By Own Correspondent| The driver and conductor of a commuter omnibus which plies the Gokwe-Kwekwe route had to flee for dear life as an angry mob wanted to mete out instant justice on them after they discovered a sack which had a metre-long puff adder and about 10 small ones.

The mysterious package was discovered by loaders when the kombi stopped to pick up more passengers at Zhombe Joel’s growth point.

The kombi crew claimed that they had no idea what was in the sack and had been paid to deliver the package to a woman in Kwekwe by a man from Gokwe.

However, the passengers and the mob which had gathered did not buy the explanations and accused the crew of using the reptiles for juju money making charms.

The mob killed the snakes and burnt them. Fearing for their own safety the driver and the conductor also made good their escaped

Traditional leader for Zhombe, Chief Weight Gwesela said:

Yes, I can confirm that a snake was found in kombi that was coming from Gokwe on its way to Kwekwe. The loaders found the sack which contained the reptile which had other smaller ones in a sack in the boot as they packed luggage…

“There are a lot of unanswered questions as the crew sped off as more searches were being made on the kombi. We, however, learnt that the driver had been tasked with delivering the package to a certain woman in Kwekwe but he failed to do so as the person in question was no longer answering the phone.-StateMedia

Jane Mlambo| With the new year a few hours away, President Emmerson Mnangagwa dreams of a change in fortunes though he is ignorant that fundamentals needed to kick start the economy including his own legitimacy and dialogue are not in place,

 In his New Year address to the nation,  Mnangagwa said 2019 will have immense opportunities and if people are united nothing will be insurmountable.

According to ZBC, the country managed to accomplish significant milestones.

“The value of good governance and integrity are key pillars in the socio economic development agenda of the country, thus 2019 must mark a turning point and innovative approaches are called for,” said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa is spearheading the Vision 2030 that aims at transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle economy by the year 2030 but is facing a legitimacy crisis that has soiled his reputation as a reformist.

This could throw all his economic revival plans in smoke as investors continue to shy away from putting their money in a country marred by political uncertainities.

 

A Chitungwiza based Glory Ministries church outing ended prematurely after three youths drowned in a dam, while swimming at a campsite just outside Marondera.

The police sub aqua unit yesterday morning retrieved the bodies of the youths — Kupakwashe Kanyerere (14), Makatendekaishe Saunyama (16) and Zvikomborero Rambanepasi (16), all of Chitungwiza — at Karimazondo Dam. The trio was part of the 215 members of the church led by Pride Sibiya of Zengeza in Chitungwiza.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the death yesterday.

“I confirm death by drowning of three youths who were part of congregants from a religious sect from Chitungwiza. The five youths sneaked out and went to the dam to swim when tragedy struck,” he said.

According to police, on December 27, the church booked a conference at Karimazondo outdoor centre in Marondera.

On December 28, at around 4pm, five male youths allegedly sneaked out from the camp and proceeded to Karimazondo Dam without the knowledge of the elders. They reportedly started swimming in the dam and the three aged between 14 and 16 allegedly swam to the deep end.

The two surviving youths got out of the water and informed the elders of the incident. The elders rushed to the dam and managed to retrieve the body of one boy. A report was made at Marondera rural police station.

On December 29, the police Sub Aqua Unit was summoned, but failed to retrieve the bodies due to bad light.

However, the team went back to scene yesterday and retrieved the two remaining bodies.

-Newsday

A MASSIVE power outage lasting more than 50 hours hit southern Zimbabwe at the weekend after poorly maintained pylons near Chiredzi succumbed to heavy storms, cutting electricity trunk lines in the southern districts along the proposed path of Mozambique-Zimbabwe-South Africa transmission project involving the three countries.

It was the worst outage in the area in years.

Close to 500 000 consumers in parts of Chivi South, Chiredzi South, Beitbridge and Mwenezi districts were left without power.

Zesa Holdings spokesperson Fullard Gwasira said the outage was caused by collapsed pylons at Triangle near Chiredzi, and correctional measures were being hampered by the continuous rainstorms.

“The Tokwe-Triangle fault has been caused by landing span poles, which went down at Triangle. Replacement poles have been sourced at Sherwood for installation. Excavations for pole replacement are in progress,” he said.

Gwasira said challenges that hampered power restoration from an alternative source in South Africa included faulty capacity transformers at South Africa’s Eskom, which they could not load power onto.

“The operation challenge is that it is not possible to reticulate from Eskom, who have faulted our line CT’s (capacity transformers). There is limited supply from Orange Grove, where a one grid transformer is constraining load for Middle Sabi, Mkwasine and Triangle at 20 megawatts,” he said.

“Stringing cables was hampered by heavy rains and the cranes were getting stuck. We shifted power loads and were able to normalise supplies by midnight. The pylons fell due to heavy rains affecting the lines, but ordinarily, this shouldn’t be the case if there is proper line maintenance,” the Zesa Holdings spokesperson said.

Gwasira also regretted that no one had highlighted that such a large area was without power, adding, in which event, the public would have been informed as “is standard”.
Energy minister Joram Gumbo lashed out at Zesa Holdings for failing to apprise the public on the development.

“They should have informed the public. I am hearing it first from you that this is the magnitude of the problem. We cannot have organisations that fail to report to stakeholders, particularly the consumers. I am very disturbed,” Gumbo fumed.

 

“I am new in this ministry, but I am seeing we have some bad apples in this organisation [Zesa] and if they do not want to work, they must open the jobs for others who are willing to. We cannot be arrogant to consumers. We report to them.”

Power cut abruptly at around 4pm on Friday, inducing communication breakdown as storms ravaged sections of the affected areas, according to the Civil Protection Unit.
Power was only restored to all affected areas yesterday at 0018 hours.

The breakdown occurred near Triangle, along the 935 kilometre path of the proposed 450-500kV high voltage transmission system straddling the three countries Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Currently, a lower voltage line exists on that corridor.

National strategic points affected were the Beitbridge Border Post, currently at its peak, Rutenga town — home to a National Railways of Zimbabwe marshalling yard between Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, Chikombedzi and several other service centres in the affected districts.

Zesa at the weekend introduced an interim plan to rotate the power from Orange Grove to Middle Sabi, Mkwasine and Triangle, but this could not be extended further south to cover Mwenezi and Beitbridge, which remained in total darkness.

The power utility, like all other government arms, reels from a shortage of resources, both material and human, blamed on the foreign currency crisis.

It has a depleted fleet and outdated equipment and struggles to meet electricity demand countrywide.

Mwenezi district administrator Rosemary Chingwe said scores of people were left homeless by the storms, and communication with outlying areas was difficult after the power outage affected mobile phone users.

“Several homes were destroyed. I am going out to assess. My car has gone for refuelling in Beitbridge so I can travel in the district, but the situation is bad. I have already informed the National Civil Protection office,” she said.

“Domestically, thousands of people were affected when their perishable food went bad. I was cut from rural outreach communication by lack of electricity power.”

In Beitbridge, several butcheries threw away beef carcases which had gone bad, while institutions like Beitbridge Prison, hospital and the border post had inadequate water supplies after pumps at the town’s supply works failed due to the power loss.

The entire border town had no water supplies and residents resorted to the bush system.

-Newsday

MYSTERY surrounds the drowning of a couple at Hillside Dams in Bulawayo, with their bodies being found a day apart.

Yesterday, it emerged that a woman who was reported in The Chronicle on Saturday to have drowned at the dam had in fact drowned together with her boyfriend.

The body of the man was found on Friday, a day after his girlfriend’s body was discovered.

The woman has been identified as Gillian Gombera (27) who lived in Bulawayo’s Central Business District while her boyfriend has been identified as Garikai Hatugari (31) of Paddonhurst suburb.

Garikai’s family spokesperson Mr Tawanda Hatugari yesterday said they were still unsure of what could have led to the two’s deaths.

Mr Hatugari said the family last spoke to Garikai on Wednesday as he was supposed to join his relatives at their rural home in Shurugwi for the memorial service of his brother, who died last month.

He said on Friday evening they were shaken when they received a phone call from the police instructing Garikai’s mother to urgently report at Hillside Police Station.

The woman travelled back from their rural home and went to the police station on Saturday morning.

“We received a phone call that his mother should report to Hillside Police Station. I decided to accompany her yesterday (Saturday) morning to the police station where they told us about the discovery of a body suspected to be his at Hillside Dams,” he said.

“After that we went to United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary where the body had been taken, we positively identified it as his body.

“Unfortunately we don’t have details of what happened. What we know is that the woman’s body was discovered on Thursday and his on Friday evening.”

Mr Hatugari said the family is asking itself endless questions yet it does not have answers as Garikai was home alone as his mother had travelled.

“The last communication that we had with Gari was on Wednesday afternoon. But from then up to Thursday when the woman’s body was found there is a gap that we can’t account for. We don’t know whether they were alone or with someone else,” said Mr Hatugari.

“For the family it’s difficult. We were expecting him at our rural home on Wednesday. We were supposed to have a memorial service for his brother who passed on a month ago this past Saturday. For us it’s difficult, we just have too many questions but we do not have the answers. And we can’t speculate as well.”

He said although the family knew that Garikai was in a relationship with Gillian nothing had been formalised.

Mr Hatugari said a post mortem report was expected to be out today and his family is set to meet Gillian’s.

-State Media

FEAR gripped government yesterday forcing discussions with striking junior doctors as well as consultants and senior health practitioners, who on Friday issued a 48-hour-ultimatum, NewsDay can reveal.

The ultimatum expired last night.

It also emerged that the crisis meetings took place for the better part of yesterday between the Health Service Board (HSB) and a task force was set up by the Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) to mediate between the State and medical personnel.

HSB vice-chairperson Auxillia Chideme-Munodawafa and Zima president Francis Chawora, flanked by taskforce chairperson Christopher Samkange as well as other officials, addressed a presser on the new developments.

Following Acting President Constantino Chiwenga’s decision to fire over 550 junior doctors last week, it emerged that government had gone ahead and recruited final year students, some whose results were yet to be known, sources told NewsDay.

“It smacks of insincerity because on one hand, government has indicated it wants to talk, but on the other, it has gone ahead and recruited hordes of final year students, some of whom have actually failed. The results are yet to be known, but government already has a deployment list of the interns, who are supposed to replace the junior doctors whom the State reportedly fired last week,” one source said.

Another source said there were meetings throughout yesterday to try and find a solution to the impasse with a view to keeping especially senior doctors on the job and forestall a crisis.

“There have been meetings the whole of today (yesterday) and the Zimbabwe Medical Association leadership has been locked up with senior government officials in a bid to thrash
out a compromise.

“The 48-hour ultimatum expires today (yesterday) and it would be difficult for hospitals because, for example, nurses cannot certify deaths. We are reaching a crisis point,” NewsDay heard.

Documents shown to NewsDay suggested a list of students has already been made out from local universities such as the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), University of Zimbabwe (UZ), and other medical colleges from across the world like China and Ukraine to be placed across the country.

 

But a letter by students who wrote examinations in December 2016 and were awaiting their results to a Professor Masanganise of the Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences at UZ raised a red flag over the government’s move.

“We, the MDCHB V (2013 intake) students, recently wrote our exams in December 2016. We have been awaiting our results, as is the norm with the College of Health Sciences. Today, the 29th of December, a number of us received phone calls from human resources departments of various hospitals, mostly Parirenyatwa, indicating we had gotten internship placements and were asked to present ourselves immediately to sign preliminary contracts and assume internship duties,” the undated letter signed by the students representatives said.

“This goes against the contract we have with the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, which says that we receive results via the academics office of the university after a formal communication by the registrar of the university.”

The students added that they were worried about the changes being effected to their programme, amid reports that Chiwenga had indicated he wanted the medical degree, which normally runs for seven years, to be reduced to a four-year programme.

“We are concerned about the criteria used to place students into internship stations without formal disclosure of results. We are also concerned with the sudden change framework of our degree programme and internship programme that has been reported in the media and somehow highlighted in the contract that has been shown to some of our colleagues by the human resources departments,” the letter said.

Repeated efforts to get comment from government were unsuccessful yesterday.

Zima secretary-general Sacrifice Chirisa said the ultimatum would be addressed by today afternoon.

“The ultimatum will be addressed tomorrow (today) by 2pm. Please watch for the official statement tomorrow,” Chirisa said.

On Friday, senior doctors, consultants and registrars issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding that government resolves the concerns by junior medical staff or they would join the industrial action.

“We have noted with concern the way the protracted and on-going collective job action by the juniors and mid-level doctors has been handled and the impact this had on patients, the community and the profession.

“Therefore, we are urging the Health Services Board to resolve the impasse within the next 48 hours. Consultants have been working very hard under these very difficult circumstances and will not be able to continue beyond the stated time period,” the doctors said in a statement, adding dialogue was key.

Sources within the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association also said there were meetings slated for today as efforts to resolve the issue continued.

Yesterday, in a joint statement read by Chideme-Munodawafa, the parties to the dispute suggested a “truce” had been reached.

“Government, through the same communication, committed itself to allowing duty exempt importation of vehicles meant for doctors and other health workers under the vehicle loan scheme, further committing itself to disbursing the outstanding $6 million by December 31, 2018 (today).

“Government also through the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) has started receiving critical medicines and accessories needed for better health delivery in the country, with distribution being made to public hospitals,” the statement read in part.

While reports emerged that NatPharm was holding expired drugs, a claim government has rejected, the statement added: “The meeting further noted and was satisfied that NatPharm was mindful of and fulfilling its obligation to the public by ensuring safe medicines are availed to hospitals and clinics.”

The parties to the dispute also took note of a court judgment declaring the strike by junior doctors illegal.

“The meeting was concerned that the junior doctors had not complied with the court ruling, thus putting themselves on the wrong side of the law. Both parties agreed that it was important for the junior doctors to return to lawful conduct by promptly resuming work in order to break the current impasse,” the statement said.

Chideme-Munodawafa, while admitting government had issued suspension letters, said there was a possibility these could be set aside.

“If they return to work, as we have been urging them from day one, then this will be considered (in disciplinary processes). That is why you see the Zima taskforce here, it’s efforts from both sides to resolve the issue,” she said.

Asked about concerns being raised by UZ College of Health Sciences students, HSB board member Memory Nguwi said all procedures were being followed.

“The issue of recruitment is normal procedure and we are following procedure. No one has yet been recruited, it’s preparatory work. The contractual issues that are being talked about on social media are not yet official,” Nguwi said.

Chideme-Munodawafa added government does not respond to social media, but uses formal channels of communication.

-Newsday

Finance minister, Mthuli Ncube has succeeded in his bid to trim the civil service amid indications that he is set to reduce the police workforce from 50 000 to 35 000, according to a local online publication the Mail and Telegraph has heard.

Since his appointment, Mthuli Ncube has been pushing what he terms Transitional Stabilisation Plan (TSP) which among other things seeks to trim government expenditure.

According to Mail and Telegraph, a police source said plans were underway to retire all the officers who are 50 years and above beginning this month end.

*December 31 2018*
*09:00am*

Today as you gather with family and friends to celebrate, We want to wish you a happy, healthy and productive New Year, one filled with hope and optimism.

The year that is ending has been an extremely difficult one for all of us. Unemployment remained a menace, high cost of living was a disturbing and frightening reality.

Our economy experienced its worst performance in our history and everywhere there were signs of a country on a downhill slide.

The present regime has led us to a sharp economic decline, and its irresponsible policy particularly the burden of taxation and borrowing to fund recurrent expenditure is putting future generations in deep debt.

Added to all of this, are the government’s chronic lack of vision and the absence of any economic measure for growth and job creation.

As an opposition party we remain fearful for 2019 in every aspect of national life – the economy, national security, health care and social services. The forecast for 2019 is bleak and the stresses that so many of our citizens have felt for more than a 3 decades will no doubt increase.

Still, We ask you to be optimistic. Let us reflect on who we are and reaffirm our love and commitment to our country.

If we can do that, we will rise again and make Zimbabwe a better place for all of us.
We can do it if we all work together, putting country first.

The divisiveness and political partisanship that is the hallmark of this administration is a cancer and it will only go away when all of us decide this is our country and each of us has a responsibility to help make it the best it can be.

Every citizen deserves the protection of the state and as an opposition party we will continue to act in the best interest of everyone, not only those who support us and have voted for us in the July 30 harmonised elections.

President Joseph Makamba Busha will continue to work on your behalf as a government in waiting, and we assure you that 2019 will be very eventful as will will bravely challenge (litigate) several government policies that are causing untold suffering to several Zimbabweans.
Our position will remain constant in 2019

Today, citizens of this country are forced to carry the burden while those who govern treat you with contempt. The Government has not kept a single promise and there is every indication that they will continue this way in 2019 because they have no idea how to take us out of this crisis they manufactured to conceal their incompetence.

We are governed by an administration that is handicapped by its arrogance and lack of vision and guided by a small elite that has no concerns for the people.

As we begin a New Year we find, as we did in 2018, that unemployment is on the rise, the cost of living is pushing families to starvation, new taxes will erode your shrinking income and the elite they serve will continue to prosper.

So our message as we start 2019 is that while you must be aware of the new circumstances in which we must live, you must also take charge of your destiny and work together as one family to effect the change that is inevitable. You, the citizens of our nation must know your rights and stand up for them; indeed, you must demand that the government listen to your concerns.

The New Year is a new beginning and we must cherish what we have to keep the flame of hope burning. We will continue to lead on your behalf and to do the work we set for ourselves.

We resolve to work harder in 2019 to hold the government to account, and to try to push them to work towards enhancing your lives. Nothing is more important for us than the people of Zimbabwe.

Taking charge of the future means continuing constructive dialogue with you to understand your dreams for a better, more prosperous Zimbabwe.
The uncertainties you feel today are natural and the circumstances are real.
The darkest night ends with a new dawn that brings freshness and new hope.
So keep hope alive and continue to have faith in your dreams and in our country’s future.

President Joseph Makamba Busha and FreeZim Congress family, wish you a Happy New Year. May God continue to bless you and your families, and our nation.
*Upenyu Kuvanhu,* *Upfumi Munyika*
*Impilo Ebantwini,* *Inotho Elizweni*
FreeZim Communication Department

MYSTERY surrounds the drowning of a couple at Hillside Dams in Bulawayo, with their bodies being found a day apart.

Yesterday, it emerged that a woman who was reported in The Chronicle on Saturday to have drowned at the dam had in fact drowned together with her boyfriend.

The body of the man was found on Friday, a day after his girlfriend’s body was discovered.

The woman has been identified as Gillian Gombera (27) who lived in Bulawayo’s Central Business District while her boyfriend has been identified as Garikai Hatugari (31) of Paddonhurst suburb.

Garikai’s family spokesperson Mr Tawanda Hatugari yesterday said they were still unsure of what could have led to the two’s deaths.

Mr Hatugari said the family last spoke to Garikai on Wednesday as he was supposed to join his relatives at their rural home in Shurugwi for the memorial service of his brother, who died last month.

He said on Friday evening they were shaken when they received a phone call from the police instructing Garikai’s mother to urgently report at Hillside Police Station.

The woman travelled back from their rural home and went to the police station on Saturday morning.

“We received a phone call that his mother should report to Hillside Police Station. I decided to accompany her yesterday (Saturday) morning to the police station where they told us about the discovery of a body suspected to be his at Hillside Dams,” he said.

“After that we went to United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary where the body had been taken, we positively identified it as his body.

“Unfortunately we don’t have details of what happened. What we know is that the woman’s body was discovered on Thursday and his on Friday evening.”

Mr Hatugari said the family is asking itself endless questions yet it does not have answers as Garikai was home alone as his mother had travelled.

“The last communication that we had with Gari was on Wednesday afternoon. But from then up to Thursday when the woman’s body was found there is a gap that we can’t account for. We don’t know whether they were alone or with someone else,” said Mr Hatugari.

“For the family it’s difficult. We were expecting him at our rural home on Wednesday. We were supposed to have a memorial service for his brother who passed on a month ago this past Saturday. For us it’s difficult, we just have too many questions but we do not have the answers. And we can’t speculate as well.”

He said although the family knew that Garikai was in a relationship with Gillian nothing had been formalised.

Mr Hatugari said a post mortem report was expected to be out today and his family is set to meet Gillian’s.

-State Media

 

Despite the economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West and the legitimacy crisis surrounding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership following a disputed election, government is adamant its international re-engagement plans will bear fruits.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana told the state owned Herald that diplomatic engagements were registering success.

He said this in light of the United States of America’s release of an updated set of sanctions regulations against Zimbabwe prohibiting transactions involving Zimbabweans individuals, businesses and Government interests. The transactions include electronic transfers, payments, exports and withdrawal of funds.

The new regulations, which became effective on December 20, also include penalties for persons or entities found guilty of violating the sanctions — including American citizens and other nationals.

The US first passed its sanctions law, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Recovery Act, in 2001 for alleged human rights abuses and the law was amended this year while successive US presidents have been issuing Executive Orders perpetuating the sanctions regime against Zimbabwe.

Section 541.201 of the new regulations states in part: “(a) All property and interests in property that are in the US, that come within the US, or that are or come within the possession or control of any US person including any foreign branch of the persons, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or otherwise dealt in.”

The US sanctions have prevented Zimbabwe from accessing international lines of credit including support from multilateral institutions.

Ordinary citizens and corporate have not been spared the effects of the sanctions with some having their funds frozen by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Critics have, however, argue that the sanctions on Zimbabwe were a reaction to the implementation of the fast track land reform programme in 2000 seeking to correct colonial land ownership imbalances that were skewed in favour of the white minority.

The regulations also prohibit transactions of any immediate family members or officials on the sanctions list or properties “owned or controlled by, directly or indirectly, the Government of Zimbabwe or an official or officials of the Government of Zimbabwe”.

Section 541.405 of the regulations also prohibits provision of services to Zimbabwe and the sanctioned officials.

Reads S541.405: “The prohibitions on transactions contained in S541.201 apply to services performed in the US or by US persons, wherever located, including by a foreign branch of an entity located in the US (1) On behalf of or for the benefit of a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to S541.201 9 (a) or (2) with respect to property interests of any person whose property are blocked pursuant to S541.201 (a).”

The regulations also bar US financial institutions from performing any “credit agreements, including but not to limited to, charge cards, debit cards or other credit facilities issued by a US financial institution to a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to S541.201(A).”

The regulations under S541.701 also state that: “Any person who wilfully commits, wilfully attempts to commit, or wilfully conspires to commit, or aids or abets in the commission of a violation of any licence, order, regulation or prohibition may, upon conviction, be fined not more than $1 million, or if a natural person, be imprisoned for not more than 20 years or both.”

Harare is studying the new development.

“Government will work closely with the RBZ to assess the impact of these regulations,” Mr Mangwana said.

“Government is also studying the regulations but will continue to engage with the US government as part of its engagement and re-engagement policy.

“Engagement represents a wide range of diplomatic interactions spanning many levels and activities. That is an ongoing process in the world of diplomacy and is never an event. In these circumstances, there is bound to be setbacks and bounces,” he explained.

Sanctions against Zimbabwe have been widely condemned for their hurtful impact on ordinary people and business, with a growing chorus of dissent against the unilateral measures.

Eminent businessman, billionaire and Econet Zimbabwe founder Mr Strive Masiyiwa last month added his voice arguing that sanctions on Zimbabwe should be removed because there was “no justification for them anymore” and that for the past 20 years Zimbabwe has been “operating with its hands tied behind its back” by the embargo.

-State Media

 

MYSTERY surrounds the drowning of a couple at Hillside Dams in Bulawayo, with their bodies being found a day apart.

Yesterday, it emerged that a woman who was reported in The Chronicle on Saturday to have drowned at the dam had in fact drowned together with her boyfriend.

The body of the man was found on Friday, a day after his girlfriend’s body was discovered.

The woman has been identified as Gillian Gombera (27) who lived in Bulawayo’s Central Business District while her boyfriend has been identified as Garikai Hatugari (31) of Paddonhurst suburb.

Garikai’s family spokesperson Mr Tawanda Hatugari yesterday said they were still unsure of what could have led to the two’s deaths.

Mr Hatugari said the family last spoke to Garikai on Wednesday as he was supposed to join his relatives at their rural home in Shurugwi for the memorial service of his brother, who died last month.

He said on Friday evening they were shaken when they received a phone call from the police instructing Garikai’s mother to urgently report at Hillside Police Station.

The woman travelled back from their rural home and went to the police station on Saturday morning.

“We received a phone call that his mother should report to Hillside Police Station. I decided to accompany her yesterday (Saturday) morning to the police station where they told us about the discovery of a body suspected to be his at Hillside Dams,” he said.

“After that we went to United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary where the body had been taken, we positively identified it as his body.

“Unfortunately we don’t have details of what happened. What we know is that the woman’s body was discovered on Thursday and his on Friday evening.”

Mr Hatugari said the family is asking itself endless questions yet it does not have answers as Garikai was home alone as his mother had travelled.

“The last communication that we had with Gari was on Wednesday afternoon. But from then up to Thursday when the woman’s body was found there is a gap that we can’t account for. We don’t know whether they were alone or with someone else,” said Mr Hatugari.

“For the family it’s difficult. We were expecting him at our rural home on Wednesday. We were supposed to have a memorial service for his brother who passed on a month ago this past Saturday. For us it’s difficult, we just have too many questions but we do not have the answers. And we can’t speculate as well.”

He said although the family knew that Garikai was in a relationship with Gillian nothing had been formalised.

Mr Hatugari said a post mortem report was expected to be out today and his family is set to meet Gillian’s.

State Media

Correspondent|CHITUNGWIZA-BASED Glory Ministries church outing ended prematurely after three youths drowned in a dam, while swimming at a campsite just outside Marondera.

The police sub aqua unit yesterday morning retrieved the bodies of the youths — Kupakwashe Kanyerere (14), Makatendekaishe Saunyama (16) and Zvikomborero Rambanepasi (16), all of Chitungwiza — at Karimazondo Dam. The trio was part of the 215 members of the church led by Pride Sibiya of Zengeza in Chitungwiza.

Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the death yesterday.

“I confirm death by drowning of three youths who were part of congregants from a religious sect from Chitungwiza. The five youths sneaked out and went to the dam to swim when tragedy struck,” he said.

According to police, on December 27, the church booked a conference at Karimazondo outdoor centre in Marondera.

On December 28, at around 4pm, five male youths allegedly sneaked out from the camp and proceeded to Karimazondo Dam without the knowledge of the elders. They reportedly started swimming in the dam and the three aged between 14 and 16 allegedly swam to the deep end.

The two surviving youths got out of the water and informed the elders of the incident. The elders rushed to the dam and managed to retrieve the body of one boy. A report was made at Marondera rural police station.

On December 29, the police Sub Aqua Unit was summoned, but failed to retrieve the bodies due to bad light.

However, the team went back to scene yesterday and retrieved the two remaining bodies.

MASSIVE power outage lasting more than 50 hours hit southern Zimbabwe at the weekend after poorly maintained pylons near Chiredzi succumbed to heavy storms, cutting electricity trunk lines in the southern districts along the proposed path of Mozambique-Zimbabwe-South Africa transmission project involving the three countries.

It was the worst outage in the area in years.

Close to 500 000 consumers in parts of Chivi South, Chiredzi South, Beitbridge and Mwenezi districts were left without power.

Zesa Holdings spokesperson Fullard Gwasira said the outage was caused by collapsed pylons at Triangle near Chiredzi, and correctional measures were being hampered by the continuous rainstorms.

“The Tokwe-Triangle fault has been caused by landing span poles, which went down at Triangle. Replacement poles have been sourced at Sherwood for installation. Excavations for pole replacement are in progress,” he said.

Gwasira said challenges that hampered power restoration from an alternative source in South Africa included faulty capacity transformers at South Africa’s Eskom, which they could not load power onto.

“The operation challenge is that it is not possible to reticulate from Eskom, who have faulted our line CT’s (capacity transformers). There is limited supply from Orange Grove, where a one grid transformer is constraining load for Middle Sabi, Mkwasine and Triangle at 20 megawatts,” he said.

“Stringing cables was hampered by heavy rains and the cranes were getting stuck. We shifted power loads and were able to normalise supplies by midnight. The pylons fell due to heavy rains affecting the lines, but ordinarily, this shouldn’t be the case if there is proper line maintenance,” the Zesa Holdings spokesperson said.

Gwasira also regretted that no one had highlighted that such a large area was without power, adding, in which event, the public would have been informed as “is standard”.

Energy minister Joram Gumbo lashed out at Zesa Holdings for failing to apprise the public on the development.

“They should have informed the public. I am hearing it first from you that this is the magnitude of the problem. We cannot have organisations that fail to report to stakeholders, particularly the consumers. I am very disturbed,” Gumbo fumed.

“I am new in this ministry, but I am seeing we have some bad apples in this organisation [Zesa] and if they do not want to work, they must open the jobs for others who are willing to. We cannot be arrogant to consumers. We report to them.”

Power cut abruptly at around 4pm on Friday, inducing communication breakdown as storms ravaged sections of the affected areas, according to the Civil Protection Unit.

Power was only restored to all affected areas yesterday at 0018 hours.

The breakdown occurred near Triangle, along the 935 kilometre path of the proposed 450-500kV high voltage transmission system straddling the three countries Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Currently, a lower voltage line exists on that corridor.

National strategic points affected were the Beitbridge Border Post, currently at its peak, Rutenga town — home to a National Railways of Zimbabwe marshalling yard between Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, Chikombedzi and several other service centres in the affected districts.

Zesa at the weekend introduced an interim plan to rotate the power from Orange Grove to Middle Sabi, Mkwasine and Triangle, but this could not be extended further south to cover Mwenezi and Beitbridge, which remained in total darkness.

The power utility, like all other government arms, reels from a shortage of resources, both material and human, blamed on the foreign currency crisis.

It has a depleted fleet and outdated equipment and struggles to meet electricity demand countrywide.

Mwenezi district administrator Rosemary Chingwe said scores of people were left homeless by the storms, and communication with outlying areas was difficult after the power outage affected mobile phone users.

“Several homes were destroyed. I am going out to assess. My car has gone for refuelling in Beitbridge so I can travel in the district, but the situation is bad. I have already informed the National Civil Protection office,” she said.

“Domestically, thousands of people were affected when their perishable food went bad. I was cut from rural outreach communication by lack of electricity power.”

In Beitbridge, several butcheries threw away beef carcases which had gone bad, while institutions like Beitbridge Prison, hospital and the border post had inadequate water supplies after pumps at the town’s supply works failed due to the power loss.

The entire border town had no water supplies and residents resorted to the bush system.

NewsDay

 

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has started collecting taxes, especially Value Added Tax (VAT) and Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) in foreign currency from companies
that collect payments in that currency, but the informal sector continues to give the tax- man serious headaches.

Government directed Zimra to start
collecting VAT and PAYE in foreign currency from companies that collect revenue in foreign currency towards the end of November.

Zimra Commissioner General Ms Faith Mazani told The Herald Business in an exclusive interview that tax collections in foreign currency has begun.
“Yes, people have started paying taxes in foreign currency. I don’t have numbers as yet and would need to check with accounts, but we have started collecting and Ministry (of
Finance and Economic Development) has asked us to open a separate account for forex tax payments, which we have,” said Ms Mazani.The Herald

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…

 

Most locals attending the ongoing Victoria Falls Carnival are having a torrid time in the resort town as the bond notes as well as RTGS payments are proving very unpopular.

Those who are used to buying tickets to the event at the last hour learnt the hard way on Saturday – the first day of the event as organisers were no longer accepting the local currency or any other form of payment other than US dollar.

A three-day ticket was pegged
at US$90. As if that was not enough, the carnivalistas who had not carried US dollars with them were in for another rude awakening at the event’s bush party as the pricing was not friendly for the ordinary Zimbabwean.A new system of credits was introduced this year for the buying of drinks and food with
100Bond being equivalent to 400 credits and 100USD equivalent to 1 400 credits.

Burgers were pegged at about ($20
Bond/10USD) each with prices of beverages also on the steep side.
Other than the carnival, the rest of the town also increased its prices, likely due to the ongoing price madness in the country.
A plate of isitshwala and beef that usually costs between $3 and $5 at basic outlets in the town is now costing between $15 and $20.

Upmarket restaurants such as Three Monkeys whose prices at one point ranged between $15 and $30 now have most of their dishes ranging between $25 and $40.State media

 

The Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies at the University of Zimbabwe, Charity Manyeruke had her term of office extended by
another four years.

Manyeruke became well-known when she was appointed a member of the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 shootings. Some political pundits and the MDC
were vehemently opposed to the appointment as she was considered a ZANU PF activist.

The concern was that she will not apply her mind impartially to the task but rather absolve her party of any blame in the Agust 1 fiasco.

A ZANU PF social media

group revealed that Manyeruke was given another four-year term.

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HARARE – Senior doctors have given government a 48-hour deadline to address the striking junior and middle level doctors’ grievances, noting that their suspension has only crippled the health delivery system which was already struggling.

In a statement dated December 28, the consultants and senior registrars condemned the Health Services Board (HSB)’s suspending of the
striking doctors, noting that the situation at public health institutions was no longer manageable.

“As senior medical practitioners working in Public Health Institutions (consultants and senior registrars) we have noted with concern the way
the protracted and on-going collective job action by the junior and middle level doctors has been handled and the impact this has had on patients, community and the profession,” read the statement.

The senior doctors said juniors were key players in the health delivery system and cannot be side-lined.
“Health service units work as teams therefore the absence of junior and middle level doctors and any other members of the team critically
compromises all aspects of health service delivery to patients, their communities and the public at large,” said the senior doctors.

“Therefore we are urging the HSB to resolve this impasse in the next 48 hours. Consultants have been working very hard under these very difficult circumstances and we will not be able to continue beyond the stated time period.”Daily News

 

President of the Chief’s Council,
Fortune Charumbira, risks landing himself in deep trouble for violating the law because of his open support for the ruling Zanu PF party.

Ahead of the July 30, 2018 elections, the University of Zimbabwe-educated traditional leader landed himself in trouble after flaunting his Zanu PF colours in remarks made in full glare of the public.

After the High Court was approached to call Charumbira to order for rallying traditional leaders
behind Zanu PF presidential candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Justice Clement Phiri obliged by directing him to withdraw his public
statement in a newspaper with a national circulation and endeavour to make a statement available to private and public media houses and
the national broadcaster within seven days of being served with the order.

In his judgment, Justice Phiri ruled that Charumbira’s statements made on October 28, 2017 were ultra-vires the Constitution. During the recently held Zanu PF conference in Esigodini, Charumbira was at it again.

He insisted Zanu PF was the party of chiefs and that anyone who was uncomfortable with that position was free to go to court. Charumbira said he was surprised that some
Zanu PF officials were now afraid to use traditional leaders in their party programmes despite assurances from the chiefs that nothing
would happen.

“The problem is that some in the audience are nervous. They were actually saying, ‘chiefs, why don’t you leave politics’ and I said ‘no, chiefs are doing their job.’

“Those in Zanu PF must not be more nervous than the chiefs themselves when we’re working

with you,” Charumbira said.Daily News

By Own Correspondent| The Zanu PF government never runs out of shockers, the expired drugs scandal is yet another bizzare episode of a cruel and uncaring leadership.

The issue of expired drugs is just but a manifestation of expired leadership. It boggles the mind to even imagine a government delighting in procurement of expired consignments of medicine placing the lives millions at risk.

Expired drugs may cause new infections, maybe be toxic and can cause death. No one must use such drugs.

It also raises a lot of governance questions. Is it a matter of someone using tax payers’ money to procure expired drugs? Or incompetency which has resulted in drugs expiring before they reach medical centres.

There is a possibility of embezzlement of funds then a display of an expired consignment as proof of delivery.

All these are answers that are due to the public in a delicate matter of this nature, the murky operations of government can no longer be the route to take. There must be clarity, transparency and accountability.

In any case the government should have communicated an impending drugs shortage, not play politics and not give citizens a window to create a buffer against this mediocrity.

Answers must be provided otherwise this episode remains scandalous and criminal.

Those involved in the whole scheme must face Justice, the issue of drugs is delicate, the mere reason why headlines were awash with the sale of an unregistered drug recently.

Now those who are supposed to be at the centre of regulation are the ones violating the rules. The lives of Zimbabweans are in jeopardy, it is clear that the desperation in government to prove some semblance of sanity is sky high. The attempt to sanitize this scandal is dangerous and contemptuous.

The citizen must be very angry, Zanu PF has reached the limits. Its mediocrity and lack of care cannot be allowed to continue.

Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

The Government has threatened ‘unscrupulous’ retailers who are fuelling price distortions that they will face punitive action as stringent monitoring mechanisms are being put in place to deal with such indiscipline.

The past months have seen consumers being exposed to all sorts of price distortions as retailers continue to charge different prices for basic commodities despite getting them at fair prices from manufacturers.

Basic commodities like bread, maize meal, soft drinks and beer which are delivered at door step pegged at the same wholesale price are sold at different prices at the expense of desperate consumers.

“Why is it that companies like beverages and bread manufacturers deliver their products at shops at for example soft drinks 50 cents and 80 cents but retailers would triple the price to $1.50 to $3.50? This is not normal and unless something is done urgently consumers will continue to be ripped off,” complains an angry consumer.

“We used to know that bread is sold at a uniform price, drinks we know it should be one price across the board, the same as beer but this price madness is a clear sabotage by individual business who should be investigated and brought to book,” says another concerned citizen.

Responding to the price distortions, the Minister of Industry and Commerce Mangaliso Ndlovu reiterated that price controls is not an option, but added that days for those who continue to rip consumers are numbered as the government has been closely monitoring and will introduce new mechanisms.

“Government’s position is clear, we have engaged all stakeholders from manufacturers to retailers, but it appears the challenge is some individual businesses who continue to ride on uncertainty which rocked the economy, but I want to warn them that price controls will not be an option but room for engagement is always there.

“We have all instruments to deal with any businesses who continue to deliberately cause distortions and all those who are willy nilly operating outside the confines of the law; we are monitoring and the festive season will come and go and competition will soon catch up with them,” said Minister Ndlovu.

While the government, industry and retailers engagement process has failed to stabilise the prices, observers feel if other economic enablers such as fuel suppliers and wholesalers are not increasing prices, there is urgent need to institute a deliberate policy to deal with retailers who are shamelessly exploiting people.

-State Media

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Terrence Mawawa| Ms Miriam Mutizwa, has accused Norton MP Temba Mliswa of deliberately misrepresenting facts during an interview last week.

Ms Mutizwa’s letter reads:
Dear Hon. T. Mliswa,
I am writing this letter in response to what you said as contained in the video above.

You may remember that I was one of the most active members in the Friends of SMM (FOSMM) whats up that you unceremoniously vacated from after it was revealed in the group that you had said the the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act is a good law.

I felt it is important that I remind you of what was reported then on Bulawayo News 24 on 10 November 2018 as follows:

You said that: “whilst the Reconstruction Act is a good legislation, and this admission on your part caused a lot of controversy in the FOSMM group resulting in your departure.

Mr. Elvis Mugari, has also expressed concern about your allergy to criticism.

I joined the FOSMM group recently following the placement of Hwange Colliery Company Limited (Hwange) under the control of an Administrator pursuant to the operation of the Reconstruction Act.

I am sure by now you know my personal position on this law and why I believe that it is in the interests of justice that this law be repealed urgently.

I also belong to a number of whats up groups in which the existence and operation of this law is a key borne of concern about the integrity of this administration whose Attorney General, Mr. Machaya, who appeared before your Committee on 19 November 2018 telling your Committee that reconstruction is akin to a judicial management.

My concerns have been shared openly and transparently. I was disappointed like many in the FOSMM group that you chose to leave the group instead of defending your position that a law that deprives and divests shareholders of their rights and freedom without following the due process of the law can be considered to be constitutional.

You have sought to avoid defending your position in private groups like whats up choosing to make bombastic statements in the public media to the effect that these groups represent Mr. Mawere’s stratagem of creating groups to lobby for the return of his companies.

You have also sought to attack people like who have been vocal on the critical importance of repealing laws like the Reconstruction Act suggesting that we are part of Mr. Mawere’s public relations machinery.

You have also said that Mr. Mawere is putting words into a person like without caring to ask me directly whether the views expressed in my writings represent my own convictions or are borrowed from another person.

I found myself being attacked directly by Mrs. Tsitsi Masiyiwa who like you made the same allegations that I was a hired gun.

I find it disturbing that while people like you imply that Mr. Mawere is a desperate, failed and broke businessman, when it suits you, you then give him credit for causing people like me to be activists on matters where I believe justice has not been served.

As I was listening to your words this morning, I could not help but pause and reflect whether your claim that you know all that is to be known in relation to the facts surrounding the decision to introduce the Reconstruction Act and implement it in relation to SMM Holdings Limited (SMM) should not qualify you as a key witness to the Committee that you chair.

I was looking forward to Mr. Mawere appearing before the Committee but after listening to you, it seems that you ought to be a key witness for us to know under oath the basis on which you boldly stated that President Mugabe was the driving mind behind the acquisition of SMM.

I would have thought that the information that has been openly shared by Mr. Mawere in the whats up groups that you now condemn is and would have been sufficient to dispose of the allegations of the role President Mnangagwa is alleged to have played in the acquisition of a private company in which he had no direct or indirect pecuniary interests.

You have alleged that Mr. Mawere was part of a defined and discrete Karanga empowerment project that was presumably led by President Mnangagwa.

To date, it is instructive that President Mnangagwa has never said a word about his alleged role in the acquisition of SMM. It is for this reason, that I am writing this letter in the hope that Mr. Nick Mangwana can notice of your allegations which go a long way towards discrediting President Mnangagwa’s integrity and promises of real forms towards constitutionalism.

This letter was shared in all the whats up groups that Mr. Mawere belonged. You will note that the letter was addressed to the late Vice President Muzenda who you have suggested as one of Mawere’s state helpers in relation to the acquisition.

It is clear that Mr. Mawere was not at the meeting that was held by Mr. Carruthers with the late Vice President.

In this letter addressed to Mr. Mawere who was based in South Africa, the representative of the seller, T & N Plc, states categorically that he had informed the late Vice President that the T & N as the seller had entered into an arms’ length deal that they were anxious to complete yet you also state as fact that the deal was completed from inception by way of a government guarantee.

The above information including how Mr. Mawere approached the seller as an unsolicited suitor was shared in an open and transparent manner in the group that you have been a member of.

We were also privileged to receive a copy of the Sale and Purchase Agreement dated 7 March 1996 or a year before the late Vice President Muzenda met any representative of T & N. I had thought that having this information in our possession would have discouraged a person of your standing from advancing an alternative narrative.

If the late Vice President Muzenda was indeed a member of the ZANU-PF society of Mawere’s helpers then why did he not meet the sellers prior to the deal.  In addition, you have represented that President Mnangagwa was Mawere’s alter ego yet the facts of this matter show that at no stage did President Mnangagwa meet the sellers of the company before and after the deal was done.

The above information among many other documents that I will share with the public leads me to conclude that either you are disingenuous in your approach to the Reconstruction Act and how it was implemented in relation to SMM or you wish to assassinate the character of Mr. Mawere.

I was not sure why you left the group in a hurry but now I am beginning to understand that you could be part of a bigger plot to conceal the bad acts that characterised the Mugabe regime and the real driving forces behind these actions.

This is my Part 1 of what I believe will be a long conversation on matters that arise from your interview above.

The two percent transaction tax initiated in October 2018 has started bearing positive results towards addressing the budget deficit.

The budget deficit has been described by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube as one of the twin economic evils bedevilling the country.

According to statistics from ZIMRA, from October to December the tax collector has been surpassing its revenue targets owing to the two percent tax.

In a sign of confidence and celebration, Professor Ncube recently tweeted that he was overwhelmed by revenue collections being done by ZIMRA since October when the 2 percent transaction tax was pronounced.

Zimbabwe’s economic problems in the past have been largely attributed to lack of capacity to finance its domestic debt due to budget deficit.

However, the country is charting a new path since October when the 2 percent transaction tax was introduced with revenue collection surpassing the targets month on month.

The US$332 million target for October was exceeded by 35 percent as US$449 million was collected.

In November, US$338 million was the target, but US$498 million was collected, representing a surplus of 47 percent.

In the first 28 days of December, US$632 million was collected exceeding the target of US$443 million by 43 percent.

This figure will rise as the last three days of December have not yet been included.

If this trend is sustained into the coming year, it means the formula to deal with the domestic debt would have been found and this will enable monetary authorities to put other economic fundamentals in place that might see the realisation of a middle income status sooner than later.

-State Media

With a clenched fist punching the air in a marquee-filled to capacity with men and women dressed in colourful Zanu PF attire, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga declared that they would be no challengers to his principal, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

One would have been forgiven to think that the country’s ruling party is going for an election anytime soon, but alas, elections are far off the horizon — almost five years away.

Regardless, the praise singing reminiscent of the old days when former president Robert Mugabe bestrode the country like a colossus is now the in thing.

Mnangagwa, who claimed after coming to power through a soft coup that he would end deifying songs and encourage the singing of war songs is almost a changed man just over a year after.
He dances his “crocodile dance” as his followers sing themselves hoarse.

Indeed old habits die hard, the songs that were sang for Mugabe have been rehashed, the printed shirts have a new face and the percussion of praise singers has reinvented itself.

Indeed there is a connection between the old and new.

By Mnangagwa’s own admission, Mugabe “remains a father, mentor, comrade-in-arms and my leader”.

The parallels between the two are almost infinite.

History has it that it was Mugabe who taught Mnangagwa the political ropes while in prison and that it was Mugabe who invited Mnangagwa to the front in the twilight days of the liberation struggle to make him his aide de camp.

While addressing over 60 000 people who filled the National Sports Stadium in a frenzied mood after the fall of Mugabe, Mnangagwa paid tribute to the man who now regards him as a traitor

At the height of his reign, Mugabe had songs composed in his name, children named after him and towns were given a facelift just to ensure that his passage was comfortable.

Mugabe might be long gone but Mnangagwa appears to be trapped in the same system that created his predecessor.

University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure told the Daily News on Sunday that while there was a change of leadership last year there was no change of the system.

“We have to start from the premise of what happened last year. …there was change of leadership but there was no change of regime, the regime has continued, leadership change will not result in a change of systems and that explains what is happening. Mnangagwa is just continuing from where Mugabe left,” said Masunungure.

The respected professor said Zanu PF, instead of focusing on the bleeding economy is only concerned with power retention.

“The endorsements from provinces is something that happens where there is a preoccupation in the maintenance of power, they are doing so as if everything is in order when everything is actually collapsing, we have more of the same and this definitely looks like the old,” added Masunungure.

Just like in the past when towns were spruced-up ahead of Mugabe’s visit, the little township of Esigodini, where Zanu PF had its annual conference received a major facelift ahead of the ruling party’s annual jamboree, a fresh lick of paint here and resurfacing of roads there.

“We are happy that the roads are being paved, of course once they are done they will go and will not return again until maybe the next election,” an elderly man sipping local opaque ale said.

When there was no threat that anyone would challenge him, Zanu PF structures would fall on each other endorsing him and that is a script Mnangagwa’s praise-singers have copied.

Writing on his blog, United Kingdom-based academic Alex Magaisa said the changes that Mnangagwa brought were superficial and not a serious attempt to walk away from Mugabe’s shadow.

He said the removal of Mugabe, to the extent that this meant a transition from authoritarian rule to democracy, was terribly mistaken.

Magaisa noted that the new rulers were the same men who had propped up and operationalised Mugabe’s ruling machinery; they aren’t democrats by any stretch of imagination.

“They wanted power, yes, but democracy was not a priority. It had never been a priority during their many years with Mugabe at the helm.

“They might perform some gimmicks here and there, to win the favour of the international community, but beyond those token gestures the mean machinery with inherently authoritarian features would be maintained,” he said.

The constitutional lawyer said it soon became clear that despite the smiles and clichés of being ‘open for business’, there were more continuities than changes from the old regime.

He said it has become a truism that Mugabeism managed to survive the departure of Mugabe and unless there are fundamental changes, it may live much longer after him. According to Magaisa there has been no serious effort to disentangle the State from the grip of the party or to reduce the role and impact of the military in civilian affairs — both in the party and government.

Just like in the old when nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) were banned for allegedly dabbling in politics, ICT minister, acting as minister of Public Service Kazembe Kazembe has threatened to revoke licences of some NGOs that do not tow the line.

“The government has, however, noted with concern that some Private Voluntary Organisations and/ or NGOs have negated their objectives and are now meddling in politics.

“Should these organisations continue with this behaviour, the government will not hesitate to withdraw their registration certificates,” Kazembe threatened, repeating an old familiar statement many NGOs are all too aware of.

“Underneath the façade of tolerance and openness, the horns of authoritarianism are always threatening to emerge. And they do. They have already poked several holes into that façade,” said Magaisa.

— Daily News

Press Release|The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately resolve the ongoing impasse with medical doctors by reviewing the working and living conditions of doctors. The resolution of the crisis is one step in the right direction as the country moves to arrest the political and economic crisis in the country.

The impasse in the social services sector is of great concern and has potentially grave consequences given the centrality of the services offered by medical sectors employees and leaves the country and citizens vulnerable to diseases and medical conditions that can be averted.

As CiZC we implore government to negotiate in good faith with its employees and always engage in mutual dialogue in resolving labour cases. We remind the state that citizens look towards the government in providing leadership and solving the country’s woes and reiterate that the civil service must be a mutually beneficial space for both the government and its employees.

We are worried that there is an emerging trend where the government is quick to “fire” or dismiss workers in the social services sector as happened when 6 000 nurses were fired earlier in 2018 for engaging in industrial action. It is our view that in dealing with civilian matters such commandist tactics can only worsen the already fragile medical services sector and the continued use of threats only proves government’s incapacity to handle the national crises.

We further urge the government to desist from employing military tactics and coercion to threaten its employees into submission without a review of their working and living conditions. At this hour, we stand in solidarity with other social services sector employees that include teachers, nurses, various ministries and government departments workers in demanding a review of wages and salaries given the erosion of the value of the bondnote.

We call on the government to immediately put in place and implement a short term stabilisation and recovery plan to arrest the economic downturn which has seen worsening levels of poverty among citizens and a total collapse of the social services sector.

We also note with concern spirited efforts and attempts to discredit various employees’ unions as pursuing a political and illegal agenda and warn that the new Zimbabwe that all aspire for has no place for smear campaigns.

We have also followed with keen interest accusations of CSOs plotting to effect an illegal regime change agenda. Attempts to discredit the work of the Coalition and other CSOs that are advocating for a democratic order in Zimbabwe as reported in the Herald and Chronicle remain mere fallacy and as a Coalition we are on record for calling for inclusive national dialogue to resolve the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe.

Your input and suggestions are appreciated.

For and on Behalf of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

Tabani Moyo

Spokesperson

An Alouette III helicopter had to do a forced landing in the Mchakazi area in Gutu Central yesterday near Ranga school after it developed a fault while airborne.

The chopper was travelling to Gutu from Harare.

According to the Acting Provincial Administrator for Masvingo Mr Roy Hove, the helicopter developed a fault before arriving at its intended destination.

Mr Hove told ZBC News that the pilot eventually managed to control and land the chopper and in the process the wheels and propeller were damaged.

Among those on board the helicopter was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Mr Martin Rushwaya.

No injuries were sustained.

-State Media

Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has reiterated its earlier demand for a 50 percent upward review of wages and salaries across the board to compensate for the price increases of basic commodities.

ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo said the union has started a process of consultation with all its structures on the way forward.

He said so far, the consensus-building up is that workers are prepared for peaceful protests early next year to vent out their frustration.
“This action is not for workers only, this is why we are organising the communities because they are also suffering.

“We are also calling on the other likeminded organisations and people to join us.

“This is a fight by Zimbabweans against suffering. The government must listen to its citizens and if not, the ZCTU is prepared to take leadership in the fight against poverty,” said Moyo.

The ZCTU secretary-general also lamented the poor pension pay-outs which, at about $60 per month, are insignificance when compared with the poverty datum Line (PDL) of almost $500.

“There is also the issue of non-payment of wages and salaries by some companies.

“Some employers sometimes deliberately ignore directives from the National Employment Councils,” said Moyo, while adding that government has a responsibility to protect the vulnerable when the market fails to regulate itself.

Television personality and Zimdancehall musician Oscar Pambuka has described his recent jail experience as an eye-opener.

Pambuka who was initially jailed for 30 months along with former Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Highfield, Psychology Maziwisa, for defrauding the Zimbabwe Power Company of $12 650 was released on bail after serving two weeks.

“I thank God for the release. The jail experience was both exciting and indeed an eye opener,” Pambuka told the Daily News on Sunday recently.

“That’s (jail) a rich ground full of lessons I tell you. That’s why most of the leaders pass through there. My future is certain.”

Pambuka said the jail experience boosted his faith.

“To be incarcerated does not mean that one is doomed in life. It is a correctional facility which does not select anyone. You also can be convicted. What is important especially to me was the fact that the experience renewed the inner man, brought me closer to the Creator, made me understand what happens at the various correctional services and above all created a stronger empathetic Pambuka.”

Pambuka, who is the managing director of Oscar Pambuka Productions, revealed that he missed his Zimdancehall network and family while in the penitentiary.

“Life in prison can be lonely as you will miss your loved ones. That’s why it’s important for friends and relatives to visit people incarcerated. It ignites the spirit and is also godly,” he said.

“I strongly urge everyone to stay away from crime and stay far from the prison gates. Once you are in prison, there is no television or radio and you cease to do what you want.”

Pambuka, who hails from Chipinge, described the general living conditions of inmates as good.

“The conditions of living are good though improvements can be made to include a number of recreational activities since it is a correctional facility. When some inmates saw me enter a lot of conclusions came into their minds,” he said.

“On a lighter note, my popularity assisted me to understand various issues affecting other inmates and it put to test my public relations skills which proved to be second to none.”

Inside the prison, Pambuka who has a passion for driving sports and big cars, learnt to stay away from crimes.

“The most important point is that it (prison) confirms that no one is above the law. Whether you are Oscar Pambuka or not when you wear the prison garb we become equal in the sense that you will all be prisoners,” he said.

“No matter that you are a teacher, accountant, politician, minister, prophet or elderly stay away from anything which brings you close to that place.”

Pambuka and Maziwisa were convicted early this month after going through a lengthy trail for allegedly swindling ZPC.

The duo owns a company called Fruitful Communications through which they allegedly claimed payments of up to $12 000 for public relations (PR) work.

Prosecutors successfully argued that no such activities were ever carried out by Maziwisa and Pambuka on behalf of ZPC although they got paid. Early this month, a Harare magistrate, Lazini Ncube, jailed Pambuka and Maziwisa for 30 months.

For the first count, Ncube caged Pambuka and Maziwisa to 54 months each.

On the second count, Ncube sentenced the duo to 24 months each.

Ncube suspended 12 months on the first count on condition that they restitute ZPC of $12 000 by January 2019.

A further 12 months were suspended for five years on condition that they do not commit a similar offence.

“On count two, the sentence will run concurrently with the first sentence,” Ncube said then.

Daily News

Congratulations Professor Manyeruke‼️

Congrats Professor @CharityManyeruk for being appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies at the University of Zimbabwe for another four year term. Toutes nos félicitations!

— ?? ZANU PF PATRIOTS ?? (@zanupf_patriots) December 30, 2018

Highlanders chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube reportedly lost R20 000 he had left at the club offices over the Christmas holiday.

The club’s head of secretariat had reportedly left over R30 200 in a laptop bag last week before office staff closed for the holidays and discovered the theft on Friday, resulting in him reporting the matter to the police on the same day.

Sources at the club said the stolen amount did not belong to Highlanders but was instead Dube’s personal funds.

“He told us he left the money as they were closing for the festive season last week and discovered the theft on return on Friday and he made a report to the police on the same day.

“It is suspected it could have been an inside job and whoever stole the money is someone with access to the offices as there was no break-in or signs of forced entry into the offices. Unfortunately the laptop bag was not in a secure place such as a safe or lockable storage place,” said the source.

Bulawayo police spokesman Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed a report had been made at Bulawayo Central Police Station about the theft adding it is suspected the money was stolen between 22 and 28 December.

She said no arrests had been made yet and police were still conducting their investigations. Chief Insp Simango appealed to members of the public not to keep large sums of money in laptop bags.

“We are appealing to members of the public not to keep large sums of money in laptop bags. We would not expect a chief executive officer to leave such a huge amount in a laptop bag and unsecured.

“It is also important that people shouldn’t go about revealing they are in possession of huge amounts of cash because it seems whoever stole the money knew there was cash in that bag as no other item was stolen. If you are in possession of cash it would be best to keep it to yourself,” she said.

Dube declined to comment on the matter saying he was not ready to speak about it.

Sunday News

Correspondent|A man from Bulawayo learned the hard way that some men do not take too kindly to other men enjoying the company of their wives, even if it is for short distances like 100 metres only. Nkosilathi Zulu of Pelandaba suburb appeared in court facing charges of assault for beating up his neighbour Mendiatta Sibanda after he saw him strolling with his wife.

The court heard that Zulu saw his wife strolling with Sibanda, and waited to see how much distance they would cover alongside each other. When the two unsuspecting strollers reached a 100 metres, an irate Zulu could not control himself and charged towards them where he promptly gave Sibanda a thorough beating. Sibanda suffered massive bleeding from his left ear and his back was severely damaged due to the beatings. Sibanda did not fight back but chose to take his beating like a man, and reported Zulu to the police afterwards.

Zulu pleaded guilty to the crime but in his defence, he told Western Commonage magistrate Lungile Ncube that he suspected that Sibanda was having an affair with his wife. Said Zulu,

I suspected that Sibanda was having an affair with my wife after they walked over 100 metres together and that got me upset.

Magistrate Ncube convicted Zulu on his own plea and fined him $100. In the event that he fails to pay the $100, he will spend 90 days in prison.

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe could descend into chaos if government continues with its 1:1 rate between the local bond notes and United States Dollars.

This is amid the current impasse between junior doctors and government which has entered day 30 and threats by teachers not to turn up for duty when schools open next term.

On the other hand, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has also joined the bandwagon and have threatened to shutdown the country if government fails to pay workers in United States dollars.

Government insistence that Bond note is at par with US dollars could be the reason why things are upside down as this means workers salaries which have been devalued due to a sharp rise in the price of basic commodities, will not be increased as it will mean that the treasury has to avail foreign currency to settle wages should the country dump the greenback.

Let us shutdown the country until the Government start to listen to the suffering citizens. All of us are suffering nomatter which political party you support. Let's unite , we deserve better@povozim @263Chat @DailyNewsZim @NewsDayZimbabwe @RMajongwe @Zinasuzim
@CHRA_Zim pic.twitter.com/uXCHz9XQK0

— ZCTU – Zimbabwe (@ZctuZimbabwe) December 30, 2018

 

Four foreign nationals have been arrested for submitting fraudulent documents during the City of Johannesburg’s security personnel insourcing project.

It is alleged that the suspects, who are all Zimbabwean nationals, submitted fraudulent identity documents when they applied for the permanent positions with the City. They were arrested on Friday.

A statement from Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba’s office said it was established that one of the suspects used information of a deceased person and the other suspects’ fingerprints could not be validated.

One of the suspects recently approached the City Group Forensic and Investigation Department and indicated that their supervisor wanted money from them every month to keep quiet, and that he had now grown tired of this arrangement.

A sting operation was then set up by GFIS working together with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) where the suspects were arrested.

When they were questioned, all four suspects admitted that they bought fraudulent identity documents.

The suspects will appear in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

“I’m appealing to anyone who might have information on other security personnel that might have secured a job fraudulently to please come forward,” Mashaba said. “The information will assist our law enforcement officials as they continue to investigate this case.

“Corruption has no place in this administration and we will work tirelessly, and in collaboration with institutions such as the Hawks, SAPS and all other institutions within the criminal justice system to ensure that the residents of Johannesburg receive the quality services they deserve.

“I would also like to encourage people to report any fraud and corruption activities through our 24-hour tip-off hotline 0800 002 587 or visit GFIS offices situated at 48 Ameshoff Street, Braamfontein.”

– African News Agency (ANA)

Norton independent legislator Temba Mliswa yesterday defended the demands made by Members of Parliament saying they must be given enough resources because the other two arms of the State; the Executive and the Judiciary are having the same benefits.

This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa and many other people blasted the legislators saying they are greedy.

Mliswa said legislators are required to do their work effectively and they must be given enough resources.

“My view is that people representation should not be equated to destitution neither should it be equated to self-aggrandisement. Overheads are incurred as with any other enterprise and being an MP is no exception, it is a cost centre.

“In fact, even more so during these economically challenging times where even the most basic constituency requirements that naturally should be catered for by the government are not being catered for and the deficit needs to be addressed.

“The Executive and Judiciary receive a Discovery Autobiography (off road), Mercedes Benz and a Ford Ranger. Ministers receive the same three vehicles against MPs who receive one for the full five-year term.

“As I see it one good, safe, tough and durable land cruiser is therefore sufficient for all if we refer to austerity, I’ll leave you to draw any further conclusions.”

He added that they worked diligently while poorly-resourced much like the efforts of doctors, nurses and teachers.

“The very same people that complain that their legislators are not visible should be mindful of the restrictions faced by their MPs. The areas that their MPs need to cover in the effective delivery of their mandate cannot be covered by public transport as has been suggested in some quarters. It becomes imperative that the motor vehicles issue be addressed.

“Which brings us to the crux of the matter, what calibre of representation do people expect to have? Interestingly, I have noted comments raised that MPs should be people who have personal financial capacity and who are able to debate and effectively represent their constituent’s needs in Parliament.” He added that in Zimbabwe constituency requirements are so profound and juggling those needs with parliamentary representation naturally makes being an MP a full time job.

“This issue is a point of some difficulty for me as I must ask – well, who voted for people without their choice of credentials in the first place? I will let it be known and stated for the record that I was attacked for bringing up what was deemed to be a ‘preposterous’ suggestion during election campaigning when I said aspiring MPs should have degrees and their own auditable proof of wealth and capacity in order to be allowed to run for a seat.

“I have always thought that such criteria would significantly curtail corruption and would promote a servant leadership credo in the legislature.

“If the collective grouping of MPs was to this standard, the categorisation of MPs into a different standard of resourcing would be done away with,” he said.

-Daily News

With a few days to go into the new year, the omens don’t look good politically in 2019, following the Zanu PF youth league’s ominous threats this week against the country’s opposition forces, the Daily News can report.

In shocking remarks which have evoked bad memories of Zimbabwe’s body politic under former president Robert Mugabe’s decades of violent and ruinous rule, the ruling party’s youth league boss, Pupurai Togarepi,  promised that they would crush all dissenting voices in the new year.

Mugabe, who was toppled from power in November 2017 — after nearly four decades as Zimbabwe’s supreme leader — routinely unleashed violent youths, war veterans and law enforcement agents to crush dissent.

At the height of his power, he even boasted at one time that he and Zanu PF had “degrees in violence” — in mortifying comments which shocked the world.

Analysts who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said the youth league’s utterances, if acted out, would plunge the country into a bigger political and economic crisis than is currently being experienced.

Zimbabwe is going through its worst economic crises since the horror of a decade ago, as the country battles shortages of fuel, basic consumer goods and medical drugs.

This has seen President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who narrowly avoided defeat to opposition leader Nelson Chamisa in the hotly-contested July 30 election, increasingly coming under pressure to stem the rot.

In his remarks, which have been widely condemned, Togarepi warned on social media this week that they would deal ruthlessly with “anyone who tries to remove or attack Mnangagwa” in 2019.

“We have been tolerant … before and after elections. We won’t take any prisoners in 2019. Any provocation will be confronted head-on. The rules of the game have completely changed.

“Don’t insult others if you don’t want to be insulted. If you insult our leaders we will insult you. If you harass us in any way we will respond with equal measure. If you respect the president’s call for peace and unity we’ll respect you,” he said.

“We have been preaching peace while some insult and call for sanctions. Mnangagwa calls for unity and peace and some insult him and his leadership.

“The president focuses on economy, others are still in election mode. We can also insult. Your choice will be reciprocated,” Togarepi added in his ill-conceived rant.

It was not clear yesterday what had triggered Togarepi’s rant, although its timing coincided with widespread disgruntlement by long-suffering Zimbabweans who are enduring one of the worst festive seasons since the country’s independence from Britain in 1980.

The main MDC said the threats by the Zanu PF youth league were regrettable, but added that they would not stop them from pressuring Mnangagwa’s government into addressing the country’s deepening economic crisis.

“His (Togarepi’s) statement is criminal and unfortunate. In an era where countries are competing and bragging about innovation, transformation and opportunity creation, it is shocking that a senior member of a political party brags about the violent nature of his organisation.

“Togarepi is a national embarrassment who unfortunately represents the wider violent nature of Zanu PF,” MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said.

Togarepi’s threats came as popular dancehall musician Winky D was forced to ditch a show in Kwekwe last week, after rowdy crowds — said to be Zanu PF sympathisers — threw missiles at the stage in protest over his presence in the gold mining town.

Winky D is currently riding high with his new offering titled KaSong KeJecha, which has found resonance among MDC supporters who popularised the “kudira jecha” statement when Chamisa approached the Constitutional Court (Con-Court) in August — after he rejected the July 30 presidential election result.

“Kudira jecha” is Shona street lingo which loosely means playing a spoiling game.

Political analysts also told the Daily News yesterday that Togarepi’s statements exposed the culture of “Mugabeism” which was still rampant within many sections of Zanu PF when it came to dealing with dissenting voices.

“Togarepi’s statements betray the truth about Zanu PF’s view and approach in dealing with dissenting voices, which is an indication of the continuation of the Mugabe politics.

“These messages undo the cheap talk that the ED government is about democracy and economic revival since these people are close associates of ED.

“We can say without doubt that these people’s views represent those of the leadership and in this regard Zimbabwe is in for more years of authoritarianism,” political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said.

Chamisa has been brawling with Mnangagwa ever since he narrowly lost the hotly-disputed July 30 presidential election — whose result he vigorously challenged at the Con-Court.

The youthful opposition leader even went to the extent of accusing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) of manipulating the poll results in favour of the Zanu PF leader.

But Mnangagwa’s victory was upheld by the Con-Court, which ruled that Chamisa had failed to provide evidence that he had won the election.

Last month, he held a massive demonstration in Harare where he lashed Mnangagwa, exhorting the president to act on the deteriorating political and economic situation
in the country.

Meanwhile, church leaders and other influential people have implored both Mnangagwa and Chamisa to end their bickering by holding talks aimed at addressing the deteriorating economic and political situation in the country.

Chamisa recently met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as part of his efforts to try and resolve the current crises in the country.

“I told him that there is no confidence (in Zimbabwe) because there is no political stability … the elections were rigged.

“The elections were rigged because the result of what the people voted for was not the one that was announced. So, there is need to go back to what the source of the problem is,” Chamisa said of his meeting with Ramaphosa in Pretoria.

South Africa, which is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, is seen as having the greatest potential influence on local national politics, including the mooted dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa.

In 2008, the neighbouring country’s former president, Thabo Mbeki, was instrumental in brokering talks which led to the formation of a GNU between Mugabe and the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai — following that year’s hotly-disputed elections.

Mbeki’s mediation culminated in the signing of the global political agreement (GPA), which paved the way for the formation of the unity government in February 2009.
The popular Tsvangirai had trounced Mugabe hands down in the disputed 2008 presidential election.

The results of those elections were withheld for six long weeks by stunned authorities — amid widespread allegations of ballot tampering and fraud, which were later confirmed by former bigwigs of the ruling party.

In the ensuing sham presidential run-off, which authorities claimed was needed to determine the winner, Zanu PF apparatchiks engaged in an orgy of violence in which hundreds of Tsvangirai’s supporters were killed — forcing the former prime minister in the inclusive government to withdraw from the discredited race altogether.

Mugabe went on to stand in a widely-condemned one-man race in which he shamelessly declared himself the winner.

Zimbabwe is currently deep in the throes of a mega economic crisis which has resulted in shortages of basic consumer goods and medicines.

Apart from shortages of drugs and basic goods, the government is also battling acute shortages of foreign currency which have seen the re-emergence of long fuel queues.

The government is also struggling to end the doctors’ strike which has crippled services within the country’s failing public health sector.

-Daily News

THE country this year recorded 13 murder cases on Boxing Day, with the assailants reportedly using knives, bottles and iron bars to commit the crimes.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba, said police were highly concerned with the recent surge in crimes such as those of passion, assault, rape, attempted murder and murder.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with the recent upsurge of violent crimes such as assault, rape, attempted murder, and murder.

Thirteen murder cases were recorded in one day on 26 December 2018. In most cases, the perpetrators use weapons such as knives, broken bottles or iron bars,” she said.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said this while relating to cases that occurred in parts of the country during the holidays.

“In a recent case which occurred in Nkayi, one man was stabbed to death, after a brawl with a drinking partner who used an Okapi knife to stab him. In a similar incident in Mufakose, a man was stabbed to death with a broken beer bottle after he had questioned why the accused was at his gate with his girlfriend.

“In Gwelutshena also in Nkayi, an 80-year-old woman was struck once on the head with an iron bar, before she was raped and robbed of her belongings,” said Snr Asst Comm Charamba.

She urged people to value the sanctity of human life and find amicable ways of dealing with anger than to resort to violence that would lead to unnecessary loss of life.

State Media

A suspected thief who allegedly used a rod to fish out cell phones and clothes from houses is on the verge of losing his private parts after he was bitten by three dogs as he fled the scene in the wee hours of the morning.

Chamunorwa Dick, 43, of Kambuzuma suburb was ravaged by the dogs after jumping over a precast wall into their territory when one of the complainants screamed for help.

Sources privy to the case told the Daily News that Dick sought medical attention at one of the hospitals but could not be attended to as there were no doctors. Junior doctors are currently on strike.

“I accompanied him to the hospital yesterday (Thursday) but he was advised to seek medical attention at private hospitals. Unfortunately, he does not have the money.
The dogs ravaged his testicles, thighs and buttocks, it’s so bad,” he said.

When Dick was brought to the Harare Magistrates’ Courts for initial hearing, he could not walk on his own and was aided by two relatives, including his wife.

He wailed and moaned in pain, drawing attention of members of the public who had attended court.

When he was brought out to the holding cells he dropped his trousers at the courts entrance and demanded that they do not dress him as he was in excruciating pain.

When his trousers fell to the knee level, visible dog bites could be seen on his thighs. Dick, who was walking barefoot, was also still bleeding from his feet.

“Maiwee! Musandipfekedze! Ndarwadziwa,” he screamed as one member of the public pulled up his jeans and dressed him.

Presiding magistrate Victoria Mashamba had to improvise and remand Dick, who is facing two counts of unlawful entry in aggravating circumstances, at the prison holding cells.

Mashamba remanded him out of custody to January 11 on free bail.

Prosecutor Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on December 27 at around 3am, the complainant Melisa Manuwere was sleeping when she heard one Tawanda Matanhire screaming that there was a thief.

Matanhire allegedly saw Dick stealing through the window.

When Manuwere woke up, she saw a long stick which Dick allegedly used to steal phones through the window.

The court heard that Manuwere and other community members gave chase and Dick was badly bitten by three dogs.

When police later arrived at the scene, they searched the suspect and found him armed with an okapi knife and a catapult.

He was allegedly caught with a pair of slopes, a pair of trousers, two T-shirts and suspected duplicate keys which he allegedly fished out from Victor Manuwere who was sleeping in the other room.

He was escorted to ZRP Warren Park where a report was filed.

-Daily News

Correspondent|Consultants and registrars at state hospitals in Zimbabwe have threatened to go on strike if President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government does not address striking junior and senior doctors’ grievances, which include payment of salaries in United States dollars, provision of equipment and drugs, revival of a vehicle loan scheme and other issues.

The consultants and registrars, affiliated to the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZIMA), told reporters in Harare that they have given the government 48 hours to address the striking doctors’ concerns or face a crippling industrial action.

Dr. Sacrifice Chirisa, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Medical Association, said, “… ZIMA is grieved with the process since the 1st of December to date and what’s grieving us the most is that it is the general public that is suffering, our patients that we have cared for, that we have prescribed medicines, that we booked for operations, that need our care that are suffering the most.

Dr. Sacrifice Chirisa and Dr Mthabisi Bhebhe
“We want to say that as ZIMA we feel and are fully persuaded that the issues that our counterparts, let me say that our fellow doctors, these are not students, these are doctors, the issues that they have brought to the fore for consideration are genuine.”

He said the situation at public health institutions is no longer tenable following the junior and middle level doctors’ industrial action.

“We stand with the junior doctors in seeking a speedy resolution of these matters. Therefore we are urging HSB (Health Service Board) to resolve this impasse within the next 48 hours. Consultants have been working very hard under these very difficult circumstances and will not be able to continue beyond the stated time period.”

Dr. Chirisa urged HSB to table the doctors’ grievances instead of suspending them. “We believe the door to dialogue must never be closed and we hope the HSB considers this statement in the good spirit it has been delivered.”

Striking doctors’ representative Dr. Mthabisi Bhebhe, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association, said doctors have vowed to continue their strike until their grievances are met even if they have been suspended by the HSB for participating in an industrial action declared illegal by the Labor Court.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga lashed out at the striking doctors Thursday saying those that are on strike are in a wrong profession, adding that they should be disciplined for engaging in a so-called illegal strike.

The same doctors went on strike early this year after making similar demands. The government promised to address their needs, a promise it never fulfilled.

Correspondent|of two armed robbers who killed a woman and injured three other passengers when they attacked a Beitbridge-bound bus has been arrested.

The duo robbed passengers of cash and other valuables just outside the border town earlier this month.

Thandazani Mandhlazi was arrested on December 27 in Manicaland and was brought before magistrate Tendai Mahwe by police who were applying for his further detention to Saturday when he is expected to appear in a Beitbridge court charged with murder and armed robbery.

He is being charged with murder as defined in section 47 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act chapter 9:23 and robbery as defined by section 126 of the same act.

Mandhlazi and his accomplice who is still at large allegedly ordered the driver of a Smart Express Bus which was coming from Mutare to stop at Mapai School turn-off 20km before Beitbridge before robbing passengers and the crew. The two were travelling in the same bus before turning on their fellow passengers.

They allegedly fired a volley of rounds indiscriminately shooting four passengers including Margaret Mungani who died on admission to Beitbridge District Hospital.

The pair is alleged to have then robbed other passengers of an undisclosed amount of cash and cell-phones before disappearing into the darkness.

The bus driver, Lovi Dama, told police that one of the robbers walked from the back of the bus to the front and asked to be dropped off around 3:30am, but instead he produced a pistol before firing a shot into the air, ordering everyone to lie down.

“He stood near me and ordered me off the wheel, and then started firing shots. He asked all people to hand over cash and mobile phones,” Dama told the media after the robbery.

The robber’s alleged accomplice collected cash and phones from passengers before the two men bolted.

Correspondent|Errant and negligent motorists who flagrantly disregard road rules will have to contend with hefty traffic penalties when the new standard scale of fines, which prescribe a maximum penalty of $700 and imprisonment, become operational on Tuesday.

Road traffic offences are currently classified under levels 1 to 3 of the standard scale of fines and attract a maximum fine of $30.

However, under new revenue measures announced in the 2019 National Budget, most of which become operational this week, the fines are now placed in levels eight to 10.

Parliament approved the Finance Bill on December 20. It now awaits approval by Senate when it resumes sitting next year.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said last week although the Budget has not been approved by the Upper House, the measures contained therein will become operational on the prescribed dates since the Finance Bill was unique.

“The Finance Bill is a different kind of Bill compared to others that come to Parliament. Certain processes do not apply to it,” said Minister Ziyambi.

“That is why you find even the measures set by the Minister of Finance (and Economic Development) that are effective midnight on the day he presented the budget, automatically become effective.

“All those measures that are effective on January 1 2019 will come to effect.

“Also note that the Finance Bill sailed through in the National Assembly, and if we look at the Constitution and other rules of Parliament with regard the Finance Bill, Senate cannot reject it or amend it.

“What they can simply do is refer back to the Lower House. So, effectively, all proposals in the budget are allowed and they take effect.”

The country’s roads are increasingly becoming death traps as fatalities from traffic accidents have progressively risen since the beginning of the year, something the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) blames on errors of commission and omission by motorists.

Traffic accidents during last week’s Christmas holidays claimed 12 lives – an increase from the nine people that were killed during the same period last year – and injured 63 others.

Worryingly, all the 122 accidents that were recorded during the period were blamed on human error.

TSCZ spokesperson Mr Tatenda Chinoda cheered Treasury’s intervention, describing it as “a step in the right direction”.

“The increased fines are among a raft of measures to deal with traffic offenders and curb road accidents.

“Punitive fines are a step in the right direction and as the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe we are fully in support.

“High traffic fines are in line with international best practice on road traffic safety enforcement.”

In his maiden budget speech on November 22, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the carnage on the country’s roads are “a result of human error arising from failure to observe road traffic regulations”.

“The most common offences committed include proceeding against a red robot, overtaking over solid line, in particular, at robots, encroaching onto oncoming traffic to avoid congestion, dropping passengers at undesignated points, driving without head or side lights, cutting corners when turning right and failing to stop when instructed to do so by the police, among others,” he said.

The proposed traffic fines are part of broader revenue measures that will kick-in on Tuesday.

Notably, the 42-day moratorium on payment of motor vehicle import duty in foreign currency – which caters for persons seeking exemption for vehicles imported on or before 22 November – will also expire this week.

It is understood that the biometric registration exercise for Government employees, meant to weed out ghost workers, gets impetus this week, while a 5 percent cut on remuneration of senior civil servants and parastatal bosses also comes into effect.

Further, there are tax relief measures for employees as the tax-free threshold will rise from $300 to $350, while the maximum tax rate will come down to 45 percent from 50 percent.

Government has also extended duty-free importation of fertilised chicken eggs as a measure to cushion the poultry sector that lost over 180 000 breeding hens to Avian Influenza last year.

There is also a facility for the import of 100 public service buses with a sitting capacity of 60 passengers at 5 percent duty.

The 2019 Budget was presented under the theme: “Austerity for Prosperity”.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, the country’s biggest industry representative group, is lobbying the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to consider partially floating the exchange rate in order to minimise distortions arising from the present currency peg, but critics have said this would worsen an already precarious situation.

CZI president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe told The Sunday Mail Business last week that the partial liberalisation of the exchange rate would allow businesses generating foreign currency to realise “fair value” for money.

Government maintains that bond note and RTGS values are at par with the US dollar. But Mr Jabangwe said while Government’s decision to separate the Foreign Currency Accounts/Nostro and FCA/RTGS holding accounts was welcome, companies that generate foreign currency are reluctant to trade their dollars at a rate of 1:1.
“It’s a stalemate,” Mr Jabangwe said.

“Forex generators are sitting on their money; they can’t trade because there is no fair value at a rate of 1:1. We have proposed a trading mechanism to the authorities for a partial free-floating system. It does not necessarily have to be a full float. We are still waiting for the response (from the RBZ).”

Some critics have, however, said any piecemeal approach towards reforming the currency regime without necessarily dealing with the underlying structural imbalances would only create more distortions in the market.

Economist Mr Brains Muchemwa, who is also founder and managing director of Oxylink Capital, said the big RTGS balances in the market cannot be easily sterilised through open market operations, neither will the proposed austerity measures be implemented in full in the face of rising inflation.

“Therefore, floating the exchange rate is the only lever to optimise consumption and allocate resources efficiently in order for the economy to preserve jobs and attract fresh capital at a time the Government has been scouting for fresh investment under the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ drive,” said Mr Muchemwa.

Dr Gift Mugano said while keeping the exchange at par was not ideal under normal circumstances, maintaining the bond note and RTGS at par with the United States dollar was the “best Zimbabwe can have given its current situation”.

“If we float on the back of foreign currency shortages in this economy, the rate will shoot up. This will result in serious erosion on savings and pensions.

“Workers will demand salary increases. How many companies are going to get cash flows to meet salary increments? Floating the exchange rate is not a desirable situation because the economy will certainly crash.

“Probably it is critical for those calling for the floating of the exchange rate to do a cost-benefit analysis so that there is robust, comprehensive and undisputed evidence that support their position.

“What we need to see from the Government is robust implementation of its policies so that it can build confidence,” said Dr Mugano.

While the official exchange rate between the US dollar and the bond note or RTGS has remained at par, analysts say the separation of the FCA/Nostro and FCA/RTGS accounts was an admission by the monetary authorities that the RTGS balances were not equal in value to the dollar. Following the announcement on the separation of the accounts by the central bank, the rates went up by as much as 500 percent on the black market, but have since settled at around 350 percent. As such, some economists argue that any effort to liberalise RTGS and US dollar accounts or rates will be tragic as account holders will move all their excess RTGS balances into the market, which will result in a skyrocketing exchange rate and an inflation spiral.
RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya was not available for comment by the time of going to Press.

-State Media