President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s globetrotting is an indication of desperation, the opposition MDC has said.

This comes as Mnangagwa this week travelled to Conakry, Guinea for a two-day State visit meant to consolidate African support for Zimbabwe’s re-engagement agenda.

MDC national chairperson Morgan Komichi said the president should not be looking for solutions outside the country but come home and identify the right people who can assist. Komichi added that by globetrotting Mnangagwa is trying to get international recognition which he is not being awarded as he is illegitimate.

“The globetrotting is an indication of desperation. He is simply looking for a solution to resolve the situation.

“The legitimacy crisis emanated from a rigged election which failed to get international recognition which is a fundamental step for him to get a solution to the economic crisis.

“In globetrotting he’s trying to engage the international community but they don’t want to work with someone who has got legitimacy issues.”

However, deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi said the opposition party is in no position to decide which visit is beneficial to the country or not.

He said Mnangagwa is obliged to respond to other presidents’ mutual calls in line with the country’s business whether they add value or not.

He noted that government is determined to work towards ensuring that things get better in the country as they have also launched the Transitional Stabilisation Programme.

“How can those in the opposition tell which visit is beneficial and which is not beneficial for the country.

“The president responds to bilateral calls by other heads of States to discuss business and it’s certainly subject to probability whether or not any bilateral talks will add value to us.

“That’s the way it is,” Mutodi said.

-Daily News

Despite the sensational accusations by flip-flopping activist Gerald Mutumanje — also known as Acie Lumumba — that seemed to suggest some wrongdoing on the part of businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission this week said it has nothing against the two.

“We have nothing on the RBZ and Tagwirei,” said Zacc’s chairperson Goodson Nguni, when asked whether the corruption-busting unit would take up Lumumba’s claims.

Lumumba has for the past three weeks been making damning allegations against RBZ officials and a fuel mogul whom many thought to be Tagwirei, the founder of Sakunda Holdings.

Early this week, Lumumba said the “Queen Bee” he had been referring to all along as behind the cartel causing havoc in the economy was not Tagwirei, but one JPM, raising speculation that he could be referring to Mangudya, whose initials are JPM for John Panonetsa Mangudya.

The social media, which had made a meal out Facebook posts is now dismissive of Lumumba’s claims, saying he is no longer credible due to his contrasting statements.

-Daily News

President Emmerson Mnangagwa this week acknowledged to business leaders that the country’s economy was in distress and in dire need of immediate rescue, amid rising inflationary pressures and currency volatility.

As the economic turmoil spiralled out of control in recent weeks, Mnangagwa’s government has not shouldered responsibility, instead it has blamed alleged saboteurs and social media for fuelling panic-buying and a resultant spike in prices of basic goods and shortages of fuel, among other essentials.

Last month, monetary and fiscal authorities announced a raft of unpopular interventions which include ring-fencing nostro foreign currency accounts (FCAs) from Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) balances as well as introducing a new 2% tax on intermediated electronic transactions. This created turmoil in the market, while worsening the persisting currency volatility. Officially, government however, still insists that the RTGS and bond note is trading at par with the greenback.

Sources who attended the meeting, which was closed from the media, told the Zimbabwe Independent that Mnangagwa informed business leaders that the situation had deteriorated. However, he did not acknowledge the root cause of the problem — unrestrained government spending and the resultant budget deficit expected to hit US$2,3 billion at year-end.

Mnangagwa, sources said, informed business leaders that hope for the country lay in urgently securing a bailout package, hence the intensification of efforts to re-engage with international financial institutions and bilateral lenders.

In their submissions to Mnangagwa, captains of industry fiercely opposed the suspension of legislation restricting the importation of basic commodities, saying the move could cost 100 000 direct jobs in the manufacturing sector, while a further 400 000 workers in downstream industries would also be cut loose.

This month, government scrapped Statutory Instrument (SI) 122, previously SI 64, which banned the importation of a number of essential commodities. The legislation had been put in place in 2016 to stimulate growth in the local manufacturing sector.

According to a paper presented by industry during the meeting seen by the Independent, business leaders proposed to Mnangagwa that the suspension of the import ban should only be temporary and not go beyond this year.

“Since 2016, there has been a significant increase in employment in the manufacturing sector and those industries directly or indirectly linked to the sector,” part of the submission reads.

“Of the total formal employment, about 100 000 are direct manufacturing jobs while a further estimated 400 000 jobs are those whose industries are dependent or linked to manufacturing. It is all these people and their dependents whose livelihood is under threat due to lack of consistent and comprehensive reforms that support all productive sectors of the economy.”

Industry, according to the paper, also requested for a monthly foreign currency allocation of US$200 million for the importation of core raw materials required to sustain operations.

“(We also recommend that we be allocated) US$200 million worth of currency per month for industry to ensure product availability at affordable prices,” part of the paper reads.

During the same meeting, mining firms represented by the Chamber of Mines requested to have the foreign currency allocated to them by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reviewed upwards in line with US dollar costs that are obtaining in the market in order to restore viability.

The miners in their submissions, also seen by the Independent, proposed that any remainder of “export proceeds paid in RTGS” be translated to their equal US dollar value.

“Most mining companies’ total cost-to-income ratio ranges between 70% and 95%. We also propose that any remainder of export proceeds paid in RTGS be liquidated at fair value in line with obtaining local costs or market conditions as opposed to 1:1”.

-Zimbabwe Independent

Correspondent|THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has significantly reduced the quantities of goods that can be brought into the country free of duty. In a memorandum sent by Zimra Head of Technical Services, C. Chiyangwa, to regional and station managers, the new revised list is as follows:

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday assured civil servants of a bonus incentive for 2018 whose finer details would be clarified in due course in line with ongoing fiscal stabilisation measures and recognition of hard work.

Speaking on the state of the economy at the ongoing 2019 Parliamentary pre-Budget conference here, Prof Ncube stressed the need to instil fiscal discipline, the lack of which has been blamed for the ballooning Budget deficit in the last few years, resulting in prevailing economic challenges.

In line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and the drive towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030, Prof Ncube said taming public expenditure, especially wage bill containment, was at the heart of fiscal stabilisation measures while stimulating investment.

He said civil servants will be rewarded for their hard work.

“I feel that we need to walk the talk,” said Prof Ncube.

“In the previous budgets we have said we will do something about making sure that we deal with this issue of freezing non-critical posts, enforcing retirement policy.”

Minister Ncube said, “And the bonus, you know, should not be an entitlement, but it should be within affordable levels.

“So, I won’t say what will happen with bonus this year yet, but you can be sure that we are going to do something that will be a thank you to those who have worked so hard through the year, but at same time cognisant of the need to tighten our belts.”

Under the TSP (2018-2020) launched last month, Government is already implementing a raft of belt-tightening measures to stabilise the economy.

Widening Budget deficit estimated at $2,9 billion in 2018 from $1,4 billion in 2017, has become a headache to Government with its crippling effect evidenced by the foreign currency squeeze and subsequent strain on productive sectors, emergence of the parallel market and rampant price distortions.

These challenges need to be tackled head-on, said Prof Ncube, who rallied the legislature and the private sector to play their part and restore sanity in the country’s economy.

He noted that as efforts were being made to unlock investment opportunities in key sectors of the economy such as agriculture, mining, tourism and services industries, Treasury was also scaling up domestic revenue mobilisation, which will enable Government to finance more development projects and increase social services.

Prof Ncube said this required tightening of surveillance at border posts to weed out corruption.

As such, Prof Ncube said, a new Zimbabwe Revenue Authority board would be appointed soon to do the “right thing” by dealing with graft and improving revenue collection.

Prof Ncube challenged Zimra to work closely with the police and give them the tools they need to police borders, including use of drones.

Government is also paying critical attention to the external sector and is engaging the international community and multi-lateral finance institutions with the view of addressing foreign debt, which hampers the country’s risk profile and ability to unlock fresh lines of credit.

In that regard, Prof Ncube expressed concern over the dilapidated state of infrastructure in key embassies such as South Africa, United States and the United Kingdom.

“These are key missions for Zimbabwe and I must say we need to support those embassies, buildings are falling apart,” he said.

“We have got an ambassador who walks in some streets of a particular capital city, we don’t have an official car to carry His Excellency when he visits.

“While we rationalise we need to pay attention to these key embassies and give a good image.”

Prof Ncube said there was no going back regarding the reforming State-owned enterprises and parastatals some of which will be privatised or liquidated.

-State Media

Kindly join Wellington Mahohoma, programs officer at Combined Harare Residents Association, on the 22nd of November 2018 for a charity walk from Makoni Shopping Centre to the Parliament of Zimbabwe building as he raises awareness on the difficulties faced by the girl child in accessing sanitary wear.

#redcyclecampaignzw

When diamonds were discovered in Marange, Mutare around 2006, authorities told Zimbabweans that the new found wealth would be the panacea to the country`s myriad of problems, especially the struggling economy.

Everyone was made to believe the gems would generate a lot of revenue that would take care of the country’s problems once and for all.

In short, the diamonds were presented as God`s answer to the citizen`s lamentations.

Instead of benefiting the whole country, including the locals – who had walked on the gems for decades – only the privileged few and the politically connected gain access to the rich diamond fields.

Zimbabweans who were waiting earnestly to reap rewards were told it was only a matter of time before proceeds start filtering into the country.

In turn, the people looked forward to improvements in their standard of living.

Fast forward, 12 years later, no marked improvement occurred in Zimbabwe as little was realised from the diamond sales.

Instead, the people discovered that it were only the elites who selfishly benefitted from the gems while the masses continued wallowing in poverty.

The situation became so bad that even former president Robert Mugabe claimed $15 billion of diamond revenue vanished without a trace.

He later said the figure was exaggerated but economists had already calculated that the $15 billion could have turned Zimbabwe’s fortunes around and wiped away the country’s enormous debt.

The whole country frothed with anger after authorities failed to justify how the diamond proceeds could just vanish into thin air and how government seemed unmoved by the brazen looting of the gems.

Investigations into the missing $15 billion yielded little results with a parliamentary probe failing to unravel the diamonds mystery.

Myness Matanda (30) says locals have since sunk deeper into poverty following the discovery of the “cursed minerals.”

“I used to have a home. It was not much but i could grow crops and feed my family,” said Matanda whose scarred hands bear testimony to the hard work she endures for her starving family.

“The diamonds came. We were kicked out of our ancestral land. We were promised compensation and better homes. We are now worse than beggars,” she said raising a bony hand to shield her eyes from the scorching sun.

Matanda likened the manner in which they were moved from their homeland to a burial of a deceased.

“You can see how dry and arid this area looks. We were just dumped and forgotten. We only hear through grapevine that there are government programs availing agricultural resources and food but none of it reaches us.

“Orphans, the elderly and the vulnerable are succumbing to hunger while those in charge of distribution hoad for their close circles’ benefit,” she said.

With a tone heavily accentuated with stoicism, she lamented how avaricious the government has proven to be by imposing 2 percent tax on the people.

“It is unbelievable! Where do they get such audacity?”

“Former president Mugabe announced that diamonds worth more than $15 billion were looted from this area yet they still come back to us the poor to steal the little that we try to save up,” said Matanda.

Marange locals said they have made several attempts to protest against the unfair living conditions they are forcefully subjected to but they constantly get harsh response from police and military.

Prince Wadzoka(27) flashed fresh wounds sustained from dog bites unleashed on him by the police.

He speaks at the verge of tears as he narrates how he unfortunately fell victim to the vicious dogs.

“I was coming from the shops going to a nearby homestead where I had been called for a piece-job. I stumbled upon police chasing after makorokozas and they commanded their dogs onto me,” he said.

“For a moment I didn’t know whether to flee or explain to the police that I was just passing through. In a split of a second, the dogs had pounced on me and dug deep into my flesh.”

Wadzoka said he manoeuvred up a tree to save himself from further dog assault.

“I climbed onto a tree. The police ordered me to climb down, threatening to shoot if I resisted.

“They took me to their base then later released me without any medication whatsoever for the wounds I had sustained. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I hope they will heal eventually so I can be able to fend for my family.”

Bocha Diamond Community Trust-a committee that was set up to present people’s concerns to relevant authorities, describes traditional leadership as sell-outs.

BDCT chairperson, Moses Mukwada alleges chiefs and headmen sacrifice the welfare of their people for houses, cars and incentives they get from the government and mining companies.

“We hoped that the introduction of Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) would put us out of our unemployment misery but they are just adding salt to a fresh wound.

“They demand a bribe of $300 to employ but none of the few employed lasts beyond 4 months on the job,” he narrated.

During the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba held in Bulawayo in October, Norton member of Parliament Temba Mliswa said ZCDC was illegally mining in Marange and should be shut down.

Mliswa blamed the government for allowing illegal mining to take place in the country which in turn results in failure to account for resources that are supposed to enhance the economy.

Activist Farai Maguwu, Director of Center for Natural Resource Governance has dedicated his lief to supporting the locals in their quest to regain their freedom.

Maguwu alluded to the provisions in the Zimbabwean constitution citing how every citizen and anyone who is legally in the country has a right to move freely.

“The business of demanding passes and permits is contravening this part of the constitution. Freedom of movement is critical to the enjoyment of other constitutionally guaranteed rights such as the right to human dignity (Section 51), freedom of assembly and association (Section 58), freedom of profession ,trade or occupation (Section 64), the right to education (Section 75), the right to healthcare (section 76) and the right to food and water (Section 77),” said Maguwu.

The national peace and reconciliation commission has promised to intervene in the plight of the Marange people, promising to do its best in engaging all relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure the people get back their freedom and human dignity.

Will the Marange people reclaim their birthright, the land of their forefathers, only time will tell.

– CITE

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday assured civil servants of a bonus incentive for 2018 whose finer details would be clarified in due course in line with ongoing fiscal stabilisation measures and recognition of hard work.

Speaking on the state of the economy at the ongoing 2019 Parliamentary pre-Budget conference here, Prof Ncube stressed the need to instil fiscal discipline, the lack of which has been blamed for the ballooning Budget deficit in the last few years, resulting in prevailing economic challenges.

In line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and the drive towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030, Prof Ncube said taming public expenditure, especially wage bill containment, was at the heart of fiscal stabilisation measures while stimulating investment.

He said civil servants will be rewarded for their hard work.

“I feel that we need to walk the talk,” said Prof Ncube.

-State Media

RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya yesterday defended the use of bond notes, saying the real cause of problems facing the economy was not the surrogate currency, but ballooning electronic balances, which are not backed by productive fundamentals.

Rejecting calls from legislators that bond notes be scrapped as they “have failed,” Dr Mangudya accused parliamentarians of lacking appreciation of real causes of the currency challenge.

He reminded the legislators attending the 2019 pre-budget seminar in Bulawayo that bond notes had to be introduced in 2016 under a $200 million AfreximBank-backed facility as a stop-gap measure to eliminate the then rampant cash hoarding and externalisation of foreign currency, mainly the United States dollar.

The situation was compounded by the $1,35 billion RBZ (Debt Assumption) Act, which was approved by Parliament and signed into law in 2015.

As a result of financial and fiscal indiscipline in the economy, Zimbabwe has plunged into the web of an increasing money supply, spurred largely by issuance of Treasury Bills, which has provoked inflationary pressures.

Dr Mangudya admitted that to date, Zimbabwe has registered close to $10 billion electronic balances at banks, which are not backed by real money.

“In that amount, only 4,5 percent are coins and notes, which is your bond notes and coins,” he said. “Therefore, if we remove them they won’t resolve the problem. The problem is about the 95,5 percent held as RTGS balances in your accounts. Where is it coming from?”

Dr Mangudya said the bloated balances, not bond notes, were causing inflation as they spike spending and pile pressure of little forex reserves.

“So, the question which we should be asking ourselves is where is this money coming from? That’s why we need to plug the holes not from the medium of exchange that you have taken away from the bank. The money in your account didn’t come from bond notes, not at all.”

Dr Mangudya said the other challenge was the fiscal deficit evidenced by Government domestic credit at about $11 billion versus bank deposits of $10 billion.

“So, that’s the burden we are carrying as the Central Bank in trying to fund those balances,” he said. “If we deal with the fiscal rules and principles, then you will find out that everything comes to shape.”

Quizzed on why the official exchange rate between the US dollar and bond note was at par at 1:1 despite parallel market disparities, Dr Mangudya said: “The reason why we have got 1:1 is because there are essential products that we need to import in this economy to have price stability. Our fuel, which is coming here and people are buying it using RTGS, EcoCash whatever it is at 1:1. Your electricity today is imported at 1:1.”

Earlier in his address, Dr Mangudya said the country should forge ahead with measures that stimulate productivity to anchor growth.

“There is no economy in the world which can have a strong currency without a strong base,” he said. “Your currency is as good as your production, and what are you producing Zimbabweans?

“If you are producing nothing you can’t have a higher currency, which is very strong. Therefore, the challenge that you are facing of foreign currency shortages is because we are not working and we must start working very hard.”

-State Media

Six people were seriously injured yesterday along Chimanimani road about 10 km from Nedziwa Growth Point when a haulage truck loaded with timber overturned after the driver failed to negotiate a curve. The injured were rushed to Mutambara Mission hospital.

More to follow…

Leading beer and soft drinks manufacturer, Delta Beverages is set to ration beer supply to licensed retailers through the introduction of a pre-order system to guard against hoarding and panic buying.

The past month has seen local retail shops running out of soft drinks, mineral water and beer due to ‘increase in demand.’

In an interview with 263Chat, the group secretary Alex Makamure blamed citizens for panic buying, saying the situation will soon normalize.

“Our beer production has been at the highest in the last three months, whilst we appreciate the demand that is coming through, there is an element of panic buying but it will normalize on the beer side.

“People are hoarding from the retail shops to go and sale outside at inflated prices and that is the nature for Zimbabweans.

“They are doing what they can to try and rationalize, from our side we are not even limiting the orders of our traders but some traders are buying seven to eight which will is not normal,” said Makamure.

Asked on whether they are going to meet the festive season demand, Makamure said they had not devised a clear supply plan but hinted at selling to licensed operators only.

“People used to buy about ninety crates per person and now they are buying more than four hundred so our question is where are they going with that beer.

“What we are trying to do now is trying to go into the pre order system whereby we will only sell beer to licensed operators so one needs to phone input your order and you will be allocated time to come and collect your order so that we take out people who just sit on our premises who are not proper traders.

“With respect to soft drinks, we were running for the part of October so we began to run last week and we don’t have a clear supply plan for December,” he said.

Makamure added that “We believe that we are still selling for value in US dollars, our prices are bench marked to regional quality and as long as we have a perception that we are selling in correct US dollars value, there is no reason why we should increase our prices.

“If there is an official devaluation, we will take up our prices based on what happens to our inputs.”

-263Chat

Zanu PF former Bulilima West legislator and Plumtree prominent businessman, Lungisani Nleya has died.

Nleya popularly known in Bulilima-Mangwe operating businesses as Ndazi Ndazi died at the Roman Catholic run Mater Dei Hospital in the morning where he was admitted two days ago after a short illness.

Zanu PF national spokesperson and Bulilima – Mangwe Senator; Simon Khaya Moyo confirmed the death and said he was in deep shock to learn of the death of a dedicated party cadre and war veteran.

Details to follow.

By Farai Maguwu| Nothing is more important to a national leader than the health and safety of his / her people. The Rusape bus disaster has surely united the nation in mourning. The President of the Republic who has since expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy can surely do more to comfort the bereaved families and the injured.

The President and his two deputies must fly to Mutare and Rusape and visit the injured in hospital. They should also visit some of the bereaved families and assure them that indeed we are together. Nothing is more comforting to a citizen than to have the President of the Republic personally coming to your homestead to comfort you in such a trying time like this . Even your enemies will for a moment fail to find negative words about you.

Zimbabwe will with effect from today start drawing down on a $250 million line of credit facility from a United Kingdom-based firm, Gemcorp Capital, an international independent investment fund management entity that focuses on emerging markets, to import essential commodities.

A delegation from Gemcorp Capital met President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare yesterday where they briefed him on the progress of the facility that was sealed last month.

The facility was signed by central bank governor, Dr John Mangudya, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Gemcorp Capital.

This comes as Greece Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Mr Terens Quick told President Mnangagwa that he would lead a business delegation in March next year to explore investment opportunities.

Briefing journalists soon after meeting President Mnangagwa, Gemcorp Capital head of investment, Ms Parvoleta Shtereva said disbursement of part of the money begins today and would go mainly into the fuel sector.

“We are here to meet His Excellency and report about our $250 million facility supporting essential imports and the Zimbabwean economy. We also informed him about the progress on this facility and our interest to invest in the economy and to support vital economic sectors like mining, telecommunication, pharmaceuticals among others,” said Ms Shtereva.

“The facility is aimed at supporting imports of intermediary goods, to assist the economy and sustain the Zimbabwean industry, specifically fuel, wheat, vegetable oil and so.”

She said the firm’s focus was to support emerging markets.

“We are an emerging market fund manager. We have over $1billion in funds we are managing. We are just over four years old. We specialise in emerging markets and more specifically in Africa and Latin America, and Eastern Europe. In Africa, we are active in Angola; we also have an office in Ethiopia and we are about to open an office in Zimbabwe,” she said.

Zimbabwean ambassador to Britain, Retired Colonel Christian Katsande said the coming of Gemcorp Capital was consistent with the thrust of President Mnangagwa to open the country for investment.

“As you aware, His Excellency the President has directed that we bring focus to the economic functions of diplomacy. That means we need to promote investment, trade, tourism. I am delighted that Gemcorp has presented themselves indicating their commitment to support Zimbabwe and our economic recovery. This is an initial facility of $250 million. We expect them to support more, but the initial support is targeting our private sector in production and the fuel sector as well,” said Rtd Col Katsande.

“All these are areas that we believe are critical for this economy. We believe that these are the building blocks of His Excellency’s Vision 2030.”

The facility comes at a time the country is facing serious foreign currency shortages, largely resulting from poor exports and subdued foreign direct investment.

Greece Foreign Affairs Vice Minister, Mr Quick told journalists soon after meeting President Mnangagwa that there would be a business delegation coming to Harare to explore investment opportunities.

“It was great for me to be received by the President of Zimbabwe. We discussed bilateral and international issues. I told him that we are planning to organise a business delegation beginning of March next year to Harare which enhances the economic cooperation,” said Mr Quick.

“We have a lot of fields to work on, like agriculture, sport and maritime. We are a powerhouse in maritime. I think it is time to recognise that Zimbabwe has a lot of similarities with Greek culture and I was flattered from the several meetings I had when I heard that you do like and have respect for the Greeks. This is something that we have to reciprocate.”

State Media

A WOMAN from Bulawayo was ordered to go for a mental examination after she could not stop talking in court.

Faith Morrison appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nyaradzo Ringisai who remanded her to November 14 for continuation of trial.

Allegations are that sometime in June, Morrison advised Mr Elliot Muzarope that she was selling a trailer worth R40 000.

Mr Muzarope went on to see the trailer and they agreed on a payment plan. They agreed that he was to get it after he would have paid the last instalment.

The court heard that Mr Muzarope paid 19 000 Rands first and the rest in two instalments.

However, Morrison, who was supposed to deliver the trailer upon payment of the full amount, violated their agreement.

When Mr Muzarope asked Morrison why she had not delivered the trailer, Morrison advised him that the price had changed to 80 000 rands.

Mr Muzarope demanded a refund but Morrison did not comply until he reported the matter to the police leading to her arrest.

The magistrate asked if she wished to engage a lawyer to represent her and how she was pleading to the fraud charge she was facing.

“Lawyers are corrupt; l do not need any. I plead not guilty, in fact l withdraw my statement, I plead nothing,” said Morrison.

“I think you are a soft magistrate, its time the State should start acting. I have been in and out of court yet l haven’t been served with State papers. What I only got are handwritten papers.”

The magistrate reminded her that she was in a court of law but Morrison started raising her voice reminding the magistrate that she had her rights and that the court was not following the right procedure.

The magistrate then ordered that she undergo a mental examination before they proceed with the trial.

Mr Thobelani Nyathi represented the State.

State Media

JUSTICE, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has been summoned to appear before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy on Monday to explain Government’s decision to place Hwange Colliery Company under the control of an administrator.

Last week, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando appeared before the same committee and defended Government’s decision, saying there were no prospects of a turnaround amid rising debt.

The company is heavily indebted and owes the Government in excess of US$150 million.

Government owns a 52 percent stake in the company.

In an interview on the sidelines of the pre-budget conference yesterday, mines and energy committee chairperson Norton legislator Mr Temba Mliswa said Minister Ziyambi was summoned to explain if due process was done in the reconstruction exercise.

“We want to ensure that everything is being done within the rule of law. So the Justice Minister is coming on Monday with all the other shareholders of Hwange (Colliery Company) to appear before the committee. He is coming because the reconstruction is under him in terms of the law, he does administer it,” said Mr Mliswa.

However, later during the pre-budget seminar, Mr Mliswa asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Mr Mthuli Ncube about Government’s “interference” in the reconstruction of Hwange Colliery.

“Government must allow due process to happen when there are other shareholders. The Hwange situation is one in particular. How does Government go and reconstruct a company which has other shareholders? Can’t Government just exercise that level of ensuring that there is corporate governance at the end of the day?” asked Mr Mliswa.

However, Minister Ziyambi responded to the question during the same session, saying the reconstruction of parastatals falls under his purview as stipulated by law and explained the process.

“Let me start by saying that, I remember sometime this year the chairperson of the portfolio committee on mines called in the management of Hwange Colliery. He expressed his displeasure at the way they were managing the company and he was unhappy that the State was giving the company money and they were not performing.

“What Government then decided to do was, there is a provision within the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act which allows the Minister of Justice when he sees that a company that owes the State money or if it appears to him that it’s not performing or for whatever reason he believes that the company is not performing, the Act allows him to put it under reconstruction if it appears that the company put under reconstruction can be turned over and be profitable,” he explained.

“The Act indicates that you can do two things, you can inform the shareholders that you are doing this or if it appears to the Minister that doing that will prolong the process and Government will lose money, the Minister can issue a reconstruction order.

“What Honourable Mliswa has to understand is that once you issue the reconstruction order, the administrator has to assess the State of the company and advise the Minister that this is the state of the company when I took it over.”

Minister Ziyambi said the Act also indicates that within 30 days the minister has to go to a judge in chambers to confirm the reconstruction order.

“So there are legal processes that need to be done. When you go to the judge you have to show cause that shareholders have been informed and shareholders can actually make representations to the judge. I’m not sure, the very same committee that was concerned about Government losing money is now concerned that Government is now taking action to ensure that shareholders and Government do not lose money,” said Minister Ziyambi.

Government announced the reconstruction exercise in an Extraordinary Government Gazette last month.

The Extraordinary Government Gazette read: “(a) The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (Ziyambi Ziyambi) hereby in terms of section 4 of the reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act (Chapter 24:27) (No.27 of 2004) issues a reconstruction order in relation to Hwange Colliery Company Limited.

“(b) Appoints Bekithemba Moyo, the co-founder and director of DBF Capital partners having its principal place of business at No 2 Downie Avenue, Belgravia, Harare, to be the administrator of the company under reconstruction.”

“Other members of his team include Ms Mutsa Mollie Jean Remba, who is the current managing director of Dube, Manikai and Hwacha who will be serving as the assistant administrator and Mr Munashe Shava who is the chief operating officer and project leader at the Great Dyke Investments.

“Mr Shava is also going to serve as the assistant administrator.”

The gazette further reads: “Direct that, from the date of publication of this order — the company under reconstruction shall be under the control and management of the administrator, and the boards of the companies under reconstruction shall be divested of the control and management of the companies’ affairs and any person managing or controlling the companies’ affairs in any capacity other than as simply a member of the board referred to above shall continue in the office subject to the control and direction of, and be answerable to, the administrator.”

State Media

A MINE worker died when a mine shaft he was working in collapsed in Filabusi.

Matabeleland South provincial acting police spokesperson Sergeant Thandolwenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident which occurred on Tuesday at Noma B Mine at around 9AM.

He said Godfrey Mguni (42) was working in a 10-metre deep shaft while three other workmates were outside when the incident occurred.

“I can confirm that we recorded an incident where a mine worker Godfrey Mguni died while working in a shaft. Mguni was drilling inside a 10-metre deep shaft using a jack hammer while his three work mates were standing outside.

“While he was drilling, the walls of the shaft collapsed and buried Mguni. His workmates tried to save him by digging into the debris using shovels but when they pulled out his body he was already dead,” he said.

Sgt Moyo said the matter was reported to the police who visited the scene and Mguni’s body was taken to Filabusi District Hospital Mortuary.

He urged people to desist from mining in unsecured shafts as that exposes them to danger. He said miners have to ensure that their mines are inspected regularly.

Sgt Moyo urged miners to exercise caution when working in shafts.

He also advised mine workers to ensure that they wear protective clothing such as helmets in order to minimise chances of deaths in case of accidents.

State Media

Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the two percent transactional tax on electronic transfers is here to stay as it has gone a long way in reducing the country’s budget deficit.

Addressing delegates on Thursday, at the third Annual Public Sector Audit Conference and Financial Management Awards Mnangagwa said Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube will announce more reviews made on the tax during his budget statement.

He said the Ministry of Finance is set to announce its budget before the end of the month.

“The ministry of finance will be making an announcement very soon, I think before the end of the month he is going to make a budget statement.

“I can safely say he will also look at that (two percent tax) in order to improve, he is going to speak about it, have a conversation around it,” he said.

The treasury report for June showed the country’s fiscal deficit grew after government spending increased in the run up to the 2018 harmonised elections.

The finance ministry reviewed Intermediated Money Transfer Tax from five cents per transaction to two cents per dollar transacted, effective from October 1 this year.

This was announced in Ncube’s recent monetary policy statement and was met with strong objections from the general public, workers’ unions and activist.

Since the introduction of this tax Zimbabweans have been up in arms with the government for overburdening them with tax, much of which ends up being spent on non-priority areas.

However, Mnangagwa insisted that it was a worthy pain the road to economic recovery.

M&T

Correspondent|The Courts Administration Fund is not in a good state as a result of failure to have a reliable accounting system by the Zimbabwe Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the Auditor General Mildred Chiri has submitted.

The fund was established to cater for operations of the court after the 2008 economic meltdown.

In her latest report for the financial year ended December 31, 2017, Chiri slammed the JSC for failing to have a reliable accounting system in relation to the Courts Administration Fund (CAF).

She said despite having a computerised accounting system, asset depreciation in the CAF was still calculated by individuals leaving room for human error.

“I noted that although the accounting system was computerised, the depreciation figure of $2 738 304 was manually calculated.

“I am concerned that the problem has not been resolved since 2015 when the Fixed Assets Module in the system malfunctioned,” she noted.

Chiri recommended that the JSC should engage with the provider of the accounting system to prevent future malfunctions.

“The reliability of the financial statements may be doubtful as errors can be made on calculations.

“Management should engage the service provider to reset the system,” she said

The JSC stated that for the year ended December 31, 2016, CAF had a surplus of $1 968 265 on its income statement and total assets worth $13 043 475.

Chiri agreed with the JSC’s financial statement and said it fairly presented “in all material aspects” the financial position of the CAF for that period but she insisted on the need of repairing the accounting system malfunction that has stretched for three years without attention.

Apart from being the stewards of the administration of the courts, the JSC is also mandated to to ensure that there is easy access to justice for the people of Zimbabwe.

M&T

A LECTURER at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe (CUZ) allegedly exposed his privates to a female student and told her she would not pass if she did not have a love affair with him.

Israel Moyo (53) who is also Highlanders Football Club’s secretary general, appeared in court yesterday facing a public indecency charge.

Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Adelaide Mbeure remanded him to Monday for provision of trial date on $50 bail.

The gallery was filled with students from the university, who perked up as he was approaching the dock in court. Moyo, an economics lecturer, resides in Manningdale, Bulawayo.

Prosecuting Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said: “Sometime in September 2016 Moyo proposed love to Ms Memory Zimba (21) one of the students from the Catholic University of Zimbabwe.

“Ms Zimba turned down Moyo’s request. Later on she started dating another student from the same University. Moyo got to know about it and asked her why she chose to date a ‘school boy’ whom he claimed had nothing to give her,” said Mr Dlodlo.

“The student failed her examinations and was called by Moyo to his office where he told her that she would not to pass unless she fell in love with him.

“Sometime in May this year, Ms Zimba went to submit her assignments in Moyo’s office. He locked the door and unzipped his trousers, exposed his genital showing it to his student telling her that ‘it was very small’ so she should not worry because he was not going to hurt her,” he said.

The court heard he pestered her for sex on the table or while standing and tried kissing her until she pushed him away, unlocked the door and went out.

Ms Zimba narrated the whole incident to her two friends who told her they were facing a similar challenge with Moyo.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to Moyo’s arrest.

State Media

Correspondent|AUDITOR-GENERAL (AG) Mildred Chiri has ordered for the recovery of close to US$500 000 that was corruptly awarded to senior National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) employees as transport allowance at a time they were also receiving monthly fuel for their government bought vehicles.

At least 20 NPA employees double dipped when they received $24 000 each as transport allowance despite having been allocated official motor vehicles and monthly fuel coupons.

In a damning assessment at the affairs of the authority mandated to prosecute offenders on behalf of government, Chiri expressed concern over wasteful expenditure through unethical practices at the NPA.

“I observed that the authority had violated Public Service Commission Circular Number 5 of 2011 which stipulates that employees who have been issued with personal motor vehicles should not be paid transport allowances,” she said in the latest report tabled in the National Assembly last week.

“It was noted that 20 employees of the authority received at least $24 000 in the form of transport allowances and also received monthly fuel.

“If employees who were issued with official motor vehicles and receiving fuel for such mode of transport were paid transport allowances as well, the action could result in double dipping and wasteful expenditure. I recommended to the authority to cease the payment of allowances to officers who had been issued with personal vehicles.”

The NPA accounting officer responded insisting that the payment of transport allowances would stop if those officers choose to continue receiving fuel allocations.

“(By February 2018) the authority had not implemented Chiri’s recommendation as the payment of transport allowance to employees issued with personal vehicles as well as receiving fuel allocation continued during the 2017 financial year,” Chiri said.

“The accounting officer indicated that the issue had continued because the board had not been able to seat and deliberate on that issue.”

In evaluation of the response, Chiri said the accounting officer should effect recoveries since the regulations are clear on what should be done.

If justice is to be seen to be done an investigation and adjudication of misconduct should be constituted, according to the provisions governing the NPA Act.

“Subject to section 23, any case involving misconduct or suspected misconduct on the part of a member (other than the Prosecutor-General) of the Authority shall be investigated, adjudicated upon and, where appropriate, punished by the Board or by such person or authority as may be prescribed,” the Act reads.

“If the Prosecutor-General advises the Board that a member of the Authority who has been confirmed as a member under this Act is found to have committed such an act of misconduct as may justify the member’s discharge from the Authority, the Board shall appoint a disciplinary committee…”

M&T

Correspondent|The Defence ministry has for the second year running failed to account for $2 million incurred during the year ended December 2016. A further $358 453 which was unprocedurally paid for airfares and hotel accommodation also remains unaccounted for.

In a follow-up report to recommendations of her 2016 report auditor-general (AG) Mildred Chiri raised alarm over glaring gaps in the ministry of defense appropriation account for the year ended December 31, 2016 that remained unresolved as at December 31 2017.

“I reported that there was a variance of $2 492 586 between the sub-paymaster General’s Account and the ministry’s appropriation account that was not reconciled. The risk is that the expenditure reported could not be validated as true expenditure for the ministry,” Chiri reported.

“The ministry had not fully implemented the recommendation as vouchers amounting to $37 631 were submitted leaving the balance of $2 454 955 unreconciled.”

She added: “I reported on the contravention of treasury instruction 1216 by the ministry when it processed payments totaling $358 453 for air fares and hotel accommodation using pro-forma invoices and quotations only. I added that supporting documentation such as receipts were not availed to validate the expenditure.

There was also concern around $2 000 which was unaccounted for emanating for a payment of $12 000 made to the Local government ministry for stadium hire.

“Furthermore there was no evidence that a refundable security fee of $2000 included in the payment of $12000 made to the ministry of local government for stadium higher was refunded to the ministry.

“I added that the security deposit should be claimed so that the resources are used to finance other ministry activities.”

Chiri also noted that service providers Tel-One and ZINWA were owed $2 804 925 and $225 297 respectively by the Defence ministry.

The report said in the absence of a breakdown of the variance, the expenditure reported cannot be validated as true expenditure for the ministry.

“The ministry should reconcile the expenditure balances from the different sources to enhance accuracy and reliability of its financial statements,” the AG had said in her prior recommendation.

The auditor general also noted that there were several unaccounted variances for services extended to Zimbabwe National Army.

M&T

Correspondent|Incarcerated former legislator Munyaradzi Kereke has challenged Norton member of parliament Temba Mliswa to prove his claims that he impregnated his wife while in prison.

Mliswa alleged that Kereke had impregnated his wife Rachel and had preferential treatment in prison to the extent of being afforded his conjugal rights which is a complete negation of the law.

Mliswa on his twitter handle said:
“In a conversation overheard by a prison guard between Kereke and his younger wife’s sister, word has it that whilst in prison Kereke has impregnated his younger wife.One is left wondering where the act took place and why is he being given preferential treatment, why not let others too?“

These allegations compelled Kereke to seek the intervention of the Speaker of Parliament asking him to direct Mliswa to issue a public apology.

Kereke instructed his lawyers Mutandiro, Chitsanga and Chitima Attorneys to write a formal complaint letter to the Advocate Jacob Mudenda asking him to reprimand Mliswa.
In a letter dated November 5 and seen by the Mail and Telegraph, Kereke states that Mliswa’s allegations are “categorically false,malicious and unwarranted.”

“Our client’s right of Human Dignity as enshrined in the constitution of
Zimbabwe has been violated on the podium of parliament.

“We have been instructed to pray that Hon. Speaker strongly reprimands Hon.Temba Mliswa and direct forthwith that he apologises publicly to our clients or he put to the strictest proof to substantiate his injurious allegations. He who alleges must prove the factual foundation of his allegations,” read part of the letter.

“Parliament is the anchor guarantor of constitutionalism and protection of fundamental human rights. As such, it must not be taken lightly when Hon Members violate people’s rights in the discharge of parliamentary duties.

“A very strong and clear message must be sent out to Hon Temba Mliswa,” further reads the letter.

In 2016, Kereke was slapped with a 14 year jail term with four years suspended on condition of good behaviour for raping his 11 year old relative at gunpoint.

He has made several attempts to gain freedom but all applications hit a snag.
Meanwhile, the issue of conjugal visits in Zimbabwe’s prisons has been a subject of debate for a long time.

Some people argued that Parliament should appreciate that when one is jailed, it is meant to be a punishment for that particular offender not their family.

Spouses cannot be collaterally punished for the ‘sins’ of their husbands or wives by denying them their conjugal rights during the time the spouses are in jail.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Commissioner Paradzai Zimondi is on record for saying he is simply following the constitution and once conjugal visits are allowed at law, his organisation will comply.

M&T

The death toll of people who perished in an accident involving Smart Express and Bolt Cutter buses
near Rusape tollgate on Wednesday evening has risen to 50.

The accident occurred when the two
buses side swiped. According to Acting Officer Commanding Rusape
District Isaac Gowe, who spoke to ZBC News on Thursday morning, 40 people died on the spot, 5 died on their way to hospital on Wednesday night, while 2 more passed on this morning, and the other three succumbed to their injuries bringing the death toll to 50.

Government has already provided $25 000 towards the victims of the accident. The Insurance Council of Zimbabwe will settle all hospital bills while funeral services provider FSG and Nyaradzo Funeral Services will assist with coffins and transporting the deceased to their final resting places. Director of the Civil Protection Unit, Nathan Nkomo, said each family would receive $500. State media

THE Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube, yesterday assured civil servants of a bonus incentive for 2018 whose finer details would be clarified in due course in line with ongoing fiscal stabilisation measures and recognition of hard work.

Speaking on the state of the economy at the on-going 2019 Parliamentary pre-budget conference in Bulawayo, he stressed the need
to instil fiscal discipline, the lack of which has been blamed for the ballooning budget deficit in the last few years resulting in prevailing economic challenges.

In line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) and the drive towards an upper-middle income economy by 2030, Prof
Ncube said taming public expenditure, especially wage bill containment, was at the heart of fiscal stabilisation measures while
stimulating investment.
He, however, said civil servants will be rewarded for their hard work.State media

HARARE – It never rains but pours for Obert Mpofu, the Zanu PF secretary for administration who is being frustrated by a group of former
liberation war fighters who want him out.
The former Home Affairs minister is topping the list of under-fire Zanu PF functionaries that have received a hostile reception at the party
headquarters in Harare where they were deployed after being thrown out of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Cabinet in September.
An affiliate of the ruling party, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has been at the forefront of pushing
for Mpofu’s ouster, along with his former Cabinet colleagues who were given full time jobs at the party’s head office.
Mnangagwa assigned 11 top officials to work full time at the party headquarters, among them Zanu
PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo, finance secretary Patrick Chinamasa, legal secretary Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, foreign affairs secretary Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, youth league deputy chairperson Lewis Matutu, Chris Mushohwe and Mpofu.

A section of ZNLWVA has been holding meetings in Harare, Bulawayo and Mazowe to ratchet up
pressure on these party heavyweights to vacate their offices, alleging they were undermining
Mnangagwa and that they were corrupt.Daily News

MINES minister Winston Chitando says he expects to announce a diamond policy later this month, which will also regularise the operations of the State-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC).

The policy is expected to lead to the unbundling of ZCDC and put legal requirements for mining companies to have corporate social responsibility programmes.

ZCDC was established in 2015 after government cancelled licences of miners in the Chiadzwa fields and consolidated all the diamond mining concessions in the area under ZCDC.

But the parliamentary committee on mines in the previous Parliament recommended that ZCDC be shut down because it was illegally constituted, while it was also revealed that former Mines secretary Francis Gundyanga and an unidentified individual held shares in the company. Government said it later bought them out.

“The diamond policy will be announced by November to give guidance on the operations of the diamond industry in the country, and specifically to deal with issues of ZCDC,” Chitando told the parliamentary committee on mines.

ZCDC expects to produce three million carats this year, up from 1,6 million last year, while production could hit 12 million carats in 2023.

Chitando also gave an overview of the mining sector, where he said currently, there were three major producers of platinum – Unki, Zimplats and Mimosa mines – which were either at stages of expansion, exploration, or finishing major projects.

“We are targeting that the final funding arrangements for the Great Dyke Investments be done by December, and we expect to see a major doubling up of the platinum sector through value addition,” he said.

Chitando told the committee he expects a total of 34 tonnes of gold by year end, a new record.

“The overall projection of gold is to get to 100 tonnes per annum, and this will be done through increasing support for the small-scale miners. There will be a $100 million facility for medium and large-scale miners,” Chitando said

NewsDay

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly cracked the whip on top ally and State residences principal director Douglas Tapfuma, who has been implicated in alleged corrupt deals, including the disappearance of $6,4 million at Hwange Colliery.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa
Tapfuma, who replaced, Dzapasi Tizora, a top ally of former President Robert Mugabe in January this year, has now been relegated to a less influential post of principal director (PD), monitoring and evaluation in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).

Coxwell Chigwana is the new principal director of the State House, according to tweet by the Information ministry late Tuesday evening.

“We have noted a number of media inquiries regarding the position of principal director at the State House Residence. PD Douglas Tapfuma has been reassigned as PD monitoring and evaluation in the OPC. Coxwell Chigwana takes over as PD at the State Residence,” the ministry said.

The tweet came after NewsDay tried in vain to secure a comment from the same ministry during the day, with secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana professing ignorance of the shake-up.

“Reassignments and redeployments are a normal part of civil service life,” Mangwana later told NewsDay yesterday.

Well-placed sources said Tapfuma was facing several allegations, including abusing Mnangagwa’s name and using letters from the President’s Office to facilitate the importation of vehicles for friends and relatives duty-free.

The same letters were also allegedly being used to evade paying Zimbabwe National Road Administration toll gate fees.

According to the sources, the reassignment, instigated by Mnangagwa, has been done to pave way for investigations into Tapfuma’s alleged misconduct.

The Zanu PF leader was reportedly irked after his name was dragged into the Hwange Colliery saga where $6,4 million meant for exploration could not be accounted for.

“He (Mnangagwa) had received many complaints about Tapfuma before, but the Hwange issue was the last straw,” a well-placed source said.

Last week, the Zanu PF Midlands central committee member was implicated in the Hwange Colliery scandal where the company’s board members claimed he was working with one Shephard Tundiya to call shots at the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed company.

Mnangagwa and Mines minister Winston Chitando’s names were also dragged into the scandal after Tundiya reportedly summoned the Hwange Colliery board members to State House where they were met by Tapfuma, who claimed he was representing the President.

The board members and senior managers claimed they were abducted in mafia-style by Tundiya, who claimed he was well-connected to Mnangagwa.

They also claimed they were summoned to State House to see Mnangagwa, but only met Tapfuma in the company of Tundiya, who ordered the reinstatement of fired managers.

Tapfuma is also accused of abusing his office to prejudice the State.

“He is accused of abusing State machinery and apparatus by giving friends and relatives letters from the President’s Office for them to be exempted from paying duty,” an official said.

“Apart from that, he is also being investigated for nepotism after he facilitated the employment of his relatives in various government departments.”

Tapfuma, a former Zanu PF provincial administrator, was promoted to principal director in Mnangagwa’s office when the latter was still Vice-President in 2014. He was roped in as principal director based at State House in January.

Sources claimed Tapfuma used the letters from the President’s Office to assist a fellow Zanu PF official from Midlands to import Toyota Quantum commuter omnibuses without paying duty. He is also alleged to have imported some farm and industrial equipment from South Africa without paying duty.

NewsDay

FORMER ICT minister, Supa Mandiwanzira yesterday described his night at Matapi police cells in Mbare as uncomfortable.

Mandiwanzira, who is facing two counts of abuse of office, spent the night at Matapi before appearing in court yesterday where he was released on $2 000 bail.

When asked whether he had complaints against the police, through his lawyers Brian Hungwe and Selby Hwacha, Mandiwanzira said the Matapi cells were uncomfortable.

“There are no formal complaints against the police but the court may note that the Matapi cells were uncomfortable, there was no reason for the former minister to sleep at the cells as the matter was ready for trial yesterday,” said Hwacha.

Supa Mandiwanzira after being released on $2,000 bail.

The State led by Michael Chakandida opposed the sentiments raised by the defence saying that they were still within their 48 hours allowed by law and the matter was not yet ready for trial.

The matter was presided over by chief magistrate, Mishrod Guvamombe who granted Mandiwanzira $2000 bail.

The other bail conditions included reporting twice a week at Borrowdale Police Station, to provide surety in the form of tittle deeds valued at $100 000 and not to interfere with State witnesses in the matter.

Magistrate Guvamombe commended the State for being able to provide the list of State witnesses before trial as they have often failed to provide the list before trial in other high profile cases.

The State witnesses are Dr Sam Kundishora, Reward Kangai, Alex Marufu, Ozias Bvute and Brian Mutandiro.

It is the State’s case that in the first count, NetOne being represented by former CEO Reward Kangai and a Chinese company Huawei Technologies, entered into a contract for the supply of network expansion and modernisation equipment, the value of the contract was US$218 954 843.

After securing the contract, NetOne secured a loan through the Ministry of Finance and Huawei began implementing the contract immediately.

On January 19, 2015, a South African company called Megawatt Energy wrote a correspondence to former Minister Mandiwanzira introducing themselves, they sought a meeting and they later met to engage Megawatt purportedly on pro-bono basis.

Megawatt Energy Pvt Ltd is owned by Liu Xiadong and co-owns a business property with Blue Nightingale in Johannesburg where Mandiwanzira is a director.

Mandiwanzira is alleged to have subsequently engaged Megawatt to review the pricing made by Huawei without going to tender and regardless of the fact that there was no contract between Megawatt and Netone, Megawatt did the work that Huawei had been contracted to do.

On October 12, it is alleged that Mandiwanzira held a meeting at the ministry office boardroom in which he gave a chronology of how the Ministry came to contract Megawatt as well as the mandate given to Megawatt.

In February 2016, Mandiwanzira allegedly called another meeting which was attended to by the NetOne board claiming that Megawatt had successfully negotiated the price down to $30 million and directed Alex Marufu and Reward Kangai to pay $4 million to Megawatt, a demand to which they refused.

In the second count, it is alleged that Mandiwanzira fraudulently brought his Personal Assistant Raymond Chinembiri who was employed by AB Communications to be the Ministry’s representative to sit on both POTRAZ and USF board meetings.

By this move, Mandiwanzira violated the Corporate Governance Principles in that he was supposed to appoint appropriately qualified personnel from the ministry that was knowledgeable in the area of mandate.

Chinembiri was paid a total of $35000 in allowances.

The matter was remanded to November 30 for interim and the trial date is set to commence on 10 or 11 December.

Correspondent|A VIDEO of a raucous between musician Andy Muridzo and his wife Chido Manyange aka Mai Keketso is flaming on social media.

Rumour since Wednesday morning was that the dreadlocked musician who seemingly has hot pants had abandoned his wife and moved in with a new flame a one Nyarie Mukucha. His wife apparently found out and tried to smoke him out.

This isn’t Andy Muridzo’s first rodeo act, however, as he once set tongues wagging when he dated popular pole dancer and stripper Beverly Sibanda whom he reportedly bedded without using protection much to the shock of most Zimbabweans.

Some social media analysts have however dismissed the video as a cheap publicity stunt, possibly to stay afloat in these trying times or as a precursor to a new project/album!

IT never rains but pours for Obert Mpofu, the Zanu PF secretary for administration who is being frustrated by a group of former liberation war fighters who want him out.

Dr Mpofu is topping the list of under fire Zanu PF functionaries that have received a hostile reception at the party headquarters.

Trouble is brewing in Zanu PF, with some militant war veterans pushing for former Cabinet ministers now stationed at the party’s Harare headquarters to be expelled from the former liberation movement for alleged corruption and undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This comes as Mnangagwa and his government are under pressure to stabilise the country’s sickly economy which has been in turmoil ever since Finance minister Mthuli Ncube unveiled a cocktail of measures aimed at mitigating the situation.

The old Zanu PF guard — which includes former ministers who were shunted to the party’s HQ after Mnangagwa appointed a new Cabinet – could become victims of the disgruntled war veterans who were “envious” of these bigwigs’ mouth-watering perks which are similar to those of serving ministers.

Mnangagwa re-assigned these “chefs” to the party’s headquarters — commonly referred to as Shake Shake House in Harare street lingo — in a bid to breathe new life in government and to strengthen the former liberation movement’s administration.

War veterans chairpersons drawn from the country’s 10 provinces recently petitioned Mnangagwa in this regard, demanding the removal of Zanu PF’s secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and fellow former ministers David Parirenyatwa, Patrick Chinamasa and Sydney Sekeramayi — who are all politburo members.

DailyNews

Correspondent|POLICE have launched a manhunt for the Smart Express bus driver, Cosmas Marembo, who fled together with his conductor soon after surviving the horrific bus accident that killed 47 people yesterday evening.

The accident involving Bolt Cutter and Smart Express buses occurred at around 5.30pm at the 166km peg along the Harare-Mutare Road.

Manicaland police spokesperson Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa confirmed that they were keen to interview Marembo.

“We are still searching for the Smart Express bus driver Cosmas Marembo who fled together with his conductor soon after surviving the horrific bus accident on Wednesday.

“We appeal to members of the public who could be aware of his whereabouts to contact the nearest police station,” said Insp Kakohwa.

More to follow…

PARLIAMENT has no room for mum and redundant legislators who contribute nothing during sessions and committees, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda warned yesterday.

Addressing portfolio committee chairpersons in Bulawayo, Advocate Mudenda said appropriate action will be taken against silent legislators to avoid wasting taxpayers’ funds. He said the non-contributors will be reported to their political parties for inefficiency.

“I have not heard or received in writing a complaint from any of the chairpersons complaining that this honourable MP is not contributing. I have said it from the beginning during the induction of legislators that where there is no performance by an honourable Member of Parliament, let us know within one year so that we can advise the party from where that member comes and say that this member has not performed,” said Adv Mudenda.

He said an audit would be carried out to check on the performance of the legislators.

“In the House it’s very easy, we will carry out an audit, those who remain silent perpetually, we will advise the respective political parties because you are not representing the interests of that party. You are there, just there keeping quiet. So in committees it’s the same, tell me who is giving problems, tell me who is perpetually absent, tell us! You have a register; if you read the rules they clearly tell you that there must be an attendance register. We must do self cleaning,” said Adv Mudenda.

He said page 153 of the Standing Rules and Orders clearly states that the committee clerk must at the conclusion of any meeting of the select committee, submit to the Clerk of Parliament a return showing the day of the meeting, the hour the committee met and adjourned, the name and time of arrival of any member of the committee who attended a meeting of the Committee from the commencement of its business.

Advocate Mudenda said the clerk should also supply the name and time of departure of any member of the Committee who left and did not return before the meeting was adjourned or the committee had concluded its business.

The Speaker of Parliament said the rules also demand names of members absent with or without leave and members entitled to sitting allowances. “In the last five years I have not seen an attendance list which indicates continuous absence and those who are absent perpetually are short-changing the tax payer. They are short-changing the party that sponsored them to come to Parliament,” said Adv Mudenda.

He said legislators must not hide behind their party’s whipping system to contribute nothing.

“There is this thing of whipping. I belong to a party but I have not heard that you are whipped to say nothing. So those that remain quiet should not put forward whipping to cover up for their inactivity and ignorance,” said Adv Mudenda.

A research carried out by women empowerment non-governmental organisation, the Women in Politics Support Unit (Wipsu) last year showed that only 35 MPs out of 350 have been actively contributing to debates in Parliament in the four years they had been elected.

The Wipsu research shows 52 MPs are mum and not contributing at all to debate in Senate and the National Assembly.

“Parliament has 350 MPs and as at December 2016, 125 of those are women, which constitutes 34 percent and which is the highest number ever of female MPs,” the report read.

“As at March 2017, since the beginning of the Eighth Session of Parliament, a cohort of 35 MPs has been speaking actively in both Houses of Parliament while 52 MPs have not said anything and this group of MPs is made up of both men and women.”

HIGH Court Judge Justice David Mangota on Wednesday 7 November 2018 dismissed an application filed by a relative of a shooting victim of the August 2018 violence challenging the legality of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s executive decision to appoint the Commission of Inquiry set up to probe the post-election violence including its composition.

Allison Charles, whose brother Gavin Dean Charles was shot and killed alongside other civilians in post-election violence on 1 August 2018, had together with Counselling Services Unit (CSU) petitioned the High Court challenging the legality of Mnangagwa’s executive decision to appoint the Commission of Inquiry, its composition and its terms of reference.

In the application filed by Chris Mhike of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and argued by Advocate Eric Matinenga, Charles and CSU contended that Mnangagwa’s decision on 29 August 2018 to appoint the Commission of Inquiry was unconstitutional and that the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission or the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission should be appointed to conduct investigations into the 1 August 2018 violence.

Charles and CSU also wanted Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission or the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission to be authorised to appoint members of the Commission of Inquiry and to formulate the commission’s terms of reference.

Charles and CSU also wanted the appointment of Professor Lovemore Madhuku and Professor Charity Manyeruke to serve as Commissioners in the Commission of Inquiry to be set aside on the basis that they are biased in favour of government and the ruling ZANU PF party.

But Justice Mangota on Wednesday 7 November 2018 dismissed the application after ruling that the Commission of Inquiry was legally set up and that the conduct of the authority which constituted it is above reproach.

Justice Mangota accused Charles and CSU of seeking to derail the work of the Commission of Inquiry and also ruled that the appointment of Professor Madhuku and Professor Manyeruke to serve as Commissioners cannot be challenged.

Jane Mlambo| Police have launched a manhunt for the Smart Express bus driver, Cosmas Marembo, who fled together with his conductor soon after surviving the horrific bus accident that killed 47 people yesterday evening.

More to follow…

VIDEO BELOW

Terrence Mawawa|There is pandemonium at Masvingo Provincial Hospital as authorities are demanding referral letters from critically ill patients- without offering any medical assistance.

Hundreds of patients, including some who are critically ill are being asked to produce referral letters from local clinics.

Hundreds of patients are being forced to resort to natural herbs due to the refusal by authorities at the biggest referral centre in Masvingo Province to officer medical services to individuals who fail to produce referral letters.

“People are dying as a result of the mishap at Masvingo Provincial Hospital.The situation must be resolved as a matter of urgency,” said a Masvingo based medical practitioner.

However Masvingo Provincial Medical Director Dr Amadeus Shamu told a Masvingo based weekly publication there was need to decongest the crowded provincial hospital.

“We embarked on the move in accordance with provisions enshrined in the Medical Act. We want to decongest the hospital because most of the cases can be dealt with at local clinics,” said Shamu.

Terrence Mawawa|A Zanu PF MP has been implicated in shadowy black market fuel deals at a time Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s government is blaming the opposition for the economic quagmire in the country.

Zaka West MP Onias Murambiwa is allegedly involved in illicit black market deals, an accusation he denies.

“The MP obtains fuel under his Parliamentary privileges and sadly he has chosen to abuse his esteemed position by forming secret syndicates with black marked dealers,” sources in Zaka said.

“The MP is working with pirate taxi drivers and touts to exploit the already suffering local residents and villagers,” an official at Zaka Rural District Council offices said yesterday.

Former Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, (ZIMRA) commissioner general Gershem Pasi who was arrested yesterday on allegations of criminal abuse of office has been since been released on $2 000 bail.

Pasi pleaded with the court to lower his bail fee which had been pegged at $5000, committing to pay $2000 which both parties eventually settled for.

It is the state’s case that Pasi acted unlawfully and inconsistent with his duties by engaging a third party in the acquisition of the information management system in the process causing an amount of US$23 763 780.65 to be transferred out of the country to beneficiaries who are yet to be determined.

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced that the Rusape bus accident that left 47 people dead will be declared a national disaster to enable the mobilisation of resources to offer treatment to injured victims and support to families of the bereaved members.

In a statement released this afternoon, Mnangagwa said he has since directed the responsible minister to declare the accident a national disaster calling on traffic enforcement agents to respond the rampant lawlessness on the roads and ensure a culture of compliance and safety on the roads.

He added that the use of unroadworthy vehicles on the roads amount to criminal breach of trust between transporters and commuters who expect and deserve a safe transit.

Below are snippets from Mnangagwa’s statement;

“That so many lives were lost in just one traffic incident raises serious questions about the behaviour on our roads, especially that of those responsible for offering and operating passenger services. The use of vehicles that are not roadworthy, or drivers who do not seem to care for passenger safety, amount to criminal breach of trust between bus operators and paying commuters who expect and deserve safe transit. Both the responsible Ministry and our law enforcement agents must use this bloody accident to close in on all those bus operators, drivers and road users who put profit and speed above life, thus causing avoidable carnage on our roads. Equally, the rampant lawlessness now evident on our highways and especially on our dense urban roads, must now meet with a robust response from our traffic enforcement agents whose duty is to ensure a culture of compliance and safety on all our roads.

“In view of the magnitude of the loss of human life in this one incident, I have since directed that the responsible ministry takes steps to declare this accident a national disaster in order to enable the mobilisation of resources both for the treatement of all those injured and for the support to families which have lost their loved ones.

Jane Mlambo| Fresh details on the cause of the Rusape bus disaster that claimed 47 lives yesterday evening, have emerged.

According to Acting Officer Commanding Rusape District Isaac Gowe, who spoke to ZBC News this morning, the accident occurred when the two buses side swiped, and not a head-on collision as widely reported on social media.

Gowe added that 40 people died on the spot, 5 died on their way to hospital last night, while 2 more passed on this morning, bringing the death toll to 47.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Joel Biggie Matiza and Manicaland Minister of State Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba have visited the Rusape bus accident scene today.

A command centre has since been set up at Rusape General Hospital following the Rusape bus accident which has so far claimed 47 lives.

The hospital has been overwhelmed this morning as relatives visit to identify their relatives.

It has been clarified that when the media put the death toll at 47 last night, the figure actually stood at 45.

According to Acting Officer Commanding Rusape District Isaac Gowe, who spoke to ZBC News this morning, 40 people died on the spot, 5 died on their way to hospital last night, while 2 more passed on this morning, bringing the death toll to 47.

It has also been clarified that the accident occurred when the two buses side swiped, and not a head-on collision.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families of the tragedy on the Harare-Mutare Road last night pic.twitter.com/z7YUJ2SWtA

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) November 8, 2018

The accident that has claimed lives in Rusape is very sad and shocking. We have lost our loved ones and we must mourn as a nation. This is a dark day for #Zimbabwe. May they all rest in peace.

— Raj Modi (@RModiByoSouth) November 7, 2018

I would like to convey my condolences to the bereaved families after the unfortunate bus accident in Rusape which claimed 47 lives. May they be comforted & strengthened through this trying time. I urge all drivers to be cautious & more so especially as we enter the festive season

— Dr. Nkosana Moyo (@DrNkosana) November 8, 2018

My prayers are with the bereaved families & friends who have lost their loved ones in the #RusapeBusAccident.It’s saddening.I pray for the injured to get well soon. Gvt must move in to assist all the injured and deceased’s families during this trying time.R.I.P our dear departed!

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) November 8, 2018

An adopted son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Abhallha Mone Moussa Moummare has engaged a local lawyer to challenge his continued detention at Harare Remand Prison where he has been held for five years without trial.

Top lawyer, Charles Warara yesterday confirmed that he had been engaged by Moummare to challenge his detention after he fled the oil-rich country at the height of a civil war in 2011.

“Yes, I have been engaged to assist him to seek legal recourse as he had been on remand for many years and whatever his case is, it should come to an end,” Warara said.

Gaddafi was deposed from power and killed in 2011 after the popular Arab Spring uprising which swept across the North African Arab region.

In July this year, Moummare approached the High Court on a self-representation basis challenging his continued detention.

“I have requested that he be brought to the High Court today, so that I could talk to him and be able to represent him with a full understanding of his case. I have not yet talked to him other than seeing his papers that narrate his case. I will need to get his word so that we can get on the matter,” Warara stated.

According to his handwritten High Court application, which was then forwarded to Warara for legal assistance, Moummare said he came to Zimbabwe because his father had a good relationship with the country’s leadership.

“I left Libya after the assassination of my father in 2011 to seek asylum and protection in Zimbabwe due to the good relationship between Libya and Zimbabwe,” he wrote in the application.

Moummare said when he arrived in the country in April 2014, he presented himself to authorities with the hope that he would be taken to a refugee camp.

But instead, he was taken to the remand prison and no charges have been levelled against him so far.

NewsDay

Correspondent|ZIMBABWE’S leading brewer has said the government dithering over a controversial tax on money transfers has led to panic buying of beer and a disruption in fuel supplies, overshadowing a bumper six-month period of sales.

Delta Beverages, which has the world’s biggest brewer as its largest shareholder, said business confidence has been undermined in the country by “conflicting statements from authorities”.

The shortage of fuel has disrupted deliveries while a surge in demand has made the market unpredictable, it said in a results presentation on Wednesday.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube introduced the levy last month to help repair stretched state finances, only for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to announce a rethink after a wave of panic buying and a rise in basic-commodity prices.

Foreign-exchange shortages and austerity measures have also hurt consumers yet to see signs of an economic revival after the ouster of Robert Mugabe a year ago.

Delta’s performance in the six months to the end of September benefited from the optimistic mood that characterised the election period, with lager sales jumping 54% to $187m. Volumes passed their historical peak in 2012-2013, with sorghum beer production also rising.

— Source Bloomberg

A LOCAL traditional leader in Masvingo on Tuesday took advantage of the signing ceremony of the Great Zimbabwe Preservation Project — where the United States donated $475 000 — to beg the superpower to remove sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Chief Murinye (pictured), who had been asked to give a vote of thanks after the donation made through US ambassador Brian Nichols, appealed to the diplomat to inform President Donald Trump to lift the economic embargo on Zimbabwe.

“I thank you for the donation. The monuments fall under my jurisdiction and it is my ancestors who built it. However, I beg you to go and tell President Trump to remove sanctions on Zimbabwe,” he said.

During the ceremony earlier on, Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Ezra Chadzamira had also said if the US was really sincere with Zimbabwe, then it should make wholesale concessions.

“Let us be guided by the desire for our two countries to create a better world for our people. This is the environment which will make our monuments safe and protected. In the event that we disagree on other issues, let us be guided by this medical principle: you can cut a limb to save life. You cannot take away life to save a limp. May your assistance to the Great Zimbabwe monuments today be symbolic of broader participation by the US in the realisation of the President of Zimbabwe’s vision of making our country an upper middle economy by 2030,” Chadzamira said.

US Ambassador Brian Nichols with Masvingo Provincial Minister Ezra Chadzamira Nichols, in his speech had, however, reiterated that the US was committed to assisting Zimbabwe.

“Our presence in Zimbabwe continues to be a sign of the American people’s friendship and commitment to Zimbabwe. We are also building a new embassy modelled on the great Zimbabwe monuments. Our project has injected more than $14 million into the Zimbabwean economy and employed 1 200 locals. We have an unwavering commitment to the people and culture of Zimbabwe and the friendship between our two peoples,” Nichols said.

World Monuments Fund programme director for sub-Saharan Africa Stephen Battle, said he was grateful for the trust bestowed on them by the country to preserve the site.

“We are grateful for the US embassy and the people of the US for the generous support for this project. I would also like to thank the people of Zimbabwe for the trust they placed in us to carry out this project. We understand the significance of the Great Zimbabwe Monuments for the people of Zimbabwe, and I pledge it will be treated with the care and respect it deserves,” he said.

GWERU City Council management has put forward an expenditure of $660 000 to go towards the purchase of all-terrain 4×4 vehicles for top officials and a posh. $150,000 Mercedes-Benz for mayor Josiah Makombe.

The itemised expenditures are included in the 2019 budget submission presented to thematic committees and key stakeholders by the finance director Edgar Mwedzi this week. Management intends to buy six all-terrain 4×4 vehicles — at $85 000 each — for the five department heads, Mwedzi (Finance), Sam Sekenhamo (Health Services), Shingirayi Tigere (Housing and Community Services) and Robson Manase (Engineering Services) as well as town clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza and chamber secretary Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe.

Council also intends to purchase a Mercedes Benz C class for mayor Makombe at a cost of $150 000.

Gwatipedza confirmed the plans and said since appointment in 2016, she and the city council directors have not been given brand new vehicles, which were part of their conditions of service.

“Yes, the plan is to include purchase of the vehicles in the 2019 budget. Gweru city recruited directors in 2016 and since then, no vehicles were purchased for them. As you may be aware, before April 2016, it was only the director of finance who was substantive,” she said.

Gweru Residents Forum chairperson Charles Mazorodze, however, immediately shot back at the plans to spend big on the vehicles, saying council must prioritise service delivery problems bedevilling the city.

“The proposed purchase of a luxurious mayoral Benz C Class to the tune of $150 000 for mayor Makombe and six 4×4 vehicles for city directors is an insult to residents, especially considering the serious financial crisis of revenue income at council. The plans come at a time when the road network system is in a deplorable state and the traffic lights in the central business district are all not working,” he said.

“The city is grappling with the typhoid outbreak and the rehabilitation of the public toilet systems is at its low in the city. Water and sewer services need serious funding to resuscitate them. These are areas where money must be channelled to instead of the cars.” He said it was better to channel the money towards purchase of more skip bins to tackle the erratic garbage collection problem in suburbs.

Makombe, however, told Southern Eye that the proposed purchases were still being discussed at management level, but he also expressed concern over such extravagance.

“We are yet to sit down with councillors to deliberate on those figures, but there is no way we can buy cars at such expensive prices. Our priorities as of now are water and service delivery for our residents,” he said.

“I think the planned cost of a car for my use is too much. I do not even think a Merc will do for a mayor who is not executive. What is needed is a car to use, but not an expensive one.”

He rubbished reports that council management intended to pamper him with the vehicle so he would not fight the plans to purchase the vehicles.

“I am principled and I will not go that route if that is what they think. I will put service delivery first, and above all, I have my own cars and so I cannot be enticed by one,” he said.

Cecil Zvidzai, the MDC Alliance national secretary for local government, declined to comment on the matter, but indicated that he would engage the councillors and management as “an interested stakeholder”.

The proposed 2019 budget is pegged at $44 million. Gweru is financially crippled and between January and August this year managed to collect $12 080 149 out of a targeted $38 533 380.

— NewsDay

Correspondent|POLICE last night arrested former Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) commissioner-general Gershem Pasi over criminal abuse of office.

“I can confirm that Pasi has been arrested. He is likely to appear in court tomorrow (today).

“He is being charged with contravening section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as a public officer,” police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told announced last night.

Pasi was suspended in April 2016 after allegations of corruption involving vehicle imports. He eventually quit the tax agency in May last year.