THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will today cancel fuel subsidies, with oil companies now required to compete for foreign currency on the interbank market, a move likely to see the price of fuel rising sharply.

Central bank governor John Mangudya yesterday said the bank was dropping the 1:1 peg from the fuel importation matrix, which many fear will trigger another round of price rises and a domino effect in an economy already experiencing high inflation.

This comes after the central bank said it had secured a US$500 million loan from unspecified international banks to support its interbank currency market to ease shortages of hard currency.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) is pleased to advise the public that with effect from May 21, 2019 (today), the procurement of fuel by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) shall be done through the interbank foreign exchange market,” Mangudya said in a statement last night.

“There shall be only one foreign exchange rate to be used in the market for the importation of all goods and services. This means that the 1:1 exchange rate that was being used by OMCs for the procurement of fuel will be discontinued with immediate effect.”

Government scrapped its discredited 1:1 dollar peg for surrogate bond notes and electronic dollars, which it merged into the Real Time Gross Settlement (ZWL) dollar in February and launched the interbank market.

It, however, maintained the 1:1 parity for fuel companies to keep fuel prices low, a move critics said was promoting corruption in allocation of foreign currency and exacerbating shortages of cash, with allegations that the market was controlled by few politically-connected players.

As of yesterday, the interbank rate closed at US$1:ZWL$3,48, while on the black market, the rate was at ZWL$5,7.

The last fuel price hike in January, announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself, triggered protests around the country, which resulted in security agents killing 17 people, according to human rights groups, with hundreds left nursing gunshot wounds.

Mangudya yesterday said the new position was necessary to promote the efficient use of foreign exchange and to minimise and guard against incidences of arbitrage within the economy.

The central bank, Mangudya said, would proceed to drawdown the US$500 million from the offshore line of credit to supplement the country’s foreign exchange receipts to underpin the interbank market.

“The facility will be disbursed into the country through the interbank foreign exchange framework at the prevailing interbank foreign exchange rate on a willing-seller willing-buyer basis,” he said.

“Over and above these initiatives, letters of credit (LCs) shall continue to be used for the importation of essential commodities such as fuel, grain and cooking oil. The LCs will also be priced at the prevailing interbank foreign exchange rate.

“The bank has directed banks to effectively apply the willing-seller willing-buyer principle to ensure that the interbank foreign exchange market is reflective of market conditions.

“Accordingly, banks must ensure that there are no moral hazards in the operation of the interbank foreign exchange market. In this regard, all the foreign exchange requirements for bank for their own use that includes dividend payments, subscriptions fees, etc, would need prior exchange control approval; for the proper conduct of the interbank foreign exchange market. Similarly, banks should discontinue twinning arrangements for their customs as this undermines the efficient operations of the interbank foreign exchange market.”

However, critics note that the high price of fuel was also because of exorbitant government taxes on fuel, which accounted for nearly 25% of the ZWL$2,1 billion revenue collected in the first quarter alone.

“No more getting forex at 1:1 to import fuel or cooking or wheat. They now get priority forex through banks at the going interbank rate. This means fuel pricing is likely to increase by a huge margin unless government immediately reverses its Jan 13 fuel tax increase,” economist Kipson Gundani said.

“Cutting excise duty back to 45 cents per litre would ensure pump price remains more or less stable at around ZWL$4/litre.”

Government collects ZWL$2,11 per litre of diesel sold and ZWL$2,48 for petrol, which the State has to cut significantly to keep fuel prices low.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) yesterday announced a 50% price cut on transport fares that will see the majority of commuters paying 50 cents for a trip to town.

A statement issued by Finance secretary George Guvamatanga, headlined “Operation Restore Sanity,” said the new fares were with effect from yesterday.

A distance of 20km and less will cost 50 cents; 20km to 30km will be charged 75 cents, while 30km to 40km will cost $1.

“Further distances will follow similar reductions,” the statement read.

NewsDay

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Own Correspondent|After sensationally claiming that there is no fuel piece increase in place in the country, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulating Authority, ZERA, has increased the price of fuel with an immediate effect and valid for a week.

The new pump price for petrol is now $4.97.

Below is the statement from ZERA issued moments ago.

By Own Correspondent- The government, through the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), has officially announced new fuel prices after having been in denial since Monday.

In a statement on Tuesday, ZERA announced that with effect from May 21, 2019, the price of diesel has been pegged at $4.89 while petrol will be sold at $4.97.

In the latest announcement ZERA said:

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) advises that in terms of amendments to Statutory Instruments 9 and 10 of 2019 and the new measures taken by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on fuel procurement based on the interbank rate, applicable prices for the period May 2019 to 26 May 2019 are summarised in the table below:

Below is the ZERA statement.

RE: REVIEW OF FUEL PRICES EFFECTIVE 21 MAY 2019

The Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA) advises that in terms of amendments to Statutory Instruments 9 and 10 of 2019 and the new measures taken by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on fuel procurement based on the interbank rate, applicable prices for the period 21 May 2019 to 26 May 2019 are summarized in the table below.

Diesel $4.89

Blend E10: $4.97

Operators may sell petroleum products at prices below the cap depending on their trading advantages.

E. T. Mazambani

ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ZIMBABWE ENERGY REGULATORY AUTHORITY

VIEW PICTURE BELOW

By Own Correspondent- A South African judge of the labour court has died after he was bitten by a black mamba whilst in Zambia on a holiday.

Judge Anton Steenkamp, 57, was in Zambia in the company of his wife when the venomous reptile attacked him.

The incident was confirmed by a relative, Ruby Steenkamp, in an interview with News24.

She said:

We’re devastated. No words. What an incredible man. His wife, Catherine, is still on her own in Zambia. They were touring Africa. We as a family were very, very proud of him.

ZIMBABWEAN authorities on Monday 20 May 2019 arrested four human rights campaigners upon their return to the country and confiscated
their laptops and mobile phones.

The four human rights campaigners namely George Makoni aged 38 years, Tatenda Mombeyarara aged 37 years, Gamuchirai Mukura aged 31 years and Nyasha Mpahlo aged 35 years were detained upon disembarking from a
plane at Robert Mugabe International Airport on Monday 20 May 2019 and held for several hours without communication with their lawyers after
authorities confiscated their mobile phone handsets and laptops.

Zimbabwean authorities refused to allow lawyers representing the four human rights activists access to their clients.

The lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Tinomuda Shoko and Godfrey Mupanga from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights only had access to their clients at
Harare Central Police Station after nearly five hours from the time the human rights campaigners were in incommunicado detention at the airport.

At Harare Central Police Station, Zimbabwe Republic Police officers only waved a search warrant in the lawyers’ faces without giving them
access to the document.

No charges have been preferred yet against the four human rights campaigners.
ZLHR’s Position

Government must stop criminalising the work of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Human rights work is not a crime. – ZLHR

The Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority ZERA has put to rest speculations that fuel prices will be increased.

This follows the shock announcement by RBZ governor John Mangudya that Fuel Companies will now buy foreign currency at the Interbank rate instead of the subsidized 1:1 they were receiving previously.

Zimbabwe has been plagued by foreign currency shortages with the RBZ coming under fire for prioritizing fuel cartels at the expense of other critical sectors of the economy.

Below is a Press statement released by ZERA.

UPDATE: Police at Harare Central doing interviews (of the 4 activists) this morning have indicated they intend to lay charges of subverting a constitutionally elected government @ZLHRLawyers @MakomboreroH

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) May 21, 2019

RT – After almost 4,5 hours @ZLHRLawyers have located 4 human rights activists who are now detained at Harare Central. These include Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamu Mukura, George Makoni & Nyasha Mpahlo… https://t.co/2bk3PNgQ6J

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) May 21, 2019

Zimbabwean authorities on Monday 20 May 2019 arrested four human rights campaigners upon their return to the country and confiscated their laptops and mobile phones.

The four human rights campaigners namely George Makoni aged 38 years, Tatenda Mombeyarara aged 37 years, Gamuchirai Mukura aged 31 years and Nyasha Mpahlo aged 35 years were detained upon disembarking from a plane at Robert Mugabe International Airport on Monday 20 May 2019 and held for several hours without communication with their lawyers after authorities confiscated their mobile phone handsets and laptops.

Zimbabwean authorities refused to allow lawyers representing the four human rights activists access to their clients.

The lawyers Roselyn Hanzi, Tinomuda Shoko and Godfrey Mupanga from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights only had access to their clients at Harare Central Police Station after nearly five hours from the time the human rights campaigners were in incommunicado detention at the airport.

At Harare Central Police Station, Zimbabwe Republic Police officers only waved a search warrant in the lawyers’ faces without giving them access to the document.

No charges have been preferred yet against the four human rights campaigners.

In a statement the ZLHR said its position is that “Government must stop criminalising the work of human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Human rights work is not a crime.”

By Own Correspondent- Zanu Pf Spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo has said the recent judgement by the High Court regarding the presidency of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa is a matter between the MDC and the courts.

In a state media report, Moyo distanced his party from allegations that his party was meddling in the internal processes of the MDC.

Moyo dismissed allegations that Zanu Pf was interfering with MDC preparations for the forthcoming congress.

He remarked that the claims by MDC Alliance are untrue adding that the allegations were meant to create instability in the country.

Moyo said:

I must restate that the court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore ordering the MDC party to hold an extraordinary congress within a month to elect a substantive leader using the 2014 MDC structures is purely a matter between the MDC and the courts.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Zanu PF national spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has dismissed allegations that his party was interfering with MDC preparations for the forthcoming congress.

A state media report revealed that Moyo remarked that the claims by MDC Alliance are untrue.

It further says that he views the allegations as meant to create instability in the country.

According to the article, Moyo said:

I must restate that the court ruling by Justice Edith Mushore ordering the MDC party to hold an extraordinary congress within a month to elect a substantive leader using the 2014 MDC structures is purely a matter between the MDC and the courts.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Armed robbers who are reportedly using a Honda Fit vehicles are wreaking havoc in Gweru and are mainly targeting cross border traders and Midlands State University (MSU) Students.

Spates of robberies, some of which are violent, have been reported in Gweru City.

The robbers are using Honda Fit vehicles that do not have registration numbers and pouncing on students near MSU campus and cross border traders travelling to South Africa at night using cross border buses.

In a shocking incident on Thursday last week in Gweru Central Business District (CBD) near Chicken Inn along Lobengula Avenue at around 9pm, a woman travelling to South Africa lost her hand bag to the daring robbers who attacked her in front of onlookers.

The robbers who were driving a silver Honda Fit pounced on the woman who had just bought food from Chicken Inn and snatched the bag from her before dragging her for close to 100 meters as they wrestle the bag and pushed her out off the moving vehicle.

The woman sustained serious head and body injuries. The robbers sped off in movie style and left the woman for dead.

Several students have lost laptops and cellphones to the robbers who usually pounce at them at night.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- Zimdancehall chanter Obey Makamure better known as Tocky Vibes by his fans has welcomed a baby boy to his family.

He announced the news on his Instagram account by posting  picture of himself holding his baby son

And he wrote: You are going to change this world my son #MWARI makatendeka mbiri yenyu ngaikudzwe.

RECENTLY, President Emmerson Mnangagwa swore in 18 commissioners for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, the Police and Prisons and Correctional Services. NewsDay (ND) senior reporter Blessed Mhlanga caught up with Public Service Commission chairperson Vincent Hungwe (VH), who also chairs the Judicial Service Commission, the ZDF, police and prisons commissions to discuss security sector reforms and conditions of service for civil servants.

ND: We witnessed the President swear in commissioners for the defence forces, police and prisons. What awaits them?

VH: Well, next is work, work, work. The commissioners were, in terms of appointment, approved by His Excellency maybe a month ago, but we could not start any operations in the absence of fulfilling this constitutional requirement to be sworn in by the President. That has now been done, so, we are doubling down to the real work that is before the commissions.

ND: What are the issues that you are looking at, especially in the security sector?

VH: It is basically to ensure that the security services create an environment in this country that is conducive to the observance of law and order, the creation of safety, stability and security for citizens, including those that would, from time to time, want to engage with us on the economic front so that we can improve the livelihoods of our citizens.

ND: Chiefly, there has been talk of security sector reforms to achieve the things you mention. Anything on that front that you are doing in terms of reforming the military and police?

VH: The reform of the security sector is a responsibility that lies with the ministers that have been given mandates in that domain, the Ministers of Home Affairs, Defence and Justice.

So, those are the policy drivers with respect to security sector reform, and we are expecting those ministries to principally champion those reforms.

Ours is really to implement the security reforms that would have been initiated by those line ministers and cleared by Cabinet.

ND: So is there anything that you are implementing as of now in the area of security sector reforms?

VH: Well, there is a lot of work that is being done on conditions of service, the institutional infrastructure for the police, the army and the prisons and correctional services to do their work.

Those are the things we are currently doing, but I thought that the import of your initial questions was to what extent are there imperatives for us to revisit policies with respect to the dispensing of those mandates.

Those issues are not for the commissions, those are issues for the line ministers that are responsible.

ND: The President recently spoke about the erosion of disposable incomes, particularly those of civil servants because of the rising prices. Is there anything that you are doing for the civil servants on that front?

VH: Consistently so because we do engage with our employees from time to time and you will recall that at the beginning of the year, the President granted civil servants some resources and those resources were not negotiated.

It was the President merely indicating and recognising that there have been some challenges with respect to the economy and the increase in prices.

Subsequent to that, we engaged with our employees for purposes of coming up with the cost of living adjustment of $400 million (which) became operational with effect from the 1st of April.

However, since April 1, of course, there has been some changes, there have been some challenges within our economy and we are continuing to engage employees in order to come up with mid-term adjustments to their salaries sometime in June and July.

But over and above salaries and allowances for civil servants, there is always consistent focus on our part as the employer to ensure that non-monetary benefits continue to be delivered to our employees.

Just watch the space in the coming two to three months and see the extent to which we would have gone by way of ensuring that the non-monetary benefits become a reality.

All this is intended to ensure that our workers continue to be barricaded against some of the vicissitudes in the economy.

ND: There has been this programme to streamline civil service to ensure that you put skills where they are required, how far has that programme gone?

VH: That is an ongoing exercise. The PSC has completed its strategic plan (which) has a number of pillars and one of the pillars is skills development, which includes making sure that we deploy our skills to the areas where they are required.

In the process, there will certainly be individuals that are going to be affected, but that will be done in the context of our rules and our procedures and the provisions of the Constitution.

ND: There is the issue of youth officers who were retired from the civil service, what is the situation right now?

VH: Well, the position was, as was indicated in our plan, that some of the youth officers were going to be retired and they have been retired.

Some of them have found space in other areas of economic endeavour and others continue to receive their pensions consistent with the provisions of State Pensions Act.

ND: On the issue of the civil service wage bill, which every Finance minster has insinuated that it is too big. Have there been any significant cuts?

VH: I think we should have a very serious and more nuanced discussion about the veracity of the fact that the civil service wage bill is too big before we conclude that it is necessary for it to be cut.

I am not convinced, as chairman of the commission, and I am not convinced that the civil service and the national wage bill are too big.

It could well be the case that our economy is not growing consistent with the imperative to ensure that the proportion of the amount of the money that we pay to our civil servants remains at a constant level.

What has been happening is that, if the economy is declining, but you have the same numbers of civil servants and bill, the impression is created that it is growing yet it has not been growing.

As a matter of fact, we need about 138 000 to 140 000 working in the Primary and Secondary Education ministry. There is a deficit there and we will continue to narrow that deficit.

The ministry constitutes maybe something like 58% to 60 % of our civil service. What do you want us to do, to close down schools, fire teachers? I don’t think we will ever move in that direction. It will be extremely disingenuous and irresponsible for us to move in that direction.

ND: Can you educate us on the extent of the deficit that you talked about?

VH: The deficit of teachers?

ND: Yes.

VH: We need an additional 18 000 to 22 000 teachers in this country and we are working on it. At the beginning of the year, we were granted permission to recruit 3 000 teachers and we will continue to increase those recruitments consistent with what the budget will allow us to do.

The Malawian opposition United Transformation Movement (UTM) led by the country’s vice president has demanded the immediate deportation of former Zimbabwean police boss Augustine Chihuri following allegations that he is involved in rigging local elections.

According to the independent NewsDay newspaper, Saulos Chilima’s UTM made the allegations Sunday and urged the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to postpone the elections to a date to be determined by the electoral body.

Chihuri, who left Zimbabwe in 2017 following the fall of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, was not available for comment.

In a letter to the MEC, the party said there were “strong indications of rigging plots from the ruling DPP and their working mission with Zimbabwe’s former (police) Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri. We would further like to demand that MEC facilitates the deportation of this man from Malawi with immediate effect.”

President Peter Mutharika, who is being challenged by his deputy, Chilima, and a former pastor accusing him of corruption, is banking on the rural electorate for his governing Democratic Progressive Party.

Meanwhile, media sources in Malawi claim that the former Zimbabwean Police Commissioner was whisked out of Malawi on Monday morning longside some other Kenyans who were hired to rig the elections.

Chihuri who has been hiding since the Malawi vice President Saulos Chilima exposed him, was disguising himself as if he was either in South Africa or England.

Correspondent|Zimbabwe’s energy distribution issues are expected to continue until the state power company, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa), clears its debts.

According to the reports, the utility owes approximately $80 million to South Africa’s Eskom and Mozambique’s HCB power company, which should be paid as soon as possible as ZESA can only import 150 megawatts of power from both foreign counterparts.

In order to fulfill the responsibility, the country should come up with a payment plan, company spokesperson Fullard Gwasira explains. However, it is yet unknown whether such a schedule would be implemented or not.

Zimbabwe is now in a shadow of temporary power cuts as the country’s main hydro-power station at Lake Kariba had to reduce its power output to 358 megawatts because of low water levels.

By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have the managed to locate for activists who were allegedly abducted at the RGM International airport on Monday night. The ZLHR reveals this development in the below tweet:

RT – After almost 4,5 hours @ZLHRLawyers have located 4 human rights activists who are now detained at Harare Central. These include Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamu Mukura, George Makoni & Nyasha Mpahlo… https://t.co/2bk3PNgQ6J

— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) May 21, 2019

State Media|A FORM One pupil died in Bulawayo yesterday after he was electrocuted by overhead power cables while fetching lemons from a tree to season mealie-meal porridge.

Prince Mafu of Emakhandeni suburb died instantly and was stuck on a mango tree until personnel from ZESA switched off power for him to be brought down. The mango tree that he had climbed is next to a lemon tree and both are directly under a power line.

His mother, Ms Elizabeth Mbele, who is expecting her fourth child, got into premature labour as she failed to contain her sorrow on the death of her child.

Prince’s family narrated how they witnessed him being consumed by the high voltage electricity and described the horror of watching smoke coming out of his burning body.

“We literally saw him getting burnt to death. The electricity consumed him while we watched. We were helpless. We could not do anything. He was too high up in the trees and neighbours called for ambulances and police but it was too late.

“I have been procrastinating trimming the trees. We are tenants at this house so the landlord comes once in a while and he had advised us to find someone who could cut the trees for us. It is sad,” said Mrs Sithokozile Mbele, his grandmother.

“The long wire he was using was not stable. It was going back and forth and the ripe lemons are now higher up the tree. So he climbed a mango tree which grows next to the lemon tree and got to the top. Somehow he failed to control the wire and it came into contact with the power cables. There is a transformer outside our yard,” said Mrs Mbele.

Neighbours described Prince as an obedient child who respected the elderly in his community.

“It pains us to see such a wonderful and well brought up boy die like this. These days so many youths are disrespecting elders and engaging in the unthinkable, but for such a good boy to go in such a painful way, I wonder why. This is a tragedy for the whole community as Prince was everyone’s child. Children nowadays are problematic but as a boy we watched him help his grandmother with cleaning duties such as mopping and polishing floors, laundry and most of all gardening. He loved to tend his garden,” said a neighbour who identified himself as Mr Moyo.

Mrs Mbele described her grandchild as a hardworking, intelligent and obedient child.

“He had not gone to school yesterday as he has outstanding school fees balance and was avoiding the embarrassment of being sent back home for non payment. My grandson was my blessing. He did everything around the house without complaining. As you can see on this wire, this black waxy stuff are chunks of his flesh which got burnt and got stuck on it,” said Mrs Mbele

When the Chronicle arrived at the scene, his body had been taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals.

“While he was up the tree, his uncle was telling him to get off as he had picked enough lemons to flavour the porridge. However, we did not know it was his last day.

“After he got electrocuted, we only saw smoke coming from his hands and feet as they were on fire. He froze in that position and got stuck in the tree. Ambulances, fire brigade and police rushed to the scene. The ambulance crew left as they said he had died instantly,” said Mrs Mbele.

The fire brigade could not remove the boy as power lines were still live and his body could electrocute anyone who came into contact with it as the metal hook he was using was still stuck to the power cables.

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By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has denied reports that police officers fired live ammunition at vendors in Harare’s CBD on Monday afternoon.

A statement by the police reads as follows:

The ZRP dismisses a social media claim that police have fired live ammunition at vendors near QV pharmacy at Kwameh Nkurumah/Angwa Street, Harare. The post is false.

The correct position is that an informant advised police that a cellphone dealer had been kidnapped and taken to a building near a sanitary lane close to an area frequented by vendors and his life was in danger.

Officer Commanding Harare District and other officers who were in the area quickly reacted and verbally ordered vendors to move away to allow police to attend to the kidnapping report.

One of the vendors became violent, he smashed a QV pharmacy glass and ran away.

Vendors then teamed up and started to throw stones and other objects at the police officers.

One of the officers pulled out a service pistol and scared them away while the Police Reaction Group was coming.

The Police Reaction Group then used tear smoke to drive the vendors way.

No live shots were fired at any given time. As we speak, the complainant who had been kidnapped is in the process of making a police report at Harare Central after the kidnappers took away some money from him over a previous cellphone transaction.

By Own Correspondent-ZUPCO has reduced bus fares by 50% effective from Tuesday 21 May 2019.

In an announcement made by the Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the move has been necessitated by the need to cushion the travelling public.

Distance 1-20km: Old fare – $1.00. New fare: $0.50

20-30km: Old fare – $1.50. New Fare: $0.75

30-40km: Old Fare – $2.00. New Fare – $1.00

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has dismissed reports that police officers fired live ammunition at vendors in Harare’s CBD on Monday afternoon.

A statement by the police reads as follows:

The ZRP dismisses a social media claim that police have fired live ammunition at vendors near QV pharmacy at Kwameh Nkurumah/Angwa Street, Harare. The post is false.

The correct position is that an informant advised police that a cellphone dealer had been kidnapped and taken to a building near a sanitary lane close to an area frequented by vendors and his life was in danger.

Officer Commanding Harare District and other officers who were in the area quickly reacted and verbally ordered vendors to move away to allow police to attend to the kidnapping report.

One of the vendors became violent, he smashed a QV pharmacy glass and ran away.

Vendors then teamed up and started to throw stones and other objects at the police officers.

One of the officers pulled out a service pistol and scared them away while the Police Reaction Group was coming.

The Police Reaction Group then used tear smoke to drive the vendors way.

No live shots were fired at any given time. As we speak, the complainant who had been kidnapped is in the process of making a police report at Harare Central after the kidnappers took away some money from him over a previous cellphone transaction.

By Own Correspondent- The opposition MDC has invited the ruling party ZANU PF-affiliated war veterans association and the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T to its May elective Congress set to be held in Gweru.

The invitation was revealed by the party’s national organising secretary, Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya and the secretary for information, Jacob Mafume last week.

However, MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu dismissed the invitation, calling the MDC Congress kindergarten gibberish.

Speaking to a local publication, Gutu said:

“At any rate, the MDC-T has got completely no appetite to attending kindergarten gibberish.

If we want real entertainment, we go to a circus and not to a facade of a gathering disguised as a congress.

There is the High Court order by Honourable Justice Edith Mushore to contend with.

We are a law-abiding political party that resolutely believes in the rule of law and constitutionalism. We adhere to democracy and not mobocracy.

Why should we be seen hanging around with that lot? No, that won’t happen until the second coming of the Son of Man. We are perfectly happy where we are.

Let them wine and dine using the money they are getting from Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe. The chickens are coming home to roost. It’s not a congress, it’s actually a complete dog’s breakfast.”-DaliyNews

Farai Dziva|MDC A president Nelson Chamisa has taunted Emmerson Mnangagwa saying it is practically impossible to keep “goats stolen from someone”- implying that the Zanu PF leader rigged the 2018 polls.

Chamisa made the remarks at a rally in Chiredzi yesterday.

“Mbudzi dzokuba hadzichengeteki. You stole the election.
You are stealing 2% tax and you are stealing people’s foreign currency.

Pension and salaries have been eroded.

We are saying sanctions and Zanu PF must go,” said Chamisa.

“The GNU brought economy stability and recovery remember : $ for 2 yakauya naTsvangirai.

Sadly Zanu PF is “over borrowing” results in ballooning debts- Zimbabwe ine chikwereti che 20 billion.

The MDC has the capacity to change Zimbabwe’s economy within two weeks,” added Chamisa.

Farai Dziva|Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said there is only one legally constituted MDC party in the country.

Addressing thousands of party supporters at a rally in Chiredzi on Sunday, Chamisa said :” There is only one MDC which is legally consituted -that is backed by the Constitution. The one Morgan Tsvangirai left. The one l am currently leading.

MDC is here to stay and it’s unstoppable.We are 20 -year -old party. We are a household party nationally and internationally.

We won presidential vote, councillors and MPs.”

“We are going to our 5th Congress in Gweru.We are modernizing the Party -making it a 20 th century party.

We are the first party to have peacefully debates among candidates. We are the first party in Africa to have candidates debating ideas.

We are teaching democracy in Zimbabwe and Africa.Debate of issues and not personalities.”

Farai Dziva| War veterans leader Victor Matamadanda has claimed MDC A comprises unruly youths who barred him from attending the burial of Morgan Tsvangirai.

Matamadanda accused the MDC Vanguard of threatening to beat him up at the funeral of the late MDC leader.

He also described the MDC A as an illegal composition.

See below comments on Matemada’ s remarks.

Yimbiri wrote : Murwere uyu kusiyana naye kwakangonaka wani he z so concerned with politics of the opposition than his own party.

Jordanabide: It’s a shame indeed to hear such comments from members of Zanu you end up being very worried about the judgement itself ummm.

Valentine Madziwa:Economy in shambles fix it forget about the Congress corruption yakuvhiringai.

Matron Nyoni:Coup leaders are illegal. Matemadanda & Mutodi same WhatsApp group.

Tafadzwa Natso Chidodo: Cz u talk rubbish dai vaiziva pain inevanhu nekuda kweeconomy apa everyday unotaura zvaChamisa instead of givin us hope yekut nyika muchaigadzira sei.

Safika Sayi:It’s illegal to you .
Jethro Makaye Bota:A declaration of illegality cannot come from authorities that are by themselves illegal.ED’s ascendance via a coup was illegal ab initio. Those in glass houses should not throw stones.

By Own Correspondent| Four civil society organisations representatives who were returning from an international trip were picked up by state security agents as they jetted back into the country from a CSOs conference.

The four, were allegedly picked up by the state security agents led by one Detective Ben Justin following the publication of a story run in the state owned Herald titled “Plot to unleash violent protest unearthed”.

The Herald story printed out allegations that the CSOs representatives were attending a meeting in Prague where they were being trained together with opposition MDC stalwarts on strategies to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.

The four have been identified as Frank Mpahlo, from Transparency International, Gamuchirai Mukura representing COTRAD, George Makoni who is representing CCDZ and Tatenda Mombeyarara from the Citizens’ Manifesto.

Of the 4, pro democracy activist Makomborero Haruzivishe managed to reach 1 of them by late Monday night.

Haruzivishe told ZimEye, “the only one I managed to reach is Tatenda Mombeyarara although the conversation was brief.

“I am appealing to members of the public with details of the four because anything could happen to them,” he said.

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

By Own Correspondent| MDC-T vice president, advocate Obert Gutu has dismissed as fake news the reports suggesting that the Supreme Court has overruled a High Court judgement that nullified Nelson Chamisa’s presidency in the MDC.

See Gutu’s tweet below:

BEWARE of fake news circulating on social media purporting to be a Supreme Court order granted today. It's FAKE!
An old video clip is also being circulated to bolster the FAKE news.
Zizi harina nyanga!!
Mutuvi hausi mukaka!!
Musanyeberwe…!!

— Obert Gutu (@GutuObert) May 20, 2019

Following the government move to liberalise the procurement of fuel by abandoning the 1:1 rate for fuel companies, the price of fuel has consequently been raised.

As a result, the pump price for diesel is now $4.88 per litre while the price of petrol will be selling at  $4.96 per litre.

By Own Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has dismissed reports that police officers fired live ammunition at vendors in Harare’s CBD on Monday afternoon.

A statement by the police reads as follows:

The ZRP dismisses a social media claim that police have fired live ammunition at vendors near QV pharmacy at Kwameh Nkurumah/Angwa Street, Harare. The post is false.

The correct position is that an informant advised police that a cellphone dealer had been kidnapped and taken to a building near a sanitary lane close to an area frequented by vendors and his life was in danger.

Officer Commanding Harare District and other officers who were in the area quickly reacted and verbally ordered vendors to move away to allow police to attend to the kidnapping report.

One of the vendors became violent, he smashed a QV pharmacy glass and ran away.

Vendors then teamed up and started to throw stones and other objects at the police officers.

One of the officers pulled out a service pistol and scared them away while the Police Reaction Group was coming.

The Police Reaction Group then used tear smoke to drive the vendors way.

No live shots were fired at any given time. As we speak, the complainant who had been kidnapped is in the process of making a police report at Harare Central after the kidnappers took away some money from him over a previous cellphone transaction.

Correspondent|The State-owned transport operator Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) has slashed bus fares by 50 percent with effect from tomorrow, the 21st of May 2019.

In a statement, Finance and Economic Development Permanent Secretary Mr George Guvamatanga said for a distance of one to 20 kilometers, the fare has been reduced from $1 to 50 cents.

He said the move is part of government operation to restore sanity in urban centres as commuters have been getting stranded on their way to and from work.

A distance of 20 to 30 kilometers, the fare has been reduced from $1.50 to 75 cents, Guvamatanga said.

A distance of 30 to 40 kilometers is now pegged at $1 from $2.

Mr Guvamatanga said the move has been necessitated by the need to cushion the travelling public adding that further distances will follow similar reductions.

Zimbabwe Achievers Awards UK has released the full list of the Chairman’s Honorary Awards recipients who will be honoured at the upcoming 9^thAnniversary ZAA UK awards ceremony which will be held on the 25^thof May in London.

The Chairman’s Honorary Awards are given annually at the awards ceremony in recognition of various individuals and organisations who have contributed positively to fields of business, arts, leadership, media, sport and many more. This year’s roll call of honour features the likes of Douglas Chikohora, business magnate Sir Richard Heygate, Dr Melanie Abas, Juliana Jonathan and Vusa Mkhaya for various special services in their fields of profession.

The honorary awards are handed out after considering the lifetime impact, influence and contributions to a cause by the recipient. Business mogul and innovative entrepreneur Sir Richard Heygate will get an honorary Award as a Friend of Zimbabwe due to his part in endorsing Zimbabwe as an investment destination and his investments in solar power, agriculture and new business innovation. He is also international agent and advisor for the world’s largest construction company; China Railway Group and is popularly known for his business innovations, having been part of the team that created the world’s first online Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

The Honorary Award for Services to Community Development is going to be given to Zimbabwe International Women’s Awards founder Juliana Jonathan who has been instrumental in the recognition and empowerment of inspirational women who are making moves within and beyond their communities. The award will be conferred on her in acknowledgement of her efforts in bringing the unsung heroines of communities to the public consciousness and writing a new narrative for Zimbabwean women. 

Vusa Mkhaya will be honoured with the Honorary Award for Services to Music and Cultural Promotion in recognition of his exporting of Zimbabwean art and through his music and initiatives abroad in a way that has cast the spotlight on the country’s rich heritage and diverse art culture. Music and performance guru Wedzerai Zvirevo will also be honoured for his achievements. The Batanai Marimba group frontman is also a music instructor and has worked with various groups and organisations.

Dr Melanie Abas will be honoured with the Friend of Zimbabwe Award mainly in recognition of her extensive work in raising awareness and solutions for mental health matters and improving the quality of life in Zimbabwe through the Friendship Bench and various other partners. Friendship Bench assists many people battling anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges. She has also researched, published and mentored widely on depression issues especially in low and middle income countries and the Friendship Bench initiative in Zimbabwe is the largest depression program in any low income African country and has developed models for integrating depression care in primary care.

Dr Sam Kamuriwo will receive the Honorary Award for Services to Academics and Leadership for his contributions to the world of academic and business leadership. The CASS Business School Associate Professor has also inspired many through his extensive research works and award winning contributions to academia.

Douglas Chikohora will also be honoured with an Award for Services to Business and has over 30 years’ worth of experience in business and creating opportunities and development of businesses in the country and is the co-founder of CLUFF Associates Africa (CAA Ltd) together with Algy Cluff. The company mainly focuses on mining, in particular non-gold explorations in Africa focusing on energy minerals like coal, uranium and industrial minerals. His work is recognized all around Africa and beyond. Entrepreneur Ennie Mupoto will be honoured for Services to Business at the event. The More Care Energy Services(MECS) founder and owner will join an illustrious list of past recipients that include jeweller Patrick Mavros, Dr Ian Chikanza, Lettie Chimbi and Filekephi Jackson among others.

The ZAA UK Awards Dinner Gala will be held on Saturday 25^thMay 2019 at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London and tickets are purchased online on http://www.zimachievers.com/uk/buy-tickets/

Meanwhile, the Inaugural ZAA Canada edition will take place on Saturday 29^thJune 2019 at the Radisson Hotel in Edmonton and voting has opened until 5^thJune 2019 on http://www.zimachievers.com/canada/vote/and tickets can be purchased on http://www.zimachievers.com/canada/buy-tickets/

By Own Correspondent| A Zanu Pf MP and deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has legitimised the removal of former president Robert Mugabe saying that the ascendancy of the current leader Emmerson Mnangagwa was above board.

Mutodi argued that Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to power cannot be likened to the ascendancy of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa since Mnangagwa was chosen by the central committee to fill a power vacuum that had been left after former president’s demise.

Mutodi said this in an interview with a local publication where he encouraged Chamisa to relinquish power since the High Court had ruled that he was an illegitimate leader.

He said:

For Zanu PF, I can assure you that this is not the same issue because there were intervening issues.

First of all, the President of the Republic, then Robert Mugabe was facing impeachment for allegations for having given his wife certain executive powers and Parliament taking measures to impeach him.

The military had intervened in the process of government on a very clear issue that the status quo had broken down so that is why the central committee had to sit in a formally-constituted meeting to determine who would be elected as the leader or interim leader of Zanu PF and then substantive leader.

That is how Mnangagwa’s name emerged. So this cannot be the same or some kind of replication or similarity of what is happening in the MDC.

Following government to liberalize the supply of fuel in the process dumping the 1:1 rate that it was still using to subsidize consumers, fuel price is expected to go up further choking the already burdening citizens.

In a statement, RBZ Governor Dr John Panonetsa Mangudya said fuel companies will with effect from tomorrow get their foreign currency from banks at the interbank rate.

Mangudya added that this moves means the previously used 1:1 rate has ended.

This means government has ended its fuel price subsidies to consumers and is likely to see prices going up to over six dollars to match the current interbank rate as companies will obviously seek to sell the precious liquid at a viable price.

Below is the full statement from RBZ

FULL TEXT: RBZ Says Fuel Companies Should Source Own Forex To Purchase Fuel

STATEMENT ON THE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUEL THROUGH THE INTERBANK FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET AND THE DRAWING DOWN OF USD500 MILLION OFFSHORE LINE OF CREDIT

The Reserve Bank Of (the ‘Bank’) is pleased to advise the public that with effect from 21 May 2019, the procurement of fuel by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) shall be done through the interbank foreign exchange market. There shall be only one foreign exchange rate to be used in the market for the importation of all goods services.

This means that the exchange rate that Was being used by OMCs for the procurement of fuel will be discontinued with immediate effect.

The new position is necessary to the efficient use of foreign exchange and to minimize and guard against Of arbitrage within the economy.

As previously advised, the Bank is Jyoceeding to make a drawdown of US$500 million from an offshore line of credit to supplement the Countrys foreign exchange receipts in ordÜ to underpin the interbank foreign exchange market for the purpses of meeting foregn payment Of businesses and individuals.

The facility Will be into the eonomy through the interbank foreign exchange framework at the prevailing interbank foreign exchange rate on a willing-buyer basis. Over and above these initiatives, Letters of Credit (LCs) shall continue to be used for the importation of essential commodities such as fuel, grain and cooking Oil.

The LCs will also be priced at the prevailing interbank foreign exchange rates. The Bank has directed banks to effectively apply the willing-seller willing-buyer principle to ensure that the interbank foreign exchange market is reflective of market conditions.

Accordingly, banks must ensure that there are no moral hazards in the operation of the interbank foreign exchange market. In this regard, all the foreign exchange requirements for for their own use that includes divdend payments, subscription fees, etc. would prior Exchange Control approval for the conduct of the interbank foreign exchange market.

Similarly, banks should discontinue tvvinning arrangements for their customers as this undermines the efficient operation of the interbank foreign exchange market.

J P MANGUDYA GOVERNOR 20 MAY 2019

Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has said the Emmerson Mnangagwa led dialogue lacks credibility because it ignores the views of 2,6 million voters.

Said Chamisa:”Zimbabwe’s crisis is political.We have’nt had genuine and true political settlement since the days of Lancaster,Unity accord and GPA GNU.Deceptive, manipulative politics upon fake dialogue is the source of all our national discohesion.This breeds false, disputed and rigged processes.”

He added:”Ambassador Mbete added that “…the success of a national dialogue will have far reaching implications for the SADC region and beyond.” This is what we have always said that stolen elections have a negative impact on the welfare of all SADC citizens, they repulse investment.

His Excellency Mbete also said, “…if necessary for credibility, the leadership of Zimbabwe wishes to consider a facilitator from outside Zimbabwe, we as a region will be ready to propose names from the African Continent.”We’ve said this from day 1 and called for such a mediator.”

“We welcome the wise words by the South African Ambassador Mphakama Mbete. He said, “..the national dialogue must be inclusive and participatory and take into account the views of all Zimbabweans.”

We restate that dialogue can’t be credible when it ignores the views of 2,6m voters.”

By Own Correspondent- Nine people have been confirmed dead and dozens more are missing after a boat capsized in western Uganda on Sunday.

The boat was carrying more than 50 football players and fans from the western Uganda district of Hoima.

Witnesses say overloading and bad weather are probably to blame for the accident, as rescue attempts continue.

In 2016, about 30 footballers and fans drowned when their boat capsized on Lake Albert.

The passengers were travelling to Runga landing site where a friendly match between two local clubs was scheduled.

The wooden canoe capsized shortly after it departed the docks.

A police spokesperson said that fishermen at nearby landing sites rushed to the rescue and 32 people were rescued within an hour of the accident.

Friends and relatives of the missing passengers have gathered at the shore as police conduct search operations.

The police and Military Marine Unit responded shortly afterwards with divers who have since been able to recover nine bodies, the BBC’s Dear Jeanne reports from Kampala.

Dozens Of Deaths

Police and eyewitnesses say the boat was overloaded and then hit by strong winds.

Survivors say most people on the boat were not wearing lifejackets.

In 2016, another boat carrying footballers and fans capsized on Lake Albert, killing more than 20 people.

In 2014, two boats carrying refugees being repatriated to DR Congo capsized and 109 bodies were recovered in Lake Albert.

Boat owners usually have some lifejackets onboard to avoid getting arrested by the marine police but the lifejackets are often old and there are not enough for all the passengers, our reporter says.

She adds that not many Ugandans, except those who live near water, know how to swim, which could be one reason for the high number of fatalities in boat accidents in the country.-BBC 

Farai Dziva|State security agents are reportedly tormenting vendors around a supermarket in the ancient city of Masvingo for embarrassing Auxillia Mnangagwa.

Vendors who spoke to ZimEye say men in dark glasses have been frequenting the supermarket accusing the vendors of humiliating Mrs Mnangagwa.

Mrs Mnangagwa was on Friday afternoon booed as she entered a leading supermarket in the ancient city of Masvingo.

“There was commotion as scores of people jeered at Mrs Mnangagwa as she was getting into our shop.

Angry bystanders also booed her as she exited the supermarket,” a shop assistant who identified herself as Tanaka said.

“They also denounced her husband Emmerson Mnangagwa for causing the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe,” she added.

Mrs Mnangagwa’s security aides reportedly battled to contain the turmoil before whisking her away.

Farai Dziva| War veterans leader Victor Matamadanda has claimed MDC A comprises unruly youths who barred him from attending the burial of Morgan Tsvangirai.

Matamadanda accused the MDC Vanguard of threatening to beat him up at the funeral of the late MDC leader.

He also described the MDC A as an illegal composition.

See below comments on Matemada’ s remarks.

Yimbiri wrote :Murwere uyu kusiyana naye kwakangonaka wani he z so concerned with politics of the opposition than his own party.

Jordanabide: It’s a shame indeed to hear such comments from members of Zanu you end up being very worried about the judgement itself ummm.

Valentine Madziwa:Economy in shambles fix it forget about the Congress corruption yakuvhiringai.

Matron Nyoni:Coup leaders are illegal. Matemadanda & Mutodi same WhatsApp group.

Tafadzwa Natso Chidodo: Cz u talk rubbish dai vaiziva pain inevanhu nekuda kweeconomy apa everyday unotaura zvaChamisa instead of givin us hope yekut nyika muchaigadzira sei.

Safika Sayi:It’s illegal to you .
Jethro Makaye Bota:A declaration of illegality cannot come from authorities that are by themselves illegal.ED’s ascendance via a coup was illegal ab initio. Those in glass houses should not throw stones.

By Own Correspondent- The opposition MDC led by Dr Thokozani Khupe has turned down an invitation from the Nelson Chamisa led MDC to attend the party’s National Congress slated for May.

The response follows an invitation to both the Khupe led faction and ruling party ZANU PF-affiliated war veterans association to its 24-26 elective Congress set to be held in Gweru.

The invitation was revealed by the party’s national organising secretary, Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya and the secretary for information, Jacob Mafume last week.

However, MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu dismissed the invitation, calling the MDC Congress kindergarten gibberish.

Said Gutu:

At any rate, the MDC-T has got completely no appetite to attending kindergarten gibberish.

If we want real entertainment, we go to a circus and not to a facade of a gathering disguised as a congress.

There is the High Court order by Honourable Justice Edith Mushore to contend with.

We are a law-abiding political party that resolutely believes in the rule of law and constitutionalism. We adhere to democracy and not mobocracy.

Why should we be seen hanging around with that lot? No, that won’t happen until the second coming of the Son of Man. We are perfectly happy where we are.

Let them wine and dine using the money they are getting from Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe. The chickens are coming home to roost. It’s not a congress, it’s actually a complete dog’s breakfast.”-DailyNews

By Own Correspondent- Deputy Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi, said that MDC president Nelson Chamisa has to step down in line with a recent High Court ruling.

In an interview, with a local publication, Mutodi said that the opposition party should exercise democracy.

Said Mutodi:

Chamisa has been ruled illegitimate and we are saying he must step down.

What we are saying is, the opposition may be there, but it has to stick to its democratic principles, it has to stick to the expectations of Zimbabweans so that it can contribute meaningfully to the success of Zimbabwe.

As it stands, the MDC has actually deviated from its democratic principles and we urge it to actually go back to the principles that were left behind by Morgan Tsvangirai.

… As a government, we know the importance of the opposition. The opposition is very important in shaping legislation, in ensuring that the country can be recognised as a democratic State.

It actually points to cases that we may have an oversight, issues that we may not be considered as very important, the opposition can talk about those issues and we take them seriously and build our democracy.- Newsday

By Own Correspondent- A former Marondera councillor and his two accomplices who assaulted a police officer while resisting arrest, were last week each sentenced to an effective six months in prison.

Paul Masikati (48) of No. 1589 Sanganayi Street, Cherutombo, Marondera, together with Courage Ben (26) and Kudakwashe Zhou (25), assaulted Paineas Mashiri (30), who had arrested Masikati.

The three were initially sentenced to 12 months in prison before six months were suspended on condition that they did not commit a similar crime within the next five years.

For the State, Mr Musariyarwa said that on September 22 last year, the complainant was at Cherutombo Police Base doing charge office duties when he was sent to arrest Masikati for assault.

Masikati got wind of his impending arrest by Mashiri and went to the police base with Ben and Zhou.

When they arrived Masikati went behind the charge office reception desk, grabbed the complainant by the collar and shouted, “Mapurisa ngarohwe”, meaning police officers should be assaulted.

He slapped the complainant once on the forehead.

Ben also jumped on top of the charge office reception desk and slapped the complainant twice in the face and also tore the complainant’s uniform.

Zhou joined in and assaulted the complainant once on the back.

The complainant was rescued by Sherperd Magwaza who chased the trio out of the base.

Mashiri sustained a swollen face.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent- War veterans secretary-general, Victor Matemadanda said that even when invited to attend the opposition MDC congress by its leader Nelson Chamisa, he would never attend the “illegal” event.

Matemadanda said this following statements by Chamisa at a Chiredzzi “Thank You” rally on Sunday inviting Zanu Pf’s Matemadanda and leader of the splinter faction of the party Dr Thokozani Khupe to the forthcoming National Congress slated for May 4.

Responded Matemadanda:

“Assuming that the invitation was formal I would still not attend because in view of the court ruling it is an illegal congress and I would not attempt to give it any legality.

… In any case for your own information when I sought to attend Tsvangirai’s send off before his body left for Buhera last year, the MDC youths barred me and how will the so-called vanguards allow me to attend their congress when they blocked me from a funeral?”-Daily News

Farai Dziva|MDC A president Nelson Chamisa has taunted Emmerson Mnangagwa saying it is practically impossible to keep “goats stolen from someone”- implying that the Zanu PF leader rigged the 2018 polls.

Chamisa made the remarks at a rally in Chiredzi yesterday.

“Mbudzi dzokuba hadzichengeteki. You stole the election.
You are stealing 2% tax and you are stealing people’s foreign currency.

Pension and salaries have been eroded.

We are saying sanctions and Zanu PF must go,” said Chamisa.

“The GNU brought economy stability and recovery remember : $ for 2 yakauya naTsvangirai.

Sadly Zanu PF is “over borrowing” results in ballooning debts- Zimbabwe ine chikwereti che 20 billion.

The MDC has the capacity to change Zimbabwe’s economy within two weeks,” added Chamisa.

Farai Dziva|Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said there is only one legally constituted MDC party in the country.

Addressing thousands of party supporters at a rally in Chiredzi on Sunday, Chamisa said :” There is only one MDC which is legally consituted -that is backed by the Constitution. The one Morgan Tsvangirai left. The one l am currently leading.

MDC is here to stay and it’s unstoppable.We are 20 -year -old party. We are a household party nationally and internationally.

We won presidential vote, councillors and MPs.”

“We are going to our 5th Congress in Gweru.We are modernizing the Party -making it a 20 th century party.

We are the first party to have peacefully debates among candidates. We are the first party in Africa to have candidates debating ideas.

We are teaching democracy in Zimbabwe and Africa.Debate of issues and not personalities.”

Farai Dziva|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said the current problems bedevilling the nation will be solved spiritually and the solution will manifest in the physical realm.

Chamisa told thousands of party supporters in Chiredzi the “walls of Jericho were crumbling.”

He said sanctions and Zanu PF were the two evils tormenting the country.

“We are prayer warriors and very soon we will be in total control of everything.

We are saying backwards never, forward is ever.Do not ask us how we are going to do it, God is in control of everything,” said Chamisa.

“We are saying the people have suffered for too long and very soon we will begin to witness positive developments,” added Chamisa.

By Mukasiri Sibanda| “… when it comes to diamond, there are syndicates that are very sophisticated in the country and outside the country and many people get involved. Many beneficiaries get involved to ensure that the truth never comes out” remarks given by Prof Gudyanga, former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Mines during a Parliament hearing on Missing $15 billion from Marange.

Introduction

Seven executive managers of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) were fired by the board on Friday 17 May 2019.  ZCDC is a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE). The entity was created in 2015 and started operations in 2016 after seven diamond mining companies were booted out in the name of bringing transparency and accountability to murky Marange diamond mining activities.

The dismissal according the board, was necessitated by the desire to restore market and public confidence following several allegations of corruption and abuse of office. Since no granular details were shared, it is important not to take things at face value. But to try to dig deeper for possible clues and to help with suggestions on what it takes to bring public confidence in the management of Marange diamonds. I shudder to say rebuilding public confidence as opined by the ZCDC’s board because from the onset, Marange diamond mining operations dismally failed to inspire public confidence.

Jobs robbed by diamond robberies

ZCDC experienced a spate of armed robberies of diamonds. We have not heard of any public report on diamonds robberies at Murowa diamonds. Consequently, one can argue that a spate of diamond robberies might have robbed the senior management of their jobs. Speaking of armed diamond robberies, could it be that ZCDC management closed loopholes for powerful and well-connected individuals who are used to looting diamonds from Marange. Perhaps out of frustration and desperation, the clique became so daring to make a statement to ZCDC by organising several armed robberies. This sounds like stretching facts a bit far, but, the former Permanent Secretary, Prof Gudyanga warned “… when it comes to diamond, there are syndicates that are very sophisticated in the country and outside the country and many people get involved. Many beneficiaries get involved to ensure that the truth never comes out”

Allegations of corruption and abuse of power

Before the board announcement on dismissal of the ZCDC senior management, the CEO was arrested for recommending diamond sales to a black listed person under Kimberly Process (KP). Allegations surfaced on abuse of power by the chief financial officer who allegedly bought 1,200 bags on cement from Lafarge on ZCDC’s account for his own personal use. Looking at the rear-view mirror, Office of the Auditor General (OAG)’s report on ZCDC’s 2016 raised several damning issues on poor corporate governance. The board must openly address steps it took to implement the OAG’s recommendations.

People feel good when hunting with their own dogs

There were strong allegations that ZCDC was created to close revenue stream for one ZANU PF faction, Lacoste, which allegedly had the military backing. ZCDC was created when Chidhakwa, allegedly aligned to Generation 40 (G40) faction in ZANU PF, oversaw the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. The Military had a stake in one of the biggest diamond mines in Marange, Anjin Investments, which was booted out along with other entities – Mbada, Jinan, Diamond Mining Corporation (DMC), Kusena, Gye Nyame and Marange Resources. Companies like Anjin investments failed to have their books audited year in year out. The Auditor General had trouble to verify taxes paid by Anjin because of failure to produce audited financial statements. Whilst speculation was strong that factional fights created ZCDC, transparency was one of the main reasons given for creating ZCDC. Considering that Anjin’s books were never subjected to an audit, the transparency card was genuine although other motives could not be ruled out. So, when the Lacoste function emerged supreme after the November 2017 events which reshaped Zimbabwe’s political landscape, arguably, it was only a matter of time before changes were made. People feel good when hunting with their own dogs. Always, the ZCDC management which was dismissed was skating on thin political ice.

Failure to manage expectations

ZCDC mostly painted a robust outlook in terms of diamond production and earnings. Now that the country is facing severe foreign currency shortages, could it be that authorities in government were disappointed that diamonds were not bringing in the anticipated cash.  In its 5-year strategic plan, ZCDC has a target of producing 10 million carats generating annually, generating $1 billion in foreign currency, contributing $250 million in taxes to government and $20 million to Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust.  In 2018, ZCDC surpassed its targeted diamond production, producing 2.8 million carats against 2.4 million carats. Between 2016 and 2018, ZCDC generated $22.9 million according to MMCZ. Diamonds, including gold, and platinum used to be a top performer on foreign currency earnings at one-point generation US$740 million in 2012.

Conclusion

It is too early to celebrate whether ZCDC’s board made a good move to restore market and public confidence by firing the entire ZCDC executing management aside from the chief operating officer. Parliament Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development must dig to deeper to unmask real challenges at ZCDC. The board must understand that given past chronicles of corruption concerning Marange diamonds, openness is the pillar of building public confidence. Anything short will always attract speculations whether the move by the board is well intentioned or not.

-Mukasiri Sibanda

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…

By Own Correspondent| Bulawayo City Council has resolved to repossess residential stands whose rates had not been paid for the past 5 years.

The properties will be repossessed and auctioned in line with the Registration and Derelict Lands Act (Chapter 20:20).

More than 2 000 properties are at risk of being repossessed, the majority of which are in low-density residential areas. Recent council minutes read in part:

Those property owners who re-surfaced after the properties had been advertised would have to justify why the council should not conclude that the properties had been abandoned.

The town clerk (Christopher Dube) confirmed that as management, they had agreed that all properties whose rates had not been paid for five years and above should be advertised.

The city council has also made an “unpopular” decision to increase the prices of stands. This was revealed by the chairperson of the finance and development committee Silas Chigora in a supplementary budget presented last week.

He said:

In coming up with the new pricing mechanism, the affordability of the stands to the intended beneficiaries was of paramount importance.

It was in this regard that I proposed to use the last approved stand prices, which had been in operation till December 2018, as the basis for determining the new stand prices in RTGS.

The pricing policy for council stands was based on full cost recovery, on servicing costs for newly-serviced residential stands. The full cost recovery basically meant that all costs involved in running a project were fully recouped.-StateMedia

THE crippling fuel and power shortages facing Zimbabwe are likely to get worse if government fails to deal with price distortions on the market, former Finance minister Tendai Biti has said.

Speaking in a radio interview, Biti, who also chairs the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance, said government does not have money to continue subsidising fuel and should allow private players to fill the gap.

“The energy situation is dire; the fuel situation is particularly dire as evidenced by the long queues. We require about 1,6 billion litres of fuel every year, 1,12 billion diesel and about 570 million litres of petrol at a cost of $1,3 billion to US$1,5 billion per year,” Biti said.

“I want to underline US$ part; the government doesn’t have that money. My advice to the new (Energy minister Fortune Chasi) is that government should not try what it can’t do, it can’t buy fuel, it can’t give fuel companies money to buy because it doesn’t have the money.”

Zimbabwe’s cash shortages have crippled industry, forcing regular price hikes and triggering labour unrest.

Biti, credited by many for bringing stability to the fiscal space during his tenure as Finance minister in the inclusive government that ran from 2009 to 2013, said the solution to the glut of problems
facing the country was to redollarise and end the RTGS dollar era.

“We need to liberalise fuel procurement. Anyone who has foreign currency, who can bring fuel should be able to bring it, but here is a catch; you can’t bring into Zimbabwe fuel in US$ and sell it in bond notes because soon you will run out of the foreign currency. So, the minute you liberalise fuel you must essentially redollarise the economy,” Biti said.

Biti also called on Chasi to break fuel cartels accused of holding Mnangagwa’s government at ransom and fiddling with foreign currency pricing in the country.

“The minister has to break the fuel cartels; the oligopolies and monopolies that are controlling and stifling our fuel industry, the fuel in this country is controlled by two companies, Trafigura of Singapore. Singapore does not produce anything, why should Zimbabwe buy the bulk of its fuel from a middleman called Trafigura? He (Chasi) has to break that cartel. The pipeline is controlled by Glencore, I
shall not mention its local partners. The minister must break that monopoly and allow competition,” he said.

But Chasi, instead, said he was more inclined at controlling demand by conjuring plans and legislation that could control usage of fuel and energy as opposed to meeting the demand.

Mnangagwa last week moved Jorum Gumbo from the Energy portfolio, presumably because he had failed to deal with the fuel crisis, which Chasi says he has solutions to.

“We are going to resolve the challenges. I cannot give you a date, but we are going to be moving at a fast pace, that’s what the situation demands.”
Zimbabwe is, meanwhile, suffering a crippling power shortage as Zesa is failing to service a US$80 million debt to South Africa and Mozambique, who have been exporting electricity to the country.

Acting Zesa chief executive Patrick Chivaura said they have been hit by foreign currency shortages and do not have any solution until and unless the debts are serviced in full.

“We have not been able to pay any of our bills from August last year to date. South Africa can still give us power, but we still need to clear what we owe them, about $35 million and about the same amount we owe Mozambique. The major challenge is foreign currency,” he said.

The power utility is also struggling to recover a total of ZWL$1,2 billion in debts owed by government ministers, ministries and individuals.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Blessing Kasiyamhuru, Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP) president has distanced his party from the current political dialogue being spearheaded by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Kasiyamhuru feels that the dialogue is not honestly addressing the major issues.

He said:

The parties to the national dialogue should clearly and honestly admit to a crisis or conflict in the system of governance of the State thus unanimously agreeing to go for the national dialogue as a crisis or conflict resolution move.

The dialogue should bring on board all conflict-fuelling issues and respective remedies, reforms or solutions that are unanimously agreed upon to address the crisis/conflict.

He also highlighted the importance of having a credible convenor who is agreed upon by all stakeholders to the dialogue.

He said:

The convener should be a single person, group of people, an organisation or coalition of organisations.

No matter how the national dialogue is modelled, the convener should be respected by the majority of the citizens and should not have any political aspirations or goals that would present an obvious conflict of interest for fear that the dialogue will bring more conflict than sanity to the status quo.

An effective national dialogue should involve representation of all stakeholders in the deliberations so that real drivers of the conflict are well addressed.

Kasiyamhuru also said that it was fundamental to have public consultations so as to have input and endorsement from the general populace.

The main opposition has also snubbed the dialogue.

Most of the South Africans caught up in an explosion that damaged a tourist bus near Egypt’s famed Giza pyramids arrived safely at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday.

Department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco) spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya said four of the 28 affected South Africans had remained in Egypt.

Three of them are still being treated in hospital, while one woman had chosen to stay and assist her injured husband, said Mabaya.

According to AFP, the roadside bomb went off as the bus was being driven into Giza, also causing injuries to Egyptians in a nearby car.

At least 17 people were injured during the blast.

“Minister Sisulu wishes those admitted in hospital a speedy recovery and has also directed South Africa’s ambassador to Egypt to give them all necessary support,” added Mabaya.

-Timeslive

By Own Correspondent| MDC president Nelson Chamisa has warned President Emmerson Mnangagwa that his presidency will not last 5 years, as “the walls of Jericho are falling”.

Chamisa reiterated his position that he won last year’s presidential election, where the winner was declared to be the ZANU PF candidate with 50.6%.

Speaking to a large crowd that had gathered for the Party’s Thank You rally in Chiredzi over the weekend, Chamisa said:

We are not moving away from the July victory, that is why we are coming to thank you because we know you voted for the right person, but the wrong person grabbed power. He will not last in that position.

We are going to sort this problem soon. Some of you will ask me how, but we are prayer warriors.

We pray and do, do and pray, pray and do… the answer will come. Look, the walls of Jericho are falling, hunger is pulverising the country.

… You voted overwhelmingly and the fault is not yours. We beat ED (Mnangagwa). He knows that in the July elections we beat him, he knows the vote was given to his younger brother.

Chamisa said he will let the party’s lawyers deal with the High Court ruling that declared his presidency null and void.

He advised his erstwhile colleague Thokozani Khupe, MDC-T president to move own with her own party.-Newsday

A TOP official in the Justice ministry who operated a bogus theological college offering fake degrees to unsuspecting people in and around Marondera, was on Friday arraigned before magistrate Rumbidzai Munemo facing three counts of fraud.

Denison Mazana (59), a Mashonaland East Provincial accountant with the ministry is being charged alongside Charles Jusa (58) for operating the unregistered Addulam School of Ministry Institute.

Mazana has since been suspended by his employer until the matter is finalised.

The two are expected to return to court next week as prosecutors are seeking to transfer the case given that Mazana was stationed at Marondera Magistrates’ Court.

According to courts papers, on the first count, sometime in February last year, the accused persons approached a Macheke businessman Edmond Muyengwa (39) and misrepresented to him that their institution was genuine and offering a theology degree programme.

Muyengwa then enrolled with the institution and was made to pay tuition fees amounting to $730. In November last year, after completing the programme, the accused persons failed to issue a certificate to
Muyengwa, who then reported the matter to the police.

Using the same modus operandi, the duo approached a Macheke teacher Tracy Kurebwa (43), who enrolled with the institution in February last year after paying tuition of $740. After completing the programme in November last year, she, however, failed to get her certificate. She reported the matter to police.

Police investigated and discovered that the institution was not registered with the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education, leading to the arrest of the accused.

John Hama is representing the State.

-Newsday

If Mugabe was the biggest problem in Zimbabwe, why did the problems refused to leave with him after the Nov 2017 military coup! Pafungei ipapo!

— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) May 20, 2019

WORLD soccer governing body, Fifa has pledged to construct a modern football stadium in Chimanimani as part of efforts to help rehabilitate sporting facilities that were destroyed by Cyclone Idai.

The cyclone-induced floods left a trail of destruction in Chimanimani and other eastern parts of the country in March this year killing 344 people.

Fifa, through its foundation, this month dispatched two officials Segbe Pritchett and Catarina Ferreira, who toured the three countries including Mozambique and Malawi, which were affected by the disaster.

They arrived in Harare on Saturday after touring Malawi and Mozambique. Yesterday, they held a meeting with government and Zifa officials, after which they pledged to help build a stadium, some pitches, as
well as providing equipment.

“We have seen the extent of damage that has been done in the area and our vision is to try and support as much as possible the affected communities through Zifa,” Pritchett said.

“We had a meeting with Zifa and they gave us an idea of what kind of support that is needed to support the affected areas in Zimbabwe. We are looking at two kinds of support. The first one, which is quite
immediate, is equipment, so we will try to provide balls and kits for the children to be able to play. I don’t know how long it will take to get the equipment here because sometimes the shipment as well as
the customs, it might take weeks or months. But that is something that is definitely in the pipeline and will be happening as soon as possible.”

Established last year, the Fifa Foundation was created as an independent entity with objectives to help promote positive social change around the world and raise support for the recovery and reconstruction
of damaged or destroyed sports infrastructure worldwide.

“Then in the later stages obviously the idea will be to construct some pitches and stadiums in the area that has been devastated by the cyclone. We will construct one stadium, and maybe 15 pitches, open
areas that will be supporting the different communities. That would take a little bit longer, hopefully in a year we will be able to inaugurate an area that the community will be able to use as a very nice
ground to play football. We want to construct something better than what you had before, better quality, to be able to support the community and who knows, maybe discover an amazing footballer in the coming
years who will represent Zimbabwe in a future big football event,” Pritchett said.

Pritchett said they are yet to establish the budget for the project, but assured Zifa that they would keep their promise.

Zifa president Felton Kamambo, whose association in March also donated to the Cyclone Idai victims, said: “We approached Fifa for assistance so that they can help us rehabilitate the stadiums and pitches and also provide some equipment for schools in the affected communities. We made a special request to Fifa that they can assist us by building a state-of-the-art stadium.

“Provisionally, they have agreed to that, and they have also agreed to help rehabilitate some pitches at different schools in Manicaland so it was a very effective meeting. In terms of equipment, we will give them a breakdown of the quantities that we need. We want to give the equipment to every ward, to make sure that there if football being played at that level.”

The government has pledged to provide space for the construction of the stadium.

-Newsday

I WILL MISS THE ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN TEAM:

This week will be my last as MDC Assembly of Women Chair and I am going to miss you all. I know that in future my heart and soul will always be grateful for the support you gave me as Assembly of Women Chair.

I want to thank the entire MDC Women Assembly Team not exluding the MDC members and stakeholders for having walked a 5 year journey with me as MDC Assembly of Women Chair. Thank you all
It’s not been an easy journey, and of course I’ve not got every decision right, but I do believe that I have given my all as evidenced by my works and the support I have given President Chamisa and the late Dr. Morgan Tsvangirayi whilst performing my duties and funtions as Assembly of Women Chair.

This coming week we have our MDC national congress and you are all aware I am contesting for the female VP post. I am humbly asking all the women i have worked with, MPS I have worked with, the Youth I have worked with, Members of the Executive and all MDC congress delagetes country wide to give me their special vote so I may continue to serve you and in particular supporting our President Advocate Chamisa in bringing freedom to all Zimbabweans. We still have a long journey to walk and allow me to walk with you as one of the MDC VPS. I have learned a lot from my grassroots days up to now as a member of the SC, Women leader, parliament and different Executive portfolios. My experience should help you in making your voting decision.

Finally, I’m confident that my successor and her successors in the position that I’ve been so privileged to hold will continue to lead smartly, tirelessly, courageously to make the MDC more united, more prosperous, whilst fighting for the rights of women in the MDC and country wide.

Cdes your vote is key, I humbly ask for it

Thank you, may God bless you

Lynette Karenyi-Kore
Assembly of Women Chair

A POLICE informant from Bulawayo was allegedly assaulted by soldiers manning the Plumtree border post for exposing smuggling syndicates involving politicians, security agents and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials.

Charles Chashamba, from Cowdray Park, gave tip-offs to police on smuggling syndicates that involve prominent ruling and opposition parties’ politicians, army and police bosses and Zimra officials (names supplied).

Police acted on some of his tip-offs to bust some of the smuggling rings that have cost government millions of dollars.

Chashamba claims that on March 2 he was assaulted and robbed by soldiers on patrol at the border accusing him of exposing their shenanigans. He reported the matter to Plumtree police, but nothing has been done to bring the culprits to book.

However, national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were underway.

“We confirm that he made a report on March 2 which report was acted upon by police in Plumtree and investigations were underway. Chashamba has been a regular informant for the police on smuggling syndicates and has been to all border posts in the southern region. He also operates a fleamarket in Bulawayo,” Nyathi said.

He said although Chashamba has been helping police, he also has tainted hands as he faces criminal allegations of aiding smugglers.

“He (Chashamba) would then report those who don’t give in to his demands. We are saying to him he should be also self-introspect before he reports others, most of whom would have refused his extortionist antics,” he said.

In an interview with Southern Eye on Sunday, Chashamba said he supplied the police with information and produced a list of Central Intelligence Organisation operatives, politicians both from the ruling and opposition parties, army, police bosses and Zimra officials involved in smuggling. He said he sent the list of names and registration numbers of vehicles used in smuggling to police headquarters. This publication has a copy of the list which was acknowledged to have been received by Senior Staff Officer Internal investigations, Assistant Commissioner S Dube for Chief Staff Officer Internal Investigations on October 14 last year. Chashamba said he was targeted by soldiers on March 2, at Plumtree border post while on his way from Botswana.

“I was greeted by two Zimra guys as I was heading out after two army intelligence officers requested to see my passport and found it to be in order. I left the border intending to board lifts to Bulawayo. They (intelligence officers) followed me and asked for my passport again saying they wanted to verify something,” he said, adding that they did not bring it back until the border was closed.

“They came at around 11pm and searched me before taking my 200 pula, bags and went away after assaulting me. I then walked and slept in a bushy area until early morning when I got transport into Plumtree town where I made a police report, but up to now nothing has been done,” he said.

-Newsday

Farai Dziva|A man aged around 30 was hit by an Intercity bus last night around midnight near Mvuma- towards Fairfields at a Lay bye.

No identification documents were found on him.

He is believed to have been roaming alone in the Gumtree Plantation.
Police are still on site.

His body was taken to Mvuma Hospital Mortuary. No relatives have come forward claim his body.

A UK woman who successfully nullified her husband’s marriage with his “small house” speaks on ZimEye.

Dorothy Mtetwa who poured jecha on her husband, Lesley Amos’ marriage to his Zimbabwean based sweetheart Mavis Sibanda is live on ZimEye.

Video loading below:

Full Text Of ARTUZ Statement:

The free fall of the RTGS dollar against the United States dollar has wiped out the value of Teachers’ salaries. Teachers are now earning below US$80 per month.

The Finance Minister Prof Mthuli continue to mislead the country by claiming that he has instituted measures to stabilize prices of goods and services. The lying professor further posits that workers’ salaries should not be negotiated in US dollar terms.

Injecting funds in the market for price stabilisation is an unsustainable attempt to arrest our economic challenges. The long term solution is hinged on stimulating production, nothing more nothing less.

Salary negotiations will continue revolving around the value of the RTGS vis-à-vis the US dollar as long as we continue to heavily rely on imports. Prices of basic goods and services are pegged against the USD, it will be naive for organized labour to ignore this reality.

Teachers are now worse off compared to someone on government welfare in South Africa.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, demands a minimum of US$ 500 per month. This falls short of the USD 600 proposed by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions’ General Council on 23 March.

We are demanding less because we understand the economic challenges confronting our country.

We have given our government up to the 3rd of June 2019 to pay us a living wage. If the government fails to deliver by then we will be forced to withdraw our labour.

We call upon the teachers of Zimbabwe to prepare for this historic protest. Our employer used the ” No work no pay” principle against us in February.

It follows now that we are no longer being paid we can’t be seen working. No pay no work, simple.

We warn the government to stop victimising our membership, they should rather focus on curbing corruption and solving the economic crisis.

We demand a living wage!

By Own Correspondent- The 64-hectare Chimwe Chegato Irrigation Scheme in Mberengwa that suspended operations last year is reported to have resumed operations.

The irrigation scheme is reported to have suspended operations after failing to settle utility bills it owed to ZESA, and ZINWA amounting to $92 000.

The irrigation scheme had to halt operations following its failure to settle utility bills amounting to $92 000 which it owed the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).

Operations were resumed after the irrigation engaged service providers and agreed on a payment plan. The irrigation scheme has been a source of income and food for villagers.

Ms. Zvisinei Mataruse, the irrigation scheme’s vice chairperson said that the lives of many villagers have transformed since the introduction of the scheme. Her sentiments were echoed by Ward 12 councilor, Ms. Nokuthula Ndhlela who said:

The face of the community has changed as villagers are now getting their food and income from the scheme.

The State Media reports that a number of parents were now failing to pay fees for their children since they do not have other sources of income.

It also reports that the scheme is also ready for the production of wheat during this year’s season.

The scheme is located in Mberengwa North near Chegato High School which used to get agricultural supplies from the irrigation.

The Government of Zimbabwe launched the Political Actors Dialogue (PAD) on 17 May 2019. The stated goal of the process is to improve the country’s socio-economic fortunes whilst fostering tolerance and an inclusive democratic culture. It comprises seventeen (17) political parties with one conspicuous absentee, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Nelson Chamisa. The MDC and its supporters have consistently dismissed POLAD as insincere, ineffectual and disingenuous. In this post, I evaluate the criticism of the POLAD process in the context of Zimbabwe’s recent political history.

1.    Exclusionary Nature of the Process
The most recurring criticism of POLAD has been the absence of the MDC. Some have questioned the efficacy of a process which does not include the country’s biggest opposition party. The absence of the MDC means the views of a significant number of Zimbabweans will be excluded, thereby undermining the credibility and legitimacy of the process. For this reason, South Africa’s ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Mphakama Mbete, underscored the need for the process to be inclusive and representative. Indeed, it would be inexcusable if the process lacks tangible outcomes and is only meant to bolster President Mnangagwa’s image as a unifying statesman. 

However, the absence of the MDC is not by exclusion. They were invited andrejected the offer. Thus, Ambassador Mphakama Mbete also urged all parties to join POLAD. In other words, the process was not designed to be exclusionary. Instead, it is the MDC which found it too broad and inclusive. Nelson Chamisa argues that as the only political actor disputing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, he must be the sole party to dialogue with the incumbent. By this logic, the process need not be more inclusive, but be made exclusive to ZANU PF and the MDC.  

It is demonstrably false to claim that Nelson Chamisa is the only political actor with an electoral dispute with Emmerson Mnangagwa. If anything, he is the only politician who was willing to pursue that dispute in a judicial forum. Whilst Chamisa has persisted with confrontation, his peers have opted for conversation; substituting embroilment with engagement. Therefore, it is counter-intuitive to argue that willingness to dialogue must itself be the basis for the removal of such actors from the dialogue process in favour of those questioning the legitimacy of the incumbent. 

The MDC emerged from a broad coalition of working people, civil society and other groups. In spite of the eclectic nature of its origins, the MDC has operated with a high degree of secrecy and exclusivity in both the negotiations leading to the 18^th Amendment of the Lancaster House Constitution and those in terms of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). In both instances, calls for inclusion from civil society were ignored and the MDC even berated the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) for opposing the constitution-making process.

Given this backdrop, it is hardly surprising that the MDC finds the POLAD process too inclusive. They believe in the sufficiency of their own participation to the exclusion of other political and civil society players.

This is one of the underlying drivers for the proliferation of political parties in Zimbabwe – the primacy of political party formations in national processes.  Ten years ago, the NCA could only protest from the margins as a civic organisation. Now that it is a political party, it is part of the dialogue process and has left the business of boycotts to the MDC. National processes are seldom halted by the non-participation of one political player. Just as the COPAC process continued in spite of the boycott by the country’s biggest constitutional pressure group, the POLAD process has forged ahead in spite of spirited opposition from the MDC.  

2.    Legitimacy and Democratic Mandate
Alex Magaisa argues against the dialogue process as follows;
The fact of the matter is that none of these people has a democratic mandate to assume the role they are claiming. They do not represent anyone because not only are they are unelected but they have no significant vote to their name.

In other words, dialogue is only legitimate if conducted among elected representatives. This mistakenly conflates electability with the capacity to govern. Optimal governance choices are not the exclusive preserve of the elected. Elected officials have an important constitutionally delineated function which is not mutually exclusive with the proffering of alternate models of governance. The Constitution of Zimbabwe recognizes this by allowing the President to appoint up to five unelected members of cabinet.

In the United States, the less popular third parties have advocated for pertinent matters excluded from the national debate including opposition to slavery, the women’s suffragette movement and child labour laws.

Locally, the Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) led the effort against the one-party state in spite of securing only two seats in the 1990 general elections. It is abundantly clear that optimal ideas do not fester only among the elected/electable.

Consider the following contradiction; the MDC maintains that the 2018 elections were not free and fair and so Emmerson Mnangagwa is not the legitimate President of Zimbabwe. Conversely, they insist the figures from that disputed election entitle them to preferential treatment as the country’s main opposition party. This is the art of having your cake and eating it. If the 2018 election results are to be considered, then one must come to terms with Mnangagwa’s victory ahead of claiming first position among the losers. If those results remain disputed, then it is reasonable for all political parties to be ranked equally pending a credible election result to set them apart. Just like the CODESA process in South Africa, all parties would then participate in creating the environment for an election with an undisputed outcome.  

The undue emphasis on representative capacity seems misinformed by the 2008 negotiations in which all parties represented in parliament were also parties to the negotiations. In fact, that process was informed more by legislative rather thanrepresentative capacity. There could be no legislative outcome from the talks without the two MDC’s since they held a slim majority in the lower house. Representative capacity would have meant that Simba Makoni’s impressive 8.3% of the national vote would have secured him a seat at the negotiating table. Yet he had no legislative capacity and thus no leverage. In the current scenario, and in spite of their parliamentary representation, the MDC has very limited legislative capacity.

Like all the political parties represented at POLAD, they cannot block any legislation by ZANU PF including constitutional amendments, let alone pass their own legislation. This severely encumbers their ability to set the terms for any dialogue process or distinguish themselves from other political parties save by reference to figures from the same election whose result they continue to dispute. 

3.    Independent Mediator
The MDC has demanded an independent and mutually acceptable mediator. In the past, a mediator has been selected with some regional or international backing. South Africa was appointed mediator by SADC in 2007 whilst Britain facilitated the 1979 process in terms of a mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of States and Governments. Since the 2018 elections were largely endorsed as credible, there is no such regional/international backing for a mediator. This means the parties would need to create consensus over both the need for and choice of a mediator.

Past experience suggests that there is no mediator who is ever truly independent. Lord Carrington deftly protected white settler interests in 1979 whilst the South African mediators were repeatedly accused of pro-ZANU PF bias. The Motlanthe report was the latest iteration of the complexity in trying to secure independent arbiters from abroad.

4.    Undermining Parliament
Magaisa fears the dialogue process will undermine Parliament.
More importantly, as a forum of interaction between the ruling party and the opposition on public affairs, the Polad is beginning to assume the role of an institution that is parallel to Parliament, except that it consists of the ruling party and the unelected.

It is not apparent how dialogue with a member of the executive amounts to assuming the role of the legislature. Neither is it clear how those without any votes in parliament can assume or subsume its role. As already highlighted, many noble causes have been championed outside of formal state institutions. In circumstances where Parliament is established for elected officials, it is reasonable to establish a more inclusive platform outside parliament to influence policy formulation. This does not circumvent the legislative process. Increasing the number of voices in the democratic conversation is not inimical to democracy.

5.    Solving the Economic Crisis 
Everybody agrees that the economy urgently needs to improve. Whilst some believe the panacea lay in better ideas, others repose their trust in particularindividuals. Magaisa argues that the economic problems are tied to ZANU PF’s failure to secure the loser’s consent after their victory. Yet the MDC has always argued that ZANU PF cannot manage the economy due to corruption and incompetence. Put differently, the moribund economic has more to do with the victor’s ineptitude than the loser’s consent or kudira jecha. If the country needs better ideas, then POLAD is an important opportunity for such technocrats as Nkosana Moyo to influence government policy. On the other hand, if it is onlyNelson Chamisa and the MDC who possess the keys to unlocking the economy’s potential, then there is little value in engaging the broad swath of Zimbabwean political parties.

6.    Conclusion
If in previous post I was accused of blindness to politics, in this instance it is my singular focus. Opposition to the POLAD process has more to do with the politics of entry and exit than the value of discussing issues and ideas. It is concerned with the who and not the how; hence the emphasis on the legitimacy of the incumbent and those invited to the process. Imagine if fortunes were reversed and the MDC had won the 2018 elections with a two thirds majority in parliament; would they likely cajole ZANU PF to a dialogue process even if ZANU PF rejected the MDC’s claim of legitimacy? Such an outcome is highly unlikely given the treatment of the last high profile member of the opposition to question their leader’s legitimacy: Dr. Thokozani Khupe. Yet somehow, what leads to party expulsion internally is expected to justify exclusive dialogue nationally. Ultimately, every platform must be used to try improve the dire situation in the country and the courage to confront must not preclude exchange of ideas with those with a willingness to converse.

-www.davidhofisi.blogspot.com