Zimbabweans, whilst we have paid 10m$ this is no guarantee for power. We need to negotiate. The public owes 350 million. It must be paid.

— Fortune Chasi (@fortunechasi) July 2, 2019

Three members of the Zimbabwe National Army probably deployed to guard the National Heroes Acre have done the most unexpected of them after recording and circulating a video and photos of themselves mocking and dancing on former Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo’s grave at the shrine.

The incident takes place at a time when the nation commemorates the 20th anniversary of the death of the man who led the struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence winning himself the nickname “Father Zimbabwe.”

Nkomo died on 1 July 1999 and was buried at the Korean built National Heroes Acre in Harare.

Two of the soldiers captured in the photos provided to ZimEye.com are in military uniform while the other is in civilian attire.

Of late some of the late gallant Zimbabweans have had their families decline Heroes Acre burials and such disrespect of the dead may trigger more resists from Heroes Acre burials.

No comment has yet been received from both government and the army despite the pictures of the soldiers going viral on social media.

State Media|CASES of lack of accountability, violation of procedures and non-compliance by local authorities have continued to rise over the years, a sign that the provision of service delivery is weakening in the country, the Auditor General, Mrs Mildred Chiri, has said.

In her annual report on local authorities, Mrs Chiri said during the year under review, 59 governance issues were noted from local authorities and these related to absence of policies and procedures as well as non-compliance with statutory regulations.

She said there was a need for improvement in accountability in local authorities.

“The number of reported service delivery issues have risen over the years, which is a sign of weakening service provision by various local authorities. It’s of great concern that governance issues over the years have continued to dominate my findings. Although there was an improvement from 2015 to 2016 (reduction from 68 percent to 49 percent), there has been a notable surge from 49 percent to 67 percent in the governance issues in 2017 and 2018 respectively,” said Mrs Chiri.

The Auditor-General said 70 local authorities had not submitted their financial statements for audit as at May 31.

For Bulawayo she said: “A car loan agreement to an employee with a value of $434 450 was not approved by the town clerk as per procedure. The agreement was only signed by the employee. There was also no contract for a car loan amounting to $8 743 advanced to another employee.”

She said there was risk of financial loss due to violation of procedures and lack of basis for legal recourse in the event of disputes.

“Gweru City Council could not reconcile rates and water accounts amounting to $12 738 875 and $7 312 445 to bank statement balances of $303 942 and $70 582 respectively. Its employees have accumulated excess leave days which effectively implies that some of them have not been on leave for at least 17 years and others 24 years. Gweru was also unable to provide layout plans for the stands sold during the year,” said Mrs Chiri.

She said Tsholotsho RDC monthly payroll schedules could not be availed. Payroll for the year was extrapolated from a July 2016 payroll schedule which was incomplete as it excluded the chief executive officer.

Mrs Chiri said Tsholotsho RDC also received Zimdef funds from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development and there was no transparency in the use of the money.

“These funds were utilised by the council without any supporting documents availed to audit for my inspection. On enquiry with management about the nature of the arrangement and the reasons why the monies had been transferred out, the explanation proffered was that the transactions had been done on the instruction of the then Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Jonathan Moyo,” said Mrs Chiri.

At Kusile RDC, the Auditor General said stands owned by employees were exempted from rate charges, which was in contravention of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15. Mrs Chiri said Bubi RDC among others were operating without key policies and procedure manuals.

She said the local authority could not provide documentation to support exemption of the council employees from paying rates.

At Hwange RDC, council had a vehicle which was not registered in its name and no documentation was availed to explain or support how the vehicle had been acquired.

Upon inquiry, Mrs Chiri said council indicated that one of the debtors paid using a vehicle acquired from a third party who left the country without signing the necessary transfer papers.

Government has said it will soon write letters to all parastatals, departments and local authorities emphasising the need to act urgently on the recommendations of the Auditor General.

State Media|THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) yesterday said it will today impose a city-wide four-day water shedding programme ending on Saturday while it conducts major rehabilitation works at its water treatment plants.

Only the central business district, mines and industry are exempted.

This comes as most western suburbs have been without water since Sunday.

Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube said as rehabilitation works would be ongoing for the next five months members of the public are advised that there may be need for similar shutdowns at various intervals.

The council is implementing the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP) funded by the African Development Bank.

The programme is meant to improve municipal water supply and sanitation services in the city to improve health and social well being of residents.

In a statement, Mr Dube said the project involves rehabilitation of Criterion Water Treatment Plant to improve supply of water in the city. As a result, he said, BCC will impose a four day water shedding programme outside the scheduled running 48 hour schedule.

“The works involve replacement of valves, pumps and all associated civil works. The diameters of these valves are ranging from DN600, DN900 and DN1000 and because of the size, design of the plant and location of these valves the plant has to be shut down to allow for installation and the rehabilitation works,” he said.

“These works will result in water supplies interruption outside the 48 hour water shedding schedule to 96 hours citywide. This is to allow for the installation of inlet gate valves, main distribution board, backwash pump and fittings among other major works. This will commence on Tuesday July 2, 2019 to Saturday July 6, 2019. Efforts will be made to have these works done within the scheduled period.”

Mr Dube urged residents to use water sparingly while the shedding exercise is adjusted accordingly.

“The City of Bulawayo advises residents that the water shedding programme is subject to change if the reservoir situation on the ground improves or deteriorates beyond the stipulated period. Residents are urged to conserve water and use alternative safe sources for non-potable uses especially boreholes. Bulawayo City Council wishes to apologise to its valued consumers for the inconvenience likely to be caused,” said Mr Dube.

He said the council would keep the public posted on schedules for the shutdown.

“The main objective of the water supply component is to ensure improved access to municipal water supply in the identified project areas by improving the efficiency of raw water pumping, treatment and distribution networks in areas supplied by the Magwegwe and Criterion Reservoirs. The Criterion Water Treatment plant is currently undergoing major rehabilitation works under the (BWSSIP) project,” said Mr Dub

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Commissioner-General Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi has challenged newly-promoted senior officers in the service to continue advocating and supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Government policies as a contributing factor to their promotions.

President Mnangagwa recently elevated Senior Assistant Commissioner Shepherd Mpofu to the position of Deputy Commissioner-General (human resources). Snr Deputy Comm-Gen Mpofu was conferred with his new rank yesterday by Comm-Gen Zimondi at his offices in Harare.

He replaced Deputy Comm-Gen Huggins Machingauta, who was forced into retirement early this year. The appointment was effective from June 13 this year.

Zimondi’s call for loyalty to Mnangagwa comes on the heels of an incident where a Prison Services Officer John Mahlabera, was recently fired from service for allegedly calling opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa “my president.”

He was charged with contravening Section 3 (1) of the Prisons (Staff) Discipline Regulations 1984 of “using traitorous or disloyal words regarding the president or the government”.

Addressing senior officers, Comm-Gen Zimondi expressed his gratitude to President Mnangagwa for his guidance and support which culminated in the promotion of Deputy Comm-Gen Mpofu.

“Let me hasten to mention that it is through the officer’s sheer hard work and loyalty that led to his elevation,” he said.

“DCG Mpofu proved to be an officer of unquestionable character and loyalty whose devotion to duty and serving his country is intrinsically driven.

Having said that, allow me once again to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency the President, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde E.D Mnangagwa for this promotion, which I believe will go a long way in turning around the fortunes of the ZPCS.”

Comm-Gen Zimondi urged Deputy Comm-Gen Mpofu to preach more verses of loyalty, patriotism, dedication to duty, team work and unity among members of staff.

“As I have already stated that your elevation brings with it a lot of responsibilities, I, therefore, urge you to continue to be vigilant, well-focused and resolute,” he said.

“Continue to work hard and inspire your juniors by exemplifying good leadership qualities and discipline. It is only good leaders who can be emulated, consequently you must lead by example and ensure that there is zero tolerance to corruption and indiscipline in whatever form and by whatever name.”

Comm-Gen Zimondi said in accordance with their vision to become the leading correctional service provider in the region and beyond, Deputy Comm-Gen Mpofu was expected to innovatively and creatively find possible solutions to challenges bedevilling the success of the organisation in its quest to achieve its constitutional mandate.

He said one of their most urgent priorities was to provide adequate food requirements to their ever-increasing inmate population.

“In view of this development, I call upon you to ensure that staff under command continue to fully embrace the Government’s initiated Command Agriculture programmes with the view to fully utilising the farms that were allocated to us through the land reform programme,” said Comm-Gen Zimondi.

“The full utilisation of the prison farms will no doubt ensure that as a department, the ZPCS will become self-sustained in terms of food security in line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).”

Comm-Gen Zimond said he will continue to work in consultation with the relevant authorities with the view to improving conditions of service for all members of the service from time to time.

Deputy-Comm Gen Mpofu applauded President Mnangagwa for promoting him and Comm-Gen Zimondi for the recommendations and conferring him with the new rank. He promised to work hard and remain loyal and disciplined to the organisation and the country.

Deputy Comm-Gen Mpofu was the officer commanding Matabeleland South Province before his recent promotion and becomes the fourth Deputy Commissioner-General.

Comm-Gen Zimondi works with four deputies responsible for human resources, administration, correctional services and audit and the inspectorate department.

Deputy Comm-Gen Mpofu joined ZPCS in 1996 and rose through the ranks to the current position. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Management) degree from Solusi University.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned that he will deal with his corrupt ZANU PF Collegues without fear nor favour.

Addressing hundreds of villagers who converged at Kondo Primary School to witness him officially opening the rehabilitated Tanganda-Ngundu Highway on Monday, Mnangagwa spoke to recent revelations by ZANU PF youth that some senior ruling party officials were highly corrupt and needed to be kicked out of the party.

“Ndouya panyaya yohuwori regai ndikutaurirei pasi nehuwori. Huwori hahuna mutupo. Mitupo yose motova neumwe ari muhuwori. Hamungandiudzi kuti mutupo wokuti haubi kune vanonyanya ndoupi uyoyo. Mutupo upi unonyanya? Hakuna mutupo usina mbavha mukati saka hatitsvagi mbavha nomutupo totsvaga nemabasa emunhu. Musazoti nhingi anangwa nekuti mupfupi nhingi anangwa nekuti anoyera moyo, aiwa, munhu anonangwa nemabasa ake aanenge aita. Kana usingadi kunangwa shanda wakarurama.

“Hard and honest work will give you respect today and tomorrow and after your death you will be remembered for being a hard working Zimbabwean who was honest,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said citizens knew corrupt individuals and must report them to the police.

The ZANU PF youth league last week circulated a list of senior government and party officials they claimed were very corrupt and destroying the country.

Top on the list was ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu. Mnangagwa has since promised to set up a commission of inquiry into the corruption allegations.

The nation eagerly awaits to see the commission through and action which Mnangagwa will take there after.

Government yesterday confirmed that as of last week no payment of US$10 million to South African power utility, Eskom, to service the debt to the power utility had been made, the money was only likely to be paid in the receiver’s bank by end of day yesterday.

Last week, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi claimed that government had paid US$10m to the South African power utility company which declined through a statement that it had not received funds from Harare .

Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube confirmed this on Monday when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development chaired by Felix Mhona.

Prof Ncube was in the company of the ministry’s secretary Mr George Guvamatanga and Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya.

Prof Ncube confirmed that Eskom was owed US$33 million by Government.

He also said Government was working on settling its debts to Eskom and the Mozambique power supplier, Cahora Bassa.

“We owe Eskom, US$33 million and US$37 million to our colleagues in Mozambique. We will continue to service these debts.

“By end of today (yesterday) we should be able to settle US$10 million. We also paid RTGS$20 million, which was domestic, to Zesa and they did acknowledge payment.

“An issue becomes an RTGS equivalent to these US dollars required to pay the debts. Often the company in question (Zesa) has liquidity challenges and this makes it not so easy to honour these US dollar payments abroad even when we have access to US dollars.

“We are doing everything we can to make sure we extinguish our debts and power continues to flow,” he said.

Prof Ncube said the Ministry of Energy and Power Development had come up with strategies on managing demand on power.

“The Ministry of Energy has shared a document regarding strategies about demand management in terms of demand form power, understanding who the customers are; mining companies, residential areas, manufacturers, agriculture; have a sense of how those should be managed, then looking at the supply side management sources of power; coal, hydro imported from Mozambique and South Africa and the opportunities for supply of more power through renewable energy such as solar energy.

“There is also clear articulation of how that could be managed and now it is about squeezing out efficiency out of Zesa itself in the way it operates and the way it procures so we minimise waste,” he said.

Finance and Economic Development secretary, Mr George Guvamatanga confirmed the payment arrangements to Eskom.

He said sometimes the process took longer to be fully processed.

“When a payment is made, there is a process in Government and there is a point were a budget is released and authorised and a payment is done. There are other follow-up processes which may include telegraphic transfer being done, the transfers of the local currency being done, but from a process perspective. When a budget is released from the Minister’s perspective, a payment is done and it would have been done.

“The other ensuing process is just a process which then gets you through to the final proof of payment. That process would ordinarily take seven days. When the Minister pronounces that a payment has been done from a process perspective it has been done,” he said.

Zimbabwe is battling electricity shortages following a sharp decline in water levels in Kariba Dam due to erratic rains in the 2018-19 rainfall season, and generation constraints at Hwange Power Station because of aging equipment.

This has resulted in massive load shedding, which lasts up to 10 hours especially for residential customers.

The ruling ZANU PF party is on cloud nine celebrating the flop of a nationwide planned “national shutdown” protests which was being organised by South African based Promise Mkhwananzi leader of the now out of sorts #Tajamuka Movement.

Government yesterday scoffed at what they called “self-serving attention-seekers” who coordinated the flopped protests they were paid hefty sums of money through South African contacts.

The battling ruling political party claimed that the failure of the demonstration showed diminished returns of hostile activity as Zimbabweans warmed up to ongoing reforms.

The ruling party celebrates the flop besides knowing that the main opposition MDC-Alliance Youth Assembly together with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union and several other membership based organisations that may have impacted on the protest refused to partake in the so-called shutdown which Tajamuka leader, Promise Mkwananzi, instigated from Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to a state media report, a mercenary group, they would not mention, with offices in Johannesburg, South Africa, facilitated funding of the flopped Tajamuka protests.

The media claims that bsome of the Tajamuka activists behind the protest were booked at a hotel in Johannesburg.

“As I speak, some of these activists are staying at Palmer Hotel Croydon Kempton Park, Johannesburg (apartment number withheld).

“Over 81 Tajamuka activists received money ranging from US$2 000 to US$5 000. The money comes from Netherlands and Australia,” claimed the media sources.

A celebratory Permanent secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana blasted the activists.

“Zimbabweans are tired of self-serving attention seekers trying to disrupt their lives. People are seeing through these efforts to unlock donor funds through antics whose ultimate effect is only to worsen a situation which is resolving itself.

“This is the fourth so-called shutdown that has flopped because people are busy dealing with the daily challenges that the country is experiencing through this transition,” he said.

Mangwana said Government efforts to turnaround the economy were beginning to bear fruit hence Zimbabweans should be patient.

“The people of Zimbabwe are also clear that the interventions put in motion by President Mnangagwa and his Government are already beginning to bear fruit.

“This is what the purveyors of anarchy are trying to disrupt knowing that a peaceful Zimbabwe on a recovery trajectory robs them of their relevancy.

“I don’t know how asking for people to be unproductive by calling for them to shut down the country is meant to improve their outcomes. How does that make people’s lives better?”

Police have been fully equipped and deployed through out the country to deal with any possible protests and coordinators of such protests, government has declared.

In a statement, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema said they had noted that there were some individuals and groups circulating information on social media threatening people to stay away this week.

“My Ministry would like to assure Zimbabweans that the ZRP has deployed adequate officers to maintain law and order throughout the country and account for all individuals or groups who intend to engage in any form of violence, threats and intimidation,” he said.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe allows people to petition anyone on grievances, but however, these grievances should be petitioned in a manner which does not interfere with the rights of others. My ministry is concerned that previous stay aways or demonstrations have not been peaceful,” Minister Mathema said.

He added, “Let me also remind the people of Zimbabwe that anybody or any organisation, is also free to approach President Mnangagwa on any issues, before engaging in demonstration or stay away.

“In any case, Zimbabweans must remember that strike does not necessarily mean to demonstrate along our streets.

“In this regard anyone who organises, incites or invites members of the public to engage in any form of disturbances should be prepared to face the consequences.”

Minister Mathema said any individual who receives threats or intimidation must quickly report such threats to the nearest police station.

State Media|Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube says authorities have instituted measures to ensure the local currency will not suffer previous depredations, following the recent gazetting of Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, which makes the Zimbabwe dollar the sole legal tender.

He said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development chaired by Felix Mhona.

Prof Ncube was in the company of his ministry’s Secretary, Mr George Guvamatanga, and Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya.

Hon Mhona said they invited the minister to brief the committee on SI-142 of 2019 on Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) legal tender regulations and mechanisms in place for its implementation.

The committee was also concerned that there was not much communication to the public, especially when it comes to explaining the instrument to people in the rural areas.

Concerns were raised that some rural folk were being fleeced by unscrupulous people of their money due to lack of knowledge.

Other members of the committee asked whether the RBZ would continue printing notes and if this would not induce inflation.

The legislators also queried if the fundamentals were in place for the reintroduction of the domestic currency.

The trio explained the various tenets of the SI 142, its implications to individuals and corporates, and assured the concerned legislators that the country would not return to the 2008 era.

The committee also heard that already 55 bureaux de change were opened although 43 were operational.

Dr Mangudya said they had received a number of applications last week. Responding to questions from legislators on whether the country was not going to have a return of the same situation encountered in 2008, Minister Ncube said there has been a change of polices from those in 2008.

Prof Ncube said the issue was not about the currency but the policies that supported a stable currency.

“There must be fiscal discipline and what we have at the moment is fiscal discipline of the highest quality and the results speak for themselves. We don’t have a budget deficit, we have a surplus which we are deploying now to our social protection, and we will be increasing salaries for the civil servants and importation of food.

“The second fundamental is the monetary discipline in the form of managing the growth of money supply. The growth of money supply in the last few months has been flat but because there was fiscal discipline which has been a problem in the first place.

“If you go back to 2008, it is the exact opposite. We had no fiscal discipline, we had no monetary sector discipline. The budget deficit was huge, rising and uncontrollable and was being monetised through the printing of money. We saw many zeros, we removed some and they came back. We do not have that at the moment, we have the right fundamentals to support the domestic currency,” he said.

He said Government was not repeating the 2008 policies.

“This is not 2008 where we had fiscal indiscipline and monetary sector indiscipline. We are far from that, the conditions are different, the policies are different. The policies are not being repeated. We are in a far better position than we were in back then. I assure you that we are not in 2008. We are re-engaging with the rest of the world,” he said.

On the issue of informing the public, Prof Ncube said the Ministry had hired professionals to assist with communications who would soon start educating people on the new SI.

“When dealing with a currency, you do not call for a referendum especially in the face of a speculative attack which was going on. You move swiftly with decisiveness. This is how a sensitive issue has to be managed. But you have to give signals that it will happen at some point and we tried to do this. Now we need to explain in our indigenous languages especially in the rural areas,” he said.

Dr Mangudya said appropriate policies, confidence and production were the most important fundamentals to support domestic currency.

“If you have a combination of right policies, confidence and there is production, the currency is strong. Any country’s currency is influenced by those three fundamentals,” he said.

He said it was important that the country produces enough food and stops importing.

“What we are missing in this country is that we are expecting the currency to take the role of production. Let’s have production and as Zimbabwe, let’s have confidence. We do not have confidence among ourselves as if we are all foreigners,” he said.

On the printing of money, Dr Mangudya said it was meant fill in the gap created by the removal of the foreign currency and also to replace worn out notes.

“We have removed usage of US dollars, there is a gap we have created in terms of paper money. There is a difference between paper money and currency. The currency in Zimbabwe is the Zim dollar represented by bond note, coins and RTGS.

“The $400 million, we feel there is need for an increase in paper money. As we print that money will be replacing the old money. Old notes should be replaced,” he said.

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday thanked Zimbabweans for ignoring calls by shadowy organisations to stay away from work saying demonstrations were not in the best interest of the country.

He urged unity, as it is a recipe for economic prosperity.
Some organisations linked to the opposition were posting messages across social media platforms urging Zimbabweans to “stay away” and warning of dire consequences for citizens who were going to ignore the call and report for duty.

Addressing hundreds of villagers who converged at Kondo Primary School to witness him officially opening the rehabilitated Tanganda-Ngundu Highway, President Mnangagwa said demonstrations and stay aways benefited no one.

He said focus by all must be on developing the country as demonstrated by the commissioning of the Tanganda-Ngundu Highway, instead of wasting energy on negativity.

“For those with mobile phones, they were saying today you should stay away, stay away. Stay away yokudii? Muchigara kuitira ani? Anozotambura ndiani kana mukasasevenza?,” said President Mnangagwa.

He reiterated that such calls were destructive.
“Anozotambura marega ndiani nekuti shoko raJehovha rinoti iro nokutadza kwamaita kudya muchero uyu muchararama necheziya. Zvino umwe woti iye aiwa ngatiregei kushanda. Ko tozodyei kana tisingashande? Saka musaterera mhesva mukono idzi dzinopihwa mari nevanhu varikunze, dzinopihwa mari nevanhu vagere ku South Africa uko vatinoziva vamwe ma criminals akatiza muno varikutsvaga mari kuti kuve nemhirizhonga mukati menyika ivo vagere vachiplanner varimumahotera.

Pasi navo! Saka hakuna stay away,” added President Mnangagwa.State media

Police have released names of 14 people who were killed in the Featherstone Bus Disaster last week.
The 14 were part of the 19 who died in a head-on collision involving a commuter omnibus and a haulage truck at Wengezi Bridge last Friday.

The 14 are: Paidamoyo Dick, Nokutenda Nhau, Charity Chidende, Jesca Njanike, Gore Mujere, Sign Muteiwa, Francisca Madzamba, Munyaradzi Murwira, Webster Mutuimwe , Michael Zambuke, Patrick Chingwende and three children — Comfort Chirume (two months), Vanisa Kamabarami (two months) and Tinotenda Dudzai (0ne year).

The names were announced after the victims’ close relatives had been informed. Police are yet to publish names of the remaining five.
All the 19 victims were travelling in the commuter omnibus.

Four others were seriously injured.
Investigations are still in progress to establish the cause of the accident.
No one has be charged yet.

On Friday, 16 people died on the spot, but the death toll rose on Saturday after three others succumbed to injuries while in hospital.State media

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 some government officials 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’

A syndicate of government officials who stole Cyclone Idai relief in Chimanimani was 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 he 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.”

By Own Correspondent- Zanu PF national political commissar and deputy defense minister, Victor Matemadanda, has said that there is a possibility that individuals who are being accused of conducting underhand dealings to sabotage efforts to revive the economy, were indeed corrupt.

He urged those on the list to prove their innocence.

Matemadanda’s remarks come after the ZANU PF youth league released a list of names of individuals including top party, business and government officials accusing them of choking president Mnangagwa’s efforts to resuscitate the economy through corrupt dealings including illegal forex trading.

The list which nearly caused a fist fight during a politburo meeting featured prominent names including Obert Mpofu, Prisca Mupfumira and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe boss John Mangudya.

Addressing a Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting recently, Matemadanda said that no one was supposed to get angry.

He said those implicated should instead clear their names since corruption is a decay to be dealt with.

He said:

Prove your innocence. Corruption is a rot which we need to get rid off. Chiripo chiripo imbwa haihukuri sadza. Where there is smoke there is fire.

How can we develop when we are corrupt? We need you to clear your names because right now no one has said you are guilty.

Our constitution is clear that everyone is innocent until proven guilty so all those who have been named should prove their innocence.

He called upon president Mnangagwa to relieve corrupt and under performing public officials of their duties.-ZimMorningPost

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) today responded to Tajamuka’s calls for a peaceful stay away by deploying armed and plain clothed security officers to thwart any violent demonstrations.

Unlike in January when security forces were largely caught unawares by spontaneous protests, this time they have seemingly been prepared for any riots.

Pressure group, Tajamuka had, since last week been sending messages on social media platforms calling for citizens to protests over the ever-deteriorating socio-economic situation in the country.

In a statement circulating on social media, Tajamuka wrote:Mnangagwa has two choices, (either) to resign or allow Zimbabwe to move forward or to convene an all-inclusive dialogue, encompassing all Zimbabweans with an independent mediator.

If Mnangagwa does not respect the orders, the people of Zimbabwe will have no choice, but to come out of their houses on July 6 and march to State House in Harare. For other cities, we will advise where to assemble.

The main labour body in the country, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), which is credited with organising the January protests, distanced itself from Tajamuka’s latest calls.

By Own Correspondent- The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe has issued a statement expressing concern over comments by Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa, over Zimbabwe-China relations.

The state media reported that Mliswa is pushing for the deportation of a Chinese national at Sunny Yi Feng Tiles factory in Norton and he suggested that Sino-Zimbabwe relations were detrimental to Zimbabwe.

Below is the full statement, issued by the Embassy last night:

Recently, Temba P. Mliswa, the MP of Norton, has made a series of accusations against the Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Factory (Zimbabwe), a project by a Chinese company in Zimbabwe. The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe attaches importance to this and hereby makes the following statement:

The Chinese government, in accordance with the laws and regulations, protects the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese enterprises and citizens. And at the same time, the Government always requires them to abide by the laws and regulations of the host countries and respect local customs.

The Chinese embassy attaches importance to MP Mliswa’s criticisms and proposals concerning the tiles factory and has since coordinated the two sides to solve the problem through dialogue and consultation on several occasions. With the facilitation of the Chinese embassy, the dialogue between the two sides is still going on and we expect it to produce positive results. If the relevant issues cannot be resolved through consultation, the two sides may settle them rationally through legal channels.

The Chinese embassy has also noted with serious concerns some remarks made by MP Mliswa concerning China-Zimbabwe cooperation. Mainly two points are: 1.If Chinese investment is so good for Zim, why is the Zimbabwean economy still struggling? 2. During the construction of the new Parly building, mineral extraction is the order of the day.

The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe solemnly makes the statements as follows in response:

1. To do its utmost to help Zimbabwe and its people is China’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe. In recent years, The Victoria Falls Airport Expansion Project, the Mugabe International Airport Expansion Project, the Kariba South Hydro-power Station Expansion Project, the Hwange Power Station Expansion Project and so on, which have been or are being built with concessional loans from China, have played an important role in improving infrastructure and self-sustaining capacity for the economic and social development of Zimbabwe. The projects involve more than $2 billion.

A few days ago, China decided to provide another new batch of grant of 400 million RMB (58 million US dollars) to Zimbabwe to help the country complete post-cyclone reconstruction and other important projects. It is not only logically absurd, but also morally untenable to simply blame that Zimbabwe’s economic difficulty can be attributed to that China’s investment is not good for Zimbabwe. It is universally recognized that whether a country can get rid of poverty and achieve sustainable development mainly relies on its own efforts.

1. The New Parliament Project is a project financed by the grant from the Chinese government. It does not have any attached project, nor does it spend a single penny from the Zimbabwean government’s coffer. This project is a manifestation of the profound friendship between the two governments and the peoples of China and Zimbabwe and brooks no one’s smear or distorting.
2. China and Zimbabwe enjoy a profound traditional friendship. The two sides have always rendered each other strong support on issues concerning each other’s core interests. China-Zimbabwe relations will not be affected by slander or vilifying by any individual. The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe is firmly opposed to the move by certain individual or media to undermine the friendship and cooperation between the two countries through flinging abuses, fabricating rumors and malicious slander. This does no good to Zimbabwe’s own development. We sincerely hope that the Zimbabwean side will continue to create a more favorable environment for all foreign direct investment, including Chinese enterprises.

By Nomusa Garikai: The Zanu PF propaganda machine has gone into overdrive in a rearguard action to justify the regime’s decision to reverse the 2009 decision to allow a basket of foreign currencies as legal tender. 

“These (foreign currency) controls allow countries to better manage their economies by controlling the in-flow and out-flow of currency, which may otherwise create exchange rate volatility.

Countries with weak and/or developing economies generally use foreign exchange controls to limit speculation against their currencies,” wrote Conway Tutani.

What the apologist is ignoring is that Zimbabwe experience its worst (so far, we have just started another phase and God only knows the new heights we will scale) local currency exchange rate volatility in the period 2000 to 2008. Hyper inflation peaked at a world record of 500 billion % and Z$ 35 quadrillion, ie 35×10^24 or 35 followed by 24 zeros, was worth US$1!

The Z$ was the only legal tender and so it was not the foreign currency that fuelled the hyper inflation but the Zimbabwe’s own voodoo economic policies such as the madness of printing of more Z$ in bigger and bigger denominations. 

The people lost confidence in the Z$ because it was worthless and so most economic activities ground to a halt, companies closed, shop shelves were empty, people’s savings and pensions were wiped out and millions of Zimbabweans were thrown into abject poverty.

The Zimbabwe economy has never fully recovered from the economic chaos of the hyperinflation years ending November 2008; unemployment soared to 90% and has never fallen below 80% and millions of Zimbabwe still live in abject poverty to this day.

In November 2008 the worthless Z$ was scrapped and people were allowed to trade freely using a basket of foreign currency. Overnight inflation dropped to single digit, the shop shelves started to fill up with imported goods (it required a lot more than relaxing trade in foreign currency to kick start the collapse agricultural sector and industrial production). 

Zanu PF has stealthily re-introduced the local currency to be used along side the basket of foreign currency. The regime has slowly started to inject more and more of the local currency into the economy; the regime has been straining on its leash, it temptation to revert to its old way of printing money was too much, and now it has broken the leash. 

In January the monthly inflation rate was 5% or so and today, six months latter, it has already soared to 100%! The days of hyper inflation are back alright. The local currency is now losing half its value every month and there is worse to come as the inflation rate is growing exponential.

It is not surprising that some people are already refusing to be paid in local currency and government’s own workers, teachers nurses and soldiers, have been demanding that their wages must be paid in US$! 

Zanu PF has decided to banish the use of the foreign currency as legal tender to force people to accept the local currency as the only legal tender. Economic activities will slow down just as happened during the 2000 to 2008 hyper inflation years; people would rather hang on to what they have than sell and be paid in worthless money! 

“Zimbabwe needs its own official currency, period. This obsession with the US dollar is unsustainable from an economic point of view. The US dollar should be traded in banks only. We need our own currency going forward,” continued Tutani (foaming and frothing). 

“The price madness should be stopped by market forces as usage of the Zim dollar increases. It’s a process, not an event as some sections of the media are making it out to be with headlines screaming failure.

“It’s up to us to make the Zimbabwe dollar work — it’s all in our hands.”

Who is “us”? Ordinary Zimbabweans did not have any meaningful say in the imposition of this policy or anything else for that matter. The imposition of a worthless currency is already having a disastrous effect on the nation and is doomed to fail and all you are already blaming the people for it!

Zimbabwe is not a healthy and functioning democratic nation, in which the ordinary people have a meaningful say in the governance of the country. Indeed, Zimbabwe would not be stuck in this mess with this corrupt and incompetent Zanu PF dictatorship for 39 years if the people had power to remove the regime in free, fair and credible elections. It is a matter of public record that Zanu PF rigged last year’s years, even the regime’s own partners in the vote rigging crime, the MDC Alliance are finally openly admitting it.

“Legitimacy is an issue – last year’s elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that,” admitted David Coltart, MDC Alliance Treasurer General.

It has taken Nelson Chamisa and his MDC Alliances friend nearly a year before they finally admitted that last year’s elections were indeed flawed and illegal and Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF are, per se, illegitimate. Now the cat is out of the bag, all the other Zimbabwe opposition minions who dutifully endorse Mnangagwa as legitimate are under pressure to renege their cock and bull nonsense. 

The people of Zimbabwe must do is to make sure those responsible for this Z$ fiasco and the country’s economic mess – Minister Mthuli Ncube, President Mnangagwa, Zanu PF apologists like Conway Tutani and the rest of Zanu PF regime – are finally held to democratic account. 

If we are ever to got out of this hell-on-earth of worthless money, economic chaos and political paralysis of illegitimate government  Zanu PF has dragged us into; we are must end the curse of rigged elections. We must make sure the next are free, fair and credible and for that to happen Zanu PF must step down to allow the implementing of the democratic reforms to dismantle the regime’s carte blanche dictatorial powers. 

“It’s up to us to make the Zimbabwe dollar work!” So, the regime imposed the Z$ and we, the voiceless quadrillionaire victims of the tyrannical regime’s corrupt and blundering incompetence, are to blame for Z$’s doomed failure! How convenient!

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.”

‌

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.