Shocking Beer Prices Announced
False and Malicious Story Claiming Mthuli Ncube Has Resigned
STATEMENT- A story circulated on WhatsApp networks on Wednesday claiming Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has resigned, and claiming to have been published on ZimEye.com
We announce that this story is false and misleading and was never at any time published on ZimEye servers.
“Shut Up!”Analyst Tells Ezra Chadzamira
Chief Chivero Assault By The Chinese Opens A Pandora’s Box
By Own Correspondent- A local traditional leader from Mashonaland West province, Chief Chivero was reportedly assaulted by a Chinese national on Tuesday.
Reports claim that the Chief is being encouraged to withdraw the charges and hold a joint press conference with the Chinese man.
In a statement, Norton legislator Temba Mliswa said:
It would appear that some sort of corruption is going on between the Chinese and police in the Chief Chivero matter.
I have it on good authority that the Chief is being persuaded to withdraw the matter and will be having a press conference with the Chinese at Sunny Yi Feng Tiles.
I’m not sure what they’ve got planned but at the end of the day, there are so many more matters that the Chinese there are in violation of that it will not end here.
As an example look at the one meal a day they’re being given. Is this how to treat your employees?
This matter will go to the very bitter end…
Ignore Chamisa At Your Own Risk, He Has Influence, Mliswa Tells ED
Jane Mlambo| Firebrand Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has told President Emmerson Mnangagwa to humble himself and open dialogue with Nelson Chamisa, leader of the main opposition MDC to allow the nation to move forward.
Appearing to an online news organisation NewZimbabwe, Mliswa said it was suicidal for Mnangagwa to proceed with his dialogue with fringe political leaders while ignoring Chamisa who has insisted the elections were rigged.
“You cannot ignore Chamisa as well being the leader of the biggest opposition in the country. Yes, the political actors dialogue is there but how influential are they as political actors?
“I have always said some of them don’t have even the votes that I got in my constituency, yet they are leaders of parties. So to be fair he (Mnangagwa) could be meeting with people of no influence at the same time leaving out those with influence,” said Mliswa.
“I think it is important that we urge them (Mnangagwa and Chamisa) to meet. Chamisa has the right to say I need to meet with you President, on one to one before I meet with others,” Mliswa added.
Chiyangwa Desperate To Rescue Cornered CAF Boss
Farai Dziva|COSAFA President Phillip Chiyangwa recently convened a meeting aimed at creating support for cornered CAF boss Ahmad Ahmad.
The emergency meeting, held in Egypt, was attended by CAF executive committee member Augustin Senghor and Zonal President Gibrille Pele.
Ahmad has of late been under the spotlight and spent a day in police custody in France two weeks ago for allegations involving corruption.
Chiyangwa who masterminded the Malagasy administrator’s rise to the CAF presidency in 2017 then called for unity within the African football to allow the development of the game on the continent.
“This was a meeting called by me as the supreme head of Change in African football, who doubles as campaign manager for most of the CAF Exco members,” said Chiyangwa, according to COSAFA.
“In the pursuit, I have achieved commitment among all Zonal and Exco members that they will work for unity and development of the game with the utmost respect and support for President Ahmad forthwith.
“That there be one centre of power which is the CAF President, Mr Ahmad. There will be a follow-up meeting convened to strengthen the ideals of the football revolution as enunciated when the struggle began.
“It is hoped that the team, headed by President Ahmad, will see the development trajectory rising to enable growth throughput all Zones, under the FIFA assistance programmes.
Chitembwe Returns To Work
Farai Dziva|CAPS United head coach Lloyd Chitembwe attended the team’s training on Tuesday.
There has been speculation that he has resigned.
The gaffer was not on the bench in a 3-3 draw against TelOne on Sunday with reports suggesting a fall-out with the club’s directors over team selection.
The Green Machine has given an update on the matter, saying Chitembwe returned to duty, rubbishing any speculation of the coach’s exit.
MDC Blasts Zanu PF For “Twisting” Mbeki Remarks
Farai Dziva|The MDC has attacked Zanu PF for attempting to twist former President Thabo Mbeki’s remarks.
See the MDC statement :
Zanu PF’s intention to spin remarks by President Mbeki are baseless and an act of desperation to find endorsement where none exists.
In essence President Mbeki recognises that a win which Mnangagwa claims to have obtained has failed to create sufficient consensus and should therefore be cured by National dialogue. He also recognises that the reservations the MDC has in the ongoing dialogue must be attended to.
More importantly the point of departure is that the basis of Dialogue is that there was Electoral fraud, triumphalism in which the “winner” takes everything and runs towards the mountain will not work. It is therefore mischievous to have a couple of people gathering around a table and agreeing that the election was credible and therefore there is no need to talk about it.
The current crisis is a reflection of election results which are not reflective of the people’s will. President Mbeki makes that point quiet clearly. His interview is an indictment on both the Judiciary and ZEC, a point we have always made.
MDC: Defining a New Course for Zimbabwe!
MDC Communications
Teacher’s Salary Now Worth 49 Loaves Of Bread
Farai Dziva|Crisis Group’s Senior Consultant for Southern Africa, Piers Pigou has lamented the erosion of civil servants’ salaries as a result of inflation.
Writing on social media on Wednesday, Pigou said: “If you have the USD, and only a select do, prices of goods and services are in fact very reasonable; BUT the majority are reliant on this “funny money”, the RTGS $ whose value continues to erode and every day most Zimbabweans see their cost of living climb. Is there an end in sight?”
Journalist and political analyst Hopewell Chin’ono also said:
“To fully understand what is happening to Mthuli Ncube’s economy daily, you should look at the price of goods and the exchange rate.
Bread is now at RTGS$7, that means a teacher’s salary is now worth 49 loaves of bread or 15 bottles of Mazoe.Tomorrow it will be worth fewer loaves!”
Chinese Company Boss Accused Of Deliberately Infecting Women With STIs
Farai Dziva| A Chinese factory owner based in Norton has been accused of deliberately infecting women with Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The matter was discovered after traditional leader Chief Chivero was assaulted by a Chinese businessman when he went to inquire why his subjects were not being employed by the company.
Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa said:
“I was very angry and disappointed to learn that Chief Chivero was assaulted by a Chinese National at Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Zimbabwe.
This act reflects disrespect of the highest order and I’ll be following up on the police report made for more details.”
“While making a follow up on the matter I was shocked and appalled to receive reports of sexual harassment for jobs and cases of untreatable STIs being contracted by ladies. This too will be investigated.”
Criminal Gangs Take Over VID, WHAT IS BIGGIE MATIZA DOING?
State Media|The Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), which conducts driver training among other duties, has been taken over by criminal gangs that are demanding various amounts from aspiring drivers.
Additionally, VID inspectors are deeply involved in certifying fit unroadworthy vehicles, leading to a surge in deaths on the country’s roads that top 2 000 annually, according to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ).
Over the years, it has become a public secret that for one to acquire a learner’s licence or a full certificate of competence, one has to pay a “mandatory” bribe.
An authentic learner driver’s licence that was given to an undercover reporter after paying a $250 bribe at VID Marondera Depot
Investigations conducted by The Herald revealed this shocking rot that has been allowed to continue unabated.
It has been discovered that at various depots countrywide, prospective drivers are being made to pay bribes ranging between US$70 and US$100 for road test and RTGS $250 to acquire a learner’s licence without even reading the Highway Code.
Syndicates at the centre of the scam include driving school instructors, highway code manual vendors at depot entrances and the VID inspectors.
Some VID inspectors are now filthy rich as they rake in up to US$400 per day from corrupt activities.
In our investigations, we established that aspiring drivers are being made to pay US$70 upfront for a Class Four road test, of which US$20 goes to the instructor while the VID inspector takes the remaining US$50.
Class One road tests cost US$100, which is also shared between the driving school and the VID inspectors.
In cases where a book vendor plays the go-between, VID inspectors share the bribe with the vendor.
Investigations by The Herald revealed that transport operators are paying bribes in the range of US$50 and US$70 for easy awarding of fitness certificates, hence the presence of unroadworthy vehicles on public roads.
The Herald deployed an undercover reporter to the Eastlea Depot in Harare where he met a vendor who confessed to working with insiders at VID Marondera.
He charged RTGS $250 for the service and we are in possession of an “authentic” learner driver’s licence number 215775LD, with complete security features, obtained from Marondera on Monday, June 17.
“I have connections with VID officers in Marondera,” is how our source began at the beginning of the investigation.
“It is now hard to obtain a learner’s licence here in Harare because everything is now computerised. If you are interested, I will take you there anytime as long as you have the $250.
“The document is authentic,” the middleman said.
The reporter and the middleman proceeded to Marondera VID Depot where upon arrival, the vendor asked for the money, which he said should be strictly in cash.
The reporter paid.
The middleman, who already knew his way around, was warmly welcomed by one of the officials at the depot and the corrupt proceedings began.
The reporter was instructed to fill in the registration form before sitting for the test.
The middleman disappeared with the official.
The middleman assured the reporter, who had never read the Highway Code, of a learner’s licence saying he only had to put an “X” in any box and relax until the papers were marked.
The reporter proceeded to the examination room and randomly answered the questions.
In three minutes, the reporter who had never had sight of the Highway Code, was done. He passed the test with a good 88 percent.
The reporter had a few minutes to chat with other students who had also passed and discovered they had also paid.
One had this to say: “I consulted one of the instructors with a driving school in Harare who charged me $230 RTGS. He said he was well-connected with officials here at Marondera VID offices. So I gave him the money and my personal details and today I just came and passed though I did not know most of the questions.”
In Harare a female inspector popularly known as “Kedha” reportedly owns a fleet of luxurious buses, which ply international routes.
She recently upgraded from a fleet of vans which used to service local long distance routes like Harare-Bulawayo.
Reports are that the same inspector built a mansion in Borrowdale in a short space of time.
Investigations further revealed that the graft now appears normal in the country with some VID officials vowing not to issue a driving licence to those who do not pay bribes.
Corruption has also allowed unroadworthy vehicles to operate, provided the owners pay bribes to the VID officials to acquire a certificate of fitness.
This has greatly contributed to the high accident rates recorded over the years.
VID inspectors have built mansions in leafy parts of Harare while others now operate cross-border public transport, a development calling for an urgent lifestyle audit in the department.
In view of the fact most civil servants get salaries in the region of RTGS $600, a number of inspectors are living a life beyond expected standards.
The development comes at a time Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Joe Biggie Matiza was working round-the-clock to plug loopholes in the VID system and curb graft.
Minister Matiza said the Electronic Learners’ License Test (ELLT) was the best way to end corruption in the provisional licences’ tests.
“The only way to end the problem is introduction of the ELLT. Dishing out licences to people who are not conversant with the rules of the road is dangerous. It results in road carnage,” said Minister Matiza.
TSCZ managing director Mr Obio Chinyere urged the public to use correct channels to obtain drivers licences to avoid unnecessary road accidents.
“I urge everyone to do the right thing to obtain licences. As you can see Government is putting measures in place to curb corruption in the acquisition of learner’s licences and to plug all the loopholes in the system.
“People should now play their part as well by following the correct procedure of obtaining licences,” he said.
At VID Eastlea Depot in Harare, learner’s licence corruption has been managed through introduction of the electronic system but at other depots people are still paying for the provisional licence.
A VID officer stationed at Marondera is reportedly getting learner’s licence clients through his wife’s driving school in Harare.
A number of people pay the bribe to the wife in Harare before travelling on their own to Marondera where the VID officer corruptly issues them with the licences.
Others make use of vendors of the Highway Code manuals, who connect them to VID officers in Marondera.
-State Media
Mutare Man Detained For Merely Commenting On Economic Situation
Farai Dziva|A Mutare man, Tinashe Dembo is being persecuted for merely commenting on the economic challenges in Zimbabwe.
Dembo was arrested for allegedly accusing Emerson Mnangagwa of being a fool.
Although Dembo denied the allegations, he was denied bail when he appeared before magistrate Tendai Mahwe on Friday.
He shall appear again in court on June 28.
The bail was denied after the state opposed the application on grounds that the accused who had other pending cases was likely to flee.
The state further argued that Dembo was also likely to interfere with evidence.
The state alleges that on June 12, 2019, the Dembo was at Villa Sports Bar, where he allegedly made an abusive statement concerning Mnangagwa.
Powerful Oppah Was Not Hallucinating When She Threatened To Unleash Army On Citizens
Defence Minister and ZANU PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri is the one running the country while President Emmerson Mnangagwa is out in neighbouring Mozambique to attend the US Africa summit that begins in Maputo on Wednesday.
Reports from within President Mnangagwa’s office indicate that while bed ridden Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was supposed to be Acting President, Muchinguri-Kashiri is basically in charge.
“She has been left in charge. VP Chiwenga is currently very ill and unable to report for work,” said the sources to the media.
“In theory VP Chiwenga is Acting President but in reality it’s the Defence Minister who has the reins.”
This means she was not just saying things as besides being a defence minister, she is part of Mnangagwa’s inner circle which is literally running Zimbabwe.
Second Vice President Kembo Mohadi is also reportedly not feeling well and is out of the country for medical attention.
Mnangagwa was seen off at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Mutare Man Arrested, Denied Bail For Telling The Truth On Mnangagwa’s Govt
A MUTARE man has been arrested for accusing President Emerson Mnangagwa of failing to properly run the country such that even the prices of beer had gone up.
Tinashe Dembo (29) appeared before magistrate Tendai Mahwe on Friday who denied him bail.
The State opposed bail claiming that he was likely to abscond as he had other pending cases at the court and that he was likely to interfere with evidence.
Dembo, who is denying the allegations, will appear in court on June 28.
It is the State’s case that on June 12, 2019, the accused was at Villa Sports Bar, where he allegedly made an abusive statement concerning Mnangagwa.
He reportedly said: “President Emmerson Mnangagwa ibenzi ratadza kugadzirisa economy yeZimbabwe, ikozvino zvinhu zvese zvakudhura, nyangwe doro chairo (President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a fool who has failed to manage the Zimbabwean economy to an extent that everything is now expense including beer).
-NewsDay
‘Do The Correct Thing’, Mai Mujuru Tells Oppah
Jane Mlambo| Former Vice President Joice Mujuru has castigated her former subordinate in both the ruling party and government Oppah Muchinguri following her remarks that the army will step in to quell any uprising saying only those without support resort to pointing guns at people.
In what could further dampen prospects of international engagement, Muchinguri said the army will crush any protests.
This follows growing impatience among citizens as the economy continues to nosedive.
Posting on Twitter, Mujuru who was once the country’s vice president before her dismissal in 2014 told Muchinguri never to abuse the armed forces further telling her to do the right thing.
“If you see the need to point guns at the Zimbabwean people , it means you don’t have their support in whatever you are doing. Let us not abuse our armed forces. Do the correct thing,” said Mujuru.
Mthuli Ncube’s Surplus Revenue Explained In Simple Terms
Jane Mlambo| MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda has in simple terms debunked Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube’s much hyped surplus revenue saying it was realised on the back of worsening hunger and poverty currently taking a toll on Zimbabwe.
In his explanation, Sibanda said
“Does a street beggar who just got 20c off a car window have a surplus of 20c simply because they keep ignoring that they are hungry and need to buy bread for $5.30? Rocket science? A beggar dies of hunger holding onto 20c for the fallacy of pseudo-efficiencies, wise or ??”
Eddie Cross Insists Zim Is Not A Failed State, IS HE CORRECT?
By Eddie Cross|Personally, I started to pay for my long term security with a major pension company when I was 17 years old, my father having told me you have to have an insurance policy.
Eventually my portfolio was 5 policies – all with the same company, the biggest in the region, and I had contributed in one way or another well over a million US dollars to this company for my personal security once I retired.
Today this company, proudly sends me an e-mail each month saying we have paid your pension into your account today in the amount of RTGS$94.00 (that is about US$10.00). A cup of coffee costs RTGS$8 to RTGS$12 in local coffee shops.
I met with a small group of student leaders on Saturday and they asked me all sorts of questions – one thing I told them was never pay into a pension fund. But really, what kind of a future can we offer our brightest and best young people if we cannot maintain the most basic economic ingredients for growth? What sort of future faces them and how do that prepare for that future? For most of them the future is a passport.
At Church on Sunday, one of the larger aid agencies told me that they were gearing up to provide basic food to 5 million people in the rural areas but were now thinking they might have to start a program in urban areas where absolute poverty and hunger were becoming a major issue.
If you cannot provide food and fuel to your people, we are, as far as many people are concerned a “failed State”. How else do you describe what is happening?
But the reality is that we are far from a failed State, our fiscal surplus in the first quarter was $500 million, we are accumulating hard currency in our banks, for the first time ever, the balance of payments is strong, so why the crisis? Let’s look at each problem one by one.
Firstly, food: 20 years after the Government launched the “Fast Track Land Reform Program” and three years after “Command Agriculture” we are still importing the great majority of our food, food prices are high by regional standards and our poorest people (who are 70 per cent of the entire population) cannot afford to buy their essentials for daily life. Why? We have plenty of land, water to irrigate a million hectares of crops, we have the expertise and most of the equipment needed – what’s missing? Two words – real farmers.
In the USA 3 per cent of the population lives on farms, in Europe perhaps 5 per cent, in South Africa 70 per cent of all food is produced by 100 companies, in Zambia a small community of less than 1000 farmer’s make that country a net exporter on a large scale.
What they all have in common is the respect of their countries for the contribution they make and security. Personal security and security over assets which enables them to borrow massively from the banks to cover short term costs and capital equipment. Here none of that applies and it’s just a matter of changing our policies.
Secondly, Fuel: In 2009, in a fifteen-minute statement we liberalized – floated our currency, removed all import restrictions, removed all controls on gold production and sales and dismantled price controls.
In 10 days’ fuel supplies were freely available at world market prices, no allocations of foreign exchange from the Reserve Bank, no subsidies, no State controlled imports. Just private sector and free markets – “publish your prices on the forecourts” was all we had to do and leave customers to decide where to buy their fuel from.
2013, we reversed those decisions, restored controls and State intervention, made the Reserve Bank the main trader in foreign exchange and we allowed monopoly interests to take control of the fuel industry. Instantly we were back in 2008, fuel shortages, high prices, well above regional and international levels and constant disruptions and shortages of foreign exchange.
What do we have to do – unscramble the egg, go back to basics. Do not tell me we do not know what the solutions are – we do, it’s just the will to do the things that are necessary. What mechanism was behind the 2009 announcement by Chinamasa? A simple resolution in Cabinet, the day before.
Thirdly, Electrical Energy: We have made a start, we fired the top management and the Board, but that is just the start. This sector is an unholy mess. We have just spent, between Zambia and ourselves nearly a billion dollars on doubling the capacity of Kariba – with no increase in water supply?
We have then allowed the dam to operate well above capacity because the power coming out was cheap and available and as a country with full supply at low prices, we went to sleep. Now – disaster strikes as the inevitable happened – we ran out of water.
Then at Hwange, where we built a huge thermal power station nearly 60 years ago, we have been paying little attention to coal supplies. Hwange Colliery with millions of tonnes of coal reserves, is running out of coal?
They have perhaps six months left in the open cast mine and Hwange Power Station must rely on private sector operations. The conveyor system, the drag line, tens of millions of dollars of plant and equipment is broken down and crude, out of date methods of mining are being employed at much higher cost.
Our currency collapses and we do not increase prices for coal. Are we then surprised that the coal stops coming? Are we crazy? We have spent tens of millions of dollars on the three small thermal stations with less capacity than one turbine at Hwange. Hwange uses thermal coal at half the cost of other forms of coal which are used in these old stations, who in the world spends money on coal fired stations that were built in the 1920’s and 30’s?
We need new power sources – every home should have solar panels on the roof. Solar can supply our needs during the day – without storage, at very low costs. Let’s get an emergency program under way.
We need a new major thermal power station that uses coal – let’s make it happen, its private sector driven, keep it that way but support them financially, its only money. And for heaven’s sake, raise the price of power to reflect current costs. The only short term solution is to import power and for that to happen we have to pay for the stuff.
Finally, Prices: I say prices because what we have right now is not inflation in the normal sense – its price rises driven by speculation in our currencies. This is fueled by the Reserve Bank with its mismanagement and manipulation of the interbank market and the foreign exchange system as a whole. The ability of the private sector (or speculators) to make a margin, sometimes a massive margin, on simple currency deals every day is just too great at the moment and the only way to stop the practice is to enlist the market.
We know how to do this – do we think we are the only country in the world that has had this problem, if we do we are stupid and I do not think that is the case. We must make it expensive to secure supplies of local currency by raising short term interest rates to a punitive level.
We must make the official, interbank market for foreign exchange work so that the exchange rate in the Banks has credibility and when we want foreign currencies, we can buy them and remit them to clients and suppliers outside the country.
We cannot do that if the Reserve Bank is allowed to unilaterally take foreign currency out of our bank accounts for their own use and replace it with local electronic currency at a false exchange rate.
Make all Banks sell the foreign exchange that is available on the interbank market every day and allow people to buy from the market through their banks what they need. The exchange rate will strengthen and prices will go down, automatically. Is that so difficult to understand and do?
Bloody Zanu PF Youths Warned
THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC party yesterday dismissed threats by Zanu PF youths to counter their demonstrations, saying the ruling party had no mandate to stop their constitutional right to protest.
Zanu PF youths on Thursday threatened to block the opposition party’s planned protests over the rising cost of living. This came at a time the opposition has threatened to call for protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
“These youths have got blood on their hands,” MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume.
He alleged that there were some Zanu PF youths who took part in a clampdown against opposition members and ordinary citizens after the January demonstration,
but many of them were let free.
“It is constitutional to hold an anti-government demonstration anywhere in the world and it is dangerous to create a quasi-group of people who threaten to deal
with other people. It is dangerous for the State to keep quiet and not deal with those people,” Mafume said.
“The State must deal with those people thoroughly and stop them from making statements which are likely to inflame the situation. They have no right to police anyone or to stop anyone from doing a demonstration against the government.”
Mafume said if Zanu PF youths wanted to stand in solidarity with the government, then they could demonstrate in support of the government, but not to interfere
with their plans.
MDC youth leader Obey Sithole dared the Zanu PF youths, claiming they had no capacity to stop them.
“I have come across their claims, but let me categorically state that it is misplaced and misleading for one to think they can stop an idea whose time has
come. Zanu PF has no locus standi to stop a people’s demonstration, let alone speak about it,” he said.
“We are definitely unmoved by such threats. We will not betray the people of Zimbabwe; we shall continue pursuing our path to power until freedom comes.”
Meanwhile, Sithole was yesterday summoned by the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Law and Order Section for interrogation after he recently gave Mnangagwa’s
government until month-end to resolve the ongoing socio-economic and political crises facing the country or face mass demonstrations.
“Our leader has been summoned by the ZRP. He will report at Harare Central Police Station today (yesterday) in company of his lawyers,” said MDC youth assembly
spokesperson Stephen “Sarkozy” Chuma. He was reportedly warned and released without charge.
Chuma said Sithole never broke any law in his address to journalists, where he issued the ultimatum.
-Newsday
After Wicknell Defrauded Them Of Power Station, Gwanda People Go For It On Their Own, 10 000 Benefit On New Solar Station
More than 10 000 people are now benefiting from Zimbabwe’s first solar-powered mini-grid in Gwanda rural district giving farmers a much cheaper and reliable energy source.
The Mashaba solar-powered mini-grid was funded through a four year 7. 1 million euro project for Zimbabwe and Malawi under the European Development Fund (EDF), the main instrument for European Union (EU) aid for development cooperation in Africa, the Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP Group) countries.
The project was implemented by a consortium of NGOs with Practical Action as the lead partner supported by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Hivos and the Dabane Trust.
This project, which was funded to the tune of 2.7 million euro, seeks to help the local community to survive droughts, enhance food security and improve livelihoods through connecting them to the Mashaba solar-powered mini-grid.
“We are quite excited about the level of support which was given by Practical Action and its partners to give us electricity,” said Thomson Makhalima, a councillor for Ward 19 in Gwanda South constituency.
“This solar power station has brought a new lease of life to our people. We are very happy and grateful for this important project. We are now empowered and we want to do more to grow more crops in our three irrigation schemes, support better health care at our clinic and education at our schools.”
The small and decentralised solar power system operates independently of the main grid managed by the country’s power utility, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority.
It offers greater stability and independence than traditional off-site power stations giving the local Gwanda community control over their energy needs.
At present, the mini-grid provided power to a radius of up to 25km helping to boost economic activities in three irrigation schemes – Mankonkoni, Sebasa, Rustlers’ Gorge – as well as Mashaba and Msendami business centres, and Mashaba Clinic and Mashaba Primary School.
The installation of the solar system is helping the local community to make significant savings on energy costs while at the same time promoting a cleaner environment.
“Solar power is cheaper and very useful to our irrigation project. We are now growing crops and planning to expand our heritage,” said Tsepile Nare of Pathana Village and a beneficiary of Sebasa Irrigation Scheme.
“We are quite happy that we are now able to grow crops using cheaper energy. Diesel is quite expensive and inaccessible here in Gwanda rural.”
Most irrigation schemes in Gwanda South had their equipment and infrastructure destroyed during the Cyclone Eline induced floods of the 1999 – 2000 cropping season.
Practical Action, the UN FAO and other development aid agencies have helped to rehabilitate the irrigation schemes in this drought prone district.
The revival of the schemes faced viability problems due to constant power outages and lack of diesel to run water irrigation pumps.
However, the construction of the Mashaba power plant is now helping smallholder farmers in the area to transform their activities through access to cheaper and cleaner energy sources. The micro-grid has 400 solar panels and storage batteries.
A smart management technology is also deployed to balance supply and demand as well as to sell power through a vending system managed by locals. This local community through the Community Electricity Supply Company (Cesco) sells power to irrigation and commercial entities for 30c/kw, 18c/kw to residents and 10c/kw to the school and clinic.
“This is a very important project to us,” said Winnie Sebata, the Cesco supervisor.
“It’s serving our community both economically and socially. We are generating about $1 500 a month from 18 customers. We save around $500 a month and we use it to buy gadgets and spares for the maintenance of our solar plant.”
The local power committee was trained and equipped with skills to run the plant by Practical Action.
“Practical Action has empowered us immensely. We greatly appreciate their support. They have put us on firm footing into the future. The Practical Action team together with our local community worked hard to make this project a success. I am very grateful for this.”
The mini-grid is the face of Zimbabwe’s future electricity supply system which will help increase access to clean energy and reduce power problems facing the country.
The Mashaba plant could be key to helping Zimbabwe achieve its climate change targets of reducing carbon emissions by 2030. Such a system allows local communities in remote parts to access power, do peer-to-peer transactions and release surplus power to the national grid where possible.
In addition, local communities are able to grow both financially and economically through improved access to power without power utility firms such as Zesa.
Gwanda District is prone to droughts and improved access to power will lead to increased resilience, enhanced food security and better adaptation to climate change. The availability of power will also lead to improved access to markets, better extension service and agricultural information and finance.
Man Denied Bail For ‘Abusing’ ED Over Rising Prices Of Beer
A MUTARE man has been arrested for accusing President Emerson Mnangagwa of failing to properly run the country such that even the prices of beer had gone up.
Tinashe Dembo (29) appeared before magistrate Tendai Mahwe on Friday who denied him bail.
The State opposed bail claiming that he was likely to abscond as he had other pending cases at the court and that he was likely to interfere with evidence.
Dembo, who is denying the allegations, will appear in court on June 28.
It is the State’s case that on June 12, 2019, the accused was at Villa Sports Bar, where he allegedly made an abusive statement concerning Mnangagwa.
He reportedly said: “President Emmerson Mnangagwa ibenzi ratadza kugadzirisa economy yeZimbabwe, ikozvino zvinhu zvese zvakudhura, nyangwe doro chairo (President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a fool who has failed to manage the Zimbabwean economy to an extent that everything is now expense including beer).
-NewsDay
Picture- Police Officers In Their New Gear
Minister Ziyambi Says Report Sent To The ICC On Mnangagwa Is A Waste Of Time, Really?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed they received a request by Zimbabweans to have President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrested over the August 1, 2018 shootings which left at least six people dead in Harare.
This was revealed in an email the ICC sent to VOA Studio7.
Human rights lawyer and director of the Africa Regional Programme of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Arnold Tsunga has however said that the case is likely to be thrown out since Zimbabwe is not a member of the ICC.
He said that the matter can only be referred to the UN Security Council where chances of it being considered are also very slim.
He further said that the matter is likely not to be accepted considering that the current Zimbabwean situation is stable, unlike that of the Sudan.
VOA Studio7 also spoke to the Minister of Justice, Ziyambi Ziyambi who argued that the report that was sent to the ICC was a waste of time. He said that the ICC does not have jurisdiction to deal with issues to do with non-state actors unless it gets a report from the United Nations Security Council.
He described the act of sending the report to the ICC as foolish. Ziyambi also said that the move reflects that the people who sent the report do not understand how the law operates.
At six people died on August 1, 2018 after protesters went on the streets claiming the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had ‘delayed’ to announce the results of the 30 July elections. This is despite that ZEC still had more days at law within which to declare the winner in the general election.
Government sent in the army which opened live fire and people died. A commission led by former South African President Kgalema Mothlanthe was set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and it gave its recommendations to ensure such incidents do not happen in futuee.
-Voa
Fraud Conference On The Cards
“With A Surplus Of $500m, We’re Far From Being A Failed State,” Eddie Cross
By Eddie Cross|Personally, I started to pay for my long term security with a major pension company when I was 17 years old, my father having told me you have to have an insurance policy.
Eventually my portfolio was 5 policies – all with the same company, the biggest in the region, and I had contributed in one way or another well over a million US dollars to this company for my personal security once I retired.
Today this company, proudly sends me an e-mail each month saying we have paid your pension into your account today in the amount of RTGS$94.00 (that is about US$10.00). A cup of coffee costs RTGS$8 to RTGS$12 in local coffee shops.
I met with a small group of student leaders on Saturday and they asked me all sorts of questions – one thing I told them was never pay into a pension fund. But really, what kind of a future can we offer our brightest and best young people if we cannot maintain the most basic economic ingredients for growth? What sort of future faces them and how do that prepare for that future? For most of them the future is a passport.
At Church on Sunday, one of the larger aid agencies told me that they were gearing up to provide basic food to 5 million people in the rural areas but were now thinking they might have to start a program in urban areas where absolute poverty and hunger were becoming a major issue.
If you cannot provide food and fuel to your people, we are, as far as many people are concerned a “failed State”. How else do you describe what is happening?
But the reality is that we are far from a failed State, our fiscal surplus in the first quarter was $500 million, we are accumulating hard currency in our banks, for the first time ever, the balance of payments is strong, so why the crisis? Let’s look at each problem one by one.
Firstly, food: 20 years after the Government launched the “Fast Track Land Reform Program” and three years after “Command Agriculture” we are still importing the great majority of our food, food prices are high by regional standards and our poorest people (who are 70 per cent of the entire population) cannot afford to buy their essentials for daily life. Why? We have plenty of land, water to irrigate a million hectares of crops, we have the expertise and most of the equipment needed – what’s missing? Two words – real farmers.
In the USA 3 per cent of the population lives on farms, in Europe perhaps 5 per cent, in South Africa 70 per cent of all food is produced by 100 companies, in Zambia a small community of less than 1000 farmer’s make that country a net exporter on a large scale.
What they all have in common is the respect of their countries for the contribution they make and security. Personal security and security over assets which enables them to borrow massively from the banks to cover short term costs and capital equipment. Here none of that applies and it’s just a matter of changing our policies.
Secondly, Fuel: In 2009, in a fifteen-minute statement we liberalized – floated our currency, removed all import restrictions, removed all controls on gold production and sales and dismantled price controls.
In 10 days’ fuel supplies were freely available at world market prices, no allocations of foreign exchange from the Reserve Bank, no subsidies, no State controlled imports. Just private sector and free markets – “publish your prices on the forecourts” was all we had to do and leave customers to decide where to buy their fuel from.
2013, we reversed those decisions, restored controls and State intervention, made the Reserve Bank the main trader in foreign exchange and we allowed monopoly interests to take control of the fuel industry. Instantly we were back in 2008, fuel shortages, high prices, well above regional and international levels and constant disruptions and shortages of foreign exchange.
What do we have to do – unscramble the egg, go back to basics. Do not tell me we do not know what the solutions are – we do, it’s just the will to do the things that are necessary. What mechanism was behind the 2009 announcement by Chinamasa? A simple resolution in Cabinet, the day before.
Thirdly, Electrical Energy: We have made a start, we fired the top management and the Board, but that is just the start. This sector is an unholy mess. We have just spent, between Zambia and ourselves nearly a billion dollars on doubling the capacity of Kariba – with no increase in water supply?
We have then allowed the dam to operate well above capacity because the power coming out was cheap and available and as a country with full supply at low prices, we went to sleep. Now – disaster strikes as the inevitable happened – we ran out of water.
Then at Hwange, where we built a huge thermal power station nearly 60 years ago, we have been paying little attention to coal supplies. Hwange Colliery with millions of tonnes of coal reserves, is running out of coal?
They have perhaps six months left in the open cast mine and Hwange Power Station must rely on private sector operations. The conveyor system, the drag line, tens of millions of dollars of plant and equipment is broken down and crude, out of date methods of mining are being employed at much higher cost.
Our currency collapses and we do not increase prices for coal. Are we then surprised that the coal stops coming? Are we crazy? We have spent tens of millions of dollars on the three small thermal stations with less capacity than one turbine at Hwange. Hwange uses thermal coal at half the cost of other forms of coal which are used in these old stations, who in the world spends money on coal fired stations that were built in the 1920’s and 30’s?
We need new power sources – every home should have solar panels on the roof. Solar can supply our needs during the day – without storage, at very low costs. Let’s get an emergency program under way.
We need a new major thermal power station that uses coal – let’s make it happen, its private sector driven, keep it that way but support them financially, its only money. And for heaven’s sake, raise the price of power to reflect current costs. The only short term solution is to import power and for that to happen we have to pay for the stuff.
Finally, Prices: I say prices because what we have right now is not inflation in the normal sense – its price rises driven by speculation in our currencies. This is fueled by the Reserve Bank with its mismanagement and manipulation of the interbank market and the foreign exchange system as a whole. The ability of the private sector (or speculators) to make a margin, sometimes a massive margin, on simple currency deals every day is just too great at the moment and the only way to stop the practice is to enlist the market.
We know how to do this – do we think we are the only country in the world that has had this problem, if we do we are stupid and I do not think that is the case. We must make it expensive to secure supplies of local currency by raising short term interest rates to a punitive level.
We must make the official, interbank market for foreign exchange work so that the exchange rate in the Banks has credibility and when we want foreign currencies, we can buy them and remit them to clients and suppliers outside the country.
We cannot do that if the Reserve Bank is allowed to unilaterally take foreign currency out of our bank accounts for their own use and replace it with local electronic currency at a false exchange rate.
Make all Banks sell the foreign exchange that is available on the interbank market every day and allow people to buy from the market through their banks what they need. The exchange rate will strengthen and prices will go down, automatically. Is that so difficult to understand and do?
NPRC Claims It’s Not Aligned To ZANU PF
State Media|THE National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) is not an extension of any political party and will continue carrying out its constitutional mandate independently, a senior Government official has said.
Speaking after the Bulawayo provincial peace committee was constituted yesterday, the director in Vice President Kembo Mohadi’s office Mr Milton Ndou said the NPRC will always be independent.
“The office of the Vice President falls under the Cabinet committee on peace and reconciliation. The NPRC then is an independent commission which falls under the office of the Vice President and that is the reason why we support them during meetings,” he said.
Mr Ndou said the commission receives resources, and management oversight from the VP’s office only.
“We are avoiding a situation where people allege that NPRC is a Zanu-PF entity, no it was formed through the constitution. We’re then saying if as Matabeleland we do not open up about Gukurahundi and participate through the NPRC forum, then which other institution are we going to use in Zimbabwe?” he asked.
Mr Ndou said people can now freely discuss Gukurahundi.
“As Matabeleland and Bulawayo in particular let us converge and look into this thing called peace and reconciliation. All along we have not been addressing these issues, we were fragmenting them and there was no convergence,” said Mr Ndou.
He said people in Matabeleland should not complain forever but must engage in dialogue to bring development to the region.
“Today the seed has been planted and it is now the role of the people of Matabeleland to ensure they create a conducive environment for the seed to germinate. If they do not own up surely no one from elsewhere will do it for us,” said Mr Ndou.
The Bulawayo committee will be chaired by NPRC head of the peace subcommittee Commissioner Lesley Ncube and he will be deputised by Ms Nokuthula Dube and Mr Johnson Mnkandla.
Ms Dube runs the National Peace Trust Zimbabwe while Mr Mnkandla is a former magistrate and teacher.
Mr Ncube said the Bulawayo committee will also have two members from each political party.
“We will have two representatives of each political party joining the committee, an official from the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Education and that of Social Welfare. We will also have two youths, representatives of people living with disabilities, war veterans and traditional leaders,” said Mr Ncube.
He said the committee will also have members from the police and someone from the office of the Mayor.
Mr Ncube said the commission has already set up similar committees in Matabeleland North, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South provinces.
“We will move on to Manicaland and Midlands in the coming weeks and we hope to engage all relevant stakeholders,” said Mr Ncube.
“We will create district and ward peace committees after covering all provinces so that there is total engagement from all Zimbabweans.”
Egyptian Security Forces Stood Back For Twenty Minutes And Watched Collapsed Morsi Die Before Raising An Emergency Alarm
Security forces have been accused of murdering Egypt’s Mohamed Morsi after friends and colleagues say police failed to administer first aid fast enough when the former president collapsed during a hearing in Cairo on Monday.
Prison guards allegedly left the 67-year-old Muslim Brotherhood leader “slumped on the floor” of his courtroom cage for over 20 minutes, despite other defendants calling for help.
Mr Morsi, who was suffering from diabetes, hypertension and liver disease, had collapsed after speaking during a retrial hearing on charges of collaborating with foreign powers and militant groups.
The Egyptian attorney-general’s office refuted the claims saying he “was transported immediately to the hospital” where he was later pronounced dead.
Morsi is believed to have died from a heart attack.
The United Nations and rights groups have called for an independent probe into the detention conditions and death of the Islamist.
The country’s first democratically elected president, who was ousted from power in 2013, was buried hastily in Nasr City, an eastern suburb of the capital – against the wishes of his family who requested he be laid to rest in his home governorate of Sharqiya.
Only a handful of family members and lawyers were permitted to be present at the burial but were not given access to an autopsy report.
Abdullah al-Haddad, whose father and brother were standing trial alongside Morsi on Monday, said witnesses told him “no one bothered” to help when Morsi collapsed.
“He was left slumped for while till the guards took him out. [An] ambulance arrived after 30 minutes. Other detainees were first to notice his collapse, they started shouting. Some of them, who are doctors, asked the guards to let them treat him or give him first aid,” Mr Haddad told The Independent.
“Neglecting him at the beginning was deliberate… The first [thing] the prison guards did after detainees started shouting was to get family members out of the courtroom.” he added.
He says he now fears for his father, who he says has been denied heart surgery despite suffering from four heart attacks since his arrest.
His report was corroborated by a family friend of the defendants who spoke to Morsi’s relatives and the defendants after the trial, but asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.
“About 10 minutes after [Morsi] had stopped speaking, the people inside the cage started banging on the walls of the cage saying he is unconscious and they need help,” the activist told The Independent.
“The families who were there told me the police didn’t do anything for more than 20 minutes despite the yelling. They left him there.
“The police then started taking the families out of the court and the ambulance came.”
This testimony was also supported by Amr Darrag, who served as Morsi’s minister of international cooperation before the military takeover in 2013.
He told The Independent the former president was left unconscious on the floor of his cage for up to half an hour, adding that Morsi had not received proper medical treatment in detention.
“Less than 10 people were permitted to attend his funeral.. there was no independent examination of his body,” Mr Darrag added speaking from Turkey.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to The Independent’s request for comment on the accusations.
According to the official description of events, Morsi was transported immediately to the hospital after he collapsed.
The Egyptian State Information Service (SIS) issued a separate statement refuting reports Morsi was poorly treated behind bars, saying that calls for access to medical care had been approved by the court.
The SIS also accused rights groups of “circulating lies” amid growing calls for an immediate and independent investigation into what happened.
Human Rights Watch has called the death “terrible, but predictable” and has saidfamily members had reported that he was forced to sleep on the floor of his squalid cell in Tora prison and suffered diabetic comas due to lack of medical attention.
Last year a group of British MPs and lawyers issued a damning reportwarning that Morsi could die in prison if he did not receive urgent medical care.
The British panel, headed by Crispin Blunt, the former chair of the foreign affairs select committee, and several London rights lawyers, concluded the former president had likely been subjected to torture, as he was being held for 23 hours a day in a bare concrete solitary confinement cell.
Morsi was elected in the summer of 2012, after beating Ahmed Shafik, the last prime minister of toppled president Hosni Mubarak.
He was ousted from power by the military just a year later after nationwide protests against his rule. In July 2013 he was arrested and disappeared for five months.
During that period the army launched a brutal crackdown on Brotherhood, supporters killing hundreds of people and jailing tens of thousands more.
Mr Morsi did not reappear until November 2013, when he stood trial for inciting violence against protesters, breaking free from jail in 2011 and espionage.
There was little reaction to news of his death in Cairo. But in Istanbul thousands of his supporters gathered in prayer, called by Turkey’s religious authority Diyanetl
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a close ally of the late leader, called him a “martyr” and blamed Egypt’s “tyrants” for his death.
Wife Dumps Top S.A. Pastor, Goes Out To Celebrate At A Tavern
Popular televangelist and motivational speaker pastor Enock Phiri’s wife Busisiwe allegedly dumped her husband and then later went to celebrate their separation at a local tavern with a friend and cousin.
These details emerged last week after the congregation of Phiri’s church, Restoration House Ministries in Soweto, stumbled upon a video of their pastor’s wife at what looked like a tavern dancing and singing along to Karyn White’s classic I’d Rather Be Alone.
In the video, which Sunday World has seen, Busisiwe could be seen in the company of two other women singing and dancing without a care in the world, while other patrons look on in shock.
“Look at her, she must be a very happy woman. Look at the pastor’s wife in the tavern,” one patron could be heard saying in the video clip.
It appeared as if it was the video clip that helped members of the church to uncover the news that their pastor’s marriage of 18 years was on shaky ground.
Pastor Phiri, a TV show host and presenter of Taking Dominion on DStv’s TBN on Africa channel, confirmed that his marriage was on the rocks but argued that he was a normal human being, experiencing the same problems that other people faced in their marriages.
He said that he was now residing alone at his farm in Walkerville, south of Joburg, and said his wife now lived in Mondeor, also in the south of Joburg.
“I don’t want talk more about this matter because it’s too private,” he said.
Busisiwe declined to comment about the allegations that her marriage was imploding, only opting to respond to the video clip.
She, however, confirmed that she and the man of the cloth were no longer singing from the same hymn book as they were living apart.
“I was at a Metro FM Soul Session event in April with my sister and my cousin and we were having fun.
“I know there are people who say I was at a tavern, but I was not,” she said, adding that such people only wanted to ruin her name.
“I was singing along to Karyn White’s song I’d Rather Be Alone and I understand why people would believe that I was celebrating the end of my marriage.
“But I don’t believe that is what I was doing.”
ZANU PF Deputy Chief Whip Collapses And Dies
Zanu Pf Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Assembly Hon Obendingwa Mguni has died.
He was member of parliament for Mangwe Constituency in Matabeleland South.
Hon Mguni has been suffering from diabetes collapsed and died last night
(More details to follow)
Oppah Muchinguri In Charge, Chiwenga Too Sick To Work
Defence Minister and ZANU PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri is the one running the country while President Emmerson Mnangagwa is out in neighbouring Mozambique to attend the US Africa summit that begins in Maputo on Wednesday.
Reports from within President Mnangagwa’s office indicate that while bed ridden Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was supposed to be Acting President, Muchinguri-Kashiri is basically in charge.
“She has been left in charge. VP Chiwenga is currently very ill and unable to report for work,” said the sources to the media.
“In theory VP Chiwenga is Acting President but in reality it’s the Defence Minister who has the reins.”
Second Vice President Kembo Mohadi is also reportedly not feeling well and is out of the country for medical attention.
Mnangagwa was seen off at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Platini Arrested For Corruptly Awarding World Cup Hosting To Qatar
Banned ex-Uefa chief Michel Platini was arrested yesterday in connection with a criminal investigation into the award of the 2022 Soccer World Cup to Qatar.
The French football legend elected to lead European football’s governing body in 2007 was taken into custody by French anti-corruption police investigating the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to the gas-rich Gulf state.
Qatar was named to host the World Cup in a decision that triggered controversy over its suitability amid allegations of corruption that ultimately sparked FIFA’s worst ever scandal five years later.
France’s Financial Crimes Prosecutors Office (PNF) opened a preliminary investigation in 2016 into allegations of corruption, conspiracy and influence peddling surrounding Fifa’s award of the World Cup to Qatar and also the 2018 tournament to Russia.
According to Blatter, Qatar won hosting rights as a result of a deal with the French, derailing FIFA’s own “diplomatic arrangement” whereby hosting rights would go to Russia in 2018 and then to the United States four years later.
The French investigation centres on alleged French intervention linked to Platini and former president Nicolas Sarkozy.
According to the specialist magazine France Football, a “secret meeting” took place on November 23, 2010 at the Elysee Palace in Paris between Sarkozy, Qatar’s then-Prince (now Emir) Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Platini, at that time both Uefa president and vice-president of Fifa.
Just over a week later, Fifa awarded Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 tournament.
Platini has made no secret of his support for Qatar but denies he was influenced by Sarkozy, whose advisor for sport, Sophie Dion, was also arrested along with Platini.
“It was time to give them the World Cup. I am for that. It’s my conviction,” he said at the time.
Claude Gueant, Sarkozy’s erstwhile chief of staff and former interior minister, was also called in for questioning yesterday by France’s Anti-Corruption Office of the Judicial Police.
The decision to award the event to Qatar ultimately led to a wider corruption probe that led to the overthrow of Blatter and Platini and the arrest of senior FIFA figures.
Platini, 63, led Uefa until 2015 when he was banned from football for four years for ethics violations including receiving a two-million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros, $2 million) payment from the disgraced former head of Fifa Sepp Blatter.
Qatar has been accused of buying votes in its bid to stage the World Cup and a subsequent report by US independent investigator Michael Garcia unearthed an array of suspect financial dealings, many linked to Sandro Rosell, the ex-Barcelona president who served as a consultant for Qatar.
Platini, a triple Ballon d’Or winner, was expected to succeed Blatter as Fifa president in 2016 before his fall from grace. He has been battling to clear his name ever since.
— AFP.
JSC Holds Interviews For Supreme Court Judges
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) will today conduct public interviews for the recruitment of two judges to Supreme Court bench as it seeks to increase human capital to match the growing statistics of courts. Public interviews have become a norm as Zimbabwe complies with the Constitution, to increase transparency and enhance good governance.
Five judges of the High Court have been shortlisted for the interviews slated for a city hotel starting this morning.
Those seeking to join the Supreme Court bench are Justices Felicia Chatukuta, Samuel Kudya, Elfas Chitakunye, Charles Hungwe and Nicholas Mathonsi.
They are all senior judges of the High Court and all of them, but Justice Chitakunye have participated in previous interviews in public. Justice Chatukuta is the only female candidate.
In an interview yesterday, JSC acting secretary Mr Walter Chikwana confirmed the interviews would go ahead as scheduled.
“We are ready for the interviews and all the processes leading to the occasion have been done,” he said.
“Five high court judges are going to be interviewed by the JSC for the two position of the Supreme Court bench.”
The interviews are an important part of the appointment process for judges laid down in section 180(4) of the Constitution.
They come after the earlier stages in the process already taken by the JSC — advertising the vacancies and inviting the President and members of the public to put forward qualified candidates, and preliminary vetting of the nomination documents.
Section 180 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides guidelines on the appointment of Judges.
Govt calls for collective effort to end power crisis
After the interviews, the JSC will decide on a list of “qualified persons as nominees for” the two posts, and send the list to the President.
Having received the JSC’s list of nominees, the President must then, unless he considers that no-one on the list is suitable for appointment to the Supreme Court, make the two appointments from that list.
If the President considers that no-one on the list is suitable, he must call on the JSC to produce a second list and must make the appointment from that second list, according to section 180(5) of the Constitution.
V.I.D Officers Earn Up To US$400 A Day On Driving Licence Corruption
State Media|The Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), which conducts driver training among other duties, has been taken over by criminal gangs that are demanding various amounts from aspiring drivers. Additionally, VID inspectors are deeply involved in certifying fit unroadworthy vehicles, leading to a surge in deaths on the country’s roads that top 2 000 annually, according to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ).
Over the years, it has become a public secret that for one to acquire a learner’s licence or a full certificate of competence, one has to pay a “mandatory” bribe.
An authentic learner driver’s licence that was given to an undercover reporter after paying a $250 bribe at VID Marondera Depot
Investigations conducted by The Herald revealed this shocking rot that has been allowed to continue unabated.
It has been discovered that at various depots countrywide, prospective drivers are being made to pay bribes ranging between US$70 and US$100 for road test and RTGS $250 to acquire a learner’s licence without even reading the Highway Code.
Syndicates at the centre of the scam include driving school instructors, highway code manual vendors at depot entrances and the VID inspectors.
Some VID inspectors are now filthy rich as they rake in up to US$400 per day from corrupt activities.
In our investigations, we established that aspiring drivers are being made to pay US$70 upfront for a Class Four road test, of which US$20 goes to the instructor while the VID inspector takes the remaining US$50.
Class One road tests cost US$100, which is also shared between the driving school and the VID inspectors.
In cases where a book vendor plays the go-between, VID inspectors share the bribe with the vendor.
Investigations by The Herald revealed that transport operators are paying bribes in the range of US$50 and US$70 for easy awarding of fitness certificates, hence the presence of unroadworthy vehicles on public roads.
The Herald deployed an undercover reporter to the Eastlea Depot in Harare where he met a vendor who confessed to working with insiders at VID Marondera.
He charged RTGS $250 for the service and we are in possession of an “authentic” learner driver’s licence number 215775LD, with complete security features, obtained from Marondera on Monday, June 17.
“I have connections with VID officers in Marondera,” is how our source began at the beginning of the investigation.
“It is now hard to obtain a learner’s licence here in Harare because everything is now computerised. If you are interested, I will take you there anytime as long as you have the $250.
“The document is authentic,” the middleman said.
The reporter and the middleman proceeded to Marondera VID Depot where upon arrival, the vendor asked for the money, which he said should be strictly in cash.
The reporter paid.
The middleman, who already knew his way around, was warmly welcomed by one of the officials at the depot and the corrupt proceedings began.
The reporter was instructed to fill in the registration form before sitting for the test.
The middleman disappeared with the official.
The middleman assured the reporter, who had never read the Highway Code, of a learner’s licence saying he only had to put an “X” in any box and relax until the papers were marked.
The reporter proceeded to the examination room and randomly answered the questions.
In three minutes, the reporter who had never had sight of the Highway Code, was done. He passed the test with a good 88 percent.
The reporter had a few minutes to chat with other students who had also passed and discovered they had also paid.
One had this to say: “I consulted one of the instructors with a driving school in Harare who charged me $230 RTGS. He said he was well-connected with officials here at Marondera VID offices. So I gave him the money and my personal details and today I just came and passed though I did not know most of the questions.”
In Harare a female inspector popularly known as “Kedha” reportedly owns a fleet of luxurious buses, which ply international routes.
She recently upgraded from a fleet of vans which used to service local long distance routes like Harare-Bulawayo.
Reports are that the same inspector built a mansion in Borrowdale in a short space of time.
Investigations further revealed that the graft now appears normal in the country with some VID officials vowing not to issue a driving licence to those who do not pay bribes.
Corruption has also allowed unroadworthy vehicles to operate, provided the owners pay bribes to the VID officials to acquire a certificate of fitness.
This has greatly contributed to the high accident rates recorded over the years.
VID inspectors have built mansions in leafy parts of Harare while others now operate cross-border public transport, a development calling for an urgent lifestyle audit in the department.
In view of the fact most civil servants get salaries in the region of RTGS $600, a number of inspectors are living a life beyond expected standards.
The development comes at a time Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Joe Biggie Matiza was working round-the-clock to plug loopholes in the VID system and curb graft.
Minister Matiza said the Electronic Learners’ License Test (ELLT) was the best way to end corruption in the provisional licences’ tests.
“The only way to end the problem is introduction of the ELLT. Dishing out licences to people who are not conversant with the rules of the road is dangerous. It results in road carnage,” said Minister Matiza.
TSCZ managing director Mr Obio Chinyere urged the public to use correct channels to obtain drivers licences to avoid unnecessary road accidents.
“I urge everyone to do the right thing to obtain licences. As you can see Government is putting measures in place to curb corruption in the acquisition of learner’s licences and to plug all the loopholes in the system.
“People should now play their part as well by following the correct procedure of obtaining licences,” he said.
At VID Eastlea Depot in Harare, learner’s licence corruption has been managed through introduction of the electronic system but at other depots people are still paying for the provisional licence.
A VID officer stationed at Marondera is reportedly getting learner’s licence clients through his wife’s driving school in Harare.
A number of people pay the bribe to the wife in Harare before travelling on their own to Marondera where the VID officer corruptly issues them with the licences.
Others make use of vendors of the Highway Code manuals, who connect them to VID officers in Marondera.
Aston Villa Target Nakamba
HIGHLY-RATED Zimbabwe international midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba, could hit the jackpot after attracting the interest of English Premiership side, Aston Villa, who appear ready to splash about £20 million to woo him from his base at Belgian giants, Club Brugge.
Newcastle, whose buying power is set to be boosted by the arrival of some wealthy Asian investors, have also been in the race to sign Nakamba.
Another ambitious club Watford, who reached the final of the FA Cup last season and were one of the most improved English Premiership teams, were the first to signal their intentions to sign the Zimbabwean midfield powerhouse.
However, Watford have been holding on to the move, waiting to see what happens to their French midfield star, Abdoulaye Doucoure, who has attracted the interests of French giants Paris St-Germain after a very impressive campaign in the English Premiership last season.
Italian Serie A side Atlanta Bergamasca, who took one of that country’s Uefa Champions League spots for next season, for the first time in their history, are also in the radar and waiting to swoop on Nakamba.State media
MPs Say Corporal Punishment Should Not Be Banned
Government should revisit provisions in the Education Amendment Bill, in particular clauses that seek to ban corporal punishment and the exclusion of pregnant pupils from school, legislators have said.
Contributing during the Second Reading of the Education Amendment Bill, the legislators said some of the provisions had the potential of reversing the high standards that Zimbabwe had achieved in education.
Bikita West MP Elias Musakwa (Zanu-PF) said there was need to relook the clause that banned corporal punishment from schools as a way of instilling discipline.
He said allowing pregnant pupils to continue with studies had the effect of undermining the desire to uphold the country’s moral fabric.
“As Parliament, we will be judged harshly,” said Musakwa.
“We have a value system as a country and society. We are all products of corporal punishment and abandoning it in favour of other forms of punishment, I do not think it will help us.”
Musakwa said Zimbabwe was renowned as a country with a high literacy rate, a sign of high morals.
“Zimbabwe is one of the few countries with literacy rates above 90 percent,” he said.
“It shows moral intactness of our moral fabrics. Condoning child pregnancy in schools is tantamount to reversing the gains we have achieved.”
Shurugwi North MP Ronald Nyathi (Zanu-PF) said outlawing corporal punishment in schools was not sustainable.
“I am visualising a situation where a pupil misbehaves, what do you expect the teacher to do? We are showing mistrust in our teachers,” said Nyathi, who quoted some biblical verses to support his argument.
He said outlawing the exclusion of pupils for non-payment of school fees ought to be relooked.
“This is because not all schools are Government owned,” said Nyathi. “In boarding schools, a child ought to pay for his or her upkeep like food.”State media
Man “Kills” Nephew Over “Witchcraft”
A 43-year-old Chipinge man has been arraigned before the courts on murder charges after he reportedly assaulted his brother’s son with a log following a heated argument.
Zaphania Muyambo appeared before Mutare High Court judge Justice Hlekani Mwayera and pleaded not guilty.
He said he had no intention of killing his nephew, Joel, arguing that he had struck him in self-defence during a heated argument.
The trial was postponed to June 27, 2019.
State counsel Mr Jonathan Chingwinyiso heard that in October 2018, Zaphania went to his brother’s homestead and accused Joel of disrespecting his father by accusing him of being a wizard.
He slapped Joel and struck him with a log until he became unconscious. Joel was later taken to St Peters Hospital in Chipinge where he died on admission.
In his defence, Zaphania said he had a heated argument with his nephew after he assaulted him with a stick and called his father a wizard. He said he had used the log to strike Joel in self-defence. A relative, Etaso Muyambo testified that she saw the pair quarrelling on her way to the borehole and had unsuccessfully tried to restrain Zaphania from hitting Joel.State media
Magaya’ s PHD Ministry Holds Modelling And Fashion Contest
A NUMBER of elderly women from the sub-region took to the ramp to showcase their modelling skills over the weekend, thanks to Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries.
Dubbed “Women of Valour”, the contest was organised by Tendai Magaya, wife to Prophet Walter Magaya and saw various age groups taking part in catwalk and fashion modelling.
Among the guests who witnessed the historic modelling was the Prince and Princess from the Royal Kingdom of Eswatini.
Prophet Walter Magaya said the competition was part of deliverance saying many people suffer because of failing to find time to relax and laugh.
“Laughter is healthy to both the body and mind and this is what we wanted to achieve,” said Magaya.
“I spent the better part of the day laughing at how the elderly people showcase their talents and teaching youth to remain faithful and respect their parents to live long.
“In deliverance it is not the laying on of hands alone but some need to be asked to stand up, run or laugh in order to release them from the bondage,” said Magaya.H-Metro
Choppies In Doldrums?
SKELETONS are tumbling out of Botswana headquartered Choppies’ closet ahead of the completion at month-end of a forensic probe into the group, with multiple sources claiming the findings will rock the regional grocer to its core.
Sources privy to the ongoing probe claim that investigators are battling to untangle a complex web of ownerships and overlapping historical transactions involving senior executives that could have prejudiced the group and shareholders.
Choppies has been in crisis since last September when the Botswana and Johannesburg stock exchanges halted trading of its shares and requested clarification on the reasons for a delay in results for the year ended June 30, 2018.
In its last reported results, being for the year ended December 2017, Choppies posted after-tax profits only in Botswana and Zimbabwe, with the rest of the operations in other countries making losses.
Choppies’ subsequent clarification triggered an average 76 percent share price drop on both exchanges, after the group said its new auditors were reassessing historical figures related to business acquisitions, value of inventory, property and others.
The board has since suspended its CEO, Ramachandran Ottapathu, pending the outcome of forensic and legal probes into the group, which boasted revenues of about P9 billion in 2017 from operations in eight countries.
BusinessWeek has learnt that of major concern to the investigators is the issue of related-party transactions involving numerous registered companies that supply Choppies and the alleged ownership of some of these by group executives and their associates.
Affected executives allegedly did not disclose their stakes in the companies, giving rise to a host of suspected corporate governance failures and misconduct.
The ownerships are reportedly hidden beneath layers of company registrations and proxies that investigators have been battling to unravel.State media
Man Mistakenly Kills Dad In Beer Brawl
A Masvingo man fatally struck his father with a stone after missing his target in a beer brawl, police have confirmed.
Levison Mbiti, 29, of Mucha Village under Chief Murinye killed Cephas Mbiti (69) with a stone intending to strike his nemesis, Trust Gono (25) of Mahlenyika Village following a dispute during a beer drink at Dikitiki Business Centre.
Masvingo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said the incident occurred on Thursday at around 3pm.
She said the deceased’s body was taken to Morgenster Mission Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
“I can confirm receiving a report of murder involving a son and his father.
“The son had a dispute with a fellow patron after which he picked a stone intending to hit him but missed the target and fatally struck his father.
“The suspect has since been arrested and is assisting with investigations. He is expected to appear in court soon for murder,” said Chief Insp Mazula.
She said on the fateful day, Levison was drinking beer with his father and Gono at Dikitiki Business Centre.
While drinking beer, she said, Levison had a misunderstanding with Gono and the dispute degenerated into a fight.
She said this saw Levison picking a stone and hurling towards Gono but missed his target n and struck his father who was sitting down on the forehead.
The father allegedly fell unconscious and was rushed to Morgenster Mission Hospital but died after a few hours while admitted at the hospital.
Police have warned members of the public against use of violence to resolve conflicts.
“As police we urge members of the public to desist from taking violence as a way to resolve disputes. The use of violence is never good as it has the potential of ending precious lives. People should seek wise counsel from elders, relatives, churches or even the police,” she said.H-Metro
Warriors Star Ruled Out Of AFCON
THE Zimbabwe Warriors have suffered an early blow with midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu being ruled out of the 2019 AFCON finals – just three days before the tournament gets underway on Friday night.
The 25-year-old, who recently sealed a high-profile move from Tanzania to Guinea football giants Horoya, is the first Warrior to ever be ruled out of the Nations Cup finals after having arrived at the tournament.
The Herald revealed yesterday that Kutinyu was struggling with a muscle strain and his injury appeared to have worsened overnight as he remained heavily strapped today.
The Warriors medical team then recommended a scan which showed the midfielder would not recover in time to play in the tournament.
It’s a massive blow for the team, given Kutinyu has been used very well as cover for the regular midfielders, usually injecting more energy every time he has been thrown into the fray.
‘’It’s sad that we have to announce that Kutinyu will not be able to play at the tournament because of an injury he suffered recently in one of the games we played coming here,’’ team manager Wellington Mpandare told The Herald.
‘’It’s a shame because he is such a nice person and had earned his place in the team with some fine performances every time he has played for the team.
‘’The coaches will now have to decide who comes in as a replacement because we are allowed to do that.’’
The lanky midfielder has not trained with the Warriors in the last two days.State media
ZESA “Spoils” AFCON For Zim Soccer Fanatics
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) might spoil the Africa Cup of Nations for football lovers after it revealed that it can’t guarantee uninterrupted power supply during the tournament.
The Warriors open their Group A encounter against hosts Egypt on Friday night (10PM Zimbabwean time) at the Cairo International Stadium.
Zesa public relations manager, Fullard Gwasira said they can’t give assurances of keeping the lights on countrywide during the game.
After taking on the Pharoahs, the Warriors take on Uganda on 26 June at 7PM before rounding off their group stage matches against DR Congo four days later at 9PM.
“It’s really in our interest and we all want to watch the Warriors playing in Egypt. We are generating (power) relatively well at the moment, but because of age, our power stations are not reliable. While we will do our best to ensure the country will watch the football, I don’t think it’s possible to promise that Zesa will be able to provide (adequate) power,” said Gwasira in an interview with Zimpapers Television Network.
Zesa recently announced that it had implemented Stage 2 loadshedding, which entails 15-hour power cuts daily.
Gwasira said they are planning to speed up refurbishment of Hwange Power Station’s unit 3 to augment local power generation by 120MW, while negotiations with regional suppliers for additional power continue.
Only three of Hwange’s six units, producing between 268MW and 500 MW, are functional.
Output at Kariba Hydropower Station has reportedly plummeted to 355MW from a potential 1 050MW due to depressed water levels following low rainfall in the Zambezi River’s catchment area.State media
We Cannot Guarantee Uninterrupted Power Supply During AFCON -ZESA
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) might spoil the Africa Cup of Nations for football lovers after it revealed that it can’t guarantee uninterrupted power supply during the tournament.
The Warriors open their Group A encounter against hosts Egypt on Friday night (10PM Zimbabwean time) at the Cairo International Stadium.
Zesa public relations manager, Fullard Gwasira said they can’t give assurances of keeping the lights on countrywide during the game.
After taking on the Pharoahs, the Warriors take on Uganda on 26 June at 7PM before rounding off their group stage matches against DR Congo four days later at 9PM.
“It’s really in our interest and we all want to watch the Warriors playing in Egypt. We are generating (power) relatively well at the moment, but because of age, our power stations are not reliable. While we will do our best to ensure the country will watch the football, I don’t think it’s possible to promise that Zesa will be able to provide (adequate) power,” said Gwasira in an interview with Zimpapers Television Network.
Zesa recently announced that it had implemented Stage 2 loadshedding, which entails 15-hour power cuts daily.
Gwasira said they are planning to speed up refurbishment of Hwange Power Station’s unit 3 to augment local power generation by 120MW, while negotiations with regional suppliers for additional power continue.
Only three of Hwange’s six units, producing between 268MW and 500 MW, are functional.
Output at Kariba Hydropower Station has reportedly plummeted to 355MW from a potential 1 050MW due to depressed water levels following low rainfall in the Zambezi River’s catchment area.State media
VIDEO: Handichada ED Mumba Mangu!
What Is The Real Cause Of Load Shedding In Zimbabwe?
Government has stepped up efforts to address electricity challenges obtaining in the country, but signalled that collective efforts are required for a long-lasting solution.
Addressing a press conference on the 21st Cabinet Meeting Decision matrix yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the long hours of load shedding being experienced by domestic and some commercial consumers of power were a concern to Government.
She said Cabinet had received a status report on the electricity situation from Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi.
“The report showed that the fuel supply situation remained fairly stable,” she said.
“Concern was, however, expressed over the long duration of electricity power supply load shedding schedules, which was hurting both domestic and business consumers. Government has stepped up efforts to service its power imports debt arrears so as to ensure continued power supplies.
“As part of demand-side management measures, Government ministries and Government agencies should install meters to help them to closely monitor their power usage. All local authorities and other consumers are called upon to settle their bills with Zesa so as to improve the power utility’s viability.”
Minister Chasi said the issue required all Zimbabweans to work together to resolve the matter through paying their bills to ensure Zesa operated viably.
He said there was need for stakeholders to discuss the tariff charged by Zesa because the current rates were now below market rates.State media
DA Face Off with EFF Over Zindzi Mandela
The DA has joined AfriForum in calling for the head of South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark, Zindzi Mandela, over a tweet about land.
The DA’s shadow minister of international relations, Darren Bergman, said the comment caused a storm on social media – but perhaps more importantly, it was not sanctioned by international relations minister Naledi Pandor.
This meant she had contravened the code of conduct for the public office she occupies –and that is grounds for her dismissal, argued Bergman.
Mandela’s tweet read: “Dear Apartheid Apologists, your time is over. You will not rule again. We do not fear you. Finally #TheLandIsOurs.”
The DA said in a statement: “If it is confirmed that Ambassador Mandela was the author of the divisive tweets and that she did not receive approval to express these views or to travel, she must be recalled immediately.
“In the meantime, the DA has sent urgent questions to Minister Pandor asking whether the views of Ambassador Mandela are also the views of the South African government.
“The Democratic Alliance recognises that the reconciliation project in South Africa has stalled over the past decade. The progress we had made since 1994 has halted, leading to many South Africans feeling they don’t have a stake in democratic South Africa.”
Pandor’s office confirmed it was investigating the comments attributed to Mandela.
The EFF and the BLF have thrown their weight behind Mandela, insisting she should remain in office.
SowetanLIVE reported that Mandela had said she was not accountable to anyone for her views. This was after AfriForum said Pandor should recall and fire her for “racist and divisive” tweets.
“I am not accountable to any white man or woman for my personal views. No missus or baas here. Get over yourselves #OurLand,” she tweeted. – Sowetan
Irrigation Project “Collapses” Due To Load Shedding
Smallholder farmers here are concerned with intermittent power cuts and high electricity bills they owe the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), which is likely to affect both the winter wheat and maize crops.
The farmers said yesterday that they have started counting their losses as their crops are now wilting due to lack of irrigation water.
“Irrigation farming requires electricity to pump water from the dam into canals, but we spend the whole day without electricity and working in the middle of the night (when there is electricity) makes our lives difficult,” said Mr Takawira Magara, a farmer at Nyatare irrigation scheme.
Mrs Juliet Moyo said inflated power bills were a headache for most plot holders.
“Every month, we collectively pay up to $1000 and that is affecting us as we are not producing much due to crop failure linked to power outages.
“Recently, we incurred huge losses after our sugar beans crop wilted because of irrigation water shortages,” said Mrs Moyo.
Zaka’s head of Agriculture Extension Services, Mr Kennedy Pedzisai said recurrent power cuts were an impediment to irrigation based farming in the area, especially at Mabvute and Nyatare projects.
“The plot holders there have continually expressed concern over the sudden increase in daily load shedding schedules which forces them to work in the middle of the night.State media
Will Alvin Zhakata Arrive In Egypt In Time?
Farai Dziva|Determined Warriors fan Alvin Zhakata has finally received his Ethiopian visa, five days after he got stuck on the border.
The Warriors fan who is taking a road adventure to Egypt to support the national team at the Afcon tournament confirmed the development on Twitter.
Unfortunately, Zhakata will have to finish his road trip alone after his South African counterpart Botha Msila whom he left Cape Town with a few weeks ago gave up on Sunday after getting frustrated on the Kenyan side of the border.
The Zimbabwean is now expected to reach Cairo in time for the Warriors’ match against hosts, Egypt this Friday.
“Muchinguri Statement Highly Irresponsible”
Farai Dziva|A renowned consultant has described Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri’ s remarks as wrongly timed and out of order.
Piers Pigou, a senior consultant at the International Crisis Group (ICG) said:
“This is a highly-irresponsible statement by the Minister and reinforces an impression that Mnangagwa’s government is locked into a militaristic mindset that has totally ignored the recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission.
Protests are not unconstitutional and the police are responsible for internal security. It is precisely this kind of belligerence that leads people to think that this is a military government with a civilian mask.”
Muchinguri had said “the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) posture on national defence and security is defensive in nature, hence the organisation trains to meet both internal and external security threats.
Judging from the negative private press reports, including adverse social media reports, it is true that frantic efforts are being made by opposition political parties, supported by some non-governmental organisations, to tarnish the good image of the ZDF.”
“Zimbabwe Is In Hands Of Those Without Ruling Ideas”
Chombo Denied Passport Again
Former Cabinet minister Ignatius Chombo has failed in his appeal to get his passport returned to allow him to travel abroad to seek medical attention.
His passport was allegedly recently seized by a State security agent at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport as he was about to fly to South Africa for a medical review.
Through his lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Chombo appealed to the Supreme Court seeking an order to compel a Harare Magistrates’ Courts clerk to release his travel document, to enable him to proceed with his journey.
He had previously unsuccessfully appealed to the High Court, which ruled that he needed to exhaust alternative remedies available to him first before approaching the court for relief.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court’s three-member bench, led by Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza was unanimous in its dismissal of the appeal, citing lack of merit.
The other members of the bench were Justices Antonia Guvava and Chinembiri Bhunu.
Announcing the decision, Justice Gwaunza said the court had made due consideration in rejecting Chombo’s appeal.
“The appeal lacks merit,” she said. “It is the court’s view that the appeal ought to be dismissed and full reasons of the order will follow in due course.”
Chombo’s passport was seized last month and handed back to the Harare Magistrates Courts under unclear circumstances.
He was about to check-in into a South African-bound Fastjet airline when the passport was seized.
Speaking after the court ruling, Prof Madhuku said the decision of the court was binding and they accepted it. “That is the end of the matter regarding the passport issue,” he said.
“It means the taking away of the passport at the airport and taking it back to the Clerk of Court is acceptable according to the courts.
“So we accept the ruling, we are bound by it. This is the highest court as far as that matter is concerned.”
Prof Madhuku, however, said in any case his client was supposed to return the passport this Friday.
Chombo’s appeal at the High Court was dismissed and he was ordered to go back to the lower court and exhaust all alternative remedies, including filing for contempt of court charges against the Clerk of Court, who is alleged to have refused to release his passport despite an extant order.
Mr Addington Chinake, who acted for the respondents that included the Clerk of Court and the Judicial Service Commission , asked the court to reject the appeal, arguing that Chombo had alternative remedies to deal with his case other than seeking the intervention of the superior courts.-state media
Bishop Beds Church Members – Protesters
Members of the Zviratidzo ZveVapostori yesterday marched to Mutare Rural police camp to register their grievances in protest against their leader, Bishop Richman Nyamombe, whom they are accusing of bedding church members among a litany of several other allegations.
The protesters waved placards singing church songs calling for the ouster of the cleric together with his sibling Lovemore.
They said the duo was bringing the church’s name into disrepute because of their actions.
Efforts to get a comment from Nyamombe were fruitless.- state media
Zimbabwe V Egypt :The Facts
Nasty Trix In Sensational Comeback
Farai Dziva|Nasty Trix, real name Trust Dhojiwe is set to bounce back with a sizzling album – following years in the wilderness.
The Urban Grooves musician’s songs were popular in the early 2000s.
Nasty Trix is well known for churning out hit songs like Chimoko Chidanger, Kupinda Newe, Mwana Uyu Anotyisa.
The Gweru based singer announced on social media that he has a new album out.
“I am back with a bang,” Nasty Trix told his fans on social media.
Former MDC MP Dies
Farai Dziva|Opposition party MDC has expressed shock at the death of former MP Edward Musumbu.
Former Norton MP Edward Musumbu died after a sgort illness.
” We have learnt with sadness the death of former Norton Member of Parliament, Hon Edward Musumbu after a short illness.
We join the Musumbu family, the people of Norton and the MDC family in mourning this dedicated democrat in Norton. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” said the party in a statement.
MP Hwende Carries Out Maintenance Work In Kuwadzana
Farai Dziva|MDC MP for Kuwadzana East Charlton Hwende has unrolled a programme meant to repair Boreholes in the constituency.
” Greetings leadership ‘and residents please note tomorrow(today) 18/06/2019 Kuwadzana East MP Hon Chalton Hwende will be in the constituency doing maintenance ‘service and repairs of all Boreholes at 9:am sharp with a Company called LEDMEL DRILLING from Milton main Boreholes..
(1) Areno….
(2) Kuwadzana 4 Msasa
(3)Kuwadzana 2 Community Hall
(4)Crowbrough Boreholes……….
9am we will be at Areno Borehole,” a party official posted on Facebook.
The programme is part of efforts to provide clean water to residents in the constituency.
LIVE: US Citizens Mnangagwa Hired for USD 1,5million Will Fix Zimbabwe’s Economy?
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Zanu PF Will Rule Forever-Chadzamira
Farai Dziva|Outspoken Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira, has attacked MDC leader Nelson Chamisa for “causing pain for the people of Zimbabwe.”
Chadzamira made the remarks at a Zanu PF meeting in Chivi Ward 17, Chivi at the weekend.
Chadzamira also declared the ruling party would remain in power forever.
“We are to keen to improve the lives of our people but this small boy, Chamisa, is the main problem.”
He added:”Let me tell Chamisa and his followers today that this country will never be run by an opposition.”
“Zanu PF will rule forever.
Those in the opposition should should come back and join the winning team.”
WATCH LIVE: Mnangagwa Sanctions
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Chamisa Is Chewing More Than He Can Swallow,Claims Chadzamira
Farai Dziva|Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira has declared that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will never rule Zimbabwe.
Addressing Zanu PF supporters in Chivi at the weekend, Chadzamira claimed that since Chamisa’ s mentor, Morgan Tsvangirai, failed to rule the country, the youthful MDC leader would not succeed just like the former Prime Minister.
“Tsvangirai tried it and he failed. What more can a small boy like Chamisa do that was failed by his mentor? He is chewing more than he can swallow.
Zimbabwe is for Zanu PF and opposition supporters will find themselves voting for Zanu PF when they get into the voting booths. That is how good Zanu PF is.”
Chadzamira is a declared Emmerson Mnangagwa blue-eyed boy.
Mayor Maboke Unhappy With Gvt’ s Endless Dithering
Farai Dziva|Outspoken Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira has accused the MDC run Masvingo City Council of failing to resolve the issue of the main “dumpsite” indicating the mayor is grossly neglecting his duties.
Chadzamira claimed local government released funds meant to upgrade service delivery at the beginning of the year.
Chadzamira further blasted MDC Mayor Councillor Collen Maboke for” sitting on his duties.”
Speaking at a Zanu PF meeting in the city of Masvingo last week Chadzamira said:”We are giving the council two months to resolve the issue of the main dumpsite and we expect the mayor to attend to the matter as soon as possible.
What is stopping the council from addressing the issue? We will not accept any excuses,” declared Chadzamira.
However Mayor Maboke accused government officials of “endless dithering.”
“We are ready to shift the dumpsite but that can only be done when we get the required land.”
LIVE: Oppah Muchinguri Jumps From Tongogara To Tongombeya
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LIVE: Military Deployment | For How Long Will This Last?
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ZANU PF MP Suddenly Dies
The Zanu-PF Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Assembly Hon Obendingwa Mguni has died.
He has been suffering from diabetes.
Mguni collapsed and died Tuesday evening.
Obedingwa Mguni is a former deputy minister of Home Affairs.- State Media
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“1million Zimbabweans Mentally Challenged”: Health Minister
By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care minister Dr Moyo said an estimated 1 million people in Zimbabwe suffer from mental or neurological disorders hence the need for awareness campaigns so that communities appreciate mental health issues.
Said Dr Moyo
“One in four people worldwide have been affected by mental health or neurological disorders at some point in their life. 450 million people suffer from mental and neurological disorders worldwide. One million people in Zimbabwe suffer from mental and neurological disorders.
“Despite the availability of treatment, nearly two thirds of persons with a known mental disorder never seek professional help. In most cases stigma, discrimination, neglect and limited knowledge prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental and neurological disorders, hence the need for awareness campaigns so that communities are empowered and they take an active role in reducing morbidity due to mental ill health.”
Dr Moyo said most people suffering from mental illness can be successfully treated in the comfort of their own homes as opposed to institutional care.
“The Ministry intends to increase community based mental health care programme such as the Friendship Bench, currently at Health metropolitan, so as to offer clients a community based environment for effectively dealing with depression,” he said.
“Children and the elderly best respond to care in familiar environments, this community based care is best for them.
“his strategy is calling out for collaborative approaches with other stakeholders to assure integrated accessible and effective rehabilitative services.”-StateMedia
Kasukuwere’s Vumba Property To Go Under The Hammer Over Absconding Trial
By A Correspondent- The High Court has okayed the auctioning of the Vumba house of former Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere after he failed to appear in court for his corruption trial.
In March, Harare regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya ruled that the house which Kasukuwere had used as surety to secure his release on bail may be disposed of.
This Monday, Justice Edith Mushore applauded Harare magistrate for ordering forfeiture saying it was clear Kasukuwere was in willful default. Mushore stated that Kasukuwere’s prolonged stay in South Africa where he went on the pretext of seeking medical attention was not justifiable.
She said:
“When the applicant was granted bail by the court a quo (Magistrates Court), the applicant entered into a contract with the State upon which he paid for his liberty and furnished securities under the understanding that his default to abide the terms of the court would have negative consequences on his sureties to the extent that they could be forfeited by the State.
It is my view that the applicant has misconstrued the purport behind the relevant provisions surrounding the issue in the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CPEA)… It is common cause that he surrendered his Vumba home. He should have appreciated risks involved in the event of his failure to attend court
Mushore added that the former ZANU-PF Political Commissar was arrogant and overconfident in thinking that he would be given special treatment.
Oppah Muchinguri Confirms Military “Coup Attack” Against Civilians Accused Of Protesting, Preps
By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has confirmed a military operation that seeks to attack members of the public the ZANU PF regime perceives to be behind a coup plot.
The development comes after a leaked military document showed that the entire Joint Operations Command was deployed at the beginning of June 2019. It also comes just as 36 military lorries were spotted descending into the Midlands province.
36 military trucks have descended past Mvuma, and are now driving towards Gweru. Final destination unknown.
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 18, 2019
In other parts of Midlands, soldiers are roaming the streets.
Why have you deployed the army when there is no war@InfoMinZW @edmnangagwa ? @ZLHRLawyers @euinzim
Muchinguri was quoted by the state media at the weekend saying the military was prepared to face, head on, any threats to national security and stability.
Muchinguri said, “the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) posture on national defence and security is defensive in nature hence the organisation trains to meet both internal and external security threats.
“As the security situation evolves, the ZDF trains to ensure that they are ready to deal with any emerging threats.”
In an interview with ZimEye.com on the 3rd June, the police spokesman Paul Nyathi disowned the state-security document while however declaring more than the ear can hear.
The internal ZRP memo dated the 31st May, reveals that Emmerson Mnangagwa has deployed the military to use LIVE ammunition from the 3rd June 2019. The opening paragraph blames the alleged “looming coup” on the MDC Alliance party.ED Deploys Military – the below is an excerpt of the briefing pic.twitter.com/K4pxDAlIWc
— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) June 3, 2019
Although a comment from State House was fruitless, in Zimbabwe only the President can deploy the military. The document is addressed to all wings of the Joint Operations Command.
Picture Blast- Fake Bond Notes Flood Harare Streets
MDC National Council Meets On Khupe And Mnangagwa
The MDC will tomorrow convene a special national council meeting to deal with issues agreed on and ratified at congress in Gweru last month, but are yet to be implemented.
Top of the agenda are changes to the MDC constitution to ensure that decisions made at congress are captured and legalised.
In its final resolution at congress, the MDC resolved that at its next congress in 2024 it will have one vice-president, doing away with the current system which has three deputy presidents.
The MDC also resolved to bar its members from taking the party to court, saying any such action would result in one’s automatic dismissal from the organisation.
“Congress resolved that notwithstanding any law right or circumstances, no member shall institute any legal proceedings or commence any external complaints or proceedings without exhausting all domestic remedies provided (for) in the constitution. In addition, no member shall institute any legal proceedings or complaints unless such member is a fully paid up member and has been a fully paid up member in the preceding year before any such action.
Any member violating this shall be deemed expelled from the point of instituting of such proceedings,” the resolutions read.
Having failed to finish all its business, congress then delegated the national council to deal with the outstanding issues. “Congress resolved that these resolutions must be reflected in the constitution through the necessary changes to be adopted at the national council’s first sitting after congress, to conclude and give effect to the business of congress,” the resolutions added.
Fired party vice-president Thokozani Khupe and her party MDC-T’s alleged abuse of the MDC logo, name and regalia are also part of the resolutions that council has to deal with.
Another issue central to the council meeting is how the MDC will deal with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government who they accuse of stealing the July 2018 presidential election and causing the suffering of the majority of Zimbabweans.
The party is considering demonstrating as a weapon to push Mnangagwa and his party to the negotiating table.
The youth assembly has already been upping the tempo, threatening to remove the current regime from power.
Mnangagwa, while saying he is open to talks, has, however, threatened that the full mighty of security forces will descend on anyone who engages in violent demonstrations.
MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said it was part of the national council’s duties to deal with the implementation of the resolutions.
“National council will deal with the strategy and implementation of the resolutions as they see fit in line with congress resolutions,” he said.
Party secretary-general Charlton Hwende confirmed the meeting where Chamisa will also appoint close to 40 members of the national executive from a pool of close to 569 CVs.
Only congress can change or amend the party constitution, appoint officers through its president to the standing committee and national executive.
— NewsDay
Airbus Says It Has Ready Technology To Fly Planes With No Pilots, But Challenge Is Convincing People To Get Into Them
Airbus says it has developed technology to fly passengers jets with no pilots at all.
Its chief commercial officer, Christian Scherer, said that the barriers which remain are human: convincing regulators and passengers to accept the planes.
“This is not a matter of technology it’s a matter of interaction with the regulators, the perception in the traveling public,” Scherer told The Associated Press.
Trust in the airline industry remains low after two Boeing 737 Max 8 craft crashed within five months of each other, killing all 346 people onboard.
Scherer said the crashes “highlighted and underlined the need for absolute, uncompromising safety in this industry.”
Scherer told The Associated Press (AP) about the autonomous technology at the Paris Air Show on Monday.
He said: “This is not a matter of technology it’s a matter of interaction with the regulators, the perception in the traveling public.”
“When can we introduce it in large commercial aircraft? That is a matter we are discussing with regulators and customers, but technology-wise, we don’t see a hurdle.”
Scherer did not elaborate on the technology or how it might work.
A new survey of 22,000 people conducted by US autonomous software firm Ansys released on Monday showed that 70% of passengers would be willing to fly in fully autonomous aircraft.
No commercial airline offers autonomous commercial flights at the moment, and national regulators are yet to draw up rules for how they should be monitored and operated.
All commercial aircraft are currently flown by human pilots, albeit with a lot of automation. The majority of the legwork of flight, including some automatic landings, is done by in-flight computers called “fly by wire.”
Bob Mann, founder of airline consulting firm R.W. Mann & Co. told Business Insider in 2015 that automated planes “won’t happen in my lifetime.” He said the reason for this was because autonomous planes would be a nightmare to insure.
A second barrier, cited by pilots, is that automatic technology can malfunction.
Speaking to the Guardian about pilot-less flight in August 2017 , Steve Landells, a flight safety specialist for the British Airline Pilots Association, said:
“We have concerns that in the excitement of this futuristic idea, some may be forgetting the reality of pilot-less air travel.”
“Automation in the cockpit is not a new thing it already supports operations. However, every single day pilots have to intervene when the automatics don’t do what they’re supposed to.”
Confidence in the commercial airline industry remains low after two Boeing 737 Max 8 craft crashed within four months of each other due to a faulty anti-stall software, killing 346 people.
Faulty automatic anti-stall software called MCAS has been blamed for both crashes. Boeing has said the pilots were not to blame.
On October 9, 2018, Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea, Indonesia , killing all 189 passengers and crew.
On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed moments after taking off for Kenya , killing all 157 onboard.
Scherer told the AP that the Max crashes “highlighted and underlined the need for absolute, uncompromising safety in this industry, whether from Airbus, Boeing or any other plane.”
He also said the crashes triggered demand for newer, safer aircraft.
“There is a capacity need that materialized as a result of this, and naturally you have airlines that are frustrated over capacity, that are looking for answers.”
Reporting from the Paris Air Show, Business Insider’s Sinad Baker noted that Airbus launched a smaller and more efficient long-haul aircraft at the start of the show, stealing a march on its troubled rival.
The new A321XLR signals Airbus has leaped ahead of Boeing in deciding to create a long-range, single-aisle aircraft, a move that Boeing had considered for years and was deciding whether it should spend an estimated $15 billion on.
Airbus said on Monday it has already received 27 orders for the A321XLR.
Airbus leapt ahead of Boeing in an untapped market by launching a smaller plane for long-haul flights.
Nikuv Gets Booted Out Of Zim After Holding Mnangagwa Govt At Ransom
A shadowy Israeli security company, Nikuv International Projects Ltd, which was accused of manipulating the 2013 general elections in favour of the former President Robert Mugabe and awarded a tender by the Zimbabwe government to produce new passports, now faces boot amid reports that it is holding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration at ransom.
In a radio interview with Capitalk FM on Friday Mnangagwa bemoaned how Nikuv is reneging on the contract.
“We have a company that introduced new technology in the production of passports. However this company has decided to hold the department at ransom by demanding certain payments. They said they will not print any more passports, because of legacy debts,” said Mnangagwa.
“We chipped in and paid the money. However the money was used to pay for consumables. And the company still demanded payments for consumables. However we realised that FIDELITY PRINTERS has the capacity to print passports.”
Nikuv, which deals with population registration, births and deaths, marriage and divorce issues, ID cards, passports, immigration and citizenship, agriculture, security matters and elections, landed a new contract after the July 31 2013 general elections.
This is not the first time Nikuv has been working on Zimbabwe’s identity documents. It produced the current e-passports, also known as biometric passports, which contain an electronic chip encoded with surname, given name, date and place of birth and gender information. It also includes a digital picture of the bearer’s face.
Nikuv got a new contract to continue doing the job. This followed its controversial role in the run-up to the 2013 elections where it was paid at least US$10 million by the then Registrar-General (RG) Tobaiwa Mudede’s office in a blitz of mysterious deposits between February and the day before the July 31 2013 polls.
Source: Zimbabwe Morning Post
One Million People Suffer From Mental Disorders In Zimbabwe, Wouldn’t Economic Factors Have An Effect On This?
ONE million people in Zimbabwe suffer from mental and neurological disorders, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo, has said.
As part of efforts to address the problem, the Health Ministry is now in the process of establishing a drugs and alcohol abuse rehabilitative centre at Ingutsheni Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
The Ministry is also spearheading the development of a Psycho Active Substance and Alcohol Policy to help reduce mental illnesses.
In a speech read on his behalf by Health Service Board (HSB) chairman Dr Paulinus Sikhosana during the Mental Health Awareness Campaign hosted by Ingutsheni Central Hospital at the City Hall car park last Friday, Dr Moyo said there is need for awareness campaigns so that communities appreciate mental health issues.
“One in four people worldwide have been affected by mental health or neurological disorders at some point in their life. 450 million people suffer from mental and neurological disorders worldwide. One million people in Zimbabwe suffer from mental and neurological disorders,” said the Minister.
“Despite the availability of treatment, nearly two thirds of persons with a known mental disorder never seek professional help. In most cases stigma, discrimination, neglect and limited knowledge prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental and neurological disorders, hence the need for awareness campaigns so that communities are empowered and they take an active role in reducing morbidity due to mental ill health.”
Dr Moyo said most people suffering from mental illness can be successfully treated in the comfort of their own homes as opposed to institutional care.
“The Ministry intends to increase community based mental health care programme such as the Friendship Bench, currently at Health metropolitan, so as to offer clients a community based environment for effectively dealing with depression,” he said.
“Children and the elderly best respond to care in familiar environments, this community based care is best for them. T
“his strategy is calling out for collaborative approaches with other stakeholders to assure integrated accessible and effective rehabilitative services.”
Body Of Indian Magician Recovered After He Was Lowered Into Fiery River Tied In Chains
The body of an Indian magician who vanished after being lowered into a river while tied up with chains has been discovered by police.
Officers had previously feared that Chanchal Lahiri had drowned after performing the Houdini-inspired stunt in the Hooghly river.
Rescue workers found his body late Monday, according to the deputy commissioner of the port division of Kolkata police, Syed Waquar Raza.
Chanchal Lahiri, also known by his stage name ‘Jadugar Mandrake’ (Wizard Mandrake), was lowered by winch into the river in Kolkata on Sunday in a yellow and red costume.
But the 40-year-old, his legs and his arms tightly bound, failed to emerge from the water, to the horror of onlookers including his family and team members.
Dramatic new pictures have emerged today of the moment he was lowered into the water.
Rescue workers had been scouring the fast-flowing murky waters since Sunday.
Lahiri said beforehand that he had successfully pulled off a similar stunt 21 years ago at the same venue in the eastern city.
‘I was inside a bullet proof glass box tied with chain and locks and dropped down from Howrah bridge. Then I came out within 29 seconds.’
He admitted it would be tough to free himself this time.
‘If I can open it up then it will be magic, but if I can’t it will be tragic,’ he said.
He also said he was undertaking the death-defying stunt to ‘revive interest in magic’.
When Lahiri tried another stunt at the river in 2013, he was assaulted by onlookers who saw him escape from a locked cage via a door that was clearly visible.
He was beaten and punched and his long flowing golden-brown wig was pulled off by the crowd.
Almost a decade earlier, he declared he would walk on the river waters but had to beat a hasty retreat when the act went wrong.
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American stuntman who became a sensation in the early 20th century with daredevil feats including escaping from a crate lowered into the East River in New York in 1912.
Daily Mail
Mliswa Accuses Mnangagwa’s Chinese Investors Of Infecting People In Norton With Untreatable STI
Chinese nationals operating in Norton have been accused of sexual abusing women and infecting them with sexually transmitted diseases in exchange for jobs.
The matter came to light after one Chief Chivero was assaulted by a Chinese businessman when he went to inquire why his subjects are not being employed by the company.
Norton member of parliament Temba Mliswa said that when he was doing follow up on the matter he discovered that lots was being done by the Chinese.
“I was very angry and disappointed to learn that Chief Chivero was yesterday assaulted by a Chinese National at Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Zimbabwe. This action is disrespect of the highest order and I’ll be following up on the police report made for more details.” Mliswa said. “Whilst making a follow up on the above I was shocked and appalled to receive reports of sexual harassment for jobs and cases of untreatable STIs being contracted by ladies from some of the Chinese nationals at the company. This too will be investigated.”
Mliswa added that the company was conducting slavery tendencies on the employees so that it can produce tiles that are cheap.
“I was very angry & disappointed to learn that Chief Chivero was yesterday assaulted by a Chinese National at Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Zimbabwe. This action is disrespect of the highest order & I’ll be following up on the police report made for more details @ChineseZimbabwe.
“Whilst making a follow up on the above I was shocked & appalled to receive reports of sexual harassment for jobs & cases of untreatable STIs being contracted by ladies from some of the Chinese nationals at the company. This too will be investigated
“I’m disappointed by the above allegations as they’re compounded by further reports that the company is able to charge low prices for their tiles because they underpay and mistreat their workers. This is a despicable practice which if proved won’t be tolerated at all.”
Mliswa has called for the immediate deportation of the Chinese national warning that it will be hell if he is not deported.
Chinese nationals in Zambia are known for assaulting government officials and traditional leaders.
Egyptian Former Head Of State Hurriedly Buried After Collapsing In Court
BBC|Former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has been buried hours after he collapsed in court and died on Monday.
His lawyer said the former leader had been buried in eastern Cairo early on Tuesday morning with his family present.
Morsi, who was 67, had been in custody since his removal from office in 2013.
Human rights groups, who had criticised the conditions in which he was kept, have called for an impartial investigation into his death.
His family and activists had repeatedly raised concerns about his health and the amount of time he was kept in solitary confinement, away from visits by lawyers and family.
His son, Abdullah Mohamed Morsi, on Monday said that Egyptian authorities had denied a family request for a public funeral in his hometown.
A top figure in the now-banned Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, Morsi became the country’s first democratically elected leader in 2012.
He was ousted and detained in a military coup a year later following mass protests against his rule.
Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, a former army chief, has been in power since 2014.
After Morsi’s removal, the authorities launched a crackdown on his supporters and other dissent, leading to tens of thousands of arrests.
The Muslim Brotherhood and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a close ally of Morsi, are among those who have blamed the Egyptian leadership for Morsi’s death.
Morsi was appearing in Cairo on Monday on charges of espionage related to suspected contacts with the Palestinian militant Islamist group Hamas.
Officials say he had asked to address the jury, and spoke for about five minutes from a soundproof glass cage where he was being held with other defendants.
Minutes later, he apparently fainted during a break in proceedings.
“He was transferred to a hospital where he was pronounced dead,” a statement by Egypt’s public prosecutor said.
Officials said a forensic report had been ordered into his death, and insisted no new, visible injuries were found on his body.
State television had earlier described the cause of death as a heart attack.
Morsi was already facing decades in jail after being sentenced in three other trials.
He had previously been given a death sentence, which was later overturned.
“Former President Morsi’s death followed years of government mistreatment, prolonged solitary confinement, inadequate medical care, and deprivation of family visits and access to lawyers,” Ms Whitston said in a later statement.
The group called on the UN to start an investigation into what it described as “ongoing gross violations of human rights in Egypt, including widespread ill-treatment in prisons”.
Amnesty International has also called for an impartial inquiry.
The rights group says Morsi was only allowed three family visits in almost six years of solitary confinement, and was denied access to his lawyers or a doctor.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, the Freedom and Justice party, described Morsi’s death as an “assassination”.
Turkish President Erdogan blamed Egypt’s “tyrants” for his death and described him as a martyr.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, another ally of the late leader, expressed his “deep sorrow” at the death.
British MP Crispin Blunt, who led a panel of politicians who warned in 2018 about the conditions of Morsi’s confinement, has called for a “reputable independent international investigation”.
Born in the village of El-Adwah in 1951, Morsi studied engineering at Cairo University in the 1970s before moving to the US to complete a PhD.
He was chosen as the Muslim Brotherhood’s presidential candidate for the 2012 election after the movement’s preferred choice was forced to pull out.
During his turbulent year in office, Morsi was accused of mounting an Islamist coup and mishandling the economy.
Public opposition to his government grew and millions of anti-government protesters took to the streets across Egypt to mark the first anniversary of the day he took office, on 30 June 2013.
Three days later, the army suspended the constitution, announced an interim government ahead of new elections and detained Morsi, who denounced the move as a coup.
Then army chief Mr Sisi was elected president in 2014 and re-elected last year in polls rights groups called “farcical”.
Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands of others detained in the subsequent crackdown.
-BBC
Zambian President Gives Corrupt Wicknell Chivayo Top VIP Welcome, Chivayo Ecstatic.
Zimbabwean controversial business man Wicknell Chivayo has has described President Edgar Lungu as one of the one of the most amazing and kind hearted African President.
Chivayo who is known as Sir Wicknell took to social media to express his joy after meeting with President Lungu in what looks like a business meeting.
Chivayo is controversially known in Zimbabwe for having strong links with ZANU-PF with some linking his wealth to corruption.
In October last year Chivayo was discharged by the Harare High Court after the state dropped cases of fraud against him.
Chivayo said as Managing Director of Intratrek Zambia Ltd, Zambia and Zimbabwe are one and that he is equally at home in Zambia.
He posted the pictures of his meeting with President Lungu on his social media platforms and followed it up with motivational messages.
Below is Chivayo’s message
ROYAL BLOOD FLOWS THROUGH MY VEINS…One of the most amazing and kind hearted President’s we have in Africa HIS EXCELLENCY the President of the Republic of Zambia CDE Edgar Chagwa Lungu with yours truly the Managing Director of INTRATREK ZAMBIA LTD…Zambia & Zimbabwe – ONE NATION , I’m equally at home both in LUSAKA and HARARE…As the REGIONAL COORDINATOR for a multi billion dollar conglomerate I will tirelessly pursue my passion to generate more renewable energy for AFRICA.
In this beautiful country next door we have implemented and successfully completed 26 FULLY FUNDED turnkey EPC projects…I’m a business man of international repute and always remember I’m not really an unusually intelligent person with extraordinary gifts.
I’m just a regular person who made a daily list of critical tasks that needed to get done AND DID THEM even when I didn’t feel like it…BE POSITIVE , BE SMART , BE PRO-ACTIVE and learn to try out new things. The world is not ruled only by us PRAYER warriors but also by the MENTAL warriors.
Thinking is the highest paying job in every field. Make out time to think CREATIVELY & STRATEGICALLY…Many great ideas have been lost because people who had them could not stand being laughed at.
The greatest prison people can live in is the fear of what others think…When you make it BIG they will all HATE you , spread lies and then also recruit others to HATE YOU so JUST IGNORE THEM, KEEP GOING and DONT LOOK BACK.
Source: Lusaka Times
LIVE UPDATE: Mnangagwa Deploys Military Before Flying Out, Leaves Chiwenga In Charge Of Country
China Donates US$500k To Small Scale Miners, Chinese Donations Traditionally Never Come Without Strings Attached, When Will We Learn That?
263chat|A Chinese company, Lifetouch Investments, operating in the country has donated mining equipment worth over US$500 000 to the Zimbabwe Mining Federation to enhance the country’s gold mobilization efforts.
The sponsorship will see the firm donating US$2 million in phases until the end of the year.
The equipment includes generators, separators, bow mills among others set to enhance production by small scale miners as their production had taken a downward trend.
ZMF President, Henrietta Rushwaya said the deal is one of the best ever to be entered into by small scale miners as they gear to surpass the 40-ton gold output target.
“Through this deal, we are trying to ensure that there is more production in the sector and increase investor confidence by coming up with various types of synergies with ZMF,” said Rushwaya.
This comes as the country is making frantic efforts to increase gold output as much of the economic recovery has been banked on gold productivity.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa set a target of 40 tonnes of gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers this year up from the 33,2 tonnes gold miners delivered last year as it angles to reach a peak of 100 tonnes annual output by 2023.
Government is targeting to leverage the economy on the country’s vast mining potential and has set to grow exports from the sector from US$3,2 billion in 2018 to US$4,2 billion this year and then US$12 billion per annum from 2023 onwards.
Lifetouch Investments chief executive officer, Dongning Wang said the operating environment in the country is conducive and friendly for investment.
“We are focusing more on small scale miners who do have mining claims but do not have the capacity to produce enough, to do their families and the country good.
“So we engaged with ZMF to provide them with necessary equipment and services to make sure they realise their potential,” he said.
The deal is one of several that the ZMF has entered into with investors through Public-Private Partnerships with the aim of increasing gold mobilisation efforts to help the country enter the London Bullion Market, an organisation that oversees the wholesale gold and silver markets in London.
Mnangagwa’s “16 Farms” Revelation Sparks Zanu Pf Public Spat
By A Correspondent| Zanu PF youth league has demanded that government repossesses at least 15 of the 16 farms allegedly owned by former First Lady Grace Mugabe and redistribute them to youths.
This follows claims by President Emmerson Mnangagwa that the former First Family owns a staggering 16 commercial farms in a revelation that could reignite the public spat between the Zanu PF leader and his predecessor Robert Mugabe.
Zanu PF youth league deputy secretary Lewis Matutu, who is also a member of the party’s politburo, said the ex-Zanu PF women’s league boss should be left with one farm and the rest subdivided and distributed to landless youths.
“Now that it has been revealed that Grace Mugabe owns 16 farms, we are demanding that she chooses one and the other 15 be sub-divided into 10-hectare plots for youths within two weeks,” Matutu tweeted.
Matutu’s boss, Pupurai Togarepi said the farms should be repossessed.
“We want the farms back!” Togarepi stated.
Mugabe, who was toppled in a coup in November 2017 to pave way for Mnangagwa, has repeatedly accused the new administration of hounding his family.
At some point, Mugabe claimed that the Mnangagwa regime was harassing workers at his Blue Roof mansion
Update On Khama Billiat Injury Ahead Of Warriors Dream Clash With Egypt
Warriors winger Khama Billiat is expected to be fully fit for the 2019 Afcon opener against host nation Egypt this Friday, according to team doctor Somani Mudariki.
Billiat has missed training since last Friday and didn’t feature in the practice match against Tanzania on Sunday after sustaining a knee injury.
In an interview with the Herald, Doctor Mudariki has allayed fears that the player could miss the game against the Pharaohs and thinks he might start training today.
“Khama should be okay this week because what we did was just a precaution when he indicated to me that he had some pain in his knee from an injury he picked at the COSAFA Cup,” said Mudariki.
“He played on after picking that slight injury and even went to Nigeria and played, and that’s when he indicated that he was concerned with the pain he was getting in his knee.
“It’s the pain that was caused by fibula head contusion, and we decided not to take any risks given the importance of the tournament and the games that are coming, and that is why we arranged that he should get as much rest as possible, but he should be okay.’’
The doctor also revealed that the medical team is also monitoring goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze who suffered a concussion in Sunday’s practice match and midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu whose leg was in a strap yesterday after suffering a knee injury.
“We will have to keep monitoring Chipezeze because there are procedures that we have to follow, but the important thing is that he never lost consciousness after the clash.
“We are also monitoring Kutinyu and waiting for the scans,” added Mudariki.
ZCTU Slaps Mnangagwa With TNF Demand
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is deeply concerned with the state of the country’s economy. The deteriorating and unstable macro-economic environment has had a serious impact on the worker and their quest for decent salaries.
The upward adjustment in the fuel prices has had knock-on effects on the prices of the basic goods and services such as transport, rentals, schools fees, food and medical aid.
The working people of Zimbabwe have already suffered immensely as wages have failed to keep pace with the inflationary trends.
The situation has worsened rendering it practically impossible for workers across all sectors to earn the current salaries (June 2019) and sustain their families or be able to go to work.
It is in this vein, that the ZCTU is calling for the urgent convening of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) whose sole agenda would be to discuss the macroeconomic situation and erosion of workers’ salaries.
ZESA Promises To Revert To Stage 1 Loadshedding To Give Fans Chance To Watch AFCON
ZETDC has revealed that it will do everything its power to provide electricity so that soccer lovers will be able to watch the Africa Cup of Nations which starts this Friday in Egypt.
The power utility has however assured its customers that the load shedding schedule has since been downgraded to Stage 1 whereby power is cut for “only” 8 hours rather than the 16 hours experienced over the weekend.
It said in response to a consumer:
Load shedding is not deliberate. Its a function of demand and supply. Every EFFORT will be applied to make sure that we get to watch AFCON. However, plant breakdown/ failure and huge demand may hamper that effort. Saving energy is paramount.
ZESA claims that power shortages are worsened by the fact that its power stations were built in the 1940s and the equipment is now too old causing it to break down constantly.
-agencies
Mnangagwa Flies Out, Leaves Ailing Chiwenga In Charge Of Presidency
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa flown to Mozambique to attend the 12th US- Africa Business Summit.
He left his first deputy, Constantino Chiwenga (currently struggling with poor health) in charge of the Presidency.
Sources confirmed to ZimEye that Mnangagwa hired his usual Dubai owned private jet for the trip to the country’s neighboring country where several heads of African states are expected to attend.
Hosted by the Corporate Council on Africa and the Government of Mozambique, the summit kicks off today on June 18 until June 21, 2019 in Maputo, Mozambique.
Said the Corporate Council of Africa:
“The Summit will bring together more than 1,000 U.S. and African private sector executives, international investors, senior government officials and multilateral stakeholders.
The Summit will serve as a platform for U.S. and African business and government leaders to engage on key sectors including agribusiness, energy, health, infrastructure, ICT, finance among others and provide them with the opportunity to network with key private sector and government decision makers.
The gathering will also among other issues provide both African and US businesses to explore new business opportunities and meet potential business partners and be an advocacy platform to shape effective U.S.-Africa trade and investment policies.
Zimbabwe Warriors Versus Egypt Head To Head Since 1984
Focus On The Entire Team Not Salah Only, Musona Tips Team Mates
Warriors captain Knowledge Musona says his team should not concentrate their focus on Mohamed Salah ahead of the 2019 Afcon opener against hosts Egypt.
The tournament gets underway this Friday with the Group A rivals clashing at Cairo International Stadium.
The Pharaohs look strong on paper with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah leading the list along with Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny.
And with this Egyptian selection, Musona thinks Zimbabwe should focus on the whole team instead of the Reds’ man.
“We should not only aim at stopping Mohamed Salah but everyone on the field because if we make that mistake, then we are going to fight against Salah, we will be destroyed by someone we don’t know,” Musona told The Herald.
“We just have to make sure that we are strong in every position and we are ready to fight in every duel and also take the chances that we might have, we are not here to talk, we are here to play, we came here to fight and it’s gonna be a tough game.”
The encounter kicks off is at 10 pm Zimbabwean time and it will live on SuperSport TV.
Local Football Put On Hold To Give Concentration To Warriors At AFCON
IN an act of solidarity with the Warriors who will be participating at the Afcon finals in Egypt, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League will take a two week break after this weekend’s games.
The break comes at a time when Zifa has facilitated an all-expenses-paid for trip to the Afcon finals in Egypt for all their councillors, including the 18 PSL board of governors.
The custodians of Zimbabwean football — Zifa councillors — are expected to leave the country on Wednesday, June 19, in time for Warriors’ opening game to be played on June 21 against the host nation, Egypt.
“The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League will take a break from the 17th of June 2019 to the 5th of July 2019 to support the Warriors as they take part in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The PSL match will resume on Saturday, 6 July 2019.
“We wish our Warriors the best of luck,” read a statement from the PSL.
New Dispensation Is Dead-Jonathan Moyo
Egypt Vs Zim All Set For The Crunch AFCON Opener. Will Zim Withstand The 80 Thousand Noisy Fans?
The Warriors will start their Afcon campaign this Friday against the host nation, Egypt.
The encounter will be played at the 80 000-seater Cairo International Stadium in the Egyptian capital. Kick-off is at 10 pm Zimbabwean time.
DSTV will simulcast the game on SuperSport 4A (Ch. 224) and SuperSport 10A (Ch. 230) with the build-up scheduled to start an hour before kick-off.
ZimEye.com will also bring live updates of the match.
The Friday’s clash will be the second meeting between the two sides at an Afcon tournament, having faced each other in the 2004 edition in Tunisia where the North Africans emerged the winners.
Warriors’ final 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers: George Chigova, Edmore Sibanda, Elvis Chipezeze.
Defenders: Tendayi Darikwa, Jimmy Dzingai, Divine Lunga, Teenage Hadebe, Alec Mudimu, Ronald Pfumbidzai.
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi, Marvelous Nakamba, Danny Phiri, Ovidy Karuru, Kuda Mahachi, Talent Chawapihwa, Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Thabani Kamusoko.
Strikers: Nyasha Mushekwi, Tino Kadewere, Evans Rusike, Knox Mutizwa.
Egypt’s final 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Ahmed El-Shennawy, Mohamed El-Shennawy, Mahmoud Gennesh.
Defenders: Ahmed Elmohamady, Baher El-Mohamady, Ahmed Hegazi, Mahmoud Alaa, Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh, Ahmed Ayman Mansour, Omar Gaber, Ayman Ashraf.
Midfielders: Tarek Hamed, Mohamed Elneny, Ali Ghazal, Nabil Emad Dunga, Abdallah El-Said, Walid Soliman, Mohamed Salah, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Amr Warda.
Strikers: Ahmed Ali, Marwan Mohsen, Ahmed Hassan Kouka.
Zanu PF Sympathiser Says MDC Must Appreciate Mnangagwa Goodwill Gesture
Amazing Picture Of Huge Snake Swallowing Crocodile Goes Viral On Social Media
Chadzamira,Mayor Maboke Clash Over Council “Dumpsite”
Farai Dziva|Outspoken Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira has accused the MDC run Masvingo City Council of failing to resolve the issue of the main “dumpsite” indicating the mayor is grossly neglecting his duties.
Chadzamira claimed local government released funds meant to upgrade service delivery at the beginning of the year.
Chadzamira further blasted MDC Mayor Councillor Collen Maboke for” sitting on his duties.”
Speaking at a Zanu PF meeting in the city of Masvingo last week Chadzamira said:”We are giving the council two months to resolve the issue of the main dumpsite and we expect the mayor to attend to the matter as soon as possible.
What is stopping the council from addressing the issue? We will not accept any excuses,” declared Chadzamira.
However Mayor Maboke accused government officials of “endless dithering.”
“We are ready to shift the dumpsite but that can only be done when we get the required land.”
A Church Cult is worse than a Political Dictatorship, because they’re the base of all the evil | FALSE or TRUE?
Emmanuel Makandiwa smiling with Mnangagwa 
A Failing Government Fears What It Does Not Know And Hates What It Fears-Obey Sithole
How Can A Small Boy Be Responsible For People’s Suffering? Zimbabweans Say Minister Chadzamira Is Contradicting Himself
Zimbabwe’s currency reforms dilemma
By Victor Bhoroma| The Zimbabwean government has indicated that the country will be launching a new currency before the end of 2019. The announcement has caused some confusion amongst businesses and the transacting public who operated with an understanding that the RTGS Dollar was now the local currency.
The key question that arises is on the difference between the RTGS Dollar (Inclusive of Bond Notes & Coins) and the upcoming local currency.
The introduction of the impending currency is largely necessitated by the fact that the legal instrument used to introduce the RTGS Dollar is temporary with a specific timeline of 6 months from the day of proclamation by the office of the president. In principle therefore, Zimbabwe would need to have a local currency before the end of September 2019.
In March 2019, Zimbabwe gazetted two legal instruments; The Exchange Control Regulations (Amendment) of 2019 (SI 32) and the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) for (Amendment) of the RBZ Act and RTGS Electronic Dollars Regulations of 2019 (SI 33). The statutory instruments meant that the RTGS dollar shall be legal tender in Zimbabwe though they do not prohibit the use of multiple currencies adopted in 2009.
Therefore multi-tier pricing in the local market can be considered legal. Statutory Instrument 33 of 2019 was made under the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act, which gives the President Powers to make regulations: If situations arise that need to be dealt with urgently, the President is empowered to make regulations providing for “any matter or thing for which Parliament can also make provision in an Act”.
In other words, under this Act, the President has the same law-making power as Parliament. His/her regulations however only last for 6 months.
Back in 2009, the government was forced to dump the Zimbabwean dollar due to record hyperinflation and economic decline which had wiped off 50% of the economic value. The country adopted the multi-currency regime to stabilize prices. In November 2016, The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe introduced the Bond Note as an export incentive scheme at a rate of 1:1 to the US Dollar.
Soon after the Bond note introduction, the parallel (black) market found its feet again by exchanging RTGS bank balances with the US dollar at premiums of at least 10-15%. The parity position was dropped with the introduction of the interbank market when the central bank put the value of the US Dollar to the new RTGS Dollar at 2.5 in February 2019. The RTGS Dollar has however lost more than 132% of its value in less than 4 months with the official Interbank Exchange rate now over 5.80 to the US Dollar. Inflation rate was last recorded at 76% in April 2019 with fears that the figure is now over 100%.
The main headache for the central bank is on how to blend the proposed new currency with RTGS balances that are circulating in the economy while ring-fencing savings and dealing with runaway inflation. Excessive government borrowing to plug budget deficits on the local market has been the major driver for money supply growth since 2014.
The central bank may have limited control on government expenditure but the task to raise funds through Bonds and Treasury Bills falls back on it. Government has been financing its deficit through borrowing from the bank, while going over the RBZ Act statutory limit which caps borrowing from the central bank at 20% of the previous year’s revenues.
As of December 2018, total lending by the bank to the government was more than $3 billion, representing 75% of 2017 revenues.
The government also had its sights on joining the Common Monitory Area (CMA), also referred to as the Rand Monitory Union (RMU) so as to use the Rand officially but that plan falls on the preconditions front. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is concerned about Zimbabwe’s economic instability, recurring budget deficits, high debt levels and monitory policy system which might impact on its inflation targeting program.
Zimbabwe would also need to have reserves equal to its issued local currency, backed by prescribed assets in Rand or US dollar so as conform to the fixed exchange rate of 1:1 with the Rand. Those reserves have been hard to come by as foreign funders are not willing to extend credit lines to Zimbabwe because of poor credit ratings and failure to settle foreign debts.
The country owes over $8 billion to foreign lenders, with $2.6 billion of that amount in arrears to the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank. The government has been making frantic efforts to borrow and plug the arrears hole through bridge loans.
The IMF has backed Zimbabwe’ Staff Monitored Program (SMP) where the government pledged to cut its civil service expenditure bill to 67% of the budget, down from 80% attained in 2018 and slash the budget deficit to 4% of GDP. Therefore any civil service salary adjustment which is not backed by increases in tax collections will throw that program into disarray.
The government is now faced with a currency reform dilemma. Questions remain on whether any currency can save the Zimbabwean economy without addressing key macro-economic fundamentals.
The fundamentals that need urgent attention include; Efforts to build confidence in the economy and in RBZ as a monitory authority, dealing with high government expenditure (Average budget deficit of $2.3 billion from 2016 to 2018), dealing with rampant corruption, low agricultural and industrial production capacity which leads to recurring trade deficits and clearing foreign debt arrears through adhering to payment plans.
Other limitations for the government include command policies that crowd out private sector investment, weak institutions (rule of law, respect for property rights and poor governance culture), non-performing State Enterprises and minerals smuggling cartels that cost the country billion of revenue.
The Bond Note and RTGS Dollar served in almost the same capacity as the Zimbabwean Dollar only that they could not be traded on the international money market. The economic challenges that bedevil Zimbabwe since 2014 have largely remained the same. They are centered on the government’s insatiable appetite to spend beyond its tax collections and the culture of governance in government. The government has largely chosen to act on symptoms such as pricing mechanisms by retailers, cash shortages, labour demands and commodity shortages without addressing the real fundamentals that lead to hyperinflation. Any currency introduced by the government will not sustain as long as key economic fundamentals that support economic growth are ignored. Sound expenditure management by the treasury department from 2009 to 2013 provides the foundation upon which the current government needs to start on so as sustain any local currency in the economy. Furthermore, the prevailing lack of confidence by local economic players and foreign investors does not do any favors to the impending new currency. The new currency will meet the same fate faced by the Zimbabwean Dollar, Bearer’s Cheques, Bond Note and the RTGS Dollar. A fiat currency is sustained by a healthy economy and market confidence in government institutions including its policy framework.
Victor Bhoroma is business and economic analyst. He is a marketer by profession and holds an MBA from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). For feedback, mail him on [email protected] or alternatively follow him on Twitter @VictorBhoroma1.
“Zimbabwe Has A Ruling Class Without Ruling Ideas”
Link To Donate For Levison Muchengeti’s Wheelchair | PAMABVI
Chamisa Will Never Rule Zimbabwe, Declares Chadzamira
Farai Dziva|Masvingo Minister of State For Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira has declared that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa will never rule Zimbabwe.
Addressing Zanu PF supporters in Chivi at the weekend, Chadzamira claimed that since Chamisa’ s mentor, Morgan Tsvangirai, failed to rule the country, the youthful MDC leader would not succeed just like the former Prime Minister.
“Tsvangirai tried it and he failed. What more can a small boy like Chamisa do that his mentor failed to achieve? He is chewing more than he can swallow.
Zimbabwe is for Zanu PF and opposition supporters will find themselves voting for Zanu PF when they get into the voting booths. That is how good Zanu PF is.”
Chadzamira is a declared Emmerson Mnangagwa blue-eyed boy.
PSG Willing To Release Neymar Junior
Farai Dziva|Reports from France indicate that French champions Paris-Saint German are willing to sell their record signing Neymar, just 2 years after signing him from Barcelona.
The Brazilian has not had the best of times in Paris and according to L’Elquipe, the French outfit are prepared to cash in on him.
E’Equipe further suggest that PSG now value the 27-year-old at between €120 to €150m, down from €213, mainly due to the foot and ankle injuries which marred his just-ended season.
That being said, PSG will not accept a worthy offer for the Brazilian due to him being a marketable brand, and is the third most watched football star on social media behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.
Neymar has 3 years left on his current PSG contract.
Chadzamira Calls Chamisa “A Small Boy Who Is Responsible For People’s Suffering “
Farai Dziva|Outspoken Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Ezra Ruvai Chadzamira, has attacked MDC leader Nelson Chamisa for “causing pain for the people of Zimbabwe.”
Chadzamira made the remarks at a Zanu PF meeting in Chivi at the weekend.
Chadzamira also declared the ruling party would remain in power forever.
“We are to keen to improve the lives of our people but this small boy, Chamisa, is the main problem.”
He added:”Let me tell Chamisa and his followers today that this country will never be run by an opposition.”
“Zanu PF will rule forever.
Those in the opposition should should come back and join the winning team.”
Scrap Metal Craze Hits Mutare
By A Correspondent- Residents in Mutare’s high-density suburbs have besieged two recently opened scrap yards, supplying all sorts of metals with a tonne going for US$100.
Merchants from Harare, South Africa and Zambia have set camp on the outskirts of the eastern border city to collect used metal which is badly needed by steel manufacturers.
Heaps of scrap metal are now a common feature near the Grain Marketing Board and the Mutare Teachers College premises along the Mutare-Masvingo Highway.
Residents are bringing used vehicle engines blocks, springs, rims, burglar bars, bed frames, cast iron sinks and industrial machinery among other things. When The Manica Post visited the scrap yards yesterday, hired haulage trucks were queuing to transport the scrap metal either to Harare, South Africa or Zambia.
Some of the interviewed buyers said the international market was paying a fortune for the scrap metal. “People from all walks of life are coming in numbers with scrap metal especially broken down vehicles and heavy industrial machinery.
We weigh each metal and give a value. We charge US0,09 cents per kg while a tonne costs US$90, which can be converted to local currency,” said one of the buyers who requested anonymity.
Another buyer said: “We hire transporters to ferry the scrap metal to Harare for melting and other processes before they are exported to South Africa. A haulage truck transports about 34 tonnes and we usually hire three trucks per day.”
The rush has resulted in dump sites that usually gave the city a bad picture being swept clean as residents are picking anything metal for resale. The trade has also resulted in the flooding of the US dollar on the market since the merchants are buying the scrap metal in foreign currency from anyone.-ManicaPost