By Own Correspondent| A former Zimbabwe National army officer, Knowledge Kafuramika (27) has revealed plans to storm the state house and confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa over his electoral promises and the deteriorating economic situation.

Describing his move as “bold”, Kafuramika told a local online publication that he believes Mnangagwa has failed the nation and should be held to account.

Said Kafuramika:

“We have reached a breaking point. The 2018 elections were supposed to bring hope to our future hence people should not take them lightly. Now after the elections there is no hope and we cannot be sure where the future lie.

“One thing I want to do is go to the state house and meet President Mnangagwa and tell him that he promised us jobs, a better life in 2019. We are in a new year and everyone has resolutions and goals. We want to realise that.

“For the youths it’s even worse because we have reached a breaking point where we care less about dying because we are dying already. If you look at the United Nations statistics on drug abuse, it’s very worrying,” said Kafuramika.

“I have a burden in my heart, I want to do this radical move and I know the consequences but I want to do this for my generation. I’m willing to sacrifice even my blood and I have to do it. It’s not about the money or any political agenda but it’s for the good of my generation,” he added.

Kafuramika added that he will not back down even even it means being abducted or tortured saying he is prepared to go the route followed by missing activist, Itai Dzamara.

The former President Robert Mugabe critic, Dzamara, went missing in March 2015 after he continuously called for the resignation of Mugabe and his whereabouts have remained unknown.

Zimbabweans have grown increasingly frustrated over the current state of the economy, characterised by shortage of cash and basic commodities and inflation among other challenges. — 263chat

Terrence Mawawa|Youthful MDC A councillor for ward 4, Masvingo Urban Constituency, Godfrey Kurauone has said Zimbabweans are suffering because the nation is being run by “muscles without brains.”

Reflecting his sentiments on the current economic crisis in the country Kurauone blamed the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government for dismally failing to resolve the impasse due to “lack of wit.”

“G40 was the brains of Zanu PF.
Lacoste was the muscle.Now we are seeing the effects of the muscle
without the brain,” wrote Kurauone on Facebook.

Terrence Mawawa|Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya believes Robert Mugabe was a “better devil” than Emmerson Mnangagwa because the former was cruel but not stupid while the latter is “cruel and stupid.”

“Mugabe was cruel but not stupid. The current coup class is both cruel and stupid. Tragically, they are not aware that everything they are doing is  undesirable in Zim,” Dr Ruhanya wrote on twitter.

Mnangagwa was touted as a cult hero following the removal of his mentor, Mugabe from power in 2017, in the wake of the “Kutonga Kwaro” euphoria, has all but been brought back to earth by the biting economic challenges.

By Own Correspondent| MDC senior official Sesil Zvidzai said that his party’s view of devolution is totally different to that of ZANU PF.

Zvidzai, a former Gweru executive mayor and Member of Parliament said this while speaking to a local publication.

He said:

“There is a huge and fundamental difference between Zanu PF’s view of local governance and the MDC’s. Zanu PF believes local government exists at the will of the central government and, therefore, should account to same. They believe in centralisation with a passion.

This is why mayors have been fired left, right and everywhere. This is why local level policy positions have been wantonly trumped upon by [former Local Government ministers Ignatius] Chombo and [his successor [Saviour] Kasukuwere, among others.

This is the reason why local authorities have been suffocated through the closure of resource arteries such as vehicle licence fees and the constitutional 5%.

The MDC believes in the devolution of power to sub-national governments and allowing these to govern out of their own initiative.

We believe these devolved governments should first and foremost account to their electorate.”-Newsday

Video loading below…

By Own Correspondent| Police details today refused to arrest and charge protesting Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) members.

ARTUZ members who are currently protesting in a demonstration dubbed #SalaryCaravan are demanding the payment of their salaries in US dollars.

This was revealed by one of the protestors while addressing the protestors who are currently camped at Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s offices.

Said one of the protestors:

“We are in this struggle for US dollars not juat for teachers but for each and every civil servant who is earning RTGs.

We are happy that today junior officers refused to effect a command which was a violation of the Constitution and arrest us for exercising our democratic right to protest.

The junior police details refused to arrest us for close to an hour.”

A former Zimbabwe National army officer, Knowledge Kafuramika (27) has threatened to storm the state house and confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the prevailing economic situation.

Describing his move as “bold”, Kafuramika told 263Chat that he believes Mnangagwa has failed the nation and should be held to account.

“We have reached a breaking point. The 2018 elections were supposed to bring hope to our future hence people should not take them lightly. Now after the elections there is no hope and were cannot be sure where the future lie.

“One thing I want to do is go to the state house and meet President Mnangagwa and tell him that he promised us jobs, a better life in 2019. We are in a new year and everyone has resolutions and goals. We want to realise that.

“For the youths it’s even worse because we have reached a breaking point where we care less about dying because we are dying already. If you look at the United Nations statistics on drug abuse, it’s very worrying,” said Kafuramika.

“I have a burden in my heart, I want to do this radical move and I know the consequences but I want to do this for my generation. I’m willing to sacrifice even my blood and I have to do it. It’s not about the money or any political agenda but it’s for the good of my generation,” he added.

Kafuramika added that he will not back down even even it means being abducted or tortured saying he is prepared to go the route followed by missing activist, Itai Dzamara.

The former President Robert Mugabe critic, Dzamara, went missing in March 2015 after he continuously called for the resignation of Mugabe and his whereabouts have remained unknown.

Zimbabweans have grown increasingly frustrated over the current state of the economy, characterised by shortage of cash and basic commodities and inflation among other challenges. — 263chat

By Own Correspondent| Protesting teachers have revealed that while they are withdrawing their services within schools, they will be conducting free lessons for pupils while at the #SalaryCaravan at Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s offices.

The teachers who were this morning arrested and detained at Harare central police station before being released three hours later said they will be teaching learners who come to the venue of their demonstration at the Finance minister’s office.

Said Obert Masaraure, ARTUZ leader:

“We are offering our services for free to learners who come here. These free lessons are open to everyone.”

By Own Correspondent| Two suspected illegal miners died after a rock fell in a shaft at Eldorado Mine in Chinhoyi last weekend, a report by the State Media has revealed.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday night only saw a call for help being made on Sunday.

Sources privy to the developments at the mine said one of the miners was trapped and died underground while the other was rescued but died at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital due to extensive injuries and excessive bleeding.

There are fears more people could still be trapped underground amid indications that illegal miners continue to use illegal access points into the mine.

Government ordered the sealing of all access points at the mine following the death of 14 illegal miners in September, 2018 after a shaft collapsed.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Arrested Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) protestors were detained for three hours before they were released, ZimEye can reveal.

Police details this morning arrested nine participants in the #Salarycamp and detained them at Harare Central police station.

The arrested ARTUZ leaders were Obert Masaraure, Robson Chere, Fortune Jamela, Regai Chinhuto, Gerald Tavengwa, Lawrence Mapengo, Andrew Munguri, Munyaradzi Ndawana and Christine Jubane.

Said Robson Chere:

“We have been released after spending 3 hours in Police Custody. However the Salary Camp will resume at 2 p.m Thanks to ZLHR, Cde Doug Coltart and all for the Solidarity.”

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabweans living in the diaspora owing to years of economic turmoil have called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to deal with the political and economic crisis bedevilling the country.

Zimbabweans based in neighbouring South Africa who spoke to a local publication said that they are now ‘tired’ of living as second-class citizens.

Said one Grammy Kasindi of Mt Darwin:

“Almost every one in 10 Zimbabweans you see in South Africa is well trained, but they do inferior jobs there because life is hard to back home.

We are homesick, we want to come back home and develop our country. We are bottled in South Africa. We have no social life there.

I wish our President could see this. He may have a change of view. Politicians must do their work and we will come and do ours and build our country.”- Newsday

By Own Correspondent| The government has thanked doctors who have heeded its call and returned to work at the country’s referral hospitals in Harare and Bulawayo.

Junior doctors, from the country’s major public hospitals have been on strike since 1 December 2018.

Others joined the strike later as the government refused to give in to the doctors’ demands.

The government met with doctors’ representatives several times without finding a solution until this Saturday when it was announced that the doctors have called off the strike.

However, no sooner was the ‘deal’ announced that the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association declared that the strike will continue until the government met the doctors demands.

A short statement released on Monday morning by the Ministry of Information and Publicity is not clear if the majority of the doctors have abandoned the strike.

Read the statement:

“Government wishes to thank all the doctors that have gone back to work at Mpilo, United Bulawayo Hospitals(UBH), Harare Central Hospitals and Parirenyatwa.”

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has revealed that it has deployed lawyers to offer legal support to nine members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) who were today arrested while demonstrating.

The ARTUZ officials were arrested on Monday morning at Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s offices.

Said the ZLHR in a statement:

“In Harare, the ZLHR has deployed lawyers to offer emergency legal support services to 9 ARTU leaders arrested and detained at Harare Central Police Station as they sought to get feedback on their salary and welfare demands from Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.”

Nine participants in the #Salarycamp have been arrested and are detailed at Harare Central. No charges have been preferred. The arrested Cdes are, Obert Masaraure, Robson Chere, Fortune Jamela, Regai Chinhuto, Gerald Tavengwa, Lawrence Mapengo, Andrew Munguri, Munyaradzi Ndawana and Christine Jubane.

Our Vice President and our negotiator Descent Bajila are locked in negotiations with employer.

-ARTUZ Information Dept

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn), and 50 other civic society groups have petitioned Parliament to effect electoral reforms ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Zesn urged government to take bold steps to end the country’s history of disputed elections by reforming electoral laws ahead of the forthcoming polls.

Said the Zesn:

“Cognisant of the transition that took place in Zimbabwe in November 2017 ,which sought to break Zimbabwe from its past of autocracy, and usher in democratic reform; concerned at the slow pace of legal reforms in addressing the democratic deficit since the promulgation of the new Constitution in May 2013; alarmed by the administrative lethargy in the Executive arm of the State to address this misalignment of some statutes relevant to electoral processes to the Constitution. … your petitioners appeal for the set up an all-inclusive electoral reform committee to deliberate on political, administrative and other legal reforms that are needed to enhance the credibility of Zimbabwe’s electoral processes”

Signed by over 50 civic society organisations, the petition noted that current laws had loopholes which resulted in electoral disputes that have affected the legitimacy of elections.

Zimbabwe has had a history of contested electoral outcomes; mainly because of a legal framework that does not embrace principles for the discharge of democratic elections.”

Zesn wants President Emmerson Mnangagwa to reform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) by removing State security agents from the elections management board, among other proposed changes.

“In particular, your petitioners seek this House to take into account the following issues for the democratic overhaul of Zimbabwe’s Electoral Law and electoral processes , enhancing the independence of Zec and other independent commissions connected to the electoral cycle,” the petition read.

The commission of inquiry into the August 1, 2018 post-election violence, which was chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, also recommended changes to the electoral laws.

The commission said reforms, if implemented, would improve the announcement of presidential results, create a traceable and auditable trail of the movement of results from polling stations to the national command centre.-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of ignoring calls for talks arguing that the “listening President” is no longer listening.

The party said without dialogue the people of Zimbabwe will have no option but to engage in demonstrations as provided for in the Constitution.

MDC spokesperson, Jacob Mafume said that the issue of Mnangagwa’s legitimacy is at the centre of the crisis and it has to be resolved.

Said Mafume:

“As long as it is not resolved, problems in this country will remain in place. We are able to restore this nation. We have done it before. Our former Minister of Health (Henry Madzorera) has done it well before and he can do it again.

We need to re-engage with the international community on a basis that is rational where we are able to comply with the international norms and standards, where we are able to have foreign direct investments (FDI) and tap into international finance as a way forward and that needs to be done as a matter of urgency.

However, that cannot be done when we are not talking to each other. We have put the dialogue issue out there and our President Nelson Chamisa has talked about it. Our leadership has talked about it yet, there has been no reciprocal desire to dialogue by the current regime.

We feel that Zimbabwe is becoming a regional security threat because of the failure by Mnangagwa’s government to solve the political stalemate over his illegitimacy.

… The economic crisis has the effect of causing a burden to South Africa owing to the exodus of people that are fleeing the worsening economy.

Mnangagwa has refused to listen to our concerns, so we felt it was better for us to meet President Ramaphosa to listen to our concerns and also to relay our message to Mnangagwa.

The people of Zimbabwe continue to suffer and, as a party that was voted for by millions of people, we will do what we can to offer solutions.”

By Own Correspondent| Police details on Friday fired shots in the central business district while arresting a suspected armed robber.

The alleged robbers who were driving a Toyota Chaser were confronted by the detectives at the intersection of Rotten Row and Jason Moyo Avenue.

This resulted in a gunfight in broad daylight, leaving members of the public petrified.

While one of the suspected robbers was arrested, his accomplices escaped and are still on the run.

According to a report by The Herald, vendors and members of the public who witnessed the shootout said it left them petrified.

Reported The Herald:

“It was a dramatic and dreadful episode. We heard gunfire and ran for our dear lives.”

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the shooting incident and said:

“One person was arrested by detectives after a chase with some robbers on the wanted list at the corner of Jason Moyo (Avenue) and Rotten Row today (Friday).”-StateMedia

Zimbabwe government hospital doctors have been on strike for the past 36 days, plunging the public health sector into deep crisis, which has led to the near-collapse of the health delivery system. But on Friday, a surprise meeting between the doctors and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa managed to break the ice for discussion between government and the striking doctors. No deal was, however, brokered and, contrary to post meeting utterances by the first lady, the doctors have not gone back to work.

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW…

Our chief reporter, Everson Mushava (EM) managed to get hold of Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) secretary general Mthabisi Bhebhe (MB) to get details of the outcome of the doctors’ engagement with the first lady and other issue relating to the strike. Below are excerpts from the interview.

EM: On Friday, your members had a meeting with First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa. What were the issues and what was the result of the meeting?

MB: She was pleading with us to go back to work while government looks into our problems and we felt it was a half-baked offer. She does not hold an official government position and like anyone else, she is just an interested party. We are directly employed by the Ministry of Health and if we have any disgruntlement, we know whom to approach. We cannot approach the President over promises made by the first lady. Yes, she has influence on him, but the proper channel is that she will have to direct our concerns to the Health ministry, which employs us. The Health minister should then take the issues to Cabinet and a decision is made, that is legally binding. The Ministry of Health manages everything about our concerns. It would have made more sense if the promise by the first lady was made by the President himself. Nonetheless, it was a good initiative that such a meeting occurred, but let me reiterate that no agreement was reached and the strike is still going ahead until our demands are met.

EM: One of your demands is to be paid salaries in United States dollars. Has government made a commitment to meet the demand before and what was the outcome?

MB: An agreement was made a long time back in 2014 that government would pay our on-call allowances at a rate of US$10 per hour, but steps to fulfil the agreement were never made. Between 2014 and now, government never talked about it. There was no commitment. Every year, we had an industrial action over the same issue. This year, however, is the longest we have been on strike; so far 36 days and the industrial action is still going on. There is no solution over old promises.

EM: Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga was tasked to resolve the issue. Have you met him in person to negotiate your demands since he was given the task?

MB: The VP never made an effort to meet us. We were negotiating with the Health Services Board. The HSB is our employer. It is responsible for our welfare and work conditions. Every decision regarding our issues is made by the HSB, which presents them to the Ministry of Health. The HSB is playing ground, this is where everything starts and ends and this is provided by the Health Services Act. The HSB is the governing body for all health workers, that is why we say negotiations should be done by the HSB as has been the case. It has the mandate to do so, but the problem has been the way it was handling the negotiations. We believe it was misrepresenting issues to the VP and trying to portray us as devils in this. The HSB has not been negotiating in good faith. We hold the HSB liable and responsible for the delay in resolving this industrial action. They decided to take us to court to force us to return to work without meeting our demands. It made the situation difficult for proper negotiations. We cannot negotiate when the other party is back-stabbing.

EM: Have you alerted the HSB of your reservations on the way it has been handling the issue?

MB: We told them that the way they were handling the issue was delaying rather than solving the problem in the health services. It was out of desperation that the doctors engaged in job action. The doctors had tried their best to have honest engagements with their employer, but the process and outcome were frustrating.

EM: President Emmerson Mnangagwa cut off his annual leave to reportedly attend to the crisis in the health sector. Has he made an effort to meet you?

MB: No, but we have met a lot of representatives from the President’s Office and the latest development was the meeting on Friday with the first lady.

Now there is something on the table, the ice has been broken and now the fighting spirit is no longer there. People want to negotiate. She has pacified the situation. The meeting helped a lot; people are getting to understand our grievances. Like I said before, the only problem is that she is not a government worker and cannot make legally binding decisions, which is the reason why we are still on strike. The first lady has done her part — she should now direct our concerns to our parent ministry to make concessions.

EM: Health minister Obadiah Moyo looked keen to negotiate with you and come up with a solution during the early days of your strike, what happened to his zeal and how are you going along with him?

MB: The minister is good with words and offers, but no tangible solutions. He was only appealing to us to go back to work with nothing, yet the situation in hospitals urgently needs redress. People cannot go back to work by word of mouth. We want concrete measures to bring long-term sanity to the health sector, not piecemeal solutions.

EM: There seems to have been a feeling that Chiwenga was using a hardline stance to negotiate with you. What do you think was the result of such actions?

MB: We were engaging with him through the HSB. We only got to know of his views through his utterances that gave us an impression that he was not interested in negotiations, but force. We thought the mood for negotiation had been abandoned. We felt provoked by his utterances where he described junior doctors as mere students. We believe his utterances were as a result of misrepresentations from the HSB. This is why we were glad when the first lady offered to get our side of the story. We had been demonised without anyone making an effort to understand our concerns.

EM: Right now, government has appealed to student doctors to apply for jobs to fill in the vacancies left behind when it made an undertaking to suspend you. Is such a move legal?

BM: It is not procedural. That is why even the student doctors rejected the offer, a move that forced the first lady to get involved. They invited students who just finished school, whose results are not yet out. The ministry was trying to recruit doctors who have not passed their examinations.

Furthermore, we are all on one page, senior, junior and student doctors. We have similar demands.

Standard

One prisoner died on the spot and another was seriously injured when three hard-core criminals in transit from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to Whawha Prison in Gweru attacked prison warders and jumped off a moving prison truck early yesterday morning.

The third prisoner escaped and a manhunt has since been launched for him.

The three “D-Class” prisoners were being transferred to WhaWha when they attacked and overpowered the two prison wardens escorting them as they approached a tollgate a few kilometres before WhaWha.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) national spokesperson Chief Correctional Officer Simon Kawondo confirmed the incident that occurred around 1am along the Mvuma-Gweru highway near Lalapansi.

“We have information to the effect that there were some inmates on their way to WhaWha, who connived and overpowered our officers before jumping off a moving truck resulting in a fatality.

“I don’t have all the facts at the moment since I am not at work but if you can send your questions via email, I will be able to give you full details by tomorrow (Monday).”

Sources close to the incident said the three inmates, considered dangerous criminals, were being relocated to WhaWha when they started beating up the two officers escorting them.

“All this happened without the knowledge of the prison truck driver. The prison officers tried to raise the alarm when they realised that they were being overpowered by the inmates. Unfortunately, the truck’s emergency internal communication sirens were not functional,” said the source.

The source said the driver only got to know of the incident after reducing speed while preparing to stop at the tollgate.

“One of the prison officers, (only identified as) Madzivanzira, who was at the back of the truck managed to disembark at the tollgate and informed the driver that they had been under hell and all the inmates had escaped.

“They then made a U- turn and that is when they discovered that one of the inmates had died on the spot after jumping off the moving truck. His colleague was badly injured and was still lying on the spot,” said the source.

The source said one of the prison officers, an Officer Muroyi, was badly injured during the scuffle with the inmates.

“He is receiving treatment at WhaWha as we speak. These were high- risk inmates and under the law, there were supposed to be two officers per each inmate.

“We don’t know why there were only two officers escorting three very dangerous prisoners,” said the source.

-State Media

By A Correspondent|Several days after commissioning a meeting at the Harare’s Parirenyatwa Hospital, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy Constantino Chiwenga was seen early Monday morning having driven into the capital city.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

The general who in 2017 took on bravery to remove former president Robert Mugabe, was spotted visibly struggling in similar ways as last week when he complained of burning all over his body. Chiwenga was seen shifting from left to right hands all over his body, the second time in 24 hours. Yesterday he attended mass at a holy Catholic church near his house, where he was also seen visibly struggling for temperature comfort. ZimEye could not at the time of writing establish his itinerary today on Monday. Meanwhile the “kupisa” sensation took over social networks by storm with even Chinese people copying it. – More follows…

Media Statement|Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ invites members of the public and parents who have failed to pay school fees to bring their children to Mthuli Ncube’s Offices where the Union shall be conducting free lessons to the members of the public during the Salary camp.

We understand that Mthuli’s austerity measures have affected all and sundry. As a Union which fight for pro- poor education in Zimbabwe we note with regret the increase in school fees that have adversely incapacitated the general citizens including our families hence the need to conduct free lessons during our Salary Caravan at Minister Mhtuli Ncube’s Offices during our protest dubbed the Salary Camp.

ARTUZ information Dept

Media Statement|Teachers, civil servants, broader working class and the citizens at large are invited to the salary camp at Mthuli’s offices. Citizens will convene at Africa Unity Square at 0900hrs on 7 January 2019 and proceed to Mthuli’s office where they will camp until the following grievances are met.

We are demanding
Adequate learning material for the new curriculum,
Salaries in United States dollars,
2018 annual bonus in full,
Scrapping of the 2% tax.
The participants in the salary camp will march with their POCKETS OUT signifying that they are broke. Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ invites all citizens who can’t make it to the march to join the fight by pulling their POCKETS OUT and post their pictures on social media accompanied with #salarycamp. Pictures can also be send to Whatsapp numbers and Facebook page captured for our information department.

The incapacitated teachers who will not be able to go to work if they are not paid in United States dollars will be conducting free lessons in front of Mthuli’s offices for the duration of the salary camp. Citizens who are keen to learn are invited to join our salary camp classes.

ARTUZ notes that there will be a meeting on Monday 7 January 2018. We will deploy our negotiators to negotiate in good faith while the rest of our members patiently wait for the good news at Mthuli’s offices.

We are encouraged by the timely response of government to Delta’s demand for foreign currency. We are confident that with more consistency and revolutionary discipline our demands will also be met.

Post your *POCKETS OUT* pictures on contacts below.

+263776129336/775643192

FacebookPage-Rural Teachers in Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWEAN EXILES NCUBE AND MASIYIWA UPBEAT ON DEVELOPENTS, ELECTIONS
Date:2008 February 28, 16:21 (Thursday) Canonical ID:08PRETORIA418_a
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TAGS:KDEM – Democratization | PREL – Political Affairs–External Political Relations | SF – South Africa | ZI – Zimbabwe Concepts:– Not Assigned —
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To:Central Intelligence Agency | Defense Intelligence Agency | Ethiopia Addis Ababa | National Security Council | Secretary of State | South Africa Cape Town | South Africa Durban | Southern African Development Community

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B. HARARE 130
C. PRETORIA 348

PRETORIA 00000418 001.2 OF 003

Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

1. (C) SUMMARY. Prominent exiled Zimbabwean businessmen
Trevor Ncube and Strive Masiyiwa agreed that the upcoming
March 29 elections offered opportunities for political change
in Zimbabwe, but differed on the electoral prospects for
independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni. Ncube, a
strong Makoni supporter, claimed that Makoni has generated
significant excitement in Zimbabwe and would do well in the
upcoming poll, whereas Masiyiwa questioned Makoni’s
organizational strength on the ground. Both believed that
Makoni’s candidacy has created sharp divisions in ZANU-PF,
and that Makoni and Tsvangirai may still form a coalition
before the election. Some key ZANU-PF officials who were in
involved in the rigging in previous elections now support
Makoni, potentially making it harder — but not impossible —
for Mugabe to steal the upcoming election. The MDC will
attempt to combat rigging, but has not yet devised a plan for
the “day after” in the event of a Mugabe victory. Masiyiwa
expressed his growing concern about the spiraling inflation,
suggesting that there may be “no more room” for the economy
to collapse. END SUMMARY.

2. (C) Visiting DAS Carol Thompson, AF/S Office Director, and
PolOff met February 27 with prominent and influential
Zimbabwean exile businessmen Strive Masiyiwa and Trevor
Ncube. Harare Ambassador McGee joined the meeting with
Masiyiwa. Ncube is publisher of the respected South African
weekly newspaper the Mail & Guardian, as well as the
Zimbabwean newspapers The Sunday Standard and The Zimbabwean
Independent. Masiyiwa is founder and CEO of Econet Wireless
Group, a global telecommunications company with operations in
Zimbabwe and 14 other countries.

——————————
Prospects for Makoni Candidacy
——————————

3. (C) A long-time advocate of a “third way” in Zimbabwe (ref
A), Trevor Ncube expressed his enthusiastic support for the
presidential candidacy of Simba Makoni (ref B). (NOTE: Ncube
appears to be deeply involved in the Makoni campaign, and
even received a phone call from Makoni during the meeting.
END NOTE.) Makoni has generated “tremendous excitement” on
the ground in Zimbabwe, Ncube claimed, leading to an upsurge
in voter registration. Makoni’s biggest enemies are time and
resources. Ncube said that the diaspora is helping to fund
Makoni’s campaign through a Johannesburg trust fund (Ncube
offered to provide the account number to the USG for
contributions, an offer we did not follow up on). Ncube
suggested that Makoni is making inroads in Mashonaland East,
where former General Solomon Mujuru has broad support, in
Harare, and in Matabeleland, both urban and rural areas.
This support would spread into other areas, Ncube believes.

4. (C) DAS Thompson stressed to Ncube that the United States
does not support particular political parties in Zimbabwe,
despite rumors that the USG backs the opposition MDC.
Instead, the United States wants to see leaders with vision,
who can create political and economic change in Zimbabwe and
a better life for the Zimbabwean people. Ncube said he
appreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube
Qappreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube
noted that any association between Makoni and the U.S. or
U.K. would be the “political kiss of death,” so urged the USG
to speak carefully when commenting on the campaign.

5. (C) Strive Masiyiwa was much more cautious about the
Makoni candidacy, questioning whether Makoni has support on
the ground. He noted that Makoni does not have any “foot
soldiers” to campaign for him, and thus limited ability to
communicate with the man on the street, many of whom are
deeply suspicious of Makoni due to his long association with
President Mugabe and ZANU-PF. Both Masiyiwa and Ncube agreed
that Makoni’s candidacy has divided ZANU-PF, including the
security structures. While no one knows the exact extent of
the division, Ncube said it is “extensive.” This division
has created tension, distrust, and even paranoia within
ZANU-PF.

PRETORIA 00000418 002.2 OF 003

—————————
Complicated Ties to Mujurus
—————————

6. (C) Ncube and Masiyiwa provided differing accounts of the
relationship between Makoni and ZANU-PF heavyweight retired
General Solomon Mujuru. Ncube claimed that Makoni decided to
run for president without Mujuru’s blessing. Now that Makoni
is “gathering momentum,” Mujuru has begun quietly supporting
him, but many core Makoni supporters resent Mujuru’s late
conversion. Mujuru is a controversial figure in ZANU-PF and
could even become a negative factor in the Makoni campaign.

7. (C) Masiyiwa, on the other hand, said that Mujuru and
former Home Affairs Minister Dumisa Dabengwa created the
“Makoni project” as a means to get rid of Mugabe. Dabengwa
will publicly endorse Makoni in the coming days, which will
be “symbolically powerful” and will bring the former ZAPU
leadership firmly behind Makoni. Masiyiwa helped organize a
meeting in Johannesburg between Dabengwa and MDC leader
Morgan Tsvangirai (ref C), a potentially important bridge
between Makoni and the MDC. According to Masiyiwa, Mujuru
will never publicly back Makoni. Mujuru is essentially a
“mafia boss,” and Mugabe could simply threaten to arrest
Mujuru if he got out of line. Masiyiwa also questioned the
conventional wisdom that Mujuru controls much of the
military, noting that Mujuru has been out of uniform for some
16 years and may not have as much influence as experts
believe.

—————————————
Alliance between Tsvangirai and Makoni?
—————————————

8. (C) Both Ncube and Masiyiwa believed it was still possible
for Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai to form an alliance
before the presidential elections on March 29 — or perhaps
for a second round of elections if no one candidate receives
50 percent plus of the vote (a prospect both Ncube and
Masiyiwa thought likely). Ncube, a harsh Tsvangirai critic,
argued that the MDC-Tsvangirai has been “seriously weakened”
by its failure to reunite with the MDC-Mutambara faction, and
that Tsvangirai has no more than 20 percent support in the
country. Tsvangirai is under significant pressure, even
“rebellion,” from within his own party. Masiyiwa said that
both Makoni and Tsvangirai are still sizing up their support,
but at the appropriate time in the next couple weeks, he
expected — and would in fact help ensure — that the two
would meet and discuss forming a coalition. Masiyiwa floated
the idea of Makoni serving as Prime Minister and head of
government, while Tsvangirai would become president and head
of state.

—————-
Rigged Election?
—————-

9. (C) Asked about the possibility that Mugabe would rig the
election to ensure he received 51 percent of the vote, Ncube
and Masiyiwa noted that the “people who did the rigging last
time” are now divided between Mugabe and Makoni (Masiyiwa
even joked that one CIO contact expressed concern that Makoni
could steal the election from Mugabe!). Ncube said you
cannot rule out the impact of fear and intimidation from
Mugabe’s thugs, but that there were “competing forces at
work.” Blatant rigging might not be accepted by the young
people, Ncube observed, noting that many youth were
frustrated when they were unable to register to vote.
Qfrustrated when they were unable to register to vote.
Masiyiwa is helping the MDC set up an “anti-rigging unit”
that hopefully will help reduce the amount of electoral theft.

10. (C) The MDC does not have a clear plan for the “day
after” the election, Masiyiwa said. The party is beginning
to hold those discussions, but remains committed to
non-violence. Tsvangirai is concerned that post-electoral
protests could spin out of control. Masiyiwa has recommended
to the MDC that they view the election as part of the process
of de-legitimizing Mugabe — shrinking his international
support base to a couple countries in the region like Namibia
and Angola. Masiyiwa wants as many regional observers and
journalists as possible in Zimbabwe to witness the election.
He and others are urging the South African Communist Party
(SACP) and trade union federation COSATU — both sympathetic

PRETORIA 00000418 003.2 OF 003

to the MDC — to send observers through the ANC and South
African Government delegations.

—————
Economic Crisis
—————

11. (C) Concluding, Masiyiwa expressed concern about
spiraling inflation and economic meltdown in Zimbabwe.
Mugabe is continuing to print and spend money in advance of
the election, creating a “roaring monster.” “We have talked
about the economy” for a long time, Masiyiwa said, but this
time there “may be no more room” for collapse.

——-
Comment
——-

12. (C) Simba Makoni’s presidential bid has created
excitement among the well-educated Zimbabwean diaspora in
South Africa. Many, like Trevor Ncube, are supporting Makoni
and are likely contributing resources to his campaign. A
significant number of the elite and successful Zimbabweans
dismiss Morgan Tsvangirai as ineffective, uneducated and
incapable of ruling Zimbabwe, and see Makoni as the best hope
for change in Zimbabwe. Others, like Strive Masiyiwa,
continue to back the MDC and Tsvangirai, and Tsvangirai
retains strong support among the working class and poor
Zimbabwean exiles in South Africa. We expect few Zimbabweans
living in South Africa, estimated between one to three
million, will return to Zimbabwe to vote in the March 29
elections, although their financial resources, international
connections, and ties to family members may make them an
influential factor in Zimbabwean politics.

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/08PRETORIA418_a.html

PRESENTATIVES of teachers’ unions across the board have made their positions known ahead of a crucial meeting today with government: schools will only open if the demand for salaries in US dollars is met.

Schools are opening tomorrow, and teachers are demanding a salary of $3,000 local currency, or equivalent in US dollars at the parallel market rate, among other demands.

They claim that the economic downturn has eroded their salaries so much that they are incapacitated to return to their workstations.

In a last-ditch effort to stem the crisis, government has called for a meeting today with representatives of the teachers’ unions.

The meeting takes place at a time striking doctors are also meeting to decide their next course of action after government failed to break their month-long industrial action.

This was after government made a few more concessions at the weekend, but representatives of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association refused to counter-sign the agreement before consulting their membership.

Teachers have threatened a crippling strike when schools open for the first term tomorrow, demanding to be paid in United States dollars or at least $3 000 local currency, among other demands.

Shaken by the prospect of a looming crippling strike, acting Labour and Social Welfare minister July Moyo on Friday invited all public servants’ unions and four fellow Cabinet ministers to today’s crunch meeting with union leaders.

Besides the Ministry of Labour, ministries of Finance, Primary and Secondary Education, Higher and Tertiary Education and the chairperson of the Public Service Commission will also attend the meeting.

Most teachers’ unions, however, yesterday said they would go ahead with the industrial action with the unions’ umbrella body, the Apex Council, saying the meeting would determine their next course of action.

Apex Council secretary-general David Dzatsunga said the civil servants’ umbrella body would consult its members on the next move after the meeting, adding that they would not stop individual unions from making independent decisions.

“We have agreed that every other action will be premised on today’s meeting with the five principals [ministers] from our employer,” Dzatsunga said.

“The decision to go for a strike comes from the members. Some unions can unilaterally declare a job action if that is what their membership has proposed. That will not necessarily be the position of the Apex Council. The apex body will sit down and make an apex position.”

He said the Apex Council has already advised government that their members may not be able to report for work because they were incapacitated due to the increased cost of living that has eroded their earnings.

The meeting would be first this year after the National Joint Negotiating Council met on December 7 last year, where Apex Council leaders walked out in protest after failing to get satisfactory answers from their employer.

Obert Masaraure, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union Association of Zimbabwe president said his union would send a representative to the meeting, but that would not stop preparations for tomorrow’s proposed strike.

“The strike will go ahead. Teachers will not attend the preparatory meetings today and will not report to work on Tuesday. The only thing that can stop us from going on strike is a reflection of US$ salaries in our accounts,” Masaraure said.

He accused government of exhibiting a contemptuous attitude when dealing with civil servants.

Zimbabwe Progressive Teachers’ Union president Takavafira Zhou also said the meeting would not stop the job action, but an increment of their salaries would do.

“Our salaries are enough to take us to work for two days. We are deliberating the two days we should report to work and the three we should stay at home. We are very clear about that. The purchasing power parity of our salaries can no longer allow us to do so. We cannot subsidise our employer,” Zhou said.

The largest teachers’ union, the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta), at the weekend announced that its members would start their strike action tomorrow, regardless of the outcome of today’s meeting.

Zimta president Richard Gundani said: “Talking won’t capacitate teachers. They need money. The strike is going ahead”

By Lesley Ncube| The cruel soldiers caught on camera shooting at fleeing civilians on the 1st August were likely promoted and are now working at the country’s foreign embassies.

A source inside the military told this reporter, “it is the norm for the military to be sent to work in embassies as defence attache’s.”

They would however not speak directly concerning the whereabouts of the 1 August soldiers.

If their statement holds true, the practice of deployment would be similar to other nations. At one  time in London, a Libyan embassy official shot and killed a British policewoman, PC Yvonne Fletcher.

The Guardian newspaper identified a man later arrested as Dr Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, a former minister in the late president Muammar Gaddafi’s government and a high-ranking member of the team tasked by the regime with suppressing opposition.

PC Fletcher, who was 25, was hit in the back by automatic gunfire from the direction of the Libyan embassy on the morning of 17 April 1984. Libyan exiles in the UK, some of whom were also injured, had been protesting against the Gaddafi regime. Fletcher died later that day at Westminster hospital. Her fiance, Michael Liddle, who was also a police officer, was at her side.

The murder led to a 10-day police siege of the embassy and the severing of diplomatic relations with the Libyan regime, as well as the deportation of 30 of the people who were inside the building.

The brutal military operations of the 1st August were pre-planned more than 8 months before and a ZBC full broadcast shows Emmerson Mnangagwa smiling as his most senior office worker on the 15th December 2017 announced that ZANU PF will deploy the military in order to change the election results.

Meanwhile the below twitter user has begun a search for the soldier in the below picture caught on camera in a kneeling position:

I was touched by the cruelty displayed in this video, and the gesture of inhuman and brutality demonstrated by this kneeling soldier despite the promotion he received. I am therefore appealing to my fellow Zimbabweans to help me locate this soldier. @ProfJNMoyo @PacheduZW @ZimEye pic.twitter.com/NVE3GEmu6o

— Steve ?? (@SteveZwitter) January 7, 2019

By Own Correspondent| Former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has vowed to expose how Zimbabwean businessman and Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa has always been meddling in politics.

Moyo, who is in self imposed exile said he is set to tell the world of Masiyiwa’s two timing dalliance with both Zanu Pf and opposition MDC yet he purported to support human rights and democracy.

Said Professor Moyo:

#InfoAlert
As a former government minister & a former ZanuPF election campaign manager, I'll tomorrow morning do a thread with information exposing #StriveMasiyiwa's two-timer dalliance with ZanuPF & MDC when he purported to be antiZanuPF & in support of human rights & democracy!

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) January 6, 2019

By Dorrothy Moyo| The People’s President, Nelson Chamisa foresaw the nation’s current struggles more than 6 months in advance and pursued the heavy task of informing the people in advance.

Speaking in Bedford, United Kingdom  where he was mobbed hy a guge crowd, Chamisa said Mnangagwa had no capacity to govern the nation.

“When the Chiwenga’s joined the war they were very young.  Mugabe was very young. Mnangagwa was very young. But this one who is old is troublesome,” said Chamisa in May 2018.

VIDEOS:

Chamisa’s spokesman Dr Nkululeko Sibanda at the weekend confirmed how Chamisa predicted Emmerson Mnangagwa’s violent and destructive behaviour. FULL TEXT

Today, more than ever l see President Chamisa's @nelsonchamisa has deep insights. More than 6 months ago, in a meeting, he laid out Zim's the next 6 months. Predicted ZANU PF's behaviour, the economic mismanagement, the deep lows and sighs. He thinks and deeply cares about Zim

— Citizen Nkululeko Sibanda zw (@DrNkuSibanda) January 6, 2019

By Farai D Hove| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia at the weekend angered many Zimbabweans for what they say was a humiliation of the nation’s doctors currently paid a paltry $90 per month, and to whom she repeated the word, “vana ava” and “Amai” 8 times. She was at that time visibly scoffed at (humiliated) by one of the doctors who visited her at state house, just as she made a false claim to the state media that the striking doctors have agreed to return to work. Yesterday, the doctors association Secretary General Dr Bhebhe told ZimEye.com there is nothing like that.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Meanwhile below was one of the screamers against Mnangagwa’s wife. VIDEO LOADING:

THREE dangerous prisoners yesterday staged a daring escape as they were being driven to WhaWha Prison on the outskirts of Gweru.

One of the hardcore criminals died on the spot, another was seriously injured and a third escaped after reportedly beating up two prison officers escorting them before they
jumped off a moving truck.

The three were all D class prisoners —meaning they were considered extremely dangerous. They were each serving 30 years, one for murder and the other two for armed
robbery.

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) confirmed the incident which
occurred around 1AM along the Mvuma- Gweru highway, near Lalapansi.

ZPCS national spokesperson, Chief
Correctional Officer Simon Kawondo said:“We have information to the effect that some inmates on their way to WhaWha, connived and overpowered our officers before they tried to escape by jumping off a moving truck resulting in a fatality. I don’t have full facts at the moment since I am not at work but if you can send your questions to our e-mail, I will be able to give you full

details by tomorrow (today).”Chronicle

As the broke Zimbabwean government seeks to seize every cent it can lay its hands on, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) will tax specific classes of donations to beef up the fiscus.

The tax collector said even though donations are not incurred for the purposes of trade or in the production of income, there are circumstances under which such are taxed. According to Zimra, donations to the National Scholarship Fund, the National Bursary Fund — a charitable trust administered by the minister
responsible for Social Welfare or the minister responsible for Health — are liable to tax and there is no limit to the amount.

The principle also applies to funds to any one of the following, provided it is approved by the minister responsible for Health: i. Purchase of medical equipment for a hospital
operated by the State, local authority or religious organisation.
ii. Construction, maintenance or extension of a hospital operated by the State, local authority or religious organisation.
iii. Procurement of drugs to be used by a hospital operated by the State, local authority or religious organisation. In such cases, the maximum allowed as a deduction is US$100 000.
Zimra also said a research institution approved by the minister responsible for Higher and Tertiary Education is also taxable, with the maximum
amount allowed as a deduction pegged at US $100 000.Daily News

HARARE – A fire tender hired out to the ruling Zanu PF party during its annual National People’s Conference held in Esigodini last month has
caused ructions here after it was rented out at a massive discount against council policy.

Zanu PF had its 17th conference in Matabeleland South between December 11 and 16, 2018, attended by over 6 000 delegates. In line with safety and security procedures, the
organisers of the conference hired a fire tender from the Bulawayo City Council, which is dominated by councillors from the main opposition MDC led by Nelson Chamisa.

Since its formation in 1999, the MDC has emerged as Zanu PF’s fiercest rival since independence in 1980.
Currently, the two parties are feuding over the outcome of the July 30 harmonised elections which the MDC insists were rigged by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in favour of
President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The Esigodini conference might have ended on a high-note some three weeks ago, but the decisions made by bureaucrats at town house to
facilitate the event are dividing the city fathers here.Daily News

By Farai D Hove| It never rains but pours for Econet boss, Strive Masiyiwa who put himself into the firing line after bullying a Zimbabwean activist last week. Masiyiwa at the end of last week alleged that the attacks against him are coming from the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo.

Masiyiwa: I am a reliable political reformer who personally sponsored the MDC and Jonso has always been and remains an oppressor.

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 7, 2019

Masiyiwa then launched a long broach showing himself as a victim saying Prof Jonathan Moyo affectionately known in circles as Jonso is continuing his umbrage which began during the days he was Information Minister. Masiyiwa alleged that the anger from Zimbabweans far and wide is being engineered by Prof Moyo. He then listed a charge sheet against Jonso. Part of that was a claim that Masiyiwa is a reliable political reformer who personally sponsored the opposition movement for democratic change party, MDC and Jonso has always been and remains an oppressor.

But Jonso has since hit back declaring that he is today, Monday revealing that Masiyiwa is in fact a top ZANU PF sponsor. He write Sunday evening,
“As a former government minister & a former ZanuPF election campaign manager, I’ll tomorrow (today- Monday) morning do a thread with information exposing #StriveMasiyiwa’s two-timer dalliance with ZanuPF & MDC when he purported to be antiZanuPF & in support of human rights & democracy!” – ZimEye will update our viewers readers and listeners of the development as it unravels.

By Farai D Hove| Zimbabwe’s teachers are set to clash with ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration today.

A hoarde of all teachers’ organisations are descending into Harare Monday morning for the first ever meeting of meetings this year.

The convergence will see among others the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union Of Zimbabwe, the Raymond Majongwe led union, and scores of many others push Mnangagwa’s regime head on.

The development comes as the doctors’ strike continued 38 days on and after Mnangagwa’s junior, Constanino Chiwenga declared that the regime will never pay civil servants salaries in US dollars. For that reason, there is little likely to come out of the meeting especially after the military regime failed to pay doctors.

In a statement seen by ZimEye.com, Mr Majongwe on Sunday evening announced saying, “government will appreciate the fact that its workers are incapacitated and are economically handicapped; Something must be done.”

Meanwhile, Chiwenga is seen in the below file video last week telling civil servants, “Govt does not remunerate any of its workforce in United States Dorraz…Govt does not print United States Dorraz” FULL VIDEO:

VIDEO LOADING BELOW:

By Farai D Hove| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia was Sunday night criticised for searching around for a man in a small WhatsApp video while at the same time not demonstrating the same care for orphans of the 1 August victims. Below were some of the comments as Zimbabweans reacted angrily against her.

“I was touched by the love displayed in this video, and the gesture of responsibility and care demonstrated by this father carrying his baby; despite the abuse he received.

“I am therefore appealing to my fellow Zimbabweans to help me locate this couple. There is surely more we can learn from their tolerance and love. It is through shared responsibility that we can enjoy parenthood and raise a responsible future generation for our country.” – Auxillia Mnangagwa

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

VIDEO LOADING BELOW:

“I was touched by the love displayed in this video, and the gesture of responsibility and care demonstrated by this father carrying his baby; despite the abuse he received.

“I am therefore appealing to my fellow Zimbabweans to help me locate this couple. There is surely more we can learn from their tolerance and love. It is through shared responsibility that we can enjoy parenthood and raise a responsible future generation for our country.” – Auxillia Mnangagwa

VIDEOS LOADING BELOW

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Terrence Mawawa| Ms Miriam Mutizwa, a human rights activist yesterday presented an argument on whether sanctions imposed primarily by the US government since 2001 should be removed or they must remain in place as some form of leverage to lift Zimbabwe out of its current political and economic mess.

A dispute seems to be in existence between the US administration and the Zimbabwean government as to whether the conditions set out in the ZIDERA Act and its subsequent 2018 amendment have been met.

Emmerson Mnangagwa has made a number of positive and encouraging pronouncements since assuming office following the military assisted removal of Robert Mugabe but the US administration is yet to be impressed by concrete translation of words into deeds on the ground.

Strive Masiyiwa has emerged as a the strongest private sector voice, albeit in a personalized framework, to stand out as the most visible proponent for the removal of sanctions.

Mr. Masiyiwa has said: “Is that ($10 million donated to fight cholera) what angered you? I did that to save lives and I will do it again, so long as I have breath in me. I am with the people of Zimbabwe and their suffering must end and end now. Sanctions must end and name-calling will not intimidate me.”

It is against this backdrop that the Banking on Africa’s Future (BOAF) team sought to provoke, ignite and inspire a new conversation around the critical importance of the rule of law and constitutionalism, a key objective of the US sanctions, in building an inclusive and prosperous Zimbabwe.

See Mutizwa’s argument below:
I was pleasantly surprised to read this tweet from Mr. Busisa Moyo, the former President of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry, as follows:
I have been advocating for the repeal of the Reconstruction of State Indebted Insolvent Companies Act (the Act) and at times I felt I was backing a wrong horse especially after what Mrs. Tsitsi Masiyiwa had tweeted to the effect that it was right to suspect any call for justice, outside the traditional voices, in Zimbabwe, as having been sponsored for ulterior motives.

It was refreshing that Mr. Moyo after exchanges on social media, which exchanges I followed closely, that he effective from 4 January 2019, he has become a fellow advocate with me for the repeal of the Reconstruction Act among other laws that have yet to be aligned to the 2013 Constitution.

It is rare that a person like Mr. Moyo would proceed to credit other private citizens like Mawere and Ndoro for igniting him to look critically at the Reconstruction Act.

I have said before that this law applies retrospectively making its existence and operation a real risk that if not nipped in the bud could very well be used against many other companies going forward.

I also took note of another Mr. Moyo share on tweeter as follows:

It is significant that Mr. Moyo correctly observed that in most of our discourses the voice of organized business and labour as social partners is missing on what matters to our common future.

I have said this before that ZIDERA is real indictment on all of us because here you have a foreign government being more concerned about a democratic and accountable government than ourselves.

The continued life of ZIDERA since 2001 goes a long towards exposing the lack of checks and balances that would ensure that bad laws will never find room to exist in Zimbabwe.

With respect to ZIDERA, we are talking about repealing laws that exist without applying much thought as to naming and shaming the true authors of such repugnant and draconian laws. On the contrary, there are attempt to focus on the removal of a residual weapon available to the people of Zimbabwe to resist tyranny in the name of a new dispensation that is characterised by values that are similar to those that characterised the First Republic.

It is against this background that I found it disturbing that the Mr. Moyo who seems to have accepted the need to give a voice to the importance of us taking ownership as active citizens on what kind of Zimbabwe we want, would say the following words that incidentally have been incorporated in an article published by the Herald Newspaper yesterday under the title: “Sanctions Must End, quotes Masiyiwa, in a tweet as follows:

It is instructive that Mr. Moyo would find it fit to suggest that he has yet to meet a single businessman worth his salt who is pro-sanctions. I for one would not ordinarily support sanctions or violence but like Mandela said it would be futile to expect a regime steeped in its ways to see value in change.  It has taken us 39 years to arrive at a point where laws that were born in the era of independence have to be repealed without ourselves asking key questions about where we all were when these laws were born.

I would have expected Mr. Moyo to say: “I have yet to meat a single Zimbabwean worth his salt who is for the repeal of acts that undermine the rule of law without having the courage to name and shame the brains behind this evil.  In addition, I have spoken to organized business and labour as two of the three social partners in the context of the TNF with a view to better organizing ourselves to identify and lobby for the removal of all laws that are inconsistent with our constitution. Furthermore, I have spoken to Zimbabwe’s bilateral and multi-lateral stakeholders so that we can work together as we seek to accelerate the reforms contemplated for our benefit in ZIDERA and any other such limitations imposed on us by our friends.?

On the contrary, I seem to hear one chorus seeking to have sanctions, that we played no part in imposing, removed being the basis of our anger.

What would Zimbabwe hope to benefit by refusing to make our country open for business as a reality through our own actions that can then be augmented by our external partners.

Is it not ironic that even our strategic neighbour like South Africa has no input to assist us in steering our country towards constitutionalism?

I am tired personally of people who are pushing a single lane agenda of lobbying external partners to remove sanctions while doing absolutely nothing on the ground to address positively the reasons what the sanctions were imposed in the first place.”

Terrence Mawawa|Popular musician Braveman Chizvino better known as Baba Harare might have poured cold water on his album launch by inviting controversial musician Chief Hwenje to his album launch.

Baba Harare is at pains to defend his inclusion of the ED Pfee’ singer on the list of artists expected to perform during his album launch on Friday.

Although Baba Harare has defended the inclusion of Zanu PF loyalist on the list of supporting acts that will perform at the launch of his latest 10-track album titled Ramba Wakadzvanya, critics believe the popular singer has all but tainted his career.

“Baba Harare has to gauge the mood of the people, personally I think his decisions is ill-advised.

The guy will spoil the whole thing. Baba Harare must distance himself from anyone who is sympathetic to the ruling party,” said a Masvingo based radio presenter.

Terrence Mawawa|Zimdancehall musician Kelvin Kusikwenyu, also known as Killer T, has trashed the artists’ awards arguing that musicians are not gaining anything in monetary value.

Killer was responding to a statement by the organisers of the annual event indicating that the awards should not be regarded as lottery tickets.

Incensed by the remarks Killer T recently took to social media platforms trashing local awards organisers for “giving gongs and certificates which are not accompanied by substantive financial value.”

It seems Killer T’s remarks reflect the general sentiments in the music industry.

1. (C) SUMMARY. Prominent exiled Zimbabwean businessmen Trevor Ncube and Strive Masiyiwa agreed that the upcoming March 29 elections offered opportunities for political change in Zimbabwe, but differed on the electoral prospects for independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni. Ncube, a strong Makoni supporter, claimed that Makoni has generated significant excitement in Zimbabwe and would do well in the upcoming poll, whereas Masiyiwa questioned Makoni’s organizational strength on the ground. Both believed that Makoni’s candidacy has created sharp divisions in ZANU-PF, and that Makoni and Tsvangirai may still form a coalition before the election. Some key ZANU-PF officials who were in involved in the rigging in previous elections now support Makoni, potentially making it harder — but not impossible — for Mugabe to steal the upcoming election. The MDC will attempt to combat rigging, but has not yet devised a plan for the “day after” in the event of a Mugabe victory.

Masiyiwa expressed his growing concern about the spiraling inflation, suggesting that there may be “no more room” for the economy to collapse. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) Visiting DAS Carol Thompson, AF/S Office Director, and PolOff met February 27 with prominent and influential Zimbabwean exile businessmen Strive Masiyiwa and Trevor Ncube. Harare Ambassador McGee joined the meeting with Masiyiwa. Ncube is publisher of the respected South African weekly newspaper the Mail & Guardian, as well as the Zimbabwean newspapers The Sunday Standard and The Zimbabwean Independent.

Masiyiwa is founder and CEO of Econet Wireless Group, a global telecommunications company with operations in Zimbabwe and 14 other countries.

Prospects for Makoni Candidacy

3. (C) A long-time advocate of a “third way” in Zimbabwe (ref A), Trevor Ncube expressed his enthusiastic support for the presidential candidacy of Simba Makoni (ref B). (NOTE: Ncube appears to be deeply involved in the Makoni campaign, and even received a phone call from Makoni during the meeting. END NOTE.) Makoni has generated “tremendous excitement” on the ground in Zimbabwe, Ncube claimed, leading to an upsurge in voter registration. Makoni’s biggest enemies are time and resources. Ncube said that the diaspora is helping to fund Makoni’s campaign through a Johannesburg trust fund (Ncube offered to provide the account number to the USG for contributions, an offer we did not follow up on). Ncube suggested that Makoni is making inroads in Mashonaland East, where former General Solomon Mujuru has broad support, in Harare, and in Matabeleland, both urban and rural areas. This support would spread into other areas, Ncube believes.

4. (C) DAS Thompson stressed to Ncube that the United States does not support particular political parties in Zimbabwe, despite rumors that the USG backs the opposition MDC. Instead, the United States wants to see leaders with vision, who can create political and economic change in Zimbabwe and a better life for the Zimbabwean people. Ncube said he appreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube Qappreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube noted that any association between Makoni and the U.S. or U.K. would be the “political kiss of death,” so urged the USG to speak carefully when commenting on the campaign.

5. (C) Strive Masiyiwa was much more cautious about the Makoni candidacy, questioning whether Makoni has support on the ground. He noted that Makoni does not have any “foot soldiers” to campaign for him, and thus limited ability to communicate with the man on the street, many of whom are deeply suspicious of Makoni due to his long association with President Mugabe and ZANU-PF. Both Masiyiwa and Ncube agreed that Makoni’s candidacy has divided ZANU-PF, including the security structures. While no one knows the exact extent of the division, Ncube said it is “extensive.” This division has created tension, distrust, and even paranoia within ZANU-PF.

Complicated Ties to Mujurus

6. (C) Ncube and Masiyiwa provided differing accounts of the relationship between Makoni and ZANU-PF heavyweight retired General Solomon Mujuru. Ncube claimed that Makoni decided to run for president without Mujuru’s blessing. Now that Makoni is “gathering momentum,” Mujuru has begun quietly supporting him, but many core Makoni supporters resent Mujuru’s late conversion. Mujuru is a controversial figure in ZANU-PF and could even become a negative factor in the Makoni campaign.

7. (C) Masiyiwa, on the other hand, said that Mujuru and former Home Affairs Minister Dumisa Dabengwa created the “Makoni project” as a means to get rid of Mugabe. Dabengwa will publicly endorse Makoni in the coming days, which will be “symbolically powerful” and will bring the former ZAPU leadership firmly behind Makoni. Masiyiwa helped organize a meeting in Johannesburg between Dabengwa and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai (ref C), a potentially important bridge between Makoni and the MDC. According to Masiyiwa, Mujuru will never publicly back Makoni. Mujuru is essentially a “mafia boss,” and Mugabe could simply threaten to arrest Mujuru if he got out of line. Masiyiwa also questioned the conventional wisdom that Mujuru controls much of the military, noting that Mujuru has been out of uniform for some 16 years and may not have as much influence.

Alliance between Tsvangirai and Makoni

8. (C) Both Ncube and Masiyiwa believed it was still possible for Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai to form an alliance before the presidential elections on March 29 — or perhaps for a second round of elections if no one candidate receives 50 percent plus of the vote (a prospect both Ncube and Masiyiwa thought likely). Ncube, a harsh Tsvangirai critic, argued that the MDC-Tsvangirai has been “seriously weakened” by its failure to reunite with the MDC-Mutambara faction, and that Tsvangirai has no more than 20 percent support in the country. Tsvangirai is under significant pressure, even “rebellion,” from within his own party. Masiyiwa said that both Makoni and Tsvangirai are still sizing up their support, but at the appropriate time in the next couple weeks, he expected — and would in fact help ensure — that the two would meet and discuss forming a coalition. Masiyiwa floated the idea of Makoni serving as Prime Minister and head of government, while Tsvangirai would become president and head of state.

Rigged Election?

9. (C) Asked about the possibility that Mugabe would rig the election to ensure he received 51 percent of the vote, Ncube and Masiyiwa noted that the “people who did the rigging last time” are now divided between Mugabe and Makoni (Masiyiwa even joked that one CIO contact expressed concern that Makoni could steal the election from Mugabe!). Ncube said you cannot rule out the impact of fear and intimidation from Mugabe’s thugs, but that there were “competing forces at work.” Blatant rigging might not be accepted by the young people, Ncube observed, noting that many youth were frustrated when they were unable to register to vote. Qfrustrated when they were unable to register to vote. Masiyiwa is helping the MDC set up an “anti-rigging unit” that hopefully will help reduce the amount of electoral theft.

10. (C) The MDC does not have a clear plan for the “day after” the election, Masiyiwa said. The party is beginning to hold those discussions, but remains committed to non-violence. Tsvangirai is concerned that post-electoral protests could spin out of control. Masiyiwa has recommended to the MDC that they view the election as part of the process of de-legitimizing Mugabe — shrinking his international support base to a couple countries in the region like Namibia and Angola. Masiyiwa wants as many regional observers and journalists as possible in Zimbabwe to witness the election. He and others are urging the South African Communist Party (SACP) and trade union federation COSATU — both sympathetic PRETORIA 00000418 003.2 OF 003 to the MDC — to send observers through the ANC and South African Government delegations.

Economic Crisis

11. (C) Concluding, Masiyiwa expressed concern about spiraling inflation and economic meltdown in Zimbabwe. Mugabe is continuing to print and spend money in advance of the election, creating a “roaring monster.” “We have talked about the economy” for a long time, Masiyiwa said, but this time there “may be no more room” for collapse.

Comment

12. (C) Simba Makoni’s presidential bid has created excitement among the well-educated Zimbabwean diaspora in South Africa. Many, like Trevor Ncube, are supporting Makoni and are likely contributing resources to his campaign. A significant number of the elite and successful Zimbabweans dismiss Morgan Tsvangirai as ineffective, uneducated and incapable of ruling Zimbabwe, and see Makoni as the best hope for change in Zimbabwe. Others, like Strive Masiyiwa, continue to back the MDC and Tsvangirai, and Tsvangirai retains strong support among the working class and poor Zimbabwean exiles in South Africa. We expect few Zimbabweans living in South Africa, estimated between one to three million, will return to Zimbabwe to vote in the March 29 elections, although their financial resources, international connections, and ties to family members may make them an influential factor in Zimbabwean politics.

Terrence Mawawa|Retail outlets in the rural areas have pegged high prices for stationery making it difficult for parents to cope with preparations for the new school term.

See below a statement that has been released by former Masvingo Central Constituency MP Jeffryson Chitando on the pathetic situation in the rural areas:
Eversharp 15 M ballpoint pen at Topora Township in Masvingo just after Lake Mutirikwi wall is going for $1,05 and the price of exercise books is $2,00 .An HB pencil is going for $0,75.

At Nyikavanhu Business Centre in Masvingo South an HB pencil is going for $1,00 and an eversharp 15M ballpoint pen is pegged $1,10. Exercise books range from $1 to $2,50 depending on size and quality of paper.

The parents of school going children in Malipati in Chiredzi South will fork out between $1,50 to $3 for exercise books.There is is no joy as a ballpoint pen is going for $1 to $ 2 depending on the type of the pen.Pencils are in short supply at the rural shops in this remote district.

In Chiredzi North at one substandard pole and dagga shop the price of an Eversharp 15 M ballpoint pen is pegged selling at $1,50.

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Teachers Association has confirmed that the organisation’s membership will be downing tools when schools open.

Below is the full text by ZIMTA:

DECLARATION ON INCAPACITATION DATED 5th JANUARY 2019

We, the ZIMBABWE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION;

HAVING collated experiences and submissions from our membership across all the ten (10) provinces,

NOTING the concerns and grievances raised in those submissions and the recommendations thereof;

CONCERNED about the rapid deterioration of conditions of work of our members across the country and the effects thereof, inter alia;
a) Systematic erosion of the value of our members’ salaries,
b) Sharp rise of prices of basic commodities and transport fares yet salaries remain static despite the decline of their value, and
c) Charging of prices of certain commodities in hard currency (USD) such as medicines.
OBSERVING that we have forewarned the Government of those eventualities,

WORRIED by the Government failure to address any of these grievances and concerns despite previous engagements and discussion;

NOW THEREFORE GIVEN THE FOREGOING, it is thus declared as follows:
a) Our members are unable to report for duty with effect from the 8th of January 2019 due to incapacitation.
b) To enable the teachers to report for work and to subsist, we demand the payment of salaries in US Dollars.

By Own Correspondent| Responding to whether the First lady Auxilia Mnangagwa should meddle in government business and mediate in the doctors’ strike or whether she is fast becoming like her predecessor Dr Grace Mugabe, over half of the respondents said Amai Mnangagwa is emulating Dr Mugabe.

According to a 24 hour poll which saw 753 people voting, 53 percent of the respondents believed that Amai Mnangagwa was fast becoming like Dr Mugabe.

A total of 35 percent of the 753 voters however believed that it was not her place to mediate and meddle in government business while 12 percent are of the opinion that she can and should mediate to end the impasse between government and the striking doctors.

Below is the final result of the poll:

Do you think Auxilia Mnangagwa should meddle in gvnt business and mediate in the doctors' strike or she is just becoming another Dr Grace Mugabe?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 5, 2019

Classified By: Ambassador Eric M. Bost.

1. (C) SUMMARY. Prominent exiled Zimbabwean businessmen Trevor Ncube and Strive Masiyiwa agreed that the upcoming March 29 elections offered opportunities for political change in Zimbabwe, but differed on the electoral prospects for independent presidential candidate Simba Makoni. Ncube, a strong Makoni supporter, claimed that Makoni has generated significant excitement in Zimbabwe and would do well in the upcoming poll, whereas Masiyiwa questioned Makoni’s organizational strength on the ground. Both believed that Makoni’s candidacy has created sharp divisions in ZANU-PF, and that Makoni and Tsvangirai may still form a coalition before the election. Some key ZANU-PF officials who were in involved in the rigging in previous elections now support Makoni, potentially making it harder — but not impossible — for Mugabe to steal the upcoming election. The MDC will attempt to combat rigging, but has not yet devised a plan for the “day after” in the event of a Mugabe victory.

Masiyiwa expressed his growing concern about the spiraling inflation, suggesting that there may be “no more room” for the economy to collapse. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) Visiting DAS Carol Thompson, AF/S Office Director, and PolOff met February 27 with prominent and influential Zimbabwean exile businessmen Strive Masiyiwa and Trevor Ncube. Harare Ambassador McGee joined the meeting with Masiyiwa. Ncube is publisher of the respected South African weekly newspaper the Mail & Guardian, as well as the Zimbabwean newspapers The Sunday Standard and The Zimbabwean Independent.

Masiyiwa is founder and CEO of Econet Wireless Group, a global telecommunications company with operations in Zimbabwe and 14 other countries.

Prospects for Makoni Candidacy

3. (C) A long-time advocate of a “third way” in Zimbabwe (ref A), Trevor Ncube expressed his enthusiastic support for the presidential candidacy of Simba Makoni (ref B). (NOTE: Ncube appears to be deeply involved in the Makoni campaign, and even received a phone call from Makoni during the meeting. END NOTE.) Makoni has generated “tremendous excitement” on the ground in Zimbabwe, Ncube claimed, leading to an upsurge in voter registration. Makoni’s biggest enemies are time and resources. Ncube said that the diaspora is helping to fund Makoni’s campaign through a Johannesburg trust fund (Ncube offered to provide the account number to the USG for contributions, an offer we did not follow up on). Ncube suggested that Makoni is making inroads in Mashonaland East, where former General Solomon Mujuru has broad support, in Harare, and in Matabeleland, both urban and rural areas. This support would spread into other areas, Ncube believes.

4. (C) DAS Thompson stressed to Ncube that the United States does not support particular political parties in Zimbabwe, despite rumors that the USG backs the opposition MDC. Instead, the United States wants to see leaders with vision, who can create political and economic change in Zimbabwe and a better life for the Zimbabwean people. Ncube said he appreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube Qappreciated the message and would pass it to Makoni. Ncube noted that any association between Makoni and the U.S. or U.K. would be the “political kiss of death,” so urged the USG to speak carefully when commenting on the campaign.

5. (C) Strive Masiyiwa was much more cautious about the Makoni candidacy, questioning whether Makoni has support on the ground. He noted that Makoni does not have any “foot soldiers” to campaign for him, and thus limited ability to communicate with the man on the street, many of whom are deeply suspicious of Makoni due to his long association with President Mugabe and ZANU-PF. Both Masiyiwa and Ncube agreed that Makoni’s candidacy has divided ZANU-PF, including the security structures. While no one knows the exact extent of the division, Ncube said it is “extensive.” This division has created tension, distrust, and even paranoia within ZANU-PF.

Complicated Ties to Mujurus

6. (C) Ncube and Masiyiwa provided differing accounts of the relationship between Makoni and ZANU-PF heavyweight retired General Solomon Mujuru. Ncube claimed that Makoni decided to run for president without Mujuru’s blessing. Now that Makoni is “gathering momentum,” Mujuru has begun quietly supporting him, but many core Makoni supporters resent Mujuru’s late conversion. Mujuru is a controversial figure in ZANU-PF and could even become a negative factor in the Makoni campaign.

7. (C) Masiyiwa, on the other hand, said that Mujuru and former Home Affairs Minister Dumisa Dabengwa created the “Makoni project” as a means to get rid of Mugabe. Dabengwa will publicly endorse Makoni in the coming days, which will be “symbolically powerful” and will bring the former ZAPU leadership firmly behind Makoni. Masiyiwa helped organize a meeting in Johannesburg between Dabengwa and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai (ref C), a potentially important bridge between Makoni and the MDC. According to Masiyiwa, Mujuru will never publicly back Makoni. Mujuru is essentially a “mafia boss,” and Mugabe could simply threaten to arrest Mujuru if he got out of line. Masiyiwa also questioned the conventional wisdom that Mujuru controls much of the military, noting that Mujuru has been out of uniform for some 16 years and may not have as much influence.

Alliance between Tsvangirai and Makoni

8. (C) Both Ncube and Masiyiwa believed it was still possible for Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai to form an alliance before the presidential elections on March 29 — or perhaps for a second round of elections if no one candidate receives 50 percent plus of the vote (a prospect both Ncube and Masiyiwa thought likely). Ncube, a harsh Tsvangirai critic, argued that the MDC-Tsvangirai has been “seriously weakened” by its failure to reunite with the MDC-Mutambara faction, and that Tsvangirai has no more than 20 percent support in the country. Tsvangirai is under significant pressure, even “rebellion,” from within his own party. Masiyiwa said that both Makoni and Tsvangirai are still sizing up their support, but at the appropriate time in the next couple weeks, he expected — and would in fact help ensure — that the two would meet and discuss forming a coalition. Masiyiwa floated the idea of Makoni serving as Prime Minister and head of government, while Tsvangirai would become president and head of state.

Rigged Election?

9. (C) Asked about the possibility that Mugabe would rig the election to ensure he received 51 percent of the vote, Ncube and Masiyiwa noted that the “people who did the rigging last time” are now divided between Mugabe and Makoni (Masiyiwa even joked that one CIO contact expressed concern that Makoni could steal the election from Mugabe!). Ncube said you cannot rule out the impact of fear and intimidation from Mugabe’s thugs, but that there were “competing forces at work.” Blatant rigging might not be accepted by the young people, Ncube observed, noting that many youth were frustrated when they were unable to register to vote. Qfrustrated when they were unable to register to vote. Masiyiwa is helping the MDC set up an “anti-rigging unit” that hopefully will help reduce the amount of electoral theft.

10. (C) The MDC does not have a clear plan for the “day after” the election, Masiyiwa said. The party is beginning to hold those discussions, but remains committed to non-violence. Tsvangirai is concerned that post-electoral protests could spin out of control. Masiyiwa has recommended to the MDC that they view the election as part of the process of de-legitimizing Mugabe — shrinking his international support base to a couple countries in the region like Namibia and Angola. Masiyiwa wants as many regional observers and journalists as possible in Zimbabwe to witness the election. He and others are urging the South African Communist Party (SACP) and trade union federation COSATU — both sympathetic PRETORIA 00000418 003.2 OF 003 to the MDC — to send observers through the ANC and South African Government delegations.

Economic Crisis

11. (C) Concluding, Masiyiwa expressed concern about spiraling inflation and economic meltdown in Zimbabwe. Mugabe is continuing to print and spend money in advance of the election, creating a “roaring monster.” “We have talked about the economy” for a long time, Masiyiwa said, but this time there “may be no more room” for collapse.

Comment

12. (C) Simba Makoni’s presidential bid has created excitement among the well-educated Zimbabwean diaspora in South Africa. Many, like Trevor Ncube, are supporting Makoni and are likely contributing resources to his campaign. A significant number of the elite and successful Zimbabweans dismiss Morgan Tsvangirai as ineffective, uneducated and incapable of ruling Zimbabwe, and see Makoni as the best hope for change in Zimbabwe. Others, like Strive Masiyiwa, continue to back the MDC and Tsvangirai, and Tsvangirai retains strong support among the working class and poor Zimbabwean exiles in South Africa. We expect few Zimbabweans living in South Africa, estimated between one to three million, will return to Zimbabwe to vote in the March 29 elections, although their financial resources, international connections, and ties to family members may make them an influential factor in Zimbabwean politics.

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) secretary-general Mthabisi Bhebhe has revealed that there was no consensus between his association and doctors who signed a deal with their employer on behalf of striking junior doctors.

Dr Bhebhe said the deal signed by a group of doctors and the employer was unacceptable and as the association representing the health workers, they did not append their signatures to it.

Said Bhebhe in an interview with a local weekly:

“The person who signed the deal is only an Apex representative. He does not speak on behalf of the doctors. We refused to counter-sign the agreement because we do not agree with a number of issues contained in the so-called agreement. In short, the strike is still on. It is unfortunate that government wants to play to the gallery with facts.”

According to the deal that was signed by one T A Zigora representing government and a P Chivese on behalf of the workers, the striking doctors have 48 hours to return to work while disciplinary issues that had been raised against them would be dealt with by their seniors and not the Health Services Board.

The deal also stated that the doctors were not to be paid December salaries, but would be paid money in lieu of their leave days.

On vehicles for junior doctors, government agreed to give them $7 500 duty-free importation of vehicles through a loan scheme for junior doctors while their supervisors were to get $15 000 duty-free certificates and the senior medical doctors $30 000.

“Based on this agreement, ZHDA will engage its members who are on industrial action to go back to work within the next 48 hours,” read part of the deal.

The deal also stated that donor-funded allowances would be paid in the currency the funder would have availed to government and the state undertook to review working hours for junior doctors.

The state also agreed to review salaries for doctors in April, but rejected a proposal to pay the health workers’ salaries in foreign currency.-Standard

Correspondent|NATIONAL Constitutional Assembly party president Professor Lovemore Madhuku on Saturday visited former ZANU-PF politburo member Saviour Kasukuwere’s rural home to pay his condolences following the death of gogo Gladys Lucia Kasukuwere who died on New Year’s eve.

“Prof Madhuku came today to support our family during this difficult time. We are touched by the warmth he has extended to us. Thanks Prof for honoring Gogo,” Kasukuwere said.

Gogo Gladys Kasukuwere, mother to Saviour Kasukuwere, is said to have died from heart-related complications at the age of 79.

She was buried on 3 January, 2019, an event which was snubbed by Kasukuwere’s esterwhile comrades in the ruling ZANU-PF.

Prof Madhuku was one of the high-ranking people who trekked all the way to Kasukuwere’s rural home in Mt. Darwin to pay his condolences as top ZANU-PF officials snubbed the funeral, presumably afraid of being labelled G40 sympathizers by their “system.”

Notable political figures who paid condolences to Kasukuwere include former Harare Mayor Ben Manyenyeni and MDC National Chairperson Lucia Matibenga, who both sent their condolence messages on Twitter.

Kasukuwere was a ZANU-PF commissar and Local Government Minister before being jettisoned by the military coup of November 2017 as party of the “criminals around Robert Mugabe.”

He went into exile, before sneaking back into the country and getting briefly detained on charges of leaving the country through an undesignated exit.

ZANU-PF is currently led by members of the Lacoste faction, who had a nail-biting clash wih the vanquished G40 faction whose members have now vitrually been silenced or scattered into exile.

Professor Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao are in exile, as is former Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Mandiitawepi Chimene.

Former First Lady Grace Mugabe is being treated in the Far East, but is believed to have smoked a peace pipe with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Aconsignment of 30 000 metric tonnes of wheat which was sourced from Lithuania by the Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) is stuck at Beira port in Mozambique after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reportedly failed to pay for the vessel.

The vessel, docked at the Beira port two weeks ago, needs US$12,2 million before it can offload the consignment of wheat. The RBZ has only managed to pay US$2,5 million to the London-based supplier, Holbud Ltd.

According to reports, the consignment is attracting daily demurrage charges of $17 000 pending receipt of full payment by the supplier whose charges will be passed on to GMAZ.

Holbud recently wrote to GMAZ chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara expressing the company’s exasperation at the failure by Zimbabwe to pay for the consignment.

“We are very disappointed as we have brought the vessel basing on various promises given to us and also given the fact that we have always been supporting Zimbabwe during tight situations like now. Please let us know at the earliest time when the balance payment will be made to us,” Holbud wrote.

“We request you to come down to London, UK, on January 8, 2019 to discuss on the next shipment and how the payment will be made as we will not be able to make similar provision for future shipment as our bankers are very upset with the delay in payment.”

Holbud is now the sole supplier of wheat to Zimbabwe after all the other companies cut off deliveries due to long delays in making payments.

Contacted for comment, GMAZ spokesperson Garikai Chaunza said the association was in the process of engaging the central bank and the government over the issue.

“As I am speaking now, the chairperson [Musarara] is engaging with Reserve Bank governor John Mangudya and Industry and Commerce minister Mangaliso Ndlovu over this urgent issue,” he said.

“He [Musarara] is also having marathon discussions with the supplier [Holbud] abroad and it is our hope that RBZ will do the needful. We will give further updates once these discussions are over.”

The country imports wheat to augment the local cereal which alone does not make good bread.

Bread manufactured by local bakers has 50% hard (imported) wheat.