The Minister of Energy and Power Development Advocate Fortune Chasi has urged Zimbabweans to consider using bicycles and motorbikes  given the dire fuel shortages hitting the country.

Chasi said developed countries like the  United Kingdom and Holland are already using bicycles.

Last year Deputy government Spokesperson Energy Mutodi told Zimbabweans that he has dumped his huge fuel guzzling car and was now using an ex-Japan which consumes less fuel.

He later posted pictures of himself riding a bicycle and urged everyone to dump their cars and use bicycles.

IT guru Robert who commented on the matter said, “Last week the Minister advised people to adopt electric cars in a country with heavy load shedding. .Last month people were urged to consider alternatives for bread.

“I am wondering what’s coming next. Since internet data prices are beyond the reach of many, we will be encouraged to stop using Whatsapp , FB or Email and go back to posting letters. Instead of buying airtime we might be urged to buy postage stamps and use telegram for urgent messages.”

Zimbabwe has been facing fuel challenges since 2017.

Government has been battling to  contain the escalating price of fuel which has led to some garages in Bulawayo to cease selling fuel while waiting for the new prices to be issued by ZERA.

By Emmerson Mnangagwa|Today’s launch of the Procurement Regulatory Authority (PRAZ) is another step in our battle against corruption. I challenge PRAZ to ensure a modern, transparent and cost-effective procurement system that boosts public confidence and facilitates the implementation of government programmes and projects.

For too long, the procurement process has been beset by malpractice and corruption. This must stop. My government will not tolerate criminal and greedy tendencies. All practitioners must forsake the old ways of doing things, which have held us back as a nation.

As we rebuild and reform our economy, our procurement procedures will be characterised by the highest standards of integrity. Let us embrace a new culture to ensure sustainable economic growth leading to improved living standards for all Zimbabweans.

The government has advised motorists to cooperate with law enforcement agents and avoid obstructing the Presidential motorcade.

The government said that two incidents of obstructing the motorcade belonging to the Head of State have been noted in the last seven days, endangering the President’s life.

“In the last week, there have been two incidents where two motorists have obstructed the presidential motorcade, therefore, endangering the principal, the public, the escorting security and themselves.

May we encourage commuting motorists to cooperate with the law enforcement support team.”

The statement follows a video circulating on social media showing a member of the president’s security crushing a motorist’s car window and apparently beating up the driver in the process.

A woman who recorded the video is heard telling her colleague that the motorist did nothing wrong, while the other voice insists that he wouldn’t be beaten if he had done nothing wrong. She concludes by remarking that she does not like the current administration.

The International Board of Amnesty International has suspended Amnesty International Zimbabwe (AIZ) from the global movement and placed it under administration following evidence of fraud and serious financial misconduct.

An extensive forensic audit was conducted in late 2018 which uncovered evidence of fraud and serious financial mismanagement by individuals in AIZ.

National law enforcement agencies were notified of the findings earlier this year and the organization also commenced the legal process of civil recovery in order to recoup lost funds.

Amnesty International’s International Board can give an assurance that, since the allegations first came to light, urgent financial risk management measures have been put in place to ensure anti-fraud and corruption procedures have been adhered to and that donor funds are safe.

However, the decision has been made to take extraordinary measures on AIZ to protect the reputation, integrity and operation of the movement. It is with regret that it is now clear that AIZ has not been able to take the necessary steps in its duty of good governance.

Amnesty International is committed to working hand in glove with the appropriate authorities and is providing full assistance to all current investigations to ensure that any individual found to have been involved in misconduct is held to account.

We are unable to comment or provide further details until all investigations have been completed.

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ZUPCO buses were ground to a halt in Harare on Wednesday after garages ran out fuel. A video that has circulated on the internet shows the buses stranded at a fuel garage.

The person who is taking the video  is heard saying people are stranded waiting for  the buses to come and ferry them to their different destinations.

Ex-MDC youth leader Shephard Dube said the Mnangagwa government was bound to fail when it initiated the idea.

“It was inevitable at the moment when it was introduced that it was bound to fail. You cannot  promise what you can’t deliver. I can bet to you that even the people who initiated this ZUPCO thing expected it to fail.

“Zimbabwe is now being run like a ponzi scheme. It is no difference to the devil promising to take you to heaven.”Dube said.

Watch the video below:

Police here have named three people who are among eight illegal gold miners who died when an explosive went off at Metallon Gold’s Jumbo Mine on Sunday evening.

They are James Fulakezi (28) of Mazowe Mine, Mbwana Juma (28) of Chegutu and Zorodza Maganga (29) of Mahuhwe, Mbire district.

Speaking at the mine, Kambamura said Metallon Gold has failed to live up to standard and expectations from an investor and Government will take immediate measures to curb the continuous loss of life at Jumbo Mine.

“Jumbo Mine has been under care and maintenance since 2017 but the unfortunate scenario is that employees have gone for more than two years without salaries. “Resultantly many of them have resorted to illegal gold mining,” said Kambamura.

“From January this year we have experienced 16 fatalities at this mine, from May 17 to date we have experienced 12 fatalities and now we have this tragedy. Eleven illegal gold miner went underground and came across another team which was doing secondary blasting.

“They called for permission to enter and got no response. Anticipating that everything was alright they proceeded and passed through a charged area, an explosive went off.

“It unfortunate that owners at this mine have failed to live up to standard and expectation of an investor. We had similar occurrences at Shamva Mine two months ago and two fatalities of people shot underground, running battles with mine security.”

Minister of State for Mash Central Provincial Affairs Senator Monica Mavhunga encouraged people in the province to stop engaging in illegal mining activities especially in disused mining shafts.

Own Correspondent|Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa’s son has been fingered in a massive foreign currency dealing syndicate which eventually went wrong.

Reports indicate that four police officers were recently arrested for under-declaring money seized during a raid on an illegal foreign currency trading business owned by Neville Mutsvangwa.

Neville is the son of Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and former presidential adviser Chris Mutsvangwa, who are known to frequent his office.

Detectives Tafadzwa Chidawa, Tendai Mangena, Edward Selemanni and Sydney Mugomba, were set to appear before magistrates on Thursday charged with criminal abuse of office.

The detectives raided number 3 Sanfenand Flats on Fife Avenue in Harare, Neville’s offices on Tuesday and found US$200,000 in cash.

Mutsvangwa was not there but the officers arrested his associates Darlington Ndaba Chiwara and Henry Abrahams on charges of illegally dealing in foreign exchange.

Investigators say the officers then conspired, after taking a bribe from Chiwara and Abrahams, to only seize US$40,000, which later reduced to US$20,000 by the time the money was declared at the police station.

Under tough new laws introduced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year, unlicensed foreign currency traders face up to 10 years in jail if convicted and loss of their money and assets.

By Own Correspondent- National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi defended the unusually heavy police presence in Harare CBD since Tuesday saying the police were conducting patrols.

This comes after opposition leader Nelson Chamisa promised that his party will have crippling protests nationwide over the unrelenting economic and political crises.

Some social media users were suggesting that the military had besieged president Mnangagwa and were forcing him to sign his resignation.

Nyathi said:

“The police officers were performing their constitutional duties.

The role of the ZRP is to conduct patrols in all parts of the country. We encourage people to co-operate with the police officers on duty.”-Newsday

The International Board of Amnesty International has taken the unprecedented step of suspending Amnesty International Zimbabwe (AIZ) from the global movement and placing it under administration following evidence of fraud and serious financial misconduct.

An extensive forensic audit was conducted in late 2018 which uncovered evidence of fraud and serious financial mismanagement by individuals in AIZ. National law enforcement agencies were notified of the findings earlier this year and the organization also commenced the legal process of civil recovery in order to recoup lost funds.

Amnesty International’s International Board can give an assurance that, since the allegations first came to light, urgent financial risk management measures have been put in place to ensure anti-fraud and corruption procedures have been adhered to and that donor funds are safe.

However, the decision has been made to take extraordinary measures on AIZ to protect the reputation, integrity and operation of the movement. It is with regret that it is now clear that AIZ has not been able to take the necessary steps in its duty of good governance.

Amnesty International is committed to working hand in glove with the appropriate authorities and is providing full assistance to all current investigations to ensure that any individual found to have been involved in misconduct is held to account.

We are unable to comment or provide further details until all investigations have been completed.

Please note: We will NOT be fielding spokespeople for interviews. For any further clarification please contact Robert Shivambu, Media Manager, Amnesty International Southern Africa, on +27 83 437 5732 or [email protected]

Robert Shivambu
Media Manager – Southern Africa
Amnesty International
T: +27 (0) 11 283 6000 ext 276023
M: +27 (0) 83 437 5732

National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi defended the unusually heavy police presence in Harare CBD since Tuesday saying that were conducting patrols.

This comes after opposition leader Nelson Chamisa promised that his party will have crippling protests nationwide over the unrelenting economic and political crises.

Some social media users were suggesting that the military had besieged president Mnangagwa and were forcing him to sign his resignation.

Nyathi said:
The police officers were performing their constitutional duties.
The role of the ZRP is to conduct patrols in all parts of the country. We encourage people to co-operate with the police officers on duty.NewsDay

Said President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a statement:

Today’s launch of the Procurement Regulatory Authority (PRAZ) is another step in our battle against corruption. I challenge PRAZ to ensure a modern, transparent and cost-effective procurement system that boosts public confidence and facilitates the implementation of government programmes and projects.

For too long, the procurement process has been beset by malpractice and corruption. This must stop. My government will not tolerate criminal and greedy tendencies. All practitioners must forsake the old ways of doing things, which have held us back as a nation.

As we rebuild and reform our economy, our procurement procedures will be characterised by the highest standards of integrity. Let us embrace a new culture to ensure sustainable economic growth leading to improved living standards for all Zimbabweans.

Farai Dziva| ZANU PF Youth League vice chairperson, Lewis Matutu has accused the United States of funding economic saboteurs.

Matutu reacted angrily to a statement by the US Embassy in Harare that castigated the government of Zimbabwe for its harassment and targeted arrests of civil society leaders.

“To hell with you hypocrites and devil of double evil standards, you have imposed sanctions on our country, you are funding economic saboteurs against our country.

You organize midnight meetings plotting to destabilising our country and now you pretend to care, really? Be ashamed,” declared Matutu.

Farai Dziva|Prominent political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya has said the MDC A Congress has ended the hullabaloo surrounding the party’s presidency.

According to Ruhanya , Chamisa’s legitimacy as the MDC leader was resolved at the just ended party congress.

“The nonsense and hogwash about Chamisa’s legitimacy has been put to rest by the people in Gweru.

The MDC leadership problem was a political rather than legal matter and the people have spoken; the court of public opinion. Who can dispute this MDC team after this congress?”Ruhanya argued.

Farai Dziva|Prominent political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya has said the MDC A Congress has ended the hullabaloo surrounding the party’s presidency.

According to Ruhanya , Chamisa’s legitimacy as the MDC leader was resolved at the just ended party congress.

“The nonsense and hogwash about Chamisa’s legitimacy has been put to rest by the people in Gweru.

The MDC leadership problem was a political rather than legal matter and the people have spoken; the court of public opinion. Who can dispute this MDC team after this congress?”Ruhanya argued.

By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo as the new chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC).

Justice Matanda-Moyo is the wife of Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Lieutenant General (retired) Sibusiso Busi (SB) Moyo.

Minister Moyo is the one who made the announcement of the removal of former President Robert Mugabe in the November 2017 military coup.

Justice Matanda Moyo was once touted as a possible candidate to become the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) before Justice Priscilla Chigumba was eventually appointed.

Matanda-Moyo’s appointment comes after the entire Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) tendered their resignation in January 2019.

Before the appointment was made, however, critics had questioned the possible appointment arguing that there was a clear conflict of interest. Critics argue that she will be too conflicted to effectively go after any cases which may involve her husband’s cabinet colleagues or even her husband himself.

Before her appointment, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda defended her shortlisting by Parliament. He actually took out an advert in daily newspapers said critics were “focusing of her marital status while ignoring the fact that she is eminently qualified”

By Own Correspondent- Former Vice President, Joyce Mujuru’s party has urged the President Cyril Ramaphosa to act on Zimbabwe which was on fire calling on the newly elected South African elect leader to help address his counterpart’s dictatorial tendencies.

The National People’s Party said that South Africa could help Zimbabwe to return to normalcy as they share a collective history of fighting white domination.

In a statement, Mujuru spokesperson Gift Ndoro said:

Both countries stood by one another in the achieving of the one man one vote revolutionary ideal. Today, your Zimbabwean neighbour is on fire. Human rights abuses, endemic corruption and militarisation of civilian politics is now the order and normalcy of governance.

As we remain in search of answers for our problems back home South Africa; we shall forever call upon for your support on our quest for good governance when our difficulties as a nation are finally tabled either before Sadc or African Union.

NPP believes that its time neighbouring countries should have strength and courage in telling dictatorial regimes that when they want to eat their children; they should stop behaving like a hyena that blames its children for smelling like goats.

The party applauded the South African government for not coercing the electorate into voting against their will.-DailyNews

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF and MDC A are set to resume their rivalry in a by-election for Ward 31 Bikita.

The council seat became vacant after the death of Zanu PF Councillor Patrick Marozhe in April.

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission the Nomination Court is expected to sit on May 31.

Moses Maposa, will represent MDC A while Thomas Mataga will represent Zanu PF.

“The Nomination Court will sit tomorrow in Bikita and everything is in place,” a ZEC official said.

By Own Correspondent- A Chitungwiza man has been dragged to court charged with attempted murder of his unborn child after he allegedly slipped an abortion pill into his girlfriend’s womb.

Tatenda Magombeyi was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Barbra Mateko who released him on $100 bail.

The State led by Sabastian Mutizirwa told the court that Magombeyi was having an extra marital affair with Betha Chindewere which resulted in her getting pregnant.

Magombeyi was unwilling to keep the pregnancy and asked Chindewere to abort it but she refused and was insistent on keeping it.

Chindewere’s insistence caused Magombeyi to insert the abortion pill into Chindewere’s womb without her knowledge with the intention to terminate the pregnancy.

Magombeyi fell ill on March 27 and visited the hospital where a doctor who attended to her discovered a pill that was inserted in her privates.

The matter was remanded to June 9.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube on Wednesday faced MPs’ questions on the economy, in a session marked by a new round of heated policy debate with Tendai Biti, a former Finance Minister.

Highlights: Tendai Biti suggests that the solution to ending the currency crisis in Zimbabwe is to ditch the RTGS and return to dollarisation, a proposal that Ncube rejected.
Ncube shoots back at Biti, saying monetary policy was curtailed under Biti, to which Biti says a country can in fact do without a central bank or monetary policy. Biti also demands answers on why Afreximbank continues to lend money to Zimbabwe, and why such loans are not brought to Parliament for approval.

Excerpts below, courtesy of Parliament’s Hansard:

HON. BITI: Hon. Speaker Sir, my question is to the esteemed Minister of Finance and Economic Development. On the 1st October 2018, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development assumed office. He assured the country that within six months, he would have mitigated the economic challenges but ten months later, the economy is on a tailspin and there are many shortages. Given the runaway inflation which is now around 300%, given the serious implosion of the black market rate which I am told that today is trading at 1.1 to 8.2 – why as a matter of policy is the Minister simply not a) demonitising the RTGS dollar and the bond note; b) not reverting to dollarisation and the regime of multiple currencies. Thank you Sir.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): Let me begin by thanking the Hon. Member for the question. There are three things in that question. First of all, it is about when I assumed office and secondly, what I promised within six months; 3) demonetising the RTGS dollar and US dollarising by default.

First of all, I did not assume office on the 1st of October. I assumed office on the 7th of September. On the reference to turning things around in six months, the fiscal position of the country has been turned around in six months in the sense that we have eliminated the deficits on a month by month basis. We have surpluses and now we will start focusing on how to deal with social protection issues so as to protect vulnerable members of our society from the vagaries of inflation including the drought and the cyclone – we are beginning to do that.

“(BITI) DESTROYED THIS COUNTRY’S ABILITY TO CONDUCT ITS OWN MONETARY POLICY COMPLETELY…” – Mthuli Ncube, Finance Minister

On the third part of the question pertaining to demonitisation of the RTGS dollar and adopting the US dollar; what happened when the US dollar was adopted, basically as a de facto currency during the time that the Hon. Member was a Minister, what he did is – he destroyed this country’s ability to conduct its own monetary policy completely. So, the Central Bank was taken out of all monetary policy ability and what was left was fiscal policy only. Those are the facts and I have said that from the beginning that we need both legs for macro-economic management, the fiscal and monetary policy legs.

So what we did on the first of October last year was to begin the process of restoring monetary policy as an additional tool in our tool box to deal with macro-economic issues. That is what has gone on. Now, let me explain the issue of the use of the US$ further. Basically, on the US$ we do meet, Mr. Speaker Sir, challenges with transactions in US$ abroad and so forth, and perhaps members are not aware but I should make them aware that, we have had situations where we have been refused supply of US$ into the economy by certain banks who are complying with the US sanctions.

So, it is quite clear that we need to move towards having our own domestic unit account and the RTGS$ is the beginning of that. What is left now is for us to continue to fine tune the interbank market making it more efficient and also putting in place the micro institutions for making sure that monetary policy begins to work. One of the things that we have done Mr. Speaker in order to booster our balance of payment position, is to put in place a US$500 million facility which we have sourced from outside in order to deal with demands for meeting external payments from importers and others. I thank you Mr. Speaker Sir and the Hon. Member for the question.

“YOU CANNOT SAY I HAVE $5 IN THE BANK. YES, I HAVE GOT SURPLUS, BUT YOU HAVE NOT PAID SCHOOL FEES” – Tendai Biti, MDC, Harare East

HON. BITI: Mr. Speaker, there are countries that operate without a Central Bank and without monetary policy, but my real question is – I hear the Minister talk about a surplus each time he opens his mouth. Mr. Speaker, two things to the Hon. Minister. Firstly, you cannot celebrate a cash surplus (cash-at-hand) when international accounting standards are accrual. You cannot say I have $5 in the bank. Yes, I have got surplus but you have not paid school fees. …

THE HON. SPEAKER: What is the question?

HON. BITI: The question is – you cannot celebrate a surplus on a cash basis when debts are accruing every day. So, Hon. Minister, your contention of a surplus is fictitious because you are not using international standards of accrual accounting. Secondly, to the question of the surplus Hon. Speaker, the budget of 2019 was expressed in US$. The accounting of Government from January has been based on the RTGS$ from 20 February, 2019. Are you recording a surplus in US$ terms Hon. Minister?

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Again, I thank the Hon. Member for those two, actually its three questions. One; are we using international standards in our accounting procedure; accrual versus accounting standards. Then the surplus, is it fictitious or not? Thirdly, is the surplus; is it in RTGS or US$? Let me go back to the first question. The cash accounting in terms of the budget report is in line with international standards. Those are the facts. What is happening is that there are countries that are beginning to use accrual accounting and what we have started working on is that by 2022, we will move to accrual accounting.

Now, the steps required are as follows; what is required is for us to move towards a four balance sheet accounting, which means we have to value all Government assets and we have started doing that….

THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, perhaps in your explanation, if you can simplify the issues so that people can understand what you mean by accrual, otherwise you will be asked the same questions again.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: Mr. Speaker, the question as I understood it was not to explain the difference between accrual and cash. The question is on what we are using. At the moment, we are using cash accounting and I can confirm that. Now, as to whether we have got a surplus or not, the answer is yes, we have a surplus in both RTGS and US$. In RTGS currently and cumulatively, it is about RTGS$600 million. If you divide that with the current exchange rate you get about US$$100 million.

“CAN (MTHULI) CLARIFY HOW THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS SURPLUS WHICH HE IS ALWAYS HARPING ABOUT?” – Innocent Gonese, MDC, Mutare Central

HON. GONESE: The Hon. Minister is always harping about this surplus. My question to the Hon. Minister is that of any real benefit to us as Zimbabweans. We look at the standard or cost of living for everyone which is deteriorating on a daily basis and we look at the spending capacity of all the Zimbabweans; it has been adversely affected. We look at the real wages in real terms, they have actually declined and my question to the Hon. Minister is – is that of any real benefit to us or is it something which is just meaningless and not of any meaning to us? Can he clarify how the people of Zimbabwe are benefiting from this surplus which he is always harping about?

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: The benefits for the surplus are as follows; having a surplus stops growth in money supply which in the long run will contribute towards a stabilisation of inflation. Secondly, the
surplus is being used to cushion civil servants in terms of higher wages. In January, we gave them a cushioning of $63 million from 1st April to December $400 million. Thirdly, we are using the surplus for social protection programmes starting with Cyclone Idai. We have allocated $100 million towards that process but also, we are using the surplus for the usual social protection programmes such as the food programmes in both rural and urban areas. We are also supporting other social services such as BEAM in the education and also, the health sector. In addition to that, we are going to use the surplus for importing food. We have already issued out a tender through GMB to import additional food to deal with the impact of the drought. So it is being used in these areas Mr. Speaker. I thank you.

“WHAT I ASKED IS VERY SIMPLE AND I WOULD LIKE THE MINISTER TO ANSWER IN A SIMPLE WAY” – Rusty Markham, MDC, Harare North

HON. MARKHAM: Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister on the economy is – in his quarterly address to us, he mentioned that he had received income of 8.2%. In the very next breath, he mentioned that there was 66% inflation. How can he claim to have a surplus when all those were figures of collection, 8% versus 66%? What I asked is very simple and I would like the Minister to answer in a simple way like I asked. If you are receiving a salary of $2 000 and you have got the exchange rate moving by 8, that means your salary is now $250.
Secondly, if you are on the lowest scale and you are getting $300 and you divide by 8, it is less than $40. Now, if you have got a surplus, why have you not given the civil servants a very meaningful increase, $29 is what the average civil servant got not the millions he is talking about. It is $29. Can the Minister answer in simple language for us?

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE; First of all, when you think of salary adjustments, we never benchmark to an exchange rate to the USD in which case he has used a parallel market rate of 1:8. We do not do that. We try to bench mark salaries to the inflation level and that is how it is ought to be done.

Secondly, should we give civil servants an increase in line with the exchange rate which the Hon. Member mentioned – the answer is no. We will continue to engage them, it is an increase that begins to ameliorate against the current levels of inflation and we will continue to engage them so that we can adjust their emoluments both in monetary and in non-monetary terms. I thank you.

HON. BITI asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to update the House on the following-
(a) the budget deficit between January and August 2018;

(b) the amount of money borrowed and from where during the same period;

(c) the amount of Treasury bills issued and what they were used to finance;

(d) the amount of money spent on wages and pensions during this period;

(e) the percentage of the total expenditure of the wage bill;

(f) the amount of money spent on loan repayment and interest;

(g) the amount of money borrowed from the Central Bank from 2014 to 2018;

(h) the size of the domestic debt and its breakdown; and

(i) the amount spent on and recovered from Command Agriculture from 2016 to 2018.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): I thank the Hon. Member for the question. First of all on the budget deficit between January and August 2018, in US$ is as follows: January 2018, it is $26 million; February 2018, it is negative $61.5 million; March 2018, it is negative $146 million; April 2018, it is negative $264.6 million; May, 2018, it is negative $361.4 million; June 2018, it is negative $402.1 million; July 2018, it is negative $593.8 million and August 2018, it is negative minus $600 and I have broken it month by month. I am sure someone can add up very quickly using a calculator.

On question (b) regarding the amount of money borrowed and from where during the same period of January and August 2018, the total borrowed during that period in terms of the Reserve Bank overdraft facility is $929.09 million and the amount borrowed by the Central Bank directly is $55.96 million and other loans it is $174.17 million. So that is it.

On (c) the amount of Treasury Bills issues and what they were used to finance. The total Treasury Bills issued for the period under review is $2.5 billion and was issued for budget financing, for capitalisation of Government institutions and for dealing with legacy debts. The holders of these instruments are banks, insurance companies and pension funds. The split of that $2.5 billion in terms of budget financing is $343.39 million was used for budget financing for dealing with legacy debts it is $1.5 billion, capitalisation and recapitalisation of State institutions it is $643.14 million and the total is $2.5 billion.

I now move on to (d). The amount of money spent on wages and pensions during the period January to August 2018. The expenditure outlay on employment costs for the period January to August 2018 stood at $2.48 billion and it is broken down as follows: Civil wages bill $1.6 billion, PSMAS $90.6 million, NSSA $23.2 million, funeral expenses $0.3 million, grant aided institutions $317.3, pensions $369 million and the total is $2.48 billion.

I move on to question (e), the percentage of the total expenditure of the wage bill. Employment cost accounted for about 86% of total expenditure and net lending over the eight months ending August 2018, and I repeat, it is 86%. The amount spent on loan repayment and interest, in January 2018, it was $9.7 million, February $9.6 million, March $27.8 million, April $9.7 million, May $717.9 million, June $29.9 million, July $47.1 million and August $33.4 million.

In terms of loans from the Central Bank, we paid interest in May 2018 of $89.8 million, July it was $3.2 million and in August it was $195.8 million. The Hon. Member also has another sub-question pertaining to the amount borrowed from the Central Bank from 2014 to 2018. I thank him for that question and he refers to the overdraft facility. In 2014, it was $126.4 million, 2015 it was $152.4 million, 2016, $663.1 million, 2017 it was $427.5 million and in 2018 it was $929.1 million and it is up to August 2018 as posed.

Then the total domestic debt at the end of August 2018 is $9.5billion and is broken down as follows: for budget financing – $429 million; legacy debt – about $4 million; RBZ debt – $266 million and for capitalisation – $1.4 billion; RBZ recapitalisation – $110 million. Then there were TBs that were authorised for issuance by the RBZ by those who will not follow through and in the end they were cancelled. It is about $38.3 million. Then the arrears -$116 million; overdraft facility cumulative is $2.3 billion, I am rounding off. So, that is the sum of the figures that I gave earlier.

The Central Bank loans – $623 million; loans from the private sector – $188 million and the total is $9.5 billion.
That is the amount spent and recovered from command agriculture from 2016 to 2018.

Basically, the amount recovered for the season 2016 to 2018 is, out of 44 617 farmers is $50.2 million. For the season 2017 to 2018 for maize again, we had 35 756 farmers and the amount recovered was $19.7 million.
Then for the wheat planting season of 2017, we have 2 270 farmers and what was recovered is US$13.7 million. Then for the wheat planting season for 2018, we have 74 847 farmers. Then for soya beans for the season 2017/2018 from 2 041 farmers, it is US$1.5 million. Thank you Madam Speaker ma’am.

HON. BITI: Hon. Speaker ma’am, I would like to ask the Minister, the esteemed Hon. M. Ncube to assure this august House that he is going to bring Bills of condonation and supplementary estimates to cover the budget deficits from 2014 to 2018 – a period where the Government was overspending outside the budget approved by this august House. If so, when is he going to bring those supplementary statements and the Bills of condonation?

Secondly Hon. Speaker ma’am, in respect of the overdraft maintained by the Government with the Central Bank, the law is very clear in terms of Section 11 of the Reserve Bank Act that overdraft should not exceed 20% of the previous year’s revenue and you can see from his figures that the Government has been over-borrowing beyond the statutory limit provided for in the Reserve Bank Act. Can the Minister also assure this august House that he is going to bring a Bill of condonation in respect of that overdraft from 2014 to the present day? I thank you Hon. Speaker ma’am.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I thank the Hon. Member for those two questions. I confirm that I will bring to this august House, Bills of condonation and supplementary statements to basically condone the overspending that took place between the periods 2014 to 2018. I also confirm that I will bring to this House, again Bills of condonation for the violation of the rule for the overdraft facility of 20% of the previous year’s expenditure to this House for condonation. I thank you.

*HON. CHIKWINYA: Thank you Madam Speaker. My supplementary question emanates exactly from the recent answer by the Hon. Minister to the extent that he will bring Bills of condonation and supplementary statements.
My question is – why is Government therefore in a habit of breaking the law? Why is the Minister simply comfortable in breaking the law and not bringing Bills of condonation since 2014? We are almost five or six years down the line with the Minister breaking the law, only to be reminded by Members of Parliament to bring in Bills of condonation. The import of the law Madam Speaker, is not that the Minister must break the law then seek condonation but we must be able to respect our own laws first for us to be able to attract any other FDI if we are going to be serious. Thank you.

HON. NDUNA: On a point of order Madam Speaker. Even though kamba isingavhari nekufa kwe mujoni, the Hon. Member of the National Assembly Hon. Chikwinya, alludes to a period way before the Minister’s appointment. I ask Madam Speaker ma’am that you guide the House accordingly. The man speaks with so much verve and energy and again the Minister has just come into office. I ask that you protect the Hon. Minister from this delinquent behaviour by the Hon. Member who is castigating him with impunity, even aware that the Hon. Minister has just gotten into office. Madam Speaker ma’am, protect the Hon. Minister. I pray that. Thank you.

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: I certainly have no intention of breaking the law and the Hon. Member is right that we should not break the law. So, I intend to comply with it and bring for condonation before this House a Bill and supplementary statements to deal with the overspending that was incurred between the period 2014 and 2018. Thank you very much.

“IT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WHEN HE WAS MINISTER OF FINANCE, HE BROUGHT EVERY LOAN THAT HE CONTRACTED ABROAD TO THIS PARLIAMENT’S APPROVAL”
Ncube on Biti

HON. BITI: The Minister of Finance has alluded to a loan of US$500 million that they have contracted from the African Export Import Bank (AFREXIM BANK) to ameliorate and mitigate the current economic challenges. We thank him for those efforts, we also thank the RBZ Governor for the efforts too but the law is very clear that you cannot contract a debt with an international organisation which imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe before Parliament has approved. If Parliament has not approved, that debt is invalid. For the avoidance of cdoubt, I will read Section 327 (3) of the Constitution. It says, “an agreement which is not an international Treaty but which (a) has been concluded or executed by the President or under the President’s authority with one or more foreign organisations or entities”, of which Afreximbank is one and “(b) imposes fiscal obligations on Zimbabwe does not bind Zimbabwe until it has been approved by Parliament”. Why does the Government keep on borrowing money from the African Export Import Bank without Parliament approval?

HON. PROF. M. NCUBE: It is not immediately obvious to me that when he was Minister of Finance, he brought every loan that he contracted abroad to this Parliament’s approval, I do not recall that. What I agreed to is that I will bring a report on whatever loans has contracted to Parliament as the law demands.

Let me add a second point to complete the answer that some of these transactions are structured and structured means that certain proceeds of commodities are attached to servicing the loan. So, the risks around the loan are completely ring-fenced and this is a normal loan structure. In fact, it is smart when you do that because you are sure you will be able to pay off the loan. I thank you.

HON. S. BANDA asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to state the amount of money owed to the African Import and Export Bank by the Government of Zimbabwe.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): When the question was posed, the figure was US$753 million and then you add the other US$500 million so that takes us to US$1.25 billion. I thank you.

HON. BITI: Hon. Speaker once again, we ask the Hon. Minister why Section 327 of the Constitution is not being complied with. These African Export and Import Bank loans, the Afrexim loans; why are they not being brought to Parliament for approval? We also ask the wisdom of why a bank with a balance sheet of $2 billion lends to one country $1.2 billion. What is happening? Are there private deals, incest – and what is so special about the African Import Export Bank?

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (HON. PROF. M. NCUBE): I thank the Hon. Member Biti for the question. In terms of this, he has already asked this question before, and so have others and I have agreed that these loans in future will be reported in this House so that we comply with the provisions of the law. In terms of how this bank structures loans to Zimbabwe, frankly, that is their business. We do not go into the issues of their balance sheet. They have a CEO, board, processes and they have credit rating agencies that rate them. So, there is governance structures around them and we are not really party to how they make decisions.

Our job as a borrower is to borrow and we can be turned down or accepted. I am happy to say on this occasion, they have accepted our request to lend us and we are very pleased that they were able to do so. This will go a long way in assisting Zimbabwe. I think the Hon. Member will agree with me that this is a most welcome development, given that it is very tough out there to raise funds globally to support the economy, the recovery story, recovery agenda and we should be very pleased as this bank has come forward to assist us in this manner when many will not. I thank you.

Hansard

Tanzanian President John Magufuli called for an end to sanctions on Zimbabwe, saying they hindered development and progress.

“This embargo should be reconsidered and removed, so the people of Zimbabwe can enjoy their life and develop their country,” Magufuli said Tuesday.

The Tanzanian leader is on a two-day visit to the southern African nation where U.S. sanctions against some members of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party remain. Magufuli spoke after Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa told reporters that the two countries would place “emphasis on economic and trade cooperation” in future.

-Bloomberg

Jane Mlambo| Government has threatened to name and shame alleged brains behind Zimbabwe’s verdant parallel market which it says was fuelling the spike in the prices for basic goods and services.

Ironically Information Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa’s son Neville is one of the forex dealers who are involved in the practices and is alleged to have been arrested before being released yesterday.

Mutsvangwa told journalists at a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday that authorities were aware of who the real buyers of foreign currency on the parallel market were and how they were pushing rates high.

“You think those young people without shoes are the ones who are behind the parallel market? It will be folly to believe that. We know that there are big people behind them. I think it is time we start to deal with that and expose who are these people,” she said.

By Tuesday, the US dollar was selling for ZWL$7,3 on the electronic money transfer platform and ZWL$5,8 for the bond notes.

Mutsvangwa said although the law that criminalises dealing in foreign currency without authority and carrying a 10-year jail sentence was in operation, arresting those on the streets, who she said were just agents, would not end the parallel market.

The run-away exchange rate has sent tremors down government corridors with fears that it could collapse the economy with most traders reluctant to conduct business, while those doing so were demanding hard currency.

Mutsvangwa said dealers were pegging the US dollar rate to the Old Mutual implied rate to determine the exchange rate for the US$ against the RTGS dollar.

“We can’t be pegging the rates against an international multinational group that is in business and has no interest of the people. It is time we look at this issue very carefully and protect our people,” said Mutsvangwa.

This is not the first time that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime has threatened to name and shame who it has termed economic saboteurs.

Last year, politicians and businesspeople who allegedly externalised over $1,3 billion during former President Robert Mugabe’s era were named, but just a few returned the money before the expiry of the set deadline.More in Home

Before the naming and shaming, speculation was rife that ousted allies of Mugabe were among those who externalised funds from the country, with government officials blaming this on cash and foreign currency shortages in the country.

But the list contained largely importing businesses that had not acquitted their import papers with the central bank as well as some Chinese nationals.

After the naming, no one was prosecuted for the alleged acts.

Magufuli praises Mnangagwa for ‘economic transformation’?? What a joke!!
Magufuli had to say that to make ED happy but back home in Tanzania, Magufuli & Chama Cha Mapunduzi laugh at Zanu PF and use it as a reference of how not to rule a country!
????https://t.co/FYuow552Um

— Tafadzwa Gilbért Káys?? (@GilbertKays) May 30, 2019

THE Masvingo City Council has repossessed a 1,9 hectare piece of land from Harare businessman and Zvimba South legislator Philip Chiyangwa after he allegedly violated terms of the agreement by failing to build a proposed hotel within 18 months.

Chiyangwa, through his Pinnacle Properties company, bought the commercial stand in 2008 for ZW$150 billion.

The matter has, however, since spilled into the High Court after Chiyangwa challenged the repossession of the land.

According to the agreement of sale, seen by NewsDay, Chiyangwa was supposed to build a hotel in an 18-month period failure which the local authority would give him 10% of his purchase price and repossess the land.

A recent full council meeting resolved that council repossesses the land because Chiyangwa had failed to honour the agreement.

Sources at the local authority said they feared Chiyangwa was holding onto the land for speculative purposes and could resell it, prejudicing council of thousands of dollars after he bought it during the hyper-inflationary era.

They said he had reneged on the agreement of sale conditions and, thus, the council saw it fit to repossess the land.

Masvingo mayor, Collen Maboke, a lawyer by profession, refused to comment on the matter, saying it was sub judice.

He, however, said council was re-evaluating the cost of the commercial stand.

But the flamboyant businessman, who has other land he is developing in Harare, has since challenged the move.

The case is set to be heard at a later date.

-Newsday

Legendary Revolutionary Musician Tambaoga paid a courtesy visit to the Zanu PF HQ and gave us a teaser on Corruption Jingle‼️@KMutisi @CdeNMaswerasei @PTChimusoro @CharityMaodza @ttgono @nicolehondo @Mavhure pic.twitter.com/fBTVTCYAt1

— ?? ZANU PF PATRIOTS ?? (@zanupf_patriots) May 24, 2019

Newly appointed Energy minister Fortune Chasi has vowed to expose fuel dealers who engage in underhand dealings saying from now going forward, he will make public amounts of money and fuel given to them to avoid corruption in the sector.

Chasi made the remarks after meeting the dealers in Harare today.

He added that fuel sellers will now get six months licenses with those violating regulations risking non-renewal of their trading licenses.

Below is Chasi’s video

Fuel Crisis: After meeting oil industry today, Energy Min @fortunechasi says he will, going forward, make public “who received what amount of fuel and when”.
Licences up for renewal in six months and Govt may not re-license ‘devious people’.
(vid via @LJaymut10/@263Chat) pic.twitter.com/PuZyim9XQz

— newZWire (@newswireZW) May 30, 2019

By Own Correspondent- Analysts have described MDC Congress voters as rational people for voting for capacity.

South Africa-based academic and researcher Pedzisai Ruhanya described the Congress as a reunification of the party that has been splitting lately.

Speaking to a local publication, Ruhanya said:

Well done (Nelson) Chamisa for running a credible congress that produced solid and credible leadership. You have shown the world how to run elections; no shenanigans, manipulation.

This was a reunification. Those who failed and refused to read the calls by MDC supporters were swept aside. MDC Congress voters are rational. They considered capacity, regional balances, past party fissures, gender in electing their leadership. They refused to celebrate mediocrity. Now elected officials must deliver.

Political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said that he is impressed by the composition of the leadership which he said is balanced.-DailyNews

By Own Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa is this morning officially launching the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) at the Harare International Conference Centre.

PRAZ, which was formerly the State Procurement Board has had its function rationalized so that it superintends over procurement entities.

Said PRAZ board chairperson Vimbai Nyemba in her address:

“The new institution came as a result of the enactment of the Public Procurement and State Disposal Act which seeks to ensure that public procurement is done transparently.”

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.

By Own Correspondent- Former Mines and Mining Development deputy minister Fred Moyo has lost his family property and estate after the High Court recently ruled in favour of Stanbic Bank which is seeking to recover over US$766 000 it is owed.

The writ of execution against Moyo’s property came about when the former deputy minister and his fellow directors Paul Diamond, Dirk Renier Bewade and Sydney Steyn in a mine called Ox Mining, failed to settle the loan which they had personally guaranteed.

According to the writ of execution, the property attached included a Ford Ranger T6 and a Nissan Hardbody vehicle, six fridges, two sets of sofas, stoves, kitchen unit, computers, tables, microwaves, dressing tables, headboards and solar batteries.

However, when Moyo’s property was attached by the Sheriff of the High Court his wife, Yeyani Moyo, instituted interpleader proceedings, but the application was dismissed.

Later, the bank sought to engage Moyo in a series of meetings with a view to resolve the payment of the debt, but the former deputy minister is said to have failed to co-operate prompting the financial institution to make an application for him to be placed under provisional liquidation.

Moyo is said to have transferred his personal immovable property into a family trust called the Nelundo Family Trust, a move considered by the bank as an act of disposition.

The court heard that it was against this background that the bank sought to have Moyo’s family trust sequestrated as well.

“It is common cause that the respondent (Moyo) transferred an immovable asset into a family trust when it was apparent that his financial obligations were threatening his private estate,” Justice Mushore said.

“The fact of the property being jointly owned by himself and Yeyani is neither here nor there. It is his interest in the property that he sought to protect together with Yeyani’s interest. In my view, it was a transaction which was borne not of philanthropy, but of mendacity and survival…”

The loan agreement between the parties is said to have been entered on August 30, 2012 at which time the bank released the funds. The parties then agreed that Ox Mining would repay the loan with interest, but in breach of the loan agreement, the mine failed to pay the amount, prompting the bank to sue for recovery.-

By Own Correspondent- The United Nations Office for Coordination and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has released a report alleging that there are increased cases of sexual violence against women and girls by soldiers and aid workers in Cyclone Idai hit areas of Chimanimani and Chipinge.

The report also exposed villagers’ complaints against the continued presence of soldiers in areas affected by Cyclone Idai.

Read part of the report:

“High-level interventions are needed as to the continued presence of the armed forces (ZDF). Though reduced, at school facilities in Chimanimani there are reports of involvement in humanitarian response.

A total of 70 complaints – 32 female and 17 male in Chimanimani and 13 male and 8 female in Chipinge– on GBV (Gender-Based Violence) and sexual exploitation and abuse were received through the safe spaces – bringing the total of received complaints since the beginning of a response to 131.”

By Own Correspondent- Zanu Pf Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu has accused the American Embassy in Harare of fueling economic sabotage, describing the country of being a “hypocrite and devil of double evil standards”.

Matutu was commenting on the Embassy’s call for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to respect human rights and cease the brutal crackdown on human rights defenders.

Responded Matutu:

“To hell with you a hypocrite and devil of double evil standards, you have imposed sanctions on our country. You are funding economic saboteurs against our country, you organize midnight meetings plotting on destabilising our country and now you pretend to care, really? Be ashamed.”

The Embassy had issued a statement on Wednesday saying, “Harassment and targeted arrests of civil society leaders damages Zimbabwe’s reputation and economic future. We call on the Zimbabwean government to uphold its constitution, respect rule of law, and foster an environment where all can contribute to the nation’s progress.”

Matutu conceded that Zimbabwe was marred with corruption but insisted that America has no right in policing Zimbabwe as it was one of the architects of the misery that Zimbabweans are experiencing.

“Sanctions have their own effect on our economy, corruption has its own effect on our economy and but that doesn’t mean US Embassy becomes a class monitor when they’re actually the ones making noise in class.”

https://twitter.com/MatutuLewis/status/1133754210586112004

Socialite and comedienne Felistas “Mai Titi” Edwards has opened a new shop at Joina City.

The 34-year-old said the shop had mixed undergarments which are accessible to anyone of different class.

“We have no target group or class, vanhu ngavauye vatenge zvemukati kwamai Titi.

“People must just look good especially women kwete kunaka kunze mukati musina kumira mushe, our prices are very flexible than anyone,” said Mai Titi.

The comedienne said being a public figure has made it easy for her to get sales on daily basis.

“We are making noise, it has been easy getting sales because a lot of people like me.

“Some come wanting to get pictures with me and they end up buying lingerie from my shop, I believe I am a game changer considering the current economic situation,” she said.

The businesswoman said she is looking forward to open as many shops as she can in Harare.

“I’m actually choosy on where to put another shop, decency and class matters because we are setting pace,” Mai Titi.

Mai Titi said it has been difficult trying to manage being a businesswoman, comedienne and musician.

“I come from a business family so handling business is not that difficult to me and I have a schedule that I abide to so it is easy for me handling anything and also being a mom,” she said.

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| Government through the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has tried to pacify an incident that happened in town when members of the presidential guard who were escorting President Emmerson Mnangagwa assaulted a motorist, smashing his windows in the process.

Posting on Twitter, Information ministry said in the last two weeks they recorded two incidents of obstruction of the presidential motorcade.

They urged the commuting public to cooperate with the law enforcement agents.

In the last week there has been 2 incidents where 2 motorists have obstructed the presidential motorcade therefore endangering the principal, the public, the escorting security and themselves. May we encourage commuting motorists to cooperate with the law enforcement support team

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) May 30, 2019

Own Correspondent|Former President Robert Mugabe’s blue eyed boy Oscar Pambuka is now a prophet and ready to heal the sick and deliver them from “bondage.”

Pambuka who was a ZBC anchor and enjoyed spinning issues to Mugabe’s favour, was kicked out of ZANU PF and the state broadcaster when Mugabe was disposed in a coup in November 2017.

He was arrested and convicted with colleague Psychology Maziwisa on fraud charges while at the ZBC. They are currently both on bail pending appeal.

Pambuka announced his latest “career” on his Facebook page on Thursday.

“Meet Prophet Pambuka. My first ever service is on this Sunday in Houghton Park.
Some were asking me the name of the ministry. Its called Oscar Pambuka Ministries. Come and see the power of God at work. Bring all the sick and afflicted,” he wrote.

Most people responding to his call rubbished him and accused him of being broke and continuing with his fraudulent tricks since being dumped by ZANU PF.

50 cents buses piled up at pump station in Belvedere pic.twitter.com/OYz3XnUPh5

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) May 30, 2019

The Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council wishes to inform the nation that the June 2019 Ordinary and Advanced Level Examination sessions are scheduled to begin on 3 June.

The examinations will run until 26 June 2019. In that regard, we would like all our valued and trusted stakeholders to be informed on the issues that are related to these examinations.

All candidates must ensure that they attend examination sessions on time. The starting times of the morning and afternoon sessions are clearly stated on the candidates’ examination entry statements.

ZIMSEC urges all stakeholders to ensure that examinations are run according to the set regulations.

Where these are breached, stakeholders should report immediately so that action is taken by ZIMSEC.

Stakeholders have the ability to ensure that examination malpractice is stopped. We wish to let the nation aware of some who change dates on old examination question papers and sell these as current question papers on the Whatsapp platform. Guard yourself against these people.

The ZIMSEC regulations are clear that any candidate found guilty of breaching examination regulations will have their results either withheld, pending an investigation or nullification.

ZIMSEC encourages all stakeholders and members of society to report any such incidents of examination malpractice, unethical business practices and corruption.

OPPOSITION political parties, war veterans and civic society organisations yesterday rapped Zanu PF legislators for refusing to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late Zipra intelligence supremo and opposition Zapu leader Dumiso Dabengwa, with some describing him as a sellout.

Dabengwa died last week on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, while in transit to Zimbabwe from India where he had gone to seek treatment.

The Zanu PF politburo declared him a national hero, but his family rebuffed government overtures to take charge of the funeral proceedings to honour his dying wish to be buried at the family shrine in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North.

However, on Tuesday Zanu PF MPs refused to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late national hero, following a request by MDC chief whip Prosper Mutseyami.

Opposition and independent MPs stood up to observe the minute of silence, but Zanu PF legislators remained seated.

Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa said Zanu PF legislators’ conduct was consistent with an ideology that is premised on division, tribalism and hatred.

“They held a moment of silence for Oliver Mtukudzi (a musician) yet refuse to honour the man who made it possible for them to even occupy that place in the first place. They, however, did not surprise us because we know they are simply following their ideology that is premised on division, tribalism, corruption inequality and outright hatred,” Maphosa said.

“They hate DD for not being of their ethnic extraction.”

Habakkuk Trust chief executive Dumisani Nkomo said it’s an insult to the whole concept of heroism when the ruling party disregards the heroism of a man who personified heroism.
MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Zanu PF MPs’ actions were petty and disastrous.

“That people can persecute a person in his death, (when) death has no party affiliation (is shocking). Being in Zanu PF is not a sign of purity or heroism,” Mafume said.

Former Bulilima East MP Norman Mpofu (MDC) said any person of average intelligence and some knowledge about history of the liberation struggle and post-independent Zimbabwe would honour Dabengwa.

“I mean everyone. (former President) Robert Mugabe will, let alone (President) Emmerson Mnangagwa. If they were still alive Josiah Tongogara, Joshua Nkomo, Vitalis Zvinavashe, I mean all liberation luminaries, would honour Dabengwa. The man gave his all to liberate this country. He even lost his mother who was shot and killed by the whites for being a mother of Dumiso,” Mpofu said.

“Who will not honour such a man? Who will not honour such a son of the soil? I will call such an MP a fool and victim of ignorance. Besides, Dumiso Dabengwa was a former Member of Parliament, a minister of a Zanu PF government, therefore, if they can’t acknowledge the towering role he played to liberate this country, they should respect the fact that he was once an MP like them more so of their party.

“If indeed they refused, their superiors must call them to order, otherwise they are embarrassing Zanu PF. They owe Dabengwa respect,” he added.

Church and Civic Society Forum national coordinator Abigail Mupambi said: “DD was declared a national hero because of his unquestionable contribution and commitment to national development both in the pre and post-independence era. The very same Zanu PF government saw it fit to declare him a hero, to then have some Zanu PF MPs deciding not to honour him is primitive on the very part of those MPs.

Rural Community Empowerment Trust Lupane coordinator Vumani Ndlovu said people are used to the whipping system in Parliament whereby the MPs follow the party position on certain issues and the MPs’ actions are proof that “Mnangagwa and his cabal are not sincere in conferring Dabengwa with a hero status”. Dabengwa will be buried in Ntabazinduna on Saturday and Zipra and Zapu have organised a mass memorial for him at White City Stadium in Bulawayo tomorrow.

Newsday

Arrested renowned award winning human rights defender Rita Nyamupinga failed to turn up for court yesterday after being hospitalised while her co-accused civil society member Sitabile Dewa was hauled before the courts and denied bail on charges of subverting a constitutionally-elected Government.

Stabile Dewa (34) works at Women’s Academy Leadership in Political Excellence (WALPE) while her co-accused Nyampinga (61) works for Communication Services and Allied Union Workers of Zimbabwe (CASWUZ).

Prosecutor Mr Charles Muchemwa applied for the placement of remand of Dewa and told the court that he intended to make a hospital remand for Nyampinga.

Dewa’s lawyer Mr Jeremiah Bhamu told the court that he was opposed to placement of remand of his client.

He also made complaints against the police whom he accused of denying his client access to her legal team.

“The position of the law is that access comes immediately upon the arrest of an accused person,” he said.

In response Mr Muchemwa told the court that he abide by the same reasons for the previous matter in his application for placement of Dewa on remand.

Mr Muchemwa said Dewa and Nyampinga will be co-joined with the other four who are already on remand on the same charges.

Harare magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya remanded Dewa in custody to June 6.

The court heard that on 13 May, the accused who are members of various civic society organisations connived with their accomplices who are already on remand travelled to Maldives where they allegedly underwent a training workshop organised by a Serbian non-governmental organisation called Centre for Applied Non Violent Action and Strategies (CANVAS) with the intent to subvert a constitutionally elected government of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

It is alleged that during the workshop, the accused were trained on how to mobilise citizens to turn against the Government and to engage in acts of civil disobedience and/or resistance to any law during the anticipated national protest by anti-Government movements.

The court heard that the duo were also trained on how to operate small arms and to evade arrest during civil unrest. The State also alleges that they were taught basics of counter intelligence and acts of terrorism.

It is alleged that on May 27, 2019 the two were intercepted and arrested upon arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport whilst coming back from Maldives.

State Media|Government last night expresssed concern at the subversive messages circulating on social media inciting people to disturb the prevailing peace and stability by engaging in illegal activities such as looting, burning down property and assaulting people going to work.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Ministry said while Government reaffirms the Constitutional right of citizens to demonstrate or petition peacefully as well as to have the freedom of conscience, that right does not extend to forcing others to partake in activities against their wishes as well as disrupting them from going about their business.

“Government has an obligation to protect all citizens including those who wish to carry on their daily activities undisturbed. We therefore wish to assure the public that the security services will be ready to fulfil their constitutional mandate to maintain law and order as well as protect lives and property, from insurgent behaviour,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said Zimbabwe is known for its peacefulness and Government is encouraging all citizens to maintain that peace as they fend for their families.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government understands and emphathises with the hardships people are experiencing. She said safety nets are being put in place to protect the vulnerable from the pain “of the necessary reform we have to undergo”.

“The President and the Government are fully aware of the many challenges facing our economy. They arise from decades of gross mismanagement.

“We are going through the overhaul of our economy so it can finally deliver the goods and jobs we all desire. The ongoing pains are a passing phase.

“The Government warns any bad apples in our business community to desist from cruel price hikes. It is immoral to create shortages and gauge prices in order to create discontent among the populace,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said those who engage in industrial subversive activities will have themselves to blame when authorities react.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe does not believe riotous behaviour and wanton destruction of property will change people’s lives for the better, but that “a resilient determination to push through economic reforms is a necessary remedy to our economy and will see us achieve our national goal of being an Upper Middle Income Economy by 2030.”

Police have said they are ready to deal with anyone who engages in any form of violence following social media reports by some rogue elements calling for a so-called national shutdown.

They are threatening to punish people conducting their business or going to work, burn vehicles, destroy shops and stopping children from going to school, among other illegal activities.

The ZRP which is now on high alert to thwart any disturbances countrywide has since started conducting investigations on the source of this alarming message.

In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned anyone who engages in any form of violence that they will be arrested and face the full wrath of the law.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is urging members of the public to disregard a social media post which is calling for the public to engage in acts of violence by burning vehicles, destroying shops, stopping children from going to school and agitating for bloodshed on 30/05/19.

By Own Correspondent- Government has completed the registration of white former commercial farmers eligible for compensation for improvements on farms in line with the country’s laws.

The exercise ends today with an estimated 737 farmers having registered.

In a statement Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development says payments to the former farmers will start soon after a verification exercise.

“The registration of former farm owners for the interim relief payment scheme to the distressed former farm owners has been completed, with 737 farmers having been registered for the payment,” reads the statement.

“The verification exercise of the registered farmers by Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water Climate and Rural Resettlement has begun and will be completed by 31 May 2019.

“Payments to the former farm owners will start immediately after the verification exercise and will be done through the Finance Department of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement.”

Government says significant progress has been made on the accelerated valuation exercise, which will be completed by tomorrow.

Concurrently, Government and the farmers’ representatives are now working together on the finalisation of the constitutional compensation commitment.

Government has agreed to pay an interim relief $55 000 for each farmer who lost land with improvements during the land reform programme undertaken at the turn of millennium when landless citizens sought to have a share of the resource.

Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) director Mr Ben Gilpin has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to pay the former farmers by end of this month to moderate their challenges.

A proper and comprehensive compensation package is expected after the initial relief payment.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- INTRATREK Zimbabwe, a local private firm fronted by Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo, has filed a high court application seeking leave for the execution of judgment pending appeal on an order in which a High Court case ruling went in its favour following a contractual dispute with Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) relating to the Gwanda Solar project.

High Court Judge justice Tawanda Chitapi, who presided over the case in December last year, ruled at that time that the State Power Utility, ZPC, had by its actions frustrated the implementation of the contract with Intratrek for the construction of the 100 megawatts Gwanda solar farm project.

On Wednesday, Justice Chitapi reserved judgment in the case where Intratrek had sought the execution of his earlier order, but promised to give his position on the application within the earliest possible time given national interest at stake due to power shortages blighting the country.

This comes after Intratrek boss, following conclusion of his criminal prosecution, at the instigation of ZPC and in which he has been absolved of wrongdoing, attempted to remobilise on the Gwanda solar farm site.

However, ZPC insisted that the contractor had failed to perform in time in the first instance and that after his earlier successful contestation of its attempt to cancel the contract, the matter was the subject of an appeal at the High Court against Justice Chitapi’s judgement.

The parties had first gone to the courts following a dispute over validity of the contract between the parties when the power utility claimed Intratrek had failed to complete precommencement works within stipulated time, hence claimed the contractor violated their contract.

But Justice Chitapi ruled that ZPC had in fact breached terms of the contract and frustrated the project when it instigated the arrest of Intratrek managing director, Chivayo, on trumped up charges of fraud, which resulted in the doctrine of fictional performance coming into play.

In his earlier ruling, the high court judge found ZPC to have grossly abused its rights by involving a third part, the police, in the settling of a civil dispute when clear dispute resolution mechanism provided for in terms of the agreement signed between the contractual partners existed.

Justice Chitapi ruled that given the shortcomings of ZPC, which constrained the contractor from executing his duties, among them pressing malicious criminal charges against Mr Chivayo and failure by the State to provide certain guarantees, which stalled a Chinese loan to ZPC for the project, the contract was still valid and binding as was originally

In the fraud case, ZPC argued that it had paid Intratrek Zimbabwe US$5,1 million, without a bank guarantee, but the contractor had allegedly failed to deliver value, as agreed within the parties’ contract, in time.

When the matter was heard at the High Court, before Justice Chitapi, the High Court Judge ruled that ZPC was in fact to blame for Intratrek’s failure to perform the agreed works in time and ordered the parties to meet in 60 days to review progress on the project or that ZPC pays us$23 million.

ZPC has declined both and instead, has launched an appeal at the Supreme Court, insisting the High Court erred in its findings and ruling in favour of Intratrek because the contractor failed to deliver value as agreed and in time.

Intratrek legal counsel, Advocate Lewis Uriri, instructed by Wilson Manase of Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners, submitted that the appeal by ZPC against Justice Chitapi’s judgment, which was in favour of Intratrek, was unlikely to succeed given the robustness of their application, which no court of appeal would overturn, unless the order was grossly unreasonable that no court acting properly would issue it.

“It is beyond doubt that a declaratory order is not suspended by noting an appeal, when this is known, but one devices means  of undermining an order that ought to be obeyed through the medium of notice of an appeal, knowing or ought to know and by necessary implication do in fact know, that it does not suspend the order, that is a deliberate abuse of the process of the court and a clear stratagem to ensure spanners are thrown into the wheels of justice,” Advocate Uriri said in court.

“Leave to execute ought to be granted at the client to legal practitioner scale. The second point that I make is simply this, even relating to the ordinary grounds, for the grounds of leave to execute pending appeal, this is an application that ought to be granted,” he said.

Advocate Uriri said while possibility of success on appeal were non-existent, ZPC were acting in a manner consistent with attempts to scuttle the contract, whose validity the court upheld, as evidenced by actions of certain “state actors” whom he said were pushing the power utility to pursue all avenues to recover outstanding funds from Intratrek.

“When one looks at these grounds of appeal and the broader outlook, the national interest at stake, which the court itself related to and the preponderance of equities, which had been adequately dealt with in the affidavits, one is left with no doubt this appeal is no more than a time buying gimmick.

“This more so given that certain State actors have in recent times come out in the public domain to state that regardless of what the court has said, they are going to adopt a particular line. My learned colleague will say the court cannot relate that which appears in the press, let me draw your attention to the State of Hawaii (USA) and others versus Donald J Trump.”

In the case, Advocate Uriri stated, the US Supreme Court judge Justice Watson ruled it could not cower into a corner, pull the shutters closed and pretend it has not seen what it has.”

By Own Correspondent- Matabeleland South province is facing an acute shortage of teachers with reports indicating that some schools have only 3 teachers, taking all Grades, from ECD up to Grade 7.

In some cases, all the teachers would be untrained.

The dire situation was on Friday confirmed to the state media by Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director Mr Lifias Masukume.

Masukume said that the few teachers available were overwhelmed. The most affected schools are in Insiza and Gwanda rural.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- The US Embassy has issued a statement urging the the Zimbabwean government to uphold the rule of law.

Posting on Twitter, the embassy said:

“Harassment and targeted arrests of civil society leaders damages Zimbabwe’s reputation and economic future. We call on the Zimbabwean government to uphold its constitution, respect rule of law, and foster an environment where all can contribute to the nation’s progress.”

Harassment and targeted arrests of civil society leaders damages Zimbabwe’s reputation and economic future. We call on the Zimbabwean government to uphold its constitution, respect rule of law, and foster an environment where all can contribute to the nation’s progress.

— U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe (@USEmbZim) May 29, 2019

By Own Correspondent-The government has issued a warning against any demonstrations that will endanger peace in the country.

The warning follows messaging circulating on social media, calling for people to protest this Thursday against the economic hardships prevailing in the country.

Speaking to the national broadcaster, ZBCtv on Wednesday night, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa said:

The right does not extend to forcing others to partake in activities against their wishes as well as disrupting them from going about their business.

The government has an obligation to protect all citizens including those who wish to carry on their daily lives undisturbed.

We, therefore, wish to assure the public that the security services will be ready to fulfil their constitutional mandate to maintain law and order as well as protect lives and property from insurgent behaviour.

Mutsvangwa told the nation that the government is aware of the suffering of the citizens and blamed the past administration for gross mismanagement.

She added:

The government understands and empathises with the current hardships experienced by the people.

We are therefore putting in place safety nets to protect the vulnerable from the pain of the necessary reform we have to undergo.

The President and the Government are fully aware of the many challenges facing our economy. They arise from decades of gross mismanagement.

Mutsvangwa said that the current hardships are a passing phase and that the pain is a part and parcel of the ongoing efforts in transforming the economy

By Own Correspondent= Labour minister Sekai Nzenza has revealed that government would soon review pensioners’ allowances which had been eroded by inflation.

Responding to a question from MDC legislator for Mkoba Amos Chibaya who queried government policy regarding the welfare of pensioners whose monthly allowance was no longer sustainable due to the ever increasing prices of basic goods and services, Nzenza said:

“I understand that question and I promised that there was going to be a review of pensions and I will so discuss with my colleague the Minister of Finance looking at ways of increasing the pensions for the pensioners.  At the moment, I do agree that prices are on the increase and I know it is tough for the pensioners.  What I can inform you is that we are still reviewing and we are holding talks with the Minister of Finance on the issue of pensioners.

I am not in a position to give a particular date when the increases for the pensioners can be implemented.  I cannot state the date because I am not the custodian of the national fiscus but I hold meetings with my colleagues.  When we have consulted with the relevant Ministers.”

Pensioners are getting a paltry $80 monthly. However, most banks are failing to avail the money setting limits for them where they get between $20 to $50 a day.

By Own Correspondent- MDC legislator for Harare Central Murisi Zwizwai has pledged to donate his salary to enable parliament to employ interpreters as a way of ensuring that parliamentary proceedings are interpreted for ordinary citizens who do not understand other languages including English.

He said this Wednesday after asking his question directed at Labour minister Sekai Nzenza using vernacular language who could not correctly interpret the question asked in Shangani.

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda asked Zwizwai to rephrase and ask his question in English since the minister had failed to interpret it adding that the facility to translate vernacular would only be available at the new parliament which is currently under construction.

Said Zwizwai:

“It is with a heavy heart that I now ask the question in a foreign language which does not favour a lot of our people who are affected by the drought in our beloved country. Mr. Speaker Sir, I want to put on the table my salary as a Member of Parliament, if it helps in a way that this Parliament and the august House may employ interpreters to enable people to speak in these languages. I am prepared to have a stop order on my salary … “

Speaker, Jacob Mudenda responded and said:

“…. on the recognition and use of our national official languages, our gadgets at the moment do not have automatic translation so that if you spoke in Shangani or any other of those fifteen vernacular languages, there is no automatic explanation or translation. Until such time that we have, can we restrict ourselves to languages that are fairly understood by Honourable Members and Ministers; until we get to the new Parliament where that facility will be available.”

By Own Correspondent- Parliament has revealed that minister who fail to attend parliamentary proceedings and do not seek leave of absence will be charged for contempt of parliament.

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda said this Wednesday after it emerged that there were ministers and their deputies who were presenting themselves for other non parliamentary duties but deliberately absconding parliament sittings.

Independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa raised concern that ministers had presented themselves for a state banquet hosted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa Tuesday night for his Tanzanian counterpart President John Magufuli but had chosen not to attend parliament sittings despite that there were important issues which required their presence and responses.

Said Mliswa:

“Mr Speaker Sir, you did read the Ministers who are not here but I was alive to the fact that there was a State banquet last night and I also saw you there and I saw all the Ministers there.  I think that there are other pressing issues which need to be dealt with.  If the Minister is not present, at least the Deputy Minister must be there. 

I say this because, in terms of the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, the Ministry has a lot to do in terms of the economic turnaround of this country.  It has to contribute 14% plus to the GDP.  There is the Hwange forensic report which I asked the Leader of the House and he has not responded to it. 

There are also people dying in mines.  There is now a death in the Mazowe Mines and we need to ask the Minister in charge to say what is going on.  There was Eldorado Mine, there was the Cricket Mine and now there is Mazowe Mine where people are dying and we seem not to be getting the Ministers here. 

So I think that it is important that the Deputy Minister at least must be here because the Leader of Government Business at times is not conversant with some of these issues.  So we are actually prejudicing our people in terms of the representation that they deserve.”

Said Mudenda:

“…… I have asked the Clerks-at-the Table to list those Ministers who have not come without any leave of absence and we will charge them accordingly – it is contempt of Parliament.”

Mliswa’s concern followed an announcement notifying the August house that the ministers in the list below had applied for leave of absence:

Hon. Chitando – The Minister of Mines and Mining Development;

Hon. Kambamura – The Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development;

Hon. Muswere – The Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services;

Hon. Simbanegavi – The Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation;

Hon. E. Moyo – The Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education;

Hon. S. Nyoni – The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development;

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Hon.  Kambamura

The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. S. G. Nyoni;

The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Climate and Rural Resettlement, Hon. Haritatos;

The Minister of Home Affairs and cultural Heritage, Hon. Mathema;

The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Hon. M. Mutsvangwa;

The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Dr. Kanhutu-Nzenza;

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Hon. M. Madiro;

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. L. Mathuke; and

The Minister of State for Midlands Province, Hon. L. Mavima.

By Own Correspondent- The United States of America and Amnesty International have strongly condemned the arrest of civil society leaders and leaders of opposition political parties by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

The denunciation comes after the arrest of civil society leaders, Stabile Dewah and Rita Nyamupinga and five others currently charged with attempting to overthrow the Zimbabwean government.

Police also arrested Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) lawmaker Joanna Mamombe on Wednesday and charged her with violating some sections of the Electoral Act.and opposition MP for treason.

The U.S Embassy in Harare posting on twitter said:

Harassment and targeted arrests of civil society leaders damages Zimbabwe’s reputation and economic future. We call on the Zimbabwean government to uphold its constitution, respect rule of law, and foster an environment where all can contribute to the nation’s progress.

Concurrently, Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa has in a statement said:

The first five human rights defenders arrested are facing trumped up charges for exercising their human rights. They should be released immediately and unconditionally. The charges against them fit into a much wider pattern of repression we have documented in Zimbabwe.-VOA

Mwanamyanda added that the government has been heavily descending on human rights defenders and activists for exercising their right to freedom of expression and association.

The president of Tanzania, John Pompey Magufuli has pledged to assist Zimbabwe with grain.

Magufuli said that Tanzania had a surplus during the 2018/19 farming season and feels obliged to help Zimbabwe which is expecting famine due to drought and cyclone Idai.

President Magufuli said this in Swahili and president Mnangagwa was the interpreter.

By Own Correspondent- A ZAOGA church congregant reportedly broke the jaw of a church mate after a fist fight broke out whilst they were on their way from an all-night prayer meeting for cyclone Idai survivors.

The publication reports that on April 20, Dhliwayo and his family together with the complainant were part of a group of church members who were coming from a ZAOGA FIF all-night prayer meeting for Cyclone Idai survivors.

When the group reached Nyanyadzi business center, Dhliwayo’s siblings were playing throwing pebbles at each other and one of the stones hit Mlambo, who then confronted Dhliwayo’s younger sister.

She then fled and sought refuge behind Dhliwayo, advising him that Mlambo wanted to assault her. Dhliwayo is reported to have responded by holding Mlambo by the collar and started assaulting him with fists.

Mlambo fell down, bleeding from the nose and mouth before Dhliwayo left.
The complainant was then scurried to the hospital by some of the members where it was discovered that he had suffered a broken jaw and a swollen face.

A report was then lodged at the police, leading to Dhliwayo’s arrest.

Appearing before magistrate Joshua Nembaware, Dhilwayo was slapped with 24 months imprisonment and six were conditionally suspended. 

In mitigation, Dhliwayo asked for forgiveness and said he had repented from his actions. Dhliwayo told the court that he was only trying to chastise the complainant for his behavior.

” I just made a mistake. I committed the offense unknowingly. I was trying to discipline the complainant and he then he raised his voice. We are church mates,” Dhliwayo said. 

A medical report which revealed that Mlambo suffered serious injuries which could cause permanent disability was compiled and produced in court.

Zimnat Life Assurance has introduced a funeral plan, Gadziriro/Lungiselelo, that pays out up to US$6 000 for a family of six for less than five United States dollars a month.

For a premium of US$4,99 per month a husband, wife and four children are each covered for an amount of US$1 000 in the event of their death.

The policy is not restricted to a family of six, nor is the amount of cover limited to US$1 000 per person. Families of any size, including extended family members, can take out a Gadziriro/Lungiselelo funeral policy, with the premium varying according to the number of people to be covered and the value of the cover required. The policy can also be taken out by a single individual.

The minimum cover per person under the Gadziriro/Lungiselelo plan is US$500 whilst the maximum cover is US$5 000 and the cover can be extended to parents and other extended family members for an additional charge.

A major feature of Gadziriro/Lungiselelo is that payment is guaranteed in United States dollars, which means the value of the policy remains the same and unaffected by any fluctuations in the value of RTGS dollars.

The policy can be applied for online through Zimnat’s self-help web portal, selfcare.zimnat.co.zw on which customers can enjoy a 10% discount by signing up. Alternatively, customers can sign up at any Zimnat branch, or through Zimnat agents countrywide.

Premiums can be paid on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis with customers getting a discount if the premiums are paid for the whole year.

The plan has an option for vigil and tombstone cover, doesn’t have any waiting period in the event of accidental death and no medicals are required to sign up.

Farai Dziva|
David Coltart has dismissed claims that he has postulated that MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa will never revive the country’s economy.

Coltart described a report published by a state run daily newspaper as “disgusting lies.”

“This is utterly shameful, gutter, reporting…

The headline is a total distortion of what I said – in fact I said the complete opposite. In the interview I said that ZANU PF has no capacity to rectify the economy and that they have created such a mess that it will take hard work and time to undo their mess.

I would not have agreed to stand for TG of the MDC if I didn’t have absolute faith in
Nelson Chamisa to lead Zimbabwe to a new dawn,” said Coltart.

“One final point – the Chronicle continues to be in brazen and willful breach of Section 61(4) of the Constitution, which requires all State media publications to be impartial. The editor and journalist who wrote this headline -should be ashamed of such lies,” added Coltart.

Farai Dziva|Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has described the RTGS Dollar as valueless and useless.

Speaking during a Question and Answer segment in Parliament, Biti described Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s policies as fictitious.

“My question is very simple Honourable Minister, why are you reluctant to adopt the multi-currency and do away with the RTGS dollar?

You also indicated that you would turnaround the country’s economy within six months of assuming office.

I understand you have not managed to achieve your objectives,” said Biti.

Ncube claimed Biti actually destroyed the country’s local currency.

“There is no way we can operate without our own currency.It is only a matter of time, you will begin to see the results very soon,” declared Ncube.

Farai Dziva|There was commotion in Parliament when MDC MP for Harare Central Murisi Zwizwai claimed Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna has the habit of carrying condoms into the Parliament Building.

Nduna had earlier asked the Speaker of Parliament to advise MPs to dress appropriately in line with the code of conduct of the august house.

Nduna said :”Mr Speaker Sir can you please furnish us with information on how to dress appropriately as expected.

I have noticed that Honorable Zwizwai had a hat under his armpit and I don’t think it is proper.”

Zwizwai responded:”Honourable Nduna has the habit of carrying condoms into Parliament is that proper Mr Speaker Sir?”

Zwizwai later withdrew his statement after being asked to do so by the Speaker of Parliament.

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-A) Party leader “Nero” Nelson Chamisa has expressed his disappointment at some ZANU-PF senior Parliamentarians who denied  to honour the late ZPRA intelligence Supremo Dr Dumiso Dabengwa who was declared a National Hero by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Sunday.

Posting on his twitter handle Chamisa said the refusal of some Members of Parliament including Tsitsi Gezi, to mourn Cde Dabengwa clearly indicates that there is chaos in the country.

“Some MP’s refusal to honour Cde Dumiso Dabengwa in parly yesterday sends signals of a country in turmoil. Zimbabwe is so deeply polarized by divisive & bitter partisanship. We hurt & hate each other so badly on account of politics leaving us with deep wounds. We must love,unite, heal and build!” said Chamisa.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reportedly to have been also snubbed Cde Dabengwa, assigning Vice President Kembo Mohadi to stand in on behalf of him throughout the funeral and burial.

Chamisa through his treasurer David Coltart told Dabengwa family that he will be attending the burial and memorial services of the late hero.

Dr Dabengwa died last week on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya on his way back to Zimbabwe from India where he had rushed for medical treatment. He will be buried at Ntabazinduna on Saturday.