Farai Dziva|Professor Jonathan Moyo has vowed to expose the direct role Emmerson Mnangagwa played during the Gukurahundi era.

Moyo further pointed out that the Midlands godfather played a traceable role in the atrocities.

” If Mnangagwa wants to be taken seriously on the Gukurahundi genocide, he must first deal with his DOCUMENTED PERSONAL LIABILITY.

As the CIO minister who administered the (Rhodesian) State of Emergency Act during
gukurahundi, Mnangagwa committed crimes against humanity.”

“While Virginia Mabhiza, a Mnangagwa sidekick, claims there’s a new programme to issue death, birth and reburial certificates to Gukurahundi victims, it’s in fact old but was blocked by Mnangagwa and JOC who also blocked my father’s reburial in 2016, for alleged security reasons, ” declared Moyo.

Farai Dziva|Former MDC A MP for Masvingo Urban Constituency, Tongai Matutu, who has been disqualified from contesting against James Gumbi for the provincial chairmanship, says he is not bitter.

Matutu was barred from taking on James Gumbi in the race for the province’s most powerful post because the party Constitution prohibits members who defect to other parties from taking party in electoral processes for a period of five years.

“I am not bitter at all and I accept the verdict.I will remain on the ground working for the party and I will be back in the fold.

This is not the end of the the world.You see these things happen in politics and life has to go on as usual.

I am waiting for the announcement of results.Some people have asked me to lodge an appeal but I will not do so because that is not the way we operate,” said Matutu.

Own Correspondent|News just in indicate that the government has moved in to suspend the shocking bread price increase which took Zimbabweans by surprise on Tuesday morning.

Zimbabwe woke up on Tuesday with the price of bread gone up from $1.80 per loaf to $3.50 and $4.00 in some areas.

Seeing that the situation could lead to a possible civil unrest, the government moved in quickly to defuse the situation and the cabinet is reported to have resolved to suspend the price increase.

More details to follow.

Organisation says it was due to their continued pressure that this decision was made1

AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit was, on inquiry, informed that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has applied to have Grace Mugabe extradited to South Africa. Grace Mugabe assaulted and seriously injured Gabriella Engels, a Johannesburg model, with an extension cord in 2017.

The NPA’s decision follows the South Gauteng High Court’s ruling last year that the decision by Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, to grant Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity should be set aside. AfriForum, Gabriella Engels and various other parties brought the rescission application in this regard. Adv. Gerrie Nel, Head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, has further made it clear that his office would apply for a nolle prosequi certificate should the NPA fail to prosecute.

The Foreign States Immunities Act (1981) explicitly excludes the granting of immunity to heads of state who are guilty of the death or injury of people in South Africa. Grace Mugabe, as the wife of a former head of state, could therefore in no way claim the diplomatic immunity to which she appealed.

“We hope that the prosecution of Grace Mugabe will commence shortly and we will monitor the case. AfriForum gets involved in issues like this to ensure that people with political power do not get away with committing crimes. Grace Mugabe must be brought to book for her deeds and this is the first step in ensuring that miss Engels will get justice soon,” says Nel.

Issued by Hesti Steenkamp, Media Relations Officer, AfriForum.

O|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sent off 28 buses out of the 800 that were ordered by the government to Zupco, to start operating again.

Speaking during the commissioning of the buses, President Mnangagwa said government will continue to work round the clock to ensure that the transport challenges are addressed.

“These challenges of public transport will now be a thing of the past. Government will ensure that more buses come in and ease these challenges especially in urban areas where commuter omnibus operators were causing untold suffering to the people by want only hiking their fares,” he said.

This comes on the backdrop of private operators having been roped in by Zupco to provide buses following the events of January 2019 which saw the withdrawal of transport services by commuter omnibus operators a situation which greatly affected the public.

“Today we rolled out the first batch of new ZUPCO buses, which will make life better, easier and more affordable for
Zimbabweans, both urban and rural. Our journey of progress is just beginning, and we will work to ensure all the people of Zimbabwe are on board!,” President Mnangagwa said.

In conjunction with the send off of the buses, a new engineering model of controlling, managing the fleet developed
by Dr Talon Garikai who is the Director of Technology Transfer at the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) was also unveiled.

This will be rolled out as more and more buses come into the country.

However, local industry players in the bus manufacturing sector said, in future, government must think of bringing the knockdown kits of the buses so that they can be assembled locally.

Of the 800, 500 are from Belarus, 200 from South Africa and 100 from China.

Zbc News online

THE surprise eviction of popular Ntabazinduna farmers, Brain and Carol Davies, who operate Tabas Induna Farm, has attracted the wrath of local chief, Nhlanhla Ndiweni.

The couple was served with an eviction notice by one Floyd Ambrose on Tuesday last week, according to Tabas Induna spokesperson Buz Davies. “We lodged an appeal late Friday afternoon so we hope it (the eviction) does not happen,” said Buz, who however, could not be drawn into revealing more details on the matter.

Efforts to get a comment from Ambrose on his plans to move into Tabas Induna Farm which was purchased in 1953 by Carol’s grandfather, Jack Parsons, were unsuccessful. Tabas Induna was at one time the largest pig producer in the country with over 12 000 pigs. It was also home to a large cattle herd, a commercial crocodile farm and a well-established and very successful photographic safari operation.

With the permission of the late Paramount Chief Khayisa Ndiweni, the Davies/Parsons family built Chiefs Lodge in 1992 on the top of Ntabazinduna Hill, a famous historical site that is revered by the Ndebeles.

Despite the historical and cultural significance, Chief Ndiweni trusted the Tabas Induna Farm owners so much that he made the Davies/Parsons family custodians of Ntabazinduna Hill.

Yesterday, Chief Ndiweni told this publication that he was going to do everything in his power to block the eviction.

“The attempted eviction of the Parsons/Davies family from Ntabazinduna Mountain has touched our sense of justice in a most profound manner and every part of our being is screaming out that this is unjust.

“When something is unjust, no amount of politics, propaganda, public relations or silence will make it just. This assault upon the Parsons/ Davis family is unjust irrespective of what anyone may say.

“Should it be effected, then the current administration will pay a very heavy price indeed, from within the country, in the region and from the international world. Traditional leaders will be at the forefront of this campaign,” Ndiweni fumed.

Prominent human rights lawyer and former Cabinet minister David Coltart has described the eviction as senseless. “This is just ludicrous – the so-called new dispensation says that land invasions have stopped and yet this family are being forced off their home and business.

“This is a tourist facility, located near Bulawayo’s airport, not a farm – it is only 15 hectares and was a lodge until it was trashed by the same person trying to take it over again. Buz and Carol Davies have been renovating the lodge over the last few years with a view to opening it again, but now out of sheer greed a Zanu-PF-connected person wants it,” said Coltart.

The prominent lawyer added that the eviction was another proof that Zimbabwe is not open for business as claimed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube is presently in Washington trying to persuade the IMF and World Bank that the regime he represents has turned over a new leaf and deserves support.

How can a government claim to be open for business when it is allowing businesses like this, which have the potential to earn foreign currency and boost our tourism industry, to be stolen in broad daylight?” asked Coltart. Tabas Induna Farm was identified and listed for resettlement by the government in 2000.

The Davies family spent many years trying to get it delisted but despite these efforts it was subdivided into many plots.
According to the family, the ministry of Lands assured them verbally that they could remain in their homestead, but due to hindrances to farming operations by the new settlers, production on a commercial scale was no longer possible or viable.

In a similar case, in 2015 people from Matabeleland united and resisted government efforts to evict another popular white farmer Peter Cunningham from his Maleme Farm in Matobo District.

Demonstrations were staged at the farm against Gwanda Central Intelligence Organisation operative Rodney Mashingaidze who had intended to take over the farm.

By Own Correspondent- Two soldiers reportedly died while one was left seriously injured following clashes with illegal gold panners in Chipadze, Bindura.

Sources privy to the development alleged that the soldiers clashed with the gold panners who are referred to as “MaShurugwi” over misunderstandings regarding sex workers.

Said the source:

“Two soldiers announced dead at the hospital while one is seriously injured and bleeding severely. They were attacked by MaShurugwi and they were fighting over sex workers on their way to Chipadze. Where they were camping close to Dimitry Welder, there is blood all over even in the road. The soldiers are now in an operation dubbed “MaH_ure and MaShurugwis”.

Police Spokesperson for Mashonaland Central Province, Inspector Milton Mudembe confirmed the incident.

Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Director Public Relations Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore also confirmed the development and said the illegal panners fought with four ZNA members who were taking part in the independence parade rehearsals resulting in the death of the two.

Investigations into the matter are underway.

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

Farai Dziva|Professor Jonathan Moyo has vowed to expose the direct role Emmerson Mnangagwa played during the Gukurahundi era.

Moyo further pointed out that the Midlands godfather played a traceable role in the atrocities.

” If Mnangagwa wants to be taken seriously on the Gukurahundi genocide, he must first deal with his DOCUMENTED PERSONAL LIABILITY.

As the CIO minister who administered the (Rhodesian) State of Emergency Act during
gukurahundi, Mnangagwa committed crimes against humanity.”

“While Virginia Mabhiza, a Mnangagwa sidekick, claims there’s a new programme to issue death, birth and reburial certificates to Gukurahundi victims, it’s in fact old but was blocked by Mnangagwa and JOC who also blocked my father’s reburial in 2016, for alleged security reasons, ” declared Moyo.

Farai Dziva|James Chafungamoyo Gumbi has retained the post of provincial chairperson after narrowly beating Simon Mupindu who joined the race at the eleventh hour following the disqualification of Tongai Matutu.

Gumbi garnered 1040 votes while Mupindu received 966 votes.

“Masvingo provincial congress results as announced by national organiser Amos Chibaya:

Chairperson:Gumbi… 1040 votes, Mupindu….. 966 votes.

Deputy chairman….. Mr Simon Ziki
Secretary … Advocate Eriam Musendekwa
Dept Sec… Mr James Mushonga
Treasurer… Mr Munazu
Dept Treasurer…. Mr Chidaushe
Organising Secretary, Mr Mudzingwa
Dept Organising Secretary… Mr Chikutu

Info…Advocate Derick Charamba,” reads the latest report released by the MDC A Provincial Information Department.

Farai Dziva|There is controversy over the disqualification of MDC A official Tongai Matutu who was vying for the provincial chairmanship with party members expressing contrasting views on the matter.

Some elements within the opposition party believe the same technicalities used to offer Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube the opportunity to participate in the party’s electoral processes should have allowed Matutu to participate in the provincial electoral process.

“We do not understand what is taking place because Ncube and Biti have been given allowed to participate in internal electoral processes while Matutu who left the party alongside the latter has been barred from participating in the provincial electoral process,” said a senior party member.

However the MDC A Organising Department has indicated that both Ncube and Biti reintegrated on the basis of the political parties they were representing- hence the formation of the alliance.

By Own Correspondent- A city man got the shock of his life when he discovered that his wife, was still legally married to another man.

The man discovered a marriage certificate from his wife’s previous marriage stashed in a suitcase. The matter to light at the Harare Civil Court after Bruka Razevera was hauled to court for physically and verbally assaulting his wife Challenge Muzama, who was applying for a protection order against him.

”He assaults me for my existing marriage certificate. He insults me saying I am a prost_itute and that we are in an adulterous relationship and I have no rights to his assets. I am willing to cancel the marriage certificate but I do not have the legal fees needed,” she said.

In response Razevera denied the allegations stating that he had not assaulted her but had simply instructed her to vacate his premises until she had divorced her husband, so that he could marry her.

Razevera sensationally claimed that the relationship between him and his wife Muzama was adulterous since she had not nullified her previous marriage.

”She is lying that she doesn’t have the money to cancel her marriage certificate so I am afraid of being sued by her husband. I never assaulted her,” he said.

The H-Metro reported that Muzama was no longer in contact with her ex-husband who is now married to another woman. Presiding magistrate Noah Gwatidzo granted the protection order in Muzama’s favour.

By Own Correspondent- Reaching an amazing feat of 85 years and being HIV positive, the Maruta kraal Headman, real name Robert Ticharwa Maruta has claimed that being HIV positive has been a blessing in disguise since it has set him on a path to serve a higher calling.

Sekuru Samba’s moral attitude to life is the epitome of the expression, being positive about being positive.

Sekuru Samba like the biblical Samaritan has been invested in philanthropic work preaching the gospel of abstinence and awareness, educating people of all ages on HIV and AIDS.

” i am educating many school children, mature youths, parents, elders and those with vision impairments, physically challenged and mostly orphans or child-headed families. I am travelling by foot, often visiting them and educating them about pre-marital s.e.x and having unprotected s.e.x with anyone whose status you do not know, you will get an incurable disease for life called HIV and AIDS.”

Speaking to the H-Metro, Sekuru Samba shared the story of his life and how his promiscuity resulted in him contracting HIV.

“My wife passed on in 2000 and left me 100 percent healthy at 66 years old. However I failed to be a decent grandfather and started picking township girls, that’s how I got HIV. I even remember who exactly,” said Sekuru.

However he has used his status to warn youths about HIV and AIDS as a voluntary advocate.

Sekuru also went on to share nuggets of wisdom, targeted to people who refuse to get tested stating that it was better to know your status rather than gradually decomposing in silence. Sekuru Samba said there was need to assist those on ART as they lack supplementary food.

” I come across sick HIV patients desperately needing basic food because these HIV drugs can be difficult to take at first especially if you do not have something to eat first before taking them.

He can also do with some transport as walking is now strenuous. ” If there is anyone who can assist me with a bicycle because I am gradually getting tired of walking, but tremendously getting more passionate in alerting more as I grow older,” he said.

By Own Correspondent- A gang of four armed robbers that were operating in Marondera has been arrested.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed this to a local publication.

The syndicate is believed to have recently robbed a security guard at Long Lands Farm in Marondera where they damaged a Zesa transformer, stole oil, coils, armored cables, and a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Mwanza revealed that nothing has been recovered yet from stolen property worth RTGS $20 000. The gang would steal or rob and sell the loot in Chitungwiza and Harare.

The police spokesperson revealed that the ringleader of the gang, Choice Yotamu, 38, was recently released from jail after serving a four-year sentence on another robbery case.

Mwanza said that a pistol was recovered from one of the gangs that recently robbed cash and other property in Bromley and Marondera.-DailyNews

By Own Correspondent- Zanu Pf youths have disapproved President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision to compensate white former commercial farmers.

President Mnangagwa claims the compensation is a constitutional mandate and will not be for land, but, improvements on the farms.

Godfrey Tsenengamu, ZANU PF youth league political commissar revealed that he is infuriated by the decision. 

He said:

“Compensation for land developments or infrastructural development is not a priority for Zimbabweans. The Constitution demands compensation for the above and what we are proposing is an amendment to that clause, as the clause is an insult to our fallen heroes who paid for this land through their blood, sweat and tears.”

Pupurai Togarepi, Zanu PF youth league leader has however dismissed allegations of a fallout.

Said Togarepi:

“That’s a very healthy debate and any Zimbabwean is entitled to his or her opinion. As long as the compensation is constitutional, it’s good for us as a country to abide by our laws.

Meanwhile, other pressure groups have also contributed to the heated debate. Gilbert Bwende, secretary-general of pressure group Tajamuka/Sesijikile believes there are teething issues the government should address first.”

He said:

“Hospitals and medical practitioners are under-equipped, yet the government chooses to spend money on a group of white commercial farmers, most of whom are harboured within the comfort of their native countries.”

The ZANU PF youths open revolt against party decisions would be the first time in history as they never defied party authorities and policies before.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent- Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said Government was in the process of licensing the university to grow mbanje for medicinal purposes.

Midlands State University (MSU) reportedly applied for a licence to grow mbanje for medicinal purposes following Government’s legalisation of marijuana farming last year.

Prof Murwira said there several other institutions that would also be growing mbanje.

He said Government intends to reduce its import bill by having local pharmaceuticals producing medicines from local resources.

“We were told by our former colonial masters that mbanje is illegal and they even promulgated a law prohibiting the smoking of mbanje. However, it has medicinal properties. So our leadership had a closer look and realised that mbanje can be useful and then legalised the growing of mbanje for medicinal purposes. So we have started doing so. MSU itself has applied for a licence for growing mbanje.”

Prof Murwira said universities should be innovative and incubate ideas in their innovation hubs.

“Resources are nothing but they become when we have the brains of using them. This is very important. We need to look inside. When we do physics, we need to be able to use it and apply it here in Zimbabwe. We probably have the same amount of resources but different levels of development.

“We always want people outside to make things for us. We want our biochemistry to work for us. Most of the medicines that we have come from trees, roots and other plants. These are the product of our environment. So what we want to do is that the medicines that we are going to be using in the country should come from our own pharmacies and resources found in the country.

“I cannot be treated by medicine that was made from an environment that I am not living in. This is why people die because they are not suitable for us.”

By Own Correspondent- A Mutare man was arrested and hauled before a magistrate after he stole a bra from his workplace in an attempt to please his girlfriend.

Brandon Mujima was found guilty of theft by magistrate Nyasha Kuture who fined him $30.

Mujima was however given an alternative sentence of 10 days in jail.

He left the court gallery in stitches after he admitted to stealing the bra to please his lover.

He said:

“My Lord, I stole the bra because I wanted to give it to my girlfriend and I will not repeat this again.”

Mujima, who works at Mutare Dru Port, stole a bra and boxer shorts on April 11.-Newsday

He stuffed the items in his satchel but was accosted by an alert security guard at the exit point, who took him to Mutare Central Police Station.

The bra and boxer shorts were worth RTGS$20.00

Own Correspondent|MDC Deputy Treasurer and Secretary General nominee Charlton Hwende has disclaimed a Twitter account which sensationally warned party President Nelson Chamisa against backing incumbent Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora to the position he has been nominated for.

Hwende disclaimed the account after a ZimEye.com publication on Tuesday morning flighted the rather undiplomatic post.

The Twitter post reads as follows:

https://twitter.com/bsamadonhora/status/1117731393084252166?s=19

The page has been running for a while on the social media and has been posting several articles relating to activities in the opposition party and around Hwende.

ZIMBABWE’S year-on-year inflation rate for the month of March, 2019 spiked to 66,80% under the new base used to calculate the consumer price index, the statistics agency said yesterday, but noted that under the old basing system it used until February this year, the rate had shot up 166%, confirming that Zimbabwe was already in a hyperinflation environment.

“With effect from March 2019 ZimStat (Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency) is publishing the new consumer price index (CPI) with new weights and a classification in accordance with international guidelines,” ZimStat said.

“The indices prior to March 2019 were re-referenced to February 2019=100. The rates of inflation remain the same under different weight regimes as the relative magnitude of indices is maintained. The new weights are, therefore, applicable from February 2019 onwards.”

ZimStat said users who wished to continue using the old series should multiply the current all items index with a new base of (Feb 2019=100) by a conversion factor of 1,5918111.

“For instance, if ZimStat had continued with the old base (2012=100), the March 2019 all items CPI was going to be 166,154,” it said.

Economist Steve Hankie posted on microblogging site Twitter that the actual inflation rate was more than 200%.

“As I predicted, #Zimbabwe’s RTGS$ has sunk like a stone. Zim’s inflation rate reflects just that. Accurately measured for 4/13/19, Zim’s annual inflation rate is 207%/yr, the second highest in the world.”

Economist Kipson Gundani said the current inflation figures were emanating from confidence deficit bedevilling the economy.

“The statistic is self-explanatory. The economy is fast moving towards hyperinflation. What we should ask is that what are the drivers? What is topping the list is speculation
emanating from huge confidence deficit. Every person is putting their assets on a stable currency which is why the exchange rate is going up on the black market. It is clear that the economy has redollarised by default because the de-dollarisation was done before fundamentals were right. While the economy becomes inflationary it is also becoming
self-accelerating and we continue to plunge deeper and deeper,” he observed.

“My opinion is that we need to deal with the two Ps, which are pricing and policy. The pricing starts with pricing of money which you call the foreign exchange. And on policy we should be able to have predictability, stability and coherence.”

Former Finance minister and chairperson of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Tendai Biti, said the country was nearing hyperinflation.

“I have no doubt that we are nearing hyperinflation once month-on-month gets to above 80% … It is a dog’s breakfast created by a cabal of people who are very good at lying and creating propaganda, but the ordinary person on the streets can feel the pain of this economy in their bones,” Biti said.

According to ZimStat, under the new base, prices as measured by the all items CPI (consumer price index) increased by an average of 66,80% between March 2018 and March 2019.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation prone to transitory shocks stood at 78,55%, while the non-food inflation rate was 61,19%.
According to ZimStat’s month-on-month calculations, the inflation rate was 4,38%, gaining 2,71 percentage points on the February 2019 rate of 1,67%.

The month-on-month food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation rate stood at 5,10% in March 2019, gaining 1,54 percentage points on the February 2019 rate of 3,56%, while non-
food inflation rate stood at 4,05%, gaining 3,35 percentage points on the February 2019 rate of 0,70%.

In 2008, Zimbabwe’s inflation reached 500 billion percent, rendering the local currency worthless and eroding savings and pensions.

-Newsday

By Victor Bhoroma| Hundreds of formal jobs are on the line in the economy as various businesses grapple with the realities of hyperinflation and exchange rate induced losses. The market has witnessed massive price hikes since the announcement of the October 2018 and February 2019 monitory policy statements by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). According to ZimStats, year-on-year inflation jumped from 5.39% in September 2018 to 20.85% in October 2018. Inflation closed the year at 42.09% and has increased sharply to 59.39% in February 2019. Independent analysts however point that the figure is much higher than what the government agency is communicating and most businesses have resorted to using their own inflation models for their accounting purposes. Prices for industrial and basic consumer goods have been going up in the market in line with black market exchange rates where US$1 now fetches between RTGS $4 to $4.7. On the official market however, the rate is at 3.11 as of 10 April 2019.

The cost of living as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) for the low income urban family of six increased by 1.21% from $781.35 in February to $791 in March. Most manufacturers and retailers have long adopted the USD to price their products under the guise of cash discounts, with the RTGS price pegged at high rates to discourage buyers from buying using the local RTGS currency. The increase in the pump price of petrol and diesel in January has also increased the cost of production for most producers who inevitably passed the cost to the consumers.

On the 29^th of March 2019, Old Mutual Zimbabwe which is largest integrated financial corporation in Zimbabwe by assets and sales announced that it is going to cut more than 10% of its workforce in a retrenchment exercise. The announcement came after the presentation of 2018 annual results where the financial behemoth notched revenues of RTGS $1.4 billion but underscored that the recent monitory policy changes have hurt the company’s bottom line. Though the retrenchment exercise is likely to affect less than 100 employees in the OMZ group, all signs point to similar retrenchment exercises across the market with the financial, real estate, retailing and manufacturing sectors worst affected by the economic slowdown. Some producers who are not on the foreign currency priority list had already started retrenching towards end of 2018.

According to the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR), the country’s retailing sector is seen declining this year due to the impact of hyperinflation and a widening rift between prices and consumer incomes. Major constraints to most retailers emanate from the cost of foreign currency to import merchandize, increase in transportation charges and advancements in labour costs. The real estate sector has also seen a slump is sales as real disposable incomes for customers slump due to inflation. The real estate sector heavily relies on a sound financial sector where mortgages and loans contribute to bulk of the property developments and unit sales. The Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (REIZ) expects rental income for both residential and commercial properties to be affected by low demand and exchange rate losses in 2019.

The introduction of the Foreign Currency Interbank facility by the apex bank in February 2019 provided some relief for the local industry as foreign currency shortages remain the biggest constraint to production. However the facility is yet to inspire confidence on the local market due to supply and demand disequilibrium. There has been a flood of buyers for the little foreign currency that has been on offer and the situation may persist into the foreseeable future until domestic production improves. It is highly unlikely that black market rates will align to the interbank rates as long as the inflation figures still remain high. The black market is in a survival war with banks and bureau de-change houses to attract the same foreign currency from sellers and the highest bidder always carries the day. Local manufacturers owe foreign suppliers over $183 million in legacy debts which were accrued during the Bond to US Dollar 1:1 era and are engaging the government to expedite payment before raw material supplies are cut off.

Labour demands have also compounded the situation from the public sector to the private sector. Some employers in the private sector have been paying cost of living allowances and bonuses to cushion employees from the high cost of living but the pressure to pay part of the salaries in foreign currency is growing by the day.

The government recently yielded to labour demands and awarded salary increments ranging from 25% to 29% as part of a $400 million cost of living adjustment in March. Under the increment package, civil servants earning $441 will be paid $570, while those currently getting $519 will earn $649. Civil servants were demanding a minimum salary of RTGS$1700 which was closely linked to the interbank rate between the RTGS and US Dollar. The disparity between average civil service salaries and the cost of living as measured by CCZ will continue to put pressure on the government to at least reign in on the inflation rate or increase salaries to match prices increases. The government itself is also looking at streamlining its civil service head count of more than 300 000 in 2019 as way to manage recurrent expenditure which accounts for over 90% of the budget. The government expects to save $330 million by 2020 through retrenchments and wage bill containment measures that will result in the right sizing of public employment, among a raft of other reforms.

Faced with the economic slowdown, producers ordinarily have two choices which are to increase revenue on the same output (price increases) since demand is not growing or to cull employees (retrench) to contain production cost. It is worth pointing that producers have been engaged in other cost containment exercises so as to avoid retrenchments but the growing labour demands and economic slowdown will lead to job cuts in the short term. The worst affected will be contract (temporary) employees, unskilled labour and units that operate out of Harare where consumer demand has been declining. Companies ordinarily start by finding cheaper alternatives in terms of raw materials and closing non-performing branches then offering packages for voluntary retrenchment. However it may be necessary to target certain functions or skills if volunteers are not forthcoming. If the economic challenges persist deep into 2019, tough decisions will have be made and labour is often the weakest link in the matrix.

Victor Bhoroma is business and economic analyst. He is a marketer by profession and holds an MBA from the University of Zimbabwe (UZ). For feedback, mail him on [email protected] or alternatively follow him on Twitter @VictorBhoroma1.

Once described as southern Africa’s breadbasket, Zimbabwe is now ranked among the poorest countries in the world with the highest inflation rate in the world, second only to Venezuela, according to some economists.

The past two decades have seen the country in constant crisis. But is there a way out of this predicament? This was the question that a panel of experts at the Washington DC-based think tank, Cato Institute, tried to answer on Monday at a public discussion.

According to senior political analyst, Marian Tupy, who was also the moderator, Zimbabwe “continues to remain relevant not only to its people but also for the sake of other African countries that are trying to see what kind of political and economic arrangements they should follow in order to become prosperous in the future.”

In his contribution, panelist and journalist, Barry Wood said tragic mismanagement, particularly the last 17 years of former president Robert Mugabe’s rule is what the country has to face and find ways of coming out of it.

Wood added that it will take time for the nation to revitalize its economy, once regarded as one of the most vibrant economies in the Southern African Development Community and beyond.

On sanctions, Wood said it is difficult to remove them because Zanu PF is corrupt and will do anything to stay in power.

He added that the government is divided and corrupt.

Senior fellow at the Cato Institute, Steven Hanke, said according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook Database, Zimbabwe is a very poor country and is ranked number 161.

He said Zimbabwe should apply the ‘Singapore method’ in which the country should do away with its surrogate currency, refuse foreign aid, minimize tax, ensure civil rights and create minimalist high quality transparent government.

Senior fellow at the Cato Institute, Gyude Moore, a former cabinet minister in Ghana, said it was difficult to see why African institutions like the African Union and SADC are not helping Zimbabwe’s economic revival.

He said these institutions could rather send one of their leaders to talk to Zimbabwe leaders instead of drawing a red line.

He said sanctions in Zimbabwe are hurting the general populace instead of the intended leadership.

He added that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, who was also present at the presentation, was probably the best choice but the question is whether he is given space to implement his ideas.

On his part, Ncube said it was pertinent that the issue of inflation be looked at carefully because what is being used are wrong figures.

The panel agreed that the road to economic recovery for Zimbabwe lies in the removal of sanctions.

— VOA

Own Correspondent|Tinashe Jonasi the man who broke news headlines claiming that he wanted to effect a citizen arrest on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his two Deputies has issued an SOS on social media asking for donations on claims that Mnangagwa wants to abduct him.

Jonasi is currently on bail after being arrested and charged with undermining the authority of the President before he could effect his own arrest on Mnangagwa.

#ABDUCTION ALERT.
Eco-Cash me FREEDOM AMBASSADORS i am facing an imminent ABDUCTION.
0774 4699 56 pic.twitter.com/cYW8o9qZYg

— Prof Tinashe JONAS (@tinashe_jonas) April 15, 2019

Judging by the responses on his sensational Twitter post, Zimbabweans appear not to be taking Jonasi’s plea seriously. Is he not likely to be ignored and end up being in another Itai Dzamara situation?

Dzamara was continuously ignored by Zimbabweans when he made solo demonstrations against former President Robert Mugabe at Harare Gardens until he was abducted and has been missing for over two years now.

People started talking only after he had been abducted.

Own Correspondent|Zimbabweans woke up to a shocking bread price increase with some retailers charging up to $4 for a loaf of bread while others are charging $3.50.

Low cost in store made bread is costing between $2.35 and $2.85 in various outlets.

No notice to the effect of the hefty increase was given by government nor the bakers.

EMBATTLED MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora (pictured) wrote to Japhet Moyo, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), who is superintending over the opposition party’s internal elections, alleging serious flaws in the process two days before he threw in the towel after he garnered a single nomination from seven provincial congresses held so far.

At the weekend, Mwonzora pleaded with his home province of Manicaland to back him for the post of secretary-general, but delegates snubbed him, leaving him to weigh his options ahead of a watershed MDC congress to be held next month.

In his Friday letter, which was copied to party leader Nelson Chamisa, Mwonzora alleged that while the ZCTU was supposed to be leading the elective process, the party’s organising secretary, Amos Chibaya, was, in fact, running the show.

He also alleged violence and intimidation against other candidates and that party members were made to vote overnight.

Mwonzora and deputy president Elias Mudzuri were angling to challenge Chamisa, but have not been nominated for the presidency, leaving the youthful leader a shoo-in to retain the position uncontested.

“We wish to raise the following issues that the Matabeleland South congress was conducted at night. In fact, the nomination process for the national standing committee (NSC) members commenced at 2330 hours on April 7, 2019,” the letter read.

“The provincial congress for Matabeleland North province started at 1800 hours on April 8, 2019. Voting took place throughout the night. The nomination of standing committee candidates only commenced at 0500 hours the following morning in the absence of some of the candidates.

“The provincial congress in the Midlands commenced at 1700 hours. It took place throughout the night and the nomination process for the NSC took place at 0930 hours the following morning.

“All nominations have been conducted by the national organising secretary Amos Chibaya, instead of your committee,” read the concerns.

In his letter, Mwonzora alleged that there was a lot of intimidation and hate language by some youths, directed at him and Mudzuri. He also said there was violence against other candidates.

Mwonzora also claimed that candidates were not availed with the voters roll and attached the party’s constitution and the congress template which gave the guidelines into the manner in which the congress was supposed to be held.

Moyo, however, said he could not do anything about the allegations.

“He [Mwonzora] has written complaining about elections in their party … I don’t think I have the powers to do anything. I just listen to the complaints, but I am not empowered to act. At the moment I don’t have those powers,” said Moyo, adding that the ZCTU was not aware of any plan for them to run MDC elections.

Party leader Chamisa attributed Mwonzora’s complaints to bitterness after failing to get nominated.

“To choose is to decide and to decide is to define and when you define, you always have those who are not happy even if they are in the minority. We must even be able to say we need to swim together. There are those who will not get nominations, they will naturally be unhappy and bitter, so our task is to make sure that instead of them getting bitter, we must make them get better because democracy must not leave you bitter, but better. When the people have chosen we must all celebrate,” he said.

NewsDay

Own Correspondent|Latest but yet to be confirmed reports from MDC Masvingo Province Congress indicate that the province has nominated Nelson Chamisa as its presidential candidate in the party congress set for next month.

Chamisa was nominated amid fears that the party’s provincial executive was caucusing to nominate Vice President Engineer Elias Mudzuri to contest him after main rival Douglas Mwonzora pulled out of the race.

More details will be made available soon…..

Government yesterday began paying civil servants salaries at the new rates which were “agreed” on at the collective bargaining with the workers representatives last month.

Nurses, prison officers, members of the Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Republic Police officers and those from the Air Force of Zimbabwe started accessing their salaries yesterday with an increment of up to $129, depending on grades.

Those in the education sector will get their dues tomorrow, while the rest of the civil service and pensioners are going to be paid on April 24 and 26, respectively.

The cost of living adjustment came after Government offered a package of $400 million to be shared amongst the workers between April and December.

The latest arrangement means the least-paid Government worker is getting $600, which is however still far lower than the $1000 which the workers were demanding.

Another salary review is expected mid-year.

Of the $400 million offered to the workers by Government, the Public Service Commission (PSC), including the uniformed forces, have been allocated $281 million, the Health Services Board will get $56,8 million, while the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) gets $2,5 million.

Independent commissions and grant-aided institutions get $2,6 million and $56,8 million, respectively.

Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association (ZINA) secretary-general Mr Enock Dongo weighed in: “Yes, there has been an increment and Government has honoured its pledge but the price issues are worrying and if nothing is done we are going to die because we are struggling.”

State Media \ZimEye.com

E

THE Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) saga, where one of the country’s coal mining giants has been rendered comatose by greedy individuals, needs urgent interventions by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government if the company is to go back to its profit-making days.

Massive corruption at HCCL has been unearthed by a forensic audit by Reynolds Tendai Muza, a forensic auditor and investigator with Ralph Bomment Greenacre and Reynolds.

Investigations by the Mines Portfolio Committee, before it was disbanded, have also exposed that the once thriving mine was actually destroyed by very powerful persons, some of who are currently serving in government.

What is more disturbing is that despite government pumping in a $111 million loan in 2016 to resuscitate the company, the coal miner continued to be loss-making due to mismanagement, reckless trading and money laundering.

Some of the big names that have been fingered in the HCCL corruption saga include current Mines minister Winstone Chitando, who was once the HCCL board chairperson and former Mines deputy minister Fred Moyo. Several companies have also been benefitting through coal concessions, while Hwange is struggling.

Others are ferrying Hwange coal at huge costs due to lack of repairs of equipment, thus rendering HCCL a feeding trough for a few individuals.

For instance, while HCCL has been placed under reconstruction, we hear allegations that Billy Rautenbach’s Liberation Mine is by the corner and benefitting from the coal resources in Hwange.

What has been very disturbing about the HCCL saga is that when other shareholders like London-based Zimbabwean businessman Nicholas Van Hoogstraten were about to give oral evidence in Parliament on how the HCCL went comatose, there was a lot of interference from politicians.

How then is HCCL going to be resuscitated if there is no political will to deal outright with the corruption and to bring those implicated to book?

When Van Hoogstraten appeared last year before the Mines Portfolio Committee to give his views on the resuscitation of Hwange, some Zanu PF legislators teamed up to disrupt the proceedings and ensured the businessman never uttered a word.

This was then followed by more disturbances during investigations by the Mines Portfolio Committee on the Hwange Colliery saga which resulted in death threats, and a $400 000 bribery storm allegation on former committee chairperson Temba Mliswa, and members of his committee, Anele Ndebele (Magwegwe MP), Prince Dubeko
Sibanda (Binga North MP) and Leonard Chikomba (Gokwe Kabuyuni MP).

The bribery allegations also involved a powerful businessman, James Goddard, who is interested in HCCL. Mnangagwa and Vice-President Kembo Mohadi’s names have also been mentioned in the saga.

There is also the involvement of Shepherd Tundiya, recently described as a con-artist by Goddard and the four MPs involved in the $400 000 bribery storm.

Tundiya has been actively involved in the HCCL corruption, with allegations that his transport company, AVIM, is milking the company dry, and that he has been stealing some of the coal.

Worse still, Tundiya is said to have been masquerading as a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative and an officer of the Office of the President and Cabinet sent by Mnangagwa to sort out the Hwange mess. The question now is: From where really does Tundiya derive his powers?

Tundiya has used his CIO tag to even kidnap members of the HCCL board and management, threaten them, and to call the shots at Hwange.

The question that then arises is what next for HCCL? Who is going to bring an end to the corruption there because members of the Executive and Parliament, who
Zimbabweans expect to sort out the mess, are actually fingered in the alleged scam?

In the HCCL investigations, Parliament has been rendered useless and the Mines Portfolio Committee disbanded and reconstituted. Worse still, the committee was disbanded because of HCCL issues where some MPs seemed serious in resolving and exposing the graft, while others were bent on disrupting investigations.

HCCL is a very strategic mining company. It created a huge mining town which employed thousands, put up massive infrastructure and was a source of livelihood for thousands of families during its heydays.

Mnangagwa’s government needs to move with speed to resolve the corruption issues at Hwange and to make sure that those involved in bringing HCCL to its knees are brought to book.

The “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra will only work if there is a concerted effort to deal with corruption, which has destroyed strategic companies such as the HCCL.

NewsDay

Own Correspondent|ZANU-PF Member of Parliament for Lupane East Sithembile Gumbo has died at the age of 56.

According to sources within the ruling party, Hon Gumbo died on Monday evening at a local hospital where she was receiving treatment after being involved in an accident about two weeks ago.

She won the 2018 elections defeating seasoned MDC politician Dalumuzi Khumalo Dalumuzi.

She was the party Provincial Secretary for Administration in the Women’s League at the time of her death.

More details to follow.

SCHOOLS in Matabeleland North Province recorded shocking numbers of pupils who were raped and fell into child marriages while at least one was killed by another pupil.

Available statistics show that 46 cases of sexual abuse were reported, nine pupils dropped out of school due to early marriages and pregnancy in the province during the first term that ended last week.

Matabeleland North Provincial Educational Psychologist (PEP), Mr Michael Mache told The Chronicle that the statistics were from all the seven districts in the province – Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Tsholotsho, Nkayi, Lupane and Umguza.

“Of all these cases, Lupane has the highest figure with five deaths, nine cases of early pregnancies, nine cases of sexual abuse and eleven dropouts due to other reasons,” he said.

Mr Mache said many cases are never reported or are reported late making it difficult for school authorities to intervene.

“In most cases abuse cases are swept under the carpet by parents and perpetrators. This makes it very difficult to help the victim and our guidance and counselling members find it hard to investigate and counsel pupils,” he said.

Mr Mache said they have not established reasons for some deaths while some involve alleged murder and suicide.

“In Binga at Malinda Primary School there is a pupil who killed a school mate, in Lupane we received a suicide case and we are yet to identify other cases,” he said.

Mr Mache said it is difficult to trace all cases as some of the learners do not have identification documents.

“This is a worrisome issue in Matabeleland North. Most of our children do not have birth certificates. In the case of us trying to pursue the case whether with the police or other relevant stakeholders, we get stuck as we can’t produce the identity of the child,” he said.

Mr Mache said whenever a case is reported, children are counselled.

“Teachers conduct individual and group counselling and they bring serious cases to my office and we hold them there. We also engage their parents or guardians especially on gross cases of sexual abuse,” he said.

In an interview, the Acting Provincial Director (PED) Buhle Siziba said they are worried about the figures.

She said to address this issue, 28 teachers from all districts formed an association to intensify guidance and counselling, but the association needs funding to be fully established.

“We are worried by the rate at which our children die, get abused and drop out of school. This is a serious issue that needs teachers to come up with a strong guidance and counselling programme to sit down and understand problems that learners are going through,” she said.

“These are passionate teachers who approached us with the idea of starting an association, a good initiative that we welcomed and we are glad to say that our province now has a strong guidance and counselling association.”

State Media

Zimbabwe’s exports to the UK have increased by 276 percent to US$112 million in 2018 from US$30 million in 2012, according to ZimTrade, with Harare now working on strengthening bilateral and trade ties with London in preparation for BREXIT.

The UK is preparing to leave the European Union in the next few months and Zimbabwe has already drafted a bilateral trade agreement in preparation for BREXIT to strengthen the already existing trade relationships, ZimTrade said yesterday.

“Britain is working on leaving the European Union in the coming months and is now focused on strengthening bilateral and trade ties,” according to ZimTrade, the national trade development and promotion agency.

“Zimbabwe has drafted a bilateral trade agreement in preparation for BREXIT to strengthen the already existing trade relationships.”

In December last year Britain’s Department for International Trade (DIT) announced plans to set up an office in Harare.  

The DIT office, led by Mr Tom Hill, a distinguished official with impeccable credentials from international private finance, is expected to chart a new paradigm in the United Kingdom’s economic relations with Zimbabwe.

Mr Hill told the Global Trade Review then that the decision to set up shop in Zimbabwe was motivated by the UK’s realisation that “Africa is an increasingly important continent to the UK’s prosperity and security interests”.

Zimbabwe’s trade with the UK is currently based on the Interim Economic Agreement. 

Under the agreement, Zimbabwe is enjoying duty – free, quota free market access to the UK and other EU members. Since 2012, the United Kingdom has been one of the major source markets and export destinations for Zimbabwean products in the EU.

Last year, it was the third best export market, taking 21 percent of the product destined for the EU. 

The composition of Zimbabwe’s exports to the UK were diamonds, mange tout peas, black fermented tea, oranges, unmanufactured tobacco, fresh avocados, sculptures, fresh peaches, fresh nectarines, fresh raspberries, passion fruit and jewellery, among others. Major imports were motor vehicles, tractors, telephone sets, spare parts, live animals, medicaments and laboratory reagents, among others.

While exports are increasing, of concern is the fact that the structure of trade is skewed in favour of commodities such as diamonds which constituted 72 percent of total exports in 2018.  

“There is, therefore, need to support the export of value-added goods and services that have great potential in the UK market,” said ZimTrade. 

ZimTrade has introduced different projects and programmes to educate local companies about export opportunities in the UK market. To facilitate the penetration of this market, ZimTrade will do a market survey in the UK to promote and identify other products with potential.

The organic food market is one such market, a niche where Zimbabwe has great potential. In 2018, the UK market was worth US$305 billion and has been on a continuous growth for more than seven years. 

ZimTrade is currently working with 22 pineapple farmers in Ndiadzwa, Chipinge, for them to get organic certification so that they can access the United Kingdom market.

Other Zimbabwean organic products with potential include dried fruits and vegetables, fresh fruits and vegetables, among others. Organic products have a premium price of about 30 percent more compared to other products.

The UK has a population of 67 million with a Gross Domestic Product  of US$2,6 trillion, a GDP per capita of US$39 526,2 and is ranked 9th among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings.

State Media

By Own Correspondent| Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) led by Tafadzwa Musarara has expressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda through their lawyers that they want Justice Mayor Wadyajena removed from both participating and chairing the Portfolio committee on Agriculture, Water and Climate.

The association cited events that happened outside Parliament as symptomatic of a possibility that Wadyajena would not impartially execute his duties either as a memmber or chairperson of the Parliamentary Portifolio Committee.

It is alleged that the friction started after the committee postponed session that was scheduled for the 2nd of April without informing GMAZ.

GMAZ lawyers invited members of the media to whom they displayed their displeasure in the conduct of the Parliamentary Committe. Wadyajena is reported to have criticised GMAZ presser via his twitter handle.

GMAZ is being probed over grain procurement several issues pertaining to wheat and grain importation.-StateMedia

Farai Dziva|Zimbabweans have described Linda Masarira’ s new political party as a farce.

Commenting on Twitter true solder said :” I am actually failing to say the name out aloud without an inner gulp for some broken english- any one who can help. Another clown vying for a dialogue table”

My Motherland posted:”  
Linda don’t break our ribs with laughter plz.”

@PrinceBafethu said:”
Imagine waking up to find Linda as the Head of State, President of gvt , commander in chief of the ZDF and chancellor of all universities… Not only that being capped by Linda for all your degrees.”

By Own Correspondent| Douglas Mwonzora, MDC Alliance secretary general has cited the unfairness of the nomination process as the reason for his withdrawal from participating in the forthcoming party elective congress, a state media report has claimed.

Mwonzora was highly regarded as one of the contenders for the MDC presidential post before withdrawing to settle for the Secretary General post.

He revealed in an interview that he reported the matter to the relevant authorities who took no action.

He said:

“I am no longer able to continue participating in the current congress. I have raised my concerns to the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, ZCTU led by Mr Japhet Moyo but nothing was done.

I therefore had to withdraw because I do not wish to see the party divided.

I cannot continue participating in the congress under the present circumstances if the concerns I have raised remained unresolved.

The secretary general did not disclose the kind of matters that pushed him to withdraw from the race.

He only said:

There are internal but there are a number of concerns that I raised but were not addressed.- StateMedia

Own Correspondent|National Patriotic Front spokesperson Jealous Mawarire has made sensational claims that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government imported a contingent of Zambian witch doctors to sort out Gukurahundi spirits following him and some members of his party and government.

Criticising Mnangagwa for prioritising Gukurahundi victims re-burials over getting to the roots of the killings, Mawarire said Mnangagwa and his crew are attacked by the Gukurahundi spirits every night they go to bed forcing them to bring in the witch doctors.

According to Mawarire Mnagagwa’s failure to see priorities in dealing with the issue is because he is being tormented by the spirits.

Reburials are very important to superstitious Gukurahundists who are afraid of reprisals from avenging spirits. Vanoona zvipoko everytime when they go to sleep thats why last week they jetted N'angas from Zambia. Most of their decisions are N'anga inspired hence not rational. https://t.co/6dPZdQFHK6

— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) April 15, 2019

Mnangagwa, his Deputy Constantino Chiwenga and his Agriculture Minister Perence Shiri are amongst the top government officials accused of directly being involved in executing the Gukurahundi atrocities that killed over 20 000 people in the Matabeleland region shortly after independence.

Mnangagwa announced recently that the government will assist Gukurahundi victims to get birth certificates and death certificates for their relatives who lost their lives during that era.

Former President Robert Mugabe who presided over the government that executed the atrocities described the period as a moment of madness and blocked any discussions on the issue during his reign.

Own Correspondent|The on-going MDC Masvingo Province Congress is set to be the first to produce a major shock nomination and probably end in a chaos.

Highly placed sources at the congress which is currently in process indicate that the meeting is highly volatile with tension that may turn violent as the provincial executive led by James Gumbi intends to nominate Engineer Elias Mudzuri for party President against Nelson Chamisa.

The radical James Gumbi-led executive which has always clashed with Chamisa was nominated by most districts unopposed and returned into office.

The sources claimed that, the executive was ready to nominate Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora who since pulled out of the race leaving the executive to throw in Mudzuri in his place.

Another faction in the party led by Tongai Matutu is understood to have been readying itself to fight Mudzuri’s nomination.

Informed sources said that the risk of violence is very high as youth are being given beer in order to prepare for fights.

The story is developing.

Farai Dziva |A 25-year-old man from Mushumbi Pools has been arrested for allegedly killing his with a hammer.

Clive Jimmy of Bandayi village under Chief Chisunga in Mushumbi Pools allegedly killed his father with a hammer after he accused him of witchcraft, according to the police.

Jimmy was not asked to plead when he appeared before Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro, who remanded him in custody to April 24.

The state alleged that Jimmy was convinced by a Mbire traditional healer that family members had caused his mental sickness and failure to marry.

” The accused took a hammer and smashed his father Idaek Jimmy (59)’s head.

His father was rushed to Parirenyatwa hospital where he died the following day,” the court heard.

Farai Dziva|Outspoken MDC A official Tendai Biti has declared that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and RBZ governor John Mangudya have dismally failed to transform the country’s economy because they are using “unorthodox ” in a desperate attempt to avert the impending crisis.

Biti said the regime’s attempt to “rig the economy” has backfired.

“Feb 2019 the regime introduced a new currency called the RTGS $.

Two months later the regime announces an intention to introduce another currency .

A national currency is not a change of clothes De-dollarization has failed & will fail no matter what you call the currency #RankMadness”

By Own Correspondent- A Harare family with the assistance of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights successfully petitioned government authorities to conduct a post mortem for their relative who last month died a few hours after being released from Remand Prison.

The family, which had since last month been given lame excuses by hospital authorities barring them from conducting the post mortem at government run hospitals successfully conducted the post mortem using an independent pathologist.

The deceased, Witness Mashereni had an autopsy done on April 12 2019 despite that he died on February 14 2019.

This was a few hours after being released from Harare Remand Prison, where he was detained after he was arrested on Thursday 14 February 2019 for alleged criminal trespass.

Said the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) in a statement:

An independent pathologist on Friday 12 April 2019 conducted a post-mortem examination on the body of Witness Mashereni, who died last month under mysterious circumstances after his family’s lawyers successfully petitioned the High Court to be granted access to conduct
the autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.

Witness’s father Christopher Mashereni, engaged the services of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who through the family lawyer Fiona filed an urgent chamber application in the High Court on Tuesday
9 April 2019 seeking an order allowing authorisation of an independent
pathologist to carry out the post-mortem examination on the body of the deceased person.

Witness died some few hours after being released from Harare Remand Prison, where he was detained after he was arrested on Thursday 14 February 2019 for alleged criminal trespass.

For close to three weeks after his death, no post-mortem examination had been conducted to determine the cause of his death with Zimbabwean hospital authorities stating that they have no pathologists available to carry out the
autopsy.

While Witness’s family engaged an independent pathologist to carry out
the post-mortem, authorities at Chitungwiza Central Hospital failed to
provide authorisation for the pathologist to carry out the post-mortem at the state-run hospital or alternatively at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

In her court application, Iliff argued that the post-mortem examination needs to be carried out urgently because Witness’s body was decomposing such that the cause of death would be difficult to determine and his family which was mourning for the loss of their relative was eager to bury him

We met Gogo Mavhuyo in Chipinge. #CycloneIdai destroyed her home. She rescued her grandson & along with others in Manicaland is receiving temporary shelter, kitchen kits, aqua tablets, buckets & sleeping mats from @USAID, @theOFDA, @UNHCR, & @Goal_Gobal as they start to rebuild. pic.twitter.com/SJTbKDBzr1

— U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe (@USEmbZim) April 15, 2019

Farai Dziva|After being assisted by the military to topple his boss, Emmerson Mnangagwa took over power in controversial circumstances.

Many thought that the bond between Mnangagwa and Robert Mugabe had been broken.

However, Mnangagwa has sensationally revealed how he still adores his former boss in spite of the rift between the two “comrades in arms.”

Mnangagwa poured his heart out as he spoke glowingly of his former boss.

“Former president Mugabe and I communicate at least once a week. He is the founding father of this nation.

He was our commander during the Liberation Struggle. Nothing will ever stand in the way of that,” said Mnangagwa.

Farai Dziva|Zimbabweans have described Linda Masarira’ s new political party as a farce.

Commenting on Twitter true solder said :” I am actually failing to say the name out aloud without an inner gulp for some broken english- any one who can help. Another clown vying for a dialogue table”

My Motherland posted:”  
Linda don’t break our ribs with laughter plz.”

@PrinceBafethu said:”
Imagine waking up to find Linda as the Head of State, President of gvt , commander in chief of the ZDF and chancellor of all universities… Not only that being capped by Linda for all your degrees.”

MDC Alliance secretary general, Mr Douglas Mwonzora has said he withdrew from the presidential election race because the playing field was not even but tilted in favour of his rival Mr Nelson Chamisa.

He launched a scathing attack on party and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions for failing to address concerns that he had raised.
In an interview today, Mr Mwonzora said he had raised an array of irregularities that he said were rampant in the ongoing provincial congresses but the ZCTU which was superintending over the polls had failed to address them.

This, he said, had seen him withdrawing from the race.

“I am no longer able to continue participating in the current congress. I have raised my concerns to the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission, ZCTU led by Mr Japhet Moyo but nothing was done. I therefore had to withdraw because I do not wish to see the party divided,” said Mr Mwonzora.

“I cannot continue participating in the congress under the present circumstances if the concerns I have raised remained unresolved.”
Asked why he announced that he would contest the post of the secretary general, Mr Mwonzora said the statement was based on his desire to respect those who had nominated him to that post.

Pressed to divulge the concerns he had raised Mr Mwonzora referred questions to Mr Moyo.

“There are internal but there are a number of concerns that I raised but were not addressed,” he said.

When contacted for comment, Mr Moyo confirmed receiving the letter from Mr Mwonzora but said the committee had not yet sat to deliberate on them.

-State Media

Farai Dziva|The MDC A has accused Emmerson Mnangagwa of using cheap political manoeuvres to hoodwink the nation.

MDC A spokesperson Jacob Mafume said:”
Mnangagwa set up a commission to investigate the killing of people and before the ink had dried on the report of the commission, his government killed more people. That is inconsistency.

Now he is talking about compensation. Why should the taxpayer pay when no one has owned up for accountability yet? What happened to the officials that committed the killings? What has happened to the officials that committed the other (January) killings?

This does not make sense and only adds salt to injury.

The Motlanthe Commission nailed the army for killings and recommended that the people responsible for killing civilians be identified and punished. That has not been done up to now.”

Farai Dziva|The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe has announced that the price of mealie meal will go up by 70%.

This has been cause by the announcement of new producer prices by government.

“There is going to be an increase, we can’t stomach 70%. Today’s meeting was to discuss the next maize meal prices.

We have agreed on the new prices and when we are going to increase it, but we cannot announce it to you before we inform the government about it.

South America gives us maize. We think South America is going to be our biggest source of maize coming this season. We are not quite sure of how much they will be able to export to us given the disturbances in Venezuela.

However, our first priority is the region so I will be leading a delegation to Zambia and South Africa to see how much maize we can get in the region.

If there is any excess required then we will approach the Southern Americans,” the association told a daily newspaper.

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new dispensation is bragging about paying former First Lady Janet Banana, the wife of Zimbabwe’s first President Canaan Banana.

In his Independence speech, Mnangagwa said Banana’s wife is receiving her dues which she had been denied during the former President Robert Mugabe’s era.

We cannot deny that she is our former First Lady — President Mnangagwa said — and she is now receiving her dues which had been denied her in the previous era.

It will also be recalled that President Mnangagwa in 2017 took a similar compassionate stand regarding former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, securing his pension and house, among other entitlements.

Farai Dziva|MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa has just arrived for the Provincial Congress in Masvingo.

Below is a summary of Chamisa’s speech:

1. Congress number 9.
2. Police in Manicaland tried to disrupt the counting process
3. MDC is the leading party.
4. MDC is accountable
5. Nat. Org. Chabaya has done well.
6. Peaceful congress: no to violence
7. No manipulation of structure. An audit of structures.
8. MDC is a strong party.
9. We will keep Pres. Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy and the party is growing.
10. Unity …. Unity…
11. National conference will be held in Gweru.
12. Dealing with country’s problems NOW.
13. Everyone to participate in the congress election according to party template
14. MDC should be dominanting in all councils and parliament in Masvingo.
15. President and National leadership to witness if Masvingo provincial congress is taking place peacefully.

Farai Dziva|The MDC A Masvingo Provincial Congress has begun in earnest.

The Congress is being held at Masvingo Sports club and thousands of party members are ready for the voting process.

While it is clear that Masvingo Province will nominate Nelson Chamisa for the presidency, the race for post of provincial chairperson has intensified.

Former MDC A Masvingo Urban MP Tongai Matutu is squaring off against current chairperson James Gumbi for the province’s most powerful post.

Speaking on the Provincial Congress, party official Jeffryson Chitando said:”By the look of things Tongai Matutu has the upper hand.

Gumbi has been rejected by the people of Masvingo.It is now clear that Matutu will romp to victory,” said Chitando.

MDC A members in high spirits at the Provincial Party Congress in Masvingo today

By Own Correspondent | More than 10 members of the Mugodhi Apostolic Church at Chitope in Wedza are feared dead after a truck loaded with maize bags veered off the road and ploughed into the congregants, who were at a church session.

The driver of the truck was seriously injured.

Dozens of congregants were reportedly seriously injured in the accident.

This is a developing story. More details to follow…

-Newsday

ADHOC COMPENSATION WORKING GROUP
This is the Group dealing with farm improvements compensation issues. It’s comprising of Government officials and representatives of former farm owners. It is the group that will come up with quantum figures to be paid to each former farmer.

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) April 15, 2019

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By Own Correspondent- MDC-T vice president Obert Gutu has threatened to go into exile if MDC leader Nelson Chamisa ever becomes the president of Zimbabwe.

Gutu is said to be a very bitter man since the acrimonious split of the party that was led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai soon after his death in 2018.

Gutu followed Khupe to form a splinter group that failed to win a single contested parliamentary or council seat in the 2018 elections. He is quoted as saying:

“I’m a principled and self-respecting professional and politician and I will never, ever sacrifice my beliefs and principles for hollow populism, fakeness, chicanery, tomfoolery, buffoonery, wanton violence and misguided ambition clothed with rampant corruption.

I can bet you my bottom RTGS dollar that in the very unlikely event that these charlatans manage to cheat their way to State House at No.1 Chancellor Avenue in Harare, I will immediately relocate and go to live outside Zimbabwe. I just can’t stand them.

I have got nothing but utter contempt for their emptiness, fakeness, lack of vision, lack of mission, greed, malice, violence and corruption.

And if you think that my political career is over, then you should closely watch out for events that will be taking place in the next few months. My learned friend, I’m still very much in the mix. Watch the space!”-Zoom Zimbabwe