By Own Correspondent- Energy Minister Fortune Chasi and central bank governor John Mangudya have said that foreign fuel suppliers are now demanding cash up front when purchasing fuel.

The development follows failure by the Zimbabwean government to honor its US$200 million on time. This is said to have exacerbated the challenges associated with the importation of fuel.

Speaking before the Parliamentary Committee on Thursday, Mangudya said:

Fuel queues are an eyesore, we don’t want to see them. The fuel situation is a symptom of a bigger problem in the economy.

The scarcity of foreign currency has made it difficult for local oil to pay for fuel upfront. Resultantly, the central bank is forced to write a letter of credit to foreign suppliers on behalf of local importers guaranteeing that payment will be made for fuel supplies. 

Mangudya said the central bank had in the past two weeks issued US$115 million in letters of credit to oil companies to import 170 million litres of fuel, enough to last just over a month.

Companies which supply Zimbabwe with oil, Glencore, Total and Trafigura,, Engen and Independent Petroleum Group still ship fuel to Zimbabwe but keep it in bonded storage in Msasa, Harare until they have been paid in US dollars.

ZGC PRESS BRIEFING ON GENDER ASSESSMENT OF CYCLONE IDAI

INTRODUCTION

The aftermath of the cyclone naturally triggered a response mechanism spearheaded by Government with a lot of support from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) development partners and individuals.

And indeed, a lot of work was done. Roads and bridges were temporarily repaired such that almost all parts of the affected areas are now accessible; tents and homes were erected to at-least provide shelter for everyone; public facilities such as schools, clinics, business centres were rebuilt, electricity and communications lines were reconnected and most importantly, food, clothing and psycho-social support services were provided.

As I speak, we understand that I can safely confirm that all stakeholders who are responding are striving to meet minimum humanitarian standards, and conditions including human rights  for the Chimanimani community to try and carry on with their lives.

Having said that, allow me to unreservedly express our gratitude to all the institutions and individuals who are working tirelessly to bring back life to Chimanimani to normal. And in the same spirit, I would like to commend all Zimbabweans and the international community for supporting, in so many ways, the people of Chimanimani and all those who were affected by Cyclone Idai.

I also wish to acknowledge the commitment from Government, CSOs, development partners and even individuals, to work towards restoring minimum requirements for human life by international standards in the affected areas.

I also wish to acknowledge the resilience that the mission noted among the people affected by Cyclone Idai especially women and girls. Many continue to make very progressive steps towards personal and communal rehabilitation by way of rebuilding their own homes and banana plantations; assisting in the response mechanism such as rebuilding roads and other public infrastructure; actively participating in the provision of psycho-social support services as well as assisting several visitors to appreciate what really happened on that fateful night.  

Therefore, while we are in the process of compiling a full report on the mission, we thought, together with Oxfam, that it was prudent to have this press briefing in which we intend to share our preliminary findings and recommendations with the media and our stakeholders.

And please note that this is a preliminary report. A full report will be shared with all our stakeholders and will also be made public as soon as it is finalised.

As directed by its functions, the Commission in partnership with Oxfam Zimbabwe, visited Manicaland province, Chimanimani from the 19^th to the 25^th of May 2019 with an objective to appreciate the effects of Cyclone Idai from a gender perspective.

The aim was to assess and identify key gender, protection and safeguarding gaps and produce recommendations that will increase the capacity of Government and humanitarian actors to adequately respond to gender inequalities and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the response mechanisms to Cyclone Idai.

During the gender assessment of the response mechanisms, the mission considered the following broad topics:

ACCESS TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES

•  SHELTER AND GBV

Information on access to services and resources was provided by Government, local and INGO staff working in Chimanimani. We found that humanitarian efforts are striving to ensure that at least every individual has a roof over their heads. There are concerns relating to   types of shelter provided in terms of convenience. These include:

1. Tents –  the tents have two compartments only, inadequate particularly for parents with grown up children/wards of different genders. 
2. Private homes – those who still have their homes intact are having to accommodate  relatives who lost their homes due to limited temporary tent shelters.
3. There were  allegations of sexual harassment during food and non-food distribution. Although this could not be immediately substantiated during our short visit, the Commission is considering to carry out thorough investigations on these allegations.  Should such allegations be proved the Gender Commission will facilitate measures to  bring the perpetrators to account.
4. There is no security around the camps. The Camp manager knocks off around 6pm and no security is provided during the night which may pause security risk especially to women and children.
5. There is no perimeter fence around the camp so trespassers come in and out of the camp without control especially at night. This may expose inhabitant to violence, and sexual abuse by trespassers.
6. Lack of privacy presents a huge risk of exposure to anti-social behaviour such as sexual abuse as both girls and boys share the same compartment.

Recommendations on shelter

• there is need for more tents to reduce overcrowding and ensure that children of different genders sleep in different tents. .
•  Urgently enhance security by establishing a gendered satellite police station at each of these camps and facilitate the setting up of neighbourhood watch committees managed by   the camp inhabitants.
•  Urgently assist those who are rebuilding their homes which were partially damaged by the cyclone.
• In the long term, there is need to consider other forms of emergency shelter such a traditional hut, log cabins which can be dismantled and used by the tenants when they relocate to permanent homes. etc.
• Urgently start the process  of constructing  permanent housing for the  survivors since tent accommodation is not sustainable given the approaching winter season.
• The survivors, across genders, should be involved in the relocation process.

(ii) FOOD AND NON-FOOD ITEMS  DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS

The mission noted that there was a lot of aid which came through Government, CSOs, development partners, NGOs, well-wishers including Churches and even individuals. These donations, except some from a few NGOs, were deposited at a single central distribution point. It was from this central distribution centre that all the affected wards would then access respective aid. And considering this system from a gender perspective, we were informed that:

• The distance between the distribution centre and other wards was too long which affected women and girls more than men and boys. Women and girls reported that sometimes they would go back home  without any allocations due to the stampede that characterised the access to food and clothing. This meant that women and girls are forced to walk to and from the distribution centre even at night. Men and boys sometimes had to sleep at the distribution centre. In cases where some women and girls decided to sleep at the distribution centre, it triggered violent backlash from their husbands and/or fathers.
• While gender considerations were put in place from the beginning some aid bodies did not fully consider the gender requirements as focus was on saving lives and/or recovery of bodies.
• The central distribution point system meant people with better social connections, (predominantly males) and power were reportedly claiming the best donated goods.
• Donations are also not reaching the most isolated communities.
•  It was also alleged that some men   who were given responsibility to distribute food and clothing were abusing their power by seeking sexual favours from females in need of the aid. 
• There was suspicion from some husbands that their wives could have given in to these sexual demands in turn created domestic violence.  
• It was also reported that in the usual instances aid was given to men who were regarded as heads of households. This criterion ended up disadvantaging women and girls headed families as well as women in a polygamous relationships.
• The fact that men predominantly oversee sourcing of assistance and its distribution, of items such as sanitary wear and under-garments, which meet the needs of   women and girls ended up being regarded as secondary and at times being completely disregarded.
• Because of this arrangement where men were distributing aid, some older women and men at times ended up receiving sanitary wear at the expense of women and girls.

Recommendations

• Collection of disaster statistics should as much as possible be disaggregated. 
• Aid distribution should be decentralised in a manner that will make access to aid as easy and transparent as possible.
•  Aid distribution should be based on a proper needs analysis, organised vetting system and downward accountability so that items end up in the correct hands in appropriate quantities as well.
• Women and/or girls should be represented in all response structures and mechanisms especially those relating to aid distribution.
• Aid distribution systems should always be cognisant of the fact that there are women and child headed families just as much as there are women in polygamous marriages who would also need aid.
• Any aid distribution centre should establish distribution mechanisms that are transparent, efficient, effective and most importantly, gender sensitive.
• Most people interviewed preferred donors to distribute the aid directly to beneficiaries since there is not likely to be any favouritism.

HEALTH

Health and gender are always an inseparable matrix and indeed general health of the people in Chimanimani was an area of interest to the mission. It was observed that:

• Some women reported that their reproductive health medication such as birth control pills were swept away leaving them exposed to unplanned pregnancies. The service providers were alleged to not be fully responsive to the special needs of women in this situation.
• While it was noted that more women received psycho-social support, it was also a worrying observation that less men have received this very crucial service especially members of the Civil Protection Unit.
• Elements of anti-social behaviour have also been noted especially on the side of men who at times resort to violence as a way of compensating for the loss that they have suffered.

Recommendations

• It is not clear what coping methods are being used by the affected communities. We observed that most adults are passively relying on donated goods and government distributions.  More psycho-social support is needed especially to the victims. And there should be a deliberate strategy to reach out to the men for psycho-social support as many are overwhelmed by denial and the feeling of guilt for ‘failing’ to protect their families in the face of the cyclone.  Psycho-social services should also accommodate individuals who have been working with survivors.
• In the meantime, there is an urgent need to sustain supply of primary health services in general and services relating to maternal and reproductive health services for the benefit of women and girls.
• There is a need for government and other organisations operating within the health sector to work closely with the local village health workers for access and distribution of drugs and other health services.
• In the long term, there is a need to establish a district hospital for Chimanimani. The whole district, which is highly populated as well, does not have a district hospital such that emergency cases are referred to Chipinge or Mutare. 

LIVELIHOODS

Before the cyclone, Chimanimani was a thriving economic hub with huge banana and macadamia nuts plantations as well as avocados, oranges and many other fruits.  The means of livelihood have been affected by cyclone. Artisanal mining was also another source of livelihood for the locals. Some of these economic activities were either severely disrupted or virtually wiped away by flooding.  There is need to support the affected communities with agricultural inputs and implements, and introduction of income generating activities.

Recommendations

• There is need for income generating projects that are supportive of women such as vegetable gardens and poultry. This is necessary so that women can have other income generating project for themselves. The support to be provided should be to restore livelihoods and enhance resilience of communities to build their capacity to meet future shocks Rehabilitation of productive agricultural assets such as irrigation facilities as part of the early recovery efforts.

•  Other gender related issues

The mission also discovered that child marriages is a huge problem in the province. While, the issue does not have a direct relationship with Cyclone Idai, its existence has implications for gender and social relations in the face of natural and other disasters which increase the vulnerability of girls and young women. Prevailing problems imbedded in the cultures of the people particularly their traditional and religious beliefs and practices only serve to exacerbate the situation of certain groups of people within the community, in this case the underage mothers and their children. There is need for a comprehensive field assessment into the gender dynamics which were at play before, during and after Cyclone Idai. Such an assessment will allow for thorough investigations into other pertinent issues such as the allegations of sexual harassment during aid distribution.

Key informants

• Resident Minister for Manicaland
• Provincial Administrator
• District Administrator and representatives of relevant government departments including Civil Protection Unit
• Humanitarian agencies & Civil Society Organisations on the ground including Musasa Project, Padare and development partners.
• Local leaders
• Survivors, men, women and youths

For more information, contact Margaret Mukahanana Sangarwe, ZGC Chairperson

By Rumbidzai Madhibha- In a statement on facebook today, recently proclaimed “prophet” Oscar Pambuka asked people not to judge him using his history, saying that God chooses whom he wants.

His statement read:

“Its indeed amazing, mesmerising and quite interesting to note that most people surely don’t have work to do. It also shows lack of understanding and yes the labourers are few but the workload is too much.

Yesterday I revealed that I am a Prophet and all hell broke loose because I saw that most of you don’t even know what the term Prophet means. A simple definition of a Prophet is an inspired teacher or proclaimer of God’s will.

I also saw that most of you are used to the theatrical and trance making prophets who tell you that the undergarments you are wearing is black or white ignoring those who proclaim God’s will.

There are those who said, ” ah usatambe naMwari like they were sent by God. Kkkkk What a big joke. Carry your own cross and let God the Creator of everything judge not us beings fighting for our own salvation.

That Prophet, Pastor or whatever you call it you listen to at your church, did God speak from the Heavens and say this man or woman is from me?
Who are you to say this person does not qualify or qualifies.?

God is not a politician that he takes sides and favours numbers. Not at all. God loves that person who follows His will. Period. You can be one or two out of millions its OK.

Prophets are not voted into office like you think or need to be ordained on Facebook. God chooses whom He wants.

All those looking at someone’s past lack wisdom and understanding for after repentance the old is gone and the new has come. We are all sinners but we need to repent and those of God you will know them by their fruit and also those from the Devil you will see with their fruit as well.

Judge not Judge not Judge not. No retreat No surrender.”

By Own Correspondent- There is no such thing as bad publicity and this phrase rings true for a Bulawayo woman, Violet Chikwezeze, who received help after her horrifying sex life with a goblin was publicised.

Chikwezeze said whenever the nasty visitor was enjoying ‘pleasure’ with her, her husband Lovemore Mandigora, who was also refusing to meet her needs, would jump off the bed and seek refuge in the living room.

“My husband does not treat me as his wife. He is not sleeping with me. I feel I have a spiritual husband as something mysterious is sleeping with me, usually in the middle of the night.

“It’s been happening since January last year. When I refuse to sleep with that mysterious creature it violently attacks me, resulting in me bleeding from the nose and mouth.

“Surprisingly, whenever that is happening, my husband quietly moves away from the bed such that when I wake up I find him in the sitting room watching television and sometimes on his phone.

“He knows what is happening and does not want to assist me. Whenever I confront him he turns hostile and starts accusing me of being abusive,” Chikwezeze complained bitterly.

And many thanks to B-Metro, which covered the larger than life experience at the Bulawayo Civil Court leading Chikwezeze to be freed from the goblin that had enslaved her for more than a year.

Chikwezeze claimed after the story was published by B-Metro, she met a member of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries who after listening to her heart-rending ordeal immediately counselled her together with her husband before he referred them to Prophet Walter Magaya for deliverance.

Chikwezeze who got her deliverance after a struggle said after counselling, the Good Samaritan gave them anointing oil which she claimed they administered all over their bodies.

Giving her testimony during a church service which was also broadcast live on the church‘s Yadah TV, Chikwezeze who was accompanied by her husband said her bedroom freedom was restored after she had painstakingly tried to seek help from several prophets and traditional healers without success.

“I finally received help after I had tried several prophets and traditional healers to no avail. From that very day we were counselled and given anointing oil which we applied on our bodies we started feeling different from the past months. We felt happier and our affection in the bedroom was also restored after several months of not sleeping together.

“That very night when we were assisted the goblin came as usual, but it did nothing to me and it was also the last time it visited our bedroom,” said Chikwezeze while receiving a resounding applause from the church.

Prophet Magaya urged the couple to always pray and put faith in God in order to safeguard their marriage which was on the verge of collapse because of the goblin.

Chikwezeze was happy to pour her heart out to B-Metro saying she was no longer experiencing agonising pains and repeated nocturnal visits from the mythical creature which had been spiritually violating her for 13 months.

“I now have peace in my house and I am so grateful that the thing which had been spiritually violating my body is gone. I am now having decent night sleeps after that deliverance by Prophet Magaya,” she said.

The couple also thanked this publication for coming to their rescue by publishing their plight leading them to get help

By Own Correspondent- A male prostitute from Mkoba suburb in Gweru who has been masquerading as a woman for the past five years, was recently assaulted by his client after discovering that the thigh vendor was actually a man.

The incident occurred at the popular Mpambadzire night club in Mkoba 6 shopping centre after the man, Bismarck Damba, who was popularly known as Cynthia Damba was exposed.

Patience Moyo, a vendor who witnessed the incident unfolding said everyone was shocked to discover the “woman” they had known for years was a man.

“We have known Cynthia for quite some time now and it is disturbing and shocking to find out that she is a ‘man’. We have known her for more than five years, and we never at any time suspected that ‘she’ might be lying about her identity,” said Moyo.

Tatenda Chiminya who works as a cashier in one of the shops at the shopping centre said it remained a mystery how Damba managed to fool everyone.

“What remains a mystery is how he managed to convince everyone that he is a ‘woman’. How then was he sleeping with clients for the past five years. And in those five years, none of his clients noticed that he is a man pretending to be a woman. He was also part of an all-female dance group that always performed in the club. The whole incident feels like a script from a movie,” she said.

A female sex worker who declined to be named and works in the same night club said it was a relief that Damba was finally caught.

“He was taking our clients from us and to us it’s a relief that he has been exposed because our clients will finally come back to us,” she said. B

Farai Dziva|The MDC A Mutoko East has said Emmerson Mnangagwa must concentrate on seeking solutions to the country’s waning economy – instead of blaming former President Robert Mugabe for the current mishap.

“In life when you don’t admit failure you will not move forward.

The more ED refuses to admit that we are in a mess the more it wil become even worse.

He is blaming Bob but Bob wakasiya chinhu chichifamba ichi iye kwakubvisa mavhiri hanzi economic overhaul.”

The country’s economic problems are increasing with each passing day and analysts say Mnangagwa has dismally failed to turnaround the economy.

By Own Correspondent- The avenging spirit of a teenage girl who was allegedly raped and murdered about 16 years ago is wreaking havoc in her killers’ family demanding 10 beasts claiming the compensation was lobola which was supposed to be paid to her parents as she would by this time have been married.

The restless spirit of Vimbai Zingoni from Huchu area in Gokwe is reportedly venting its anger on Rukanda family in Zhombe following her grisly murder by Owen Rukanda who is also now deceased.

According to a source close to the Zingoni family the spirit of the teenager has been speaking through one of her family members claiming the family of her alleged assailant would not know peace until they met her demands of paying an additional 10 head of cattle in addition to the other 10 they paid before her burial.

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to urgently convene a Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) meeting to address economic challenges being faced by the nation, saying failure to act would lead to unrest.

The prevailing economic crisis has seen inflation skyrocketing and prices rising beyond the reach of many.

“Your Excellency, the situation on the ground is volatile and the nation is on the edge. Your intervention in this matter is urgently sought,” a letter written by ZCTU president Peter Mutasa to Mnangagwa dated May 29, read.

This is the second time that labour has demanded dialogue with government, saying if the State fails to call for a national TNF, the situation would explode and demonstrations were bound to take place.

“Your Excellency, the rising inflation and prices has had a devastating impact on ordinary citizens incomes for those lucky enough to be in work or to have a pension, (which has been) miserably eroded, condemning many into abject poverty,” Mutasa said.

“Their predicament is worsened by the fact that most people do not have access to foreign exchange, while service providers are demanding payment in hard currency. All of this leaves most people unable to pay for critical services, be it education, housing, healthcare or transport.”

The letter by the country’s largest labour federation follows a resolution of its general council to engage government on the crisis before rolling out demonstrations and other forms of protests to force authorities to act on the economy.

ZCTU said the TNF was a matter of urgency and government needs to engage labour and business to arrest the economic deterioration.

In January, it organised a three-day stayaway after Mnangagwa announced a 150% fuel price hike.

The stayaway turned violent, with security agents killing 17 people to ruthlessly crush the demonstrations, according to human rights groups. Hundreds other were injured.

By Own Correspondent- Energy minister Fortune Chasi and Reserve Bank governor John Mangudya yesterday blamed the social media for spreading false narratives about the fuel situation, resulting in panic-buying and contributing to rises in prices of basic commodities.

Chasi and Mangudya made the remarks when they appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy chaired by Gabbuza Joel Gabuza.

Chasi said there was now need for self-regulation of the petroleum industry and also blamed shortages of fuel at service stations to corruption, where the product is sold to friends only.

Mangudya said in South Africa, fuel only costs US$1,05, Zambia US$1,07 and in Zimbabwe, using the interbank market rates, it is $1 or $0,94, adding that the plan now was to gazette service stations which would be allowed to sell fuel in foreign currency.

Chasi said in order to come up with a solution to the fuel problem, it needs a concerted effort by everyone, including policy measures, as well as to deal with cartels that want to profiteer at the expense of the motoring public.

“We are going to launch an investigation regarding transactions at fuel depots, misbehaviour and favouritism at service stations, where some people receive large amounts of fuel when there is a long queue and then it (gets) finished (quickly),” he said.

“We have seen all sorts of stories on social media and a lot of irresponsible behaviour by people, where we have seen pictures on WhatsApp of fuel said to be sold at $7,89 per litre and because of this, the public has panicked and rushed to buy fuel, thus creating shortages.”

He said to mitigate the fuel challenges, a six million-litre ethanol storage facility was being built to ensure the sustainability of the 1:20 ethanol blending, as well as looking at the introduction of solar-powered and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Chasi said there was need to develop rules by the petroleum sector to ensure that people with fuel coupons are not affected, adding his ministry would continue to identify miscreants in the fuel industry that cause the shortages.

Mangudya said adequate funds had been made available for procurement of fuel, with $115 million letters of credit (LCs) issued for fuel imports.

The amount is enough to purchase 170 million litres against a monthly requirement of 130 million litres, he said.

He added that the RBZ was servicing a $200 million legacy debt which affected companies like Total, Engen and Trafigura.

“So fuel is plenty in Msasa. All LCs were at an exchange rate of 4,625% and there was no need for fuel companies to use the current exchange rate to sell the fuel because it means they will be benefiting themselves,” Mangudya said.

“They should use the rate for which the LC was established. There was no price increase and there was a social media price announced, and because of lack of confidence people listen to alternative facts and followed the panic mode.”

Farai Dziva|MDC A vice president Tendai Biti has disclosed that Emmerson Mnangagwa is involved in several clandestine business deals in the country.

Biti has revealed that Mnangagwa is the man behind Zuva Petroleum.The Zanu PF leader usually portrays himself as a political saint.

Speaking at the MDC A Congress in Gweru Biti said:”Who do you think is the owner of Zuva Petroleum? It’s Emmerson Mnangagwa.

That is why the company is selling fuel in hard currency without being stopped from doing so.

I can also tell you that Mnangagwa invested millions of dollars in the company.Zuva Petroleum is untouchable because Mnangagwa is wholly in charge of the company.

He is hiding behind a consortium of businesspeople but he is the man in charge of the company,”said Biti.

Farai Dziva|The human rights activists who were arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government have been further remanded in custody.

The activists applied for bail and the matter was heard at the High Court today.

The High Court has set June 7 as the date the ruling on their bail application will be passed.

The activists include Gamuchirai Mukura, Farirai Gumbonzvanda and George Makoni.

“The matter was heard today and the High Court has set June 7 as the date for the ruling on our bail application,” said one of the lawyers representing the activists.

Farai Dziva|Pressure is mounting on Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to release human rights who are accused of plotting to topple the Zanu PF government.

Masvingo based Non Governmental Organization COTRAD whose director Gamuchirai Mukura was arrested alongside four other activists, has called on Mnangagwa’s government to release the detained civil society leaders as a matter of urgency.

See below COTRAD’ s statement: Real Life History of the arrested Human Rights Defender (Mukura Gamuchirai).

Mukura is a former student activists from Great Zimbabwe University. He rose to become the Masvingo Provincial Chairman of ZINASU chapter. Mukura visited all universities and tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe fighting for academic freedoms.

In 2011 he finished his first degree and graduated at Great Zimbabwe University in the Social Sciences Faculty.

He then formed the organization- COTRAD with other student activists.

COTRAD is an institution that seeks to promote youth participation in local and national process, inclusion of women and people with disabilities in decision making processes, peace building and social accountability initiatives.

COTRAD is now a household name in Masvingo Province. COTRAD has a lot of success stories in service delivery issues in Masvingo.

We hereby call upon the government to release Gamuchirai Mukura and all the detained activists.

Jane Mlambo| A letter from Russia was read at White City stadium where a memorial service for the late National Hero Dumiso Dabengwa was being held.

According to the letter, Dabengwa was a real friend of Russia, with his loss not only affecting his family but them too in Russia.

The friends from Russia said Dabengwa was a strong man of courage and a liberation struggle hero.

Jane Mlambo| According to a source attending the late Dumiso Dabengwa memorial event at White City Stadium in Bulawayo, opposition powerhouse and MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa was denied a seat in the VIP tent forcing him to sit with ordinary people in the other tents.

Below is Chamisa’s picture sitting with his Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube and former national chairperson Lovemore Moyo.

Said Pelandaba Mpopoma legislator Charles Moyo while reading the Fourth Order on adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission regarding the 2018 Harmonised Elections Tuesday:

“I now move to post election phase that is on page 26.  It is clear here that the board initially announced the results for the top three presidential candidates as Emmerson D. Mnangagwa having 50.8%, Nelson Chamisa having 44.3% and a nonentity Thokozani Khupe receiving 0.9%.  

After the constitutional petition, there was a review of the percentages here whereby Emmerson Mnangagwa was then declared that he gunned 50.6% from 50.8%.  There was a decrease of Chamisa’s vote from 44.3% to 44.39%.  Therefore, ZEC acknowledged that the first set of presidential results was wrong.  How do we then trust either the 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th presidential results which were announced? 

They admitted that there were mathematical or statistical errors –  who knows that there were such errors?  They only know.  Therefore the issue of legitimacy cannot be washed away.  It is very clear because there was such a review.  

There is also an issue that in the court papers that is on page 26 where the ZEC Chairperson conceded that some polling stations may have been counted twice.  How many were counted more than twice, ten, twenty or fifty times?  Therefore we cannot wash away the issue of legitimacy.  This report clearly points out that there is legitimacy crisis in Zimbabwe.  As a country, we must come up with a solution because we are being guided by what is written in the report. 

I can go on and on.  The military was heavily involved.  You can see recommendations on page 33 – 8.3.1 where it says ZDF should refrain from use of live ammunition on civilians during demonstrations and even after elections.  It is clearly written in the report.  It is very clear that the issue of legitimacy is questionable and as a country we must solve this.  I thank you.”

Jane Mlambo| Barely two months after the dreadful Cyclone Idai disaster ravaged Manicaland province, a Germany energy company Little Sun and its local partner Alight Zimbabwe Trust an Alumni association to Plan Zimbabwe have handed over USD$25 000 worthy solar powered lights to Red Cross Zimbabwe for onward distribution to affected communities.

Cyclone idai left a trail of destruction in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts with thousands of residents left homeless forcing the government to relocate most of the victims to safer areas.

In an interview with ZimEye, Alight Zimbabwe Trust (Plan Alumni) Programs and Resources Mobilisation manager Edwin Sithole said ,”the aftermath of the disaster is one critical area where many people ignore as many organisations believe in distributing handouts during the disaster period with the aftermath often ignored.”
Sithole added that they were moved to chii in with assistance after noting the terrible situation in which Cyclone Idai victims have been going through since the disaster.

“We sought assistance from our partner, Little Sun Germany who then donated Solar lamps to us to help the victims of disaster to access clean source of energy,” he added.

“When a disaster strikes, women and children especially girls are victims of darkness and as we are moving forward with the Plan International theme that says #Getting GirlsEqual# we found it very necessary to give Lights to the affected communities but with much emphasis on women and girls,” added Sithole.

Mason Hoffein Little sun Germany Business development Manager for Africa said they pushed to help after noticing how the disaster has caused untold damage to the communities in Chipinge and Chimanimani.
“As a company it is one of our key responsibilities to come to the side of those communities in need of assistance and Chimanimani and Chipinge became our center of attraction.

“We will continue to help Zimbabwe with solar powered energy as we believe that Natural Velux Lights are for Learning, Earning and Learning.

“We hope and trust that this donation will go a long way to helping vulnerable communities especially girls and women in those areas.

Redcross Finance Director Mr Morris Machawira thanked Little sun Germany for remembering the victims of the Cyclone idai disaster.
Light is important in a disaster situation yet more often our target is mostly food, forgetting that light is also a basic necessity, we are thankful and we believe this help will go a long way to helping people in Chiping and Chimanimani to access clean source of energy , Natural Velux lights.”

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to urgently convene a Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) meeting to address economic challenges being faced by the nation, saying failure to act would lead to unrest.

The prevailing economic crisis has seen inflation skyrocketing and prices rising beyond the reach of many.

“Your Excellency, the situation on the ground is volatile and the nation is on the edge. Your intervention in this matter is urgently sought,” a letter written by ZCTU president Peter Mutasa to Mnangagwa dated May 29, read.

This is the second time that labour has demanded dialogue with government, saying if the State fails to call for a national TNF, the situation would explode and demonstrations were bound to take place.

“Your Excellency, the rising inflation and prices has had a devastating impact on ordinary citizens incomes for those lucky enough to be in work or to have a pension, (which has been) miserably eroded, condemning many into abject poverty,” Mutasa said.

“Their predicament is worsened by the fact that most people do not have access to foreign exchange, while service providers are demanding payment in hard currency. All of this leaves most people unable to pay for critical services, be it education, housing, healthcare or transport.”

The letter by the country’s largest labour federation follows a resolution of its general council to engage government on the crisis before rolling out demonstrations and other forms of protests to force authorities to act on the economy.

ZCTU said the TNF was a matter of urgency and government needs to engage labour and business to arrest the economic deterioration.

In January, it organised a three-day stayaway after Mnangagwa announced a 150% fuel price hike.More in Home

The stayaway turned violent, with security agents killing 17 people to ruthlessly crush the demonstrations, according to human rights groups.

Hundreds other were injured.

-Newsday

Mystery surrounds the distribution of fuel in Zimbabwe after authorities have established that while enough funds have been availed for players to procure the product, it has not been channelled to the market, resulting in shortages that have been witnessed countrywide.

It has also emerged that for the month of June, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) released letters of credit for the acquisition of 170 million litres against a national requirement of 140 million, raising serious questions about leakages in the industry.

This came out after Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi and RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya met fuel players in Harare yesterday and told them about new measures to curtail leakages in the fuel supply system.

Among the measures will be the renewal of licences half-yearly and cancellation of operating licences for those who flout procedure.

Minister Chasi later appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development.

He said the measures were expected to instil discipline in industry players and plug leakages amid indications that the RBZ has made provision to acquire 170 million litres of fuel for next month against a requirement of 130 million litres.

“I was in a meeting with players from the fuel industry and this is the second time that I am meeting them since I was appointed. The meeting was occasioned by the queues that we are seeing at the service stations throughout the country.

“The meeting was attended by the Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya and his staff and I made it very clear that licences are issued when the regulator is satisfied that it’s in the national interest. And so when people begin to misbehave, as we understand from the public because I have been inundated by many complaints from the public, we act,” he said.

Minister Chasi added: “Some say that when fuel is delivered, only a few people a served then they are told that fuel is finished when it’s evidently clear that the fuel was there. There has also been instances where service stations refuse certain types of payments, insisting on US dollars.

“This has occasioned untold suffering on the driving public and as Government we are there to protect the national interests. We are there to make sure that fuel is distributed rationally throughout the country.”

He said he made it very clear during the meeting that this strong element of dishonesty will not be tolerated by Government.

“We have agreed with the industry that all service stations will be wet today (yesterday). So we are expecting that they will be some movements — significant movement — around the issue of availability of fuel.

“I also mentioned that I have just completed work on regulations around penalties for misbehaviour and those regulations will be sent to the Attorney-General for examination and finalisation. We expect them to come into force pretty soon. We need order in this industry.

“I pointed that in order to enhance availability of information to the public, I will be publicising who received what amount of fuel and when, so there is nowhere to hide.

“I also remind them that their licences will be due for renewal in six months. So when that time comes we will look at the conduct and behaviour of each player and it’s our right as government not to renew licences of entities run by devious people.”

Minister Chasi also indicated that they had set up task forces to investigate misconduct by some service stations that are responsible for diverting fuel to the parallel market.

“We learnt that depots are also part of the cause of the problem, fuel is escaping through those depots and we are going to investigate on that,” he told the parly committee after he had been asked what he was doing to end fuel queues.

Dr Mangudya told the same committee that investigations were necessary since the country since the country was procuring more than enough fuel every month.

“As of now we have letters of credit worth 170 million litres of fuel for the coming against 130 million litres required by the nation for the same period,” he said.

He assured the committee that the Central Bank will always avail funds to procure adequate fuel every month.

On fuel pricing, Minister Chasi said the industry pointed out that there was instability in terms of some of the templates that were being used to determine fuel prices.

“I have asked them to go and develop that position, giving us facts and figures. We are due to meet them the week after next, on Thursday so that we can develop the issue they have raised.

“The governor was able to demonstrate to the industry that people accessed money to bring in certain levels of fuel and that there is fuel. This why we are saying the queues must begin to move without delay,” he said.

Minister Chasi said the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) last week announced the fuel price and it had not changed.

Last week ZERA gazetted new maximum retail prices of fuel reflecting average increases of 46 percent for blend petrol and 49 percent for diesel.

ZERA said the new prices were premised on the interbank market rate and will see a litre of blend petrol (E10) retailing at $4,97 while diesel will sell at $4,89 per litre.

ZERA said the new prices were in line with measures taken by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) on fuel procurement, now based on the ruling exchange rate on interbank market where oil marketers now obtain forex to import fuel.

The country has been facing intermittent fuel shortages as a result of a shortage of foreign currency and activities of dealers who are working in connivance with people in the fuel industry especially attendants who have been accused of diverting fuel to the black market.

-Online

According to the Zimbabwe Independent, a large number of police officers are also undergoing rigorous paramilitary training to ensure that they will be adequately prepared to crush the protests. Prices of goods and services have skyrocketed and have gone up sevenfold in some cases since the fall of former President Robert Mugabe, while salaries have largely remained the same.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is reported to have acquired new weapons and equipment as it prepares to crush the expected protests over the deteriorating economy and standard of leaving. Security sources who spoke to The Zimbabwe Independent said.

About 1050 regular police officers have received the training. In the event of civil unrest, they will be deployed alongside officers from the Support Unit which specialises in crowd control. There is a plan to extend the programme to other provinces because most of the trainees have been from Harare.

The officers are receiving month-long paramilitary training, which is gruelling in nature and has a lot of emphasis on physical fitness. They are being trained in the use of baton sticks, shields and helmets as well as crowd control and crowd dispersal.

They are also being trained to use new weaponry which has been acquired, including Mossberg shotguns, which can be used even within a range of 10 metres unlike the previous ones which could only be used at a range of 75 metres and above, for fear of causing fatalities…the ammunition is less lethal as it disintegrates after being discharged from the guns, but it can cause serious injuries and is good for crowd dispersal.

Another security officer told the publication. If you go to the back of Harare Central, you will officers and some soldiers ready for deployment. The plan though is not to deploy soldiers but the police because of the killings in January and August.

In an ironic development, a Zambian prophet has said that despite Mnangagwa’s confidence that no one can remove him, God included, there will be a ‘mighty uprising’ which will see people turning on Mnangagwa.

-Online

ENERGY minister Fortune Chasi yesterday revealed that water levels in Lake Kariba were so low that current supplies will only be able to generate power for the next 14 weeks, paving way for deeper power cuts in the country.

In a ministerial statement in the National Assembly, Chasi said the power situation was dire.

Earlier, when Chasi appeared before the Gabbuza Joel Gabuza-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy, he said heads would roll at power utility, Zesa Holdings.

He said those involved in shady energy deals, which saw the country losing millions of dollars to projects such as the Gwanda solar project, would be brought to book.

“The hydrological condition of Kariba Dam is that last week, the dam was 32% full and on Monday, it was 29% full, and if that trend continues, this means that in theory, within 14 weeks, Kariba will not be able to have power,” Chasi said.

“Zimbabwe and Zambia are allowed enough water to generate 358 megawatts (MW) and during the rainy season, they were allowed 418MW.”

Chasi said power usage was expected to rise from 350MW to 600MW during the winter season and this would worsen the situation, adding that load-shedding was here to stay.

“The shortages of foreign currency in the country has had a negative bearing on electricity supplies and the current electricity import bill is $83 million and as a result neighbouring countries are reluctant to supply electricity to Zimbabwe. We export 80MW of electricity daily to Namibia,” he said.

The country is enduring its worst rolling power cuts in three years, and although its mines have been spared so far, analysts say the cuts will hurt economic revival efforts.
Shortages of foreign currency have hampered Zimbabwe’s ability to import fuel, while Zesa is owed $200 million by government, companies and individuals.

Chasi told the Energy Committee that power blackouts lasting up to 10 hours could not be avoided as Zimbabwe is producing 1 100MW a day against a demand of 1 500MW.

The country required $96 million to import more than 200MW from regional suppliers like South Africa’s Eskom and Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa and Electricidade de Moçambique, said Chasi.

Zimbabwe owed the utilities $70 million for previous imports.

“There is no guarantee that there will be water, what we are seeing is a southward movement in water levels at Kariba. If the trend goes like that, we will probably say just after 14 weeks Kariba will not generate any megawatts,” Chasi said.

Kariba, the largest electricity producer in Zimbabwe with a capacity of 1 050MW, is generating less than a third of its installed capacity due to low water levels caused by a severe drought.

Zimbabwe commissioned an additional 300MW at Kariba last year, its biggest investment in electricity in more than 25 years, but a lack of investment is blamed for the current power shortages.

In a ministerial statement, Chasi said most problems in the energy sector were caused by lack of respect of law, and lack of corporate governance. Chasi said there was need to ensure that each parastatal in the energy sector is manned by qualified boards and management in order to have sustainable energy in the country.

The minister also told MPs that electricity tariffs will not increase as government was financially supporting Zesa. He said Zesa is owed $1,2 billion, with the largest chunk being local authorities owing $300 million and government departments $32 million.

On winter wheat, Chasi said farmers will be supplied with power four days per week.

-Newsday

Government will continue to engage civil servants and adjust their salaries against the prevailing inflation levels not the foreign currency exchange rate, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.

Responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, Prof Ncube said Government cannot benchmark its workers’ salaries on the RTGS dollar exchange rate to the United States currency.

 “First of all, when you think of salary adjustments for the civil servants, we never benchmark to an exchange rate to the USD in which case he’s used a parallel market rate of 1:8. We don’t do that. We try to bench mark salaries to the inflation level and that is how it ought to be done.

“Secondly, should we give civil servants an increase in line with the exchange rate which some Members of Parliament are mentioning? The answer is no. We’ll continue to engage the civil servants and it will be an increase that begins to ameliorate against the current levels of inflation and we’ll continue to engage them so that we can adjust their emoluments both in monetary and non-monetary terms,” said Prof Ncube.

He said Government has surplus revenue in both RTGS and US dollars, which has benefited civil servants and other humanitarian needs such as Cyclone Idai.

“In RTGS currently and cumulatively, our surplus is about RTGS$600 million. If you divide that with the current exchange rate you get about US$$100 million.

“Having a surplus stops growth in money supply which in the long run will contribute towards a stabilisation of inflation. The surplus is being used to cushion civil servants in terms of higher wages. In January, we gave them a cushioning of RTGS$63 and an additional RTGS$400 million from April 1, 2019 to December. 

“We’re also using the surplus for social protection programmes starting with Cyclone Idai. We have allocated $100 million towards that process but also, we are using the surplus for the usual social protection programmes such as the food programme in both rural and urban areas,” said Prof Ncube.

He said the surplus revenue was also being used to support other social services such as the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM). 

“In addition to that we’re going to use the surplus for importing food. We have already issued out a tender through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to import additional food to deal with the impact of the drought. So it is being used in these areas,” said Prof Ncube.

Earlier, Parliamentarians had requested Prof Ncube to explain how Treasury was making surplus revenue yet inflation was increasing at an alarming rate.

“In his quarterly address to us, Prof Ncube mentioned that he had received income of 8, 2 percent. In the very next breath, he mentioned that there was 66 percent inflation. How can he claim to have a surplus when all those were figures of collection, 8 percent versus 66 percent?

“For example, if one is receiving a salary of $2 000 and they have got the exchange rate moving by 8, which means their salary is now $250. Now, if you’ve got a surplus, why have you not given the civil servants a very meaningful increase,” asked Harare North MP Allan Markham.

Mutare Central MP, Innocent Gonese asked the Minister if the surplus was of any real benefit to Zimbabweans looking at the standards of living that were deteriorating.

-State Media

By Farai Maguwu| The year was 2000. Robert Mugabe’s ZANU PF lost a constitutional referendum to the opposition and a coalition of CSOs who mobilized people to reject the draft constitution. The White community in Zimbabwe largely voted NO and are alleged to have mobilized financial resources for the No Vote and also for the MDC. The referendum took place only 4 months before a watershed general election and was seen by many pundits as a barometer of things to come. Mugabe had no time to come up with a campaign message that would change people’s minds.

Mugabe transformed himself into a radical anti-white, pan African activist. He became the spokesperson of all black people in the world. He declared war on the white community in Zimbabwe and unleashed thugs on farms. He exploited the historical land imbalance to his advantage and declared 3rd war of liberation which meant sending his supporters to grab farms from whites. His officials, including himself, emerged with several farms each. Mugabe is estimated to have grabbed more than 11 farms. His wife could have grabbed more. A land audit is being fiercely resisted for obvious reasons. A significant number of white Zimbabweans fled the country and settled in neighbouring countries whilst others went to Australia, New Zealand, Britain and other countries.

But what kind of society do Zimbabweans want to build. The answer can be seen in the voting patterns in MDC since 2000 and now remarkably in ZANU PF too. It is very clear Robert Mugabe’s anti-white rhetoric was for political preservation. I also would like to posit that Mugabe hated whites for dumping him for the MDC and he acted like a jilted lover who would rather set himself and his estranged lover alight than see her go with another man.

Since 2000, the Movement for Democratic Change has had a significant number of white politicians being overwhelmingly voted into party structures and also into parliament. Arguably the most prominent of them was the late Roy Bennett, a man with whom I had personal friendship. Roy Bennett had a farm in Chimanimani where he employed hundreds of locals whom he also sometimes supported from his own pocket in difficult times. They nicknamed him Pachedu (among ourselves) or people who have a deep relationship. In 2000 he overwhelmingly won the Chimanimani seat.

In 2004, Roy Bennett was elected MDC Vice Chair Person for Manicaland. Immediately after his election his team, led by Pishai Muchauraya and Prosper Mutseyami called for an all stakeholders conference for all MDC structures in Manicaland and civil society. I was invited. Morgan Tsvangirai was invited too. Bennett spoke fluent Shona. As way back as 2004, civil society had began withdrawing itself from MDC for one reason or another. Bennett reminded us how the MDC was formed and said we are a family, fights do happen but we must find each other. I am sure I speak the truth when I say Manicaland Province was the most organized MDC province under the leadership of these three. Roy Bennett went a step further. He used personal resources to help the party. He was later elected to become the National Treasurer, a position he held with distinction.

I can say with certainty, he loved Zimbabwe and his love for his country didnt go unnoticed by the Zimbabwean people. When he campaigned again for parliament in 2005 he overwhelmingly won and ZANU PF put him in prison. In 2009 the late Morgan Tsvangirai appointed Roy Bennett to the position of Deputy Minister of Agriculture but Mugabe refused to swear him in and eventually forced him into exile. In Mutare his friend, Brian James became mayor of Mutare but again ZANU PF forced him out. As a resident of Mutare, I have heard people on countless occasions saying Brian James was the best mayor in a generation. He started a project of greening Mutare which abruptly stopped when he was forced out. He would visit patients in hospitals and even personally present Xmas presents to them.

In 2010 I spent a night in a police cell with another white MP, Ian Kay of Marondera. He shared with me his dream for a new Zimbabwe. In the following days I also met his wife Kerry, who joyfully stood by her husband throughout his ordeal. There were several other White Zimbabweans, including Eddie Cross, who were elected to parliament on an MDC ticket. And now the MDC structures have elected David Coltart to be the Treasurer General of their party.

But also of great importance, post Mugabe ZANU PF has also started creating room for white Zimbabweans in government and parliament. In Chimanimani Joshua Sacco stood on a ZANU PF ticket and won. President Emmerson Mnangagwa also surprised many when he appointed olympic gold winner Kirsty Coventry to be Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation.

What do we learn about these developments. Zimbabweans want a multi racial society where both whites, blacks and asians work together to rebuild the country. There are still race issues to be addressed, the land question need to be handled in a non – racial, non political manner, government must put in place sustainable black empowerment projects, the country need healing from its toxic politics of the recent past. Without unity I don’t see how this economic jigsaw puzzle will be fixed.

Politicians must be guided by the people.

ENERGY minister Fortune Chasi yesterday revealed that water levels in Lake Kariba were so low that current supplies will only be able to generate power for the next 14 weeks, paving way for deeper power cuts in the country.

In a ministerial statement in the National Assembly, Chasi said the power situation was dire.

Earlier, when Chasi appeared before the Gabbuza Joel Gabuza-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy, he said heads would roll at power utility, Zesa Holdings.

He said those involved in shady energy deals, which saw the country losing millions of dollars to projects such as the Gwanda solar project, would be brought to book.

“The hydrological condition of Kariba Dam is that last week, the dam was 32% full and on Monday, it was 29% full, and if that trend continues, this means that in theory, within 14 weeks, Kariba will not be able to have power,” Chasi said.

“Zimbabwe and Zambia are allowed enough water to generate 358 megawatts (MW) and during the rainy season, they were allowed 418MW.”

Chasi said power usage was expected to rise from 350MW to 600MW during the winter season and this would worsen the situation, adding that load-shedding was here to stay.

“The shortages of foreign currency in the country has had a negative bearing on electricity supplies and the current electricity import bill is $83 million and as a result neighbouring countries are reluctant to supply electricity to Zimbabwe. We export 80MW of electricity daily to Namibia,” he said.

The country is enduring its worst rolling power cuts in three years, and although its mines have been spared so far, analysts say the cuts will hurt economic revival efforts.
Shortages of foreign currency have hampered Zimbabwe’s ability to import fuel, while Zesa is owed $200 million by government, companies and individuals.

Chasi told the Energy Committee that power blackouts lasting up to 10 hours could not be avoided as Zimbabwe is producing 1 100MW a day against a demand of 1 500MW.

The country required $96 million to import more than 200MW from regional suppliers like South Africa’s Eskom and Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa and Electricidade de Moçambique, said Chasi.

Zimbabwe owed the utilities $70 million for previous imports.

“There is no guarantee that there will be water, what we are seeing is a southward movement in water levels at Kariba. If the trend goes like that, we will probably say just after 14 weeks Kariba will not generate any megawatts,” Chasi said.

Kariba, the largest electricity producer in Zimbabwe with a capacity of 1 050MW, is generating less than a third of its installed capacity due to low water levels caused by a severe drought.

Zimbabwe commissioned an additional 300MW at Kariba last year, its biggest investment in electricity in more than 25 years, but a lack of investment is blamed for the current power shortages.

In a ministerial statement, Chasi said most problems in the energy sector were caused by lack of respect of law, and lack of corporate governance. Chasi said there was need to ensure that each parastatal in the energy sector is manned by qualified boards and management in order to have sustainable energy in the country.

The minister also told MPs that electricity tariffs will not increase as government was financially supporting Zesa. He said Zesa is owed $1,2 billion, with the largest chunk being local authorities owing $300 million and government departments $32 million.

On winter wheat, Chasi said farmers will be supplied with power four days per week.

-Newsday

Humanitarian agency, Save the Children, has embarked on infant and young children feeding awareness campaigns in famine-ravaged Binga district, Matabeleland North province to reduce stunting.

The programme is part of Save the Children’s ongoing humanitarian aid programme where about 4 000 mostly vulnerable community members from 947 households are each receiving US$9 monthly to purchase food items to prevent hunger-related deaths owing to drought.

Binga has not been spared the harsh effects of the El Nino-induced drought that swept across the country, leaving over five million people facing starvation, according government and aid agencies.

Save the Children health and nutrition manager Mthulisi Dube said it has roped in traditional leaders to develop community rules on infant and young children feeding to reduce stunting, as well as encourage nutrition behaviour change among communities under the infant and child-feeding educational programmes.

“Traditional leaders will continue to be engaged to share information on gender and culture in infant and young children feeding and promote positive infant feeding at household level. The traditional leaders have positively influenced uptake of growth monitoring and vitamin A supplementation in their respective communities,” Dube told journalists during a tour to one of its programme sites in Chinonge ward in Binga district on Wednesday.

Save the Children is implementing the programme in Binga’s worst drought-affected areas including Chinonge, Ngani, Kariangwe, Siachilaba and Simatelele.

“The traditional leaders will also disseminate important information and develop community rules that encourage male participation in infant and young children feeding programme and discourage neglect. We also have trained a number to be village health workers to provide comprehensive and effective nutrition counselling to mothers. This has resulted in Binga recording the highest vitamin A supplementation and growth monitoring in the country,” Dube noted.

“In addition, 24 830 people from Binga district have indirectly benefited from improved feeding and care practices for mothers, infants and children under two years, improved quality and delivery of maternal, infant and child nutrition services and increased access to maternal, infant and child nutrition and agricultural services.”

The programme is being implemented with assistance from the district administrator Lydia Banda-Ndete’s office which provides the profiling of the most vulnerable communities in the underdeveloped district. Banda-Ndete on Tuesday confirmed the district has been hard hit by the climatic change-induced drought.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to urgently convene a Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) meeting to address economic challenges being faced by the nation, saying failure to act would lead to unrest.

The prevailing economic crisis has seen inflation skyrocketing and prices rising beyond the reach of many.

“Your Excellency, the situation on the ground is volatile and the nation is on the edge. Your intervention in this matter is urgently sought,” a letter written by ZCTU president Peter Mutasa to Mnangagwa dated May 29, read.

This is the second time that labour has demanded dialogue with government, saying if the State fails to call for a national TNF, the situation would explode and demonstrations were bound to take place.

“Your Excellency, the rising inflation and prices has had a devastating impact on ordinary citizens incomes for those lucky enough to be in work or to have a pension, (which has been) miserably eroded, condemning many into abject poverty,” Mutasa said.

“Their predicament is worsened by the fact that most people do not have access to foreign exchange, while service providers are demanding payment in hard currency. All of this leaves most people unable to pay for critical services, be it education, housing, healthcare or transport.”

The letter by the country’s largest labour federation follows a resolution of its general council to engage government on the crisis before rolling out demonstrations and other forms of protests to force authorities to act on the economy.

ZCTU said the TNF was a matter of urgency and government needs to engage labour and business to arrest the economic deterioration.

In January, it organised a three-day stayaway after Mnangagwa announced a 150% fuel price hike.

The stay-away turned violent, with security agents killing 17 people to ruthlessly crush the demonstrations, according to human rights groups.
Hundreds other were injured.

-Newsday

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged that his government will grow the economy and improve the lives of poor Zimbabweans regardless of the sanctions imposed on the country by Western countries.

Speaking during an official visit by Tanzanian President John Magufuli, Mnangagwa said although sanctions were slowing down economic growth and hurting the poor, his government had put in place a plan to salvage the comatose economy.

“Our economy was greatly affected by the sanctions imposed on us nearly now close to 18 years. Under the new dispensation, we have said with or without sanctions, we must focus on developing our economy,” Mnangagwa said.

“We will use our own domestic resources to industrialise, modernise and improve our economy. The speed of development is constrained by the question of sanctions, which my brother (Magufuli) is appealing to those who imposed sanctions on us to remove them.”

He said on the back of mining and farming, the economy was projected to grow by 4,5% by end of year, but admitted the journey would be painful calling on fellow citizens to tighten their belts.

“The areas that have given us the pace to grow is the mining sector and when it’s a good season like the last two or three seasons, agriculture also helps us to grow. So the agricultural, mining and tourism sectors are actually growing,” Mnangagwa said.

“Other sectors like industry and commerce are constrained by the fact that we have to retool after 18 years of sanctions now. Most of our industry has obsolete equipment.”

Zimbabwe is facing an economic meltdown characterised by company closures, skyrocketing prices and a failing local currency, which is taking a beating from hard currencies both on the black and inter-bank markets.

Magufuli said Zimbabweans needed to give Mnangagwa a chance and support him as he pushes the reforms agenda.

He said in Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe had a critical and important partner for development.

-Newsday

Own Correspondent|The Joint Operations Command (JOC) led by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and State Security has officially taken over the burial programme for the late national hero Dumiso Dabengwa and will not allow anyone other than a family representative and a government official probably Vice President Kembo Mohadi to address the gathering.

The move which was strongly emphasised to both ZAPU, the political party Dabengwa led, and his family is believed to be a direct move to screen people who will speak at the burial including opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and officials from ZAPU.

Chamisa is however expected to give a keynote address at Dabengwa’s memorial service to be held at the White City Stadium today.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Bulawayo Judith Ncube yesterday said all solidarity messages will be delivered today at White City Stadium as tomorrow’s burial proceedings will be confined to a State programme.

“Tomorrow’s (today) memorial service will be mainly controlled by the family. It’s a memorial service that we expect to be very big considering Dr Dabengwa’s stature. Those wishing to deliver solidarity messages are expected to speak tomorrow. However, on Saturday, it will be a burial service and we all know that in the burial of a national hero, it’s a closed programme where only the family speaks before the President delivers his speech,” said Ncube.

She said members of the public that intend to share their memories on Dr Dabengwa would be advised to do so at today’s memorial service at White City Stadium.

“So tomorrow (today) those who want to deliver solidarity messages, would be their day. We want to encourage those who will attend the memorial service to be at their best behaviour. We should respect Dr Dabengwa. We are what we are because of his contributions to the nation. We need to give him a huge send-off and I encourage members of the public to come in their numbers for the service. The gates at White City will be opened as early as 8AM,” she said.

Dr Dabengwa’s younger brother, Mr Jabu Dabengwa, said after the memorial service, the national hero’s body will lie in state at his home in Fourwinds suburb before they proceed for burial tomorrow morning.

“Most of the speeches by members of the public among other organisations will be delivered at the memorial service at White City Stadium. In Ntabazinduna where most of our relatives are based, the burial proceedings will follow what is done in the burial of other national heroes. There will be a family speaker and a Government representative. But we have also made a special request that our visitors from South Africa, members from African National Congress (ANC) and Umkhonto WeSizwe could deliver they solidarity messages during the burial as they will only be in the country on Saturday,” said Dabengwa.

Zapu acting president Isaac Mabuka confirmed the development. Burial programmes for national heroes are normally handled by the Ministry of Home Affairs in conjunction with family members.

“Our secretary general Strike Mnkandla is with the JOC right now, finalising the burial programme for our late president. Phone him to ask for more details,” said Mabuka.

Mnkandla also confirmed the development, adding Zapu was expecting a number of foreign dignitaries for the burial at Ntabazinduna.

With outspoken local traditional leader Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni and others including MDC president Nelson Chamisa expected to attend, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s handlers may want to reduce the risk of the Zanu PF leader being embarrassed if his adversaries are allowed to address mourners.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda confirmed the MDC leader has plans to attend.

“The president (Chamisa) was very close to the late national hero, Dabengwa and would want to attend his burial.

“There have been changes to the programme but president Chamisa is in constant touch with the family so that he is able to plan with the aim of paying his respects on his passing,” said Sibanda.

Dabengwa died last week in Nairobi, Kenya on his way back home from India where he had gone to seek specialist medical care.

He was declared a national hero but his family requested that he be laid to rest in his rural home as was his wish before he died.

FIVE Harare police officers yesterday appeared in court on allegations of receiving a bribe and stealing money from a suspected illegal foreign currency dealer. Tafadzwa Chidawa (31), Edward Solomani (33), Sydine Mugambiwa (32), Tendai Mangena (37) and Richard Majome (34) were facing criminal abuse of duty as a public officer charges when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko.

They were granted $100 bail each.

As part of their bail conditions they were ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and to continue residing at their given addresses.

They were also ordered to report once every Friday at CID Homicide.

Mrs Mateko deferred the matter to June 19.

The lawyer representing Chidawa, Solomani, Mugambiwa and Mangena told the court that his clients had complaints against the police who he accused of confiscating their personal savings amounting to US$240 from their homes.

In consenting to bail, prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa told the court that the State was not opposing it because all the accused persons are police officers and that they all live in police camps.

The court heard that on May 28 Chiwara, who operates his business as Structured Finance and Commodity Trading together with Minister Monica Mutsvangwa’s Son Neville, went to a block of flats located at the corner of Fife Avenue and Fifth Street, Harare, to meet a friend who had offered him an exchange rate in RTGS transfer for his US$200 000 which he had.

It is the State’s case that Chiwara went to the block of flats in the company of Henry Abraham and Wisdom Hodzi where they started counting the money.

After they finished counting the money which amounted to US$200 000, the five accused persons arrived and informed them that they were under arrest for illegal dealing in foreign currency and were taken to ZRP Harare Central in a BMW 5 Series which belongs to Chidawa while Abraham was ferried in the police vehicle.

Mutsvangwa was not at the location when the raid was conducted and the police arrested his associates Darlington Ndaba Chiwara and Henry Abrahams

The court heard that on their way to Harare Central Police Station, Chidawa and his accomplices told Chiwara that his money would be seized. They emphasised this aspect, prompting Chiwara to suggest that he would leave part of the recovered money in Chidawa’s car and removed money amounting to US$158 400.

It is the State’s case that upon arrival at Harare Central Police Station the accused persons and Chiwara disembarked from the car with a suitcase containing US$41 600 and took it to CID TFC office and left $USD158 400 secured in the locked motor vehicle.

The court heard that whilst at CID TFC offices the accused persons counted the cash to be recorded and seized. They further agreed to remove another US$20 590 left US$21 010 which was to be blocked as exhibit after they said they wanted US$2 000 as a bribe which they took and shared amongst themselves.

The remaining cash which amounted US$21 010 was later taken as exhibit.

It is alleged that Chidawa later gave Abraham the cash which was left in the motor vehicle and the former gave him cash amounting to US$1 000 as a token of appreciation for helping him conceal the cash.

The court heard that Abraham later took the cash which he counted and discovered that it amounted to US$146 400 and US$11 000 was missing.

Tafadzwa Hungwe is representing Majome.

A prostitute who is popular in the Mkoba area in Gweru has been unmasked to be actually male.

Bismark Damba (pictured) has been masquerading as a woman going by the name Cynthia Damba for the past five years, but his lucky finally ran out after he was recently assaulted by his client who discovered that the prostitute was actually a man.

The incident occurred at the popular Mpambadzire night club in Mkoba 6 shopping centre after the man, Bismarck Damba, who was popularly known as Cynthia Damba was exposed.

Patience Moyo, a vendor who witnessed the incident unfolding said everyone was shocked to discover the “woman” they had known for years was a man.

“We have known Cynthia for quite some time now and it is disturbing and shocking to find out that she is a ‘man’. We have known her for more than five years, and we never at any time suspected that ‘she’ might be lying about her identity,” said Moyo.

Tatenda Chiminya who works as a cashier in one of the shops at the shopping centre said it remained a mystery how Damba managed to fool everyone.

“What remains a mystery is how he managed to convince everyone that he is a ‘woman’. How then was he sleeping with clients for the past five years. And in those five years, none of his clients noticed that he is a man pretending to be a woman.

” He was also part of an all-female dance group that always performed in the club. The whole incident feels like a script from a movie,” she said.

A female sex worker who declined to be named and works in the same night club said it was a relief that Damba was finally caught.

“He was taking our clients from us and to us it’s a relief that he has been exposed because our clients will finally come back to us,” she said. — BMetro

State Media|Mystery surrounds the distribution of fuel in Zimbabwe after authorities have established that while enough funds have been availed for players to procure the product, it has not been channelled to the market, resulting in shortages that have been witnessed countrywide.

It has also emerged that for the month of June, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) released letters of credit for the acquisition of 170 million litres against a national requirement of 140 million, raising serious questions about leakages in the industry.

This came out after Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi and RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya met fuel players in Harare yesterday and told them about new measures to curtail leakages in the fuel supply system.

Among the measures will be the renewal of licences half-yearly and cancellation of operating licences for those who flout procedure.

Minister Chasi later appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy and Power Development.

He said the measures were expected to instil discipline in industry players and plug leakages amid indications that the RBZ has made provision to acquire 170 million litres of fuel for next month against a requirement of 130 million litres.

“I was in a meeting with players from the fuel industry and this is the second time that I am meeting them since I was appointed. The meeting was occasioned by the queues that we are seeing at the service stations throughout the country.

“The meeting was attended by the Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya and his staff and I made it very clear that licences are issued when the regulator is satisfied that it’s in the national interest. And so when people begin to misbehave, as we understand from the public because I have been inundated by many complaints from the public, we act,” he said.

Minister Chasi added: “Some say that when fuel is delivered, only a few people a served then they are told that fuel is finished when it’s evidently clear that the fuel was there. There has also been instances where service stations refuse certain types of payments, insisting on US dollars.

“This has occasioned untold suffering on the driving public and as Government we are there to protect the national interests. We are there to make sure that fuel is distributed rationally throughout the country.”

He said he made it very clear during the meeting that this strong element of dishonesty will not be tolerated by Government.

“We have agreed with the industry that all service stations will be wet today (yesterday). So we are expecting that they will be some movements — significant movement — around the issue of availability of fuel.

“I also mentioned that I have just completed work on regulations around penalties for misbehaviour and those regulations will be sent to the Attorney-General for examination and finalisation. We expect them to come into force pretty soon. We need order in this industry.

“I pointed that in order to enhance availability of information to the public, I will be publicising who received what amount of fuel and when, so there is nowhere to hide.

“I also remind them that their licences will be due for renewal in six months. So when that time comes we will look at the conduct and behaviour of each player and it’s our right as government not to renew licences of entities run by devious people.”

Minister Chasi also indicated that they had set up task forces to investigate misconduct by some service stations that are responsible for diverting fuel to the parallel market.

“We learnt that depots are also part of the cause of the problem, fuel is escaping through those depots and we are going to investigate on that,” he told the parly committee after he had been asked what he was doing to end fuel queues.

Dr Mangudya told the same committee that investigations were necessary since the country since the country was procuring more than enough fuel every month.

“As of now we have letters of credit worth 170 million litres of fuel for the coming against 130 million litres required by the nation for the same period,” he said.

He assured the committee that the Central Bank will always avail funds to procure adequate fuel every month.

On fuel pricing, Minister Chasi said the industry pointed out that there was instability in terms of some of the templates that were being used to determine fuel prices.

“I have asked them to go and develop that position, giving us facts and figures. We are due to meet them the week after next, on Thursday so that we can develop the issue they have raised.

“The governor was able to demonstrate to the industry that people accessed money to bring in certain levels of fuel and that there is fuel. This why we are saying the queues must begin to move without delay,” he said.

Minister Chasi said the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) last week announced the fuel price and it had not changed.

Last week ZERA gazetted new maximum retail prices of fuel reflecting average increases of 46 percent for blend petrol and 49 percent for diesel.

ZERA said the new prices were premised on the interbank market rate and will see a litre of blend petrol (E10) retailing at $4,97 while diesel will sell at $4,89 per litre.

ZERA said the new prices were in line with measures taken by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) on fuel procurement, now based on the ruling exchange rate on interbank market where oil marketers now obtain forex to import fuel.

The country has been facing intermittent fuel shortages as a result of a shortage of foreign currency and activities of dealers who are working in connivance with people in the fuel industry especially attendants who have been accused of diverting fuel to the black market.

Farai Dziva|ZIMSEC has sternly warned candidates to desist from cheating as the June examinations commence.

See the ZIMSEC statement below:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media|BULAWAYO residents have been urged to give national hero Dr Dumiso Dabengwa a befitting send-off by turning up in their numbers for a memorial service to be held in his honour at White City Stadium today.

The service is expected to start at 9AM before his burial tomorrow in Ntabazinduna, Matabeleland North. Government has provided 11 buses to ferry residents who intend to attend the memorial service.

Dr Dabengwa died last week on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, while en-route to Zimbabwe from India where he had been taken for medical treatment. He was 79 and died following a liver related illness that started last year in November.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Bulawayo Judith Ncube yesterday said all solidarity messages will be delivered today at White City Stadium as tomorrow’s burial proceedings will be confined to a State programme.

“Tomorrow’s memorial service will be mainly controlled by the family. It’s a memorial service that we expect to be very big considering Dr Dabengwa’s stature. Those wishing to deliver solidarity messages are expected to speak tomorrow. However, on Saturday, it will be a burial service and we all know that in the burial of a national hero, it’s a closed programme where only the family speaks before the President delivers his speech,” said Ncube.

She said members of the public that intend to share their memories on Dr Dabengwa would be advised to do so at today’s memorial service at White City Stadium.

“So tomorrow (today) those who want to deliver solidarity messages, would be their day. We want to encourage those who will attend the memorial service to be at their best behaviour. We should respect Dr Dabengwa. We are what we are because of his contributions to the nation. We need to give him a huge send-off and I encourage members of the public to come in their numbers for the service. The gates at White City will be opened as early as 8AM,” she said.

Dr Dabengwa’s younger brother, Mr Jabu Dabengwa, said after the memorial service, the national hero’s body will lie in state at his home in Fourwinds suburb before they proceed for burial tomorrow morning. “Most of the speeches by members of the public among other organisations will be delivered at the memorial service at White City Stadium. In Ntabazinduna where most of our relatives are based, the burial proceedings will follow what is done in the burial of other national heroes. There will be a family speaker and a Government representative. But we have also made a special request that our visitors from South Africa, members from African National Congress (ANC) and Umkhonto WeSizwe could deliver they solidarity messages during the burial as they will only be in the country on Saturday,” said Mr Dabengwa.

Bulawayo Provincial Information Officer Mr Farai Makuvaza said 11 buses would pick up residents who intend to attend the memorial service.

He said buses are expected to pick up residents as early as 7AM.

Some of the pick-up points include Mhlahlandlela Government Complex for ward 1, 4, 5 and 6 residents while residents from Ward 2 will be picked from Richmond Spar, Castle Arms, Trenance Hall, Cabatsha, Queens Park West and in Ward 3 residents will be picked from Imbizo Barracks, Fairbridge Bus Stop, Mahatshula and Glengary.

In Ward 7, 8, 9 and 12 a bus will pick passengers at Makokoba’s Efusini, Barbourfields Stadium, Thorngrove Shopping Centre, NocZim, D-Square, Mpopoma High School, Information Centre and Njube Police Station while those living in ward 10, 11, 14 will be picked up from Zothile Shopping Centre, Nhliziyo Shopping Centre, War Vets Office, Entumbane Spar, Emakhandeni, Hall, Woza Shopping Centre, Maunga, New Lobengula Bus Terminus.

For ward 16 and 17 residents their pick up points are Beit Hall, Emangcwabeni Turn, koMaplanka, Magwegwe North Bus Terminus, Lobengula West Turn, Gwabalanda Turn Off while Ward 17, 19 and 27 residents will get free transport in Old Pumula Terminus, Pumula Clinic, Pumula North Terminus, Pumula South Bus Terminus, Intemba Bus Stop, St Peters School, Mazwi Village, Robert Sinyoka School and Methodist Village.

Ward 20, 22, 23 residents will be picked from Tshabalala Garage, Sekusile, Queen Elizabeth Kiosk, Maqhawe Clinic, Nkulumane 12 Bus Terminus, Munyoro Shopping Centre, Manemo Shopping Centre and Bullet Shopping Centre while for Ward 21, 24, 25 dwellers they will be picked at Nketa 7 terminus, Nketa 9 Shopping Centre, Emganwini Flea Market, Khanyisa Shopping Centre, Bumby Lodge, Nketa High School, Nketa Garage, Nkulumane High School, Sidojiwe West Gate, Mbundane SDA Church, Esibhoraneni and Terminus.

For Cowdray Park’s ward 28 residents they will be picked at Emagetsini, Cowdray Park Terminus, Fly-Over Garikai Houses, Caravan Bus Stop, Booster Empompini, Esigodweni, TM, Sign Post while those staying in Ward 18 and 29 will be picked from Magwegwe West Terminus, Pats Hardware/Mabhodoko, Konron, Mountain view, Old Magwegwe Terminus and Caltex Garage.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo based war veterans, civil society organisations and activists who worked with Dabengwa have organised a “toyi – toyi” march to White City Stadium to honour Dabengwa.

The group will march from the Joshua Nkomo statue in the city centre to the stadium.

State Media|Government will continue to engage civil servants and adjust their salaries against the prevailing inflation levels not the foreign currency exchange rate, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.

Responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, Prof Ncube said Government cannot benchmark its workers’ salaries on the RTGS dollar exchange rate to the United States currency.

“First of all, when you think of salary adjustments for the civil servants, we never benchmark to an exchange rate to the USD in which case he’s used a parallel market rate of 1:8. We don’t do that. We try to bench mark salaries to the inflation level and that is how it ought to be done.

“Secondly, should we give civil servants an increase in line with the exchange rate which some Members of Parliament are mentioning? The answer is no. We’ll continue to engage the civil servants and it will be an increase that begins to ameliorate against the current levels of inflation and we’ll continue to engage them so that we can adjust their emoluments both in monetary and non-monetary terms,” said Prof Ncube.

He said Government has surplus revenue in both RTGS and US dollars, which has benefited civil servants and other humanitarian needs such as Cyclone Idai.

“In RTGS currently and cumulatively, our surplus is about RTGS$600 million. If you divide that with the current exchange rate you get about US$$100 million.

“Having a surplus stops growth in money supply which in the long run will contribute towards a stabilisation of inflation. The surplus is being used to cushion civil servants in terms of higher wages. In January, we gave them a cushioning of RTGS$63 and an additional RTGS$400 million from April 1, 2019 to December.

“We’re also using the surplus for social protection programmes starting with Cyclone Idai. We have allocated $100 million towards that process but also, we are using the surplus for the usual social protection programmes such as the food programme in both rural and urban areas,” said Prof Ncube.

He said the surplus revenue was also being used to support other social services such as the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).

“In addition to that we’re going to use the surplus for importing food. We have already issued out a tender through the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) to import additional food to deal with the impact of the drought. So it is being used in these areas,” said Prof Ncube.

Earlier, Parliamentarians had requested Prof Ncube to explain how Treasury was making surplus revenue yet inflation was increasing at an alarming rate.

“In his quarterly address to us, Prof Ncube mentioned that he had received income of 8, 2 percent. In the very next breath, he mentioned that there was 66 percent inflation. How can he claim to have a surplus when all those were figures of collection, 8 percent versus 66 percent?

“For example, if one is receiving a salary of $2 000 and they have got the exchange rate moving by 8, which means their salary is now $250. Now, if you’ve got a surplus, why have you not given the civil servants a very meaningful increase,” asked Harare North MP Allan Markham.

Mutare Central MP, Innocent Gonese asked the Minister if the surplus was of any real benefit to Zimbabweans looking at the standards of living that were deteriorating.

Said Pelandaba Mpopoma legislator Charles Moyo while reading the Fourth Order on adjourned debate on motion on the Report of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission regarding the 2018 Harmonised Elections Tuesday:

“I now move to post election phase that is on page 26.  It is clear here that the board initially announced the results for the top three presidential candidates as Emmerson D. Mnangagwa having 50.8%, Nelson Chamisa having 44.3% and a nonentity Thokozani Khupe receiving 0.9%.  

After the constitutional petition, there was a review of the percentages here whereby Emmerson Mnangagwa was then declared that he gunned 50.6% from 50.8%.  There was a decrease of Chamisa’s vote from 44.3% to 44.39%.  Therefore, ZEC acknowledged that the first set of presidential results was wrong.  How do we then trust either the 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th presidential results which were announced? 

They admitted that there were mathematical or statistical errors –  who knows that there were such errors?  They only know.  Therefore the issue of legitimacy cannot be washed away.  It is very clear because there was such a review.  

There is also an issue that in the court papers that is on page 26 where the ZEC Chairperson conceded that some polling stations may have been counted twice.  How many were counted more than twice, ten, twenty or fifty times?  Therefore we cannot wash away the issue of legitimacy.  This report clearly points out that there is legitimacy crisis in Zimbabwe.  As a country, we must come up with a solution because we are being guided by what is written in the report. 

I can go on and on.  The military was heavily involved.  You can see recommendations on page 33 – 8.3.1 where it says ZDF should refrain from use of live ammunition on civilians during demonstrations and even after elections.  It is clearly written in the report.  It is very clear that the issue of legitimacy is questionable and as a country we must solve this.  I thank you.”

By Own Correspondent- A Zhombe man who was caught pants down with his uncle’s wife has claimed the woman was a dynamite in bed and has vowed to marry her.

Juda Muketiwa of Village 18 Bobs under Chief Gwesela in Zhombe was caught pants down with the woman in question, Letwin Masvaure, who is wife to his uncle Unity Nduku.

Muketiwa is son to Nduku’s elder sister.

The matter has since been heard before Chief Weight Gwesela’s court where Muketiwa was fined five head of cattle for adultery.

Nduku who is a gold dealer, was shocked when he returned home unannounced only to find his wife and his sister’s son having sex in his matrimonial bed.

Muketiwa is married to another woman with whom he has one child while Masvaure has two children with Nduku.

Chief Weight Gwesela confirmed that his court handled the matter and the man had since been fined.

“It is true we handled such a matter and the man was fined five beasts for the taboo. This is unheard of and we do not condone such activities. We have since fined the man and warned him against such actions,” said Chief Gwesela.

A source who also attended the court session said Muketiwa had since vowed to marry Masvaure whom he claimed was better than his wife in bed.

“He was heard after the court vowing that he was not going to let her go as ordered by the court saying the woman is good in bed. He vowed to pay lobola for the woman,” said the source.

The source said Muketiwa said the fine was a form of lobola and had since cemented their relationship.

“He said now that he has paid the five beasts, the relationship has been legalised and nothing was going to stop him from seeing her anytime he wanted,” the source further revealed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Own Correspondent- Legislators here have raised concern over failure by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to adhere to constitutional provisons which guarantee gender equality in senior government appointments.

The development follows the appointment of only three women as ambassadors among the 18 recently appointed Zimbabwean consulars abroad.

Said Hon Madiwa:

“Thank you Madam Speaker.  I rise on a point of privilege according to Section 69 read together with Section 68 (d).  My point of privilege arises from Section 17 of the Constitution which says the State must promote full gender balance in Zimbabwe’s society and in particular the State must promote full participation of women in all spheres of the Zimbabwe society.  

Madam Speaker, the evidence available shows non-compliance with that Section, more specifically with the recent appointed nine boards.  I have seen very few women representation in the boards.  

To add on to that, the recently appointed Ambassadors, imagine Madam Speaker, of the 18 Ambassadors appointed, we only have three women and this shows non-compliance.”

By Own Correspondent- Harare City Council intends to build walk-up flats to ease accommodation challenges faced by teachers.

The local authority said it was making efforts to upgrade most council-owned facilities. Housing and Community Service director Addmore Nhekairo confirmed that the plan to construct accommodation for teachers was still at the preliminary stage.

“As council, we know and understand some of the challenges being faced by teachers. The major one is that of accommodation and this is the reason why we have decided to come up with this project.

“We are still working on the budget and all other things to be put into consideration on the project,” he said.

Nhekairo also said council would conduct a pilot project in Glen View where the first flats will accommodate 28 teachers.

“Very soon we are going to conduct a pilot project using Glen View 2 Primary school where we have given the school a piece of land to build flats for their teachers.

“We expect the flats to accommodate 28 teachers. It is our intention that once we have learnt some lessons from that pilot scheme we can then replicate it throughout the city so that our teachers are not affected when it comes to securing accommodation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the city is also in the process of building new schools and upgrading other facilities like community halls. Recently, the city, in partnership with NetOne, refurbished Sunningdale Community Hall which houses over 70 pre-school children and more than 2 600 people visit the centre every month.

Early this month the local authority held a ground-breaking ceremony for Kuwadzana 11 Council Primary School.

Farai Dziva|MDC A senator Lilian Timveous has said party members should focus on defeating Zanu PF- instead of jostling for positions.

Senator Timveous who was vying for the post of vice president said she would not be put off by her failure to land the post.

See her statement below :
I congratulate the President of Zimbabwe, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, for being endorsed by congress as The President of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

I also congratulate all the leaders who won at the 2019 MDC Congress.
The President was there throughout the cold nights of Gweru and worked hard to see the success of our Congress
I want to also thank Our people that made huge sacrifices to be at congress, endure the cold nights of Gweru and vote for their favourite candidates.

The provinces, districts and wards did a wonderful job. I was really overwhelmed by the show of confidence. The team spirit and unity of purpose was astounding. Tinotenda hama dzangu (siyabonga zihlobo). Mwari ndiye anogadza vatungamiriri (All leaders are made by God).

I want to Thank Senators, Members of Parliament and Councillors throughout Zimbabwe who assisted in taking care of our delegates, a lot of funding was needed to feed and take care of delegates. … Munogona, Your love and Support always goes unnoticed but it’s very much appreciated, SIYABONGA Bakhokheli bethu’
Let us work hard for the people of Zimbabwe.

I also want to thank all those who put in their own resources to propel my campaign. I am humbled. I have travelled back to Harare because of work and I can say with all confidence that I am safe and sound. I will never sell out the People’s struggle.

I am a loyal member of this Party and a Servant of the People.
NEVER EVER!
ZANU PF MUST GO! SIMPLE.
Thank You and
May God Bless You
Senator Lilian Timveos

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The South African political scene took an interesting turn after the release of a report on how the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) apparently benefitted from the looting of VBS Mutual Bank.
The report was compiled by Scorpio investigative journalist Pauli van Wyk.

The interesting bit is from EFF leader Julius Malema’s threats towards Van Wyk and the party’s deflection from claims of corruption and the party’s sudden spirited defense of the public protector.

EFF Rejects Calls For Removal Of Public Protector pic.twitter.com/7e6iZUaRIU

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) May 27, 2019

When the story, titled: “Cruising nicely on VBS: EFF’s Parties, Lies and Looted Money”, was released on Monday night, Malema’s response on Twitter was: “We are still cruising nicely, bana ba baloi [children of witches] are not happy. Go for kill fighters, hit hard.”

We are still cruising nicely, bana ba baloi are not happy. Go for kill fighters, hit hard…

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) May 28, 2019

Van Wyk noted: “Money robbed from VBS Mutual Bank funded the EFF’s fourth birthday bash, held at a popular party venue in Umlazi, Durban, in July 2017. This forms part of a chunk of the illegal R16.1 million Brian Shivambu’s company Sgameka Projects received from VBS that was ultimately channeled to the EFF. So far, Scorpio has isolated about R4.13 million in VBS loot paid towards the EFF, SA’s second-biggest opposition party.”

The article contains apparent copies of bank statements which, on the face of it, explain the flow of cash in “a scheme designed to mask the origin and ultimate beneficiaries of the funds.

VBS money flowed through companies over which Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu have ultimate control.”

Malema responsed to Van Wyk when she asked him about the EFF leadership and treasurer-general Leigh-Ann Mathys, saying: “I won’t be answering any questions from this moloi [witch]; she can write anything she wants to write. I’ve responded to all her questions before and won’t be doing it going forward. I’m not answerable to white madam. She can go to the nearest hell.”

In an attempt to deflect from the VBS Bank matter, EFF deputy president Shivambu compared Van Wyk to a lizard and Pravin Gordhan to a crocodile.

“We really have no time fighting lizards when the crocodiles are the real enemy forces.”

ZANU-PF and State security details have condemned Mandedza High School which had been chosen as the ruling party’s venue for this year’s edition of its annual conference over security reasons.

Mashonaland East was chosen as the host province before its leadership opted for Seke District due to its proximity to the capital.

However, Mandedza High was condemned by security agents who are reportedly wary of the electricity lines that cross over the institution.

This has resulted in the provincial leadership moving to Murape Secondary School, about 15km from the initial venue.

Seke legislator Munyaradzi Kashambe yesterday confirmed the development and said they have identified a new venue.

“It is true the conference will no longer be held at Mandedza High School as announced earlier. This is due to security reasons and we have chosen Murape as the venue subject to confirmation from our superiors,” he said.

Security details reportedly condemned the initial venue on the grounds that the power lines pose danger given that the conference will coincide with the rainy season.

Zanu-PF provincial leaders opted for Seke constituency to host the mega event as it is near Harare where accommodation is readily available.

Meanwhile, addressing party members at a “thank you” rally held in Beatrice on Sunday, Kashambe said Seke Constituency will capitalise on the annual conference to attract development in the area.

“We are honoured to be the host constituency. During the last conference, Zanu-PF chairperson Comrade Oppah Muchinguri said in future, they will ensure that the host area will be developed. This is our time as a constituency to be developed. We are looking forward to improvement of infrastructure and drilling of boreholes among other things,” Kashambe said.

Zanu-PF in Mashonaland East has already started preparing for the annual event.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zimbabwe has been facing fuel challenges since 2017.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch the video below:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nyathi said:

“The police officers were performing their constitutional duties.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Said President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a statement:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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