By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have the managed to locate for activists who were allegedly abducted at the RGM International airport on Monday night. The ZLHR reveals this development in the below tweet:
State Media|A FORM One pupil died in Bulawayo yesterday after he was electrocuted by overhead power cables while fetching lemons from a tree to season mealie-meal porridge.
Prince Mafu of Emakhandeni suburb died instantly and was stuck on a mango tree until personnel from ZESA switched off power for him to be brought down. The mango tree that he had climbed is next to a lemon tree and both are directly under a power line.
His mother, Ms Elizabeth Mbele, who is expecting her fourth child, got into premature labour as she failed to contain her sorrow on the death of her child.
Prince’s family narrated how they witnessed him being consumed by the high voltage electricity and described the horror of watching smoke coming out of his burning body.
“We literally saw him getting burnt to death. The electricity consumed him while we watched. We were helpless. We could not do anything. He was too high up in the trees and neighbours called for ambulances and police but it was too late.
“I have been procrastinating trimming the trees. We are tenants at this house so the landlord comes once in a while and he had advised us to find someone who could cut the trees for us. It is sad,” said Mrs Sithokozile Mbele, his grandmother.
“The long wire he was using was not stable. It was going back and forth and the ripe lemons are now higher up the tree. So he climbed a mango tree which grows next to the lemon tree and got to the top. Somehow he failed to control the wire and it came into contact with the power cables. There is a transformer outside our yard,” said Mrs Mbele.
Neighbours described Prince as an obedient child who respected the elderly in his community.
“It pains us to see such a wonderful and well brought up boy die like this. These days so many youths are disrespecting elders and engaging in the unthinkable, but for such a good boy to go in such a painful way, I wonder why. This is a tragedy for the whole community as Prince was everyone’s child. Children nowadays are problematic but as a boy we watched him help his grandmother with cleaning duties such as mopping and polishing floors, laundry and most of all gardening. He loved to tend his garden,” said a neighbour who identified himself as Mr Moyo.
Mrs Mbele described her grandchild as a hardworking, intelligent and obedient child.
“He had not gone to school yesterday as he has outstanding school fees balance and was avoiding the embarrassment of being sent back home for non payment. My grandson was my blessing. He did everything around the house without complaining. As you can see on this wire, this black waxy stuff are chunks of his flesh which got burnt and got stuck on it,” said Mrs Mbele
When the Chronicle arrived at the scene, his body had been taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals.
“While he was up the tree, his uncle was telling him to get off as he had picked enough lemons to flavour the porridge. However, we did not know it was his last day.
“After he got electrocuted, we only saw smoke coming from his hands and feet as they were on fire. He froze in that position and got stuck in the tree. Ambulances, fire brigade and police rushed to the scene. The ambulance crew left as they said he had died instantly,” said Mrs Mbele.
The fire brigade could not remove the boy as power lines were still live and his body could electrocute anyone who came into contact with it as the metal hook he was using was still stuck to the power cables.
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VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…
By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has denied reports that police officers fired live ammunition at vendors in Harare’s CBD on Monday afternoon.
A statement by the police reads as follows:
The ZRP dismisses a social media claim that police have fired live ammunition at vendors near QV pharmacy at Kwameh Nkurumah/Angwa Street, Harare. The post is false.
The correct position is that an informant advised police that a cellphone dealer had been kidnapped and taken to a building near a sanitary lane close to an area frequented by vendors and his life was in danger.
Officer Commanding Harare District and other officers who were in the area quickly reacted and verbally ordered vendors to move away to allow police to attend to the kidnapping report.
One of the vendors became violent, he smashed a QV pharmacy glass and ran away.
Vendors then teamed up and started to throw stones and other objects at the police officers.
One of the officers pulled out a service pistol and scared them away while the Police Reaction Group was coming.
The Police Reaction Group then used tear smoke to drive the vendors way.
No live shots were fired at any given time. As we speak, the complainant who had been kidnapped is in the process of making a police report at Harare Central after the kidnappers took away some money from him over a previous cellphone transaction.
By Own Correspondent-ZUPCO has reduced bus fares by 50% effective from Tuesday 21 May 2019.
In an announcement made by the Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the move has been necessitated by the need to cushion the travelling public.
Distance 1-20km: Old fare – $1.00. New fare: $0.50
20-30km: Old fare – $1.50. New Fare: $0.75
30-40km: Old Fare – $2.00. New Fare – $1.00
By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has dismissed reports that police officers fired live ammunition at vendors in Harare’s CBD on Monday afternoon.
A statement by the police reads as follows:
The ZRP dismisses a social media claim that police have fired live ammunition at vendors near QV pharmacy at Kwameh Nkurumah/Angwa Street, Harare. The post is false.
The correct position is that an informant advised police that a cellphone dealer had been kidnapped and taken to a building near a sanitary lane close to an area frequented by vendors and his life was in danger.
Officer Commanding Harare District and other officers who were in the area quickly reacted and verbally ordered vendors to move away to allow police to attend to the kidnapping report.
One of the vendors became violent, he smashed a QV pharmacy glass and ran away.
Vendors then teamed up and started to throw stones and other objects at the police officers.
One of the officers pulled out a service pistol and scared them away while the Police Reaction Group was coming.
The Police Reaction Group then used tear smoke to drive the vendors way.
No live shots were fired at any given time. As we speak, the complainant who had been kidnapped is in the process of making a police report at Harare Central after the kidnappers took away some money from him over a previous cellphone transaction.
By Own Correspondent- The opposition MDC has invited the ruling party ZANU PF-affiliated war veterans association and the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T to its May elective Congress set to be held in Gweru.
The invitation was revealed by the party’s national organising secretary, Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya and the secretary for information, Jacob Mafume last week.
However, MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu dismissed the invitation, calling the MDC Congress kindergarten gibberish.
Speaking to a local publication, Gutu said:
“At any rate, the MDC-T has got completely no appetite to attending kindergarten gibberish.
If we want real entertainment, we go to a circus and not to a facade of a gathering disguised as a congress.
There is the High Court order by Honourable Justice Edith Mushore to contend with.
We are a law-abiding political party that resolutely believes in the rule of law and constitutionalism. We adhere to democracy and not mobocracy.
Why should we be seen hanging around with that lot? No, that won’t happen until the second coming of the Son of Man. We are perfectly happy where we are.
Let them wine and dine using the money they are getting from Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe. The chickens are coming home to roost. It’s not a congress, it’s actually a complete dog’s breakfast.”-DaliyNews
Farai Dziva|MDC A president Nelson Chamisa has taunted Emmerson Mnangagwa saying it is practically impossible to keep “goats stolen from someone”- implying that the Zanu PF leader rigged the 2018 polls.
Chamisa made the remarks at a rally in Chiredzi yesterday.
“Mbudzi dzokuba hadzichengeteki. You stole the election.
You are stealing 2% tax and you are stealing people’s foreign currency.
Pension and salaries have been eroded.
We are saying sanctions and Zanu PF must go,” said Chamisa.
“The GNU brought economy stability and recovery remember : $ for 2 yakauya naTsvangirai.
Sadly Zanu PF is “over borrowing” results in ballooning debts- Zimbabwe ine chikwereti che 20 billion.
The MDC has the capacity to change Zimbabwe’s economy within two weeks,” added Chamisa.
Farai Dziva | An elderly man from Gwanda, Bishop Sibanda, was arrested for attempting to kill his wife with an axe.
The man allegedly struck his 79-year-old wife with an axe leaving her with severe wounds for refusing to reconcile with him following their separation.
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Stanford Mguni told a state run daily paper the incident occurred last Monday around 2PM in Zhokwe Village.
He said Sibanda (78) followed his wife Agnes Sibanda to her family’s homestead and tried to persuade her to return with him to their matrimonial home.
After she refused Sibanda struck her with an axe once on the head and hit her with the axe handle several times on her back.
“I can confirm that we are investigating an attempted murder case which occurred in Zhokwe Village under Guyu area.
Bishop Sibanda went to look for his wife Agnes Sibanda at her parents’ homestead where she was now staying following their separation,” Mguni told the daily paper.
“Sibanda requested his wife to return with him to their matrimonial home as they were still married but she refused.
Sibanda became agitated and armed himself with an axe which was nearby and struck his wife once on the head and hit her with the axe handle several times on her back. Mrs Sibanda screamed for help and neighbours came to her aid and they restrained Sibanda.”
Mguni said the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene leading to Sibanda’s arrest. He said Mrs Sibanda was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where she is currently admitted.
Farai Dziva|Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said there is only one legally constituted MDC party in the country.
Addressing thousands of party supporters at a rally in Chiredzi on Sunday, Chamisa said :” There is only one MDC which is legally consituted -that is backed by the Constitution. The one Morgan Tsvangirai left. The one l am currently leading.
MDC is here to stay and it’s unstoppable.We are 20 -year -old party. We are a household party nationally and internationally.
We won presidential vote, councillors and MPs.”
“We are going to our 5th Congress in Gweru.We are modernizing the Party -making it a 20 th century party.
We are the first party to have peacefully debates among candidates. We are the first party in Africa to have candidates debating ideas.
We are teaching democracy in Zimbabwe and Africa.Debate of issues and not personalities.”
Farai Dziva| War veterans leader Victor Matamadanda has claimed MDC A comprises unruly youths who barred him from attending the burial of Morgan Tsvangirai.
Matamadanda accused the MDC Vanguard of threatening to beat him up at the funeral of the late MDC leader.
He also described the MDC A as an illegal composition.
See below comments on Matemada’ s remarks.
Yimbiri wrote : Murwere uyu kusiyana naye kwakangonaka wani he z so concerned with politics of the opposition than his own party.
Jordanabide: It’s a shame indeed to hear such comments from members of Zanu you end up being very worried about the judgement itself ummm.
Valentine Madziwa:Economy in shambles fix it forget about the Congress corruption yakuvhiringai.
Matron Nyoni:Coup leaders are illegal. Matemadanda & Mutodi same WhatsApp group.
Tafadzwa Natso Chidodo: Cz u talk rubbish dai vaiziva pain inevanhu nekuda kweeconomy apa everyday unotaura zvaChamisa instead of givin us hope yekut nyika muchaigadzira sei.
Safika Sayi:It’s illegal to you .
Jethro Makaye Bota:A declaration of illegality cannot come from authorities that are by themselves illegal.ED’s ascendance via a coup was illegal ab initio. Those in glass houses should not throw stones.
By Own Correspondent| Four civil society organisations representatives who were returning from an international trip were picked up by state security agents as they jetted back into the country from a CSOs conference.
The four, were allegedly picked up by the state security agents led by one Detective Ben Justin following the publication of a story run in the state owned Herald titled “Plot to unleash violent protest unearthed”.
The Herald story printed out allegations that the CSOs representatives were attending a meeting in Prague where they were being trained together with opposition MDC stalwarts on strategies to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
The four have been identified as Frank Mpahlo, from Transparency International, Gamuchirai Mukura representing COTRAD, George Makoni who is representing CCDZ and Tatenda Mombeyarara from the Citizens’ Manifesto.
Of the 4, pro democracy activist Makomborero Haruzivishe managed to reach 1 of them by late Monday night.
Haruzivishe told ZimEye, “the only one I managed to reach is Tatenda Mombeyarara although the conversation was brief.
“I am appealing to members of the public with details of the four because anything could happen to them,” he said.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
By Own Correspondent| MDC-T vice president, advocate Obert Gutu has dismissed as fake news the reports suggesting that the Supreme Court has overruled a High Court judgement that nullified Nelson Chamisa’s presidency in the MDC.
See Gutu’s tweet below:
Following the government move to liberalise the procurement of fuel by abandoning the 1:1 rate for fuel companies, the price of fuel has consequently been raised.
As a result, the pump price for diesel is now $4.88 per litre while the price of petrol will be selling at $4.96 per litre.
Opinion By Wes Beal|MY issue with judgments on who is President of the MDC, who is Deputy President, and the rest, is that those making arguments are selective in their reading of the Constitution, looking to find fault or merit in individuals, when the culprit in this whole mess is the Constitution itself.
We are concerned with the actions of a deliberative body. There is a higher bar for proving that such a body misinterpreted something. It is not one individual that reached a wrong conclusion: it is a whole group of people. Where a group is able to reach a conclusion that is false, the error is in the document, not the group.
Now we have individuals, whether they’re judges, legal experts, or laymen, holding their individual interpretation above that of a group.
I am a layman. I’m not a lawyer or legal expert. I can though read, and can comprehend what I read as well as most. This is my interpretation.
The Constitution was supposed to be clear and unambiguous. It wasn’t, and reasonable people were capable of reaching different conclusions. In such an important topic as succession, that should never have been possible.
The argument for one VP comes down to a less than ideal argument: how many times it’s referred to in the plural versus the singular in the Constitution. Six out of eight times it’s mentioned in the singular.
However, the two instances it is mentioned in the plural are rather key, as they are describing who forms what Party Organ. Under the composition of the National Standing Committee, the Constitution says: “Deputy Presidents.”
Under the composition of the National Executive Committee, the Constitution says: “President and Deputy Presidents.”
The idea that it is a typo is difficult to accept, when it occurs twice in such critical places. It’s at least plausible that since it was a change from 2011, the new plural form failed to be populated throughout the whole of the document.
Even if you feel it is more plausible that the reverse is true, that it was a typo in the two instances where the members of key organs of the Party were listed, it is at least open for interpretation, and therefore not possible to conclude one way without someone else being able to conclude the other.
Further, there is the matter that the Party was operating as if three VPs were permissible for several years. If the issue is what happened that led to the appointment of an Acting President, it shows a certain kind of desperation, or reaching, to travel back in time to attempt to pre-empt the issue entirely. The real crux of the issue is not how many VPs there were, but which of the VPs should have become Acting President.
Once you accept that it is at least a possible interpretation that more than one VP is permitted in the Constitution, you move on to figure out which should be declared Acting President. Unfortunately, when you go to look to find out who assumes the role of Acting President, you see that is one of the places where the Deputy President is in the singular. It hasn’t been updated to reflect more than one VP.
Section 9.21.1 says:
“In the event of the death or resignation of the President, the Deputy President assumes the role of Acting President…”
With it not defined in the Constitution, the practice had been that the President designated who was Acting President when he was not available. One natural conclusion is that the last person to hold the role of Acting President at the time of the President’s passing, was Acting President going forward. It is true that the President was aware he would pass on soon.
Unsurprisingly, those deputies not holding the role at the time of the President’s death would not be happy with this arrangement. Also, while it was the practice to determine who was Acting President in this manner, it leaves a bad taste for a democratic organization, as it suggests the President appointed his successor.
Some will say that even if the Constitution permits multiple deputies, only one deputy, Khupe, was duly elected. Under 6.4.4.1 (b) of the Constitution it says:
The National Standing Committee shall compose of the following office bearers elected by Congress:
(b): The Deputy Presidents
In this instance, where only one VP was elected at the 2014 Congress, and the other two were appointed later, the argument is that Khupe, being the only member elected in 2014, was the Acting President and a Congress would be necessary to appoint someone else President.
Except, at section 6.4.4.6, these powers are granted to the National Council: The National Council shall have the power of appointing any member of the National Executive Committee to any secretariat or policy position not specifically created in terms of this Constitution. Further the National Council shall have the power of appointing any deputy to any position or office where such does not exist and shall at any time create and fill any new Party Secretary position.
You can debate whether that applies to Deputy Presidents, or even Acting Presidents, or not, and that’s PRECISELY the problem: it’s debatable.More on ZOOMZimbabwe… VIDEO: Mnangagwa compares Chamisa to Satan
Further, there’s an argument to be made that the President is also able to appoint deputies. Under section 9.1.4, it says: The President shall, appoint deputies to officers of Congress from a pool of National Executive members elected from provinces and other office bearers where such is provided for in this Constitution and shall, from time to time, assign functions and responsibilities to various portfolios in the National Executive.
The President is an officer of Congress, and it says right there that the President shall appoint deputies to officers of Congress. If I could change this Constitution, I would want to make it so only Congress can elect officers. If I had my way, there would only be one VP allowed. If multiple VPs were maintained, I’d at least define how many, and rank them all by votes received at Congress, so it was clear who was number one, number two, etc.
But that’s all about what I want, what I think. It doesn’t deal with the problem, which is: reasonable people were capable of reaching different conclusions.
You may hold a different opinion, but there are clearly other rational conclusions to be made whether you agree with them or not. The fault was in the Constitution. It should not have been possible for reasonable people to reach different conclusions. Going forward, the Constitution must be deliberated on, and amended until it is no longer possible for reasonable people to reach different conclusions.
Before that happens, every conclusion reached will be subject to challenge. In the meantime, when I judge for myself what is right and what is wrong, it may be my opinion that one decision should have been made over another, but where fault is concerned, I’m restricted to whether the body made its decisions in good faith.
Without knowledge of their hearts, or evidence otherwise, I must presume they did. The solution is not to rule one side right, the other wrong. The solution is to now move on, and for the party, through its members, to vote and settle the matter.
17 people have been killed after heavy winds overturned a boat carrying local football players and their fans on a lake in Uganda.
Some bodies have been recovered while others are still missing, Police said on Monday.
“Two bodies have been recovered, while no fewer than 15 passengers were still missing since the boat capsized on Lake Albert in north-western Uganda on Sunday,” police spokesman Julius Hakiza told dpa.
According to Hakiza, 32 people, who were all returning from a football match, had been rescued by Sunday.
“We suspect the boat was overloaded and it was also overpowered by strong winds,” Hakiza said.
Boat accidents are common on the East African nation’s numerous lakes, where simple wooden boats are used as a means of public transport and often travel overloaded, in spite of bad weather conditions.
By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has dismissed reports that police officers fired live ammunition at vendors in Harare’s CBD on Monday afternoon.
A statement by the police reads as follows:
The ZRP dismisses a social media claim that police have fired live ammunition at vendors near QV pharmacy at Kwameh Nkurumah/Angwa Street, Harare. The post is false.
The correct position is that an informant advised police that a cellphone dealer had been kidnapped and taken to a building near a sanitary lane close to an area frequented by vendors and his life was in danger.
Officer Commanding Harare District and other officers who were in the area quickly reacted and verbally ordered vendors to move away to allow police to attend to the kidnapping report.
One of the vendors became violent, he smashed a QV pharmacy glass and ran away.
Vendors then teamed up and started to throw stones and other objects at the police officers.
One of the officers pulled out a service pistol and scared them away while the Police Reaction Group was coming.
The Police Reaction Group then used tear smoke to drive the vendors way.
No live shots were fired at any given time. As we speak, the complainant who had been kidnapped is in the process of making a police report at Harare Central after the kidnappers took away some money from him over a previous cellphone transaction.
Correspondent|The State-owned transport operator Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) has slashed bus fares by 50 percent with effect from tomorrow, the 21st of May 2019.
In a statement, Finance and Economic Development Permanent Secretary Mr George Guvamatanga said for a distance of one to 20 kilometers, the fare has been reduced from $1 to 50 cents.
He said the move is part of government operation to restore sanity in urban centres as commuters have been getting stranded on their way to and from work.
A distance of 20 to 30 kilometers, the fare has been reduced from $1.50 to 75 cents, Guvamatanga said.
A distance of 30 to 40 kilometers is now pegged at $1 from $2.
Mr Guvamatanga said the move has been necessitated by the need to cushion the travelling public adding that further distances will follow similar reductions.
Zimbabwe Achievers Awards UK has released the full list of the Chairman’s Honorary Awards recipients who will be honoured at the upcoming 9thAnniversary ZAA UK awards ceremony which will be held on the 25thof May in London.
The Chairman’s Honorary Awards are given annually at the awards ceremony in recognition of various individuals and organisations who have contributed positively to fields of business, arts, leadership, media, sport and many more. This year’s roll call of honour features the likes of Douglas Chikohora, business magnate Sir Richard Heygate, Dr Melanie Abas, Juliana Jonathan and Vusa Mkhaya for various special services in their fields of profession.
The honorary awards are handed out after considering the lifetime impact, influence and contributions to a cause by the recipient. Business mogul and innovative entrepreneur Sir Richard Heygate will get an honorary Award as a Friend of Zimbabwe due to his part in endorsing Zimbabwe as an investment destination and his investments in solar power, agriculture and new business innovation. He is also international agent and advisor for the world’s largest construction company; China Railway Group and is popularly known for his business innovations, having been part of the team that created the world’s first online Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
The Honorary Award for Services to Community Development is going to be given to Zimbabwe International Women’s Awards founder Juliana Jonathan who has been instrumental in the recognition and empowerment of inspirational women who are making moves within and beyond their communities. The award will be conferred on her in acknowledgement of her efforts in bringing the unsung heroines of communities to the public consciousness and writing a new narrative for Zimbabwean women.
Vusa Mkhaya will be honoured with the Honorary Award for Services to Music and Cultural Promotion in recognition of his exporting of Zimbabwean art and through his music and initiatives abroad in a way that has cast the spotlight on the country’s rich heritage and diverse art culture. Music and performance guru Wedzerai Zvirevo will also be honoured for his achievements. The Batanai Marimba group frontman is also a music instructor and has worked with various groups and organisations.
Dr Melanie Abas will be honoured with the Friend of Zimbabwe Award mainly in recognition of her extensive work in raising awareness and solutions for mental health matters and improving the quality of life in Zimbabwe through the Friendship Bench and various other partners. Friendship Bench assists many people battling anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges. She has also researched, published and mentored widely on depression issues especially in low and middle income countries and the Friendship Bench initiative in Zimbabwe is the largest depression program in any low income African country and has developed models for integrating depression care in primary care.
Dr Sam Kamuriwo will receive the Honorary Award for Services to Academics and Leadership for his contributions to the world of academic and business leadership. The CASS Business School Associate Professor has also inspired many through his extensive research works and award winning contributions to academia.
Douglas Chikohora will also be honoured with an Award for Services to Business and has over 30 years’ worth of experience in business and creating opportunities and development of businesses in the country and is the co-founder of CLUFF Associates Africa (CAA Ltd) together with Algy Cluff. The company mainly focuses on mining, in particular non-gold explorations in Africa focusing on energy minerals like coal, uranium and industrial minerals. His work is recognized all around Africa and beyond. Entrepreneur Ennie Mupoto will be honoured for Services to Business at the event. The More Care Energy Services(MECS) founder and owner will join an illustrious list of past recipients that include jeweller Patrick Mavros, Dr Ian Chikanza, Lettie Chimbi and Filekephi Jackson among others.
The ZAA UK Awards Dinner Gala will be held on Saturday 25thMay 2019 at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London and tickets are purchased online on http://www.zimachievers.com/uk/buy-tickets/
Meanwhile, the Inaugural ZAA Canada edition will take place on Saturday 29thJune 2019 at the Radisson Hotel in Edmonton and voting has opened until 5thJune 2019 on http://www.zimachievers.com/canada/vote/and tickets can be purchased on http://www.zimachievers.com/canada/buy-tickets/
A bus driver has hanged himself on a tree after his bus overturned and killed at least nine people on Alma Road in Welkom, Free State.
According to the Free State department of health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi, the male driver, aged 31, hanged himself on a tree with a safety belt that he cut from the bus seats.
“The bus driver committed suicide after realising how badly the people were injured. We felt that he felt accountable for the deaths and decided to kill himself,” Mvambi said.
Mvambi said the driver became aware of the deaths of the passengers as medical services were talking with him. He then later walked off unnoticed to hang himself.
Mvambi also said passengers told the emergency services that the driver had the accident during an argument with a few passengers who felt that the route was wrong.
“They said the driver took the wrong route and during the argument the driver hit the pavement and the bus overturned,” he said.
Mvambi told Sowetan that the Intercape bus overturned at about 5am on Monday, claiming the lives of nine people and leaving 46 injured, with 11 of those in a critical condition.
“The bus was coming from Durban, stopping at Welkom, and proceeding to Bloemfontein,” he said.
Mvambi said seven of the nine were declared dead on the scene while the other two died later in hospital. Three children were among the dead. — Sowetan
By Own Correspondent| A Zanu Pf MP and deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has legitimised the removal of former president Robert Mugabe saying that the ascendancy of the current leader Emmerson Mnangagwa was above board.
Mutodi argued that Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power cannot be likened to the ascendancy of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa since Mnangagwa was chosen by the central committee to fill a power vacuum that had been left after former president’s demise.
Mutodi said this in an interview with a local publication where he encouraged Chamisa to relinquish power since the High Court had ruled that he was an illegitimate leader.
He said:
For Zanu PF, I can assure you that this is not the same issue because there were intervening issues.
First of all, the President of the Republic, then Robert Mugabe was facing impeachment for allegations for having given his wife certain executive powers and Parliament taking measures to impeach him.
The military had intervened in the process of government on a very clear issue that the status quo had broken down so that is why the central committee had to sit in a formally-constituted meeting to determine who would be elected as the leader or interim leader of Zanu PF and then substantive leader.
That is how Mnangagwa’s name emerged. So this cannot be the same or some kind of replication or similarity of what is happening in the MDC.
Following government to liberalize the supply of fuel in the process dumping the 1:1 rate that it was still using to subsidize consumers, fuel price is expected to go up further choking the already burdening citizens.
In a statement, RBZ Governor Dr John Panonetsa Mangudya said fuel companies will with effect from tomorrow get their foreign currency from banks at the interbank rate.
Mangudya added that this moves means the previously used 1:1 rate has ended.
This means government has ended its fuel price subsidies to consumers and is likely to see prices going up to over six dollars to match the current interbank rate as companies will obviously seek to sell the precious liquid at a viable price.
Below is the full statement from RBZ
STATEMENT ON THE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUEL THROUGH THE INTERBANK FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET AND THE DRAWING DOWN OF USD500 MILLION OFFSHORE LINE OF CREDIT
The Reserve Bank Of (the ‘Bank’) is pleased to advise the public that with effect from 21 May 2019, the procurement of fuel by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) shall be done through the interbank foreign exchange market. There shall be only one foreign exchange rate to be used in the market for the importation of all goods services.
This means that the exchange rate that Was being used by OMCs for the procurement of fuel will be discontinued with immediate effect.
The new position is necessary to the efficient use of foreign exchange and to minimize and guard against Of arbitrage within the economy.
As previously advised, the Bank is Jyoceeding to make a drawdown of US$500 million from an offshore line of credit to supplement the Countrys foreign exchange receipts in ordÜ to underpin the interbank foreign exchange market for the purpses of meeting foregn payment Of businesses and individuals.
The facility Will be into the eonomy through the interbank foreign exchange framework at the prevailing interbank foreign exchange rate on a willing-buyer basis. Over and above these initiatives, Letters of Credit (LCs) shall continue to be used for the importation of essential commodities such as fuel, grain and cooking Oil.
The LCs will also be priced at the prevailing interbank foreign exchange rates. The Bank has directed banks to effectively apply the willing-seller willing-buyer principle to ensure that the interbank foreign exchange market is reflective of market conditions.
Accordingly, banks must ensure that there are no moral hazards in the operation of the interbank foreign exchange market. In this regard, all the foreign exchange requirements for for their own use that includes divdend payments, subscription fees, etc. would prior Exchange Control approval for the conduct of the interbank foreign exchange market.
Similarly, banks should discontinue tvvinning arrangements for their customers as this undermines the efficient operation of the interbank foreign exchange market.
J P MANGUDYA GOVERNOR 20 MAY 2019
Farai Dziva|Police are eagerly waiting for the the relatives of a man who was hit by a cross-border bus to disclose his identity.
The man, aged around 30, was hit by an Intercity bus last night around midnight near Mvuma- towards Fairfields at a Lay bye.
No identification documents were found on him.
He is believed to have been roaming alone in the Gumtree Plantation.
Police are still on site.
His body was taken to Mvuma Hospital Mortuary. No relatives have come forward claim his body.
Farai Dziva| Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has threatened to quit if club board does not adhere to his transfer policy for next season.
The Frenchman is in his second spell in charge of Los Blancos and on Saturday revealed that he will leave the club if he is hindered from making the decisions he feels are best for the team.
“When next season starts I will say who will be the first goalkeeper, the second and third. The decision will be mine. Who do you think makes the team? I am the coach. That’s clearer than water. If I do not do what I want on my team, I’m leaving. That’s clear, ” Zidane said in his press conference ahead of Madrid’ s last LaLiga game against Real Betis on Sunday.
The former France international is likely to make a lot of changes to the Real side, who will finish the season trophyless and 3rd behind city rivals Atletico and champions Barcelona, and reports indicate that Welshman Gareth Bale is one of the players likely to leave the club to make way for new additions.
Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has said the Emmerson Mnangagwa led dialogue lacks credibility because it ignores the views of 2,6 million voters.
Said Chamisa:”Zimbabwe’s crisis is political.We have’nt had genuine and true political settlement since the days of Lancaster,Unity accord and GPA GNU.Deceptive, manipulative politics upon fake dialogue is the source of all our national discohesion.This breeds false, disputed and rigged processes.”
He added:”Ambassador Mbete added that “…the success of a national dialogue will have far reaching implications for the SADC region and beyond.” This is what we have always said that stolen elections have a negative impact on the welfare of all SADC citizens, they repulse investment.
His Excellency Mbete also said, “…if necessary for credibility, the leadership of Zimbabwe wishes to consider a facilitator from outside Zimbabwe, we as a region will be ready to propose names from the African Continent.”We’ve said this from day 1 and called for such a mediator.”
“We welcome the wise words by the South African Ambassador Mphakama Mbete. He said, “..the national dialogue must be inclusive and participatory and take into account the views of all Zimbabweans.”
We restate that dialogue can’t be credible when it ignores the views of 2,6m voters.”
By Own Correspondent- Nine people have been confirmed dead and dozens more are missing after a boat capsized in western Uganda on Sunday.
The boat was carrying more than 50 football players and fans from the western Uganda district of Hoima.
Witnesses say overloading and bad weather are probably to blame for the accident, as rescue attempts continue.
In 2016, about 30 footballers and fans drowned when their boat capsized on Lake Albert.
The passengers were travelling to Runga landing site where a friendly match between two local clubs was scheduled.
The wooden canoe capsized shortly after it departed the docks.
A police spokesperson said that fishermen at nearby landing sites rushed to the rescue and 32 people were rescued within an hour of the accident.
Friends and relatives of the missing passengers have gathered at the shore as police conduct search operations.
The police and Military Marine Unit responded shortly afterwards with divers who have since been able to recover nine bodies, the BBC’s Dear Jeanne reports from Kampala.
Dozens Of Deaths
Police and eyewitnesses say the boat was overloaded and then hit by strong winds.
Survivors say most people on the boat were not wearing lifejackets.
In 2016, another boat carrying footballers and fans capsized on Lake Albert, killing more than 20 people.
In 2014, two boats carrying refugees being repatriated to DR Congo capsized and 109 bodies were recovered in Lake Albert.
Boat owners usually have some lifejackets onboard to avoid getting arrested by the marine police but the lifejackets are often old and there are not enough for all the passengers, our reporter says.
She adds that not many Ugandans, except those who live near water, know how to swim, which could be one reason for the high number of fatalities in boat accidents in the country.-BBC
Farai Dziva|State security agents are reportedly tormenting vendors around a supermarket in the ancient city of Masvingo for embarrassing Auxillia Mnangagwa.
Vendors who spoke to ZimEye say men in dark glasses have been frequenting the supermarket accusing the vendors of humiliating Mrs Mnangagwa.
Mrs Mnangagwa was on Friday afternoon booed as she entered a leading supermarket in the ancient city of Masvingo.
“There was commotion as scores of people jeered at Mrs Mnangagwa as she was getting into our shop.
Angry bystanders also booed her as she exited the supermarket,” a shop assistant who identified herself as Tanaka said.
“They also denounced her husband Emmerson Mnangagwa for causing the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe,” she added.
Mrs Mnangagwa’s security aides reportedly battled to contain the turmoil before whisking her away.
SOUTH Africa based music promoter and socialite Tanyaradwa “Lady T” Masango has denied allegations that they are an item with Soul Jah Love.
The 31-year-old said there was a misconception when people saw her picture with Jah Love and the picture also got her into trouble with her family.
“My dad called accusing me of doing drugs with Jah Love and others are saying we are dating.
“Truth is Jah Love is just a good friend though people say I’m dating him, we are not an item we are just friends,” said Lady T.
Lady T said she helped Jah Love come out clean on drugs and that’s when her picture appeared in the paper and sent negative thoughts in people’s minds.
“I am the one who told him to come out clean with this drug issue so maybe he felt the need to put our pic together.
“But there is nothing, he is a very busy guy but when he is not busy, we hang out together and its strictly for the good of the two of us musically.
“I’m running an anti-drug campaign in the music industry just to encourage artistes to stay off drugs and focus on their careers and stand as leaders,” she said.
The founder of Lady Tee entertainment said she has been loyal to Conquering Family even when Jah Love was still with Bounty Lisa.
“I have been loyal to both of them for years and I have been a Conquering family hype lady for years now.
“And all his SA tours I’m the one who hypes the posters and make sure the shows fill up because I have a huge musical fan base digitally,” she said.
Lady T, who is also a model and brand owner, said she thinks Bounty Lisa has an issue with her over her ex-hubby.
“I think Bounty is a bit offended that I’m close to her ex but what can we do its all about the family.
“She stopped talking to me but when I asked one of my artists who had got close to her if she had any reason for hating me, I heard disturbing stories,” said Masango.
Lady T said she will be having a show in June.
“I got a show this coming June in Zimbabwe with Norman from Extra Large, the purpose of this show is to uplift ghetto youths who are singing on the Helmet type of dancehall music,” she said.H-Metro
Farai Dziva| War veterans leader Victor Matamadanda has claimed MDC A comprises unruly youths who barred him from attending the burial of Morgan Tsvangirai.
Matamadanda accused the MDC Vanguard of threatening to beat him up at the funeral of the late MDC leader.
He also described the MDC A as an illegal composition.
See below comments on Matemada’ s remarks.
Yimbiri wrote :Murwere uyu kusiyana naye kwakangonaka wani he z so concerned with politics of the opposition than his own party.
Jordanabide: It’s a shame indeed to hear such comments from members of Zanu you end up being very worried about the judgement itself ummm.
Valentine Madziwa:Economy in shambles fix it forget about the Congress corruption yakuvhiringai.
Matron Nyoni:Coup leaders are illegal. Matemadanda & Mutodi same WhatsApp group.
Tafadzwa Natso Chidodo: Cz u talk rubbish dai vaiziva pain inevanhu nekuda kweeconomy apa everyday unotaura zvaChamisa instead of givin us hope yekut nyika muchaigadzira sei.
Safika Sayi:It’s illegal to you .
Jethro Makaye Bota:A declaration of illegality cannot come from authorities that are by themselves illegal.ED’s ascendance via a coup was illegal ab initio. Those in glass houses should not throw stones.
By Own Correspondent- The opposition MDC led by Dr Thokozani Khupe has turned down an invitation from the Nelson Chamisa led MDC to attend the party’s National Congress slated for May.
The response follows an invitation to both the Khupe led faction and ruling party ZANU PF-affiliated war veterans association to its 24-26 elective Congress set to be held in Gweru.
The invitation was revealed by the party’s national organising secretary, Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya and the secretary for information, Jacob Mafume last week.
However, MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu dismissed the invitation, calling the MDC Congress kindergarten gibberish.
Said Gutu:
At any rate, the MDC-T has got completely no appetite to attending kindergarten gibberish.
If we want real entertainment, we go to a circus and not to a facade of a gathering disguised as a congress.
There is the High Court order by Honourable Justice Edith Mushore to contend with.
We are a law-abiding political party that resolutely believes in the rule of law and constitutionalism. We adhere to democracy and not mobocracy.
Why should we be seen hanging around with that lot? No, that won’t happen until the second coming of the Son of Man. We are perfectly happy where we are.
Let them wine and dine using the money they are getting from Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe. The chickens are coming home to roost. It’s not a congress, it’s actually a complete dog’s breakfast.”-DailyNews
By Own Correspondent- Deputy Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi, said that MDC president Nelson Chamisa has to step down in line with a recent High Court ruling.
In an interview, with a local publication, Mutodi said that the opposition party should exercise democracy.
Said Mutodi:
Chamisa has been ruled illegitimate and we are saying he must step down.
What we are saying is, the opposition may be there, but it has to stick to its democratic principles, it has to stick to the expectations of Zimbabweans so that it can contribute meaningfully to the success of Zimbabwe.
As it stands, the MDC has actually deviated from its democratic principles and we urge it to actually go back to the principles that were left behind by Morgan Tsvangirai.
… As a government, we know the importance of the opposition. The opposition is very important in shaping legislation, in ensuring that the country can be recognised as a democratic State.
It actually points to cases that we may have an oversight, issues that we may not be considered as very important, the opposition can talk about those issues and we take them seriously and build our democracy.- Newsday
By Own Correspondent- A former Marondera councillor and his two accomplices who assaulted a police officer while resisting arrest, were last week each sentenced to an effective six months in prison.
Paul Masikati (48) of No. 1589 Sanganayi Street, Cherutombo, Marondera, together with Courage Ben (26) and Kudakwashe Zhou (25), assaulted Paineas Mashiri (30), who had arrested Masikati.
The three were initially sentenced to 12 months in prison before six months were suspended on condition that they did not commit a similar crime within the next five years.
For the State, Mr Musariyarwa said that on September 22 last year, the complainant was at Cherutombo Police Base doing charge office duties when he was sent to arrest Masikati for assault.
Masikati got wind of his impending arrest by Mashiri and went to the police base with Ben and Zhou.
When they arrived Masikati went behind the charge office reception desk, grabbed the complainant by the collar and shouted, “Mapurisa ngarohwe”, meaning police officers should be assaulted.
He slapped the complainant once on the forehead.
Ben also jumped on top of the charge office reception desk and slapped the complainant twice in the face and also tore the complainant’s uniform.
Zhou joined in and assaulted the complainant once on the back.
The complainant was rescued by Sherperd Magwaza who chased the trio out of the base.
Mashiri sustained a swollen face.-StateMedia
Farai Dziva| The Zimbabwe Warriors will start trooping into camp today to prepare for the COSAFA and AFCON Tournaments.
The majority of players in the provisional 34-member squadannounced last week are expected to report for duty today.
Nyasha Mushekwi will only join the rest of the team in June because the Chinese league is currently underway.
Dennis Dauda and Jimmy Dzingai are set to arrive in the country soon.
“Preparations for both the COSAFA & AFCON tournaments begin today in Harare,” Zifa confirmed on Monday.
The Warriors have a busy line-up in the coming month as they are set to play at Cosafa tournament in South Africa from the first of June. The will travel in the following week to Nigeria for a friendly match before playing another practice game yet to be confirmed.
They will start their Afcon campaign on the 21st of June against hosts Egypt.
Farai Dziva| Highlanders coach Madinda Ndlovu says he can’t understand why his team is failing to score goals despite dominating possession in most of their games.
Tshilamoya settled for another goalless draw on Sunday against Herentals in a match they could have netted a couple of goals but wasted all the chances that fell on their path.
“All the ingredients of football are put together, and at the end of the day there’s no one to eat the food. So, that’s as simple as I can put it.
“Anything else I think you can interpret it how you saw it out there, otherwise my comment will not matter anymore because you can never play football like this and come out without any results.
“That’s beyond us. We’re doing everything we can. The last time I said if you look at all aspects of the game, you find them in our game, the way we construct our passes, the way we get into the box, the way we move around, you get everything,” Said Madinda.
Highlanders have now gone for five consecutive games without scoring, and their last goal was in the 3-1 defeat to Harare City on Match-day Three.
In all the eight games they played this season, they have only found the back of the net twice.
By Own Correspondent- War veterans secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda said that even when invited to attend the opposition MDC congress by its leader Nelson Chamisa, he would never attend the “illegal” event.
Matemadanda said this following statements by Chamisa at a Chiredzzi “Thank You” rally on Sunday inviting Zanu Pf’s Matemadanda and leader of the splinter faction of the party Dr Thokozani Khupe to the forthcoming National Congress slated for May 4.
Responded Matemadanda:
“Assuming that the invitation was formal I would still not attend because in view of the court ruling it is an illegal congress and I would not attempt to give it any legality.
… In any case for your own information when I sought to attend Tsvangirai’s send off before his body left for Buhera last year, the MDC youths barred me and how will the so-called vanguards allow me to attend their congress when they blocked me from a funeral?”-Daily News
Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has said the fact that the centre of power is shifting to young people is undeniable and irreversible.
“THE PEOPLE SHALL BE GOVERN…The demographics of Zimbabwe locate the centre of power in the young people, the next generation.
If we don’t accept this reality there will be no change,therefore no transformation. Zim shall be the land of the free and prosperous!” Chamisa wrote on Twitter.
Chamisa also addressed thousands of party supporters in Chiredzi yesterday.
Farai Dziva|MDC A president Nelson Chamisa has taunted Emmerson Mnangagwa saying it is practically impossible to keep “goats stolen from someone”- implying that the Zanu PF leader rigged the 2018 polls.
Chamisa made the remarks at a rally in Chiredzi yesterday.
“Mbudzi dzokuba hadzichengeteki. You stole the election.
You are stealing 2% tax and you are stealing people’s foreign currency.
Pension and salaries have been eroded.
We are saying sanctions and Zanu PF must go,” said Chamisa.
“The GNU brought economy stability and recovery remember : $ for 2 yakauya naTsvangirai.
Sadly Zanu PF is “over borrowing” results in ballooning debts- Zimbabwe ine chikwereti che 20 billion.
The MDC has the capacity to change Zimbabwe’s economy within two weeks,” added Chamisa.
Farai Dziva|Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said there is only one legally constituted MDC party in the country.
Addressing thousands of party supporters at a rally in Chiredzi on Sunday, Chamisa said :” There is only one MDC which is legally consituted -that is backed by the Constitution. The one Morgan Tsvangirai left. The one l am currently leading.
MDC is here to stay and it’s unstoppable.We are 20 -year -old party. We are a household party nationally and internationally.
We won presidential vote, councillors and MPs.”
“We are going to our 5th Congress in Gweru.We are modernizing the Party -making it a 20 th century party.
We are the first party to have peacefully debates among candidates. We are the first party in Africa to have candidates debating ideas.
We are teaching democracy in Zimbabwe and Africa.Debate of issues and not personalities.”
Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said the current problems bedevilling the nation will be solved spiritually and the solution will manifest in the physical realm.
Chamisa told thousands of party supporters in Chiredzi the “walls of Jericho were crumbling.”
He said sanctions and Zanu PF were the two evils tormenting the country.
“We are prayer warriors and very soon we will be in total control of everything.
We are saying backwards never, forward is ever.Do not ask us how we are going to do it, God is in control of everything,” said Chamisa.
“We are saying the people have suffered for too long and very soon we will begin to witness positive developments,” added Chamisa.
By Mukasiri Sibanda| “… when it comes to diamond, there are syndicates that are very sophisticated in the country and outside the country and many people get involved. Many beneficiaries get involved to ensure that the truth never comes out” remarks given by Prof Gudyanga, former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Mines during a Parliament hearing on Missing $15 billion from Marange.
Introduction
Seven executive managers of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) were fired by the board on Friday 17 May 2019. ZCDC is a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE). The entity was created in 2015 and started operations in 2016 after seven diamond mining companies were booted out in the name of bringing transparency and accountability to murky Marange diamond mining activities.
The dismissal according the board, was necessitated by the desire to restore market and public confidence following several allegations of corruption and abuse of office. Since no granular details were shared, it is important not to take things at face value. But to try to dig deeper for possible clues and to help with suggestions on what it takes to bring public confidence in the management of Marange diamonds. I shudder to say rebuilding public confidence as opined by the ZCDC’s board because from the onset, Marange diamond mining operations dismally failed to inspire public confidence.
Jobs robbed by diamond robberies
ZCDC experienced a spate of armed robberies of diamonds. We have not heard of any public report on diamonds robberies at Murowa diamonds. Consequently, one can argue that a spate of diamond robberies might have robbed the senior management of their jobs. Speaking of armed diamond robberies, could it be that ZCDC management closed loopholes for powerful and well-connected individuals who are used to looting diamonds from Marange. Perhaps out of frustration and desperation, the clique became so daring to make a statement to ZCDC by organising several armed robberies. This sounds like stretching facts a bit far, but, the former Permanent Secretary, Prof Gudyanga warned “… when it comes to diamond, there are syndicates that are very sophisticated in the country and outside the country and many people get involved. Many beneficiaries get involved to ensure that the truth never comes out”
Allegations of corruption and abuse of power
Before the board announcement on dismissal of the ZCDC senior management, the CEO was arrested for recommending diamond sales to a black listed person under Kimberly Process (KP). Allegations surfaced on abuse of power by the chief financial officer who allegedly bought 1,200 bags on cement from Lafarge on ZCDC’s account for his own personal use. Looking at the rear-view mirror, Office of the Auditor General (OAG)’s report on ZCDC’s 2016 raised several damning issues on poor corporate governance. The board must openly address steps it took to implement the OAG’s recommendations.
People feel good when hunting with their own dogs
There were strong allegations that ZCDC was created to close revenue stream for one ZANU PF faction, Lacoste, which allegedly had the military backing. ZCDC was created when Chidhakwa, allegedly aligned to Generation 40 (G40) faction in ZANU PF, oversaw the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. The Military had a stake in one of the biggest diamond mines in Marange, Anjin Investments, which was booted out along with other entities – Mbada, Jinan, Diamond Mining Corporation (DMC), Kusena, Gye Nyame and Marange Resources. Companies like Anjin investments failed to have their books audited year in year out. The Auditor General had trouble to verify taxes paid by Anjin because of failure to produce audited financial statements. Whilst speculation was strong that factional fights created ZCDC, transparency was one of the main reasons given for creating ZCDC. Considering that Anjin’s books were never subjected to an audit, the transparency card was genuine although other motives could not be ruled out. So, when the Lacoste function emerged supreme after the November 2017 events which reshaped Zimbabwe’s political landscape, arguably, it was only a matter of time before changes were made. People feel good when hunting with their own dogs. Always, the ZCDC management which was dismissed was skating on thin political ice.
Failure to manage expectations
ZCDC mostly painted a robust outlook in terms of diamond production and earnings. Now that the country is facing severe foreign currency shortages, could it be that authorities in government were disappointed that diamonds were not bringing in the anticipated cash. In its 5-year strategic plan, ZCDC has a target of producing 10 million carats generating annually, generating $1 billion in foreign currency, contributing $250 million in taxes to government and $20 million to Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust. In 2018, ZCDC surpassed its targeted diamond production, producing 2.8 million carats against 2.4 million carats. Between 2016 and 2018, ZCDC generated $22.9 million according to MMCZ. Diamonds, including gold, and platinum used to be a top performer on foreign currency earnings at one-point generation US$740 million in 2012.
Conclusion
It is too early to celebrate whether ZCDC’s board made a good move to restore market and public confidence by firing the entire ZCDC executing management aside from the chief operating officer. Parliament Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development must dig to deeper to unmask real challenges at ZCDC. The board must understand that given past chronicles of corruption concerning Marange diamonds, openness is the pillar of building public confidence. Anything short will always attract speculations whether the move by the board is well intentioned or not.
-Mukasiri Sibanda
By Own Correspondent| A High Court judge Justice Aphas Chitakunye has expressed concern over the conduct of Pastor Ritiya of Ambassadors For Christ Ministries who solemnised the marriage between a Harare Central Hospital nurse Mavis Sibanda and Lesley Amos when the latter was still married to his UK based wife Dorothy Mtetwa.
The judge was surprised that Pastor Ritiya has gone on to solemnize the marriage despite the fact that Lesley’s wife Dorothy had objected to the wedding through her relatives who are based in Zimbabwe.
The story, which was run first on ZimEye, exposed how Amos, left his wife of 25 years in the UK only to wed his mistress after paying lobola, at an event witnessed by Mtetwa’s child.
Narrating the story to ZimEye, Mtetwa exposed how she had sought nullification of the marriage which was done behind her back to no avail at a ceremony where her relatives and friends were barred..
However, Amos responded giving his side of the story and said he had been misled by his sisters who said they had given his first wife a token of divorce since the duo had been customarily married.
In a dramatic development, the High Court nullified the duo’s wedding vows.
The court also ordered the pastor who officiated over the offending marriage to deregister it.
Justice Chitakunye warned marriage officers to take objections seriously and to seek proper legal guidance where they are not sure.
Part of Justice Chitakunye’s ruling read:
Dorothy had not been given a divorce token and thus her marriage to Lesley was still valid when he wedded Mavis. As such the marriage of Lesley and Mavis is not valid as it was solemnized when he was still married to Dorothy in terms of the law.
…marriage must be taken seriously and when there are impediments or potential impediments it is astute to firstly attend to the impediments.
As this involves a change of status, it is imperative that marriage officers take objections seriously and obtain proper legal guidance before proceeding with solemnisation of the marriage…this should have guided the marriage officer not to ignore protestations from the applicant.
Farai Dziva | An elderly man from Gwanda, Bishop Sibanda, was arrested for attempting to kill his wife with an axe.
The man allegedly struck his 79-year-old wife with an axe leaving her with severe wounds for refusing to reconcile with him following their separation.
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Stanford Mguni told a state run daily paper the incident occurred last Monday around 2PM in Zhokwe Village.
He said Sibanda (78) followed his wife Agnes Sibanda to her family’s homestead and tried to persuade her to return with him to their matrimonial home.
After she refused Sibanda struck her with an axe once on the head and hit her with the axe handle several times on her back.
“I can confirm that we are investigating an attempted murder case which occurred in Zhokwe Village under Guyu area.
Bishop Sibanda went to look for his wife Agnes Sibanda at her parents’ homestead where she was now staying following their separation,” Mguni told the daily paper.
“Sibanda requested his wife to return with him to their matrimonial home as they were still married but she refused.
Sibanda became agitated and armed himself with an axe which was nearby and struck his wife once on the head and hit her with the axe handle several times on her back. Mrs Sibanda screamed for help and neighbours came to her aid and they restrained Sibanda.”
Mguni said the matter was reported to the police who attended the scene leading to Sibanda’s arrest. He said Mrs Sibanda was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where she is currently admitted.
VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…
By Own Correspondent| Bulawayo City Council has resolved to repossess residential stands whose rates had not been paid for the past 5 years.
The properties will be repossessed and auctioned in line with the Registration and Derelict Lands Act (Chapter 20:20).
More than 2 000 properties are at risk of being repossessed, the majority of which are in low-density residential areas. Recent council minutes read in part:
Those property owners who re-surfaced after the properties had been advertised would have to justify why the council should not conclude that the properties had been abandoned.
The town clerk (Christopher Dube) confirmed that as management, they had agreed that all properties whose rates had not been paid for five years and above should be advertised.
The city council has also made an “unpopular” decision to increase the prices of stands. This was revealed by the chairperson of the finance and development committee Silas Chigora in a supplementary budget presented last week.
He said:
In coming up with the new pricing mechanism, the affordability of the stands to the intended beneficiaries was of paramount importance.
It was in this regard that I proposed to use the last approved stand prices, which had been in operation till December 2018, as the basis for determining the new stand prices in RTGS.
The pricing policy for council stands was based on full cost recovery, on servicing costs for newly-serviced residential stands. The full cost recovery basically meant that all costs involved in running a project were fully recouped.-StateMedia
VIDEOS LOADING BELOW
THE crippling fuel and power shortages facing Zimbabwe are likely to get worse if government fails to deal with price distortions on the market, former Finance minister Tendai Biti has said.
Speaking in a radio interview, Biti, who also chairs the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance, said government does not have money to continue subsidising fuel and should allow private players to fill the gap.
“The energy situation is dire; the fuel situation is particularly dire as evidenced by the long queues. We require about 1,6 billion litres of fuel every year, 1,12 billion diesel and about 570 million litres of petrol at a cost of $1,3 billion to US$1,5 billion per year,” Biti said.
“I want to underline US$ part; the government doesn’t have that money. My advice to the new (Energy minister Fortune Chasi) is that government should not try what it can’t do, it can’t buy fuel, it can’t give fuel companies money to buy because it doesn’t have the money.”
Zimbabwe’s cash shortages have crippled industry, forcing regular price hikes and triggering labour unrest.
Biti, credited by many for bringing stability to the fiscal space during his tenure as Finance minister in the inclusive government that ran from 2009 to 2013, said the solution to the glut of problems
facing the country was to redollarise and end the RTGS dollar era.
“We need to liberalise fuel procurement. Anyone who has foreign currency, who can bring fuel should be able to bring it, but here is a catch; you can’t bring into Zimbabwe fuel in US$ and sell it in bond notes because soon you will run out of the foreign currency. So, the minute you liberalise fuel you must essentially redollarise the economy,” Biti said.
Biti also called on Chasi to break fuel cartels accused of holding Mnangagwa’s government at ransom and fiddling with foreign currency pricing in the country.
“The minister has to break the fuel cartels; the oligopolies and monopolies that are controlling and stifling our fuel industry, the fuel in this country is controlled by two companies, Trafigura of Singapore. Singapore does not produce anything, why should Zimbabwe buy the bulk of its fuel from a middleman called Trafigura? He (Chasi) has to break that cartel. The pipeline is controlled by Glencore, I
shall not mention its local partners. The minister must break that monopoly and allow competition,” he said.
But Chasi, instead, said he was more inclined at controlling demand by conjuring plans and legislation that could control usage of fuel and energy as opposed to meeting the demand.
Mnangagwa last week moved Jorum Gumbo from the Energy portfolio, presumably because he had failed to deal with the fuel crisis, which Chasi says he has solutions to.
“We are going to resolve the challenges. I cannot give you a date, but we are going to be moving at a fast pace, that’s what the situation demands.”
Zimbabwe is, meanwhile, suffering a crippling power shortage as Zesa is failing to service a US$80 million debt to South Africa and Mozambique, who have been exporting electricity to the country.
Acting Zesa chief executive Patrick Chivaura said they have been hit by foreign currency shortages and do not have any solution until and unless the debts are serviced in full.
“We have not been able to pay any of our bills from August last year to date. South Africa can still give us power, but we still need to clear what we owe them, about $35 million and about the same amount we owe Mozambique. The major challenge is foreign currency,” he said.
The power utility is also struggling to recover a total of ZWL$1,2 billion in debts owed by government ministers, ministries and individuals.
-Newsday
By Own Correspondent| Blessing Kasiyamhuru, Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP) president has distanced his party from the current political dialogue being spearheaded by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Kasiyamhuru feels that the dialogue is not honestly addressing the major issues.
He said:
The parties to the national dialogue should clearly and honestly admit to a crisis or conflict in the system of governance of the State thus unanimously agreeing to go for the national dialogue as a crisis or conflict resolution move.
The dialogue should bring on board all conflict-fuelling issues and respective remedies, reforms or solutions that are unanimously agreed upon to address the crisis/conflict.
He also highlighted the importance of having a credible convenor who is agreed upon by all stakeholders to the dialogue.
He said:
The convener should be a single person, group of people, an organisation or coalition of organisations.
No matter how the national dialogue is modelled, the convener should be respected by the majority of the citizens and should not have any political aspirations or goals that would present an obvious conflict of interest for fear that the dialogue will bring more conflict than sanity to the status quo.
An effective national dialogue should involve representation of all stakeholders in the deliberations so that real drivers of the conflict are well addressed.
Kasiyamhuru also said that it was fundamental to have public consultations so as to have input and endorsement from the general populace.
The main opposition has also snubbed the dialogue.
Most of the South Africans caught up in an explosion that damaged a tourist bus near Egypt’s famed Giza pyramids arrived safely at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday.
Department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco) spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya said four of the 28 affected South Africans had remained in Egypt.
Three of them are still being treated in hospital, while one woman had chosen to stay and assist her injured husband, said Mabaya.
According to AFP, the roadside bomb went off as the bus was being driven into Giza, also causing injuries to Egyptians in a nearby car.
At least 17 people were injured during the blast.
“Minister Sisulu wishes those admitted in hospital a speedy recovery and has also directed South Africa’s ambassador to Egypt to give them all necessary support,” added Mabaya.
-Timeslive
By Own Correspondent| MDC president Nelson Chamisa has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa that his presidency will not last 5 years, as “the walls of Jericho are falling”.
Chamisa reiterated his position that he won last year’s presidential election, where the winner was declared to be the ZANU PF candidate with 50.6%.
Speaking to a large crowd that had gathered for the Party’s Thank You rally in Chiredzi over the weekend, Chamisa said:
We are not moving away from the July victory, that is why we are coming to thank you because we know you voted for the right person, but the wrong person grabbed power. He will not last in that position.
We are going to sort this problem soon. Some of you will ask me how, but we are prayer warriors.
We pray and do, do and pray, pray and do… the answer will come. Look, the walls of Jericho are falling, hunger is pulverising the country.
… You voted overwhelmingly and the fault is not yours. We beat ED (Mnangagwa). He knows that in the July elections we beat him, he knows the vote was given to his younger brother.
Chamisa said he will let the party’s lawyers deal with the High Court ruling that declared his presidency null and void.
He advised his erstwhile colleague Thokozani Khupe, MDC-T president to move own with her own party.-Newsday
A TOP official in the Justice ministry who operated a bogus theological college offering fake degrees to unsuspecting people in and around Marondera, was on Friday arraigned before magistrate Rumbidzai Munemo facing three counts of fraud.
Denison Mazana (59), a Mashonaland East Provincial accountant with the ministry is being charged alongside Charles Jusa (58) for operating the unregistered Addulam School of Ministry Institute.
Mazana has since been suspended by his employer until the matter is finalised.
The two are expected to return to court next week as prosecutors are seeking to transfer the case given that Mazana was stationed at Marondera Magistrates’ Court.
According to courts papers, on the first count, sometime in February last year, the accused persons approached a Macheke businessman Edmond Muyengwa (39) and misrepresented to him that their institution was genuine and offering a theology degree programme.
Muyengwa then enrolled with the institution and was made to pay tuition fees amounting to $730. In November last year, after completing the programme, the accused persons failed to issue a certificate to
Muyengwa, who then reported the matter to the police.
Using the same modus operandi, the duo approached a Macheke teacher Tracy Kurebwa (43), who enrolled with the institution in February last year after paying tuition of $740. After completing the programme in November last year, she, however, failed to get her certificate. She reported the matter to police.
Police investigated and discovered that the institution was not registered with the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education, leading to the arrest of the accused.
John Hama is representing the State.
-Newsday
WORLD soccer governing body, Fifa has pledged to construct a modern football stadium in Chimanimani as part of efforts to help rehabilitate sporting facilities that were destroyed by Cyclone Idai.
The cyclone-induced floods left a trail of destruction in Chimanimani and other eastern parts of the country in March this year killing 344 people.
Fifa, through its foundation, this month dispatched two officials Segbe Pritchett and Catarina Ferreira, who toured the three countries including Mozambique and Malawi, which were affected by the disaster.
They arrived in Harare on Saturday after touring Malawi and Mozambique. Yesterday, they held a meeting with government and Zifa officials, after which they pledged to help build a stadium, some pitches, as
well as providing equipment.
“We have seen the extent of damage that has been done in the area and our vision is to try and support as much as possible the affected communities through Zifa,” Pritchett said.
“We had a meeting with Zifa and they gave us an idea of what kind of support that is needed to support the affected areas in Zimbabwe. We are looking at two kinds of support. The first one, which is quite
immediate, is equipment, so we will try to provide balls and kits for the children to be able to play. I don’t know how long it will take to get the equipment here because sometimes the shipment as well as
the customs, it might take weeks or months. But that is something that is definitely in the pipeline and will be happening as soon as possible.”
Established last year, the Fifa Foundation was created as an independent entity with objectives to help promote positive social change around the world and raise support for the recovery and reconstruction
of damaged or destroyed sports infrastructure worldwide.
“Then in the later stages obviously the idea will be to construct some pitches and stadiums in the area that has been devastated by the cyclone. We will construct one stadium, and maybe 15 pitches, open
areas that will be supporting the different communities. That would take a little bit longer, hopefully in a year we will be able to inaugurate an area that the community will be able to use as a very nice
ground to play football. We want to construct something better than what you had before, better quality, to be able to support the community and who knows, maybe discover an amazing footballer in the coming
years who will represent Zimbabwe in a future big football event,” Pritchett said.
Pritchett said they are yet to establish the budget for the project, but assured Zifa that they would keep their promise.
Zifa president Felton Kamambo, whose association in March also donated to the Cyclone Idai victims, said: “We approached Fifa for assistance so that they can help us rehabilitate the stadiums and pitches and also provide some equipment for schools in the affected communities. We made a special request to Fifa that they can assist us by building a state-of-the-art stadium.
“Provisionally, they have agreed to that, and they have also agreed to help rehabilitate some pitches at different schools in Manicaland so it was a very effective meeting. In terms of equipment, we will give them a breakdown of the quantities that we need. We want to give the equipment to every ward, to make sure that there if football being played at that level.”
The government has pledged to provide space for the construction of the stadium.
-Newsday
I WILL MISS THE ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN TEAM:
This week will be my last as MDC Assembly of Women Chair and I am going to miss you all. I know that in future my heart and soul will always be grateful for the support you gave me as Assembly of Women Chair.
I want to thank the entire MDC Women Assembly Team not exluding the MDC members and stakeholders for having walked a 5 year journey with me as MDC Assembly of Women Chair. Thank you all
It’s not been an easy journey, and of course I’ve not got every decision right, but I do believe that I have given my all as evidenced by my works and the support I have given President Chamisa and the late Dr. Morgan Tsvangirayi whilst performing my duties and funtions as Assembly of Women Chair.
This coming week we have our MDC national congress and you are all aware I am contesting for the female VP post. I am humbly asking all the women i have worked with, MPS I have worked with, the Youth I have worked with, Members of the Executive and all MDC congress delagetes country wide to give me their special vote so I may continue to serve you and in particular supporting our President Advocate Chamisa in bringing freedom to all Zimbabweans. We still have a long journey to walk and allow me to walk with you as one of the MDC VPS. I have learned a lot from my grassroots days up to now as a member of the SC, Women leader, parliament and different Executive portfolios. My experience should help you in making your voting decision.
Finally, I’m confident that my successor and her successors in the position that I’ve been so privileged to hold will continue to lead smartly, tirelessly, courageously to make the MDC more united, more prosperous, whilst fighting for the rights of women in the MDC and country wide.
Cdes your vote is key, I humbly ask for it
Thank you, may God bless you
Lynette Karenyi-Kore
Assembly of Women Chair
A POLICE informant from Bulawayo was allegedly assaulted by soldiers manning the Plumtree border post for exposing smuggling syndicates involving politicians, security agents and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials.
Charles Chashamba, from Cowdray Park, gave tip-offs to police on smuggling syndicates that involve prominent ruling and opposition parties’ politicians, army and police bosses and Zimra officials (names supplied).
Police acted on some of his tip-offs to bust some of the smuggling rings that have cost government millions of dollars.
Chashamba claims that on March 2 he was assaulted and robbed by soldiers on patrol at the border accusing him of exposing their shenanigans. He reported the matter to Plumtree police, but nothing has been done to bring the culprits to book.
However, national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were underway.
“We confirm that he made a report on March 2 which report was acted upon by police in Plumtree and investigations were underway. Chashamba has been a regular informant for the police on smuggling syndicates and has been to all border posts in the southern region. He also operates a fleamarket in Bulawayo,” Nyathi said.
He said although Chashamba has been helping police, he also has tainted hands as he faces criminal allegations of aiding smugglers.
“He (Chashamba) would then report those who don’t give in to his demands. We are saying to him he should be also self-introspect before he reports others, most of whom would have refused his extortionist antics,” he said.
In an interview with Southern Eye on Sunday, Chashamba said he supplied the police with information and produced a list of Central Intelligence Organisation operatives, politicians both from the ruling and opposition parties, army, police bosses and Zimra officials involved in smuggling. He said he sent the list of names and registration numbers of vehicles used in smuggling to police headquarters. This publication has a copy of the list which was acknowledged to have been received by Senior Staff Officer Internal investigations, Assistant Commissioner S Dube for Chief Staff Officer Internal Investigations on October 14 last year. Chashamba said he was targeted by soldiers on March 2, at Plumtree border post while on his way from Botswana.
“I was greeted by two Zimra guys as I was heading out after two army intelligence officers requested to see my passport and found it to be in order. I left the border intending to board lifts to Bulawayo. They (intelligence officers) followed me and asked for my passport again saying they wanted to verify something,” he said, adding that they did not bring it back until the border was closed.
“They came at around 11pm and searched me before taking my 200 pula, bags and went away after assaulting me. I then walked and slept in a bushy area until early morning when I got transport into Plumtree town where I made a police report, but up to now nothing has been done,” he said.
-Newsday
Farai Dziva|A man aged around 30 was hit by an Intercity bus last night around midnight near Mvuma- towards Fairfields at a Lay bye.
No identification documents were found on him.
He is believed to have been roaming alone in the Gumtree Plantation.
Police are still on site.
His body was taken to Mvuma Hospital Mortuary. No relatives have come forward claim his body.
A UK woman who successfully nullified her husband’s marriage with his “small house” speaks on ZimEye.
Dorothy Mtetwa who poured jecha on her husband, Lesley Amos’ marriage to his Zimbabwean based sweetheart Mavis Sibanda is live on ZimEye.
Video loading below:
Full Text Of ARTUZ Statement:
The free fall of the RTGS dollar against the United States dollar has wiped out the value of Teachers’ salaries. Teachers are now earning below US$80 per month.
The Finance Minister Prof Mthuli continue to mislead the country by claiming that he has instituted measures to stabilize prices of goods and services. The lying professor further posits that workers’ salaries should not be negotiated in US dollar terms.
Injecting funds in the market for price stabilisation is an unsustainable attempt to arrest our economic challenges. The long term solution is hinged on stimulating production, nothing more nothing less.
Salary negotiations will continue revolving around the value of the RTGS vis-à-vis the US dollar as long as we continue to heavily rely on imports. Prices of basic goods and services are pegged against the USD, it will be naive for organized labour to ignore this reality.
Teachers are now worse off compared to someone on government welfare in South Africa.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, demands a minimum of US$ 500 per month. This falls short of the USD 600 proposed by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions’ General Council on 23 March.
We are demanding less because we understand the economic challenges confronting our country.
We have given our government up to the 3rd of June 2019 to pay us a living wage. If the government fails to deliver by then we will be forced to withdraw our labour.
We call upon the teachers of Zimbabwe to prepare for this historic protest. Our employer used the ” No work no pay” principle against us in February.
It follows now that we are no longer being paid we can’t be seen working. No pay no work, simple.
We warn the government to stop victimising our membership, they should rather focus on curbing corruption and solving the economic crisis.
We demand a living wage!
COMMENT: By Lovemore Imbayarwo| I think it’s simple if they are saying the truth about the $500million, they can just pay a debt of 80million to SA and Mozambique. Then start new deals of importing electricity. Reality to be said, if we have a budget surplus of over 400 million then where is the challenge. Economics on paper hadzishande let’s be more practical.
By Own Correspondent- A change of functional currency to RTGS dollars might have complicated things for Zimbabwe with regards to accessing the US$1 billion loan facility from China Export and Import bank for Hwange Power Station expansion.
Reports suggest that ZESA was obligated to keep US$28 million in an escrow account. The Chinese Eximbank was supposed to access the money if ZESA had defaulted paying the debt. The funds were however converted to the local currency and with the new currency, using the rate of about 3.5 RTGS to US dollar, the account now contains about US$7 million from US$28.
The project which purports to expand Hwange units 7 and 8 is reported to be already underway. Zimbabwe cannot afford to put the project on hold considering the power deficit in the country that resulted in prolonged power outages.
However, a misunderstanding with the Chinese bank could result in the project delayed.-StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Investors have called upon the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZ) to come up with strong monitoring mechanisms to protect the interests of the investing public.
Reports suggest that some directors of listed companies do not disclose enough information for shareholders. This has an impact on decisions made by shareholders.
Rob Stangroom an investor relations expert said that it is mandatory for listed companies to regularly provide information that is timely, regular and more consistent. This is done for shareholders to make informed decisions.
Stangroom’s remarks were reverberated by Investment Professionals Association of Zimbabwe board member Ranga Makwata. He notes that the regulator must constantly monitor companies since the desire to make more money sometimes tempt these companies to neglect their duties.
ZSE chief executive Justin Bgoni expressed concern over some directors’ lack of appreciation of their duty to disclose information. Bgoni further urged shareholders to attend annual general meetings to get inside information.
Meanwhile, SECZ research and market development manager Grace Berejena revealed that the commission was working on protecting investors’ interests. Berejena said that SECZ had an input in the reintroduction of a review panel that scrutinises all published financial statements and reporting standards to be adhered by all listed companies and their auditors.-Newsday
By Own Correspondent- The 64-hectare Chimwe Chegato Irrigation Scheme in Mberengwa that suspended operations last year is reported to have resumed operations.
The irrigation scheme is reported to have suspended operations after failing to settle utility bills it owed to ZESA, and ZINWA amounting to $92 000.
The irrigation scheme had to halt operations following its failure to settle utility bills amounting to $92 000 which it owed the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
Operations were resumed after the irrigation engaged service providers and agreed on a payment plan. The irrigation scheme has been a source of income and food for villagers.
Ms. Zvisinei Mataruse, the irrigation scheme’s vice chairperson said that the lives of many villagers have transformed since the introduction of the scheme. Her sentiments were echoed by Ward 12 councilor, Ms. Nokuthula Ndhlela who said:
The face of the community has changed as villagers are now getting their food and income from the scheme.
The State Media reports that a number of parents were now failing to pay fees for their children since they do not have other sources of income.
It also reports that the scheme is also ready for the production of wheat during this year’s season.
The scheme is located in Mberengwa North near Chegato High School which used to get agricultural supplies from the irrigation.
The Government of Zimbabwe launched the Political Actors Dialogue (PAD) on 17 May 2019. The stated goal of the process is to improve the country’s socio-economic fortunes whilst fostering tolerance and an inclusive democratic culture. It comprises seventeen (17) political parties with one conspicuous absentee, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Nelson Chamisa. The MDC and its supporters have consistently dismissed POLAD as insincere, ineffectual and disingenuous. In this post, I evaluate the criticism of the POLAD process in the context of Zimbabwe’s recent political history.
1. Exclusionary Nature of the Process
The most recurring criticism of POLAD has been the absence of the MDC. Some have questioned the efficacy of a process which does not include the country’s biggest opposition party. The absence of the MDC means the views of a significant number of Zimbabweans will be excluded, thereby undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the process. For this reason, South Africa’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Mphakama Mbete, underscored the need for the process to be inclusive and representative. Indeed, it would be inexcusable if the process lacks tangible outcomes and is only meant to bolster President Mnangagwa’s image as a unifying statesman.
However, the absence of the MDC is not by exclusion. They were invited andrejected the offer. Thus, Ambassador Mphakama Mbete also urged all parties to join POLAD. In other words, the process was not designed to be exclusionary. Instead, it is the MDC which found it too broad and inclusive. Nelson Chamisa argues that as the only political actor disputing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, he must be the sole party to dialogue with the incumbent. By this logic, the process need not be more inclusive, but be made exclusive to ZANU PF and the MDC.
It is demonstrably false to claim that Nelson Chamisa is the only political actor with an electoral dispute with Emmerson Mnangagwa. If anything, he is the only politician who was willing to pursue that dispute in a judicial forum. Whilst Chamisa has persisted with confrontation, his peers have opted for conversation; substituting embroilment with engagement. Therefore, it is counter-intuitive to argue that willingness to dialogue must itself be the basis for the removal of such actors from the dialogue process in favour of those questioning the legitimacy of the incumbent.
The MDC emerged from a broad coalition of working people, civil society and other groups. In spite of the eclectic nature of its origins, the MDC has operated with a high degree of secrecy and exclusivity in both the negotiations leading to the 18th Amendment of the Lancaster House Constitution and those in terms of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). In both instances, calls for inclusion from civil society were ignored and the MDC even berated the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) for opposing the constitution-making process.
Given this backdrop, it is hardly surprising that the MDC finds the POLAD process too inclusive. They believe in the sufficiency of their own participation to the exclusion of other political and civil society players.
This is one of the underlying drivers for the proliferation of political parties in Zimbabwe – the primacy of political party formations in national processes. Ten years ago, the NCA could only protest from the margins as a civic organisation. Now that it is a political party, it is part of the dialogue process and has left the business of boycotts to the MDC. National processes are seldom halted by the non-participation of one political player. Just as the COPAC process continued in spite of the boycott by the country’s biggest constitutional pressure group, the POLAD process has forged ahead in spite of spirited opposition from the MDC.
2. Legitimacy and Democratic Mandate
Alex Magaisa argues against the dialogue process as follows;
The fact of the matter is that none of these people has a democratic mandate to assume the role they are claiming. They do not represent anyone because not only are they are unelected but they have no significant vote to their name.
In other words, dialogue is only legitimate if conducted among elected representatives. This mistakenly conflates electability with the capacity to govern. Optimal governance choices are not the exclusive preserve of the elected. Elected officials have an important constitutionally delineated function which is not mutually exclusive with the proffering of alternate models of governance. The Constitution of Zimbabwe recognizes this by allowing the President to appoint up to five unelected members of cabinet.
In the United States, the less popular third parties have advocated for pertinent matters excluded from the national debate including opposition to slavery, the women’s suffragette movement and child labour laws.
Locally, the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) led the effort against the one-party state in spite of securing only two seats in the 1990 general elections. It is abundantly clear that optimal ideas do not fester only among the elected/electable.
Consider the following contradiction; the MDC maintains that the 2018 elections were not free and fair and so Emmerson Mnangagwa is not the legitimate President of Zimbabwe. Conversely, they insist the figures from that disputed election entitle them to preferential treatment as the country’s main opposition party. This is the art of having your cake and eating it. If the 2018 election results are to be considered, then one must come to terms with Mnangagwa’s victory ahead of claiming first position among the losers. If those results remain disputed, then it is reasonable for all political parties to be ranked equally pending a credible election result to set them apart. Just like the CODESA process in South Africa, all parties would then participate in creating the environment for an election with an undisputed outcome.
The undue emphasis on representative capacity seems misinformed by the 2008 negotiations in which all parties represented in parliament were also parties to the negotiations. In fact, that process was informed more by legislative rather thanrepresentative capacity. There could be no legislative outcome from the talks without the two MDC’s since they held a slim majority in the lower house. Representative capacity would have meant that Simba Makoni’s impressive 8.3% of the national vote would have secured him a seat at the negotiating table. Yet he had no legislative capacity and thus no leverage. In the current scenario, and in spite of their parliamentary representation, the MDC has very limited legislative capacity.
Like all the political parties represented at POLAD, they cannot block any legislation by ZANU PF including constitutional amendments, let alone pass their own legislation. This severely encumbers their ability to set the terms for any dialogue process or distinguish themselves from other political parties save by reference to figures from the same election whose result they continue to dispute.
3. Independent Mediator
The MDC has demanded an independent and mutually acceptable mediator. In the past, a mediator has been selected with some regional or international backing. South Africa was appointed mediator by SADC in 2007 whilst Britain facilitated the 1979 process in terms of a mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of States and Governments. Since the 2018 elections were largely endorsed as credible, there is no such regional/international backing for a mediator. This means the parties would need to create consensus over both the need for and choice of a mediator.
Past experience suggests that there is no mediator who is ever truly independent. Lord Carrington deftly protected white settler interests in 1979 whilst the South African mediators were repeatedly accused of pro-ZANU PF bias. The Motlanthe report was the latest iteration of the complexity in trying to secure independent arbiters from abroad.
4. Undermining Parliament
Magaisa fears the dialogue process will undermine Parliament.
More importantly, as a forum of interaction between the ruling party and the opposition on public affairs, the Polad is beginning to assume the role of an institution that is parallel to Parliament, except that it consists of the ruling party and the unelected.
It is not apparent how dialogue with a member of the executive amounts to assuming the role of the legislature. Neither is it clear how those without any votes in parliament can assume or subsume its role. As already highlighted, many noble causes have been championed outside of formal state institutions. In circumstances where Parliament is established for elected officials, it is reasonable to establish a more inclusive platform outside parliament to influence policy formulation. This does not circumvent the legislative process. Increasing the number of voices in the democratic conversation is not inimical to democracy.
5. Solving the Economic Crisis
Everybody agrees that the economy urgently needs to improve. Whilst some believe the panacea lay in better ideas, others repose their trust in particularindividuals. Magaisa argues that the economic problems are tied to ZANU PF’s failure to secure the loser’s consent after their victory. Yet the MDC has always argued that ZANU PF cannot manage the economy due to corruption and incompetence. Put differently, the moribund economic has more to do with the victor’s ineptitude than the loser’s consent or kudira jecha. If the country needs better ideas, then POLAD is an important opportunity for such technocrats as Nkosana Moyo to influence government policy. On the other hand, if it is onlyNelson Chamisa and the MDC who possess the keys to unlocking the economy’s potential, then there is little value in engaging the broad swath of Zimbabwean political parties.
6. Conclusion
If in previous post I was accused of blindness to politics, in this instance it is my singular focus. Opposition to the POLAD process has more to do with the politics of entry and exit than the value of discussing issues and ideas. It is concerned with the who and not the how; hence the emphasis on the legitimacy of the incumbent and those invited to the process. Imagine if fortunes were reversed and the MDC had won the 2018 elections with a two thirds majority in parliament; would they likely cajole ZANU PF to a dialogue process even if ZANU PF rejected the MDC’s claim of legitimacy? Such an outcome is highly unlikely given the treatment of the last high profile member of the opposition to question their leader’s legitimacy: Dr. Thokozani Khupe. Yet somehow, what leads to party expulsion internally is expected to justify exclusive dialogue nationally. Ultimately, every platform must be used to try improve the dire situation in the country and the courage to confront must not preclude exchange of ideas with those with a willingness to converse.
-www.davidhofisi.blogspot.com
Following the latest US crackdown on Chinese technology companies, Google has cut off Huawei’s Android license, dealing a huge blow to the besieged phonemaker. Reuters first reported the news.
Reached for comment, a Google spokesperson said only “We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications.” The order, in this case, appears to be the US Commerce Department’s recent decision to place Huawei on the “Entity List,” which as Reuters reports is a list of companies that are unable to buy technology from US companies without government approval.
Speaking to Reuters, a Google spokesperson confirmed that “Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices.” So while existing Huawei phones around the world won’t be immediately impacted by the decision, the future of updates for those phones as well as any new phones Huawei would produce remains in question.
Huawei is now restricted to using the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), cutting the company off from critical Google apps and services that consumers outside of China expect on Android devices. That also means Huawei will only be able to push security updates for Android once they’re made available in AOSP, assuming the company uses its own update system. It’s not clear yet how this will affect the full range of Android integrations that Huawei depends on, but we will update this story when we receive additional clarification about the impacts of Google’s decision.
COMMENT: By Lovemore Imbayarwo| I think it’s simple if they are saying the truth about the $500million, they can just pay a debt of 80million to SA and Mozambique. Then start new deals of importing electricity. Reality to be said, if we have a budget surplus of over 400 million then where is the challenge. Economics on paper hadzishande let’s be more practical.
By Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
Disturbing reports of ZANU PF hired sycophants who harassed Chief Ndiweni for standing for his people’s welfare should be condemned by all right thinking Zimbabweans.
The attack on the people’s chief is not only barbaric but a clear attempt by the ZANU PF government to emasculate and strip traditional leaders of their dignity and decorum.
Our history is flooded by a myriad of unpleasant cases whereby traditional leaders like chiefs and headmen were abused, tortured and stripped of humanity for merely standing on behalf of their suffering people.
In the past, heinous attacks on traditional leaders was usually perpetrated by colonialists who lacked understanding of the role of chiefs and the social fabric of our African society.
Chiefs like Mashonganyika, Mashayamombe and Tangwena were in the past subjected to horrendous torture and murder for standing on behalf of their people.
One of the reasons why our people waged the liberation struggle was to restore the dignity of our people and social fabric which usually revolves around traditional leaders like chiefs.
It is saddening that a party which claims to be proponents of the liberation struggle this time around is at the centre of harassment of our African traditional leaders.
Could it be that ZANU PF is trapped in the confines of the vicious cycle?
Or maybe the former liberation party is now suffering from the Fanonian case of Black Skin, White Mask?
For them to be, is to be like them!
They seem to have learnt everything from the colonialists and forgot nothing!
Just like as Ian Smith’s regime stripped the revolutionary Chief Tangwena of his rights and dignity, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s military regime is pulling a Smith on the brave Chief Ndiweni.
The more things change is the more they are remaining the same.
One of the revolutionary prophets, Mahatma Gandhi once said that the darkest hour is near dawn.
It was during our last darkest hour in the late 1970s that one of our traditional leaders, Chief Tangwena was humiliated and subjected to torture but what followed was a new dawn in 1980.
Chief Ndiweni is the Tangwena of our generation and the hour is now!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Youth Assembly National Secretary for Information and Publicity Candidate
Correspondent| Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) released the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the first quarter of 2019.
The report was met with deep concern by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), as the number of unemployed young people had grown.
“Last year this time, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported a staggering 34.2% of persons aged 15-24 years, who were not in employment, education or training,” the NYDA stated.
NYDA executive chairperson Sifiso Mtsweni has come up with a solution urging the private and public sector institutions to raise the representation of young people in their workplace to 40%.
“We believe the scrapping of experience as a prerequisite to job placements will drastically reduce the number of unemployed graduates. The growing number of discouraged work-seekers and the number of people, who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement, needs urgent attention,” Mtsweni explained.
“The commitment by government working together with social partners to place economic growth and job creation at the centre of our national agenda is welcomed. However, we demand that the new government administration increase the speed at which it moves to resolve this dire situation.”
According to the survey, the unemployment rate in SA has increased by 0.5 of a percentage point to 27.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. It is explained by a combination of two factors: the number of people in employment has declined by 237,000 to 16.3 million, while the number of people unemployed between the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019 has increased by 62,000 to 6.2 million.
By Own Correspondent- ZESA Holdings, Zimbabwe’s power utility is looking for a new group chief executive officer following the termination of Engineer Josh Chifamba’s contract recently.
In a notice, ZESA said:
Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the position of group chief executive officer that has arisen in the utility.
The former CEO, Chifamba was arrested in 2018 in connection with alleged criminal abuse of office.
Resultantly, the company’s board decided not to extend his second term. His contract expired last year, having been extended by four years after earlier serving for three years as Zesa chief executive officer.StateMedia
By Own Correspondent- Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said that the government is committed to accelerating the law-making process.
The advocate was speaking after meeting with British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms. Melanie Robinson.
Speaking to the state media, Adv Mudenda said:
We had fruitful discussions. We explained the law-making process. We had to explain that because we got the impression from our exchange that the process was a bit slow.
We reassured the ambassador that we will accelerate the process, but without compromising the quality of our legislative process which must comply with Sections 149 and 141 of the Constitution. I am quite sure that the Bills that have come from the Executive are receiving the greatest attention from Parliament.
That is why we had to meet today (Friday), which is unusual, so that we expedite the law-making process. We believe that when it comes to the electoral reforms in refining our electoral law, we should be in a position in the next two or three months to refine that piece of legislation.
He said that despite the need to quicken the process, consultation of the citizenry is equally important.-StateMedia
By Farai D Hove| The MDC President Nelson Chamisa has said sanctions are twins with ZANU PF in existence.
Chamisa was speaking at his Chiredzi rally on Sunday.
He said, “Zanu PF blame sanctions for their failure to fix the economy… Yes, sanctions and Zanu PF must go because they are twins, they move together; When you see Zanu PF, you have seen sanctions.
“We have said we don’t want sanctions on our country, but sanctions will only go after we remove Zanu PF. Zanu PF is the inviter(sic) of sanctions on this country.”
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has said residents in the city’s affluent suburbs are the worst rate payers as they constitute the majority of debtors.
Council is owed more than $100 million by residents and the business community.
Recently, it resolved to resume water disconnections with immediate effect after it observed lack of commitment to clear arrears by its debtors.
In the latest council report, the local authority provided statistics on how much it is owed by each of the municipality’s 29 wards.
The report identified Ward 4 as its worst domestic debtor.
Ward 4 consists of suburbs such as Burnside, Ascot, Willsgrove, Glencoe, Lochview, Riverside, Buena Vista, Manningdale, Sunninghill, Waterford, Matsheumhlope Portion, Hillside Portion, Fortunes Gate, Malindela, Woodlands, Ilanda and Selbourne Park Phases 1 and 2.
The suburbs have a joint $10 million debt from 9 302 debtors and 1 924 did not make any payments in the last six months.
According to the report, Ward 4 is closely followed by Ward 3 that has the following suburbs; Hume Park, Suburbs, Killarney, Orange Grove, Queens Park East, Romney Park, Sunnyside, Paddonhurst, Kumalo, Glengarry, Parklands, Northlea, Woodville and Mahatshula with a combined $7,2 million debt.
The report shows that Ward 3 has 11 137 debtors and 1 786 of them have not made any payments to the local authority in the last six months.
Ward 2, which has suburbs that include Sauerstown, Tegela, Norwood, Richmond, Windsor Park and Glenville, Trenance North, Highmount, Harrisvale, Queensdale,Kingsdale, Trenance, Northgate, Queens Park West and North End has debts amounting to $5,3 million.
The Ward, the report states, has 5 959 debtors and 1 096 of them have not made any efforts to clear their debts in last six months.
In the western suburbs, Ward 13 dominates the domestic debt book as it owes council $5,4 million from 4 475 debtors who include 1 128 who have not made any payments to the local authority in half a year.
The ward has Pelandaba, Iminyela and Mabutweni suburbs as well as Kelvin North industrial site.
Ward 27 under which Pumula South and Pelandaba West suburbs fall in the western areas owes council $4,3 million.
From the council’s report, suburbs such as Old Luveve, New Luveve and Luveve Industries owe council the least amount just above $1,3 million from 2 692 debtors with 418 of them having not made any payments in the last six months. .
Council said in light of the ballooning debt, it will take drastic measures to remain afloat and provide services.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| Zimbabwe has been gripped by a terrible shortage of food stuffs, unprecedented price hikes of 200%, and fuel-drought. Each and every Zimbabwean feels the sharp impact of the economic chaos and self inflicted problems plunging Zimbabwe into an economic jungle.
The most recent mini cabinet reshuffle is giving hope as Fortune Chasi is already running just as he hits the ground. The minister has been so visible to the public in the last few days he has been appointed. However the queues have not run dry.
This fuel shortage is likely going to influence the prices of other goods.
Load shedding has rooted itself comfortably and if not tackled it will be signed off as normal.
Low-income earners and the already unemployed are suffering the most during this period as transport costs sky rocket. The panic buying of fuel which is ongoing is causing shortages. Food sellers are increasing prices, with the hotel industries doing the most of economic destruction. As consumers rushed to stock up due to fears over the outcome of the monetary policy and the speculative currency change, the country bleeds and people are really suffering.
The detractors are starting to speculate and spreading fears in the market which is resulting in the belief that things are going bad. In response to the speculation spreading like wild-fire, the shop owners are starting to hoard stuff creating fictitious shortages which have pushed the prices up.
“There were supply constraints as trucks kept off the road, leading to shortage of food items. There are a lot of people who are benefitting from the chaos. The most painful thing in the whole issue is that it triggers panic buying.
Panic buying is a type of behavior marked by a rapid increase in purchase volume, typically causing the price of a good or security to increase. From a macro perspective, panic buying reduces supply and creates higher demand.
This pushes up inflation and the people will be hard hit. The oil industry in Zimbabwe has been hijacked by the greedy gluttons who are making their fortunes out of this misfortune in the ministry led by Honourable fortune. Zimbabwe’s survival in this problem has suddenly been left in the ugly hands of fortune to be solved by fortune.
The shortage created Is. now leading to substantial price increases at this time while on the pump the price looks stable the same pump charged in foreign currency once you attend the service station with hard cash. Because the service stations can make more money from those who can afford it they then reserve the fuel only for the privileged ones.
During this time of energy crisis most people avoid major towns, with suppliers also unwilling to risk their business. Fuel station refuse to sale their fuel with the hope of selling at a very high unsubstantiated prices or in hard cashIn Harare the central business district is congested with queues of fuel seekers causing serious panic buying and hoarding.
The low-income group bore the brunt since they usually purchase in small quantities every day to match their budget constraints.
They do not have fridges but buy in small quantities and, therefore, if what they are seeking is not available or the price is high, they are forced to alter the spending power,
This problem now facing Zimbabwe is man made. Most Business people have become greedy and wants to maximize profit.
The opposition jumps in the bandwagon and seek to prove that the government is failing to run the country.
It becomes clear that the problems we are facing now are meant to cause mayhem and trigger people to riot and cause civil strife.
With the cabinet reshuffle and the technical demotion of Joram Gumbo and the advent of Comrade Chasi normalisation of supply and the Government’s quick response furl inflation would ease, leading to a drop in overall inflation. This needs our government to act very fast and arrest this decay.
There are government officials and corrupt individuals who are benefiting from this pain. It then begs a question is this a political game. Playing with people’s lives.
Panic buying may result from a number of different events.
Generally panic buying occurs from increased demand which causes an increase in price. Adversely, panic selling has the opposite affect resulting in increased supply and a lower price. Conceptually panic buying and selling on a large scale can have dramatic affects leading to market shifts in various scenarios.
Investment trading and a country’s economic framework provide two settings for broad market affects from panic buying. Both can be important landscapes for following supply, demand and price inflation. Investment trading will typically see more direct and immediate affects from panic buying. A country’s economic framework will also be influenced by panic buying however it would have less of an immediate impact since it causes price fluctuation in goods which are depleted over a longer amount of time from supply backed by inventory.
Our only hope is for the government to flood the market with fuel and upset the greedy blood sucking opportunists who are plying on the poor Zimbabweans.
The situation is not giving our government a good name.
Zimbabwe should expect things to be worse before they get better. As a country we need to work towards progress not to Work against the centre of our life.
In service stations in Harare petrol men tell customers clearly that they will not sell fuel to Pferorists. This shows the opposition is creating a bad name for the government for their own milage.
The cruel idea of persucuting and starving the people to rioting is not patriotic at all. Our country needs people who pool together.
Supply disruptions, which refers to the interruption of normal product supply within supply chains, have been frequently observed around the country. This does not reflect on the government’s inability to govern but on the opposition’s ability to cause havoc. Disruption could be caused by various reasons, such as natural disasters, labor strikes, terrorist attacks, and changes in govern- ment regulation, in our situation we have terrorists dressed as opposition. Who celebrate as people suffer. Who play politics with the lives of the masses. Supply disruption is considered as one of the top concerns for supply chain management and the government must take it very seriously. As a result, recent days have observed an increasing amount of sabotage by the opposition and the business people. The government should deal with supply disruptions, via multi-sourcing, supplier certification, and arresting those raising prices in an unreasonable manner.
The government must use the increasing access to information via Internet and TV and make many consumers to receive timely information about disruptive events. But the actual consequences of these disruptive events are often uncertain so strong action has to be taken.
If we do not stand up against the thugs rolling our country into the forge of economic confusion.
Even the opposition is important to developmen. They must work towards bettering the lives of the people not to punish people by denying them quality of life.
Fuel and energy problems are man made they can be resolved by men.
Arnold Schwarzenegger says the man who attacked him at a meet-and-greet in South Africa this weekend was simply trying to become ‘famous’.
Fans were horrified on Saturday when the 71- year- old was attacked from behind and drop-kicked by a man who attended the annual Arnold Sports Festival in Sandton.
Footage of the incident shows Arnie being pushed forward before the attacker is grappled to the floor by the Hollywood star’s bodyguards.
After addressing the attack by thanking fans for their concerns, Arnold later called for fans not to circulate the footage to avoid making the attacker famous.
The former California governor told his 4.32 million Twitter followers: ‘Do me a favor: instead of sharing the video of the guy who wants to be famous, watch some of our @ArnoldSports athletes like this young hero proving that fitness is for everyone who deserve to be famous. They’re on my Snapchat.
‘We have 90 sports here in South Africa at the @ArnoldSports, and 24,000 athletes of all ages and abilities inspiring all of us to get off the couch. Let’s put this spotlight on them.’
He added: ‘And if you have to share the video (I get it), pick a blurry one without whatever he was yelling so he doesn’t get the spotlight. By the way… block or charge?’
Despite the scare, Arnold has maintained his good sense of humour and was entertained by a fan’s commentary of the attack, after they said the man ‘bounced off [Arnold] like a ping pong ball hitting a gorilla’.
Appreciating the wit, Arnie replied: ‘Keep your analogies coming, my friend! They’re fantastic.’
Moments after the incident, Arnie continued to greet fans like a true professional but his security team whisked him away just minutes later.
Speaking out for the first time after the drama, the Terminator actor said: ‘Thanks for your concerns, but there is nothing to worry about.
‘I thought I was just jostled by the crowd, which happens a lot. I only realized I was kicked when I saw the video like all of you. I’m just glad the idiot didn’t interrupt my Snapchat [sic].’
State Media|SPEAKER of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has described the women’s parliamentary quota system as a powerful gender empowerment tool saying he will ensure its extension beyond 2023.
The constitutional provision for women proportional representation in Parliament is set to expire in 2023.
Speaking at the launch of Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC) photobook in Harare last week, Adv Mudenda said he was going to ensure the extension of the women’s quota beyond 2023.
The photobook depicts in words and pictures the achievements, challenges encountered by women politicians and their aspirations for the future.
“As your Speaker, I shall ensure that the constitutional provision for women’s proportional representation rolls over beyond 2023.”
Adv Mudenda said he will also try to persuade different political parties to promote gender parity in line with the supreme law of the country.
“Furthermore, I shall endeavour to persuade political parties to provide for gender parity in their party constitutions so as to comply with the national Constitution’s demand for gender parity,” he said.
Adv Mudenda said the proportional representation enriched parliamentary debates and had helped in mitigating gender stereotypes in politics.
“In fact, an increase in the proportion of women elected under the proportional representation matrix has made a difference in the passage of legislation beneficial towards mitigating the negative attitudes against women participation in politics,” he said.
Adv Mudenda said the ZWPC was instrumental in the debates that led to the promulgation of the of 2013 Constitution, which is highly rated globally for being gender sensitive.
It also played an integral role in the amendment of the Labour Act which now provides for maternity leave with full pay for women.
ZWPC was also instrumental in passing the Domestic Violence Act and the Education Act which provides for gender parity in education.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, who is a former ZWPC chairperson, urged the Ninth Parliament ZWPC to mentor young girls in various constituencies.
“I would urge the Ninth Parliament ZWPC to take up the issue and engage the young girls and move towards the promotion of politics as a career”
Cde Mutsvangwa also said the Ninth Parliament should push for equal representation in Parliament.
“The 50/50 campaign is a campaign that is now at the core of the gender movement’s work which the Ninth Parliament should consider seriously to ensure equal representation in Parliament and all sectors at decision- making level.”
The launch of the Eighth Parliament photobook is an initiative driven by the Research and Advocacy Unit and the Gender Media Connect to amplify the voices of women, feminist principles, media and research expertise.
State Media|Government has assured People Living with HIV and Aids (PLWHA) of the safety and effectiveness of all antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) being dispensed in public health institutions. This followed fears and concerns by some PLWHA that a batch of ARVs whose shelf life was extended by six months following their initial expiration in June 2018, were causing side effects.
Director of Aids and TB Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Owen Mugurungi said Government was given the nod to dispense the ARVs for an additional six months by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) following successful safety and effectiveness tests.
“It is common practice that when any medicine expires, the first step is to consult with MCAZ for safety and effectiveness beyond the expiration date. This is what we did with this particular batch resulting in extension of their shelf life for the next six months.
“Most medicines can actually go beyond the stated expiration date and what we did was common practice anywhere in the world,” said Dr Mugurungi. In fact in other countries with resources, they then repackage the medicines to reflect the new expiration date,” he said.
He however, said in this case, pharmacists were then supposed to explain to all clients upon dispensing the medicine that it was safe and still effective for six more months.
Dr Mugurungi said it was illogical to destroy the medicines when they had been proved safe.
MCAZ projects and public relations officer Mr Shingai Gwatidzo confirmed that the MCAZ gave an approval to all expired ARVs to be used for the next six months. “The products that were granted an extension of shelf life were Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Lamivudine 300mg/300mg Batch Numbers E161588, E161587 & E161290A, 3056128, 3056129, 3056130, 3056131, 3056164, 3056165, 3056166, 3056167 and 3056168. It is important for people to note that it was not a blanket approval of all expired ARVs!,” said Mr Gwatidzo.
State Media|THE Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial leadership and restructuring team yesterday declared the provincial elections null and void with former war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda who was eyeing the chairman’s post being asked to step aside.
In an interview after the elections were declared null and void at the party provincial headquarters, Davies Hall, yesterday, Zanu-PF Director in the Commissariat George Nare said elections were moved to Saturday after it was realised that the calibre of party members that were being nominated into leadership positions was below the party’s expectations and standards.
He however, said election results that came out of Saturday’s polls still stand.
Nare said during Saturday’s elections, Rejoice Ndlovu was elected chairperson of the Women’s League, while Cephas Ncube and Garikayi Zonde were elected as chairpersons of the Main Wing and Youth League respectively.
On Sibanda not participating in the elections, Nare said the former war veterans’ leader had not been disqualified but was asked not to contest.
“He was persuaded by fellow war veterans not to contest and allow Cde Ncube who is chairman of the war veterans in Bulawayo province to do so which he won resoundingly,” he said.
On nullification of yesterday’s process, Nare said as the elections progressed they realised that the calibre of candidates who were being elected to occupy critical provincial posts left a lot to be desired.
He said people with criminal records were now finding their way into the provincial leadership yet the party requires disciplined people with sound education and experience.
Nare said the party also discovered that some people were not registered voters.
He said Zanu-PF wants to choose people on merit in line with its theme of rebuilding the party.
“As the Bulawayo provincial executive council elections progressed, we discovered that the people who were being elected didn’t have the requisite qualifications and experience to occupy the posts. They’re not able to mobilise more people to join the party and lack the capacity to manage affairs of the province,” said Nare.
“We therefore, as the restructuring team, Central Committee members and Politburo members decided that it would be unwise to proceed with the elections with unsuitable people being elected to occupy powerful and sensitive posts at provincial level.”
Among those supervising the process were Deputy National Commissar Omega Hungwe, Secretary for Health, David Parirenyatwa; Secretary for Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Mike Bimha, Politburo members Munyaradzi Machacha, Angeline Masuku, Absalom Sikhosana, Central Committee member Anna Moyo and Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Judith Ncube.
Nare said it was unfortunate that the national leadership thought the electorate was mature and responsible enough to select people who were qualified for the provincial posts.
“We realised that the electorate was not measuring up to the party’s expectations. So we’ve given ourselves another week to put our house in order to come up with a new way to pick suitable candidates for the different posts. We’re talking of a whole province not a cell, branch or district, so we have to be careful about the people we elect to be leaders,” he said.
“We had advised party members to avoid electing people with criminal records but surprisingly those people were being elected but it’s totally unacceptable. Dubious characters known for extorting money from people in the name of the party and putting it into disrepute were being nominated. It would be irresponsible of us to allow such to happen in the party.”
Nare said for the secretary for legal affairs post, the party prefers someone with a law degree so that the person is able to execute his duties competently and professionally.
The same goes for the secretary for health; a medical doctor or at least a nurse with experience in the health profession is required.
“We have to be honest with ourselves and do what’s best for the party, otherwise it will go down on its knees. Accordingly we agreed that the best was to postpone the elections to the next weekend to come up with a set criteria for each position, in line with the duties and responsibilities of that particular post,” said Nare.
“The secretary for administration and finance should also have qualifications and experience in the same fields. The same applies for all other posts. We want a strong provincial leadership that will have capacity to rebuild the party, especially in Bulawayo, we don’t want to take chances.
“We want to make sure that we do the right thing. We want a team of men and women with stamina, energy, who are bold and have the drive to make sure they meet targets that will be set for them by the party headquarters in terms of mobilising people and making sure the provincial structures are strengthened.”
Farai Dziva| Auxillia Mnangagwa “invaded” an Apostolic Faith Mission Women’s Conference in Gutu District before being embarrassed in the city of Masvingo.
At the conference , Auxillia Mnangagwa pledged to continue empowering women by sensitising them on inheritance laws and health issues, according to state media reports.
Addressing multitudes of Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) congregates gathered for the Royal Queens Conference at the church’s headquarters in Chatsworth, Gutu, Mrs Mnangagwa said there was still an information gap on inheritance and health issues that needs to be bridged.
She commended male congregants for allowing their spouses to attend the event.
Farai Dziva|Auxillia Mnangagwa was on Friday afternoon booed as she entered a leading supermarket in the ancient city of Masvingo.
“There was commotion yesterday as scores of people jeered at Mrs Mnangagwa as she was getting into our shop.
Angry bystanders also booed her as she exited the supermarket,” a shop assistant who identified herself as Tanaka said.
“They also denounced her husband Emmerson Mnangagwa for causing the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe,” she added.
Mrs Mnangagwa’s security aides reportedly battled to contain the turmoil before whisking her away.
Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has said the Emmerson Mnangagwa led dialogue lacks credibility because it ignores the views of 2,6 million voters.
Said Chamisa:”Zimbabwe’s crisis is political.We have’nt had genuine and true political settlement since the days of Lancaster,Unity accord and GPA GNU.Deceptive, manipulative politics upon fake dialogue is the source of all our national discohesion.This breeds false, disputed and rigged processes.”
He added:”Ambassador Mbete added that “…the success of a national dialogue will have far reaching implications for the SADC region and beyond.” This is what we have always said that stolen elections have a negative impact on the welfare of all SADC citizens, they repulse investment.
His Excellency Mbete also said, “…if necessary for credibility, the leadership of Zimbabwe wishes to consider a facilitator from outside Zimbabwe, we as a region will be ready to propose names from the African Continent.”We’ve said this from day 1 and called for such a mediator.”
“We welcome the wise words by the South African Ambassador Mphakama Mbete. He said, “..the national dialogue must be inclusive and participatory and take into account the views of all Zimbabweans.”
We restate that dialogue can’t be credible when it ignores the views of 2,6m voters.”
Farai Dziva| The President of the Chiefs Council Of Fortune Charumbira has declared that he will continue to draw inspiration from Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.
While Chief Ndiweni is being subjected to relentless attacks by Zanu PF sympathizers, Charumbira continues to utter political statements reflecting allegiance to Zanu PF.
Charumbira distanced himself from a twitter handle using his name.Derogatory remarks about Mnangagwa were posted using the twitter handle.
“This is a well-orchestrated plan to soil my reputation and standing. It is clear that there is a lot of politics at play.
“Let me make it clear that my views have never changed.
I am totally inclined towards the liberation ethos which in Zimbabwe are represented by the Zanu-PF Government.”
He added that he has great respect for Mnangagwa, who leads the country on the back of a clear mandate he got after convincingly winning last year’s harmonised elections.
“I also have great respect for the President owing to the journey he travelled in the pre and post-independence periods to put Zimbabwe where it is today,” said Chief Charumbira.
The Chiefs’ council boss has also said the fake Twitter handles in his name typify everything that is wrong with social media, in so far as it can be used to politically assassinate innocent characters.
He vowed to continue drawing inspiration from the Zanu PF liberation ethos and the ruling party’s respect of the traditional leadership’s institution as evidenced by the party’s drive to restore traditional leaders’ status which had been condemned by the racist Rhodesian regime.
A 56-YEAR-OLD self-proclaimed prophet has been jailed 20 years for raping a 14-year-old juvenile under the pretext of cleansing her of evil objects in her body.
Alfosi Nzinga of Silalatshani area in Filabusi pleaded not guilty to rape when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira, but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence.
Nzinga was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment of which three years were suspended on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
He will serve an effective 17 years.
Prosecuting, Mr Mncedisi Dube said Nzinga raped the juvenile, who is a Form Two pupil, on several occasions in January and February while he was temporarily staying at the complainant’s home.
“In December last year the complainant went to stay with her mother in Gwanda for the school holidays. She returned to Filabusi in January when schools had opened and learnt that Nzinga was now staying at her home after he had been offered temporary accommodation by her grandmother.
“During his stay Nzinga invited the juvenile to sleep in his bedroom on two occasions but she refused. On the third attempt the juvenile sought advice from her grandmother who told her to comply. The juvenile followed her grandmother’s advice and went to sleep in Nzinga’s bedroom. Nzinga told the juvenile that she had some evil objects in her body and he had to cleanse her,” he said.
Mr Dube said Nzinga instructed the complainant to remove her clothes and he applied an unknown herb all over her body and sprinkled some herbs on the floor where she was going to sleep.
He said Nzinga also removed his clothes and told the juvenile that he was supposed to have sexual intercourse with her as part of the cleansing process. Mr Dube said the juvenile tried to resist but Nzinga overpowered her and raped her.
“From that day onwards until 21 February Nzinga raped the juvenile on several occasions during his stay at her home. The juvenile remained quiet about the matter as she thought her grandmother was in support of what Nzinga was doing. On 25 February the complainant escaped from her grandmother’s homestead and went to her mother in Gwanda and narrated what Nzinga had done to her.
“The matter was reported to the police the following day resulting in Nzinga’s arrest,” he said.State media
MDC-Alliance Members of Parliament have come under fire for performing political antics which cost the taxpayer over $100 000 through the re-sitting of the House last Friday.
The National Assembly had to re-sit last Friday, when it prematurely adjourned the previous day after MDC MPs walked out so as to create a quorum crisis when the House was about to debate two crucial Bills — the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Bill and Companies and Other Entities Bill.
Parliament does not ordinarily sit on Fridays, but had to re-convene in terms of standing orders since there had been a quorum-induced adjournment as was the case last Thursday, thereby costing taxpayers a fortune in sitting allowances, accommodation, fuel, meals, printing of stationary among other costs.
Parliament has total of 270 MPs each getting $75 sitting allowance and at least $300 in accommodation.
Zengeza West legislator Mr Job Sikhala (MDC-Alliance) rose on a point of order to notify the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, that there was no quorum only for him and fellow legislators to walk out as the bells were ringing to invite other legislators who were outside.
The move by Mr Sikhala surprised everyone including Adv Mudenda, who latter implored MDC MPs to take the House seriously.
“Honourable Sikhala, I thought you were hungry for debate. Call your colleagues back.
“Hon (Tabitha) Khumalo, you have demonstrated good example, but the head of train without a trailer or trailers cannot move, you tried, but can we send a word that in the national interest and respecting the tax payers’ money, we need to do business as much as we can so that we cover up in the legislative agenda.
I would urge you as the national chair of the main opposition party to ensure that next week when we come back, we have to cover what should have been covered today plus much more which will be presented to us by the Leader of Government business so that we are within the time lines of finishing the legislative agenda during this session. It is very important,” said Adv Mudenda.State media
Brighton Matimba from Chitungwiza was fined $100 after he was found in possession of a chisel.
Matimba was found guilty of possessing articles for criminal use.
The court heard that on May 9, at around 10:30pm, Vincent Marigawilbert, a police officer on patrol with his colleagues at Makoni Shopping Centre, met Matimba and stopped him.
Matimba then ran away and they chased after him until they caught him.
After conducting a search on him, the police officers found him in possession of a metal chisel.
Matimba failed to give a satisfactory reason why he had a chisel, resulting in his arrest.State media
Zimbabwe might face challenges accessing the US$1 billion loan facility from China Eximbank for Hwange Power Station expansion following the change of functional currency that resulted in funds that were held in an escrow account to securitise an earlier loan being converted to local currency.
This emerged yesterday during a briefing between Zesa officials and newly appointed Minister of Power and Energy Development Advocate Fortune Chasi who was on a tour of power generation facilities in Kariba.
Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), the generation arm of State power utility Zesa, acting managing director Engineer Robson Chikuri, said China Eximbank had verbally expressed its displeasure about the situation.
Fears now abound that the bank may soon register its misgivings in writing, indicating the escalation of the gravity of its reservations, which might strain the relationship between the parties.
At this point, Eng Chikuri said, there will be need to urgently address the issue, which posed serious threat to draw downs on the US$1 billion loan for Hwange extension project, a programme already underway.
Zimbabwe cannot afford to delay the Hwange units 7 and 8 expansion programme at a time the country is gripped in the throes of a debilitating power deficit, which has spawned load-shedding.
The escrow account funds related to a US$320 loan million Zesa received from China Eximbank for the capacity expansion of Kariba South power station.
The 300 megawatts extension project, completed in March last year and commissioned by President Mnangagwa, cost just over half a billion US dollars.
State power utility, Zesa, was obligated to maintain an escrow account balance of US$28 million held in the form of trust funds that would be accessed by China Eximbank if the borrower defaulted.State media
The Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) has pulled out of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), accusing the umbrella labour representative body of continuously dabbling in opposition politics, undermining the cause of workers.
Zimta’s move will prompt other affiliates to follow suit amid reports that some members are accusing ZCTU of deviating from its mandate of fighting for workers’ rights.
There has been simmering discontent within the rank and file of ZCTU’s membership and affiliates who feel that the labour body was dabbling in partisan politics, in particular recent events where Workers’ Day commemorations, held annually on May 1, were being turned into an MDC-Alliance rally and anti-Government event.
Zimta provincial structures have since conveyed the message to their regional counterparts.
“This note serves to notify you, that a resolution was made at our national annual general conference to withdraw from ZCTU. Following this, we have recalled all our members, hence they will not be able to participate in any ZCTU business,” wrote Zimta Manicaland provincial officer Mr Kudakwashe Mbaura to the ZCTU regional office.
In an interview yesterday, Zimta chief executive officer Mr Sifiso Ndlovu confirmed the development, saying the decision was made by their national executive who noted with concern the continued dabbling in opposition politics by the ZCTU leadership.
Mr Ndlovu said it was also noted that ZCTU was making “major and fundamental decisions with financial implications” unilaterally without consulting affiliates.
“Zimta has been pursuing an ideology of non-partisan political activities. In our view, it would be improper for a teacher who by heart and commitment does not believe in partisan politics to be dragged into opposition politics.
“The decision to pull out was made by our national executive meeting, although it has not been formally communicated,” said Mr Ndlovu.State media
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Own Correspondent|Besides all the chaos in the ZANU PF provincial elections, the party has managed to endorse all three chairperson of their wings.
The winners of the elections are:
Main Wing
Cephas Ncube
Women
Rejoice Sibanda
Garikayi Zonde
Youth
All positions in the provincial elections were voted for but the party nullified all of them except the Chairpersons.
By Own Correspondent| Mbira maestro and Zanu Pf sympathiser Sekuru David Gweshe has died.
He was 74.
Wrote The Mbira Centre:
END OF AN ERA.
Sekuru Gweshe is no more. He passed on late afternoon today. We got word from his family a few minutes ago. No words. RIP Gwenyambira.
Born in Chiweshe, Mashonaland Central, Sekuru Gweshe went to Gweshe Primary School and then Kutama College for Standard 6.
At 14, he developed an interest in mbira as both an instrument and music. He then would spend time at ritual ceremonies where mbira was played.
When he completed Standard 6, he worked in Harare as an upholsterer from 1958 to 1979.
It was during his time in Harare that he met Felix Mabhena, who helped him record his debut single titled “Mhuri YekwaGweshe” in the late 1970s.
Because of the single’s huge success, Sekuru Gweshe went on to release a second single titled “Zevezeve Rina Vatete”, done with the help of the late Jordan Chataika.
His other singles were “Nehoreka” and “Bhurugwa Renzungu”.
In 1977, Sekuru Gweshe founded the dance troupe Boterekwa that toured the world. His group was one of the very few that took traditional music to Germany, Australia, Mexico, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Malaysia and UK.
He has trained seven generations of dancers since 1977 and was involved with the National Dance Company of Zimbabwe together with the late Ephat Mujuru which nurtured Ambuya Stella Chiweshe among several others.
As part of the group, Sekuru Gweshe was instrumental in the scripting of the film Mbuya Nehanda that featured Ambuya Chiweshe.
He was also commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture Dzingai Mtumbuka to teach mbira in some tertiary institutions. His last release was “Changamire Nyamweda” in 2000.
Dear Editor|Anyways injecting £500usd will not stabilise prices. He knows they have failed on their government intervention price controls. In his statemenet he made no mention of how he has controlled prices and the steps he is taking and the government to address this. The economics he is using – Usd and printed Rtgs – will continuously fail and always fail unfortunately.
Note this Simba
Not more than a year ago, one US dollar was 1:1 with the bond/rtgs. Currently, the same bond/rtgs is $zw40 . The systematic devaluation of Zimbabwe’s bond/rtgs which was disputed by Zimbabweans that it did not carry thr same value as the $usd. We have a structural problem in the economy, and in part due to foreign-based induced exchange rate $usd manipulation, has helped contribute to an almost daily inflation of prices, prices which follow the illegal parallel dollar exchange rate closer than anything else. RBZ is not in control of our exchanhe rate anymore. People paRoad port ndopane world economy not RBZ. That means Mtuli and his crew can’t fix the prices using $500m.
Which area of the economy is he injecting $500m and how is he doing it? Hatidi half details and information.
For us to have greater success with our economy we need to have high political and economic integration with the United States. Varidzi ve usa They own the dollar and with the current political situation in our country this government is not Americas favourite. It can also be successful of we have productive apparatuses oriented towards a diverse range of exports in order to procure greater foreign currency earnings (trying to trade in currencies of greater influence in international trade, not only with the dollar to reduce the risk to the crises). You get it bhudhi wangu.
Simba economy yedu yakakiyiwa ne political economy. Amrica yakasunga nemari yavo varikutambiswa bhora but havafunge mushe. They are ignoring political economics ngadzirise ikoko. United States is the biggest economy in the world and we are using their money. Hazviite kuti titambure is we are 100% in good books with them.
Taking into account all of the above, the next question to consider is whether we should view dollarization (USD) as a magic formula to achieve macroeconomic stability on Zimbabwe. The answer to this question is extremely complicated, and goes further than the majority of economists care to look especially when internation political economics is at play.
BELEAGUERED Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna was yesterday singing another tune when he said he is not in any way associated with MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa, claiming they had been mistakenly yoked together after a run-of-the-mill meeting between the two last year.
After making controversial statements that seemed to parrot opposition positions like the tightening of Western-sponsored illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, Chief Ndiweni has been cautioned by various political actors and analysts to stick to his core mandate and stop meddling in the country’s politics.
Seemingly angered by the Government’s decision to settle an indigenous farmer on land previously occupied by a white farmer, the British-bred chief has gone full throttle calling for more sanctions despite evidence that the country’s path to reform and recovery was being hampered by the ruinous sanctions from Western countries.
In an interview on the sidelines of a meeting he called to drum up support for the evicted white farmers at Ntabazinduna Mountain yesterday, Chief Ndiweni claimed that he had no links with Chamisa despite claims from a local independent daily that he had endorsed the embattled opposition leader. At the time, Chief Ndiweni was quoted saying Chamisa “was a breath of fresh air who has youthfulness behind him and can accept ideas very quickly”.
He says : “In my area of jurisdiction, my people will vote differently. Some will follow this party and some will follow that party but at the end of the day they’re still my people and so I will address my concerns to them. So even though speaking on that particular level, I come back to the essence of why we’re here. This is about purely the mountain, how the mountain is in danger of being taken away. But to answer directly those that are pushing aspersions directly towards my way, those aspersions only emanate from one photograph which was taken after I had a meeting with Nelson Chamisa in Harare. I went there with Godlwayo (Chief Maduna). It was a fact finding meeting, a fact finding tour. Just like I’ve seen so many ministers in the current administration, just because I went to their offices, would people be saying I’m affiliated to them?”
Chief Ndiweni has in the past also set up a parallel organisation to the Chiefs Council under the banner of College of Amakhosi, where he is reportedly seeking to rope in some traditional leaders from Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
“I didn’t get a response from Chief Charumbira (president of the Chiefs Council) but I got responses from other senior chiefs. Currently they’re non-existent because we differ profoundly on our beliefs. We differ profoundly on the role of a chief. I strongly believe that a chief should never ever get involved in party politics,” he said.
Chief Ndiweni angered the Government and Zimbabweans in general when he appealed to the international community to escalate sanctions on the President Mnangagwa’s Government, claiming it has failed to pursue democracy.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- The tragedy in Zimbabwe is that those who can least afford it have again and again been forced to subsidise the filthy rich. One prime example is Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube’s 2% tax on all electronic transactions aim at roping in the country’s 90% unemployed who are not paying any PAYE tax.
Most of these people ilk a living as street vendors earning as little as US$30 or less a month in a country with a poverty datum line measured at US$650 per month.
Minister Ncube was not content the vendors pay sells tax, council rates and other indirect charges such as ZESA bills, water bills, etc. even when these services have not been provided; fixed charges are payable regardless of power or water cut. The transaction tax was to ensure government took another cut from the vendors’ meagre earning!
It is no secrete that country’s filthy rich ruling elite are earning millions of dollars from their generous salaries and allowances, wholesale looting of the nation’s resources, etc. and they are not paying any income taxes and have often got away with not paying their regular bills. Minister Mthuli Ncube did not even make an effort to get these people to pay their fair share of the tax, he went for the soft target – the impoverished majority.
ZESA has an impressive list of Zanu PF ruling elite and associates who have not been paying their electricity bills.
Local Government Minister, July Moyo $414,775
Former foreign minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi $273,150
Former deputy police commissioner Innocent Matibiri $167,000
Redwing Mine in Mutare $3,200,000
Metallon Gold $9,300,000
Zimbabwe has struggled to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity fuelled by the Zanu PF government’s lopsided policies. The regime was obsessed with connecting more and more people to the grid, great for grabbing headlines and winning cheap popularism; whilst doing nothing to increase generation capacity to meet the increased demand. Zimbabwe has failed to maintain the generation stations it inherited from Ian Smith in 1980 much less invest in building new generation plant.
Zimbabwe has relied more and more on imported electricity to augment its inadequate generation. The country has not paid its electricity bills for the imports for various reasons including wrong electricity tariffs, the criminal waste of money due to corruption and mismanagement in ZESA and the filthy rich not paying their electricity bills. The countries that have sold electricity to Zimbabwe have reduced the imports for none-payment of existing debts.
“ZESA currently imports 50MW from South Africa and up to 100MW from Mozambique, but can access up to 450MW from the two regional power utilities if it extinguishes its arrears,” reported Bulawayo 24.
Thank God Mozambique and SA have not decided to switch off the supply; things would be a lot worse for Zimbabwe. As it is Zimbabwe is having a rolling 10 hours electricity power cuts which affect both domestic and industrial consumers alike.
So Zimbabwe is in this difficult situation of having to import electricity because the country failed to invest in local generation plant. The country is failing to pay for the imported power because it is not earning enough foreign currency to pay for the imported power because it the country killed off local production reducing its foreign currency earning and having to import even those goods it should be producing locally.
If ZESA supplied the 300MW, balance of the potential imported power, at cost to consumers who pay their bills, prompt without failure, and the money is ring-fence to pay for the imported power; Zimbabwe will be importing the full 450MW right now!
“The defendant (Moyo) is indebted/liable to the plaintiff (ZESA) as at May 6, 2019, in the sum of $414,775.79 being charges in respect of power/electricity supplied by the plaintiff to the defendant at the latter’s special request and instance in terms of the running electricity supply contract between the two, for account number 2346569,” the power utility said in its High Court declaration.
It is intolerable that impoverish Zimbabweans should subsidise the July Moyo’s of this world but why should impoverished South Africans and Mozambicans be collared to do the same! ZESA’s load shedding is collective punishment of all Zimbabwe electricity consumers for the sins of the few filthy rich ruling elite ZESA did not have the guts to punish for failing to pay their bills!
