By Own Correspondent- Government has further tightened mechanisms to prevent the abuse of public finances by gazetting regulations that provide for investigation and punishment of public officials found guilty of financial misconduct.
Accounting officers (or executive authority) are now compelled to institute an investigation into an act of misconduct by officials of public organisations, in terms of the latest regulations, within 30 days of the impropriety being discovered.
The Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) prioritises strengthening of the public management system, building on work already being done under the World Bank-managed Zimbabwe Reconstruction Fund to roll out the system to cover all districts.
In the context of TSP, Treasury will also put in place measures to ensure the strict enforcement of approved penalties for cases of non-compliance with requirements of public resource management legislation.
The regulations will help put a stop to the culture of impunity where over the years, bad governance and mismanagement practices in public entities, line ministries and statutory bodies, have led to the loss of millions of dollars of public funds.
Most of the impropriety happened at a time when Government faced serious financial and other resource limitations needed to meet an extensive array of obligations.
Each year, the Auditor-General’s office has uncovered startling acts of corruption, mismanagement and abuse of public resources in State-owned or controlled entities and institutions to the detriment of Government plans, objectives and goals.
The new regulations designed to end the rot in State institutions are contained in Statutory Instrument (SI) 135 of 2019, dubbed Public Finance Management (General) Regulations, 2019, published in the Government gazette yesterday.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that neighbouring South Africa imposed “unacceptable” conditions for Zimbabwe to join the Rand Monetary Union.
Responding to a question on why Zimbabwe has not adopted the Rand given the economic and in particular currency problems the country is facing, Mnangagwa said government has unsuccessfully tried this in the past.
He said:
“In 2008 after the local dollar collapsed the former administration (led by former President Robert Mugabe) that I was part of set up a committee of five. I was part of that committee and we decided to approach South Africa with a view to join the Rand Monetary Union.
We were given a check-list of conditions to meet. Some of them were unacceptable.
South Africa’s Reserve Bank wanted to know our GDP and other things that we did not agree with, even any other would not have. This was because they would have had to print the requite value of currency for circulation in Zimbabwe.”
By A Correspondent- Chirumanzu Zibagwe MP, Prosper Machando (Zanu PF) stunned the court early this week when he offered to pay ZWL$50 for the upkeep of a four-year-old child he sired with a Mvuma woman, Clara Taruberekera.
Machando, who is the Midlands provincial deputy youth chairperson however, said he could only afford ZWL$50 since he had other commitments such as debts, bank loans and medical bills for his other son who was in the hospital.
But Chivhu magistrate Rufaro Panavanhu dismissed his offer and instead ordered him to pay ZWL$296 for the maintenance of his customary wife and minor child.
Taruberekera had told the magistrate that she had been customarily married to Machando and lived together in Mvuma until he stopped coming home in April, forcing her to relocate to her sister’s house in Chivhu. But Machando denied that he was married to her, saying they only cohabited.
The Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) of the Parliament of Zimbabwe is mandated in terms of Sections 237 and 254 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe to nominate candidates for possible appointment by His Excellency, the President, to serve as Commissioners on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission as provided for in Chapter 13 of the Constitution.
Parliament of Zimbabwe received 152 nominations by the closing date of 28th February 2019. A call for objections to any of the nominated candidates and submission of possible questions to be posed to interviewees was also made and closed on Tuesday 26th March 2019.
The Committee on Standing Rules and Orders thereafter carried out an exhaustive analysis of the nominated candidates to decipher their suitability for consideration to serve on this Commission.
The following 38 candidates were shortlisted for interviews to be held on the Friday 21st June, 2019 at Parliament Building, corner Third Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Harare as appended below:
Name of Candidate
1 BOTOMANI Gibson. Reverend 2 CHAFANZA David.C. Mr 3 CHAIBVA Gabriel. Mr. 4 CHEBUNDO Blessing. Mr 5 CHIGUMIRA Caroline-Ann. Mrs. 6 CHINYOKA Tinomudaishe. Mr. 7 DHLIWAYO Tsitsi. Mrs 8 DUBE Charles. T.M.J. Mr. 9 DUBE-BANDA Christopher. Mr. 10 HUNGWE Mabel. N. Dr. 11 KASHANGURA Brian. Mr 12 KUMWENDA Zondi. Mr. 13 KUNAKA Matthew.T. Mr. 14 MAHACHI Jeffrey. I Mr 15 MAJOME Fungayi. J. Ms. 16 MAJURU Michael. Advocate 17 MAKAMURE John. Mr. 18 MANDINDE Wilbert. P Advocate 19 MARINGE Noah. Mr. 20 MASARA Basil. Mr. 21 MATOPE Tawanda.Mr. 22 MATUTU Tongai. Mr. 23 MLOBANE Thandiwe.Ms. 24 MTOMBENI Kennedy. Mr 25 MUCHENGWA Frank.Mr. 26 MUGONI Paul. M. Mr. 27 MUNYEDZA Propser. Mr. 28 MURAPA Kuziva.P. Mr. 29 MUSHORE James.A. Mr 30 MUSHUNJE Arnold. Mr. 31 MUTSUMBA Caleb. Mr. 32 NCUBE Nomsa. H. Ms. 33 NCUBE Thembelani. K. Mr 34 SANTU Michael.D. Rtd. Major 35 SIBANDA-CHIVHEYA Mark. Mr. 36 TOFA Sithembiso.A. Mrs 37 ZISENGWE Dumisani. H. Mr. 38 ZIWERERE Henry. Bishop
All the candidates are advised to be at Parliament building by 0745. The CSRO would like to thank all those who responded to the call to nominate candidates or to lodge their objections against any of the nominated candidates.
The Committee would also like to thank those who suggested possible questions to be used during the interviews. Members of the public are invited to attend and witness the interviews on Friday 21st June, 2019.
By Own Correspondent- A war of words erupted between Norton legislator Temba Mliswa and Gokwe Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena with Mliswa accusing the later of being broke.
Mliswa charged at Wadyajena in parliament where he said:
“On the second one, Mr. Speaker Sir, whilst Members of Parliament enjoy tax rebate for their vehicles, I think it is important for this Parliament to explain what sort of vehicle we are entitled to because my understanding on the rebate of the vehicles is cars we can use in the constituencies, not Lamborghinis because a Lamborghini does not get to the constituencies. Now, what is happening is people are saying Members of Parliament, especially myself, Hon. Mliswa…
This one is in terms of the corruption of us as Members of Parliament in the cars that we are supposed to get as rebate. Are they luxury vehicles or vehicles that must be used in the constituency? So your guidance is sort in that regard, Mr. Speaker Sir, on the cars that we must get on the tax rebate.”
However Wadyajena responded and accused Mliswa of being jealous of his latest symbol of wealth.
He said:
“Haunyare kuita jealous murume mukuru akaita sewe meaning you are not even ashamed of yourself, such a bid man like you being jealous of me.”
An emotionally charged Mliswa hit back at Wadyajena and said in vernacular:
“Wakaiwana kupi mari yacho, hauna business wakabroker saka wakaiwanakupi mari? meaning where did you get the money, you are not running any profitable business you are broke so tell us where did you get the money?”
ONE of the golden picks of the urban grooves movement of the early 2000s, Tererai Mugwadi, yesterday claimed that her 14-year battle with alcoholism attracted a vicious campaign against her by both the media and individuals, forcing her into isolation.
The musician, whose silky voice saw her featuring on many artistes’ songs, told a drug and substance abuse social influencers’ meeting attended by Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro, that music and substance abuse were interdependent.
Describing herself as a “functional alcoholic” Mugwadi said the negative stories about her published in the mainstream media and vicious attacks on social media saw her opting for isolation, although she found her elixir in prayer and meditation.
“I am a living testimony of a functional alcoholics which once caused me to suffer from minor epilepsy syndromes and I have been battling with it for the past 14 years,” she said.
“The media has managed to be a hindrance in my life with the negative issues that continued to come out which contributed to a series of insults in my inbox and I ended up isolating myself. However, I ascribed to meditation and praying more which really helps a lot.”
A functional alcoholic is an individual who manages to maintain the appearance of success despite their alcohol addiction.
Mugwadi said she had been working with children interested in music and helping them produce their work, but some parents did not want her to associate with their children because of how alcohol and drug abuse have been associated with the music industry.
“I work with young children, producing and writing their music but some parents do not want me to work with their children because of the image that musicians have given the industry through their abuse of drugs,” she said.
“With our profession, it has been regarded normal to drink during work, and most of the times even if you visit different studios, a lot of times when we are gathered as artistes, alcohol and drugs are circulated to remain ‘sane’ as we would say.”
The songstress encouraged musicians battling alcoholism and drug abuse to speak out.
The meeting was organised by Consolidated Africa Services in partnership with the Department of Mental Health Services and the Ministry of Health and Child Care to share information on alcohol and substance abuse as well as how music can be used to carry the message on solutions in society.
Mangwiro encouraged musicians to compose songs that speak against substance abuse.
Affable Vimbai Tsvangirai Java, the daughter of political icon Morgan Tsvangirai breathed her last at 2pm on Monday at a Harare hospital in Harare. She died from injuries sustained in a horrific head-on collision that happened on May 14, 2019 some 5km from Kwekwe along Bulawayo – Harare Highway.
Her late mother’s close friend, Philda Muringani was driving the Toyota Mark X that had four occupants in it. All of them except Muringani have died.
Muringani was a close friend of the late Susan Tsvangirai (Vimbai’s mother) as they both attended the Methodist Church in Mabelreign together. After the death of Susan, Muringani who was a pillar in both Susan’s political and religious life became close to Vimbai, in fact they became prayer partners.
Just as Muringani played a role in Susan’s political life, she became one in Vimbai’s as the latter vied for a political office.
On Friday May 10 Vimbai persuaded Muringani to accompany her to an MDC Alliance campaign meeting in Bulawayo. Muringani initially told Vimbai of her inability to go because of other commitments but after persuasion the trip was eventually put together.
In Bulawayo, Vimbai, Muringani, and Tafadzwa Mhundwa who is Vimbai’s uncle and active party member were staying at Muringani’s brother’s place. On the fateful day, the three bade farewell to Muringani’s brother who urged them to sleep over and avoid travelling at night but they had to go.
Before they left Paul Rukanda, from MDC Glenview begged for a lift from the three but Vimbai was reluctant to go with him as she planned to talk political strategies on the way and therefore wanted as much as possible to avoid people outside her campaign team.
After some haggling between Vimbai and Muringani they reluctantly allowed Rukanda into their car and he was the first to die when the accident happened.
They left Bulawayo at 6pm and at around 9pm they passed Kwekwe and 5km from the City there are some treacherous curves.
“Suddenly I saw this car just close to us. Everyone screamed to warn me of the impending danger and I swerved to the left to avoid it but just as I did the driver of the oncoming car also swerved to the same side. I pulled back on the road since the lane was now clear but instinctively the next driver also did the same and he hit our car on the left side forcing it to overturn onto the shoulders of the right hand side of the road,” said Muringani.
The first person to arrive at the scene was the MDC Alliance Women Assembly chairperson Paurina Mpariwa who was also coming from the same meeting. Muringani whose seat belt had locked called out Mpariwa’s driver Shacky to rush and help them. Shaky had to use a knife to cut the belt and Muringani was pulled out of the wreck.
The next to be pulled out was Vimbai who complained of serious back-ache, a painful shoulder and headache. Rukanda was the next to be pulled out but it was realised that he was already dead. Rukanda was sitting behind Mhundwa, Vimbai was sitting behind the driver and Mhundwa was sitting in the front passenger’s seat.
Efforts to extricate Mhundwa from the wreckage were futile and for a whole hour he was trapped there crying out for help before the Kwekwe Fire Brigade arrived. Muringani and Vimbai were immediately whisked by Mpariwa to Kwekwe General Hospital, leaving Mhundwa in the wreck.
Mhundwa died on arrival at the hospital and medical attendants said he died because of the excruciating pain that he went through.
Vimbai was later transferred to Harare in a stable condition but later developed a blood clot that led to a cardiac arrest almost a month into her admission.
“I hear that the driver we were involved in an accident with was a soldier in Cowadry Park and he died three days after the accident”, said Muringani.
Vimbai was buried yesterday, Thursday June 13 at Glen Forest Cemetery.
Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said he will not treat MDC leader Nelson Chamisa as ‘the special one’ or force him to join the ongoing dialogue between political leaders.
Speaking to Capitalk Radio yesterday, Mnangagwa said if Chamisa wants dialogue, the door is still open for him to join other parties.
“I cannot get a bulldozer or a tractor to pull him out of his house for talks. I have made a call to all political parties in Zimbabwe that let us come together. Is he not a leader of a political party in Zimbabwe?
“I think he is. Then why does he not come to the table where everybody else is? Why should he feel proud that all 19 political parties are not important but only him?” Mnangagwa asked.
The Zanu PF leader won last year’s election albeit controversially after Chamisa cried foul. The opposition leader approached the Constitutional Court in a bid to overturn the result but his petition was dismissed for lack of evidence.
However, despite the ruling, Chamisa insists he won and Mnangagwa should in fact hand over power to him. In response, the Zanu PF leader has called for dialogue and invited all political leaders who participated in last year’s presidential elections.
Chamisa refused despite being invited and instead has demanded a meeting between him and Mnangagwa without the other parties that he has characterised as “praise singers who have no dispute with the President.”
But Mnangagwa Friday said he would not relent and in fact will create platforms for other stakeholders like the church and youths to interact with him and move the country forward.
“In my view, I think every political party is important. Why does he (Chamisa) feel that his party is important than all 19 parties that have so far engaged into the dialogue.
“We will continue to engage and will create equal platforms for the church and youth,” said the Zanu PF leader.
He added: “All those who want to share their views, come; let us discuss. The table is open. There must not be sacred cows who think they are better than others. We are all Zimbabweans, let us come and settle together.”
In February this year, President Mnangagwa invited all the 22 candidates who challenged him in the disputed July 30 elections last year for a process widely expected find solutions to the country’s economic, social and particularly political problems.
Chamisa turned down Mnangagwa’s offer and instead demanded a mediator to what he called “the crisis of legitimacy in Zimbabwe”.
The opposition leader demanded “genuine dialogue” adding he was not interested in a “tea party with Mnangagwa.”
Early this week however, Chamisa seemed to be softening, declaring he was ready to talk to Mnangagwa even if it meant he (Chamisa) would not end up in government.
A MIDDLE-SABI-BASED police officer was fatally stabbed by a suspect he had arrested over an undsiclosed offence at Chibuwe Business Centre in Chipinge on Thursday.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Lloyd Mahovhana (33) had been lawfully arrested for committing an offence when he stabbed to death one Constable Kadeya.
“The suspect had no reason whatsoever to resist and, in the process, attack the police detail who was performing his constitutional duties,” Nyathi said.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges members of the public to co-operate and allow the law to take its course whenever one commits an offence.”
Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has laid into former First Lady Grace Mugabe accusing her of possessing 16 farms, setting the stage for a bruising battle should he proceeds to dispossess her of the land she amassed during her husband’s stint on power.
Mnangagwa who was speaking on Capitalk FM radio said he knows people of higher rank in society who have more than one farm against a policy of one family one farm, citing former President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace as being of those who abused their positions of authority to amass land.
“We have some farm owners especially people of higher rank in society having more than one farm, some as many as nine, i know of a particular lady eh eh eh Stop it, who has about 16, eh farms and the law says one family one farm. so once the audit is over, we should be able to implement that policy,” said Mnangagwa.
He added that Zimbabwe will have a currency as a necessary measure to stabilize the economy.
Early this year, Grace showered praises on Mnangagwa after he hired a private jet to airlift her to mourn her mother.
POLICE in Manicaland province have launched a manhunt for eight suspected armed robbers who raided a Chipinge woman’s home on Monday and got away with US$24 000, ZWL$240 and R18 000.
Pamela Penyakufa from Nyakumwa village under Chief Matema, was asleep when the daring robbers besieged her house.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed the incident.
He said the robbers also went away with 240 litres of diesel and five cellphones belonging to the complainant.
The incident happened on June 10 at around 9pm when eight robbers scaled a precast security wall to gain entry into Penyakufa’s homestead.
Kakohwa said the robbers, who were armed with two pistols, knives, machetes and hammers, found two men, Danmore Nkomo and Clydide Quinton, sleeping on the verandah.
They reportedly tied Quinton and Nkomo’s hands and threatened to kill them if they resisted.
At that time, Penyakufa woke up after hearing Nkomo screaming and rushed outside to investigate, only to meet the robbers who allegedly force-marched her back into the house.
They allegedly demanded cash and she surrendered US$24 000, R18 000 and ZWL$240.
Kakohwa urged the public not to keep large sums of money in their homes.
Own Correspondent| A Zimbabwean national Frank Joe Moyo, who was allegedly linked to illegal mining, was murdered on Tuesday evening in Limpopo.
Police spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said Moyo was shot dead at about 7.30pm in Letsitele, outside Tzaneen.
“It is alleged that a 41-year-old man [Moyo], was coming from the Carnival City in Gauteng and arrived at a house in Zanghoma village to pay his ‘illegal mining employee’,” Ngoepe said.
“Moyo was outside the house talking to some of the employees when an unknown assailant entered the yard, shot him and fled on foot with his cellphone and an undisclosed amount of money.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and wife’s successor in the Chirumanzu Zibagwe constituency, Prosper Machando (Zanu-PF) stunned the court early this week when he offered to pay ZWL$50 for the upkeep of a four-year-old child he sired with a Mvuma woman.
Clara Taruberekera had dragged the MP to court claiming ZWL$800 for both her maintenance and that of the child.
Machando, however, said he could only afford ZWL$50 since he had other commitments such as debts, bank loans and medical bills for his other son who was in hospital.
But Chivhu magistrate Rufaro Panavanhu dismissed his offer and instead ordered him to pay ZWL$296 for the maintenance of his customary wife and minor child.
Taruberekera had told the magistrate that she had been customarily married to Machando and lived together in Mvuma until he stopped coming home in April, forcing her to relocate to her sister’s house in Chivhu.
But Machando denied that he was married to her, saying they only cohabited.
Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has threatened to dispossess former First Lady Grace Mugabe vast land once the land audit commission submits its report which he said fingers her for possessing 16 farms.
Mnangagwa who was speaking on Capitalk FM radio said he knows people of higher rank in society who have more than one farm against a policy of one family one farm, citing former President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace as being of those who abused their positions of authority to amass land.
“We have some farm owners especially people of higher rank in society having more than one farm, some as many as nine, i know of a particular lady eh eh eh Stop it, who has about 16, eh farms and the law says one family one farm. so once the audit is over, we should be able to implement that policy,” said Mnangagwa.
He added that Zimbabwe will have a currency as a necessary measure to stabilize the economy.
Early this year, Grace showered praises on Mnangagwa after he hired a private jet to airlift her to mourn her mother.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (PGH) has reversed the new prices for the private wards.
In a statement PGH said this comes after listening to the concerns of clients.
“Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals would like to inform members of the public that the fees adjustments for our private wards which we intended to implement with effect from 17 June, 2019 have been suspended forthwith to allow for further consultations.
“We have seriously reconsidered our position after listening to the concerns from our valued patients. We are therefore reverting to the charges before the announcement. Members of the public will be informed of any developments in due course,” read the statement.
The accommodation fees had been pegged at executive suite $ 1 500, big room $800, small room $600, ICU $800, HDU $600 and maternity $600 per day.
Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has laid into former First Lady Grace Mugabe accusing her of possessing 16 farms, a move he said will be exposed and corrected once an audit report from the lands commission is finalised.
Mnangagwa who was speaking on Capitalk FM radio said he knows people of higher rank in society who have more than one farm against a policy of one family one farm, citing former President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace as being of those who abused their positions of authority to amass land.
“We have some farm owners especially people of higher rank in society having more than one farm, some as many as nine, i know of a particular lady eh eh eh Stop it, who has about 16, eh farms and the law says one family one farm. so once the audit is over, we should be able to implement that policy,” said Mnangagwa.
He added that Zimbabwe will have a currency as a necessary measure to stabilize the economy.
Early this year, Grace showered praises on Mnangagwa after he hired a private jet to airlift her to mourn her mother.
Zesa loadshedding has moved from ridiculous to outright shocking with the new scheduling indicating that almost the entire country will not be having electricity from 4am to 10pm everyday.
In a statement announcing the new scheduling, ZESA blamed the blackouts on breakdowns and repairs at thermal power plants and low water levels at Lake Kariba.
The load-shedding schedule published by Zesa Holdings’ subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company on Thursday and immediately implemented, indicated that most of Harare’s suburbs will be without power between 4am and 10pm, while other towns will be affected between 5am and 10pm. The power utility said load-shedding will be worse if the power supply situation deteriorated.
“The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company is experiencing increased power shortfalls due to low water levels at Kariba Power Station, generation constraints at Hwange Power Station and limited imports,” said the power utility.
“The power shortfall is being managed through load-shedding in order to balance the power supply available and the demand. Previously published winter load-shedding schedules have been reviewed in line with the increased shortfalls owing to the depressed generation levels at Kariba Power Station.
“In the event of further deterioration of the current available power supply, the level and duration of load-shedding may go beyond the advertised schedules.”
The power utility urged consumers to use electricity sparingly.
“Every effort is being directed at improving the generation capacity to ensure that supply disruptions are kept at minimum levels,” it said.
According to the load-shedding schedule, in Harare northern and eastern suburbs like Alexandra Park, Athlone, Chisipite and Glen Lorne will not be having electricity from 4am to 10pm for three to four days in a week. The same applies for southern suburbs like Hatfield, Waterfalls, Queensdale and Mbare.
A similar load-shedding schedule applies for suburbs like Mabvuku, Greendale, Mandara, Highlands, Westlea, Tynwald, Kuwadzana, Glen View, Budiriro and Warren Park.
The same tight load-shedding schedule will apply in Bulawayo where most suburbs will be without power between 4am and 10pm for the better part of the week.
For Gweru, Masvingo, Chinhoyi, Marondera and Mutare, the worst load-shedding will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5am to 10pm.
The same situation will apply to towns like Bindura, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Zvishavane, Shurugwi and Redcliff.
The load shedding schedule is designed in such a way that electricity is only available between midnight and early hours of the morning when most users are asleep. SO to use electricity make sure you don’t sleep, otherwise if you love your sleep then forget about electricity.
A group purporting to be the military wing of Mozambique’s main opposition party Renamo has threatened to kill the party’s leader, Ossufo Momade, if he does not step down.
“We don’t want Ossufo,” a spokesman for the group, Mariano Nhongo, said at a news conference held on Wednesday in the mountainous centre of the country.
“If he doesn’t want to go, we will kill him… he has destroyed our party,” he said, surrounded by a handful of men holding assault rifles.
The group also threatened to derail talks between Momade and Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi aimed at the complete disarmament of Renamo, a former rebel group that transformed into a political party after the country’s 1976-1992 civil war but which took up arms again in 2013 to challenge the ruling Frelimo party.
Renamo declared a ceasefire in 2016 under its former leader Afonso Dhlakama, who died last year, and a fragile peace process has been applied since then.
Renamo’s directorate sought Thursday to downplay the group’s threats.
Its spokesman, Jose Manteigas, condemned what he called a “defamatory and uncouth show” by Nhongo and reiterated his party’s determination to achieve a complete peace and “true national reconciliation”.
But an analyst, Sergio Gomes of St. Andrews University in Scotland, told AFP that the warning underscored turmoil in the opposition over the application of the peace process under way since 2016.
“If the party doesn’t calm this, it could lead to a break within its armed wing,” he told AFP.
Mozambique is to hold general elections on October 15.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday held a meeting with several opposition parties under his self initiated Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), comprising mostly leaders of the 22 opposition parties that contested in the July 30th election.
A major challenge to Mnangagwa’s presidency since taking over power from longtime leader President Robert Mugabe, in a military coup in 2017, has been the economy, which has been compounded by the fact that the country lacks its own currency, and has been depending on the U.S. dollar and other currencies.
Addressing those gathered at POLAD, Mnangagwa reiterated an earlier promise that Zimbabwe will soon have its own currency.
“It is more critical that we have our own currency,” said Mnangagwa. “The creation of wealth, infrastructure, we have in the country will determine the level of the supply of money in the country. So it is necessary that we have our own currency.”
Mnangagwa said the currency, once introduced, will essentially put an end to the multiple currencies currently in use in the country for most transactions, as everyone will then have to convert their foreign currency to local money, at a bank or exchange bureau, to do any transaction.
Zimbabwe has not had its own currency since 2009.
“The US dollar cannot anymore transact in the country,” declared Mnangagwa. “If you go to the UK, with your US dollar, or you go to Zambia, or you go to South Africa nearby, with your US dollar or your Euro, you cannot transact in any hotel, or in any restaurant, or in a shop. You go to the bank and they change the money and you’ll be given the rand, then you transact. You go to London, you change it and you’re given a pound to transact. You go to Zambia, you have to go and change and you’ll be given a kwacha, and then you transact. So all the money that is in the shops or elsewhere, will not work until it goes through the bank to be changed into the local currency to do transactions,” said Mnangagwa.
A consequence of the lack of a steady currency has been erratic prices on basic commodities driven by an irregular exchange rate between the local currency known as Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and the US dollars.
Shortages of both the local and foreign currencies have driven up prices of basically all necessities, including fuel and a variety of food stuffs like bread, sugar, cooking oil and mealie meal, used to make the staple, sadza.
While many blame Mnangagwa’s government for failing to tame prices and penalize those who hike prices unfairly, arguing that it is within the government power to put a stop to the malpractice, Mnangagwa and his administration have distanced themselves from those hiking prices, and have even accused businesses and vendors who hike prices of taking advantage of the system.
“Honestly, a packet of sugar in a store, you wake up in the morning and the price has increased, what happened? It would be better if the prices increase, then you also increase the prices for workers (salary), then they’ll be no complaints, there’ll no complaints because they will be having buying power. And you find that some companies and shops, saying they want US dollars, but the same company, the same employer, has never paid his workers in US dollars…but he demands payment in US dollars.”
Among the opposition groups that attended the POLAD was the MDC led by Dr. Thokozani Khupe. The party’s vice president, Obert Gutu, said they have welcomed the call to dialogue, simply to help improve lives for the common people, not to endorse the government of President Mnangagwa.
Gutu said a monitoring and evaluation committee has been set up to hold the president accountable to any agreement reached at POLAD.
“We have said that by us being here, we have not come to just say what pleases the government,” said Gutu. “We are not looking for jobs, we are not even looking for a power sharing arrangement. We are simply looking to improve the situation for the people of Zimbabwe.”
Spokesperson Jacob Mafume of the MDC led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa, however, reiterated with his party’s position that there will be no dialogue until Mnangagwa accepts their stance that he is not the legitimate leader of the country, despite the outcome of the Constitutional Court.
“We are waiting and saying that the discussion we will hold must start with (President) Mnangagwa as president of Zanu, (Advocate Nelson) Chamisa as the people’s president. Once Mnangagwa agrees to meet with Chamisa, then we’ll organize how this discussion will proceed, and discuss issues of legitimacy and the economy and international relations,” said Mafume.
Mafume, who also criticized the government’s use of national resources to host POLAD, said another condition for the party to hold talks with Mnangagwa, is the selection of a neutral arbitrator or mediator, to sit in on the discussions.
A 33-year-old Zimbabwean cameraman and producer was shot and killed in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, in the Western Cape on Wednesday night.
Ray Ceeh was reportedly dropping off colleagues who had been shooting a music video with him.
Ceeh moved to SA from Zimbabwe several years ago and was a former employee of Muslim praise television channel Deen TV.
“He was the life of our office and brought smiles to the faces of many. He was determined and a hard worker. He always wanted to be someone in life, and his life was unfortunately cut short,” said Deen TV CEO Fayzel Sayed.
“He came to SA from Zimbabwe as a very talented person,” he said. “He always wanted to help his mother. He produced music, he sang very well.
“I haven’t been able to work all morning, we are all shattered by the news.”
Sayed said that Ceeh’s death was “unjustified”.
“There is no justification,” he said. “He saw SA as an outlet for him to be somebody and make a future here … it’s a disgrace that his life was taken here.”
“He was not a gangster, I promise you that,” he said. “He wasn’t going to attack anyone, he didn’t have it in him.”
No arrests have been made.
“A case of murder has been opened following a shooting incident last night about 22.43pm in Maartbloom Street, Lentegeur, where a 33-year-old man was shot and fatally wounded,” said police spokesperson Siyabulela Malo.
“Lentegeur SAPS members responded to a complaint and upon their arrival noticed a white vehicle that had driven into the wall at the mentioned address,” he said.
“It is apparent that the victim was about to drop passengers in the area when three unknown men approach his vehicle and fired one shot to his neck and he totally lost control of his vehicle,” he said.
“Police are following up on leads in order to bring the perpetrators to book,” he said.
Ceeh wrote and produced his own music, and released his first video this year.
Heart Entertainment Magazine published his video, and wrote that he “his vision is to speak through his music and impact change in the communities and society we live in”.
“Ray Ceeh started his career in a gospel recording outfit Solid Praise and rubbed shoulders with a lot of Zimbabwe-based musicians,” they said.
“Based in South Africa, Ray Ceeh started with video filming and producing several music videos and TV shows before embarking on a solo music career.”
“His latest single Keep on Fighting, also available on iTunes and all online distribution platforms, has a message that stands on staying strong in life and not giving up.”
He also produced his own Instagram podcast, The Ray Show, with many commenting on his latest upload with messages of condolence.
Own Correspondent|Zimbabwean national Frank Joe Moyo, who was allegedly linked to illegal mining, was murdered on Tuesday evening in Limpopo.
Police spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said Moyo was shot dead at about 7.30pm in Letsitele, outside Tzaneen.
“It is alleged that a 41-year-old man [Moyo], was coming from the Carnival City in Gauteng and arrived at a house in Zanghoma village to pay his ‘illegal mining employee’,” Ngoepe said.
“Moyo was outside the house talking to some of the employees when an unknown assailant entered the yard, shot him and fled on foot with his cellphone and an undisclosed amount of money.”
ENDING a relationship is painful but when someone suffocates your happiness, the best thing to do, according to a 65-year-old granny, who was left “gutted” by her 42-year-old lover when he cheated on her, is to “red-card” him no matter how good he is to you.
According to the heartbroken sugar mama, Maureen from Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb, cheating means being disrespectful especially by someone who was depending on her pension money for daily upkeep.
Maureen has described how she felt when she discovered that her Ben 10 Collen Mutunjwa also from Mpopoma was cheating on her with several women adding that she dumped him (Mutunjwa) after it came to her attention that he was only after her money.
As if that is not enough, Maureen said when she met Mutunjwa, three years ago, he also lied to her that he was not married.
She describes how she was desperately looking for love, at that time when she fell for Mutunjwa — believing they could spend the rest of their lives together.
“I started dating Collen in 2016 and we were happy. Things however, changed last month when I discovered that he was cheating on me with several women.
“I am a pensioner and he was using my pension money to spoil and woo those women. What also angered me is that he lied that he was not married. I dumped boyfriends of my own age to concentrate on him.
“During the subsistence of our relationship he was lying to me that he runs a chain of businesses in Masvingo, Zvishavane and Gweru. He is the type that wants a woman to look after him. Every time I asked to visit him at his place he would give me excuses such as that he should introduce me first to his family.
“He was telling me lies and I actually fell for it because he has such a sweet tongue. He was just using me,” fumed Maureen who apparently claims to know the hurt of heartbreak.B-Metro
Own Correspondent|There was a general furore in the country on Friday when banks throughout the country failed to process interbank transfers because of the suspended Paynet facility.
Some civil servants – most of them soldiers and nurses were the most affected after a Mauritian company switched off its electronic payments processing system.
Most Zimbabwean banks use Paynet, which is owned by Mauritian financial services provider Payserv Africa, to process interbank transactions. As part of the arrangement, the local banks pay the service provider in American dollars. But a standoff between banks and Paynet has resulted in service disruption.
“We regret to inform our valued clients that Payserv Africa have suspended Paynet services to all banks due to non-payment of service fees,” a statement by Paynet reads.
The banks argue that they can’t pay in foreign currency because the facility is used to service mostly RTGS money. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) for Zimbabwe said the value of banking sector assets had declined in real terms by 40% as of the end of last year. As such, paying for Paynet services in foreign currency will worsen the situation.
Some civil servants who did not get bank notifications on pay day approached their financial institutions only to be told there was a system error being rectified.
“I kept checking my balance and there was nothing and when I got to the bank I was told to check on Monday,” said a nurse.
The civil servants are worried that their salaries will most likely have lost value by the time they get paid.
“As soon as I get paid I buy forex on the streets because the RTGS dollar loses value almost weekly. If my pay could get me R1,000 on the streets by Monday it can only get me at most R900,” added the nurse.
By midday on Friday R100 was worth RTGS$60 while US$100 was in the range of RTGS$900.
“The rates go up faster when the demand is high. Civil servants pay days spike the demand,” said an illegal forex dealer.
PEOPLE have been assaulted for ridiculous reasons before but being bashed for standing at a spot previously occupied by the manager of a famous musician at a packed college gig will go down as one of the most absurd.
Ask female artiste, Tasha, and she will tell a tale of how standing on a spot that had been previously occupied by Jah Prayzah’s manager left her with a bruised face.
According to Tasha, Jah Prayzah’s manager Dualsim lost his marbles when he discovered she was standing on his spot at a college shutdown gig in Gweru.
“The guy came over to me and said I should move from where I was standing as it was his spot because he is Jah Prayzah’s manager.
“I didn’t see the logic in that since it was a packed gig and everyone was standing but he would have none of it,” said Tasha.
Words were exchanged between the two before Dualsim allegedly lost his cool and punched the hapless woman in the face.
All this allegedly happened in the presence of male artistes and music promoters who chose to fold their hands and watched while the assault continued.
“For simply refusing to give the guy his so-called spot he punched me several times in the face while promoters and other artistes just stood there. I even heard one of the guys saying ndezvebasa (stuff like that happens on the job),” she said.
Gig promoter ZimBoy said Tasha’s story that she narrated to B-Metro was one-sided.
“Yes, Tasha was beaten but she also later returned and kicked Dualsim. We chucked both of them outside,” said ZimBoy.
Jah Prayzah’s other manager Keen Mashapaidze said he was with Dualsim the whole night and didn’t witness a fight. “I was with Dual that night but I did not see any fight,” said Mashapaidze.B-Metro
Farai Dziva| Zimbabwe Warriors have made a slight improvement on the latest FIFA Rankings.
The Warriors were in action during the June international break which happened last week. They played African powerhouse Nigeria and managed an goalless stalemate in Asaba.
The draw saw the Sunday Chidzambwa-coached team moving one place up to position 109 in the World 1092 points. On the African Ranking, the national men’s side remains in the 26th place.
Senegal retained the top spot on the continent while Belgium top the world chart with 1746 points.
World Top 10: 1. Belgium, 2. France, 3. Brazil, 4.England, 5. Portugal, 6. Croatia, 7. Spain, 8. Uruguay, 9. Switzerland, 10. Denmark.
Africa Top 10: 1. Senegal, 2. Tunisia, 3. Nigeria, 4. Morocco, 5. DRC, 6. Ghana, 7. Cameroon, 8. Egypt, 9. Burkina Faso, 10. Mali
Highlanders FC head coach, Madinda Ndlovu, will leave the Bulawayo giants at the end of June to join Botswana side Gaborone United.
Ndlovu will team up with former head coach Phillimon Makwengwe who will be taking up the technical director’s post.
This will not be Ndlovu’s first sojourney to Botswana as he has previously coached Township Rollers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Orapa United, Motlakase Power Dynamos and Nico United.
He won the league title with Chiefs and Rollers. Gaborone United director, Nicholas Zakhem confirmed Ndlovu’s appointment. He said:
He has signed as head coach and is due in the country before the end of June.
Reports indicate that Ndlovu will pocket US$4 000 (about P43 000) per month, making him one of the top earners in the Botswana premiership.State media
Former First Lady, Grace Mugabe is reported to have controversially acquired 16 farms in Mashonaland provinces in violation of the government’s policy of one farm per person.
This was revealed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in an interview with a Harare-based radio station, Capitalk 100.4 FM on Friday night.
Commenting on the ongoing land audit report produced by the Justice Uchena land commission, President Mnangagwa said:
The interim report I have is that I think, about eight provinces have been done they are left with some two or so provinces that have not been completed but the majority of inconsistencies relate to multiple ownership of farms.
We have some farm owners especially of higher rank in society having more than one farm, some having as many as nine. I know of a particular lady, Stop It (Mrs Grace Mugabe) who has over 16 farms and the law says one family one farm. Once the audit is over we should be able to implement that policy.
Mrs Mugabe reportedly used her political muscle to evict villagers from their land especially in the Mazowe area to pave way for her vast empire.State media
Former First Lady, Grace Mugabe is reported to have controversially acquired 16 farms in Mashonaland provinces in violation of the government’s policy of one farm per person.
This was revealed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in an interview with a Harare-based radio station, Capitalk 100.4 FM on Friday night.
Commenting on the ongoing land audit report produced by the Justice Uchena land commission, President Mnangagwa said:
The interim report I have is that I think, about eight provinces have been done they are left with some two or so provinces that have not been completed but the majority of inconsistencies relate to multiple ownership of farms.
We have some farm owners especially of higher rank in society having more than one farm, some having as many as nine.
I know of a particular lady, Stop It (Mrs Grace Mugabe) who has over 16 farms and the law says one family one farm.
Once the audit is over we should be able to implement that policy.”
Mrs Mugabe reportedly used her political muscle to evict villagers from their land especially in the Mazowe area to pave way for her vast empire.State media
Government believes the Cybercrime and Cyber Security Bill will combat cybercrimes when it becomes law.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi on Thursday during question and answer session in the Senate, while responding to a question from president of the Chiefs Council, Senator Fortune Charumbira, who wanted to know what Government was doing to minimise abuse of social media by some uncouth citizens.
Cybercrimes are on the rise in the country due to a surge in broadband penetration, with statistics from the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) showing that mobile Internet and data utilisation rose by 15,7 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.
The Information ministry is working together with the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in coming up with the Cyber Security Bill to nip cybercrime in the bud. He said unscrupulous citizens were creating fake social media accounts which are being used to circulate falsehoods and defame top politicians.
“We have fake Twitter and WhatsApp accounts . . . some of them have been used by criminals who use the accounts to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. We are in the process of coming up with a Cyber Security Bill which concentrates on this,” said Mutodi.
Mutodi said the Bill will plug loopholes that people have been exploiting to disseminate false information and tarnish others’ images. “The Bill will also address some behaviour that seeks to infringe on the rights of other people such spreading of nude pictures or any information that will tarnish a person’s image,” he said.State media
Some political parties that spurned the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) after its launch in February this year are now approaching authorities seeking to get involved, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking at a meeting yesterday to chart the way forward following the successful launch of the dialogue, Mnangagwa said he referred such political parties to the conveners.
The process is being co-convened by National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) chairperson Retired Justice Selo Nare and Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) chairperson Mrs Margaret Sangarwe-Mukahanana.
“I have received inquiries from some political parties outside the dialogue, who were once here and left, who want to come back, but I have told them to go to the conveners,” said the President, without naming the concerned parties.
Out of 23 political parties that took part in the July 31 harmonised elections last year, 21 joined the political dialogue aimed at finding consensus on solving problems affecting the country and address various socio-economic and political issues.State media
Zinedine Zidane will have smiled on Thursday when he heard the 50 000 fans inside the Bernabeu chant for the club to sign Kylian Mbappe.
In the developing power struggle with club president Florentino Perez, the pressure being cranked up on the president can only be a good thing.
Zidane knows he will not get Mbappe but he has not given up on Paul Pogba and there is a sense that promises were made when he took over towards the end of last season.
It was not easy persuading Zidane to return. He had left the previous summer, upset with the club’s plans for the new season.
He knew Cristiano Ronaldo was about to be sold. He knew he might not be replaced with the club keen to push teenager Vinicius instead of making a huge signing.
He knew the biggest new signing the club would make would be Thibaut Courtois – someone to play in a position that he felt was already well covered by Keylor Navas and by his son Luca Zidane.
After delivering three straight European Cups he felt that he should be the man entrusted with building a new Madrid.
In order for him to take the job – for a second time – less than a year after walking away the club had to promise him just that: a team in his image, a team hand-picked by Zidane.
The club accepted at least trying to give him what he wanted but it was always clear there were key differences of opinion regarding key players.
Zidane rated Navas over Courtois. The club felt the opposite way. Zidane did not want Gareth Bale in the squad; the club, while disappointed with his performances last season and happy to take a big-money offer if one arrives, don’t see the need to send him packing at all costs.
Zidane wants Sergio Ramos looked after, even if that means a new contract. The club don’t see the sense in extending the 33-year-old’s deal. — dailyonline.
A BULAWAYO woman is suing a local female cop for US$12 000 in damages for allegedly engaging in an adulterous relationship with her husband who is also a police officer.
The aggrieved woman, Mrs Fezile Marahwa is accusing Constable Mayibongwe Ncube of New Lobengula suburb of engaging in an adulterous relationship with her husband, Stanley Marahwa, also a police constable.
The two cop lovers are stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station. Mrs Marahwa, through her lawyers Ndove and Associates, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Ncube as a defendant.
In papers before the court, Mrs Marahwa said she discovered the illicit affair in January 2017 after intercepting WhatsApp messages on her husband’s cellphone, which had been sent by Const Ncube.
“Sometime during the period of February 2017 and February 2018, the defendant who is my husband’s workmate, fully aware of the existence of the marriage between Stanley Marahwa and I, got involved in an adulterous relationship behind my back,” she said.
Mrs Marahwa said upon discovering the relationship, she went to Const Ncube’s workplace armed with their marriage certificate and warned her against dating her husband.
“Despite such a warning, I have learnt through WhatsApp messages that the defendant is still continuing with the relationship, a conduct which I find to be insensitive and reprehensible,” she said.
Mrs Marahwa said her marriage was solemnised in terms of Chapter 5:11 of the Marriages Act on July 24 in 2002. The couple has two children. She said the illicit affair between the two police officers has tremendously affected her marriage, which is now on the brink of collapse.
Mrs Marahwa stated in court papers that she was no longer enjoying her conjugal rights.
“As a direct consequence of the adulterous affair, I have suffered loss of consortium and conjugal rights. I have also been subjected to emotional and psychological stress as my husband no longer shows any love and affection,” she said.
Mrs Marahwa said her husband has abandoned the family and no longer fends for the children.State media
A SUSPECT who was being held at the Gwanda Urban Police Station after being arrested for disorderly conduct reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself in the cells.
The man whose name is being withheld as his next of kin have not yet been notified about his death, hanged himself from the cell window.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.
“I can confirm that we are investigating a case whereby a man whose name I can’t supply for now as his next of kin have not been advised was found dead at Gwanda Urban Police Station on Sunday. I can’t release any further details about the incident now as we are still conducting investigations to clearly establish what really happened,’’ he said.State media
FADING soccer giants Highlanders and Dynamos fight for pride at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow, with Bosso coach Madinda Ndlovu working overtime to keep his players focused amid news that he is set to leave the Bulawayo club.
Media reports from Botswana say Ndlovu has agreed terms with Gaborone United, a topic that the Bosso coach is uncomfortable to talk about insisting that his focus is on guiding Highlanders to a positive result against their nemesis.
Ndlovu who admits that the talk of him leaving the club has negative effects in their camp, contends that his charges are geared up for the big game.
“This is a self-motivating game in the sense that every player in camp wants to be in the final team that will face Dynamos on Sunday. The boys have been working hard and are geared for the tie.
“Of course, what is circulating on social media is disturbing but the good thing is that the boys are focused on the game,” said Ndlovu.
The Bosso legend who plotted back-to-back league wins against Dynamos last season, breaking a 10-year jinx, appealed to fans from both teams to practise restraint and accept the result of the day.
Dynamos last beat Highlanders in open play in 2015 when they posted a 3-2 win in Harare with the other “win” for the Glamour Boys coming through a boardroom decision after their clash at Barbourfields Stadium in 2017 was abandoned and Dynamos were eventually awarded the match on a 3-0 score line.State media
Farai Dziva| Emmerson Mnangagwa has castigated “unscrupulous” businesspeople for “unreasonable” hiking of prices.
Mnangagwa made the remarks during a live radio interview with Capitalk 100 FM on Friday.
Mnangagwa said there are some unscrupulous businesspeople in the country who unjustifiably raise prices every day, and in some cases, in the morning, afternoon and in the evening.
He said such dealers should be punished at some point in the life of their businesses.
“I was being told today (yesterday) that a person gets into a shop at 8am and finds a bottle of cooking oil or Mazoe going for $2 or $3, but when you go in the afternoon, it’s at $5; if you go in the evening it’s at $7. What has happened? Nothing.”
“But above all, that shop owner increasing these prices, do they increase the salaries for employees? They don’t,” he said.
Farai Dziva|MDC vice president, Tendai Biti has maintained his party is committed to dialogue.
Last month Biti also expressed his party’s willingness to engage in dialogue with Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Writing on microblogging site Twitter yesterday said that dialogue would resolve the political impasse.
Said Biti:”It was indeed a sad sending off for Vimbayi and we are indebted to the thousands who paid their respects.
The church service at the City Sports displayed the huge scars of a tortured society. The country needs dialogue and healing. As MDC we will give dialogue a chance.”
The Zifa president has courted the country’s most sought after contemporary musician and lead member of the band Third Generation, Jah Prayzah to coin a new song for the Sunday Chidzambwa-mentored side.
“We know that Jah Prayzah has quite a number of followers and he is also a Warriors fan. So, I asked him to compose a song for the Warriors. I hope that will also motivate our Warriors,” said Felton Kamambo.
For Jah Prayzah, the challenge is huge and he understands the role that music plays in football. “The idea is amazing and we are going to do it. . . . Just to get everyone in the football mood, needs music. Football does not go without music. We are going to do a great song,” said the dreadlocked muso.
Indeed music plays a part before, during and after the match. Hopefully the next offering by the singer will evoke feelings of happiness as it connects the Knowledge Musona-led ship with the fans.
Zimbabwe are in Group A where they open their campaign against the hosts Egypt on June 21 (at 10pm Zimbabwean time) before they take on Uganda on June 26 (at 7pm Zimbabwean time).
They then wrap up their group stage matches against the Democratic Republic of Congo four days later at 9pm.B-Metro
BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA Zimbabwe and social media has been awash with the sad news of the accident of apostle Talent Chiwenga of the TF Chiwenga ministries. Apostle Chiwenga lost his wife and another church member.
Instead of being in shock or in his shocked stance he made a video accusing the government of killing his wife and attempting on his life.
He chose to pick up on the deceased to be his witness. He said the deceased told him not to say his name because the killers were still there. What a perfect choice of a supporting witness.
Apostle Chiwenga is a street preacher who built a church on controversial grounds. He has attacked every other church and only his church was the true church. In essence apostle Chiwenga has created a cult and has played his congregation into worshipping him and believing in him as an anointed and chosen of God.
The word “cult” or “sect” is a pejorative label used to discriminate against “new religious movements.”However, it seems disingenuous to ignore the historical significance and modern day applications of the word cult or sect.Today many controversial groups that have been called cults or sects are seeking to either eliminate that description or ignore it.
Apostle chiwenga created a cult and has a host of apologists. These apologists often prefer the supposedly politically correct title “new religious movement. But historically cults have always been with us and they continue to be a part of the world today.The word cult can be broadly defined as “formal religious veneration,” “a system of religious beliefs and its body of adherents,” “a religion regarded as ‘unorthodox or spurious,'” “great devotion to a person or idea” as well as “persons united by devotion or allegiance to an artistic or intellectual movement or figure.”Zimbabwe is particularly rife with religious groups that can be seen as cults, such as the prophets who preach more of politics than gospel.
these religious groups were at one time also regarded by many as “unorthodox or spurious.But the most salient concern to the general public, law enforcement and government officials today regarding groups called “cults” is what potential they might represent to do harm. Apostle Chiwenga has specialised in castigating the government attacked the political figures. Of late he was trying to convince his followers that he is a target of an elaborate assassination plan.
There are three primary characteristics, which are the most common features shared by destructive cults.1. A charismatic leader, who increasingly becomes an object of worship as the general principles that may have originally sustained the group lose power. That is a living leader, who has no meaningful accountability and becomes the single most defining element of the group and its source of power and authority.2.
A process [of indoctrination or education is in use that can be seen as] coercive persuasion or thought reform [commonly called “brainwashing”].The culmination of this process can be seen by members of the group often doing things that are not in their own best interest, but consistently in the best interest of the group and its leader.3. Economic, sexual, and other exploitation of group members by the leader and the ruling coterie.The destructiveness of groups called cults varies by degree, from labour violations, child abuse, medical neglect to, in some extreme and isolated situations, calls for violence or mass suicide.
Power devolved from a single leader to a broader church government and such groups ceased to be seen as simply personality-driven and defined by a single individual. Some groups may not fit the definition of a cult, but may pose potential risks for participants. Chiwenga’s church has shown signs of a cult which are ,Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.• No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget or expenses, such as an independently audited financial statement.Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.Followers feel they can never be “good enough.
The group/leader is always right.The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing “truth” or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible. Chiwenga has wood-winked the congregants in his church and came up with a strange prophecy that he was about to be killed.
On the fateful day apostle Chiwenga was coming from South Africa obviously stressed out by the long journey. He drove a stretch in a tired stopper. Chiwenga blames ZANU PF and the government for this accident. In his video message Chiwenga in pain and confused state accused unseen and unknown assailants of causing the accident The irony of the matter is that Chiwenga was ferried from the scene of accident by a good Samaritan.
The Samaritan turned to be a ZANU PF former councillor. Contrary to his claims of attempted assassination by ZANU PF. Chiwenga was rescued by councillor Piki a ZANU PF activist. Unbeknown to Apostle Talent Chiwenga, the man who rescued him from the jaws of the accident, is Mr Seviyasi Piki, an well known fervent Emmerson Mnangagwa backer and ZANU PF member.
He is also former ZANU PF councillor. Piki rose above party politics and rushed Chiwenga to hospital. Chiwenga is not a victim of an assassination attempt. He is a product of negligent driving. We sympathise with him and we grieve with him in the loss of his wife and his colleague. However the apostle cum undercover politician faces criminal charges. In a way to avoid prosecution the good apostle resorts to draw sympathy from the populace by coming up with a theory which is crooked and horrible.
Chiwenga sought to tarnish the image of the government by portraying it as a killing outfit. Christianity does not mean prophesying about political leaders. God would not make such pronouncements in such a fashion. The relationship between Christianity and politics is a historically complex subject and a frequent source of disagreement throughout the history of Christianity, as well as in modern politics between the Christian right and Christian left. Christians should have little interest or participation in politics or government they should respect the government of the day as directed by the bible.
Apostle Chiwenga has not obeyed the biblical dictates where it urges christians to respect their governments as they are anointed by God. It is diabolic for the purported man of God to accuse the authorities of murder when he is the chief culprit. Chiwenga has gained fame by attacking government and particularly ZANU PF.
IN order to seek relevance he has to create a grand standing. Took an unfortunate incident as a way to firm. Chiwenga caused the death of his wife and his colleague. He should face the wrath of the law. His crime is called culpable homicide and he must be prosecuted. He must not be allowed in any way to abuse the name of God to escape justice. People should not take advantage of the democratic platforms set by ZANU PF and try to destroy it.
They must not take the understanding of the party as a weakness. Do not be fooled God cannot be mocked. Those prophets who are abusing Zimbabweans and using the bible to their own advantage should learn from apostle Chiwenga. Their lies will catch up with them.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Member of Parliament for Buhera South, Joseph Chinotimba (ZANU PF) has sensationally claimed the MDC is dead and buried.
Chinotimbaade the remarks on Wednesday.
He blasted the MDC-led Harare City council for “dismally failing torun the affairs of the city.”
Chinotimba was commenting on the absence of water in the Parliament building -affecting ablution facilities.
“Parliament has no water. The stench from the toilets is just so bad. We cannot just sit as Parliament whilst things go bad to such an extent.
How are we expected to carry out parliamentary business without water?
It is the council that has failed. The MDC party is dead and has failed.
If they have failed then I want to be the Mayor of Harare. I will contest for the position so that I fix the problem.”
Farai Dziva|A Harare based church leader has been accused of snatching a congregant’s wife.
The bishop of VaEfeso Apostolic Faith Church is reportedly mired in an adultery scandal.
Shadreck Tennis, a member of the VaEfeso Apostolic Faith Church claims that his wife Melody Tennis has been involved in a relationship with Bishop Jabulani Munyanyi for over a year.
He told H-Metro, that at one stage the church leader had been helping the couple fix their marriage.
”Bishop Jabulani Munyanyi had been helping us with marital affairs whenever we had complications and I trusted him, only to find out that he had been cheating with my wife,” he said.
”I found out that my wife was cheating on me after I discovered some facebook messages and consulted Bishop Munyanyi’s wife who also confirmed that she was aware of the relationship.”
However the bishop said :
”He (Shadreck) hacked his wife’s Facebook account and started chatting with me as if it was the wife.
That’s where the whole drama started. I was only trying to help because his wife’s mother was once my high school teacher and then Tennis started accusing me of being in a relationship with his wife.”
Farai Dziva|Flamboyant and controversial Zanu PF MP (Gokwe – Nembudziya) Justice Mayor Wadyajena has accused Norton MP Temba Mliswa of being jealous of his new acquisition.
Yesterday in Parliament, Mliswa wanted to know whether Wadyajena managed to import his luxurious vehicle using tax rebates enjoyed by legislators.
“While MPs enjoy tax rebates on vehicles, it is important to understand what kind of vehicles MPs are entitled to,” Mliswa said.
“Are MPs entitled to vehicles that can get to their constituencies and not Lamborghinis, because a Lamborghini doesn’t get to rural constituencies? The public are now asking questions about the vehicle and your guidance, Mr Speaker, is sought on the types of vehicles we must get as MPs.”
Wadyajena responded : “You are an embarrassment. Why are you so jealous?”
By Talent Gondo- Some political parties that spurned the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) after its launch in February this year are now approaching authorities seeking to get involved, President Mnangagwa has revealed.
A report by the state media said Mnangagwa revealed this at a recent meeting to chart the way forward following the successful launch of the dialogue.
He said the parties had been referred to the conveners.
The process is being co-convened by National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) chairperson Retired Justice Selo Nare and Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) chairperson Mrs Margaret Sangarwe-Mukahanana.
“I have received inquiries from some political parties outside the dialogue, who were once here and left, who want to come back, but I have told them to go to the conveners,” said the President, without naming the concerned parties.
Out of 23 political parties that took part in the July 31 harmonised elections last year, 21 joined the political dialogue aimed at finding consensus on solving problems affecting the country and address various socio-economic and political issues.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Tanzania’s finance ministry proposed new taxes on locally manufactured and imported wigs and hair extensions which are popular with women in the country.
Phillipo Mpango, who was tabling the 2019-2020 budget in parliament was applauded by legislators when he made the proposals that are likely to be unpopular with ordinary Tanzanians
When the budget is approved, locally manufactured wigs will pay a 10% tax, while imported ones will attract a 25% tax.
East African finance ministers including from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania presented their budgets for the next financial year on Thursday. black tape-in hair extensions
More from Tanzania’s budget
Mpango said Tanzania’s overall spending will rise 2% to 33.11 trillion shillings ($14.43 billion) in 2019/2020, while borrowing 4.96 trillion shillings from the domestic market.
The government also plans to borrow 2.32 trillion shillings from external non-concessional sources, Mpango said.
East Africa’s third-largest economy is investing heavily in public infrastructure projects as it seeks to profit from its long coastline and upgrade its rickety railways and roads to serve the growing economies in east and central Africa.
Rwanda’s budget
Rwanda’s overall spending will rise 11% in 2019/20 (July-June) fiscal year to 2.877 trillion Rwandan francs ($3.16 billion), while 2019 economic growth will be slower than a year earlier, its finance minister said on Thursday.
Uzziel Ndagijimana proposed that 85.8% of the budget would come from internal sources, and the rest from external grants. The economy is projected to grow 7.8% in 2019 from 8.6% in 2018, he said.
Uganda’s ambitious financial plan
Uganda plans to raise its spending by 23% in 2019/20 (July-June) to 40.1 trillion shillings, and its fiscal deficit will rise, its finance minister said on Thursday in his budget speech.
Matia Kasaija said in parliament the 2019/2020 fiscal deficit will be 8.7% of GDP, up from 5.8% in this fiscal year, which ends this month.
He said the government will borrow 2.8 trillion shillings from domestic markets in 2019/20 up from 2.2 trillion shillings in 2018/19. External financing will be 10.11 trillion shillings, but he did not say how much of this will be borrowed.
Highlights of Kenya’s budget
Kenya will cut its budget deficit for its 2019/20 (July-June) financial year to 5.6 percent of GDP from 7.4 percent in the fiscal year to the end of this month, the Finance Minister Henry Rotich said in his budget proposals to parliament.
The funding gap will be filled by net local borrowing of 283.5 billion shillings ($2.79 billion) and 324 billion shillings in net external borrowing, Rotich said.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has warned parents or guardians against leaving their children in the care of friends, relatives or neighbours in circumstances where they are not able to monitor their movements. This comes as rape cases which implicate close people have been on the rise.
Farai Dziva|Masvingo based NGO, COTRAD has launched a programme meant to eradicate violence and Intimidation in rural and urban communities.
“COTRAD is working with BUSTOP TV to encourage people to report cases of human rights violations to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and other relevant institutions without fear.
Every Zimbabwean has the right to walk into a police station or Public Enquiry Counter (PEC) and make a report if he/she feels his/her rights have been infringed upon by some other person.
Members of the public have the right to contact the police through telephone, or various police hotline around the country. The people can also use various suggestion boxes to present complains to the police,” said COTRAD in statement.
A COTRAD official also said: “The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is national human rights institution established under section 242 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, whose main mandate is to Protect, Promote and Enforce human rights.
The Commission deals with complaints of abuses and violations of rights and freedoms that are enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and in any international human rights agreements that the country has agreed to sign and any complaints arising from abuse of power or maladministration by the State and public institutions.”
Farai Dziva| The brother-in-law of the late MDC founding president, Morgan Tsvangirai, yesterday said an inclusive government will resolve the country’s political crisis.
He urged Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to resort to dialogue and come up with an inclusive government to address the country’s economic woes.
Isaac Mhundwa, brother to Tsvangirai’s wife, the late Susan said :”
My sister died in an accident on her way to celebrate the inclusive government that later stabilised the economy for the betterment of people’s lives.
My niece died in an accident as well and I hope this challenges the political leaders to negotiate and come up with another inclusive government.”
He made remarks at the funeral of Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java, the eldest daughter of Morgan and Susan who died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident she was involved in outside Kwekwe on May 14.
By A Correspondent- Senate, Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira has asked Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi to explain government policy on fake Twitter and other social media accounts.
Recently, there was a twitter account under the name Fortune Charumbira which was criticising president Mnangagwa’s administration for causing pain to the citizenry. The chief has since distanced himself from the account.
In response to the question, Mutodi said that the situation was not peculiar to Zimbabwe. He also said that the issue was worrying as fake accounts were being created in the names of prominent people including Mnangagwa, Vice-Presidents and top army officials.
He said:
It is not only happening in Zimbabwe. In the United States, 11% of social media accounts are fake and some have been used for fraudulent criminal activities. In Zimbabwe, we face a serious situation of these fake accounts because popular individuals like the Head of State and Government, the army, the Central Intelligence Organisation or chiefs are used to peddle lies through those fake accounts as if they have said something.
Mutodi added that there is a Cyber-Crime Bill which is in its draft stage which shall address the issue of protection in the cyberspace. He, however, forewarned that there shall be a problem in implementing the cyber laws since the Constitution provided for freedom of information. He added that most of the people creating fake social media accounts were residing in foreign countries.-Newsday
PARLIAMENT has been called upon to support President Mnangagwa’s re-engagement drive that has resulted in the recent launch of a formal dialogue process between Zimbabwe and the European Union (EU).
The dialogue, launched in Harare last Wednesday, is based on Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement which governs relations between member states of the African-Carribean-Pacific regions and the EU.
Zimbabwe and the European bloc have endured frosty relations in the past two decades and the dialogue opens a fresh page that will have major geopolitical implications and benefits for Zimbabwe, whose international relations soured domestic prospects for growth economically and socially.
The dialogue is being co-chaired by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Secretary Ambassador James Manzou and the Head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Timo Olkkonen.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Zanu-PF Makonde legislator, Cde Kindness Paradza said the dialogue process paints a good picture of the country. “Article 8 (of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement) on political dialogue, provides for parties to exchange information, foster mutual understanding and facilitate the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agendas among other objectives.
“Hon Members may be pleased to know that Zimbabwe and the EU have been undertaking informal political dialogue over the years. The exchanges remained informal because Zimbabwe has been refusing to engage in formal dialogue insisting on the removal first of the EU sanctions imposed on the country,” he said.
“However, since the advent of the Second Republic, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly stated Government’s commitment to engage, re-engage and normalise relations with all players and Member States in the International Community.”
Farai Dziva|Villagers in Masvingo Central Constituency want the local authority to construct a new bridge over Mutirikwi River as the old one has become obsolete.
Speaking to ward councillors, traditional leaders and public officials during a community engagement programme facilitated by COTRAD in Masvingo Central Constituency last week , the villagers said the old Mutirikwi Bridge was defunct.
“Many people are losing their lives while trying to cross the flooded low-lying bridge to and from Chenhuwe Business Centre, Shonganiso, Zivezano Schools and other local areas,”said one villager.
The villagers urged Masvingo RDC to channel funds meant for plough back- towards the construction of a new bridge.
“We call upon Masvingo Rural District Council and public officials to respond to the social service delivery and infrastructure development concerns raised by the people.
The Masvingo RDC should prioritize and attempt to improve services and infrastructure in rural areas.
It is enshrined under section 276 of the constitution that, the rural district councils should raise sufficient revenue for them to carry out objectives and responsibilities in areas of their jurisdiction.
COTRAD encourages public officials and local authorities to consult their communities before implementing community development projects and programs.
COTRAD also encourages the villagers to fearlessly and peacefully engage public officials and relevant ministries to present issues affecting their communities,” COTRAD said in a statement.
By A Correspondent- THE Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has barred 10 lawyers from practicing this year for misconduct and a litany of other reasons.
The reasons which LSZ cites for de-registration of these lawyers range from non-payment of practising fees and subscriptions to cases of misconduct such as money laundering,forgery and abuse of trust funds.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates
JOHN Tallach High School has taken Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema to court challenging the looming deportation of its Canadian expatriate teacher following the refusal by immigration authorities to extend her temporary employment permit (TEP).
Ms Kerkhoff Maria Alida (31), a Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland missionary and volunteer A-Level Mathematics teacher at John Tallach High School had her application for the extension of temporary employment permit rejected by the Principal Director of Immigration without any reasons given.
John Tallach High School (Ingwenya Mission) through its lawyers Ncube and Partners, has filed an ex-parte urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court challenging the refusal by the immigration authorities to extend Ms Alida’s permit, citing Minister Mathema and the Principal Director of Immigration as respondents.
John Tallach High School wants the court to block the respondents from deporting Ms Alida to her country of origin pending the resolution of the issues related to the refusal to extend her TEP without furnishing her with reasons.
In his founding affidavit, the school head Mr Bonakele Ncube said the application was on an urgent basis in light of Ms AIida’s imminent deportation.
“This is an urgent application for an order directing the first respondent (principal director of immigration) to furnish us with the reasons for refusal of granting of second applicant (Ms Alida) a temporary employment permit. Further, we seek relief to the effect that the deportation of the second applicant be stayed until such a time the issue relating to her TEP is finalised,” he said.
Ms Alida successfully applied for a TEP last year in May and it was valid for 12 month.
The work permit also stated that she had an option to apply for an extension three months before the expiry date.
“She applied for an extension and the Principal Immigration Officer declined to renew the permit and a notice of deportation was subsequently issued against Ms Alida. The respondents are bound by the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act to act reasonably and in a fair and just manner in taking administrative action which may affect the rights, interests and legitimate expectations of any person,” said Mr Ncube.
The school head said the Principal Director of Immigration acted unfairly by failing to provide the reasons justifying their refusal to renew Ms Alida’s TEP.
“The second application is in the country legally and she is a holder of a valid passport. She has been volunteering as an A-Level Mathematics teacher. This is an important point considering that the Maths teacher resigned in July 2018 to join the Harare City Council. Despite numerous requests, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary has somehow failed to make a suitable replacement,” said the headmaster.
“Since July 2018, Ms Alida has been preparing the pupils for their final examinations. It would be impossible to get a suitable replacement as she has been teaching in her own unique way such that they have managed to cover most areas in the syllabus and our fear is that a sudden change may have disastrous effects on the pupils.”
Mr Ncube said Ms Alida, a holder of a Master’s degree in Mathematics, is also conducting a training programme for two assistants who are understudying her.
“All these teaching roles are not at the expense of the Government of Zimbabwe or the school as she is funded by the church in Scotland. She is also strategically positioned to source donor funds for the institution. Furthermore she is also exploring a possibility of establishing a short term exchange programme for John Tallach High School pupils and her former school in Canada,” he said.
“The second applicant has no criminal conviction and her continued presence in the country pending the resolution of her TEP issues does not in any way prejudice the country.” Mr Ncube said the school, which is situated in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North, was also one of the worst affected in terms of STEM teachers’ shortage in the province.
In her supporting affidavit, Ms Alida said she had developed a great relationship with the pupils such that she feels they will be deprived in the event that she is deported.
Minister Mathema and the principal director of immigration are yet to respond.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Fresh details have emerged suggesting that Wicknell Chivhayo could have misled the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) into making payments for earthmoving equipment worth US$800 000 to a non-existent US firm.
However, the report on April 26, 2016, shows that Intratrek got central bank authority to load US$849,475 on their VISA card to purchase the earth moving equipment from a USA based equipment supplier, Pietznack Plant and Earthmoving Services.
The report reads:
A Google search on the supplier revealed that the address on the invoice for the earthmoving equipment was an unoccupied block of residential flats.
These advance payments were made to the contractor without the knowledge of the company secretary’s office which administers all contracts. The board was also not aware that Intratrek had been paid without an Advance Payment Guarantee.
Chivhayo’s Intratrek Zimbabwe Private Ltd was paid a total of US$5,6m for designs and feasibility study, and pre-commencement works and in terms of the contract, Intratrek was obligated to provide an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) against advance payments made by ZPC and this was not done. The report further reads:
Chivhayo dismissed the report saying it was based on speculation.
He said:
That’s why the High Court acquitted me on 22 March and granted specific performance on 18 December. No one travelled to America to visit that company. It was mere speculation and conjecture
By A Correspondent- DANCER-cum singer Sandra Ndebele is looking for four new female dancers to be part of her expanded band.
Sandy is holding online auditions that will run for a week.
To be Sandy’s dancer, one has to send a 30 second video dancing to a WhatsApp number on a poster shared on social media. The best dancer will be shortlisted from there.
Sandy said thereafter those shortlisted will be called for auditions where they can be assessed.
“The reason why we are short listing people and wanting to see them live is that videos are deceiving. So seeing them live will give us a better impression about them. Thereafter we’ll release the names of the four who’d have made it,” said Sandy.
The Lizwile hit-maker who has been on an ongoing rebranding exercise said she wanted to revolutionise her presentation on stage.
“This is part of my rebranding exercise so that we change the way I present my act on stage from what it was. I need four girls to be part of the team and so far the response from people has been great,” said Sandy.
She said the auditions do not by any means indicate that she was replacing the dancers she has. “The girls (her dancers) aren’t going anywhere, they are there to stay. It’s only that I need more girls so that I can sustain shows for more hours as I prepare for a countrywide tour. We need young and energetic girls,” said Sandy.
She said she was inspired by Congolese musician Koffi Olomide for his longevity.
“Even though Koffi is old, he has young energetic dancers who dance well on stage. So that’s the whole idea about this recruitment exercise that I’m undertaking,” said Sandy.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Emerging information suggests that Wicknell Chivhayo could have misled the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) into making payments for earthmoving equipment worth US$800 000 to a non-existent US firm.
However, the report on April 26, 2016, shows that Intratrek got central bank authority to load US$849,475 on their VISA card to purchase the earth moving equipment from a USA based equipment supplier, Pietznack Plant and Earthmoving Services.
The report reads:
“A Google search on the supplier revealed that the address on the invoice for the earth moving equipment was an unoccupied block of residential flats.
These advance payments were made to the contractor without the knowledge of the company secretary’s office which administers all contracts. The board was also not aware that Intratrek had been paid without an Advance Payment Guarantee.”
Chivhayo’s Intratrek Zimbabwe Private Ltd was paid a total of US$5,6m for designs and feasibility study, and pre-commencement works and in terms of the contract, Intratrek was obligated to provide an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) against advance payments made by ZPC and this was not done. The report further reads:
Chivhayo dismissed the report saying it was based on speculation.
He said:
“That’s why the High Court acquitted me on 22 March and granted specific performance on 18 December. No one travelled to America to visit that company. It was mere speculation and conjecture.”
Pindula|The newly elected MDC Youth assembly leader Tererai Obey Sithole is reported to have been briefly taken in by police officers for questioning. It is however not clear as to why he was taken.
It is suspected however that he was taken in connection with some announcements he made last week about the MDC youths assembly resolution to take a confrontational approach against president Emmerson Mnangagwa. Sithole is quoted as having said:
We are taking the decision to confront this regime, knowing fully well that the answer to the national question lies in this generation, which has a future to safeguard.
As the MDC youth assembly, we are going to set the pace in making sure we save this nation from despondency and deprivation. We are neither apologetic nor afraid to take this regime head-on to ensure that we bring back the dignity and decorum of our people.
Posting on Twitter, @mdcya-dpspokesconfirmed both the release of Sithole. See the post below:
PAYNET, a subsidiary of Mauritian financial services provider Payserv Africa, has suspended all local financial institutions from its transacting platform after they refused to pay in foreign currency for its services.
This has had the knock-on effect on RTGS payments.
Paynet is the platform used in interbank RTGS transfers. The platform is also used by corporates to facilitate its payments.
The standoff is the latest indication of a worsening economic crisis characterised by a debilitating liquidity crunch, foreign currency shortages, rising inflation, power outages and low productivity.
The development means that there will be limited movement of funds during the standoff, which will affect the general public’s transactions.
The development could also affect the payment on time of salaries to civil servants. Government starts paying its workers mid-month.
In a statement this week, Paynet said they had cut off all banks from using its platform because of their failure to pay for its services.
“We regret to inform our valued clients that Payserv Africa have suspended Paynet services to all banks due to non-payment of service fees,” Paynet said.
“If you would like to continue using Paynet, please contact your bank and request they address this with Payserv Africa to have service reinstated.”
A senior banking official told businessdigest that they cannot pay for the services of Paynet for carrying out transactions in RTGS.
“Various discussions have been held over the issue to try and find middle ground,” the official noted.
“It does not make sense for us to pay the service provider in foreign currency when we process transactions in RTGS. Paynet has cut off all banks from their platforms which is probably to pressurise us to accept its proposition for us to pay for its services in foreign currency. “
Another banking official said they are now looking at other modalities to avert a national crisis, which include looking for an alternative service provider who will charge in RTGS dollars.
“We feel that Paynet has tried to turn customers against banks by asking them to contact us over its decisions to cut us off which is a move in bad faith,” he said.
The development is a culmination of the depreciation of the country’s local currency which continues to rapidly erode against the United States dollar. Yesterday the US dollar was trading at 1:9 with the RTGS dollar on the parallel market.
The country’s local currency has been in a free-fall since Reserve Bank governor John Mangudya announced in October last year the separation of RTGS and foreign currency accounts. The situation is further aggravated by the central bank’s decision in February this year to adjust the exchange rate from 1:1 to 1:2,5.
This has resulted in most service providers and retail shops demanding payment in the US dollar or at the RTGS equivalent at a time the disposable income of most Zimbabweans has remained stagnant.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced last week that his government is working on introducing a new local currency and abandoning the use of the multi-currency regime which has been operating for the last decade.
By Own Correspondent- Seviasi Piki, a former Zanu Pf councilor who resides near Chaka business centre, the man who assisted Apostle Talent Chiwenga soon after the accident has said he assisted the accident victim but was not even aware of who was who.
He said:
“The atmosphere was sombre and everyone was afraid because there were dead bodies. There was a police officer but he looked scared and i took control because i wanted to save a life.
I even commanded the people that were there to go and take axes so that we assist the people that were trapped. Everyone was panicking.
There were three or four boys who had the guts to assist because the other people, from a nearby farm that were there were shell shocked. They were not taking any action because they were too scared.”
If 8-hour powercuts were already a pain in the backside then brace yourselves for even longer periods in the dark, as ZESA has started stage 2 of load shedding as announced on ZBC News last night.
“Kindly note that generation at Hwange is depressed due to a technical fault. Load shedding is now on Stage 2.
Load shedding may be above [for longer periods than] the publicized schedules. We apologize for any inconveniences caused.”
Considering that Stage 2 load shedding has 15 hour power cuts, it’s going to be a depressing period if the fault at Hwange takes a significant amount of time to fix.
Even in the event that this technical fault is fixed, once you consider that there’s close to a fortnight of generation capacity left at Kariba, stage 2 might become the norm sooner rather than later.
The troubled Anglican Church Diocese of Manicaland is currently engulfed in a major se_x scandal which the high ranking officials are reported to be attempting to cover up.
The Zim Morning Post reports that Reverend Position Chikuruwo was caught redhanded having se_x with Lynnette Manyumwa, the wife of his colleague Reverend Talent Makanga. The disgraceful act occured in Makanga’s own house.
However, Bishop Eric Ruwona who presides over the Diocese of Manicaland is reported to be making moves to protect Chikuruwo, who is reported to be a protegee of his.
A source who spoke to the publication said,
“Yes, we can confirm that this (se_xual act) happened. As we speak right now they (Talent Makanga and Lynnette Manyumwa) are on separation, as divorce processes are ongoing.”
Both Revered Chikuruwo and Lynnette are said to have confessed to the adultery. However, Chikuruwo went on to claim that he was not the only bedding Lynnette. He went on to claim that Lynnette was also having adulterous affairs with two other named Reverends as well as another church member who is at the Anglican Church Diocese of Manicaland head office.
According to the established facts, Chikuruwo attended a party last Friday where he became inebriated. Instead of going home, he went to Makanga’s residence where he continued drinking with Makanga.
It seems like Makanga was already suspicious of Chikuruwo as he pretended to leave his own house, only to climb over the pre-cast wall hide in the yard.
Thinking that her husband had left, Lynnette is reported to have left the couple’s bedroom, and taken Chikuruwo into a spare bedroom where the two engaged in unprotected se_x.
After Makanga failed to open the main door into the house because it was locked, he called a relative who was in the other spare bedroom to open the door for him. The two then went into the other spare bedroom where they caught Lynnette and Chikuruwo In flagrante delicto (red handed).
Ruwona is reported to have protected Chikuruwo who alleged to be serial se_x predator from numerous previous cases. Whenever an allegation was made, Bishop Ruwona would transfer Chikuruwo almost overnight to another parish.
When contacted for comment, Bishop Ruwona said
“As a church, we have not yet received that report (se_xual misconduct). We have only read that on the social media. But on cases of that matter, the church has processes and systems to deal with that. The Bishop has his court. We want evidence. So when we have that evidence, our Diocesan Secretary will deal with it.”
Zanu-PF party is set to receive $8 403 600 while the MDC Alliance will $3 596 400 from the $12 million allocated to political parties by the Treasury under the Political Parties Finance Act.
This was announced by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi in the government gazette.
The two political parties garnered 70,03% and 29,97% of the total votes cast in the 2018 elections and under the Political Parties Finance Act, only a political party that secures 5 % of the total votes cast can benefit from the fiscus.
“It is hereby notified in terms of the Political Parties and Finance Act (Chapter 2.040 that the total amount of monies payable to political parties in respect of the year beginning January 1, 2019, and ending December 31, 2019, is $12 million,” stated Ziyambi.
The move has in the past raised the ire of smaller political parties as they have argues that they deserve a chunk of the money.
The move comes in the wake of financial problems in the opposition movement with recent reports indicating that the party was failing to pay its workers.
The MDC had to rely on donations to run its recent national elective congress held in Gweru.
A video of Former President Robert telling a gathering that he had confided to South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki that he preferred Sydney Sekeramayi to take over from him has resurfaced.
Mugabe is heard saying he told Mbeki that Sekeramayi should be the one who takes over because he was senior than Mnangagwa.
Mugabe revealed that people like Perence Shiri also knew the succession plan but they decided to support Mnangagwa.
I Never Endorsed Grace- Mugabe
Mugabe knew very well that the system in ZANUPF would never bless Grace ascendency to the Presidency. Despite strong warnings from Bob; she almost grabbed the Crown ? by fiercely charging through Enemy lines
Member of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Presidential Advisory Council Busisa Moyo has been subject to speculations that he has quit the presidential committee.
Moyo posted a Twitter message which generated speculation that he is throwing in the towel and resigning from the embattled PAC.
Moyo’s ambiguous tweet read as follows:
“Zvaramba ma Comrades. Kwalile zihlobo! Okay. I was wrong, yes perhaps naive. Sometimes you want something to be true & you believe it before it happens (faith)…you give it your best & believe the next man is largely doing the same. I thought you should know!”
Moyo has apparently since deleted the tweet and replaced it with another one claiming that he had been misunderstood by the readers.
⚠️Please note that reports of resignation from active national service are wholly untrue, should I feel my best ideas, passion, influence & experience is no longer valued or required, I will act professionally & honorably!⚠️
All misunderstanding & misinterpretation is regretted
The mystery man who rescued Apostle Talent Chiwenga, from the jaws of the accident, is Mr Seviyasi Piki, a well known fervent Emmerson Mnangagwa backer and ZANU PF member. He is also former ZANU PF councillor in Chirumanzu.
Farai Dziva|Villagers in Masvingo Central Constituency want the local authority to construct a new bridge over Mutirikwi River as the old one has become obsolete.
Speaking to ward councillors, traditional leaders and public officials during a community engagement programme facilitated by COTRAD in Masvingo Central Constituency last week , the villagers said the old Mutirikwi Bridge was defunct.
“Many people are losing their lives while trying to cross the flooded low-lying bridge to and from Chenhuwe Business Centre, Shonganiso, Zivezano Schools and other local areas,”said one villager.
The villagers urged Masvingo RDC to channel funds meant for plough back- towards the construction of a new bridge.
“We call upon Masvingo Rural District Council and public officials to respond to the social service delivery and infrastructure development concerns raised by the people.
The Masvingo RDC should prioritize and attempt to improve services and infrastructure in rural areas.
It is enshrined under section 276 of the constitution that, the rural district councils should raise sufficient revenue for them to carry out objectives and responsibilities in areas of their jurisdiction.
COTRAD encourages public officials and local authorities to consult their communities before implementing community development projects and programs.
COTRAD also encourages the villagers to fearlessly and peacefully engage public officials and relevant ministries to present issues affecting their communities,” COTRAD said in a statement.
The mystery man who rescued Apostle Talent Chiwenga, from the jaws of the accident, is Mr Seviyasi Piki, a well known fervent Emmerson Mnangagwa backer and ZANU PF member. He is also former ZANU PF councillor in Chirumanzu.
Farai Dziva| Zimbabwe Warriors have made a slight improvement on the latest FIFA Rankings.
The Warriors were in action during the June international break which happened last week. They played African powerhouse Nigeria and managed an goalless stalemate in Asaba.
The draw saw the Sunday Chidzambwa-coached team moving one place up to position 109 in the World 1092 points. On the African Ranking, the national men’s side remains in the 26th place.
Senegal retained the top spot on the continent while Belgium top the world chart with 1746 points.
World Top 10: 1. Belgium, 2. France, 3. Brazil, 4.England, 5. Portugal, 6. Croatia, 7. Spain, 8. Uruguay, 9. Switzerland, 10. Denmark.
Africa Top 10: 1. Senegal, 2. Tunisia, 3. Nigeria, 4. Morocco, 5. DRC, 6. Ghana, 7. Cameroon, 8. Egypt, 9. Burkina Faso, 10. Mali
Farai Dziva|Highlanders have elected to maintain their gate charges for the big clash against perennial arch rivals Dynamos on Sunday.
The encounter will be played at Barbourfields Stadium.
The cheapest ticket is going for $10, a new minimum price announced by the PSL early this month. The VIP is pegged at $20 and $50 for the VVIP.
All modes of payments, mobile; cash and swipe, will be available on the day of the match.
Fans can even purchase advance tickets through the newly introduced Electronic Ticketing service.
The online purchase is be made by dialling the USSD code *127# on the phone and follow the prompt messages. After the payment is made, a confirmation message with a unique ticket ID and match details will be sent to the user.
However, the service is currently restricted to Econet users only.
Farai Dziva|Belgian star forward Eden Hazard has said his move to Spanish giants Real Madrid is a dream which came true.
Speaking for the first time as a Madrid player during his unveiling, Hazard revealed it has always been his childhood dream to don the famous Los Blancos shirt.
“Since I was a child, it was my dream to play for this club,” Hazard said in front of over 50 000 fans at the Bernabeu.
“I look forward to putting on the shirt and defending this club.”
The 28-year-old Belgian who completed an £88 million transfer from Chelsea last week has not been handed a shirt number as of yet, as his favourite number 10 is occupied by Luka Modric.
Farai Dziva|MDC vice president, Tendai Biti has maintained his party is committed to dialogue.
Last month Biti also expressed his party’s willingness to engage in dialogue with Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Writing on microblogging site Twitter yesterday said that dialogue would resolve the political impasse.
Said Biti:”It was indeed a sad sending off for Vimbayi and we are indebted to the thousands who paid their respects.
The church service at the City Sports displayed the huge scars of a tortured society. The country needs dialogue and healing. As MDC we will give dialogue a chance.”
By A Correspondent| Fears for ZANU PF’s former National Commissar, Gen Engelbert Rugeje rose early Friday afternoon when his phone remained switched off, just after rumours floated claiming that he has been involved in a car accident. A church Facebook account first flighted the reports which claim he has been admitted at Silveira Hospital near Masvingo.
The fears have continued from the time Rugeje was removed from his National Commissar post last week. The NPC post “burns everyone” and even the former NPC (Mugabe days), Saviour Kasukuwere is still lurking in fear 2 years after his removal on 2017.
As at Friday afternoon, unnamed security details descended onto Kasukuwere’s farm reportedly to harrass him.
But his Personal Assistant, Everisto Dika told ZimEye there is no truth at all in the accident rumours.
He said, “Lies, true lies, there is nothing like that there are a lot of people who have phoned me. There is nothing like that. He is safe,” he told ZimEye.
When asked about Rugeje’s whereabouts, he refused to be drawn into disclosing his exact location only saying, “he is out of Harare, but not in Masvingo.
“It is his home area of course, but he is not anywhere near that place. Usually, stories of this nature involving our leaders they(people) want to cause confusion and panic, to throw unnecessary confusion and panic,” he added.
Meanwhile, the fears for Rugeje are not new, they stem from the fact that since independence, every political commissar has suffered either an assassination, or a humiliating ouster. The list of victims includes:
Mayor Urimbo,
Maurice Nyagumbo,
Movern Mahachi,
Border Gezi,
Elliot Manyika,
Webster Shamu,
Saviour Kasukuwere,
Engelbert Rugeje.
2001 Border Gezi
BORDER GEZI: Gezi had been a rising star in Zanu PF, rising to governor and then Youth minister before his death in a car crash on April 28 2001. Gezi died when his driver lost control of his ministerial vehicle, although an inquest later blamed two senior officials from the Central Mechanical Equipment Department for negligence in fitting a defective tyre to his car.
2001 Moven Mahachi
MOVEN MAHACHI: The Defence minister died barely a month after the death of Gezi, raising questions whether the accident that claimed his life had been a genuine one. Mahachi was killed on May 26, 2001 when his Range Rover collided with a small car along the Mutare –
Nyanga Road.
