By A Correspondent- At least 720 000 metric tonnes of maize is being imported by Government to alleviate hunger in drought- stricken areas following high incidence of crop failure during the 2018-2019 agricultural season, the state media has reported.
The country’s strategic grain reserve currently holds about 420 00 metric tonnes of maize with the harvest from last season projected to be slightly above 700 00 metric tonnes. Zimbabwe requires at least I,4 million metric tonnes of maize annually for both human and animal consumption.
Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Douglas Karoro, told Senators in Parliament last week that Government had devised a plan to mitigate the effects of the drought.
“The ministry is importing over 720 000 metric tonnes metric tonnes of maize to quickly alleviate the effects of the drought as a short term plan,” he said.
“We have also gone further to prepare so that famine cannot occur. Again, we are developing irrigation schemes in each and every constituency so that we have sufficient food supplies from irrigation.
‘‘On a monthly basis, as a nation, we consume close to 120 000 metric tonnes, inclusive of human and livestock.
“We are also expecting some deliveries from farmers and that 720 000 metric tonnes will be augmented by the deliveries that we are expecting) from imports).”-StateMedia
This is the most irresponsible tweet I have seen. @MthuliNcube are you paying civil servants and pensioners in USD??? Tell us how you are going to deal with the black market rates which are increasing every day. I thought EDs government was for the people & not the elite. https://t.co/cRvov9tolU
— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) June 22, 2019
By A Correspondent- Ayanda Ndlovu said on Friday, she served the patron – who wished to remain anonymous – two weeks ago.
“She asked me what I wanted to do [as a profession] and I told her I’ve always wanted to be a paramedic. I still do, I’ve just been hampered by the fact that I had to stop school at an early age because of financial reasons.
“I’m still in conversation with the patron,” said Ndlovu. The initial bill came to R1 320 and the woman decided to make a R20 000 payment.
“I have no want to reverse this, no second thoughts about it and I was of sound mind when deciding to leave this tip,” the mystery benefactor said in a private WhatsApp message to Randolf Jorberg, the owner of Beerhouse.
Ndlovu, in disbelief, “called the duty manager immediately to try and talk the patron out of it, but the patron refused saying that Ayanda’s service was amazing and that she deserved every last bit of that money,” the post read.
Ndlovu said the money would kickstart her dream of becoming a paramedic. She hopes the patron’s good deed will inspire others to help her fulfill this dream.
“I’ve told my boss that I do want to go back to school.”-News24
By A Correspondent- Forty-three-year-old Peter Manganda is not concerned much about the current furore over circumstances surrounding his cure from a 5,3 kilogramme debilitating tumour that had grown on his head.
All he is interested in is that he is now a relieved man — the huge burden has been lifted — literally — off him.
Manganda lived with the tumour, which first manifested as a small lump, for many years.
The growth, however, progressively metastasised into a huge growth on his head, which largely made him physically weak and ill.
But over the past two weeks, he has been caught up in the middle of an abrasive publicity battle pitting the Prophet Walter Magaya-led PHD Ministries and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital.
First, PHD Ministries posted a video clip taking credit for the man’s healing.
Soon after the PHD video clip testimony, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital issued a statement claiming the supposed “miracle” was successful surgery undertaken at the medical institution.
But amid the fuss on who did what, where, when and how, the Nyanga man is happy to have gotten “another chance” to move on with his life.
“I am now a relieved person and I thank the people of Zimbabwe who extended their hand for my miraculous healing,” said Mr Manganda in an interview with The Sunday Mail in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East, where he is currently recovering before moving to his rural home in Nyanga.
“This gave me a new lease of life and I feel a burden has been lifted from me.”
The father of four opened up on his two-year ordeal after the small lump on his head morphed into a cyst in 2017.
To his shock and horror, it later spread all over his head and swelled into a huge tumour.
Gradually, it became difficult for him to either walk or talk.
After convincing himself that his problem wouldn’t just disappear on its own, Mr Manganda appealed for assistance and his plea was aired on national television.
His cries for help attracted well-wishers who pooled resources for him to be admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
Despite being scheduled to undergo an operation to remove his growth, there were inordinate delays, which saw his procedure being postponed thrice.
An anxious Mr Manganda, who suspected he was stalked by bad omen, was then taken by his brother Shingirai Kamuruko to PHD Ministries, where he received prayers from Prophet Magaya.
“As people who had lost hope, after failing to get help from Parirenyatwa Hospital, we visited PHD on three occasions on April 17, 19 and 21. We managed to see Prophet Magaya on the third day and that’s when he prayed for my brother,” said Kamuruko, who is a teacher at Chivake Primary School in Mahusekwa.
“We received a call from Parirenyatwa Hospital on the April 19 to come for the operation. He was admitted from 22 to 26 April 2019 when the operation was successfully conducted.
“I can confirm that we only received prayers at PHD, but the operation was conducted successfully at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“We passed through PHD when my brother was released from hospital on the 8th of June just to say thank you for the prayers, not because the tumour was removed by Prophet Magaya,” he added.
A short video clip was later reportedly compiled by PHD Ministries, which resulted in media reports alleging the man had been treated by the prophet after the hospital failed to assist him.
Parirenyatwa Hospital had to take the unprecedented move to set the record straight.
“We therefore, find claims that the hospital failed to treat this patient (Manganda), but was healed by a prophet, to be highly misleading and likely to derail efforts of encouraging health-seeking behaviours among fellow Zimbabweans,” said the hospital in a statement last week.
Manganda is, however, thankful to the hospital staff who facilitated the seven-hour medical procedure that healed him.
“I am grateful to the Parirenyatwa Hospital staff who conducted the successful operation, with special mention to team leader Dr Maximilian Dzowa, and all the staff members I cannot remember by name,” he said.
Mr Manganda’s brother was also equally elated.
“I am glad my brother has recovered. I was shocked to see him eating his meal few minutes after the operation. I thank all well-wishers who chipped in through his difficult moments,” said Kamuruko.
Mr Kamuruko said as a family they were grateful to Label Africa and Institute of Golf Africa that assisted the family with financial support before and after the operation.
He, however, said the family still needs more assistance as it is saddled with a $3 870 hospital bill.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Outspoken Harare lawyer, Fadzayi Mahere, who recently joined the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC outlined her reasons for joining the party she competed against in last year’s harmonised elections.
Asked to explain what persuaded her to join the MDC by a local publication, the Independent, Mahere said:
I have consistently stated my belief in a strong, united position: this is our best shot at fighting tyranny and building a nation that we can be proud of.
From the start, I made it very clear that I was opposed to Zanu PF because the current government does not have what it takes to make Zimbabwe free and prosperous.
The model upon which the ruling party is built — where patronage and ageism are rife — would never appeal to me.
The lesson we learnt during the last election is that the electorate places a high premium on a candidate’s ability to collaborate with a team that can answer the national question.
There is a strong sentiment that the opposition must speak with one voice in opposing the government and I am happy to take that sentiment on board.
The country, not individuals or personalities, must always come first.
Political involvement, in my view, boils down to values and an ability to place the people, democracy and competence back into our politics.
The MDC offers a model that aligns most closely to this and what I wish to see in Zimbabwe’s future, hence my decision to join the party.
Important conversations happened after the election and it was decided that teamwork is the only way to make the dream work.-The Standard
Hundreds of people thronged Macingwana village, Bulilima west in Plumtree to pay their last respect to the late Liberation war Hero who was the Member of Parliament for Mangwe constituency Obedingwa Mguni yesterday.
State Media|A DEMONSTRATION of unity was witnessed when politicians from the political divide thronged Macingwane village in Bulilima district to bid farewell to Mangwe MP and former Home Affairs Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni who was laid to rest at his rural home yesterday.
Mguni, who died on Tuesday after a cough bout while attending Parliament, was declared liberation war hero. He was 56.
Speaking at the burial, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi described Mguni as a hard worker.
“Cde Mguni was a senior person whose desire was to bring politicians together and foster national development,” he said.
“Parliament is now poor without him as his ideas were always sound and on point. The number of parliamentarians who are present to bid him farewell are testimony to his good works as he would accommodate everyone without political bias.”
Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs President Chief Fortune Charumbira also spoke glowingly about Mguni.
He said the late legislator was a committed cadre whose calls for unity were loud and bold.
Chief Charumbira described Mguni’s death as a unifier.
“The kind of unity demonstrated today is what we want as Zimbabweans,” he said.
“That unity, that is evident at low political levels should go up and mature into proper political dialogue at the top.
“We have seen politicians from the political divide, the MDC Alliance MPs came in their numbers led by their chief whip — Mutseyami (Prosper). We have MPs like Hon Chinotimba (Joseph), Hon Nzuma (Soul) and many others from very far. All provinces are represented and that’s what we call unity.”
Mguni, who was the Zanu-PF deputy chief whip, was rushed to the West End Clinic after the cough attack where he later died.
In his message following the death of Mguni, Bulilima Mangwe Senator Simon Khaya Moyo said: “I feel part of my physical being has been ripped off. He was a committed, principled, and disciplined cadre of the revolution who was down to earth and a man of the people.”
Mguni was a second term MP, after winning elections last July. He polled 7 744 votes against his close challenger, Vincent Sihlabo of the MDC Alliance who got 4 536 votes.
By A Correspondent- Families living here escaped death by a whisker after a Zambian tanker carrying diesel burst its right tyres and veered off the road stopping a few meters from their homes.
The tanker, which was also a few meters from a service station in Sunridge, Harare was involved in the accident along Harare Drive today (Sunday) morning.
Watch Zambian tanker involved in an accident near a house in Harare. The tanker burst its tyres before stopping a few meters away from residential homes. pic.twitter.com/mSmkLPZwLx
The 32nd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is underway in Egypt as 24 teams compete in the ultimate continental football competition where only one country will be crowned kings of Africa on July 19.
Only 14 countries have won the championship since its inception in 1957.
The first edition of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations was won by Egypt, who beat Ethiopia 4-0 in 1957. Since then a total of 31 editions of Afcon competition have been held.
Of interest is the fact that in 1957 there were only three participating nations, namely Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. South Africa was originally scheduled to compete, but were disqualified due to the apartheid policies of the government then in power.
Since then, the tournament has grown to the extent that 24 countries compete to qualify for the finals. The number of participants in the final tournamentreached 16 in 1998 (16 teams were to compete in 1996, but Nigeria withdrew, reducing the field to 15, and the same happened with Togo’s withdrawal in 2010), and until 2017, the format had been unchanged, with the 16 teams being drawn into four groups of four teams each, with the top two teams of each group advancing to a “knock-out” stage.
Traditionally a January event, the Africa Cup of Nations was moved to June while it was also expanded from a 16 to a 24-team event.
Egypt are the most successful side in continental competition having won seven titles, that is in 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Cameroon, who are the defending champions in Egypt, currently have won the cup six times.
Other teams who have managed to win the tournament include Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’ivoire, DR Congo, Algeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan,
Tunisia and Zambia.
Afcon Hosts, Winners and Runners-up (Year by Year since 1957)
By A Correspondent- Newly-appointed MDC vice chairperson Job Sikhala has refuted allegations that he is a womaniser.
Speaking during an interview with a local publication, Sikhala said that it was not his fault to be born with good looks.
He said:
I became a public figure when I was a boy; from student leadership to national politics. I even became a Member of Parliament at a very young age of 25 and I was not married.
I had already found love in 1997 in Ellen Gudo who became my wife in 2000 after I became an MP up to the present. We are blessed with beautiful kids. They are now grown-up.
If these other women existed at all, our marriage would have long collapsed like that of Guvheya Chiwenga or that of Kembo Mohadi. You could have published headlines of me visiting my wife with a troop of bodyguards and armed with an axe to inflict injuries to her.
Secondly, as said above, I became a public figure at a young age. If truly I slept around with women dai ndisina kuridzwawo here nezvirwere zvepa bonde senjovhera?(wouldn’t I have died from sexually transmitted diseases?) People make stupid allegations without evidence.
Some of us laugh at such reckless talk, which is just meant to vilify innocent people. I am a very busy lawyer. I am always in court every day.
I am an MP who attends to his constituency. I am a student of postgraduate law. I am the vice-chairman of the party who is always needed by the president for duties he allocates to me.
I can’t even fulfil appointments with friends and relatives who wish to see me. I also have a family to attend to. And on top, you add women. Women also need attention. Where would I get the time?
Is it a crime to be born with good looks? I love my wife very much. She is the Alpha and the Omega of my heart.
Marwan Mohsen Fahmy Tarwat’s challenge on Edmore Sibanda
BIG Zimbabwe shot stopper Edmore Sibanda’s Total Africa Cup of Nations tournament is in the balance after he suffered a contusion injury in the Warriors’ Group A opener against hosts Egypt at Cairo International Stadium on Friday night.
A contusion happens when an injured capillary or blood vessel leaks blood into the surrounding area. On a night in which he put up a top drawer performance between the sticks that saw him denying the Pharaoh’s two goal scoring opportunities inside the opening minute of the game, Sibanda had to be pulled out for Elvis Chipezeze with 13 minutes of the match remaining after having tried to soldier on with the injury.
“Sibanda sustained a right knee contusion injury. The knee is mildly swollen and painful. He has responded well to our initial treatment. We are managing the inflammation and also planning to do a diagnostic radiological investigation to ascertain and confirm the actual injury,” said the Warriors doctor Samon Mudariki, who added that the player was responding well to treatment.
Despite Sibanda’s reaction to treatment the team doctor said they can not give a certain response on the player’s chances of total recovery ahead of the next encounter against Uganda on Wednesday night.
“We will know exactly after conducting a scan to confirm or exclude other related injuries associated with that particular mechanism of injury. Otherwise our Physiotherapist Admire Nyamadzawo is on top of the situation with regards to his rehabilitation programme,” said Mudariki.
Mudariki also said they were monitoring China-based striker Nyasha Mushekwi who too was substituted late in the game as he seemed to be struggling with his runs.
“We are also monitoring Mushekwi, he complained of tightness in his left hamstring. Following our physical examination, we are tentatively treating it as a probable grade 1 hamstring strain. He is also being ably attended to by our physiotherapist and will await to see how he responds to the rehab programme. Apart from that we have no other injury concerns at the moment,” said Mudariki.
With a potential five games to be played in the tournament for the Warriors, coach Sunday Chidzambwa who heaped praises for Sibanda and his replacement Chipezeze, will be praying that the two players make a quick and full recovery. Guinea bound Tafadzwa Kutinyu had to be dropped from the tournament due to injury with the technical team replacing him with Lawrence Mhlanga who was left behind.
Zimbabwe sits on bountiful and lucrative deposits of minerals known as rare-earth elements (REE), some of which sell for more than US$1 000 for a single kilogram and where investors are seeking alternative sources to China, which dominates production.
The 17 rare earth elements are used in the manufacture of glasses, electronics, hybrid vehicles, wind turbines, microphones and speakers, among other multiple uses, raising expectations exploitation of Zimbabwean reservs could add oomph to Government’s plan to use minerals resources to drive economic growth.
President Mnangagwa told Bloomberg on the sidelines of the 12th US-Africa Business Summit, which ended on Friday, that the discovery of the deposits – which could be the second largest after China – was still early “as far as we are concerned at Government level and policy level”.
“Recently, I have been happily surprised. I was talking to some of the American businesspeople who are at this conference (12th US-Africa Business Summit) who were saying, look, besides China, I think Zimbabwe is second in having what they call rare-earth minerals, and they say these are very valuable, but we have been sleeping on them; we didn’t know that they were useful,” said the President.
Some REEs are used in the production of LCD and plasma screens, fibre optics, lasers as well as medical imaging.
They can also be used in fertilizers and water treatment chemicals.
In addition to being used to increase plant growth and productivity, the minerals have often been used as feed additives for livestock production.
Currently, the major reserves are in China, the US, India, Brazil and Australia.
Notably, China holds about 30 percent of the world’s deposits.
Government, however, believes that it might need the skills and expertise to exploit the mineral.
President Mnangagwa said: “Anyway, this is an early discovery as far as we are concerned at Government level and policy level, but I am informed that this is a very lucrative discovery and we should begin to look at how we can exploit (them) because; one, we don’t have the technology; two, we don’t have the skills; three, we don’t even know what we have, except what we were told by other people that we have, so it is quite pleasant that we have that . . .”
Zimbabwe, he added, has huge deposits of various mineral resources.
“Fortunately Zimbabwe is endowed with huge minerals of various types. I think it is easier to ask our people what minerals we don’t have . . . Whatever you mention in terms of minerals, we have.”
Although it could not be ascertained where the REE had been discovered, geologists believe that there are some deposits in Mashonaland Central at Gungwa, Mutondongwe and Nanuta.
“These elements that make it possible for the high-tech world we live in today have been found to occur in restricted environments, including carbonites.
“Mashonaland Central province is known to host three carbonites at Gungwa, Mutondongwe, and Nanuta.
“While there has not been exploration for REE at these complexes, Gungwa is known to be enriched in lanthanum and cerium,” said the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development on its website.
Premier African Minerals, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, is also prospecting for rare-earth elements in Matabeleland North, near the Zambian border.
The 17 rare-earth elements are cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and yttrium (Y).
China supplies more than 80 percent of world production and more of the heavy elements in the series.
Government believes that it can leverage on the country’s mineral resources to achieve Vision 2030.
Since the advent of the new political administration, investors have been lining up to make investments in the mining sector.
Karo Resources, which has committed to invest US$4,2 billion in its local mining operations, has made considerable progress in developing its platinum mine in Mhondoro-Ngezi (Mashonaland West).
Russia is also investing US$400 million in the Darwendale platinum project as well.
Government recently sold off Zimbabwe Defence Industries’ 50 percent stake in the venture to a private company.
“They have since moved out. We have removed the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It’s now owned by a private company. We moved out the army, which had initially been part of the shareholders. So its now 50-50: fifty percent is now owned by the Russian company and then (the other 50 percent) by a local company which bought out the army . . . I think we consummated this a few weeks ago . . .” said President Mnangagwa.
Factional wars dogging Zanu PF have escalated, with the youth league declaring a war against party bigwigs who are allegedly involved in the illegal foreign currency trade.
Zanu PF youth league secretary Pupurai Togarepi yesterday fought in his deputy Lewis Matutu’s corner, saying those who had allegedly threatened him with death had crossed a “Rubicon line”.
Matutu caused a stir recently when he claimed on social media that the parallel market in foreign currency was being driven by children of some ministers.
He has threatened to release a list tomorrow of the party officials that are allegedly behind the black market.
“It has always been our position to name and shame corrupt individuals and saboteurs. Lewis Matutu is a messenger, don’t fight him,” Togarepi charged in an
interview with The Standard.
“Any further attack on him will invite a firm response from the youth league.
“They crossed the Rubicon line by threatening the deputy secretary. We cannot allow them to vandalise the efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to rebuild Zimbabwe.”
In October last year, Mnangagwa’s former advisor Christopher Mutsvangwa accused Kudakwashe Tagwirei, a close ally of the president, of driving the parallel market at the time through a facility where oil firms accessed forex at the 1:1 rate to United States dollars from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). The government ended the facility in May this year.
Mutsvangwa’s son Neville was accused by an opposition MP early this month of being involved in illegal foreign currency deals.
The war veterans leader yesterday did not respond to questions on whether he was one of the ruling party officials targeted by the party youths.
Former Zanu PF youth leader William Mutumanje, aka Acie Lumumba, who was temporarily hired by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, also at one time claimed that
there was a cartel in the fuel industry that included top RBZ officials who were behind the alleged cartel driving the forex parallel market.
Togarepi said their crusade would also target informal traders who were allegedly involved in the black market.
“The earlier they shape up, the better. We have everything we want to move forward, but a few charlatans are an impediment to this progress.”
“We also want to tell those involved in illegal forex dealings that their days are numbered together with foreign-owned tuck-shops in downtown Harare and other cities,” he said.
Matutu yesterday said he was going ahead with his plans to expose the alleged Zanu PF bigwigs.
“We are not afraid, it is time we dealt with this crisis,” he said.
“We can’t be threatened by thieves who want to use non-existing factional fights to further their agenda. We are going to name and shame them.”
Matutu, a close ally of Mnangagwa, said he was his own man and had been speaking against corruption within the party in private.
He said he was frustrated that his interventions had not yielded anything, hence his decision to go public.
Meanwhile, Togarepi denied accusations that the threats were linked to factional wars in Zanu PF where some senior party officials are accused of sabotaging Mnangagwa.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the youth league had a right to demand whatever they think was prudent to take Zimbabwe forward.
FOUR Bulawayo councillors have been implicated in an alleged tender scandal after a prospective parking management company allegedly pampered them with five-star hotel junkets among other goodies, Sunday News can exclusively reveal.
The councillors’ Harare “trip of shame” is suspected to be part of a plot by the company to sway the vote in its favour for a car parking management tender in Bulawayo. The tender issue has also raised the ire of the Bulawayo Residents Association.
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association has since written to the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, demanding that the four councillors be investigated and the implicated company disqualified from any future dealings with the local authority.
The letter, signed by BPRA co-ordinator, Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu, was also copied to Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni, Deputy Mayor Clr Tinashe Kambarami, Chamber Secretary Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.
“We are worried about the information that four Bulawayo councillors had prior secret meetings with (name withheld) at a hotel in Harare, where the company met the hotel expenses for the councillors. The major concern is, why were the meetings held under ‘darkness cover’ of the public and why were hotel bills for the councillors met by an interested party? We feel the conduct of the councillors concerned as public officials is tantamount to criminal abuse of office which is criminalised in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, (Chapter 9:23),” wrote Mr Ndlovu.
The residents association called on council and the relevant authorities to institute an investigation on the four. Bulawayo acting Town Clerk, Mrs Zhou confirmed that they had received information regarding the alleged conduct of the four councillors and were carrying out investigations to get to the bottom of the matter.
“We have since instructed our audit team to carry out the necessary investigations to come out with the facts on this issue. What we are saying is allegations can be made, but it is now a matter of deducing the facts of these allegations,” said Mrs Zhou.
Evidence gathered by Sunday News in a four-week investigation revealed that the quartet was booked into a Harare hotel (name withheld) and all hotel expenses, which amounted to $1 860 were met by the parking company which is jostling to win a tender in Bulawayo. This publication is also in possession of room numbers where the four were booked. According to documents seen by this publication, the four were booked at the hotel on 9 May 2019 and checked out the following day in the morning. They were also taken for a tour of the company’s operations.
Sunday News contacted the four councillors in the eye of the storm and they all denied having met the implicated company officials. When this publication sought a comment from the parking company, its officials also denied any wrong doing.
The parking management services tender in Bulawayo was cancelled in 2012 after what the local authority termed “a shambolic tendering process”. This was after the local authority had awarded the tender to Megalithic Marketing Private Limited, resulting in a long court battle with the company contesting council’s decision to cancel the tender.
In April last year, the local authority shortlisted two companies — Ducretion Logistics Private Limited and Lauvax Trading Private Limited trading as Propark — for consideration to manage the city’s parking where motorists would pay for parking for a prescribed period, starting from an hour. The two companies were to share different sites within the city, but the deal was never finalised.
The parking management tender has taken seven years to be implemented and was only revived last year after then ward Six councillor (now Makokoba MP), James Sithole filed a motion where he noted that the legal wrangle was almost at its end, hence they should re-tender the project to help enhance revenue collection and service delivery.
“In an effort to boost revenue for the City of Bulawayo, we flighted a tender more than six years ago for Parking Management Services from reputable companies. Due to some irregularities in the process this matter ended up in the courts . . . Bulawayo City Council has therefore lost several opportunities such as 400 jobs that could have been created, meaning the survival of 400 households and parking revenue in the region of $10 million. I propose that council proceeds as a matter of urgency to re-tender for the parking management services since the legal wrangle has been concluded so that we can achieve revenue enhancement and improved service delivery,” reads part of the motion.
The initial bidding process brought the city’s tendering system under scrutiny, with accusations of corruption among councillors and council directors flying around.
First, Easipark, the South African company that was favourite to clinch the parking deal, was disqualified on allegations of attempting to bribe members of the procurement board to swing the bid in its favour.
The company was readmitted and the tendering process re-done after consultations among stakeholders. Easipark was disqualified again, after it failed to attend a compulsory tender briefing meeting, which then saw Megalithic being awarded the tender.
Zimbabwe’s military has disposed of its stake in a $4 billion platinum joint venture with Russian investors, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has said.
Mnangagwa revealed this in an interview with Bloomberg in Mozambique during the just-ended US-Africa Business Summit, where he sought to appease the Americans who are insisting on political reforms as a precondition for the scrapping of the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act (Zidera).
The law specifically compels US executive directors of international financial institutions to oppose and vote against any extension of loans, credit, or guarantees to Zimbabwe, which is in desperate need of fresh credit lines to kickstart its ailing economy.
Recent reports suggested that the military’s involvement has been the main reason why the project has failed to take off since it was commissioned in 2014 amid
much fanfare as the then president, Robert Mugabe, sought to spite Washington by aligning with Moscow.
The military, through the Zimbabwe Defence Industries, which is under sanctions, and Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) together hold 30% of the
joint venture, known as Great Dyke Investments, through a company they control, Pen East (Pty) Ltd.
The Russian consortium consists of VI Holdings, Rostec and Vnesheconombank, while 20% is held by undisclosed Zimbabwean investors.
“They have moved out, we have removed the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It is now owned by a private company,” Mnangagwa said.
“We moved the army out, which had initially been part of the shareholding.
“So it is now 50/50, the other 50% is owned by the Russians and the other 50% by a local Zimbabwean company, which bought out the army.”
He did not give any further detail, only stating that the deal was consummated “a few weeks ago”.
According to the company’s feasibility study report, the mineral resource potential at the Great Dyke site is about 45 million ounces (1,400 t) of PGM, which
is comparable with the largest deposits at the Bushveld area in South Africa, as well as with such deposits in the Norilsk ore region in Russia.
Zimbabwe is home to the world’s second largest deposits of platinum, but the country’s output remains depressed as companies find it difficult to set up andstart operating because of a highly-volatile policy environment.
The Anglo American-owned Unki is one of three platinum miners already operating in the southern African nation.
Last year, the country scrapped local ownership laws which limited foreign shareholding in platinum and diamond ventures to 49% as part of mining sector
reforms to help inject much-needed foreign capital.
In April, government hinted that two new investors would develop separate platinum mining projects in the mineral-rich Mhondoro-Ngezi area, in addition to Cypriot investor Karo Resources, which is already working on a $4,2 billion mining project in the same area.
The MDC’s announcement that Fadzayi Mahere is joining the party.
Former International Criminal Court intern Fadzayi Mahere has announced her move from being an independent to being a senior member of the MDC Alliance. Her move could have wide ripple effects in Zimbabwean politics.
In an unexpected announcement on 19 June 2019, advocate Fadzayi Mahere took to her Twitter and Facebook accounts to officially announce that she had joined the MDC Alliance as the Secretary for Education, Sports and Culture.
This comes at a time when the Zimbabwean people continue to face the harsh realities of a battered economy caused largely by captured institutions. Mahere’s announcement, which called for a “united opposition” that “must speak with one voice”, indicates a shift in her angle of engagement with Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
After ascending to public-figure status through her vocal fight against the introduction of bond notes, Cambridge-educated Mahere ran her “Yellow Campaign”
which was set as a clean, independent campaign in a bid to win the Mount Pleasant parliamentary seat in Zimbabwe’s 2018 elections. Her loss to MDC Alliance
candidate Samuel Banda after a highly visible campaign was evidence that she needed to pick a side if she stood a chance of being voted into a change-maker’s seat.
Mahere’s intentions for transforming a defunct Zimbabwean political culture have always been clear. Borrowing from Larry Diamond, political cultures are characterised by various beliefs, attitudes and evaluations of a given political system and one’s role within it. In this, democratic legitimacy is vital to the consolidation of one’s aspirations.
When wanting to make such a change, the feasibility of doing so through individual candidature has often proven ineffective — especially if one’s aim is toinfluence institutions. Partisan loyalties cover a wider base of social groups that may not necessarily share identical political cultures, but rally to support the party with the most beneficial outcome for them. In this, numbers remain important.
Partisan political loyalties have long held clout within the Zimbabwean political landscape. Indicators from Afrobarometer note that in 2017, 62% of respondents felt they needed to toe the partisan line when it came to civic-political engagement. Trauma and memory studies reveal that by nature, whether human beings will admit it or not, we dread engaging with the fear of the unknown and the uncertainty thereof.
In a state such as Zimbabwe, where citizens continue to live under the inhibitions of structuralised trauma, local sentiments of “rather the devil we know”continue to blind citizens from taking potentially transformative independent candidates seriously. This is the reason we continue to see the same faces dominate political discourse and remain at the political settlement table as bargaining elites.
A clear example of this was seen in the 2018 elections with independent presidential candidates such as Nkosana Moyo, who only attained 0,3% of the vote despite everyone noting that he had good ideas.
Simply put, by joining the MDC Alliance, her message will cover a larger audience base, which would have previously not paid her any attention because of blind support entrenched in subconscious partisan loyalties.
The MDC Alliance’s accommodation of a young, energetic and competent woman into their ranks is to be commended. This move is a politically savvy one for the MDC Alliance and offers a moment of respite for a party, which has faced criticism from analysts such as myself for their insensitive gender politics both in
continued internal power struggles with Thokozani Khupe, as well as in their lack of gendered representation during their 2018 election campaign.
At the intersection of age, the MDC Alliance has gained someone who persuaded an otherwise apathetic youth to actively vote on their future in 2018. Throughout 2018 on Twitter, there were sentiments of envy from previously apathetic urban youth voters who were not in the Mount Pleasant constituency as they wished they could have cast their vote for Mahere, who had captured their attention through her campaign.
More importantly, her campaign brought together volunteers — most of whom were part of the youth demographic — who would have otherwise let the election pass them by. This ignited hope for an active citizenry, which had not otherwise been seen at local constituency level in recent times.
Adding to her appeal as part of the youth demographic, Mahere brings with her strategic technological advancements such as her online automated personalassistant, “Shandu” (short for shanduko, meaning “change” in Shona) which she used during her Yellow Campaign. The online assistant allowed users to volunteer, donate and retrieve the campaign’s manifesto among other functions.
Such fresh ideas can only be expanded to help the MDC Alliance’s strategic positioning in informing potential voters about their manifesto and other party-related issues in the run-up to the 2023 elections. This will help them relay their message to a wider audience as well as engage with electorate queries more efficiently. Moreover, this technology could help the MDC Alliance make inroads towards garnering the rural vote where the party traditionally falls short.
Linguistic access can also be extended through the expansion of Shandu-type technology, which can be developed to include more languages spoken in the countrybesides those, which the automated personal assistant already has. This could revolutionise the party’s relevance in the next elections. Logistical challenges
to backdated technologies and communication advances in the rural areas of the country should, however, not be overlooked and the MDC would need to factor in
the politics of access if it wishes to pursue this route.
Considering an increasingly factionalised Zanu PF, this is MDC’s time to work towards tangible outcomes for 2023 by learning from the mistakes of 2018.
The MDC Alliance needs new faces such as Mahere’s, now more than ever. What she represents and who she speaks for is pertinent to the party’s reinvention at
this juncture in Zimbabwe’s political history. The party’s internal fighting coupled with challenges in an increasingly securitised state is indicative of the fact that the MDC needs a new approach.
As a former lawyer at the International Criminal Court, strategic interjections from Mahere’s experiences and insights into politics in Zimbabwe could
positively influence the narratives around transparency, accountability and justice for victims of state violence through renewed engagements with retributive and restorative justice mechanisms.
Mahere’s decision to keep fighting from within the political arena will hopefully encourage more competent young Zimbabweans to step up and seize the space
that is rightfully theirs — regardless of their chosen political affiliation. In the long term, synergies between the old guard and new political actors will hopefully evolve.
The desired outcome will be the intergenerational transfer of ideas, which will shape the future of Zimbabwe and influence policies that will effect change.
When young people complain about not being able to take a seat at the table that decides on their future, they are often challenged to seize the place that is
rightfully theirs. In her less than five years on the Zimbabwean political stage, Mahere has taken this challenge seriously and has personified the mantra “we
are the ones we have been waiting for”, while inspiring many in the process. The MDC Alliance can only benefit from this.
Her international exposure to a larger, updated network can only be a good thing for the MDC Alliance which could benefit from more partners among civil
society, the legal fraternity as well as donor communities in and outside the country.
This article was first published by the Daily Maverick
Mandipa Ndlovu is reading towards an MPhil in Justice and Transformation at the University of Cape Town focused on intergenerational legacies of state denialism of violence and citizen trauma as impeding factors for development, peace and security on the African continent
A political analyst has advised President Peter Mutharika to initiate dialogue with the opposition, saying the violent protests and boycott of the state of the nation address by legislators are signs of political anarchy.
The bench-banging and shouts by MCP lawmakersMagolowondo: Malawi in political tatters
The booing, heckling, bench-banging and shouts by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislators were directed at the President for allegedly securing his re-election victory through rigging and fraud.
Augustine Magolowondo, a political scientist at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi and was in parliament when opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislators heckled Mutharika before boycotting the Sona, said this was a clear indication that Malawi is now a divided nation.
“The action is a clear indication that the opposition does not accept the results of the election. There was state of chaos in parliament,” said Magolowondo.
He said the action by the MCP MPs was a reflection of the kind of politics the country is now experiencing.
“It is now time the leadership came out and united the nation. This requires more than political rhetoric,” said Magolowondo.
Magolowondo said the President should always use the language which inspires hope and that heals the political wounds the opposition are going through following allegations that the presidential vote was manipulated in favour of Mutharika.
Newspaper columnist Backbencher stated on Saturday that he fears “tremor of disunity.”
The columnist in Weekend Nation wrote that the massive turnout in all the cities on Thursday of angry Malawians calling for Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Jane Ansah to go, left no doubt in my mind that as a nation we are heading the wrong direction.
“But as a Southerner, I have never felt more insecure in the Centre and North. Without drumming up telltale signs of a nation being torn apart, I’d like to say a political system where a minority government exercises sovereign authority in a winner-takes-all manner is the reason peace and unity are being threatened.
“Simply put, no group of Malawians fought colonialism and dictatorship so they could be colonised by another group under the multiparty political dispensation,” wrote Backbencher, whole urging President Mutharika to share power and the national cake equitably.
Key poll contestants MCP and UTM have moved the Constitutional Court to nullify the presidential results and order a re-run.
However, the President and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) say they won the election fairly and squarely.
MCP officials and supporters have lately been holding protests following the announcement of presidential results three weeks ago.
MCP and UTM, last week, joined nationwide protests organised by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition, which is seeking the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Jane Ansah, allegedly for mishandling the election, partly by allowing a tampering of some ballot tally sheets and related documents with the liquid white collection fluid called tippex.
A 26-YEAR-OLD woman from Nkayi district in Matabeleland North is reported to have died after ingesting a herbal concoction she had been prescribed by her father to cure an ailment.
Her father, Mr Joel Moyo (60) reportedly gave Nomathemba Moyo the concoction, after she complained of severe muscular pains, which she had been suffering from for over a year.
Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that we are investigating a murder case where a 26-year-old woman died after drinking a traditional concoction which was given to her by her father sometime last week,” said Insp Makonese.
Insp Makonese urged the public to desist from making home-made concoctions and giving them out to sick people.
“We are very concerned about the sad sudden passing of an innocent soul and we urge members of the public to seek medical assistance from professionals and desist from preparing remedies as one will not know the cause of the sickness,” she said.
Insp Makonese said the woman was referred to United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) for a postmortem.
In a separate incident, a four-year-old girl from Bulawayo with a hearing impairment died a few months ago, after her mother allegedly fed her a herbal concoction to help her gain speech.
The father of the girl, Mr Mbuso Ncube, reported his wife to the police leading to her arrest and that of the traditional healer who supplied the medicine.
His wife, Mrs Lindiwe Ncube of Mzilikazi suburb allegedly got the traditional medicine from a woman from Makokoba suburb, Ms Senzeni Jiyane (59), popularly known as Gogo Majiyane, who specialises in children’s illnesses.
PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya has been sucked into a US$900 000 land scandal after buying a farm which was sold illegally.
Kalulu Farm located in Goromonzi, was sold to Prophet Magaya yet it had not been distributed under a deceased person’s estate.
This was exposed in a letter dated 7 June, 2019, written by Samukange Hungwe Attorneys on behalf of Nicholas Obert Mukomberanwa to the PHD leader.
The Mukomberanwa family through its lawyers is seeking to cancel the transaction and recover the farm.
Prophet Magaya was given until Tuesday to respond to the deceased family’s demands, failure of which legal action will be taken against him.
Lawyer Mr Everson Samukange wrote, “We understand that you are the current owners of a piece of land situated in the district of Goromonzi measuring 295,5847 hectares otherwise known as Kalulu Farm and you attend such ownership on the 30th of April 2018. You will recall that the said piece of land, Kalulu Farm was previously owned by the estate of the late Anderson Tichafa Mukomberanwa under DR No. 1256/05 and you purchased it from the estate.
“By reason of a Last Will and Testament of 19 February 2002 by the late Nicholas Obert Mukomberanwa, Kalulu Farm was included for distribution in his estate. His will has been accepted for administration purposes by the Master of High Court.”
Mr Samukange demanded that, “Our instructions are to therefore seek that your Deed of Transfer be reversed and attendant restitutions be afforded so that the farm is dealt with under DR 1839/15 as read together with DR 1256/05. In this connection, we write to inquire your attitude towards our client’s interests in Kalulu Farm, viz-a-viz your impugned tittle.”
According to Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) of March 2017, between Nyarai Gurupira, Nicholas and Abigail Mukomberanwa and Plant Africa represented by Prophet Magaya, the preacher paid US$250 000 upon signing of the MoA and instalments of US$150 000 per month which were to start from 31 March 2017.
Prophet Magaya was to occupy the land upon payment of the US$250 000 deposit.
The property was then fully paid for by the prophet after which he received Deed of Transfer he Number 2402/18.
Prophet Magaya bought the land which had been under police investigation in 2016 after it emerged that the property was advertised for sale at a time when the late Mukomberanwa’s estate had not been distributed.
The Criminal Investigations Department (Serious Fraud Section) wrote to the Master of High Court’s office on 4 May, 2016, saying “This office is investigating a case of suspected fraud in which a piece of land held under Deed of Transfer number 2721/97 registered in the names of the late Anderson Tichafa Mukomberanwa is being advertised for sale.”
Approached for comment, Prophet Magaya’s lawyer Mr Everson Chatambudza confirmed that Mukomberanwa’s lawyers wrote seeking a reversal of the land deal.
He said the PHD founder bought the farm in April 2018. “I can confirm that indeed the Prophet bought the farm in question last year. He even paid up,” he said.
“Prophet Magaya then transferred the property into his name and it’s a surprise that they want to reverse everything,” he said.
Mr Chatambudza said the case had no legal basis. “It’s up to the Prophet (Magaya) to agree to reverse the deal or not.”
State Media|Zimbabwe’s world acclaimed five-star hotel, Meikles Hotel, is set to change hands after the Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) approved its sale to Albwardy Investment, a Dubai-based entity.
In a board resolution released last week, the CTC said it had approved, without conditions, the proposed acquisition of the Meikles Hotel business from Meikles Hospitality by Albwardy Investment through its firm ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe Ltd.
ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe is a special purpose vehicle of Albwardy Investment, which was recently incorporated in Zimbabwe.
“The merger will not lead to acquisition of market power and removal of an efficient competitor,” said the CTC.
The deal might, however, still have to go through other regulatory approvals such as the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
It will also have to get shareholder approval.
For the past few months, Meikles Limited has been running a cautionary statement advising shareholders of the impending deal.
“Further to the cautionary statement published in the Press on February 22, 2019 and subsequent updates on March 20, 2019; April 12, 2019 and May 2, 2019, the directors of Meikles Limited wish to advise shareholders that discussion to sell certain of its hospitality assets are on-going.
“The company will be seeking the approval of its shareholders for the proposed disposal at an extraordinary general meeting to be convened at a future date,” Meikles said in a statement two weeks ago.
Meikles Hotel, which is owned by the Moxon Family, through Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed entity Meikles Limited, is a legendary meeting place for international business executives, dignitaries, leisure travellers and celebrities.
The hotel, which has been in existence for over 100 years, is the brainchild of Thomas Meikles who envisioned a commitment to the “highest possible standard of service and product” — something that has become enshrined in the Meikles culture.
It has always been an iconic landmark of the capital city Harare, one which has constantly and gracefully evolved through the colonial era of Rhodesia into modern-day Zimbabwe.
Its position in the heart of the city has allowed its walls to bear witness to many events that have shaped the nation’s past.
The first parliament of the Colony of Southern Rhodesia met at Meikles Hotel in 1924. Since then leading African nationalists, royalty, Presidents and distinguished guests and celebrities from various nations around the world have met and stayed there.
But the hotel, that Thomas Meikles, who died on February 8 1939, constructed, is set to change hands, after the Moxon family, which married into the Meikles family, decided to sale to Albwardy Investment, owned by Dubai billionaire, Ali Albwardy who founded his own empire in 1976.
While the CTC did not give details on how much the deal is worth, parties familiar with the transaction said its worth US$20 million.
Meikles Limited, under the hospitality business, also operates the Victora Falls Hotel in a joint venture arrangement with African Sun and also has a significant shareholding in the Cape Grace Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa.
As at September 30, 2018, the hotels asset base was worth US$46,9 million while liabilities amounted to US$22 million.
In terms of revenue, the hotel business made US$10,3 million for the half year to September 30, 2018 with EBITDA coming out at US$3,3 million.
On its part, Albwardy Investment, with an annual turnover exceeding US$1 billion, operates in a number of business sectors ranging from food retailing, food distribution, construction, engineering, hospitality and hotel ownership.
Headquartered in Dubai, Albwardy portfolio consists of over 30 highly diversified companies and employs over 5 000 multi-national, multi-lingual staff, supported by a network of global partners.
Its current hotel interests consist of 16 properties on four continents.
“The portfolio is a diverse mix of acquired, refurbished and newly built properties, with its success resting in branding the hotels and resorts with some of the most distinguished, renowned and best in class international hotel chains and operators,” reads a statement on its website.
The Albwardy portfolio comprises of 1 300 rooms, with a further 400 under development. It employs over 2 500 staff with an additional 1 000 jobs created on our project sites. Among other hotel brands, it runs the Four Seasons Hotel across countries including South Africa, Seychelles and Argentina.
In addition to hotels, Albwardy hospitality also includes investments in lifestyle assets within Dubai, namely The Desert Palm Polo Estate & Residences, Taste Kitchen and Pavilion foods restaurants.
The hospitality business is headed by Zimbabwean Laurie Ward.
Laurie worked in the accounting profession before joining Lonrho Africa in 1999, diversifying into the hospitality sector in 2006 until joining Albwardy Investment in 2016 as managing director of the group’s growing hospitality sector and ongoing hotel development projects.
The president of Seventh Day Adventist North Zimbabwe Conference is under investigation for allegedly swindling the church of funds amounting to more than US$20 000.
The church’s foreign based auditors are currently combing through the church’s books following indications that Pastor Albert Mangwende, who has held the office of North Zimbabwe Conference president for 18 months, misused the church funds.
The allegations triggered an outcry within the church, hence the ongoing audit.
The church’s executive secretary of Zimbabwe East Union, Pastor Zibusiso Ndlovu confirmed the development.
The North Zimbabwe Conference falls under his jurisdiction.
“Indeed, we have an issue which involves Pastor Mangwende, but it is still under investigation. Therefore, I can’t disclose much, lest it disturbs the investigation.
“As many may be aware, SDA is a big church with a structure that has certain set standards to be adhered to and when one then fails to do so, it raises a lot of concerns.
“In our church, calling for an audit is open for everyone as long as they follow the proper procedures and state their case well,” he said.
Stressing that he cannot pre-empt the contents and background to the audit, Pastor Ndlovu said after the conclusion of the audit, the union will be able to make an informed decision.
Pastor Mangwende has been in charge of church projects, including a US$4million Sandton Park Offices and Zimbabwe’s multi-million dollar community centre, among others.
Reports say that the church fears that Pastor Mangwende could have taken advantage of his influence over the projects to tap the funds. In his response to The Sunday Mail Society, Pastor Mangwende confirmed that the audit is ongoing but denied the allegations.
“Yes, I am under audit although I have not received any official communication to enlighten me on what I am being accused of and any other details of what is really happening.”
The man of cloth denied having swindled the church, stating that there is a paper trail to show the North Zimbabwe Conference’s transactions. Pastor Mangwende said there have always been calls for him to be audited. However, he feels the calls are being driven by invisible hands seeking to tarnish his image.
“I know how I have conducted myself for the 18 months I have been in this office with regards to church funds and I am not fazed by the audits.
“This could have something to do with the evil spirited elements who seek to tarnish my image and cause alarm within the church,” he said.
A member of the church who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that church politics has rocked the SDA in recent times, although most of it has reportedly been swept under the carpet.
“Most senior members plot against their rivals in influential positions to topple them and lay their hands on the church’s funds,” the source said.
The source added that factions and in-house hostility are slowly devouring the church, which is believed to be one of the richest churches in the country.
State Media|Forty-three-year-old Peter Manganda is not concerned much about the current furore over circumstances surrounding his cure from a 5,3 kilogramme debilitating tumour that had grown on his head.
All he is interested in is that he is now a relieved man — the huge burden has been lifted — literally — off him.
Manganda lived with the tumour, which first manifested as a small lump, for many years.
The growth, however, progressively metastasised into a huge growth on his head, which largely made him physically weak and ill.
But over the past two weeks, he has been caught up in the middle of an abrasive publicity battle pitting the Prophet Walter Magaya-led PHD Ministries and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital.
The state owned Sunday Mail at the weekend claims that the ongoing misunderstanding between the hospital and the church was a result of so called “media reports,” but it is Magaya’s own church which published the claim of healing the man.
The church even went to the point of saying hospital could heal the patient. It further alleged that the tumour literally disappeared at the hands of the preacher, Magaya.
This is not the first time Magaya has been caught lying, and 2 years ago, he claimed to have healed the singer Soul Jah Love who was attended to by medical experts.
But amid the fuss on who did what, where, when and how, the Nyanga man is happy to have gotten “another chance” to move on with his life.
“I am now a relieved person and I thank the people of Zimbabwe who extended their hand for my miraculous healing,” said Mr Manganda in an interview with The Sunday Mail in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East, where he is currently recovering before moving to his rural home in Nyanga.
“This gave me a new lease of life and I feel a burden has been lifted from me.”
The father of four opened up on his two-year ordeal after the small lump on his head morphed into a cyst in 2017.
To his shock and horror, it later spread all over his head and swelled into a huge tumour.
Gradually, it became difficult for him to either walk or talk.
After convincing himself that his problem wouldn’t just disappear on its own, Mr Manganda appealed for assistance and his plea was aired on national television.
His cries for help attracted well-wishers who pooled resources for him to be admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
Despite being scheduled to undergo an operation to remove his growth, there were inordinate delays, which saw his procedure being postponed thrice.
An anxious Mr Manganda, who suspected he was stalked by bad omen, was then taken by his brother Shingirai Kamuruko to PHD Ministries, where he received prayers from Prophet Magaya.
“As people who had lost hope, after failing to get help from Parirenyatwa Hospital, we visited PHD on three occasions on April 17, 19 and 21. We managed to see Prophet Magaya on the third day and that’s when he prayed for my brother,” said Kamuruko, who is a teacher at Chivake Primary School in Mahusekwa.
“We received a call from Parirenyatwa Hospital on the April 19 to come for the operation. He was admitted from 22 to 26 April 2019 when the operation was successfully conducted.
“I can confirm that we only received prayers at PHD, but the operation was conducted successfully at Parirenyatwa Hospital.
“We passed through PHD when my brother was released from hospital on the 8th of June just to say thank you for the prayers, not because the tumour was removed by Prophet Magaya,” he added.
A short video clip was later reportedly compiled by PHD Ministries, which resulted in media reports alleging the man had been treated by the prophet after the hospital failed to assist him.
Parirenyatwa Hospital had to take the unprecedented move to set the record straight.
“We therefore, find claims that the hospital failed to treat this patient (Manganda), but was healed by a prophet, to be highly misleading and likely to derail efforts of encouraging health-seeking behaviours among fellow Zimbabweans,” said the hospital in a statement last week.
Manganda is, however, thankful to the hospital staff who facilitated the seven-hour medical procedure that healed him.
“I am grateful to the Parirenyatwa Hospital staff who conducted the successful operation, with special mention to team leader Dr Maximilian Dzowa, and all the staff members I cannot remember by name,” he said.
Mr Manganda’s brother was also equally elated.
“I am glad my brother has recovered. I was shocked to see him eating his meal few minutes after the operation. I thank all well-wishers who chipped in through his difficult moments,” said Kamuruko.
Mr Kamuruko said as a family they were grateful to Label Africa and Institute of Golf Africa that assisted the family with financial support before and after the operation.
He, however, said the family still needs more assistance as it is saddled with a $3 870 hospital bill.
The Cranes of Uganda recorded a morale-boosting 2-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in an AFCON Group A match played today.
It was Uganda’s first win in the tournament since 1978 and it took them to the summit of the group, ahead of hosts Egypt, who edged Zimbabwe last night, on goal difference.
Despite having a team which looked stronger on paper, DRC were second best for much of the first half and it came as no surprise when Uganda took the lead through Patrick Kaddu in the 15th minute.
The Congolese even had the woodwork to thank just before the breather when a dangerous free-kick crashed against the bar.
Emmanuel Okwi doubled the lead just after the break and DRC never showed any signs of coming back.
The Cranes will now face the Warriors of Zimbabwe on Wednesday in their next encounter-Soccer24Zimbabwe
THE Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Aids Research (CeSHHAR) has said sex workers should not be afraid to reveal their HIV status to their clients as a measure of reducing the spread of HIV and sexually-transmitted infections.
In an interview, CeSHHAR outreach officer Ms Sekai Dembaremba said sex workers should not be shy to reveal their profession as it can help them access sexual reproductive health services from various clinics.
“As CeSHHAR we are saying it is very crucial that sex workers reveal their HIV statuses to potential clients before engaging in sex. This helps us in the fight against HIV as it reduces transmission of STIs and HIV. It also helps them know their statutes and take required necessary precautions.
“We are therefore appealing to all sex workers whether female or male, to make time to visit CeSHHAR clinics and get various sexual health services. We demonstrate how female and male condoms are supposed to be worn, we also provide Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PREP), we screen for STIs and we offer family planning services,” she said.
Ms Dembaremba said artisanal miners should also make time to seek sexual reproductive health services from nearby health centres.
“Many artisanal miners ignore seeking health services due to the nature of their work. We therefore encourage them to make sure that they visit health centres as we try to fight the pandemic in mining areas which have recently became hot spots for new HIV infections,” she said.State media
ZIFA Eastern Region Division One outfit, Masvingo United got a shot in the arm when they received a new set of soccer kit from local company, By-Word Motors.
The former PSL side is enjoying a purple patch and has high chances of returning to top flight football come next season if their present form is anything to go by.
However, the performance, which has attracted even the former owners, Tanda Taruva (Mhunga) family has been clouded by perpetual paucity of resources.
It is the donation from the corporate world that the team believes will help in bringing back the yester-year glory when Una Una, as the team is affectionately known, used to be one of the teams to beat during its dance with the elite in the PSL.
Club chairman Hubert Fidze has challenged other corporates to also assist with anything that makes the team achieve the intended objective of bringing PSL matches to Masvingo.
He said the executive was humbled by By-Word Motors’ philanthropic gesture adding that it would go a long way in boosting morale in the team’s dressing room and instil confidence when playing other teams in the league.
“We are elated with the gesture shown by By- Word Motors. We greatly value his contribution and urge others to follow suit, as we seek to rekindle the lost pride. We have the potential to win the championship and eventually retain PSL in the ancient city, if we get necessary support,” said Fidze.
By-Word Motors director, Ephraim Museva said he felt challenged to contribute to sport, as part of the business community and urged the players to apply extra effort so residents can be able to watch PSL matches, come next season.State media
THE Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has vowed to stop supplies to all shops which will be found liable of overcharging basic commodities.
In an interview after overseeing a price monitoring exercise in Bulawayo, GMAZ ethics and compliance committee chairperson Mr Alvin Muparutsa who was accompanied by the organisation’s vice-chair, Mr Masimba Dzomba said failure by retailers to adhere to the recommended pricing model agreed between the two parties would culminate in the blacklisting of offending shops.
“I will reiterate that when we receive a report that there is a certain retailer who is over charging we engage their association, which is the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers to ask them to talk to their member in order to comply with what we will have agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding that we signed with them. Failure for them to comply whoever, the retailers, we will then force GMAZ or its members to withdraw supplies to that particular shop,” he said.
GMAZ manufactures and supplies basics such as mealie-meal, flour, salt, samp and rice. Mr Muparutsa said the association was in the process of compiling information gathered by its monitoring teams countrywide.State media
POLICE in Mokopane area, Limpopo province in South Africa are seeking help in the identification of three accident victims believed to be Zimbabweans whose bodies are unclaimed at a local mortuary.
Mokopane police spokesperson Constable Mienkie Ramakgoakgoa said the trio passed on in an accident that occurred on 22 April. She said they were traveling in a BMW from Musina to Gauteng.
“According to the information, police received a report about a culpable homicide that occurred on 2019-04-22 at about 9pm along the N1 in the Mokopane Policing area.
“It is alleged the driver of a BMW Sedan which was travelling from North to South direction with six occupants inside, lost control and collided with a truck travelling from South to North direction. The truck driver was alone,” she said.
Const Ramakgoakgoa said during the accident, three people died on the scene, (two men and one woman) while the other two occupants were critically injured.
She said they were then taken to the nearest hospitals at Mokopane and Polokwane to receive medical attention.
“The truck driver was not injured. The three deceased are still unknown but it is believed that they might be Zimbabwean nationals and the cause of the accident is still being investigated by the police,” said Const Ramakgoakgoa.State media
The president of Seventh Day Adventist North Zimbabwe Conference is under investigation for allegedly swindling the church of funds amounting to more than US$20 000.
The church’s foreign based auditors are currently combing through the church’s books following indications that Pastor Albert Mangwende, who has held the office of North Zimbabwe Conference president for 18 months, misused the church funds.
The allegations triggered an outcry within the church, hence the ongoing audit.
The church’s executive secretary of Zimbabwe East Union, Pastor Zibusiso Ndlovu confirmed the development. The North Zimbabwe Conference falls under his jurisdiction.
“Indeed, we have an issue which involves Pastor Mangwende, but it is still under investigation. Therefore, I can’t disclose much, lest it disturbs the investigation.
“As many may be aware, SDA is a big church with a structure that has certain set standards to be adhered to and when one then fails to do so, it raises a lot of concerns.
“In our church, calling for an audit is open for everyone as long as they follow the proper procedures and state their case well,” he said.
Stressing that he cannot pre-empt the contents and background to the audit, Pastor Ndlovu said after the conclusion of the audit, the union will be able to make an informed decision.State media
FORMER Lancashire Steel player, Simbarashe Dhliwayo, believes that soccer fans should not entirely blame one player for the Warriors defeat at the hands of hosts Egypt in the opening game of the 2019 Afcon Friday night.
Warriors captain Knowledge Musona gave away possession within his own half, with the incident resulting in the goal that sank the Warriors.
Dhliwayo, who is now coach of Red Yellow Blue Academy in Banket, said the country generally did well in the opener.
“Egypt are not a small team and they were playing before their home crowd. We did well, given that they have high profile players in their team,” said Dhliwayo.
“Musona’s situation is very normal in football. You play as a team and lose as a team and it’s not like they also did not plan to contain him,” said Dhliwayo.State media
Forty-three-year-old Peter Manganda is not concerned much about the current furore over circumstances surrounding his cure from a 5,3 kilogramme debilitating tumour that had grown on his head.
All he is interested in is that he is now a relieved man — the huge burden has been lifted — literally — off him.
Manganda lived with the tumour, which first manifested as a small lump, for many years.
The growth, however, progressively metastasised into a huge growth on his head, which largely made him physically weak and ill.
But over the past two weeks, he has been caught up in the middle of an abrasive publicity battle pitting the Prophet Walter Magaya-led PHD Ministries and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital.
First, PHD Ministries posted a video clip taking credit for the man’s healing. Soon after the PHD video clip testimony, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital issued a statement claiming the supposed “miracle” was successful surgery undertaken at the medical institution.
But amid the fuss on who did what, where, when and how, the Nyanga man is happy to have gotten “another chance” to move on with his life. “I am now a relieved person and I thank the people of Zimbabwe who extended their hand for my miraculous healing,” said Mr Manganda in an interview with The Sunday Mail in Mahusekwa, Mashonaland East, where he is currently recovering before moving to his rural home in Nyanga.
“This gave me a new lease of life and I feel a burden has been lifted from me.” The father of four opened up on his two-year ordeal after the small lump on his head morphed into a cyst in 2017.
To his shock and horror, it later spread all over his head and swelled into a huge tumour.
Gradually, it became difficult for him to either walk or talk. After convincing himself that his problem wouldn’t just disappear on its own, Mr Manganda appealed for assistance and his plea was aired on national television.
His cries for help attracted well-wishers who pooled resources for him to be admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
Despite being scheduled to undergo an operation to remove his growth, there were inordinate delays, which saw his procedure being postponed thrice.
An anxious Mr Manganda, who suspected he was stalked by bad omen, was then taken by his brother Shingirai Kamuruko to PHD Ministries, where he received prayers from Prophet Magaya.
“As people who had lost hope, after failing to get help from Parirenyatwa Hospital, we visited PHD on three occasions on April 17, 19 and 21. We managed to see Prophet Magaya on the third day and that’s when he prayed for my brother,” said Kamuruko, who is a teacher at Chivake Primary School in Mahusekwa.
“We received a call from Parirenyatwa Hospital on the April 19 to come for the operation. He was admitted from 22 to 26 April 2019 when the operation was successfully conducted.
“I can confirm that we only received prayers at PHD, but the operation was conducted successfully at Parirenyatwa Hospital.State media
ZIMBABWE expects to begin accessing power from Mozambique’s Cahora Bassa as it moves to put its ongoing economic development agenda back on the rails, President Mnangagwa has said.
The Head of State and Government recently met his Mozambican counterpart President Filipe Nyusi to explore ways of deepening relations between Harare and Maputo.
The two leaders also discussed the possibility for Cahora Bassa to cover the country’s power deficit. In an interview with US-media company Bloomberg, President Mnangagwa said the deal “is going to be consummated soon”.
“With regard to the issue of electricity, barring the issue of climate change, things were on course,” he said.
“We had seen the need for generating more electricity; this is why we have those various projects I have mentioned.
“There are smaller ones which I have not mentioned, but that was the issue: to make sure that we have adequate energy generation, but since I have been here, I have discussed with my counterpart, the President of Mozambique (Filipe Nyusi), to look at Cahora Bassa assisting us.
“Yes, we are weak on the financial side, but it is possible for us to strike a relationship where we can access the amount of power we need, the deficit we need to cover from Cahora Bassa and I think that is going to be consummated very soon so that we go back on course, but also we continue to implement our own projects in regard to that.”
While water levels in Kariba Dam have dropped to about 33 percent owing to the drought that hit the country during the 2018/2019 rain season, Cahora Bassa is 96 percent full.
Power generation at Kariba Hydropower Station has been cut by 50 percent, resulted in Zesa resorting to load-shedding.
Zambia has been similarly affected. Government believes that its goal to become an upper middle-income economy by 2030, is also anchored on stable electricity supply with indications it the country will need 4 000MW, which is more than 100 percent the current generation capacity.
Already, the US$1,5 billion Hwange Thermal Power Station expansion project, which will add an additional 600MW into the grid, is underway. The other generating units will soon be refurbished.
The Batoka Gorge project – expected to generate 2 400MW to be jointly shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia – is well underway after the consortium of General Electric and China Power was awarded the tender for the project.State media
The Norton MP Temba Mliswa says the Chinese man who allegedly assaulted Chief Chivero, has been deported.
This comes within days of Mliswa calling for the man’s deportation.
While it was not clear if the man was truly deported, Mliswa said in full:
“The Chinese guy who beat up Chief Chivero has been deported.
That’s good news.
However William Gung still needs to be investigated.
Let this be a warning to crooked, abusive investors coming to Norton.
The people of Norton are to be respected, I’ll not allow room for anything less. ”
The Chinese guy who beat up Chief Chivero has been deported. That’s good news. However William Gung still needs to be investigated. Let this be a warning to crooked, abusive investors coming to Norton. The people of Norton are to be respected&I’ll not allow room for anything less
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) June 22, 2019
Newly-appointed ZANU PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda has virtually admitted that the ruling party is totally divorced from the people.
In his message yesterday Matemadanda vowed to “return the party to the people” literally implying that Zanu PF is divorced from the people of Zimbabwe.
Matemadanda replaced retired army officer, Engelbert Rugeje who remains a politburo member without portfolio.
“Any person can become a king in a political party. ZANU PF is a mass party and if people are not educated they will think that authority is vested in people they find in the structures.
Yet this is misleading; a party becomes a people’s party when people have complete ownership.
Our immediate task is to take the party from individual ownership to the people using the philosophy of democratic centralism where everyone is equally important,” said Matemadanda.
By A Correspondent| There was a coup attempt in Ethiopia on Saturday, according to the state media.
“There was an organized coup attempt in Bahir Dar but it failed,” Negussu Tilahun, spokesman for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, told state TV on Saturday, referring to the regional capital of Amhara state.
He added saying efforts were under way to apprehend the coup plotters, who he said attempted to oust Ambachew Mekonnen, the regional government head in Amhara, north of the capital Addis Ababa.
It was not clear at the time of writing who was behind the unrest.
By Saturday night, no group had publicly claimed responsibility.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reportedly appeared on national TV dressed in military uniform praising the army and urged them to keep their unity.
Meanwhile, the the US embassy issued a security alert on Saturday night. The statement read as follows:
RT – Major development in Ethiopia: Wearing military uniform, PM Abiy Ahmed has been on national TV praising the army and urged them to keep their unity. He also suggested situation in Bahir Dar is under-control. https://t.co/BvJREsjcZE
Event: The Embassy is aware of reports of gunfire in Addis Ababa. Chief of Mission personnel are advised to shelter in place.
Actions to Take:
Shelter in place
Employ sound security practices.
Remain aware of your surroundings, including local events.
Avoid large gatherings and demonstrations; monitor local news stations; and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Zimbabwe got off to a losing start at the 2019 Afcon after going down 1-0 to Egypt in the tournament opener on Friday.
The Pharaohs took the game to the Warriors in the early moments of the game with goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda forced to make two quick saves in the first minute.
The team only managed to break away for the first time on minute 6 when they got a corner-kick but could not hold the momentum as Egypt responded with a couple of attacks.
Zimbabwe, on their side, gave away possession cheaply on several occasions which put their defence under constant pressure. Sibanda also made some telling saves that included denying Mohamed Salah in the 30th minute.
Despite failing to create any threat on goal thus far, the Warriors almost broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when Billiat collected the ball from a quickly released free-kick but his shot inside the box was stopped by the advancing keeper.
Nonetheless, Egypt took the lead on the other end four minutes later when Mahmoud Trezeguet made a brilliant run before he curled home from a few yards inside the edge of the box, leaving the keeper with no chance.
A daring Central Intelligence Organisation operative based in Gwanda allegedly sexually harassed a female police officer who was in the company of her husband before fighting the husband after he confronted him.
Wellington Chikaka (27) of Spitzkop Suburb pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent assault and disorderly conduct when he appeared on separate occasions before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi. Chikaka was placed off remand and both cases will proceed by way of summons.
Prosecuting, Miss Ethel Mahachi said Chikaka fondled the breast of a female cop based at Gwanda Urban Police Station who cannot be named for ethical reasons on 28 April while she was in the company of her husband.
“On 28 April at around 2am, the complainant was in a taxi with her husband on their way home while Chikaka was in the same vehicle sitting next to her on the other side. When they were at Gwanda Police Station residential area where she and her husband were dropping off, Chikaka extended his hand and fondled the complainant’s right breast. The complainant confronted Chikaka over his actions and in response he uttered vulgar words at the complainant which resulted in a misunderstanding. The complainant reported the matter to the police,’’ she said.
In the other charge, Chikaka appeared jointly with the complainant’s husband before Miss Lerato facing a disorderly conduct charge. Chikaka pleaded not guilty to the allegations while his co-accused was convicted on his own plea of guilty.
Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare submitted an application for the accused persons to be charged separately. The complainant’s husband was ordered to pay a $100 fine or sentenced to two months imprisonment in case of default. Chikaka will proceed by way of summons on a date yet to be advised.
Miss Nare said after Chikaka fondled the complainant’s breast her husband became furious over the matter and confronted him which led to a fight between them. In mitigation, the woman’s husband said he fought Chikaka as he became offended when he fondled his wife’s breast. He said when he tried to engage him over the matter Chikaka hurled insults at him which made him more furious. Sunday News
MDC National Youth Chairman Obey Luther Sithole today made it clear that the time to confront Emmerson Mnangagwa regime is now.
Speaking at a Day of African Child gathering attended by the predominantly rural youths from Midlands at the party’s provincial offices, Cde Luther as Sithole is affectionately known declared that the time remove Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is now.
The maverick youth leader said the only way to save Zimbabwe from the jaws of extinction is by making sure Mnangagwa pack his belongings from Munhumutapa Offices and State House.
Sithole reiterated President Nelson Chamisa’s message that Emmerson Mnangagwa is not the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe.
He said the court of public opinion is the biggest court in Zimbabwe and not the Constitutional Court which installed Mnangagwa as President after a disputed presidential election result.
The fearless Sithole said as young leaders the Assembly will lead from the front in the struggle to reclaim the party’s stolen 2018 electoral victory.
Sithole also made it clear that the Assembly will not seek clearance from the police to demonstrate since it is a constitutional provision.
While the Youth Assembly has declared June a month of radicalization, Cde Luther declared July a month of action.
Speaking at the same event, Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Siziba said the Assembly has since shifted its lenses towards liberating rural areas from ZANU PF.
Responding to threats by rogue Mashonaland Central war veterans that the province is a no go area for MDC, Siziba said no one has ownership rights for Zimbabwe.
The Midlands belated June 16 Commemorations were also attended by the Youth Assembly Deputy Treasurer, Judith Tobaiwa and the National Spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma.
Other notable leaders who attended the event are National Organizer, Amos Chibaya, Deputy Legal Secretary Brian Dube and Women Provincial Secretary Violet Mutusva.
The Midlands program was organized by the provincial Youth Assembly leadership headed by Sekai ‘Muchaina’ Marasha.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
National Youth Assembly Spokesperson
MDC Midlands Youth Assembly today made a clear statement about their disapproval of the Emmerson Mnangagwa regime.
The youths predominantly drawn from rural Midlands made clear their sentiments at the Day of African Child belated commemorations for the province.
Whilst the MDC National Youth Assembly spokesperson was laying out the Assembly’s program roadmap for the Month of June, calls for action could be heard from all quarters of the congregants.
“We want mass action today and not tomorrow”, some could be heard.
On Mr Mnangagwa, the youths made it clear that he is not even welcome in the province that he calls home.
“We are going to send Dambudzo back to his native Zambia. We can’t continue on this dangerous path”, some angry youths could be heard.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
I wish to express my deep heartfelt appreciation, and Thank you to the People’s President, Advocate, Reverend Nelson Chamisa for assigning me to the position, and in-charge of the ‘ National Healing, Peace, Reconciliation, and Integration (NHPRI). In accepting this appointment, I am highly inspired by the Reverend President’s God fearing approach to issues. God Fearing leaders (Proverbs 1:7), and the President’s placing of God First, (Psalms 127:1), is what many a leader misses, hence they lack anointments and wisdom.
This appointment comes at a time when the heavily wounded nation needs robust healing, natural justice, and inclusive concerted national advocacy program for prevention of recurrences of the undesired state sponsored political and economic (corruption) atrocities, and many other violent conflicts experienced since the attainment of independence in 1980.
As a ministry, we are further motivated by the party’s (MDC) recognition of the importance of national peace and stability to sustainable development, as enunciated at the party’s 4th, and 5th congresses, and enshrined within the MDC SMART Document.
My ministry will work to fulfill the party’s commitments through facilitating and instituting a national Healing, Reconciliation, Integration and due Care programmes for the victims as a pre-requisite for nation building and sustainable democracy and development. The trauma and wounds of human rights violations committed in pre and post colonial Zimbabwe cannot be ignored. The dark periods left a traumatized, political fractured and sorrowful nation stricken with grief, depression, suspicion and pain, with many people living in fear. These various wounds inflicted were either not closed or improperly closed. And the best way to close old wounds is by confronting the PAST for a better FUTURE through revisiting and reopening of these badly closed wounds and clean out the old infection. This entails remembering and confronting the past terrors in order to forget everlastingly. We must remember what happened in order to keep it from happening again. It is only through remembering: allow open discussions: care: healing: compensating: and reconciling: that, as a nation we will be able to forget in order that the nation is able to go on with peace and trust…..
Mthuli Ncube says prices Of basic commodities are falling down. Mujuru says the finance minister is far from reality. Do you think Mthuli Ncube is telling the truth?
Congratulating Zimbabwe’s candidate, Dr Judith Kateera, on her election as Executive Director/Board Member at the AfDB, for the next 3 years, representing Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique and Namibia. Looking forward to working with her. pic.twitter.com/43RCMlNxw5
The MDC Women’s Assembly will on Sunday commemorate International Widows Day through a gathering of women in Norton.
This is an opportunity to reflect on the painful circumstances of women who became widows after losing their husbands to Zanu PF brutality.
A report published by Human Rights Watch- “Violations of Property and Inheritance Rights of Widows in Zimbabwe” – clearly shows that the plight of widows especially around inheritance issues can not be ignored.
The MDC will pay special attention to the need to address stigma and welfare issues for widows in our comprehensive alternative policy.
International Widows Day is an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows.
An MDC government will work to close the huge gap that has been created by the current regime by ensuring that mechanisms are put in place to provide widows with information on access to a fair share of their inheritance, land and productive resources; pensions and social protection that are not based on marital status alone but on decent work and equal pay, education and training opportunities.
Our commitment to empower widows to support themselves and their families also means addressing social stigmas that create exclusion, and discriminatory or harmful practices.
MDC: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe!
Maureen Kademaunga
Secretary for Public Service and Social Welfare
By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe government has begun paying white former commercial farmers compensation for the forceful land redistributed during the country’s “Third Chimurenga”.
A business publication reported that some of the farmers received RTGS $55,000 as part of the compensation on Friday 21 June 2019.
It said that more money would be paid to more white commercial farmers who lost their land during the Third Chimurenga.
Wrote the publication:
Twenty-eight farmers received payments of RTGS$55,000 ($8,748) each on Friday, Ben Gilpin, director of the Commercial Farmers Union, said by phone from the capital, Harare. More of them will receive payments tomorrow, he said.
Zimbabwe’s government in 2000 seized farms belonging to mostly white commercial farmers and replaced them with black farmers, saying the move was meant to redress colonial imbalances. The southern African country has budgeted RTGS$53 million ($8.4 million) this year for compensation.
Last month, 737 farmers registered for the compensation, according to the Treasury.
In April 2019, the government revealed that it would start paying white commercial farmers for improvements on land that had been expropriated.
President Mnangagwa defended the move arguing that:
In agriculture, the land reform is irreversible and Section 72 of the Constitution is very clear in this regard.
However, the same Constitution provides that no compensation is payable in respect of its acquisition, except for improvements effected on the land before its acquisition.-Bloomberg
Contemporary musician, Ammara Brown has called for people to get regularly tested for HIV/AIDS and Cancer.
She went on to say that she has been getting tested regularly ever since she turned 18.
In an interview with H-Metro, Ammara said, “I have definitely been tested for HIV many many times when I was in South Africa.
“I was probably at the age of like 18 years. There was an entire campaign going on saying just know your status all over billboards. After testing, you are still my brother or my sister, no matter what your status is.
So the practice at that time became less about the stigma, but more about knowing and digging into the information like what does the CD4 count mean. Later when I became sexually active, it became a practice that after every six months I get tested.
So for me, the HIV testing frequency is 110 percent, and I am obviously going for cancer testing after my Cyprus show and Egypt AFCON. – HMetro
Government is working on a raft of measures to improve the welfare of war veterans throughout the country, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said. She told war veterans’ leaders from the 10 provinces during a follow-up meeting on their welfare held in Harare yesterday that the President had approved the establishment of war veterans’ board that will spearhead the association’s special purpose vehicle.
“His Excellency the President approved the War Veterans Board and it will be launched soon once its gender component has been addressed.
“Permanent secretary has sent names of prospective members of provincial boards to the Director-General in the President’s Department for vetting,” she said.
She added that the ministry is expected to buy 439 cattle from the Cold Storage Company (CSC) Farm in Matabeleland North Province for war veterans.
“The ministry is in the process of sourcing funding to the tune of $1,5 million for the purchase of 439 cattle to be distributed to war veterans.
“Negotiations for the cattle are at an advanced stage and the deal should be concluded by the end of next month,” she said.
Minister Muchinguri said the Ministry of Agriculture was expediting the acquisition of eight provincial farms for their agro-business enterprises.
“Minister Shiri has pledged to expedite the identification of the farms and will increase their hectarage in regions such as Mat South since availability of land differs from province to province.
In addition, she said the ministry was seized with ensuring the implementation of the 20 percent quota policy in line ministries for social-economic empowerment of war veterans.
“The chief secretary wrote letters to all ministries directing them to implement the 20 percent quota policy.
“The permanent secretary is holding bi-lateral meetings with each ministry to establish when and what they will offer you,” she said.
“As part of the implementation of this policy, the permanent secretary is engaging his counterpart in the Ministry of Mines to expedite the registration of mining claims for veterans of liberation struggle, in particular gold and chrome and the ministry is also pushing for war veterans to be given some of the already existing mines which are viable from ZMDC,” she said.
Minister Muchinguri said President Mnangagwa had also approved the recruitment of 68 district officers for war veterans’ offices and the recruitment process will be regularised once Treasury’s concurrence has been received.
She also told them that the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Bill was ready to be tabled before Cabinet.
“Copies have been sent to the Minister of Justice and the two Vice Presidents for their comments,” she said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association provincial chairpersons thanked the President for the appointment of war veterans to crucial positions in the party and in Government.
“We are very confident that these tried and tested leaders have the zeal and capacity to deliver on behalf of the party and the nation at large.
“We will be offering our support to ensure the party gains more support and retain all seats in the provinces which went to the opposition.
“We also express our appreciation to the outgoing National Political Commissar Rtd Lt General Engelbert Rugeje for a job well done during his tenure under very trying times,” they said.
MDC National Youth Chairman Obey Luther Sithole today made it clear that the time to confront Emmerson Mnangagwa regime is now.
Speaking at a Day of African Child gathering attended by the predominantly rural youths from Midlands at the party’s provincial offices, Cde Luther as Sithole is affectionately known declared that the time remove Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is now.
The maverick youth leader said the only way to save Zimbabwe from the jaws of extinction is by making sure Mnangagwa pack his belongings from Munhumutapa Offices and State House.
Sithole reiterated President Nelson Chamisa’s message that Emmerson Mnangagwa is not the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe.
He said the court of public opinion is the biggest court in Zimbabwe and not the Constitutional Court which installed Mnangagwa as President after a disputed presidential election result.
The fearless Sithole said as young leaders the Assembly will lead from the front in the struggle to reclaim the party’s stolen 2018 electoral victory.
Sithole also made it clear that the Assembly will not seek clearance from the police to demonstrate since it is a constitutional provision.
While the Youth Assembly has declared June a month of radicalization, Cde Luther declared July a month of action.
Speaking at the same event, Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Siziba said the Assembly has since shifted its lenses towards liberating rural areas from ZANU PF.
Responding to threats by rogue Mashonaland Central war veterans that the province is a no go area for MDC, Siziba said no one has ownership rights for Zimbabwe.
The Midlands belated June 16 Commemorations were also attended by the Youth Assembly Deputy Treasurer, Judith Tobaiwa and the National Spokesperson, Stephen Sarkozy Chuma.
Other notable leaders who attended the event are National Organizer, Amos Chibaya, Deputy Legal Secretary Brian Dube and Women Provincial Secretary Violet Mutusva.
The Midlands program was organized by the provincial Youth Assembly leadership headed by Sekai ‘Muchaina’ Marasha.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
National Youth Assembly Spokesperson
By Parliament Correspondent| There was drama during the week when the speaker of parliament told an MDC party MP to shut up and raise the question concerning the ongoing “unconstitutional military deployment,” the following day.
MDC MP Settlement Chikwinya presented testimonial evidence that soldiers have been deployed around the country without either due process or explanation.
A joint operations command document dated 30 May 2019 further reveals that the military was deployed on the 3rd June 2019.
2 weeks later, the Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri issued a chilling statement saying that the military could be used to stiffle protesting civilians.
There was a sudden hush Tuesday afternoon when the speaker of parliament shot Chikwinya down within seconds saying, “With all due respect, can you raise that question tomorrow during question time?”
However the week rolled on with the same question being dodged by the speaker who belongs to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party.
MEANWHILE, BELOW WAS THE FULL EXCHANGE:
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Speaker, I rise to present my point of privilege in terms of the Standing Orders with regards to Section 214 of our Constitution which reads; “when the Defence Forces are deployed: –
a) in Zimbabwe to assist with the maintenance of Public Order, the President must cause Parliament to be informed promptly and giving appropriate detail of the reasons for deployment to that effect.
Hon. Speaker, we have seen of late, members of the Defence
Forces being deployed …
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Member. With all due respect, can you raise that question tomorrow during question time? I notice that some of the issues should be raised under Question Time otherwise we derail our Order Paper. Accordingly, I am not entertaining any further points of privilege. You ask questions tomorrow.
ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday promised nurses wanting to strike this coming Monday, he will increase their salaries in less than 10 days’ time.
This was revealed in a circular by the nurses’ leadership. The notice reads in full-
Re: PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL ACTION
We refer to the above subject and would want to bring the following to your attention.
I. On Friday the 21st 2019, the Executive Committee received communication from the office of the Minister of Health & Child Care.
2. In particular, the Executive was being invited to a meeting at the State House to discuss the plight of the nursing profession. The meeting was duly set down for 1130am.
3. The Executive attended at the State House for the meeting. In attendance was the President His Excellency Comrade E.D Mnangagwa, the Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, the Minister of Health Honourable Dr Obadiah Moyo, the Acting Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Monica Mutsvangwa, the Chairperson of Health Service Board Dr Sikhosana and Officials from the Public Service Commission. The meeting had been called at the instance of President Mnagangwa.
4. During the meeting, the Executive was given the opportunity to present the grievances of the nursing profession. Of the grievances discussed, the one which was dealt with at great length was the issue relating to remuneration wherein the Executive reiterated that due to incapacity the nurses would not be attending work from the 24th ofJune 2019 unless salaries were increased.
5. The President and all those in attendance understood the position of the nurses and gave an undertaking that salaries were going to be reviewed. More specifically, the undertaking was that salaries were going to be reviewed upwards from the 1st ofJuly 2019. ”
6. Following from the undertaking given above there was an acceptance by the President and the aforementioned principals that the undertakings given would not be effected by the 24th of June 2019. As a result, a request was made that nurses withhold their intention to embark on a full scale industrial action from the 24th of June 2019.
7. The above request having been made, it has been decided that we exercise patience and reciprocate the gesture of good faith made in the meeting so as to give our principals the opportunity to implement the undertaking they have made.
8. To that end, we hereby advise that from the 24th of June 2019, nurses must continue to attend work at the current arrangement i.e attending work for two days per week.
9. We anticipate formal confirmation and subsequent implementation of the undertaking given. Should this not be done, we will proceed to completely withdraw labour from the expiry of ten (10) days.
1/2 Police in Chinhoyi have arrested Boniface Madhora (43), Mind Musokeri (32) and Philip Mutsauri (42) all of Chinhoyi for posing as Zimbabwe Anti – Corruption Commission officials. The trio approached a company in Chinhoyi where they presented themselves as ZACC officials and
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) June 21, 2019
The Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mthuli Ncube announced today new boards for the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) and the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC).
Ncube announced the new boards on his Twitter.
He also announced a new IPEC commissioner, Grace Muradzikwa.
Here are the individuals on the new boards for the two organisations:
New IDBZ Board Members:
Joe Mutizwa (Chairman)
Kupukile Mlambo
Luke E.M. Ngwerume
Sibusisiwe P. Bango
Reginald Mugwara
Jeremiah Mutonga
Tadious Muzorora
Nobert Mugwagwa
New IPEC Board Members:
Albert T. Nduna (Chairman)
David T. Mureriwa
Annah Mashingaidze (re-appointed)
Godwin Nyengedza
Judith Rusike
The previous IDBZ board was chaired by Willard Manungo.
The old IPEC board was appointed in November 2015 and was chaired by ex-AfrAsia chief executive Lynn Mukonoweshuro. Mashingaidze was also on the board and has therefore been re-appointed.
Last year, the board fell out with then IPEC commissioner, Tendai Karonga leading to his resignation and the appointment therefore of Muradzikwwa as new commissioner today.
Here are the letters of announcement published by Mthuli Ncube today:
Lazarus Chakwera orders president Mutharika to produce evidence on the on al-shabaab within 24 hours and will not respond to the State of the National address.
MCP leader further said that he has confidence in the judicially saying it is the only government institution that holds the key to the future of Malawi.
He commended the court for declaring the elections case continues and calls for peopleto continue patronizing the courts peacefully and avoid any acts of violence.
Chakwera further thanked people that took part in the national wide demonstrations on the 21st of June, however condemned acts of violence by some people where property was vandalized.
“I am ready to work with the law enforcers to investigate a few individuals who vandalized property during riots by the police and party supporters at the court”.
The MCP leader defended a move by MCP members of parliament to walk out of parliament during the state of national address by Presedent citing he is illegitimate leader.
MCP regislators will only go to parliament to discuss and pass the Ntional budget, nothingmore.“I have no reputation to protect, I am here to fight for what is right for this nation and it’s people”
Chakwera refuted allegations that MCP has been intimidating the judicially and that his party wanted to bomb the kamuzu stadium during Mthalika’s swearing in ceremony.
This comes after Mutharika, during his State of the Nation Address yesterday, alleged that some politicians wanted to recruit the insurgents to bomb Kamuzu Stadium when he was being sworn in.Chakwera has demanded that the President should produce evidence within 24 hours.
Full trial of the presidential election results case commences on Wednesday, June 26.
The Petition on elections by MCP/UTM against APM and MEC was declared valid and regular and can not be subjected to nullity yesterday by five judges.
Prices for basic goods in the consumption basket in Zimbabwe have dropped by an average of 19% in US$ terms, from January 2018 to June 2019. See table below from Treasury. The prices in RTGS$ terms are therefore grossly inflated. pic.twitter.com/91kS978jfK
Please keep @ARTUZ_teachers leader Obert Masaraure in your prayers as he spends at least another two nights in #Zimbabwe’s cold prison cells tonight and Sunday night. He was remanded in custody today as the Court record could not be located! Back in court at 8:30am on Monday. pic.twitter.com/42I1F7mQIa
The Warriors goalkeeper speaks to Goal about the row which threatened to spoil their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) campaign
Zimbabwe goalkeeper George Chigova makes it clear that the dispute between the players and the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) which endangered their Afcon campaign has been resolved.
The players reportedly threatened to forfeit the tournament’s curtain-raiser at the Cairo International Stadium over unpaid allowances.
They eventually turned up for the game which was decided by a brilliant Mahmoud “Trezeguet” Hassan strike as the match ended 1-0 to the Pharaohs on Friday night.
Speaking to Goal, Chigova made it known that the players were fully focused on their Afcon campaign.
“We know there were problems, but as players, we told ourselves we had to forget about whatever had happened in the last few days,” Chigova told Goal.
“Today was the day we had been waiting for since we qualified in March, so we didn’t lose because of issues in the last two days.
“Everything is sorted; the relationship [with Zifa] is always good but every house has got its own problems and we’ve solved it. They understand us, we understood them and we move on.
“There are no grudges, and it is water under the bridge for us and them. Now we have to focus on the tournament and make the people back home proud.”
The Polokwane City goalkeeper, who didn’t feature in Friday’s game due to injury, expressed his disappointment at missing out on such a big day for Zimbabwean football.
“It is frustrating for every player,” he admitted.
“You want to test yourself. Since it’s my first Afcon I wanted to play from the first game just as I played in the qualifiers.
“If I’m selected for the next game, I’m ready to put on the shirt and help the team to win.”
The Warriors are currently bottom of Group A after their defeat by the host nation, with Uganda set to do battle with DR Congo on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday Chidzambwa’s troops will face the aforementioned teams on June 26 and June 30 respectively.
1/2 Police in Chinhoyi have arrested Boniface Madhora (43), Mind Musokeri (32) and Philip Mutsauri (42) all of Chinhoyi for posing as Zimbabwe Anti – Corruption Commission officials. The trio approached a company in Chinhoyi where they presented themselves as ZACC officials and
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) June 21, 2019
Khama Billiat had a great outing on Friday despite the Warriors losing 1-0 to Egypt in a 2019 Afcon opener.
The 28-year made some good touches which kept the Pharaohs’ backline on their toes.
The slickest move of the night, however, came in the second half when he dribbled past two Egyptian players, leaving them to collide on each other.
If Billiat had linked well with his striking partners which included Nyasha Mushekwi and captain Knowledge Musona, the Warriors could have gotten at least a goal but the encounter was never meant for them.
Anywhere, here is a compilation video of Khama Billiat’s touches throughout the game.
The left-back didn’t give Egypt’s talisman breathing room in the Africa Cup of Nations opener
Zimbabwe left-back Divine Lunga has revealed he was following coach Sunday Chidzambwa’s instructions to tightly mark Egypt’s Mohamed Salah in their Africa Cup of Nations 2019 (Afcon 2019) opener on Friday.
Even though the Warriors were defeated by the Pharaohs 1-0, the defender made sure the Liverpool star was contained for most of the encounter in Cairo.
Speaking to Goal after the game, the 24-year-old went into detail about the man-marking job as well as the joy he felt at featuring at the Afcon finals and how the showpiece could hasten a move abroad.
“I feel great, because the coach gave me a task today to mark Salah,” he began.
“He’s a terrific guy and I was instructed to go with him if he cut inside [on his stronger left foot] or show him outside [to his weaker right foot]. That was the task for today.
“It was hard [dealing with Salah’s movements] so I had to communicate with my defensive midfield to be aware of the positions he was taking. It was about communication only.
“I wasn’t nervous. I’d been waiting for this moment for a long time to play at the Afcon. I wanted to prove myself.
“The competition is a good stepping stone as Afcon is better than Cosafa,” the left-back added.
“It is the biggest tournament in Africa, so this is a stepping stone for us to be seen outside the continent and secure moves abroad.”
The Warriors are currently bottom of Group A after their defeat by the host nation, with Uganda set to do battle with DR Congo on Saturday afternoon.
Chidzambwa’s troops will face the aforementioned teams on June 26 and June 30 respectively.
HARARE City Council has recommended that the water situation be declared a national emergency to allow partners to move in and assist.
Chairperson of the Environmental Management Committee Clr Kudzai Kadzombe said the situation had reached alarming levels hence the need to declare the situation an emergency.
Seke and Harava Dams have dried up forcing council to decommission the Prince Edward Water Works. The plant produces over 80 million litres dailiy.
The drought comes at a time pollution and a dilapidated water reticulation system are at the centre stage.
The city’s Environment Management Committee met this week and resolved to declare the situation a State of Emergency. Clr Kadzombe highlighted the dire situation and urged residents to develop coping mechanisms while lasting solutions are being pursued.
“When we get to a situation like the one we are in now, we have to be prepared as a city and as a nation to survive in that mode,” she said.
The matter will go through council bebefore we write to Government. Full council will meet early next week. She said council will in the interim look for water bowsers and sink deeper boreholes.
Cllr Kadzombe however said the long term solution is additional water sources. Harare has been facing water problems and the city recently introduced water rationing and a timetable to go with it.
The recent monetary policy statement which requires suppliers to get forex at the interbank rate has also gravely affected water supply.
This means the city now requires more money to purchase water treatment chemicals.
There are groeing calls by environmentalists to ban urban agriculture on inappropriate places and that resources should be availed to rehabilitate sewage works in all local authorities that pollute the Manyame River, Harare included.
The Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube today new boards for the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) and the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC).
Ncube announced the new boards on his Twitter portal.
He also announced a new IPEC commissioner, Grace Muradzikwa.
Here are the individuals on the new boards for the two organisations:
New IDBZ Board Members:
Joe Mutizwa (Chairman)
Kupukile Mlambo
Luke E.M. Ngwerume
Sibusisiwe P. Bango
Reginald Mugwara
Jeremiah Mutonga
Tadious Muzorora
Nobert Mugwagwa
New IPEC Board Members:
Albert T. Nduna (Chairman)
David T. Mureriwa
Annah Mashingaidze (re-appointed)
Godwin Nyengedza
Judith Rusike
The previous IDBZ board was chaired by Willard Manungo.
The old IPEC board was appointed in November 2015 and was chaired by ex-AfrAsia chief executive Lynn Mukonoweshuro. Mashingaidze was also on the board and has therefore been re-appointed. Last year, the board fell out with then IPEC commissioner, Tendai Karonga leading to his resignation and the appointment therefore of Muradzikwwa as new commissioner today.
By Parliament Correspondent| There was drama during the week when the speaker of parliament told an MDC party MP to shut up and raise the question concerning the ongoing “unconstitutional military deployment,” the following day.
MDC MP Settlement Chikwinya presented testimonial evidence that soldiers have been deployed around the country without either due process or explanation.
A joint operations command document dated 30 May 2019 further reveals that the military was deployed on the 3rd June 2019.
2 weeks later, the Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri threatened saying that the military could soon attack protesting civilians.
There was a sudden hush Tuesday afternoon when the speaker of parliament shot Chikwinya down within seconds saying, “With all due respect, can you raise that question tomorrow during question time?”
However the week rolled on with the same question being dodged by the speaker who belongs to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF party.
MEANWHILE, BELOW WAS THE FULL EXCHANGE:
HON. CHIKWINYA: Hon. Speaker, I rise to present my point of privilege in terms of the Standing Orders with regards to Section 214 of our Constitution which reads; “when the Defence Forces are deployed: –
a) in Zimbabwe to assist with the maintenance of Public Order, the President must cause Parliament to be informed promptly and giving appropriate detail of the reasons for deployment to that effect.
Hon. Speaker, we have seen of late, members of the Defence
Forces being deployed …
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, order Hon. Member. With all due respect, can you raise that question tomorrow during question time? I notice that some of the issues should be raised under Question Time otherwise we derail our Order Paper. Accordingly, I am not entertaining any further points of privilege. You ask questions tomorrow.
By Miriam Mushayi & Tapiwa Mashakada
MDC POLICY AND RESEARCH DEPARTMENT BRIEFS.
—————————
Prof Mthuli Ncube claims that he has balanced treasury books and gvt is now recording a surplus.According to him the deficit has been wiped out and now public finances are now in surplus. But what is the significance of a surplus when the healthcare sector is collapsing and civil servants are earning poverty wages? In general public service delivery is hamstrung by austerity. Government has accummulated arrears on domestic debt. In neo-classical or liberal economics deficits if they are monetized. They trigger all sorts of economic ills chief among which is Inflation. If we are in surplus why are prices not moving down in sympathy? Granted there are too many inflationary pressures in the Zim economy but we should see the reduction in the weight of the deficit on the inflation outlook. Reducing or eliminating the deficit alone is not sufficient. Its like jobless growth.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
Fiscal stance has 3 legs. These are Revenue collection; Expenditure Reduction and Deficit Financing. Prof Mthuli is concerntrating on demand management(expenditure reduction and totally ignoring resource mobilization. The biggest sources of wealth are: savings, growth, productivity and investment. The focus should be on how to grow the cake rather than tinkering with demand management per se. It is the Supply side stupid. The accounting surplus being touted by the Minister of Finance is hollow and meangless in economic value terms. In short, the so-called budget surplus is an immoral surplus which does not make sense under this environment of hyper inflation.
Professor Mthuli and Zanu PF must stop this economic genocide.
MDC Midlands Youth Assembly today made a clear statement about their disapproval of the Emmerson Mnangagwa regime.
The youths predominantly drawn from rural Midlands made clear their sentiments at the Day of African Child belated commemorations for the province.
Whilst the MDC National Youth Assembly spokesperson was laying out the Assembly’s program roadmap for the Month of June, calls for action could be heard from all quarters of the congregants.
“We want mass action today and not tomorrow”, some could be heard.
On Mr Mnangagwa, the youths made it clear that he is not even welcome in the province that he calls home.
“We are going to send Dambudzo back to his native Zambia. We can’t continue on this dangerous path”, some angry youths could be heard.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
I wish to express my deep heartfelt appreciation, and Thank you to the People’s President, Advocate, Reverend Nelson Chamisa for assigning me to the position, and in-charge of the ‘ National Healing, Peace, Reconciliation, and Integration (NHPRI). In accepting this appointment, I am highly inspired by the Reverend President’s God fearing approach to issues. God Fearing leaders (Proverbs 1:7), and the President’s placing of God First, (Psalms 127:1), is what many a leader misses, hence they lack anointments and wisdom.
This appointment comes at a time when the heavily wounded nation needs robust healing, natural justice, and inclusive concerted national advocacy program for prevention of recurrences of the undesired state sponsored political and economic (corruption) atrocities, and many other violent conflicts experienced since the attainment of independence in 1980.
As a ministry, we are further motivated by the party’s (MDC) recognition of the importance of national peace and stability to sustainable development, as enunciated at the party’s 4th, and 5th congresses, and enshrined within the MDC SMART Document.
My ministry will work to fulfill the party’s commitments through facilitating and instituting a national Healing, Reconciliation, Integration and due Care programmes for the victims as a pre-requisite for nation building and sustainable democracy and development.
The trauma and wounds of human rights violations committed in pre and post colonial Zimbabwe cannot be ignored. The dark periods left a traumatized, political fractured and sorrowful nation stricken with grief, depression, suspicion and pain, with many people living in fear. These various wounds inflicted were either not closed or improperly closed. And the best way to close old wounds is by confronting the PAST for a better FUTURE through revisiting and reopening of these badly closed wounds and clean out the old infection.
This entails remembering and confronting the past terrors in order to forget everlastingly. We must remember what happened in order to keep it from happening again. It is only through remembering: allow open discussions: care: healing: compensating: and reconciling: that, as a nation we will be able to forget in order that the nation is able to go on with peace and trust…..
By A Correspondent- When Samukeliso Moyo from Bulawayo’s Luveve suburb found out that her husband was cheating on her, she plotted a “calculated attack” on his alleged mistress Nomalanga Moyo.
An attack that would apparently lead to a bloody murder when she threatened to frenziedly stab her with a knife.
Not knowing how to get herself out of the alleged cheating mess and also fearing that Samukeliso might live true to her threats, Nomalanga approached the civil court seeking a peace order against her.
“I do not want to see Samukeliso Moyo at my premises as she has been harassing me over suspicions that I am in love with her husband, which is totally untrue. She has been harassing me whenever I meet her.
“She threatened to come where I stay to destroy windowpanes of the house. She also threatened to stab me with a knife saying she was capable of doing it. Her husband that she is accusing me of having an affair with is close to my aunt and sister.
“They grew up together. It is my prayer that she should be barred from threatening me and coming to where I stay,” begged Nomalanga.
In response Samukeliso refuted her rival’s submissions saying she was convinced that Nomalanga was in love with her husband.
“She is lying that there is nothing going on between her and my husband. She is actually in love with my husband.
“She once called him at around 10pm and when I confronted her she bragged to me saying my husband works with the public and can be called at any time.
“The other day I confronted her and threatened to beat her up after I found her car parked behind my husband’s,” furiously responded Samukeliso.
In her ruling the presiding magistrate Rachael Mukanga, in a bid to maintain peace between the two parties, ordered Samukeliso not to verbally and emotionally abuse Nomalanga or threaten her in any way.
His own country is struggling with electricity and transport problems, and here he is, busy electrifying a foreign city’s entire bus network – this is the irony of it all.
Irvine Nyamapfene
By Business Reporter| The project to create the first electric buses in London has been led by a Zimbabwean, it has emerged.
Irvine Nyamapfene has won praises in the UK for this groundbreaking work.
This is the second project after another by the CrossRail company where he won the project manager of the year award.
“Congrats Engineer Irvine Nyamapfene Regional award for project manager of the year for work on electric buses infrastructure in London (Could not hide such big news at a time when Zimbabwe is struggling with energy and transport. I hope this project is replicated back home),” wrote Girl Child Network Founder Betty Makoni.
The development comes as his home country, Zimbabwe risks being plunged into total darkness.
Energy minister Fortune Chasi confirmed that the state owned power utility ZESA is struggling to pay a debt of more than US$40million – over R580m to Eskom.
ZESA also owes millions to Mozambique for electricity borrowed in the past few years.
By Own Correspondent- Secretary-General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Raymond Majongwe has warned that any nation that does not respect its teachers is doomed calling on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to heed warnings issued by spirit mediums to ensure that the people are well fed.
He said this at a Headmasters conference held recently in Victoria Falls.
Majongwe said Mnangagwa was warned by a spirit medium that the nation will be ungovernable when people are hungry.
Said Majongwe:
“We need to know and carry the message to the president. I told him in his face on the 21st of December when I met him at his Monomotapa offices, that comrade president things are not well, and I repeat, I told him as well at the conference centre at the church meeting, at Celebration Centre.
“The truth of the matter when president Emmerson Mnangagwa was inaugurated as president there is a spirit medium who spoke to him and said, a country cannot be ruled while the people being lead are hungry. A country cannot be rude while the people being lead are hungry.
“Allow me to say I have come here to give a solidarity message to headmasters who are critical components of delivering proper education service delivery to this country.
“Any nation that does not respect its teachers does not deserve any respect. In 1981, Simon Vengesai Muzenda said, ” a nation that does not respect its teachers is doomed. I see doom in this nation.
Teachers have been relegated to vagrants. I have 4 reports of teachers who died this year because they were abusing alcohol. To get to the point where your wife refuses to sleep with you because you are contributing nothing.
Serious homes have collapsed because women are running away from teachers as husbands. How do you then make sure how do you inspire progress in the nation when you are a laughing stock? The underwear that you wearing is torn, the sock that you’re wearing is torn?
“Your stomach is empty; if there is a machine that I can scan your stomachs, all I see in there are small matembas… how do you inspire these children to be relevant in this country?
“When we sit to interrogate the destinies of Nations we must also sit to interrogate the people who are supposed to make those destinations viable, relevant and achievable. You can’t talk of a national vision 2030…”
By Own Correspondent- A Bulawayo man caused a rumpus at court when he threatened to kill his rival after his application for a peace order against a man who impregnated his wife was dismissed by the magistrate for inadequate evidence.
It appears Beven Charwadza from Insiza couldn’t fathom the ruling by Bulawayo magistrate Rachael Mukanga when he started shouting claiming the court had protected his rival — Raymond Stoddart who has apparently done him more harm than good by impregnating his wife Thabitha Mutizira.
So dicey was the situation that the helpless Charwadza — his name literally meaning being painful — threatened to spill blood saying that was the only way out to soothe his anger.
Sensing danger the magistrate quickly ordered the police to briefly detain him in the court cells housed at the Tredgold Building.
In his application, Charwadza claimed Stoddart courted his anger when he sired a baby girl with his wife when he was working out of the country.
He said Stoddart was now disturbing his peace by constantly coming to his home to look for Mutizira under the pretext of wanting to see his daughter.
“I am applying for a peace order against Raymond Stoddart citing the following reason that he took away my wife Thabitha Mutizira when I was working out of the country and they sired a child together.
“When I discovered it Thabeth ran away from him to her rural home in Gutu. Stoddart is now coming to my home looking for Tabitha under the pretext of seeing his child. That disturbs my peace and that of my two children,” complained Charwadza.
Stoddart through his lawyer dismissed Charwadza’s claims saying he was being “economical with the truth”.
“His application is premised on falsehood. His averment that I took away his wife when he was out of the country is with respect misleading.
“The correct version of the events is that I had an affair with Thabitha Mutizira in 2018 while I was working in Shangani.
“We worked together at the same homestead where the applicant claims is his homestead. We stayed together for a period of 18 months and Thabitha Mutizira got pregnant with my child,” claimed Stoddart is his founding affidavit.
He said when Thabitha gave birth to a baby girl, she surrendered her to his family when she was one year old, the reason being that she was getting back to her husband whom she had two children with.
“And that the baby being a coloured race, she said it does not belong to her family. My family complied and accepted the child. In 2019 Thabitha instituted legal proceedings against myself and my family claiming custody of the minor child.
“She misled the court into believing that the baby was deceitfully taken from her and that she was not thinking straight when she surrendered her. The court awarded her custody of the child, subject to my exercising right of reasonable access by collecting the child from her homestead every Friday and surrendering her every Sunday”.
He further said Thabitha, was however, threatening him and his family that they were not going to see the minor child before she applied for a protection order against him claiming he was verbally and physically abusing her.
The application was however, dismissed as it was reportedly without merits.
Stoddart also dismissed Charwadza’s allegations that he was in the habit of coming to his home threatening him under the pretext of wanting to see his child.
“In fact I stayed and took care of those minor children for a period of more than 18 months, as such it’s strange that I am said to be threatening them and disturbing their peace.
“His application for a peace order is motivated by the fear that he and his alleged wife are in contempt of court by denying me access rights to the minor child”.
He passionately begged the court to dismiss Charwadza’s application saying it was founded upon unsubstantial and malicious allegations.
His prayers were however, answered when the presiding magistrate dismissed the application much to Charwadza’s disappointment.-BMetro
His own country is struggling with electricity and transport problems, and here he is, busy electrifying a foreign city’s entire bus network – this is the irony of it all.
By Business Reporter| The project to create the first electric buses in London has been led by a Zimbabwean, it has emerged.
Irvine Nyamapfene has won praises in the UK for this groundbreaking work.
This is the second project after another by the CrossRail company where he won the project manager of the year award.
“Congrats Engineer Irvine Nyamapfene Regional award for project manager of the year for work on electric buses infrastructure in London (Could not hide such big news at a time when Zimbabwe is struggling with energy and transport. I hope this project is replicated back home),” wrote Girl Child Network Founder Betty Makoni.
Congrats Engineer Irvine Nyamapfene Regional award for project manager of the year for work on electric buses infrastructure in London (Could not hide such big news at a time when Zimbabwe is struggling with energy and transport. I hope this project is replicated back home ) pic.twitter.com/axnTcXYHRy
— Muzvare Shonga Betty Makoni (@MuzvareBetty) June 17, 2019
“Congrats Engineer Irvine Nyamapfene Regional award for project manager of the year for work on electric buses infrastructure in London (Could not hide such big news at a time when Zimbabwe is struggling with energy and transport. I hope this project is replicated back home).”
By Own Correspondent- One worker died while four others were injured in a rock fall accident at How Mine on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
The accident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon during a shaft examination saw management shutting off the shaft to allow investigations into the accident.
In a memorandum to the workers on Thursday, the mine’s managing director, Demand Gwatinetsa informed them of Mr Kazembe’s death reportedly due to a rockfall in the shaft.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing on of Mr Matola Kazembe, our shaft timberman. Mr Kazembe, together with his shaft crew were involved in an accident during shaft examination on our north shaft.
“He was in the company of Mr Michael Chaipa, Mr Julius Phiri, Mr Captain Singini and Mr Last Kakono. Mr Chaipa and Mr Phiri have been admitted to Mater Dei Hospital due to injuries sustained in the accident while Mr Singini and Mr Kakono were attended to and discharged for monitoring from home,” said Mr Gwatinetsa.
He said there was a reported rockfall onto the skip on which they were working, adding that investigations were underway.
“The full details of the accident are still under investigation by ourselves as well as with the Government Inspector of Mines and we’ll communicate with you the findings.
“We have stopped operations on the north shaft until further notice and we’ll co-operate fully with the authorities in the ongoing investigations,” said Mr Gwatinetsa.
He assured the workers that the mine will put in place measures to ensure similar accidents never happen in future.
Bulawayo acting police spokesperson Assistant, Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed Mr Kazembe’s death. She said no foul play was suspected.
“We received a sudden death that occurred at How Mine on Thursday at about 2.30PM. The victim, Mr Matola Kazembe aged 49 died following a mine accident.
“He entered a shaft with four other employees using a cage and when they reached level 29 rocks started falling hitting them,” said Asst Insp Msebele.
She said Mr Kazembe who died on the spot after sustaining head injuries, fell out of the cage and landed on the ground.
“Police retrieved the body which has since been taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for post mortem. His four colleagues were rescued by security officials after they screamed for help and were rushed to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment and are in a stable condition,” said Asst Insp Msebele.
By A Correspondent| The child-custody case of the controversial “pastor” turned businessman, Frank Buyanga took to a twist when he lost again in the High Court on Tuesday.
Frank Buyanga
Buyanga was suing his girlfriend, Chantelle Muteswa for the custody of the couple’s only son.
Chantelle Muteswa’s lawyer, Munyaradzi Bwanya spoke to ZimEye just after coming out of court revealing that this “was an urgent chamber to stop the removal of the child from Zimbabwe.”
The development comes barely days after the business man had tried to get the mother of his child jailed over the same bone of contention.
High Court judge Justice Jacob Manzunzu ruled that there was no hurry in removing the child from the jurisdiction of the mother before conclusion of the matters before the courts.
“Please take note that on 19th day of June, 2019, the High Court sitting at Harare before the Honourable Mr Justice Manzunzu issued a provisional order as shown,” part of the order
read.
“The annexed chamber application, affidavit and documents were issued in support of the application for this provisional order.
“If you intend to oppose the confirmation of this provisional order, you will have to file a notice of opposition in form No 29B together with one or more opposition affidavits with the registrar of the High Court at Harare within 10 days after the date of which this provisional order and annexures were served upon you. You will also have to serve a copy of the notice
of opposition as affidavit/s on the applicant at the address for service specified in the application.
“According to Justice Manzunzu, Buyanga should show cause to the court why an “order in the following terms should not be granted: Execution of the magistrate court ruling in the matter
CCA205/18 be and is hereby stayed pending the determination of application for review in matter number HC4954/19. The opposing respondent to pay the costs of application.”
“Pending the return day it is hereby ordered that, respondent be and hereby ordered not to remove the minor child from Zimbabwe,” Justice Manzunzu ruled
Commenting on the court win, the popular Social Worker and women’s rights activist, Betty Makoni praised the lawyer while saying, “firstly, I would like to appload the work that has been done by the legal expert Mr Bwanya, who managed to secure an interim order so that Chantelle can have custody of her child. These cases as you know, they are painstaking in Zimbabwe. We are looking at situations where hundreds of women, are having their children taken away from them no maintenance paid, and just to think about the hustle of going through courts… is something that a woman doesn’t want to get herself into.
Betty Makoni
“So just to know that today there is victory, for a woman with the assistance of a good lawyer actually set a good precedence, because these cases are not just of child custody, these cases are of domestic violence, public violence, harassment, which leave a lot of women’s lives devastated, so I am glad the court has made a good decision.
“What I would like to strongly recommend to the court is we want to see the role of social workers…also to monitor the situation of the child, because normally when the High Court gives such good orders, when we go to family level, people [sometimes] also start…out of court settlements, or tacticks in order to take that child, so I think I am celebrating, this is victory.
“And I would like to say this is something positive about Zimbabwe’s courts given all the criticism that we give them… we want to see much more… women must be protected by the law, children must be protected by the law.”
ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday promised nurses wanting to strike this coming Monday, he will increase their salaries in less than 10 days’ time.
This was revealed in a circular by the nurses’ leadership. The notice reads in full-
Re: PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL ACTION
We refer to the above subject and would want to bring the following to your attention.
I. On Friday the 21st 2019, the Executive Committee received communication from the office of the Minister of Health & Child Care.
2. In particular, the Executive was being invited to a meeting at the State House to discuss the plight of the nursing profession. The meeting was duly set down for 1130am.
3. The Executive attended at the State House for the meeting. In attendance was the President His Excellency Comrade E.D Mnangagwa, the Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, the Minister of Health Honourable Dr Obadiah Moyo, the Acting Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Monica Mutsvangwa, the Chairperson of Health Service Board Dr Sikhosana and Officials from the Public Service Commission. The meeting had been called at the instance of President Mnagangwa.
4. During the meeting, the Executive was given the opportunity to present the grievances of the nursing profession. Of the grievances discussed, the one which was dealt with at great length was the issue relating to remuneration wherein the Executive reiterated that due to incapacity the nurses would not be attending work from the 24th ofJune 2019 unless salaries were increased.
5. The President and all those in attendance understood the position of the nurses and gave an undertaking that salaries were going to be reviewed. More specifically, the undertaking was that salaries were going to be reviewed upwards from the 1st ofJuly 2019.
”
6. Following from the undertaking given above there was an acceptance by the President and the aforementioned principals that the undertakings given would not be effected by the 24th of June 2019. As a result, a request was made that nurses withhold their intention to embark on a full scale industrial action from the 24th of June 2019.
7. The above request having been made, it has been decided that we exercise patience and reciprocate the gesture of good faith made in the meeting so as to give our principals the opportunity to implement the undertaking they have made.
8. To that end, we hereby advise that from the 24th of June 2019, nurses must continue to attend work at the current arrangement i.e attending work for two days per week.
9. We anticipate formal confirmation and subsequent implementation of the undertaking given. Should this not be done, we will proceed to completely withdraw labour from the expiry of ten (10) days.
Working on information supplied by the Registrar General, ZEC is periodically cleaning the voters' roll to ensure that all elections are conducted using a clean voters' roll pic.twitter.com/5GRmSWCH47
— Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (@ZECzim) June 21, 2019
Temba Mliswa has said @ProfJNMoyo should stop attacking Zim while he is in hiding but should come home and answer his corruption charges. Do you think Prof Moyo should come back to Zimbabwe and prove his innocence?
By A Correspondent- Judith Bhebhe from Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb thought protracted marital problems she had with her husband Precious Bhebhe were some of the problems inevitably faced by every couple.
That was until a fortnight ago when it turned out, they were no longer married after her husband “secretly” divorced her on 29 August 2018, in an apparent attempt to stop her from committing suicide.
According to Judith, she had no idea that this had happened — and she had not consented to the divorce. Precious is a prison officer and is stationed at Khami Prison Complex on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
The shocking discovery was heard when he approached the Bulawayo Civil Court seeking a protection order against his former wife claiming she was emotionally abusing him with her constant threats of attempting to commit suicide.
“I do hereby solemnly and sincerely swear or declare the following facts that Judith Bhebhe nee Sadya and I are officially divorced and she is constantly insulting and threatening me.
“She threatens to commit suicide at my mother’s place before she goes back to her family. My mother whom she is staying with is now living in fear of her threats of attempting to commit suicide to an extent that she is now visiting South Africa on regular basis as a way of avoiding her.
“She is also threatening to kill me and beat me up. She chases away my relatives whenever they visit my mother.
“She is forcibly staying with my mother despite the fact that we are now divorced,” said Precious before he tendered the divorce order to the presiding magistrate Rachael Mukanga.
That, however, surprised Judith who said she was failing to understand how the divorce order came about as she was never even called to be heard.
“I am hearing it for the first time. I know nothing about the divorce papers as I was never given the opportunity to defend them. This surprises me as I have all along been in possession of the original marriage certificate. I fail to understand how the divorce came about as I was never even called to be heard or to defend it.
“I am also surprised with his application for a protection order since he is the one who is always phoning me. I also deny sending him insulting and threatening messages of attempting to commit suicide. His mother is the one who invited me to stay with her following our protracted marital problems,” said Judith adding that she was going to challenge the divorce decree.
In a bid to stop Judith from living true to her threats of trying to end her life, the magistrate referred the parties for counselling.-BMetro
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF youth league leader Lewis Matutu has issued an ultimatum for party bigwigs involved in illegal forex trading to stop the economic sabotage or he will expose them.
Matutu claimed that following his calls against corruption, Zanu Pf bigwigs have reportedly issued death threats to him after he threatened to expose corruption among his peers.
A politburo member and deputy youth league secretary, Matutu said he was receiving calls in the dead of night from ministers and top government officials who want to gag him.
Matutu claimed to have evidence of ministers’ children and close aides who were moving bags of foreign currency on the black market as they sabotage economic recovery efforts by Mnangagwa.
“I know children of ministers who are selling foreign currency on the black market, I can give you names and numbers of these people and you can go and change money with them. I am giving them up to Sunday to come clean and if they fail we will name and shame, make no mistake,” he said.
Matutu, a close ally of Mnangagwa, said he was his own man who has been speaking against corruption within the party in private, but after his calls were not heeded he has now taken his fight a gear up.
“I am my own man and I will speak up against such ills without fear because I understand the path that the President wants to take this country. (There are) those who think I am being used look at me, and think I am dull; no I am an intelligent individual who is smart and can think. If they don’t take this advice seriously, well Monday is coming,” he said.
A number of Zanu PF cadres, who have threatened to expose the status quo in the past, have perished in unclear circumstances mostly in accidents or poisonings.
Matutu, however, said Zanu PF was not an institution of hit man and accident engineers. “Zanu PF does not kill people, they just want to threaten me, but because I have touched a raw nerve that’s why they are crying out loud,” he said.
By Own Correspondent- Former ZANU-PF member, Professor Jonathan Moyo has blasted president Mnangagwa and Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube for contradicting each other regarding the introduction of the new Zimbabwean currency.
Moyo said the duo do not understand what they are doing as they issue different dates on when the new currency will be introduced.
He said that Mnangagwa was the first to announce that by year-end Zimbabwe will be with a new currency.
Ncube however recently said that the purported new currency will be introduced in nine months which translate to March next year.
Moyo tweeted:
#ZimNewCurrencyDates 7 June 2019: Mnangagwa tells the world from Harare that Zim to have a new currency by end of the year. 21 June 2019: Mnangagwa & @MthuliNcube tell the world from Maputo that Zim to have a new currency by March 2020. Do they know what they’re talking about?
By A Correspondent- The former ZRP boss Augustine Chihuri reportedly stole number plates of a broken down Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Mercedes Benz which he used to fraudulently get the State to service his personal vehicles, a court heard.
Det Asst Insp Mabgwe told the court that Masukusa was in the habit of having his personal vehicles fixed at various garages using police funds. He said they discovered that Chihuri was also using the police account to service his Mercedes Benz after they requested a print out from Zimoco while investigating Masukusa’s case.
“We discovered that there was a certain vehicle which was being fixed at (Zimoco’s) garage which had the same number plates with that of a police vehicle that was under breakdown and had been long parked in Chitungwiza,” he said.
Det Asst Insp Mabgwe said he proceeded to Chitungwiza and discovered that the vehicle in question was parked and had never been moved. He further stated that the chassis number of the vehicle which was being serviced at Zimoco was totally different from the one parked in Chitungwiza.
“We discovered that the same number plate was also being used on several occasions to fix vehicles belonging to Chihuri,” he said. Det Asst Insp Mabgwe told the court that it was unlawful for Masukusa to service his private vehicle using the police account.
He further stated that Masukusa intentionally committed the offence since he was the Chief Staff Officer in charge of the Transport and Logistics Department. “As a result of that misrepresentation, Zimoco fixed Masukusa’s car under the ZRP account, thereby prejudicing the organisation,” said Det Asst Insp Mabgwe.
Harare magistrate Mrs Rumbidzai Mugwagwa deferred the matter to July 5 for trial continuation. Prosecutor Francesca Mukumbiri alleges that Masukusa used over US$7 000 after he took his car for servicing at Isoquant Investments Trading as Zimoco under the guise that the car belonged to the ZRP. It is alleged that he committed the offence between 2015 and 2016.
According to the State, Masukusa bought the car, an ML 320 Mercedes Benz, at an auction carried out on behalf of ZRP by KM Auctions on January 17, 2015.
He reportedly deceived Zimoco by claiming his vehicle belonged to the police. Acting upon the misrepresentation, Zimoco renewed rear shocks on Masukusa’s vehicle, right rear driveshaft, brake pads and camber strut. Full wheel alignment services were also done to the vehicle, among other repairs.
By A Correspondent- South Africa’s specialised crime unit, the Hawks, have taken over investigations in a case where a 38-year-old Zimbabwean woman was arrested for allegedly smuggling of drugs worth R2 million into that country via Beitbridge Border Post.
Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo Captain Matimba Maluleke said the accused Mavis Busisiwe Thundedzwa appeared before Musina Magistrate court yesterday where she was remanded in custody to June 26 pending judgment of her formal bail application. The woman was arrested on 11 May at Beitbridge (South African side) while travelling from Zimbabwe to the neighbouring country.
“The accused, Thundedzwa Busisiwe Mavis (38), appeared before Musina magistrate court and the matter was remanded to 26 June for formal bail application judgment,” said Capt Maluleke. According to the police, the suspect was arrested by police during routine border patrols.
It is alleged that on 11 May at around 06h00, South African police were performing their normal duties at the Beitbridge Port of Entry under the Musina policing area when they searched Thundedzwa’s luggage.
During the search, the police found 15x Crystal Methamphetamine drugs with an estimated street value of over R2 million. Further, preliminary investigations revealed that Thundedzwa was travelling from Harare in Zimbabwe to South Africa.
The smuggling of drugs and explosives between Zimbabwe and South Africa’s boundary line has been on the increase.
Over 40 people have been arrested between 2015 and 2017 while smuggling similar contrabands between the two countries. In 2015 two women from Bulawayo aged 41 and 23 were fined R20 000 each for smuggling 180 detonators into the neighbouring country.
The other group of 14 men was intercepted in July 2014 at an illegal entry point along the Limpopo River carrying a contraband of detonators worth R350 000 and were fined R30 000 each
Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change led by Nelson Chamisa has expressed displeasure with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) over the absence of Zimbabwe on the regional grouping’s agenda.
The party’s deputy spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, sid that Zimbabwe must be on the agenmda of Troika. He projects civil unrest as workers threaten industrial action over deteriorating salaries, a situation he feels should have been discussed by SADC.
He said, “Given the disputed election in Zimbabwe, the country is supposed to be an agenda and not a chair of any of the organs of the regional body.”
With great respect to the region, there is need to take the deteriorating situation in the country seriously before the country implodes. It is worrying that key government services such as health and education sectors are being manned by disgruntled civil servants whose can hardly buy 50 loaves of bread.
However, SADC executive secretary, HE Stergomena Lawrence Tax, revealed that Zimbabwe will not be on the agenda when the bloc meets in Tanzania in August.
Tax said, “I have never received anything surrounding Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will not be on the agenda at the summit and we can’t discuss issues that are outside the agenda. Who is pushing for Zimbabwe to be on the agenda?
Meanwhile, Tax revealed that president Emerson Mnangagwa will be assuming the chairmanship of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security in August at the SADC forthcoming summit to be held in Tanzania.
State Media|Government is working on modalities to introduce a new currency, which will be the sole legal tender for domestic transactions as fundamentals have now been put in place, President Mnangagwa has said.
In an interview with business media outlet, Bloomberg, on the sidelines of the 12th US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique, on Thursday, the President said “it is necessary that we have our own currency” since it is presently difficult to determine the level of money supply in the economy.
“Then, of course, there is an issue which is critical also for any economy: this is the question of currency. I am not aware of any country which has no currency of its own, but that is not my field – I am a lawyer – but except for Zimbabwe, I haven’t been told of another country which doesn’t have its own currency. Even poor countries have currencies from what I hear, so we intend to introduce our own,” said President Mnangagwa.
The value of the new currency, he added, would be tethered to the country’s economic activities and assets. He said the name of the local unit would be inconsequential as long as it meets the set objectives of sustainably growing the local economy.
“The name of the local currency? You know Deng Xiaoping of China? The cat doesn’t need to be white or black as long as it catches mice, so the name of the currency to me is not a critical issue; the critical issue is we must have a domestic currency by whatever name.
“We must have a domestic currency so that will be the currency which we will use for transactions in the country. Anybody who has US dollars or a tonne of pounds must go to the bank and change and transact . . . the money supply will relate also to our GDP; it will relate to the volume of assets we have; to development of infrastructure in the country,” he said.
According to President Mnangagwa, notwithstanding current headwinds such as drought and power outages currently plaguing the economy, encouraging growth in key economic sectors such as mining and tourism would ably support the envisaged currency. “And I believe that with the things we are doing in various sectors of the economy — in industry, in tourism, in agriculture and so on and so on — I think that our GDP is going to grow, and I have no doubt that the issue of it being RTGS or not is not critically important.
“But the fact of the matter will be that, you see, wealth creation is in progress. We are having our volumes in platinum going up on a monthly basis; in diamonds, on a daily basis; in chrome, on a daily basis; in other minerals, on a daily basis. So I don’t see any constraint that will again drive us back, unless we change our policies. For now we are focused on reforming our economy so that we become competitive in the world market . . .”
Official Treasury statistics indicate the economy grew by 6 percent last year.
Separately, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube also told the US-based media company that Government has successfully brought both the fiscal deficit and current account deficit under control.
This could critically support the new currency, he said, adding that a new currency would likely give tailwinds to the country’s economic growth efforts. “But I think the long-term goal, as His Excellency has said, you cannot develop without your own domestic currency, without the monetary-sector leg in terms of macro management — that is very, very critical . . . So, in terms of macro fundamentals, actually, maybe we were a bit unlucky, but the fundamentals are in place. So there is no way that issuance of Treasury Bills or fiscal deficits are causing growth in money supply and, therefore, posing risk to currency value.
“That is not the case. So it’s something else that is driving the parallel rate — so many speculators,” he said.
There have been fears that the market is likely to heavily discount the new currency once it is introduced because of rising inflation, which peaked to 97,8 percent year-on-year for May.
But Treasury believes the rate of inflation has been negative in US dollar terms as the cost of goods and services in hard currency is now relatively cheaper than in the past.
However, the rate has been rising in RTGS after decoupling the exchange rate from the greenback.
Professor Ncube said Government has made solid progress in its endeavour to stabilise the economy after reducing its domestic debt and narrowed the current account deficit by sharply reducing imports, particularly of luxury goods.
Token payments are also being made to the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, among other creditors.
Further, the US$3 billion debt owed through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)’s overdraft facility has been expunged.
Prof Ncube said: “We have expunged that. So if you go into that account, it is zero. So what we did first of all, we stopped borrowing money from the overdraft window, and number two, we have securitised that US$3 billion.
“We have found a smart way of securitising: turned it into long-term bonds of between five years, 10 years, 15 years. It is done. So we solved that problem.”
South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni recently indicated that it would be reasonable and sensible for Harare to begin using its own currency.
By Own Correspondent- Former ZANU-PF member, Professor Jonathan Moyo has blasted president Mnangagwa and Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube for contradicting each other regarding the introduction of the new Zimbabwean currency.
Moyo said the duo do not understand what they are doing as they issue different dates on when the new currency will be introduced.
He said that Mnangagwa was the first to announce that by year-end Zimbabwe will be with a new currency.
Ncube however recently said that the purported new currency will be introduced in nine months which translate to March next year.
Moyo tweeted:
#ZimNewCurrencyDates 7 June 2019: Mnangagwa tells the world from Harare that Zim to have a new currency by end of the year. 21 June 2019: Mnangagwa & @MthuliNcube tell the world from Maputo that Zim to have a new currency by March 2020. Do they know what they’re talking about?
By A Correspondent- Chivhu magistrate, Felix Chauromwe, has sentenced three Chivhu men to spend 12 months in jail for possessing fake US$30 notes each.
The trio, Tafadzwa Mudzingwa (29), Pilani Moyo (24) and Edinos Jakwi (23) on Thursday pleaded guilty when they of the charges laid down against them.
One of the accused, Moyo, told the court that he got the fake notes from South Africa.
Representing the State, prosecutor Thomas Mushangidze, told the court that the trio was arrested after the police got a tipoff on June 18, 2019, that Mudzingwa and Moyo were in possession of counterfeit notes. The police searched the pair at their residence and recovered three US$10 notes and one R200 note.
The duo later implicated Jakwi who was also arrested.
The recovered notes were taken to CBZ Bank in Chivhu, where certificates of counterfeit notes were issued.-Newsday
