GOSPEL musician, Mathias Mhere, will today release his eighth album “Greater than Solomon”, with CDs of his latest offering selling at the launch to be held at The Venue in Avondale, Harare.
Mhere said CDs of his album were ready and would soon hit the market starting at tonight’s event.
He revealed that a line-up of top musicians headlines his album launch with gospel outfit Vabati VaJehovha, Jonah Chivasa and Fungisai Zvakavapono-Mashavave being on the list.
“Everything is now in place and we have done our home work in as far as preparations for the great event are concerned,” said Mhere.
“We are at an advanced stage with CDs are ready to enter the market. Tickets for tonight’s event are were about to be sold out meaning people are buying our tickets. We are now waiting to take the CDs into the market. “I can confirm that artistes like Jah Prayzah, Sulumani Chimbetu among others indicated that they would be attending the launch,” he said.
Mhere said Prophet T Freddie would be the guest of honour with socialite Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure also attending the launch.
The 10-track album is set to inspire many people through songs loaded with repentance and restoration messages. It also gives sermons on the gospel of redemption.
Mhere on his song titled “Ndizarurire”, prays to God for intervention into the lives of people who are failing to prosper in their lives. He featured Jah Prayzah on “Jerusarema” where he speaks of salvation and restoration.
Mhere also preaches of guidance in the song “Hembe Yemubhero” equating a human body to a temple which is sacred and shun acts of infidelity.
He talks of love, tenderness and kindness in the song “Munhu Haasekwe”.
Mhere also tells of how Satan uses different ways to influence one’s life in the song “Kamushini”.
But he celebrates the gifts and blessings from God in the song “Jakuchichi”. He revisited the life of his late brother in a song called “Chipangamazano”, which he said are testimonies of a life his brother lived.State media
GOSPEL musician, Mathias Mhere, will today release his eighth album “Greater than Solomon”, with CDs of his latest offering selling at the launch to be held at The Venue in Avondale, Harare.
Mhere said CDs of his album were ready and would soon hit the market starting at tonight’s event. He revealed that a line-up of top musicians headlines his album launch with gospel outfit Vabati VaJehovha, Jonah Chivasa and Fungisai Zvakavapono-Mashavave being on the list.
“Everything is now in place and we have done our home work in as far as preparations for the great event are concerned,” said Mhere.
“We are at an advanced stage with CDs are ready to enter the market. Tickets for tonight’s event are were about to be sold out meaning people are buying our tickets. We are now waiting to take the CDs into the market. “I can confirm that artistes like Jah Prayzah, Sulumani Chimbetu among others indicated that they would be attending the launch,” he said.
Mhere said Prophet T Freddie would be the guest of honour with socialite Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure also attending the launch. The 10-track album is set to inspire many people through songs loaded with repentance and restoration messages. It also gives sermons on the gospel of redemption.
Mhere on his song titled “Ndizarurire”, prays to God for intervention into the lives of people who are failing to prosper in their lives. He featured Jah Prayzah on “Jerusarema” where he speaks of salvation and restoration.
Mhere also preaches of guidance in the song “Hembe Yemubhero” equating a human body to a temple which is sacred and shun acts of infidelity.
He talks of love, tenderness and kindness in the song “Munhu Haasekwe”. Mhere also tells of how Satan uses different ways to influence one’s life in the song “Kamushini”. But he celebrates the gifts and blessings from God in the song “Jakuchichi”.
He revisited the life of his late brother in a song called “Chipangamazano”, which he said are testimonies of a life his brother lived.
STAKEHOLDERS in Bulawayo yesterday convened a meeting to look for solutions to Vuzu parties, a social vice seen as promoting immorality among youths.
The meeting, organised by the Bulawayo chapter of Junior Chamber International in partnership with Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) and Betterman Foundation, sought to enquire into the Vuzu parties culture rocking the city. School-going children are reportedly attending the parties, where drug abuse and sex orgies are commonplace.
Participants at the meeting said the culture posed a threat to the future of the young generation and must be stopped forthwith.
Junior Chamber International president for Bulawayo chapter Sinqobile Ndlovu said there was need for evidence-based policy and dialogue interventions to curb the vice.
Trevor Gurajena, a youth representative gave a background of the parties.
“Vuzu parties started as a plain party, where children would go and dance to music, but nowadays they indulge in sexual activities, as well as abuse drugs and alcohol,” Gurajena said.
“There are different types of Vuzu parties and these include the plain Vuzu party, the $5-Vuzu party, where there would be a minimum of 10 girls and 10 men who get into a sex competition. The one who sleeps with all the girls becomes the king and the lady who sleeps with all the boys becomes the queen; they also share the money obtained from the attendance fee,” he explained.
Gurajena said there was another Vuzu-party type called “Slash”, which involved adults who form groups of singles, widows, widowers and divorcees.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Affairs minister Judith Ncube described Vuzu parties in the city as a threat to future generations.
Participants noted that parents of most of the teenagers who host the Vuzu parties were in the diaspora.
Police have started coming up with measures to thwart the Vuzu activities.
“We, as the (Zimbabwe Republic Police) have started investigations into the problem, but we believe we can work together as parents and teachers to stop this behaviour,” Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said.
Personnel from the health sector said Vuzu parties were a health threat to all those who partook in them.
They said participants risked contracting and spreading sexually transmitted infections and HIV.
Government is working on modalities to introduce a new currency, which will be the sole legal tender for domestic transactions, within the next nine months, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the 12th US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique, yesterday, 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 I am told that 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,” he said
Separately, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube also indicated 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. . .”
Government, he said, has successfully brought both the fiscal deficit and current account deficit under control and, therefore, this could critically support the new currency.
“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 its something else that is driving the parallel rate – so many speculators.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has all but confessed that the United States told him to deal with issues of political reforms in the country before engaging in any meaningful talks with the US.
Speaking to journalists last night on arrival from Mozambique where he attended the 12th US-Africa Business Summit, President Mnangagwa said he had fruitful discussions with US Assistant Secretary (Bureau of African Affairs) at the US State Department, Mr Tibor Nagy, during which he allayed fears of possible delays in the repealing of AIPPA and POSA.
“There was also a delegation that came that was led by the State Ambassador Tibor Nagy of America. They raised their concerns; we also raised our concern. They worried about the delay of the repeal of AIPPA and POSA, but we have told them that those pieces of legislation are already in Parliament and are progressing very well. We believe that before August those Bills will go through.”
Nagy met with Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa on the sidelines of the US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique where he stressed the importance of real political reforms.
Nagy posted on Twitter saying that he had told Mnangagwa the importance to hold security forces accountable for violence committed against Zimbabweans in August 2018 and January 2019. Nagy tweeted:
“I met with Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa today. I stressed the urgent need to hold security forces accountable for acts of violence committed against Zimbabweans including in August 2018 and January/February 2019 and the importance of real political and economic reforms.”
The Zimbabwean government used the current diabolical POSA to deal with citizens who protested against a crumbling economy in January where members of the army shot live shots killing innocent citizens.
The same law was used in August last year to deal with citizens who were protesting delays in announcing the July 31st Presidential election result. Several people were also killed in the process.
In his confession, Mnangagwa, said that Zimbabwe is committed to political reforms to open up democratic space in the Second Republic, while the process to replace the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Public Order and Security Act (POSA) is expected to be complete by August.
The Freedom of Information Bill will repeal AIPPA, while the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill will replace POSA.
Zimbabweans have however expressed unhappiness on the new laws claiming that they are the same old laws under a new name.
I Hon Douglas T. Mwonzora, do hereby accept the appointment given to me by the President Advocate Rev. Nelson Chamisa. Contrary to popular beliefs, after any election, those who are real leaders work with the winner to build up the people’s project.
I pledge my total and unwavering support, to my Hon President and to values that he represents. We will be led by our Joshua, to the promised Land. I urge all my supporters to embrace and work with the People ‘s President. To the Zimbabweans, Let us join together to fight ZANU Pf and determine for ourselves a better future. Our President will be in the state house this year.
By A Correspondent| Zanu-PF Youth leader Lewis Matutu has threatened to name and shame all the children of ministers who are involved in illegal foreign currency trading.
Matutu who is the ruling Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Youth, as well as the Deputy Secretary for the Youth League, claimed that he was going to help clean the Zanu-PF house by naming all the corrupt Zanu-PF officials on Monday.
However, he did not explain why he is waiting for Monday to shame the economic saboteurs despite claiming that he is receiving death threats.
Besides the threats Matutu remains adamant that he will not be deterred from his move.
Matutu’s statement comes after four police detectives were arrested for under-declaring money seized during a raid on an illegal foreign currency trading business owned by the son of a Cabinet minister.
The detectives raided number 3 Sanfenand Flats on Fife Avenue in Harare, the offices of Neville Mutsvangwa, and found US$200,000 in cash.
Neville is the son of Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and former presidential adviser Chris Mutsvangwa, who are known to frequent his office.
The 2,400-megawatt Batoka Gorge plant has been planned for years by the two southern African nations, both of which are struggling with electricity shortages after a drought curbed hydropower output. General Electric and Power China are in a consortium that was shortlisted in February to build the facility.
“Zambia and Zimbabwe have agreed on this project. We have all agreed that we give it to GE — China Power and GE together,” Mnangagwa said in an interview Wednesday in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, where he was attending a conference. “It’s critical that we move fast on that front because it’s necessary that as we industrialize that we need electricity.”
While the project will address electricity shortages, it’s on the same river — the Zambezi — that has left the Kariba hydropower dam downstream too empty to function at full capacity.
GE said in an emailed response to questions that the Zambezi River Authority, which manages power plants on the river, had said it would appoint a final developer for the project by September. As part of the consortium, GE would have a “material role in the development and execution of the project,” including the design and supply of hydropower technologies, it said.
BOT Financing
Zambian Energy Minister Matthew Nkhuwa said he wasn’t available to comment. The project will be based on a build-operate-transfer financing model and won’t put any fiscal strain on the two nations’ governments, Nkhuwa said in February.
The $4 billion cost of the project includes amounts for civil works, construction and power turbines, among other things, GE said on Thursday. The African Development Bank said in September it has begun mobilizing funds for the plant.
Other bidders that had been shortlisted included Salini Impregilo SpA of Italy and a joint venture comprising China Three Gorges Corp., China International Water & Electric Corp. and China Gezhouba Group Co., according to Nkhuwa.
The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC is pushing for sweeping changes and restructuring of its internal affairs and financial systems in an effort to endear itself to supporters and attract funding.
The party’s national council meeting yesterday approved an external audit of the organisation, debt payments and overhaul of its entire workforce, to give the newly-elected treasurer-general and secretary general a new lease of life.
Speaking at a Press conference yesterday, Chamisa announced the sweeping changes, saying apart from the audit the party was going to uplift its headquarters.
“We made the point that we are making a turn as a party so there are a number of far-reaching changes that we have made,” Chamisa said.
Having failed to fund its election machinery in the past elections in terms of polling agents and advertising, owing to poor funding, the MDC is opening its books to external auditors.
Party secretary-general Chalton Hwende said the MDC receives taxpayers’ money and should, therefore, open itself to audit to enhance transparency and restore trust in the organisation.
The MDC will receive a war chest of $4 million from Treasury earmarked to clear its debts which include employee salaries, bills and other obligations.
The money will also be used to refurbish a dilapidated party headquarters, the Morgan Tsvangirai House (formerly Harvest House) to enhance the party’s appeal.
“There is an appointment of auditors. As an institution, we must have our books audited, we have to do things in a better fashion not like Zanu PF who we have never heard that they audited their books. Harvest House is going to be a different building very soon. We don’t want you to come to Harvest House and not have tea and coffee, so yes, we are sprucing up our image,” Chamisa said.
On the situation in the country, Chamisa said Zimbabwe was sliding into anarchy, owing to a failing economy and repression of human rights defenders.
“When it comes to peace and security in the country, the situation is sliding into dire circumstances. There is a dark cloud hanging over the country in terms of the tensions, the stalemate and the political discussions that are supposed to be done,” he said.
“We have pledged that we need peace, we need change in Zimbabwe and that can only be done by our ability to work together through managing political dialogue to resolve the issues.”
Chamisa said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has failed to run the country and fallen into servitude of inflation.
“Government can no longer control the economy, it’s now being controlled by the new government called inflation. The government of the day is also being controlled by inflation, they have lost control… we have the answers to these problems, we have put a raft of measures through our smart economy; what we have said is the best approach to resolve these issues,” Chamisa said. He accused government of clamping down on basic and fundamental freedoms.
“The major challenge we face is that citizens are no longer safe locally or abroad. This is because of the arrests that we have seen, attacks on the opposition, civil society, trade union leadership; attacks on political views perceived or real,” Chamisa said.
The MDC has since threatened to demonstrate against the Zanu PF-led government.
“We are not happy with the reform path the country is on. It is based on deception, fake and piecemeal reforms that are not attending to the real issues,” Chamisa said.
By A Correspondent- Harare Magistrate, Barbara Mateko, has issued the president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), Obert Masaraure with a warrant of arrest after he failed to report to a police station.
Masaraure is accused of trying to overthrow a constitutionally-elected government by urging people to protests against the fuel hikes.
The state represented by Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa told the court that Masaraure, who is on remand violated his bail conditions by not reporting to the police station. The Artuz leader was ordered by the court to report to the police once every week.
The prosecutor reported that Masaraure failed to report to the police on June 7 and 14 as he was supposed to.
Mutizirwa also added that State security agents also visited his workplace at Chemhanza High School in Hwedza, but failed to locate him. As proof, the prosecutor presented two letters written by the school headmaster and his deputy confirming Masaraure’s absence from work.
Magistrate Mateko then issued Masaraure with a warrant of arrest as requested by the State.
By A Correspondent- A gang of six men allegedly raided a house in Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi suburb and pepper-sprayed a family member before getting away with R7 000.
The gang attacked Mr Bhekimpilo Mukonka (28) at his family’s home on Wednesday at about 3:15PM pretending to be looking for his father who is a cross border transporter (umalayitsha).
“We are investigating a plain robbery case which occurred in Mzilikazi suburb on Wednesday in the afternoon. Six unknown male adults visited the complainant’s home asking to see his father who is a cross border transporter. The complainant, however, told them that his father was not at home. That’s when they pushed him inside the house as they pepper sprayed him on the face and subdued him.”
Pepper spray is a chemical compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain and temporary blindness that is used in policing, riot control, crowd control and self-defence but some criminals are resorting to its use.
“The suspects are said to have demanded cash,” she said.
“They are said to have ransacked the house, entered one of the bedrooms where they retrieved R7 000 and got away with it. The suspects escaped in a white Honda Fit which had no number plates.”
Asst Insp Msebele said police suspect that the six suspects could have had information that their victim was keeping large sums of money at home.
“This was not a random attack. We believe the suspects had some information on their victim. They knew who the victim’s father was and that he had money in his house. We suspect that this was a well calculated raid by people who could be his close contacts. We are therefore appealing for information that would lead to the suspects’ arrest to come forward,” said Asst Insp Msebele.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- The revival of the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) has created jobs for more than 1 200 people and more drivers and conductors are set to be hired countrywide starting next month.
Zupco acting chief executive officer, Mr Everisto Madangwa, said the bus company is set to increase its fleet to service more routes countrywide for the convenience of members of the public. Mr Madangwa was speaking on Wednesday in an interview following the launch of Zupco’s e-ticketing system in Bulawayo.
“In Bulawayo we have 72 Zupco moving buses. But we need twice that number. Countrywide we are looking at eventually having 3 000 buses to service everyone. That will be the full capacity of our buses that will cover all areas and all angles of the moving public. That is where we are heading and it’s a process to gradually build our capacity. And we can rest assure everyone that something is happening,” he said.
Mr Madangwa said so far they have 325 buses but more are on the way. He said the revival of the company has also contributed to job creation which is expected to continue once more buses are in the country.
“We are at the moment talking about plus or minus 1 200 people who have been employed since inception.
“We have definitely made a contribution towards employment because the 1 200 people I’m talking about were not employed before but are now on the Zupco workforce,” said Mr Madangwa.
He said the Zupco e-ticketing system is convenient and will eliminate revenue leakages.
The e-ticketing system allows members of the public to pre-pay bus fare and are given a card that is scanned each time they intend to board a bus. “We are trying to eradicate the system where people use cash to pay their bus fares. This is a situation where you pay your bus fare in advance. We are trying to introduce efficiencies in managing our business. One of the efficiencies that we want to have is to curb revenue pilferage. So the curbing of revenue pilferage is done through this introduction of this electronic card which is used for collection of revenue,” said Mr Madangwa.
He said the system is now operational in Bulawayo and Harare and is set to be introduced in other provinces throughout the country.
Zupco southern region general manager Mr Tineyi Ruwasoka said the bus company is in the process of perfecting schedules that its buses will use.
Mr Ruwasoka said they are working to effectively service all routes.
Speaking at the launch, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister, Cde Judith Ncube, urged Bulawayo residents to embrace the Zupco tap card e-ticketing system as it reduces hurdles associated with paying transport fares.-StateMedia
UTM Party president Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC) has endorsed the cause of civil society organisations under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) who have organised nationwide mass protests on Thursday June 20 to force Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah and other commissioners to resign, saying his supporters are free to join.
The coalition has organised mass protests as they argue that alleges that the current MEC led by Ansah has failed Malawians; hence, the need for the commissioners to resign.
Chilima, who is the country’s immediate past vice-president, is backing the calls for the immediate resignation of Ansah for allegedly failing the nation.
And speaking at a ‘thank you’ political rally he addressed at Masintha Ground in the capital Lilongwe on Sunday, Chilima urged his followers to turn up at the CSO’s organised mass protests.
He said people have a Constitutional right and civic duty to hold peaceful demonstrations, saying the police should only protect the protestors and not give harsh response such as spraying “tax-funded tear gas”.
“Demonstrations are a right and nobody should limit the space. Let us join the CSOs in the streets,” said Chilima.
In his televised rally before thousands of supporters, Chilima, who finished third with slightly over one million votes, said: “No one is saying no to demonstrations. It is a right to demonstrate and peacefully without intimidation.”
He further said if there will be need for the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to come in from the barrack, they should also be like Police to exercise their duty to protecting Malawians and that if there will be harsh response from the cops, the soldiers should protect the citizens.
“Let me warn the police to avoid intimidating people. Let the people demonstrate peacefully and don’t spray teargas on them. It is their right, there is no need for teargas,” said Chilima.
Chilima at the rally kept referencing the National Anthem, highlighting the party which says: “Join together all our hearts as one, that we be free from fear.”
Punching his clenched fist in the air as part of UTM symbol, Chilima stressed: “Osaopa! [Free from fear”.
Earlier, UTM vice president Micheal Usi said people cannot be subjected to hold their anger, saying they will demonstrate when it’s bottled up.
He said people’s anger is drawn from MEC’s failure to handle elections in a credible manner.
“We should not accept this fraudulent election results. If we accept then we are doomed for 2024. If they used Tippex (white correctional fluid) in this election then in 2024 they will rig results using paint,” he said.
Governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali said the Constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate anytime provided the right procedures are followed.
Meanwhile, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) who are also challenging the May 21 Tripartite Elections results in court, have, through their spokesperson the Reverend Maurice Munthali supported the HRDC position.
National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said the police are ready to provide security for the demonstrators once clearance has been given by relevant authorities for the planned demonstrations to proceed.
In Lilongwe, HRDC plans the demonstrations to start from Lilongwe Community Centre ground through Mchesi-Kamuzu Central Hospital-Parliament to Civic Offices while in Blantyre, the planned route is from Kamuzu Stadium upper ground through Masauko Chipembere Highway to the Blantyre district commissioner’s office.
In Mzuzu, the demonstration is scheduled to start from Katoto via Mzuzu Clock Tower to the Mzuzu City Council Civic Offices and in Zomba from the community ground through Mponda Primary School ground to Zomba District Council offices.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe on Thursday signed a bilateral air service agreement with Mozambique, which paves the way for resumption of passenger and cargo air services between the two countries.
President Mnangagwa witnessed the signing ceremony.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Joel Matiza, represented Government while his counterpart, Carlos Mesquita, signed on behalf of Mozambique.
Minister Matiza said the agreement had previously been discontinued owing to viability issues.
“This agreement entails the free use of airspace between the two countries; that means Air Zimbabwe will be coming here, and any other airline from Zimbabwe will be coming here, and likewise Mozambique will do the same. That is the crux of the matter,” he said.
“First of all, this bilateral air service agreement had expired and we need to renew that, and secondly, viability was also an issue in terms of both airlines.”
Harare and Maputo are currently exploring ways of deepening economic relations as the new political administration ratchets up its economic diplomatic offensive.-State Media
By A Correspondent- State security agents are reportedly trying to illegally possess a farm belonging to Professor Jonathan Moyo, a former cabinet minister who fled into exile at the height of the November 2017 military coup.
The Zimbabwe Independent reports that Moyo bought the farm, Elephant Trust Farm measuring 623 hectares in 2001.
He parted away with the equivalent of US$105 401,84 after getting a loan from the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ).
Moyo got the farm for “free” under the controversial land reform programme but opted to pay for it in full to get a secure title.
His lawyers wrote letters to the Ministry of Lands alleging that state security agents are attempting to seize the farm.
In one of the letters seen by the Zimbabwe Independent, the lawyers wrote:
We write at the instruction of our client Professor Jonathan Moyo who instructs us as follows: He is the owner of the remainder of Patterson Farm, measuring 622,9125 hectares, otherwise known as the Elephant Trust Farm situated in the district of Mazowe.
However, despite our client’s ownership of the farm, various suspicious individuals have been visiting Elephant Trust Farm in recent weeks and months with the clear intention of disturbing our client’s peaceful ownership of and operations at the property.
For instance, on Friday 3 May 2019, an expansive team comprising government, army, police and Central Intelligence Organisation officers representing the Mashonaland Central provinces Joint Operations Command visited the farm for the apparent purpose of commencing a process of dispossessing Professor Jonathan Moyo of Elephant Trust Farm.
Moyo fled the country after special forces allegedly laid siege to his house during the coup.
MDC leader, advocate Nelson Chamisa has rallied behind the national senior men soccer team, the Warriors as they play 2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosts, Egypt, tonight.
Chamisa said that the team was carrying the nation’s pride.
He tweeted:
National teams define our collective pride and honour. Our Warriors start a great mission against the Pharaohs today. To the boys, the hopes and pride of the nation are upon your shoulders. Do your best to give us smiles and cheers! Go warriors Go.We send our best wishes!#Afcon19
There were fears that the Warriors would not be taking part in this year’s AFCON edition after they threatened to boycott their fixture over their unpaid USD9000 for each player.
The national football governing body, Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) was saying that it had paid the money on Wednesday, and produced bank transfer receipts as confirmation, but, the players insisted nothing had reflected in their bank accounts.
The players were also concerned that a number of them, notably, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Walter Musona and Ovidy Karuru had ended up meeting their medical bills.
The standoff between ZIFA and the Warriors was dissolved following intervention by the government through ICT Minister Kazembe Kazembe who also the chairs the 2019 AFCON Fund-raising Committee. Kazembe pleaded with the players to play whilst the government finds ways to make ZIFA address their grievances.
Despite agreeing to play, Warriors Captain, Musona said that he was sad to have spent much time focusing on issues rather than the match.
Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe’s biggest trade union the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has threatened to go on strike if government fails to pay workers in United States dollars.
ZCTU made the threats ahead of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) meeting set for the 26th of June.
“We called for and are attending a TNF meeting on 26 June with Government and Business.
“Workers demands are simple, pay us in a USD or equivalent at obtaining exchange rate #livingwage
“If nothing comes out, there is no other way, workers will STRIKE898:27 AM – Jun 20, 2019,” said ZCTU while posting on its Twitter account.
DEAL or GENERAL STRIKE
We called for and are attending a TNF meeting on 26 June with Government and Business.
Workers demands are simple, pay us in a USD or equivalent at obtaining exchange rate #livingwage
By A Correspondent- Harare Magistrate, Barbara Mateko, has issued the president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), Obert Masaraure with a warrant of arrest after he failed to report to a police station.
Masaraure is accused of trying to overthrow a constitutionally-elected government by urging people to protests against the fuel hikes.
The state represented by Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa told the court that Masaraure, who is on remand violated his bail conditions by not reporting to the police station. The Artuz leader was ordered by the court to report to the police once every week.
The prosecutor reported that Masaraure failed to report to the police on June 7 and 14 as he was supposed to.
Mutizirwa also added that State security agents also visited his workplace at Chemhanza High School in Hwedza, but failed to locate him. As proof, the prosecutor presented two letters written by the school headmaster and his deputy confirming Masaraure’s absence from work.
Magistrate Mateko then issued Masaraure with a warrant of arrest as requested by the State.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- American billionaire and founder of Tudor Investment Corporation and Hedge fund manager, Paul Tudor Jones II arrived in Chiredzi Thursday afternoon aboard a private jet.
The sixty-four-year-old who is also the founder of the Robin Hood Foundation reportedly flew into the country accompanied by his wife, Sonia Margret Jones and two of his four children.
Jones came for his annual visit to Malilangwe Conservancy Trust, where he is believed to be the major shareholder together with Singita Game Reserve in Tanzania.
He is expected to spend two weeks of his annual holiday in Zimbabwe at the five-star Singita Pamushana Lodge, a popular tourist destination for the world’s billionaires, which costs over $5 000 a night.
His entourage is believed to consists of seven other delegates including his friends, two pilots, a medical team and a few other staff members.
They were received at the Buffalo Range Airport by Malilangwe chief executive Mark Saunders.-Newsday
Jane Mlambo| United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols yesterday met with Zimbabwe Council of Churches Secretary General Rev Kenneth Mtata where they stressed on the need for inclusive dialogue to rescue the country from the jaws of poverty that it is currently trapped in.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is currently engaged in a political dialogue with 18 political parties without the main opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa.
The dialogue process officially launched a few weeks ago has been dismissed by Chamisa as a monologue and a choir to which Mnangagwa is a choir master.
The US Embassy acknowledged the role of the church in engaging key stakeholders towards sustainable peace in Zimbabwe.
“Amb. Brian A. Nichols met with Rev. Mtata, General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches yesterday, stressing the importance of an inclusive national dialogue. We acknowledge the hard work of churches in engaging key stakeholders towards sustainable peace in #Zimbabwe,” the US embassy posted on Twitter yesterday.
Amb. Brian A. Nichols met with Rev. Mtata, General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches yesterday, stressing the importance of an inclusive national dialogue. We acknowledge the hard work of churches in engaging key stakeholders towards sustainable peace in #Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/ruR93pnAxt
Jane Mlambo| Veteran trade unionist and Secretary General of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) Raymond Majongwe has trashed the appointment of prominent lawyer and constitutional expert Fadzayi Mahere to the position of Secretary for Education in the MDC saying it doesn’t inspire them.
Posting on Twitter, Majongwe questioned the logic behind Mahere’s appointment instead of an organic educationist within its rank.
“As the PTUZ the appointment of Fadzai Mahere does not inspire us at all. We can’t be told the whole MDC doesn’t have an organic Educationist of repute. Education is not for everyone,” said Majongwe.
Birds of the same feather, Nelson Chamisa and Cyril Ramaphosa
South African President Ramaphosa told South Africans that his African National Congress party is in its plans dreaming of setting up high-speed trains and technologically advanced cities as they deliver on their election promises.
Giving his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa said he foresees a bullet train that will service Johannesburg to Messina and other local routes.
We must improve the affordability, safety and integration of commuter transport for low-income households.
We also want a South Africa where we stretch our capacities to the fullest as we advance along the superhighway of progress. We want a South Africa that has prioritised its rail networks and is producing high-speed trains connecting our megacities and the remotest areas of our country.
We should imagine a country where bullet trains pass through Johannesburg as they travel from here to Musina, and they stop in Buffalo City on their way from Ethekwini back here.
Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa was heavily castigated in the run up to last year’s elections when he said his MDC party was also dreaming of a Zimbabwe with a bullet train that will service Harare and Bulawayo route.
The opposition leader also spoke of building spaghetti roads in the country which neighbouring South Africa already has in place.
High Court Judge Samuel Kudya on Wednesday yet again apparently blew away his desperate design to join the Supreme Court bench when he embaraased himself at the public interviews conducted by Chief Justice Luke Malaba.
Justice Kudya comically went into the interview with boxes of files which he claimed he was going to use as reference during the interview.
Kudya was among five judges who were being interviewed for promotion to the apex court.
Kudya was third to be interviewed among the five aspiring Supreme Court judges.
“It was in anticipation of the questions I am sure you would ask me,” he said when Justice Luke Malaba asked to explain the purpose of his luggage.
An unsatisfied Chief Justice Malaba directed the files should be taken away from him. Malaba said it was unheard of for an interviewee to bring documents to refer to while being interviewed.
“Unfortunately, we are not going to allow that. Questions are never anticipated,” Malaba said.
“You just have to answer them as they come. So, it’s unfortunate I will have to order that those boxes be removed.”
Kudya was appointed into the High Court by former President Robert Mugabe in 2004. Justice Kudya has also worked in the Fiscal Appeals Court.
This is not the first time that Kudya has attempted promotion to the Supreme Court and fumbled the interview. In 2016, When the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) was conducting interviews for four positions of judges of the Supreme Court Justice Kudya was unable to state the principle of collegiality and the doctrine of stare decisis, which he said maybe he knew it in its English version.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku who presided over the interview in 2016 slammed Kudya for being “lazy” after he only handed down two judgments in a full year while other judges had written more than 300.
“The pressure in the Supreme Court is more than at the High Court. Why should the Commission be convinced that you will write more judgments at the Supreme Court when you have not been writing at the High Court. Some of your fellow judges have written 330 judgments while you have written two,” said Chief Justice Chidyausiku, while interviewing Justice Kudya.
“If it was a small difference of about say 10, I would understand, but a discrepancy of about 200, we have problems with that.” Then Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba weighed in saying: “You wrote 12 judgments in 2013, it means you are not really working.” In response, Justice Kudya said he was once Acting Secretary of JSC, a position which consumed some of his time.
He said in some of the instances he disposed of some cases during pre-trial management meetings where one party would eventually withdraw. “So you are saying you are disposing the cases through arbitration and not through judgments?” asked Chief Justice Chidyausiku.
Kudya subsequently failed the interview.
This time around, Chief Justice Malaba was however kind enough suggesting to Judge Kudya to consider postponing the interview if he was not stable given that he has been hospitalised recently to which Kudya answered, “I think I am up to the task.”
Although Judge Kudya insisted that he was well, he showed signs of fatigue characterised by his late responses to oral questions.
His interview ended up taking an hour unlike those of the rest that lasted for an average of 40 minutes each.
Malaba said successful candidates will be announced soon.
Second Order read: Adjourned debate on motion on the Second Reading of the Education Amendment Bill.
Said Senator Rosemary Nyathi:
“I stand to add my voice on the Education Amendment Bill, particularly looking at Section 15 where it reads, “new section inserted after section 68 of Chapter 25:04. I am interested at Section 68 (a) (5) where it is written, “under no circumstances is a teacher allowed to beat a child”.
I want to put my argument to say, whilst the law cannot be written at long length, I think the clause ‘under no circumstance’ is a teacher allowed to beat a child because I am visualising a teacher who has students in a classroom. The students misbehave and the teacher is left without any option of disciplining a child. I am not saying disciplining is only by beating but I am saying, that Clause alone must be relooked into.
Why I argue this fact, I am told that Zimbabwe is 80% Christians, therefore, I want to quote from the Bible. I am quoting because I am told that one of the wisest men that ever lived on earth is Solomon. I am told that Solomon used 10 to 12% of brain he was the wisest. I just want to quote some few verses concerning disciplining with a rod that Solomon gave. If you read from the book of Proverbs Chapter 23 verse 13, it says, “do not withhold correction from a child for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die”.
Verse 14 says, “you shall beat him with a rod, you deliver his soul from hell’. If the Bible says, when a child misbehaves, he must be beaten, who are we to argue with the Bible I stand to be corrected Mr. Speaker Sir.
I think the Ministry of Education takes a long time to train a teacher and giving no opportunity for a teacher to discipline a child may also mean that we do not have confidence and trust in our Zimbabwean education system. I think a teacher is a reasonable person who knows where a child must be beaten or where the child must not be beaten. I think that clause ‘under no circumstances’ must be revised. I also want to further discuss – [HON. MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections.] –
Mr. Speaker Sir, I would also like to contribute on the same section but now looking at Section 68 (d) which says no pupil shall be excluded from school for non-payment of school fees. I also feel that this Section needs to be re-looked into because not all schools are Government Schools.
Some schools are private schools, and some are boarding schools. You will agree with me that if one child is send to a boarding school, the parents of that child must pay school fees because at a boarding school, the child pays for his electricity, she pays for her food and her upkeep. So, without paying of school fees, it means, we are rendering that school’s education non-viable. I think that section must also be relooked into.
Finally, on that same Section 68 (d), the last part of it says, ‘no pupil shall be excluded from school on the basis of pregnancy’. I recommend that, this part also needs to be rephrased into and should read, when a child becomes pregnant at school, that child should be send home to go and give birth and nurture the child, after which she can be readmitted to our education system.
If we pass such kind of a Bill, I am visualising a school where we have maybe 150 girls at a school and 50 are pregnant. I visited some maternity homes where there are doctors and nurses who are specialised in looking after pregnant women; they are failing to cope up. Now we want to transfer this duty to a school head and the teachers to look after the pregnant children at school.
I am also visualising a situation whereby you have a girl child quite specialised in sports, come time for sports the child cannot train or participate or have a chance to represent, her school or her country because she is pregnant and she is in the yard of a school. I think that also needs to be looked into. That in itself shows that whilst we are trying to protect the education imbalance between the boy child and the girl child, it also then shows us that we are not serious when we are talking about early child marriages. On the other hand, it is like we are encouraging early child marriages and on the other hand we are saying let us let our children get pregnant at school.
I think those three areas that I have talked about need re-considering. I certainly give credit to the Portfolio Committee on Education for doing a great job, coming up with such a Bill, I however give recommendation that they must go back and amend these three sections. It is our duty as Honourable Members to make sure that any Bill that passes through this Parliament must pass with utmost scrutiny and make sure that it is good for our generation and generations to come.
Finally, Mr. Speaker Sir, I understand that our education system in Zimbabwe is working very well. It is well looked up by many other countries. Zimbabwe in matters of education and in matters of literacy is number one in Africa followed by Tunisia. Why should we change things that are already working, replacing them with things that do not work? I thank you.”
By A Correspondent- Health Minister Obadiah Moyo says Zimbabwe is in a safe zone regarding the allocation of Anti Retroviral Drugs (ARV) despite the country’s economic collapse.
Moyo called on Zimbabweans living with the HIV virus not to panic as the country has enough stocks until 2020.
“On the first line of treatment, we have got adequate supplies up to the end of the first quarter next year. For the second line treatment, up to the end of this year but like I said, everything is under control.”
Moyo said the government, in a bid to improve medicine supplies, has decided to work directly with Indian suppliers.
“Eighty percent of our medicines come from India. At the same time we also learnt about how we could benefit by working as an African or Southern Africa group to bring medicines into Southern Africa by buying in bulk. This will make sure that it will be cheaper on arrival and at the same time the issue regarding special active pharmaceutical ingredients,” said Moyo.
“You know, the Indians are also buying from China these active ingredients; so we can also buy them from China. For the benefit of our manufacturers, it will be much cheaper because currently, they are just buying raw materials and those raw materials cost a lot of money because they have to be mixed but if we buy the active pharmaceutical ingredients, we will be saving a lot of money and currency. It was a big lesson and it is a meeting which is worthy attending each and every year.”
Zanu-PF Youth leader Lewis Matutu has threatened to name and shame all the children of ministers who are involved in illegal foreign currency trading.
Matutu who is the ruling Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Youth, as well as the Deputy Secretary for the Youth League, claimed that he was going to help clean the Zanu-PF house by naming all the corrupt Zanu-PF officials on Monday.
However, he did not explain why he is waiting for Monday to shame the economic saboteurs despite claiming that he is receiving death threats.
Besides the threats Matutu remains adamant that he will not be deterred from his move.
Matutu’s statement comes after four police detectives were arrested for under-declaring money seized during a raid on an illegal foreign currency trading business owned by the son of a Cabinet minister.
The detectives raided number 3 Sanfenand Flats on Fife Avenue in Harare, the offices of Neville Mutsvangwa, and found US$200,000 in cash.
Neville is the son of Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and former presidential adviser Chris Mutsvangwa, who are known to frequent his office.
State Media|Yesterday morning, President Emmerson Mnangagwa met officials from US industrial behemoth General Electric (GE), who have since expressed a strong commitment to supply medical equipment for the country’s major hospitals, including technology for electricity generating units at Hwange Power Station.
GE and China Power recently launched a joint bid for a contract to construct the 2 400-megawatt Batoka Gorge hydropower plant, which is being pursued by Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Government is leveraging on the US-Africa Business Summit, which ends today, to step up its re-engagement drive with private companies and multilateral stakeholders.
Ageing equipment at the thermal power plant is currently affecting output, which has worsened the country’s energy security situation.
Speaking after the meeting, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncuce said the US$120 billion-valued multinational conglomerate “is very serious about investing in Zimbabwe”.
“As you know, General Electric is a massive global company; US-based, and we have discussed different things. First of all, it was their involvement in infrastructure investment as an equipment supplier — technology supplier — this is around Hwange (Units) 1 and 4, but also around their involvement with Batoka Gorge,” said Prof Ncube.
“But also we talked about their involvement in the health sector; as you know they are a big supplier and manufacture for medical equipment globally, so they care about that sector. We would like our hospitals to be upgraded, at least the key hospitals of Parirenyatwa, Mpilo and other hospitals – at least those are the two big ones – but we would like four to five hospitals to be upgraded, so that was the nature of the discussions,” he said.
The parties also explored possible exploration of methane gas deposits that have remained largely unexploited, particularly in the western parts of the country.
GE, which was represented by Mr Farid Fezoua, who is the chief executive officer of the African unit, reportedly welcomed Government proposals.
Prof Ncube said: “But also we discussed the gas sector because they have a strong oil and gas division. We discussed about whether they could be involved in the exploration of gas in Zimbabwe as well. We have got methane gas deposits in the western parts of the country.
“So it was quite wide-ranging and they seemed to be welcoming every proposal that we put to them, and we will continue to explore the relationship with them, but they are very serious about being active in Zimbabwe.”
It is believed that growing business relations between US and China might make the 18-year embargo – which impede trade – untenable.
“This is part of the re-engagement exercise, you know this is a US company, they are a very important company, this is re-engagement at its best and private sector angles to re-engagement.
“Certainly the private sector is a key player in dealing with difficulties such as sanctions, absolutely, so we see the private sector in Zimbabwe playing an important role. Everyone will benefit from the lifting of sanctions . . ,” added Prof Ncube.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa returned home last night and was received at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Harare Metropolitan Province Oliver Chidawu, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Oppah Muchinguri, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, service chiefs and other senior government officials.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has all but confessed that the United States told him to deal with issues of political reforms in the country before engaging in any meaningful talks with the US.
Speaking to journalists last night on arrival from Mozambique where he attended the 12th US-Africa Business Summit, President Mnangagwa said he had fruitful discussions with US Assistant Secretary (Bureau of African Affairs) at the US State Department, Mr Tibor Nagy, during which he allayed fears of possible delays in the repealing of AIPPA and POSA.
“There was also a delegation that came that was led by the State Ambassador Tibor Nagy of America. They raised their concerns; we also raised our concern. They worried about the delay of the repeal of AIPPA and POSA, but we have told them that those pieces of legislation are already in Parliament and are progressing very well. We believe that before August those Bills will go through.”
Nagy met with Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa on the sidelines of the US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique where he stressed the importance of real political reforms.
Nagy posted on Twitter saying that he had told Mnangagwa the importance to hold security forces accountable for violence committed against Zimbabweans in August 2018 and January 2019. Nagy tweeted:
“I met with Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa today. I stressed the urgent need to hold security forces accountable for acts of violence committed against Zimbabweans including in August 2018 and January/February 2019 and the importance of real political and economic reforms.”
I met with Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa today. I stressed the urgent need to hold security forces accountable for acts of violence committed against Zimbabweans including in August 2018 and January/February 2019 and the importance of real political and economic reforms.
— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) June 19, 2019
The Zimbabwean government used the current diabolical POSA to deal with citizens who protested against a crumbling economy in January where members of the army shot live shots killing innocent citizens.
The same law was used in August last year to deal with citizens who were protesting delays in announcing the July 31st Presidential election result. Several people were also killed in the process.
In his confession, Mnangagwa, said that Zimbabwe is committed to political reforms to open up democratic space in the Second Republic, while the process to replace the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Public Order and Security Act (POSA) is expected to be complete by August.
The Freedom of Information Bill will repeal AIPPA, while the Maintenance of Peace and Order Bill will replace POSA.
Zimbabweans have however expressed unhappiness on the new laws claiming that they are the same old laws under a new name.
Former police Senior Assistant Commissioner Emmanuel Chimwanda has been appointed at the opposition MDC Secretary for Defence and Security.
Chimwanda was appointed by the party leader Nelson Chamisa in his new National Standing Committee announced on Wednesday.
Chamisa also appointed Costa Machingauta to the new position of Secretary for Intelligance
“We do not want weaknesses in the party. We must have intelligence. We must know what our opponent is planning. So yes, (Costa) Machingauta is going to be in charge of that.
“Mr Emmanuel Chimwanda, a former Assistant Commissioner whom we have worked with for a long time, is now going to head our Defence and Security,” Chamisa said.
Chimwanda was in 2009 appointed by then MDC leader and State Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to the post of director of security in the prime minister’s office.
Chimwanda is best remembered for the arrest of the late notorious war veterans leader Chenjerai Hitler Hunzvi.
Hunzvi had led Zanu (PF) supporters and war veterans on a violent orgy targeting opposition supporters in Bikita during the 2000 elections, in which the MDC, contesting for the first time since formation a year ago, whittled down Zanu PF’s parliamentary dominance.
He later dumped the police force insisting he would rather leave with his principles intact than take orders to allow some militant Zanu PF supporters to brutalise fellow citizens with impunity.
Chimwanda, who once served as Commissioner in the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), replaces ex-army Major Giles Mutsekwa.
The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has written to former president Ian Khama barring him from using some of the army’s facilities, a senior official said on Thursday.In a letter to Khama, BDF commander Placid Segokgo said the former Botswana leader should stop using the “BDF obstacle course at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks in Mogoditshane (a location in the capital Gaborone).”
“Sir, in keeping with BDF policy to all our retired members of the BDF and the general members of the public, I write to inform you that this facility, together with other such facilities such as the firing ranges and Animal Park, shall no longer be available to yourself, except with the express invitation of the BDF,” Segokgo said.
This is not the first time that the BDF has banned its former commander from using its resources.
Last year, Air Arm Commander, Seleka Phatshwane told Khama that he was no more allowed to fly any BDF aircraft as crew.
The University of Zambia Senate members were coerced into approving the controversial proposal to confer Honorary Doctorates on President Edgar Lungu and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emerson Mnangagwa.
On Friday, President Lungu and President Mnangagwa are expected to be conferred with Honorary Doctorates for good governance.
Lusaka Times reports that … some members of the Senate have revealed that they were duped into supporting the proposal.
The members who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were surprised that such a proposal was tabled in a meeting without following procedure.
“So an emergency Senate meeting was called via email and Senators were told that they will find the agenda as they go for the meeting,” one of the Senators explained.
“As we sat, the agenda was circulated and a write up to support the awarding of the two doctorates was attached. The VC (Vice Chancellor) was not in the meeting but was represented by the DVC (Deputy Vice Chancellor). She told everyone that if they want to find good in people they can always find it and vice versa. So people were asked to ratify the proposed names which is Edgar Lungu and Emerson Mnangagwa.”
The source added, “Then the union leader protested that this is not how things are done and asked why an exception was being made on this one.
“The DVC said they did not have much to say but to just ratify the proposal. So people asked why they were called to the meeting to rubber stamp something they don’t agree with. They were told a committee was constituted and chaired by Prof Baboo from the School of Medicine.”
“The argument was that the two (President Lungu and President Mnangagwa) were Alumni who ascended to the highest offices in the two countries.”
The source said the people refused to endorse the proposal leaving the DVC with no option but to asked for a proposer to which someone did and she then asked for a secondment to which someone else also did and that is how the meeting ended with all members of Senate dumb founded. READ MORE
Lecturers’ have announced an imminent shutdown as a result of what they termed, incapacitation. In a circular, they said salaries have drastically fallen to the equivalent of a paltry US$200 per month.
This salary now fails to take any family person for a week hence we wish to notify you that we are now incapacitated, they said in the statement.
Workers at the University of Zimbabwe also made urgent requests from their employer asking for domestic items such as firewood.
A notice signed by Hlabati Taderera, the worker’s committee secretary reads, “having realised the criticalness of our work, we are now requesting the following on behalf of the workforce, student accommodation be used by employees who are no longer affording transport fares to and from work. Our members are at crossroads and we hope the above requests will be granted by June 21, 2019 to avoid disruption of smooth running of university business.”
Mnangagwa arrives at RG Mugabe Airport without Chiwenga to receive him.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa returned to the country last night from a four day visit to Mozambique where he attended the 12th US-Africa Business Summit, but, Acting President Costantino Chiwenga was conspicuously absent at the Robert Mugabe International Airport to welcome his boss back as protocol would require.
President Mnangagwa was received was instead received back home by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Harare Metropolitan Province Oliver Chidawu, Minister of Defence and War Veterans Oppah Muchinguri, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, service chiefs and other senior government officials.
Chiwenga’s absence all but confirmed rumours that were strongly disputed by ZANU PF defenders that the Vice President was ill and never attended to his acting duties that were instead being carried out by Muchinguri.
Not seen in public in almost a month, the ailing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was left as Acting President on Tuesday .
Chiwenga was too sick to attend the usual welcome handshake rituals at the Robert Mugabe International Airport on both Mnangagwa’s departure and his arrival. Second Vice President Kembo Mohadi, 69, was also absent on both occasions he too reported to be receiving treatment in South Africa.
Muchinguri was the most senior ranking government official at the airport, and spoke briefly with Mnangagwa.
Chiwenga was airlifted to India on May 18 and did not return home until June 9. He has not been seen in public even after his return. He missed a meeting between Mnangagwa and leaders of some opposition parties on June 14 and also did not attend Cabinet on Tuesday this week.
Government sources said Chiwenga, whose ailment has not been disclosed, was “still indisposed”.
Mohadi, meanwhile, is also understood to have been flown to South Africa where he regularly goes for treatment. The nature of his chronic illness has not been disclosed.
State Media|Live broadcast of Africa Cup of Nations matches by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation hangs in the balance, as the national broadcaster is battling to secure €700 000 (about US$791 000) required to secure broadcast rights for the soccer jamboree that kicks 0ff in Egypt today.
Zimbabwe’s national senior men’s soccer team is part of the African soccer extravaganza, with the team having attracted a lot of attention both locally and internationally as they square up in the opening match of the tournament against the hosts.
ZBC chief executive officer Mr Patrick Mavhura said in a meeting with members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services during a tour of the briadcaster’s premises yesterday that they were not sure if they would bring the matches to Zimbabweans, who are following their team with keen interest.
ZBC’s director of productions and television services Mr Robson Mhandu also told the committee that they were engaging Kwese TV to access the rights in a barter deal, although nothing had been finalised yet.
“As we speak, we might not be able to broadcast Afcon which begins tomorrow as we are battling to access rights which are going for 700 000 euros,” said Mr Mavhura.
“To be very honest, we don’t have a definite answer; we have a lot of processes underway to the extent that our parent ministry (Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services) had to write a letter to one of the partners we are negotiating with, which we have taken there.
“We knew there was Afcon and efforts have been underway (to secure the rights) ever since.”
Mr Mavhura said the Southern Africa Broadcasters’ Association had also written to the African Union of Broadcasters raising concern on the high costs of the rights.
“SABA, which is an affiliate of AUB, wrote the president of the AUB complaining about the exorbitant charges of these rights,” he said. “So, we have been negotiating as a regional group. Outside that regional group, us as ZBC, we have also been looking for sponsorship to the extent that they had said, ‘Ok we can reduce the price for you ZBC to US$250 000’ and what we were doing was to look for 25 sponsors who can contribute US$10 000 each so that we could secure (the rights), but they said you cannot broadcast live matches, you will delay the matches by six hours.
“So, a lot of efforts have been underway to make sure that we broadcast the matches.”
On their negotiations with Kwese, Mr Mhandu said they were waiting for the agreement to be signed.
“To go for the cost-effective way of acquiring the rights, we approached Kwese on the basis that we have worked with them before to acquire the rights in a cost-effective manner and we were going to go for a barter deal where we exchange the acquisition of the rights with (advertising) airtime because that is the resource that we have and it’s the resource that we control,” he said.
“We have been negotiating with Kwese, with all promises that we will have the rights well before the beginning of the 2019 Afcon tournament. As of now we are being promised and we are ready with all documentation to just sign and that’s what we are hoping for.”
AHEAD of the 2019 World Cup in Russia last year, experts wondered how the Pharaohs — making their return to the global football showcase — would do well either without their talisman Mohamed Salah, or with the forward not in prime condition after an injury in the UEFA Champions League final.
They were proved right. The Pharaohs lost 0-1 to Uruguay with Salah on the bench in the first game, were hammered 1-3 by hosts Russia in the second match with the forward scoring their only goal but clearly not 100 percent match fit, and then crashing to a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia.
Again, Salah scored in the match. But, three defeats in as many World Cup matches wasn’t the kind of return to the World Cup for the first time in 29 years, which the Pharaohs had been hoping for and Argentine coach Hector Cuper had to leave.
He was replaced by Mexican Javier Aguirre, who has the responsibility of leading them to glory in this Nations Cup finals, where success could also help him lift some of the personal gloom related to some match-fixing allegations in Spain which continue to haunt him.
Experts picked out, ahead of the World Cup, that despite Salah’s talents, the former coach Cuper always trusted going with a defensive approach and the over-reliance in the Liverpool man was, at times, a weakness.
“Egypt may have one of the best players in the world in Mohamed Salah, but do not let that fool you — this is a team set up very defensively under Héctor Cúper,’’ the experts who did the tactical run-down for The Guardian newspaper noted.
“In his first 35 games as Egypt manager, the Argentinian conceded only 20 goals.
“The Liverpool striker is indeed Egypt’s biggest strength, (but) the over-dependence on Salah could, however, be a major weakness. “Egypt needs its men in the midfield, like Mohamed Elneny to create opportunities for the team’s superstar. The 25-year-old midfielder’s role could be crucial for the Pharaohs, and the two holding midfielders, Mohamed Elneny and Tarek Hamed usually sit deep.
“Egypt may struggle to score many goals, but teams usually find them hard to break them down. In March this year, the Pharaohs were beaten 0-1 in a friendly international in Nigeria in the same stadium where the Warriors emerged with a goalless draw against the Super Eagles and there was concern here that Aguirre had failed to find a solution to the team’s weaknesses.
“The game showed that the players do not know how to deal with the cross-balls well, which posed a great threat to the goalkeeper,’’ noted the analysis from Egyptian newspaper, Daily News.State media
State Media|Government last night intervened to end a crippling impasse between the national soccer governing body, ZIFA, and the senior men’s team — the Warriors — to pave the way for the team to fulfil their opening 2019 AFCON finals’ game against Egypt here tonight.
The match was hanging in the balance for the better part of the day yesterday after players threatened to boycott unless they each got US$9 000.
The players said they had been promised by ZIFA the money would reflect in their bank accounts by Tuesday.
However, a tsunami hit their camp yesterday when players claimed nothing had reflected in their accounts and issued an ultimatum that they would not fulfil the fixture.
Yesterday evening’s final training session was cancelled as the players were locked in a meeting with ZIFA officials and Acting Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kazembe Kazembe.
ZIFA officials said they had paid the money on Wednesday and produced bank transfer receipts as confirmation.
However, the players insisted nothing had reflected in their bank accounts.
The players said a number of promises made by the ZIFA executive had not been met and some of them were owed money from as far back as the last AFCON finals.
They were also concerned that a number of them — notably Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Walter Musona and Ovidy Karuru — had ended up having to meet their medical bills despite having been injured on national duty.
News that ZIFA were allegedly meeting the costs of a trip by a delegation of about 60 people from home to Egypt when they had not paid their dues, riled the players.
After a tense stand-off, which saw some of the players suggesting they would be happy to go back home than be forced to play without getting their dues, the impasse was only resolved after the intervention of Minister Kazembe.
ZIFA board member Farai Jere, who arrived here yesterday, assured the players their dues would be met by 9am today.
Minister Kazembe, who also chairs the 2019 AFCON Fund-raising Committee, pleaded with the players to play for the country while he would try all his best to get their issues resolved.
The minister said should the Warriors win tonight, it would cheer the entire country and more sponsors would come on board.
“You have to play for those people who are home, especially President (Mnangagwa), who has been supporting your cause,” said Kazembe.
“This is a national cause and some of the things you are raising we were not aware of them, but we have to find ways to ensure ZIFA addresses those issues.”
Jere said he would speak to officials at their bank today to ensure all the money which they say was paid to the players would reflect in their accounts.
Captain Knowledge Musona promised the minister and the nation that they will fulfil the fixture.
“We are glad that our issues have been dealt with in this meeting and we have received the commitment that our dues will be dealt with and we can promise you that we will play the match against Egypt.
“It’s sad that instead of us focusing on the match we have spent a lot of time trying to deal with these issues but we can promise you that we will give it our best tomorrow.”
GOSPEL musician, Mathias Mhere, will today release his eighth album “Greater than Solomon”, with CDs of his latest offering selling at the launch to be held at The Venue in Avondale, Harare.
Mhere said CDs of his album were ready and would soon hit the market starting at tonight’s event. He revealed that a line-up of top musicians headlines his album launch with gospel outfit Vabati VaJehovha, Jonah Chivasa and Fungisai Zvakavapono-Mashavave being on the list.
“Everything is now in place and we have done our home work in as far as preparations for the great event are concerned,” said Mhere.
“We are at an advanced stage with CDs are ready to enter the market. Tickets for tonight’s event are were about to be sold out meaning people are buying our tickets. We are now waiting to take the CDs into the market. “I can confirm that artistes like Jah Prayzah, Sulumani Chimbetu among others indicated that they would be attending the launch,” he said.
Mhere said Prophet T Freddie would be the guest of honour with socialite Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure also attending the launch. The 10-track album is set to inspire many people through songs loaded with repentance and restoration messages. It also gives sermons on the gospel of redemption.
Mhere on his song titled “Ndizarurire”, prays to God for intervention into the lives of people who are failing to prosper in their lives. He featured Jah Prayzah on “Jerusarema” where he speaks of salvation and restoration.
Mhere also preaches of guidance in the song “Hembe Yemubhero” equating a human body to a temple which is sacred and shun acts of infidelity.
He talks of love, tenderness and kindness in the song “Munhu Haasekwe”. Mhere also tells of how Satan uses different ways to influence one’s life in the song “Kamushini”. But he celebrates the gifts and blessings from God in the song “Jakuchichi”.
He revisited the life of his late brother in a song called “Chipangamazano”, which he said are testimonies of a life his brother lived.State media
Government last night intervened to end a crippling impasse between the national soccer governing body, ZIFA, and the senior men’s team — the Warriors — to pave the way for the team to fulfil their opening 2019 AFCON finals’ game against Egypt here tonight.
The match was hanging in the balance for the better part of the day yesterday after players threatened to boycott unless they each got US$9 000. The players said they had been promised by ZIFA the money would reflect in their bank accounts by Tuesday.
However, a tsunami hit their camp yesterday when players claimed nothing had reflected in their accounts and issued an ultimatum that they would not fulfil the fixture. Yesterday evening’s final training session was cancelled as the players were locked in a meeting with ZIFA officials and Acting Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kazembe Kazembe.
ZIFA officials said they had paid the money on Wednesday and produced bank transfer receipts as confirmation. However, the players insisted nothing had reflected in their bank accounts.
The players said a number of promises made by the ZIFA executive had not been met and some of them were owed money from as far back as the last AFCON finals.
They were also concerned that a number of them — notably Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Walter Musona and Ovidy Karuru — had ended up having to meet their medical bills despite having been injured on national duty.
News that ZIFA was allegedly meeting the costs of a trip by a delegation of about 60 people from home to Egypt when they had not paid their dues, riled the players.
After a tense stand-off, which saw some of the players suggesting they would be happy to go back home than be forced to play without getting their dues, the impasse was only resolved after the intervention of Minister Kazembe.
ZIFA board member Farai Jere, who arrived here yesterday, assured the players their dues would be met by 9am today.
Minister Kazembe, who also chairs the 2019 AFCON Fund-raising Committee, pleaded with the players to play for the country while he would try all his best to get their issues resolved.
The minister said should the Warriors win tonight, it would cheer the entire country and more sponsors would come on board. “You have to play for those people who are home, especially President (Mnangagwa), who has been supporting your cause,” said Kazembe.State media
Zimbabwe is committed to political reforms to open up democratic space in the Second Republic, while the process to replace the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Public Order and Security Act (POSA) is expected to be complete by August, the President has said.
Speaking to journalists last night on arrival from Mozambique where he attended the 12th US-Africa Business Summit, President Mnangagwa said he had fruitful discussions with US Assistant Secretary (Bureau of African Affairs) at the US State Department, Mr Tibor Nagy, during which he allayed fears of possible delays in the repealing of AIPPA and POSA.
“There was also a delegation that came that was led by the State Ambassador Tibor Nagy of America. They raised their concerns; we also raised our concern.
They worried about the delay of the repeal of AIPPA and POSA, but we have told them that those pieces of legislation are already in Parliament and are progressing very well. We believe that before August those Bills will go through.”State media
ACTION is going to be taken against Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) officials who are corruptly issuing learner driver’s licences to undeserving people, while modalities are being worked out to computerise the issuance of driving documents at all VID depots, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza has said.
This comes in the wake of an undercover exposure by The Herald of deep-rooted corruption in the issuance of learner driver’s licences at the VID Marondera Depot this week. A Herald journalist working on an investigative story was issued with an authentic learner driver’s licence at VID Marondera Depot after paying a bribe to officials there.
After the exposure of corrupt activities at the depot, Minister Matiza said heads would roll, but a sustainable solution lay in the computerisation of the process.
He said he does not brook corruption in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision to transform the economy into an upper middle income status by 2030.
“My stance against corruption is very clear as guided by His Excellency the President Cde ED Mnangagwa,” said Minister Matiza.
“Action will definitely be taken against Marondera VID officials who are corruptly issuing learner driver’s licences to the public and endangering the safety of the motoring public and pedestrians. “However, the sustainable solution lies in computerising the whole system as we have already with some of the depots.”State media
Below is an amateur video shot of MDC President Nelson Chamisa questioning why his nemesis Emmerson Mnangagwa is failing to account for his failures. In the video, Chamisa says in part, “…And it’s accountability. You can’t lead and you don’t want to account. You can’t lead and you don’t want to be responsible. Zvokungoti unomuka so oona munyika hamuna fuel, hamumbobudewo pa-radio mongoti veduwee ndineurombo makandipa basa ndatadza kukupai fuel. Unongofamba uchidai!”
And it's accountability. You can't lead and you don't want to account. You can't lead and you don't want to be responsible.Zvokungoti unomuka so oona munyika hamuna fuel, hamumbobudewo pa-radio mongoti veduwee ndineurombo makandipa basa ndatadza kukupai fuel.Unongofamba uchidai! pic.twitter.com/YUrPnhLBMN
Worried about his pending assault case before the courts, a 40– year-old man here hanged himself on a tree at his homestead on Tuesday.
It is reported that the now deceased, Lastborn Bhusvu of Rwodzi Village under Chief Chimombe in Bhasera had been dragged to court for assaulting his mother.
He appeared before Gutu resident magistrate, Mr Victor Mahamadi who postponed the matter to 25 June for trial.State media
KWEKWE City Council (KCC) has taken the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) to court over a debt of more than RTG$30 000 in unpaid water charges and rates.
The council through its lawyers Mutatu and Partners has filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Zupco as a defendant. The local authority wants a court order that compels the bus company to settle a debt of RTGS$32 125 emanating from unpaid water bills and rates which accrued over an unspecified period.
The council accuses Zupco of breaching the agreement the two parties entered into by failing to pay the money.
“The plaintiff and defendant entered into an agreement in respect of stand number 2597 Kwekwe in terms of which council provides water and other services to Zupco which in turn it is supposed to pay for these services on monthly basis,” said the council lawyers.
The council said despite demand, Zupco has remained defiant. “The defendant breached the agreement by failing to pay the money and despite demand, the defendant has failed, refused or neglected to pay the money,” said the council lawyers.
The council wants Zupco to pay the money with interest including the legal costs. Zupco is yet to respond to the summons.State media
A 61-YEAR-OLD man from Kezi in Matobo district appeared in court for allegedly axing his neighbour to death when he confronted him for chopping a tree near his homestead.
Phillion Ndiweni of Mashumba village fatally axed Mr Julius Ndlovu (64) following a dispute over a tree which the accused person was cutting for firewood.
Ndiweni appeared yesterday before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Mr Ndlovu.
He was remanded in custody to today for judgment. Prosecuting, Ms Nokuthaba Ngwenya said on February 12, 2017 at around 12PM, Ndiweni’s neighbour, Ms Monica Ndebele, hired the accused person to fetch firewood for her.
“On that particular day at about 2.30PM, Ndiweni went to an area near Mr Ndlovu’s field and started cutting down a tree. The deceased spotted the accused person who was on top of the tree cutting branches and he became incensed and confronted him,” she said.
The court heard that an altercation ensued between the two men during which Ndiweni allegedly struck the deceased with an axe on the left side of the ribs and head and he collapsed and died on the spot.
Soon after committing the alleged offence, Ndiweni fled from the scene. Some villagers who heard the noise rushed to the scene and found the deceased lying in a pool of blood. They reported the matter to members of the neighbourhood watch committee who managed to apprehend Ndiweni leading to his arrest.State media
THE late United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean journalist and former Chronicle news editor, Brian Moyo, who died at the beginning of this month, will be buried at Umvutshwa Cemetery tomorrow.
Moyo died at the age of 65 in England after battling lung cancer for a long time.
His brother, Mr Samuel Moyo yesterday said Brian’s body was repatriated to South Africa yesterday morning and is expected in Bulawayo today.
“His body arrived in South Africa this morning and is expected to be in Bulawayo on Friday morning in preparation for burial on Saturday.
“A funeral service for Brian will be held at 10AM 26 Holl Road in Kumalo, where people are gathered. We’ll proceed to Umvutshwa Cemetery for burial at 12 noon,” said Mr Moyo.
Moyo worked for The Chronicle in the 1980s before he moved to the UK in 1988 where he worked for various newspapers and magazines in London before setting up his own website, Touch Base Africa. He also worked as a consultant editor.
A Masters graduate in Media Studies holder with vast experience in journalism straddling daily newspapers, corporate publications, business magazines, wire services and Intranet, Moyo died in the UK on June 2 after a long battle with lung cancer.
Born in Luveve, Bulawayo, Moyo, the fourth child in a family of eight, did his primary education at Mbizo School and his secondary education at Luveve Technical College.State media
“I can confirm that we are investigating a case of sudden death where a worker at Luveve High School was found hanging from roof trusses in a house at the school compound.”
A Binga traditional chief is suing his three subjects for US$24 000 in damages for defamation of character and unlawful seizure of his chieftainship regalia.
He accuses them of spreading news alleging that he is a womaniser and an irresponsible person not fit to occupy a leadership position.
Mr Edward Munkombwe, who is Chief Dobola in Kamativi area, is accusing Mr Mathias Mungombe and his two cousins, Messrs Mackson Munkombwe and Akim Munkombwe of defaming his character by saying bad things which tarnish his image as a chief.
Chief Dobola, who is a self actor, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing his three subjects as defendants.
In papers before the court, Chief Dobola said the three defendants grossly damaged his reputation and dignity and were liable to paying him damages for defamation of character and injuring his dignity.
“Sometime in January this year, the defendants held a series of private meetings aimed at slandering me during which they defamed my character and stated that I was a womaniser and an irresponsible person who is not worthy of being a chief,” he said.
Chief Dobola said the accusations were baseless and unfounded. “The accusations were maliciously uttered with the intention to humiliate me in the community over which I exercise my authority as a public official. Consequently, the members of the community over which I preside in my capacity as their chief, have lost respect for me and my integrity,” he said.
The chief said the three defendants also unlawfully seized his regalia and seeks an order directing them to return it.
“Wherefore, the plaintiff claim for an order directing the defendants to return my traditional chieftainship regalia and to pay me US$24 000 being contumelia including the cost of suit on an attorney-client scale,” he said.
The defendants are yet to respond to the summons. -Chronicle
Farai Dziva|Zimbabwe needs genuine and sincere dialogue- to create a conducive environment for economic transformation- MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said.
Addressing a news conference in Harare today, Chamisa dismissed Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s POLAD “monologue.”
“We will put pressure on ED so that we have genuine dialogue not the current Polad monologue.
We will then go for elections where a credible electoral commission will run the electoral process not ZEC.
We are going to have two deputies for the Secretary General and Organizing Secretary departments,” said Chamisa.
Farai Dziva|The Warriors of Zimbabwe are hoping to subdue the Mighty Pharaohs of Egypt when the two teams meet at the giant Cairo International Stadium tomorrow.
See the Warriors’ final 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers: George Chigova, Edmore Sibanda, Elvis Chipezeze.
Defenders: Tendayi Darikwa, Jimmy Dzingai, Divine Lunga, Teenage Hadebe, Alec Mudimu, Ronald Pfumbidzai.
Farai Dziva | In a development that is likely to frustrate thousands of soccer lovers, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is struggling to acquire broadcasting rights for the Africa Cup of Nations.
This was said by ZBC Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Mavhura during a meeting with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services.
“The Corporation needs 700 000 Euro to secure broadcasting rights,” he said.
The Warriors have a date with hosts Egypt tomorrow.
This means the national broadcaster may not screen the much anticipated AFCON Tournament.
What Nelson Chamisa has done is not new in politics and it is normal to have such gestures considering that he is shaping up the movement, it was expected. I earlier on reiterated that people must get shock absorbers before listening to the announcements. There are key areas which must look at on the appointments.
Dealing with any possible threat
The young generation consensus
Alternative cabinet must reflect international standards
Balancing act
Consolidation of power
Power matrix between loyal cadres and quality ( Cream& Dream team)
MDC going through a revolutionary process
Averting a possible split
Kitchen Cabinet dismantled and power control
New political players
In any political outfit and matrix, there is a lot of power dynamics and gambling. Politics is dirty and one needs a bit of shock absorbers to deal with reality. The new national executive, council and standing committee has dealt with any possible threat to Nelson Chamisa’s Presidency. The door has been shut for anyone who might want to focus on Presidency. Whilst he has managed to bring back Mwonzora and Mudzuri to the national executive, he has given them less influential posts but also to keep them in check. What Nelson has managed to do is to surround them with powerful cahoots who can keep them in check.
Young Generation is a consensus that has to be reached. What Nelson is trying to achieve, is a balance of act, working on power struggles, and he is looking at the future, identifying the talent and making use of it. If you study the MDC pool, majority of the people are grassroots people from different backgrounds ; Vending, small scale farmers, traders, cross border trade, SMEs etc and I think he has realised that there is a gap. Look at the Parliament, it’s not looking attractive and it’s not sound, it lacks substance, and he is trying to identify the talent around in a broader perspective. However he has to work extra mile to manage situations and perceptions. Remember there are people who have been in the movement since 1999, who have not been rewarded anything and this has to be dealt with tactful.
Alternative Cabinet – Nelson has been struggling to deal with this crisis. Remember there is need to have the middle class people around him, in the event that he forms the Government how does he deal with such a scenario. From a scholarly and development perspective point of view, Nelson Chamisa is preparing for 2023. He is already in the election mode. He has pressed the election mode button. In the next election, congress or convention more big wigs are likely to fall by the way side.
Balancing Act
Dont forget Nelson Chamisa is a pastor, He is a lawyer, he is an advocate, He is a party president and he is Business man, to cut the long story short he is also a father. Don’t forget he has a wife behind him. He also has children. So all these spheres around him have influence and there is also centre of power. For me it’s simple, look at the reflection of appointments, you can easily tell all these scenarios which I have drawn. There is a pool of advocates coming in with full force and it’s very difficult to stop them. There are also church people around him. I have always warned people before that in politics, do not have much expectations you will be dissapointed. Mahere comes in as an advocate, Maurene comes in as an academic, and Gladys comes in as a development and international relations person. Remember these three have their own backgrounds other than politics so you cant disconnect them or de-ttach them from Nelson. In one way or another, these three Will be in Nelson Chamisa’s cabinet.
Power Matrix – There is power struggle between loyal cadres and the dream team or quality. This may arise in future. They are those people who will say we started this thing and they are those who are obviously closer to the President by virtue of their area of expertise and wealthy experience. No doubt about Fadzai Mahere and Maurene, both have their area of expertise, but Nelson has to manage people’s perceptions about them. Remember Fadzai stood in as an independent and she erroneously attacked MDC towards elections and this is in people’s minds. This is the dream team which will grab cabinet posts in the event that MDC has been given the mandate to rule
MDC going through a revolutionary process – heavyweights and the grey hair are being eroded and offloaded through a structural adjustment. It’s being done in a smart way. No question about it. New blood is coming in and new ideas. Expect more of this as we move towards elections. In 2023, there is likely to be new faces around Harvest House, it’s a cleansing smart process. Remember Nelson is 41, and his strength is in the young blood. What matters most is when tables turn, that will be a dangerous trajectory move and it will dismantle all the existing forces around.
Kitchen Cabinet dismantled& Averting a possible split – The current appointments made sure that everyone has been accomodated, the loser and the winner. What this means is that noone will be left out and this will strengthen the party ahead of any crucial assignments. What I’m not sure of is the role of the congress? Will these appointments reflect the will of the people? Will these appointments reflect the vote of the congress? This is a question which will be left for another day. Previously during Tsvangirai’s tenure, there was a kitchen cabinet in place which ran the show, apparently led by political heavyweights, has apparently beem dismantled. The likes of Makones are out of the game, Ben the former mayor and others. There is now the pool of Advocates emerging, and if you are out of this circle, the game is not yours, this is led by the powerful young lawyer , the likes of Thabani Mpofu. It’s a new dispensation.
New political players coming in – What we are likely to witness is a set of new political players coming in through the revolutionary process. What this means is, majority of them will be running for parliamentary seats and local Government elections. Some are likely to feature as legal counsel for the party, some will be ministers and some will be running for Mps.
Jacob Mafume – He was doing a good job but in politics don’t forget dogs eat dogs. There could be forces within who might have resisted his re-appointment or pressure to move him to his new elected role. Jacob is firm and he has the political grip but politics was at play.
In a nutshel, Chamisa had limited positions and it was difficult for him to leave out key cadres and at the same time, there were those who were nominated for those positions.
Having appointed Murwisi as Deputy Treasurer General, it was difficult for him to drop him completely, he played a key role to Chamisa’s ascension during the 2018 debacle. He fought hard together with the likes of Hwende, Chibaya, Bvondo and Timveous so it was going to be difficult to leave them out. In one way or another he had to find a way to accomodate them. At the same time he had the 50/50 gender balance, he had to creat several portifolios to accomodate women and other players to balance the party.
My assumption is Chamisa has consolidated his power base ahead of future elections and he has silenced his opponents and any other internal revolt. Any possible threats have been surrounded by point persons who will be offering checks and balances.
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo – Doctor of Philosophy at Women’s University of Africa PhD- Candidate and he can be contacted at [email protected]
A Bulawayo man is suing a local businessman for RTGS$300 000 in damages for allegedly engaging in an adulterous relationship with his wife.
The aggrieved man, Mr Dick Sakala, is accusing Mr Gordon Virimai, who is based in Australia, of engaging in an adulterous relationship with his wife, Mrs Yvonne Sakala (59).
Mr Sakala, through his lawyers VJ Mpofu and Associates, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Mr Virimai as a defendant.
In papers before the court, Mr Sakala said he discovered the illicit affair after intercepting text and WhatsApp messages on his wife’s cellphone, which were sent by her lover.
“The defendant has had a romantic and illicit relationship or has committed adultery with my wife well knowing of her marital status which has been confirmed by the defendant’s wife who is in Australia,” he said.
Mr Sakala said their marriage was solemnised in terms of Chapter 5:11 of the Marriages Act on July 27 in 1980. The couple has three grown up children.
Mr Sakala said due to the adulterous affair between his wife and Mr Virimai, the two lovers had a public fallout after Mrs Sakala allegedly defrauded her boyfriend of more than US$41 000.
Mr Sakala said his wife has brought his name into disrepute after the fraud case was publicised in the media.
Mrs Sakala allegedly masqueraded as overseer of a certain family trust which sells several properties and defrauded Mr Virimai of US$41 870.
The case is still pending before the courts. Mr Sakala said due to the adulterous affair, he has lost consortium and comfort.
He wants a court order that compels Mr Virimai to pay RTGS$300 000 in damages for loss of consortium and contumelia.
“Owing to the adulterous relationship, I have lost the consortium, comfort and society of my wife resulting in damages in the sum of RTGS$150 000 and also resulting in contumelia or hurt feelings with damages totalling RTG$150 000, which is due and payable by the defendant,” he said.
Mr Virimai is yet to respond to the lawsuit. -state media
ZANU PF bigwigs have reportedly issued death threats to politburo member and deputy youth league secretary Lewis Matutu after he threatened to expose corruption among his peers.
Matutu said he was receiving calls in the dead of night from ministers and top government officials who want to gag him.
“They call at night saying Zanu PF kills, they are threatening me, but I will not be moved. The only person I will listen to is President Emmerson Mnangagwa. I made a personal decision to join Zanu PF and will not be pushed or silenced by anyone,” he told journalists.
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 men 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.
Dear Mr Greg Sebbon REF: ECONOMIC SITUATION AND IMPLICATIONS TO STANBIC BANK STAFF
We write to advise of the dire situation that your workers are in. You are fully aware of the economic crisis we are in. Most of the employees are now unable to buy food enough for a week from their salaries let alone paying rentals and rates risking possibility of evictions. The majority are failing not only to meet committed school fees payment plans for their children, but the situation is being further worsened by the top-up requests in foreign currency. Other basic necessities are now beyond the reach of many.
In addition, the majority are no longer able to pay for transport to and from work. Those able are not able to buy lunch and in most days work without eating anything. The majority of the families of your workers are now living on one meal a day. This situation is now unbearable.
We therefore advise that from now Stanbic Bank workers will report for duty as and when they have transport Ores and or breakfast and lunch. Alternatively, most of your workers will start sleeping and staying at the workplace from Mondays to Saturdays in order not to abscond from work. We hope you find this is order. Please note that this is not a collector job action but a measured response to the challenges your workers are facing.
Farai Dziva|Newly appointed MDC Secretary for Welfare and Public Service Maureen Kademaunga has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to stop harassing innocent civilians and opposition political leaders.
See her statement below : Hon Settlement Chikwinya and Hon Mukapiko appear before courts to answer to trumped up charges as the vicious cycle of injustice continues.
The two are part of a large contingent of elected MDC officials, activists and ordinary citizens who have faced arbitrary arrests for speaking out since the election of July 2018.
Judicial harrasment of dissenting voices comes at a cost to the victim who in most cases does not have access to a remedy when their rights have been violated, or cannot proactively claim their rights and entitlements resulting in the entrenchment of their exclusion, powerlessness and deprivation. In keeping with our pro-poor niche and ideological inclination towards freedom, justice and solidarity as the MDC, we acknowledge that political victimisation is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing a chronic lack of choices, security and power, all building on each other in a feedback loop of disadvantage.
We therefore commit to building a comprehensive welfare plan to cater for our victimised members while we continue to push for broader freedoms.
We urge the government to respect people’s fundamental rights, end judicial harrasment and arbitrary arrests of political leaders and citizen voices.
The ZANU PF government must envisage effective access to justice; not just as a right but also as a tool for reducing poverty and inequality and fostering social inclusion.
In Service of Humanity,
Maureen Kademaunga
Secretary for Public Service and Social Welfare
MDC
Farai Dziva|Teachers have notified the Public Service Commission that they will report for duty three days per week with effect from June 24, 2019.
The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe has written a letter to the Public Service Commission indicating that teachers will report for duty only three days per week with effect from Monday 24 June 2019 due to incapacitation.
The teachers have made four demands to their employer that are as follows:
(1) A rescue package of US $200 over above our RTGS-denominated salaries;
(2) An urgent upward review of our salaries in line with the purchasing power parity principle;
(3) Non-payment of tuition fees for at least three of a teacher’s children; and
(4) Free and transparent allocation of land for accommodation purposes with clear time frames.
A routine shift for a bread delivery crew in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, turned awry after a gang of armed robbers pounced and escaped with 500 loaves.
The bread is valued at roughly RTGS$3 000.
According to information at hand, the crew from Lobel’s Bakery was making deliveries at Speciman Shopping Centre in Harare’s Glen Norah suburb on Tuesday.
An unmarked vehicle suddenly pulled up in front of their van.
Armed with pistols, the gang accosted the crew, which, in turn, tried to put up a fight but was overpowered.
Lobel’s Bakery spokesperson Heritage Mhende would not be drawn to comment, while Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were in progress.
Zimbabwe is experiencing bread shortages, leaving consumers at the mercy of illegal traders who charge exorbitant prices.
State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa
Cyril Ramaphosa
Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thandi Modise,
Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Mr Amos Masondo,
Deputy President David Mabuza,
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and esteemed members of the judiciary,
Former President, Mr Kgalema Motlanthe,
Former President, Mr Thabo Mbeki,
Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Frene Ginwala,
Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Max Sisulu,
Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Baleka Mbete,
President of the Pan African Parliament, Mr Roger Nkodo Dang,
Veterans of the struggle for liberation,
Dr Dennis Goldberg,
Dr Andrew Mlangeni,
Advocate Priscilla Jana,
Ms Joyce Dipale,
Ms Lillian Keagile,
Ms Smally Maqungo,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Premiers and Speakers of Provincial Legislatures,
Chairperson of SALGA and Executive Mayors,
Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Mr Lesetja Kganyago,
Heads of Chapter 9 Institutions,
Leaders of faith based organisations,
Leaders of academic and research institutions,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Invited guests,
Honourable Members of the National Assembly,
Honourable Members of the National Council of Provinces,
Fellow South Africans,
We gather here at the start of the 6th Democratic Parliament, 106 years to the day after the Natives Land Act – one of the most devastating acts of dispossession, pain and humiliation – came into force.
We recall the words of Sol Plaatje on that tragic event, when he said:
“Awakening on Friday morning, June 20, 1913, the South African native found himself, not actually a slave, but a pariah in the land of his birth.”
Our people suffered gravely and endured untold hardships as a result of the implementation of the Natives Land Act. The effect of that law are still present with us.
More than a century after that grave injustice, we are called upon to forge a South Africa where no person will be slave or pariah, only free and equal and respected.
We gather here at an extremely difficult and challenging time in the life of our young democracy.
Yet, we are also at a moment in our history that holds great hope and promise.
In 25 years of democracy we have made remarkable progress in building a new nation in which all South Africans have equal rights and broadening opportunities.
Over 25 years, we have done much to meet people’s basic needs, to reduce poverty and to transform a devastated economy that was built to serve the interests of the few.
Working together, we have laid a firm foundation on which we can build a country in which all may know peace and comfort and contentment.
Yet, we also meet at a time when our country is confronted by severe challenges.
Our economy is not growing. Not enough jobs are being created.
This is the concern that rises above all others.
It affects everyone.
It affects you, the young man eMzimhlope, out of school five years now and still not employed.
It impacts you, the single mother from Delft, whose grant supports not just yourself but your grandchildren too.
It hurts you, the worker in Nelson Mandela Bay, who despite earning a salary is struggling to make ends meet.
It is hard for you, the young student from the Sol Plaatje University, who must rely on a thin stipend from your parents to feed yourself.
Yours are the lived struggles of the people of this nation.
We have heard you, and many others.
Sinizwile. Hi twile. To zwi pfa. Re itlwile.
Through the elections held in May, you provided all of us with a clear mandate for growth and renewal.
All of us have heard you – myself, Hon Maimane, Hon Malema, Hon Buthelezi, Hon Groenewald, Hon Meshoe, Hon Holomisa, Hon Zungula, Hon De Lille, Hon Magwaza-Msibi, Hon Galo, Hon Lekota, Hon Nyhontso and Hon Hendricks.
The persistent legacy of apartheid has left our country with extreme structural problems – both economic and social.
At the same time, we are having to contend with rapid technological change that is ushering in a new world of work, that is reshaping the global economy and that is redefining social relations.
Together with all the nations of the world, we are confronted by the most devastating changes in global climate in human history.
The extreme weather conditions associated with the warming of the atmosphere threaten our economy, they threaten the lives and the livelihoods of our people, and – unless we act now – will threaten our very existence.
We have heard the voices of the young people who marched to the Union Buildings last week urging us to take action to protect our planet.
It was to address these fundamental challenges that we adopted the National Development Plan in 2012 to guide our national effort to defeat poverty, unemployment and inequality.
However, with 10 years to go before we reach the year 2030, we have not made nearly enough progress in meeting the NDP targets.
Unless we take extraordinary measures, we will not realise Vision 2030.
This means that we need to prioritise.
We need to focus on those actions that will have the greatest impact, actions that will catalyse faster movement forward, both in the immediate term and over the next 10 years.
It is worth noting that the Medium-Term Strategic Framework for the last five years had more than 1,100 indicators by which we were to measure progress in the implementation of the NDP.
Now is the time to focus on implementation.
It is time to make choices.
Some of these choices may be difficult and some may not please everyone.
In an economy that is not growing, at a time when public finances are limited, we will not be able to do everything at one time.
As we enter this new administration, we will focus on seven priorities:
Economic transformation and job creation
Education, skills and health
Consolidating the social wage through reliable and quality basic services
Spatial integration, human settlements and local government
Social cohesion and safe communities
A capable, ethical and developmental state
A better Africa and World
All our programmes and policies across all departments and agencies will be directed in pursuit of these overarching tasks.
At the same time, we must restore the National Development Plan to its place at the centre of our national effort, to make it alive, to make it part of the lived experience of the South African people.
At the inauguration, we said that this is a defining moment for our young nation.
We also said that it is through our actions now that we will determine our destiny.
As South Africa enters the next 25 years of democracy, and in pursuit of the objectives of the NDP, let us proclaim a bold and ambitious goal, a unifying purpose, to which we dedicate all our resources and energies.
As we enter the last decade of Vision 2030, let us even more clearly define the South Africa we want and agree on the concrete actions we need to achieve them.
To ensure that our efforts are directed, I am suggesting that, within the priorities of this administration, we agree on five fundamental goals for the next decade.
Let us agree, as a nation and as a people united in our aspirations, that within the next 10 years we will have made progress in tackling poverty, inequality and unemployment, where:
No person in South Africa will go hungry.
Our economy will grow at a much faster rate than our population.
Two million more young people will be in employment.
Our schools will have better educational outcomes and every 10 year old will be able to read for meaning.
Violent crime will be halved.
Let us make these commitments now – to ourselves and to each other – knowing that they will stretch our resources and capabilities, but understanding that if we achieve these five goals, we will have fundamentally transformed our society.
We set these ambitious goals not despite the severe difficulties of the present, but because of them.
We set these goals so that the decisions we take now are bolder and we act with greater urgency.
Our determination that within the next decade that no person in South Africa will go hungry is fundamental to our effort to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality.
In addition to creating employment and other economic opportunities, this means that we must strengthen the social wage and reduce the cost of living.
It means we must improve the affordability, safety and integration of commuter transport for low income households.
While we have made great progress in providing housing, many South Africans still need land to build homes and earn livelihoods.
In the next five years, we will accelerate the provision of well-located housing and land to poor South Africans.
To improve the quality of life of South Africans, to reduce poverty in all its dimensions and to strengthen our economy, we will attend to the health of our people.
We must attend to the capacity of our hospitals and clinics.
An 80-year-old grandmother cannot spend an entire day in a queue waiting for her medication.
An ill patient cannot be turned away because there is a shortage of doctors and nurses.
A woman in labour cannot have her unborn child’s life put in danger because the ambulance has taken too long to come.
As part of the work we must urgently do to improve the quality of the health system, we are finalising the Presidential Health Summit Compact, which draws on the insights and will mobilise the capabilities of all key stakeholders to address the crisis in our clinics and hospitals.
We are far advanced in revising the NHI detailed plan of implementation, including accelerating quality of care initiatives in public facilities, building human resource capacity, establishment of the NHI Fund structure, and costing the administration of the NHI Fund.
We remain concerned about rising HIV infections rates, particularly among young women, and the relatively low numbers of men testing for HIV and starting treatment.
We will intensify our work to implement the 90-90-90 strategy to end HIV as a public health threat, which includes increasing the number of people on treatment by at least another 2 million by December 2020.
If we are to successfully address the challenge of poverty across society, we need to provide skills and create economic opportunities for persons with disabilities.
It is therefore a matter of great concern that there are around half a million children of school-going age with disabilities who are not in school.
In responding to these challenges, we have moved the coordination of disability initiatives to the centre of government, in the Presidency.
We have revived the Presidential Working Group on Disability, and will submit the Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa to Parliament this year for ratification.
To address the problems of the working poor, the national minimum wage has been in place for six months and the early indications are that many companies are complying.
The National Minimum Wage Commission is expected to conclude research on the impact of the minimum wage on employment, poverty, inequality and wage differentials by the end of September 2019.
We cannot turn our fortunes around without a relentless focus on economic growth.
Within the next decade, it is our ambition that our economy should be growing at a rate far greater than our population.
It is only when we reach consistently high rates of growth that we will be able to reverse the economic damage of our past.
We make this assertion at a time when the economic outlook is extremely weak.
Following the sharp contraction in growth in the first quarter, the Reserve Bank now projects that growth in 2019 is likely to be lower than anticipated in the February Budget.
One reason for the lacklustre economic performance has been the load shedding early this year, together with the continued uncertainty in the supply of electricity and the state of Eskom.
The lesson is clear: for growth, we need a reliable and sustainable supply of electricity.
Eskom is facing serious financial, operational and structural problems.
Since the load shedding earlier this year, Eskom has made much progress in implementing its nine-point plan, ensuring better maintenance of its generation fleet, reducing costs and ensuring adequate reserves of coal.
In line with the recommendations of both the Eskom Sustainability Task Team and the Technical Review Team, Eskom is deploying its most skilled and experienced personnel to where they are needed most.
The utility’s financial position remains a matter of grave concern.
With the current committed funding from government, outlined in the 2019 Budget, Eskom has sufficient cash to meet its obligations until the end of October 2019.
For Eskom to default on its loans will cause a cross-default on its remaining debt and would have a huge impact on the already constrained fiscus.
We will therefore table a Special Appropriation Bill on an urgent basis to allocate a significant portion of the R230 billion fiscal support that Eskom will require over the next 10 years in the early years.
This we must do because Eskom is to vital to our economy to be allowed to fail.
Further details will be provided by the Minister of Finance in due course.
We will announce the appointment of a new CEO following the Mr Phakamani Hadebe stepping down. He came in at a difficult time at ESKOM and has done a great deal with the board led by Mr Jabu Mabuza to stabilize the company.
We will soon also be appointing a Chief Restructuring Officer, who will be expected to reposition Eskom financially with careful attention to the mix between revenue, debt and cost structure of the company.
Eskom is working with government and other stakeholders to address its overall debt as well the debt owed by municipalities and individual users.
As a country, we must assert the principle that those who use electricity must pay for it.
Failure to pay endangers our entire electricity supply, our economy and our efforts to create jobs.
The days of boycotting payment are over. This is now the time to build it is the time for all of us to make our own contribution.
Fellow South Africans,
To meet our growth targets, we will rebuild the foundations of our economy by revitalising and expanding the productive sectors.
This requires us to reimagine our industrial strategy, to unleash private investment and energise the state to boost economic inclusion.
It requires the state to effectively play its role as an enabler that provides basic services and critical infrastructure, a regulator that sets rules that create equitable opportunities for all players, and a redistributor that ensures that the most vulnerable in society are protected and given a chance to live up to their full potential.
We will give priority attention to the economic sectors that have the greatest potential for growth.
Drawing on our successes in the automotive sector, we will implement master plans developed with business and labour in industries like clothing and textiles, gas, chemicals and plastics, renewables, and steel and metals fabrication sectors.
We are going to substantially expand the agriculture and agro-processing sector by supporting key value chains and products, developing new markets and reducing our reliance on agricultural imports.
We will bolster the mining industry by developing markets for South African minerals through targeted beneficiation, reduced costs of inputs, and increased research and development.
Through spatial interventions like special economic zones, reviving local industrial parks, business centres, digital hubs and township and village enterprises, we will bring economic development to local areas. We will also focus on small medium enterprises in our cities, townships and rural areas and create market places where they trade their products.
We will make good on our ambition to more than double international tourist arrivals to 21 million by 2030.
This will be achieved through the renewal of the country’s brand, introducing a world-class visa regime and a significant focus on Chinese and Indian markets and air arrivals from the rest of our continent.
We are determined to ensure that tourists who come to our country are safe.
We will expand our high tech industry by ensuring that the legal and regulatory framework promotes innovation, scaling up skills development for young people in new technologies, and reducing data costs. Wherever we have gone young people have continuously raised the issue of the excessive high data costs in South Africa.
To provide impetus to this process, within the next month, the Minister of Communications will issue the policy direction to ICASA to commence the spectrum licensing process.
This process will include measures to promote competition, transformation, inclusive growth of the sector and universal access.
This is a vital part of bringing down the costs of data, which is essential both for economic development and for unleashing opportunities for young people.
We call on the telecommunications industry further to bring down the cost of data so that it is in line with other countries in the world.
We are intensifying our investment drive.
Of the R300 billion of investments announced at our inaugural Investment Conference last year, just over R250 billion worth of projects has entered implementation phase.
We continue to build a pipeline of investments, which will be showcased at the second South African Investment Conference to be held on 5 to 7 November.
At a time of uncertainty, the work of the investment envoys has built important bridges between government and the business community.
From their feedback, it is clear that much more still needs to be done to improve the investment climate.
This includes reviewing the way Government coordinates work to resolve challenges faced by investors and reforming our investment promotion policy and architecture.
Good progress has been made through the Public-Private Growth Initiative, which is being championed by Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Mr Roelf Meyer and Dr Johan van Zyl.
The private sector has committed to invest R840 billion in 43 projects over 19 sectors and creating 155,000 jobs in the next five years.
In discussions with business, government has committed to remove the policy impediments and accelerate implementation of these projects.
We are urgently working on a set of priority reforms to improve the ease of doing business by consolidating and streamlining regulatory processes, automating permit and other applications, and reducing the cost of compliance.
Infrastructure is a critical area of investment that supports structural transformation, growth and job creation.
It is essential to our economic rejuvenation, to giving meaning and effect to our new dawn.
Our new approach to infrastructure development is based on stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors, and with local communities.
It includes a special package of financial and institutional measures to boost construction and prioritise water infrastructure, roads and student accommodation through a more efficient use of budgeted money.
As announced in the previous SONA, Government has set aside R100 billion to seed the Infrastructure Fund.
We are working to institutionalise the fund, which will be managed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, with the newly configured Department of Public Works and Infrastructure playing an oversight role.
We have been doing this in consultation with private investors, such as pension funds, who are enthusiastic about participating in the Infrastructure fund.
These reforms will ensure better planning of infrastructure projects, rigorous feasibility and preparatory work, improved strategic management, impeccable execution and better governance.
This will provide a much-need boost to the construction sector.
We will stimulate local demand and grow South African manufacturing by making sure the ‘Buy Local’ campaign is everywhere and ever-present.
We call on all South Africans to deliberately and consistently buy locally-made goods.
The suit, the shirt and the tie I am wearing today was locally made by South African textile workers working at the House of Monatic here in Saltriver Cape Town.
Let us all buy locally-made goods to drive up demand in our economy.
Within this next year, we seek to conclude agreements with retailers to stock more South African goods on their shelves and to actively promote the great products made by South African hands.
At the same time, we will promote our products more actively to the rest of the African continent and the world.
These measures are underpinned by our strong commitment to a macroeconomic and fiscal policy framework that will continue to boost confidence and investment.
We are committed to prudent borrowing and stringent expenditure management to stabilise our public finances and lower the debt trajectory.
The South African Reserve Bank is a critical institution of our democracy, enjoying wide credibility and standing within the country and internationally.
Price stability is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for economic growth.
Rising prices of goods and services erode the purchasing power of all South Africans, but especially that of the poor.
Inflation further undermines the competitiveness of our exports and our import-competing firms, putting industries and jobs at risk.
For these reasons, our Constitution mandates the South African Reserve Bank to protect the value of our currency in the interest of balanced and sustainable growth.
Today we reaffirm this constitutional mandate, which the Reserve Bank must pursue independently, without fear, favour or prejudice.
Our Constitution also requires that there should be regular consultation between the Reserve Bank and the Minister of Finance to promote macroeconomic coordination, all in the interests of employment creation and economic growth.
If we are to be internationally competitive, if we are to attract investment, we must address the high cost of doing business and complicated and lengthy regulatory processes.
We must reach a point where no company need wait more than six months for a permit or licence and new companies should be able to be registered within a day.
We will continue to reduce the cost of doing business by reducing port export tariffs, pursuing lowest cost electricity generation options, and making rail transport more competitive and efficient.
Guided by the NDP, it is our responsibility to pursue inclusive, sustainable development that is resilient in the face of climate change.
Working in partnership with the private sector, labour and the international community we will step up our adaptation and mitigation efforts.
We have the opportunity to be at the forefront of green growth, of low-carbon industrialisation, of pioneering new technologies and of taking quantum leaps towards the economy of the future.
We must increase the contribution of renewable and clean energy to our national energy mix and explore the potential of the hydrogen economy.
Faster economic growth also requires accelerated land reform in rural and urban areas and a clear property rights regime.
We have received the report of the Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture, which will now be presented to Cabinet for consideration.
The panel’s recommendations will inform the finalisation of a comprehensive, far-reaching and transformative land reform programme.
In the immediate term, government will accelerate efforts to identify and release public land that is suitable for smart, urban settlements and for farming.
In the stimulus and recovery package announced last year, we promised to prioritise funding for emerging farmers.
Over the medium term budget period, R3.9 billion has been allocated to the Land Bank to support black commercial farmers.
An essential part of South Africa’s growth strategy is the integration of our economy with those of our neighbours and the rest of our continent.
The African Continental Free Trade Area will improve the movement of goods and services, capital and means of production across the Continent.
Our revitalised industrial strategy focuses on the expansion of our trade and investment links with the rest of the Southern African region and the Continent at large.
Within SADC, we will prioritise development of cross-border value chains in key sectors such as energy, mining and mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, infrastructure and agro-processing.
Fellow South Africans,
The growth of our economy will have little value unless it creates employment on a far greater scale.
The fact that the unemployment rate among young South Africans is more than 50% is a national crisis that demands urgent, innovative and coordinated solutions.
And because more young people are entering the labour force every year, the economy needs to create far more jobs for youth than it currently does merely to keep the youth unemployment rate steady.
The brutal reality is that when it comes to youth unemployment, we have to run just to remain in the same place.
It is therefore essential that we proceed without delay to implement a comprehensive plan – driven and coordinated from the Presidency – to create no fewer than two million new jobs for young people within the next decade.
This plan will work across government departments and all three tiers of government, in partnership with the private sector.
We are already working with the private sector to create pathways into work for young people through scaling up existing pathway management networks.
These are networks that allow young people who opt in increased visibility, network support and opportunities to signal their availability for jobs and self-employment.
They make sure that youth from poorer households – and young women in particular – are empowered to take up the new opportunities.
Government will continue to provide employment through the Expanded Public Works Programme, especially in labour intensive areas like maintenance, clearing vegetation, plugging water leaks and constructing roads.
We will continue to develop programmes to ensure that economically excluded young people are work ready and absorbed into sectors where ‘jobs demand’ is growing.
These sectors include global business processing services, agricultural value chains, technical installation, repair and maintenance and new opportunities provided through the digital economy and the fourth industrial revolution.
Government will also ensure that young people are employed in social economy jobs such as early childhood development and health care.
We will expand the National Youth Service to take on 50,000 young people a year.
Government will support tech-enabled platforms for self-employed youth in rural areas and townships.
We will expand our programmes to enable young people to gain paid workplace experience through initiatives like the Youth Employment Service, and also facilitating work-based internships for graduates of technical and vocational programmes.
We are going to roll out out small business incubation centres to provide youth-driven start-ups with financial and technical advice as they begin their journeys.
Yesterday, I had the great privilege to meet and engage in dialogue with several young South Africans who are doing amazing work to build our country and develop our people.
They are entrepreneurs and community builders, activists and artists.
If there is one thing we have learned from our engagements with this country’s youth is that we cannot impose our solutions: everything we have to do must be led by them.
They have told us what they want, and what they need.
They want to be employed, yes, but they also want to become employers.
They are brimming with ideas, they are at the forefront of innovation, and they want to do things for themselves.
We have to support the fire of entrepreneurship, because the fortunes of this country depend on the energies and creative talent of our young people.
Fellow South Africans,
If we are to ensure that within the next decade, every 10 year old will be able to read for meaning, we will need to mobilise the entire nation behind a massive reading campaign.
Early reading is the basic foundation that determines a child’s educational progress, through school, through higher education and into the work place.
All other interventions – from the work being done to improve the quality of basic education to the provision of free higher education for the poor, from our investment in TVET colleges to the expansion of workplace learning – will not produce the results we need unless we first ensure that children can read.
It is through initiatives like the National Reading Coalition that we will be able to coordinate this national effort.
All foundation and intermediate phase teachers are to be trained to teach reading in English and the African languages, and we are training and deploying a cohort of experienced coaches to provide high quality on-site support to teachers.
We are implementing the Early Grade Reading Programme, which consists of an integrated package of lesson plans, additional reading materials and professional support to Foundation Phase teachers.
This forms part of the broader efforts to strengthen the basic education system by empowering school leadership teams, improving the capabilities of teachers and ensuring a more consistent measurement of progress for grades 3, 6 and 9.
We also have to prepare our young people for the jobs of the future.
This is why we are introducing subjects like coding and data analytics at a primary school level.
Honourable Members,
The South Africa we want is a country where all people are safe and feel safe.
Let us therefore work together to ensure that violent crime is at least halved over the next decade.
The first step is to increase police visibility by employing more policewomen and men, and to create a more active role for citizens through effective community policing forums.
Currently, there are over 5,000 students registered for basic training in our police training colleges and we envisage that this number will be increased to 7,000 per cycle over the next two intakes.
We are working to improve success rates in investigating and prosecuting crimes, and to ensure better training and professionalisation throughout the criminal justice system.
Violent crime is a societal problem that requires a society-wide response.
We are working with civil society organisations on strategies to end gender based violence and femicide.
Following intensive consultations and engagements, we are working towards the establishment of the Gender Based Violence and Femicide Council and a National Strategic Plan that will guide all of us, wherever we are, in our efforts to eradicate this national scourge.
We are capacitating and equipping the police and court system to support survivors of gender-based violence.
We are stepping up the fight against drug syndicates through the implementation of the National Anti-Gang Strategy and the revised National Drug Master Plan.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished guests,
The achievement of all these objectives requires a capable and developmental state.
This is a state that not only provides the institutions and infrastructure that enable the economy and society to operate, but that has the means to drive transformation.
Earlier this month we announced the reconfiguration of a number of government departments to enable them to deliver on their mandates.
Our decision was premised on efficiency, cost-containment, cooperative governance and strategic alignment.
This is the start of a wider process of arresting the decline in state capacity and restructuring our model of service delivery so it best serves our citizens.
We will be adopting a district-based approach – focusing on the 44 districts and 8 metros – to speed up service delivery, ensuring that municipalities are properly supported and adequately resourced.
To ensure that the state is able to effectively enable economic and social development, it is essential that we strengthen our state owned enterprises.
Through the Presidential SOE Council, government intends to create alignment between all state-owned companies and to better define their respective mandates.
Through the Council, we will work with the leadership of SOEs to develop a legal and regulatory environment that promotes innovation and agility and enhances their competitiveness.
We will build on the work we have already begun to address problems of poor governance, inefficiency and financial sustainability.
We are committed to building an ethical state in which there is no place for corruption, patronage, rent-seeking and plundering of public money.
We want a corps of skilled and professional public servants of the highest moral standards – and dedicated to the public good.
The decisive steps we have taken to end state capture and fight corruption, including measures to strengthen the NPA, SIU, SARS and State Security, are achieving important results.
But there is still much more work to do.
We have asked the National Director of Public Prosecutions to develop a plan to significantly increase the capacity and effectiveness of the NPA, including to ensure effective asset forfeiture.
We need to ensure that public money stolen is returned and used to deliver services and much needed basic infrastructure to the poorest communities.
We expect that the new SIU Special Tribunal will start its work within the next few months to fast rack civil claims arising from SIU investigations, which are currently estimated to be around R14.7 billion.
South Africa will continue to play an active role in international relations in the quest for global peace and security, people-centered development and prosperity for all.
We renew our determination to work in concert with the international community to preserve and protect the rules-based multilateral system with the United Nations at its head.
We will use our membership of the UN Security Council to promote the peaceful resolution of disputes particularly on the African countries.
Fellow South Africans,
If we are to achieve the South Africa we want, we need a new social compact.
We need to forge durable partnerships between government, business, labour, communities and civil society.
This places a responsibility on each of us and all of us.
Government must create an enabling environment, use public resources wisely and invest in developing the country’s human potential.
We would like business to consider the country’s national strategic objectives and social considerations in their decisions and actions.
We agree that labour should advance the interests of workers while, at the same time, promoting the sustainability of businesses and the creation of jobs.
Civil society needs to continue to play its role in holding government to account but must also join us in practical actions to attain our common goals.
We look to the parties in this Parliament to be a vital part of this partnership, lending support, insights and effort to promoting the national interest.
This social compact requires a contribution from everyone.
It will also need sacrifices and trade-offs.
It is upon the conduct of each that the fate of all depends.
If we are to reinvigorate the implementation of the National Development Plan, we must cast our sights on the broadest of horizons.
We want a South Africa wherein all enjoy comfort and prosperity.
But we also want a South Africa where we stretch our capacities to the fullest as we advance along the superhighway of progress.
We want a South Africa that has prioritised its rail networks, and is producing high-speed trains connecting our megacities and the remotest areas of our country.
We should imagine a country where bullet trains pass through Johannesburg as they travel from here to Musina, and they stop in Buffalo City on their way from Ethekwini back here.
We want a South Africa with a high-tech economy where advances in e-health, robotics and remote medicine are applied as we roll out the National Health Insurance.
We want a South Africa that doesn’t simply export its raw materials but has become a manufacturing hub for key components used in electronics, in automobiles and in computers.
We must be a country that can feed itself and that harnesses the latest advances in smart agriculture.
I dream of a South Africa where the first entirely new city built in the democratic era rises, with skyscrapers, schools, universities, hospitals and factories.
This dream has been fueled by my conversations with four people: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Dr Naledi Pandor, Ms Jessie Duarte and President Xi Jinping, whose account of how China is building a new Beijing has helped to consolidate my dream.
This is a dream we can all share and participate in building.
We have not built a new city in 25 years of democracy.
Seventy percent of South Africans are going to be living in the urban areas by 2030.
The cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town and Ethekwini are running out of space to accommodate all those who throng to the cities.
Has the time not arrived for us to be bold and reach beyond ourselves and do what may seem impossible?
Has the time not arrived to build a new smart city founded on the technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution?
I would like to invite South Africans to begin imaging this prospect.
We are the South African nation that with its Constitution gives hope to the hopeless, rights to the dispossessed and marginalised, and comfort and security to its men, women and children.
Though we may have faltered, we have not forgotten who we are, and what we stand for.
We are still that nation.
You may ask how I can be hopeful at such a difficult time.
I am hopeful because I have walked with the people of this country – the nurses and health care workers, our men and women in uniform, the teachers in our schools, the students who despite their family’s hardship are determined to succeed, and the youth who are trying to start their own businesses, to invent and create, and to rise above their circumstances.
It is you who give me courage, and to whom I offer courage in return.
Working together there is nothing we cannot be, nothing we cannot do, and nothing we cannot achieve.
As we enter this new era, let us take to heart the words of Ben Okri, when he says:
Will you be at the harvest,
Among the gatherers of new fruits?
Then you must begin today to remake
Your mental and spiritual world,
And join the warriors and celebrants
Of freedom, realizers of great dreams.
You can’t remake the world
Without remaking yourself.
Each new era begins within.
It is an inward event,
With unsuspected possibilities
For inner liberation.
We could use it to turn on
Our inward lights.
We could use it to use even the dark
And negative things positively.
We could use the new era
To clean our eyes,
To see the world differently,
To see ourselves more clearly.
Only free people can make a free world.
Infect the world with your light.
Help fulfill the golden prophecies.
Press forward the human genius.
Our future is greater than our past.
By A Correspondent| A gang of armed robbers on Tuesday pounced on a Lobels crew who were on their routine bread delivery shift and looted 500 loaves.
The bread is valued at roughly RTGS$3 000.
According to information at hand, the crew from Lobel’s Bakery was making deliveries at Speciman Shopping Centre in Harare’s Glen Norah suburb on Tuesday when the robbers attacked them demanding the scarce commodity.
Sources privy to the development alleged that an unmarked vehicle suddenly pulled up in front of the Lobels van before the occupants disembarked.
Armed with pistols, the gang accosted the crew, which, in turn, tried to put up a fight but was overpowered.
Lobel’s Bakery spokesperson Heritage Mhende would not be drawn to comment, while Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were in progress.
Zimbabwe is experiencing bread shortages, leaving consumers at the mercy of illegal traders who charge exorbitant prices.
US Assistant Secretary in Dptmnt of Bureau of African Affairs,Tiboh Nagy says Mnangagwa must bring to account state security agents who killed civilians in August 2018 and January 2019 protests. Do you think Mnangagwa will prosecute these soldiers who killed innocent civilians?
By Own Correspondent| Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday assured Parliament that government was in the process to see civil servants salaries increased.
He said that this was meant to cushion workers from the rising cost of living.
Ziyambi was responding to questions on the economic situation which were being raised by fellow legislators. At the moment, the least paid civil servants earn around ZWL$300 and their unions have petitioned Parliament, demanding a salary hike to more than ZWL$3 500 of which $200 must be in US dollars.
Ziyambi informed the Parliament that due to rising prices, the government was establishing people’s shops to cushion the citizenry.
Norton MP Temba Mliswa then asked Ziyambi to explain how civil servants will afford to buy from those people’s shops given that their salaries were very low and did not match with the prices of goods.
Ziyambi responded:
You are correct to say that, but government is in the process of negotiating with civil servants with a view to further increase their salaries.
As to the private sector, indeed, it is worrisome that prices are going up, but employers are not giving their employees corresponding salary increases. What is happening is that prices of goods and services are going up yet salaries are stagnant, but soon we will have a salary structure to cushion civil servants.”
A 52-YEAR-OLD member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) who was remanded in custody by Concession resident magistrate Ruth Moyo on an armed robbery case last week has died.
Shelton Marerwa who was remanded in custody to 28 June while on his hospital bed at Concession District Hospital died after being transferred from Concession hospital to Bindura hospital under Zimbabwe Prison Services and Correctional Services (ZPSCS) watch on Tuesday.
Contacted for comment the (ZPSC) public relations department first requested the questions on email and later said they were not in a position to confirm the case.
Murerwa was part of the eight soldiers that reportedly stormed at Ocelea mine in Concession last week with a military van and tried to disarm security guards there saying they had been sent from the President’s office.
Seven of the soldiers who are still at large, armed with loaded pistols allegedly demanded storeroom keys from security guards saying the mine firearms had no licences were then overpowered by the guards after they unleashed vicious dogs on them.
The now deceased Marerwa failed to jump in their escaping van due to injuries sustained in the tussle and was surrendered to the police.
A source from Concession district hospital said they suspected foul play on the death of Murerwa as they transferred him after some military guys tried to take him away from the hospital.
“We suspect foul play on the death of the soldier, because from the injuries he sustained he was not supposed to die, some military guys came and tried to forcefully take him and we denied them access after that trial they came other guys who first came with food after visiting hours claiming to be his relatives and when we asked him he said they were his workmates hence we had to transfer him to the provincial hospital, said the official.
It is further alleged that Murerwa told the police that he was on a mission from a higher office which he was yet to disclose.
Three major local bus companies suspended their services on Thursday while most schools both private and public as well as shops closed because of the mass protests against electoral irregularities organised by civil society organisations under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Coalition.
Malawi in mass protests
They are pushing for resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah for allegedly mismanaging the May 21 polls.
Business has gone very slow in major cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu as some people are intending to join the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) organized protests.
Axa Bus company, Sososo as well as Khwezy all suspended their bus services for today in fear that the peaceful protests might turn violent.
All public schools as well as some private schools and shops in Lilongwe are all closed whilst some minibus operators have scaled down their services.
This follows Wednesday’s clashes on Kamuzu Procession Road between the police and opposition supporters, mainly Malawi Congress Party (MCP) faithful.
President Peter Mutharika had to abandon the road as he was coming from Mangochi and use the by-pass road as angry party supporters burnt tyres on the road and placed stones.
MCP and UTM have gone to court seeking remedy after accusing Malawi Electoral Commission of helping the ruling Democratic Progressive Party manipulate presidential poll results in favour of president Peter Mutharika.
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.”
Ewn|Former President Jacob Zuma has reportedly lost his latest court bid and will now have to pay more than R16 million spent over 14 years on litigation.
The Business Day has reported that the High Court in Pretoria last week dismissed Zuma’s plea for leave to appeal against a finding that he couldn’t use State funds to pay for his defence costs.
Zuma was trying to avoid a trial on corruption charges which first surfaced in 2009.
The former president’s lawyer and the National Prosecuting Authority have not yet been available for comment on Thursday morning.
‘I’M NOT SCARED OF DEMOCRACY’
The former told his supporters he was not scared of democracy, adding he would fight it when it attacked him.
“There is no one who scares me. I wasn’t scared of the Afrikaners when they attacked me. So, I won’t be scared of democracy. When it attacks me, I will face it head-on,” he said.
The former president made the comments outside the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in May where he had been fighting for his case to be dismissed.
He told the court he was a victim of a political conspiracy and that he didn’t have money to finance a corruption trial.
He faced charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering related to the controversial multibillion-rand arms deal.
This was not the first time the former president spoke about democracy in less than glowing terms.
While speaking in Parliament in 2017, he raised many eyebrows when he said: “It’s a funny democracy that says punish a person before they make a mistake.”
Zuma said he didn’t know he would struggle fighting for freedom only to continue struggling even after the fall of apartheid.
Techzim|All eyes from all over the world will be on our boys tomorrow as they take on Egypt in Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament. Sadly, it’s looks like those fans that were hoping to see the match on ZBC will miss it. In fact, there is a highly likelihood that they will not watch the while Afcon tourney on ZBC.
The disappointing news was revealed this morning by ZBC Chief executive, Mr Patrick Mavhura during a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting services session. He disclosed that the state television needs €700 000 ($790 000) to be able to broadcast the tournament. Its the eve of the start of Afcon, will it get that $790 K by the end of today?
If it doesn’t, that will be a huge blow to many of us who were hoping to watch the tournament on ZBC because DStv, which can only be paid using US dollars, is now unaffordable to the average Zimbabwean. Most likely many people are gonna head to betting houses, local beerhalls and all those establiments that pay for DStv to entertain people so that they can watch the tournament.
It’s hardly surprising though to hear ZBC failing to pay for the rights when its failing to pay royalties that have been outstanding for many years. This, in turn, has discouraged artists from making new content for the hard-pressed state broadcaster. Couple that with falling license fees revenue that have prompted it to partner Harare City Council.It’s turning into a death spiral for ZBC unless it’s bailed out and reorganize or sold to private investors.
Zimbabwe’s interim currency fell to a new low on the black market on Thursday and local firms were demanding payment in U.S. dollars as a hedge against inflation, which is running at its highest in a decade.
The RTGS dollar has plunged 60 per cent against the U.S. dollar since its introduction in February, and public sector workers’ demands for a second pay rise this year could undermine a government drive to convince lenders of its fiscal discipline.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa won a disputed election last year on a promise to revive a Zimbabwe economy shattered by decades of mismanagement by his ousted predecessor Robert Mugabe.
But a year later daily life is harder. Ordinary Zimbabweans are enduring a severe shortage of U.S. dollars, fuel, medicines, bread and daily power cuts that last 10 hours.
The RTGS dollar, introduced by the government on Feb. 22 as the first step towards a new currency by year-end, traded at 10.5 to the U.S. dollar on Thursday, 14.3 per cent lower than a week ago.
On the official interbank rate, the RTGS currency was pegged at 6.2 compared to 5.9 a week ago.
Zimbabwe formally adopted the U.S. dollar as its official currency in January 2009, when most Zimbabweans had already ditched the hyperinflation-wrecked Zimbabwe Dollar.
A decade later, analysts see the same situation repeating itself.
More than 80 per cent of Zimbabweans earn RTGS dollars but from bricks to rentals, car parts and many grocers, prices are now pegged in U.S. dollars.
That has seen inflation rose to 97.86 per cent in May, its highest level in a decade, eroding salaries and savings and causing Zimbabweans to fear a return to the hyperinflation of 2008.
“I earn 400 RTGS$, where do I get the U.S. dollar? The government should fix this before we all die,” said Robson Ndiringepi, a security guard manning a supermarket in Harare.
Public sector workers are negotiating a salary hike, the second this year, which the justice minister told parliament on Wednesday would be announced soon.
That would put more pressure on the state budget just as the government has started a monitoring programme with the International Monetary Fund in a bid to create a track record of fiscal discipline that could secure it future funding.
Patrick Imam, IMF resident representative in Zimbabwe said the central bank should quickly allow the RTGS dollar to float freely, allow exporters to sell dollars at the interbank rate rather than surrender them to the central bank. IMF advice Zimbabwe should raise interest rates to curb inflation and avoid “spontaneous re-dollarisation.”
“Everyone now anticipates the RTGS dollar will weaken further, so businesses increase prices and workers demand more and the cycle continues. We are chasing our tails,” John Robertson, a Harare-based economist said.
A 24-year-old Midlands State University student from Gutu allegedly committed suicide by drinking a poisonous substance on Sunday in protest for being reprimanded by his father for continuously coming home drunk.
It is reported that Pride Chifamba of Masvingise Village under Headman Mutema area was found lying unconscious while frothing at the mouth, moments after his father, Mr Samuel Chifamba reprimanded him for coming late, drunk.
Sources close to the case said Pride, who was in his final year and studying towards a degree in Information Science, was in the habit of leaving home in the morning and returning in the wee hours the next day.
South Africa and Mozambique defence have launched investigations after a fatal shootout between local soldiers and Mozambican border police.
It occurred in the northern part of Kwazulu-Natal on Sunday afternoon. Two of Mozambique’s border police were shot dead.
The soldiers were on routine border patrol when the shooting occurred. A joint investigation is now under way to find the cause of the incident.
SANDF Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi says, “On Monday the chief of the defence force sent a team to KZN, Indumo area, to investigate the reason for the shooting. I can confirm that the team also confirmed that there was a shooting incident which our soldiers were involved in. Because of the nature of the incident, it was decided that a high level delegation must be dispatched to Mozambique as soon as possible to meet and interact with our counterpart in Mozambique to further investigate.”
The two members who have been killed are thought to be Mozambique’s border police.
“Us South Africa and Mozambique we have a good relationship, even at the lower level. At the present moment I want to say that it’s not going to cause hostility between the countries. We both understand that it’s one of those unfortunate incidents that happened and surprised everyone,” says Mgobozi.
The Defence Force has sent a team to the border area to get more information.
Government has stepped up efforts to address electricity challenges obtaining in the country, but signalled that collective efforts are required for a long-lasting solution.
Addressing a press conference on the 21st Cabinet Meeting Decision matrix yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the long hours of load shedding being experienced by domestic and some commercial consumers of power were a concern to Government.
She said Cabinet had received a status report on the electricity situation from Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi.
“The report showed that the fuel supply situation remained fairly stable,” she said.
“Concern was, however, expressed over the long duration of electricity power supply load shedding schedules, which was hurting both domestic and business consumers. Government has stepped up efforts to service its power imports debt arrears so as to ensure continued power supplies.
“As part of demand-side management measures, Government ministries and Government agencies should install meters to help them to closely monitor their power usage. All local authorities and other consumers are called upon to settle their bills with Zesa so as to improve the power utility’s viability.”
Minister Chasi said the issue required all Zimbabweans to work together to resolve the matter through paying their bills to ensure Zesa operated viably.
He said there was need for stakeholders to discuss the tariff charged by Zesa because the current rates were now below market rates. Zesa owes Hydro Cahora Bassa of Mozambique and Eskom of South Africa US$83 million.
Zimbabwe is getting about 50MW from the two suppliers, but this could be increased to 450MW once the arrears are cleared.
“We must make the necessary noises to ensure that the entity is viable,” said Minister Chasi.
“It’s a responsibility for everyone, we need to work together to sort this out because if we don’t, we will only shut ourselves down and to try and restart the formula will be difficult.
“Zesa, in spite of the numerous demands and complaints that we make as users of power, are owed $1,2 billion by local consumers.”
The mining sector, which gobbles most of the power, owes Zesa $200 million, local authorities ($300 million) and domestic consumers up to $400 million.
“I think the generality of the public owes something between $350 and $400 million, and that includes you and me; that includes people in Zanu-PF and in MDC, so the issue we have at hand doesn’t need us to engage in political banter,” said Minister Chasi.
“So the bottom line is when you consume a service you must pay and as a country, we must never allow ourselves to get into this situation (again). This has nothing to do with who you are. We can play games around this issue, but if there is an issue that needs us to be together as a country, it’s power. That’s why it’s called power.”
Minister Chasi said he engaged Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, who indicated that $20 million would be paid to Zesa.
He said while the figure was significant, “it’s still a drop in the ocean”, judging by what was required.
BULAWAYO residents and church leaders yesterday called for the abandonment of Section 40 of the Marriages Act Amendment Bill, saying it is likely to influence unchaste behaviour, leading to a situation akin to biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.
This came at a meeting organised by a civic society group to unpack the proposed amendments to the Marriages Act section 40 in Bulawayo.
Participants said it was clear that the Bill was seeking to legalise adultery, which is immoral according to Zimbabwean culture and norms.
Kucaca Phulu, MDC legislator for Nkulumane constituency, helped unpack the Bill, which he described as legalising adultery in an indirect way.
The proposed section 40 of the Marriages Act states that one can enter into a civil partnership with any person of the opposite sex, who is above the age of 18, despite their being married under chapter 5:11.
In the Bill, civil partnerships are not defined as a marriage, although they are recognised by the court of law.
A partner now has a claim over the property belonging to a married couple. Pastors from different church denominations opposed the Bill outright.
Pastor Mzizi from the Jabula New Life Covenant Church described the Bill as an instrument to fuel adultery.
“This proposal to me seems to be pushing the country into a devil’s pit and honestly, we are going to be a Sodom and Gomorrah mentioned in the Bible,” he said.
Residents described the proposals in the Bill as nonsensical and likely to wreck families.
A woman, who identified herself as MaNxumalo, said a nation can only be built on strong family institutions and destroying them was akin to tearing the very fabric holding the nation together.
“This civil partnership, if allowed to be made law, will lead to serious problems. We will lose the spirit of ubuntu. Remember, nations are built on strong family institutions. If we destroy family values, what kind of a nation are we building?” she asked.
The meeting was meant to prepare residents for the forthcoming nationwide consultative meetings to gather people’s views on the Bill, before it is passed into law.
A 24-year-old Midlands State University student from Gutu allegedly committed suicide by drinking a poisonous substance on Sunday in protest for being reprimanded by his father for continuously coming home drunk.
It is reported that Pride Chifamba of Masvingise Village under Headman Mutema area was found lying unconscious while frothing at the mouth, moments after his father, Mr Samuel Chifamba reprimanded him for coming late, drunk.
Sources close to the case said Pride, who was in his final year and studying towards a degree in Information Science, was in the habit of leaving home in the morning and returning in the wee hours the next day.
The MDC yesterday convened a special National Council, which sat as Congress to complete the business of the party’s 5th Congress that began in Gweru three weeks ago.
The President made several appointments to complete the leadership structure of the party in line with the theme: Defining A New Course for Zimbabwe.
Below is the party’s National Standing Committee
President – Advocate Nelson Chamisa
Vice President – Prof Welshman Ncube
Vice President – Hon. Tendai Biti
Vice President – Hon. Lynnette Karenyi
National Chairperson – Hon. Thabitha khumalo
Deputy National Chairperson – Hon. Job Sikhala
Secretary General – Hon Charlton Hwende
Deputy Secretary General – Hon. Concilia Chinanzvavana
Deputy Secretary General – Jameson Timba
Treasurer General – David Coltart
Deputy Treasurer – Sen. Lilian Timevous
National Organiser – Hon. Amos Chibaya
Deputy National Organiser – Hon. Happymore Chidziva
Deputy National Organiser – Sibusisiwe B. Masara
National Spokesperson – Hon. Daniel Molokele
Deputy National Spokesperson – Luke B. Tamborinyoka
In an ironic development, Jabulani Makhuyana Ndunge, 45, the son of the renowned late traditional healer Sekuru Charles Ndunge has been arrested on charges of theft.
Jabulani who has on numerous occasions said that he was going to continue with the work that his father was doing is facing charges of breaking into his estranged wife’s house and stealing US$7 300 and R9 600.
NewsDay reports that Jabulani appeared before Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware facing charges of unlawful entry and theft. He denied all the charges and was remanded out of custody to June 26 for trial.
According to the state’s case, Jabulani divorced the complainant, Ethel Loreen Jenhu, 35, in January 2018 and married another wife. However, as the couple had built the house in Usinga suburb together, they decided to divide the house as no one seemed to want to move out.
On June 11, Jabulani demanded the keys of the master bedroom which Jenhu uses from her maid. However, the maid refused to accede to the demand.
Jabulani is reported to have forced his way into the room through the roof. After gaining entry, he allegedly stole US$7 300 and R9 600.
Jenhu reported the matter to the police but nothing was recovered.
Police in Malawi fired tear gas at some protesters on Thursday as thousands demonstrated in major cities over last month’s disputed election.
The confrontation in Blantyre occurred as some protesters tore down and burned billboards showing President Peter Mutharika, who narrowly won a second term.
The protesters in this southern African nation have demanded the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission chairwoman Jane Ansah. A Human Rights Defenders Coalition statement alleged that the commission did not properly deal with more than 140 election-related complaints, and it accused Ansah of a “scandalous approach and stubborn attitude” in managing voters’ concerns.
Opposition leaders Lazarus Chakwera and Saulos Chilima, who finished second and third in the election, respectively, joined the protesters in the capital, Lilongwe. Both are challenging the election results in court, alleging irregularities. Also present was former Chief Justice Richard Banda, the husband of former President Joyce Banda.
The protesters in Lilongwe delivered a petition listing grievances to the president’s office.
Protesters on Wednesday in Lilongwe scuffled with police as they blocked the road the 78-year-old Mutharika was meant to travel to speak to parliament, forcing his motorcade to use a different route.
The president in response to the weeks of unrest has urged unity and calm while accusing the opposition of “mobilizing illegal demonstrations” and trying to cause chaos after the peaceful election.
In one incident in Lilongwe earlier this month, police used tear gas on Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party headquarters while the opposition leader was meeting with the U.S. ambassador , and some of the gas wafted into the nearby U.S. Embassy. Police later told The Associated Press they had not been aware the ambassador was there.
Farai Dziva|Teachers have notified the Public Service Commission that they will report for duty three days per week with effect from June 24, 2019.
The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe has written a letter to the Public Service Commission indicating that teachers will report for duty only three days per week with effect from Monday 24 June 2019 due to incapacitation.
The teachers have made four demands to their employer that are as follows:
(1) A rescue package of US $200 over above our RTGS-denominated salaries;
(2) An urgent upward review of our salaries in line with the purchasing power parity principle;
(3) Non-payment of tuition fees for at least three of a teacher’s children; and
(4) Free and transparent allocation of land for accommodation purposes with clear time frames.
Farai Dziva|Newly appointed MDC Secretary for Welfare and Public Service Maureen Kademaunga has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to stop harassing innocent civilians and opposition political leaders.
See her statement below :
Hon Settlement Chikwinya and Hon Mukapiko appear before courts to answer to trumped up charges as the vicious cycle of injustice continues.
The two are part of a large contingent of elected MDC officials, activists and ordinary citizens who have faced arbitrary arrests for speaking out since the election of July 2018.
Judicial harrasment of dissenting voices comes at a cost to the victim who in most cases does not have access to a remedy when their rights have been violated, or cannot proactively claim their rights and entitlements resulting in the entrenchment of their exclusion, powerlessness and deprivation. In keeping with our pro-poor niche and ideological inclination towards freedom, justice and solidarity as the MDC, we acknowledge that political victimisation is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing a chronic lack of choices, security and power, all building on each other in a feedback loop of disadvantage.
We therefore commit to building a comprehensive welfare plan to cater for our victimised members while we continue to push for broader freedoms.
We urge the government to respect people’s fundamental rights, end judicial harrasment and arbitrary arrests of political leaders and citizen voices.
The ZANU PF government must envisage effective access to justice; not just as a right but also as a tool for reducing poverty and inequality and fostering social inclusion.
In Service of Humanity,
Maureen Kademaunga
Secretary for Public Service and Social Welfare
MDC
By Eddie Cross| I thought we had seen everything that this country of ours could throw at us, but the situation right now looks like nothing we have seen before.
Prices have quadrupled and continue to rise inexorably, incomes remain fixed or at least only 15 to 30 per cent higher for people in paid employment, fuel is still short or expensive and now massive electricity cuts. At my place in Harare we are out of electricity for 15 to 18 hours a day, every day.
Personally, I started to pay for my long term security with a major pension company when I was 17 years old, my father having told me you have to have an insurance policy. Eventually my portfolio was 5 policies – all with the same company, the biggest in the region, and I had contributed in one way or another well over a million US dollars to this company for my personal security once I retired.
Today this company, proudly sends me an e mail each month saying we have paid your pension into your account today in the amount of RTGS$94.00 (that is about US$10.00). A cup of coffee costs RTGS$8 to RTGS$12 in local coffee shops.
I met with a small group of student leaders on Saturday and they asked me all sorts of questions – one thing I told them was never pay into a pension fund. But really, what kind of a future can we offer our brightest and best young people if we cannot maintain the most basic economic ingredients for growth? What sort of future faces them and how do that prepare for that future? For most of them the future is a passport.
At Church on Sunday, one of the larger aid agencies told me that they were gearing up to provide basic food to 5 million people in the rural areas but were now thinking they might have to start a program in urban areas where absolute poverty and hunger were becoming a major issue. If you cannot provide food and fuel to your people, we are, as far as many people are concerned a ‘failed State’. How else do you describe what is happening?
But the reality is that we are far from a failed State, our fiscal surplus in the first quarter was $500 million, we are accumulating hard currency in our banks, for the first time ever, the balance of payments is strong, so why the crisis? Let’s look at each problem one by one.
Firstly, food: 20 years after the Government launched the ‘Fast Track Land Reform Program’ and three years after ‘Command Agriculture’ we are still importing the great majority of our food, food prices are high by regional standards and our poorest people (who are 70 per cent of the entire population) cannot afford to buy their essentials for daily life. Why? We have plenty of land, water to irrigate a million hectares of crops, we have the expertise and most of the equipment needed – what’s missing? Two words – real farmers.
In the USA 3 per cent of the population lives on farms, in Europe perhaps 5 per cent, in South Africa 70 per cent of all food is produced by 100 companies, in Zambia a small community of less than 1000 farmer’s make that country a net exporter on a large scale.
What they all have in common is the respect of their countries for the contribution they make and security. Personal security and security over assets which enables them to borrow massively from the banks to cover short term costs and capital equipment. Here none of that applies and it’s just a matter of changing our policies.
Secondly, Fuel: In 2009, in a fifteen-minute statement we liberalized – floated our currency, removed all import restrictions, removed all controls on gold production and sales and dismantled price controls. In 10 days’ fuel supplies were freely available at world market prices, no allocations of foreign exchange from the Reserve Bank, no subsidies, no State controlled imports. Just private sector and free markets – ‘publish your prices on the forecourts’ was all we had to do and leave customers to decide where to buy their fuel from.
2013, we reversed those decisions, restored controls and State intervention, made the Reserve Bank the main trader in foreign exchange and we allowed monopoly interests to take control of the fuel industry. Instantly we were back in 2008, fuel shortages, high prices, well above regional and international levels and constant disruptions and shortages of foreign exchange.
What do we have to do – unscramble the egg, go back to basics. Do not tell me we do not know what the solutions are – we do, it’s just the will to do the things that are necessary. What mechanism was behind the 2009 announcement by Chinamasa? A simple resolution in Cabinet, the day before.
Thirdly, Electrical Energy: We have made a start, we fired the top management and the Board, but that is just the start. This sector is an unholy mess. We have just spent, between Zambia and ourselves nearly a billion dollars on doubling the capacity of Kariba – with no increase in water supply?
We have then allowed the dam to operate well above capacity because the power coming out was cheap and available and as a country with full supply at low prices, we went to sleep. Now – disaster strikes as the inevitable happened – we ran out of water.
Then at Hwange, where we built a huge thermal power station nearly 60 years ago, we have been paying little attention to coal supplies. Hwange Colliery with millions of tonnes of coal reserves, is running out of coal?
They have perhaps six months left in the open cast mine and Hwange Power Station must rely on private sector operations. The conveyor system, the drag line, tens of millions of dollars of plant and equipment is broken down and crude, out of date methods of mining are being employed at much higher cost.
Our currency collapses and we do not increase prices for coal. Are we then surprised that the coal stops coming? Are we crazy? We have spent tens of millions of dollars on the three small thermal stations with less capacity than one turbine at Hwange. Hwange uses thermal coal at half the cost of other forms of coal which are used in these old stations, who in the world spends money on coal fired stations that were built in the 1920’s and 30’s?
We need new power sources – every home should have solar panels on the roof. Solar can supply our needs during the day – without storage, at very low costs. Let’s get an emergency program under way. We need a new major thermal power station that uses coal – let’s make it happen, its private sector driven, keep it that way but support them financially, its only money. And for heaven’s sake, raise the price of power to reflect current costs. The only short term solution is to import power and for that to happen we have to pay for the stuff.
Finally, Prices: I say prices because what we have right now is not inflation in the normal sense – its price rises driven by speculation in our currencies. This is fueled by the Reserve Bank with its mismanagement and manipulation of the interbank market and the foreign exchange system as a whole. The ability of the private sector (or speculators) to make a margin, sometimes a massive margin, on simple currency deals every day is just too great at the moment and the only way to stop the practice is to enlist the market.
We know how to do this – do we think we are the only country in the world that has had this problem, if we do we are stupid and I do not think that is the case. We must make it expensive to secure supplies of local currency by raising short term interest rates to a punitive level.
We must make the official, interbank market for foreign exchange work so that the exchange rate in the Banks has credibility and when we want foreign currencies, we can buy them and remit them to clients and suppliers outside the country.
We cannot do that if the Reserve Bank is allowed to unilaterally take foreign currency out of our bank accounts for their own use and replace it with local electronic currency at a false exchange rate. Make all Banks sell the foreign exchange that is available on the interbank market every day and allow people to buy from the market through their banks what they need. The exchange rate will strengthen and prices will go down, automatically. Is that so difficult to understand and do?
Eddie Cross is a former opposition MDC MP for Bulawayo South
Farai Dziva|Warriors head coach Sunday Chidzambwa has named Tafadzwa Kutinyu’s replacement at the Afcon 2019.
The midfielder was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a muscle strain which will only recover after the start of the national team’s campaign.
Chidzambwa and his technical team have decided to bring in FC Platinum midfielder Lawrence Mhlanga.
“WARRIORS UPDATE
Injured Tafadzwa Kutinyu has been ruled out of the 2019 AFCON tournament and will be replaced by @FCPlatinum’s Lawrence Mhlanga,” ZIFA tweeted.
Farai Dziva|Zimbabwe national team coach Sunday Chidzambwa has said his charges will not be intimidated by the Pharaohs’ home support.
The Warriors will play the Pharaohs tomorrow in the opening game of the competition at Cairo International Stadium at 10 pm Zimbabwean time.
Speaking ahead of the match, Chidzambwa said: “I think we have very experienced players who are currently playing outside Zimbabwe.”
“We played under the same atmosphere in DRC and in Congo-Brazzaville, our players are now used to playing under this atmosphere.”
“I think winning in Kinshasa against DR Congo was a very big achievement for us, Congo is one of the best teams in Africa and they won the tournament twice and that actually is going to motivate our players,” the Warriors mentor added.
