Govt Pressured Delta To Reverse US Dollar Stance

Correspondent|ZIMBABWE’S leading beer and soft drinks manufacturer Delta Corporation Limited was Thursday forced to abandon its plans to start charging its products in US dollars following immense pressure by government.

The company announced the development in a joint statement with central bank governor John Mangudya Thursday.

“Delta withdraws the notice of selling its products exclusively in foreign currency in the spirit of multicurrency framework,” read the short statement.

The top brewer on Wednesday sent panic waves within both government corridors and the local retail market when it announced it shall, beginning this Thursday, start charging all its products in the more stable US dollars.

The privately owned firm cited the need to acquire the much needed forex in order to keep its operations moving in the wake of a forex crunch that has seen the company failing to meet customers’ orders.

Delta said it was not privileged with central bank facilitated access to forex like other sectors and had also refrained from the acquisition of hard currency from the black market.

Attempts to peg its products in forex elicited fervent reactions from government which described the move as ill-thought and illegal.

But in what looks like an audaciously solicited change of heart, Delta Corporation chief executive officer, Pearson Gowero said the notice has been withdrawn in the “spirit of multicurrency framework”.

This follows a meeting convened by Acting Vice President Constantino Chiwenga with the company as well as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe at government’s Munhumutapa offices Thursday.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will endeavour to provide foreign currency required to ensure that Delta continues on the current basis,” said the statement.

In attempts to remedy a crisis that has seen prices escalate while coupled with a prolonged strike action by public hospital doctors, Chiwenga, who is substantive VP, has threatened to pull the plug on perceived anti-government forces.

When Delta announced it was switching to US dollar transactions Wednesday, Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu reacted angrily, describing the decision as “illegal” while accusing the local company of taking advantage of government’s benevolence in allowing open market economy with little interference from the state.

“This is not only against the spirit of fairness, but it is also an illegal practice,” Ndlovu said.

“Government is very clear that this practice is unacceptable and has to stop forthwith and if not, the law will take its course.”

Delta imports its concentrate from Swaziland and it requires $2 million per month to buy it and granules used to manufacture plastic bottles used in packaging.

By announcing its foiled bid to change its books to US transactions, Delta may have been inspired by current Industry Deputy Minister and Bulawayo businessman Raj Modi who charges his beer products in US dollars.

While Mnangagwa And Chiwenga Mistreat Doctors, Trinidad And Tobago Appoints Zim Doctor As Medical Chief Of Staff

The To­ba­go Re­gion­al Health Au­thor­i­ty (TRHA) has ap­point­ed Zimbabwean medical doctor Dr. Rufaro Celestine as its Med­ical Chief of Staff (MCOS).

Ce­les­tine, who was born in Zim­bab­we, is cer­ti­fied in pae­di­atrics and der­ma­tol­ogy and has been a ful­ly reg­is­tered mem­ber of the Med­ical Board of T&T since 1989. She is al­so a mem­ber of their Spe­cial­ist Reg­is­ter in Pub­lic Health Med­i­cine.

She grad­u­at­ed in 1987 from the Roy­al Col­lege of Sur­geons in Ire­land. Fol­low­ing her in­tern­ships at the St. Luke’s Hos­pi­tal, Kilken­ny, Ire­land and the Port- of- Spain Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal, she em­barked on a ca­reer in hos­pi­tal pae­di­atrics, which in­clud­ed stints at the Scar­bor­ough Re­gion­al Hos­pi­tal in To­ba­go and the Au­gus­tus Long Hos­pi­tal at Petrotrin.

Her in­ter­est in pub­lic health led her to re­turn to Ire­land to work with Dublin’s East­ern Re­gion­al Health Au­thor­i­ty in Com­mu­ni­ty and Pub­lic Health Med­i­cine, dur­ing which time she pur­sued a Mas­ter in Pub­lic Health Med­i­cine at the Uni­ver­si­ty Col­lege Dublin and a High­er Diplo­ma in med­i­cine in the field of Der­ma­tol­ogy.

She went on to as­sume the po­si­tion of Project Co­or­di­na­tor for the Roy­al Col­lege of Physi­cians in Ire­land be­fore re­turn­ing to Trinidad in 2004 when she es­tab­lished St Raphael’s Health Ser­vices Ltd., a med­ical cen­tre in Point Fortin.

Com­ment­ing on her ap­point­ment, Dr Ce­les­tine said, “I look for­ward to work­ing with the ex­cel­lent staff of the Scar­bor­ough Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal in or­der to pro­vide a more ef­fi­cient pa­tient-cen­tered hos­pi­tal ser­vice.”

She was born in Zim­bab­we but spent her for­ma­tive years in the USA, UK and Swazi­land and be­came a cit­i­zen of T&T in 2012. She is mar­ried to Rudolph Ce­les­tine and en­joys play­ing sports in­clud­ing squash, ten­nis, golf and swim­ming, read­ing, mu­sic and trav­el.

The TRHA said it has wel­comed Ce­les­tine to the or­gan­i­sa­tion and to the is­land of To­ba­go and looks for­ward to work­ing with her to con­tin­u­ous­ly im­prove the lev­el of health­care pro­vid­ed at the Scar­bor­ough Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal.

A state­ment said yes­ter­day that Dr Ru­faro Ce­les­tine as­sumed du­ty at the Scar­bor­ough Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal with ef­fect from Jan­u­ary 2.

The Med­ical Chief of Staff pro­vides man­age­r­i­al and strate­gic di­rec­tion and over­sight to the med­ical team of the Scar­bor­ough Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal.

– Trinidad and Tobago Guardian

Govt Recruits New Doctors, Who Will Apply For The Jobs?

Own Correspondent|GOVERNMENT has begun inviting applications from candidates who have completed five years in Medical School and are ready for internship, as well as foreign trained doctors meeting local requirements, for placement at public health institutions.

The invitation by Government comes as junior doctors, who went on strike on December 1 last year, have so far refused to return to work as government has continued to fail to commit to answering their demands.

Question remains, who will apply for the jobs?

In a statement on Thursday, Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji said: “All candidates who successfully completed their Part V Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees in universities in Zimbabwe and are due to take up their first year internship, and foreign trained doctors who successfully sat for the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe Board examinations and are ready for their first year internship are advised to report at any of the below listed institutions to apply for placements to do the internship. Choice of institution will be on a first come first served basis.”

Dr Gwinji said Harare Central Hospital would accommodate 58 placements, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals 57, Mpilo Central Hospital 43, United Bulawayo Hospital 40 and Chitungwiza Central Hospital 6.

“Applications are directed to submit their applications through the director (human resources) at the Ministry headquarters in office no 4-49, 4th Floor Kaguvi Building, Harare, indicating their choice of institution,” said Dr Gwinji.

Radiographers also joined in the strike by junior doctors, crippling service delivery at health institutions.

Government on New Year announced it was taking a number of measures to bring normalcy to public health institutions.

Govt And Police Warn Of Heavy Hand To Deal With Demonstrations Against Mnangagwa

Anti riot police disperse a demonstrating crowd in Harare.

Government has warned it will not tolerate any attempts by the opposition to topple President Mnangagwa as he was democratically elected on July 30 last year.

In a statement on Wednesday, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana decried the perpetual electioneering mindset still gripping the opposition, describing it as retrogressive.

“Government takes note of media reports wherein some political entities made threats to overthrow the constitutionally-elected Government and subsequently install an unelected person as President of Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy with an elected leader, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose term of office runs until 2023,” said Mr Mangwana.

Utterances and social media posts by senior members of the opposition, especially MDC-Alliance, have shown appetite to cause unrest in the country.

Mr Mangwana urged Zimbabweans to heed President Mnangagwa’s call for peace.

“The President values unity, peace and tranquillity in the country and has urged the nation to focus on rebuilding the economy with the immediate business being that of delivering Vision 2030 aimed at making Zimbabwe an upper middle income economy,” said Mr Mangwana.

He added: “It will be recalled that in his 2019 New Year message, the President emphasised that elections are now behind us, and the time has come to refocus on improving livelihoods and the general welfare of our citizens.”

Mr Mangwana said Zimbabwe needed to draw on a sense of unity and purpose and political maturity to move on from regressive actions and posturing.

Since the July 31 harmonised elections, there has been rhetoric in opposition circles in which they promise to spoil the party for the elected Government.

Mr Mangwana said such ill-conceived actions will not be tolerated.

“Government therefore places on record that any attempts to topple the Government and institute the long failed illegal regime change will be frowned upon,” said Mr Mangwana.

He said the executive was preoccupied with delivering on its election promises to the people of Zimbabwe.

“We cannot remain stuck in the electioneering and politicking mode: it is common cause that the majority of our people who elected President Mnangagwa are keen to see him deliver on his electoral promises, a task he is seized with at the moment.

“Government will continue to provide a peaceful and stable environment where business is allowed to flourish and citizens enjoy their constitutional rights,” he said.

Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga said the ZRP was ready to deal with any eventualities arising from the threats by opposition.

“We have heard about this information but ourselves as an organisation we are going to make sure that our officers are properly trained and equipped, to make sure they will be able to overcome the intended demonstrations being talked about,” said Comm-Gen Matanga.

He discouraged Zimbabweans from unlawful actions by sponsored outfits.

“At the same time, I want to appeal to members of the public to make sure that they do not involve themselves in such demonstrations.

“After coming from the harmonised elections we are looking forward to Government putting in place developmental programmes for the country from which all citizens will benefit. I see no reason why the country must remain in election mode other than concentrating on development,” he said.

“As an organisation, we are very ready but while we are ready it is not our wish that we remain in a situation where we expect problems from our political parties and even non-governmental organisations. We discourage these people from doing that,” said Comm-Gen Matanga.

There have been reports of clandestine plots by embassy officials, NGOs and opposition members to unseat President Mnangagwa.

State Media

Adonijah, Joab, and Abiatha Pfeee! Back In Office, Where Is Apostle Chiwenga Today?

Own Correspondent|The Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo on Thursday made his first public appearance at work when he witnessed ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa receive letters of credence from the new ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Ireland, Spain and Rwanda at State House.

SB Moyo is recovering from an ailment which kept him out of work for the better part of late last year. At sometime media was awash with rumours that he was critically ill and could no longer speak.

His illness was used by the young street preacher Talent Chiwenga for “the pale flame of fame” as he claimed that biblical characters, Adonijah, Joab, and Abiatha would soon die. Chiwenga even made a 90 day prediction during which period he claimed something clearer would happen and “the election thieves would furthermore clash against each other.”

That 90 day period expired in November last year would none of that happening, much to the embarrassment of the street preacher.

Meanwhile the man known as “The People’s Soldier,” Moyo who is popular for making the announcement of the military take over that saw the removal of former President Robert Mugabe appeared yesterday.

For Rwanda, the presentation of letters of credence by James Musoni is a major development marking the opening of the first resident mission of Rwanda to Zimbabwe.

Previously, Rwanda was represented in Zimbabwe by its mission in Zambia.

Musoni is a former minister of infrastructure, local government, finance and economic development, commerce, industry, tourism, cooperatives and a former commissioner general of the Rwanda Revenue Authority.

The new UK and Ireland’s ambassador to Zimbabwe is Mrs Melanie Robinson.

She has a strong background in aid work and finance having worked as World Bank Washington Director for the UK, and at the Department for International Development (DFID) which funds organisations working to end poverty.

She brings diplomatic experience to deal with economic recovery programmes which Zimbabwe needs in its journey towards 2030.

She takes over from Mrs Catriona Lang who played a huge role in facilitating the engagement and reengagement with the UK efforts which saw the meetings between President Mnangagwa and Secretary for African Affairs here in Zimbabwe and at the UN General Assembly last year.

The New Spanish ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Santiago HomezAcebo also presented his credentials to the President at the ceremony.

Moyo’s eloquence in addressing the nation on the proceedings of the coup won him the love of most Zimbabweans.

Ginimbi Throws Massive Impromptu Party In Victoria Falls, Expensive Drinks Flown From Harare To Vic Falls

Harare socialite and businessman, Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure was the centre of attraction in Victoria Falls on New Year’s Eve when he hosted a party at The Kingdom Hotel that became the talk of town.

The party that was a “Lite” version of his All-White parties was organised hurriedly at one of the hotel’s biggest conference rooms after Ginimbi — who had attended the Vic Falls Carnival — noticed that there was not much entertainment on offer in the town.

As a brand ambassador for the Harare International Carnival and an Internet sensation adored by many because of his controversial live videos on Instagram, Ginimbi marketed the event using himself as the selling point. This worked out as the event trended with many — including cab drivers expressing their interest to attend. The party attracted many Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls socialites, most who were persuaded to attend by their girlfriends for obvious reasons.

As one got to the hotel, one of the best in the resort town, they were met by Ginimbi’s fleet of top-of-the-range vehicles that were parked by the entrance. In this whole country, other than the President, no one is allowed to park their car at hotel entrances as this blocks other guests who will be dropping off. However, Ginimbi’s vehicles were there for the whole night.

Entering the venue where an entrance fee of $10 was charged, one would swear they were at a wedding because of the layout and decoration (tables with white table cloths and a lot of lighting). It was only when one looked closely at the tables that they could tell they had entered a Ginimbi territory. The tables were filled with ice buckets which only had expensive cognacs, whiskeys and champagnes such as Hennessy, Ciroc, Moet and Chandon and Veuve Clicquots that were sold by Ginimbi’s Liquor Boyz. Cheaper whiskeys such as Jameson and Black labels which most average Zimbabweans purchase at nightclubs were not on offer.

However, the good thing was that there was no VIP seating so fans of Ginimbi and his friends had a lot of access to them, making the event more enjoyable.

Among those who graced the event were Ginimbi’s close friend Tazvi “Chief J” Mhaka and Steward Bank boss Lance Mambondiani. Rocking the crowds on the decks was a strong line up of DJ Stavo, Judgement Yard and Club Sankayi DJ Rimo.

It would not be a Ginimbi party with no flaunting. Some male patrons during the event, began provoking other men by going to their tables and pouring a whole bottle of champagne on the ground. The provoked men would buy more expensive champagne and reciprocate.

Sadly for the Kingdom Hotel, they had so much work to do in cleaning up the mess the next day as the conference room was carpeted.

Speaking on the sidelines of the party that was a resounding success considering that it was organised in a few hours, Ginimbi said he organised the party after being disappointed that there was not much going on in the resort town after the carnival.

“I was in Victoria Falls for the carnival and after the event ended at about midnight (on December 30), I decided to get into town to party. I was taken to Zambezi House (where the Mapopoma Festival was held) and was disappointed as my expensive shoe got dirty there as the place was muddy.

“I decided to host my event which would be classy for a clientele that appreciates the finer things in life.”

As such, Ginimbi hired out the conference room at The Kingdom and quickly arranged with his Liquor Boyz to transport drinks from Harare to Victoria Falls. Fliers were also printed and handed out to people at the carnival and in town. He simply called his event the carnival after-party and after-party it was as people only left the venue after 5AM on January 1. The carnival had ended just after 1AM.

State Media

Bulawayo Urged To Rally Behind FC Platinum In Crunch Tie Against Orlando Pirates

HIGHLANDERS legends and civic leaders around Bulawayo have called on football fans in the City of Kings and Queens to put national pride ahead of any differences and rally behind FC Platinum when they take on South African giants Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League Group B opener set for Barbourfields on January 12.

The clarion call by championship winning heroes — Dazzy Kapenya, Zenzo Moyo and Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda as well as respected Gwanda Residents Association secretary-general Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo — comes after the Zvishavane miners confirmed that they have chosen Barbourfields for their pool games even before Mandava is officially condemned by CAF because of lack of floodlights as some of the group matches could be played at night.

“FC Platinum are no longer representing Zvishavane alone but they are now embracing all of us as Zimbabweans and we need to support them unreservedly because they are raising our level of football.

“From all walks of life people must rally behind FC Platinum in these games, especially next week when Orlando Pirates come to town. Yes people have their foreign teams which they support, myself included, but for this cause I beg especially fellow Highlanders supporters that we all put on one jacket and support FC Platinum because we all stand to benefit as a nation if Norman Mapeza and his boys succeed,” said former Highlanders skipper and 2002 Soccer Star of the Year, Kapenya.

Another club legend and former Soccer Star of the Year, Zenzo Moyo, said there was need for people to look at the bigger picture more than just local football rivalry.

“It just goes without saying that we need to support these boys (FC Platinum), yes Pirates have followers especially here in Bulawayo but let us look beyond mere fanatism and see what we stand to benefit by FC Platinum’s success.

“No one knows what the destiny holds for them in the tournament, they can go all the way and reach the final of the CAF Champions League and that means Barbourfields and Bulawayo, in particular, will host a final. Just imagine the benefits that will be enjoyed by a number of people including putting our City on the global stage,” said Moyo, who is also the vice-chairman of Bulawayo City FC.

Maduma Fuzwayo said there is no reason for Zimbabweans to support the Sea Robbers when they come to Barbourfields and also said Zimbabwe must come first as a victory for the South Africans will not benefit the country in anyway.

“We have our own sons playing for FC Platinum, why should we turn against them now? People have to sober up and take this as a serious matter. “FC Platinum need us, they have respected us by choosing Bulawayo so let us reciprocate that by rendering them that support. You will be surprised that had they taken this game to Harare the who is who of the capital folks would have turned up to rally behind FC Platinum so let’s not throw away ubuntu bethu bakithi, just for those 90 minutes, let our hearts be blue and white,” said the Gwanda-based Maduma Fuzwayo.

The same sentiments were echoed by former Highlanders manager and chairman Sibanda who said an FC Platinum success was a national joy not just a Zvishavane pride in this tournament.

“Our national flag will be flying high on Saturday, not a Zvishavane flag. I know Bosso resonates with Orlando Pirates hence even the slogan that we do before kick off will be done by Pirates but please bantu bakithi let us forget about that this time around.

“If FC Platinum excel in this tournament we are likely to have more representation in future CAF tournaments just like the South Africans so let’s be patriotic and support FC Platinum even if it’s for 90 minutes as that will have long-term benefits to the country,” said Sibanda.

The other home encounters in the group stage for FC Platinum are the fixtures against Guinea’s Horoya set for the weekend of February 1-3 and a clash with defending champions Esperance pencilled for the period from mid-March.

The top two teams in the group qualify for the quarter-finals whose draw will be conducted on March 20.

State Media

Chivayo Not Off The Hook As High Court Orders Proceeding Of Criminal Charges

THE criminal trial of Intratrek Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited director Wicknell Chivayo will now proceed after the High Court in Harare overruled his bid to block prosecution on corruption charges involving the Gwanda solar power project.

Chivayo was facing two counts of fraud, one count each of money laundering and breach of Exchange Control Regulations involving $5,6 million he received for the Gwanda project but he now faces three counts after the High Court suspended the case on money laundering.

Chivayo had approached the High Court for stay of proceedings pending a determination of his application for review he lodged with the same court in November last year after the magistrates’ court rejected his request for exception to the charges.

In his ruling on Monday, Justice Joseph Musakwa upheld the lower court’s analysis of the exception to the fraud charges.

He said the presiding magistrate, Mr Lazini Ncube, properly applied provisions of Section 146 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act on the fraud charges.

“Therefore, in light of there being no formal defects of the charges, it follows that the review application has no prospects of success in respect of those counts,” ruled Justice Musakwa.

The court gave the lower court the green light to proceed with the trial in respect of the three viable counts.

“Therefore, it is ordered that the criminal trial of the applicants (Chivayo and his company) before the second respondent (Mr Ncube) under case number CRBP911-5/2018 is suspended only in respect of the third count,” he said.

Chivayo pleaded and excepted to the charges in terms of Section 171 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

He argued that the basis of the exception to the fraud charges emanated from the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract.

Chivayo said the Procurement Act and Regulations had mechanisms for the enforcement of public procurement contracts.

Justice Musakwa noted that the fraud charges against Chivayo related to invoices he submitted to the Zimbabwe Power Company. The invoices purported that advance payment was required for feasibility study implementation.

“When information regarding contractual commitments was requested from complainants, they allegedly submitted details of sub-contractors who were purportedly paid. However, the alleged sub-contractors are said to have distanced themselves from the claim,” said Justice Musakwa.

The paper trail, the judge said, showed that the money that was claimed for feasibility studies was diverted to various individuals and entities who had nothing to do with the contract.

Evidence established that the funds were used to buy vehicles, air tickets, pay school fees and the settlement of civil suits.

Other funds were allegedly fed into VISA cards ostensibly for purposes of purchasing earthmoving equipment from Pietznack Plant and Earth Moving Services in United States of America.

Justice Musakwa said from plain reading of the law, it was clear that an exception to a charge is based on formal defects that are apparent.

“That is not the basis on which exception to the fraud charges was taken in the present case. That the conduct complained of is purely civil in nature as it arises from a transaction that is governed by the Procurement Act and Regulations is not an objection to the defects that are apparent on the charges of fraud,” he said.

The court found the third count under the Exchange Control to be defective for lack of essential elements disclosing an offence.

He said it was difficult to fathom what it is Chivayo and his company were expected to comply with in terms of the rules of Exchange Control Regulations.

“The material averments constituting a violation of guidelines were not stated, hence the basis for liability was not laid out,” said Justice Musakwa.

Chivayo last month won a $25 million civil claim against ZPC at the same court when Justice Tawanda Chitapi declared the contract signed between the parties for the Gwanda solar project was still valid.

Justice Chitapi ordered ZPC to engage Intratrek to discuss progress on the project in the next 60 days or alternatively pay $25 million damages to Intratrek.

State Media

Teenage Students Shoot Video “On How To Make Love,” Distribute To Other Learners

TWO students from Munyikwa High School in Masvingo have achieved notoriety after a video of them went viral just before schools closed for the third term.

The students who cannot be named for ethical reasons appear to have been posing for the camera as they demonstrate what couples should do when making out while other students were watching what was happening and seemingly enjoying the action.

In the video the couple start of lying on the bed before getting up into sitting positions. At this point, they start kissing, and the male student starts stroking the girl’s chin and thighs seemingly demonstrating to other students how to act when they are being intimate with females.

When reached for comment by the Masvingo Mirror, the male student said,

It’s true that the s_ex tape leaked but I’m not the one who did that, it could be some of my friends whom I used to give my phone for charging since I don’t have a charger to charge my phone.

Parents who talked to the Mirror blamed the situation on the informal boarding systems at the school where girls and boys mingle in their different places of residence.

— Masvingo Mirror

Sibusiso Moyo Back At Work, Makes First Public Appearance

Own Correspondent|Ailing Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo on Thursday made his first public appearance at work when he witnessed ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa receive letters of credence from the new ambassadors of the United Kingdom and Ireland, Spain and Rwanda at State House.

The sickly looking Moyo recovering is recovering from an ailment which kept him out of work for the better part of late last year. At sometime media was awash with rumours that he was critically ill and could no longer speak.

Known as “The People’s Soldier,” Moyo is popular for making the announcement of the military take over that saw the removal of former President Robert Mugabe. His eloquence in addressing the nation on the proceedings of the coup won him the love of most Zimbabweans.

Concerns were very high when he was reported to be sick and his public appearance maybe a relief to several people.

For Rwanda, the presentation of letters of credence by James Musoni is a major development marking the opening of the first resident mission of Rwanda to Zimbabwe.

Previously, Rwanda was represented in Zimbabwe by its mission in Zambia.

Musoni is a former minister of infrastructure, local government, finance and economic development, commerce, industry, tourism, cooperatives and a former commissioner general of the Rwanda Revenue Authority.

The new UK and Ireland’s ambassador to Zimbabwe is Mrs Melanie Robinson.

She has a strong background in aid work and finance having worked as World Bank Washington Director for the UK, and at the Department for International Development (DFID) which funds organisations working to end poverty.

She brings diplomatic experience to deal with economic recovery programmes which Zimbabwe needs in its journey towards 2030.

She takes over from Mrs Catriona Lang who played a huge role in facilitating the engagement and reengagement with the UK efforts which saw the meetings between President Mnangagwa and Secretary for African Affairs here in Zimbabwe and at the UN General Assembly last year.

The New Spanish ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Santiago HomezAcebo also presented his credentials to the President at the ceremony.

Mutsvangwa Appointed Acting Minister Of Environment

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa as the Acting Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry from 5 to 10 January 2019.

Mutsvangwa will be holding reigns for Minister Prisca Mupfumira who will be on leave.

“President Mnangagwa has appointed Hon. Minister Monica Mutsvangwa as the Acting Minister of Environment, Tourism & Hospitality Industry from 5 to 10 January 2019, when Hon. Minister Prisca Mupfumira would be on leave,” said the Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting in a Tweet.

” Strive Masiyiwa Is Now An Impediment To Democracy”

Strive Masiyiwa

Terrence Mawawa|UK based IT expert and social commentator Ms Miriam Mutizwa has attacked Strive Masiyiwa for being an impediment to democracy.

See Ms Mutizwa’ s statement below: Over the past few weeks in the quest for justice Tsitsi Masiyiwa hit us with a tweet that she ran off of Twitter without explaining and did not have the decency of responding to any of the questions posted in response to her tweet.

She tweeted “Some outcries and actions in pursuit of justice seem and look so right until you discover the source of the outcry and sponsor of the cause. Take a step back and reflect on some of the things we consider good and just causes.”

Dewa Mavhinga responded as follows, “If you are implying that all and any outcry and pursuit of justice is sponsored then that really is sad. When your husband pursued his fight to be licensed it was a just cause. In such position of privilege, you should choose your words more carefully, lest you promote injustice”.

This happened to be Dewa’s only tweet in response to Tsitsi’s post.

For reasons best known to Strive Masiyiwa he viewed this tweet as an action of bullying Tsitsi off of Social Meida.

Strive seems to believe that because he is now a billionaire who rocks with the ruling elite of zanu pf which he once fought, he should be immune to criticism and public query.

His Facebook post literally bullied Mavhinga into getting his principles to respond to Strive’s allegations.

Professor Lumumba once said “As for accusations even the divine Jesus of Nazareth was accused of many things; even Martin Luther King Junior was accused of many things; even Mahatma Gandhi was accused of many things. But it is our duty to prove our detractors wrong by our actions.”

It is disturbing that Strive’s actions are not helping in proving his accusers wrong so far.

Recently I asserted that Zimbabweans must come first not just one or two Zimbabweans but ALL Zimbabweans.

This in my strongest of opinions makes Strive’s recent utterances appear to be saying him and his Mrs are the first Citizens and no other Zimbabwean citizen ought to query their steps and utterances despite them existing because of transacting with public funds at both institutional and individual level.

My expectations on characters like Strive are purely vested in the law.

Does the law protect ALL citizens equally or are we experiencing justice apartheid as pronounced by the Masiyiwas and others like them?”

ZRP Cops Storm Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition Offices

 

Speaking on microblogging website Twitter, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said police in plain clothes visited their offices today.

This follows an article by the State owned newspaper The Herald claiming that 6 Western nationals
have been working with local non-governmental organisations led by Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe
(CCiZ) to force President Mnangagwa into a unity
Government with opposition political parties or to set up a transitional authority.

The six foreigners allegedly convened a week- long workshop at a private lodge in Harare earlier
this month where they came up with strategies to incite Zimbabweans to revolt against President Mnangagwa and the Zanu-PF Government. The
workshop was reportedly coordinated by CCiZ chairperson Mr Rashid Mahiya and a committee
member, Mr Pride Mukono, from December 3 to 7 under the theme: “The Crisis of Legitimacy in
Zimbabwe.” When contacted for a comment, CCiZ spokesman Mr Tabani Moyo denied that there was such a meeting.

Ginimbi “Invades Victoria Falls

Harare socialite and businessman, Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure was the centre of attraction in Victoria Falls on New Year’s Eve when he hosted a party at The Kingdom Hotel
that became the talk of town.

The party that was a “Lite” version of his All- White parties was organised hurriedly at one of the hotel’s biggest conference rooms after Ginimbi — who had attended the Vic Falls
Carnival — noticed that there was not much entertainment on offer in the town.

As a brand ambassador for the Harare International Carnival and an Internet sensation adored by many because of his controversial live videos on Instagram, Ginimbi marketed the event using himself as
the selling point. This worked out as the event trended with many — including cab drivers expressing their interest to attend.

The party attracted many Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls socialites, most who were persuaded to attend by their girlfriends for obvious reasons.
As one got to the hotel, one of the best in the resort town, they were met by Ginimbi’s fleet of top-of-the-range vehicles that were parked by the entrance. In this whole country, other than the President, no one is
allowed to park their car at hotel entrances as this blocks other guests who will be dropping off. However, Ginimbi’s vehicles
were there for the whole night.Chronicle

Delta Reverses Decision To Sell Its Products In US Dollars

Harare Bureau-Delta Corporation has reversed a decision to sell its products in foreign currency after the
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe yesterday assured the manufacturer it would provide the forex required to fund its import requirements.

The firm wanted to price its products in hard currency beginning today.
The decision to reverse the notice was made after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga last night met Delta officials together with RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya and
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.
Dr Mangudya and Delta chief executive Mr Pearson Gowero issued a joint statement after the meeting.
“The parties agreed that Delta withdraws the notice to sell its products exclusively in hard
currency, in the spirit of the multi-currency framework,” read the statement presented to journalists by Mr Gowero.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe will
endeavour to provide the foreign currency required to ensure that Delta continues to trade on the current basis.”In an earlier interview, Prof Mthuli had appealed to private firms to be patient while Government worked on fiscal consolidation.
“We are saying the private sector should wait for us to give policy.
“They should be patient and see how our fiscal policy is making progress. We are making good progress in fiscal consolidation and once we are ready we will institute the requisite monetary reforms,” said Minister
Ncube.

“They should not rush ahead to choose the currency they think the whole country should adopt. They should just be patient, let us work together. That is really our
message,” he said.Chronicle

FULL STATEMENT: Human Rights Watch Rebuffs Masiyiwa, Sides With Dewa Mavhinga

Correspondent|BILLIONAIRE business tycoon Strive Masiyiwa may not be enjoying the early days of the New Year after his bust-up with a number of people after making claims that his wife, Tsitsi, had been forced to close her Twitter account due to cyberbullying.

Masiyiwa even fingered Dewa Mavhinga, the Southern Africa Director for Human Rights Watch (HRW) as one of the cyber bullies and seems to have suggested that he should be fired as Masiyiwa is a close friend of the founder of Human Rights Watch, Robert L. Bernstein.

Wrote Strive Masiyiwa on his Facebook page:

Sadly one of the foremost bullies is a Zimbabwean who works for an international organization that is highly respected for its work on human rights. It’s (sic) founder, now 95 is a close family friend. I hope my human rights friend is happy now that he has stopped her from using Twitter. Maybe now he and others like him will stop this pathetic misogyny.

What about the rights of women like my wife to also express an opinion?

Apart from attracting criticism from various quarters who viewed Masiyiwa’s actions as bullying, the billionaire businessman was also rebuffed by Human Rights Watch after the organisation backed Mavhinga. Human Rights Watch CEO Kenneth Roth released a statement explaining that Mavhinga’s statements were fair and an entirely appropriate response to his wife’s words.

We publish Roth’s response to Masiyiwa below:

No one wanted to see your wife attacked on Twitter, but you are unfair by not explaining what happened. She had tweeted: “Some outcries and actions in pursuit of justice seem and look so right until you discover the source of the outcry and sponsor of the cause. Take a step back and reflect on some of the things we consider ‘good and just causes.’ #FoodForThought” Although I will presume it was not her intention, that comment closely paralleled the claim of President Mnangagwa and some of his supporters that critics of human rights conditions under his rule are not genuine but are sponsored by outsiders.

In response, the person you attack tweeted the following: “If you are implying that all and any outcry & pursuit of justice is sponsored then that is really sad. When your husband pursued his fight to be licensed it was a just cause. In such position of privilege you should choose your words more carefully, le[s]t it promote injustice.” With no further instigation, others took up this theme as well, so your wife chose to close her twitter account.

That response was entirely fair—an appropriate way to ensure that your wife’s comment, despite what her intentions might have been, wasn’t understood as an endorsement of the president’s and his allies’ attacks on human rights critics. Far from bullying, the response cites your personal story as a positive counterexample: your long experience fighting injustice shows that good causes can indeed be genuinely pursued without any foreign sponsor.

I accept that you and the responder differ on when sanctions against the Mnangagwa government should be lifted. You find it sufficient that in your view Mnangagwa is well-intentioned. The responder and many others, including myself, prefer to see the government take concrete steps before lifting one of the main sources of pressure to secure improvements.

That’s a legitimate difference of opinion. I would hope we could debate the merits of those positions without resorting to name-calling, especially such factually unsupported names, as you have now done. Unlike your statement here, the responder didn’t bully anyone—and certainly not your wife—but simply responded to what he feared, whatever her intentions, would be taken as an attack on the credibility of the human rights movement.

That others picked up on his point, without any encouragement or prompting by him, does not make him a bully but speaks to the resonance of his comment. And given his long respect for her work, as well as his highly respectful and productive relations with his many female colleagues in the human rights movement, I would hardly call him misogynistic. He would have responded to comments along the lines that your wife made regardless of who had made them. That is his right —and indeed his duty as a human rights defender.

Former Minister Looses Property Over Unpaid Debt

FORMER Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora and his wife Millicent are set to lose household property worth thousands of dollars after failing to pay back an undisclosed amount of money to a local bank.

According to a notice of auction, KM Actions (Private) Limited is set to auction the property mid next week after the couple lost a court case to the financial institution.

In terms of the notice, the former Cabinet minister and his wife, are set to lose, a Capri washing machine, two wooden sideboards, two-door steel cabinets, massaging machine, a broken desk, electronic digital safe, books, a Sony television, a plasma television, steel shelf, gym equipment and a boardroom table, among other items.

“Duly instructed by the Sheriff of the High Court of Zimbabwe, we shall set by public auction the following assets to the highest bidder on Wednesday 9 January 2019 at our premises No. 20 Edison Crescent Graniteside at 12pm,” the notice reads.

The obtaining harsh economic climate has proved to be difficult for especially Zanu PF bigwigs who lost their plush jobs at the birth of the Second Republic under President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Last year, several politicians linked to Zanu PF and white commercial farmers were dragged to court by employees at their farms across the country over failure to pay wages.

In a development that exposes how the elite is finally feeling the pinch of economic hardships being faced by the majority in the country, the Progressive Agriculture and Allied Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Paawuz) — the union which represents farm workers — said it was forced to approach the Labour Court where the matters are still pending.

Court documents also reveal that Zanu PF bigwigs including former Public Service minister Nicholas Goche, Bindura South Member of Parliament Remigious Matangira, former first lady Grace Mugabe’s sister Rose Chidhakwa, former Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi and former Mbare MP Tendai Savanhu owe their employees tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and allowances.

A number of politicians were also hauled before the courts last year over their failure to service electricity debts and are either negotiating flexible payment arrangements with power utility, Zesa Holdings, or pleading their cases in court.

Among the bigwigs are Sekeramayi who owes $327 481 for his Ulva Farm; Savanhu ($19 000 for his Eagle Estate Farm in Marondera); Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba ($43 716 for Wakatai Plot in Concession) and former Mashonaland East Provincial minister Ambrose Mutinhiri who owes $54 000 for his Newton Farm.

In 2017, 43 head of cattle belonging to then Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry secretary Ngoni Masoka went under the hammer to pay off a debt he owed to the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Development Company (ZFDC).

During the same year, Zanu PF activist Stanley Kasukuwere’s three tractors and other farming equipment were also auctioned over a debt with Windmill (Private) Limited.

Gay Lover Bashed For Refusing To Sleep With Other Men For Cash

A 32-year-old man is in trouble after he allegedly ordered his gay lover bashed for refusing to have sex with other men for money.

Dzikamai Chihuri, of Kuwadzana, was arraigned before Harare magistrate, Ruramai Chitumbura this Wednesday facing aggravated indecent assault and assault charges.

The the incident occurred after Chihuri relocated from Chitungwiza to Kuwadzana recently upon hooking up with the 21-year-old complainant on Facebook.

The pair started living together in October last year.

According to the State, after moving in with the victim, Chihuri indicated that he was gay and went on to sexually abuse the former on several occasions.

Court heard that Chihuri would, at times, beat up the complainant, accusing him of dating other men. The latter did not disclose the abuse to anyone.

However, on January 1 this year, Chihuri allegedly brought home four men and ordered the complainant to sleep with each of them.

The partner, who was not identified in court refused, triggering a fight.

According to the State, the complainant managed to escape and went straight to the police to report the incident.

Chihuri was subsequently arrested.

He was not asked to plead when he appeared in court Wednesday.

The case was remanded to January 16 with Chihuri remaining in custody.

Sebastian Mutizirwa prosecuted.

NewsDay

Seven Chinese In Court On Possession Of Rhino Horns And Stolen Vehicle

Seven Chinese nationals appeared at the Harare magistrates court on Thursday after they were arrested last month with rhino horn pieces worth nearly a million dollars.

They are facing charges of breaching the country’s wildlife laws.

Zeng Dengui, 35; Peicon Jang, 35; Chen Zhiangfu, 30; Qui Jinchang, 29; Yu Xian, 25; Yong Zhu, 25 and Liu Cheng, 23 were arrested two days before Christmas after police raided their home following a tip-off.

The Chinese nationals appeared in a Zimbabwe court facing charges of breaching wildlife laws after they were found with rhino horn pieces
Police detectives found pieces of rhino horn stashed in a mattress, plastic bags and in boxes at a house in one of the town’s suburbs.

The seven who are all unemployed, appeared in the dock wearing khaki prison garb at the court in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

Their trial which had been scheduled to start Thursday was delayed to January 9 after prosecutors said they were not yet ready.

Prosecutor Bheki Tshabalala said police indicated they want further charges of money laundering from the case and also mentioned of a charge of theft of a motor vehicle.

Under Zimbabwe’s parks and wildlife laws it is illegal to keep, possess, sell or dispose of any protected animal’s products or trophies.

The rhino horn pieces weighed 20.98 kilogrammes and were valued at $938,700 (823,500 euros), according to the prosecution.

Rhino horns are highly coveted in some Asian countries such as China and Vietnam, where they have fetched up to $60,000 per kilogramme, for their supposed medicinal qualities.

The demand has fuelled a boom in poaching and trafficking in Africa, especially in Zimbabwe’s neighbour, South Africa.

South Africa, which is home to about 80 percent of the world rhino population, has lost more than 7,100 animals over the past decade.

In 2016, wildlife authorities in Zimbabwe said that they had begun dehorning the country´s 700 adult rhinos to curb rampant poaching.

— AFP

Striking Doctors Set The Record Straight, They Have Never Met With Chiwenga

Media Statement|The Zimbabwe hospital doctors are deeply saddened by the continued misrepresentation of facts by some elements in regard to the on-going industrial action by doctors at all levels nationwide. This has inadvertently prolonged the industrial action which is now marking day 34 today.

As a result of numerous requests, we shall present this press statement in the form of answers to questions that are frequently being asked by interested stakeholders about the industrial action so far.

Question 1: Who exactly is on industrial action, is it the junior doctors alone?

Answer: No, the junior doctors are the ones who embarked initially on the industrial action but over the past 3 weeks doctors from all levels nationwide have since joined. This comprises doctors at district and provincial hospitals, middle level doctors and senior doctors at government central hospitals.

Question 2: Has the government answered all the doctors’ grievances in full except only two?

Answer: BOLD NO, the government came to negotiate and gave their positions which we asked them to refine and reconsider. We are therefore awaiting the official feedback in respect to that. The following paragraphs will explain why.

Question 3: What are the pending doctor’s grievances and what was the government’s response to each?

Answer: The most important grievances by doctors and the government’s responses are as follows 1. The employer must provide basic medications and sundries to all government hospitals as this has been having an extensive negative impact on the welfare patients.

The working environment has become increasingly hazardous to work in due to the absence of vital personal protective equipment and thus making it increasingly difficult for doctors to continue improvising.

In the spirit of negotiation and long term planning, the doctors are requesting for evaluable timelines and targets for the provision of subsequent batches of medication so that a sense of security is given to the medical field at large. This is merely in the form of a written document from our employer. Government responded that it had secured 2.2 million worth of drugs at Nat pharm and is in the process of distributing them.

The government is however reluctant to provide the long time line and targets as a sign of long term commitment to the promise.

Doctors have asked for this provision for the past four weeks to no avail. This has been the deadlock in the negotiation of this grievance.

2. The employer agreed through signed legally binding agreements in March 2018 to pay the doctors in USD. Doctors are therefore asking the employer to honour the agreement.

The need comes as a result of the harsh economic situation which has seen the rtgs salaries being devalued by nearly 4 times on the market whether officially or unofficially.

The employer also agreed that the on call allowance of doctors should be 10 USD/hour in a deal dating back to 2014. The doctors are asking the employer to honour the agreement and review the on call allowance to that figure. Government has responded that it cannot pay workers in USD despite those foresaid agreements. Government went further to indicate to its employees that even if they wanted an RTGS review, the government is not in a position to offer that.

The government also indicated that it is not in a position to review the on call allowance and will only consider it in the following few months. All this is despite the prevailing harsh economic situation. The doctors agreed that the government may not be in a position to provide for the grievance in full as this may be too much to ask but implored the government to bring an offer to the table that showed genuine concern on their part to address the plight of its workers. The government’s response has been that there is no offer at all, the doctors must go back to work and the government will organise something in the future whilst they are at work.

3. Due to the persistent need for doctors to attend to emergency services. Government and doctors have been working on long term plans to ensure that doctors are assisted in securing cars in order to assist them to attend to emergency services. Government offered to provide all health care workers with 6 million rtgs for loans which will be coupled with a duty free scheme for the beneficiaries only. The loan amount would be 10 000 rtgs per beneficiary.

The challenge is the loan scheme will be available to less than 200 doctors nationwide as it caters for all other health workers as well. Doctors explained the amount offered was no longer competitive to the current market prices and also that it was not sufficient for all the doctors in need. As an alternative the doctors asked for a duty free scheme alone which will be available to all doctors. Government’s response has been that it cannot give a duty free scheme which is available to all doctors and preferred to stick to the said arrangement of loan plus duty free to beneficiaries only.

4 The current doctor to patient ratio in our nation is way below par. The number of trained specialist is still incomparable to regional targets. Doctors indicated to the employer to provide GMO and training posts for doctors so that this situation can be addressed. As a nation, we can’t continue with a situation whereby most doctors continue going outside due to the unavailability of government posts.

The government indicated that they had provided 402 posts across all health care workers. No specificity to which of those posts belonged to doctors and no mention of specialist training posts. We beseeched our employer to be more serious with this issue and provide the important information which is so much required.

The employer has so far not been in a position to do that 5 In the recent turn of events, government has indicated that it wants to employ incoming junior doctors under the ministry of higher and tertiary education. This decision was made unilaterally without consultation of the doctors who then felt it was a move to supress the junior doctors rights. The doctors have since indicated that such a move is regrettable and unacceptable. The government offered to give dialogue a chance on this particular aspect. This was welcome and we still await further communication.

Question 4: The strike has been deemed illegal by the labour court why didn’t the doctors get back to work?

As doctors, we believe in dialogue. The employer in the form of the health services board led by Mrs Kaseke has been running a parallel agenda to the negotiations. Whilst pretending to be showing effort to address the grievances, in the background they were employing all other uncalled for methods meant to arm twist rather than to discuss. The challenge is the doctors are being asked to go into an environment which they perceive as being potentially dangerous to their wellbeing and without tangible attempts to address their welfare.

Secondly the methods by the HSB have made the work environment scarier than inviting and there is no longer any sense of security for doctors to go back to work. We note with concern the increasing move by the same board in that direction which has led to senior doctors downing tools yesterday. Whether the HSB has an agenda to make sure there are no negotiations and that the nation’s health care system is destroyed to the maximum is also something that boggles the mind. We are also in the view that the same board has been lying to our Honourable Acting president and feeding him with the wrong facts. We have often desired to meet with the respectable office to iron out the facts but perhaps the said board has ensured that door remains shut. Unfortunately we have to keep relying on the same board to hope that perhaps at some point the truth shall be relayed upwards.

Question 5: Have doctors ever met with the vice president of the nation and explained to him their position?

Answer: No, that door has been shut by those who have taken centre stage in misrepresenting facts to the Honourable office.

Question 6: Are there any security threats to doctors?

Answers: The threats have been piling by day. Recently we heard about the deployment of the joint operation task force to handle the situation as it is. Why the task force has been deployed to handle a labour dispute that can be resolved by a simple 1 day discussion and signing of agreements is shocking. Additionally, many other threats have been given to doctors individually and to the leadership. This we perceive as a disproportionate and uncalled for response to the real matter at hand. As already highlighted, the situation is getting increasingly difficult for the doctors to go to work in such a threatening environment.

We still call for a simple dialogue to resolve the impasse and come up with solutions that are favourable to both parties.

Question 7: Are the doctors political?

Answer: No, All of the above grievances are driven from a point of need. There is nothing political about asking your employer to improve the conditions of service and your welfare.

All other proclaimed theories remain theories which will forever be unproven. At the same time, we cannot withhold any person or organisation from commenting about the on-going impasse in their own capacity as it is a public matter. The comments however remain comments and do not speak of any other underground connections whatsoever. The matters raised are genuine concerns and at all costs we as doctors have opened our hands to our respectable leaders to hear our cry.

Question 8: What do doctors think must happen for the impasse to end?

Answer: The employer must find common ground with the doctors and come to the negotiation table with an offer which has all the omitted vital information and also provide something to cushion doctors in this current economic environment. There is nothing that is beyond negotiation and we want to believe the impasse can end with these few measures any day for the sake of our patients at large. Further discussions to correct any other problems can be done after the situation has normalised.

— Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association

George Chinyande Says Chiwenga Didn’t Perform A Coup On Delta Boss Tonight

ZANU PF activist George Chinyande has written saying Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy Constantino Chiwenga did not at all force the Delta company into submission Thursday night. (ALSO WATCH VIDEO HERE)…
By George Chinyande| The faces we are seeing on TV seem to suggest that the Delta guy read the statement under duress, something which the government’s enemies would quickly dismiss as command business enterprise. Such a frowning and stubborn face from the statement reader may simply cause consumer and industry confidence levels to plunge further.

George Chinyande

From our side we see 3 or 4 genuine scenarios namely: 1) the so called biting foreign currency shortages, if we can still refer to other people’s moneys as such given we also call them basket currencies, now affecting the productive sectors involved in importing key raw materials; 2) government sincerity with the current state of affairs, meaning the challenges associated with the current monetary policy as far as basket of foreign currencies is concerned; 3) the insincerity and stubbornness of some industry players tantamount to evil antics in tandem with regime change agenda and 4) unmitigated desire to profiteer riding on the pretext of charging cost recoverable $US prices. Certainly the way Zimbabwe business people and consumers are so idiotic and thuggish when it comes to wily nily devaluing the $US through frequent price changes boggles the mind. One even wonders if even the much touted randirization of the economy will not end up destroying the rand itself sooner rather later.

Zimbabwe now suffers both political and economic opportunism of the worst order. Let’s take the Zim bond note black market rate to the $US of between 2 and 3,5 and compare that to SA rand to $US rate of around 13 or Mozambican Metical of 70Mts to $US, one wonders why all these useless outcries and hollow noises. Probably we need to be enlightened about the currency madness in Zimbabwe.

It would have made sense if the urbanites who are mostly maChinja were clamouring for a national currency to be given the name Chamisa bond note in whom they trust so much and see how it will fare against the $US or SA rand. Why do Zimbabwean idiots are so mad with other people’s money?

One can move from one SADC country to another you don’t see this kind of idiocy. Yes, people need other people’s currencies when they travel to other people’s countries or want to import goods and services. Yet in Zimbabwe every rat, snake, baboon, dog, goat, etc is craving to own a $US which is someone else’s money.

Why really?

What has gone wrong with these people who go about claiming they are the most educated or literate idiots in Africa? Is this the ultimate prize of having purportedly educated people? This is now confusing. Chamisa may think and believe that a ripening political fruit is fast approaching in Zimbabwe for power take over, but this kind of Zimbabwe shall prove one day to be ungovernable even by her authors standards and wishes.

The noises in Zimbabwe are becoming so hollow, idiotic, thuggish and confusing. Can God help us. What do these people really want after all?

Just In- Gvnt Opens 204 Posts For Doctors

By Own Correspondent| Government has opened up 204 posts nationwide for junior doctors.

The posts, seeks applications from students who have completed their five year programmes from either of the medical Universities in the country.

Government is also inviting foreign trained medical doctors who have also met local regulations and are ready for internship to also apply for these posts.

This is a developing story. More details to follow.

Refresh this page foe updates.ĺ

There Cannot Be A President And An Acting President At The Same Time, State Media In Embarrassing Gaffe- Magaisa

 

Zimbabwean-born constitutional law expert and lecturer at Kent University in the United Kingdom, Alex Magaisa said that it is unconstitutional to
have a President and an Acting President at the same time.

Magaisa was responding to a report in today’s State-owned publications, The Herald and The Chronicle. The report reads as follows: And in any event, the style has always been that the Acting President consults with the substantive President. Now in
this particular case, we have a serious situation in the health sector involving lives and naturally, the President has to demonstrate concern and that concern comes by way of cutting short his leave in order to work closely with the Acting President so that consultations

Constantino Chiwenga and Emmerson Mnangagwa

are short-circuited.

“Lloyd Mutasa Is Too Soft And He Cannot Cope With Demanding Warriors Job”

Llyod Mutasa

Terrence Mawawa|Lloyd Mutasa has been axed as the Warriors assistant coach and will be replaced by Tonderayi Ndiraya.

Also booted out of the technical department is Rahman Gumbo who is going to be replaced by former Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu.

A source at Zifa said the changes were done at the recommendation of coach Sunday Chidzambwa who felt Mutasa despite his depth of the game was too soft in whipping the players into line while he felt that Mafu has a better reading of the game than Gumbo.

The new changes are expected to be announced on Thursday after a meeting between the board and technical team.

Zimbabwe will return to action in March in the last Group G encounter of 2019 Afcon Qualifiers. They face Congo at home.

Thirty Five Passengers Survive Horror Bus Crash In Masvingo

Correspondent|Thirty-five passengers reportedly escaped death by a whisker when a bus they were travelling in overturned and landed on its side.

The Inter Africa Bus lying on its side on the road.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the bus’s brakes failed, which resulted in the driver losing control.

The Inter Africa bus was travelling from Masvingo to Zvishavane on Thursday morning.

The mishap occurred about 10km outside Masvingo.

Dembare Desperate To Retain Senior Players

Terrence Mawawa| Dynamos have taken a major climbdown, pardoning Marshall Machazane, Obey Mwerahari and Peace Makaha after the club had initially wanted to fire them on allegations of inciting other players to strike over outstanding bonuses.

There was, however, no mercy for Kingston Nkatha who was given his clearance letter following the expiry of his six-month contract at the end of December.

The three players who got suspended in October without any benefits have only received written warnings.

A source at the club says the executive has been forced to make a major climbdown because the hearing exposed them as the players had no case to answer.

Also, the failure to attract big-name players of late has forced the club to reverse its decision as a number of teams have been inquiring about the players.

But this could be too late as Machazane has already signed for Harare City while Makaha is on top of the list of players targeted by cash-rich Manica Diamonds.

Defence Secretary Martin Rushwaya Must Pay For Damaged Army Chopper: MDC

Media Statement By The MDC|THE crush landing of a military chopper in Gutu exposes the rot in the public sector.

That a public official, a mere Permanent Secretary flies around on private visits in a military chopper is mind boggling.

A military chopper is state property only to be used for purposes of protecting the Zimbabwean State, its territorial integrity and its citizens.

A private graduation of a low ranking officer is not part of this obligation. Neither is a private graduation linked to the thwarting of vital threats of the State.

There must be a proper audit of resources in the sector and information availed to Zimbabwean people save for that which falls under classified operations.

More importantly a chopper belonging to the State was crushed on private business, the permanent Secretary must compensate Zimbabweans by paying the equivalent of the damage to the asset. Further reimbursement must be done to the state to the tune of the flying cost including previous trips done using military equipment.

This entails that a detailed inquiry be conducted in respect of routine and operational use of military equipment and measures to combat further abuse of military resources be put in place. Murky use of public resources in any government department must come to an end.

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

MDC Calls For Inquiry Into Military Chopper Crash

By Own Correspondent| Spokesperson of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Nelson Chamisa, Jacob Mafume has called for an inquiry into the military chopper crash alleging that there is rampant abuse of state resources by public sector officials.

In a statement, Mafume said the Gutu military chopper crash is clear testimony that public officials are abusing state resources while conducting their personal and private business

Said Mafume:

“The crash landing of a military chopper in Gutu exposes the rot in the public sector. That a public official, a mere Permanent Secretary flies around on private visits in a military chopper is mind boggling.

A military chopper is state property only to be used for purposes of protecting the Zimbabwean State, its territorial integrity and its citizens.

A private graduation of a low ranking officer is not part of this obligation. Neither is a private graduation linked to the thwarting of vital threats of the State.

There must be a proper audit of resources in the sector and information availed to Zimbabwean people save for that which falls under classified operations.

More importantly a chopper belonging to the State was crushed on private business, the permanent Secretary must compensate Zimbabweans by paying the equivalent of the damage to the asset.

Further reimbursement must be done to the state to the tune of the flying cost including previous trips done using military equipment.

This entails that a detailed inquiry be conducted in respect of routine and operational use of military equipment and measures to combat further abuse of military resources be put in place. Murky use of public resources in any government department must come to an end.”

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

Masiyiwa Mired In Controversy As Attempt To Defend Wife Backfires

 

Terrence Mawawa|Flamboyant Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa is in the vortex of a storm following attempts to defend his wife Tsitsi Masiyiwa on social media.

Masiyiwa’s attempts to have Dewa Mavhinga dismissed from Human Rights Watch following what he described as “cyber-bullying” have hit a snag.

In a Facebook response to Masiyiwa’s remarks, HRW Director Ken Roth refused to be swayed by the influential business tycoon.

See below responses to Roth’s statement:Caston Matewu:”
Great response, those with money must not think everyone bows down to them.”

Tariro Daphne:”How social media maketh a man…or breaketh a giant…someone write a book on the latter.That’s the downfall of Strive Masiyiwa look at how Mugabe came down coz of Grace kkkkkk, not my handwriting.”

Mlungisi Dube:” Thank God you have a good boss anyway your response was far from being abusive.”

Why Are People Vilifying Me Yet I Took Care Of Morgan Tsvangirai In SA ? Asks Strive Masiyiwa

Terrence Mawawa|Cornered Zimbabwean business mogul Strive Masiyiwa has described the widespread criticism he has been subjected to as unfair and unwarranted.

In his response to Human
Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth’s statement on Facebook, Masiyiwa recounted how he personally assisted the MDC and hosted Morgan Tsvangirai in South Africa. PICTURES:

Masiyiwa is unhappy with the alleged
bullying of his wife on twitter.

Masiyiwa said he was present when the MDC made decision to join GNU.He also called on Roth to retire and recounted his proven philanthropic efforts.

Masiyiwa Is A “Stinking” Hypocrite- Jonathan Moyo

 

Terrence Mawawa|Professor Jonathan Moyo has described Econet Wireless boss Strive Masiyiwa as a “stinking” hypocrite.

Moyo further accused Masiyiwa of attempting to use his financial power to browbeat dissenting voices.

” Strive, you’re a lumpen democrat & a stinking hypocrite. You claim not to read @Twitter , yet you twisted @dewamavhinga ‘s TL , hoping to
cost him his job. You shut down your paper by illegally not registering it. Recently you called the leader of your paper’s bombers, sincere,” Moyo wrote on twitter.

Masiyiwa has dismissed claims that Moyo is a champion of democracy adding such sentiments are

Professor Jonathan Moyo.

unfortunate.

Luke Tamborinyoka Challenges ED To Name Soldiers Who Shot Civilians On August 1

 

Terrence Mawawa|MDC A official Luke Tamborinyoka has accused Emmerson Mnangagwa of sitting on delicate facts about the shooting of innocent civilians by armed soldiers on August 1, 2018.

Tamborinyoka has also pointed out that Mnangagwa is simply playing cheap political games by failing to release the names of the soldiers.

“Those particular members of the military and the police found to have been in breach of their professional duties and discipline on the 1st of
August 2018 should be identified as soon as

Luke Tamborinyoka

possible for internal investigations and appropriate
sanction,”said Tamborinyoka.

Doctors’ Concerns Are Genuine- Mutumwa Mawere

 

Terrence Mawawa|Prominent Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa believes the government should seriously consider the plight of medical doctors instead of employing “bullyboy” tactics.

Mawere insists a democratic government is expected to uphold constitutional principles and respect citizens’ right to be heard without fear.

” Govt actors must stop pretending that they are some form of superior humans with the power to command
outcomes.Why go to a doctor only to nationalize his time and call him names? A doctor is a person of flesh who has material needs that have to be purchased for real value,” Mawere tweeted.

“Indeed I don’t tweet2attract followers or to be an address of any wisdom. It is and must be pick and choose. Where u don’t understand
just ignore&where u understand.

Who would be the social partners to a contract binding on real people? The missing voices on what matters precludes any inclusive but vacuous social contract.”

Stray Elephant Kills Villager In Chipinge

A 61-year old Chibuwe man died after a wildlife attack this Monday as human wildlife conflict escalates.

Livestock and fields have also been ravaged by the stray animals.

For 19 years, the Chibuwe community has been living in fear of wildlife attacks owing to vandalism of the electric fence that separates the community and Save Conservancy.

Tragedy hit the community on New Year’s Eve as 61 year old Sekuru Wilson Mahupani Mapakame who was herding cattle near Save Conservancy was attacked and killed by an elephant.

Samuel Mudini who was in the vicinity narrated what he thought might have transpired during the attack.

“We rushed to the scene of attack after we heard the noise of the elephant were Mapakame was herding his cattle. There was evidence of the wild beast having ran after the deceased before killing him,” said Mudini.

A life lost, highlighting the need for unified approach to the matter.

In the wake of the vandalised barricades, the villagers are now appealing to authorities to re-fence the conservancy so that their lives, plants and livestock are safeguarded.

“We urge government to intervene on the impasse between the conservancy and community on the need to ensure that wild animals are not left to roam in the villages living their habitats,” said Laison Mabhengere, the Village Head.

Contacted for comment, local legislator Retired Colonel Joshua Murire says human wildlife conflict is now a big problem as last year alone the community lost over 30 cattle to lions that stray into residential areas while elephants and other wild animals are ravaging fields.

The latest incident comes when two other lives were lost after being attacked by buffaloes.

-State Media

Senior Doctors Join Industrial Action To Protect Patients

By Own Correspondent| Senior doctors at the country’s public health institutions have joined the induatrial action by junior doctors who downed tools since December 1, 2018.

The senior doctors said consensus to join the strike was agreed by senior registrars at Parirenyatwa, Harare, United Bulawayo and Mpilo Hospitals with the aim of protecting patients.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the doctors said:

Following the continued industrial action by junior doctors and their subsequent suspension, we the senior registrars have become overwhelmed by the work-load and are no longer confident we can discharge our duties properly without compromising both our and patients safety.

Our work involves working as a team and so if the other crucial part is missing, then we are all rendered useless.

We share the same grievances as our juniors that of the need for the cost of living adjustment need for uninterrupted availability of essential drugs and sundries and need to address the vehicle status of all doctors.

We have resolved therefore as a group to protect our patients and ourselves to withdraw our services until an agreement is reached.

VP Chiwenga Tours Kanyemba, Says Austerity Measures Will Bear Fruit If Zimbabweans Pull In One Direction

By Own Correspondent| Acting president who is the country’s vice president Constantino Guvheya Dominic Chiwenga has implored Zimbabweans to pull in one direction if the austerity measures initiated by government are to bear fruit.

VP Chiwenga said this in Kanyemba where he is touring the various projects initiated by government.

The State media reported that VP Chiwenga said:

“The development of Kanyemba has been given national project status to expedite mobilization of resources.

Government has identified other marginalized areas across the country for development.

The onus to develop the country lies among Zimbabweans and no one else.

The austerity measures adopted by government will bear fruits soon if we pull in the same direction.”StateMedia

BREAKING: Plain clothed Police Officers Visit CiZC Offices

Plain clothed police officers visited Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) offices today and questioned the caretaker over the coalition’s activities. Upon realizing that the Secretariat were away the police officers who claimed that they were coming from Milton Park police station told the caretaker that they would return on Monday 7 January 2019 to question members of the secretariat. CIZC engaged the services of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

After inquiries by ZLHR, the officer in charge at Milton Park police station confessed ignorance over the issue.

The visit by the plain clothed officers follows similar visits before and after the July 2018 harmonized elections.

SADC Endorses DRC Polls Despite Glaring Irregularities

Election monitors from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said the December 30 DRC presidential election went relatively well despite chaotic scenes that prevented many from voting.

DRC’s electoral commission has stated results from Sunday’s presidential election could be pushed back past January 6 deadline.

In a statement, president of the Electoral Commission, Corneille Nangaa said that presently about just 17 percent of the tally sheets drawn up by individual polling stations have been verified by the commission.

The crucial election is meant to lead to DRC’s first democratic transfer of power in 59 years of independence.

Meanwhile, authorities in the DRC have blocked a TV station that is seen as pro-opposition from broadcasting, amid growing tension after Sunday’s presidential election.

State Media

 

FULL STATEMENT: UBH Doctors Stop Attending to Emergencies

3 January 2019

The Clinical Director

United Bulawayo Hospitals

We as the Hospital Medical Officers, Junior Registrars and Senior Registrars held a meeting today and it is with a heavy heart that we agreed to stop attending to emergencies. We have been diligently attending to emergencies, hoping that the current impasse would be resolved.

We are now overwhelmed and we share the same grievances with our juniors.

This letter covers those on leave as well, who are in agreement an in full support of the industrial action.

We hope the situation will be resolved in an amicable and urgent manner

Dialogue Key in Resolving Zimbabwe’s Multi-Faceted Crisis

Following the November 2017 military coup which ousted former President, Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe was plunged into a constitutional crisis and the situation further deteriorated following the disputed July 2018 polls.

The fact that the polls were presided over by a compromised electoral commission and were characterised by a number of irregularities and that the opposition disputed the outcome of the elections resulted in a legitimacy crisis on the part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF party.

In as much as the ruling party has often declared that they were overwhelmingly voted into power, the legitimacy crisis is a reality that has also come with negative implications on economic development as well as democracy.

After the discredited elections, Zimbabwe’s economy has been on a continuous downward trend characterised by foreign currency shortages, fuel shortages and price hikes that have relegated the majority into abject poverty while cash shortages continue to persist.

Given the current environment obtaining in Zimbabwe, economic revival and engagement with the International community remains a pipe dream while investors have developed a wait and see attitude.

Job actions in the public service have also worsened the rot in the country and events currently obtaining on the ground point out that the situation could worsen further.

CIZC is concerned that the government’s response to protests by civil servants and ordinary citizens has been brutal and in some instances, the government has labelled genuine actions by suffering Zimbabweans as ‘regime change protests’.

We remain concerned that in the current context, the ruling party Zanu PF has shown an obsession with power rather than the need to address the continued crisis in the country.

Zimbabwe’s situation requires that political leaders put people first and CIZC reiterates calls for a national dialogue to address the multi faceted crisis in the country.

Resolving the political crisis prevailing in Zimbabwe through multi stakeholder political dialogue is key in rescucitating the economy and engaging with the international community.

Issued by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

“Broke Men Do Not Deserve To Be Called Daddy”: UFIC Leader Emmanuel Makandiwa

By Own Correspondent| United Family International Church leader Emmanuel Makandiwa has told congregants that all men who are broke should not be given the title “Daddy”.

Makandiwa said that this title is reserved for people with money only while the broke ones should be called father.

Do you think that the “Man of God” is right?

Video loading below:

“I’m Pained To Be Away From Home, Mourning With You”: Professor Moyo Tells Kasukuwere

By Own Correspondent| Former Zanu Pf cabinet minister whose current whereabouts have remained a mystery has issued his condolence message to former Local government minister and Zanu Pf politburo member Saviour Kasukuwere following the death of his mother.

Kasukuwere’s mother, Lucia was 79 years old.

Said Professor Moyo:

“Tyson and family, I am deeply pained by the conspiracy of unfortunate circumstances that leave me unable ti be with you today, tp lay our dear mother to rest. I am with you in prayer and thought hama dzangu. May God’s presence cover you and may his grace rest her in eternal peace.”

The late Lucia is survived by 8 children of whom the former minister is number 5.

Impeccable sources revealed that she suffered a heart attack last year when ZANU PF militants threatened to kill “her son”, the then minister following the ouster of former president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

ZimEye is reliably informed that she will be buried in Mt Darwin today.

Zanu Pf Manicaland Province Seeks Hero Status For Late Businessman Hlanganiso Matangaidze

By Own Correspondent| Zanu Pf Manicaland Province has implored the party to accord prominent Mutare businessman Mr Hlanganiso Matangaidze, who died over the weekend, provincial hero status.

Mr Matangaidze died at the age of 55 after a long illness.

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said the party provincial leadership has forwarded its request to the Politburo.

“The party provincial chairperson Cde Mike Madiro informed me that the provincial leadership has decided to request for Mr Matangaidze’s provincial hero status. The process is still to be finalised,” she said.

Dr Gwaradzimba described Mr Matangaidze’s death as a huge loss to the province of Manicaland in particular and the nation in general.

“To me he was more of a family member since early 80s. He was so close to my late husband Cde Trevor Gwaradzimba up until the untimely death of my late husband.

“I really do not know how to describe the loss we have suffered as Manicaland. He was a pillar of strength for Zanu-PF in Manicaland. He chaired the fundraising committee of the party for a long time and contributed from his personal resources,” she said.

Mr Matangaidze, who is a former Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce national president, has also been described as an exemplary businessman.

ZNCC vice-president responsible for Manicaland, Mr Kenneth Saruchera said Mr Matangaidze helped many budding businessmen establish their projects in various sectors of the economy.

“Mr Matangaidze will always be remembered for being a brilliant business leader of our time. He assisted many budding businessmen who have since become successful. This is a great loss to the people of Manicaland,” said Mr Saruchera.

Mr Matangaidze was the first Manicaland businessman to win the ZNCC national businessman of the year award in 2006.

Known as Matan in football circles, Mr Matangaidze was also former chairman of Buffaloes Football Club.

Mr Francis Dongo, who worked with Mr Matangaidze at Buffaloes FC, said Mr Matangaidze’s death is a loss to the football fraternity in the province.

“I worked with Mr Matangaidze at Buffaloes and we always depended on him in many ways. He came up with brilliant ideas during our meetings.

Materially, he was also very helpful to the club and football in general.

He loved football with a passion, more so when it came to his beloved Arsenal FC. He will be greatly missed,” said Mr Dongo.

His burial arrangements are still being organised.

Mr Matangaidze survived by his wife, Vongai Matangaidze.-StateMedia

Mataga Gets Rid Of Chihuri’s Police Rankings

By Own Correspondent| Police boss Godwin Matanga has revealed that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is set to adopt a new structure in the force’s hierachy aimed at rebranding the force to win back public confidence.

Commissioner Matanga said changes to the ZRP hierarchy will be effected in the “next few days”.

Said Commissioner General Matanga:

“Very soon I will be announcing a new ZRP structure which has since been approved by Government through the Police Service Commission (PSC).

In our old structure, we used to have the rank of commissioner and in the new structure we now have the ranks of Commissioner of Police but not the same as we had in the previous structure.

The new police commissioner who is coming is going to replace the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner.

In the new structure, if I could be allowed to come from the bottom, we will have the Constable, Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Assistant Inspector, Inspector, Chief Inspector, Superintendent, Chief Superintendent, Assistant Commissioner, Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner General and then Commissioner General.

I should have effected this new setup from December 18, 2018 but because of some logistical considerations I will definitely have to do it within the next few days. But officially it took effect from December 18, 2018.”- StateMedia

Hungwe “Retraction” On “ED Will Shoot To Stay In PowerExposes Zanu Pf?

By Talent Gondo| Zanu Pf member and former minister of State for Masvingo Province Josiah Hungwe has distanced himself from statements attributed to him in a newspaper report that quotes him telling delegates at Gudo Clinic, Chiredzi, that Emmerson Mnangagwa will shoot to stay in power.

In an interview with ZimEye, Hungwe said while the newspaper report allegedly quoted him, he never read or said the statement that Mnangagwa will shoot to stay in power.

He said:

“I have had so many people ask that, so please don’t worry yourselves about that because I never read it, eeeh, that is what people told me that it was reported in the newspaper, and the newspaper was The Mirror, something like that. Yes. I never read that, I never saw it.”

Quizzed further on the statement since there is a full recorded speech of him speaking and saying so, Hungwe was at pains to explain himself.

He said:

“Aaah, comrade, you don’t do that,” shortly before abruptly ending the telephone call (SEE VIDEO BELOW).

In August last year, Hungwe was quoted denying ever attending the Gudo Clinic function. The function was however covered far and wide by both the private and state media (including the Herald.)

He reportedly told the Daily News:

“You cannot make a story out of it. It is not fair because I was not there when what you are reminding me was allegedly said, it is your creation so look for other people to talk to not me,” he fumed as he hung his mobile phone before switching it off.

In the below recording of the speech revealed by ZimEye.com, Hungwe is heard clearly saying Emmerson Mnangagwa would shoot his way into power.

“Our leader Mnangagwa is a soldier and you know that a soldier is always equipped with a gun to do whatever he wants. If you want to run away from him he can shoot you so you should always know that,” Hungwe said, while commissioning the Gudo Clinic.

He also added:

“Do you know that I am the leader of the new dispensation here in Masvingo and I say ichi chinhu chedu chatakaita (this is our thing; it’s our creation).”

He added to statements by the then Deputy Minister Of Finance Terence Mukupe who said that the uniformed forces will not allow MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to rule if he wins the 2018 election.

Commenting on the development last night, Amnesty International activist and Masvingo Residents Association, Prosper Tiringindi told ZimEye the development presents an opportunity for citizens to take the Motlanthe Commissioners to court since their report “ignores” Hungwe’s statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New ZIFA Board Moves Out Of Chiyangwa’s $10k Offices Move To National Stadium

THE newly elected Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) board led by Felton Kamambo is set to move the association offices from controversial predecessor Philip Chiyangwa’s $10,000 per month offices along Enterprise Road to the National Sports Stadium.

An impeccable source at ZIFA indicated Wednesday that Kamambo had already made arrangements to move all operations and staff to the giant stadium over this coming weekend from its current base.

“Arrangements are already in place for the association to move its operations to offices at the National Sports Stadium because returning to ZIFA House is definitely out of the picture,” said the source.

“Returning to ZIFA House will mean that the association is bedevilled by debt collectors which I am sure is what Kamambo is fleeing from like Chiyangwa did when he took over from Cuthbert Dube.”

ZIFA’s January 2016 audit report revealed that one of Chiyangwa’s companies Hansporte Investments had been awarded a $50,000 tender to renovate and furnish ZIFA House.

ZIFA communications manager Xolisani Gwesela confirmed that they will be vacating Chiyangwa’s premises ‘soon’ but declined to confirm whether they were heading to the National Sports stadium.

“Yes, I can confirm that we will be leaving the Chisipite offices soon, but I am not yet in a position to share with you details of where we will be going from here, those will be shared in due course,” said Gwesela.

Chiyangwa moved the association’s headquarters from its 53 Livingstone, Harare offices in 2015 to his private Chisipite offices to flee the growing number of debtors seeking redress by ZIFA.

ZIFA debt ballooned from about $5 million to $8 million between 2015 and 2018 under Chiyangwa.

The flamboyant businessman was toppled in December by Kamambo who was part of his board until February 2017.

His ouster ended a turbulent three years at the helm of Zimbabwean football characterised by accusations of financial mismanagement, bribery, corruption and abuse of office.

Though there was massive approval from sections of Zimbabwe’s footballing circles who believed the ZANU PF Member of Parliament (MP) had personalised the association, very few people know about Kamambo.

The stadium Kamambo is moving the association to also houses the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) and premiership giants Dynamos on its Mezzanine Floor as well as the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) just behind the VIP area.

State Media

Hungwe Backtracks On “ED Is A Soldier Who’ll Shoot To Stay In Power” Statement, What Is The Lesson Here?

By Talent Gondo| Zanu Pf member and former minister of State for Masvingo Province Josiah Hungwe has distanced himself from statements attributed to him in a newspaper report that quotes him telling delegates at Gudo Clinic, Chiredzi, that Emmerson Mnangagwa will shoot to stay in power.

In an interview with ZimEye, Hungwe said while the newspaper report allegedly quoted him, he never read or said the statement that Mnangagwa will shoot to stay in power.

He said:

“I have had so many people ask that, so please don’t worry yourselves about that because I never read it, eeeh, that is what people told me that it was reported in the newspaper, and the newspaper was The Mirror, something like that. Yes. I never read that, I never saw it.”

Quizzed further on the statement since there is a full recorded speech of him speaking and saying so, Hungwe was at pains to explain himself.

He said:

“Aaah, comrade, you don’t do that,” shortly before abruptly ending the telephone call (SEE VIDEO BELOW).

In August last year, Hungwe was quoted denying ever attending the Gudo Clinic function. The function was however covered far and wide by both the private and state media (including the Herald.)

He reportedly told the Daily News:

“You cannot make a story out of it. It is not fair because I was not there when what you are reminding me was allegedly said, it is your creation so look for other people to talk to not me,” he fumed as he hung his mobile phone before switching it off.

In the below recording of the speech revealed by ZimEye.com, Hungwe is heard clearly saying Emmerson Mnangagwa would shoot his way into power.

“Our leader Mnangagwa is a soldier and you know that a soldier is always equipped with a gun to do whatever he wants. If you want to run away from him he can shoot you so you should always know that,” Hungwe said, while commissioning the Gudo Clinic.

He also added:

“Do you know that I am the leader of the new dispensation here in Masvingo and I say ichi chinhu chedu chatakaita (this is our thing; it’s our creation).”

He added to statements by the then Deputy Minister Of Finance Terence Mukupe who said that the uniformed forces will not allow MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to rule if he wins the 2018 election.

Commenting on the development last night, Amnesty International activist and Masvingo Residents Association, Prosper Tiringindi told ZimEye the development presents an opportunity for citizens to take the Motlanthe Commissioners to court since their report “ignores” the Hungwe statements.

“Hold Mnangagwa To Account Over Economic Mess”: MDC VP Mudzuri Tells Legislators

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC deputy president Elias Mudzuri has called on Parliament to hold President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to account over the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

In his New Year message, Mudzuri said the prevailing situation, where people sleep in fuel queues, have no cash and the country has no currency, apart from the ever-rising cost of living, was not acceptable.

Said Mudzuri in a statement:

“Having no designated currency, sleeping in fuel queues, and a shortage of foreign currency is unacceptable. The government must be taken to task and Parliament must seek an agenda to hold the government to account.

With schools opening against the high cost of living, how do you resource well to ensure that the education system delivers when parents have no viable income?

The government must be held to account and as legislators, we have a collective role to play to make this country work again. That is the most viable route for this nation. Leadership is about delivering socio-economic and political goods to the people.

To the youths, Zimbabwe is for you. Lead it from the front, it’s your everyday job to do so. The country needs a people-driven leadership. We are the people. Let us come forth and rebuild our nation for a better future for all.

The toxic politics of hate and violence will only takes us backwards as a country. Zimbabwe is for every Zimbabwean, regardless of race, tribe or social standing. Democracy derives all its strength from the rule of law and respect for other people’s rights.

Race or tribe should have no space in 2019. We are Zimbabweans together. Differences in skin colour, language or ideology are only, but a bonus because they build us.

Our differences must never come between us. Hate speech and violence do not build our country. They must, therefore, remain in 2018.”-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Harare City Council has revealed plans to introduce water rationing as it fails to meet demand.

This means water supplies will be rationed in order to ensure that areas that have not received a drop of tap water for years also get water.

Harare’s main water treatment works, Morton Jaffray Waterworks is pumping about 350 megalitres a day to Harare, a drop from 540 megalitres in recent months due to a prolonged drought and shortage of water treatment chemicals.

This is less than half of Harare’s daily water requirements, which currently is at 1 200 megalitres of treated water.

Harare clerk Hosiah Chisango said that the Western suburbs, which have been getting most of the treated water, will receive less water.

Said Chisango:

“In terms of mitigation, we will have to move to water rationing and there are certain areas that have been getting most of the water like our western suburbs. We have to make sure that we start rationing.

Instead of five or seven days, we will have to take away some days and give it to the eastern suburbs. We will share it with other councils so that they appreciate what we want to do.”-Newsday

Bakers Mull Another Bread Price Increase?

By Own Correspondent| Bread prices are expected to go up again as a result of rising production costs.

Last year, the price of bread rose three times, from 90 cents to $1,10 before shooting to $1,40.

In November 2018, Bakers unilaterally increased the price of bread to $2,20 a loaf and the government intervened to reverse the move.

The latest move is being pushed by the National Bakers’ Association of Zimbabwe (NBAZ).

NBAZ vice-president Lucky Zinyama said that the RBZ is failing to meet their foreign currency requirements.

He said:

“We are currently getting pressure from our members, who are saying the cost of producing bread has gone (up) and they want to increase the bread prices. The major challenge now is forex, which is not available. Now, our members will have to go (to) the parallel market.

The initial agreement was that we get 80% allocation from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, but now we are getting just 30% of that. The difference, we have to source on other markets. So our members are giving us pressure to hike prices.”

The government announced that effective January 1, bakers will import raw materials duty-free. The bakers, however, bemoaned the unavailability of foreign currency.

NBAZ president Ngoni Mazango said:

“The biggest issue is not about free duty, but it’s the access to forex itself. Duty is a small component of our problem. Of cause, we appreciate the effort, but at the moment, we can’t get forex to import our raw materials.”-Newsday

Teachers To Withdraw Labour When Schools Open

By Own Correspondent| The Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has revealed that its members will go on strike starting Monday next week if the government fails to meet its demands.

The rural teachers have already informed the Civil Service Commission of their intention to engage in the job action.

ARTUZ has demanded that the government pay teachers’ salaries in United States dollars as well as removing the 2% tax on electronic transactions.

In a letter dated December 31, 2018, ARTUZ wrote:

“All ARTUZ members shall withdraw their labour beginning on January 7, 2018, as part of the industrial action. Regular updates shall be circulated to inform all members and stakeholders on any development regarding the strike action.”

The rural teachers’ union has since written a circular to its members informing them of the planned job action:

“We have notified the employer of our intention to withdraw labour beginning January 7 if the issues are not addressed. The teachers and the members of the working class will camp at the Finance ministry on January 7 demanding either an end to austerity or Ncube’s resignation from the position of Finance minister.”

Bread Prices Cant Stop Going Up

Bread prices are expected to go up again as bakers try to adjust to rising production costs.

Last year, bread prices went up thrice from 90 cents to $1,10 before shooting to $1,40.

In November, government reversed another increase by the bakers, who had pegged a loaf of bread at $2,20.

National Bakers’ Association of Zimbabwe (NBAZ) vice-president Lucky Zinyama told NewsDay that the allocation of foreign currency was still a nightmare, as the central bank was failing to adhere to its promise of allocating 80% of bakers’ forex requirements.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe committed to avail at least 80% of the baking industry’s monthly foreign currency requirements from the previous allocation of 35%.

“We are currently getting pressure from our members, who are saying the cost of producing bread has gone (up) and they want to increase the bread prices. The major challenge now is forex, which is not available. Now, our members will have to go (to) the parallel market,” Zinyama said.

“The initial agreement was that we get 80% allocation from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, but now we are getting just 30% of that. The difference, we have to source on other markets. So our members are giving us pressure to hike prices.”

Apart from the dire forex situation, Zinyama highlighted that the cost of wheat was also adding onto the pressure.

Standard bread flour has gone up from the $730 per tonne in November to $780 per tonne before rising to $835 per tonne on January 1 this year.

Bakers require at least $7 million per month to import raw materials and spare parts.

Effective January 1, bakers are now enjoying duty-free importation of raw materials under a manufacturers rebate introduced by Treasury to reduce the cost of production and minimise increases in the price of bread.

However, bakers insisted that the biggest issue was not free duty, but was access to foreign currency.

“The biggest issue is not about free duty, but it’s the access to forex itself. Duty is a small component of our problem. Of cause, we appreciate the effort, but at the moment, we can’t get forex to import our raw materials,” NBAZ president Ngoni Mazango said.

DRC Cut Internet Connection And SMS Services As “Fictitious Results” Began Circulating

Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) government cut internet connections and SMS services across the country for a second straight day on Tuesday as the country nervously awaited results from the weekend’s chaotic presidential election.

Both the opposition and ruling coalition said on Monday they were on track to win after a turbulent election day on Sunday in which many Congolese were unable to vote due to an Ebola outbreak, conflict and logistical problems.

Barnabe Kikaya bin Karubi, a senior adviser to President Joseph Kabila, said internet and SMS services were cut to preserve public order after “fictitious results” began circulating on social media.

“That could lead us straight toward chaos,” Kikaya told Reuters, adding the connections would remain cut until the publication of complete results on January 6.

The signal to Radio France Internationale (RFI), one of the most popular news sources in Congo, was also down, and the government withdrew the accreditation of RFI’s main correspondent in the country late on Monday for having aired unofficial results from the opposition.

The various moves reflected high tensions in Congo, where the long-delayed election was meant to choose a successor to Kabila, who is due to step down next month after 18 years in power – and two years after the official end of his mandate.

Congo has never seen a democratic transfer of power, and any disputed outcome could lead to a repeat of the violence that followed the 2006 and 2011 elections and a wider security breakdown in its volatile eastern provinces.

The opposition says the election was marred by fraud and accused Kabila of planning to rule from the sidelines through his preferred candidate, former interior minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

Internal U.N. reports, seen by Reuters, noted allegations of irregularities across the country. In some parts of eastern Congo’s North Kivu province, for example, militia fighters reportedly forced voters to select candidates from the ruling coalition, they said.

In other places, the UN received reports that security forces intimidated voters to choose ruling coalition candidates.

The government and national electoral commission (CENI) said the election was fair and that any problems were minor.

Fears of violence

In the eastern city of Goma, residents were on edge as they awaited the results.

“If the results during the publication of the presidential results don’t reflect the truth … trouble will break out across the city,” said Fabrice Shweka, a Goma resident.

The first partial results were initially expected on Tuesday but CENI spokesman Jean-Pierre Kalamba said that they would not be ready until around Friday.

“We don’t want to release too many voting trends (before Jan. 6) because in our country we don’t have a population that has the same understanding (of electoral practice as in Europe),” he told Reuters.

In a statement late on Monday, the embassies in Congo of the European United, United States and several other countries called for calm and urged the government to restore internet access.

Shadary faced off in Sunday’s poll against two main opposition challengers, Felix Tshisekedi and Martin Fayulu, both of whom opinion polls before the vote showed running ahead of Shadary.

Fayulu complained in a statement on Monday about irregularities during Sunday’s vote but said he was encouraged by the determination of Congolese to vote despite long queues and voting machines that broke down.

“I call for vigilance across the board and the general mobilisation of all Congolese so that the truth of the ballot box, the sole witness to the will of the Congolese people, can reward their efforts and sacrifices,” he said.

– Reuters

 

Water Crisis Looms In Harare As City Fathers Introduce Water Rationing

City of Harare Town Clerk, Engineer Hosiah Chisango says Harare is only left with about 15 months supply of water and the city will be introducing water rationing and conservation in the next few weeks.

Lake Chivero which is Harare’s main source of water has been affected by siltation from urban agriculture activities resulting in the reduction of its depth.

Chisango who is Harare’s town clerk said if it does not rain any time soon, the city could be thrown into a big crisis in as far as water supply is concerned and that the city is working on the rationing schedule.

“Our calculations we have been basing them on the 28 metre depth and then we would say I have got 3 years supply of water but now with that siltation it means we may be sitting on around 15 months’ supply of water for the city which is not a good a position for the city so it’s important that we start water rationing, water conservation.

“So the message is let’s start water conservation then we introduce that water rationing to make sure we stretch the resources that we have,” he said.

The town clerk added that “if we are favoured and the rains come we will always be adjusting that upwards to make sure that people get more water but we have to go to the basics of supply, so the key issue is our shutdown this weekend, we hope then once we are able to adjust those periscopes we can improve on water supply but we are not blowing supply we have to keep it restricted so that we stretch the current resource,” he said.

According to engineer Chisango, the city is not able to provide water to such areas as Mabvuku at current production levels and is hoping to increase it if they manage to fix the abstraction periscopes over the weekend.

“Currently with what we are able to extract here the quality, the production is standing at about 360 megalitres per day and at that level of production other areas are totally cut out.

“We can only supply areas such as Mabvuku which are the furthest if we are getting a minimum of 450 megalitres so our work over the weekend is trying to target to 450 if we can adjust those two periscopes, then from there we are able to say Mabvuku we can restore that 2 days water supply back but as it stands with the water situation we have to manage it in that way,” he said.

Concerning the water rationing, the engineer said “we have to start it this month, I will not say immediately because we are want to see what comes out from the works that we will do over the weekend but in the next two weeks we will be able to inform the city over the scheduling.

“There are certain areas in Harare that were getting most of the water we are looking at our Western suburbs we have to get in there to make sure that we start rationing water and instead of the 5, 6 and 7 days we then have to take another day away so that we spread that water to the Eastern areas, so there is an issue of water rationing that is coming,” he said.-

-Open Parly

Churches Wont Support Anti-Government Protests: Mutodi

Jane Mlambo| Controversial deputy minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting services, Energy Mutodi has sensationally claimed that Apostolic Churches Council of Zimbabwe, Bishop Johannes Ndanga told him the church will not support any ant-government protests.

Posting on Twitter today after meeting Ndanga, the underfire minister said the church committed to praying for the country and fight for the removal of economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the west.

View Tweet below…

Magaya To Take Over Running Of Yadah Stars Himself

Walter Magaya

PROPHET Walter Magaya says his Yadah Stars’ Premiership franchise is not for sale and this year he intends to take a hands-on approach to issues related to the club to try and even fulfil his dream of winning silverware.

There has been frenzied speculation during this off-season that the franchise would be put on the market with a number of clubs, notably relegated Nichrut and Bulawayo City, being possible suitors to take over the slot.

But Magaya, who was disillusioned with the way the club was treated last year he even took a hiatus from bankrolling it leaving that responsibility to his partners, says his love for the club has been rekindled.

He summoned his players into camp during the Christmas and New Year holiday season, with the players and coaching staff only being given off on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, in an early start to preparations for the next season.

The football-mad prophet has also retired some of his most experienced players, and ushered them into coaching, while he is now on the hunt for a number of some exciting teenage stars.

The entire technical staff has also been overhauled with head coach Thomas Ruzive joining Black Rhinos while a new-look coaching team is being assembled.

Magaya says he will remain the team’s technical director and will be in charge of all coaching matters, including coming up with the blueprint which he wants his team to use for an assault on silverware.

Yadah Stars sailed in relegation waters last season but finished the campaign strongly, including beating one of the championship-chasing teams Ngezi Platinum, and he wants his men to build on that.

The players have been camping at the Yadah Hotel during the Christmas and New Year holidays and Magaya says he wants his men to be in prime shape when the season opens.

“I have heard the speculation that we are going to sell Yadah Stars but that’s not true and we are here to stay and we will be part of the PSL again this year,” he said.

“In fact, while I faced some challenges last year with what l felt was an unfair treatment of my team, leading me to take a back seat of its operations, I can report that I have had a change of heart and revived my commitment to the project.

“A number of players were knocking on my door every day saying they were distraught because they felt I was abandoning them and telling me stories of how we have become a family and how I have managed to transform their lives.

“In the end I could not ignore their pleas for me to reconsider my position and I am back with them and I also felt I needed another crack to realise my dream of winning some silverware because I believe in this mission.

“That is why we have started preparations very early when most of our rivals are having an off-season because we intend to make a difference this time around and make a big impact.”

He said the team was being revived through the addition of some exciting teenage players while the veterans had been pushed into retirement to take up coaching roles.

“We have some experienced players like Brian Mapfumo who have made a great contribution to our cause over the years and shown that age is just a number but we have ushered them into retirement where we will help them pursue coaching courses,” Magaya said.

“We are replacing them with some young and dynamic players, mostly under the ages of 20, and our plan was to work with these boys until the start of the season in August.

“We felt that had the season started in August as initially reported we would have assembled the most potent youthful team the country has ever known given we have scouted from across the nation.

“However, the decision to stick with the March start to the calendar means some of the boys might not be as ready to express themselves and play to their potential and also play the way we want.

“But that doesn’t mean we won’t fight to win matches and I believe we will be a far better team than the one that we fielded in the last campaign.

“Football means a lot to me, it’s my game, and just to see these boys win matches makes my days even when the chips are down and there are some issues plaguing me.

“I have had my issues which have frustrated me, especially the way I felt was a harsh treatment we were getting from the league, but there is a new leadership now and I am sure they will listen when we ask them to consider our plight.”

Magaya said he will remain the team’s technical director.

“In fact, from now onwards I will play a leading role in helping the team in its preparations, its training programmes, the conditioning of the players, the scientific aspects like studying our opponents and how to handle them,” he said.

The prophet also revealed he was resigned to losing star forward Leeroy Mavunga to Europe this year.

“The people who want Leeroy in Europe have been saying he has to come now and l don’t see us having him around for a long time,” he said.

“But we have to ensure he gets a good deal because, when you look at his age and potential, he has a lot to offer to this country in years to come and we need to ensure he gets the right deal.

“He is an amazing young man and the future for him is very bright.”

State Media

Gvnt To Issue Statement On 3 Tier Pricing System

By Own Correspondent| Government is dismayed by the adoption of the three-tier pricing system by several businesses in recent weeks revealing that it will soon issue out a statement.

Chicken Inn adopted the practice a few weeks ago and Delta Beverages has followed suit.

On Wednesday Delta Beverages announced that starting this Friday, it will be selling its products in US dollars.

The three-tier pricing system is when businesses charge different prices for the same product or service depending on the mode of payment the customer is using. Goods are thus priced differently in US dollars, bond and electronic transfer.

This practice is illegal. The government through the Ministry of Information and Publicity said:

“Regarding the unlawful persistent use of a three-tier pricing system by some businesses, the Minister of Trade and Commerce who is also the Acting Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu will issue a statement.”

New ZRP Structure On The Cards

By Own Correspondent| Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga has revealed that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is set to undergo major transformation this year as it adopts a new structure aimed at rebranding the force to win back public confidence.

Commissioner Matanga said changes to the ZRP hierarchy will be effected in the “next few days”.

He said

“Very soon I will be announcing a new ZRP structure which has since been approved by Government through the Police Service Commission (PSC).

In our old structure, we used to have the rank of commissioner and in the new structure we now have the ranks of Commissioner of Police but not the same as we had in the previous structure.

The new police commissioner who is coming is going to replace the rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner.

In the new structure, if I could be allowed to come from the bottom, we will have the Constable, Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Assistant Inspector, Inspector, Chief Inspector, Superintendent, Chief Superintendent, Assistant Commissioner, Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner General and then Commissioner General.

I should have effected this new setup from December 18, 2018 but because of some logistical considerations I will definitely have to do it within the next few days. But officially it took effect from December 18, 2018.”- StateMedia

Strive Masiyiwa In Battle With Shareholders For Control Of EcoCash

Strive Masiyiwa

AFTER years of brutal hyperinflation, Zimbabwe became known as a place where cash was almost worthless. Now, investors are fighting over EcoCash, the country’s homegrown PayPal-like service that has zoomed into the economy’s cash void.

The adversaries in the shareholder dispute include U.S. venture capitalist Paul Tierney, a former Peace Corps volunteer and former owner of D.C. United soccer team.

Along with his son Matthew, he accuses the man behind EcoCash, Strive Masiyiwa, a jet-setting philanthropist who sits on the board of Unilever and the Rockefeller Foundation, of trying to use an unusual debt-for-equity swap to grab a bigger piece of EcoCash now that it has become a key piece of monetary infrastructure.

Masiyiwa is the founder and biggest shareholder of EcoCash’s owner, Zimbabwean cellphone operator Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Ltd.

The company’s shares, which trade on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in dollars, have increased their value nearly 10-fold in the past 18 months and were recently worth more than $7 billion on paper.

Representatives for Masiyiwa say the disgruntled shareholders are failing to understand the complexities of operating in one of the world’s most distorted economies.

After the collapse of the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009, the country adopted the U.S. dollar to stabilize prices. But since it can’t print them itself, the country is now so low on dollars that banks have stopped dispensing cash or transferring money abroad.

The government, under budgetary pressure, has essentially created quasi-U.S. dollars that exist only electronically in local bank accounts and are now coursing through the economy. But they are deeply devalued: On the black market, a $100 bill can cost as much as $350 in digital dollars.

Launched in 2011, EcoCash allows users to trade electronic dollars over their phones. Users set up a mobile wallet—either linked to a bank account or topped up through transfers from another user—and then use the service to make everyday payments by punching codes into the phone’s call function.

Eight out of 10 transactions in the Southern African nation—whether paying for milk, paying an electricity bill or buying fuel —are done using EcoCash, according to data from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. In a country of 13 million people, the platform has more than eight million users.

“This is a very, very unique story in the world,” said Roy Chimanikire, Econet’s finance director. “This is an asset which basically is running the financial system of the country, that has stopped the country from collapse.”

The Zimbabwe government has encouraged electronic payments to help deal with the cash crisis, but is trying to diversify beyond EcoCash, including by promoting the use of regular credit and debit cards.

EcoCash’s move into the heart of Zimbabwe’s financial and monetary system attracted international investors, among them the Tierneys, betting on an economic recovery following the ouster of longtime strongman Robert Mugabe in 2017.

But the currency crunch behind EcoCash’s meteoric rise is also at the root of the shareholder battle now gripping its parent company.

In February 2017, with Zimbabwe’s version of the dollar dropping in value and the company struggling to pay back foreign loans, Econet raised $130 million through a rights issue, in a mix of local quasidollars and real U.S. dollars. Investors received shares for 5 cents and debentures, a debtlike instrument with an issue price of 4.7 cents. The debentures were meant to be paid back in six years.

Investors soon deemed the debentures worthless after the government blocked a plan to let Econet back them with dollars held abroad. Masiyiwa ended up holding 56% of all newly issued shares and debentures.

EcoCash’s usage has soared since then and so has its share price, trading as high as $2.85 in October.

In November, the company proposed converting the debentures into equity. Minority investors, some of whom bought shares after the rights issue, and thus didn’t own the debentures, cried foul.

“There is no justification for this blatant disregard for the rights of minority shareholders,” Paul and Matthew Tierney wrote in a Nov. 27 letter to the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.

They said Masiyiwa, already worth $1.7 billion according to Forbes, was using those debentures to grab a bigger stake in the company at a steep discount. . Masiyiwa would turn the debentures he purchased for just $28 million in 2017 into shares valued around $1.3 billion on the day the conversion was proposed.

If the deal went through, it would lift Masiyiwa’s stake in Econet to 46.7%, from 42.6%, while diluting the holdings of investors who don’t own any debentures.

“MINORITY INVESTORS GET STIFFED…”

Other investors unhappy with the proposed conversion include Zimbabwean financial-services companies Old Mutual Zimbabwe and Imara Securities as well as South Africa’sCoronation Fund Managers Ltd. , Sanlam Ltd. and Allan Grey, which together own some 25% of Econet.

Masiyiwa “treats Econet as his personal company and minority investors get stiffed,” said Peter Townshend, portfolio manager for Sanlam’s Africa Equity Fund.

Amid the investor outcry, a vote on the proposal has been delayed twice, as recently as Dec. 14. Econet says it is still considering the debenture swap but hasn’t set a date for a fresh shareholder vote.

Econet and representatives of Masiyiwa’s holding company say the proposed conversion would benefit a big majority of Econet’s shareholders and reward investors who helped the company during tough times.

Complicating matters, in December, Econet spun off the EcoCash business, along with some smaller financial-services ventures, into a separate company listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. Dubbed Cassava Smartech, it immediately became the country’s largest traded company with a market capitalization of $3.8 billion.

These gains may just be mostly on paper anyway. Zimbabwe investors have piled into assets denominated in dollars, including stocks, that they think may retain value in case the country decides to depeg from the U.S. dollar.

“We have a U.S. dollar operating in Zimbabwe, but actually that U.S. dollar is not convertible into a U.S. dollar outside Zimbabwe,” said Chimanikire, Econet’s finance director. “So it’s not really a U.S. dollar.

— Wall Street Journal

Gvnt To Recruit 3k New Teachers

By Own Correspondent| Government has authorised the recruitment of an additional 3 000 teachers, Finance and Economic Development minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said

Ncube said the recruitment aims at easing teacher shortages in the country.

He said:

“Treasury has authorised the recruitment of 3 000 additional teachers in Zimbabwe in order to ease teacher shortage. Treasury has also authorised  the recruitment of about 350 university teaching staff and personnel to bolster university capacity. Key to improving service delivery.”

In their one on one interaction with President Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2017, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) implored government to unfreeze teachers’ posts arguing that the teacher to pupil ratio was too high.

Said Dr Takavafira Zhou, the PTUZ president

“….We have teachers who are teaching up to 120 pupils. We told him that there is an excess of teachers that are not employed

“They have suspended the recruitment of new teachers and even those excess teachers after recruiting, we can still engage on a Government-to-Government (basis) with neighbouring countries and those teachers can get employed.

We have also highlighted that teachers are incapacitated. The basic salary of a teacher is $284 and from that $284, a mere uniform for a Form 1 pupil is ranging between $850 and $2 000.”

 

“No Demonstrations At Public Hospitals”: VP Chiwenga Warns Striking Junior Doctors

By Own Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga has warned striking junior doctors that government will not allow them to demonstrate at hospitals.

VP Chiwenga, released a statement on Tuesday saying that hospitals are for the treatment of patients.

He added that the government will not pay the doctors in foreign currency since the government does not print US dollars.

Said Chiwenga:

“The government will not allow any demonstrations at medical facilities whose purpose is to treat patients and ensure their full recovery.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Government will not remunerate any of its work-force in US dollars. The government does not print US dollars.

In particular, Government is disturbed by the fact that in spite of many concessions it made to the striking doctors, and the broad agreement reached on all but two issues, the striking health personnel continue to withhold their labour and negotiate in bad faith even though they are designated as an essential service under the Labour Act, and even though Government has bent over backwards to accommodate them.”-StateMedia

Fuel Queues Begin To Disappear, But For How Long?

Minister Joram Gumbo

Own Correspondent|Fuel queues have begun disappearing in most centres in the country giving a glimmer of hope to motorists that perhaps government may have finally found a lasting solution to the problem.

Most service stations in and most major urban cde trees yesterday had fuel and relatively short compared to what was the case in the last few weeks.

Motorists who spoke to ZimEye.com welcomed the relief but expressed fears that the situation may just be temporary.

“We really wish things could stay like that but we know that this may just be a temporary situation and we will be going back to the queues within the next few days,” said a Bulawayo motorist.

Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo, in a telephone interview with state media however said government has found a solution to the fuel crisis whose root cause of the queues was a sudden doubling in demand that the Government has since adjusted to.

“We would like to assure the public that we expect our supplies to revert to normal at our service stations. You may have noticed that fuel queues have begun to disappear,” said the Minister.

“We were caught off guard by the demand that rose drastically from the normal consumption of about 2 million litres to about 4,6 million litres of diesel per day and 1 million to 3,1 million litres per day of petrol. It is on that basis that things appeared to be going bad …..and the farming season and the festive season that is upon us,” he said.

Minister Gumbo said Government was doing its best to ensure that scarce forex resources are also channelled towards fuel procurement.

“We need fuel for energy but other ministries also need forex. The ministry of health, mining and other ministries also need forex. However I am positive that things are going to stablilise. Our price is quite lower than in other countries in the region so they fill up in Zimbabwe while in transit. We made a proposal to the Reserve Bank to increase our weekly forex allocation from $20 million to $35 million per week,” he said, adding that the situation was improving as the busy festive season was coming to an end.

“The situation continues to improve and we are supplying fuel to the market. There’s adequate fuel in the country but the problem we have been having in the past weeks is the sharp rise in consumption. The demand rose drastically,” he said.

“We have enough fuel stocks in the country but sometimes we do not have forex to pay for the fuel. We strike deals with oil companies to deliver a lot of fuel in the country in advance.

“However we can only access that fuel after paying for it and our forex shortages sometimes hinder us from getting your preferred supply. We cannot say there is no fuel because there’s no forex. The fuel is there but the suppliers want forex up front. Our allocation is around $20 million per week for fuel so we receive it from the Reserve Bank. So if we are not allocated that forex, we may delay in accessing fuel,” said the Minister.

“The situation really improved across the country as from Friday. You may have observed at a lot of tankers do come in and decant, but we are struggling to meet the unexpected high demand. If on average say people only needed 20 litres per week, for a small car. Now everybody wants to fill up and have a full tank all the time, if we all do that, it creates problems,” he said.

Asked on fuel service stations that only sell fuel in forex, the minister said he was not in a position to comment on the matter as only the Reserve Bank and Ministry of Finance were able to comment and act on the matter.

“The RBZ controls money and they are best to comment on fuel being sold in US dollars. We are only responsible for the pricing of fuel. We can peg prices of fuel, but cannot say whether it’s sold in forex or bond,” said Minister Gumbo.

Chicken Inn Celebrity Couple Attracts Widespread Attention

Makhosana Mguni goes down on his knee as he proposes to his sweetheart Belinda Nyoni for a hand in marriage at a Chicken Inn outlet in Bulawayo, on Wednesday last week. The picture has gone viral.

WHEN Makhosana Mguni (27) went on bended knee to propose to his sweetheart Belinda Nyoni (24) at Chicken Inn Drive Thru in Bulawayo he never thought this would ignite a spirit of giving from all corners of the country.

The couple lives in Bulawayo’s Nketa 6 and the proposal happened on December 26.

Their photo went viral as many people admired the gesture made by Mguni in taking the bold step of asking the love of his life for her hand in marriage.

However, no matter how kind and noble one is, there are always some people who will take the opportunity and be social media trolls.

They were ridiculing the man for choosing a fast food outlet.

However, what they did not know, said Mguni, is that Chicken Inn has some sentimental value as this was the place he first met Nyoni six years ago.

“It wasn’t actually the Chicken Inn at ZITF where we met; we met at the one on 8th Avenue. We live in the same neighbourhood and I had always admired her from afar and got the opportunity to talk to her on that day. That’s the reason I chose to do my proposal at Chicken Inn, because it has a lot of sentimental value for us as a couple,” said Mguni.

Fortunately, the Internet trolls were quickly dismissed by the majority and their misgivings were soon drowned in the voices of those who celebrated the newly engaged couple.

Some companies and individuals have gone as far as offering wedding services for them such as a wedding dress, make-up, free vehicle hire, live streaming, photo-shoots, even food for their wedding and the like just to hop onto the euphoria.

Movie house Ster Kinekor were the first to jump on as they offered the lovebirds a Cine Prestige cinema and 44 of their friends and relatives for them to celebrate while watching a movie of their choice.

Chicken Inn asked people to tell them what they want the outlet to do for the couple and most suggestions were that the food outlet should pay for the couple’s entire wedding, pay for lobola and also make them brand ambassadors for a year or life.

A Facebook page called The Belinda and Makhosana Love Story has been set up and has nearly 1 000 followers.

The couple denied owning or running it although a statement posted on the page thanking people was theirs.

“We shall set up a Facebook page that’s official. The one that’s there isn’t ours. The statement that was published is one that we made, though we don’t know where whoever’s running the page got it,” said Mguni in an interview.

The couple, in their statement, said they were surprised that there were people trolling them.

“As you might have probably heard, we are just a young couple from Bulawayo. When we got engaged, it was a gesture of pure devotion and commitment. We did not think it would be the highlight of social media ‘trolling’ but hey, all things work together for the good. When Jesus says ‘yes’, who can say ‘no?’” said the couple.

“Ster-Kinekor Zimbabwe, we are truly grateful for the way you stood up and dared to be different just for us. When most laughed at us, you guys turned the ship around. We do not know how to thank you. To everyone who is showing their support through commitment and pledges, Zimbabwe needs more people like you. May God richly bless your businesses because it’s not easy to help a stranger but you guys are doing it for us.”

The couple said the dates for the lobola ceremony would be announced as they were being negotiated by both families.

State Media

“Everything Mthuli Ncube Touches Turns To Ashes” – Candid Opinion

Written by Baffour Ankomah|Initials are a big deal in Zimbabwe, a country where you apparently cannot become a proper public official unless you have a string of patriotic-sounding middle names, preferably acquired from the liberation war that gave birth to independence in April 1980.

For a long time, RG (standing for Robert Gabriel), the initials of former President Mugabe, dominated the scene. Today it is ED (standing for Emmerson Dambudzo), the first two names of the current president, Mnangagwa.

Dambudzo is Shona for ‘Trouble’ but fortunately for Zimbabweans, this ‘Trouble’ says he is instead ‘as soft as wool’. Even better, according to sources close to him, his initials ED are morphing into ‘Economic Dialogue’, reflecting the President’s penchant for tackling economic issues.

Just as well. Because the economy under Emmerson the Trouble has been in deep trouble ever since he appointed Prof. Mthuli Ncube as Finance Minister on 10 September 2018. Now serious-minded people are asking if the learned professor has any positive value to add to ED’s government, as everything Ncube touches appears to turn to ashes.

On paper, though, Prof. Ncube has all the credentials to make a successful finance minister. In practice, however, he has been the very opposite since he took office.

Remarkably, until his entry, the economy was coasting along fine. Though things were not rosy, Zimbabweans had become used to their quasi local currency, the bond note, which the government introduced at the end of November 2016, insisting that it was at par with the US dollar, the country’s main medium of exchange since February 2009.

Though cash had miraculously disappeared from the banks in late 2017 and people could no longer withdraw money from ATMs and had to queue in banks to be given $50 per week by overworked tellers, the citizenry had somehow come to terms with the economic difficulties and were comfortably soldering on with their unpalatable circumstances.

Then arose Prof. Ncube (born 1963), a man who had seen the Barbican Bank he founded in December 2002 collapse in March 2004, after which he left the country for greener pastures abroad, working in academia in the UK and South Africa and also at the African Development Bank, before returning home in 2018 to be appointed Finance Minister.

Man of theory
Essentially, therefore, Ncube is a man of theory, not practice. Which is why, as Finance Minister, he is struggling to translate economic theory into sound economic/ political practice.

In mid-September, the former Cabinet Minister now in self-exile in Kenya, Jonathan Moyo, advised Mthuli through Twitter: “First, don’t announce any major initiative, like phasing out bond notes, before it’s been approved by the president, politburo and cabinet in that order… You are a minister of finance in charge of fiscal, and not monetary, policy. Stick to your job and let others do theirs.”

Moyo went on: “A minister of finance is not a technocrat but a politician. You will need political clout that comes from being a ZanuPF member, an MP and, crucially, a central committee and politburo member. If you are not these things, it’s a disaster …”

Behold, the disaster was not long in coming as Ncube did not listen to Moyo’s sound advice. In fact, even before he was sworn in as Finance Minister, Ncube had publicly declared his intention to kill the bond note as legal tender.

But with the other ‘quasi local currency’, the US dollar, in short supply, there was no viable alternative beyond the bond note. So it was sheer foolhardiness for an incoming Finance Minister to talk about killing the bond note, without consulting the President.

As it was, two weeks into office, Ncube appeared to be fulfilling his promise of dispensing with the bond note when, in his first set of fiscal policies, he announced an unpopular 2 cents per dollar tax on all electronic money transfers over $10. Zimbabweans reacted violently to safeguard their hard-earned savings, in banks and under their beds, by dumping the bond note in a spree never seen before in the country.

In the process, inflation rose sharply from 5% to 20.85% in one week, as retailers of goods and services increased their prices by as much as 500 to 600% to match the black market rate of the bond note, in the hope that if they needed to re-stock, they would have forex at hand to do so.

Madness subsided
When the madness subsided after three weeks of panic buying, the retailers, who had removed price tags from their goods while the commotion lasted, just brought back the price tags but now reflecting the new black market rate of between 4 and 5 bond notes to one US dollar.

Thus, Zimbabwe has become a country ruled by the black market rate, even though the government insists that the bond note is still at par with the US dollar – a statement nobody respects.

In effect, overnight, everybody’s wages and salaries have been devalued by between 400 and 500% as there have been no wage increases to account for the black market rate now being charged by retailers of goods and services.

But Ncube’s sin was not complete: On 22 November, he presented his first budget as Finance Minister (totalling US$8.16bn for 2019), and announced a 7-cent increase in fuel prices, to take effect from 1 December.

The 8-day grace period between his announcement and the effective date, allowed fuel dealers enough time to hoard petrol and diesel and thus create another fuel shortage crisis. At the time of writing, there were long and winding queues of cars at petrol stations all over the country, with the capital Harare being the worst affected.

Ncube’s critics say he should not have allowed a grace period for the new price to kick in. They claim he did so out of political inexperience. “He himself says he now knows that economic policies come with strictures,” a government source told New African.

It is these economic problems that lie at the bottom of the metamorphosis of ED into Economic Dialogue, making Zimbabwe’s new president more interested in economic affairs than political ones. “Zimbabwe as a state is politically developed but economically underdeveloped”, is how one government source explains it.

The source says former President Mugabe, who ruled for 17 years under Western economic and political sanctions, spent much of his time developing the state politically, but left the economic job largely undone. Therefore, several essential laws to buttress the economy were not enacted, which is what ED is morphing into Economic Dialogue to do.

For example, when Ncube rocked the boat with his 2% tax and prices went through the roof overnight, ED had to call all captains of industry to state house for dialogue and urge them (especially those dealing with agricultural inputs) to “strike a proper balance between their business and national interests”. It worked. A day after the state house meeting, dealers in agricultural inputs slashed their prices by 50%.

In the coming months, ED’s dialogue skills will be needed even more, as public sector workers are threatening to strike for more pay to match the 400-500% increase in prices in the shops and clinics.

These are not happy days in Zimbabwe. Millions of people expected a “miserable Christmas” as they did not have the money to meet retailers’ asking prices.

— New African

MDC To Intensify Protests Against Mnangagwa

Mass protests have been lined up in the New Year as public disenchantment against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration continues to grow.

The main opposition party led by Nelson Chamisa revealed that it will engage in mass protests this month to force Mnangagwa out of power ostensibly because he has failed to stabilise the country’s economy.

Amos Chibaya, the MDC’s organising secretary, said the party will organise its supporters to march to State House in protests modelled along the Arab Spring which toppled dictators in Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.

“2019 is the year that we are going to send Mnangagwa packing. This month, unlike before, we are not going to toyi-toyi around the streets but straight to State House because that is where the person who stole our vote resides,” he said.

“We have a crisis of legitimacy in the country and we seek to correct that by installing the person who won the July 30, 2018 elections and that person is Chamisa.

People are suffering including, teachers, doctors, and ordinary Zimbabweans and we cannot continue like that when we all know the root cause of our suffering…”

The MDC has refused to recognise Mnangagwa as the legitimate president of the Republic despite a Constitutional Court (Con-Court) ruling last year to the contrary.

Mnangagwa rose to power in 2017 following a de facto military coup that toppled long time ruler Robert Mugabe and subsequently won the July 30 elections after he garnered 50, 6 percent of the vote against Chamisa’s 44, 3 percent.

Chamisa unsuccessfully lodged a Con-Court application, challenging the poll outcome, which was dismissed by the full bench with costs.

To make matters worse, teachers will also be taking to the streets as early as next week to demand better working conditions including being paid in United States dollars.

Yesterday, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) called for a civil service-wide strike and invited is members to Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s offices on Monday next week to “protest against austerity”.

“Our members are agitated … they want the government to pay their salaries in foreign currency. The cost of living has increased, and civil servants’ salaries have lost value three-fold in 2018.

“We therefore want salaries to be paid in foreign currency considering that most service providers now prefer payment for services in foreign currency,” Artuz said.

Strike calls by the MDC and Artuz come as the country is dogged by a myriad of challenges that have seen medical doctors downing their tools for over a month now.

Doctors are currently on strike demanding to be paid in US dollars as well as provision of adequate drugs and other equipment in the country’s hospitals and clinics.

The crisis in the health delivery system has reached calamitous proportions with the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) announcing that their negotiations with government have not yielded positive results hence their action continues unabated.

“We wish our members, members of the public and all stakeholders a happy new year. It is with sadness that we announce that no consensus has been reached in our negotiations with @MoHCCZim, and the industrial action continues whilst we await fair, honest and sensible negotiations,” ZHDA said on Twitter yesterday.

This also comes as recently-graduated doctors have thwarted government efforts to use them to replace the striking doctors. They said they are behind the industrial action by their seniors — effectively snubbing attempts by government to hire them as replacements.

In a letter addressed to the Health Services Board, the doctors said they were not prepared to be used as cover and instead called for dialogue between the striking doctors and their employer.

“We are greatly disturbed by the ministry’s efforts to undermine the genuine grievances raised by our fellow doctors and the move to try and recruit us to cover the gap created. We want to categorically state that we are in full support of our senior colleagues and believe in dialogue rather than duress,” they said.

As if that is not enough pressure for Mnangagwa’s administration, hospital pharmacists have also backed the doctors’ action as well as demanding to be paid in US dollars.

In a statement the Zimbabwe Association of Hospital Pharmacists demanded that government resolves the doctors’ issue as a matter of urgency as they could not work properly without them.

The pharmacists said the health care system comprises a multidisciplinary team reliant on one another for the provision of quality service and care.

“The association is thereby in support of the doctors’ demand for meaningful remuneration and provision of medical sundries and medicine in public health care facilities for effective care for our patients,” the pharmacists said.

This is all happening at a time when the government is battling a failing economy characterised by inflation, fuel shortages, foreign currency shortages and serious price increases against eroded bank balances and salaries.

— Daily News

Ramaphosa Brokered Talks With ED And Asked Him To Step Down For Chamisa?

Mnangagwa And Ramaphosa

Byo24- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa brokered a deal between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa reports have emerged.

A reliable source in the MDC standing committee who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that the meeting between Ramaphosa and Chamisa was one of the series of meetings that have been held behind the scenes.

“The meeting that the President had with Ramaphosa was not the first one. The President has met with him before and a number of African leaders. A deal was struck that President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his team should retire from running the country and a transitional authority takes over. The Authority will include president Chamisa at its helm and a few of progressive ZANU PF officials,” the source said.

“SADC and African Union had underwritten the deal and said President Mnangagwa must bring an exit package on the table. The problem arose when Mnangagwa brought in about 50 families that he says are his dependents.

The American government which had indicated that they will pay the exit package for Mnangagwa and his team said the demands are too much.

“The deal then suffered a still birth. When you saw the President attending the meeting with Ramaphosa he had been invited to come and discuss the way forward to resolve the impasse. I can confirm that President Chamisa was accompanied by National Chair Tabitha Khumalo.

“The hope in the top leadership of the party is that the impasse is resolved and the country moves forward.”

Both ZANU PF and MDC have publicly denied that there are any talks between the two parties. On Monday ZANU PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Paul Mangwana said the party will only talk to Chamisa when he comes knocking at the ZANU PF door.”

Chamisa has been vocal in calling for a transitional authority.

– Byo24

LATEST – Hungwe In U-Turn Over “ED Is A Soldier Who’ll Shoot You From Behind To Stay In Power” Speech, Says He “Never Saw Or Read” Such A Newspaper Story

Josiah Hungwe

By Simba Chikanza| Contradicting the Motlanthe Commission report, the former minister of State for Masvingo Province Josiah Hungwe yesterday denied knowledge of a newspaper report that quotes him verbatim telling delegates at the commissioning of Gudo Clinic, in Chiredzi, that Emmerson Mnangagwa will shoot people from behind in order to stay in power.

Speaking to ZimEye, Hungwe said:

“I have had so many people ask that, so please don’t worry yourselves about that because I never read it, eeeh, that is what people told me that it was reported in the newspaper, and the newspaper was The Mirror, something like that. Yes. I never read that, I never saw it.”

He was then asked for a comment since there is a full recorded speech of him speaking and saying so and he replied saying:

“Aaaah, comrade, you don’t do that,” shortly before abruptly ending the telephone call (SEE VIDEO BELOW).

In August last year, Hungwe was quoted denying ever attending the Gudo Clinic function. The function was however covered far and wide by both the private and state media (including the Herald.)

He reportedly told the Daily News in an interview:

“You cannot make a story out of it. It is not fair because I was not there when what you are reminding me was allegedly said, it is your creation so look for other people to talk to not me,” he fumed as he hung his mobile phone before switching it off.

In the below recording of the speech revealed by ZimEye.com, Hungwe is heard clearly saying Mnangagwa would shoot his way into power.

“Our leader Mnangagwa is a soldier and you know that a soldier is always equipped with a gun to do whatever he wants. If you want to run away from him he can shoot you so you should always know that”; Hungwe said, while commissioning the Gudo Clinic.

He also added:

“Do you know that I am the leader of the new dispensation here in Masvingo and I say ichi chinhu chedu chatakaita (this is our thing; it’s our creation).”

Hungwe’s sentiments added to statements by the then Deputy Minister Of Finance Terence Mukupe who said that the uniformed forces will not allow MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to rule even if he wins the 2018 election.

Commenting on the development last night, Amnesty International activist and Masvingo Residents Association, Prosper Tiringindi told ZimEye the development presents an opportunity for citizens to take the Motlanthe Commissioners to court since their report “ignores” the Hungwe statements.

“We must take them to the courts, all of them,” Mr Tiringindi said. VIDEO BELOW:

Delta Takes Govt By Surprise, Minister Calls For Urgent Meeting

Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu

DELTA Corporation yesterday said it would start selling all its products in foreign currency with effect from tomorrow, a decision described by the Government as unacceptable and illegal. Analysts also warned that the decision by Delta could backfire as most Zimbabweans were paid in Bond notes or RTGS.

In an interview yesterday following a statement released by Delta earlier on, the beverage manufacturer’s company secretary Mr Alex Makamure said selling its products in “multiple foreign currencies” such as the rand, pula, Euro, British pound and US dollars would also enable it to access key raw materials.

Responding to the announcement by Delta yesterday, Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said business must “stop forthwith” dollarising the economy.

“We have noted with concern a proliferation in the number of companies and businesses engaging in preferential currency practices. This is not only against the spirit of fairness, but it is also an illegal practice. Government is very clear that this practice is unacceptable and has to stop forthwith and if not, the law will take it’s course.”

Minister Ndlovu said Government had tried to ensure businesses operate in a free atmosphere, but companies were now acting in bad faith.

“The Government has supported business to operate liberally within the economy without interference but giving an intervening hand whenever it has been called upon to assist. In return, Government has expectations that business will operate in good faith and responsibly,” the minister said.

“At the centre of the relationship between Government and business is the spirit of engagement and a two-way communication between all parties. That spirit is defeated when one of the parties decides to unilaterally pronounce decisions against both the text and spirit of agreed principles,” he said.

Delta said in a statement yesterday its business had been “adversely affected” by shortages of foreign currency, which had resulted in the company failing to meet orders, and “in the case of soft drinks, being out of stock for prolonged periods”.

It said the fiscal and monetary policy frameworks announced by the Government in October last year did not provide for “easy access to foreign currency by non-exporters”.

“The company has only received limited foreign currency allocations from the banking channels, which have not been adequate to fund the import requirements,” said the statement.

“Resultantly, all our foreign suppliers are unable to continue providing credit or meet new orders as some of them have not been paid for extended periods.

“In order to sustain its operations, the company advises the retail and wholesale customers that its products will be charged in hard currency with effect from Friday 4th January 2019,” reads the statement.

Mr Makamure said Delta stopped making some of its products, particularly soft drinks, in November.

He said no deliveries were made throughout November last year while it released some soft drinks on December 24.

Some supermarkets were still selling soft drinks, principally Coke, on Christmas Day with some having the product even yesterday.

The company requires US$2 million per month to buy raw materials such as concentrates and granules used to manufacture plastic bottles.

Delta said its products were fairly priced in US dollars and had remained generally unchanged since 2013, and the new prices for soft drinks announced yesterday show that a 300ml bottle will sell for 50c; a 330ml can (60c) while 500ml PET will be US$1.

Lager beer prices are 80c for 375ml returnable bottles; 750ml returnable (US$1,50); and 340ml returnable (US$1).

“We trust that our customers will continue to charge recommended retail prices in USD or equivalent currencies based on the multi-currency framework,” said Delta Beverages.

Delta said it had invested over US$600 million in plant and equipment, vehicles and ancillary services since 2009, and there was need to “protect this investment and ensure sustenance of all value chain partners”.

The company called for wider consultations on policy interventions to build consensus and market confidence among stakeholders to stabilise the macro-economic environment.

Chairperson of the department of economics at the University of Zimbabwe Professor Albert Makochekanwa said it was incomprehensible that Delta wanted to sell in forex when almost all employees’ salaries were in Bond notes and/ or RTGS.

“More than 99 percent of people living in Zimbabwe earn their income in Bond and/or RTGS.

“Charging in USD will likely mean reduced customers, which may affect their sales (and) there maybe upward demand for USD, which will cause an upward increase in (the) buying (of) USD on black market,” said Prof Makochekanwa.

Economist and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer Takunda Mugaga, said the move by Delta indicated the economy was “redollarising faster than we can catch up”, which would have an impact on pensions.

“Delta, being a market leader as well as industry on its own due to the monopolistic nature of its being, the result is expedited redollarisation which will have enterprise-wide impact from the farm to the salary of an employee directly and indirectly employed by Delta,” said Mr Mugaga.

“This stance by Delta means all players, including very small ones in the beverage sector, will follow suit (and) it will also send a message to bankers given Delta’s significant presence locally when it comes to facilities and deposits with banks,” he said.

But Prof Makochekanwa does not see the move by Delta speeding up redollarisation considering that Simbisa Brands, the owners of Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, Fish Inn and Bakers Inn, is already charging in US dollars, together with some fuel retailers, but this has not had an “impact on redollarisation as of now”.

Simbisa accepts RTGS and Bond notes based on the parallel market rate for US dollars.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said he was aware of Delta’s decision, but said he would engage the company to see if that can be reversed.

“I have seen it (the letter to customers advising of new pricing structure) but I think we should be meeting them on Friday (tomorrow). That cannot be allowed,” said Minister Ndlovu.

But Mr Mugaga said if Government blocked Delta from charging in forex, this could lead to “job losses”, arguing the company could no longer afford to “continue looking for forex outside the formal means”.

He also said Government would be a beneficiary since the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has started collecting taxes in forex from companies trading in hard currencies.

Delta would have to start paying corporate tax, excise tax, PAYE and VAT in foreign currency, he said.

State Media

FC Platinum To Use Barbourfields Stadium For Champions League Matches

FC Platinum are likely to play their Total Caf Champions League Group B matches at Barbourfields Stadium since their fortress Mandava Stadium has no floodlights.

The pool games get underway on January 11 with the Zimbabwean champions set to play host to Orlando Pirates before flying out to
Tunisia to take on defending champions Esperance a week later.

Despite Mandava Stadium being homologated to host preliminary games of the same competition, it emerged yesterday that the issue of floodlights was critical for the Group
games as some of the matches could actually be played at night and Caf, through the director of communications department
Nathalie Rabe confirmed that they will be sending an instructor to do the inspections.

“Yes we will be sending very soon an instructor to conduct an inspection visit of the facilities there in preparation for their match,” wrote Rabe in an e-mailed response to Chronicle Sport.

MSU Dismisses Fees Hike Reports

GWERU – The Midlands State University (MSU) has dismissed as fake reports circulating on social media alleging that the institution has hiked tuition fees.

In a statement, the MSU said it noted with concern false statements circulating on various social media platforms to the effect that it has
increased tuition fees for the 2019 academic year and that local students will also be required to
pay part of their fees in hard currency.
“We wish to advise our valued stakeholders that the university has not increased its tuition fees
and that any increase or revision in tuition fees would be subject to government approval through the ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development,” said the university’s registrar, Erasmus Mupfiga.

Mupfiga said the university channels its official communication through its website, official Facebook page and notices in the print media
and urged all individuals who have queries regarding the matter to contact the public relations office.
This comes after social media was awash with information that the state university has hiked fees from $564 to $1 916 for the 2019 academic year.

Gvt To Recruit 350 Lecturers

NATIONAL, BUSINESS, BREAKING

HARARE – Treasury has authorised the recruitment of at least 3 000 teachers in a bid to improve the teacher-to-pupil ratio which impacts
on the quality of education in schools.

Government has not been recruiting teachers since 2015 after the then Public Service Commission announced that recruitment and
promotions in the civil service had been frozen as part of a staff rationalisation exercise.

But on Wednesday last week, the ministry of Primary and Secondary Education announced that government would be recruiting teachers to fill vacant posts throughout the country.
“The ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will be carrying out a registration exercise for prospective teachers who will possibly fill limited vacancies that are available for the 2019 financial year.

Prospective candidates can register at their nearest District Education Office from 2 January 2019 to 3
January 2019,” read the notice issued by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Tumisang Thabela.
Writing on his microblogging site, Twitter, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said not only had Treasury authorised the recruitment of the
teachers, but had also approved the employment of university teaching staff.

“Treasury has authorised the recruitment of 3000 additional teachers in Zimbabwe in order to ease teacher shortage. Treasury has also authorised recruitment of about 350 university teaching staff and personnel to bolster university capacity. Key NATIONAL NEWSto improving service delivery,” Ncube said.

Minister Loses Property Over Debt

 

HARARE – Former Lands minister Douglas Mombeshora and his wife Millicent are set to  lose household property worth thousands of
dollars after failing to pay back an undisclosed amount of money to a local bank.

According to a notice seen by the Daily News, KM Actions (Private) Limited is set to auction the
property mid next week after the couple lost a court case to the financial institution.
“Duly instructed by the Sheriff of the High Court of Zimbabwe, we shall set by public auction the following assets to the highest bidder on
Wednesday 9 January 2019 at our premises No. 20 Edison Crescent Graniteside at 12pm,” the notice reads.

In terms of the notice, the former Cabinet minister and his wife, are set to lose, a Capri washing machine, two wooden sideboards, two-door steel cabinets, massaging machine, a broken desk, electronic digital safe, books, a Sony television, a plasma television, steel shelf, gym equipment and a boardroom table, among other items.

The obtaining harsh economic climate has proved to be difficult for especially Zanu PF bigwigs who lost their plush jobs at the birth of the Second Republic under President Emmerson  Mnangagwa.Daily News

Military, CIOs Meet Over Doctors’ Strike

ZANUPF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has said the Joint Operations Command (JOC) met this week to discuss the health sector, adding that extraordinary decisions will be taken in the coming days to stop further loss of life. Charamba said, “When you see levers of State security coming into the game then you know it is no longer child’s play. Government is treating this matter as a serious one because it involves lives.

“Because it is serious, we are set to see extraordinary decisions being taken to put an end to this issue once and for all. We will not have any such development ever again in this country. We have had enough and the time has now come for us to take a very definitive position on the matter. We have a whole raft of measures that we are going to take and to the extent that some of the measures will have budgetary implications, it means the President has to be back.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), the Acting President briefed the President right into close to midnight. They were working and this is where most of the decisions were taken.”- state media

Charamba Says Chiwenga Is Too Junior That’s Why Mnangagwa Cut Short His Leave | IS HE TELLING THE TRUTH?

Emmmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba has claimed his boss had to cut his leave short because there are decisions that Chiwenga could not make as Acting President.

Charamba told the state media: “Administratively and legally, there is a limit to powers which an Acting President can wield. And in any event, the style has always been that the Acting President consults with the substantive President. Now in this particular case we have a serious situation in the health sector involving lives and naturally, the President has to demonstrate concern and that concern comes by way of cutting short his leave in order to work closely with the Acting President so that consultations are short circuited. It’s really for purposes of quick decision making given that there has to be constant consultation between the two.

“In fact, barely a day passes without telephone communication between the Acting President and the President. Now the President has come to deal with a situation in situ and that is meant to demonstrate seriousness of Government’s approach to issues.

 

“It (coming of the President) is also meant to send a clear signal to the striking doctors that this is not a Chiwenga issue. It is an issue for the Presidency. They are at one on this one because the matter is a serious one.”

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa written January 1 2018. Looking at it 12mths later, Oh how I wish our leaders had ears to hear
……………………………………………………………………………………

The television, media, marketing and communication space is an arena where we mold minds, perceptions and cognition to ignite people’s reality and understanding of the world. We cultivate aspirations and dreams, while motivating the human imagination into action by telling people how to engage and respond to their world.

Due to this power that television, media , communication and marketing possess to give people the eyes and mind to view the world, black executives generally struggle to penetrate this space.

The reason being the protectiveness white business and think tanks maintain to keep the science of occupying the human mind and spirit, the domain of europeans, to maintain a dominant Eurocentric world view in the public psyche.

It’s almost as if there is a hidden council that determines that black thought or culture has no place in the mapping of the cognition of humanity. Be it in the digital or analogue space, television, media, marketing, communication and messaging is ubiquitously white or European culture.

Why? Because the world is a competition for resources in which whiteness needs to maintain control of resources by keeping the world seeing the world from its lenses. It’s important for Eurocentric survival for them to be seen as experts in all things and for them to be the go-to-people in the value chain of life. This is how they maintain their relevance, domination and groom our dependency on them, which in turn keeps them economically viable.

It’s this relevance and the need to survive that has them monopolizing mediums of communication, mental influence and cognitive mapping.

Sadly, because we as Africans have not understood the importance of motivating, capturing, inspiring and molding the human mind. We have given Europeans free reign in attaining full spectrum domination of our mental faculties to gain control of our actions and potential.

With this the world continues to turn in a way that is determined and controlled by westerncentric thought, at their advantage and the detriment of dark skinned people.

Not only do we develop in a mode of Eurocentric servitude, we are also taught to aggressively resist any idea tailored to advance and benefit us specifically and selectively as a race. This is one of the reasons why African nations and black communities the world over are renowned for working against their own interests, lacking racial cohesion and producing nothing of their own.

This lack of cohesion stems from our inability to socially engineer a psyche in our people to unashamedly work towards race/national interests and a common vision to contribute our own unique, amazing capabilities and spiritual manifestations to produce our own common weal.

This, I believe Mr President, is why you and your team in your first month in office have sent out a clear message for your preference of foreign investors, Rhodesians and those in the diaspora before expressing pride in the indomitable Zimbabweans who have remained at home, under sanctions, under the worst drought over the past 18yrs, under immense hardship but still managed to produce a bumper harvest last year.

Producing that bumper harvest without slave labor, huge capital from the fiscus of Zimbabwe as the Rhodesian farmers received and without exploiting the resources of the entire nation to just support a minority of farmers.

Instead they have kept a country whose enemies have conspired to destroy it, afloat. While the government has turned more than 160 000 families into farmers, against all odds, but not once have you expressed gratitude to these patriots in a way that says to them that they are the future builders of the nation.

Contrary to that Mr President, the message you and Mutsvangwa have subliminally sent is that your citizens who are left at home have failed. You have intimated that they lack capacity and skill to grow the nation, hence you are reaching out to the white farmer, white Rhodesian, foreign western investor and the diasporians trained by the west, to come and rescue the country.

Without realizing it, yours and your team’s communication and actions have said to our competitors, like Rhodes used to say: black Zimbabweans are the children of the white man because they need the parentage of whites to progress.

This is a message that western total spectrum domination media has been propagating about us since the white man encountered the black man, to destroy our human spirit for their advancement and you have unwittingly reaffirmed it.

Now, it’s easy to overlook this as a minor challenge, but sadly, it is a communication and social engineering disaster because the narrative we create in the public conscience, builds and molds the attitude that influences our people’s actions.

This is particularly more telling when dealing with a race that has been deliberately, systematically, physically, mentally and spiritually subjugated to weaken its spirit and set boundaries for its ascendancy.

With yours and Mutsvangwa’s statements, you have psychologically taken your people and thrown them in a box where you have said to them: “we don’t need you because you have failed your country, you have failed to produce and you are incapable of producing so the white man will come and do it for us”.

You have also sent the message that the end is more important than the means, in other words output by any means is more critical than having the patience to capacitate production in your own people.

I understand that that’s not what you said but that’s only because I’m a communicator, however, thats what the ordinary man on the street heard. The man on the street was bound to hear that because of the history and context in which the narrative was set: a contrary narrative that contradicts Mugabe’s message over the past 17yrs that said: we are capable. This perspective is what all other mediums of the European consent manufacture are articulating your utterances to mean.

With this Mr President, you are bound to see that it will be difficult to shake off our people’s lack of nationalism, initiative, home biased investment, cohesion, cooperation, tax contribution, responsibility, patriotism and return on investment that your nation desperately needs to change in its citizens. A consequence of you saying to their hearts: only white men are the tax payers, creators, farmers, inventors, investors, producers and job creators.

You have simply reinforced the established racist stereotype that has enslaved the black mind over the centuries to stop us from achieving the potential our ancestors achieved.

Basically, with your well intended but colonized words you have just smothered your own vision in the cradle. The good book says: “for as he thinketh so shall he be”. A man who is told and believes that he is unproductive shall never produce. You have just put your own people’s hearts in diametric opposition to your vision and their nation interests, unintentionally.

It is critically important that a concerted effort by your office, government, public communication platforms, schools and the ruling party be embarked on to change this.

This can only be achieved by cultivating the consistent message that Zimbabwe will be built by Zimbabweans before any foreigner will develop it because Zimbabweans are able.

That message must be reinforced by the facts that no nation on earth has ever been developed by foreign investment but by domestic skills development, citizens learning to exploit their own resources, home biased investment and reinvestment.

The world is a life and death competition in which resource rich nations like Zimbabwe are targets of parasitic western nation’s that seek to control, possess, process and market our resources monopolistically to gain the triple rent.

In as much as Zimbabwe needs re-engagement with the international community, no strategy is bound to work in Zimbabwe without an acknowledgement of the importance of greater local investment to balance the threat of the domination by foreign investment monopoly.

Gladly, I can say without fear, that Europeans are a parasite upon trusting, poor, resource rich nations because I am not a diplomat but a molder of minds. Our nation was under sanctions for 17yrs to bring it in line with this neo-liberal suzerainty and we have resisted thus far.

I appeal to you sir, that it is critical that you mold the minds of your people with a narrative motivated by our rich history. Our nation is a nation that was but one of six empires on the continent: the Mutapa and Rozvi empire.

It is a nation named Dzimba Dzemabwe. It spread from Beira to the Zambezi escarpment in the west and Zambezi to Mapungubwe in the South, all because our ancestors were architects and builders of empire and houses [and an empire] of stone.

They cut granite seamlessly into perfect geometric shapes, then they placed the granite on top of each other to form unique, formidable twenty five feet walls of Great Zimbabwe, Khami and 32 other stone cities across Zimbabwe, without mortar.

They mined so much gold that traders came from as far afield as India, Israel, Portugal and China and named Beira The Port of Gold. This abundance gave rise to the mythical land of Ophir where King Solomon’s mines were acclaimed to be, as written in European folklore about this great nation.

Our forefathers carved out a nation and works of art that intrigued our oppressor, Rhodes, such that he was consumed by the Zimbabwe bird to such an extent that he made it his talisman, symbol for the Rhodes Foundation and the Rhodesian flag. So powerful are the works of our ancestors that an entire nation of racists was built around a symbol that is the product of the hands of our ancestors and spirits.

While you our leaders say we are incapable, the Zimbabwe bird on the Rhodes Foundation and Rhodesian flag, the burial of Rhodes alongside our ancestors in Matopos, all affirm that we are the oracles from whom the Europeans were inspired to maintain the colonies of Southern Africa. This same spirit of our fore fathers was evident in the hands of virtuosos like Vernon Mwamuka, Nicholas Mukomberanwa and Dominque Benhura. Voices such as Stella Chiweshe, Oliver Mutukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo. Writers like Novoilet Bulawayo, while it resonated with you our freedom fighters.

It is now in your hands to take this history and draw from it the inspiration to build the minds, hearts and spirits of our people to awaken their nation building spirit. You now are the leader of the nation of kings, kings who had architectural and geometric understanding that aligned our cities to ley lines, the lay out of the stars, the pyramids, Inca and other sacred acheological creations of the world.

Your message and the message of the social engineers that shall shape the minds of our nation will be to tell the sons and daughters of Kings, the sons of Nyatsime Mutota to rise, grasp the septor, take their places on the thrown as the Kings and Queens of Ophir once again because they have come of age. We were Kings & Queens, we are Kings & Queens, we will be Kings & Queens again but we need you to awaken the spirits that are sleeping, once again……. Our nation shall only rise through the spirit and not foreign men…..Yours is a divine calling.

Rutendo Matinyarare #MwanaWaMutapa is a Marketing and Brand Strategist for Frontline Strat Marketing and Frontline Studio.

#YourPeopleAreWhatTheyBelieveTheyAre

Is Tsitsi Masiyiwa Doing “A Grace Mugabe”, Bringing Down Her Own Hubby, Strive?

ORIGINAL ARTICLE –

By Farai D Hove| The Executive Director Of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth has responded to Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa’s allegations that the NGO’s Zimbabwe leader Dewa Mavinga bullied his (Masiyiwa’s) wife, Tsitsi.

Roth took a sharp swipe at Masiyiwa appearing to say his Facebook screamer was a “cheap shot.”

Writing on Wednesday afternoon, Roth said, “Defenders of Zimbabwe Pres Mnangagwa don’t want to hear criticism of his government’s persistent repression so they pretend all critics are foreign sponsored.

“A cheap shot. Why not address the reality? ”

Below was a screenshot of his full response:

Kenneth Roth Responds To Strive Masiyiwa, Says Mavinga Never Bullied Tsitsi, Your Wife

By Farai D Hove| The Executive Director Of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth has responded to Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa’s allegations that the NGO’s Zimbabwe leader Dewa Mavinga bullied his (Masiyiwa’s) wife, Tsitsi.

Roth took a sharp swipe at Masiyiwa appearing to say his Facebook screamer was a “cheap shot.”

Writing on Wednesday afternoon, Roth said, “Defenders of Zimbabwe Pres Mnangagwa don’t want to hear criticism of his government’s persistent repression so they pretend all critics are foreign sponsored.

“A cheap shot. Why not address the reality? ”

Below was a screenshot of his full response:

IS MTHULI TELEPHONING HIMSELF? – Talks Of $265 mln Power Plant Money


Below is a latest post by finance minister Mthuli Ncube claiming that his office is funding a power plant upgrade for the capital city and Bulawayo running to the tune of 265 million dollars. The post contains self promises of improvements on power generation which do not have date data in them and come at a time when several multi-billion dollar power plant project are in limbo 4 years later.

STATEMENT: Collapse Of The Healthcare System And Withdrawal Of Labour

Press Statement by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum & Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights on the Collapse of the Health System and Withdrawal of Labour by the Doctors in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has been plunged into a major health crisis following the revelation that the country’s health system is in a coma due to non-attention by government to key essential health priorities.

This situation has been exacerbated by the withdrawal of labour by the medical practitioners at government health facilities across the country since the 1st of December 2018.

The medical practitioners are protesting this state of affairs and are pushing for a review of their conditions of service.

The doctors want the government to invest in health facilities to ensure that they are able to safely and effectively serve the country’s needs without endangering the patients or themselves.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) and the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) are greatly disturbed by this situation which goes to the core of the right to life which is guaranteed by section 48 of the Zimbabwean Constitution, as well as the right to basic health care which is guaranteed by section 76 of the Constitution.

The tragedy of this matter is not that the doctors have gone on strike, but rather, the state of health care facilities, infrastructure and the conditions of service for health care personnel, which make it impossible for the people of Zimbabwe to enjoy the right to basic health care, as enshrined in the constitution.

The medical practitioners who serve government health facilities are disgruntled and protesting poor health facilities including unavailability of pharmaceutical drugs, lack of protective equipment; and the erosion of their salaries due to hyperinflation.

In a callous display of insensitivity to the plight of the people who are affected by this state of affairs, the government decided to fire the over 500 medical practitioners who are involved in the industrial action, apparently under the mistaken belief that they were firing students.

This has triggered an outcry from senior doctors and consultants who have threatened to join in the strike in support of the demands by the medical practitioners.

The Forum and ZADHR consider the demands by medical practitioners to be legitimate and in line with the legitimate expectations of any citizen who expects to enjoy the right to health which is key to the enjoyment of the right to life.

The demands by the medical doctors must indeed be the demands and expectations of every citizen of Zimbabwe.

The Forum and ZADHR remind the Government of Zimbabwe that it is the obligation of the Government to ensure that every Zimbabwean should be able to access basic healthcare.

The failure by the Government to address the concerns of the doctors infringes upon the basic right to health care (Section 76) that every citizen or permanent resident of Zimbabwean seeking medical services must be able access (Section 76:1).

The Forum and ZADHR highlight that those who are greatly affected by this state of affairs are not doctors or government officials but the ordinary citizens reliant on the government to not only resolve the strike but provide adequate access to health care including ensuring availability of affordable pharmaceutical drugs.

Government officials, who are notorious for flying out to neighboring countries for health care, may find it difficult to appreciate the importance of attending to the issues raised by the medical practitioners.

The Forum and ZADHR thus recommend the following:For the government of Zimbabwe to:

1. Protect the right to health through attending to the issues raised by the medical practitioners with immediate effect

2. Initiate an emergency health system resuscitation plan to ensure that the country’s health facilities are equipped with all the necessary facilities including equipment, drugs and protective clothing for personnel working in the health sector

3. Develop a sustainable health care reform strategy to ensure that every Zimbabwean enjoys the right to basic health care as enshrined in the Constitution.

4. Develop a conflict transformation strategy for government in dealing with grievances to avoid disastrous unilateral approach to conflict as witnessed in handling the strike by medical practitioners. For the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission:

5. In its capacity as the public protector, carry out a thorough investigation into the state of health care in Zimbabwe clearly documenting the full effect on the enjoyment of the right to health and the right to life and make recommendations for redress, accountability and reform

6. To further investigate and document the use of resources in the health care sector and identify any possible leakages and abuses that are costing the nation.

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum

Ms. Blessing Gorejena

Chamisa Will Soon Turn Zimbabwe Into A Singapore Like Country, Prophecy

Correspondent|FOUNDER of Faith In God Eagle Life Assembly Prophet Blessing Chiza has issued a controversial prophesy that for Zimbabwe to be prosperous God is going to install Nelson Chamisa as President of the country.

In the same prophecy he said God wants President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Kembo Mohadi and Constantino Guvheya Nyikadzino Chiwenga to be born again.

Chiza also said the country will be ungovernable unless there is dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa.

We publish the unedited prophecy below:
1. What’s happening in Zimbabwe is spiritual judgement that needs to be solved spiritually because the elections were not handled well, especially in the area of fairness/ credibleness, though there was a certain degree of peacefulness and freeness during elections. So, God is not happy with the way elections were done.

This election had God inside and four words were supposed to be carried out (peaceful, free, fair and credible). The throne of Zimbabwe has a curse sitting on it right now and it needs to be cleansed spiritually. No matter which systems they use. Plagues are judgements.

So, until that is sorted we will continue seeing Zimbabwe moving in circles. No matter how much you dream or wish for Zimbabwe to change, there are some things that need to be done to cleanse the throne. Zimbabwe will still be in the same position until certain spiritual measures are taken to cleanse the throne. Many other things have been there for a long time but what is striking Zimbabwe right now is what I am telling you.

2. The Lord says, Top Government Officials of Zimbabwe must stop consulting traditional healers/ witchdoctors/ mapostori (James 4vs8). If they want transformation, they must go to Pentecostal Churches/ Anointed Man of God (Deuteronomy 18vs9-14).

You are buying poverty and curses on top of curses that were already there. I hope this message will go to the leadership of this nation, they must stop consulting witch-doctors and going too much to mapostori.

This country is experiencing a spiritual problem and you cannot solve a spiritual problem using economics. You can try and try but nothing will change.

3. I was given verses James 4vs6/ James 4vs17 and the Lord said President E.D Mnangagwa must pray and humble himself for the sake of Zimbabwean people he is leading and have a dialogue with Advocate Nelson Chamisa for this economy to change, because if there is no dialogue the people of Zimbabwe will continue to suffer.

It’s a spiritual thing. They must stop saying that Chamisa is young. Be humble our honourable President and do the right thing says the Lord. “They know”, says the Lord that it is the right thing to do and are simply resisting. It’s a sin.

As a prophet God shows me that Chamisa has a small key that he was given by God which is very powerful in the spirit. They must know that he is spiritually deep/mature; a born again and spirit filled Christian and he is an anointed man of God. Once they start dialoguing, we will start to see things changing in this country. If that dialogue does not happen the baby that I saw in that previous prophecy, will be taken deeper into the sea- Zimbabwe will go to a point of no return.

I think Ramaphosa understands what I am saying. Once God sees that happening, you will see fuel coming back among other negative things being corrected. There is something powerful that is of God in him. If the presidium does not heed this instruction, I saw Zimbabweans becoming very impatient, and protests that have never been seen in Zimbabwe arising which shall bring the whole nation out and they will send the government resigning because some of the people will not leave the streets demanding food from the president.

No soldier/police will be able to stop that because the multitude will be beyond human control and measure. I saw people marching and staying in streets for 3-5 days saying, “We will not leave until the president resigns”.

If this does not happen by June, Zimbabwe will stand still. The poverty will be worse than 2008. Food will be there but poverty will be attacking people. Especially the youth; I saw them running with empty plates that are rusted saying, “give us food”. A point where this country will be ungovernable.

4. I am not giving the time frame but you will see it happening, a wave that is going to come into Africa of new young presidents and it’s of God. God was removing old presidents, it was like their era in the spirit has passed, countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It shall be a revival, they will improve Africa and will run countries with digital E-Government, these countries shall be a marvel again.

They will remove systems of rigging of elections and Africa shall be respected again. I see this happening soon in God’s time and season. I see the Lord saying, “tell my people in Zimbabwe to believe in Me, to go to church more in 2019 and listen to my word, they shall survive with my grace, from the pulpit and not from the parliament because nothing shall come from there for now. I repeat again, nothing shall come from there for now”.

5. The Lord says His Excellency President E.D Mnangagwa, Vice-President Chiwenga and Vice-President Mohadi must be born again and start to learn to love God in 2019. I received (Proverbs 9vs34/ James 4vs8). This must be done to attract righteousness, you must start to love God and to attend church, Pentecostal and not maspostori. Be born again, not maZion. I repeat again ED, Chiwenga & Mohadi be born again in 2019. If you think we are young go to elderly Men of God like Baba Guti.

6. 1 Chronicles 28vs2/ Deuteronomy 28vs2-3. All men of war stop fighting for presidium because you will never prosper Zimbabwe if you just hear someone with a title of ‘war something’ know that it will be difficult to have prosperity with that person. Zimbabwe, you must know that if these people come it will be poverty after poverty.

You will not build Zimbabwe because you have been a man of war. Give young people who did not fight war. So intercessors pray so that God may shine His light into their hearts so that they understand that the people of Zimbabwe have suffered too much.

7. Pray against suicide. I saw an increase of suicides in 2019. Prophet instructed the church to pray against the spirit of suicide. It will be too much, many people hanging themselves, drinking poison, shooting themselves and taking drugs because of economic hardships. God was saying, “pray in a serious way because it can attack your family member”.

I was seeing a lot of people hanging on trees and some being put in metal coffins, no matter how much you suffer, never commit suicide. You would rather pray under a bridge having nothing, suicide is demonic and it’s the easiest way to hell.

8. Then the Lord said to me in about five visions and they came continuously to me. The Lord said, there is a man whom God is raising; a young president who shall bring economic and spiritual revival in Zimbabwe in God’s time and the Lord showed me his inauguration in the National Sports Stadium.

For God to confirm, when it is the time for that inauguration, heavy rain is going to fall. And this man’s first name starts with an N and a surname which starts with a C. Initials are N.C. He shall be put by God. Demons will try many things to stop his presidency, trying to change presidential age limit/ to arrest/ death/ but finally he shall be inaugurated. Demons can sense his favour and moment hence they will panic.

President Mnangagwa has his time and we honour them and their dispensation with his Vice-Presidents but this N.C’s time is coming just as their time came. (Zechariah 4vs6) Read it to people. He is going to come by God’s power.

I hear some say this N.C will never rule Zimbabwe, because he is young. But the Lord is saying they are saying out of their fleshly desires but God Himself shall shock many. When God says yes, no-man can say no. He will be in power. Not by might/ not by the barrel. “His hands are clean”, says the Lord and God says I have anointed him for his time and his hands are clean.

Coated in Minerals. Visionary leader 2020 mind. Anointed of God/ God fearing. People shall leave diaspora to return to Zimbabwe when he begins ruling. In this time we shall see spaghetti roads, forex, nice buildings that you see in Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia.

The main reason the man N.C is coming is for a spiritual revival which will see many people coming to Christ.

He will make Zimbabwe great again and he will break demonic altars in Zimbabwe and we shall be the bread basket of Africa. There shall be a spirit of prayer in Zimbabwe that will sweep over the whole country. You shall not hear of bloodshed again in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe shall be a united, loving and peaceful country.

His other name shall be Solomon and he shall reduce gold to be common stones (1st Kings 10vs27). During his reign, Zimbabwe shall discover a lot of minerals, employment rate will go above 70% (2nd Chronicles 1vs15/ 9vs27). Soldiers, police, nurses, doctors, teachers and all people shall be smiling. There is a wave of peace that shall sweep over Zimbabwe. God has not forgotten Zimbabwe the question is when is his time, it can be any time, though it might be sooner, or nor sooner or later, or next election or before.

But what I am simply saying is that God said to me it shall be in My time and right time. Why not now? Why not last year? Number= There are still numerous animals-there are still animals, corrupt animals that are big that this person was not going to be able to deal with but God put these people so that they deal with each other and it creates a highway for N.C.

There were too many beasts in the field, its Gods way (Exodus 23vs29-30). Now I know many people will criticise and speak, but isn’t it time is available, let’s wait for time and see if I didn’t hear from God.

Now, let’s pray, but I said the main reason is for a revival, a spiritual revival that must come to Africa through Zimbabwe. It shall come like a veld fire and Zimbabwe will start to prosper in way that shall shock many people. Everyone has his time.

Now you are allowed to argue with me and I as a prophet I am allowed to argue and say my prophecy will come to pass. And I am not saying this to please anyone, to attack anyone but I am just transmitting what God wants me to say. I have been criticised before, but people still see my prophecies coming regardless of their criticism. The same way we were shocked how Mugabe left power is the same way some will be shocked how he got into power. It has its time.

God bless you as you enter the year 2019, lead by God’s word and prophetic direction.

Zimbabwean Businessman Begs The UN To Recognise ED

Frank Buyanga

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwean businessman Frank Buyanga has called on the UN – and greater western world – to give Zimbabwe a chance, and due recognition in global politics, “as it was on a solid path to reform.”

The private initiative not only comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has vowed to vigorously pursue re-engagement efforts, but is pretty much in line with calls for the west to loosen its trade embargo on the Harare regime.

“…Africans need your support on many issues, including being able to voice their views on matters of security, those deliberated by the UN Security Council (UNSC),” Buyanga said in his letter to UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres.

He added the key organ “has never been more important to the continent, given the numerous interventions in conflicts around the region and undemocratic selection of representatives on the council, and where ‘smaller nations’ are left out”.

“The African Union (AU) is leaving the selection of who will represent Africa… to be determined by foreigners. This, Mr Guterres, opens a gap for manipulation and only the ‘big’ countries will forever be selected to sit on this powerful council …it is from this background that… Zimbabwe think(s) it is time our country be given a chance to be part of the UNSC,” he said.

“There is no threat to peace and security in Zimbabwe.
Secretary-general, with your help and guidance we hope and trust that Zimbabwe will get the recognition it deserves. We recommend that you support our recommendation that ‘smaller’ African countries… have a seat on the UNSC,” Buyanga said, adding “the recommendation must not only hold ground, but also be debated at the next general assembly (GA)”.

While the maverick businessman has welcomed the selection of South Africa, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Germany and Indonesia on the global organ, he says Africa must follow up on the Ezulwini Consensus – a 2005 pact and – whereby two permanent seats with veto powers were to be reserved for the continent.

Ambitious Mnangagwa Targets UN Security Council Seat

Correspondent|ZIMBABWE can win one of five UN Security Council seats up for election in the next two years, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman has said, although analysts doubted the southern African country would win approval by two-thirds of the world body’s General Assembly members to secure a term.

The General Assembly has just elected Germany, Belgium, South Africa, the Dominican Republic and Indonesia for a two-year term in the Security Council starting on January 1, 2019.

Presidential spokesman George Charamba told the Daily News that Zimbabwe needs the backing of the continent to earn the Security Council seat.

“The UN is an intergovernmental institution. He is a citizen expressing a wish for his own government. It has to be taken to an inter-governmental event,” Charamba said. “There are due processes that are followed.”

Charamba said the proposal was feasible given that Zimbabwe has previously held a seat in the UN Security Council, when it voted in 1990 to authorize the United States and its allies to expel Iraq from Kuwait by force if President Saddam Hussein, now late, did not withdraw his forces.

Charamba said Zimbabwe was part of the Security Council members who came up with a plan to observe “a pause of good will” until a January 15 deadline date by taking no further actions against Iraq and concentrating on diplomatic efforts to promote a peaceful settlement.

Zimbabwe was part of the rotating members of the Security Council who supported the resolution, and the action was a success, he said.

“We have been in the UN Security Council when Saddam was kicked out of Kuwait, the first time,” Charamba told the Daily News.

“We have been there. Its not a novel idea, Africa will have to have permanent seats. We have to proffer ourselves, backed by the continent to be on the UN Security Council. We should have the attitude to handle it on rotational basis. At some point it must become an entitlement. We are a paid up member of the UN. You can vie for any space, for any opening. Its a right that comes with membership. He is just wishing the best for his country,” Charamba said of the maverick businessman, who is also a director of the continental lobby Pan African Business Forum.

Set up in 1946 after the World War II, the UNSC comprises 15 members, five of them – Britain, France, China, the United States and Russia – are permanent, while 10 are non-permanent members that serve for two years.