Help us expose gross mismanagement of funds at Highlands School.
The situation is dire for the boarder pupils, no water, no food, continuous top up of groceries on top of cash.
Its a weekly boarder but they are failing to manage 1 000 dollars per child per term that we are paying for our children.
They ask for groceries on top. Today the children did not go to school because there was no water to cook for them or bath. We as parents has tried to voice out our concerns but to no avail.
The Head is very stubborn and was chased away by parents from the previous school and we say the Head must go. She has failed her mandate.
Hon. Speaker Sir, I rise on a matter of privilege in line with Standing Order 68 (d) of the esteemed rules of this august House. My point of privilege relates to the enactment by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) (Legal Tender Regulations) published as Statutory Instrument (SI) 142:2019. The native fact of this SI is to officially de-dollarise and adopt in Zimbabwe as the sole legal tender, the Zimbabwean Dollar (Z$). This is such a matter of public importance in that it touches on the political economy of our country; that is the politics of our country, the economics of our country and indeed the law of our country.
On the law, I want to bring your attention to the provision of Section 44 (2) of the Reserve Bank Act of Zimbabwe which introduced the regime of multiple currencies in 2009. Section 44A (2) makes it clear that the tender in Zimbabwe of the British Pound, the Euro, the United States Dollar, the South African Rand and the Botswana Pula in any transaction shall be deemed to be legal tender. That being so Hon. Speaker Sir, and Section 44A (2) being an Act of Parliament, the Minister of Finance cannot in a Statutory Instrument repeal an Act of Parliament
So quite clearly Hon. Speaker Sir, Statutory Instrument 142:2019 is ultra vires the provisions of Section 44A (2) of the RBZ Act, so it is wrong on the law.
On economics Hon. Speaker Sir, a currency is a relationship between your exports and your imports. As long as you have got a deficit in your current account, I submit that we do not have the current account; we do not have the reserves that are necessary to support our own currency.
Thirdly, more than anything else, a currency is subject to political confidence. This country suffers from kwashiorkor of political confidence. There is absolutely no confidence in this currency. So, I submit Hon. Speaker, that SI 142:2019 is a disaster; that the attempt to de-dollarise this country is a disaster. The Minister must as a matter of urgency repeal SI 142:2019. I thank you Mr. Speaker.
Jane Mlambo| War veterans have come out in support of the Zanu PF Youths league and Lewis Matutu saying all those implicated in the corruption allegations must vacate their offices until they clear their names.
The war veterans said they stand behind Matutu and the Youth League in their fight against corruption adding that they are ready to resist any attempts to threaten those fighting the scourge.
“The stance taken by the youths that everyone alleged to be associated with any corrupt activities within the ruling party should clear his or her name, first and do the most honorable thing by vacating office until his or her name has been cleared.
“We all know that his excellency the President of Zimbabwe Cde ED Mnangagwa has made several warnings to those who engage in corruption and it seems all is falling on deaf ears, we cannot leave his excellency fighting this battle alone.
“We are in support of all efforts being made to fight the scourge. As war veterans, we do not condone the threats made against the youths for exposing those alleged to be doing or have cases of corruption not cleared.
“We stand by the youths as they are not alone in this fight, threats to those fighting corruption will be resisted by freedom fighters,” said war veterans in a video posted on ZBC.
By Own Correspondent- The City of Harare has escalated their fight against defaulters by threatening to name and shame all individuals and companies who don’t pay their rates.
This comes at a time when the city is having a hard time collecting enough money to treat water and meet its salary obligations simultaneously.
Speaking to the Herald the council’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mike Chideme said:
“The idea is to make everybody accountable so that those people who owe us large amounts can also pay. There are also people who complain everyday over service delivery issues, but they are not contributing anything to council.
“So by naming and shaming them, we hope they also come on board and help the city to grow,”
I have learnt with great DISMAY of papers circulating on social media with my GREAT name. It sounds rather inconceivable and witless that CDE LEWIS MATUTU has made an erroneous conclusion that I am FOREX DEALER simply because I live an opulent lifestyle.
This depicts a very shallow level of reasoning on his part and much as I strongly support ZANU PF I have never and will never run to join party structures so someone please tell him not to be threatened by my SUCCESS…
The future belongs to us youths and the primitive mentality that every rich man acquired his wealth through criminal and corrupt means is baseless and nonsensical to say the least with utmost due respect. I have no issues with anyone talking bad about Wicknell and all I ask is please just make sure you spell my name right.
I disregard the stupidity of attacking the RBZ Governor who is a highly respected banker of unquestionable integrity who sits on many boards representing ZIM. Shockingly all this being said the same day the new currency is announced , with all due respect this was the most foolish thing a person of such an esteemed office could ever do..??♂️..
Also Attacking the Minister of Tourism on the same day Zimbabwe is hosting Heads of State in Vic Falls was again very foolish. Attacking Senior members of our party has a detrimental effect because everyone begins to wonder where you are getting the IRON BALLS to do that.
It therefore creates more confusion and speculation of infighting within our PRESIDIUM. In my view if you can’t respect the appointing authority to such powerful offices (some in the executive)
YOUR FUTURE in the party is BLEAK…Take a look and remember your PREDECESSOR and his performance. This is how it all started. He felt he had generated so much power and eventually lost his mind. He ended up challenging every one and we all know what happened to him eventually.
The BIGGER YOU ARE THE HARDER YOU FALL. If you have any evidence linking me to the commission of any offence please kindly deliver it to the nearest police station at your earliest convenience.
I’m a CITIZEN of this country and I’m equally protected by the CONSTITUTION so ndaneta nekudhererwa. Anyone angopinda muka office WICKNELL CHIVAYO this and that…HANDEI TIONE…
By A Correspondent- Harare West MP Joanna Mamombe (MDC Alliance) has sued the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) for US$120 000 after suffering a miscarriage, which she alleges was because of police actions.
She reported at Harare Central Police station on May 28, accompanied by her lawyer Obey Shava, where she was advised that she was being charged with violating the Electoral Act.
The legislator was immediately advised that she would be detained in police cells pending her initial court appearance the next day at the Harare Magistrates Court.
Despite the police officers allegedly confiding to Shava that her client was not a flight risk because she was on bail on other serious charges, they detained her after indicating that the matter had political interests such that it would be improper for her to be released.
In his letter of intention to sue, Shava argued that his client’s detention was unlawful.
He said Mamombe was detained by the police as if it was a rule cast in stone that every person arrested must be detained.
In the letter addressed to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and copied to Home Affairs deputy secretary (finance and administration) and civil division of the Attorney-General’s Office, Shava submitted that the police officers’ conduct was wrongful, irresponsible, barbaric and deplorable and could not go unpunished.
Mamombe submitted that at the time of arrest, she was two months pregnant and a day after release from the police custody, she had a miscarriage, which she claimed was caused by the traumatic experience and stress she underwent while in police custody.
“We contend that the conduct of the police amounts to gross violation of our client’s right to personal liberty and dignity. It is further a gross violation of the unborn baby’s right to life as enshrined in the Zimbabwe Constitution and various international treaties on human rights,” Shava said.
He said the claim of damages would be US$40 000 for pain and suffering, deprivation of personal liberty, violation of human dignity and contumelia as a result of unlawful detention and US$80 000 for gross violation of the unborn child’s right to life.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- The commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Edzai Chimonyo, has pleaded with soldiers’ patience at a time when the country’s economic situation is facing a “turbulence”.
The development comes as inflation has enormously eroded salaries of workers thereby risking civil unrest.
Chimonyo was addressing soldiers at Inkomo Barracks recently.
He assured them that the government was working towards improving their remuneration and working conditions. He said:
The government is working to improve the general conditions of service for both the civil service and our armed and security forces and we all need to be patient.
For troops, you are aware that determination to wait is a key skill required in your daily operations. Besides the numerous challenges you are facing in your workplace, I am aware of your ultimate sacrifice as well as your loyalty and dedication to the Republic of Zimbabwe.
In that regard, we are fully committed to regularly review and improve your conditions of service as the country’s economy improves.
Chimonyo’s remarks come at a time when workers in the public service have been threatening industrial action of the the unrelenting economic cirisis. Since last week, teachers and nurses have been on go slow arguing that their salaries no longer permit them to fully execute their duties.
Workers have been demanding an extra US$200 each as an increment to their salaries. Others now believe that the introduction of the Zimbabwean dollar is a way to make sure the US dollar demands go away.-DailyNews
By Own Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has appointed two new judges to the Supreme Court bench to beef up human capital and ease the workload. Justices Nicholas Mathonsi and Charles Hungwe were among the five High Court judges who were last week interviewed to fill two vacancies at the Supreme Court.
They will be sworn in on Tuesday next week.
The other judges who participated in the interviews were Justices Alfas Chitakunye, Felistaus Chitakunye and Samuel Kudya.
Justice Hungwe is working in Lesotho following his secondment to that country’s High Court bench. A lawyer by profession Justice Hungwe served the High Court bench for almost 20 years. He joined the High Court bench in 2000.
Justice Hungwe is a war veteran and was the founding chairperson when the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association was formed in 1990. Justice Mathonsi joined the High Court bench in 2010. He has worked both at the Harare and Bulawayo courts.
In 2015, the late former Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku named Justice Mathonsi as one of the top performing and hardworking judges.
Opening the 2015 legal year in Harare, the late former Chief Justice singled out Justice Mathonsi for special mention after the former Harare High Court judge wrote a staggering 72 judgments in 2014.
The appointment of the two follows public interviews that were conducted by the Judicial Service Commission last week in terms of the Constitution, which seeks to increase transparency and enhance good governance. After the interviews, the JSC sent a list of “qualified persons as nominees” for the two posts.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Zanu Pf Youth wing will today hold its 3rd National Executive meeting for 2019 at the party’s headquarters in Harare.
The party’s crunch indaba has among other issues on its agenda the anti corruption campaign, youths’ access to land and an update on the economic reforms.
Said the Zanu Pf Youth Secretary for Administration, Tendai Chirau:
“To members of the media Today Thursday 27 June 2019 the ZANU PF Youth League will be holding its 3rd National Executive Meeting of 2019 at 1600hrs at the Party HQ.A number of issues to be discussed include; the anti corruption crusade, you access to land, update on economic reforms and a host of other issues.There will be a press briefing after the meeting.”
By A Correspondent- Zanu Pf politburo member, Obert Mpofu has come out to defend himself against allegations by Chief Ndiweni that he was behind his arrest and had influenced the complainant in their matter, Mr Fetti Mbele, to file criminal charges.
Chief Ndiweni together with his 13 subjects are accused of destroying a villager’s property.
In his defence, Obert Mpofu said Chief Ndiweni was out of touch with reality since he has been out of Zimbabwe for too long. He further reiterates that Chief Ndiweni was in the habit of raising false allegations against Zanu PF and the government. Mpofu went on to describe him as a political for he had never met.
The first accused person (Chief Ndiweni) has been raising false allegations against Zanu-PF and the Government. His problem is that he has been out of the country for a long time hence he has lost touch with the goings on in the country…
I have never had any meeting with the first accused person. Other than that we are not related in any way except that he is a political foe who could issue statement after statement about me. He makes a lot of anti-Government and Zanu-PF statements and that is what I know.-StateMedia
Government has suspended a college lecturer from employment after he allegedly denigrated President Emmerson Mnangagwa by accusing the ZANU PF party leader and his government of paying poor salaries to civil servants.
Authorities at Harare Polytechnic College recently served Amos Dauzeni, a lecturer at the college’s Hospitality Department with a suspension letter barring him from reporting for duty after he was accused of misconduct.
According to the misconduct charge sheet, Dauzeni was accused of unbecoming behaviour or indecorous behaviour in breach of section 44(2)(a) of the Public Service Regulations after he allegedly denigrated President Mnangagwa during a conversation which he held with a soldier in a bar in central Harare.
During the conversation with Simbarashe Muti, a member of the Zimbabwe National Army, Dauzeni allegedly shouted that President Mnangagwa had mismanaged the country’s economy resulting in the payment of poor salaries to government workers.
College authorities charged that during the altercation with Muti, who filed a complaint with the institution protesting against Dauzeni’s conduct, the lecturer reportedly went on to produce a copy of his pay slip, which shows that he earns $465 RTGS and threw it on the floor in front of the soldier and uttered the words “Take this piece of paper and give it to Mnangagwa.”
When Muti told him that he could not do as advised, Dauzeni reportedly scolded him for being President Mnangagwa’s lapdog together with other members of the ZNA.
The college authorities charged that Dauzeni had behaved in a manner un-befitting of a public civil servant. During his three months suspension period, Dauzeni will not be entitled to his salary and allowances and will not be allowed to leave Zimbabwe without the approval of the college authorities.
Dauzeni, who was given two weeks by college authorities to respond to the misconduct charges and is represented by Tinomuda Shoko of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), is the latest person to be persecuted for allegedly insulting President Mnangagwa.
According to ZLHR, more than 10 people have been prosecuted or persecuted since December 2017 for allegedly undermining or insulting authority of President Mnangagwa.
During the country’s former leader Robert Mugabe’s reign, more than 200 people were charged with criticising the deposed nonagenarian leader including opposition party supporters, human rights activists and ordinary citizens.
By A Correspondent- Thirty-eight people suffered minor injuries when a Munenzva Bus travelling from South Africa veered off the road around midnight on Tuesday.
The accident occurred at the 140km peg along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road when the bus landed on the roadside guardrails.
The accident was confirmed by Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula on Wednesday.
She said:
I can confirm that a 69-seater bus towing a trailer, which belongs to Munenzva Bus Company was involved in an accident at the 140km peg along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road on Tuesday midnight.
It had 63 passengers on board and was travelling from South Africa to Masvingo. The driver of the bus, Tinosengwa Vengai, lost control of the bus at a bridge and it veered off the road and landed on the rails in the process, with 38 people incurring minor injuries.
We advise drivers to rest in order to avoid fatigue.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- A prominent Bulawayo businessman, Mr Phathisani Nkomo, has been defrauded by a Harare car dealer who allegedly sold him a Ford Ranger worth US$43 000 which was stolen from South Africa.
Nkomo, the proprietor of Cosmopolitan Nightclub, Zarah Lounge, Cubana among other businesses, allegedly swapped his black Range Rover and then topped up US$11 500 to buy the stolen car.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.
He said the stolen car was recovered on Saturday and is being held at Drill Hall.
Insp Ncube said:
We have recovered a Ford Ranger 2017 series that was allegedly stolen from South Africa. CID received a tip off that a Bulawayo businessman, Phathisani Nkomo (47), of Kumalo suburb was in possession of a suspected stolen double cab white Ford Ranger with fake number plate AEZ 9960. The vehicle did not have a rear number plate. After police engaged him he revealed that he had bought the vehicle from a Harare businessman who is now a suspect and has been arrested and is assisting cops with investigations.
Insp Ncube said that police have already contacted Interpol who confirmed that the Ford Ranger was stolen in South Africa. He urged those intending to buy vehicles to be very alert.
He said:
We encourage those intending to buy cars locally to visit the Vehicle Theft Squad who can assist them in checking the real owners of cars they intend to buy.-StateMedia
Jane Mlambo| Opposition political leaders, Professor Lovemore Madhuku and Dr Noah Manyika have come out in support of the new currency introduced by the finance minister Professor Mthuli Ncube saying no one should wish the new policy to fail.
Posting on Twitter, Manyika and Madhuku who leads the Build Alliance Zimbabwe and National Constitutional Assembly said;
I believe that the country will be better off with its own currency than without. The issue of whether the current government has capacity to manage our currency is a wholly different matter over which reasonable people may disagree.
— Prof Lovemore Madhuku (@ProfMadhuku) June 26, 2019
By Own Correspondent- National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi has said that police have arrested more than 21 000 people for touting for passengers countrywide since January.
Nyathi said that the operation is ongoing as police aim at bringing sanity on the roads.
He said:
Since the beginning of this year we have arrested more than 21 000 touts who have appeared in court and some have since paid fines. The operation will continue until there is sanity on the roads.
Asst Comm Nyathi also warned members of the public against clinging onto moving vehicles.
He added:
“Let’s consider the safety of all the farmers before they start embarking on journeys. We have heard of some farmers getting injured after falling from moving trucks.”
Mr Ernest Muchena, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) Acting Director of Operations said that clinging onto moving vehicles was both an offense under Section 58 of the road traffic Act and also a suicidal act.-StateMedia
BY ZIMCODD| On 24 June 2019, the government abolished the 10-year-old multi-currency regime in the country making the Zimbabwe dollar the sole legal tender. The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) bemoans the apparent policy inconsistency and premature knee jerk reaction.
The need for a local sovereign currency is not disputed, however the government acted against stakeholder expectations of conducting wider consultations with the citizens of Zimbabwe who are the most affected by the abrupt policy pronouncement in line with section 13 (2) of the Constitution which requires Government to involve the people in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes that affect them and ensuring that key fundamentals are in place before the introduction of the sovereign currency.
While the adoption of a local currency is one of the several steps that have to be taken in achieving economic recovery, there is need to address the root causes of the current currency crisis which are rampant corruption, mismanagement of public finances and impunity being enjoyed by those that are fuelling the crisis through arbitrage and resource haemorrhage. The untimely adoption of the Zim Dollar will only make the general populace who are the workers both in the formal and informal sector suffer more from the market reactions to SI 142/2019.
In the absence of key fundamentals such as productivity; high levels of capacity utilization; healthy capital account; addressing confidence deficit and trade surplus, ZIMCODD is concerned about the inevitable manifestation of the following implications:
Challenges for companies and retailers to restock. The sudden policy pronouncement is likely to affect companies (including retailers of basic commodities) whose current inventory was acquired in US$ currency. The ripple effect of this implication might lead to empty shelves pushing prices upwards and massive job cuts as companies try to manage their operating costs.
Measures announced include the intended sterilisation of $1.2 billion in RTGS funds. ZIMCODD is seriously concerned that sterilisation will result in additional debt for the country and worse still in foreign currency. The RTGS$ Debt to GDP ratio will thus go above 100%, which means our capacity to service the debt will be significantly low. Given the high leverage, the ability to attract lines of credit will equally be low. This is the second time government assumed private sector debt under 10 years. Payable interest on the due amounts will further burden the fiscus and if fundamentals do not improve at a quicker rate, may result in further fiscal misalignment.
Banning of foreign currencies will further push back the trade in foreign currencies into the black market. Increased scarcity of foreign currencies will only make them more valuable in the market. The comparison of good money and bad money remains unaddressed – and the Gresham’s law maintains that “bad money drives away good money” posing a real threat of persistent cash crisis.
Selective application of the law in payable taxes. Certain taxes will be payable in foreign currency particularly customs duty and value added tax on imported luxury goods.
This is seen as punitive for citizens particularly because political elites enjoy exemption from these import duties. Inclusive and consultative policy formulation remains key for public buy-in and confidence building. Off the cuff inconsistent policies will not proffer sustainable solutions to the economic challenges bedevilling Zimbabwe.
Predecessor policy prescriptions have consistently failed due to confidence and trust deficit between citizens and duty bearers. ZIMCODD calls upon duty bearers to place high consideration for cushioning the poor, the marginalised and the vulnerable people groups in public policy planning.
By Own Correspondent- The Economists Roundtable have warned against pegging prices of goods and services in United States dollars.
The warning comes after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe introduced Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 which bans the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions.
Speaking to journalists, former University of Zimbabwe economics lecturer Professor Ashok Chakravarti said that pegging prices against the US$ value was no longer necessary.
He said:
Ever since we dollarised, everybody has been benchmarking against the US dollars.
We are not the United States of America, we are Zimbabwe. We need to start thinking in terms of our local currency, our costs are local costs; we pay our workers in local money, all our costs of production are in local money.
We need to start thinking in terms of costing, pricing, payments in local currency . . . we must start moving away from benchmarking against the US dollar to using normal prices as everybody does in Zambia.
People don’t think in US dollars in Zambia or in Malawi or in South Africa, they think in local currency and they price everything in local currency. So it’s an issue of the mindset and psychology, it will take some time.
The reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar brings uncertainty and fear amongst Zimbabweans who think the currency will quickly lose value as the original Zimbabwe dollar did in 2008.-Statemedia
FULL TEXT: There was drama when Dzivarasekwa residents living in council rented houses asserted their position that they own council rented houses.
the Dzivararasekwa meeeting
At a CHRA community meeting held yesterday the residents cited that they were told by the government that the houses will be handed over to them after 25 years.
The sentiments by the residents come at a time when Harare City Council has issued a statement threatening eviction of all tenants who are in arrears with the local authority. Last month Chra Harare petitioned the Mayor of Harare to consider the plight of residents living in Council rented houses by;
1.Extending the period of selling council rented houses to sitting tenants 2.Removal of illegal structure penalties inline with the Council 2017 Resolution 3.Having a clear billing system and issues receipts on Ecocash payments 4. Engage on a massive publicity drive on the issue of Council Rented properties as some tenants have a notion that they own the houses due to political brainwash – CHRA
By A Correspondent- The National Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) has given government up to Tuesday next week to withdraw Statutory Instrument 142/2019 or face mass action. The SI simultaneously bans the use of multi-currency or domestic transactions and reintroduced the Zimbabwe dollar.
The issuance of the SI has resulted in some people withdrawing their money from foreign currency accounts (FCAs) and some banks reportedly turning away clients citing a central bank directive.
The development was confirmed by Public Service Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare minister, Sekai Nzenza yesterday.
Addressing a Press conference after the inaugural TNF meeting, Nzenza said:
Concern was raised on the consultative process leading to the promulgation of SI 142 of 2019. It was resolved that a proposal be made to Cabinet to consider withdrawal or review of the statutory instrument, with inputs from social partners. Going forward, it was agreed that social and economic policy be discussed at TNF before pronunciation.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president, Peter Mutasa, told the same briefing that if the government does not revoke the ban on the use of multi-currency, workers would take it to the streets.
The meeting also agreed that while the TNF would be used as a platform for social engagement, all parties reserve their rights when they feel aggrieved.-Newsday
Jane Mlambo| Flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivhayo has warned that Zanu PF Deputy Youths Secretary that his recent move which he said was disrespectiful of the Presidium confirmed that youthful politician’s future in his position was bleak.
Chivhayo who appeared incensed at his inclusion on the list, challenged Matutu or anyone with evidence ‘to report him to the nearest police station.’
Posting on Twitter early morning today, Chivhayo said Matutu’s future in the party was also bleak, citing former Zanu PF Youth Leader Kudzanai Chipanga who ruffled feathers in the party before he was fired together with his G40 cabal.
“It therefore creates a lot of unnecessary confusion and speculation of infighting within our PRESIDIUM. In my view if you can’t respect the appointing authority to such powerful offices (some in the executive) YOUR FUTURE on that position and even in the party is BLEAK…,” tweeted Chivhayo.
“Ndaneta neku shungurudzwa. Munhu wese aita Chigaro anotanga nekuti WICKNELL CHIVAYO. Enough is enough…I’m a CITIZEN of this country and I’m equally protected by the constitution. If you have evidence implicating me please deliver it to the nearest police station ASAP,” added Chivhayo.
Matutu has attracted backlash from most of the people named
on his list with Mangudya going a step further to file a ZW$ 1 Million lawsuit
against the Zanu PF youth leader.
By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) acting chief executive officer, Eddington Mazambani, has revealed that the authority had caught 2 140 illegal fuel dealers countrywide in the last seven months.
ZERA said that the raid on illegal fuel dealers was part of an ongoing operation to bring sanity in the energy sector.
The operation comes as the country is having acute fuel shortages attributed to foreign currency shortages and illicit fuel deals.
Speaking to the Herald, Mazambani said:
We have completed most of our investigations, with some few cases on conclusion stage. We caught 2 140 errant fuel dealers’ illegally trading fuel or selling fuel in US dollars without licences to do so.
Most of these cases are expected to be taken to court by month end or early next month and all those found guilty will bear the consequences and will be banned for five years.
He added that ZERA has revoked and or withdrawn licences, in that order, of two fuel operators in Bulawayo and another one in Mutare, and service stations belonging to Glow Petroleum and other service stations accused of overcharging fuel.
Energy and Power Development Minister, advocate Fortune Chasi, recently announced that the government has begun the process of bringing down illegal dealings in the fuel sector.
Malawi Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has assured development partners, business community and the private sector and the general public that Malawi is not in a crisis.
DPP Publicity Secretary Nicholas Dausi said this Tuesday at a news conference in Lilongwe. Dausi, who is also Minister of Homeland Security assured the public that the country will remain peaceful.
His sentiments follow violence that erupted after May 21 elections results. Opposition Malawi Congress Party and United Transformation Movement (UTM) disputed the presidential election results which saw President Peter Mutharika emerging winner.
“We would like to assure developmental partners, the business community and private sector that as the DPP Government, we will ensure that the country remains peaceful; that business is not disrupted as we deal with the outstanding issues from the electoral process. We wish to emphasize that the country is not in a crisis and we look forward to the conclusion of the court processes in a peaceful manner so that the country can move forward,” said Dausi.
He was flanked by the party’s Secretary General Grizelder Jeffrey, Treasurer General Jappie Mhango, Director of Research and Training Mark Botomani and Director of Elections Dr. Ben Phiri.
Dausi said those that were involved in vandalism, damage and theft of property during the violence will be brought to book. He commended the police for preventing further violence and property damage.
Dausi called on those perpetrating violence to stop and respect the legal institutions and processes handling the elections court case.
“We urge all peace-loving Malawians, whether they support the DPP or not, to exercise restraint and remain calm as we await the outcome of the court process. We strongly believe that it is paramount to respect the legal institutions and all the processes that are ongoing as these are key pillars of our democracy whose independence must be protected from political interference,” said Dausi.
“The intimidation tactics that have been deployed to hound and demonize MEC officials alarm us and we condemn such conduct in the strongest terms possible as it goes beyond the exercise of any democratic right,” he added.
Malawians went to the polls on May 21 2019 where they elected president, members of parliament and councilors.
Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa noted some improvements from his charges in a 1-1 draw against Uganda on Wednesday evening.
Zimbabwe kept their chances of progressing to the knockout stage alive with the result and now need to beat DRC in their final Group A match to stand any chance of qualifying.
The team played good attacking football but were unlucky not to score more goals in a match they dominated. Khama Billiat who netted for the Warriors was in the thick of things all round while Ovidy Karuru and captain Knowledge Musona also delivered some great performances up front.
However, Musona’s display was overshadowed by the second half miss which could have given Zimbabwe the advantage, but his effort hit the crossbar in front of an empty net.
Speaking to the press after the match, Chidzambwa said he was satisfied with the team’s performance.
“I want to congratulate my players on their performance against Uganda,” the coach said. “Our performance was much better as compared to that of Egypt. We wasted a lot of chances, but the players did really well.”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe remained in the third position with one point while Uganda dropped to second place with four.
Egypt became the first team in the group to reach the knockout stage after beating DRC 2-0.
NewsDay|Grassroots MDC supporters in rural Gokwe and Mberengwa districts are calling upon party president Nelson Chamisa and his national leadership to pressure government to stop their persecution.
In the last two weeks, MDC activists in Gokwe and Mberengwa have been under siege at the hands of suspected State security agents.
Prince Paradza and Edify Vushoma from Gokwe Central reportedly went missing after they were allegedly abducted. In Mberengwa West, the party’s district organising secretary, Avoid Trouble Mashura, allegedly survived abduction on Monday last week, while Luwelin Sibanda was said to have gone into hiding after unidentified people came looking for him at Mnene Mission Hospital where he resides.
The two Gokwe activists, who had gone missing, were allegedly tortured and later dumped while Mashura and Sibanda were still in hiding.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko said the Gokwe case had proved to be a hoax.
FOR weeks on end the main opposition MDC party has been threatening to take to the streets and bushes of rural areas to protest the country’s de…
Fidelity Life Assurance says the increase in the costs of basic goods against stagnant wages reduced spending on insurance products….
“I am aware of the Gokwe report on abductions. When I made my research with officers in Gokwe, they said it turned out the report was false because the said MDC activists had been seen roaming around the town, which means they were not abducted. As for the Mberengwa case of attempted abductions, that one I do not know it,” Goko said.
MDC spokesperson for the Midlands province, Takavafira Zhou, challenged the police to arrest him and the said activists for a false report if they were being sincere.
“I think the police are now afraid of the State security agents who abducted these activists. Those people were abducted and tortured, yet the police say it’s false. We expect them to be moving in to make arrests of the perpetrators. If they think we are making false claims, why don’t they arrest us?” he asked.
Grassroots opposition supporters in the two rural districts expressed shock at the silence by the party’s top national leadership on the harassment of the activists.
“One reason why they could be neglected is because of colleagues in provincial leadership whose perception is restricted to urban areas. The party tends to be concerned when someone in the national leadership or close to national leadership is harassed, but neglect the harassment of members in remote areas who, in essence, have kept the party visible in rural areas,” said a party member, Nomore Musundire, in Gokwe.
Nicolas Chinembiri, from Mberengwa, blasted the provincial leadership for not pursuing the case of the crackdown on rural MDC supporters.
“The current provincial leadership seems to have less concern for supporters in rural Gokwe and rural Mberengwa, and there is need for national leadership to show concern for all activists under threat if it is to make inroads in rural and remote areas,” he said.
Zhou said the regional leadership would soon act on the concerns by party members.
“Unseen spirits will continue fighting Zambian leadership ,until they break those alters” says prominent Zambian prophet Shephard Mesala
“Zambia needs deliverance, or the nation will continue having by -elections, from one to another” says prophet Mesala .
“A mistake was made when Zambia got independence , a nation was dedicated to evil alters interms of protections, same like Zimbabwe, and these unseen spirits, are ones fighting the nation of Zambia” says prophet Mesala.
“Zambia needs a new state house ! That one they have is possessed , because it was dedicated to evil alters and its being dominated by evil spirits , which are still dominating up to now , those who have stayed there, they know what am talking about” says prophet Mesala .
“Zambia needs prayers of deliverance and the nation shall prosper ! Mr Chiluba declared Zambia to a christian nation because he was afraid of what he was seen but he did not deliver the nation from those alters .
“Many you wonder why Zambia loses much leaders , its because of the evil alters in the nation , Christianity is on mouth with these leaders but in their hearts its the opposite side” says prophet Mesala .
NewsDay|THE National Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) has given government up to Tuesday next week to withdraw Statutory Instrument 142/2019, which banned the use of multi-currency and reintroduced the Zimbabwe dollar, or face mass action.
This comes amid continued chaos over the new currency measures, with some people rushing to withdraw their money from foreign currency accounts (FCAs) and some banks reportedly turning away clients citing a central bank directive.
Addressing a Press conference after the inaugural TNF meeting yesterday, Public Service Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare minister Sekai Nzenza said social partners had demanded the removal of the law that banned the use of multi-currency or they would go on strike.
“Concern was raised on the consultative process leading to the promulgation of SI 142 of 2019. It was resolved that a proposal be made to Cabinet to consider withdrawal or review of the statutory instrument, with inputs from social partners. Going forward, it was agreed that social and economic policy be discussed at TNF before pronunciation,” she said.
On Monday, government re-introduced the Zimdollar, a decade after it was rendered worthless by hyperinflation, and outlawed the multi-currency system, but workers say the move would destroy salaries and savings.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Peter Mutasa told the same briefing that if government does not revoke the ban on the use of multi-currency, workers would be left with no option, but to strike.
“If, by Tuesday, the government does not give us a favourable answer, we will mobilise for mass action. This we have made it clear. People are dying and it is not about us as union leaders, but the generality of Zimbabweans who are affected by this move,” Mutasa said, forcing Nzenza to react angrily.
“Let us not rush to declare general strikes when negotiations are still on-going. It does not work. We gain
nothing from a general strike. Anyway, let me call this meeting off immediately,” an emotional Nzenza said.
The meeting also agreed that while the TNF would be used as a platform for social engagement, all parties reserve their rights when they feel aggrieved.
Meanwhile, there was confusion yesterday, with some banks refusing withdrawals from FCAs, while the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe insisted its measures only affected corporations and not individuals.
The confusion came after the RBZ issued Exchange Control Directive RU102/2019 in terms of the Exchange Control Regulation Statutory Instrument 109 of 1996, where it gave banks directives on how to handle nostro FCA accounts.
Under the new measures, banks were ordered to stop nostro withdrawals except towards settlement of international transactions only.
“In cases where the holder of such an account intends to settle domestic transactions, they shall be required to liquidate their foreign currency account balances to the interbank on a willing-seller willing-buyer basis,” part of the directive read.
The order triggered an outcry on Tuesday evening, with most people accusing government of raiding their foreign currency accounts and yesterday morning, panicky account holders flooded banks to withdraw their money as uncertainty and confusion raged on.
NedBank told account holders that they were waiting to be cleared by their bosses, who had instructed them to stop withdrawals, while BancABC also turned people away in the morning, but later allowed withdrawals.
“We want out money, we no longer trust our government. They just wake up with new orders every day and who knows, we may lose all our monies the same way we did in 2008,” one account holder at a CBZ Harare branch said.
In Gweru, individuals with FCAs caused mayhem at Stanbic Bank as they rushed to withdraw their money.
The situation, however, normalised later in the day, with all people managing to withdraw their money.
“Following the ban on the local use of foreign currency, I am no longer sure if my deposits are safe in the bank,” one depositor, who only identified herself as Mavis, said.
“It is better to keep my money under the pillow because you can wake up and be told that all your foreign currency deposits are now in RTGS dollar [Real Time Gross Settlement dollar].”
Gweru Stanbic branch manager Nobert Mahwaya said he was not authorised to give a comment to the media before referring all questions to the marketing and brand office in Harare.
Monday’s currency reforms have already caused panic among people, with some in the business community closing shop for the better part of Tuesday, while prices of some basic commodities have been increased.
Meanwhile, Cabinet on Tuesday stated that it was satisfied with the decision taken by the monetary authorities to abolish the multi-currency system and replace it with a local currency.
Briefing the media at a post-Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the measure was critical and would help in fully restoring a “Zimbabwe sovereign currency as envisaged under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme”.
“Cabinet calls on all citizens and stakeholders to close ranks and give maximum support to these measures, which are designed to ease the plight of all our people and to place our country’s economy on a firm growth trajectory. As Zimbabweans, let us be driven by the sense of national pride, self-belief and the commitment to guaranteeing the integrity of our financial system,” Mutsvangwa said.
However, the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) said in the absence of key fundamentals such as productivity, high levels of capacity utilisation, healthy capital account, addressing confidence deficit and trade surplus, the new measure has severe implications.
“The sudden policy pronouncement is likely to affect companies, including retailers of basic commodities, whose current inventory was acquired in US$ currency. The ripple effect of this implication might lead to empty shelves, pushing prices upwards and massive job cuts, as companies try to manage their operating costs,” Zimcodd said.
The organisation added that the intended sterilisation of $1,2 billion in RTGS funds would result in additional debt for the country and, worse still, in foreign currency.
“The RTGS$ debt to GDP [gross domestic product] ratio will thus go above 100%, which means our capacity to service the debt will be significantly low,” the coalition said.
“Given the high leverage, the ability to attract lines of credit will equally be low. This is the second time government assumed private sector debt under 10 years. Payable interest on the due amounts will further burden the fiscus and, if fundamentals do not improve at a quicker rate, may result in further fiscal misalignment.”
Zimcodd said banning of foreign currencies would further push back the trade in foreign currencies into the black market.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya has indicated that the central bank will introduce an extra $400 million worth of bond notes into circulation to cover the gap left by the withdrawal of hard currencies.
“As we move towards a cashless society, we still need about $400 million to allow people to access cash, so we are going to print that money to cover that gap left by the removal of the multi-currency system,” Mandudya told a state owned radio from China.
“We will not print up to levels that will cause inflation as feared by some people.”
Mangudya said Zimbabwe’s economy requires around $1.5 billion in cash and currently has between $600-$800 million in bond notes.
“Currently we have about $6-800 million in bond notes and coins. This economy requires about 10% of all deposits in liquidity which comes to about $1-1.5 billion.
“So we will definitely bring in notes and coins in the value of around $400 million,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that foreign currency account holders will not be able to withdraw their money in the currency they deposited.
“Recipients of diaspora remittances and other foreign currency payments will still withdraw in hard currencies or choose to get it in Zimbabwean Dollar at an interbank rate,” he said.
According to a statement from the RBZ non-governmental organisations, embassies and other foreign organisation will not be affected and can continue paying salaries in foreign currency.
Government may not take over the debts of State-owned entities such as Air Zimbabwe and Zisco, touted as critical to making them more attractive to investors, after Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube indicated that automatic debt takeover was not good financial practice.
Professor Ncube said while it had taken longer than anticipated for entities such as national carrier Air Zimbabwe and ex-steel making giant, Zisco, whose suffocating debts the Government has considered assuming, to find suitors or technical partners to facilitate their turnaround, debt was not the stumbling block.
Air Zimbabwe, which is under administration, approached Government with a proposal to assume its huge debts, a request the Government had agreed to in principle. The Government has also already passed legislation to provide for the takeover of the mothballed former steel making giant’s long-standing legacy debts.
“The debt is not scaring investors because if a company is indebted; has a large debt on its balance sheet, it just becomes cheap, so as an investor you just ask for a lower price,” the minister said.
“So (as an investor) you always pay a fair price, with or without the debt, so debt is not the issue. Think about it, if you take away the debt from the balance sheet of a parastatal, because you want to raise its price, are you better off as Government? No, you are not better off,” the minister said.
The Treasury chief said even if the Government received an attractive purchase price after taking over debts of the highly indebted entities like Zisco, debt liability would remain its obligation.
Further, Minister Ncube said there was need for debt audits and accountability by management around how some of the debts were accumulated before assumption of the liabilities is considered.
“It can’t just be automatic debt assumption, there has to be a process and not all parastatals would require debt assumption; some of it should be left in there.
“Certainly, in the commercialisation, partial privatisation, I have not come across the issue of debt, as an issue (to attracting investors).”
Minister Ncube said it was not Government policy to assume the debts of all parastatals, but Government was desirous to strengthen the balance sheets of SOEs and debt assumption was but one option.
“It does not mean you then go around taking over the debts of all parastatals, sometimes it is desirable to leave it on there . . . because debt is useful in disciplining managers running these companies,” he said.
Minister Ncube is spearheading the Government’s parastatal and State enterprise reform programme, as part of widespread reforms envisioned under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).
“That is why I always say automatic debt assumptions are not good finance, they are actually bad finance. Good finance says that the debt, not necessarily 100 percent, but at least part of it should stay on the balance sheet of the company; it is a disciplining mechanism on the management of the company,” the minister said.
AirZim is currently saddled with a debt of US$341 million. Of the debt, 92,2 percent amounting to US$314 million is local debt, while foreign debt constitutes 8 percent at US$ 26,1 million.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Joel Biggie Matiza, said recently that the takeover of Air Zimbabwe’s debts by Government remained outstanding and he was looking to expedite and complete the process within the shortest possible time.
And according to a schedule of the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco) (Debt Assumption) Act, the moribund steel-maker owes US$212 million in external loans, $6 million to external suppliers, $57,6 million in domestic loans and $219 million to domestic suppliers, utilities and statutory obligations.
Government last year rolled out detailed plans for the restructuring of State-owned enterprises, with 41 entities lined-up for privatisation, departmentalisation and listing on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
Other firms would be commercialised, merged while four will be dissolved. It is expected that 13 parastatals would be privatised while 12 are set for ZSE listing.
The State enterprises reform programme, targets to turn the companies into profitable firms to avoid perennial reliance on Government handouts for survival.
Cabinet has approved the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill which is part of Government’s ongoing reforms in the media sector.
This was said yesterday by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa while addressing journalists on decisions made by Cabinet on Tuesday.
“Cabinet approved the Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill which was presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi. The Bill is part of the ongoing reforms to align the country’s laws to the Constitution and arises from the repeal of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, commonly known as AIPPA,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“More specifically, the Bill provides for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Media Commission, its powers and functions as well as the financing thereof. The ultimate objective is to emerge with a vibrant, non-polarised, diverse and pluralistic media sector which positively contributes to the deepening of the country’s democratic processes and the socio-economic development agenda.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had approved a presentation by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo on 96 proposed priority projects from Ministers for the third 100-day cycle of the Second Republic.
“The Third 100 Day-Cycle will run from 8th June 2019 to 16 September 2019. A copy of the full list of the projects involved shall be availed to the media after this briefing. As usual, the nation will be briefed on progress in the implementation of the projects in due course,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said Cabinet was briefed by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Biggie Joe Matiza on progress regarding the Lion’s Den-Kafue Railway Link Project which is being promoted by the governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
OPPOSITION leader Douglas Mwonzora’s law firm faces eviction over alleged non-payment of rent at premises in Eastlea.
According to papers filed at Harare Civil Court, Mwonzora is being sued for US$500 in rent arrears, and $92 in utility bills.
The applicant, Christopher Nyamukapa claims he leased his two bed-roomed cottage to the MDC leader who was to pay $750 per month.
Nyamukapa claims, Mwonzora has been dodging payments since May 2018. He had been given a three months’ notice up to May 2019. He claims the lawyer is refusing to move out of the premises, and fears that his financial obligations won’t be met.
Nyamukapa has also written that he now wants access to the house since he plans to move back in with his family.
In his notice of opposition, the MDC Senator responded saying the applicant was bringing eviction proceedings through a court application without attaching any evidence it relies on. He also claims that the applicant was suing the wrong person, instead, the tenant is and has been his law firm Mwonzora and Associates.
He denies having rent arrears saying everything was paid in full.
Mwonzora argues that according to the lease, he was supposed to pay $600 as rent before it was raised to $750 in November 2018 and again to $930. He also accused the applicant of demanding a payment of 600 American dollars and says he is not aware of the actual amount he was supposed to pay.
Intercape confirms drugs worth millions were recovered in two of the company’s coaches travelling through Central South Africa on separate occasions in just over three months.
This as two employees of the bus line and their accomplice are expected to appear in the Upington Magistrate’s Court in the Northern Cape today for allegedly dealing in drugs.
The trio was arrested by the Hawks on Monday, June 24, after the directorate received a tip-off about drugs on board the bus. The Hawks stopped and raided the passenger bus, finding drugs worth more than R3,4 million in the coach, worth close to a million rand more than the drugs recovered on a different Intercape bus in Bloemfontein three months ago.
Intercape is adamant that it does not tolerate any illegal activities on its coaches and as a result, told OFM News that it was the company itself that tipped off authorities regarding the drugs on both occasions after they received anonymous information on the drugs. “As an organisation and as a good corporate citizen, Intercape has never and will never condone any illegal action in our organisation and on our coaches.”
The bus line says legally they cannot confirm if indeed two of their employees are in police custody following the Upington drug bust, but maintain that an internal investigation into the matter will be conducted.
Intercape is also mum on internal investigations into the drug discovery in Bloemfontein. “We can confirm that Intercape did conduct its own internal investigation and acted according to our Company Disciplinary Code and policies. Due to legislation and privacy of the parties, we will not divulge any further information on the internal investigation and the subsequent outcome of same in a public forum”.
Free State police are yet to confirm if any arrests were made in connection with the drug discovery at the Bloemfontein Tourism Centre.
By A Correspondent| The man who since the Nov 2017 coup has occupied ZANU PF’s most powerful job of National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Rugeje, has rubbished a report that alleges he is to benefit from a new job assignment of military university Vice Chancellor following his demotion.
The party leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa removed the firebrand Rugeje and replaced him with a civilian, Mr. Victor Matemadanda.
Rugeje is currently spending his first month, totally jobless.
Local reports last week claimed Rugeje will be appointed the Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University.
But speaking to ZimEye at the end of the week, Gen Rugeje confessed he is not aware of the job offer. He also indicated no interest in the role.
Gen Rugeje said at the time of the so called referral, he was even outside the country in South Africa.
“Haa, handina zvandinoziva ndiri kuCapetown ini,” he said.
“I am in Capetown I have been out of the country for the past seven days,” he said.
He added saying, ” I know nothing.”
He continued, “Where did you get that report from?”
“I don’t know… inini, handiende pa social media ka ini, I don’t all those things, so social media I would not know that” he said.
So there are not even hopes of being appointed, or you putting your name for the National Defence University?, our reporter asked.
To this he replied saying, “I know nothing,” he said.
EFF Commander in Chief, Julius Malema at a media briefing at their Braamfontein offices in JHB.
EFF leader Julius Malema toes his old party’s line when he warns the president about ignoring the ANC’s resolutions, strengthening the hands of Ramaphosa’s foes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s enemies within the ANC might have been smiling as Julius Malema offered them the free ammunition they desperately needed to dethrone the president over his alleged failure to implement key ANC resolutions.
Though leader of the country’s second-biggest opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Malema spoke like an ANC cadre as he trashed Ramaphosa.
He bemoaned Ramaphosa’s “ignorance” and “disrespecting” of the ANC resolutions taken at the party’s national conference in December 2017, to put the Reserve Bank under state control and to implement land expropriation without compensation.
Malema, debating Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation address in the National Assembly yesterday, lectured Ramaphosa about the ANC resolutions that were binding.
He claimed the president’s failure to implement the Reserve Bank nationalisation and land expropriation was, in fact, contempt for the ANC’s decision.
The ANC conference is the highest decision-making structure of the party and, traditionally, resolutions made there should be implemented.
“I urge you to recall that the conference resolutions are binding. Even Mandela with the famous and world-celebrated stature still recognised … that the resolutions are a mandate from the masses and they must be implemented,” Malema said.
As then ANC Youth League leaders, they were taught by former ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe that they must respect their own decisions or risked rendering the collective structure that took the resolution irrelevant, Malema said.
The EFF leader also said former SACP general secretary Chris Hani accepted an ANC leadership decision to abandon the armed struggle, although he was initially vehemently opposed to the idea.
Reading directly from the ANC resolutions, Malema said the conference resolved that it was an anomaly that there were private shareholders on the Reserve Bank and therefore took a decision that the bank should be 100% owned by the state.
President Cyril Ramaphosa
He accused Ramaphosa of avoiding nationalising the bank and implement the land expropriation policy because he, personally, did not agree with them.
According to Malema, Ramaphosa last year promised to implement both those resolutions but had since backtracked.
“But let us warn you if you do not respect the resolutions of your own conference, imagine what message you are sending to those who did not want you to be the president … You’re saying to them that the decisions on the outcome of you being elected as president is not binding since all other decisions taken in the same conference are not binding,” Malema said.
In his debate input, Democratic Alliance Leader Mmusi Maimane announced his party’s ambitious plan to introduce what he called a charter schools system – a private-public partnership with high-quality education derived from private education at community level. The system would ensure that the government stood up to trade unions so that teachers were able to provide quality teaching.
Maimane said giving free tablets to school children was not the Fourth Industrial Revolution but a Third Industrial Revolution model that was outdated. The country needed to move with the times, decide what it would do around climate change, technology and disease management. “The overwhelming majority of jobs are not going to come from manufacturing or mining, they will come from fields such as data-mining, design coding and a host of other technology-driven micro enterprises. We should prepare our kids for jobs that currently do not exist,” he said.
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald said the government must curb the power of the trade unions if it was to function properly. He said the president was concerned that white people, especially youth, were leaving the country but failed to find out why. They emigrated because of crime in the country, he claimed.
African Transformation Movement’s Vuyolwethu Zungula, accused Ramaphosa of pursuing an individual dream when he has actually voted for his new dawn. “All he dreams of now are what matters to the rich and affluent. High-speed trains and smart cities not even built by South Africans but the Chinese,” Zungula said.
You might also like…EFF walks out on Gordhan during Sona debate
The Economic Freedom Fighters staged a walk out in the National Assembly just before Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan began speaking at the State of the Nation debate.
Julius Malema
EFF leader Julius Malema labelled Gordhan a ‘constitutional delinquent’ and demanded he not be allowed to speak…
KAMPALA- There is intense fighting going on in the eastern DR Congo between the Rwandan Special Forces and armed groups opposed to Kigali government.
According to security sources in DR Congo, many Banyamulenge have been pushed by the fighting in South Kivu and there is a looming humanitarian catastrophe.
The Rwandan troops are said to be expanding their operations to Beni and Bunia.
The source says the Rwandan troops have been operating in DR Congo since March. There were also reports of hundreds of refugees fleeing the areas of Beni to Uganda because of the fighting between ethnic armed groups.
This is not the first time Rwandan forces have entered DRC. For instance in 2004, the forces entered after Paul Kagame had repeated warned that his forces would invade Congo to deal with rebel Hutu militias that the Kigali regime claims had begun cross-border attacks on Rwandan citizens.
In July 1997, Kagame while defence minister acknowledged for the first time his country’s key role in the overthrow of late DRC president Mobutu Sese Seko, stating the Rwandan government planned and directed the rebellion that toppled Mobutu and that Rwandan troops and officers led the rebel forces.
Rwandan forces at the time participated in the capture of at least four cities – Kinshasa, Lumbumbashi, Kenge and Kisangani, which fell on March 15 in what was considered the key battle of the war, Kagame said.
Between 1999-2000, Rwandan and Ugandan forces would fight inside the DRC, with each side saying had interested to protect. It later emerged individual military officers on either side benefited from the Kisangani clashes as they looted DRC’s natural resources like minerals and timber, among others.
Every currency performs three main functions. Firstly without money, we would have to exchange goods and services directly for other goods and services, that is, to engage in barter. Money is accepted by everyone and simplifies trade.
Secondly money enables us to compare the value of different goods and services. It is the standard used to express their prices.
It also makes it possible to compare costs, incomes and profits over time. It is thus the basis of accounting, a system which enables us to plan and take economic decisions.
Thirdly money is used to accumulate savings. Money is the “liquid” reserve par excellence, capable of being converted easily and quickly into any type of good or service.
Good money must have at least six characteristics, and these require the money to be (i) divisible, (ii) hard to counterfeit, (iii) durable, (iv) acceptable, (v) portable and (vi) stable in value.
Although the Zimbabwean dollar before it was suspended from the country’s monetary system managed to have the first three characteristics, it nevertheless fall short in attaining the last three characteristics.
Given that the last characteristics are the most important features required in any money system, the majority citizens were forced to reject it due to its rapid decline in its real value as well as the fact that it was increasingly becoming non-portable to use in transactions, with one having to carry trillions of Zimbabwean dollars to buy just a few groceries.
It was this situation that made the public to continually lose confidence not only in the Zimbabwean dollar but also in the country’s ability to sustain a stable and dependable currency.
As Zimbabwe tries to go back to the time when it had its own currency the government has to prove beyond reasonable doubt that it is not only ready for but has the ability to sustain a local currency.
The generality of the public a skeptical as to the objective and sustainability of having a local currency in the backdrop of corruption and unproductive economy lacking a viable local manufacturing sector.
CONCLUSION
Going forward there is need for the Mnangagwa regime to embark on radical reforms whose objective is not only to root out corruption but also to restore public confidence in government and the Banking sector. The reforms should not only focus on fiscus but cut across all sectors of the economy and governance.
The issue of the parallel market should be dealt with definitively. Money laundering in the streets and high offices should be rooted out. Price distortions and the issue of multiple prizing has to be addressed.
Corruption especially by senior government official, business people and organised syndicates and cartel should be dealt with. Salaries in all production sectors including civil service should be raised to regional levels.
Production especially in agriculture, agribusiness, mining and the manufacturing sectors should be promoted by sensitive government policies which not only bring about ease of doing business but allow these sectors to be competitive and attract meaningful investment. The issue of land reform should be looked at objectively with the view to make the land bankable and to promote commercialization of the sector.
Government should come up with a clear policy position regarding the issue of compensating former colonial farmers. In the mining sector the issue of value addition should be taken seriously and backed by clear policy positions.
In international relations we should come up with policies which foster meaningful international engagements meant to benefit Zimbabwe. We should also pay all the foreign debts and try to minimise borrowing.
On international trade Zimbabwe should try to create a favourable balance of trade with the main focus being on export of primary products while gradually moving towards value added products. We should reduce the importation of second hand goods especially vehicles.
With regards to our diaspora citizens the government should put in place policies that favour the bringing back of remittances by our people. Zimbabwe should also adopt a policy of exporting qualified labour especially to the first world countries targeting Europe and China.
On the issue of parastatals government should consider rebranding and remodeling and restructuring some of them and also retire staff in order to bring in a new work culture.
In the field of education there is need of an overhaul of the education system in order to make the education system responsive to global trends and industrial needs. The time when children need to have five levels is now past.
What we need is to produce technicians’ right from primary school. The civil service has also to be overhauled. There is no need to continue investing in the military. Instead we should have just a sizeable professional army.
Police service and other civil service functions should be left to the local authorities.
The age of retirement should be reduced to fifty years while national service should become mandatory upon completion of college education.
Pensioners should be given living wage so that it becomes attractive to retire. Public works programmes should be introduced and the issuing of free food handout and farm inputs discontinued.
Public construction should focus on productive infrastructure (Mining, Agriculture, Industry, Energy, Tourism etc) and the provisions of social services (health care, transport, housing and Education).
The government should come up with policies that protect workers and clarify labour relations.
The prison system should be modeled in such a way that inmates become productive and earn an income while in prison.
There should be strict supervision of the work of local authorizes so that they contribute to regional development.
Growth of rural service centres should be prioritized to reduce urban primacy. All major roads should be privatized to reduce government expenditure in that area.
There should be clear regulations governing the operation of political parties and civil society organisations.
There should be a minimum education requirement for one to be appointed to be a Councillor, a legislator or a senator.
GABORONE – Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi is confident of a win when he contests his first elections in October.
Masisi took over the reins from former president Ian Khama last year, but Khama has since lambasted him about his policy decisions.
One of these has been the lifting of the ban on hunting, especially that of elephant hunting.
Khama has even resigned from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party, which he served for decades.
Masisi says he still has the utmost respect for his predecessor.
However, he couldn’t resist taking a jab at Khama.
“It’s unfortunate, its also very childish but you know sometimes adults are allowed to be childish, or politicians are allowed to be childish,” said Masisi.
Former members of parliament and chiefs have criticised Khama’s behaviour.
“It’s not easy with Ian Khama, he is an absolute hard nut to crack he is so stubborn,” said Kweneng-District Chief Kgosikwena Sebele.
“This is a fact he is never ready to accept advances.”
Masisi has lashed out at those against his lifting of the hunting ban.
Meanwhile, Khama has endorsed the new Botswana Patriotic Front party.
Pindula|A prominent Bulawayo businessman, Mr Phathisani Nkomo, has been defrauded by a Harare car dealer who allegedly sold him a Ford Ranger worth US$43 000 which was stolen from South Africa.
Nkomo, the proprietor of Cosmopolitan Nightclub, Zarah Lounge, Cubana among other businesses, allegedly swapped his black Range Rover and then topped up US$11 500 to buy the stolen car.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident. He said the stolen car was recovered on Saturday and is being held at Drill Hall.
Insp Ncube said: “We have recovered a Ford Ranger 2017 series that was allegedly stolen from South Africa. CID received a tip off that a Bulawayo businessman, Phathisani Nkomo (47), of Kumalo suburb was in possession of a suspected stolen double cab white Ford Ranger with fake number plate AEZ 9960. The vehicle did not have a rear number plate. After police engaged him he revealed that he had bought the vehicle from a Harare businessman man who is now a suspect and has been arrested and is assisting cops with investigations.”
Insp Ncube said that police have already contacted Interpol who confirmed that the Ford Ranger was stolen in South Africa. He urged those intending to buy vehicles to be very alert. He said:
“We encourage those intending to buy cars locally to visit the Vehicle Theft Squad who can assist them in checking the real owners of cars they intend to buy.”
Government has paid US$10 million to South African power utility, Eskom, and paid off $20 million to Zesa Holdings to clear its debt.
Zesa Holdings is also expected to get an advance of $20 million from Government, in a move expected to improve power generation.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa in Harare yesterday while addressing journalists on decisions reached during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.
“Cabinet was advised by the Minister of Energy and Power Development that Treasury has now fully paid off Government’s debt obligation to Zesa, which was around RTGS$20 million.
“A further RTGS$20 million is due to be advanced to Zesa by Treasury, in order to boost power generation by the utility. This, together with the payment of US$10 million to Eskom, should help alleviate the current power supply situation,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Responding to journalists, Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi said the money will go a long way in power generation to ease deficit.
Minister Chasi
“We will hold discussions to ensure that the money is applied on areas of generation, part of which is production of coal which is key to generation of thermal (energy). So that is significant, we are expecting another RTGS$20 million, we already have a plan on its utilisation. We need a plan for power in Zimbabwe, a plan that recognises we have a deficit,” said Minister Chasi.
He said the ministry’s long-term plan was to export upon generating excess power.
He commended the Government for clearing its debt, saying it had led by example.
“We need to address load-shedding which is also causing hardships to the public. I am not at the moment able to say specifically what we are going to get from Eskom. We are engaged with them, we have made a significant payment; we should get some relief from that quarter.
“If we are able to get the 400MW, that would be good. It will deal with the cycle of consumption that we experience everyday that has occasioned load-shedding,” said Minister Chasi.
“We are coming up with a programme to install meters, so that we manage our consumption. We are also looking at efforts to disengage as many as possible of our consumers from the grid during the day which means we really have to look at the issue of solar in a direct way.”
He implored Zesa consumers to pay their debts.
“It is very easy to criticise Zesa but what does it mean when there is a bill of $1,2 billion on power utility which is at the nerve centre of our economy?” he said.
He said Kariba Dam level was now at 28 percent.
Turning to Zesa management, Minister Chasi said there was need for proper governance at the power utility.
“Zesa must be properly governed and we are working on that. We need proper management by people who appreciate the work that they are involved in.
“My position is clear. If you are complicity in conduct that causes loss or damage to Zesa or people of Zimbabwe in general you must answer for it.
“We have just completed studying the forensic report and anyone who has a case must answer and anyone who must leave Zesa must do so. We want people with the national interest at heart,” said Minister Chasi.
ZIFA have slapped Norton legislator Temba Mlisa and Harare City Council public relations official as well as social media blogger Hope Chizuzu with a combined lawsuit of $10 million for allegedly defaming the association’s leadership.
In summons written by Ngaraya Moyo and Partners on Tuesday, ZIFA said Mliswa on his Twitter handle and during a live broadcast of Punchlineafricatv uttered statements to the effect that the association’s president Felton Kamambo and acting vice president Phillimon Machana abused US$750 000, which was meant to cater for the Warriors in Egypt during the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament.
“You stated that the money was diverted for personal use and that ZIFA officials took their girlfriends to Egypt using money meant for the national team at the expense of the intended beneficiaries.
“These statements are defamatory in the sense that you are accusing our clients of theft and that they are not fit and proper people to hold public office as they abuse public funds.
“Further the statements are defamatory in that they mean that our clients are promiscuous people who engage in adulterous behaviour using public funds,” wrote the lawyers.
They said in making those statements, Mliswa knew that they were false in every material fact and that they are also injurious to the affected persons.
They demanded a retraction of the said statements through the same publication they were made with the same prominence.
“Failing which we are instructed to institute litigation claiming defamatory damages in the cumulative sum of ZW$4 million together with costs of suit on a legal practitioner to client scale and collection commission,” read the lawsuit.
Chizuzu, on the other hand, is being accused of writing through his Facebook wall “The Page” statements insinuating that the same ZIFA officials embezzled funds from FIFA to the tune of US$740 000 after they were transferred from the ZIFA account.
“You further allege that our clients are facing either criminal prosecution or investigation over the issue of the funds. You further wrote and published an article wherein statements to the effect that our clients misled councillors on the true financial status of the association. You allege that the councillors were paid an amount of US$400 each so as to silence them from commenting or raising issues on the financial status of the association.
KHAMA BILLIAT scored a beauty, but his partner-in-destruction, Knowledge Musona, produced a horror miss — which could haunt him for years — as the Warriors only fished a point from the pond of the Cranes, on a night their swagger and powerful show deserved all the loot, here last night.
The iconic Cairo International Stadium was treated to probably the best game of this 2019 AFCON Cup finals, an open end-to-end stuff, as the two Group A rivals — whose fans have been staging a war on the cyberspaces of Twitter — fought long and hard and couldn’t be separated at the end.
Uganda would be the happier of the two teams, after somehow escaping with a point despite being exposed, now and again, by a rampant Warriors team that played with both style and penetration and would have been worthy winners of this contest even by a two or three-goal margin.
The Cranes have four points, from two matches, with a game against the Pharaohs to go while the Warriors have a point from as many games, and if they can beat the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, they will certainly make history by qualifying for the knockout stages of this tournament for the first time.
How is that possible, some will rightly ask?
Well, this tournament throws a lifeline to the four best third-placed teams, in the six groups, to accompany the top two in each group into the eliminators and four points for the Warriors might be enough, not only for second place, and an automatic slot in the Last 16, but at worst, one of the top third-place slots.
“I want to congratulate my players on their performance against Uganda,’’ Zimbabwe coach Sunday Chidzambwa said.
“Our performance was much better than against Egypt. We wasted a lot of chances, but the players really did well.’’
How they didn’t make it easier for themselves, by winning a game they thoroughly dominated once they fell behind to another avoidable goal, will be a talking point in their hotel room for long periods in the coming days because this was their day, their game and their destiny.
And, in the brutal post-mortem that followed soon after the referee blew to end this contest, all the focus fell on their skipper Musona.
The forward, whose goals powered these Warriors to this AFCON jamboree, whose leadership has shone like a beacon since he took over the captaincy and whose X-factor has usually been the difference between draws and victories, was the fall guy last night after a shocking miss that should have settled this contest.
Five minutes after the break, the Warriors opened the Cranes defence with a superb move that saw the ball being switched from the belly of the Ugandans’ rearguard to the right where it was then moved to Musona who found himself, alone, with a yawning goal pleading with him to just stroke the ball into its comforting arms.
It’s the kind of opportunities that, in street football, the attacking team is allowed to pick the ball up because it’s given they would have scored and the defending side can restart the game just to ensure time isn’t wasted.
But Musona clipped the ball with his right foot, and from close range, somehow directed it against the crossbar in an act so incredible it had to be seen, to be believed, had to be replayed on the television monitors to be confirmed as true, so close to fantasy it took some minutes to believe this was reality.
It’s a moment which, just like Wilfred Mugeyi’s horror miss in the first game against the Egyptians at AFCON 2004, is set to be talked about for years to come and, if the Warriors fail in their bid to make the knockout stages, this will feel brutal on the skipper who has served his country very well.
He should have scored in the first half, too, his control of the ball helping him fool two defenders before he turned and, as goalkeeper Denis Onyango went down, he chose the far post, his tilt backwards betraying his intentions and his effort going over the bar in the 22nd minute.
It should have been the equaliser for the Warriors who had fallen behind 11 minutes earlier to another poor goal they have conceded at this AFCON finals.
Left back Divine Lunga made a mess of possession, lost the ball and when it was threaded into his exposed channel, danger loomed for the Warriors, goalkeeper George Chigova made the block, but the ball spun into open space and Emmanuel Okwi reacted faster the Zimbabwean defence to stroke it home.
There will be another brutal assessment here — where was the cover for Lunga when he lost possession, could Chigova have done better with his block and where was the covering Zimbabwean defence when the loose ball needed to be cleared?
To their credit, the Warriors didn’t drop their heads and appeared to use the setback to inspire them, now and again marching into the Uganda defence with conviction and after Musona missed a fine chance, Billiat found himself free on the left side, but drilled his effort wide of goal.
The Zimbabweans kept attacking, the three-man attack coordinating better and their pace and movement down the wings giving Uganda problems, and Danny Phiri just missed his connection, with his head, after a ball was swung into the box from a dead ball by Musona.
The chances kept coming for the Warriors, with Ovidy Karuru having a good game and five minutes before the break, the equaliser their play deserved, finally arrived.
Musona chested the ball into the path of Karuru who galloped into acres of space down the channel, took him time as he waited for reinforcements, and then released a lovely cross for Billiat who sneaked in between his markers and caressed it with a deft touch to push it beyond his former Sundowns teammate Onyango.
Like they did against Egypt, Zimbabwe came after the break a better lot and Musona should have put them ahead in the 50th minute while substitute Evans Rusike thought he had scored, in the 68th minute, when he flicked the ball past Onyango and, time appeared to stand still, as it rolled towards goal.
However, the big goalkeeper recovered to scramble it from crossing the line.
But it could have been a disaster for the Warriors in the 74th minute when Lunga lost possession and Chigova was forced to make a save from a deflected clearance, the ball falling into the path of striker Patrick Kadou who volleyed over the bar from close range.
State Media|THE ruling ZANU-PF Politburo has also endorsed the currency reforms announced by Government on Monday, which saw the scrapping of the multi-currency system and adoption of a single domestic transactional unit, the Zimbabwe dollar.
Addressing journalists at the party headquarters yesterday, the ZANU-PF’s secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said President Mnangagwa directed members to inform people across the country about the currency reforms.
Khaya Moyo said President Mnangagwa indicated that Government continues to deepen the economic reforms agenda across all the sectors of the economy.
“President Mnangagwa informed Politburo members that Government removed the multi-currency regime and restricted domestic transactions to the local currency, the Zimdollar, to enhance the affordability of goods and services by the majority.
“The currency reforms were done through Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019,” said Khaya Moyo.
Government introduced the Zimdollar in a panic move after realising that the market was opting to price most goods and services in US dollars when the majority of citizens were earning the local unit.
Khaya Moyo also said President Mnangagwa urged members to mobilise party supporters to remain disciplined and focused.
He said the President called upon party members and the Government to ensure peace, unity and love in the country.
“The President also called on the party and Government not to tire in preaching peace, unity and love among the people,
“His Excellency President Mnangagwa stressed that as the party leadership, we must be diligent, focusing on the people’s most urgent problems and strive to resolve them,” said Khaya Moyo.
President Mnangagwa also briefed the Politburo about the meeting of the recent launch of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum, which seeks to enhance dialogue towards development of a social contract among Government, business and labour.
On the international relations front, the President stressed the need to continue with the engagement and re-engagement drive.
Cabinet has only yesterday approved the currency reforms introduced by government two days ago which culminated in the scrapping of the multi currency system on local transactions.
Through Monday’s Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 which was issued without cabinet approval, Government announced that it was abandoning the multiple currency regime to allow all local transactions to be conducted in the Zimbabwe dollar.
Addressing journalists following this week’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said cabinet had endorsed the move in retrospect and expects that the measures will go a long way in easing the plight of ordinary people who had been at the mercy of few individuals.
“Cabinet noted with satisfaction the decision taken by the monetary authorities to abolish the multi-currency system and replace it with a mono-currency as contained in Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019. This measure is a critical step towards the full restoration of a Zimbabwe sovereign currency as envisaged under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme.
“Cabinet also applauds the other supportive measures being introduced by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to bolster this initiative,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“Cabinet calls on all citizens and stakeholders to close ranks and give maximum support to these measures which are designed to ease the plight of all our people and to place our country’s economy on a firm growth trajectory.
“As Zimbabweans, let us be driven by the sense of national pride, self-belief and the commitment to guaranteeing the integrity of our financial system,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Responding to questions from journalists, Minister Mutsvangwa said the basic fundamentals for a local unit had been met.
“The scrapping of the multi-currency system shows that as a country we are moving to normalcy. The conditions which were said by the President should be met, are clearly in place and they include, increased revenue, decreased spending and budget surplus and those have been achieved. Honestly it is only normal for Government to take that decision,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“All what has been done is to remove the basket. It is only a Government of the people which looks at the needs of the majority and stops this unfair situation.”
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi defended Government decision to retain payment of duty on luxury goods.
He said it was reasonable that importers of luxury goods such as cars paid duty in hard currency since they would have procured the items in foreign currency.
Women Affairs, Community, Small to Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni who is also Acting Minister of Finance and Economic Development said the success of the measures hinged on a collective effort by every Zimbabwean.
A woman from Mberengwa allegedly teamed up with her husband and killed the husband’s girlfriend whom she accused of wrecking their marriage.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident which happened at Vanguard compound in Mberengwa on Friday last week.
He said police have since arrested Privilege Sibanda (26) for allegedly killing Ms Jestina Shoko while her husband Kuraimunaishe Zhou (27) is on the run.
“It is alleged that Zhou was having an extra marital affair with Ms Shoko and the information leaked to Sibanda who then threatened to divorce Zhou,” he said.
Insp Goko said on June 21 at around 4PM, Zhou and Sibanda allegedly went to Ms Shoko’s workplace, knocked at her door and she came out.
The couple allegedly pounced on her and started beating her up forcing her to flee for dear life. The two accused gave chase and when they caught up with her, they continued assaulting her with stones and sticks.
Inspector Goko said after a while the couple allegedly force marched Ms Shoko through the bush to a disused open cast quarry mine. At the mine they subjected her to further beatings until she fell unconscious and later died.
He said after realising that Ms Shoko was motionless, the couple allegedly carried her body and dumped it into the disused quarry mine full of water and fled from the scene.State media
President Mnangagwa has appointed two new judges to the Supreme Court bench to beef up human capital and ease the workload of the appellate court.
Justices Nicholas Mathonsi and Charles Hungwe were among five High Court judges who were last week interviewed to fill two vacancies at the Supreme Court.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday confirmed the development, saying the appointment is with immediate effect.
“The President has — with immediate effect — appointed Justices Charles Hungwe and Nicholas Mathonsi to the Supreme Court bench,” he said, without giving finer details.
They will be sworn in on Tuesday next week.
The other judges who participated in the interviews were Justices Alfas Chitakunye, Felistaus Chitakunye and Samuel Kudya.
Justice Hungwe is currently working in Lesotho following his secondment to that country’s High Court bench.
The appointment of the two follows public interviews that were conducted by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) last week in terms of the Constitution, which seeks to increase transparency and enhance good governance.
After the interviews, the JSC sent a list of “qualified persons as nominees” for the two posts, from which President Mnangagwa considered to make the appointment, in accordance with Section 180(5) of the Constitution.
A 27-year-old domestic worker has been arrested in Rusape on allegations of axing his employers to death under unclear circumstances.
Elias Makondo stands accused of striking a couple that employed him before fleeing Rusape.
He was arrested last week in Zimunya area, Mutare. Makondo is still assisting police with investigations. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the horrific murder. He however, advised families to conduct proper background checks before hiring domestic workers.
“Zimbabwe Republic Police urges members of the public to conduct comprehensive vetting and background checks on prospective domestic employees before hiring them.
“The call follows the recent death of a Rusape couple that was attacked and killed by an employee. The accused person used an axe to commit the offence and fled from the scene,” he said.State media
Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe (MDC-Alliance), who is facing charges of trying to subvert a constitutionally elected government after participating in last January’s deadly violence, had her application for refusal of further remand dismissed by the court on Tuesday.
Her lawyer, Mr Jeremiah Bamu, made the application arguing that his client had been on remand for a long time and the State was making no progress in its investigations so that they can proceed to trial.
In dismissing Mamombe’s application, Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko said the court had to consider the seriousness and complexity of the offence.
“Considering the nature of the case, the accused is facing a very serious offence,” she said. “There is progress in the case and the court is satisfied. Therefore, the application is dismissed.”
Mrs Mateko deferred the matter to July 23. The State had earlier on sought a postponement of the matter to July 23, saying there was need for the Cyber Unit to verify the video.State media
Zimbabweans should take pride in their currency as obtains in other countries where the local unit is the only acceptable legal tender, legislators have said.
In an interview yesterday, Zvimba South Member of Parliament Philip Chiyangwa (Zanu-PF) said Government’s decision to recognise the Zimbabwean dollar was progressive and demonstrated visionary leadership by the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.
He said the decision would go a long way in alleviating the lives of ordinary persons in the rural areas. “It is also important that we have a currency of our own. Other countries are very proud of their currency, they will not accept foreign currency. We must be able to have pride in our currency, that is Ubuntu.
This is why I am commending President Mnangagwa, and his team. They realised something was going wrong and moved in to address it. In a few weeks, things will become better. Prices will obviously stabilise,” said Chiyangwa, who is also a black empowerment proponent.
“For the rural community this is empowerment, it is empowering rural women who are traders so that they can sell her wares and get their money in a systematic and predictable way. Time for rent-seeking behaviour is over. We will embrace our currency because we are proud of it, that is why we are applauding the President.”State media
NEW David Whitehead (DW) majority shareholder is keen to see legacy issues at the struggling textile giant quickly resolved to pave way for the resuscitation of the company.
Mr Praduman Kumar Ganeriwal, who acquired 51 percent stake in DW, expressed concern yesterday over the postponement of the meetings for creditors and shareholders that were scheduled for today and tomorrow respectively, saying such meetings were key to take the revival of the firm.
In a statement on Tuesday, judicial manager Mr Knowledge Hofisi said he had rescheduled the meetings to July 15 and 16, due to “circumstances beyond our control.”
Mr Hofisi is expected to present audited financial accounts and introduce the new shareholder to existing members and creditors.
“As an investor, I have put in money and I would like to proceed as soon as possible with the scheme of arrangement after getting audited financials,” Mr Ganeriwal told The Herald.
“(Legacy issues at) DW have been pending for than a decade and it is in the interest of everyone to take it to a stage of closure and work towards revival of the company.State media
for the Setting-up of a Youth Commission: 30th June to 8th July
Parliament has published the following self-explanatory notice:
PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION
The Portfolio Committee on Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation will hold public consultations in response to a petition on the setting up of a Youth Commission from 30 June 2019 to 8 July 2019. The Committee will cover various areas as follows:
Date
Place
Venue
Time of Public Hearing
Sunday 30 June
Hwedza
Sunshine Inn
1200hrs
Monday 1 July
Mutare
Queens Hall
0800hrs
Tuesday 2 July
Ngundu
Roman Catholic Church
0830hrs
Wednesday 3 July
Gweru
Gweru Theatre
0900hrs
Thursday 4 July
Bulawayo
Stanley Hall, Makokoba
0830hrs
Friday 5 July
Gwanda
Jaunda Hall
1000hrs
Saturday 6 July
Kadoma
Waverly Hall
1300hrs
Monday 8 July
Harare
Senate Chamber
0830hrs
ALL THOSE WHO WILL BE PUTTING ON MILITARY UNIFORMS, SIGNS OF RANKS, FLAGS OR BADGES AND POLITICAL PARTY REGALIA WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
The public, interested groups and organizations are invited to attend these consultations. Written submissions and correspondences are welcome and should be addressed to:
The Clerk of Parliament
Attention: Portfolio Committee on Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya yesterday reiterated that companies and individuals can still withdraw their money held in foreign currency accounts, adding that NGOs can still pay their employees in forex.
Further, Dr Mangudya clarified that possession of forex remains in the pockets or in FCAs was also permissible, but one would need to change the money into the Zimbabwe dollar to effect local purchases.
His remarks come on the back of a mainstream and social media frenzy suggesting that the RBZ had blocked cash withdrawals from FCAs, in tandem with the currency reforms announced on Monday and subsequently buttressed by the RBZ’s Exchange Control Division on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Dr Mangudya told Zimpapers’ radio station, Star FM, in a telephone interview from China that citizens and companies should ignore the “fake news” being peddled by uninformed people regarding FCAs. “The honest answer is that yes, nothing has changed on FCA accounts, people can still hold FCA accounts in Zimbabwe,” said Dr Mangudya.
He said those receiving forex from the Diaspora, “can still get their money in cash or they can get their money in the nostro accounts”. “Those who are exporting can still continue exporting and can have their money in nostros . . . if you look at tobacco for example, 50 percent is paid in foreign currency and 50 percent is RTGS.
“And cotton, they are getting some money in foreign currency and part of the money in RTGS. For gold it’s the same, 55 percent is the foreign currency for FCA accounts and 45 percent is RTGS, which is your local currency.
“So, nothing has changed on foreign currency accounts; people can still withdraw money from their personal accounts, so as corporate accounts, NGOs they can still withdraw their cash, (and) NGOs can still even pay their employees in foreign currency.”
However, Dr Mangudya said what has only changed is that holders of FCAs, those paid in foreign currency or receiving funds from the Diaspora, are now required change their money in banks and bureaux de change to get the Zimbabwe dollar for local purchases.State media
Farai Dziva|Zinasu has strongly condemned police brutality against a student at Kwekwe Polytechnic.
Read the Zinasu satatement below:
A student at Kwekwe Student has been seriously affected by the modus operandi of the government over its citizens. This student was sprayed by some unknown chemicals by the securocratic forces that were invited by the Principal at Kwekwe Poly.
We condemn in the strongest terms the manner in which the government is responding to its citizens particularly the students. This is one of many cases that are to come if we don’t unite against the oppressive system.
Many students and citizens are being victimized in various forms but all owing their origins from the same system. A system that is designed to oppress and suffocate the voices of our people.
As Zinasu while we are doing all we can to assist students facing the wrath of the state, we are calling for peaceful methods of engagement from the administrations and government. We call for the total demilitarization and decolonization of academic institutions.
Farai Dziva|Norton MP Temba Mliswa has narrated how Chinese officials allegedly attempted to block his vehicle as he was driving out of the company yard.
In an interview with ZimEye.com Mliswa said:”I had gone to the company’s offices to attend a function where the Chinese Ambassador was officiating.
As I was driving out of the yard, two vehicles blocked my way and I managed to escape.
I have also filed a report at Norton Police Station.”
Mliswa clashed with a Chinese official who allegedly assaulted Chief Chivero last week.
Farai Dziva|A ZANU PF MP has been rushed to hospital after collapsing in Parliament.
The MP collapsed while attending to parliament business, according to a daily publication.
Josephine Shava, the Mashonaland West Proportional Representation Member of Parliament collapsed on Wednesday afternoon and was rushed to a hospital in the capital.
She is said to be in a stable condition.
Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda said : “She was attending parliament business and fell sick, we had to rush her to hospital.”
Farai Dziva|MDC deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka has scoffed at claims by Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa that Zimbabwe has returned to normalcy.
In a statement Luke Tamborinyoka took a swipe at Mnangagwa for relaying information totally divorced from reality.
“Mr Mnangagwa says Zimbabwe has returned to normalcy. Is he in the same country with all of us? Has this man acquired permanent resident status in Cloud Cuckooland?”
He added:” The death of Cephas Kanyai, the head of St. Ludger Primary school just outside Marondera who fell from an avocado tree tragically showcases the magnitude of Zimbabwe’s crisis.
Kanyai died while fetching avocados he intended to sell at his school to augment his meager salary.”
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has implored Zimbabweans to celebrate the reintroduction of the Zimbabwean dollar.
The government has banned the use of the United States dollar -abandoning the multi-currency regime in the process.
Analysts say the move is disastrous as the country does not have enough foreign currency reserves.
Mnangagwa has urged Zimbabweans to rejoice because the Zim Dollar is back.
Speaking to reporters in Victoria Falls Mnangagwa declared that his government must be given credit for bringing back normalcy.
“Zimbabwe has gone back to normalcy and the normalcy is that a country must have its own currency. We were living in an abnormal situation and you must congratulate us for becoming normal again.”
The Zim dollar, however, has been met with scepticism all over Zimbabwe with banks hiking interest rates and individuals withholding their cash.
Hundreds of thousands of US dollars were blown by the Motlanthe Commission into the 1 August shootings, and it yielded nothing. This time ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa is to set up another inquiry.
This will be to look into allegations of corruption levelled against ordinary citizens, senior ZANU-PF members and Government officials, it was announced yesterday.
Speaking at a Press briefing after the 330th Ordinary Session of the Politburo in Harare yesterday, ZANU-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said Mnangagwa will set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the corruption allegations.
“The Press statement by the Zanu-PF national youth executive league on corruption allegations at a Press conference on Monday was debated by Politburo members extensively centering mainly on corruption,” the state media reports.
The report continues,
“Several members of the Politburo made their observations and contributions. Whilst the Youth League may not have followed proper procedures in issuing their statement on Monday, there was urgent need to pronounce at all levels zero tolerance on corruption,” said Khaya Moyo.
The Politburo, Khaya Moyo said, discussed extensively on the need to call for zero tolerance on corruption which is bleeding the country’s economy.
“This cancerous malady called corruption must be eradicated once and for all. Appropriate measures must be taken to clean the party and the nation at large on corruption. This, of course, includes Government and the private sector,” he added.
Khaya Moyo said the Politburo described corruption as a veld fire which affects the country’s economy.
“His Excellency and First Secretary of the party, President Mnangagwa, in view of this development will institute a commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations presented by the Youth League. This was unanimously endorsed by the Politburo,” said Khaya Moyo.
He added that the Youth League apologised to the Politburo for not following party procedures.
“We did emphasise also that as a party we have a constitution and the Youth League must learn to follow procedure. The President is setting up a commission of inquiry who will investigate all the issues which were raised by the Youth League,” he said.
However, party bigwigs accused of corruption will continue reporting for duty while instigations are being carried.
Meanwhile, war veterans have thrown their weight behind the Zanu-PF Youth League in the fight against corruption.
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) chairpersons from all provinces gathered in Harare yesterday in solidarity with party youths who named several people accused of corrupting.
Addressing journalists, ZNLWVA Mashonaland West province chairperson Cornelius Muwoni said; “The stance by the youths is that anyone alleged to be associated with any corrupt activity within the ruling party should clear his or her name first and do the most honourable thing by vacating office until his or her name is cleared.
“His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde ED Mnangagwa has made several warnings and it seems all is falling on deaf ears.
“We cannot leave His Excellency fighting this battle alone. We are in full support of all efforts being made to fight the scourge.”
He said youths should not be threatened for exposing the allegedly corrupt members.
Farai Dziva|An apostolic sect leader was allegedly assaulted by a suspected CIO operative for “sympathizing” with Apostle Talent Chiwenga.
Apostolic sect leader from Johanne Masowe Chishanu, Madzibaba Spenlodge Madenyika, was allegedly assaulted at his shrine by a man who claimed to be an intelligence officer.
Madzibaba Spenlodge told H-Metro, that a man only identified as Jimmy Dzamu went to his shrine, shouting and telling him to close the sanctuary.
Spenlodge also added that he was surprised that the suspect was released soon after he had returned from the hospital.
The outspoken cleric further told the publication that his life was no longer safe since there had been several break-in attempts at his house.
”Last Saturday Jimmy Dzamu came to my shrine shouting at me- telling me to close the shrine. He claimed to be working in the President’s office.
They are persecuting me for commenting on Apostle Talent Chiwenga’s story. I didn’t know basa raMwari rikakura you develop more enemies than friends.”
By Own Correspondent- Reminiscent of the former President Robert Mugabe era, a Harare Polytechnic College lecturer has been suspended by authorities for misconduct following utterances that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had failed to manage the country’s economy.
Amos Dauzen reportedly said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has mismanaged the country’s economy resulting in poor remuneration for civil servants.
Said the Zimbabwe Lawyer for Human Rights (ZLHR) in a statement:
“At Harare Polytechnic College, authorities have suspended Amos Dauzeni, a lecturer, after he was accused of misconduct for allegedly denigrating President Mnangagwa by stating that he had mismanaged the country’s economy resulting in the payment of poor salaries to government workers.”
Under the former president’s rule, several citizens were arrested for allegedly insulting Mugabe. Zimbabwe’s insult laws were declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in 2013.
However,the then justice minister, Mnangagwa (who is now the president) is quoted justifying their existence adding that they were necessary.
By Own Correspondent- Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti said that Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, which re-introduced the Zimbabwean Dollar and scrapped the multi-currency system, is illegal and a disaster to the country.
Biti was speaking in Parliament on Tuesday after a ZANU MP had lauded Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube for bringing back the Zimbabwean Dollar. He said:
The SI 142 (2019) touches on our political economy, the economy of our country and the laws of our country.
Section 44(2) of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act, which introduced the multi-currency regime in 2009, makes it clear that the British pound, euro, South African rand and Botswana pula shall be legal tender, and section 44(a)(2) — it is an Act of Parliament means that the Finance minister cannot repeal that provision.
Quite clearly, SI 142 (2019) is ultra vires the provisions of section 44(a)(2) of the RBZ Act and it is wrong at law and on the economy.
As long as there is a deficit in your current account, I submit that we do not have a current account and reserves necessary to support our own currency.
A currency is a subject of political confidence and in this country, as far as I am concerned, there is kwashiorkor of political confidence and, therefore, I submit that SI 142 is a disaster.
However, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi scoffed at Biti’s remarks saying that it was premature to say that SI 142 was a legal nullity.
Said Ziyambi:
I would like to make a correction that all statutory instruments stand deferred to Parliament, which will scrutinise them through the Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC).
If the PLC feels there is something wrong with the SI, they will issue an adverse report and then Parliament will debate it.
I am surprised because MPs are very much aware of the process and they want to debate it. An SI takes effect the moment it is published and I submit that it is very premature to start attacking it before it is scrutinised by the PLC.
By Own Correspondent- Former ZANU PF politburo member and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Jonathan Moyo has accused the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) members of being driven by the love for money and nothing else.
Moyo expressed his sentiments on microblogging site Twitter, where he said:
One stinking scandal that is waiting to be told is about PAC patronage. It’s a PAC of self-enriching two-timers whose love for the USD is scandalous.
They claim to be doing national service when in point of fact they are lining up their pockets big time. Let them say nywee!
By Own Correspondent- The ruling ZANU PF party was set to hold a politburo meeting on Wednesday, with suggestions that fireworks were expected.
This follows allegations of corruption levelled against party bigwigs by the ZANU PF Youth League, among them secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu.
Speaking to Newsday on Tuesday, Mpofu dismissed the allegations thrown at him, accusing the youths of being attention-seekers.
He said:
Honestly, there are so many ways of seeking relevance and this is not one of them. They could have looked for better ways of seeking relevance and not these kinds of things that they are doing.
Simon Khaya Moyo told the publication that he would only be able to comment after the politburo meeting.
Said Moyo:
I will comment after a Politburo meeting we are having tomorrow (today). Currently, I am out of Harare and I have not been briefed of this. Maybe we will be briefed in the Politburo and we will address the issue after that if we are briefed.
Mpofu said that the youth have no power to block him from entering party offices.
He added:
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.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s perceived ally, Gokwe-Nembudziya MP, Justice Mayor Wadyajena said:
We’ve backslid to the Grace era, where G40 youths used extortion against citizens to avoid public lynchings. A country can’t be dictated to by a bunch of youths at a presser.
Do they understand the consequences of alleged corruption by the head of the central bank?
However, the Youth League has stuck to its guns, insisting that President Mnangagwa will listen to them.
Said Matutu:
President Mnangagwa is not like the former President (Robert Mugabe), who always accused people of attacking him when his appointees are accused of corruption.
He (Mnangagwa) listens to young people and acts after listening. We are confident that he will listen.
By Own Correspondent- Remigious Matangira who is the sitting Bindura South legislator has hailed the recently announced SI 142 adding that the policy measure was important as it ensured that “thieves” or money changers would relocate to their rural homes.
Contributing to debate in parliament on Tuesday, the Zanu Pf legislator accused the people on the street of possessing more forex than the country’s central bank.
He said:
“….I stand on a point of privilege to raise issues that bother people outside and inside this country regarding this Statutory Instrument 142:2019 which was gazetted by the Minister of Finance. If we are a family that has no totem we are lost.
A country without its own currency has no roots and has no ancestral spirits. More-so, if a country that has imposed economic sanctions on you and you go on to use their currency, that country does not want you to develop.
Those on the left are saying we should continue being in this situation; old people are dying in the communal lands due to lack of drugs. What type of a country are we Zimbabweans. All countries are saying we must use our own currency.
The Minister of Finance and Economic Development says despite the fact that you want the American Dollar, use the American Dollar and use it at the inter-bank rate but people on the streets have more US dollars than the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, why should that be the case?
What has been done is good. Thieves that have been involved in money changing should go to their communal homes.”
By Own Correspondent- MDC Vice President and former Finance minister Tendai Biti has urged government to urgently repeal Statutory Instrument 142 arguing that the policy directive was not only illegal but disastrous.
Biti said this in parliament (Tuesday).
He said:
“… My point of privilege relates to the enactment by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) (Legal Tender Regulations) published as Statutory Instrument (SI) 142:2019.
The native fact of this SI is to officially de-dollarise and adopt in Zimbabwe as the sole legal tender, the Zimbabwean Dollar (Z$). This is such a matter of public importance in that it touches on the political economy of our country; that is the politics of our country, the economics of our country and indeed the law of our country.
On the law, I want to bring your attention to the provision of Section 44 (2) of the Reserve Bank Act of Zimbabwe which introduced the regime of multiple currencies in 2009. Section 44A (2) makes it clear that the tender in Zimbabwe of the British Pound, the Euro, the United States Dollar, the South African Rand and the Botswana Pula in any transaction shall be deemed to be legal tender.
That being so Hon. Speaker Sir, and Section 44A (2) being an Act of Parliament, the Minister of Finance cannot in a Statutory Instrument repeal an Act of Parliament.
So quite clearly Hon. Speaker Sir, Statutory Instrument 142:2019 is ultra vires the provisions of Section 44A (2) of the RBZ Act, so it is wrong on the law.
On economics, a currency is a relationship between your exports and your imports. As long as you have got a deficit in your current account, I submit that we do not have the current account; we do not have the reserves that are necessary to support our own currency.
Thirdly, more than anything else, a currency is subject to political confidence. This country suffers from kwashiorkor of political confidence.
There is absolutely no confidence in this currency. So, I submit Hon. Speaker, that SI 142:2019 is a disaster; that the attempt to de-dollarise this country is a disaster. The Minister must as a matter of urgency repeal SI 142:2019.”
By Own Correspondent- Addressing legislators on Tuesday, Wedza North member of parliament David Musabayana said the return of the Zimbabwean dollar marked the beginning of monetary sovereignity and presented the RBZ with the opportunity to control money supply
He hailed the introduction of the local currency saying the adoption of the basket of currencies had brought untold suffering to the majority of Zimbabweans.
Said Musabayana:
“…..in January, 2009, Zimbabwe undertook what we call currency substitution where a multi currency system was adopted and this multi currency system had a basket of currencies with the United States dollar and some of the SADC currencies were also in that basket, including the Euro and many other currencies.
Unfortunately the United States dollar slowly became the defacto currency as it bullied out the rest of the currencies from the basket. This made it very difficult for most of the Zimbabweans because it was a defacto currency, it was not a de jure currency where it was legal in terms of its procurement – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] – Mr. Speaker Sir, this created untold suffering to the rest of the Zimbabweans, because the Reserve Bank could not supply…
….. this made it very difficult for the Zimbabweans because the RBZ could not control the money supply. So in terms of monetary sovereignty, the nation lost its monetary sovereignty because of the adoption of this basket of currencies.
…… because of that there were also a lot of distortions that were created in the market, because the flow of this currency was not efficient. Some areas could not get this currency creating unnecessary distortions and it also fuelled the parallel market. Because of this Mr. Speaker Sir, the economy of Zimbabwe stagnated.
Mr. Speaker, in this light I would like to applaud the Minister of Finance and Economic Development through the Government of Zimbabwe for the adoption of the new currency– [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Why our own currency? Mr. Speaker, foreign currency is only important for the payment of imports and payment of foreign debt, but for local transactions or day to day transactions, we need our local currency. So, the return of the Zimbabwean dollar means the return of monetary sovereignty, it also means the return of national sovereignty.
Mr. Speaker Sir, this means that our imports are going to be competitive even on the foreign market. The rest of the world is now rejecting the United States dollar. Why are people rejecting the United States dollar, Mr. Speaker Sir? The United States dollar is just a fiat currency, it is not backed by anything, and it is not backed by gold.”
By Own Correspondent- A HWANGE woman miscarried after being attacked by her neighbour who owed her RTGS$6.
Gracious Moyo (24) of E20 Sinderela Village owed a six-weeks pregnant Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu but seemed to be taking too long to pay back.
As such, Ndlovu’s constant demand for her money became an annoying jingle in Moyo’s ears and she beat her up leading to the miscarriage.
For that, Moyo appeared before Hwange provincial magistrate Gift Ntando Dube facing assault charges.
“Your worship, I did not mean to hurt the complainant. I was angered by the words she spoke to me when I tried to reason with her over the money I owed her. I got upset and lost control, resulting in my assaulting her. I’m really sorry,” she pleaded. The court heard that on 24 December 2018 at around 8pm, Ndlovu proceeded to house number E20, Sinderela Village where Moyo stays intending to collect $6 which she owed her. Moyo refused to give her the money and a misunderstanding arose between the two.
She then began to slap a stunned Ndlovu with open hands several times all over the face before assaulting her further with fists all over the body. As if it was not enough Moyo lurched for Ndlovu’s chest before sinking her teeth into her right breast.
She was restrained from further assaulting Ndlovu who was now lying on the floor by other neighbours who had been alerted by the commotion. The incident was reported to the police leading to Moyo’s arrest. Ndlovu sustained bruises on the face as a result of the assault and revealed in court that she had miscarried her six-weeks old pregnancy.
Sithandweyinkosi Sithole prosecuted for the State.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- In a spine-chilling murder case that left villagers under Chief Chiduku shell-shocked, a newly recruited domestic worker axed his two employers to death in unclear circumstances.
The slain victims Elson Mberi (74) and his wife Finah Mberi (72) were both struck on their heads in the gruesome attack.
Finah died on the spot while her husband later on June 1 upon his admission at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
After allegedly committing the grisly murder, Elvas Makono (27) of Samanyai Village under Chief Chiduku fled from the village. He was, however, apprehended by police in Zimunya after he committed a petty offence. District Criminal Investigations Officer for Rusape and Nyanga districts, Superintendent Shepherd Tachiona confirmed the arrest of Makono.
He said the suspect was now in police custody assisting detectives with investigations.
Makono is set to appear in court facing two counts of murder.
“Elson and Finah Mberi of Chiduku Village under Chief Chiduku sent a word in the village that they were looking for a domestic worker. The suspect was referred to them by a neighbour. On May 21, 2019, he was engaged by the now deceased couple.
“On May 24 in the morning Elson was in the kitchen when he was attacked by Makono. He struck him once with an axe on the forehead. Makono proceeded to the bedroom where Finah was and struck her on the right side of the head with the same weapon.
“She died on the spot. A neighbour arrived at the homestead and found Finah dead. Elson was alive but wreathing in pain. A truck was immediately hired to ferry him to Rusape General Hospital where upon arrival he was immediately transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare. A police report was made and detectives attended the scene,” said Supt Tachiona.
He said the suspect fled from the scene after committing the offence. Police launched a manhunt. Two cell phones belonging to the deceased and unverified amount of money were also missing at the homestead after the incident.
On June Makono was arrested by Zimunya police for a petty crime he had committed there.
The cops then established that the person they had in custody was on the wanted list by Rusape police for murder.
“We do not have proof that he is not mentally stable, he looked very normal when we interacted with him during investigations,” said Superintendent Tachiona.-ManicaPost
By Own Correspondent- The boarders reportedly stormed Mabelreign police station today morning to report the school authorities over allegations of verbal and physical abuse and a poor diet.
The students, who were marching and chanting their grievances alleged that some of their teachers verbally and physically abuse them.
Said one of the students:
“We are told to go to the garden during school hours and are sometimes delegated duties for the administration such as killing rabbits for the deputy head. This is done during lesson time and we end up missing lessons.
We hardly have water although there is a borehole at the school and a generator. We are fed up and if they continue doing this to us, this is howw we will react, we will rise up.”
Mabelreign Girls High kids march to Police Station to report their own deputy head… pic.twitter.com/XLGhL4nLFz
By Own Correspondent- Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has scoffed at the former Finance minister Tendai Biti saying that it was still premature to clasify the recently announced SI 142 as a legal nullity.
Ziyambi’s remarks come in the wake of Biti telling parliament that Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, which re-introduced the Zimbabwean Dollar and scrapped the multi-currency system, is illegal and a disaster to the country.
Biti was speaking in Parliament on Tuesday after a ZANU MP had lauded Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube for bringing back the Zimbabwean Dollar.
Said Biti:
The SI 142 (2019) touches on our political economy, the economy of our country and the laws of our country.
Section 44(2) of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act, which introduced the multi-currency regime in 2009, makes it clear that the British pound, euro, South African rand and Botswana pula shall be legal tender, and section 44(a)(2) — it is an Act of Parliament means that the Finance minister cannot repeal that provision.
Quite clearly, SI 142 (2019) is ultra vires the provisions of section 44(a)(2) of the RBZ Act and it is wrong at law and on the economy.
As long as there is a deficit in your current account, I submit that we do not have a current account and reserves necessary to support our own currency.
A currency is a subject of political confidence and in this country, as far as I am concerned, there is kwashiorkor of political confidence and, therefore, I submit that SI 142 is a disaster.
However, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi scoffed at Biti’s remarks saying that it was premature to say that SI 142 was a legal nullity.
Said Ziyambi:
I would like to make a correction that all statutory instruments stand deferred to Parliament, which will scrutinise them through the Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC).
If the PLC feels there is something wrong with the SI, they will issue an adverse report and then Parliament will debate it.
I am surprised because MPs are very much aware of the process and they want to debate it. An SI takes effect the moment it is published and I submit that it is very premature to start attacking it before it is scrutinised by the PLC.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- The body of a beheaded man, whose head was found in a Funcargo at a roadblock search, is still to be buried six months after his grisly murder.
David Arendi was murdered in December last year in Workington Industries and the accused was arrested at a roadblock in Belvedere.
Family members feel they should have the body of their relative for burial but bureaucracy has been stalling their efforts for the past six months.
The family member, who opted to have her name protected, said Harare Central Hospital where the body was in mortuary was waiting for a doctor’s report.
“That we are still to bury our relative has caused more grief to relatives and friends demanding to know answers from responsible authorities.-HMetro
Reports indicate that banks are still refusing to allow individuals’ withdrawals of cash from Nostro Foreign Currency Accounts.
A certain bank has reportedly sent an email to its management, saying that individuals should not be allowed to withdraw foreign cash until the authorities send a different circular or directive in the normal manner.
Reads the correspondence:
Dear All
This update seeks to give clarity to the issue of cash withdrawals for individuals as follows.
The current policy being referred to is simply allowing withdrawal of foreign cash for permissible transactions under the new dispensation for example travel allowance outside Zimbabwe, prepaid cards for international use, etc; for which the bank will apply the normal KYC; AML/CFT standards before allowing such withdrawals to happen on a case by case basis.
Foreign cash withdrawal for domestic use is not permissible.
Should there be any further clarifications or amendments to the SI 142 by the authorities, you will be advised as soon as such directives or circulars are issued and received in the normal manner.
Regards
The development however comes amid revelations by the RBZ Governor John Mangudya that cash withdrawals for individuals and nostro account holders was above board and depositors were guaranteed of the availability of their forex from banks.
Cash withdrawals Further to our Directive, the Reserve Bank wishes to advise that contrary to certain information being circulated on social media, cash withdrawals by individuals are still permissible and the policy position hasn’t changed.
— Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (@ReserveBankZIM) June 26, 2019
The Warriors drew 1-1 draw with Uganda in a Group A AFCON match this evening.
Uganda took the lead in the 12th minute of the game with Emmaneul Okwi finding the back of the net from close range after George Chigova had saved an earlier shot into his path.
Despite the set-back the Warriors increased the tempo and had more urgency as the looked for the equaliser with Khama Billiat central in the attacks.
Billiat and Karuru combined well and continued to force Uganda into defence.
In the 23rd minute Knowledge Musona had a great chance to with his shot going way to high.
Six minutes before Halftime the Warriors had their equaliers when Musona chested to Ovidy Karuru who crossed into the box for Billiat to score with a delightful finish.
The Halftime break came with the score level.The Warriors continued where they left as the continued to attack in the second half.
In the 50th minute Musona missed a glorious chance to give Zimbabwe the lead when hit the bar despite having an empty goal at his mercy.
Sunday Chidzambwa made two changes to brining in Evans Rusike for Talent Chawapiwa while Marshall Munesti replaced Thabani Kamusoko as he sought the winner.
However the Warriors continued to be wasteful as the game progressed. In the 91st minute Musona had a chance to grab the winner but could only shoot wide as the Warriors settled for only a point.
The results leave Zimbabwe needing other results to potentially go in their favour and needing to win the final group game against DRC. DRC will face Egypt later this evening. Soccer24Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent- An apostolic sect leader was allegegedly assaulted by a suspected CIO operative for “sympathizing” with Apostle Talent Chiwenga.
Apostolic sect leader from Johanne Masowe Chishanu, Madzibaba Spenlodge Madenyika, was allegedly assaulted at his shrine by a man who claimed to be an intelligence officer.
Madzibaba Spenlodge told H-Metro, that a man only identified as Jimmy Dzamu went to his shrine, shouting and telling him to close the sanctuary.
The outspoken cleric further told the publication that his life was no longer safe since there had been several break-in attempts at his house.
”Last Saturday Jimmy Dzamu came to my shrine shouting at me- telling me to close the shrine. He claimed to be working in the President’s office.
They are persecuting me for commenting on Apostle Talent Chiwenga’s story. I didn’t know basa raMwari rikakura you develop more enemies than friends.”-H Metro
By Own Correspondnt- A Harare Polytechnic College lecturer here has been suspended by authorities for misconduct over utterances alleging that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had failed to manage the economy.
Amos Dauzen reportedly accused Mnangagwa of economic mismanagement adding that this had resulted in poor remuneration for civil servants.
This was revealed by the Zimbabwe Lawyer for Human Rights (ZLHR) in a statement.
It said:
At Harare Polytechnic College, authorities have suspended Amos Dauzeni, a lecturer, after he was accused of misconduct for allegedly denigrating President Mnangagwa by stating that he had mismanaged the country’s economy resulting in the payment of poor salaries to government workers.
This video is sparking outrage on social media, as it shows a Metro Transit Police officer using a taser on a man who was speaking to officers who had detained several juveniles in the U St. Metro. https://t.co/iAr0qnUgWSpic.twitter.com/dSqpJLGNHK
By Own Correspondent- Former ZANU PF politburo member and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister, Jonathan Moyo has accused the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) members of being driven by the love for money and nothing else.
Moyo expressed his sentiments on microblogging site Twitter, where he said:
One stinking scandal that is waiting to be told is about PAC patronage. It’s a PAC of self-enriching two-timers whose love for the USD is scandalous.
They claim to be doing national service when in point of fact they are lining up their pockets big time. Let them say nywee!
Gokwe-Nembudziya Member of Parliament Mayor Justice Wadyajena has challenged the Youth League led by Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu to first clear corruption allegations levelled at them before pointing fingers at other people.
The firebrand Wadyajena on Tuesday said, “We are all against corruption. If you (Matutu) are genuine about addressing corruption go to ZRP/ZACC and report. Not grandstanding with meaningless pressers and all because makanyimwa mari. You should start by addressing charges of corruption laid against you and your team. Pathetic!”
In a clear sign that there are divisions within the party, Matutu told Wadyajena that the Youth League will deal with him.
“We are aware of what Justice Mayor Wadyajena and team are planning to sabotage our anti corruption campaign, we are ready for all of you.” Earlier this year ZANU PF Youth league members suspended Matutu and other officials over corruption allegations. The suspension was overturned by the Politiburo.
There has been a protracted succession fight within ZANU PF which developed few months after the ousting of former iron ruler Robert Mugabe through a bloody coup that claimed the life of CIO District Officer Peter Munetsi on November 2017.
The recent corruption accusations levelled against senior ranking ZANU PF officials including Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu further gave rise to speculation that the fights are intensifying.
On Tuesday the War Veterans said they are firmly behind the anti-corruption crusade which is being fronted by the Youth League.
Uganda has taken an early lead against the Warriors of Zimbabwe.
Brilliant work in midfield saw Uganda break down the flank and the shot came in with George Chigova only able to parry the ball straight to Emmanuel Okwi who made it 1-0.
ZBC|Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Dr John Mangudya has allayed fears that the introducing a domestic currency will see the country returning to 2008.
Dr Mangudya exclusively explained to the ZBC News the huge difference of economics between 2008 and 2019.
Dr John Mangudya said the country is nowhere near 2008 which was characterised by empty shelves explaining that measures already in place will guard against runaway inflation as the RBZ will not print money carelessly but will strictly be guided by economic principles around monetary economics.
“The process of introducing the domestic currency was well thought and we will not be careless with how we manage monetary issues,” he said.
The central bank chief reiterated that unlike in 2008 where virtually all the companies were at zero production capacity, the scenario in 2019 is such that there is more than enough economic productivity to support the recent introduction of the domestic currency.
“The country is witnessing a lot of production hence there is a support mechanism for Zimbabwe to introduce its own currency,” he said.
The country’s monetary authorities will further tighten the exchange control regulations to ensure the domestic currency finds the traction that is necessary to oil the operations of the inter-bank market to support foreign currency demand by corporates.
Below is the full unedited announcement from the politburo on Wednesday evening:
ZANU PF Politburo has resolved that while the Youth League may not have followed procedure, however corruption must be denounced at all levels. There must be Zero tolerance to corruption.
330th Politburo Highlights
His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa will constitute a commission of enquiry to investigate the allegations presented by the National Youth League. This was unanimously endorsed by the Politburo.
330th Politburo Highlights
However the Youth League has been reminded to stick to procedure. The Youth League apologised for flouting procedure but has said it will be bringing more allegations.
ZIMBABWE National Road Administration (Zinara) finance director Simon Taranhike has been arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office and attempts to conceal corruption.
Sources close to the investigations said Taranhike released 1 800 litres of fuel to some members of the local media and abused the parastatal’s petty cash.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest and said the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) was handling the matter.
“We can confirm that Simon Taranhike was arrested yesterday (Monday), but he is currently with ZACC officers for further investigations,” he said.
Sources said investigations were in progress.
The latest developments come amid reports that Taranhike had been sucked into a fuel scandal that he reportedly intended to use to “grease media friends” and others who were not connected to the parastatal.
According to the reports, a junior ZINARA employee stated in his report that he was bullied into releasing 1 800 litres of fuel by Taranhike.
At that time, Taranhike was not prosecuted, but was asked to reimburse.
It was further alleged that an electronic mail sent by Zinara administration manager Mr Peter Boterere to acting chief executive officer Mathlene Mujokoro revealed that Taranhike ordered one Jaricha to issue the 1 800 litres of fuel to an unnamed local journalist.
Last month, Zinara’s former acting chief executive officer Ms Mathlene Mujokoro and former audit manager Mr Shadreck Matengabadza resigned, while 19 employees were arrested for fraud cases involving more than US$210 000.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza has appointed a new board for the Zimbabwe National Road Administration chaired by Engineer Michael Madanha to deal with the rot at the parastatal.
The new board was appointed following the dissolution of the Mr Wilfred Ramwi-led board last year, which was accused of covering up corruption at the parastatal.
The board is also expected to implement recommendations of the Grant Thornton audit report which unearthed serious corruption at the parastatal.
Taranhike is not new to the criminal justice system.
He was once arrested for criminal abuse of office, together with former executives, Precious Murove (director administration and human resources), Shadreck Matengabadza (finance manager), Stephen Matute (accountant) and Givemore Tendai Kufa (regional engineer).
They were accused of fraudulently engaging third party companies to source foreign currency on the informal market on behalf of Zinara.
However, the courts cleared them of the charges in May last year.
MDC Treasurer General David Coltart says the MDC will not allow a person who stole an election to dictate the terms of the much needed national dialogue.
In a Twitter conversation with Mnangagwa’s advisor Shingi Munyeza and Business Tycoon Mutumwa Mawere he said, “I would just add we need a dialogue arbitrated by a neutral democratic peer. We cannot have one person, who even on his own figures, in a fraudulent unconstitutional election, won by a tiny margin, dictate the terms, pace, venue and structure of the dialogue.”
Coltart said the gap between legitimacy and illegitimacy of President Emmerson Mnanaggwa’s Presidency needs to be bridged so that the dialogue can be done in good faith.
“The gap has to be bridged or else our nation will continue to plunge. In South Africa in 1990 there was also a large gulf but it was bridged. Good faith can overcome massive obstacles. But we have a serious deficit of good faith.
“Legitimacy is an issue – last year’s elections were illegal, and not free and fair. All reasonable observers concede that.”
The lawyer added that the judiciary system has contributed to the national crisis in the country.
“It is also no use relying on the Constitutional Court judgment because any lawyer worth his or her salt will explain how fundamentally flawed both the procedure and judgment were. So in a dialogue it is unhelpful trying to argue that a discredited process must just be accepted.
“Clearly in the Zimbabwean context the judiciary is part of the problem, particularly since the election and this year when it has acted systematically in a manner which disrespects the rule of law and the Constitution.”
