Heavy rains destroyed the roof at Beitbridge border post arrivals section at the green route zone.

The green route zone is for travelers with nothing to declare or those importing goods under the traveler’s rebate.

More to follow…

State Media

GOVERNMENT has offered civil servants 10 percent pay increment across the board beginning this April but this was immediately rejected by its workforce which still insists on a planned strike in two weeks’ time.

This was revealed at a press briefing by APEX Council chairperson, Cecilia Alexander following a round of wage negotiations by government and its restless employees.

Alexander said they were going to brief their constituency on the offer and will meet government next week to present their position.

Civil servants on Tuesday gave their employer the mandatory 14-day notice to embark on a massive strike action while insisting their current wages have been eroded by a recent wave of price increases.

They have been demanding their wages to be paid in US dollars but this was vehemently rejected by a cash-strapped government which says it does not generate its revenue in forex.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said any pay increases offered by his administration shall be within the country’s budget.

The lowest paid civil servant currently earns $414 and shall start receiving an additional $41 if government proceeds to implement the offer.

More to follow…

Jane Mlambo| Political analyst, Ibbo Mandaza has blasted Zanu PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa for failing to address the prevailing economic crisis in the country which has seen fuel disappear from service stations among other challenges.

Writing on Twitter, Mandaza said those in charge are clueless and in disarray when things were getting out of hand.

So, now that the country is burning and those purportedly in charge are clueless and virtually in disarray, what is to be done? @glenmpani @ProfJNMoyo @ClaudeKKabemba @mawarirej @TamukaKagoro77 @TrevorNcube

— Ibbo D Mandaza (@ibbosnr) January 9, 2019

Correspondent|Bulawayo ZANU PF Youths on Thursday stormed fuel service stations and confiscated all jerrycans from people who were on the queue to purchase fuel.

Fuel stations are allowed to sell fuel to buyers with jerrycan containers.

“Today Zanu PF youths are moving around the few Bulawayo service stations with fuel confiscating jerrycans.” Said Journalist Kholwani Nyathi. “Probably a novel way to arrest the raging crisis in their heads.”

It was not clear in what capacity did the youths have to engage in such acts.

“ZANU PF has a pathologist mentality of being useful only when life is already extinct.” Commented one Joachim Garikai.

On Wednesday in Kwekwe members of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces were reported to be manning most of the service stations controlling the crowd. At some instances they allowed their fellow ZDF members to purchase fuel ahead of other motorists who had queued for more than 7 hours.

Zimbabwe has been hit by massive fuel shortage since the disputed July 2018 elections. The situation has been attributed to lack of foreign currency which is needed to be allocated to fuel companies to import fuel from South Africa and Mozambique.

However Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Raymond Majongwe announced on Twitter that he saw 101 trucks of fuel tankers heading to Harare and Mutare.

VENDORS at Mbudzi Round About market clashed with their foreign landlord over charging them rent in United States dollars on Wednesday.

More than 150 vendors accommodated at the market found gates closed with bouncers demanding to see new lease agreements before allowing access to the premises.

The premises are managed by one Felix of Russian origin who refused to entertain H-Metro over allegations that he is demanding rentals in United States dollars, forcing the tents to sign new lease agreements.

The vendors’ chairperson Skumbuzo Munyawarara told H-Metro that they were given a short notice to vacate the place if they fail to pay rentals in United States dollars beginning of January 2019.

“Felix is becoming cruel to us and affecting families conducting their businesses here,” said Manyawarara.

“Some of the tenants do manicure and he is expecting them to charge in US dollars.

“Ndiyani angagadzirwe nzara achibhadhara US dollar?

“It is illegal to buy forex on black market and we have nowhere to get the US dollars he is demanding.

“He want all the tenants to pay half the amount in local currency and the other half in United States dollars but none of the tenants is willing to sign that agreement since we do not charge our clients in foreign currency.

“What is so disturbing is that the money is deposited into another person’s account since he is after evading tax and his timing has affected our business when we are trying to raise cash after paying school fees.

“We wrote a petition to him where we gave all our grievances and he promised to meet us only to be met by bouncers by the gate requesting for new lease agreements.

“It is unfair and he is refusing to meet vendors as agreed. We will take the issue to higher offices in order to defend men and women empowered running their business here,” said Munywarara.

Hmetro

Own Correspondent|FOUR people died and 15 others were seriously injured when a Bindura-bound kombi they were travelling in overturned at the 82-kilometre peg along the Harare-Mukumbura Highway.

“I can confirm that four people have died so far as a result of a kombi accident that was being driven by Wellington Kagona,” police confirmed.

One died on the spot, and two upon admission.

The accident occurred on Monday evening.

Another person died yesterday at Bindura Hospital, while 15 others are in critical condition at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals,” Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe said.

He said Kagona tried to overtake at a blind spot, but lost control of the vehicle when he saw an oncoming truck and the kombi overturned several times, landing on its roof.

Police said the accident was due to human error and speeding.

He urged motorists to observe road traffic rules.

GOVERNMENT has developed a comprehensive plan to revive the economy, which will involve painful measures like a bitter pill administered to a patient, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.

He made the remarks in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday while addressing the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group.

The ECR Group is a centre right political wind in the European Parliament established in 2009 under the founding principles of Prague. This is the first time Zimbabwe has been invited to the group’s meetings.

President Mnangagwa’s Government has prioritised re-engagement with all nations as it seeks to revamp an economy that has suffered isolation for decades.
In his address, Minister Ncube outlined part of the measures which the Government is taking to revive the economy.

These include cutting Government expenditure, privatising parastatals, liberalising the economy and reducing red tape. He said urgent and bold action was needed.

“Zimbabwe is back on the map. Just as we open up our economy and democratic space, so too are we opening our arms to the world,” said Prof Ncube.

“The dark times are behind us, and the future is bright and positive; a future of cooperation and dialogue. A future whereby Zimbabwe is an active and responsible member of the global community,” he said.

“The Zimbabwean economy faces a raft of serious challenges, including a high budget deficit and significant debt, and currency challenges. These are challenges we cannot face alone,” stated Minister Ncube.

He however, said it was impossible to run away from the challenges.
“And while these challenges are significant, with major structural reform, they are not insurmountable. What is required is urgent and bold action, and tough decisions. We cannot run away from the challenge — the longer we wait to address it, the harder it will be,” he said.

“Government has developed a comprehensive plan to revive our economy and put us on the path to steady economic growth. The only way to a stronger economy is to restructure, rebuild and reform,” said Prof Ncube.

“This plan involves some painful measures to get our national budget under control. These measures will be felt by all of us, but are unavoidable if we want to get our economy back on track,” he added.
He said pain would be felt as the measures were implemented but it was unavoidable.

“These measures are those of a doctor performing a lifesaving operation. They cause pain, but the pain is the only thing that will lead to a recovery. As Margret Thatcher once said, ‘Yes, the medicine is harsh, but the patient requires it in order to live’,” said Minister Ncube.

He urged Zimbabweans to be humble in their expenditure.

“We must all be humble and austere, and Government is leading by example. We are continuing to make big cuts to perks and unnecessary expenditure, so that Government lives within its means,” he said.

“Alongside this, we are making structural reforms to liberalise our economy, privatise inefficient parastatals, reduce red tape and regulation and attract investment,” said Minister Ncube. He urged the nation not to panic.

“It is vital that we do not panic. The money in Zimbabwean’s bank accounts is and continues to be of value, and Government is guaranteeing the availability of all essential commodities, including fuel,” he said.

“Amidst these reforms, our growth projections remains strong, a similar rate to some of the fastest growing economies in Africa. This is an indication of where we are going if we keep on this path.

“We must be realistic and recognise the scale of the challenge. According to the IMF, it takes a few years for an economy such as ours to overcome our constraints. There are no silver bullets or quick fixes. Reform, hard work and patience are the only solution,” said Minister Ncube.

He said the road to an upper middle income economy was long, bumpy but guaranteed a secure future.

“We are undertaking a shared journey towards a better and more secure future. The road is long, winding and at times bumpy. But there is no other way. This is the road to an upper middle-income economy, ala Vision 2030, and if we travel it together, with patience and purpose, we will realise our vision,” he said.

“The new Zimbabwe cannot go it alone. We must open our arms to the international community, international investors, and international financial organisations,” said Minister Ncube.

— State Media

BULAWAYO pharmacies and clinics have run out of birth control pills amid a biting shortage of basic drugs and medicines in the country, the Southern Eye has gathered.

A survey on clinics and pharmacies in the city showed they did not have the commonly used Marvelon birth control pill.

The pill, which is taken daily as a way of preventing pregnancy, has been in short supply in the past months, according to users of the product.

A Luveve resident, Gladys Mukanhaire, said she recently visited the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) offices in the city after failing to acquire the tablet in shops and council clinics.

“I normally get the pill at Princess Margaret Clinic in the city, but of late they do not have any supplies. I bought my current supplies from Botswana in November. This issue is really serious. I urge the responsible authorities to address this issue as a matter of urgency,” Mukanhaire said.

The government-run Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) reportedly face shortages of the birth control pill, but Mpilo clinical director Solwayo Ngwenya declined to comment when contacted yesterday.

Health minister Obadiah Moyo said he was attending running meetings when reached for comment yesterday.

ZNFPC Bulawayo provincial manager Blessed Gumbo said Marvelon was being brought into the country by private players.

“As the ZNFPC, we have in our stocks what is called the control pill, which is packaged in Zimbabwe and readily available. The Marvelon is procured by private players and I would like to think that maybe issues to do with foreign currency to procure are a challenge, resulting in its shortage,” Gumbo said.

Bulawayo proportional representation legislator and MDC chairperson, Tabitha Khumalo said shortages of the birth control tablets trampled on women’s reproductive health rights.

“I have heard a lot of people complaining about the shortages of contraceptives. I think government should respect our right to reproductive health by making sure that contraceptives are in abundance,” Khumalo said, adding she would also raise the issue with the Health minister in Parliament.

The country faces drug shortages, and the situation has been made a lot worse by demands from pharmacies and private health delivery institutions to be paid in United States dollars, forcing some people to resort to traditional medicines.

NewsDay

Two self-proclaimed prophets from Karoi, who hired a pirate taxi in Beitbridge before stealing the vehicle and attempting to sell it, have been convicted of theft by the Beitbridge regional magistrate.

Type Mutumwa (30) Jefta Zishiri (age not stated), both of Chikangwe suburb in Karoi, denied the charge of theft of a motor vehicle when they appeared before Chrispen Mberewere, who convicted them and remanded them to today for sentencing.

Prosecutor Munyonga Kuvarega said Tinashe Gorejena was employed by Delight Gwanyanya as a taxi driver and was using an unregistered Honda Fit to operate within the Beitbridge radius.

Towards end of April last year, the two self-proclaimed prophets visited Beitbridge from Wedza and established their “shrine” near White Lodge. They hired Gorejena’s taxi about four times and paid the driver for the services.

However, on May 4, the two approached the taxi driver and pretended as if they wanted to hire the taxi again to go to White Lodge to see a girlfriend.

The two drove away, leaving the taxi driver behind but never returned, instead switching off their mobile phones and changing sim cards.

It was the State case that the two drove to Slaughter Farm between Lion’s Den and Karoi in Mashonaland West.

Acting on a tip off, police on June 3 arrested Zishiri in Karoi as he tried to sell the vehicle. Mutumwa was later arrested in Karoi.

The vehicle, which was worth $4000, was recovered.

NewsDay

By Precious Shumba| The story of US$150 000 being reportedly stolen from Robert Mugabe from his Zvimba rural mansion reveals that Zimbabwe’s political elites keep huge amounts of foreign currency stashed in their houses yet want the poor majority to bank the foreign currency so that they loot it and then use their reserved funds when the going really gets tough.

Robert Mugabe will forever be Robert Mugabe- selfish and a mentor of many in today’s Zanu PF leadership.

The foreign currency shortages are not caused by sanctions alone. They are directly caused by the greedy political vultures who believe that they alone should be in possession of foreign currency.

They are prepared to take the foreign currency to foreign destinations so that they become very rich, while they pretend to be seriously concerned by industrialisation and modernisation in Zimbabwe. Thieves!

Political analyst, Alexander Rusero has the condemned what he termed the caricaturing of parliament by legislators from both MDC and Zanu PF who continue to engage in petty politics at the expense of legislative agenda.

In an interview with Newsday, Rusere said

“Its unfortunate part was that Parliament was currently being reduced into a caricature, with no pragmatic policies being crafted, and with Zanu PF failing to use its two-thirds majority to demonstrate servant leadership.

“Everything is sacrificed whenever Zanu PF wants to play the big brother role and pretend that they have a bigger role to play and they need to concentrate on issues affecting the people, instead of MPs,” he said.

“The moment you have one political party posturing and trying to be populist on the issue of MPs’ vehicles, it becomes a problem.”

Rusero added that instead of trying to pontificate and pretend to be less greedy than opposition MPs, Zanu PF should concentrate on fixing the comatose economy.

“We have not even seen these Zanu PF MPs in fuel queues, suffering like the rest of the Zimbabweans and their stance is merely populist,” he said.

Jane Mlambo| Striking doctors who returned to work today after downing tools for 40 straight days have remarked that they are returning to work begrudgingly.

The doctors said they will be working with whatever is available while waiting on government to address their grievances.

As we return to work begrudlingly, we will be working with whatever is available. @Itairusike @InfoMinZW @MoHCCZim @MNgwenya2 @MunatsiEdgar @healthtimeszim @HeraldZimbabwe @Solwayo1 @harumutasa @GTMubonani
We hope the promises are fulfilled, pic.twitter.com/6ECjICIzFT

— ZHDA (@ZHDAofficial) January 10, 2019

In their statement to the media this morning, the doctors said the industrial action was meant to remind and send a clear message to the relevant authorities that the healthcare sector in the country was deteriorating and hence the need for urgent interventions.

Below is the full statement;

THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY DOCTORS NATIONWIDE HAS ENDED.

ZHDA is delighted to inform the membership, members of the press and public that the industrial action by doctors in Government hospitals has come to an end. It has been 40 straight days since doctors embarked on an industrial action citing various grievances that were and are crippling health service delivery in public institutions.

The industrial action was meant to remind and send a clear message to the relevant authorities that the healthcare sector in the country was deteriorating and hence the need for urgent interventions.

It is therefore important to appreciate that, the MOHCC has made commitments with its employees to address these crippling factors and we can only hope that these commitments would be implemented in all honesty at the correct time frame and as agreed, for the benefit of our patients and the country as a whole.

We further state that it should not take 40 days with doctors on industrial action for the Ministry Of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) to act and restore normal service delivery in government health institutions. Therefore, there is a need of consistent and continuous engagements between doctors and the MOHCC to avoid unnecessary interruption of service delivery.

The MOHCC has committed in writing that it will consistently improve supply of medicines, medical and surgical sundries in public health facilities. It was further agreed that there is going to be unfreezing of critical posts for doctors across Central, Provincial and District Hospitals.

We hope these promises will be fulfilled with urgency, as it has been the culture of the Health Service Board to go back on agreements before.

We also continue to negotiate on outstanding issues like remuneration and working hours, and we hope we find common ground soon.

We believe that, if these crucial commitments are implemented, it will go a long way in alleviating the challenges our members encounter when discharging lifesaving services in Gvt hospitals.

Industrial action by doctors should not be the only language that brings about improvement in drug supply and conditions of service.

Good dialogue, transparency, honesty and accountability should be incorporated to provide a platform that improve service delivery.

Sadly, with no salary review, and frozen December salaries in this rough and ravaging economic environment, it remains a dilemma how our members will report to work daily.

Indeed, poor remuneration and the current fuel shortage remain a threat that may spontaneously hinder our members from reporting to work daily and discharging quality health services to patients.

That being said, our members have begrudgingly resumed work with effect from today, as dialogue continues.

We, as ZHDA, reaffirm to the Government our determination and commitment to unite and work towards a healthy and prosperous Zimbabwe.

We wish to do so, through advocating for efficient and effective health delivery system and improvement in conditions of service for doctors.

Last but by no means least, we express our sincere gratitude to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and Munyaradzi Gwisai and Partners Law Firm for the legal cover they provided to the association and its members.We are forever indebted to you.

Jane Mlambo| MDC Chief Whip, Prosper Mutseyami has rubbished Zanu PF’s resolution to forego parliamentary vehicles saying even President Emmerson Mnangagwa drives an expensive limousine while going on international trips aboard an expensive Swiss private jet.

In an interview with Newsday, Mutseyami said;

“That statement by Togarepi that Zanu PF legislators will forego the vehicles and luxuries is just playing to the gallery because even President Emmerson Mnangagwa drives an expensive limousine and goes on international trips in a hired and expensive Swiss private jet,” Mutseyami said.

“Just like former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa moves around in a motorcade with about 15 cars and bikers, and whenever he goes to rallies, he uses three helicopters, and so can you call it foregoing luxuries by Zanu PF?”

By Dorrothy Moyo| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to visit the United Kingdom after his Davos trip this month. If it succeeds, this will make him hit 27 foreign trips since the November 2017 coup.

Sources inside ZANU PF said if plans succeed, Mnangagwa will visit Oxford where he is due to make a talk. The meeting was previously slated for November last year and was unceremoniously shifted following public relations fears due to the 1 August massacre.

“If all goes well, the President will be in the UK in the coming few weeks and you will know once the programs are ashore,” the source said.

Below are Mnangagwa’s foreign trips since his state house ascension in November 2017.

December 2017: Pretoria, South Africa

January 2018: Davos, Switzerland

January 2018: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

January 2018: Luanda, Angola

January 2018: Lusaka, Zambia

January 2018: Windhoek, Namibia

January 2018: Maputo, Mozambique

February 2018: Gaborone, Botswana

March 2018: Gaborone, Botswana

March 2018: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

March 2018: Kigali, Rwanda

April 2018: Beijing, China

June 2018: Nouakchott, Mauritania

June 2018: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

July 2018: Johannesburg, South Africa

August 2018: Windhoek, Namibia

September 2018: Beijing, China

September 2018: New York, United States

October 2018: Lusaka, Zambia

November 2018: Conakry, Guinea

November 2018: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

January 2019: Moscow, Russia

January 2019: Minsk, Belarus

January 2019: Baku, Azerbaijan

January 2019: Astana, Khazakstan

January 2019: Davos, Switzerland.

It is with great sadness that a mentally ill man was trampled to death by an elephant in Binga. Rangers managed to put down the jumbo. Communities are discouraged to stay close to wild animals and to move at night. @METHI_Zimbabwe @SundayMailZim @UKinZimbabwe

— Tinashe Farawo (@FarawoTinashe) January 10, 2019

Jane Mlambo| Despite the economy choking and driving towards collapse, Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube appears not worried insisting that the current hardships are a result of an economy that is restructuring and reforming.

Posting on Twitter today, Professor Ncube who is currently in Brussels and will soon be heading to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF) said government is on a comprehensive plan to revive the economy and put it on a steady economic growth.

#Zimbabwe government has developed a comprehensive plan to revive our economy and put us on the path to steady economic growth. The only way to a stronger economy is to restructure, rebuild and reform. https://t.co/mRJdqGfm6H

— Prof. Mthuli Ncube (@MthuliNcube) January 9, 2019

While Ncube is adamant that the economy will revive, the current situation on the grounds points a different picture as instability seems to be rising with each passing day due to shortage of fuel and other basic commodities.

About 1 000 families from Sikato resettlement in Masvingo West constituency are facing an uncertain future after being served with seven-day eviction notices to vacate the land which they occupied at the height of the land reform programme in 2000.

The families, from seven villages; Muza, Chikutuva, Manunure, Makasva, Banga, Sithole and Marikutira, have been living at Mzaro Farm, which used to belong to a white former commercial farmer before it was parcelled out to the villagers.

Yesterday, armed police with officials from the Local Government ministry were serving the villagers with eviction notices.

But some of the villagers refused to sign them, resulting in village head Henry Makusha and a headman, Ratison Haruzivishe, being arrested for allegedly mobilising the villagers to resist.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not yet been informed of the arrests.

Some of the dejected villagers said they regularised their stay with the Lands ministry and were paying taxes to council, but were surprised to be told to leave the area.

No alternative place for resettlement or compensation has been offered by government.

The eviction order, dated January 8, 2019, but stamped on November 13 2018 and signed by Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement secretary Ringisai Chitsiko, read: “You are hereby given seven days to vacate Mzaro Farm, Masvingo province. You are violating section 3 of the Gazetted Lands (Consequential Provisions) Act Chapter 20:28; Gazetted Land Act in that you are occupying the said property without lawful authority.”

“You are hereby given an eviction notice and notice to vacate the property on or before January 15, 2019. Failure to vacate on or before this date will result in your arrest and prosecution.”

Some of the affected villagers said their future at the farm had been used as a campaign tool by Zanu PF, which promised them that they would not be moved if they voted for the ruling party.

The constituency falls under Ezra Chadzamira, who is also Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister.

“We have been here since 2000 and we built permanent structures. Now, from the blue, we are being told to leave. Where will we go? Where do we get the money to build again? This is unfair. We are not going anywhere because we don’t have anywhere to go. They can arrest us,” a villager, Saviours Makusha, fumed.

Another villager, Renson Dengu, said Zanu PF was now turning against them after they voted for it.

“While campaigning, Chadzamira told us that we would not be moved and he gave us trees to plant as a reforestation drive. They said we should vote for Zanu PF. Now the party won and it’s abandoning us. I think the President should intervene and save us,” Dengu said.

“We are Zanu PF people. Someone is fighting the President. Now we don’t know the difference between government and Zanu PF. Those pushing for our eviction are enemies of the President, they want us to rise against the party,” Kundai Haruzivishe, a 60-year-old widow, said.

Continuous efforts to get hold of Chadzamira were in vain as his mobile phone was switched off.

Lands minister Perrance Shiri has, however, been flighting notices warning people on State land without paperwork to vacate.

-Newsday

MDC Alliance chief whip Prosper Mutseyami yesterday accused his Zanu PF counterpart in the National Assembly, Pupurai Togarepi, of political grandstanding by claiming that ruling party legislators had resolved to forego luxury vehicles and entitlements.

Togarepi said his party MPs had decided to forego any entitlements so that the resources go towards more pressing national issues such as doctors and teachers’ salaries.

In December, MPs refused to pass the Parliament vote of $101 million until Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube increased it to $163 million to cater for their vehicles as well as salary and allowance increases.

Sources said the arm-twisting of Ncube would result in MPs’ salaries going up by 100%, while each legislator would get up to $80 000 for a new vehicle, likely to be a Toyota Land Cruiser model.

Mutseyami said the Zanu PF government had, for the past 20 years, ignored the plight of teachers and doctors while spending millions of dollars on vehicles.

“That statement by Togarepi that Zanu PF legislators will forego the vehicles and luxuries is just playing to the gallery because even President Emmerson Mnangagwa drives an expensive limousine and goes on international trips in a hired and expensive Swiss private jet,” Mutseyami said.

“Just like former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa moves around in a motorcade with about 15 cars and bikers, and whenever he goes to rallies, he uses three helicopters, and so can you call it foregoing luxuries by Zanu PF?”

He said while opposition MPs sympathised with workers and other suffering Zimbabweans, it was surprising that all of a sudden Zanu PF pretended to be good Samaritans.

Togarepi told NewsDay that if Parliament and government had the money for the vehicles, Zanu PF MPs would not reject them.

“But we are saying they should deal with the priorities first. We are saying should there be need to adjust or rationalise, we will do so to take care of the interests of the people first,” he said.

Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said utterances by Togarepi smacked of hypocrisy, as Zimbabweans were suffering because of excessive government expenditure.

“They spend billions of dollars in money-laundering and travelling and then they tinker around parliamentary issues like MPs’ vehicles, pretending that they do not want the vehicles,” Ngwenya said. “It is merely a public relations statement because MPs need vehicles. It is important for our MPs to be comfortable and mobile.”

Another political analyst, Alexander Rusero, said the unfortunate part was that Parliament was currently being reduced into a caricature, with no pragmatic policies being crafted, and with Zanu PF failing to use its two-thirds majority to demonstrate servant leadership.

“Everything is sacrificed whenever Zanu PF wants to play the big brother role and pretend that they have a bigger role to play and they need to concentrate on issues affecting the people, instead of MPs,” he said.

“The moment you have one political party posturing and trying to be populist on the issue of MPs’ vehicles, it becomes a problem.”

Rusero said instead of trying to pontificate and pretend to be less greedy than opposition MPs, Zanu PF should concentrate on fixing the comatose economy.

“We have not even seen these Zanu PF MPs in fuel queues, suffering like the rest of the Zimbabweans and their stance is merely populist,” he said.

-Newsday

Suspected arsonists are reported to have torched an old kitchen hut belonging to Chief Shumba of the “ED Pfee” hit song at his rural home in Mapanzure Village, Zvishavane on Wednesday.

Chief Shumba, whose real name is Admire Sibanda, who recently released a new song titled “Mushana paJecha”, said he was home with his family when the arsonists torched the hut.

He said they could have torched other rooms had he not been awakened by movements outside his bedroom.

In an interview with state media, a distraught Chief Shumba said he was thankful to God for sparing his life and that of his family members.

“We are still in shock as a family and the whole village,” he said.

“My kitchen hut was torched around 1am by people who have been tormenting me for singing the song ‘ED Pfee’ and my recent hit ‘Mushana paJecha’,” he said.

“In the wee hours of Wednesday, we heard some movements outside my bedroom and the next thing we saw the kitchen hut on fire. If we had not gone out I think they were targeting my bedroom.”

Chief Shumba said on New Year’s Eve, he saw some people milling around his homestead before they fled.

He said he has also been verbally abused in person and over the phone because of his allegiance to Zanu-PF and he had reported threats to his life and that of his family to the police before the latest incident.

Chief Shumba said he would not apologise for supporting Zanu-PF and the Government led by President Mnangagwa.

“These people are merchants of destruction, they are anti progress, and I will not be deterred,” he said.

“I will continue supporting Zanu-PF. After I released the song ‘Mushana paJecha’ I have been criticised even by some private newspapers, but let me make it clear that my song is aimed at bringing awareness to youths and those who are bent on causing mayhem and disorder in the country that each and every Zimbabwean has a role to play in socio-economic emancipation of the country and the need to work together and not throw spanners in each other’s works.”

– State Media

ZHDA is delighted to inform the membership, members of the press and public that the industrial action by doctors in Government hospitals has come to an end. It has been 40 straight days since doctors embarked on an industrial action citing various grievances that were and are crippling health service delivery in public institutions.

The industrial action was meant to remind and send a clear message to the relevant authorities that the healthcare sector in the country was deteriorating and hence the need for urgent interventions.

It is therefore important to appreciate that, the MOHCC has made commitments with its employees to address these crippling factors and we can only hope that these commitments would be implemented in all honesty at the correct time frame and as agreed, for the benefit of our patients and the country as a whole.

We further state that it should not take 40 days with doctors on industrial action for the Ministry Of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) to act and restore normal service delivery in government health institutions. Therefore, there is a need of consistent and continuous engagements between doctors and the MOHCC to avoid unnecessary interruption of service delivery.

The MOHCC has committed in writing that it will consistently improve supply of medicines, medical and surgical sundries in public health facilities. It was further agreed that there is going to be unfreezing of critical posts for doctors across Central, Provincial and District Hospitals.

We hope these promises will be fulfilled with urgency, as it has been the culture of the Health Service Board to go back on agreements before.

We also continue to negotiate on outstanding issues like remuneration and working hours, and we hope we find common ground soon.

We believe that, if these crucial commitments are implemented, it will go a long way in alleviating the challenges our members encounter when discharging lifesaving services in Gvt hospitals.

Industrial action by doctors should not be the only language that brings about improvement in drug supply and conditions of service.

Good dialogue, transparency, honesty and accountability should be incorporated to provide a platform that improve service delivery.

Sadly, with no salary review, and frozen December salaries in this rough and ravaging economic environment, it remains a dilemma how our members will report to work daily.

Indeed, poor remuneration and the current fuel shortage remain a threat that may spontaneously hinder our members from reporting to work daily and discharging quality health services to patients.

That being said, our members have begrudgingly resumed work with effect from today, as dialogue continues.

We, as ZHDA, reaffirm to the Government our determination and commitment to unite and work towards a healthy and prosperous Zimbabwe.

We wish to do so, through advocating for efficient and effective health delivery system and improvement in conditions of service for doctors.

Last but by no means least, we express our sincere gratitude to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and Munyaradzi Gwisai and Partners Law Firm for the legal cover they provided to the association and its members.We are forever indebted to you.

THE zanu-pf Manicaland Youth League says it is fully behind the national executive’s call for the dismissal of Cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries and other civil servants who are not fully rallying behind the President.

Youth League provincial secretary for administration Masimbamakuru Kangai made the announcement at a Press briefing held in Mutare on Monday.

“As the Manicaland Youth League, we want to fully support our national executive on the demands they made on the 4th of January 2019,” he said.

“Just to reiterate, all Cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, principal directors and other civil servants who are not fully behind His Excellency President Mnangagwa’s vision should be relieved of their duties with immediate effect. As Manicaland Youth League we are also urging the Government to include youths in land committees from provincial to the district level.”

Kangai urged Government to forfeit all unused mines and those lying idle.

“There are some mining claims in Manicaland which are being used for speculative purposes and depriving our province and the nation of revenue and the much needed foreign currency,” he said.

He thanked President Mnangagwa and his Government for unveiling $5 million for the Zimunya-Marange community ownership trust.

Kangai urged companies and other stakeholders operating in Chiadzwa diamond fields to employ youths from the province.

He also warned political parties to desist from violence and other ills that disturb the peace.

State Media

A BINGA man is suspected to have died due to excessive alcohol consumption at his workplace in Gokwe, following a drinking spree.

Mr Toliat Nyoni (37) from Siyajuni village under Chief Sinampande in Binga was seen downing undiluted alcohol the night before his death.

He reported for work on Monday morning but was turned away as he was drunk.

At around 10AM he sat under a shed at Gwanyika 52 Mine where he was employed and was found dead on that spot.

Police said they were awaiting post mortem results but it is suspected that the victim could have died due to excessive alcohol consumption.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident.

“We are investigating a case of sudden death of a man who died after a drinking spree. The now deceased was allegedly seen drinking different brands of undiluted spirits over the weekend.

“On Sunday colleagues and friends allegedly saw him down more bottles of undiluted hot stuffs. When he reported for duty in a drunken state, management instructed him to return home and rest. Instead he went and sat under a shed where he allegedly slept to his death,” he said.

Insp Goko said the body is at Gokwe District Hospital awaiting to be ferried to Bulawayo for post mortem.

He warned members of the public against excessive drinking of alcohol saying it results in unnecessary deaths and ailments which may affect people for the rest of their lives.

Sources at the mine said the allegedly highly intoxicated man reported for duty on Monday morning but was dismissed by management due to his drunken state.

“The management told him to go back home and rest but he failed to walk out of the mine premises and instead went to sit in a nearby shade. He leaned on the wall and fell asleep.

“At around 10AM during tea time, some colleagues decided to check on him, only to discover that he was dead,” said a source.

State Media-

Correspondent|THE opposition MDC has dismissed as a ‘public relations stunt’ the decision by Zanu PF legislators to give up expensive all-terrain vehicles and other luxury perks so that the cash-strapped government can direct resources to more pressing commitments.

“They must first give up what they have looted in the last decades,” MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said, refusing to state whether his party’s MPs will also follow suit and decline the vehicles.

Mafume dismissed the Zanu PF MPs’ move as a ‘gimmick’, effectively saying thieves could not be commended for supposed acts of charity.

Zanu PF leaders, he explained, looted billions of dollars from the country over the years with some of them owning more than half of real estate in towns like Victoria Falls.

Corruption scandals that have left some of them owning half of certain towns, diamonds worthy billions of dollars that they looted, must be paid back to the citizens.

Mafume was backed by political scientist Maxwell Saungweme who said ruling party legislators were hardly in want.

“They have already looted big over the years and have many luxury cars and mansions, their party gave them brand new vehicles just before the elections,” he said.

“This is the context you should critically look at their move to refuse new vehicles. It might be a mere publicity stunt while they get the same cars under the party and public coffers are diverted to support them.

“So, let’s be circumspect and a bit inquisitive about this public relations stunt.”

Legislators made the luxury car demands – expected to cost government millions of dollars – at a time government was refusing to hike its workers’ wages resulting in strikes by junior doctors and threats of a civil service-wide job action.

But in a gesture supposedly aimed at showing that “we are alive to these genuine concerns raised (and) also aware of government’s fiscal position” Zanu PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi revealed that ruling party MPs were giving up on the posh cars.

“ … we are ready to forgo the luxury vehicles that come with our parliamentary positions as we are representatives of less privileged people whose only access to health is public hospitals,” said Togarepi.

Led by independent Norton MP Temba Mliswa, a cross-party consensus of legislators blackmailed finance minister Mthuli Ncube into agreeing to buy them Toyota Land Cruisers after refusing to pass the treasury chief’s 2019 budget.

Mliswa also famously demanded three-course meals for MPs saying; “This budget must address our welfare.

“We are talking about having a world class Parliament, but we only have a one-course meal and the dessert is an apple and a banana, yet when we go out to other areas we get trifle, a nice fruit salad, custard, ice cream and all that.

But, look at what we get here – a mere banana and apple! There is no soup.”

Despite backing Mliswa at the time, Zanu PF has backtracked on the demands, exposing its opposition rivals as being more interested in their welfare than addressing the needs of their constituents.

Mafume, however, accused the ruling party of trying to deceive Zimbabweans.

Zanu PF MPs, he explained, could not pretend to be giving up vehicles that have not been provided.

In addition, most of them were also given new vehicles by the party ahead of the July 30 elections.

There are no cars that have come, and but they are new driving cars that they took for each other during the election campaign period.”

Correspondent|Some members of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces in Bulawayo arrived at a Puma garage in Bulawayo and demanded to be served first ahead of other motorists who had been queuing for more than five hours.

This was revealed by one of the motorists and senior journalist Kholwani Nyathi.

“I have been in a fuel queue at a Puma service station in Bulawayo for over five hours now and it is not moving an inch because soldiers in uniform want to be served first.” Nyathi revealed. ” Chances of leaving empty handed are high. The more things change, the more they remain the same.”

In Kwekwe members of the ZDF were allegedly doing crowd control in garages on Wednesday and would allow their members to get fuel ahead of other motorists on the queue.

Zimbabwe has been struck by a massive fuel crisis since the disputed 2018 elections.

On Wednesday Harare City Council announced that it has run out of fuel for the garbage collection cars and would only resume collection once they access fuel.

Ambulances in Bulawayo and Harare were seen stuck garages for more that 48 hours hoping that fuel would arrive.

Citizens have been calling for President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to sit down and dialogue towards finding a solution to the national problems.

A police officer and a soldier from the Zimbabwe National Army were ferociously attacked by a group of alleged border jumpers after they tried to stop them from crossing into South Africa illegally.

The cop and the soldier are reported to have confronted a group of 15 border jumpers at an illegal crossing point near the Chikwarakwara Irrigation Scheme, 120km east of Beitbridge Border Post.

The border jumpers did not take kindly to this and responded by attacking the duo using stones. The border jumpers then made good their escape into South Africa after beating up the policeman.

The border jumpers then crossed the (Limpopo) river into South Africa. The injured soldier was taken for attention at the Chikwarakwara Clinic and a report made at Tshitulipasi Police base.

However, Beitbridge Rural Police officer-in-charge Inspector John Mabhungu refused to comment on the incident and referred all questions to the provincial Press and liaison office in Gwanda.

NewsDay

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Information Energy Mutodi says there was nothing wrong with the country’s richest man Strive Masiyiwa supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the fight against sanctions.

Masiyiwa has been under fire for calling for an end to sanctions on Zimbabwe imposed by the European Union and the United States 16 years ago but have been having a harsh exchange with Jonathan Moyo over cyberbullying.

He has called for the sanctions to be removed so that Zimbabwe can move forward.

Proponents of sanctions say they do not affect ordinary Zimbabwe because they are targeted at only 141 individuals and entities. Zimbabwe’s problems are due to the mismanagement of the economy by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.

But several business leaders including former president of the Confederation of Zimbabwe industries, Busisa Moyo, and publisher Trevor Ncube, have backed Masiyiwa arguing that no one in business supports sanctions.

They all argued that it was a fallacy to say that sanctions only affected the 141 designated nationals and entities but ordinary Zimbabweans.

Masiyiwa stressed that sanctions hurt business saying: “I have documents and emails from bankers and investors. I tried so hard to persuade some of them, often suggesting that they are not interpreting the sanctions correctly.

“In my case I was forced to go to China to secure loans to support our Zimbabwean businesses. But this was not always ideal. I have spoken about it publicly on many occasions even in the US and China itself.

“It is not right that we as business should have to work under such conditions, when all we want is to create jobs and livelihoods for ordinary people,” he said.

Mutodi today said: “There is nothing wrong with Strive Masiyiwa supporting President Mnangagwa in the fight against sanctions. Zimbabweans must know when to fight & when to unite. We need everyone’s voice in the fight against sanctions including the opposition & Prof JN Moyo.”

One of Masiyiwa’s critics Rutendo Matinyarare says he supports Strive 200% in the fight against sanctions.

“My only concern is how genuine is he coz HE sits on the Council On Foreign Relations and Rockefeller Foundation, HIS bosses instituted those sanctions. So why then can’t he lobby his handlers for the removal of sanctions?” he asks.

Inside Zimbabwe

Disciplinary hearings against doctors who participated in the illegal industrial action will be fair and transparent and will continue to be conducted as scheduled, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.

In a statement last, night Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji encouraged the striking doctors returning to work to subject themselves to this process arguing that information being peddled that all who presented themselves for the hearings will severely be dealt with and dismissed summarily was ‘inaccurate and misleading.’

“While we cannot determine outcomes of disciplinary procedure, we would like to assure all affected that fair and transparent disciplinary procedures are and will continue to be carried out,” said Dr Gwinji.

He said as per collective bargaining agreement senior doctors have also been incorporated in the hearings as part of the tribunals and observers to ensure fairness and transparency to the whole process.

“As per the request by the affected doctors, their consultants have been incorporated into the hearings as part of their tribunals and as observers to demonstrate transparency and fairness of the disciplinary procedures,” said Dr Gwinji.

He said for those who resume duty, provisions for applying for advances on their salaries are also still in place and have not been withdrawn.

“Ministry therefore encourage affected doctors to subject themselves to due processes and appreciates the commitment of those who have presented themselves for this process. We thank those doctors who have resumed duties at their station,” he said.

Disciplinary hearings against doctors who participated in the industrial action started last week Friday and to date, 35 members have presented themselves.

As of yesterday, 238 members defaulted from the disciplinary hearings. The disciplinary hearings were necessitated by the Labour Court ruling which declared the industrial action, which entered day 39 today as illegal.

State Media

A colorful wedding ceremony ended tragically at Chachacha Growth Point in Shurugwi on Saturday when a 14-year-old groomsman died in a freaky car accident during the procession.

Midlands Police Spokesperson Ethel Mkwende said they have not received the report.

The Mirror gathered that Response Mapfuti was riding in one of the cars in the wedding procession when the driver lost control, veered slightly off the road and side-swiped a tree.

Mutemeri who had his head hanging out through the window as he celebrated the event crashed against the tree and died. He died on the spot, according to authoritative sources.

The car was being driven by Diploma Mutemeri.

The deceased was buried at Mutemeri Village on Tuesday. The incident left a wide rift between some family members at the wedding with others saying the wedding should be stopped while others advocated for the event to go on.

Although the wedding was allowed to continue after the incident, there were also sharp clashes with some family members condemning the continuation of the event.

The wedding was hosted atMutemeri Village under Chief Mupangani.

Marvelous Madzivanyika, an eye witness said the incident was so shocking it left people confused the question of continuing with the wedding lingered on until the end.

“The boy’s death so early into the wedding shocked everyone but of more surprise was the continuation of the event even when there was already a death in the wedding party,” said Madzivanyika.

-Masvingo Mirror

Zimbabwe consumed almost 480 million more litres of petrol and diesel in six months between June and November last year than in the same period in 2017, a gargantuan 77 percent extra, at an additional foreign currency cost of more than US$200 million, The Herald can report.

It is not known as of now who used the extra fuel and for what.

Figures released by the Ministry of Energy and Power Development show that consumption of diesel and petrol in the first five months of last year roughly tracked consumption in the same period a year earlier.

There was an anomaly with petrol, with March 2018 consumption more than twice the March 2017 level, but that was partly compensated by the January 2018 level which was more than 40 percent below the January 2017 level.

But between June and November consumption rose exponentially each month with diesel peaking in October at 109 percent of the October 2017 level and petrol in September hitting 126 percent of the 2017 level. Consumption then started dropping sharply and by November both fuels were around 38 percent above 2017 levels.

Diesel consumption was 71 percent higher in the six months, June to November overall, while petrol was 86 percent. Generally, fuel consumption in an economy, especially over a short period like a year, should mirror economic growth.

An increase in the GDP of 5 percent should be matched by an increase in fuel consumption of 5 percent, economists say. Other factors can make the growth in fuel use higher or lower than economic growth.

If the growth is in sectors where fuel is a larger cost factor, fuel use growth will likely be higher than economic growth.

The fact that the bulges on the graph were similar for diesel and petrol discounts explanations around more personal use or more people driving to work.

A high percentage of diesel fuel is used by commercial entities than by private commuters. Thus one would expect a close correlation between diesel consumption and economic growth.

Similar consumption bulges for diesel and petrol also remove ethanol percentages from the equation. The percentage of ethanol in petrol has varied, but the biggest ethanol shortage in 2018 was earlier in the year, when consumption more closely matched 2017 levels. And in any case the maximum percentage ever was 20 percent.

A lot of Zimbabwe’s growth between 2017 and 2018 was in agriculture, where there would be higher fuel consumption and higher transport use bringing the harvests to market. But the April and May consumption figures, the busiest harvest period, closely track the equivalent in 2017 and even the June figure is not that much higher.

Logistics experts noted that the switch in the Zimbabwean economy from less imported consumer goods to more local production tends to push down average transport distances of truck runs because of reduced distances.

The election last July would have had an effect, but not in the hundreds of millions of litres. The May figures for 2017 and 2018 are close, while the climb in June and July for diesel was below the peak consumption although petrol did have a spike in July.

But analysts said an extra 130 million litres in July could not be explained by the election. This would imply that every man, woman and child in Zimbabwe each drove 100km on election business.

The total extra consumption of 479 million litres in the six months of the bulge comes to around 12 000 loads of 40 000-litre tankers. But even the 12 000 loads would be 2 000 a month or close on 70 a day. At peak consumption there would be more than 100 extra tanker loads a day, seven days a week.

There were suggestions that Zimbabwean fuel was being smuggled over borders by dealers wanting to acquire foreign currency, in exchange for the transfer dollars they were using to buy the fuel in the first place, and to take advantage of arbitraging between regional fuel prices. But 100 full tankers a day crossing the border out of Zimbabwe would probably be noticed.

There has been a number of new service stations in 2018, but that should not affect demand or sales, but simply redistribute market share. Economic growth driving fuel consumption can most of the new stations. On the other hand the black market can see a percentage of fuel sales looped through semi-criminal dealers but the same quantity reaches the end users.

The monetary value of diesel and petrol during the five months, as recorded by ZimStats, shows the same bulges on the graphs, but less dramatic than the consumption bulges. This is because the cost of fuel was usually falling in the six months.

Pump prices do not vary much since a large fraction of the pump price is made up of fixed costs: pipeline and haulage charges, taxes, levies and mark-ups for oil companies and service stations are all in cents per litre. The actual cost of the fuel as it arrives in Zimbabwe is a lot less than the pump price.

But the bulge, much of it without obvious explanation, still chewed up more than $200 million more in the six months between June to November last year than the same period in 2017.

Analysts noted a challenge however in that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which allocates all the foreign currency for fuel imports, either directly or through the oil companies, and the energy regulator, Zera, both only monitor use of the currency based on the paperwork generated. But neither they, nor ZimStats nor anyone else goes beyond monitor the total imported.

For instance, service stations are rarely checked, and even then only when there is a specific complaint, and no one monitors fuel consumption once vehicles leave a service station. Thus no one knows who bought and used that extra 480 million litres in the six months and what it was used for.

-State Media

Two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority bosses who today appeared before Harare Magistrate Ruramai Chitumbura on allegations of fraud have been released on $500 bail each.

The duo, Taurayi Mugwiji and Francis Chari were also charged with criminal abuse of office.

It is the state’s case that Mugwinji, who was employed by ZIMRA as a finance and administrative manager tempered with the company’s payroll system installed through a company called Touchstone Computer System Pvt Ltd and unlawfully undervalued his salary in the payday payroll system without the knowledge of the complainant Chiedza Stella Manyangadze knowledge.

According to the state, Mugwiji’s action caused Manyangadze to deduct and remit to ZIMRA PAYEE which was not commensurate with Mugwiji’s salary.

The misrepresentation resulted in Mugwiji remaining with a total amount of $20 711.59 in his salary which he converted to his own use.

Meanwhile, on a different charge, Chari, a ZIMRA employee appeared in court today answering to criminal abuse of office after he allegedly issued a Commercial Temporary Import Permit to an unqualified vehicle.

However, the two were granted $500 bail each with conditions to report to CID CCD twice a week, surrender their travelling documents to the clerk of court and not to interfere with state witnesses.

Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the state.

-263Chat

A Zimbabwean maid, Barbra Gurupira has shocked many people in South Africa including her own bosses after she completed her Law degree using domestic worker salary.

Her boss Tim Theron, a South African based actor took to Facebook to share the news of Gurupira’s achievement saying;

“This awesome lady is Barbra Gurupira. We found her through Sweepsouth when we were looking for someone to help us with the chaos in our house over the holidays. We were chatting about her family when she shared the following: She put herself through university by working as a domestic worker and completed her LLB in October of this year – she even had a few distinctions! But now she is desperately looking for a firm to do her articles at.

“She’s clearly a disciplined hard worker. After all, you don’t work AND study this hard if you’re not.

”Her English proficiency is impressive and it was clear that she has a good head on her shoulders. We got the impression that (together with her husband, who studied in a similar way to become an accountant) she is working with a goal in mind.

“Any attorneys/firms (preferably in the Cape) that might be willing to grant her an interview for a chance to complete her articles? Here’s your chance to give someone an opportunity that might make an incredible difference in a family’s life!
(For enquiries: We have all her information, as well as a transcript of her marks and qualification available.)”

-Mail and Telegraph

Jane Mlambo| Harare Residents Trust Director, Precious Shumba has blasted the ruling party and main opposition MDC for ignoring the economy while concentrating on fighting over who has the most support.

Commenting in the Daily News, Shumba said Economy was in turmoil owing a legitimacy crisis that followed a disputed electoral outcome in the July 30 harmonised elections.

Below is an excerpt from Shumba’s comment in The Daily News;

The major political highlights in 2018 included the elections held on July 30, 2018, where the majority in urban areas hoped for the ouster of Zanu PF but the party fought back through their rural strongholds. However, the major highlight was that the rural areas were largely accessible to the opposition but the major talking point is how far the rural areas have been democratised to embrace modernity and new political thinking.

On August 1, 2018, the death of six innocent civilians remains a major dent on the political scene. Those people died at the hands of politicians desperate for political power. Either way the politicians are responsible for the deaths of the innocent people.

The country is in turmoil owing to the socioeconomic and political challenges emanating from the legitimation crisis that we face. Fuel queues and shortages of basic commodities is making life extremely difficult for everyone.

The politicians ironically are not paying attention to this. Instead they are still fighting on who has the most support, who has the absolute power, and who is in charge.

Our politics is rotten to the core. Political leaders are insensitive, and they do not have the heart of responsible and accountable leadership.

-Daily News

[09/01, 21:20] ‪+263 77 ***‬: Brace yourselves for buying fuel in usd in the whole country from Monday
[09/01, 21:20] ‪+263 77 ***‬: Just been from a meeting at the MOE and those idiots in government have no plan. They have encouraged oil companies to procure fuel on their own and sell in the currency of choice as it is a multi currency system, indirectly approving USD

-Extracted From Whatsapp

Election Resource Centre (ERC) says it has started following up on the Executive, Parliament, the electoral commission, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation and traditional leaders to check on efforts being made to address the electoral inadequacies noted in observer reports from the 2018 elections.

“With by-elections already being rolled out, the next being on January 26, 2019, in Chitungwiza South Ward 24, it makes no sense to continue with the business as usual approach as if we are not learning anything. The cycle of disputed elections which has haunted the country for years can only be broken if Zimbabwe, for once, takes seriously recommendations shared by observers to address the major causes of disputed elections.

“While a response is still pending from the approached stakeholders, the ERC encourages government to take seriously its commitment to upholding the constitution, regional and international standards in the promotion of a functional democratic dispensation, ” said ERC executive director Tawanda Chimhini.

-Daily News

THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (Pvt) Ltd (Zetdc) has successfully obtained an order compelling Mkwasine Estate to garnish losing Mwenezi East MDC Alliance candidate Kudakwashe Bhasikiti’s sugarcane account over a $133 000 electricity debt.

The power utility obtained the order on December 19, 2018, which was issued by High Court judge Justice Owen Tagu.

Through its company secretary, Judith Tsamba, Zetdc urged the court to order Mkwasine Estate (Ltd) to garnish Bhasikiti’s account, given that, him being a sugarcane farmer, he has an account through which he sells his produce to the estate.

“Whereupon after reading documents filed of record and hearing counsel, it is ordered that the present or future debt owing or accruing to the judgment creditor (Zetdc) by or from the garnishee (Bhasikiti) be and is hereby attached,” Justice Tagu said.

“The garnishee shall pay the applicant’s (Zetdc) attorney, Chihambakwe, Mutizwa and Partners the sum of $133 663, together with interest thereon at the prescribed rate calculated from July 1, 2017 to date, of full and final payment and legal costs on a legal practitioners and client scale granted against the judgment debtor (Bhasikiti) in favour of the applicant under case number HC1029/17. The judgment debtor shall pay costs of suit on a legal practitioners and client scale.”

Zetdc filed a court application after the former top Zanu PF official failed to settle the electricity bill, despite a court order compelling him to do so.

In her founding affidavit, Tsamba said in January 2018, Zetdc obtained a judgment in the High Court, in terms of which Bhasikiti was ordered to pay the bill for electricity supplied at Moria Ranch in Mwenezi.

Tsamba further said after the order Bhasikiti promised to settle the bill which he failed to honour, prompting the power utility to approach the court for a garnish order.

Correspondent|A primary school teacher in Msengezi was brutally murdered by artisanal miners in front of his family and several shoppers at Uhuru-Nakazi Shopping Centre over the weekend in a very tragic event.

Ward 20 councillor Gibson Mungati confirmed Maxwell Muzhangiri (32), a teacher at Mbasa Primary School, was attacked by the artisanal miners after he warned them against skidding at the shopping centre.

Police provincial spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara said the driver of the vehicle, Chamunorwa Marete, was skidding using an unregistered vehicle when Muzhangiri, who was with his wife, sister and four children, approached him and warned that it was dangerous to skid at a busy shopping centre.

He said Marete poured beer on Muzhangiri before disembarking from his vehicle armed with a knife and chased the latter who fled the scene.

“His colleague, Basis Bvaka, took a machete from the Toyota Avensis . . . ran towards Muzhangiri and struck him once on the left side of the head. He sustained a deep cut resulting in him bleeding profusely.

“Other people who were at the business centre tried to intervene but Marete and his three friends took out their machetes, axes and knives and started chasing after everyone who was at the business centre.”

Police arrested one of the suspects while a manhunt has since been launched for three other suspects.