Son of the late MDC icon, Morgan Tsvangirai, Edwin has pleaded with political leaders to put national interests ahead of their egos, telling thousands of party supporters who gathered in Humanikwa village, Buhera that his father sacrificed for Zimbabwe.
Edwin who was speaking during the memorial service said, his father refused to get state power through blood.
“As you heard that my father sacrificed for Zimbabwe, he refused to get state power through blood, but opted to engage with his enemy,” he added.
“We are saying, we are back to the same situation that forced my father to talk to Mugabe. Can our leaders put the interest of the people and do something? These are the times that require such leadership.”
His call appeared to be targeted at MDC leader Nelson Chamisa who has refused to budge from his move to disregard President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory in the July 2018 elections.
ONE of the country’s agricultural experts, Mr Basil Nyabadza, says the Government should be wary of the emergence of agro-processing industry cartels, which are fast threatening national security.
Mr Nyabadza, a seasoned farmer and Agriculture, Rural and Development Authority (Arda) board chairperson equated the agro-processing industry cartels to “vultures circling in the sky waiting for the demise of their prey.”
He said there has been an upsurge in the number of conglomerates creating monopolies across the entire agro-processing value chain and assuming powers to determine prices of goods on the local market.
“The food industry is key to the well-being of our people throughout whether in urban or rural areas and that food chain is now under threat because there is monopolistic situation existing within it (food industry). You will find out that it’s well structured, its cartels running whether it is the beef, mealie-meal, flour, bread, cooking oil or the sugar industry.
“There are cartels even in the tobacco industry and so on. Our agricultural structures and the marketing of agricultural produce are founded on cartels. They are not declared cartels but are effective and working and have serious impact in the shortest period of time. That combination sadly undermines national security and causes conflict between business and Government,” said Mr Nyabadza.
He said the cartels are behind the unabated and wanton price increases of goods, notably basic commodities since last year.
“They (cartels) sit around a table and decide what to charge on beef and so on and prices go up in all provinces. It’s not coincidental. It’s a few minds who structure, where is the foreign currency element? Everything is driven by a strong black market economy, which has a leadership and that is causing harm, hence the VP (Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga)’s strong language against economic terrorism within our economy,” said Mr Nyabadza.
He said there was also a cartel working tirelessly to throw spanners on the financial reforms being implemented by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.
“The Ministry of Finance has enacted positive policies to generate revenue to address our deficit within Zimbabwe. Government is liquid for the first time in many years. We commend Professor Ncube for his visionary policies and those programmes are now undermined. So it appears there is a black market team working flat out to undermine Government.
“There was Government putting together a structure of Command Agriculture to say let’s grow maize and wheat as your raw materials but they (agro-processing companies) fold their arms.
“Some are not taking part, they simply use the wheat and maize and if it is not available, they will want to import . . . Every day we eat bread, mealie-meal and meat products and animals consume stock feed they (agro-processing companies) have got all that and it’s a cash rich industry, which is what fuels the black market and now they undermine Government policies and then some fold their arms,” said Mr Nyabadza.
PARENTS have resorted to buying school uniforms from small and informal traders and manufactures ahead of schools opening on Tuesday as the prices of uniforms in established retailers have gone up by about 100 percent, Sunday News has established.
Schools open for the second term this week and apart from school fees increases mainly by boarding schools, parents are also grappling with the prices of uniforms whose prices have gone up sharply. A survey by Sunday News revealed that parents in Bulawayo have instead turned to buying from small traders and manufacturers.
“I went to a known store and was told a jersey for my Grade One boy now costs $45. Here the same jersey, in fact a better and thicker one is going for $20,” said Mrs Emma Moyo who was scouting for uniforms from informal traders on Friday.
Some of the informal traders said they were recording brisk business since last week as more people were opting for their uniforms.
“Some parents bring their fabric and some we provide hence we then negotiate the prices but we can charge as low as $10 per pair of trousers. Some parents also bring samples of school badges and we are able to fix them. It is clear that people now see us as an alternative,” said Mr Bernard Mlilo, who operates near the National Railways of Zimbabwe Station in Bulawayo.
Sunday News discovered flea market traders who are also ordering their merchandise from South Africa and Botswana who have also become the alternative for hard pressed parents. Most flea markets in Bulawayo are stocked with uniforms that are cheaper. As for the leading retailers school jerseys cost an average of S$45 while some school trousers are selling for as much as $50. The director of Esats shop, Mr Hassan Esat, said that the price increase was due to the increased prices of raw materials.
“We have increased our prices because imported raw materials have become expensive. However, we take pride in the shop because we are selling uniforms that are 30 to 40 percent cheaper than other large scale retailers. We have not done any advertising but basically we are known to be a cheaper shop compared to other stockers and have been established for many years. That way we can maintain costs and keep our merchandise cheaper,” he said.
Parents said they were worried that this would be one of the most difficult school openings they will face.
“Everything has gone up, from school fees, food and uniforms. The Government has to intervene otherwise as parents we will suffer,” said Mrs Emelda Moyo who said he has three children at school.
“I bought two tunics, two blouses and a tie for a Grade One child and that cost me $232. The cost of uniforms is now high but all we have to do is sacrifice for the kids. Most shops tell us they are pegging their prices depending on the rate of foreign currency on the black market, it is not fair.”
The biggest nightmare among parents is that most schools have winter uniforms that are different from summer uniforms so the parents have no alternative except to buy.
“It is like the kid is starting a new year, we are buying new uniforms for winter. We must also buy books and other stationery. I don’t even want to start imagining about the food, bread has gone up, Mazoe has gone up and surely how are we going to buy all these. A packet of potatoes now costs $20 while a tray of eggs is $12,” said another parent who preferred anonymity.
The Government announced that it is planning to come up with price guidelines to ensure that the business community comes up with proper pricing following wanton price increases. The country has witnessed a spate of price increases that has eroded most people’ earnings. Employers have also been hit hard with frequent requests from their workers to adjust salaries.
BULAWAYO’s water supply dams received just 5 778 565 cubic metres of water during the 2018/2019 rainy season, an amount that is enough to last an average of 50 days, putting fears that the city, already experiencing water shedding, will face serious water shortages this year.
This comes as the Meteorological Department has indicated that the rainy season is now officially over. Bulawayo consumes an average of between 116 078 cubic metres and 135 394 cubic metres a day of water. According to the latest dam statistics the city’s dams stand at 54,38 percent full with one of the dams, Upper Ncema, likely to be decommissioned in the next few days as it stands at eight percent full.
In terms of inflows since the start of the rainy season the city’s dams got 5 778 565 cubic metres of the 225 491 811 cubic metres which is in the dams, this translating to just 2,6 percent of the total figure. At 2 413 328 cubic metres, Insiza Mayfair got the bulk of the inflows followed by Lower Ncema which got 1 296 110 cubic metres while Upper Ncema at 415 200 cubic metres got the least inflows. 135 394.
In most cases a dam is decommissioned after it reaches 10 percent of its capacity to allow the water to sustain its underwater life. The statistics also showed that Mtshabezi which has a capacity of 51 996 000 cubic metres still has the highest levels at 83,12 percent full, a figure which reduced from 87,7 percent last month, Inyankuni, which has a carrying capacity of 80 781 000 cubic metres is 63,74 percent full a drop from 64,43 percent last month and Insiza Mayfair, with a carrying capacity of 173 491 000 cubic metres is 58,92 percent full a drop from 61,56 percent last month.
Lower Ncema which has a carrying capacity of 18 237 700 cubic metres has actually increased levels as it is pegged at 81,18 percent up from 66,69 percent last month, Umzingwane with a carrying capacity of 44 663 500 cubic metres has dropped to 22,66 percent from 28,04 percent last month while Upper Ncema which has a carrying capacity of 45 458 500 cubic metres has dropped to eight percent from 18,52 percent last month.
Pumping from Mtshabezi Dam- according to the statistics — still remains erratic with the local authority failing to get water from the dam the whole of last week. In an interview with Sunday News yesterday, Meteorological Services Department duty forecaster, Mr Batisayi Haanyadzise said while the rainy season was over the region could still get slight but not significant rainfall as the seasons move from summer to winter.
“It usually takes time for seasons to transition to the next season due to the atmospheric conditions, take for example when the rainy season came to an end there was too much moisture in the atmosphere which is why we recently experienced some isolated showers. In the case of Bulawayo, it falls under the Southern region and during winter they experience drizzle conditions and in some cases thunderstorms but this still won’t trigger the inflows as high as we want but still the dams might get some inflows mainly due to the moisture coming from the Indian Ocean,” said Mr Haanyadzise.
The city is already enduring a 48-hour water shedding schedule but with the latest dam statistics supplied by the Bulawayo City Council, it seems highly likely that the schedule will soon be increased. The city faces perennial water shortages with city fathers identifying the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project as the long term solution to the city’s problems.
Other projects identified include the Epping Forest boreholes project that will increase the water being pumped from the Nyamandlovu Aquifer and the duplication of the Insiza pipeline to complement the current pipeline and increase water being pumped from Insiza Mayfair. Bulawayo is also said to be operating with a deficit of four dams as an additional supply dam is supposed to be constructed after every 10 years.
A Buhera woman has told President Emmerson Mnangagwa to leave office and allow opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to govern as he is the one who won the 2018 elections.
Jane Mlambo| A Chipinge based pressure group, Platform for Youth Development (PYD) last week intervened to stop the eviction of more than 500 families from Munyokowere village in Chipangayi,ward 5 of Chipinge West constituency in Manicaland.
Details surrounding the legal case are long and winding but very painful and difficult to justify why such a callous and cruel decision was being implemented by government.The matter which is now being handled by Advocate Peggy Tavagadza of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) involves vulnerable women and children who are still to recover from the trauma of Cyclone Idai which struck the most in Chipinge and Chimanimani in March 2019.
The various eviction letters handed to the Munyokowere villagers are signed by Mr.Tapiwanashe Chagwesha acting on behalf of the Ministry of Lands ,Agriculture ,Rural Resettlement ,Water & Climate .The letters which are dated the 27th of April 2019 have been received by villagers with shock and amusement considering the villagers’ claim to the area in question ,and also their amicable relationship with the responsible government departments such as the office of the District Admnstrator and that of the Chipinge Rural District Council.
The Munyokowere villagers were given only 7 days to vacate their areas of jurisdictions despite having received no communication prior to the eviction and neither is there an alternate place for the villagers to be accommodated for humanitarian considerations.
This eviction is being done allegedly to fulfill some cabinet resolution directing the aforementioned government department to role out nation wide eviction of people from gazzetted stateland.
Platform for Youth Development is not convinced that this is the role of government to punish vulnerable citizens. This case flies in the face of justice and the approach being announced by President Mnangagwa,especially that there has been no prior communication to the villagers on account of human life and security.It is therefore a community responsibility at leadership and humanitarian purposes for PYD to rescue the villagers by challenging these illegal evictions.PYD has been with the affected villagers as soon as they received the eviction letters and we are more than convinced that their rights have been violated by those with the mandate to protect them.Due processes required by law have not been followed and we will stand to prove this.
PYD is aware of the provisions of the law which has not been followed and therefore has approached ZLHR to challenge the evictions in the court of law using the constitution of Zimbabwe.
It is sad to note that these evictions are being done by government when schools are opening for second term in less than three days from now.PYD is also equally concerned that the evictions have waited for the cold winter season to come before being implemented.This can not be fair !
The Munyokowere villagers are now phycologically traumatized and uncertain over their future due to the act by a government department to evict them without following due processes.
PYD has been privileged with the history of the Munyokowere villagers since the 1950s in our appreciation of the matter at stake .There is evidence of paper trail and affidavits confirming that, the land in question was legitimately allocated to the Munyokowere family by the then Chipinge District Administrator Mr Mufukare who was representing the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing in 1992.
This was done following a request from ARDA and Settler farmers who needed the spiritual prowess of the family to handle misfortunes linked to our Ndau traditions and rituals within the designated area.If the area is gazetted as claimed, due processes must be followed.
Henry Munyokowere is a an active and legitimate village head in terms of the law.
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza lauded his 12-year-old daughter and gave her money at May Day ceremonies designed to honour the country’s top workers.
“Head of state Pierre Nkurunziza gave an envelope (of money) to his daughter Naomie Nkurunziza, who has been behaving well at home,” state broadcaster RTNB said in an overnight tweet, without specifying the amount.
“Pierre Nkurunziza says that she is hard-working and loves Burundian culture and sport,” it said.
The May 1 ceremonies, which took place at a sports stadium at Rumonge, about 80 kilometres south of the capital Bujumbura, saw Nkurunziza hand out awards to senior state officials, farmers, the national football team, a judo champion, governors and district administrators.
The decade-old tradition has also seen Nkurunziza reward one of his sons, Jonathan, who was aged five at the time, his wife, Denise Bucumi, and one of their nannies.
Burundi has been in turmoil since the president announced in April 2015 that he intended to stand again for the presidency. He was re-elected in July of that year.
Violence claimed at least 1,200 lives and displaced more than 400,000 between April 2015 and May 2017, according to estimates by the International Criminal Court which has opened an investigation.
Civil society activist Pacifique Nininahazwe, who lives in self-imposed exile, said in a tweet that Nkurunziza’s awards to his family “remind me of (Ugandan) dictator Idi Amin, handing out military decorations to his five-year-old son!”
“What resemblences there are between these two Kafkaesque, blood-stained tyrants,” he wrote.
Nkurunziza’s spokesman, Jean-Claude Karerwa Ndenzako, told AFP “acknowledgement (of hard work) is not something that is exclusive to the state or to organisations — it’s more a reflex that everyone should have.”
The money that the president gave his daughter “came from his own pocket,” he said.
MDC President Nelson Chamisa has said that the late Morgan Tsvangirai was betrayed by Zanu-PF leaders after the coup that deposed Robert Mugabe. According to Chamisa, Tsvangirai supported the coup on the understanding that a transitional authority.
He was speaking at the memorial of the late Tsvangirai in Buhera today. Said Chamisa:
The MDC largely supported and urged its members to take to the streets along with other Zimbabweans leading to the forced resignation of Robert Mugabe in November 2017. Following the coup, Zanu-PF senior members declared that the Mugabe removal was a Zanu-PF matter and would be handled by the party alone.
TWO court officials from Hwange Magistrates’ Court died on the spot while others were injured after a vehicle they were travelling in burst its tyre and veered off the road along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road yesterday.
The two were part of a group of seven officials from the Judicial Services Commission who were travelling in a vehicle, an Isuzu twin-cab belonging to area prosecutor-in-charge of Matabeleland North Province Mrs Martha Cheda, who was also injured in the accident.
The rear tyre that burst
They were travelling from Hwange to attend a wedding of a colleague in Matsheumhlophe in Bulawayo when the accident occurred at the 60km peg near Insuza. Officer Commanding Police in Lupane District, Chief Superintendent Edgar Dhliwayo confirmed the accident which occurred yesterday morning.
He, however, said details were still sketchy.
“I can confirm that we received a report about an accident that killed two people while others were injured. I can’t give more details as yet as we are waiting for a report from a team that went to attend the scene,” said Chief Supt Dhliwayo.
He said the deceased’s bodies whose names are withheld as their next of kin were yet to be informed yesterday, were ferried to the mortuary while the injured were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital.
One of the deceased was a prosecutor while the other was an office administrator at the Hwange Magistrates Courts.
When Sunday News got to the scene yesterday afternoon police forensic experts had already combed over the accident scene, with one officer standing guard over the twisted metal wreckage of the twin-cab.
South African Council of Messianic Churches in Christ (SACMCC) general secretary Buyisile Ngqulwana has written a damning affidavit claiming that both former president Jacob Zuma and ANC secretary general Ace Magashule were involved in the formation of the African Transformation Movement (ATM), the Sunday Times reports.
The new opposition party was formed by the SACMM. It made headlines after its alleged attempts to get Zuma to join it, and after businessman Mzwanele Manyi became the party’s head of policy and strategy.
The Citizen reported last week that the African Transformation Congress (ATC) had approached the Electoral Court to challenge the registration of the African Transformation Movement (ATM), saying Mzwanele Manyi’s party was fraudulently registered by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and demanding that ATM’s registration be declared null and void, and unlawful.
Despite the involvement of SACMCC in the party’s initial formation, the Sunday Times now reports that its secretary general has written an affidavit supporting this electoral court application challenging the party’s registration. It seems this is as a result of a dispute between members of the originally proposed party, to be called the ATC, and those that facilitated a change of direction that culminated in the ATM being registered.
According to the IEC, in its records the ATC and ATM are listed as one party with Vuyolethu Zungula as president.
Ngqulwana’s affidavit claims Zuma and Magashule were involved in “consultation sessions” leading to the formation of the party.
It alleges that Magashule even came up with the African Transformation Movement’s name.R
It also claims that meetings were held over the proposed party with ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Sihle Zikalala. He has denied this.
The full story can be read in today’s edition of the Sunday Times or here.
Zuma’s behind-the-scenes involvement in ATM has been rumoured, with Ngqulwana’s affidavit the first actual evidence that the former president allegedly played a role in its formation.
ATM declined to comment in the Sunday Times story except to say the party is filing papers in response to the ATC’s Electoral Court challenge. Attempts to get a comment from Zuma were fruitless at the time of writing. – The Sunday Times/Citizen
*Q: What would you say is the current state of relations between Japan and Zimbabwe?
A: Relations between Zimbabwe and Japan have not been bad; we are enjoying, it’s been good and friendly relations since independence.
As a matter of fact, the embassy here in Zimbabwe established and opened in 1981 just after independence.
And the following year, the Zimbabwean Embassy in Tokyo also opened.
So, of course, there have been ups and downs because of certain political and economic situations.
Q: What is your take on the current reforms being implemented by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration?
A: From the beginning of his term, President Mnangagwa talked about a very important thing, which is political, economic and social reform.
I think that this country needs to reform in many areas.
Given the natural resources and rich human resources, there is need for a good system to make those talented people show their abilities. Look around, it is often talked about that the informal sector is huge, but from my perspective, if the informal sector is so active, it means that there are so many Zimbabweans with talent to run businesses.
Why do they stay in the informal sector?
Ask them why they can’t tap into the formal sector, it is because there are too many rules and regulations.
I think that’s why they just stay in the informal sector.
I am not one to teach how things should be done, but my sense is: make the rules and regulations relaxed for businesses to prosper and let those talented people thrive.
Q: There has been a raft of ease of doing business reforms that have been put forward by Government. What do you think of them?
A: My personal observation is that there are not so quick, but I am not disappointed because of that because in any democratic country, even Japan, the reform is not so easy and not quick.
No government can do everything all at once.
So from that perspective I am not so disappointed. For example, the fiscal discipline, I believe they are doing very well and the monetary policy as well.
That is necessary.
There is some fine-tuning (that needs to be done) so that the general public accepts the system (new monetary policy on interbank market).
In order for the people to accept that system, probably Government needs to deal with the workable inter-banking system.
Without making the inter-banking system work, it will be difficult for the individual and the businesspeople to rely on the new system. They will go to the black market and try to get foreign currency, (where) the exchange rate is very high, and that will be reflected in the price.
That is the kind of cycle the people are suffering. The businesspeople are suffering from that. I don’t know how that can be fixed, but at least try to make the inter-banking system work so that the general public, including the private sector, accept it.
More than that, my real feeling is that try to tackle the corruption, as the President mentioned.
Q: Which areas of possible investment do you see in Zimbabwe which Japanese firms would be interested in investing in?
Also, has there been any specific investors in Japan that have shown their interest?
A: I do not want to single out one, there are many. In February, we had the Japanese business mission and they explored many areas – mining, agriculture and energy.
Many Japanese companies are competing (to invest here) and I cannot mention their names, but the point is, many times I am asked the same question, and my answer is ask your local companies.
If they are happy with the working environment in Zimbabwe, why wouldn’t the Japanese companies want to invest?
If they are suffering, and I think they are suffering, then it is very difficult for investment to come to this country.
Because once they invest here they will suffer the same. So my answer to that question is not sector-specific but system-specific. There needs to be reforms, reforms, reforms. This country has huge potential, it has rich national resources and talented people. Something needs to be done to exploit those natural resources.
Veteran nationalist Cde Misheck Velaphi Ncube, who died on Tuesday has been declared a national hero.
Cde Ncube, who was a Zanu-PF National Consultative member, died in Bulawayo after a long illness.
He was 82.
In a telephone interview last night, Zanu-PF secretary for administration Dr Obert Mpofu confirmed Cde Velaphi’s national hero status.
“I am just coming from announcing the declaration at the funeral vigil,” said Dr Mpofu.
“The party recognises those who sacrifice their lives towards liberating the country and he was one of those people.
“He was involved in the liberation struggle and was incarcerated with the current President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) at Khami (Prison).
“After Independence, he served in the National Consultative Assembly and the Central Committee and has always been with the party.
“The President sent me to go and announce the declaration and that is where I am coming from,” he said.
Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Judith Ncube thanked President Mnangagwa for according Cde Ncube the revered status.
“We are so thankful that he was declared a national hero. Indeed he was one of the pioneers of the liberation struggle. He fought among the first group of cadres who launched the struggle on the Zipra side.
“I am struggling to think of words to describe him. He was one of the cadres who fought the famous Hwange Battle in the 1960s.”
Minister Ncube said at the time of his death, Cde Ncube had started documenting his history with the help of renowned historian Cde Pathisa Nyathi.
“He had been meeting with Cde Nyathi to document his history together with other cadres who include Cde John Maluzu, Cde Nzimela and Cde Clark Mpofu. These veterans had been meeting at Cde Ncube’s house so that they would capture some of those striking features of the liberation struggle that have not been widely documented,” said Minister Ncube.
Funeral arrangements for the national hero would be announced tomorrow.
The late national hero was one of the pioneer guerrillas under Zipra, serving in several positions both in the military wing during the war of liberation and in politics.
He is among the first ‘Group of 12’ to undertake military training in Egypt in 1962.
In 1966, he and his colleagues took advantage of the political instability in the Congo where they raided the Congolese rebels, poisoned them before looting their weapons.
His mission led to the first smuggling of weapons into Southern Rhodesia.
Soon after his death, Zanu-PF Bulawayo province had applied for a national hero status for the late cadre.
Addressing mourners last week, Politburo member Cde Absolom Sikhosana said if cadres like Cde Ncube are not declared national heroes, then no-one deserves that honour.
“If he is not declared a national hero, then we would be making a mockery of that status. A real mockery of that status because the man is more than deserving, he is more than qualified.
“He was involved at all levels of the liberation struggle. He was involved at all levels of the political leadership. There is no reason whatsoever for denying him that right. That is the appropriate consideration befitting a man of his calibre,” said Cde Sikhosana.
The UK based Dr Brighton Chireka has writtten revealing that the weeping female doctor Mashumba is now running a Trust.
In his post titled, “Now we have a plan for our hospitals,” Dr Chireka said, several people have been asking what they can do to help our hospitals. I had a privilege to visit our hospitals and was humbled by the dedication of our health workers. They are doing a fantastic job in challenging situations. They have to make hard decisions everyday but they keep going.
Dr Mashumba and Dr Chireka
Had a privilege of meeting Dr Mashumba and they have now registered Parirenyatwa Children’s trust that will fundraise for the Paediatric wards at Parirenyatwa.
So where do you come in? The trust will identify areas of need focussing on low hanging fruits that you can help with.
I also met with Gugu Mahlangu who is the Director General of Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) who cleared a lot of misconceptions about donating medical supplies. I have detailed notes but I am happy to say people can easily donate medical devices such as syringes and cannulas without any problems. MCAZ regulate medicines , gloves and condoms . Having said that we must make sure that whatever we are donating is of high quality so that we do not spread infection with our donations.
So what can you do if you want to donate medical supplies? Kindly get in touch with us and we will direct you to the right people and right channels. Please do not rush into shipping medical supplies without discussing with MCAZ.
Also met with Hopewell Chin’ono who helped in raising awareness about the plight of our hospitals . We have now passed that stage of raising awareness . We are at the stage of helping our hospitals. Let’s now walk our talk as Zimbabweans !
Let me once again encourage everyone to adopt a local clinic or a ward at a hospital and support that area. For example our health workers need our appreciation like donating a microwave for them to warm their food , TV for them to watch when on break , computers to surf the net and refrigerators to keep their food. These are basic things that you and I can also help with easily.
Let me end by saying this Chinese proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the second best time is now.” May I say the second best time to help our hospitals is now. What are you waiting for ? Me and the rest of Zimbabwe Diaspora Health Alliance are keen to play our part in helping our hospitals. Let’s do it !
The current uptake of about 85 percent in transactions using the local RTGS systems is a clear sign Zimbabwe is now nearing the stage where it might be convenient to introduce a new local currency.
Economic analysts say conditions are now favourable for the re-introduction of a local currency, which will ensure a real and practical gauge of economic performance.
The observers further argue that the country can no longer continue relying on a multi-currency regime, which has, in recent times, triggered economic distortions.
The basket of currencies was adopted in 2009 after the country had gone through a phase of economic decline.
Speaking at a currency reforms breakfast meeting hosted by the Business Economic Empowerment Forum in the capital, economist Mr Persistent Gwanyanya said authorities need to push for a “good-bye” to the multi-currency system.
“The foreign currency, in the country, should be channelled towards other priority areas so that we industrialise,” he said.
“The best way to go is to use our own currency, which is the trend all over the world. If we look at strides that have been made in the fiscal front, conditions are ripe for our own currency.”
Mr Gwanyanya added that, last year, Zimbabwe generated US$6,2 billion, which was the highest in history.
He also said a record US$4,2 billion, in exports, was recorded in 2018.
“When we adopt a local currency, the available foreign currency will be channelled towards importation of goods and other developmental projects,” explained Mr Gwanyanya.
“We already have a pseudo local currency in the form of RTGS and the only way that money can work is through complete abandonment of other currencies.
“The difference between now and the difficult period around 2008 is that, currently, the pseudo local currency is on demand in the economy as 85 percent of local transactions are in RTGS and this is the right condition needed to support a new currency.”
Mr Gwanyanya added that instilling confidence and fiscal discipline was key in the introduction of the new currency.
On the adoption of the rand Mr Gwanyanya said while South Africa was Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, the revenue inflows were in United States dolars.
“More than 85 percent of our exports come from five commodities which are gold, tobacco, platinum, chrome and diamond,” he said.
“These are marketed mainly through South Africa, but eventually the ultimate takers are outside South Africa and the payments are in US dollars.”
Another economic analysts Mr Eddie Cross also said pointers were that it was not feasible to adopt the Rand.
“Any discussion on the Rand, as means for primary exchange in Zimbabwe, is really that majority of our people have rejected it,” he said.
“We notice that the Rand is used commonly in Matabeleland because of the large population of Zimbabweans from that side who are in South Africa.
“To be accepted in the Rand Union, there are also some conditions to be met and our economic fundamentals are far adrift from those conditions.”
Addressing Zimbabwe-South Africa Bi-national Cooperation in Harare in March, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said it was not necessary to opt into the Rand Union as modalities for a local currency had been put in place.
Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa yesterday saluted police officers deployed at the memorial of the late party leader Morgan Tsvangirai saying they were doing a great job as opposed to what they have been known for.
Government which was literally running logistical operations of the memorial service including providing food and logistics deployed hundreds of police officers to maintain order at the well attended event.
“If you accept me as a leader you listen to me, allow me to thank the presence of members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who are maintaining order here. .,” said Chamisa.
Jane Mlambo| Barely a few months after bragging or having addressed the fuel shortages in the country, government is now back to square one, with queues getting longer and longer with each passing day.
The situation has become so dire that most service stations in Harare do not have fuel or are dispensing diesel only.
Since August last year, Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a nosedive with prices of basic commodities now beyond the reach of many.
Though there are no shortages of other basic commodities, fuel has continued to be government’s biggest headache as they struggle against skyrocketing foreign exchange rates.
While government would want to hike fuel prices, the thought of another potentially deadly encounter with opposition and civil society groups could be the reason why there is no talk of another price increment.
Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday told party supporters and delegates who gathered at the memorial service for the late leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he will drag President Emmerson Mnangagwa to dialogue to arrest the biting economic situation facing the country.
Chamisa repeated his call for genuine dialogue warning Mnangagwa against discussing with smaller parties while ignoring the MDC.
By Brian Sedze| There is a significant number of articles expressing opinion that the subtle fight for positions within the Movement of Democratic Change( Alliance) are acts of self destruction, and may split the party.
A split (or formation of new outfits) is inevitable due to the leadership pursuit of and insatiable appetite for a somewhat “divine” right to rule and the obtaining of absolute power. Some with decades in the struggle trenches face retrenchment to political dustbins and wilderness.
What I think is the greatest threat though, is that the congress is likely to deliver a weaker MDC Alliance. Its likely to be a party both deficient in skills, depth and diversity.
The idea in brief is that the party must restructure first before congress and deploy silos reserved for certain groups to ensure strength in diversity. The congress outcome must celebrate diversity by inclusion of women, ensure generational renewal with consensus, build new coalitions to increase capacity, reinforce tribal balance, appease alliance partners, have requisite skills and have a voice across the broad spectrum of society.
The party’s drive for a congress seem driven by desire to tick the constitutionality box and appear to follow certain edicts of obscure democracy principles. I also believe there is also a great desire to obtain absolute power and exorcise the Morgan Tsvangirai ghost.
What should precede the congress is skills or key competence profiling. It is a self serving, pleasing and yet a defeating narrative to blame all election defeats on rigging. The party has skills deficiencies that prevent it from winning and leading. A congress must be designed to ensure obtaining a diversity of skills and voices that enable winning.
There is also a self serving denial of reasons on reduced number of Members of Parliament. The denial is an albatross that prevents audit of the good and the bad of the 2018 elections. The party will hold a congress that will carry forward the bad and may face defeat in the face again in 2023.
It is possible that an audit and skills profiling approach may result in addition of new positions and expansion of the executive. The end justifies the means as expansion is a better evil as it will be informed by obtaining of skills that ensure a strategic fit to deliver a winning team.
Just the level of debate (or non contribution) in parliament is sure enough show of how somewhat the need for a renewal starting from the top is an imperative.
The congress is an attempt to deliver a new winning team using the old structure and a losing formula. A new party design with new skills and strategy may deliver a winning formula. Proceeding with the congress on the backdrop of the old may result in the party being opposition in perpetuity.
In addition to skills it is an imperative that the party has diversity in representations opposed to the abused and myopic notion of a generational renewal. This diversity should look at inclusion of elders, women voices, tribal balance, alliance partners, labour, academics, farmers, industry and commerce.
This proposed diversity seems to have been the foundation of the MDC of 1999. The present scenario has diverted MDC DNA from being a voice of a plethora of society to that of past and present activists.
The congress may fail to deliver strength in diversity which I believe is a requisite in building a strong team to win and lead. It will ensure the party is a government in waiting instead of it being a perpetual opposition. The congress seems to be about ticking the constitutionalism boxes and satisfying some democratic principles, however obscure the principles. To a large extend the rehash of a congress is a path to obtaining absolute power.
First, despite purported superior arguments, policies and ideology the party has shown no aptitude to win the rural and the Mashonaland vote. The congress outcome is likely to entrench those election losses, exacerbate the challenge of rural voter apathy and increase inability to attract first time voters.
What should be placed on their strategic menu instead of a congress is to use the elections breathing space to build more coalitions or mergers with unlike forces with capacity to win the rural vote.
The team so far has risen to its highest level of incompetence and “new” blood with abilities to deliver the rural vote need to be injected at the highest level. This new blood is outside the party.
There seems to be innumerable election cycles were the most common complaint from opposition is rigging, violence, intimidation, abuse of traditional leaders and rules tilted in favour of the ruling party. Its not going to change as its with doubt the ruling party will reform itself out of power.
Coalitions or incorporating new talent from the old ruling party stalwarts may infuse talent, good enough to understand and navigate the rural that terrain. I do not see the MDC winning it alone in the rural areas.
Second, the MDC used to be a melting pot and a voice of widespread interests including academics, civic society, students, industrialists, farmers, labour and so forth.
The present MDC now seems a forte of activists with many of the key players of the 1999 MDC losing their voices. A congress outcome premised on such a hijacked party will fracture the party along the “them” and the “rest of us”.
In addition the party to require a diversity of ideas and show a semblance of a government in waiting. It is pertinent that silos are reserved for professionals in various areas of study like finance, engineering, law, social sciences and many others. It only enhances the quality of decision making and ensure balance and diversity of ideas.
Professionals become a fodder of deploying senior executives to assume government positions like ministries and government technocrats. Chanting of slogans and charisma should be replaced by deploying based on merit and character. The present quality of debate in parliament shows just how disabled the party is in terms of depth.
Third, Generational renewal is a great concept but should ideally be married with inter- general consensus. Voting based on age is not exactly renewal. A party requires wisdom and participation of everyone. Diversity should include the fusion of skill and ideas from the broad spectrum of the society. The new generation must bring the new beyond just age.
The purported new age to drive renewal seem not to show strategic and political edge. It presents themselves as captured by dominant forces in activism and leadership. The new perpetuating economic and social illiteracy on the pretense on political wisdom.
I do not see independence of thoughts, any plausible new agenda and are devoid of new ideas. The new seem to be clique of dedicated slogan chanting bootlickers impervious to new thinking, new ideas and have an entrenched belief in a new version of “one centre of power”. It occurs to others that this generational thing is simply a convenient way to use age to exclude others.
Fourth, without a new structure of the party prior to the congress there is no guarantee of women participation. Without reserved women seats there are no guarantees of women inclusion, participation and inclusion at the top of the party.
This lack of diversity is not good for image and attraction of reputable global partners in politics and business. Women are a key decision making unit more alive to needs of community, women and children. More often than not they bear greatest burden and brunt of misgovernance.
Sixth, some of the leading lights in the MDC Alliance may unfortunately fall by the way side. The present congress structure will not guarantee inclusion of alliance partners like Tendai Biti, Professor Welshman Ncube and maybe others. The MDC will be bleeding depth as a party and as an opposition in parliament. I doubt it’s a great idea to have the present coalition partners outside the decision making matrix.
Seventh, the country is greatly divided along tribes and provinces. There is limited loyalty to a one Zimbabwe. It will be naive to forget that we face uncommon challenges, have different aspirations and we have fragmented visions based on tribes and provinces.
Unfortunate as it may, for cohesion, the congress outcome should ensure tribal balance in its top positions. The party or at worst come up with rotation mechanisms on Vice Presidency.
Seventh, some positions like that of Treasurer and the deputy require certain knowledge, skills and abilities. At times finance also knows and follows skin colour.
The position requires understanding of financial reporting, budgeting, financial engineering, donor engagement and experience in dealing with capital. Unfortunately financial skills can not be obtained through sloganeering but through education and or experience.
Treasury positions must match or exceed donor expectations. This is because there is significant donor fatigue, people have low disposable income and there are no significant innovations on party financing models. This all means party finances may be in tatters to mount for the party to mount a significant challenge against the well oiled ZANU PF.
Donors lay the golden egg. The bravado of broke people sponsoring their struggle is a misplaced strategy. Its a strategy that may lead to capture by a person or closely knit group of people.
The MDC Alliance require a new strategy and new skills. The party should diversify through inclusion and expand its skills set. At moment it does not present itself as a government in waiting.
Brian Sedze is strategy consultant and President of Free Enterprise Initiative. Free Enterprise Initiative is an advocacy in less government, free enterprise, fiscal and public policy.
Correspondent|A Mutoko cellphone thief who was on the run for three years after skipping the border to Mozambique has been jailed for one year.
John Magaso (19) of Tsonga village under Chief Goronga in Mudzi recently appeared before magistrate Tawanda Mtetwa, who slapped him with a custodial sentence.
He will serve seven months in jail after Mtetwa suspended five months on condition he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
Prosecutors said on January 29, 2016 at around 9pm, Magaso and two other accomplices stormed Fair Dhewa’s yard and stole a Samsung Note 4 cellphone through the window while the owner was sleeping.
Magaso removed the Econet line, which was in the cellphone and left it on the window before disappearing into the dark.
Dhewa reported the matter to the police, who traced the stolen phone to a neighbour, Forward Dick.
Magaso escaped to Mozambique after hearing about Dick’s arrest and was only arrested after three years
Standard|Thousands of pupils, especially boarders, could fail to return to school when the second term begins on Tuesday due to skyrocketing fees, parents have said.
A number of schools increased fees substantially following the rapid rise in the prices of goods and services since February when the government introduced a new currency.
The introduction of the RTGS dollar by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which discarded its controversial policy maintaining that bond notes were at par with the United States dollar, has stoked inflation.
On average a boarding school, which was charging $700 fees per term is now demanding at least $1 400, a survey revealed.
Some private schools are charging in US dollars with a top Harare school demanding fees of up to $10 800 in local currency or US$2 455, for full boarders.
Day scholars should pay RTGS$6 600 or US$1 500, while weekly boarders must part with RTGS$8 900 or US$2 023.
“We cannot really blame the schools, after all, everything is going up.
“However, the government has a responsibility to ensure that people are cushioned from this price madness,” said Christine Bhowa, who has three children in boarding school.
“In total I need to pay around RTGS$4 000 for all my children and then there is money for transport and their groceries.”
While school fees shot up, salaries for many workers have remained stagnant.
Besides school fees, parents have to contend with high prices of uniforms, with blazers for primary school children now costing $243.
Prices for a pair of school shoes range between RTGS$60 to RTGS$120 and a pair of socks costs RTGS$8.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said civil servants were hardest hit by price hikes.
“Teachers are wallowing in poverty. According to our calculations RTGS$4 000 is an ideal salary for a family of six, but teachers are earning RTGS$452 which is a mere US$90, “he said.
“That is why the teachers are considering going for only a few days per week because it is not easy for them to report for duty every day on such a pittance.
“Zimbabwe is a unique country where everything is determined by government, which is not honouring the collective bargaining process.”
Civil servants were awarded a marginal pay increase last month, but they complain that it has already been eroded by inflation.
The Bulawayo power station “Intuthu ziyathunqa” under dispute.
State Media|THE dispute between the Bulawayo City Council and the government run Zimbabwe Power Company over the ownership of the Bulawayo Power Station has taken a dramatic twist after it emerged that title deeds to the disputed property were transferred to the power utility without the knowledge of council.
This comes despite the local authority previously boldly claiming they had the title deeds to the property and the power utility was in actual fact their tenant.
The power station is historically a land mark building for the City of Bulawayo which in its hay days got the City the nickname “KoNtuthu Ziyathunqa” (a place of smoke) as the power station produced non stop smoke in the production of thermal power that supplied the now defunct city industries with electricity.
It is not clear how the ZPC got to have the title deeds as the power station was constructed and fell under the jurisdiction of the local authority until 1987 when Zesa was given the sole mandate of power generation in the country, taking over from local authorities.
Zesa was then required to pay royalties to the local authority, a matter which has also been subject to controversy after the power utility reneged in paying the royalties to the council, with the debt currently standing at $105 564 101. Over the past few years the council, with the backing of residents, has been pushing to reclaim the running of the power station arguing that not only did they have the title deeds to the station but Zesa was a dishonest tenant.
However, investigations have revealed that the power station’s title deeds have since been transferred to be under the jurisdiction of Zesa, a matter that has caught the local authority by surprise and have made moves to challenge the transfer in the courts of law.
A visit to the deeds office confirmed that the title deeds to the power station were endorsed in July 2017 to Zesa. The local authority’s chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, also confirmed the recent developments revealing that they were in the process of challenging the transfer of ownership in the courts.
“We only got to know of the transfer of ownership last year when we aired our objection in the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera)’s move to renew the Zimbabwe Power Company’s power generation licence for the Bulawayo Power Station.
“Zera informed us that there was an endorsement on our title deeds and indeed when we went to check at the deeds office, we found there was a change of ownership which caught us by surprise because this was done behind our back as we have the original title deeds which is why we are preparing our papers to challenge this illegal endorsement at the courts,” said Mrs Zhou.
Efforts to get a comment from Zesa spokesperson, Mr Fullard Gwasira were fruitless. However, a source from the company in Bulawayo said the station was now under the ownership of Zesa.
“Yes, the title deeds are now under the name of Zesa, just go check with the deeds office,” said the source.
Commenting on the matter, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association acting co-ordinator, Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu said there was something amiss with the transfer of ownership of the power station which had to be investigated and rectified.
He revealed that they were also taking court action against the power utility to challenge the transfer of ownership arguing that the power station belonged to the residents of Bulawayo and cannot be transferred without the knowledge of residents.
“We are certainly taking court action to ensure that the matter is rectified, our legal team will soon be meeting with council’s legal team to share notes and map a way forward.
“However, we are clear that the property belongs to residents and transferring it to Zesa is illegal. What we will also be challenging is the decision by Zera to renew the power utility’s power generation licence despite both the local authority and us as residents noting our objections,” said Mr Ndlovu.
In December last year, Zera announced in a public notice that it had received an application from ZPC for amendment of the electricity generation licence to be extended by 20 years from 2024.
The licence was also to enable it to produce 120 megawatts of power with 90 megawatts to be fed into the national grid. Residents, through the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association and the Bulawayo City Council, had objected to the application saying they were the owners of the power station. Zera, however, went on to renew the licence last month.
Tensions are high in the Highlanders camp with fans ruining out of patience with both the technical and administrative teams at the club.
State Media|IN what could be an indicator of how relations have deteriorated in the Highlanders leadership, a club executive member has reportedly hired bodyguards to protect him during Bosso’s league encounter against Hwange at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
According to information obtained by Sunday News, the official will have two strongmen looking after his security when Bosso meet Chipangano. It could not be ascertained why the Highlanders executive decided to hire bodyguards to take care of his personal safety.
The move comes at a time when Bosso are having serious problems on and off the field of play.
Highlanders have had a terrible start to the 2019 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with the Bulawayo giants having picked up just three points from a possible 15. Bosso are yet to win and have been beaten twice.
Off the field of play, the club is also in turmoil following the suspension of two executive members, vice-chairman Modern Ngwenya and secretary-general Israel Moyo. The two were suspended from their positions by the board, for what the club said was voting against the renewal of chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube’s contract, among other unnamed transgressions and are due to appear before a disciplinary committee.
The Bosso human resources sub-committee had recommended that Dube, whose two- year contract expired last Tuesday, should be allowed to remain in office until the end of the year. Sources said Ngwenya and Moyo voted against extending Dube’s continued stay as the club’s head of secretariat while club chairman Mhlophe wanted the former Highlanders SG’s deal extended. Donald Ndebele, the Highlanders treasurer abstained from voting on the matter while committee member Wisdom Mabhena did not attend the meeting.
“You have one person saying yes, two people saying no, one abstaining from voting and the other not coming for the meeting. What does that tell you about the feelings towards the CEO or the state of affairs in the club leadership as a whole? Of course people have their rights but why abstain from voting in such an important matter and why absent yourself when such a big decision has to be taken? Its food for thought,” said a club member who preferred anonymity.
Reports said the CEO had scored less than the desired marks in the assessment done on his work, but the club’s human resources committee recommended that his contract be extended, due to other reasons. What makes the situation untenable at Highlanders is the fact that the club’s human resources sub-committee is headed by Cosmas Sikhosana, a board member, while in terms of the constitution, all sub-committees report to the vice-chairman. There have also been claims that the club chairman was “too close to the CEO or captured” by a certain section of the club, something that has however, been dismissed as hogwash by the club.
Bosso, welcome back overlapping right back McClive Phiri from a two-match suspension, and Mbongeni Ndlovu who returns from injury. They are hard pressed to conjure a win against the coalminers who are enjoying a purple patch in the league where they have only lost once in five games, losing to defending champions and table toppers FC Platinum. Also coming back from injury is Zambian Nyirenda, giving the coaches plenty of choices upfront.
Midfielder Denzel Khumalo is said to be struggling with fitness, hence his omission from the team, according to technical manager Madinda Ndlovu.
“He played in our first match against Black Rhinos, look for the team sheet. He did not finish the match simply because he is not fit. He will be fine. We will work on it. He is a brilliant player. If he finishes the programme he will be back. He is working on his fitness levels,” said Ndlovu.
STANDARD Chartered has retrenched more than 100 employees with more lay-offs planned as the bank has begun outsourcing some of its operations in Zimbabwe to countries such as Kenya, Malaysia, China and India, it has been revealed.
StanChart, one of the oldest banks operating in Zimbabwe, closed one of its branches in Harare last month as part of the new strategic thrust that insiders said was likely to cost more local jobs.
Insiders said the restructuring had caused anxiety among employees who fear losing their jobs. According to a memorandum to workers written by StanChart’s head of human resources Audrey Mlambo, which is in our possession, the bank will soon retrench another 20 workers.
The reasons given for the retrenchments was the migration of the bank’s operations to its Global Business Services (GBS) centres in Chennai and Bangalore (India), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Tianjin (China).
“Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) runs the majority of its businesses and operations supporting various countries in Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Americas out of its Global Business Services centres in Chennai/Bangalore, Kuala Lumpur and Tianjin,” reads part of the memo. “These world-class operation hubs enable the bank to run its business and operations with great efficiency and leading-edge controls and service management while maintaining robust business continuity with maximum flexibility with respect to scale.
“As part of continuing review of our strategy and in a bid to improve effectiveness and efficiencies of our business operations, SCB has concluded that the best option is to migrate the country operations from Zimbabwe to GBS centres in India, Malaysia and China.”
A source said another Stanchart branch in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb could soon close down. Stanchart chief executive Ralph Watungwa told Standardbusiness that the bank was evaluating its channels of delivery because branch transaction traffic in Zimbabwe was on the decline.The Standard
A ZANU PF aligned economist, Persistent Gwanyanya has said it is high time the government do away with the multi-currency system.
Speaking at a currency reforms breakfast meeting hosted by the Business Economic Empowerment Forum in Harare, Gwanyanya said, “The foreign currency, in the country, should be channelled towards other priority areas so that we industrialise.
“The best way to go is to use our own currency, which is the trend all over the world. If we look at strides that have been made in the fiscal front, conditions are ripe for our own currency.”
Gwanyanya said the adoption of a local currency will result in the available foreign currency being channelled towards the importation of goods and other developmental projects. He also opined that the abandonment of other currencies will force the local currency to work.
He opposed Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa on the adoption of the Rand. He said that most consumers of goods use the USD insyead of the rand.
He was backed by the elderly former MDC renegade, Mr Eddie Cross who said that adoption of the Rand comes with some obligations.
Cross also said the Rans was rejected by the people.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cocktail of measures to pacify the south-western parts of the country that bore the brunt of the 1980s massacres by the army have been greeted by strident opposition from traditional leaders.
Mnangagwa early this month, through Justice secretary Virginia Mabhiza, announced that the government would facilitate the acquisition of death certificates for Gukurahundi victims and identity documents for survivors.
The government also announced that remains of victims buried in mass and shallow graves would be exhumed for reburial, but chiefs from Matabeleland and Midlands say they are against anyone “tampering with evidence of the massacres.”
According to sources, Matabeleland and Midlands chiefs met the Matebeleland Collective (MC), a group of civil society groups that extracted the concessions from Mnangagwa, at a lodge in Bulawayo last Thursday where they made their position known.
From the Midlands chiefs Sigodo, and Mafala attended the meeting while Gampu, Nyangazonke and Ndiweni represented Matabeleland. Nyangazonke, Ndiweni and Mathema in separate interviews said traditional leaders were not against the MC as an independent body, but the process government announced through the group on low it wants to address the emotive issue without any acknowledgement and apology.
“There was a lot of reaction against the MC on why they had the meeting with the president to discuss Gukurahundi in the first place,” Ndiweni said while confirming the meeting.The Standard
MORE than 10 000 villagers in Insiza District in Matabeleland South face eviction from their homesteads after the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement issued them with eviction orders alleging that they were occupying the land illegally.
The affected area falls under Ward 22 in Insiza North constituency with all but a few homesteads in all 27 villages being ordered to vacate the area for illegally occupying the land.
The eviction has, however, seen the ruling Zanu-PF stepping in to seek dialogue, arguing that according to Government policy, evictions can only take place when the people have been given alternative places to move to and that the affected villagers had already invested a lot in the area with some having stayed there for more than 20 years.
In an interview with Sunday News yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu said he had approached President Mnangagwa who had made it clear that the evictions should be stopped.
“It’s a sad situation honestly and as a party we are clear in saying that it is not allowed, the party does not accept it and the President has made it clear that it should not go ahead.
“When I first heard of the issue, I immediately spoke to President Mnangagwa who made it clear that whenever an eviction takes place, alternative accommodation should be identified for the villagers.
“In this instance some of these villagers have stayed there for over 20 years and they are not occupying areas that are environmentally not meant for resettlement, there is nothing wrong with where they settled at all, so as a party we are saying deal with the other problems but don’t evict these people because they have invested in the area and are contributing to the country’s fiscus through their agricultural activities,” said Mpofu.State media
GREAT Zimbabwe University in Masvingo has come under fire for failing to pay part-time lecturers’ salaries since last year.
Some of the affected lecturers told Sunday News that the university has paid part time lecturers lecturing in one department where one of them has a relative.
“Ideally we are paid from the students’ fees, but we have not been paid for many semesters. Students cannot access their results before paying so it means most paid but we are surprised that the university has failed to pay us.
Last year we got paid for January lectures in December but unlike last year with these inflationary pressures imagine being paid in December after working in January, it is not fair,” said one of the lecturers who requested anonymity.
“We once approached the salaries department and they confirmed that our claim forms are there but they are only waiting for authorisation from the bosses but we wonder why they are not authorising the payments when we worked.”
GZU Lecturers Union president Mr Givewell Munyaradzi confirmed there has been a delay in the payment of salaries for part time lecturers. “At the moment I am not in Masvingo but what I can confirm is that the university has not been paying some of its part-time lecturers,” said Mr Munyaradzi.
GZU spokesman GZU Mr Anderson Chipatiso, however, said the university was paying its workers on time.
“There is no discrimination when it comes to the payment of salaries, all employees are getting their salaries on the 25th of every month. If there are any disgruntled lecturers they are encouraged to use the internal grievances handling system which always yields results,” said Mr Chipatiso.State media
THE Government has moved to break the monopoly in the bread industry through resuscitation of indigenous bakeries that used to operate in various communities, a Cabinet Minister said.
In his independence speech, President Mnangagwa said the Government was committed to address price distortions in all sectors of the economy.
He said one of the ways of doing so was opening of small-scale bakeries. Such bakeries will service their localities resulting in low costs of transport, among others, to ensure that the price of bread is affordable.
In an interview, Industry and Commerce Minister, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said the Government was interrogating factors that led to the closure of some small-scale bakeries.State media
Parliament will meet tomorrow to finalise shortlisted candidates that will undergo public interviews for appointment to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).
One hundred and thirty-three candidates applied to be Zacc commissioners but only 10 will be appointed.
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is currently re-jigging institutions and bodies that are pivotal in prosecuting the fight against corruption, which has become increasingly pervasive in both the public and private sector.
Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda told The Sunday Mail that the vetting process for those eligible for public interviews was almost complete.
“We have been conducting a very rigorous vetting exercise of the applicants. As you may be aware, we closed the window for members of the public to raise objections against the candidates on March 26. So since then, we have been doing a thorough screening. The vetting is now almost complete,” said Mr Chokuda.
“We are almost done, and from as early as next week (this week), we will be good to go, I do not want to be specific on the date, just in case there may be any delays.”
Some candidates have since dropped out, while others have failed to meet the grade.
“Out of the 133, there are some who failed to make the grade, but I am not at liberty to release their names.”
A source, who is a member of Parliament’s Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO), said the legislature’s policy-making body will meet tomorrow to finalise the candidates.
“We are meeting on Monday to tie up the shortlist of candidates. After the shortlist, we will then be able to publish the names that have been successfully selected to take part in the public interviews . . .
“There are many who failed the vetting process because of their previous records.There are also others who voluntarily withdrew. It is likely that those who withdrew had been nominated by other people in the first place, rather than out of their own volition.”
It is believed that the CSRO has been conducting a gruelling and rigorous vetting process for the past six weeks.
However, when the window for objections was opened, several red flags were raised on some of the applicants.
Notably, some Zacc commissioners controversially flagged 16 aspirants as unsuitable to be considered for the onerous job.
Former commissioners of the Mr Job Wabhira-led commission left office in January.
The Constitution stipulates that Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) members “must be chosen for their integrity and their knowledge of and experience in administration”.
Once the public interviews are done, the remaining candidates will be whittled to 12 names which will be forwarded to President Mnangagwa for consideration.
In a special Independence Day interview with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) recently, President Mnangagwa pledged to untiringly fight corruption as the vice was “deep-rooted”.
“I now realise that corruption is deep-rooted. I thought that by pronouncing that let’s fight corruption those who are corrupt will fear and stop; it’s not like that. It’s so rooted that you have to fight it from A to Z. (In) most systems, structures and institutions, there is an element of corruption,” said the Head of State.
Fighting corruption is considered to be integral to the country’s march to attain an upper middle-income economy by 2030.- state media
BELARUS is set to establish a state-of-the-art dairy facility in Zimbabwe to improve national milk production, as President Mnangagwa’s foreign policy yields more dividends, according to Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Retired Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri.
The President visited some Euroasia nations in January and Minister Shiri said that enabled him to take the opportunity to negotiate the deal with officials in Belarus.
He said during his stay he was impressed by Belarus’ dairy industry and engaged officials from the Eastern Europe country to consider setting-up a relatively similar model in Zimbabwe.
“I also had the opportunity of visiting a state-of-the-art dairy farm and there was only one individual employed to work on the farm, which had over 2 000 dairy cows and everything else was computerised and I hope one day we will have something close to that here in Zimbabwe.
“From there we went to a factory where they produce a whole range of dairy products and after that we persuaded them to come and have a similar set-up here in Zimbabwe for both dairy farm and a dairy processing facility,” Minister Shiri said.
He said a delegation from Belarus recently visited the country on a feasibility study.
“We have since received a delegation going around the country and they promised that they are going to establish such a facility. So we are looking forward to that day that our friends are going to invest in the dairy industry, though we wouldn’t want it to be highly computerised because we need a lot of our people to be employed.
Whilst technology is a good thing, I don’t think we have reached that stage where we will want everything to be done by computer or to be automated…,” said Minister Shiri.State media
DEFENDING champions FC Platinum let slip a chance to consolidate their lead at the top of the Castle Lager Premiership league table, after the Zvishavane-based outfit were held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Herentals side.
Instead, Hwange or ZPC Kariba have been gifted an opportunity to leapfrog the champions, when the two face struggling giants Highlanders and Dynamos in their respective matches this afternoon.
Needing a win to ease the early pressure from the Coal miners as well as ZPC Kariba– both teams which have lost once at this stage of the campaign- Pure Platinum were left to rue a string of wasted chances in a match best remembered for Herentals tenacity rather than the champions’ pedigree.
Herentals produced a spirited performance, and were clearly the happier of the two camps. With yesterday’s draw, FC Platinum still look the early pacesetters with 14 points from six matches, but in the case of winning their matches today, either Hwange FC or ZPC Kariba now have the power to dislodge Pure Platinum play.
Both are on 12 points from five matches. Herentals came into the game, boosted by their impressive record in the last two games against Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum where they picked a vital four points. State media
The latest wave of price increases, experienced in Zimbabwe in recent weeks has not only been confined to basic goods but have also affected medical services.
Health insurance appears to have been dealt the heaviest blow. This follows the increase of subscription fees by medical aid societies by between 30 and 40 percent. An additional 400 percent is imminent.
In a statement the Association of Health Funders of Zimbabwe (Ahfoz) chief executive officer, Shylet Sanyanga said service providers have made numerous requests for a further review of the subscriptions.
“A number of the providers have also approached the association to submit requests for additional or new increases to the current tariffs for various reasons. The increases range between 50 percent and 400 percent,” Sanyanga said.
She said the request is coming just after a recent upward review 40 percent.
“Regrettably, the contributing medical aid members and employer groups had to bear this increase. “Judging from member feedback, another round of contribution increases so soon would be unaffordable for medical aid members, employer groups and health funders.” State media
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has urged people in Chipinge to leverage on banana production to grow their provincial economy in line with Government’s devolution programme.
Speaking to villagers affected by Cyclone Idai at Ngaone Village, the First Lady said Manicaland province had favourable climatic conditions for horticulture.
Over the years, small-scale banana farmers in Ngaone have failed to secure markets for their produce. “I heard that you produce bananas here. I want you to form associations so that you can work in groups. We will help you to secure markets,” she said.
The First Lady said the area needed a good road network to enable farmers to transport their produce. She promised to engage Government to facilitate the rehabilitation.
“Roads should be fixed so that you can easily transport your bananas. This way, we will reduce the possibility of middlemen fleecing you by buying your produce at cheap prices.
“However, for you to reach those markets with your produce, you need a good communication network. I have been advised that there is very limited network coverage here. I will engage the telecommunications companies so that they install more boosters in this area. Our progress cannot thrive without communication,” said the First Lady.
The community, she added, cannot continue relying on handouts as they would not last long, adding that youths had a big role in economic development.State media
A ZANU PF aligned economist, Persistent Gwanyanya has said it is high time the government do away with the multi-currency system.
Speaking at a currency reforms breakfast meeting hosted by the Business Economic Empowerment Forum in Harare, Gwanyanya said, “The foreign currency, in the country, should be channelled towards other priority areas so that we industrialise.
“The best way to go is to use our own currency, which is the trend all over the world. If we look at strides that have been made in the fiscal front, conditions are ripe for our own currency.”
Gwanyanya said the adoption of a local currency will result in the available foreign currency being channelled towards the importation of goods and other developmental projects. He also opined that the abandonment of other currencies will force the local currency to work.
He opposed Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa on the adoption of the Rand. He said that most consumers of goods use the USD insyead of the rand.
He was backed by the elderly former MDC renegade, Mr Eddie Cross who said that adoption of the Rand comes with some obligations.
Cross also said the Rans was rejected by the people.
Cabinet is this week set to debate a comprehensive package of reform proposals drawn up by a high-level committee set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month, which, if adopted, will trigger the roll-out out of epoch-making political and economic reforms that will define a prosperous future for the country.
The Cabinet Committee on Political and Electoral Reform has since produced a working document outlining reforms prescribed by some election observer missions, the Motlanthe Commission and the ongoing political dialogue.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who chairs the committee, told The Sunday Mail that the working party charged with coming up with the proposals “has concluded its work”. “The working party produced a working document on all the things that we need to do as part of implementation of the political reform which we are working on,” said Minister Ziyambi.
“Very soon we are going to present a memorandum to Cabinet outlining the things that need to be done. “Within the next week or two we should be doing that. . . “But the working party has concluded its work and we think we are making good progress.State media
In the below video ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused the MDC party of squandering Chinese loan money.
“We had loan extended to Harare City Council by the Chinese for sanitation and water reticulation. That money was used to buy cars and other luxuries as well workshops that had nothing to do with sanitation,” said Mnangagwa
"We had loan extended to Harare City Council by the Chinese for sanitation and water reticulation. That money was used to buy cars and other luxuries as well workshops that had nothing to do with sanitation…". pic.twitter.com/h8yqBnLVWk
This money being spoken of is from 2014 . So this has nothing to do with this Mayor. The money from 2012-2014 period was transferred into an off shore account . The Harare mayor at the time Bernard Manyenyeni launched an investigation into allegations the town clerk who had used part of a Chinese loan meant for water projects to buy 26 luxury vehicles without authorisation from the city . Manyenyeni suspended the town Clerk, Tendai Mahachi, but the move was blocked by local government minister Ignatius Chombo.
The mayor announced the probe during Thursday’s council meeting after it emerged that the local authority has used $8 million of the $144 million loan facility from China. – Tich Mulamba
Two court officials from Hwange Magistrates’ Court died on the spot while others were injured after a vehicle they were travelling in burst its tyre and veered off the road along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road yesterday.
The two were part of a group of seven officials from the Judicial Services Commission who were travelling in a vehicle, an Isuzu twin-cab belonging to area prosecutor-in-charge of Matabeleland North Province Mrs Martha Cheda, who was also injured in the accident.
They were travelling from Hwange to attend a wedding of a colleague in Matsheumhlophe in Bulawayo when the accident occurred at the 60km peg near Insuza. Officer Commanding Police in Lupane District, Chief Superintendent Edgar Dhliwayo confirmed the accident which occurred yesterday morning.
He, however, said details were still sketchy. “I can confirm that we received a report about an accident that killed two people while others were injured. I can’t give more details as yet as we are waiting for a report from a team that went to attend the scene,” said Chief Supt Dhliwayo.
He said the deceased’s bodies whose names are withheld as their next of kin were yet to be informed yesterday, were ferried to the mortuary while the injured were rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital.
One of the deceased was a prosecutor while the other was an office administrator at the Hwange Magistrates Courts.
When Sunday News got to the scene yesterday afternoon police forensic experts had already combed over the accident scene, with one officer standing guard over the twisted metal wreckage of the twin-cab. Sunday News
MDC Harare Province National Candidates Caucus meeting.
Denford Ngadziore
All Aspiring Candidates with nominations at various national positions are advised to come and present their manifestos to Harare Metropolitan Province Congress delagates tommorow (Sunday 5 May 2019)
Time 10am @Morgan Tsvangirai House.
The following are Congress delagates to attend the caucus meeting
Harare Metropolitan Province Executive members (Portfolio Secretaries) from all wings.
2.District Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Organ from all wings.
3.All Ward Chairpersons Mainwing only
Harare Metropolitan Province Members of Parliament MPs
Please note the meeting will start with Constitutional review committee consultation process then candidates Caucus meeting.
This process will be presided over and facilitated by an Independent commission working with our Secretariat and security department.
Inserted by
Harare Metropolitan Province Youth Secretary Cllr Denford Ngadziore
Condolences are pouring in from all corners following the passing of EFF leader Julius Malema’s grandmother, Koko Sarah Malema.
Malema on Saturday tweeted a tribute to his grandmother, who passed away on Saturday morning.
“Our pillar of strength has fallen, the great tree that provided cooling shades of comfort, love and stability have been uprooted, forever, from our lives. I love you, my confidant…” Malema said.
The ANC sent a message of condolences to Malema and his family.
“The ANC has learnt with sadness about the passing of Koko Sarah Malema, the grandmother to Mr Julius Malema, the leader of the EFF. The ANC conveys its deepest condolences to the Malema family.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during their moment of grief. Koko Sarah Malema’s life must be celebrated. She was a pillar of strength for her family. May the soul of Koko Sarah Malema rest in eternal peace,” said the ANC.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also conveyed his message of support.
“This bereavement is felt more sorely because of the special relationship Mr Malema enjoyed with his grandmother. I too have fond memories of Koko Malema following an opportunity I had to speak to her when she was in hospital. It is my hope that Mr Malema will draw strength from his beloved grandmother’s values and her presence in his life.”
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said: “To my fellow Brother, Leader of the EFF @ Julius_S_Malema I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the passing of your grandmother. We all know very well how much your grandmother meant to you and as such I pray with you and wish you strength.
Other politicians and public figures also paid their respects on social media.
The entire EFF Family is deeply hurt by the untimely passing of our mother and grandmother Koko Sarah Malema
Words cannot express the sense of loss we feel.She is us and we are her
She raised an African Giant and the future President of South Africa with her bare hands
To my fellow Brother, Leader of the EFF @Julius_S_Malema I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the passing of your grandmother.
We all know very well how much your grandmother meant to you and as such I pray with you and wish you strength.
Heartfelt condolences @Julius_S_Malema and family on the passing of your beloved grandmother Gogo Sarah Malema. May you find solace in the great love and delightful moments you
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza lauded his 12-year-old daughter and gave her money at May Day ceremonies designed to honour the country’s top workers.
“Head of state Pierre Nkurunziza gave an envelope (of money) to his daughter Naomie Nkurunziza, who has been behaving well at home,” state broadcaster RTNB said in an overnight tweet, without specifying the amount.
“Pierre Nkurunziza says that she is hard-working and loves Burundian culture and sport,” it said.
The May 1 ceremonies, which took place at a sports stadium at Rumonge, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the capital Bujumbura, saw Nkurunziza hand out awards to senior state officials, farmers, the national football team, a judo champion, governors and district administrators.
The decade-old tradition has also seen Nkurunziza reward one of his sons, Jonathan — who was aged five at the time — his wife, Denise Bucumi, and one of their nannies.
Burundi has been in turmoil since the president announced in April 2015 that he intended to stand again for the presidency. He was re-elected in July of that year.
Violence claimed at least 1,200 lives and displaced more than 400,000 between April 2015 and May 2017, according to estimates by the International Criminal Court which has opened an investigation.
Civil society activist Pacifique Nininahazwe, who lives in self-imposed exile, said in a tweet that Nkurunziza’s awards to his family “remind me of (Ugandan) dictator Idi Amin, handing out military decorations to his five-year-old son!”
“What resemblences there are between these two Kafkaesque, blood-stained tyrants,” he wrote.
Nkurunziza’s spokesman, Jean-Claude Karerwa Ndenzako, told AFP “acknowledgement (of hard work) is not something that is exclusive to the state or to organisations — it’s more a reflex that everyone should have.”
The money that the president gave his daughter “came from his own pocket,” he said.
Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has declared that Emmerson Mnangagwa did not win the 2018 polls but he was appointed by the Constitutional Court.
Chamisa made the remarks at the Memorial Service for Morgan Tsvangirai today.
Mnangagwa, Chamisa said, was appointed by a court and not the voters.
“Dialogue is the only answer. But we told Mnangagwa that if he’s stubborn, we will resort to using the constitution which gives us the rights. We have the crowds.
No one voted for Mnangagwa and that’s why we contested the results at the Constitutional Court. You know it! He was just appointed. It is known. He was appointed by the ConCourt and not by you.
So we said, this problem is what we now have to deal with. We have to deal with it so that as we remember Tsvangirai, the reforms he fought for, are what we want to see – Electoral reforms, Political reforms. But also, what the people voted for should be respected so that we lead the people because that’s how they voted.
We won’t go back on this, no matter what happens. After that, the country can move forward. We would the implementation of a legitimate government chosen by the people. As soon as we’re done with the Congress, I’m going out into the region to ask them to come and help,” said Chamisa.
Relatively unknown ZANU-PF National Consultative member and Misheck Velaphi Ncube has been declared a National Hero.
Ncube died on Tuesday at the United Bulawayo Hospitals where he had been admitted with a diabetes-related ailment.
ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu made the announcement to the family on Saturday evening.
He was one of the pioneer guerrillas under the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (Zipra).
Zanu-PF Bulawayo province applied for the national hero status and the party politburo acceded to the call.
Ncube joined the liberation struggle in the early 1960s.
He is among the first ‘Group of 12’ to undertake military training in Egypt in 1962.
In 1966, he and his colleagues took advantage of the political instability in the Congo where they raided the Congolese rebels, poisoned them before looting their weapons.
His mission led to the first smuggling of weapons into Southern Rhodesia.
He also served a jail term for his activities at Grey Prison, now known as Bulawayo Prison.
Daily News|IT is the battle of the titans in the MDC as party bigwigs vying for the three vice presidency posts defied the National Council to withdraw from the race ahead of the party’s congress later this month in Gweru.
Eight candidates, namely Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, Elias Mudzuri, Morgen Komichi, Lilian Timvoes, Lynnette Karenyi Kore, Paurina Mpariwa and Tracey Mutinhiri are all vying for the party’s three vice presidency slots.
Party’s spokesperson Jacob Mafume told the Daily News that none among the bigwigs have withdrawn from the cluttered race to deputise Nelson Chamisa who is now waiting to be anointed when the party congregates from the 24th to the 26th of this month.
“We are still waiting for people to make withdrawals but so far no one has withdrawn maybe because Wednesday was a holiday. But if there is no consensus then there will be elections,” said Mafume.
After a national council meeting last weekend, the MDC resolved that candidates who had been nominated were supposed to build consensus among themselves and minimise friction.
“All nominees had been given up to Tuesday (last week) to accept nominations or to withdraw. Where more than two candidates accept the nomination, they are encouraged to discuss in the spirit of consensus building,” read part of the resolutions.
However, the die is cast as all the candidates start to campaign for a fight that will either prop them up the political ladder or completely off the radar if they lose.
Mafume said as things stand the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has already started the process of producing ballots.
“Since there are no agreements we are now going for contestations which will be superintended by the ZCTU. The Electoral Commission shall then produce ballots on every position where more than one candidate decide to contest. The positions to be contested include the president, vice president, national chairperson, secretary-general and treasurer-general,” said Mafume.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to those pet owners during this terrible incident,” it added.
‘Terrifying’ moment
One passenger on the plane, Cheryl Bormann, described the “terrifying” moment it slid off the runway.
“The plane literally hit the ground and bounced – it was clear the pilot did not have total control of the plane, it bounced again,” she told CNN.
Image captionAt least 50 firefighters helped rescue people from the aircraft’s wing
“We were in the water. We couldn’t tell where we were, whether it was a river or an ocean,” she said, adding that she could smell jet fuel leaking into the river.
In a news conference, Captain Michael Connor, commanding officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, said it was a “miracle” that there had been no serious injuries or fatalities.
Miami Air International is contracted by the US military for its twice-weekly “rotator” service between the US mainland and Guantanamo Bay, Bill Dougherty, a base spokesman said.
Officials say the people on Friday’s flight included civilian and military personnel.
It said it was providing technical assistance to the US National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the incident.
The aerospace giant has been under increased scrutiny following two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max 8 planes – a different model to the one involved in the incident on Friday.
Gospel Musician, Fungisai Zvakavapano was involved in a car accident but escaped with no injuries. She took to her Instagram to thank God and also announced she will be releasing a new album titled ” The Prophetic Ancient Voice”.
Here is what she wrote:
So the devil is failed liar again, I decided to attend our ZAOGA Explo Crusade in Chipinge last Eve before coming to the Cyclone Survivors fundraising event at Queens Hall in Mutare today. And a herd of cattle happened!! Kindly joined the cause in Mutare today and bring everything you can to Queens Hall.
Thank you for your prayers l know l could have been carried lifeless from the scene in a silver thing that l saw at the police station, but God preserved my life and l don’t take it lightly, I may not make it there today but kindly celebrate this escape by bringing your donation to Queens Hall today.
A 6th sense tells me God found it worthwhile to preserve this gift, so l have the chance unveil The Prophetic Ancient Voice Album and l believe God it will change the face of Christian music and the Zim Music industry in general. Watch the space… All my love God bless you…
Correspondent|Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front youth leader Pupurai Togarepi today threatened to name and shame public officials and government ministers who are sabotaging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s economic recovery programme.
Writing in the Herald Togarepi said there were some senior civil servants who were living in luxury forgetting why they were in government who were making reckless statements that tarnished the thinking in ZANU-PF or Mnangagwa.
“Yes, there are some public officials we are not even proud to associate with as the ZANU-PF Youth League, these people are in the habit of starting fires that they cannot douse, these people, soon, we will name and shame them and ask the party to recall them from whatever posts they are basking in,” he said.
Togarepi called on government ministers to update the nation on what they were doing as Mnangagwa had publicly stated that “we must no longer merely survive, now is the time for us to blossom, thrive and prosper as a nation, as a people”.
“We would like to call ministers, and other stakeholders in key sectors of the economic, be it service delivery or economic players to open up and appraise the nation on the progress they have made if any, and the challenges they face in executing their roles.
“It is trite that the party is supreme to government, but, and worryingly so, some civil servants view the party with disdain and a condescending attitude, forgetting that they are in a ZANU-PF government.
“We challenge ministers to open up, just as ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ and periodically inform the nation through various forms of the media what they will be doing, their failures and success.
“We want accountability in all sectors and that should start in ministries that remain closed to public scrutiny and engagement even when the President himself is accessible.”
Togarepi said that the following sectors and players should update the nation periodically:
Energy in particular fuel sector
Food sector industry
Monetary Authorities
Transport
Information
Parliament
Anti-Corruption
Justice System
“Our people deserve better from all public and private institutions as both are designed to serve the people of Zimbabwe not the other way round. Some pronounce policies that are inconsistent with the President’s thrust to turn around the economy while others have become saboteurs to the President’s vision. That must stop now,” he said.
Togarepi said all those who receive foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe should be audited and the results must be publicised.
Those who abuse the foreign currency allocation scheme should go to jail and banned from future allocations.
All those breaking the country’s laws should be brought to book. Violent characters and sponsors of anarchy should face the full wrath of law. Non-governmental organisations sponsoring regime change should be banned immediately.
“We cannot continue to be romantic with those interfering with our politics, leaving their mandate,” he said.
“We would like to see all corrupt elements at whatever level going to jail whatever their social standing. Parliament should also play its part and enact laws that protect the general public from economic saboteurs. We do not expect double standards from parliamentarians and any corrupt legislator has no role in the august House, but rather a place in Chikurubi.
“The time to confront those working against the President’s vision is now. We want answers now otherwise these purveyors of doom will destroy the hope created by the New Dispensation.”
There were anxious moments on Sunday evening after news broke that an Air Zimbabwe plane was spotted with “an engine on fire” after taking off from OR Tambo airport.
To add to the drama, it was reported that the plane – a Boeing 767 – was too heavily laden with fuel to return to the airport and would instead continue on its perilous journey to Harare.
The whole episode conjured up images of the scene from Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, where King Julien’s battered old plane is launched into the air with black smoke pouring from the port engine.
But such comparisons would be unfair – Air Zimbabwe has an unblemished safety record in its 39-year history.
Its pilots, unlike the penguin pilots in the Madagascar film, have a reputation for excellence. So much so that Deputy Agriculture Minister Vangelis Haritatos even offered to give one Air Zimbabwe captain a farm when he calmly piloted the plane to Harare after it suffered a dramatic bird strike on Friday evening in Bulawayo (it was an eventful weekend).
However, the Sunday incident appears to have been more serious than initially thought. Unconfirmed reports say engineers have had to replace the damaged engine, and flights are only due to resume on Thursday.
The unnerving episode, filmed by one passenger, is not going to boost confidence in Air Zim, already derided by many locals as “Scare Zim”.
Critics say the airline, which had a healthy stable of planes at independence but is now down to the stricken 767, is a potential death trap. That’s a name they also give to notoriously ill-equipped and poorly-stocked state hospitals, which are avoided by some top government officials who fly abroad for their own hospital treatment.
It all comes down to mismanagement, one former Air Zimbabwe pilot told me. He said the 20-something-year-old 767 is being overused on the airline’s short regional and domestic routes, when in fact it’s designed for long-haul flights with regular maintenance checks. He compared it to taking a fancy Mercedes-Benz limousine on trips to the rural areas.
It hasn’t escaped the attention of locals that President Emmerson Mnangagwa himself doesn’t fly Air Zimbabwe. Instead, he uses a luxury jet brought all the way from the United Arab Emirates. He says the plane is lent to him by the Crown prince of Abu Dhabi “whenever I want to travel”. Mnangagwa used the plane to travel to Bulawayo on Friday, a 40-minute flight.
But Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi confirmed to one local newspaper what many have long suspected: that Mnangagwa doesn’t fly on the national flag carrier because it’s “unsafe for the presidium”.
On social media Zimbabweans are justifiably outraged, saying if the airline isn’t safe for the president, it isn’t safe for anyone.
2 weeks ago ZimEye caught up with the original Crocodile Gang leader William Ndangana’ s Secretary Patience Olivier (PO) in the UK. Below were excerpts of the interview:
QN: Guess who we are with today: this is the original crocodile gang leaders secretary. This is the original crocodile, garwe gang. To those who are young and have been studying history you have heard of the crocodile gang, you have heard Emmerson Mnangagwa describing himself as a crocodile, this lady is none other than William Ndangana’s secretary.
PO: She is here, William Ndangana’s secretary is here!
QN: But now if Emmerson Mnangagwa hears that William Ndangana’s Secretary is here won’t he get enraged?
PO: Even if he gets angry what can he do because William is now dead they killed him.
QN: but then once again the crocodile seems is still here and is standing right next to me!
PO: the Croc is truly still alive and it is now screaming: Chinja, Maitiro!
vaTsvangirai told me, we are now going to remove the hunger Robert Mugabe gave us, we need a transitional authority after removing Mugabe. But they betrayed him. This is the trouble that befell us. WATCH LIVE HERE: https://t.co/JkBWBDW1Cxpic.twitter.com/SxVElua4wD
Today We Remember a DEMOCRAT! Outstanding AFRICAN Statesman, Revolutionary, Freedom Figher, Great Leader! Dr. Captain Morgan Richard Tsvangirai! May your Soul Rest In Eternal Peace. #TsvangiraiMemorial ?? pic.twitter.com/00zMKoOyTx
— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) May 4, 2019
while dodging former VP Mphoko's pension, Govt is dishing out thousands in pocket money for Tsvangirai's kids, is @edmnangagwa sincere? @ProfJNMoyo@InfoMinZW
Addressing hundreds of citizens gathered for the memorial service for the late MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai at his rural home in Buhera, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa said the late icon was a true democrat who never faltered.
Narrating the journey he travelled with Tsvangirai, Chamisa said the late founding President of the opposition Movement never kept a grudge and was a unified.
Said Chamisa:
president Morgan Tsvangirai never kept a grudge he used to forgive, before he left he united us says @nelsonchamisa
By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to visit the Mbare Flats in Harare. The flats, which are owned by the Harare City Council, are some of the most dilapidated and overcrowded accommodation flats in the country.
Said the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting today:
Monday 6 May 2019 His Excellency President Mnangagwa will tour the refurbished Matapi Flats in Mbare
— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) May 4, 2019
By Own Correspondent- Despite being encouraged to do so by the party’s National Council, no MDC senior official has withdrawn from the race to become one of the 3 Vice Presidents of the party.
A council meeting last weekend encouraged nominated to build consensus and minimise friction. Ideally, they are supposed to talk amongst themselves with the objective of some of them withdrawing from the race.
However, none of the 8 candidates for the VP positions has withdrawn. The 8 are Welshman Ncube, Elias Mudzuri, Paurina Mpariwa, Tendai Biti, Morgen Komichi, Lynnette Karenyi Kore, Lilian Timvoes, and Tracey Mutinhiri.
Said party spokesperson Jacob Mafume to the Daily News:
We are still waiting for people to make withdrawals but so far no one has withdrawn maybe because Wednesday was a holiday. But if there is no consensus then there will be elections.
All nominees had been given up to Tuesday (last week) to accept nominations or to withdraw. Where more than two candidates accept the nomination, they are encouraged to discuss in the spirit of consensus building. Since there are no agreements we are now going for contestation,-DailyNews
By Own Correspondent| Speaker after speaker revealed how the late MDC icon Morgan Richard Tsvangirai placed the nation first ahead of personal interests at the ongoing memorial service for the MDC founder currently underway at his rural home in Buhera.
Watch the video below to hear this man recite a poem in memory of Tsvangirai:
Own Correspondent|MDC President Nelson Chamisa, now officially elected unopposed as founding President Morgan Tsvangirai’s successor has assured MDC supporters and affiliates that he has not diverted the party in any way from the late Tsvangirai’s vision.
Opening his address at the memorial service of the late democracy and human rights fighter, Chamisa assured the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions Secretary General Peter Mutasa that the opposition party is still very much a labour party born out of the Workers Unions.
Chamisa’s sentiments came after Mutasa challenged the MDC leadership to take the MDC back to Its founding values and objectives.
The opposition MDC was founded in 1999 by the leaders of the ZCTU then Gibson Sibanda and Morgan Tsvangirai.
The memorial services is being held at the Tsvangirai homestead in Buhera where he was buried in February last year.
Thousands of MDC supporters from across the country are attending the service which is under ZimEye.com Livestreaming on Facebook.
Own Correspondent|Daughter to the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai, Vimbai Tsvangirai has declared his late father as a God fearing man who gave his all for the people of Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the on-going memorial service of the MDC founder who died on Valentine’s Day last year, Ms Tsvangirai said that his father is resting comfortably in Heaven after dedicating all his life for a worthy cause.
The memorial services is being held at the Tsvangirai homestead in Buhera where thousands of MDC supporters have gathered dressed in the party regalia regardless of the Tsvangirai family requests for people not to wear political party regalia.
The service is being run live by ZimEye.com on Facebook.
A 34-YEAR-OLD man appeared before a Chivhu regional magistrate on Tuesday, facing allegations of aggravated indecent assault for sodomising a mentally-ill man.
Emmanuel Makaranga pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Fadzai Mutombeni.
Prosecutor Corrence Chimbadzwa told the court that on February 10, in the early hours of the morning, Makaranga saw the complainant, who is of no fixed abode, sleeping on a pavement at
the Chivhu Location Shopping Centre.
He took him to his residence in Chivhu location, where they shared a bed.
When the complainant fell asleep, Makaranga allegedly had sexual intercourse with him once, without his consent.
The complainant then woke up and asked Makaranga what he was doing to him, but did not get any response. The complainant then left the residence.
Later that day, the complainant informed another resident who advised him to report the matter to the police, leading to Makaranga’s arrest.
Makaranga was remanded to today for continuation of trial.
Soccer24|National team captain Knowledge Musona has sent a touching message to his wife Daisy after she earned a tertiary education qualification.
The Belgium-based Warrior could not hide his joy and took to Social Media to congratulate his other half. In the message, the forward said:
“My future Ambassador.Im so proud of you my wifey Your hardwork has paid off and all i can say is The Sky is the Limit.Keep going.Beauty with Brains????????Congratulations my love ❤️”
Now, with his Belgian campaign over, Musona’s focus has been shifted to leading Zimbabwe at the 2019 Afcon which kicks off in Egypt from 21 June and runs until the 19th of July.
The Warriors will play their first game against the hosts on the opening match-day.
This would be Musona’s first match at an Afcon tournament as the captain. He finished the qualifiers with five goals, just two behind top scorer Odion Ighalo of Nigeria and will be hoping to carry that form to Egypt.
By Nelson Chamisa|Yesterday I was in Gutu for the Sikhala memorial. Today, I am at Humanikwa village as we remember a Democrat who gave his all to all for a better Zimbabwe.We’re in Buhera at Dr MT’s rural home in memory of an outstanding African statesman, a great leader,a revolutionary,veteran trade unionist & humble family man whose legacy we forever cherish.Salute!!
State Media|A 78-YEAR-OLD man from Nkayi has been arrested for allegedly raping his 15-year-old niece for about four years while threatening to kill her if she exposed him.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape and was remanded in custody to May 6 for provision of a trial date.
The prosecutor, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo, said from 2016 to February this year, the man raped his niece several times.
“On the first occasion in 2016, the grandfather summoned his niece to his homestead. As she got into his yard, he dragged her by the hand to his bedroom hut. He ordered the minor to remove her clothes and raped her once.
“He threatened to kill the minor if she told anyone about the matter,” he said.From that time on, the grandpa would follow the minor whenever she went to fetch water or firewood and continued to rape her, the court heard.
The matter came to light in February when the minor told an uncle about the ordeal. The court heard that the girl’s uncle told her mother and grandmother and she was taken to Nkayi District Hospital for a medical examination. The matter was also reported to the police. A medical report showing that she was raped was compiled and will be produced in court.
Jealous Mawarire (left) with former President Robert.
Correspondent|National Patriotic Front Spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire has defended the decision by MDC to elect Shadreck Mashayamombe who is former Zanu-PF Harare province secretary for commissariat to the position of secretary for mobilisation committee in the MDC and Jappy Jaboon who was the ruling party’s Masvingo province secretary for commissariat for the position of secretary for strategic projects (intelligence committee).
The MDC has recently come under fire from its fierce critics who are accusing it of being captured by the ex-G40 members.
Said Mawarire, “The Cdes have done NO WRONG. They haven’t abandoned the fight for democracy but just changed stations. Iconic freedom fighters like General Mujuru crossed floors from Zapu to Zanu but remained steadfast in fight for a free Zim. We wish cdes Jaboon and Mashayamombe well in their new positions.”
Mashayamombe and Jaboon are former members of NPF.
Shadreck Mashayamombe being addressed by former First Lady Grace Mugabe at a ZANU PF Rally
Some MDC members are saying the election of the two violates the party’s constitution. For anyone to assume a position in the party, they must have served at grassroots level for more than five years.
Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said that constitutional provision does not apply because Mashayamombe and Jaboon are coming in as alliance partners.
“They are coming in as alliance partners, remember they were candidates for MDC in last year’s harmonised election and if they were good enough to sit in Parliament representing MDC they are also good enough to be in structures,” Mafume said.
95-year-old , Melita Gordon has been smoking weed for 85 years, now even her doctor is encouraging her not to quit.
She now lives Maroon Town, Jamaica, and is approaching her 100th birthday.
Melita Gordon, 95, has no intention of quitting a habit that has stayed with her for a major portion of her life, smoking marijuana. Even with the protestation of her children and other relatives, the senior citizen insists that her life is not going up in smoke.
The diminutive Gordon, who stands at four feet, eight inches, reinforced her point by relating the view of her medical practitioner that her journey to 100 would have been cut short had she thrown down her loyal pipe and marijuana long ago.
“When mi go a doctor him say him nah tell mi fi stop smoke marijuana, because if mi stop, him a go lose mi,” Gordon told 18 Karat Reggae.
Melita Gordon with her mbanje plant
Gordon, who is from Falmouth in Trelawny, became hooked on the habit of smoking marijuana when she was “baptized” in the practice by her parents, Michelle Jones and Richard Gordon, both of whom smoked marijuana.
She would serve as the designated lighter by the time she was approaching age 10. But she was having her own smoking episodes, outside of the knowledge of her biological elders.
“A because mi start light the weed fi dem why mi start smoke,” Gordon explained.
All through elementary school she continued smoking marijuana and when she started having her nine children, seven of whom are still alive, there was no letting up.
Even while she sold wares outside Maldon Primary School and worked at times at the now closed Maroon Town banana boxing plant, she became known as the pipe lady who pulled no punches in defense of her habit.
Strangely, her husband of over 50 years, Manuel Gordon, was one who stayed far from marijuana.
“Him never smoke at all, the only thing him do was drink beer, but him never try force mi fi stop,” she told 18 Karat Reggae of the man who died eight years ago after making it to age 100 years, six months and 12 days.
There is no special reason for her being hooked on marijuana, although she will readily admit that smoking marijuana relaxes her and helps her to think more clearly.
With pressure mounting from family members, including her daughter with whom she lives, to quit, she has proposed a compromise by reducing her smoking to once a day, a far cry from when she would smoke marijuana all day long.
President Mnangagwa loads garbage into a truck during a national clean-up campaign in Chitungwiza yesterday.
State Media|President Mnangagwa yesterday took Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko and the MDC run municipality to task over perennial water shortages which are affecting residents and production in nearby industries.
The Head of State and Government also took a swipe at some Government officials for not taking part in the national clean-up exercise, saying they did not deserve to serve under his administration.
President Mnangagwa was in Chitungwiza yesterday for the monthly clean-up exercise where companies and residents complained that they were getting tap water only two days a week. He later took part in a clean-up exercise in St Mary’s.
He first toured Flysterv, a company that recycles plastic waste to produce materials used in making polyester and employs people from Chitungwiza. Flysterv officials complained to President Mnangagwa in the presence of Mayor Maiko that the never ending water shortages were affecting production.
President Mnangagwa told the Mayor to approach his office for assistance as concerted efforts were needed in solving problems bedevilling residents.
“The challenge they presented to me Cde Mayor is that they are getting water twice per week,” he said.
“I don’t know the reason. I appeal to you Mayor, because you haven’t appealed to me, to find a day when you are free and come and sit with me down and present your challenges. What we can do to end the crisis we can, what we are unable to do we will tell you. Don’t just be quiet because if they were getting enough water every week they would produce and employ more people.”
He urged council officials to find sites where residents can deposit their garbage before city trucks come to collect it. Mayor Maiko welcomed President Mnangagwa’s invitation, admitting that the municipality was failing to deal with the water shortages.
“The issue of water is something critical in waste management Mr President,” he said.
“Chitungwiza, with its population of around 400 000 people, does not have its own source of water. That’s why we are trying to appeal to your highest office. We have a project that we have lined up and we need your support such that this project comes into fruition. Since you have invited me, I will be knocking on your door.”
On Government officials not taking in the clean-up campaign, President Mnangagwa said: “Before I came here, I checked in some Government departments and saw some seated, forgetting that the President has said every first Friday of the month civil servants should come out and clean their surroundings. Vanga vakatogara zvavo kuti tekeshe (They were relaxing). I said let me go because you don’t want to be clean but as someone advocating for cleanliness, I foresee myself remaining in Government with those who want a clean environment.”
President Mnangagwa urged more companies to emulate waste recycling being done by Flysterv, saying such projects were reducing the country’s import bill.
“This excellent project besides helping to clean our cities and municipalities is giving jobs to our people at household level,” he said.
“Our people can pick up waste, bring it here and earn some income. Beyond that, this factory processes waste into new products which again reduces our import bill. I am glad that this technology has come to Zimbabwe. More companies should venture into this business and spread across the country.”
He called on the people to continue embracing the monthly clean-up exercise, adding Harare had transformed immensely owing to the programme.
“It doesn’t mean it is Government but it is because of those people who have heeded the call to clean our environment,” he said.
President Mnangagwa was accompanied to the clean-up exercise by Ministers Prisca Mupfumira (Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry), Owen Ncube (State Security) and Obadiah Moyo (Health and Child Care).
Julius Malema addressing an EFF rally on Workers Day.
SA News Agents|For two long hours, his supporters had been whipped into a fervour with revolutionary slogans, thumping music, and warm-up speeches at a packed stadium in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg.
Finally, their leader appeared, emerging from a German limousine and taking a lap of honour around the venue, milking the roars of approval flooding down from the stands.
“Forward to victory in 2019 – forward,” the crowd chanted ahead of Wednesday’s general elections.
Malema, the self-styled “commander-in-chief” of the Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF, wore the party’s signature red beret and was surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards known as “defenders of the revolution.”
The radical left EFF, South Africa’s third biggest party, hopes to make major gains in the election if the ruling ANC pays the price of deep public disenchantment over delays in poverty eradication since apartheid ended in 1994.
“He is the only one to feel our pain. He is the only one to help the people,” said Steven Chauke, 58, a local man who has been unemployed for 16 years.
“Over the last 25 years, the ANC has never worked for the people, only for themselves. He’s the one who is going to liberate us.”
One week before the election, Malema chose to hold his 1 May rally in friendly territory.
How the EFF’s support base has grown
Alexandra – known to locals as “Alex” – is a congested and poverty-stricken neighbourhood close to the contrasting wealth of Johannesburg’s Sandton financial district.
It has suffered badly from the failures of ANC rule – massive unemployment, non-existent public services, crime and corruption.
Such issues allowed Malema, who was once an ANC youth leader, to form his own party in 2013 and build it within a few years into a growing force within South African politics.
“Alex is the home of the EFF, the home of the poor,” he told the crowd. “Don’t go to some decorated places… Alex is what South Africa looks like.
“Today Alex says: ‘enough is enough’.”
Up in the stands, Kukie Ijeo, 47, from Hillbrow – another of Johannesburg’s toughest districts – lapped up Malema’s speech.
“We don’t have anything, we need jobs, we need houses, we need water, electricity, land, education,” she said.
“We just want everything promised in our (post-apartheid) constitution – but nothing has changed yet.”
Malema relentlessly targets ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa over the country’s economic tribulations, the ruling party’s many corruption scandals, and Ramaphosa’s alleged favouring of the country’s white minority – which still hold most of the wealth.
The EFF’s policy is to grab land from largely white owners — individuals and companies – to give to poor blacks.
“We must expropriate land without compensation and give it to the people of Alexandra to build their own houses. Let’s share the wealth of South Africa,” Malema told the rally.
Malema calls for calm
“Let us build a solid foundation for an African child so that an African child will grow up not being scared of a white counterpart,” he said, touching on the incendiary topic of race relations in South Africa.
“I have no problem with white people at all, I’ve a problem with them being treated special,” he told AFP during the campaign, dismissing accusations of anti-white racism.
“No white is going to be killed or beaten up under an EFF government. It will never happen, but they will have to come down from their high horse,” he said.
Malema’s approach appears to be working as he builds support among the young and poor.
The EFF won eight percent in nationwide municipal elections in 2016 and polls suggest it could win between 10 and 15 percent in the 8th May General Elections.
Malema, aged just 38, sees himself as the next president of South Africa, though analysts doubt this will happen.
“The EFF will do well, something around 10 percent, maybe above,” Frans Cronje, head of the Institute of Race Relations, said.
“But they can’t get much more than that because the majority of this country is moderate conservative.”
Not all black South Africans are sold on Malema’s fiery rhetoric and outlandish promises.
“He is like all politicians,” Respect Nethananai, 34, an Alexandra resident, grumbled. “He just wants power.”
Malema appears unwilling to temper his rhetoric, despite having been hauled before a tribunal for hate speech – saying his party would not seek the slaughter of whites “at least for now”.
In typical defiant fashion, he ended his May Day speech by singing the anti-apartheid struggle song “Kill the Boer (farmer)”, which has previously landed him in legal trouble.
But he changed the lyrics to “Kiss the Boer” – a joke that triggered raucous delight from his faithful followers.
State Media|THE Zanu-PF Youth League is yet to receive a formal resignation notice from its political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu following his social media statements highlighting his departure from the youth wing last week, an official has said.
Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu yesterday said the party will not act on social media statements and will wait for formal communication from Tsenengamu.
He said the party has been keenly following Tsenengamu’s shenanigans as he has been defying the party’s polices by going against the leadership’s stand point on a number of issues on social media.
Tsenengamu is popular for once declaring that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was ordained by God to lead the country.
He said disciplinary action will be taken against him. Matutu refused to comment on the rumours that Tsenengamu risks expulsion from the party. “We are yet to receive an official communiqué from Cde Tsenengamu who took to social media and resigned from his commissariat post in the Youth League. Until we do so, we will stand guided by the party policy on such matters,” he said.
“Besides his unofficial resignation, the party has been following with interest the series of social posts challenging party policies, for example on land redistribution, compensation of white farmers and most recently his call for elderly party members and leaders to ‘open up space’ for young people.
“This on its own shows that Tsenengamu has no respect for party leadership and its policies and if found guilty, disciplinary action will take place. I can however not comment on rumours on the street that he will be expelled or not. That’s for the party to decide.”
Tsenengamu is said to be the face behind the dismissed vote of no confidence which almost toppled the top five youth league leadership.
His recent post read: “Am 36 and ready to move on from youth into the main wing. After six days of work creating earth, our God took time to rest, even some of our madalas (old guard) must rest and pave way for the young. Makarwa kurwa kwakanaka chizororaiwo tiwanewo pekupinda (you have fought a good fight, open up the space for us). It’s time to blend youth with experience.”
In a Press statement by the Youth league on Tuesday, warning shots were sent to Tsenengamu.
“We note with concern social media statements attributed to the secretary for the commissariat in the Zanu-PF youth league Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu. Our leader and President ED (Emmerson Dambudzo) Mnangagwa’s pronouncements reflect the thinking in Zanu-PF as a whole. With respect to the voice of the majority, any expression to the contrary is in our view rebellious and thus warrants due censure or punishment,” read part of the statement.
“Grandstanding and strutting like a peacock is a cheap political gimmick, meant to grab attention from corrupt renegades and also pursue selfish agendas . . . it is unfortunate that our own can be found among the greedy lot who are now selling out the party.”
In the statement the Youth League suggested Tsenengamu might have turned mole as part of a plan by a faction that was active in the party and aligned to former President Mr Robert Mugabe known as G40.
“We are aware that we have the likes of G40 in our midst but even so because of our vigilance we will not lose the fight but rather the axe will descend mercilessly on counter-revolutionaries and their foreign handlers,” the statement added.
“We are the vanguard of the party and it is therefore our duty to make sure that the party is safe from infiltrators and informers, those who have ears to hear take heed.”
The Youth League called for members to respect the leadership and use proper channels of communication to air their views.
Manica Post|BEREAVED families were duped thousands of dollars by unscrupulous undertakers and administrators at Mutare’s Yeovil Cemetery who sold them graves at the burial ground at exorbitant rates in a scandal believed to have started some years back.
Officially, the main Yeovil Cemetery is considered fully occupied but mourners with fat pockets were asked to fork out up to $3 000 to have their departed ones laid to rest at the exquisite graveyard.
After greasing the palms of undertakers and administrators, graves were dug out in carefully left out portions of the yard and the burials were done clandestinely.
To hide the vice, another grave is selected and paid for to council outside the main cemetery at very low rates which will be simultaneously filled up at the same time the actual burial will be taking place in the prime grave yard.
In council records, the deceased is said to be buried outside the main cemetery.
Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa said the grave that was filled up with no corpse will be dug up again and sold to another family and the money pocketed once again.
“At the end of the day what we have in our records regarding the graves, their numbers and the deceased does not match. Complications then arise in situations whereby a family comes years later to locate a grave. In the absence of markers which might be removed by wild animals, families end up erecting tombstones on wrong graves in the event that they seek assistance from the office because the records are wrong,” he said.
Mr Maligwa said the local authority has gathered enough evidence and those implicated will soon face the music.
“A lot of people are involved in this scandal. We have collected evidence and we are working on the modalities. Some of the people who are involved in this filthy enterprise of defrauding mourners did not want to go on leave.
“They did not want to take annual leave days because they feared that if they go away, the scum will be exposed. Instead of comforting relatives who would have lost their loved ones these people actually stole from them. That’s un-African,” he said.
A MAN from Mapani area in Zezani, Beitbridge almost lost his manhood after his wife bit off a chunk of it during a fight.
According to a source, Sibangilizwe Ngamula’s marriage was always on the rocks.
At one point his wife deserted him and went to her parents’ home only to return two weeks ago to talk things over with her husband who had just returned from South Africa where he works.
But her hope turned into despair as things took a nasty turn.
“The couple had been having problems over infidelity. Ngamula used to accuse his wife of seeing other men in the area while he was in South Africa. Last week an argument arose over house keys,” said a family insider.
The source went on to say at the height of the argument his wife punched him on the face, grabbed his genitals and twisted them.
“She grabbed his genitals and twisted them. He fell down wailing in agony but there was no one to help him,” he said.State media
A World Cup 2022 venue dubbed the ‘v@gina stadium’ has been unveiled after becoming the first to be completed from scratch ahead of the tournament.
The 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar and work is completed on the 40,000-seater venue.
Mail Online reports that the Al Wakrah stadium will host matches up to the quarter-finals and contains innovative cooling technology to bring temperatures down for the 40,000 fans.
It was designed by the late British-Iraqi architect, Dame Zaha Hadid, who died suddenly of a heart attack in 2016, aged 65.When her plans were first released in 2013 they were said to have been inspired by the flowing shape of a dhow boat, a traditional Arabian pearl diving and fishing vessel.
The drawings were topped with a structure resembling the sails of a dhow. But the images went viral with commentators suggesting the stadium looked more like a woman’s private parts.
At the time Dame Zaha was angry at the comparison, saying: ‘It’s really embarrassing they come up with nonsense stuff like this. What are they saying? Everything with a hole in it is a vagina? That’s ridiculous.’Iraqi-born Hadid – whose other works included the Aquatics Centre at the 2012 London Olympics, the MAXXI Museum in Italy and the Guangzhou Opera House in China – added: ‘If a guy had done this project there wouldn’t have been the same level of criticism’.
As well as the shape of the stadium, which is 12 miles south of the capital, Doha, being designed to keep out the desert heat, Al Wakrah will also use a revolutionary new air-conditioning technology to bring temperatures down to around 72F for fans and players.
This is done by piping cold air through 100 ventilation units into the stadium, which has a 92m retractable roof to provide shade to the pitch.
The tournament has already been moved to the winter months to avoid the searing summer temperatures in the Gulf.
As part of the tournament’s legacy, when the World Cup is over the top tier of the stadium will be dismantled and shipped to the developing world.
In its promotional material, Aecom, the firm that won the Al-Wakrah contract with Zaha Hadid Architects, said of the designs: “Inspired by the dhow boat that carried generations of local fishermen and pearl divers, the stadium weaves together Qatar’s past with it progressive vision for the future.
“Sustainable materials and practices will be used throughout the stadium and the pitch and spectator stands will be cooled to a perfect temperature for football.”
But some critics thought the unintentional comparison with female genitalia was for the good.
One said: “In a world where sport and vaginas very rarely come together with such prominence (see every UK female footballer’s salary versus every UK male footballer’s salary)’, the likeness ‘can only be a good thing.
“After all why not have 45,000 people crammed inside a woman’s reproductive system? It’s not like they haven’t been there before.”
Qatar is producing eight stadiums for a 32-team World Cup, although FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has said he would like to expand the tournament to 48 teams, which would involve Doha co-hosting with an Arab neighbour.
He has admitted the chance of this is small because of a Saudi-led blockade of Qatar, but “worth trying”.
The Khalifa International Stadium, which was built in 1976, has already been unveiled for the tournament following redevelopment.
HARARE-BASED church leader and losing presidential aspirant in the 2018 elections Emmanuel Moyana, who is founder of the Emmanuel Global Ministries International and Multi-People’s Democratic Party (MPDP), is at the centre of controversy amid revelations that he allegedly preys on young successful women.
Moyana, who is also leader of the Emmanuel Embassy Ministries International in Botswana, is accused of flirting with temptation by not walking his talk as a man of God.
Bishop Moyana courted controversy when he reportedly left his family to co-habit with a Harare woman (name withheld for ethical reasons) who made headlines in 2004 after being allegedly paid to enter into a marriage of convenience with a Nigerian who wanted to secure a residence permit.
The woman in question who is also a hairdresser openly confirmed to B-Metro that she dated Bishop Moyana for more than two years before their love boat hit its turbulent waters.
“I know him as my ex-boyfriend. We started dating in 2017 and separated in February this year. During that time I was also aware that he was dating another woman in Victoria Falls and they had a child together but that didn’t affect me much since the two of us didn’t have a child together.”
She said the last straw was when she discovered that the two, Moyana and the Victoria Falls-based woman, were planning to marry.
In a complaint document, sent to B-Metro by some aggrieved parties suspected to be members of his church, Moyana is also alleged to have used Holy Scriptures to prey on a Victoria Falls-based woman who is also a pastor and employed by one of the safari companies in the resort town.State media
THE Zanu-PF Youth League is yet to receive a formal resignation notice from its political commissar Cde Godfrey Tsenengamu following his social media statements highlighting his departure from the youth wing last week, an official has said.
Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Lewis Matutu yesterday said the party will not act on social media statements and will wait for formal communication from Tsenengamu.
He said the party has been keenly following Tsenengamu’s shenanigans as he has been defying the party’s polices by going against the leadership’s stand point on a number of issues on social media.
He said disciplinary action will be taken against him.
Matutu refused to comment on the rumours that Tsenengamu risks expulsion from the party. “We are yet to receive an official communiqué from Cde Tsenengamu who took to social media and resigned from his commissariat post in the Youth League. Until we do so, we will stand guided by the party policy on such matters,” he said.State media
By A Correspondent| Angers flared yesterday when the Chitungwiza mayor broke party protocol to title the man who unleashed the military on innocent civilians and killed 7 people just so to change election results, Emmerson Mnangagwa on the 1st August last year, President. Mnangagwa is on the state broadcaster ZBC’s LIVE broadcast presiding over the declaration by his office to use the military to change poll results.
Mayor Lovemore Maiko (MDC) said this while speaking of the water crisis in the dormitory town. This was during Mnangagwa’s visit to the town.
Maiko said Chitungwiza does not have its own source of water, exacerbating the crisis. He said,
“The issue of water is something critical in waste management Mr President.
“Chitungwiza, with a population of around 400 000 people, does not have its own source of water.
“That’s why we are trying to appeal to your highest office. We have a project that we have lined up and we need your support such that this project comes into fruition.
“Since you have invited me, I will be knocking on your door.”
Commenting on the development, analyst Chris Chidarikire said the mayor must be fired. He told ZimEye,
“I think the Chitungwiza mayor shud be recalled and disciplined for calling Dambudzo HE. He is not president unless MDC position has changed. I am a soldier and discipline is vital. Words have consequences.
“MDC position is clear on stolen presidency if he doesn’t know it then he is not part of the movement.
“It’s either the party in my opinion states that we have lost the claim of presidency. That is why l am against Congress; Because at the moment Dambudzo was cornered , Congress is a distraction. By nature congress is divisive even in a democratic party because people campaign against each other while enemy is re energising and reinventing.
“As a soldier if you have your enemy pinned to a corner you don’t retreat and send soldiers to rest and holiday . You continue when the enemy falls dont get him up finish him coz when you turn your back he will stab u in the heart.
“Sometimes democracy does not work Chamisa needed to be brutal like what he did to Khupe. He needed to be dictator in pushing for regaining presidency or pressuring Dambudzo to negotiation table. Least he can get is prime minister but with Executive powers.”
GOVERNMENT has allocated $10 million towards the construction of district hospitals in Bulilima and Umzingwane to improve access to health services in Matabeleland South Province.
Presenting a social services and poverty reduction subcommittee report during a Provincial Development Committee meeting on Thursday, the subcommittee’s chairperson, who is also Matabeleland South provincial social welfare officer, Mr Totambirepi Tirivavi, said the projects are expected to start this year.
“The Government has allocated $5 million for the construction of a district hospital in Bulilima and another $5 million towards construction of a district hospital in Umzingwane.”State media
A 78-YEAR-OLD man from Nkayi has been arrested for allegedly raping his 15-year-old niece for about four years while threatening to kill her if she exposed him.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi.
He pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape and was remanded in custody to May 6 for provision of a trial date.
The prosecutor, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo, said from 2016 to February this year, the man raped his niece several times. “On the first occasion in 2016, the grandfather summoned his niece to his homestead. As she got into his yard, he dragged her by the hand to his bedroom hut. He ordered the minor to remove her clothes and raped her once.
“He threatened to kill the minor if she told anyone about the matter,” he said.From that time on, the grandpa would follow the minor whenever she went to fetch water or firewood and continued to rape her, the court heard.State media
