them in United States dollars.
The complainant made a report at Mutare Central Police and proceeded to the accused’s rural home with police officers where they recovered US$3 200 cash and groceries worth US$6 200.
By Own Correspondent- Harare City Council made an upward adjustment of charges for clamping and towing of vehicles in its supplementary budget approved on Thursday.
The fees increased by 1 000 per cent, and motorists will now be paying $500 for wheel-clamping fees for light vehicles, up from $40. Tow-away fees have been raised from $60 to $700.
In the health sector, maternity fees increased from $25 to $120, while hospital fees are now $50 for adults and $25 for children.
While presenting the $829,86 million supplementary budget, chairman of the financial and development committee Councillor Luckson Mukunguma said:
The current supplementary budget should not be viewed as an attempt by the council to increase tariffs, it is rather an attempt to align to the new economic order given the full implementation of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme and the introduction of local currency as the only legal tender.
The city also increased refuse collection fees by almost 300 per cent, water charges by at least 300 per cent, and other services were increased by various amounts.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Authorities here have not clarified on fuel prices despite indications that certain service stations had hiked the cost of fuel.
Zuva is reported to have hiked fuel prices to between ZW$10 and ZW$12.
A picture below from an unidentified location shows new fuel prices.
fuel increase
Fuel prices were recently increased to ZW$7.8 and ZW$7.98. However, reports suggest that petrol is now at ZW$10 whilst diesel is being charged at ZW$11 and ZW$12.
Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube recently hinted that the price of fuel will go up to a figure equivalent to 1 United States dollar.
The minister made the remarks during an interview with Alpha Media Holdings chairman, Trevor Ncube.
He said:
“To match the current market rates fuel price should be around $10 using US$1: ZWL$10.”
By A Correspondent- Foreign Affairs Minister, Sibusiso B Moyo has called upon Zimbabweans to draw a line between politics and national interests.
He said that Zimbabwe can be great again if national interest is placed ahead of political expediency.
He urged Zimbabweans to be tolerant to each other’s divergent views adding that there should be limits to how these views are expressed.
Speaking to Zimbabweans gathered at the Zimbabwean Embassy in the UK, the Zimbabwe House, the minister said that every citizen despite their political affiliation has a role in the development of the country.
Moyo encouraged the guests to make contributions to the development of the nation. He said that the government viewed the diasporans as an important sector of the economy.
He made reference to some countries which are benefitting from the contributions of the diasporans and said Zimbabweans should also emulate that.
Every contribution, including ideas, is important in the development of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabweans in the diaspora also can play a positive role in building Zimbabwe by being good ambassadors as this helps the country in achieving its diplomatic offensive policy.
Moyo appreciated the efforts being made by the diaspora community to help Zimbabwe.
“There are some who have been donating ambulances to medical institutions in Zimbabwe to assist the communities. We appreciate that.”
By A Correspondent- A woman in the US state of Texas has been arrested after her mother’s remains were found in the two-bedroom home she shared with her daughter.
Police believe the grandmother, 71, suffered a fall in 2016.
The skeletal remains were found on a bedroom floor. The mother and daughter slept in the other bedroom. The granddaughter was under the age of 15 at the time she was living with her grandmother’s corpse. As a result, her mother has been charged with “injury to a child” under the age of 15.
The daughter has been placed in the care of relatives and is receiving assistance from child protection. Her mother could face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000 (£8,000).
Police say the grandmother was a respected member of the local community, working as a secretary and teaching assistant at a local school for 35 years.
When she retired, she worked collecting tickets at sporting events in Seguin.
FORMER deputy chief secretary to the president and cabinet Ray Ndhlukula is in the eye of a storm after it emerged this week that he unprocedurally ordered the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) to illegally grant a South African company a US$5 million contract to supply road construction equipment.
Ndhlukula chaired the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) taskforce which sourced funds for government’s emergency road rehabilitation programme last year.
The taskforce was given the responsibility to raise US$300 million which was set to be disbursed to road authorities through Zinara, in terms of the Roads Act.
Two local financial institutions, CABS/Old Mutual and ZB Bank, agreed to extend loans amounting to US$150 million each.
Of that, CABS/Old Mutual released US$30 million as of mid-last year, while ZB Bank released US$20 million.
The ZB disbursement is at the centre of the reported corruption storm, with the case now under formal police investigation.
According to confidential documents obtained by the Zimbabwe Independent this week, Ndhlukula created a parallel structure to allow his taskforce to directly disburse part of the loan amounting to US$5, 250 000 to the South African company, Neo Africa, for the supply of held gadgets used in road rehabilitation.
In addition, government sources said Ndhlukula faced stiff resistance from Zinara and the Transport Ministry, which insisted that the money should be channeled to Zinara for onward distribution to respective road authorities as per requirements of the law. Zimbabwe Independent can reveal that detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Fraud Squad have over the past two weeks visited several officials as investigations intensify.
Former transport minister Joram Gumbo was among those questioned. Gumbo is now the minister of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring after being moved from the ministry last month.
The matter was relayed to police for investigation after former Zinara chief executive Nancy Masiyiwa submitted a stinging dossier to the anti-corruption unit in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office, which is headed by former prosecutor Thabani Mpofu. In her dossier, Masiyiwa raised questions about the manner in which Neo Africa was to benefit from a portion of the loan, saying the company stood to dubiously earn the US$5,2 million as kickback for facilitating the loan deal.
Masiyiwa states in the dossier that two weeks before her suspension from Zinara by the then Wilfred Ramwi-led board in June last year, she had written to the ministry resisting Ndhlukula’s recommendation on the basis that “there was no justification of involvement for a third party in a contractual agreement between two parties, which is Zinara — the borrower — and ZB Bank, the lender”.
However, documents further indicate that even after Masiyiwa’s sacking, Ndhlukula continued pestering Zinara for the finalisation of the Neo Africa deal.
For instance, in letter dated January 3, 2018, addressed to then acting Zinara chief executive officer Mathlene Mujokoro — who has since resigned from the scandal-ridden parastatal — Ndhlukula claimed the parallel arrangement was meant to prevent double-dipping. He also demanded, in the letter, to be furnished with the roads rehabilitation masterplan.
Sources said following the availing of the masterplan, Ndhlukula’s taskforce then came up with a proposed agreement in which it was claimed Neo Africa was entitled to a 3,5% of the total ZB Bank loan, which translates to US$5,2 million.
Mujokoro, sources said, took the matter up to the parent ministry.
However, the Transport Ministry, through its former permanent secretary George Mlilo, refused to authorise Zinara to sign the document, saying it could only do so after the finalisation of the legal wrangle arising from the Neo Africa arrangement.
Mlilo wrote back to Mujokoro on July 4, 2018, advising her that Gumbo had not given Zinara the greenlight to sign the draft agreement.
“Reference is made to your letter dated 3 July 2018. Please be advised that the minister has, as previously advised, not given his authority for you to sign the said agreement until all administration/legal matters are concluded,” the letter reads.
On the same day, Mlilo also wrote to Mujokoro demanding to be furnished with information relating to the disbursement of the funds from ZB, amid concerns of excessive delays.
“Reference is made to the availability of funding for the roads hotspots programme. The first phase was approved for all roads authorities, namely my department of roads, rural district councils, urban councils and the district development fund to implement the work. However, to the best of my knowledge, the funding has not been availed for road authorities to carry out the work. Kindly furnish my office and the office of the honourable minister on the status of the availability of the said funding from ZB Financial Holdings as matter of urgency,” Mlilo said.
Contacted for comment this week, Mlilo confirmed that his office resisted the payment of US$5,2 million to Neo Africa because procurement procedures were flouted. “The task to raise funds was given to ZB bank through normal government procedures. We resisted Neo Africa because the process of how the company came in and was selected was not clear,” he said.
Gumbo, on his part, wrote on August 15, 2018, to chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda expressing concern over the matter.
“I refer to the previous communication from my office as well as the permanent secretary’s office on this matter and wish to request your office to bring clarity on who is responsible for disbursing the above funds. My understanding is that in terms of section seven of the Roads Act (Chapter 13:18), the board if Zinara is responsible for disbursing funds raised by Zinara to the four road authorities stipulated in the Act. Therefore, this function cannot be legally taken away from the Zinara board irrespective of the methods through which the funds have been raised. Your urgent response to this matter will be greatly appreciated,” Gumbo wrote.
The Independent could, however, not obtain Sibanda’s response to Gumbo, but a senior government source said he, acting on Gumbo’s letter, ordered for the cancellation of the Neo Africa deal.
“It appeared as if the chief secretary had been kept in the dark about those proceedings because soon after that correspondence from the minister, he ordered that the deal be cancelled. The OPC sourced the money but it was not its duty to prescribe the way it ought to have been disbursed, especially by establishing a parallel unit which is outside the legal parameters,” a government source said.
Gumbo further queried the Neo Africa deal in a comprehensive report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“The emergency roads rehabilitation programme which commenced in 2017 is ongoing and the ministry, with the support of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Office of the President and Cabinet have engaged local financial institutions to raise funding for roads infrastructure using the Zinara balance sheet in the sum of US$300 million. CABS/Old Mutual are set to raise US$150 million with the first US$30 million being available and the balance to be paid between end of June 2018 and December 2018. ZB is set to raise US$150 million, with US$20 million being available, ” Gumbo said in the report to Mnangagwa.
“Be that as it may, the US$20 million raised by ZB is now caught up in administrative complexities emanating from the Office of the President and Cabinet. The funds were raised through ZB and on the Zinara balance sheet and are to be utilised in terms of the Roads Act through which Zinara obtains its mandate. The body with the mandate to disburse the funds according to the Act is the Zinara board.
“The OPC has now set up a parallel structure to disburse the funds after engaging a company called Neo Africa, which is said to be entitled to US$5 250 000, which is 3,5% of the US$150 million. Of the total, amount of US$5 250 000, about US$1,5 million is said to be for hand held gadgets to be supplied to Zinara by Neo Africa. A project management unit to be chaired by secretary for policy formulation, analysis and coordination has been given the mandate to disburse and monitor the projects which, at law, is the function of the board and management at Zinara.
My ministry, your excellency, is strongly against such blatant disregard of the law and corporate governance principles by senior officials.”
In a telephone interview this week, Gumbo confirmed that detectives had paid him a visit. “Yes, they came to my office about two weeks ago and I gave them my side of the story and submitted to them relevant documents,” he said.
When contacted for comment, Ndhlukula claimed he knew nothing about Neo Africa.
“I have no idea what you are talking about and also about Neo Africa. Why don’t you talk to the secretary,” Ndhlukula said.
FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube says government is set to increase the prices of electricity and fuel because the current pricing structure was no longer sustainable.
Zimbabwe is currently battling a severe power, crisis which has seen households and industry going without electricity for up to 18 hours daily while long and winding fuel queues have become a permanent feature at service stations throughout the country.
Speaking at an Alpha Media Holdings event dubbed In Conversation with Trevor, Ncube, who has previously spoken against a power tariff hike, conceded that the situation was no longer tenable and that government had no choice, but to push the cost to the consumers.
“The power situation is very serious. In the short-term, we need to work on demand management strategies, where we categorise users and come up with a differentiated tariff system. For instance, there is no reason why the mining
sector should not pay a tariff linked to the exchange rate because they are major earners of foreign currency,” Ncube said.
“So, we have to look at the demand side, the supply and internal operations of Zesa. In the past, I was unhappy about an instant tariff increase, but having done all these things, I am more convinced now we can now increase the tariff.
If we are only having power during the night when we don’t need it, then it really doesn’t matter if the tariff goes up. In terms of how much, I can’t say, but those simulations are being done and soon, we will have a new tariff.”
Fuel, which is currently selling at ZW$5,26 per litre for petrol, is likely to jump to around ZW$9 a litre in line with the interbank market rate, where the United States dollar is trading at 1:8,5 against the local currency.
Previously, players in the petroleum sector used to access foreign currency from the central bank at a fixed rate of 1:1, but now, they have to source currency from the banks at the prevailing rate.
“The price of fuel is likely to go up, I think what will be ideal is the price of fuel is close to or equivalent to a US$1. That’s the ideal. If you look around the region, that’s the ideal. So we will also get there, but we won’t get there in a big bang, it has to be gradual, not a big bang as long as we hold the exchange rate,” Ncube said.
In June alone, a total of 75 million litres of fuel was consumed at a subsidised foreign currency cost, which, according to insiders, cost government and exporters ZW$300 million.
“The current prices mean that government, through the central bank, are paying an extra ZW$4 per every litre of fuel consumed. This is huge and cannot be sustained. They can’t hold that price for long,” a source in the petroleum sector said.
The price disparities, which make Zimbabwe’s fuel the cheapest in the region, have seen massive leakages into the black market and foreign markets.
“You will see the fuel price adjust to equilibrium one dollar. The reason of this subsidy to the economy is you are most aware that the arbitrage opportunities, that were there before, have crumbled. I wonder now if people again are starting to sell fuel to Zambia, you drive a truck here and fill up a truck … people take advantage of these arbitrage opportunities, but we want to tighten the management of fuel. We are going to launch an electronic dipstick, basically some technology which allows to monitor the fuel usage at fuel stations,” Ncube said.
The increases could trigger another wave of price hikes given that fuel and power are major cost components in production.
In January, a 150% increase in fuel prices sparked protests across the country, with human rights groups reporting that State and military agents killed 17 people and injured 200 others in a brutal put down of the demonstrations.
Ncube said he would be offering relief by widening income tax bands to increase disposable incomes in the face of rising costs.
“I will be widening the income tax bands when we announce the supplementary budget,” he said.
Ncube urged the private sector to increase salaries for their workers to protect them from rising inflation.
“For civil servants, we are going to have a cushioning allowance. Between January and March, we allocated $63 million. We have kept that… we feel the pain of the people. This government will do something about it … again, I am challenging the private sector that please, adjust salaries of your employees. Let’s make sure that it is amplified,” Ncube said.
Agents|CIVIL servants yesterday said they had run out of patience with their employer over poor remuneration and threatened to take “appropriate action” if government fails to come up with a satisfactory wage offer soon.
Government workers were expecting a hefty salary rise this month, but were early this week offered a paltry $97 increment per individual which they promptly rejected.
The Apex Council was yesterday supposed to meet the government for negotiations.
In an interview, Apex Council secretary David Dzatsunga said civil servants were looking to declare a deadlock in the salary negotiations and were priming themselves for “action”.
Sections of the workers, notably in the health sector, had put off a strike after government indicated that it was ready to table a significant salary increase in the face of skyrocketing prices and inflation.
In early June, the government workers demanded that their wages be paid in US dollars, but government, in a surprise move banned the use of foreign currencies in local transactions. The move caught the public workers and the nation at large off guard, but has largely failed to ease the pressure on government to raise wages to acceptable levels.
“We totally rejected that offer and indicated to government that (the offer) was unacceptable. As Apex, we were hoping that government will come today with an improved package,” he said in reference to a scheduled meeting that was supposed to take place yesterday.
“As of now, we are still negotiating, but there will come a point where if we realise that we are not getting anywhere, we will declare a deadlock. We believe that time is lapsing as far as reaching an agreement (is concerned). We are working with the reality that workers are suffering and that their suffering cannot be postponed. The urgency of dealing with this matter cannot be overemphasised.”
Dzatsunga said government must prepare for any eventuality.
“In the event that government fails to come with an acceptable offer, we are going to do whatever is within our labour rights to force the hand of government to give what is due to the workers.”
Since last year, civil servants have been pressing government for a substantial salary increase which is commensurate with the high cost of living, but have so far not received any joy.
The Apex Council itself is divided, with some members reluctant to go on strike.
Bulawayo can have a Shona Mayor and Harare can have a Ndebele Mayor. I don’t believe that Bulawayo is a Ndebele City but I believe that Bulawayo is home to all Zimbabweans of different tribal origins.
Tinashe Kambarami
Dear Editor|It started with rumours that Shona Bulawayo city Councillors conspired to fire top Bulawayo Council Management. We then saw what looks like a petition signed by six Councillors mostly with Shona surnames asking for an urgent council meeting for the purpose of dealing with senior council disciplinary issues.
What I observed is that the Chronicle does not report in a balanced manner.T he reportage by the Chronicle, as usual, is unbalanced on the matter. As I read the unfolding of this story from the Chronicle I concluded that the paper aimed to raise tribal animosity within the Bulawayo City Council.T he Chronicle insinuates that the Shona Councillors are conspiring against a Ndebele Town clerk. To my surprise, I found that some Bulawayo residents associations and some other Regional Bulawayo political parties seem to have bought the Chronicle’s biased narration.
I do agree and believe that this time around a good number of Shona Councillors was elected into the Bulawayo Town Council and obviously these councillors represent the MDC party led by Nelson Chamisa. What I don’t know is the criteria used by Chamisa’s party to come out with such a big number of councillors of Shona origin to represent the party in Bulawayo city, a city which is believed to be in the midst of a Ndebele community. What was the selection criteria used by the MDC party and was the selection criteria fair or it was manipulated or biased on tribal grounds? I think research needs to be done in this area in order for all concerned people to come with an informed conclusion.
The author is of the view that the criticism of the Acting Mayor and Bulawayo councillors of Shona origin is not at all justified. Bulawayo’s councillors, Shona or Ndebele must be allowed to discharge their duties freely and that they must be protected against any form of discrimination as enshrined in the Zimbabwean constitution.
Bulawayo can have a Shona Mayor and Harare can have a Ndebele Mayor. I don’t believe that Bulawayo is a Ndebele City but I believe that Bulawayo is home to all Zimbabweans of different tribal origins. If the Shona councillors were elected by the people of Bulawayo, who must stop them from discharging their duties.
I do believe that the road which the Chronicle is now trod-ding is a dangerous one. We cannot have a national newspaper reporting with tribal undertones. The Editor of the Chronicle has completely forgotten what happened in Rwanda where politicians used government media to speak against people of another tribe and genocide followed. If the Ndebele people make an uprising and start killing Shona people in Bulawayo the Editor of the Chronicle will be held accountable.
Now that the Bulawayo town clerk was suspended yesterday, I want to advise him to comply with the suspension order and follow the disciplinary processes. I think this is the time for him to get legal assistance, let him look for competent lawyers like those from Calderwood and Brice and partners. There is a lawyer called JJ Moyo there, I believe he is the best labour lawyer in Bulawayo. He must not be fooled by Bulawayo pressure groups into believing that an Acting Mayor does not have powers to suspend a town clerk. Let him refer to Section 52 of the Urban Councils Act and read the law for himself. I advise the town clerk to gather his evidence well otherwise he will be jobless soon.
I got surprised to hear that the Mayor who is on leave had the audacity to comment on issues happening at the city council. He was quoted to have said that the deputy Mayor does not have powers to suspend the town clerk. Does the Mayor know the meaning of delegation? Is it professional for him to criticize his deputy before he gets a briefing from the one who is running the office in his absence? I now doubt the professional qualities of all those appointed to lead the city and no wonder Bulawayo residence do not have water yet dam levels are said to be at 90 %.
I believe that the city is being managed by incompetent councillors and management and that the pressure groups and residents associations and trusts are doing a de-service to their members. Instead of asking for service from council management they are now running with tribalism stories churned by a tribal Chronicle newspaper. I feel pity for Bulawayo residence who are losers in the whole drama.
On study leave Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni has added to the drama currently unfolding within the City Council by reversing the decision to suspend Town Clerk Christopher Dube by Acting Mayor who is also his Deputy, Tinashe Kambarami.
Kambarami yesterday stormed into Dube’s office and served him with a letter of suspension on several allegations including corruption and abuse of office.
Mguni who is reportedly on study leave in South Africa expressed ignorance on the suspension of the Town Clerk which led to him writing the letter below to Kambarami reversing the suspension.
Meanwhile, the Chamber Secretary in the City earlier today called off a full council meeting which was convened by Kambarami to discuss the dismissal of the Town Clerk.
ZIMBABWE international defender Teenage Hadebe (23) is on his way to Turkish Super Lig side Yeni Malatyaspor after reportedly agreeing to a two-year contract that takes him away from Kaizer Chiefs.
According to reports from South Africa, Hadebe, one of the few players who had a decent shift for an otherwise less impressive Warriors at their doomed AFCON campaign recently, is expected to join his new teammates at Malatyaspor Friday afternoon.
“Turkish top flight club Yeni Malatyaspor has confirmed the signing of Kaizer Chiefs defender Teenage Hadebe though the player’s exit from Naturena has not yet been officially confirmed by the Soweto giants,” wrote South African website Soccer Laduma, on Friday afternoon.
Malatyaspor finished fifth in the 2017-2018 Turkey Super Lig.
Hadebe joined Kaizer Chiefs from Chicken Inn in June 2017 and made 26 league appearances.
While Hadebe is in the move, Bloemfonein Cetic have exercised a clause in their deal with left wingback Ronald Pfumbidzai which will keep the Warriors man at the club for another year.
There had been indications that Pfumbidzai could be on his way to Highlands Park but his agent, Mike Ngobeni, told Sunday Mail Sport yesterday that the former CAPS United defender was staying put.
“Celtics exercised the option they have to extend his stay. There were clubs like Chippa and Highlands in the mix but the player will have one more season with Celtics and we will see what goes on in 2020,’’ Ngobeni said.
Warriors fan Alvin Zhakata who travelled across Africa from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo, Egypt by road to watch the Afcon tournament has revealed that he got involved in an accident at some point between Sudan and Egypt.
Zhakata embarked on the road trip with his South African counterpart Botha Msila who gave up before reaching Ethiopia and finished the journey on the plane.
The Warriors fan faced many difficulties along the way while concerns over his safety emerged following a military coup in Ethiopia and an ongoing civil war in Sudan.
He managed to arrive in Egypt on Wednesday, ten days after the Warriors’ elimination from the tournament.
Zhakata posted on Twitter this morning revealing the incident.
He tweeted: “My journey was so eventful. At some point on our way from Sudan TO Egypt, our bus was involved in a freak accident in the middle of a desert.”
Zimbabwe has made history, winning their first ever match at the Netball World Cup. The Gems won their match against Sri Lanka by 79-49, kicking off what could be a thrilling journey.
Zimbabwe is one of four African teams at the tournament that is being hosted in Liverpool, England. The others are Malawi, Uganda and South Africa.
The Zimbabwe Gems are in Group A, along with reigning champions Australia and Northern Ireland.
Zimbabwe are something of an unknown quality and will look to capitalise on that against higher ranked teams.
The Gems took the lead from the onset taking the first quarter 19-14. They maintained the lead to end the second quarter at 38-29 despite a slow start. They were up 53-42 in the third quarter and they wrapped up the game in the last quarter to claim a 79-49 win over Sri Lanka as they backed by a vocal crowd that came to rally behind the team.
It was a deserved win for Zimbabwe, who had the backing of their supporters who came in their numbers and were up in songs throughout the match.
Goal shooter Joice Takaidza had a good day on court with a 95 percent conversion rate as she converted 59 out of the 62 shots.
In the other Group A game, Australia were leading Northern Ireland at halftime by 45-15. The game eventually ended 88-24 in favour of the Australia diamonds.
Farai Dziva|Warriors supporter Alvin Zhakata, who travelled across Africa from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo, Egypt by road to watch the AFCON Tournament has revealed that he got involved in an accident at some point between Sudan and Egypt.
Zhakata embarked on the road trip with his South African counterpart Botha Msila who gave up before reaching Ethiopia and finished the journey on the plane.
The Warriors fan faced many difficulties along the way while concerns over his safety emerged following a military coup in Ethiopia and an ongoing civil war in Sudan.
He managed to arrive in Egypt on Wednesday, ten days after the Warriors’ elimination from the tournament.
He tweeted: “My journey was so eventful. At some point on our way from Sudan to Egypt, our bus was involved in a freak accident in the middle of a desert.”
The security of Zimbabwe School Examinations Council exam papers could be compromised amid revelations that the examinations mother body is using a private player in printing examination papers.
The Auditor General Mildred Chiri has noted that the Norton printing press is still to be commissioned after a payment of US$1,3m owed to printing press supplier.
The Auditor General is concerned that engagement of a private player in the printing of examination papers would result in the leakage of examination papers.
The need to pay for the new printing press is urgent as using a third party compromises the security of examinations.
“Outsourcing may not be sustainable and the security of examinations may be compromised,” said the Auditor General.
“The printing press was installed in 2018 after a part payment of a3 138 318 leaving a balance of US$ 1,3 million.
“Due to the outstanding balance, the Council could not commission the printing press, as a result the Council had to outsource the printing of O level June and November 2017 examination papers at a cost of US$251 367 and 1 918 746 respectively,” reads the Auditor General’s report.
The Auditor General added that the financial loss may get worse as the continued delay in commission the printing press may render it obsolete.H-Metro
Farai Dziva|The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is demanding payment of accreditation fees for the Bikita East, ward 31 By-election in United States Dollars.
Although the government has banned the use of the US Dollar as legal tender in Zimbabwe, the commission is demanding payment of accreditation fees for observers and monitors in foreign currency.The by-election will be held on Saturday, July 13.The minimum payment is USD 10.
“We are simply implementing a directive from the head office.
Unfortunately our hands are tied so there is nothing we can do,” said a ZEC official.
Three political parties have fielded candidates for the by-election.
Zanu PF is being represented by Thomas Mataga while MDC is being represented by Moses Maposa. Peter Mavenga is representing NCA .
This level of barbarism is totally unacceptable. What happened to peaceful and non-violent protests? Such behaviour should be condemned by all peace loving and progressive Zimbabweans. Some of these protestors even faked asylum, it's time they come back home. #ProudlyZimbabweanpic.twitter.com/SIUSORec3x
— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) July 12, 2019
By Vivid Gwede|After a castle guard, Marcellus, saw the ghost of the dead king walking over the palace walls at Elsinore in William Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet, he exclaimed, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
With the ghost of the former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s old dispensation that Zimbabweans thought had been buried in November 2017 ironically coming back alive, surely one can say something is rotten in the State of Zimbabwe.
The comedy of the names is that the “rotten thing” in Zimbabwe can be found in a little street called Rotten Row, where there is the infamous Magistrates Court. The court chambers of Rotten Row have become the theatre of a comic show that can only be aptly nicknamed “The Treason Drama”, whose authors is the so-called New Dispensation led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The political tensions in the country have been stocked once more with the arrest on Monday, July 9, 2019, of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) National Vice Chairman, Job Sikhala, on treason charges. If one is convicted, the charge carries a potential prison term of up to 20 years in Zimbabwe’s poorly kept prisons, and even before/without conviction one may be imprisoned in them for weeks on routine remand. According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), this arrest brings to 21 the number of people arrested on charges of subverting a constitutionally elected government under Section 22 of the Criminal Law and Codification Act since January 2019.
Since independence in 1980, the Zanu PF-led government has been in the habit of throwing this charge book on its perceived political opponents, including the high profile case of the late founding MDC president, Morgan Tsvangirai, in February 2002.
However, the rate at which this charge has been thrown at human rights activists and opposition politicians since the disputed 2018 elections has recently assumed a worrying dimension, symptomatic of attempts to use prosecutions as a whiplash of persecution.
The government of Zimbabwe through these latest allegations paints the picture that for seven successive months three attempts have made to remove it illegally every month, including by three women.
This crackdown has not only been in the courts, but has taken a physical turn.
Since August 1, 2018, about 27 people have been fatally shot, on pretexts related to destabilising the government, during civilian protests, an average of two people per month, for the past 12 months.
The impression is that of a serious conflict between the state and the citizens.
The above rate of arrests or fatalities does not bode well for the country’s human rights record, which historically has been tarnished by 39 years of authoritarian rule and is in terrible need of repair.
Given the fact of a deteriorating economy and rising household poverty, no Nobel Prize is given for guessing the reason behind the ongoing attempts to suppress the citizens, using both the law and force.
Recently, the government imported riot gear and small arms, showing its intentions of silencing the people of Zimbabwe as the economy nose-dives, dragging the ordinary people’s standards of living into a free-fall.
With barely one year after claiming victory in the disputed 2018 harmonised elections, the ruling party Zanu-PF is moving further away from its promises of a New Dispensation, towards old ways of authoritarian rule.
The calls for a genuine national multi-stakeholder political dialogue process should be implemented before the situation further worsens.
For the sake of the country, the political leaders must stop paying lip-service to the issue of dialogue to address the political and economic problems, which have been caused by the dispute around the 2018 harmonised elections.
The political dialogue will give Zimbabwe a second chance to turn-around the country’s fortunes after the missed opportunity of November 2017, where the ruling party Zanu-PF misled by its hardliners decided to ignore other stakeholders in resolving the national crisis.
Since that ill-advised “chinhu chedu” (“it’s our thing”) error committed after the removal of Mugabe, numerous calls for dialogue from citizens, civil society organisations, business, labour, political actors and diplomats have swelled into a chorus, which cannot be gainfully ignored.
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF MP for Chivi South, Killer Zivhu has sensationally claimed that everyone is a thief.
In a tweet that has gone viral on social media, Zivhu wrote:
“Everyone is a thief as long as there is nothing to steal u remain innocent when your time comes to be near what can be stolen- tichakuverengaiwo some of u the the only advantage u have is u are just Zimbabweans without names so no one bothers to write about what u have stolen.”
Zivhu would not elaborate whether he was referring to Zanu PF members or Zimbabweans in general.
Masvingo based political analyst Jeffryson Chitando challenged Zivhu to qualify his assertion.
“That’s a sweeping statement and I hope that the MP will qualify his statement.”
Farai Dziva| Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo and some Zanu PF officials were humiliated by angry protesters outside Chatham House in the United Kingdom.
The angry Zimbabweans who reside in UK were protesting outside Chatham house and the moment they saw Moyo they sprinkled water on him.
Some of the officials ran back into Chatham House while security were perplexed by the protestors.Watch video below :
Farai Dziva|Former ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa has responded to the allegations of sabotaging the current executive board.
Chiyangwa is being accused of causing chaos in the Warriors camp which affected the team’s 2019 Afcon campaign.
The association’s new boss Felton Kamambo said on Thursday that Chiyangwa and some individuals fed the players with lies as an act of revenge for their downfall from the helm.
Speaking to The Herald, the former president dismissed the accusations and declared that he no longer has interest in running local football.
‘‘For the avoidance of doubt, let me make it clear that I don’t have any interest in being ZIFA president or any post in that association and, therefore, I have no reason to be fighting anyone because I am above that level now,” he said.
“I did what I did during my time, I had my success stories and it was God’s plan and I walked away with grace, unscathed but some people now want to punish me with allegations that are unfounded.”
Chiyangwa added that he is not concerned with the allegations and will never do anything to destabilise the association.
“I won’t lose sleep over this, my first assignment as ZIFA president was to secure the future of these players by paying off that (Tom) Saintfiet debt so that the boys could play at the World Cup again and I can’t be seen to be destabilising the same team I worked hard to give them a chance to shine on the big stage,” he said.
“I will respond accordingly but I want to say that I am very disappointed with what ZIFA are claiming.”
Board member Chamu Chiwanza, a long time ally of the former boss, is also facing the same allegations and Zifa is contemplating on suspending him at the next board meeting.
Farai Dziva|MDC vice chairperson Job Sikhala yesterday revealed how he was subjected to harassment while in police custody.
According to a Newsday report Sikhala said :
“I was smuggled from Harare to Bikita. I was denied access to my lawyers and family when I was arrested on Tuesday at 8am.
As such, I did not eat anything and
my first meal was today (this) morning. I raised health issues with the police that I am hypertensive and asthmatic, but the police could not have any of that.
I could not take my medication.”
“When I was supposed to go to court in Harare on Wednesday morning, which I consented to, the investigating officer disappeared, only to return at around 1pm,
handcuffed me and never told me where I was going.”
“We went to the car park at Harare Central Police Station where three cars – two twin cabs and a minibus were waiting for me with 12 men armed.”
Farai Dziva|A 78-year-old Gwanda man allegedly axed his wife for refusing to have sex with him.
According to Chronicle, Bishop Sibanda (78) of Zhokwe Village allegedly axed his estranged wife Mrs Agnes Sibanda before he force-marched her to their matrimonial home following their separation.
Sibanda pleaded guilty when he appeared before Gwanda Provincial magistrate, Mr Lungile Ncube.
Sibanda was charged with assault.
In mitigation, Sibanda told the court that he had committed the offence because he was sexually starved.
Sibanda was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.Hovever the sentence was wholly suspended for five years.
By A Correspondent| FIVE family members who were pilgrims of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church perished in a road accident on their way to the Mafararikwa shrine for annual Passover feast in Headlands early this week.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident that happened around 1am on Monday at the 141km peg along the Harare-Mutare Highway.
He identified the deceased as Proud Kore (41), Mejury Kanyayi (25), Marvelous Sithole (14), Tashinga Kore (3) and Abel Kore (2 months) — all of Farm 356 in Chitomborwizi, Chinhoyi.
Ass Com Nyathi said the vehicle, a Toyota Dyna which they were travelling in and had 22 passengers aboard, veered off the road and hit a tree in Headlands.
“The driver of the Toyota Dyna lost control of the vehicle after an oncoming vehicle encroached into his lane. The vehicle then veered off the road for about 50 meters and hit a tree. As a result of the accident, five people who are believed to be family members were killed,” he said.
Ass Comm Nyathi urged motorists to be observant and cautious.
“Where possible, motorists must avoid travelling at night while carrying many passengers for long distances, especially inter-city roads,” he said.- Manica Post
Farai Dziva|MDC vice chairperson Job Sikhala is preparing papers to sue government and specific police officers for harassment.
Sikhala wants to sue both government and specific officers who abused him while in detention.
Sikhala was allegedly blindfolded as he was being transported from Harare to Bikita.
Sikhala was remanded in custody for the next two weeks on allegations that he told party supporters in Bikita that the opposition was planning to remove Emmerson Mnangagwa before the scheduled elections in 2023.
There are so many ways the Government of Zimbabwe can adopt in improving its environmental performance other than setting aside a day for National cleaning which Transform Zimbabwe views as a reactive exercise.
The government must promote recycling of waste material. Business involved with recycling must be given tax incentives and government grants. The current scenario is that companies and individuals find it cheaper to dump waste than to recycle due to the absence of motivation from the Government.
Failure to enforce the Polluter Pays Principle(PPP) through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is what makes people care less about their environment. EMA must have arresting powers and it’s officials need further training on effecting an arrest as a way of putting the Environmental blueprints into action to deter would be offenders.
Municipalities must also encourage grading of waste as a way of reducing the tonnage of what landfills must receive. Some of the waste which is biodegradable must find its way to farmers as a way of promoting composting that will replace synthetic fertilisers that are leaching into river systems thereby degraging water bodies and making water purification very expensive.
The government must promote local industries and when they operate on full capacity they must then impose high taxes for second hand goods and counterfeit products finding their way into the the country rendering it a dumpsite. The Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) must man our points of entry and confisticate sub standard products that can harm our environment.
The business sector such as shops and manufacturers must be discouraged through policy for wasteful packaging and ensuring that plastic packaging is expensive as a way of promoting reuse.
Efilling must be prioritised in business starting from government departments. Paper must not be used as our main source of communication if it means our capacity to recycle or reuse is defunct.
The waste department in councils must have Community Liaison Officers(CLO) who link communities and the council as a way of promoting sound dumping techniques and also efficiency in refuse collection. They can also train the citizens on the importance of cleanliness and recycling.
Waste accumulation at areas such as Forbes boarder post which is a gateway between Zimbabwe and Mozambique shows lack of a Waste Management Plan at our border posts. Such things we take as minor can lead to conflict with our neighbours as this has led to the pollution of Munene river in the neighbouring country.
Government must not compromise or politicise policies that promote protection of wetlands or ecologically sensitive areas. Land for housing must be allocated far from catchment areas as tempering with wetlands would promote pollution and siltation thereby altering the quality of life of those who live in urban areas.
The situation in Harare where sensititive wetlands were sacrificed for human habitation in the case of Leong Chen Settlement and many others. Most urban centres preferred money over the protection of wetlands. The government of Zimbabwe ignored the dictates of the Ramsar Convection which aim to protect wetlands and it also acts in contempt of Section 73 of the Constitution which gives people the right to live in an unpolluted environment.
Industries and so called investors must commit themselves in the reduction of carbon emissions by investing in technological innovation that reduce carbon emissions. They must provide annual reports through National Social Security Authority (NSSA) of their target emissions so that we see which sectors are not environmentally friendly.
Lastly the government must ratify recommendations of all conventions that seek to protect the environment to ensure sustainable development.
These simple approaches would safeguard the country from wasteful expenditure and humiliation where the President of a country would abandon a fruitless trip in Rwanda to rush home and hold a broom for a few minutes then take off to Niger for yet another fruitless trip. Looking at the distance between the two countries it would have saved us thousands in revenue if he had connected the trip to Niger from Rwanda. The current efforts by the president must now move to sustainable initiatives and away from being photo ops for social media selfies.
We have sound policies that give us a good fight in 2023. For more information on our policy position, please visit our website http://www.tz.co.zw or send us an email on [email protected]
Farai Dziva|Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo has justified the ban on the use of the United States Dollar as legal tender in Zimbabwe.
Moyo made the remarks in an interview with BBC World Services.
“The whole point is for you to understand the whole roadmap from the time we introduced the US dollar and the multiple currencies that depreciated the whole productivity and lowered exports in the country,” he said.
Moyo emphasized claimed it was important for Zimbabwe to take its fate in its own hands by promoting exports to ensure foreign currency inflows.
“It is a right of every sovereign nation to have its own currency and it is a more organised way for exporters to have access to foreign currency,” he said.
By A Correspondent| Members of the Defence Forces yesterday started receiving a cushioning allowance, while the National Joint Negotiating Council (NJNC) convened a meeting to discuss an increment and other conditions of service for Government workers.
Soldiers received salaries adjusted with the cushion allowance, while other members of the civil service are expected to get theirs on their scheduled pay dates.
Those who spoke to the state media said they received an adjustment which ranged from around 40 percent of their usual salaries.
This dovetails with an assurance by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professosor Mthuli Ncube that civil servants will have an increment with effect from this month.
The NJNC, which brings together representatives of Government workers under the Apex Council and those representing the Government, held a marathon meeting yesterday to discuss conditions of service.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said an agreement on the real salary increment should be reached by Wednesday.
“The NJNC will continue negotiations tomorrow (today). There should be an outcome by tomorrow or Wednesday,” she said.
In an interview, Apex Council president Mrs Cecilia Alexander said the meeting was aimed at affording them feedback following the proposal they submitted on conditions of service for civil servants could be improved.
“The meeting had only one item, to get a feedback on the proposal that we had presented. No agreement was settled in the meeting but we agreed that each party should go back to its constituency for a way forward.
It was equally agreed that we should reconvene before the end of this week because the issues that we are dealing with are very urgent,” said Mrs Alexander.
She said they were not happy with the offer that was presented to them by representatives of their employer.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- PROPERTY worth ZWL$30 000 was reduced to ashes after a house was gutted by fire in Bulawayo’s Lobengula West suburb.
The incident occurred at around 9PM on Tuesday.
It is suspected that the fire was caused by a candle which was not put out after everyone had fallen asleep. The Bulawayo Fire Brigade suspects that the fire started in the bedroom where children were sleeping and spread to the other rooms.
Senior Divisional Fire Officer, Mr Edward Mpofu, said when they arrived at the scene, the sitting room had already been destroyed, with the fire spreading to other rooms. “I confirm receiving a call at around 9PM and rushed to the scene. When the fire-fighters arrived at the scene, they found the entire house engulfed in smoke.
“The call came late as the sitting room was already collapsing at the time of arrival. This was a nine roomed house which was already partially destroyed at the time of arrival,” he said.
Mr Mpofu said most of the rooms were damaged and some of the windows were shattered by heat.
He estimated that the damaged property was worth $30 000. Mr Mpofu warned the public against leaving lit candles when they retire to bed.
A 13-year-old asthmatic girl who was affected by smoke was the only one ferried to Mpilo Central Hospital. The rest of the family members escaped unharmed.
In an interview, the family representative, Ms Juliat Kabungaidze, said all the children’s school uniforms and stationery were destroyed.
She said they suspect the fire may have been deliberately started.
