Eskom South Africa says that they will only start engaging their Zimbabwean counterparts ZESA on releasing electricity into their troubled neighbours only after they have received payment on the $80m outstanding debt.

The giant power company which is also battling to sustain demand in its country said it has not received any payment from Zimbabwe as alleged by the Zimbabwean Minister of Energy Fortune Chasi this week.

“Eskom would like to state that no funds have reflected on its accounts for Zimbabwe’s outstanding debt as at 28 June at 15h00,” said the company in a statement.

“This is in response to the announcement made in Zimbabwe and queries that Eskom is receiving regarding this issue.”  

“Once Eskom has received the funds, we will then enter into further discussions with Zesa,” Eskom Group Chief Executive Phakamani Hadebe said. 

State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa met chiefs from the Matabeleland region and the Midlands Province at State House here yesterday to discuss a number of issues, including traditional leaders taking a leading role in bringing closure to the Gukurahundi chapter.

Briefing journalists after the closed meeting, the President said he attended the indaba at the invitation of traditional leaders who wanted to share various challenges faced by their respective areas.

He said chiefs argued that it was important for them to play a role as it was their subjects who were affected by Gukurahundi.

“The two provinces have put forward similar methods of dealing with the issue of Gukurahundi,” said President Mnangagwa.

“The major point that has come out is the fact that Gukurahundi affected communities in which they preside as traditional leaders. They are directly affected by the incident of Gukurahundi.

“Therefore, they have made an argument that in its resolution, we should as Government create a platform where the chiefs should participate substantively because it is the communities which they preside over which were affected.”

President Mnangagwa said any other interest groups on the matter should have single platforms where the issues can be discussed and resolutions or way forward agreed.

He said the traditional leaders raised the need for equal opportunities in the recruitment of staff into Government and young people in the security sector.

“There are areas that have been pointed out which are not satisfactory, which I have assured our traditional leaders that the areas that are weak should be corrected so that there is fairness in recruiting people into the security sector,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said the chiefs shared the effects of drought in their areas which negatively impacted on food security.

The traditional leaders, the President said, raised social issues which needed urgent attention such as education, roads infrastructure and the availability or access to clean water.

“These challenges are not only found in these two provinces, they are also prevalent in other provinces, but we have done our best to look at how these issues will be addressed,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Not all will be addressed overnight, some issues lend themselves to quick solutions, others lend themselves to medium and long term solutions, but what is critical is the fact that these challenges have been put forward and I’m happy that the provinces have put their challenges and issues in priority order as to how they can be tackled.

“I think we had an open discussion and last but not least, we all pledge ourselves, Government and communities to unity”.

State Media|The 2018 Auditor-General’s Annual report tabled in Parliament on Thursday has exposed poor maintenance of accounting records in some ministries, with some diverting funds for non-intended purposes while other paid-for goods were not delivered.

The report was tabled in Parliament by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi on behalf of his Finance and Economic Development counterpart Professor Mthuli Ncube. Yesterday, Auditor-General Mrs Mildred Chiri said there was need for attention and redress on issues she identified.

“Maintenance of accounting records remained a challenge in some ministries for both Appropriation and Fund accounts,” she said.

“Proper accounting and assets records such as cash books and ledgers to record revenue and expenditure and fuel and motor vehicle registers were in some cases not maintained. As a result, I could not confirm the completeness and accuracy of some financial statements which were compiled from the bank statements, payment vouchers and cash books instead of general ledgers.”

She said revenues and expenditures of some financial statements were either overstated or understated by $16 745 223 and $21 153 747 respectively while $21 725 598 could not be verified.

Some of the ministries involved include that of Health and Child Welfare, Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure Development, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.

“Expenditure totalling $2 368 932 was incurred on the purchase of vehicles, generators, excavators, syringe infusion pumps, a water bowser and biometric cards which were not delivered.

“There was no evidence that the ministries had followed up deliveries of the outstanding goods,” Mrs Chiri said.

She also said ministries processed payments of US$7 280 598 and $232 187 525 that were not adequately supported with receipts, invoices, goods received notes and competitive quotations making it difficult to ascertain if the funds were used for intended purposes.

“Variances of $3 012 861 were noted in some ministries between expenditure for employment costs show in the Appropriation Account and expenditure reported by the Salaries Services Bureau.

“There is need to reconcile employment costs reported in the Public Finance and Management System against that paid by SSB to ensure that salaries are paid to bonafide employees.

The ministries affected include that of Public Service and Social Welfare, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Higher and Tertiary Education, Energy and Power Development, Industry and Commerce and the Public Service Commission and the Zimbabwe Gender Commission.

The ministries balance was $1 055 828 763 while that of the SSB was $1 059 163 623.

Mrs Chiri said in terms of service delivery the Ministry of Health and Child Care had 282 ambulances with only 134 (48 percent) of them functional affecting movement of patients.

“In the education sector, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education received funds amounting to US$6 090 000 to procure books for the Curriculum Development and Technical Services but the money was used for other purposes.

“I was not able to ascertain how the curriculum was implemented without the required materials,” she said.

“Similarly, on the welfare of citizens, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare did not disburse Harmonised Social Cash Transfer which is a transfer of cash entitlement to vulnerable households in order to reduce household poverty, protect and enhance the livelihoods of all vulnerable children so that they refrain from risky coping strategies such as child labour and early marriages.

“The $9 759 722 earmarked for HSCT programme was recalled by the Treasury on December 31, 2018 after realising that no disbursements were made thus depriving the beneficiaries of a better standard of living.”

She said the ministry had also disbursed $38 586 (39 percent) of the $100 000 allocated for the protection and welfare of the elderly with the bulk going towards administration expenses, hospitality and travel and subsistence allowances.

Mrs Chiri also said amount owed to various ministries rose from $133 897 975 to $416 852 415 saying it was doubtful whether the money would be collected as some had remained outstanding for long periods.

Media Statement|Today the 28th of June 2019 , MRP members held a mini demonstration outside Rainbow hotel where all the Mthwakazi Chiefs have been booked for the past two days ahead of this morning Gukurahundi Indaba at State House in Bulawayo. Emerson Mnangangwa, the butcherer of our more than 20 000 innocent Ndebeles will be meeting the Chiefs.

The placards by the MRP members were clear that Mnangangwa is not qualified to chair the Gukurahundi emotive Indaba because of his direct involvement on the Genocide.

The meeting with the Chiefs comes barely three months after Emerson Mnangangwa met the so called CSOs at the same venue at State House in Bulawayo. MRP President is on record saying the Chiefs are the custodians of the people hence anything to do with Gukurahundi redress without Chiefs is null and void. Two months back the MRP President stated that the Chiefs are the ones who had their subjects killed by Zanu PF through Emerson Mnangangwa, Robert Mugabe, Perence Shiri, Constantine Chiwenga, and Sydney Sekeramayi.

The demonstrators targeted the Chiefs early this morning before they could meet Emerson Mnangangwa and expressed their disgruntlement that Mnangangwa as the perpetrator should not preside over this matter as his proper place is the international Court of Justice.

It is now clear that Mnangangwa and his Zanu PF government will not come clean on this matter due to the insincerity and dilly dallying considering that two months back he met the CSOs whom through reliable sources and other members of the so called CSOs, Emerson Mnangangwa paid the CSOs $ 2.3 Million as a away of making sure that they sell out on Matebeleland people. The Same Mnangangwa now calls the Chiefs at the same venue. We also hope that some of these chief’s haven’t been bought as most of them have not raised a voice against the Shonalisation of Mthwakazi which makes us doubt whether they understand what made them to be chiefs as we feel most of them believe that their chieftainship is because of Zanu PF. They are forgetting that they became chiefs because of King Mzilikazi Khumalo and later under King Lobengula Khumalo.

Most of these chief’s are mum on the land invasions by shonas in Mthwakazi, the deployment of Shona teachers in all Mthwakazi schools, the looting of Mthwakazi resources by shonas.

On the other hand we believe as MRP that the Genocide is still in place but this time it’s economic Genocide where our people are not controlling anything in Mthwakazi. We wonder whose interests are those chiefs defending when their subjects wallow in poverty whilst Harare people do as they wish in Mthwakazi.

We also gather from our reliable source that Chief Siansali of Binga is working together with Emerson Mnangagwa and Chief Charumbira to derail Matabeleland Progress. We are told yesterday night during the chiefs meeting at the Rainbow hotel, chief Siansali was against any voice that defended Matabeleland. He even went further to say his area of chieftainship is Zambezi not Matabeleland. The time is now, nothing for us, without us.

MRP Information department.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa met chiefs from the Matabeleland region and the Midlands Province at State House in Bulawayo yesterday but was left fuming after claiming that Chiefs from his Midlands province were invited for the meeting on tribal bases.

Mnangagwa burst out to speak on the issue before his time to speak in the programme heavily condemning organisers of the meeting for tribal discrimination.

The chiefs had also requested for the removal of Chiefs Council Chairman Chief Fortune Charumbira from the meeting on claims that he was not friendly to the causes of the region.

President Mnangagwa declined the requests to have deliberations in the absence of Charumbira.

“First, I was requested that the president of the chief’s council, when you give your grievances, should be absent,” he said. “I am saying as President of the Republic of Zimbabwe we need transparency, accountability and no secrets and the president of the chiefs’ council Chief Charumbira will remain here.

“Secondly, I received a letter from some two chiefs requesting me to meet them here in Bulawayo, chiefs from Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, I’m now informed that chiefs from my province, Midlands have been picked, selected on the basis of tribe. I don’t like that.

“We in the Midlands are united, we will not accept to be divided, so the chiefs from Midlands will remain in this indaba, but they will not speak because of the basis in which they have been brought here.”

Speaking in his opening remarks, an embarrassed Charumbira pleaded for unity amongst the chiefs. He said traditional leaders played an important role in the development and unity of communities.

“What’s more important is the issue of unity in the country,” said Chief Charumbira. “As a country, we can’t afford disunity, other countries have paid highly and when you see the experiences of other countries you see that it is important that we should work towards unity everywhere you are.”

Giving a vote of thanks, chief’s council deputy president Chief Mtshane Khumalo a close ally to Charumbira said the attempt to exclude Chief Charumbira was not the stance of the generality of chiefs from Matabeleland, but just one or two individuals.

He said it would have been unfair had the meeting been allowed to exclude Chief Charumbira as leader of traditional leaders in the country.

The meeting was also attended by Provincial Affairs Ministers for Bulawayo Judith Ncube, Matabeleland North Richard Moyo, Matabeleland South Abednico Ncube, Midlands Larry Mavima and deputy minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Jennifer Mhlanga.

Farai Dziva|The MDC youth assembly has described the “anti-corruption drive” launched by the Zanu PF youth wing as mere flattery meant to cajole the international community.

The MDC youth assembly said at a news conference today, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s secret business deals in Kwekwe must be exposed to prove the sincerity of the programme.

“Mnangagwa owns virtually all gold mines in Kwekwe and we all know that a fish rots from the head so the Zanu PF youth wing must confront their leader over his secret business concerns in Kwekwe.

Mnangagwa is filthy rich and he is behind all illegal mining activities in Kwekwe.

Mnangagwa and his front man Owen Ncube are collecting millions from illegal mining activities.

The illegal gold panners around Kwekwe are enjoying maximum protection from Mnangagwa -yet the so called anti-corruption drive is not addressing such a grave matter,” said the MDC youth assembly in a statement.

By Own Correspondent| A report by the auditor general Mildred Chiri has revealed that the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) paid US$4.9 million 9 years ago to a firm for transformers which have not been delivered to date. 

The report reads:

“ZESA 9 years ago paid US$4.9m to a firm called Pito Investments for transformers. They were never delivered.

The Zimbabwe Power Company also paid $560K to the same firm, and again no equipment was delivered.”

By A Correspondent- Miles Tendi the official biographer of the late ZANLA Military Chief and former Zimbabwe Defence Force Boss General Solomon Mujuru has announced that he will soon launch the much awaited tell-all biography.

The book titled The Army and Politics in Zimbabwe; Solomon Mujuru the Liberation Fighter and Kingmaker will leave no stone unturned in chronicling the life of the man who lost his life in an inferno.

General Mujuru died in an unexplained inferno at his Beatrice farm on August 15, 2011. Former Vice President Joice Mujuru has always insisted that her husband was killed by his political foes, after he had been handpicked by the ruling Zanu-PF committee to work on a Mugabe succession plan.

Dr Blessing Miles Tendi is part of the African Studies Centre and his is a joint appointment with the Department of Politics and International Relations. Before moving to African Studies, he held a Departmental Lectureship in African Politics in the Oxford Department of International Development (QEH) from 2011 to 2017. Prior to joining the Oxford Department of International Development (QEH), he worked as a risk consultant for Control Risks (London).

He has keen interest on Intellectuals, Society and the State, Civil-Military Relations, The Existence and Uses of ‘Evil’ in Politics, Intelligence Studies, Security Sector Reform and Biographical Research

By Own Correspondent- A Magwegwe man in Bulawayo hanged himself from a roof truss at his rented home after his self-confessed sex worker wife of two years allegedly fell in love and ran off with one of her clients.

The incident happened on Monday.

Residents of the suburb yesterday said Anele Titosi Moyo (23) met his wife, Simelinkosi Luphahla (19), at a bar in the city centre when she was six months pregnant with a client’s baby and married her.

They alleged he was pimping her out to other men for a living.

In an interview, Ms Luphahla said she left home because her late husband was abusive. She also confirmed that she was the breadwinner and worked as a prostitute.

“On Sunday in the afternoon, Anele contacted me and told me to collect my belongings at his sister’s home in Hillside.

“His sister squabbled with me. Anele assaulted me on the same day at Hillside. I told him that I can’t stay with him and I’m no longer interested in our relationship because he was abusive. The deceased was unemployed and I was the breadwinner of the family”.

She said Anele would inexplicably complain that their 18-month-old son was not his.

“I’m not fully employed. I do some piece jobs in town and also work at night as a prostitute in order to make a living. I was responsible for rent and basic needs because we were renting in New Magwegwe suburb. I had separated with him by the time of his death,” said Ms Luphahla.

Moyo was found by a fellow tenant who only identified herself as NaShantel who was checking up on him as she had not heard from him or his wife for the whole day, which she said was unusual.

Another fellow tenant Ms Patience Moyo said the couple did not keep their source of income a secret.

“They met at a night club in town and he married her when she was six months pregnant with another man’s child but he loved her still. She told us that he did not mind that she was a sex worker and the money sustained them as a family.

“He would escort her to the bus stop every night when she was going for ‘her shift’ and he would do all household chores during the day when she was asleep after shifts as she would be tired from working all night,” said Ms Moyo.

The fellow tenants said problems started between the couple after Ms Luphahla started getting fond of one of her clients who became a regular.

They said the couple fought over the said client, leading to Ms Luphahla running off with the man.

Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident yesterday.

“I can confirm that we are dealing with a case of sudden death where a man was found hanging from a roof truss in his bedroom in Magwegwe suburb. The matter is being treated as suicide by hanging. He was hanging from a roof truss and had used an electric cord,” said Insp Ncube.

Police attended the scene and the body was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital at around 7PM on Monday.

The late Anele’s sister, Ms Tapiwa Moyo, narrated the events which led to the tragic incident and expressed her shock at her brother’s decision to end his life.

“My brother was a quiet person and a man of few words. He had a dispute with his wife. They were always fighting. Their domestic problems started when the wife told him that the child they were raising did not belong to my brother after living together customarily for almost three years. My brother was greatly troubled because the wife had left him claiming to have found someone better. My brother loved his wife and I think he was heartbroken and this led him probably to commit suicide because he was lonely and felt rejected,” said a sobbing Ms Moyo.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean authorities were today left with an egg in the face after Eskom issued a statement rejecting claims that they had received payment for Zimbabwe’s electricity debt.

Zimbabwe’s Energy Minister Fortune Chasi, recently revealed that the country had made a significant payment to Eskom in order to clear the country’s debt.

Chasi told the media that the country has made a payment of R144-million to the power utility, after impending engagements that would see Eskom allowing the passage of 400 megawatts into the country’s grid.

Eskom however trashed the claims saying that the power utility had not received a penny from Zimbabwe.

Said Eskom::

By Netty Musanhu| This rapist they call Prophet shall surely fall. I have listened to many testimonies from young women and girls he raped and infected with the deadly disease. Dear daughters and sons of the prophet your hard earned money is being used to silence young women and buy his freedom. Surely this can not continue!! Where are the police?? Ndati mapurisa batai munhu!! Please stay away from my wall if your intention is to defend a murderer and a rapist!!

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The vengeful spirit of a Zimunya man who was allegedly food-poisoned in 2002 is now tormenting its killer by following and appearing to him wherever he goes which made him confess his crime to the victim’s family

The self-confessing killer Gilbert Mapisa, who is in his 60s, shocked many when he finally claimed responsibility for the death of Samuel Makarange in 2002.

However, when Mapisa was dragged to Chief Zimunya’s traditional court, he could neither confirm nor deny the offence.

Chief Zimunya ordered the two families, together with his aides, to approach a traditional healer of their choice for necromancy.

The Mozambique-based traditional healer (name withheld) stirred and communicated with the spirit of the late Makarange, who demanded to know why Mapisa had killed him.

Initially, Gilbert had hesitantly refused, but later admitted after the traditional healer gave a detailed account of how Makarange, who consumed poisoned beer died eight days later.

With tears on his cheeks, Mapisa later confessed and pleaded for forgiveness.

The traditional healer ordered the two families to remain calm and organise a cleansing ceremony.

According to reports by Manica Post, the cleansing ceremony was conducted last Saturday at Makarange’s homestead in Chikukurume village.

“He appears to me daily, I see him at my house everyday; it is true that I see him on daily basis. Wherever I go, be it to the beer hall, he appears, even if I sleep away from home, in the bush, he still appears. He keeps appearing, even if I try to avoid him, he keeps appearing. I cannot hide away from him,” Mapisa said.

“It just happened as we were drinking beer. Forgive me, I killed you and I plead your case. I will comply and fulfil the penalty metted on me by the Makaranges to have peace between our families. I admit, I was wrong and I will pay all the dues,” said Mapisa.

Chief Zimunya ordered him to pay seven cattle.

Suspected land barons were yesterday dragged to court charged with fraud involving US$16 000.

Lovemore Chinobva 54, and Enos Gwangwadza, 23, were not asked to plead when they are appeared before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko.

Allegations are that on June 2, the complainant saw an advertisement in a local newspaper to the effect that Chinobva was selling a residential stand in New Marlborough measuring 2222 square meters for USD25 000.

On Jun 13, he saw again an advert that the same stand was being sold for USD19 000.

The complainant got interested and called on the supplied contact number and Chinobva confirmed that he was the owner of the stand and agreed to sell the stand at $16 000.

Chinobva called him and asked to meet at Chicken Inn Msasa to sign the agreement of sale upon payment of the stand, the complainant was suspicious as to why Chinobva wanted to meet him outside the premises fearing that he may be robbed so he informed the police.

On June 25, the meeting was held at the agreed place but complainant was in the company of ununiformed police where Gwangwadza produced the title deeds for the stand which he said he would release upon payment.

The complainant signed the agreement of sale and made the payment then were arrested as they had produced a fake title deed, agreement of sale, duplicate of the real stand owner’s national ID who was tracked and confirmed that he wasn’t selling his stand.

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Auditor-General Mildred Chiri has exposed another case of corruption and mismanagement at struggling power utility ZESA.

In her latest report, the Auditor General revealed that 9 years ago, ZESA subsidiary ZETDC paid US$4.9m to a firm called Pito Investments for transformers. Up till now, the transformers were never delivered.

She went on to expose another transaction in which the other ZESA subsidiary the Zimbabwe Power Company again paid well over US$560 000 for the same company to supply another set of transformers.

Unsurprisingly, the company did not deliver again.

According to The Herald, Pito Investments is owned by Alexio Chideme.

It also shares a physical address and PO box with Enleaver Investments, whose General Manager is Herbert Paradza, according to LinkedIn.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa, on Friday met controversial Matabeleland traditional leader and arch-government critic Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni but details of the closed-door indaba were not yet made public.

Ndiweni has openly criticised Mnangagwa and last month attended the opposition MDC congress in Gweru where he came short of describing the Zanu PF leader as “illegitimate”.

The traditional leader also effectively endorsed MDC leader Nelson Chamisa as the “people’s president”. Mnangagwa was meeting traditional leaders from the Midlands and Matabeleland regions on Friday.

The westerns regions of the country that bore the brunt of the early independence atrocities commonly referred to as Gukurahundi in which some 20 000 civilians are said to have lost their lives.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Mnangagwa said the Gukurahundi issue had been top of the agenda with chiefs demanding “a truth and reconciliation commission” that the Zanu PF leader described as a platform for people to tell all.

“The other issue was the issue of Gukurahundi. The provinces have put forward methods of dealing with the issue of Gukurahundi. The issue affected many communities over which they preside and we need to deal with it,” said Mnangagwa.

At the end of the indaba, Ndiweni left the venue without saying a word, leaving Mnangagwa to do all the talking after the meeting.

The President added that the traditional leaders demanded a “platform” that will allow stakeholders to freely speak about the issue.

“They (chiefs) in their resolutions want us as government should create a platform where people will participate substantially because it is the communities which they preside over that were affected.

“We should not have a solo dialogue but we should have a single platform where this issue can be discussed,” said Mnangangwa.

The President said the traditional leaders also raised concerns around employment into the security services along tribal lines.

“The other issue relates to employment or recruitment of staff into government, as well as young people in the security sector. These are areas that have been pointed out which they are not happy with. I have assured our traditional leaders that the areas that are weak should be corrected so that there is fairness in recruiting people in the security sector,” Mnangagwa said.

The issue of food insecurity in the perennially dry western regions of the country also came up for discussion.

“The lack of food security in the provinces was also discussed and the traditional leaders wanted to make government aware of the situation. There are other social issues discussed like education and roads infrastructure,” added the President.

The meeting was also attended by Chiefs Council president Fortune Charumbira, Deputy Local

Government Minister Jennifer Mhlanga and traditional leader from Matabeleland North, South, Bulawayo Metropolitan province and the Midlands.

Agents

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s nephew Edwin Manikai is the man behind the banning of the  use of foreign currency in Zimbabwe Professor Jonathan Moyo has alleged.

Manikai is a member of the 21 member Presidential Advisory Committee.

Moyo who said the PAC was now a de facto cabinet said, “It was not drafted by 21, in fact the number is not the original and some indications are that they are now 18.

“They work through subcommittees. The SI was done by the subcommittee that does legal stuff and it is headed by Edwin Manikai, a lawyer and Mnangagwa’s nephew.”

Oh, could it be the reason why there was this hashtag on twitter the day the SI was announced? #PricesMustFall?

If it’s true then I’m worried cause it means we are in big trouble. Nothing on that document addressed prices. To imagine 21 man drafting such.

It was not drafted by 21, in fact they number is not the original and some indications are that they are now 18.

They work through subcommittees. The SI was done by the subcommittee that does legal stuff and it is headed by Edwin Manikai, a lawyer & Mnangagwa’s nephew!

Award winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono posted on Twitter recently that the SI142/2019 was written without Mthuli Ncube’s knowledge and he was forced to defend it.

Confirming  Chin’ono statement Prof Moyo said, “The PAC which is full of Mnangagwa’s cronies has become his defacto cabinet. PAC and not Mthuli Ncube drafted the SI142 and engineered ZANU PF corruption probe.”

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Quick service restaurant KFC has revealed its new pricing following the introduction of the Zimbabwean dollar on Monday.

The new prices in Zimbabwe Dollars are ridiculously high as a Streetwise 2 Meal ( 2 Pieces of Chicken with Chips) is going for $57.16. The equivalent of such a meal at rivals Chicken Inn, the Two-Piecer is going for $25.00. Using the interbank rate of $6.5: US$1, a foreigner would need to convert almost US$9.00 for the meal or R130.00. The same meal costs R30.00 in South Africa.

” Question… If Chinese investment is so good for Zim, why is the economy still struggling?,” said Norton legislator Temba Mliswa.

Farai Dziva|The MDC youth assembly has described the “anti-corruption drive” launched by the Zanu PF youth wing as mere flattery meant to cajole the international community.

The MDC youth assembly said at a news conference today, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s secret business deals in Kwekwe must be exposed to prove the sincerity of the programme.

“Mnangagwa owns virtually all gold mines in Kwekwe and we all know that a fish rots from the head so the Zanu PF youth wing must confront their leader over his secret business concerns in Kwekwe.

Mnangagwa is filthy rich and he is behind all illegal mining activities in Kwekwe.

Mnangagwa and his front man Owen Ncube are collecting millions from illegal mining activities.

The illegal gold panners around Kwekwe are enjoying maximum protection from Mnangagwa -yet the so called anti-corruption drive is not addressing such a grave matter,” said the MDC youth assembly in a statement.

By Admire Machiwenyika| The FreeZim Congress president Joseph Makamba Busha has filed a High Court application to set aside Statutory Instrument (SI 142) of 2019, that was introduced by the government earlier this year.

Back in February, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Mangudya during his Monetary Policy Statement that brought to light a complex of measures that saw the introduction of SI 142.

Busha accompanied by his Legal advisor Tichawana Nyahuma filed the application today at the High and the document stated President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the 1^st respondent, Finance minister Prof Mthuli Ncube as the 2^nd respondent, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya and Attorney General Prince Machaya.

“The respondents here are President Mnangagwa, the minister of finance and economic development Prof Ncube, the Reserve Bank Governor and Attorney General and legally they need to respond within 10 days,” challenged Busha.

 The outspoken opposition leader went on to challenge the government of Mnangagwa to set aside SI 142 and maintain the basket of currency that are tradable within the Zimbabwean market until Zimbabwe’s industries are able to produce commodities.

“The alternative is they must still keep the basket of currency l believe the Rand and US Dollar must remain until Zimbabwe is able to produce. South Africa is our biggest trading partner and the US dollar is the world reserve currency, currency of choice all our commodities are traded in US dollars, so it will be a basket of tradable currency basically the Rand and the US dollar,” he explained.

Earlier this week the Government according to the Statutory Instruments they have put in place, the dollar balances held in local foreign currency (FCA) bank accounts and mobile payment platforms, as well as bond notes and coins would no longer be regarded at par in terms of value with the US dollars.

The SI 142 of 2019 goes on to state that local dollar electronic balances and bond notes and coins would become “RTGS dollars”, part of Zimbabwe’s multi-currency system and trading at an exchange rate fixed by market forces. An inter-bank market would be established for trading RTGS dollars with foreign currencies on a willing-seller willing-buyer basis.

 In addition, the instrument states that RTGS dollars “shall be” used by everyone, including Government, for pricing goods and services, recording debts, accounting and settling domestic transactions.  This would eliminate the system whereby goods and services are priced and charged in foreign currency or in both local and foreign currency.

Farai Dziva|The MDC youth assembly has accused ailing Constantino Chiwenga of being behind a massive diamond looting scam in Marange area.

Speaking at a news conference in the capital, the MDC youth assembly dismissed the Zanu PF initiated anti-corruption drive as a farce.

There is commotion in Zanu PF over the naming and shaming of party bigwigs behind corruption – by the party’s youth wing.

“This exercise is a window dressing move because the so called list of corrupt figures leaves out the real people behind corruption.

Guvheya is behind man the looting of Diamonds in Chiadzwa but the report is silent on his secret deals with Chinese mining companies,” the MDC youth assembly said in a statement.

Farai Dziva | The MDC youth assembly has said the ruling party Zanu PF does not have the capacity to eradicate corruption because of the glaring lack of transparency in the party.

See the MDC youth assembly full statement below:

Revolutionary greetings Comrades and friends

We have called this press briefing to express our thoughts and dismay at the recent events and statements by the not so youthful Zanu PF Youth League on corruption. As a party and as an Assembly, we have always maintained that Zanu PF is corrupt and so to begin with they have no locus standi to comment or let alone address issues to do with corruption.

The greatest form of corruption is denying the people the right to choose leaders of their choice through electoral fraud and rigging as has been the case with the institution where the Zanu PF Youth League belongs to.

A party whose officials stink with corruption scandals like the Willowgate scandal, NOCZIM scandal, Marange Diamonds scandal, has no moral probity to lead the anti-corruption crusade or let alone speak about it.

A party whose President enlisted more than 100 cash externalisers but with not even a single person getting arrested or convicted is not fit to talk about anti-corruption!

It is an insult to the people of Zimbabwe for Zanu PF Youth League to name and shame officials in the corruption laden party leaving a big in the house, for we all know that a fish rot from the head.

It is absurd and insufficient to talk of corruption without citing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s shoddy mining cartels in the mineral rich areas along Kwekwe.

It is a public secret that Mr Mnangagwa owns virtually all gold mines in Kwekwe in what is infamously referred to as “mhuu” whereby his cartel collect 50% share from the illegal gold panners or amakorokoza.

Even one of Mnangagwa’s ministers, Owen Mudha Ncube was one of Mnangagwa frontman in extorting gold panners and was rewarded with a ministerial post.

Mr Mnangagwa in partnership with the Chinese nationals is also the sole exporter of chrome in Zimbabwe and as such it is mind boggling to blindly exempt him from a list of corrupt people.

Virtually everyone in Mr Mnangagwa’s presidium is stinking with corruption!

We all know about the clandestine operations of the military under the command of none other than Guveya Chiwenga in Marange area using a company called Anjin to sanitize diamond looting in that area.

Kembo Mohadi too is not a saint! Mohadi has multiple farms in the Beitbrdge-Mateke area yet the same people talk of one man, one farm. What of Mohadi’s abuse of ZRP in his nasty fall out with his estranged wife Tambudzani!

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 bend on entertaining and diverting long suffering citizenry from focusing on scourging prices and stinking poverty authored by the very same party.

Secondly and more importantly to Zanu PF is that this is an internal detonation that is meant to purge remnants of G40 and those aligned to Constantine Chiwenga’s factional camp.

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 exposes and portray the corrupt nature of state institutions like ZACC and ZRP.

This is because normally the police force which is funded on tax payers’ money is supposed to be taking the lead in investigating and arresting the corrupt officials instead of a youth wing of a corrupt political ensemble.

That ZACC too is quiet exposes the personnel that constitute the commission and the appointing authority who in that case is Mr Mnangagwa.

It is our firm belief that only those that have been genuinely calling and speaking against corruption like the MDC have the probity to lead, speak and act against corruption. For Zanu PF to say they are against corruption, is a case of a mosquito wanting to cure malaria.

As an Assembly of genuine young leaders, it is our duty to serve, save and protect young people like Lewis Matutu from abuse. It is unfortunate that young people in Zanu PF as has always been the norm are used to settle political scores under the guise of fighting corruption.

“ZANU PF’s presidium is very uninspiring, the worst since formation of both ZAPU and ZANU in the 1960s. ZERO CHARISMA. One of them is a huge joke aka FERO citizens.” said academic Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya

Jane Mlambo| Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ members have declared incapacitation to live and work.

In a letter to the Public Service Commission, PSC, dated 26 June 2019 ARTUZ stated that they can no longer afford food stuffs, to pay rentals, transport, water, medical bills, electricity bills and other essential services.

“Most teachers can not afford to send their children to boarding schools even if some teach at these schools.

“We stated that with effect from today, 27th of June 2019 teachers based in rural areas that are members of ARTUZ will only attend work two days of the week.

“We feel for the children we teach but we are now at a precarious position where we are not able to meet our basics even to eat.

“We are appealing to our employer the Government to give us a living wage that will allow us to stand in a classroom fed and with dignity.”

THe Zanu PF youth league reportedly stood firm during an explosive politburo meeting in which secretary for administration Obert Mpofu reportedly tried to threaten them into silence, highly-placed sources have said.

Mpofu is alleged to have issued threats and warned the youths to respect party processes and procedures, saying their move to call for a Press conference to embarrass senior party members by labelling them as corrupt was uncalled for.

“He tried to threaten the youth league. He was angry and even issued threats, but he later retreated because he only had the support of two other politburo members while the rest could not speak out or supported (deputy youth secretary Lewis) Matutu and team,” the source said.

The three who supported Mpofu stayed clear of the issue of corruption, but instead wanted to hammer on the issue of procedure, arguing that the youths should have brought the names to the politburo instead.

“Matutu stood his ground, telling the politburo that there was no procedure and process in fighting corruption. He asked Mpofu if it would have made sense to bring a letter to him and say in the next politburo I want us to discuss that you are corrupt,” the source said.

After agreeing to investigate allegations of corruption by Zanu PF members, government officials and ministers named by the youths, the politburo then insisted on having members of the politburo probe the allegations.

Sources said the youth league rejected the suggestion, instead telling the meeting that they were going to name more party bigwigs and it would be impossible for them to properly investigate the allegations.

“The President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) agreed and said he would name an independent commission. He is going to look for reputable individuals who have no links to the party because he insisted that he wants corruption dealt with,” the source said.

Matutu yesterday refused to comment on the matter, referring all the questions to party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo. He, however, reiterated that the youths were not scared of the lawsuits that were coming their way and were ready for the legal battle.

“I can comment on the lawsuits. We have seen the notices and we are unmoved. We can assure you that we did not just pull names from the hat; we know what we are talking about and at the grand stage we will weather the storm,” he said.

Moyo said his statement on the politburo meeting was sufficient to cover what had
transpired during the Wednesday politburo meeting and would not comment further.

Responding to the allegations, Mpofu said: “Whose party are they talking about? They can only do so on what they own, on what is theirs. I am in the office and there is nothing like that and it will never happen. I am just hearing it and they haven’t come to me directly, I am just reading about it.”

— NewsDay

Those convicted of corruption will have their wealth and assets forfeited to the State as part of restitution for their criminal deeds, President Mnangagwa has said. He said his administration will rapidly and more effectively respond to legitimate concerns of the general public with regard to tackling corruption head-on by holding the corrupt fully accountable for their misdeeds.

The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo at a two-day Fraud and Corruption Conference, which opened in Harare yesterday.

“In parallel with such restitution must, of course, come retribution,” he said.

“Those found guilty of such corruption must be sanctioned where they can reflect upon the consequences of their greed and the shame and misfortune that that greed has brought upon themselves and their families.”

President Mnangagwa said Government has made progress in strengthening existing legislation and introducing extra laws to boost the Second Republic’s anti-corruption drive.

Some of the significant amendments that have been made to tighten up mandatory reporting and oversight requirements feature in a number of laws such as the Public Finance Management; Insolvency; Audit; Public Entities Corporate Governance; Companies; Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets; and Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Acts among others.

The Government is also working on a Whistleblower’s Act to encourage and protect those who see evil being done and wish to stop it.

President Mnangagwa said Government is in the final stages of appointing commissioners to the Anti-Corruption Commission and strengthening the Office of the Prosecutor-General.

Government, he said, is also building capacity in key oversight agencies such as the Auditor-General’s, Accountant-General’s and Attorney-General’s offices.

“We are seeking assistance from international partners to build investigative capacity within key components of our law-enforcement agencies, those tasked with investigating and building solid evidence-based cases against the corrupt; cases which will hold up in court and lead to conviction and, where the court so-decides, incarceration and the forfeiture of assets,” he said.

The President said the fight against corruption was not one that Government can wage alone urging the participants to play their role and work towards a Plan of Action, identifying roles and responsibilities for the various sectors represented at the conference.

“Government and yourselves collectively, can intensify our common battle against the evil of corruption,” he said “Together, we can and must make a difference.”

President Mnangagwa said from the onset, the Second Republic’s moto has been ‘Zero Tolerance to Corruption,’ but progress has been slow.

He attributed the slow progress to resistance the State is facing which has tended to impede headway and undermine Government’s good intentions.

“That, in turn, is a reflection of how deep the rot has reached, how the beneficiaries of that rot are able to manoeuvre and manipulate the system to their advantage, to keep ahead of law enforcement, weaken the justice system and, in so doing, to continue their nefarious activities, cheating the Government and the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

“The slow pace of progress is also a reflection to some extent, of the level of sophistication and complexity which the corrupt amongst us have brought to bear, so as to mask their crimes, cover their tracks and confound our law enforcement officials.”

President Mnangagwa said corruption should be totally eradicated because it undermines Government efforts on economic reform and progress towards the national vision of a middle-income economy by 2030.

“Just as importantly, the scourge of fraud, the theft of public funds and the seeming impotence of our law-enforcement agencies and the justice system more broadly to effectively stop such practices serves to further erode public trust and confidence in Government and its institutions,” he said.

President Mnagagwa, however, hailed the conference saying its focus on fraud was not only welcome, but timely in that it coincided neatly with the enhanced efforts Government was making in the fight against corruption.

The participants were drawn from all stakeholders representing both public and private sectors, academia, civil society, the media, law enforcement agencies and the legal fraternity.

The objective of the conference is creating greater awareness and a deeper understanding of fraud in all its sinister forms and to appreciate the negative impact it has on the national economy.

-State Media

 By A Correspondent- A 21-YEAR-OLD mentally challenged man from Muzarabani last week allegedly beheaded a 79-year-old man from the same village following a misunderstanding.

Taison Lice (21) of Kandi village, Chief Kasekete in Muzarabani, was arrested after he allegedly axed and beheaded Michael Kapfume last Tuesday.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm a Muzarabani murder case where a mentally-challenged person killed a male adult aged 79 after a misunderstanding with the now deceased’s son Pleasure Kapfume (39) hours before the fatal incident,” Mundembe said.

Allegations are that on Monday last week, around 7pm, Lice met Pleasure and had a misunderstanding before parting ways.

The assailant then came back around 3am the following day armed with an axe and started destroying a scotch cart outside Kapfume’s homestead.

Kapfume rushed out with his wife, Stella Robson (61) to investigate.

The deceased’s wife ran to seek assistance from a neighbour, but upon return, she saw Lice leaving the homestead holding Kapfume’s head.

Lice allegedly later dumped the head and axe in a nearby field.

-Newsday

By Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC youths have castigated the ruling Zanu PF over its recent move to name and shame party officials involved in corrupt activities saying they have no locus standi to address issues to do with corruption.

Addressing a press briefing this morning, the MDC youth leader Obey Tererai Sithole said Zanu PF’s greatest form of corruption was denying the people the right to chose leaders of their choice through alleged electoral fraud.

“As a party and as an Assembly, we have always maintained that ZANU PF is corrupt and so to begin with they have no locus standi to comment or let alone address issues to do with corruption.

“The greatest form of corruption is denying the people the right to choose leaders of their choice through electoral fraud and rigging as has been the case with the institution where the ZANU PF Youth League belongs to.

“A party whose officials stink with corruption scandals like the Willogate Scandal, NOCZIM scandal, Marange Diamonds scandal etc has no moral probity to lead the anti-corruption crusade or let alone speak about it,” said Sithole.

He added that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s much publicized list of cash externalizers had not bore fruits as no single person getting arrested.

“A party whose President enlisted more than 100 cash externalizers but with not even a single person getting arrested or convicted is not fit to talk about anti-corruption,” added Sithole.

By A Correspondent- MDC vice-president Tendai Biti has won a ZWL$15 180 claim against former Mwenezi East MP Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, who had reneged to fulfil a legal fee agreement signed between the parties over four years ago.

According to court papers, Biti in 2015 and 2016, provided legal services to Bhasikiti which consisted of High Court, Supreme Court and Constitutional Court applications and later presented to him an invoice for the rendered services, but the former Zanu-PF legislator failed to pay.

“Pursuant to this, the plaintiff (Tendai Biti) and the defendant (Kudakwashe Bhasikiti) agreed on a fee of US$12 000, excluding posts, petties and VAT,” Biti said in his declaration.

“On December 13, 2016, the plaintiff levied a fee note to the defendant…despite demand and despite numerous promises defendant has failed and neglected to pay the outstanding amount.”

However, the matter was taken before High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero in his chambers on June 7, 2019 whereupon he ruled in favour of Biti and slapped Bhasikiti with an order to pay including costs of suit.

“After reading documents filed of record it is ordered that: The defendant (Bhasikiti) shall pay to the plaintiff (Biti) the sum of ZWL$15 180; the defendant shall pay interest on the above amount at the rate of 5% from the date of judgment to the date of full and final payment plus costs of suit,” the judge said.-Newsday

There was drama in the latest Zanu-PF Politburo meeting as angry Zanu-PF politicians who had been named on the list of corrupt politicians and businesspeople threatened to manhandle the leaders of the Zanu-PF Youth League over the allegations.

A source who spoke to NewsDay said. He tried to threaten the youth league. He was angry and even issued threats, but he later retreated because he only had the support of two other Politburo members while the rest could not speak out or supported (deputy youth secretary Lewis) Matutu and team.

Another source added that Mpofu was seething with anger and he threatened to beat up Lewis Matutu in particular.

He accused Matutu of being very young and too small to be pointing fingers at him.

Tourism Minister Priscah Mupfumira is also reported to have been furious with the Youth League. She was also very angry and shouted at Matutu as well as (youth league politburo secretary (Pupurai) Togarepi. They stood accused of pushing a factional agenda.

The only person who seemed to have been ready to defend himself and calmly so was (Minister in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office) Joram Gumbo. He seemed to have been happy that the accusations have been made public and wants to cleanse his name.

However, the Youth League are reported to have stood their ground and received backing from President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself who said that he would appoint a Commission of Inquiry to look into the allegations.

The source who spoke to NewsDay said. Matutu stood his ground, telling the politburo that there was no procedure and process in fighting corruption. He asked Mpofu if it would have made sense to bring a letter to him and say in the next politburo I want us to discuss what you are corrupt.

The President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) agreed and said he would name an independent commission. He is going to look for reputable individuals who have no links to the party because he insisted that he wants corruption dealt with.

When reached for comment, Mpofu said. Whose party are they talking about? They can only do so on what they own, on what is theirs. I am in the office and there is nothing like that and it will never happen. I am just hearing it and they haven’t come to me directly, I am just reading about it.