Some Zimbabweans without proper documentation were denied entry into Zambia last week as the neighbouring reacted to the confiscation of maize by Zimbabwean authorities following the introduction of Statutory Instrument 145 that gives the Grain Marketing Board the sole right to buy and sell maize.

Many Zimbabweans also flock to Zambia in order to receive cheaper healthcare.

But last week, some Zimbabweans were denied entry into Zambia where they wanted medical attention at Mutenderi Mission Hospital following the confiscation of maize destined to Zambia by Zimbabwe authorities who wanted to make the law work.

Most Zimbabweans have snubbed selling maize to the GMB, accusing the parastatal of underpaying them for their maize, resulting in most of the maize finding its way into Zambia, mostly in areas bordering Zimbabwe. Zambians also visit Zimbabwe to buy maize for resale in their country due to the fall in the RTGS$ value against the US dollar.

But after the introduction of the new law, Zimbabwe started confiscating the maize destined for Zambia, triggering a war, with Zambians retaliating by denying Zimbabweans without proper documentation entry into their country.

“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,’ said Thomas Ranganai, who had accompanied his ailing brother, Edward Ranganai, for treatment.

The elder Ranganai had gone to Zambia for his tuberculosis review from rural Nyamakate.

Another woman, Sarudzai Chidenga of Hurungwe, who had a teenage daughter suffering from suspected cancer, said she had hoped for better medication at Mutenderi Hospital, in Zambia.

“We have been to several public hospitals without joy, and our last hope has been dashed following this standoff as Zambians are no longer lenient to us,” she narrated, as her taxi was turned away.

Of late, the majority of locals have been selling maize as well as oranges to Zambia, which is also facing a maize deficit following the drought that hit southern Africa.

An official at Chirundu border-post confirmed the “stand-off” which he said was unfortunate.

‘The challenge is that we have to implement the law, but it has challenges. As a country, we have poor social services for citizens,” said the official, speaking on condition that he was not named.

There was no immediate comment from both Zambian and Zimbabwean authorities at the time of going to print.

Last week, Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement minister retired Air Marshall Perrence Shiri enacted Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 (Grain Marketing Control of Sale of Maize Regulations, 2019) that bans the buying and selling of maize among unauthorised persons in Zimbabwe.

The SI prohibits anyone or company or entity from buying and selling maize. Transportation of bulk maize from one area to another is also prohibited.

– newsday

Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi has made it clear that Zimbabweans deserved to have their power disconnected as most of them have failed to service their electricity bills which has seen the power utility company, ZESA sinking into huge debts.

Posting on his twitter on Monday, Chasi raised the ire of Zimbabweans who have had to make do with more than 10 hours without power as ZESA says power generation at major power stations remains low due to a number of factors that include low water levels.

“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,” Chasi said.

This raged a storm with some people claiming that they use pre-paid meters hence they do not deserve to be cut off.

Lawyer and former Member of Parliament, Jessie Majome replied: “… by the same token a’sekuru ZESA should deliver the power to us who pre-pay, the pre-paid public must cut its losses too – should it continue paying to a utility that does not supply and why please doesn’t ZESA simply apply the law of contract on non-payers – cease supply and sue?”

Linda Masarira, president of LEAD said ZESA was inept in its approach as it exonerates Zanu-PF big wigs fingered in non-payment of their bills.

“ZESA once produced a list of those who do not pay for electricity and most of them were @ZANUPF_Official senior members and government departments. Put your house in order and tell your bosses to pay their bills and stop being hypocritical about it,” she said.

The power situation in the country has threatened to derail the little business from a few industries who have stood firm in this economic quagmire.

Chasi recently caused a storm after he claimed that the power company had paid US$10 million to ESKOM of South Africa meant to service its debt only for the company to deny ever receiving the payments, a move which forced Chasi to apologise while shifting the blame on Finance and Economic Development Minister, Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank Governor, John Mangudya.

The opposition MDC Youth Chairperson Obey Tererai Sithole has been involved in a traffic accident near Norton, 40 km outside the capital city Harare.

The fierce government critic was in the company of five other Youth Assembly leaders when his car was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle whose driver quickly left the accident scene leaving Sithole to deal with police officers.

The MDC Youth Assembly is not ruling out an invisible hand in the accident, though there is no concrete evidence so far.

Sithole has had a brush with the law enforcement agents and a few weeks ago he was taken for questioning over his remarks that they will force President Emmerson Mnangagwa out of power.

More to follow…

Zimbabwean from all walks of life snubbed the #ShutdownZimbabwe call by Tajamuka/Sesijikile which was set to commence on Monday till Friday.

Reports coming from Harare indicate it is business as usual with all shops and transport operators conducting their day to day services. However, there was presence of heavily armed security forces patrolling the CBD.

All schools across Bulawayo and other provinces were open and it was business as usual throughout the city.

Promise Mkwananzi has blamed intimidation of citizens as the reason for the failure of the demonstration.

“You can’t intimidate the people forever. You have to fix the problems the people are highlighting. Stop wasting money buying arms and fuel to disperse people. Fix the economy. Fix the politics, “he said.

Entrepreneur Kuda Musasiwa says the Tajamuka leaders should read the mood of the people.

“I hope my brother and other #Tajamuka comrades learn 2 things after another flop stay away

1) this isn’t 2016

2) unilateral actions without others doesn’t work

3) people want a definitive outcome not just another public holiday

4) people are terrified after Feb.”

ZCTU,ARTUZ and other workers unions distanced themselves from the planned stayaway.

Ntabazinduna Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has extended a hand of invitation to Deputy Minister of Industry  Rajesh Kumar Indukant Modi for a meal of Inhloko at the sacred Ntabazinduna mountain in recognition of his work in assisting Cherish Muchegwa who was mauled by five dogs in Bulawayo.

Modi had posted on Twitter that, “Cherish Muchegwa is in the final stages of recovery. She will be back home before mid July. She went to India on a wheelchair, she will come back on her feet.”

The controversial Chief Ndiweni responded, “Great work Mdawini!May the spirit you have shown in assisting Cherish manifest within the community and those around you(government). You must come eNtabazinduna for inhloko soon!”

Modi and Ndiweni then agreed that they will arrange the event outside Twitter.

Modi was very instrumental in fundraising for Muchegwa to get state of the art treatment in India.

The day before Muchegwa left for India Modi gave the following narration.

“The incident happened when I was in Australia on holiday with my family, I saw the pictures in the few WhatsApp groups I am in. The extent of the injuries pushed me to step forward and help. I started a social media campaign for her and I have not stopped ever since. When I came home I visited her in hospital and it was amazing to see her smile despite everything she was going through.

“After talking to her, I told myself I was going to do everything in my power to help her get the relevant treatment needed to heal her. I also made a silent promise that I was going to visit her in hospital again. The next time we will meet is when she is whole again, not a minute or second before she undergoes reconstructive surgery.”

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Minister of Energy and Power Development, Fortune Chasi has called for an increase in the tariffs of electricity. Chasi who has been tasked with overseeing the energy situation, at a time when citizens are experiencing 18-hour power cuts per day has said that the current tariffs are too low and need to be raised to reasonable levels.

Chasi also warned that the days of free electricity for government entities and senior government officials are over.

Writing on social media, Chibabest as Chasi is affectionately called by his supporters, 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.

…The tariff must be cost reflective. The current tariff bares no semblance whatsoever to the actual cost of procuring power. It must. There must be a new philosophy around the tariff. Cost reflectivity is an essential ingredient.

In the past, the government had turned down all proposals to hike the tariffs citing that it would create a burden on citizens.

By Own Correspondent| A Zimbabwean man is under prosecution after he allegedly questioned some ruling ZANU PF party sympathisers’ support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a time when he stands accused of presiding over the collapse of the economy.

38 year-old Morgan Muchemwa of Rushinga in Mashonaland Central province recently appeared before Magistrate Tendai Chifamba at Mt Darwin Magistrates Court answering to charges of undermining authority of or insulting the president as defined in section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

In court, prosecutors claimed that Muchemwa publicly, unlawfully and intentionally made an abusive indecent or obscene statement about or concerning President Mnangagwa on 25 May 2019 at Marymount Business Centre in Rushinga by blaming him for presiding over the suffering being endured by Zimbabweans.

The unemployed Muchemwa, who is represented by Tinomuda Shoko of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), allegedly acted unlawfully when he told three ZANU PF party supporters namely Hazvinei Zhiwau, Chipo Chiunje and Natty Kajengo, who were on their way to attend a political party meeting at Bopoma Primary School, that they were wasting their time in lending support to President Mnangagwa and his ZANU PF party.

Muchemwa, who denies the charge returns to court on Monday 22 July 2019 after he was remanded out of custody to allow prosecutors to obtain authority to prosecute from Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi.

Meanwhile, Brian Kembo, an opposition MDC party Councillor for Ward 3 in Bindura in Mashonaland Central province, who was charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly stated that President Mnangagwa is liable for causing stress among citizens and for authoring the country’s economic crisis, has been set free.

Kembo was set free after a Bindura Magistrate upheld his application for exception to the charges after her lawyer Idirashe Chikomba of ZLHR argued that the charge of disorderly conduct as defined in section 41 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act was inconsistent with the facts and the warned and cautioned statement recorded from him.

The Magistrate ordered the State to proceed by issuing summons if it intends to pursue the prosecution of Kembo.

By Mthuli Ncube| Zimbabwe is on a journey. A marathon. Indeed, sometimes it feels more of a steeplechase. As although the journey has just begun, we have faced a multitude of challenges to overcome already. This was not unexpected. And as responsible economists, you must always prepare to tackle these obstacles.

When embarking on an arduous journey such as the complete reformation and rebuilding of an economy, it is however crucial you know what your destination is. We know what our destination is: It is middle income status. It is prosperity for the people of Zimbabwe.

But knowing your destination is not always enough. You must be willing to deal with those hardships, those challenges, which inevitably crop up on any difficult journey.

Most importantly, you must take control of as many factors as possible. You must have control over your destiny.

This week, Zimbabwe took back control of its economic destiny.

In fact, it had always been apparent to us that for true stability, stability upon which economic growth can be built, our own currency was necessary.

The multicurrency regime was holding us back. Like a headwind for a cyclist who is already peddling up hill, the multicurrency regime had left us exposed to the elements.

In this case, the element was the aggressive inflation caused by the US Dollar pricing. Put simply, we had to take our destiny back into our own hands; we had to take back control of monetary policy to remove that element, and make it up the hill.

Regaining control will first and foremost benefit you, the hardworking Zimbabwean. Our teachers and doctors, our entrepreneurs and cleaners; they don’t earn in US dollars. So why sell in US dollars?

Prior to this move, the vast majority of our hard working Zimbabweans were being discriminated against in what had become a two tiered and unfair economy.

What we had was a situation whereby there were stable and affordable prices for the fortunate Zimbabweans who had access to dollars, and a paralysing high cost of living for the rest of the country. This is not right, and we had to step in.

The inevitable question posed by many therefore is why didn’t we act sooner? Indeed, they would be right in noting that the multicurrency regime is not a new phenomenon.

The answer however lies once again in our journey metaphor. You don’t trek through the desert without the necessary preparations.

You don’t cycle up a mountain without the necessary training. And you don’t run a marathon (or steeplechase!) without first making sure you are fit and healthy.

Thus prior to making this big decision, it was crucial for us to ensure that our key fundamentals were first put in place. The beating heart of these fundamentals is our national budget.

Once again it was vital that we gained control over our budget, over our spending; what economists call ‘fiscal’ control. We decreased spending, increased revenues and, for the first time in recent memory, the nation of Zimbabwe is now enjoying budget surpluses.

With the preparations complete and our body ready for the next stage of the race to put Zimbabwe back on its feet, we took it upon ourselves to venture past the next juncture, and move another step closer to our destination.

Abolishing the use of multiple currencies, and making the Zimbabwe Dollar the sole legal tender has always been a key component of our transitional stabilisation programme, and a crucial step in restoring normalcy to our economy.

We will work closely with our colleagues in the various ministries and the RBZ to ensure the correct next steps are now taken to guarantee this move is a success. We must continue to rapidly increase the flow of forex into the interbank market. But this must not be for the few.

Forex must also be made readily available to individuals and small businesses across our nation through organised, regulated, and legal channels.

This should also include the introduction of a new interest rate policy and a monetary policy committee.

Despite the reported complexity of this decision, day to day, not much will change. Zimbabwean workers will still receive their wages in RTGS dollar and bond notes, and when they go to the shops, the food on the shelves will be priced in the same currency.

Government also guarantees that those who do hold Nostro accounts will of course keep their access to those accounts in the currency in which it is currently held.

We therefore continue as a nation on the march forward on our path of progress, quickening the pace to our destination of prosperity.

We are under no illusions about the rough terrain we will face. There will be many more obstacles to face. But by taking back control of our fiscal and monetary mechanisms, by taking our fate firmly in our own hands, we are one step closer to reaching our destination.

Hon. Professor Mthuli Ncube is the Zimbabwe Finance and Economic Development Minister

Farai Dziva| Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has castigated the Zimbabwe Warriors following their embarrassing loss to DRC.

Mutodi claimed government sacrificed a lot of resources for the Warriors.

” Warriors of shame: after courting President ED to fundraise for the team, we are shocked and displeased by their dismal performance.

It’s clear the coach is a spent force. Players are weak and helpless. It’s time for new players, new coach…of all teams ndombolo hit us hardest,” thundered Mutodi.

Farai Dziva|In a tweet that has gone viral on social media Jonathan Moyo alleges that Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is the Chancellor of all state universities in Zimbabwe, impregnated a university student.

Social Media platforms are awash with claims that Mnangagwa impregnated a university student who recently gave birth to a bouncing baby.

Moyo claimed that a student at one premier institution of higher learning was recently blessed with a child after she was impregnated by the Chancellor of her university.See tweet :

Farai Dziva|Reliable sources have exclusively disclosed that senior government officials- including CIO operatives have been implicated in the rampant looting of Cyclone Idai donations.

“Please don’t mention my name, I got the information from sources who need protection.”

Theft of Cyclone Idai donations has landed CIOs in hot soup. So huge are the quantities allegedly stolen that Chimanimani residents call the scandal ‘Cyclone Ibai’.

The syndicate of government officials who allegedly stole Cyclone Idai relief in Chimanimani was however busted.

Among the accused is a CIO operative called Marufu. The accused appeared in court.

“But their case is just a tip of the iceberg,”a source told Zim Eye.com yesterday.

” It is alleged that Marufu who used to be stationed in Chimanimani but is now in Chipinge teamed up with other government officials from the DA’ offices and on numerous occasions withdrew relief aid from Silverstream using fake names and converted them to personal use.

The syndicate used Mr Tsododo’ pick up truck to raid the warehouses. Tsododo hails from Biriiri in Chimanimani. Tsododo was given away by paper work at the warehouses.

When he was taken in for investigations he admitted and nailed the CIO guy and other government officials as the guys who withdrew the relief aid but never delivered it to the wards it was meant to go.

Lots of cover up attempts and intimidation from CIO but I am told Military Intelligence led the operation.”

Said Tafadzwa Goliath, President of the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe

CITY STATUS

HARARE: NORMAL

• Zupco, commuter omnibuses operating
• Gulf complex fully open
• All supermatkets open
• Clothing shops open
• Telone, Zesa, Flee markets open
• Chicken inn & slicer open
• Fuel stations open

Bulawayo: Normal

• same as the Capital
• All shops open
• Schools open

Gweru: Normal

• same as the capital
• All shops open
• Schools open

Mutare: Normal

• Same as Harare
  -All Shops open

Chinhoyi: Normal

• Same as Capital
• All businesses open
• Schools open

Gokwe: Normal

• Same as the Capital
• All shops open
• Schools open

Masvingo: Normal

• Same as Harare
• Shops open
• School children at the Assemblies singing Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe

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.