By Own Correspondent- Three African countries have approached Government to recruit Zimbabwean teachers who are on demand in those nations.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima revealed this last Friday during a public lecture held at the United College of Education in Bulawayo.

The public lecture, which was organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (Zicosu), was running under the theme: “Utilising teachers and education in achieving vision 2030,” 

Prof Mavima said Government has suspended talks with South Sudan over exportation of graduates due to security threats in that country.

He said Government was in talks with Rwanda, Namibia and Botswana to export teachers to those countries.

“We have been approached by other countries wanting mainly teachers who can teach English. And we are exploring the possibility of bilateral arrangements, those teachers who are willing can then be employed outside the country. We are working on that. 

“The first country which approached us was South Sudan but we suspended that programme because they went into some security problems. Rwanda has now also approached us, Namibia is talking to us and Botswana is talking to us,” Prof Mavima said.

It is estimated that nearly 20 000 teachers are unemployed while a job freeze has resulted in nearly 13 000 vacancies.

Prof Mavima said Government is serious about addressing teachers’ conditions of service.

He said in conjunction with teachers’ unions, his Ministry is pushing for non-monetary incentives for teachers.

 “We are working on the provision of residential stands at low prices. We are looking at the possibility of having three children of teachers not paying fees in Government schools. 

“We have to do the advocacy with other ministries to make sure that it is accepted. So there are a number of things that we are working on together. We are working on empowerment programmes where teachers can access loans and have income generation projects,” Prof Mavima said.

He said for the country’s education system to thrive, teachers have to be motivated. 

Prof Mavima expressed satisfaction with the willingness of teachers unions to give negotiations a chance. 

“Several of the unions including the biggest union Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) have come to me and said Honourable Minister we have seen the sincerity of His Excellency and we have seen the sincerity of the Government including your own willingness to engage us on an ongoing basis. 

“Because of that we have embraced a path to dialogue instead of a path to conflict. So we are continuing to work with Zimta and other unions.

“But there are others maybe two of them who have maintained the orientation towards confrontation,” he said.-StateMedia 

By Own Correspondent- AN epileptic 18-months old boy allegedly died from severe burns he sustained after he fell into a fire in his grandmother’s kitchen.

The incident that left the little boy with serious injuries on the abdomen, buttocks and legs resulting in his death moments later, occurred last Tuesday evening at Isla Farm Village 2, Lubangwe in Hwange District.

The boy had been left sitting near the fire where he was warming himself in a kitchen hut by his grandmother who had gone to take a bath at around 7PM. A report was made to the police and the body was taken to Hwange Colliery Hospital mortuary and then transfered to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo for postmortem.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.A police source identified the victim as Sifiso Sibanda. The source said Ms Sikhangele Sibanda (53), who is the boy’s grandmother, reported the matter last Wednesday afternoon.

“On 25 June at around 7PM, Sikhangele Sibanda who is grandmother to Sifiso left him sitting in the kitchen near the fire warming himself when she went out to take a bath behind the kitchen hut. Ms Sibanda allegedly left a tin with boiling water on the fire.

“While she was still bathing, she heard the sound of a falling tin and rushed into the kitchen to check. She found her grandson convulsing while his lower body was in the fire. The tin had fallen on the boy and hot water spilt on him,” said the source.

The Chronicle was told that Ms Sibanda quickly pulled her grandson out of the fire and noticed that he was frothing from the mouth while his legs, abdomen and buttocks were burnt by fire and boiling water. She wrapped him with a blanket before phoning her husband, Mr Dumoluhle Masuku who had gone to Victoria Falls.

Mr Masuku arrived home at around 9PM when the little boy had died. The couple reported the matter to the police who attended the scene on Wednesday. 

Ms Sibanda told police that her grandson first had an epileptic attack when he was three months old. 

Police are investigating the matter.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- The ban on buying and selling of maize among unauthorised persons in Zimbabwe has reportedly caused a stand-off between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

In a move perceived as retaliation to the introduction of Statutory Instrument 145, Zambia last week denied some Zimbabweans entry into that country citing lack of proper documentation.

The stand-off is said to have resulted from the confiscation of maize destined to Zambia by Zimbabwe authorities who wanted to make the law work. This comes after Zimbabwe introduced SI 145 that gives the Grain Marketing Board the sole right to buy and sell maize.

Most Zimbabweans were now selling maize to Zambia shunning the GMB which they accuse of underpaying them for their maize. Zambians have also been visiting Zimbabwe to buy maize for resale in their country due to the fall in the RTGS$ value against the US dollar.

Thomas Ranganai, one of those who were denied entry into Zambia said:We were denied entry into Zambia after we had hired a local taxi, as we used to do without hassles here.

We were caught off guard as Zambians said they were also effecting their laws, without even a humanitarian face. They are not happy about what happened to their countrymen and women over the maize taken away by authorities.

The stand-off was confirmed by an official at Chirundu border-post confirmed the “stand-off” which he said was unfortunate as it resulted in the suffering of Zimbabweans who seek social services from Zambia.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- Energy Minister, advocate Fortune Chasi, has threatened to disconnect electricity for consumers who are defaulting payment of their bills.

Chasi was responding to some comments on twitter from concerned citizens who wanted to know what his ministry was doing to ease the electricity shortage crisis.

Chasi reiterated his call for everyone to honor their obligations by paying their debts and bills to local power utility, ZESA. Posting on Twitter, Chasi said:

Zesa has a legal obligation to cut its loses. It cannot continue to supply power to people who do not pay. Switching off non paying consumers is a real option. Be warned. This is regardless of what or who you are.

Responding to Chasi’s tweet, one twitter user, @valtanyaradzwa said:

this is sooo funny bcoz right now the people and organizations who are enjoying electricity are the untouchables who owe millions in unpaid debts. isuwo hedu takaisirwa maprepaid meter kare tisu tinokaura

The minister responded saying:

Loadshedding is not selective tete. But I agree that many who haven’t paid still enjoy zesa. It will come to an end.

Chasi was further accused by MDC Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende of not taking action against prominent people including Cabinet ministers who owe ZESA large sums of money. To that, Chasi responded and said:

Mr Hwende… the public owes 350… vanhu wo zvavo. Commerce 350 too. Local authorities ohh my god.! Ko wasiireyi MPS? Coz you are one? Let’s work together on this instead of grandstanding. Tino nyura tese!

By a Correspondent- The opposition MDC has dismissed the Midlands provincial peace committee set by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) chairperson, Justice Selo Nare, in Gweru on Friday, saying that it seems to be an extension of Zanu PF.

The committee was set to deal with mining disputes, Gukurahundi, politicisation of mining activities, politicisation of social services, lack of tolerance among political parties, and the underdevelopment of the province, given the amount of natural resources in the region.

It will be chaired by Musasa Project executive director and NPRC commissioner Netty Musanhu, while Zanu PF Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mpereri and provincial police spokesperson Ethel Mukwende will serve as her deputy chairpersons.

Other committee members are Florence Guzha, Titus Mangoma, Tawanda Sibanda and Victoria Koke.

Dismissing the commission, MDC Midlands provincial spokesperson, Dr Takavafira Zhou said:

It certainly seems to be an extension of Zanu PF. We would have loved to see an all-embracing stakeholder conference to agree on its modus operandi and depolitisation of its committee officials. But by appointing well-known Zanu PF officials to spearhead peace and bearing in mind their thuggery and brutality, it is like appointing a rapist to give psychological therapy to his victims.

Zhou was also pessimistic about the grouping’s capacity to succeed in carrying out its duties and responsibilities after leaving out key stakeholders such as the MDC.

But Zhou highlighted that President Emmerson Mnangagwa seemed insincere in dealing with the issues. He said that Mnangagwa cannot be the perpetrator of violence and peacemaker.-Newsday

JOHANNESBURG  – Zimbabweans may have “grabbed” the land from the descendants of colonisers and those whose ancestors “stole” the land from indigenous blacks, but the consequences have been dire – food security has vanished along with any joy experienced after Robert Mugabe’s ouster. 

The new government – led by 76-year-old Emmerson Mnangagwa, the man now in charge of Mugabe’s Zanu PF party – exhibits the same failed traits of using brute force to solve economic problems.

Many factories and businesses have closed even when commanded to remain open. Money and the lack of it continues to bedevil that country’s government. Rising prices and three tier payments – US dollar, bond and RTGS – have not only confused the market but have also eroded profits.

Since Mugabe’s ouster in a bloodless coup in November 2017, poverty and joblessness have increased. The economy has all but collapsed. The beleaguered government’s hopes are now pinned solely on the return of the Zimbabwe dollar. 

The local currency, which was abandoned by authorities just over a decade ago, in 2008, after inflation reached an estimated 500 billion percent, made its return on Monday. 

For four decades, the Zimbabwe government has acted with impunity regarding individual and property rights – they have even been so emboldened as to ignore court orders that they do not like. Accusations are that those in power only act when court rulings favour them.

It therefore comes as no surprise that in Zimbabwe, an initiative to set up a massive wildlife conservancy and historical tourism venture that would benefit the local community, as well as contributing to the revival of tourism and the economy by attracting international tourists, is on hold. 

The combined farm and safari operation, which is integral to the project and would generate vital foreign currency, continues to be illegally occupied by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who took it over by force in July 2007.

Their ongoing occupation is in flagrant disregard of a confirmed court order of September 2007 compelling them to vacate the farm and return it to its lawful owner, Dave Joubert, a high profile Matabeleland farmer of approximately 50 years, and owner of Portwe Estate since 1982.

The failure of the government to remove the police from Joubert’s Portwe Estate and Bembesi conservancy demonstrates that Zimbabwe is not “open for business”, as President Mnangagwa claims.

This visionary project involves Paramount Chief Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni, whose father, the late Paramount Chief Khayisa Ndiweni, endorsed the initiative, together with the then governor, Welshman Mahbene. 

Chief Felix Ndiweni has risen rapidly to prominence in Zimbabwe since returning from the UK to take up the hereditary chieftainship.  

He was sent to London in 1981 to study for a degree in engineering technology and mechanical engineering, and lived there for more than 20 years.

Ndiweni also has degrees in management studies, specialising in local governance, and law. 

The paramount chief is committed to bringing independence and an end to poverty to his people through individual property rights. 

If the police and the Mnangagwa government continue to defy the law and the Zimbabwe constitution, there will be implications regarding the government’s re-engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the European Union. 

With the economy in the grips of a meltdown, kilometre-long fuel queues, devastating power cuts and rapidly rising inflation, President Mnangagwa has said that restoring ties with the West and multilateral lenders, including the IMF, is one of his priorities.

As for the country itself, everything is going south and fast. South Africa’s Eskom has recently stopped supplying electricity to Zimbabwe which has run up a massive debt. Zimbabwe also owes Mozambique a substantial amount of money for electricity.

Unconfirmed reports said rolling blackouts that last up to a week have forced Zimbabwe to make a payment to Eskom. Zimbabwe’s Energy Minister Fortune Chasi this week said Zimbabwe had paid US $10 million to Eskom.

Many urban areas are without tap water, and where it is available its cleanliness cannot be guaranteed. Hospitals long ran out of drugs and civil servants, including teachers, are threatening strike action.

The solutio, Mugabe’s successor says, lies in bring back the Zimbabwe dollar.

On Monday, Mnangagwa, who won a disputed election last year, outlawed the use of a multi-currency payment system, ostensibly to tackle the ever-rising black market exchange rate. 

“The British pound, US dollar, South African Rand, Botswana pula and any other foreign currency whatsoever shall no longer be legal tender alongside the Zimbabwe dollar in any transaction in Zimbabwe,” said a notice in the government gazette.

The opposition MDC led by 41-year-old Nelson Chamisa have long warned of an economic melt-down.

Commenting on the re-introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar, Chamisa likened the development to “guerrilla economics and ambush currency” measures which he said were “ill-advised, destructive and confidence-draining”.

Chamisa said any successful re-introduction of the local currency required that macroeconomic fundamentals, public confidence, trust, fiscal discipline, political stability and legitimacy be in place first.

Ken Yamamoto, the renowned Japanese researcher and commentator on Zimbabwe, has proferred a solution saying: “It is not rocket science to solve Zimbabwe’s problems. It requires honest, selfless and sincere leaders to build a culture of honesty and inspire everyone to work for the country.”

THE opposition MDC party says it will be grabbing “popcorn and chairs” for front row seats in what appears to be factional fights playing out in the ruling Zanu PF, where officials are tearing each other apart over alleged corruption.

Party leader Nelson Chamisa said the MDC would not disturb its opponents as they tear each other apart, and neither would they join the game, but instead watch and cheer from the terraces.

“We will not disturb our opponents as they tear each other apart, in what is clearly political and factional fights. These people are cruel and do not care about anything, but just power alone,” Chamisa said.

“This is not a fight against corruption, but a fight for political power within the party using the youth. If this was a genuine fight against corruption, where are the police? Do you mean the Zanu PF youth league has more intelligence than the police and Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission?”

The MDC joined Zanu PF in Parliament and on the streets for a march to oust then President Robert Mugabe from power through impeachment and mass demonstrations following the November 2017 coup.

After Mugabe was pushed out, Zanu PF claimed the spoils and kept the opposition at bay, saying this was an internal issue and had nothing to do with opposition political parties.

Chamisa said recent events in which the Zanu PF youth league fingered top party bosses and ministers in corruption was an attempt to divert the attention of the majority from the real issues.

“Ask yourself why some people known for being behind corrupt activities are missing from that list. It’s a high sounding nothing from an ostrich government which buries its head inthe sand at the sign of a crisis, but the problem with burying your head is you will hear or see nothing,” he said.

Chamisa said if President Emmerson Mnangagwa was serious about fighting corruption, he would let the police do a professional job while he concentrated on ending the economic crisis, which he said had its roots in political circles.

“This is a crisis too long. We do not deserve a day longer in this crisis and what hurts is the time wasted for the youth and hardworking people who lose pensions and savings to this

cruel government,” he said.

But Zanu PF deputy youth secretary Lewis Matutu said his team was just warming up and would soon name MDC leaders who were also part of the corruption bandwagon.

“This is not a Zanu PF fight. Everyone should be involved and we are going to name more. We are going after even the MDC leaders who are corrupt and even journalists who are receiving

money to cover up corrupt deeds,” he said.

However, MDC youth assembly boss Obey Sithole yesterday described the anti-corruption drive as nothing, but a diversionary tactic to stop Zimbabweans from focusing on the pressing

socio-economic issues.

Sithole said the country is reeling under the ever-worsening economic scourge, which has seen prices of basic commodities spiralling beyond the reach of many.

He accused Zanu PF of authoring and perpetuating corruption in Zimbabwe, while urging the country to resist being swayed from the main issue.

“It is an insult to the people of Zimbabwe for the Zanu PF youth league to name and shame officials in the corruption-laden party, leaving a big elephant in the house, for we all know

that a fish rots from the head,” Sithole said in a Press statement, adding that most Zanu PF officials had been implicated in some corruption cases. Sithole maintained the naming and shaming was nothing, but a ruse.

“It is clear that the anti-corruption facade by Zanu PF is meant to achieve two things, which are not in any way interlinked to the war against corruption.

“Firstly, the attention-seeking drama is bent on entertaining and diverting the long-suffering citizenry from focusing on souring prices and stinking poverty authored by the very sameparty. Secondly, and more importantly to Zanu PF, is that this is an internal detonation that is meant to purge remnants of the G40 and those aligned to Vice-President Constantano

Chiwenga’s factional camp,” Sithole said.

“In short, this is a factional battle at play which has nothing to do with the fight against corruption. If anything, the Zanu PF youth league’s so-called anti-corruption drive exposesand portrays the corrupt nature of State institutions like Zacc [Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission] and ZRP [Zimbabwe Republic Police].”

The opposition has been threatening to take to the streets to force the Zanu PF-led government to deal with the economic mess.

State Media|THREE African countries have approached Government to recruit Zimbabwean teachers who are on demand in those nations.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima revealed this last Friday during a public lecture held at the United College of Education in Bulawayo.

The public lecture, which was organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (Zicosu), was running under the theme: “Utilising teachers and education in achieving vision 2030,”

Prof Mavima said Government has suspended talks with South Sudan over exportation of graduates due to security threats in that country.

He said Government was in talks with Rwanda, Namibia and Botswana to export teachers to those countries.

“We have been approached by other countries wanting mainly teachers who can teach English. And we are exploring the possibility of bilateral arrangements, those teachers who are willing can then be employed outside the country. We are working on that.

“The first country which approached us was South Sudan but we suspended that programme because they went into some security problems. Rwanda has now also approached us, Namibia is talking to us and Botswana is talking to us,” Prof Mavima said.

It is estimated that nearly 20 000 teachers are unemployed while a job freeze has resulted in nearly 13 000 vacancies.

Prof Mavima said Government is serious about addressing teachers’ conditions of service.

He said in conjunction with teachers’ unions, his Ministry is pushing for non-monetary incentives for teachers.

“We are working on the provision of residential stands at low prices. We are looking at the possibility of having three children of teachers not paying fees in Government schools.

“We have to do the advocacy with other ministries to make sure that it is accepted. So there are a number of things that we are working on together. We are working on empowerment programmes where teachers can access loans and have income generation projects,” Prof Mavima said.

He said for the country’s education system to thrive, teachers have to be motivated.

Prof Mavima expressed satisfaction with the willingness of teachers unions to give negotiations a chance.

“Several of the unions including the biggest union Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) have come to me and said Honourable Minister we have seen the sincerity of His Excellency and we have seen the sincerity of the Government including your own willingness to engage us on an ongoing basis.

“Because of that we have embraced a path to dialogue instead of a path to conflict. So we are continuing to work with Zimta and other unions.

“But there are others maybe two of them who have maintained the orientation towards confrontation,” he said.

AN epileptic 18-months old boy allegedly died from severe burns he sustained after he fell into a fire in his grandmother’s kitchen.

The incident that left the little boy with serious injuries on the abdomen, buttocks and legs resulting in his death moments later, occurred last Tuesday evening at Isla Farm Village 2, Lubangwe in Hwange District.

The boy had been left sitting near the fire where he was warming himself in a kitchen hut by his grandmother who had gone to take a bath at around 7PM. A report was made to the police and the body was taken to Hwange Colliery Hospital mortuary and then transfered to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo for postmortem.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese could not be reached for comment.A police source identified the victim as Sifiso Sibanda. The source said Ms Sikhangele Sibanda (53), who is the boy’s grandmother, reported the matter last Wednesday afternoon.

“On 25 June at around 7PM, Sikhangele Sibanda who is grandmother to Sifiso left him sitting in the kitchen near the fire warming himself when she went out to take a bath behind the kitchen hut. Ms Sibanda allegedly left a tin with boiling water on the fire.

“While she was still bathing, she heard the sound of a falling tin and rushed into the kitchen to check. She found her grandson convulsing while his lower body was in the fire. The tin had fallen on the boy and hot water spilt on him,” said the source.

The Chronicle was told that Ms Sibanda quickly pulled her grandson out of the fire and noticed that he was frothing from the mouth while his legs, abdomen and buttocks were burnt by fire and boiling water. She wrapped him with a blanket before phoning her husband, Mr Dumoluhle Masuku who had gone to Victoria Falls.

Mr Masuku arrived home at around 9PM when the little boy had died. The couple reported the matter to the police who attended the scene on Wednesday.

Ms Sibanda told police that her grandson first had an epileptic attack when he was three months old.

Police are investigating the matter.

State Media|At least 70 local authorities did not submit financial statements for the Auditor-General’s 2018 audit, with only three having records audited for the year.

This was revealed by Auditor-General Mildred Chiri in her annual report on the performance of local authorities for the year 2018, that was tabled in Parliament last week.

“I note with concern that for the 2018 financial year, out of 92 local authorities, only three (Bindura Municipality, Tongogara Rural District Council and Marondera Rural District Council) had current [2018] financial statements audited and reported on, whilst 19 were in progress or at finalisation stage,” she said.

“Seventy local authorities had not submitted their financial statements for audit as at May 31, 2019.”

Some of the local authorities have not submitted financial statements since 2016, with Kusile Rural District Council (Lupane) failing to present its statements since 2014.

Mrs Chiri said the failure to submit the statements had made it difficult for her office to follow up on issues raised in previous reports.

“I, therefore, found it difficult to review and assess whether or not my prior recommendations including outstanding issues had been regularised,” she said.

Mrs Chiri noted that lack of good governance continued to dog most councils, with Chitungwiza Municipality, Karoi Town Council and Bubi Rural District Council operating without key policy and procedure manuals.

“Non-payment of statutory obligations continues to be an issue in my reports,” she said. “Notable cases were Kariba Municipality ($5 309 208), Redcliff Municipality ($2 916 365) and Karoi Town Council ($1 936 329).

“Gweru City Council could not reconcile rates and water accounts amounts of $12 738 875 and $7 312 445 to bank statements balances of $303 942 and $70 582 respectively. Its employees have accumulated excess leave days which effectively imply that some of them have not been on leave for at least 17 years and others 24 years.

Mrs Chiri castigated Harare City Council for wasting money after hiring equipment for $222 950 when it could have repaired its own for $159 969.

“The council also borrowed an aggregate of $32 500 000 to fund salaries and terminal benefits of employees without ministerial approval,” she said.

“Only six out of the 32 required ambulances were available. There were no documented procedures in place to handle some operational and veterinary issues, for instance the case where council recorded cattle deaths averaging 36 per month (433 for the year under review).”

Mrs Chiri said 67 percent of Mutare City Council treated water was not billed due to leakages, non-metered connections and accounts not created in the system.

The local authority had 5 872 non-functional water meters.

In a direct copy of former President Robert Mugabe’s Fort Hare University presidential scholarship, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to also establish his own scholarship programme to support Zimbabwean students to further their studies at the University of Zambia (UNZA).

Speaking after his conferment with a Special Honorary PhD Degree by UNZA on Saturday, Mnangagwa said his Government regards education as a key ingredient in driving the industrialisation agenda and establishing a middle-income economy by 2030.

President Mnangagwa, who expressed deep graduate for the recognition and honour given to him 44 years after he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the same university, said he was inspired to do more in support of the education sector in the country, including establishing synergies with regional and international universities.

“As a proud alumnus of this university, I am aware that this is the highest recognition that a university can award an individual. To give other young people the opportunity to experience learning at this great institution, I will be awarding Presidential Scholarships to deserving candidates to study at the University of Zambia,” said the President.

“We should encourage our people to benefit from each other’s education systems. My Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Development (Prof Amon Murwira) is here with me and I have directed that we see more collaboration between the universities in our two countries.”

Like Mnangagwa, Mugabe graduated from the South African Fort Hare University, was conferred with an honorary degree after which he established his presidential scholarship for young Zimbabweans to the university.

President Mnangagwa applauded the close bond between Zambia and Zimbabwe, popularly described as “Siamese twins” as the two states have shared cordial bilateral relations since pre-colonial times and worked closely together during the liberation struggle up to date.

Equally, President Mnangagwa said his personal life experience testifies the solidarity between the two neighbouring states. He said Zambia will always remain dear to him as he personally associated with the country as far back as the 1950s when he arrived as a lad from the then Southern Rhodesia.

“It was here in Zambia where my political awareness was nurtured through involvement in student anti-colonial politics, while serving as one of the youth league leaders of UNIP, here in Lusaka,” he recalled.

“My years at UNZA further enhanced my capacity to play a meaningful role, both in the liberation of my beloved country and in the post-independent Zimbabwe. My foundational years here in Zambia and at UNZA remain invaluable.”

THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) is insolvent with its liabilities outstripping its assets by over US$92 million, a report by the Auditor General Mrs Mildred Chiri reveals.

The report was tabled in Parliament last week.
“I draw your attention to the fact that the company’s current liabilities exceed its current assets by US$92 118 178, this indicates that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the company’s ability to continue operating as a going concern,” Mrs Chiri said.

In 2017 the company’s liabilities exceeded its assets by US$84 167 798.
The AG also said the company’s financial were in shambles.

“Because of the significance of the matter described in the basis for the adverse opinion section of our report, the financial statements do not present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Zesa Holdigs Private Limited as at 31 December 2018, and its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards,” she reported.

Zesa has attributed the challenges it faces to the sub-economic tariffs it charges resulting in production costs of electricity to remain higher than the sale costs.State media

A Greenside woman last week drowned in Chikanga Extension water reservoir where she had allegedly gone to perform traditional rituals with friends.

Bridget Mangazi’s body was discovered floating in the dam by Joseph Mutimudye, a Chikanga resident, who alerted the police.
Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident.

He said Mangazi (28) had gone to the dam with five friends for traditional rituals, but fell into the reservoir while relieving herself.

“Instead of helping her, her friends left her and rushed to Himalaya Village, under Chief Zimunya to look for her parents as they believed she had been taken by a mermaid,” said Insp Kakohwa.

Mangazi’s body was discovered by a passer-by before her friends returned.
The Police Sub Aqua Unit was called in to retrieve the body.State media

Farai Dziva|Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Victor Mademadanda has warned Zimbabweans against staging demonstrations.

This comes as tension increases in the country due to relentless economic challenges.

Matemadanda claimed malcontents were plotting to cause civil unrest in the country.

“Let me warn to warn anti-social forces such as opposition parties to desist from planning acts of violence and anarchy.”

Matemadanda has also postulated that opposition forces are planning to demonstrate against the banning of the Multi-currency system.

” Such actions will not be tolerated,” said Matemadanda.

https://twitter.com/MatutuLewis/status/1145399349360254977?s=19

By Own Correspondent| MDC Vice president, Tendai Biti has called for a national dialogue that will produce a National Transition Authority (NTA).

Biti called the NTA a soft landing that Zimbabwe needs as a measure to pump the brakes on the economy that has taken a nosedive.

He further said that if Zimbabwe fails to establish an NTA, the country is headed for an Implosion which he called an Armageddon

Speaking to the Daily News the Harare East MP said:

“We need to democratically coup-proof our country by finding a democratic solution to our problems and avoid a vaccum that makes military intervention inevitable.”

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF youth commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu has dispelled allegations that the youths were pushing a factional fight as false.

He also revealed that another list has been submitted to the Zanu PF leadership pending the investigations.

Below are excerpts from the interview with a local publication.

OM: Can you tell us about this anti-corruption drive that you are doing as the youth league? What is its basis and what do you want to achieve?

GT: What we are simply doing as the youth league is to make sure that we push for the fulfilment of the party’s manifesto from the 2018 elections.

It was one of the key issues that we pledged to deal with. Remember we had promised to fight corruption and as the youth league we said elections are gone and we need to be working towards the fulfilment of what we promised.

The motivation is that as you look at the current scenario, we have a crop of leadership both in the public and private sectors who have just become so greedy and selfish to the point of taking everything for themselves without taking into consideration that we have other generations to come after us.

It is on this basis that we said as the youth leadership we cannot continue to look aside and be bystanders when we have a few individuals destroying what Zimbabwe stands for and what the party stands for.

OM: You named just a few individuals from Zanu PF and others. Critics are saying those that you named cannot be the only ones driving corruption in the country. They allege that by naming very few individuals, you are just trying to settle scores with those that you named. Are you being pushed by anyone?

GT: It is not true. If you talk of a youth league, you are not talking of an individual, but it’s a structure.

We have structures from cell up to the top and this stance that we have taken is shared by the whole body of the youth league.

We are not pushing any agenda. If you look at the composition of the people who were accused of being corrupt, they are being drawn from the government, party, private sector and others, hence you cannot say there is a vendetta.

We have armchair critics who are bent on criticising what we have done, but remember this thing has to start from somewhere.

Yes, we have not named everyone, but at least we have named certain individuals whom we have concrete evidence against.

We are making a call to every Zimbabwean, not Zanu PF members alone, that they also have a right to expose these people.

It’s not only the duty of the youth league. If people feel that the youth league has not mentioned everyone who is corrupt, they must also come forward and play their part by taking up from where we have left it.-Standard

By Own Correspondent- The ZRP has reportedly started to look into the claims that PHD leader Walter Magaya slept and impregnated a 17-year-old girl Chenai Maenzanise Hassan back in 2013.

This follows a video by Chenai’s parents where they exposed how Magaya raped their minor girl and impregnated her at a show hosted by Enisia Mushusha dubbed The A List Show.

A local publication confirmed that the Police have started looking into the case.

Quoting the highest ranking police officer in Zimbabwe Commissioner General Matanga the publication wrote:

We are happy that the society is playing its part in helping in maintaining  order and making follow ups on cases of this nature. We are looking into this matter.

Watch the video below for this and more….

MDC Alliance legislator Joel Gabbuza, who was arrested last year on charges of insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has been placed off remand by the Hwange Magistrate’s Court after the prosecutor-general failed to consent to the trial in reasonable time.

Prosecutor-general Kumbirai Hodzi was expected to give consent for the trial to go ahead since last year, but to no avail.

Last week the matter was in court before Hwange magistrate Barbara Phiri, who ruled that Gabbuza must be placed off remand following the failure by Hodzi to give his consent for the case to proceed.

Gabbuza’s lawyer Thulani Nkala confirmed that his client had been given a reprieve.

Gabbuza has been out of custody on $200 bail.

The Binga South MP is denying the charges of undermining the authority of or insulting the president as defined in section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

His bail conditions were that he must not interfere with state witnesses and to reside at his given address until the finalisation of the case.

Prosecutor Vumizulu Mangena told the court that on October 23 last year, Gabbuza was at John Bwansula Mumpande’s home in Manzasiya village in Binga where villagers had gathered at a funeral for the burial of a family member.

Manangena said Gabbuza told mourners that: “You people are disabled, you have chosen a d*g who cannot manage to rule the country.

“There is no fuel, medication and I had to go to Zambia to buy fuel which we have used at this funeral.

“I have said so and if there is anyone who is angered about this, I do not have any problem.”

This did not go down well with one of the villagers, who on October 29 reported the matter at Binga Police Station, leading to Gabbuza’s arrest.

Heated exchanges flew in an explosive Zanu PF politburo meeting, where bigwigs publicly accused of corruption by party youths came out guns blazing as they defended themselves and accused the belligerent Young Turks of being sponsored by internal rivals to tarnish their images for political gain, the Zimbabwe Independent has learnt.

The youths accused Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu , secretary for education Joram Gumbo, secretary for Environment Prisca Mupfumira and politburo committee member Jacob Mudenda, among others, of corruption.

The youths said Mpofu must clear his name from allegations of corruption relating to how he managed the trade of diamonds during his time as Mines minister, while Mupfumira needed to answer corruption allegations arising from abuse of funds at the National Social Security Authority (Nssa) during the time she was Labour minister.

The youths also accused Gumbo of engaging in corrupt activities in relation to how finances were handled at the Zimbabwe National Road Administration Authority (Zinara) and his involvement in the Zimbabwe Airways (ZimAirways) saga.

The controversial airline was established in 2017 and has been subject to several corruption allegations

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo disclosed at a press conference soon after the politburo meeting that an agreement was reached to allow party leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations.

But fresh, intricate details of the explosive Wednesday meeting emerged yesterday, amid indications that the accused heavyweights passionately defended themselves before launching fierce counter-attacks on some of the youth league leaders, especially youth affairs secretary Pupurai Togarepi and his deputy Lewis Matutu.

Politburo sources say discussion on the issue lasted hours as irate party leaders took turns to berate the youths, accusing them of seeking relevance by dragging their names into the mud for political capital.

In his opening remarks, Mnangagwa reportedly said while he applauded the youths for joining his anti-corruption crusade, he was disappointed that they made the allegations without consulting him, in line with party protocol.

“The President said he was disappointed that the youths had decided to jump the gun and made announcements without first reaching out to him for guidance. He said that their decision to fight corruption was a noble idea, although they needed to first have approached his office,” a politburo member who attended the meeting said.

Gumbo, sources said, was the one who suggested that Mnangagwa should set-up the commission as he vigorously defended himself. “Gumbo said the youths were misplaced since their allegations were broad and lacked specificity.

He said the youths just made generalised allegations,” the politburo member said.

Gumbo is also said to have argued that all the things he did as Transport minister were above board. On Zinara, the source said, Gumbo said he actually noted anomalies which were happening and ordered a forensic audit to be undertaken on the parastatal.

The subsequent audit, by Grant Thornton, exposed serious cases of corruption and abuse of office by senior managers.

Gumbo is also said to have argued that he was ready to defend himself against allegations of graft at ZimAirways, stating that he was not responsible for handling finances which went towards the purchase of two wide-bodied Boeing 777 planes from Malaysia in 2017.

After Gumbo spoke, sources said a furious Mpofu — who sat at the top table in the absence of the ailing Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga — took a swipe at the “overzealous youths who were according themselves too much power”.

Mpofu reportedly told the meeting that on arrival at the Zanu PF headquarters, he was confronted by the party’s youth league commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu, who told him not to proceed to the meeting because some youths had gathered around the entrance leading into the party headquarters with the intention of denying him entry.

“Mpofu reported that the youths had become too big-headed, saying Tsenengamu had tried to block his entrance into the building, backed by a gang of Mbare-based youths,” a source said.

Mpofu told the politburo members that he informed Tsenengamu: “Let those youths try something silly, I will teach them a lesson. They are idiots.”

Mupfumira is also said to have expressed great disappointment with the behaviour of the youths, alleging that they were being sent by some big people in the party to soil her image for political mileage.

“I think she spoke for the longest time. She was clearly angry with Matutu and Togarepi, describing them as vana mambara (mischief makers) who went around spreading lies about her. She also said she felt greatly humiliated because her children and grandchildren were asking her about the corruption allegations. She also said the timing for the expose was wrong since it came when she was officiating at the African Wildlife Summit in Victoria Falls and that had greatly tarnished the image of the country globally,” another politburo member said.

Mupfumira told the meeting that she strongly believed there were some powerful political figures that were sending the youths to soil her image and affect her social and political standing for political reasons.

In his contribution, former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, chastised the youths, particularly Matutu and Togarepi for failing to follow party structures.

“Chinamasa took aim at the two for jumping the gun. He said that he was surprised that they would do so, especially after the politburo recently came to their rescue after their fellow youths passed a vote-of-no-confidence on them without following proper procedures. He told them that what they were doing was not different from what those other youths had done to them and they should therefore have known better. He also said that he believed that Matutu and Togarepi were making noise to gain political relevance,” another senior Zanu PF official who sits in the politburo said.

Togarepi, who was absent from the name-and-shame Tuesday press conference, is said to have refrained from the debate, opting instead to let his deputy speak. Matutu is the one who presided over the press conference.

The youth league leader reportedly sought refuge by stating that he had only addressed the press conference on behalf of all the youths and apologised for failing to follow stipulated party structures.

“He (Matutu) did not say much. He simply said he addressed the press conference on behalf of the youths. He then apologised for jumping the gun and that was that,” a politburo source said.

Khaya Moyo declined to comment on the issues raised in an interview with the Independent yesterday, saying the press statement he gave on Wednesday was sufficient. “I have already given a statement on what transpired in the politburo meeting and that is sufficient. I am not going to add anything more,” he said.

ZBC|Religious leaders in Mashonaland Central have called for extensive consultations before passing the Marriage Bill into law.

The men of cloth condemned Section 40 of the proposed bill describing it as an attack on the marriage institution which will lead to domestic violence and an increase in sexually transmitted infections.

Pastors who converged in Bindura under the Auspices of Courtship and Marriage Foundation (COMAFO) welcomed the Marriage Bill for recognising property rights but expressed reservations over certain grey areas which they view as legalising adultery and threatening the stability of the family institution.

Section 40 of the proposed bill stipulates that one can enter into a civil partnership commonly referred to as “small house” with a person of the opposite sex who is above the age of 18 even if they are married under chapter 5:11

“Once we legalise having civil partners we are fueling STIs through multiple partnerships,” said one of the pastors.

“The loophole in this bill is that a person who does not indulge in an extra marital affair partnership will suffer from the actions of the one who does,” said another pastor.

“What will happen to the woman who has been wasted since we say we are all equal?,” asked another pastor.

COMAFO founding director, Reverend Herbert Mazonde challenged the legislators to consult extensively indicating that nations are founded on solid family institutions.

“The bill promotes promiscuity, gender based violence through raising unnecessary emotions… The whole section is immoral, promotes and validates adultery and does not protect property of the innocent party and children,” he said.

Calls were also made for adequate training to traditional leaders before certifying them as marriage officers to preserve the sacredness of the marriage institution.

Zanu PF National Political Commissar, who is also the Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Victor Matemadanda has warned people who are planning demonstrations against government’s decision to end the multi-currency regime saying such actions will not be tolerated as the policy move was not only popular, but seeks to end the suffering of many Zimbabweans.

Standard|STATE-owned Agribank says it is struggling to pay up to $30 million in loans secured from South Africa-based Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) due to foreign currency shortages.

Agribank CEO Sam Malaba said the bank had been exposed to more forex liabilities since the floating of the exchange rate in February this year, which removed the 1.1 peg between the bond notes and United States dollar.

“Since the floating of the exchange rate in February 2019, the bank is exposed to forex revaluation loss as it has more forex liabilities than forex assets.

“Threats will also come from an IDC SA legacy debt wherein repayments are lagging behind schedule due to shortage of foreign currency.

“As at 31 May 2019, US$20 290 319 due to IDC was in arrears,” Malaba told the annual general meeting last week.

IDC SA extended a US$60 million credit line facility in 2012 in two tranches of US$30 million and by 2016 Agribank had managed to repay US$17 million of the first tranche with the other US$30 million remaining.

Last year the bank secured another US$30 million credit line, which is yet to be drawn down from the same institution.

The bank, which was on the sanctions list before being removed in 2016, has been relying on regional financiers to access lines of credit to fund the agriculture sector-related value chains.

The financial institution has been entrusted to administer the distribution of mechanisation equipment from a government- mobilised US $100 million facility.

Authorities want the bank to assess farmers’ creditworthiness through the credit bureau so as to limit defaults and as well ensure transparency and efficiency.

Farmers will also access the equipment based on productivity history.

The bank recorded profit of RTGS$4,6 million for the five- month period of 2019 ending May 31 above the budgeted profit of RTGS$3,8 million driven by non-interest income and interest income, reflecting marked loan book growth during the year.

Growth in non-interest income was mainly due to increased transactions from the ICT delivery channels and electronic banking.

The bank said operating expenses had been growing rapidly due to the high inflation and exchange rate movements.

It was of the view that the operating environment would remain depressed due to inflation that would translate into increased pressures to raise staff salaries.

“There is pressure on staff and other expenses as inflation continues to rise,” Malaba said.

“Revenue growth is going to be difficult given that the tough operating environment will affect quality loan book growth as creditworthiness of customers declines.”

By Brighton Mutebuka| The bottom line is that he remains innocent until proven guilty. However, the allegations levelled against him are very serious & highly damaging.

They go to the very core of his level of probity and integrity. The expectation is that, as soon as they’re raised, he issues a statement clarifying his position.

In any normal, functioning society, you would also expect the authorities to take a keen interest and issue a press statement whilst also inviting the complainant to make a formal report.

It’s highly concerning that numerous such serious allegations have previously been levelled against him and there’s a pending criminal trial on this. It would have been better if he had recused himself during the relevant period. He’s clearly a controversial character who’s prone to embroiling himself in unsavoury matters.

I have had the privilege of representing very prominent religious leaders here & in Zimbabwe. What I would say is that, without any shadow of doubt, there is a stark contrast between their public and private personas. In the majority of cases, most are deeply flawed with elaborate and highly choreographed public personas to dupe unsuspecting congregants into believing that they’re highly pious when they’re not.

State Media|The introduction of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 on Monday this week has caused a number of developments in the country. SI 142 of 2019 has removed the multiple currency system and reintroduced the Zimbabwe dollar. However, the move has seen producers and retailers, raising prices for goods and services to stratospheric levels, despite the plunge in the parallel market rate for the US dollar against the local currency. State owned Herald Newspaper vDeputy News Editor Africa Moyo (AM), caught up with Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu (NN) on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy (ZNIDP) launch in Harare, to find out what is going on in industry. For more, read the excerpts . . .

AM: Give us an overview of industry since the coming in of the Second Republic.
NN: When we came in, I found an industry that was on its way up, through SI 64 (of 2016), I think we registered significant gains. We had a number of companies that were coming to invest; your Surface Wilmar, Willowton, your Pepsi; quite a number. Others also retooled because we had protected the industry from imports. But that also came with some problems, specifically to do with regional integration efforts, regional industrialisation efforts; we had diplomatic challenges. Initially, the instrument itself was not meant to last long, it needed to have complementing policies that would sustain industries post beyond the Statutory Instrument. So, yes we then saw in October (2018) what happened, where there was a significant spike in demand, panic buying, prices also going up and to protect the consumers, we had to open up the borders so that they had broader choices. Beyond that, we have seen drought affecting significantly our manufacturing sector particularly from the procurement of raw materials’ point of view, in the face of crippling foreign currency shortages. So we have had in the meantime to speedily conclude the process of coming up with policies that will support sustainable industrial growth, and the two policies — Industrial Policy launched today, as well as local content strategy, speak precisely to that. We believe that there is no country that does not promote their industries, but there are covert protection mechanisms which by and large in the mould of local content policy strategy. As a country we are going to robustly pursue a policy where companies that have a tendency to import that which we have capacity to produce locally, will be faced with high tariffs. Some might not even be able to sell or have those products listed in our shelves. We will have strict listing regulations coming from the local content committee that is going to be set up. So we have really staggered along, we have tried to hang in there.

AM: And as industries try to find their feet, we have recently seen high prices of goods, particularly this week, following the introduction of SI 142 of 2019. What is going on?
NN: The issue of price increases is one factor that is having a huge impact on the industries’ side because aggregate demand has gone down. And my concern is that predominant price increases are not justified. We discussed it here (during the ZNIDP launch), why are we seeing price increases? Should we as Government close borders when I can buy a product 10 times less just across the border because somebody here wants to profiteer? That cannot happen. And this is a clear warning to them that unless we work in partnership, unless we complement each other’s efforts, we will not achieve the goals we have set ourselves. Industry will not realise its potential, there will not grow with this attitude. I had to phone someone from Bakers Inn yesterday (Thursday) when I was in Victoria Falls, a (330ml) can of coke going for $10. And I asked them, how do you justify this? Of course, he found a way of referring me to someone, but the message was clear, we are penalising consumers whom we rely on for our own survival and growth, it doesn’t add up.

AM: Regards price increases, have you scheduled a meeting with retailers to find common ground?
NN: These are ongoing and at this point really they are at director level and they engage weekly, I did not expect what they are doing this week, it’s really misbehaviour if I may put it in that way. The interactions have culminated in what we have seen in the private sector, the millers, the retailers, have come up with monitoring mechanisms where they move around, they send monitors, they have guidelines in terms of pricing models . . . So the discussions are ongoing and I hope that private sector comes to their senses rather sooner.

AM: Give us the latest regards the National Competitiveness Commission, which can bring order in terms of prices.
NN: It’s an important institution and they work closely with the private sector, I am happy this really was an initiative of the private sector. So as Government we have given the green light to set up a secretariat that will spearhead the implementation for monitoring competitiveness and recommending actions to take to both Government and the private sector. As it stands, the process of recruiting the head of the institution is underway I am told the board has identified the people, they have seconded them for clearance. So we should be seeing the institution coming into effect in the next month or so.

AM: Tell us the extent to which SI 142 will impact on industry.
NN: The starting point is that we needed our own currency. In my view, it took too long to come back, but it has come, we are really grateful that we can transact in a local currency.

There is no economy that can withstand the pressure that we found ourselves facing. So firstly, we have seen the parallel market (forex rates) tumbling because it was on the back of speculative tendencies that were not backed by any fundamentals.

Secondly, I expect that our products going forward will be more competitive because the strong currency itself puts us in a disadvantage. What we did not probably realise and adequately plan for, was countering the strong US dollar over the years; not just the strong US dollar, but the attraction of the US dollar. We became a fishing pond of the currency, which is why everyone was dumping (goods).

People literally sold products at break-even point because of the attraction of the US dollar. And that was at the expense of our industry. That is why I am saying it took too long to get us here. Now that we have our own currency, I want to believe we are in a better position to produce products that we can sell.

Even the export market itself; I will tell you confessions from industry and from my ministry; that there was a time when they encouraged industry to export and they were told that I am getting the US dollar here, what do I want from outside? Beyond that, the product would be more expensive here so there was no motivation to export.

That did not grow our aggregate earnings as a nation. So this is correcting a lot of fundamentals that had gone wrong. Primarily we have to look at production, this will have a huge positive impact on our production capacity. So I believe going forward, we are better set.

AM: There are concerns over power outages in the country. What is the impact on industry?
NN: (It’s) quite negatively, severely because we have reduced our manufacturing hours to between eight and 15 (hours) a day and at times even less. So it’s affecting our production capacity, its affecting the cost structure itself because it means for the hours you are not producing, you still incur a cost and you spread it across the few products you are making. But the point I made is how do we move out of this? The starting point; the private sector, companies, mines, owe a cumulative $350 million, most of which really is US dollars to Zesa. How does Zesa pay imported electricity if we are not paying? So from the private sector point of view, I made a clarion call, let us pay bills. Beyond that, let’s look ahead, the power shortages are presenting business opportunities, these are businesspeople. If I were them I would be seeing numerous opportunities, first to cut on the electricity bill for my company, but possibilities of shedding part of it to my colleagues. So certain challenges create opportunities and we will continue with the discourse to explore and exploit the opportunities that are coming.

AM: Tell us if Government is putting up any facilities to support industrial growth.
NN: We will continue to source innovative funding sources. We have Afreximbank, they have hinted on a possibility of two, but it’s still too early to say, but there once was one which was targeting companies that had export potential because it cushions them in terms of getting back their money.

We are in the process of reviving that, but they have also proposed a syndicated funding where we can have a pool system to support numerous small to medium enterprises who will support these companies that are exporting and find a way in which they can repay the monies.

They have interesting ideas around funding. African development bank is another potential partner, UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) is another potential partner, but as Government, we have put aside $30 million for purposes of capacitating IDC (Industrial Development Corporation) whose mandate is being streamlined to that of a DFI (Development Finance Institution) specifically to target industries that have huge potential that require funding and they go there, they fund and assist those companies to grow.

So funding is essential in industrial growth and we will continuously explore ways of funding companies.

Business Day S.A.|Zimbabweans seeking travel documents to leave the country are enduring nightmares as the country has virtually stopped issuing passports to ordinary citizens as a result of foreign currency shortages.

Officials at the passport office in Harare told Business Day that the office is printing only five to 10 passports a day, with the documents reserved for diplomats or the few “special cases” approved by the minister of home affairs.

At the heart of the problem are shortages of foreign currency as the country has no adequate funds to import the ink, paper and other material to print the passports.

Ordinary citizens seeking to apply for the travel documents are being told that they need to return after 2021, when the office hopes to have cleared its backlog of more than 300,000 applications. 

With its economy experiencing its worst slide in 10 years, many Zimbabweans are keen to leave the country for greener pastures abroad as living conditions have become unbearable.

Last month Zimbabwe’s inflation rate reached almost 100%, the second highest in the world after Venezuela.

Rampant inflation has seen the cost of basic goods skyrocketing beyond the reach of many as commodities have gone up by close to 10 times since late last year, when the economy began to nosedive.

But any plans to leave the country are being met with a brick wall for those desperate to acquire travel documents.

The situation is particularly dire for those seeking to leave the country for medical attention. A good number of patients in Zimbabwe need to be treated abroad, as the country’s health sector has almost collapsed with state hospitals lacking medicines and medical equipment.

A wheelchair-bound patient in the queue at the passport office told Business Day that he now feared death after failing to get travel documents despite having a recommendation letter from his doctor explaining the urgency of his predicament.

 “I need to undergo emergency surgery in India. My passport has expired and I was supposed to be in India two weeks ago but I have failed to travel because I have no passport. I do not know what to do. Maybe they just want me to die here,” he said.

Human rights activists are concerned about the situation, which has degenerated into a humanitarian crisis.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has described the passport crisis as “one of the major human rights challenges affecting the country”.

“The commission will inquire into and determine the root causes and factors which prevent easy access to identity documents, particularly passports, and to assess the impact of documentation by individuals and groups on the enjoyment of human rights, guaranteed under the constitution, national laws and relevant international and regional treaties and instruments,” the ZHRC said in a statement.

The commission also said it had invited written and oral submissions from stakeholders and the public by not later than July 31 to record grievances against the passport-issuing office.

Many who spoke to Business Day expressed frustration with the registrar-general’s office, which is responsible for issuing passports.

“I have given up,” said Emelda Rukawo, who resides in Namibia and had returned home to renew her passport, which expired in May.

“I feel trapped. What is worse is that I cannot live in Zimbabwe because of the economic situation. My family depends on me to send money back home when I am at my job in Namibia but now I don’t know what to do next.”

Illegal exit

A 21-year-old man who asked not to be named said the only option available to him was to skip the border to SA.

Another woman who said she had camped at the passport office for two weeks pleaded with government to urgently intervene.

“We see Mnangagwa [President Emmerson Mnangagwa] flying out of the country all the time, gobbling millions of dollars but they don’t bother to provide funds for such a dire situation. Our country is a shame.”

Home affairs minister Cain Mathema did not pick up his mobile phone when Business Day phoned to seek a comment.

Mathema recently told state-owned daily newspaper The Herald that the situation would improve.

“Members of the public should not panic. We are working on it. Yes we have been facing some challenges, but I would want to assure passport applicants that we have managed to overcome some of these challenges.”

A senior official at the passport office, however, told Business Day that the situation was worsening. In May “we were printing 30 passports a day and we thought that it could not get worse than that. As we speak, we have reduced the number to just 10 a day. On some days we are forced to do just five and these are only for special cases.”

Many that are in need of the passports often sleep in queues for days or weeks just to submit their applications for the travel documents.

After submitting the documents hundreds of applicants cannot follow up to request urgent passports as they are told that they can only get the documents in 2021.

Jane Mlambo| Controversial opposition politician Linda Masarira has sensationally claimed that MDC officials stole donated funds meant for the 2013 elections and bought farms in Zambia.

Writing on Twitter today, Masarira who now leads her own political party LEAD said the unnamed officials stole $8 million from the $12 million donated which they used to buy cattle ranching farms in Zambia.

“Do you know that top MDC officials stole US$8million from the $12million donated for the 2013 election &bought farms on the Zambian maize belt from Monza, Mazabuka, Chome, Kabwe where they are doing cattle ranching? There is a lot of cleaning up to do in Zimbabwe,” said Masarira.

Masarira is no stranger to controversy and has always attacked MDC officials. Last year, she appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into the 1 August shootings where she claimed they had orchestrated a plot to destabilize the country.

JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe risks being plunged into total darkness.

The state owned power utility is struggling to pay a debt of more than US$40million – over R580m to Eskom.

It also owes millions to Mozambique.

This is for electricity borrowed in the past few years.

Zimbabwe is experiencing 19 hours of load shedding a day.

A situation that’s left most industries closed and people struggling with their daily lives.

Speaking to journalists in the capital Harare, the Zimbabwe energy minister, Fortune Chasi has said in addition to the debt to Eskom, millions are also owed to Mozambique’s power utility, HCB.

“As it is at the moment we owe HCB and Eskom US$83million, very huge amount of money,” said Chasi.

Chasi says the nation should itself brace for hard times as the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority is in shambles due to domestic and foreign debt.

The minister admits the situation is critical and is asking for the nation’s support.

Zimbabwe last experienced such serious electricity blackouts in 2016 following a drought.

Water troubles have continued at Lake Kariba with water levels continuing to drop on a weekly basis.

According to information obtained from the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), the lake level continued receding, dropping by 10 centimeters in the course of the week, before closing at 479.48 meters on 27th June 2019 compared to last year on the same date when the lake level was at 486.84 meters.

According to Zambezi River Authority, the lake levels have not peaked after the rains subsided early April.

It takes about three months for waters to start collecting and building up in the lakes and other water reservoirs that feed from rivers.

Lake Kariba is designed to operate between levels 475.50 meters and 488.50 meters for hydropower generation.

The national Airline Air Zimbabwe has failed to account for 3 planes the Daily News on Sunday has reported.

The aircrafts which have disappeared are MA60.

The Auditor General Mildred Chari is quoted to have said there is no paper trail or explanation available to establish the fate that befell the planes.

The planes which were purchased in 2005/2006 cost US$12.5 million each.

Chari is reported to have said between 2009 to 2013 there was no appropriate audit and inventory in the company.

“The breakdown in internal controls continued in the current year and accordingly i was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence that the financial statements are not materially misstated.”Chari said.

Zimbabweans took to social media to vent their displeasure at the grand theft at the national airline.

Air Zimbabwe is currently under an administrator under the Reconstruction Act.

Former Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa is the Board Chairperson of the national airline.

Prophetic, Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya has remained mum in the face of damning allegations that he sexually abused a young congregant.

ZimEye.com has been running extremely damning live coverages of interviews of people around the young lady who Magaya has been accused of abusing with calls for the controversial church leader’s arrest growing every hour.

PHD spokesperson Admire Mango said he could not comment on the allegations because it was a private matter that had nothing to do with the church.

He said Magaya was out of the country. Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the law enforcement agency would only comment on the issue in due course.

Parents of the going girl claimed that Magaya raped their daughter on several occasions and impregnated her.

The mother of the alleged victim said she learnt of the rape while ushering at PHD Ministries.

“They were never in love, but he just manipulated her and had sex with her against her will in several places including inside the toilet and prayer room,” said the alleged victim’s mother.

On the other hand, the alleged victim accused unnamed people of embarking on a smear campaign. She said she was safe despite claims her life was in danger.

Today Magaya went on with his Sunday church service with a full congregation and not saying anything about the allegations.

Honorable P Shiri presents at the Leaders' Roundtable on Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) enhancement at the ongoing Abu Dhabi Climate Action Summit. #ClimateChange #Sustainability pic.twitter.com/9CbgAegjIv

— Min of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Zimbabwe (@MOTHI_ZIMBABWE) June 30, 2019

Warriors starting lineup against DRC
Chigova
Darikwa
Pfumbidzai
Hadebe
Mhlanga
Phiri
Munetsi
Karuru
Billiat
Chawapihwa
Musona

— Zimbabwe Football Association (@online_zifa) June 30, 2019

Please note that some of the pictures below are not for those of a nervous disposition.

Farai Dziva| There was commotion in Bikita yesterday as MDC members mobbed Zanu PF Youth League member Brian Mudumi.

The MDC members sang:Enda Undodzosera Scarf kwaNdunge”

In a statement Mudumi confirmed he met MDC members at Jakachaka Business Centre in Bikita.

“Yesterday I met some MDC comrades at Jakachaka Business Center in Bikita while having braai with my siblings.

There was a lot of bad verbal exchanges (as they chanted , ” enda unodzorera scava kwa ndunge……”

Later on we shared jokes, exchanged wisdom and we had one voice on ,”Unity of purpose “

I was inspired to learn that we need each other as brothers and sisters in this beautiful nation more than engaging in unnecessary fights.

We had our braai and later realised two of the collegues are my cousins.

Well the moral of the story, Unity is key,” said Mudumi.

#WhereIsTheBeef
What is the ideological and policy content of the so-called "Vision 2030" and what does "Vision 2030" offer to ZanuPF members and supporters or to ordinary Zimbabweans in the rural & urban areas today, leave alone tomorrow, but today?

Pasi nemhandu. Hezvoko bwaa! pic.twitter.com/9dsshuN1ol

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) June 30, 2019

Jane Mlambo| Controversial opposition politician Linda Masarira has sensationally claimed that MDC officials stole donated funds meant for the 2013 elections and bought farms in Zambia.

Writing on Twitter today, Masarira who now leads her own political party LEAD said the unnamed officials stole $8 million from the $12 million donated which they used to buy cattle ranching farms in Zambia.

“Do you know that top MDC officials stole US$8million from the $12million donated for the 2013 election &bought farms on the Zambian maize belt from Monza, Mazabuka, Chome, Kabwe where they are doing cattle ranching? There is a lot of cleaning up to do in Zimbabwe,” said Masarira.

Do you know that top MDC officials stole US$8million from the $12million donated for the 2013 election &bought farms on the Zambian maize belt from Monza, Mazabuka, Chome, Kabwe where they are doing cattle ranching? There is a lot of cleaning up to do in Zimbabwe. #StopCorruption

— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) June 30, 2019

Masarira is no stranger to controversy and has always attacked MDC officials. Last year, she appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into the 1 August shootings where she claimed they had orchestrated a plot to destabilize the country.

The government is reportedly considering scrapping off import duty on certain goods to allow individuals with free funds to access affordable goods across the country’s borders. This is said to have been necessitated by some businesses that are charging outrageous prices for their commodities.

Sunday News reports that the government also plans to revoke licences of businesses that have defied the government’s orders to charge normal prices.

The warnings come as the business sector, responding to the introduction of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, hiked their prices. SI 142 banned the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions and reintroduced the Zimbabwe dollar. This resulted in the local currency gaining value against the US$ on the parallel market. Analysts, therefore, argue that hiking prices was pure sabotage.

A snap survey by Sunday News showed that some businesses had however started reducing their prices. For instance,

• 2 litres cooking oil = $16 & $18 from $20;
• 2kgs packet of flour = $11 & $12 from $15 to $30. 

Speaking to Sunday News on Friday, Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said that the government was considering measures to address the issue of the prices.

We are considering a number of options including reviewing the tariffs regime. I don’t know if we need to be charging duty for people who go and buy groceries outside the country for use when local businesses are killing the same people with high prices. If they continue with this we will remove duty and people can go and buy outside freely.

-State Media

The Harare City Council (HCC) has received $3 million from Government as part of the funds meant to bankroll devolution programmes within its jurisdiction.

The disbursement comes from the $310 million resource envelopment that has been set aside for devolution this year.

HCC town clerk, Engineer Hosiah Chisango said the local authority has already received its share of the cake.

The money, he said, would be used to rehabilitate the city’s water infrastructure.

“Government has disbursed $2,9 million as part of devolution funds to the City of Harare and this is being used in the rehabilitation of filters at Morton Jaffray.

“As such, the city has seen a gradual increase in infrastructure rehabilitation,” he said.

Devolution, which involves the ceding of a portion of central Government powers to provincial councils, became a constitutional requirement after enactment of a new Constitution in 2013.

Already, Government has released more than $31 million to Masvingo province, with Chiredzi and Mwenezi Rural District Councils (RDCs) getting the biggest chunk of the money.

Further, a total of $26 million has been allocated for devolution programmes in Mashonaland Central.

Meanwhile, City of Harare says it requires US$600 million to replace aged water pipes and an additional US$450 million for sewage facilities in the next five years.

City fathers are accused of pumping dirty water into people’s homes.

Water rationing has also affected both domestic and industrial users.

Eng Chisango said: “The city has also invested in the rehabilitation of sewage treatment works, with 60 percent of Firle Sewage works now restored.

“The city will be moving to control urban agriculture because the fertilisers and pesticides used in agriculture are eventually leached to the dams and these aid the growth of water weeds and algae, leading to continued pollution of the water sources.

“Remedial plans are in place and being implemented. Complete overhaul of the sewerage infrastructure, regulation of waste disposal from industries and regulation of urban agriculture will see renewal of our current water sources and reduction of water treatment expenditure, as well as guaranteed potable water quality.”

City of Harare, however, says it has enough water to last the city until the next rainy season.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The Auditor-General, Mrs Mildred Chiri, uncovered continued dereliction of duty and deep-seated wrongdoing, especially in accounting procedures and procurement processes by public officers withing government parastatals and various arms of government.

Local authorities were also  rapped for continued malpractices.

The audit was for the year ending December 31, 2018.

The new political administration, which is currently reforming SOEs, has already promised remedial action to stem continued malfeasance in public entities.

At a press briefing last week, Mrs Chiri ominously indicated that some of the discrepancies, particularly related to procuring goods and services, may have been occasioned by outright criminal activities and have since been referred to Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).

The Sunday Mail has established that Government will soon write letters to all parastatals and departments emphasising the need to act urgently on the recommendations, not only of the new audit report, but on legacy issues that have been raised in the past.

The acts of omission or commission are understood to be bleeding State coffers.

As of May 31 2019, 76 SOEs and parastatals out of a total of 179 entities had not yet submitted their financial statements for audit by Government.

Some of the shocking details uncovered by the Auditor-General’s Office include the case where the Zimbabwe Electrification Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) — a unit of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) — has not yet taken delivery of transformers nine years after making a US$4,9 million payment to Pito Investments.

“The same contractor was paid in advance an amount of US$561 935 by the Zimbabwe Power Company in 2016 and has not delivered,” said Mr Chiri.

“In addition, ZPC  paid R196 064 in 2016 to York International for gas that has not been received.”

ZETDC was previously advised to pursue the delivery of goods and services already paid for but did not implement the recommendations.

The case mirrors the rot in most public entities as they continue haemorrhaging millions of dollars from botched deals.

GMB was flagged for a similar deal, where it made an advance payment of $1 million in 2016 for goods and services that were never delivered.

Air Zimbabwe  could not escape the attention of auditors for murky accounting practices.

Expenses worth more than $14 million could not be accounted for.

“The company could not provide supporting documentation for operating expenses amounting to $13 million and petty cash expenditure amounting to $654 587,” said Mrs Chiri.

“The airline  had an unexplained suspense balance of $27 million. The company has not accounted for all aircraft,” read part of damning report.

Cash withdrawals amounting to $173 162 could not be traced to the books of accounts.

The Auditor-General flagged a curious case involving examination management body Zimsec, which continues to outsource printing services even after splashing US$3 million on its own printing press in 2016.

The parastatal notably spent US$2,1 million for printing the June and November examination papers the following year.

The money splurged on outsourcing the service is significantly more than the US$1,3 million that was needed to commission its own printing press.

“I noted that the printing press was installed in 2018 after a part payment of US$3 million, leaving a balance of US$1,3 million,” said Mrs Chiri.

“Due to the outstanding balance, the council (Zimsec) 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 $251 367 and $1 million, respectively.”

Another case involves Allied Timbers, which operated eight bank and EcoCash accounts that were, however, not registered in its name.

In fact, some of the accounts were opened under names of individuals.

NSSA’s questionable investments, some of which were made against financial advice, have come under scrutiny.

More than $80 million was reportedly put at risk after it was invested in troubled banks.

Added Mrs Chiri: “NSSA invested in Treasury Bills (TBs) amounting to $20 million with Metbank during the year despite the fact that the Authority’s risk and management department had recommended against this investment,” said Mrs Chiri.

“The bank had a nil trading limit due to the fact that its risk of default was high and was deemed to be financially weak.”

NSSA further placed $62,3 million worth of TBs with the same bank after reaching an agreement that NSSA’s board would advise Metbank on how the TBs would be used.

However, a NSSA officer subsequently instructed Metbank to use TBs with a face value of $37, 4 million without authorisation from the board.

Auditors indicated alleged malpractices at the Pig Industry Board, Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe United Passengers Company.

Local authorities are similarly in the eye of a storm for lack of transparency and accountability.

As of May 2019, only three out of 92 local authorities had audited financial statements.

There are  multiple cases of alleged malpractices.

For example, the Auditor-General criticised the Harare City Council for wasting ratepayers money by hiring equipment for $222 950 instead of repairing its own at a cost of $159 969.

“The asphalt plant which mixes tar was not functional. It required $159 969 to bring it back into service. The council in turn sought services from private companies for tar mixing and in the process incurred $222 950. However, I could not comprehend the economic rationale of the council’s decision,” said Mrs Chiri.

Council management, however, conceded that they had made a wrong decision.

Auditors  questioned Harare City Council’s penchant for borrowing after it sourced US$32,5 million to pay salaries without approval from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

“Service delivery might be compromised if council borrows for recurrent expenses such as salaries of employees,” added Mrs Chiri.

Local authorities in Gweru and Mutare were  rapped for the same practice.

Minister of State for Presidential Affairs in charge of Implementation and Monitoring Dr Joram Gumbo said Government would remind public officials on the need to action the recommendations from the reports.

“Normally, there is a procedure to be followed when implementing reports.

“There are various reports, not just the Auditor-General’s report, made for ministries and various State enterprises.

“But I would not want to point fingers and say such and such is to blame because most of the ministers we have now are new.

“Some of them may not be aware of the reports that were made before they came in.

“But what I am going to do through my office is to write to responsible ministries reminding them of any outstanding policy reports that may need to be implemented.

“It is something we will do in a respectful manner.”-StateMedia