Embattled prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD) leader Walter Magaya has poured his heart out about his legal woes, but said the silver lining was that government has agreed to put his controversial HIV/Aids drug through clinical tests to ascertain its safety and authenticity.

Speaking at his Waterfalls church during a Friday service held just after attending court where he was charged with distributing and advertising his medicine without regulatory approval, Magaya said he was happy he has been given a chance to prove the efficacy of his product.

His arrest came moments after he appeared at a press conference in Harare with Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo, where he apologised for making a much criticised claim that he had discovered a cure for HIV/Aids, through a herbal mix called Aguma.

“After I had given my public apology, with the minister, when I was going down from the ministry building, I saw a lot of police, riot, but after talking to them, they responded well and we went to the police camp.

“So, I went to the police, gave my statement, after giving my statement, they asked me some questions, around 12 midnight, I was then released, came back home, went to court today (Friday).

“I am not allowed to speak (on why he was arrested) and to comment on the matter because it’s already in the courts, but I will just tell you one sentence.

“The reason why I was arrested is because of the announcement, they said I did break the law by announcing what I have without a licence, but the good news of it is that I met the government yesterday, the minister, the deputy ministers and other officials and we have agreed, they have agreed to test,” he said amid uproarious applause from his congregants.

“So, the stage we are getting into now, my cry has always been, give me a chance, so I think…through the voice of the minister, they have agreed to give the product a chance,” Magaya said to wild and animated guffaws from his congregants.

Moyo yesterday told the Daily News there are certain processes that need to be followed for the drug to be tested.

“No one is above the law when dealing with clinical processes, they should follow the country’s laws, even when he (Magaya) apologised we said it’s okay, but we cannot stop the raids.

“Let me stress no one is above the law. The country’s laws have to be respected by everyone. He has to apply through the permanent secretary and then a team will be set up to look into his drug,” Moyo said, insinuating the process has not yet started.

Magaya, who is out of custody on $300 bail, is alleged to have destroyed some of the exhibits by flushing his herbs down the toilet and burning their containers, but some half-burnt containers were allegedly recovered during a search at his Marlborough premises.

According to court papers, the charismatic preacher is accused of announcing on his television channel that he had discovered Aguma, which he claimed was a cure for HIV/Aids, cancer and other ailments.

These sensational claims triggered a fierce backlash from both authorities and medical experts, who robustly criticised the claim, saying it had the potential of destabilising the government’s fight against HIV/Aids as some people were likely going to default on their medication.

However, Magaya on Friday said he was willing and able to have the product tested.

“Not even a single person is allowed to have it until they have (been) satisfied. My words still stand the same, I have never, there was never any day that I have said people must stop taking ARVs. I have never…said that.

“People must take their medication and it’s very, very important. Remember, I have always said that medicine is a blessing from God, so they are going to give what I have a very tight test, very tight one to see if what I said is there.

“So, today, we are actually preparing the schedule of how we are going to do it.

“I don’t know how the scientists are going to decide, but (based) on my general knowledge, we are going to choose volunteers…it’s a process that needs the scientists to describe, so I will give them a chance to describe how the process goes.

“But the good news…after all this…is they have agreed to test. To me…just for them to agree to test…that’s the good news, that’s the best news I received yesterday (last Thursday)..

“Please forgive whoever needs to be forgiven, educate whoever needs to be educated. What the police did was okay in terms of the law,” he said.

Magaya’s claims, however, comes at a time when government is currently on an ambitious $103 million five-year HIV-testing strategy to raise the number of people who know their status.

Zimbabwe has an HIV prevalence rate of 13,7 percent according to 2016 national estimates and has been making strides to fight the disease through procuring essential drugs for people living with the virus.

– DailyNews

By Jane Mlambo| Human rights campaigner, Farai Maguwu has dismissed ongoing speculation that the audio recording making rounds on social media in which Acie Lumumba real name ‘William Gerald Mutumanje’ is heard repeatedly emphasizing that he was failing to get hold of Kuda Tagwirei, as a calculated move to change perceptions and present the Sakunda owner as a clean businessman.

“This is not a leaked audio (Acie Lumumba and that shadow character discussing with him claiming to be Tagwirei’s blood brother). This was recorded after the young man was paid handsomely by Queen B to retract his claims. This is just plain crap. He repeats and emphasises that he is failing to get to Kuda (Tagwirei) a.k.a Queen B, to present him as a very professional, clean businessman. Mfana uyu is eating from both camps and its dangerous. He is really swimming in a crocodile infested lake. Lets see how it will end,” said Maguwu on his Facebook page.

LOADING BELOW….

WATCH:
Where is @PastorEvanLive ? The political prophet has called him a “foolish fool” pic.twitter.com/kt3B7ysZfH

— Larry Moyo (@larry_moyo) November 5, 2018

https://twitter.com/finley_198/status/1059316652813283328

Hwange Colliery fracas LIVE in parliament https://t.co/vEMSfO8dIT

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 5, 2018

By A Correspondent| There was chaos at parliament in Harare Monday morning when the Hwange Colliery administrator bunked parliament’ s question and answer before the portfolio committee for mine’s and energy. Below were the LIVE scenes and at the time of publishing, the portfolio chairperson, Temba Mliswa had called his members into a side private caucus meeting. (THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY):

VIDEO LOADING…

Jane Mlambo| Roil cooking oil producers, United Refineries has threatened to blacklist retailers who are in the business of withholding supplies received for sell to customers.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Busisa Moyo said they supplied 150 000 units into Bulawayo and surrounding markets last week but some errant retailers chose to disadvantage customers by withholding the ‘precious gold’ from customers.

URL Cooking Oil Update:We sold & delivered over 300mt (150,000 units) last week into the Bulawayo & surrounding markets. We are concerned that product is being withheld or bundled at till point. We will be blacklisting errant retailers for the next round of deliveries.

— Busisa Moyo (@BusisaMoyo) November 5, 2018

Zimbabwe is currently battling acute shortage of basic commodities including cooking oil, bread, sugar among others.

Government has moved in to open the borders for imports but there is little uptake of the facility due to the high cost of getting foreign currency which is currently available on the black market at a premium.

A ZANU-PF Manicaland dialogue meeting last week nearly degenerated into a fistfight when some members were chased away as deep factionalism continues to rock the party.

Zanu-PF has allegedly been divided into two factions, one led by provincial party chairman and Home Affairs deputy minister Mike Madiro and the other one led by national party chairperson and Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri.

Some provincial executive committee members recently recommended the suspension of provincial political commissar Gift Kagweda who is said to be aligned to the Muchinguri faction.

Kagweda is being accused of writing a letter in September under the banner of Manicaland War Veterans Association passing a vote of no confidence in the Madiro-led provincial leadership.

Kagweda, who is the Manicaland war veterans chairman, accused the Madiro executive of incompetence. He argued that Madiro and his colleagues failed to drum up support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was beaten by MDC Alliance leader Chamisa in total votes cast during the July 30 plebiscite.

During the provincial executive meeting in Mutare last week, a committee that include some war veterans was set up to engage Kagweda to find out why he was not attending meetings despite holding a crucial position.

However, Madiro and a war veteran identified as Nancy Saungweme told the meeting that there was need for a dialogue with Kagweda.

Madiro set a committee led by a war veteran based in Chipinge Mike Mhlanga to meet Kagweda.

However, in yesterday’s meeting Kagweda surprised everyone when he came accompanied by districts war veterans’ chairpersons from the province.

“There was a war of words and the committee that was set by Madiro had to flee for their dear lives and as I am speaking to you they have not collected bus fares and they don’t have money for lunch because of the commotion,” said a source at the meeting.

A Zanu-PF employee who refused to be named confirmed the skirmishes.

“I don’t want to comment much, but all was not well, you should have been there to see it for yourself,” he said.

Mhlanga, who led the committee set by Madiro, refused to comment over the matter.

Kagweda was diplomatic, saying that all was well at the meeting.

“The meeting went on very well, but l am at a meeting at the moment,” he said.

Madiro told this publication that he was not yet briefed about what happened.

— NewsDay

THE National Aids Council (NAC) has rolled an extensive condom distribution drive in most HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) hotspots in Masvingo in a bid to reduce the high HIV burden in the province.

The initiative comes at the back of indications that the province is lagging behind in terms of condom uptake and usage making it difficult for programmers to realise meaningful results from their efforts as new cases of HIV and STIs are constantly increasing.

According to NAC statistics, HIV prevalence in Masvingo province is at 12.8 percent that is out of every 100 people an average of 12 people are living with HIV.

According to the NAC Provincial Manager for Masvingo, Mr Edgar Muzulu, the HIV hotspots in the province include Chibi Turn-O (Mhukahuru), Ngundu, Chibi Growth Point, Lundi, Chiredzi, Mhandamabwe in Chibi, Masvingo urban, Jerera Growth Point and Mpandawana Growth point in Gutu.

“In terms of key drivers of HIV in Masvingo province, factors such as multiple concurrent partners, low risk perception, low condom use especially in long term relations, low levels of male circumcision, age mixing or intergenerational relations, and transactional sex are some of the leading causes.

“Our hotspots are Masvingo urban, accounting for quite a number of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), we also have Jerera growth point, Chibi turn off, Ngundu and Chiredzi district also accounting for a number of STIs. For your own information STIs are a proxy to HIV infections,” said Muzulu.

A tour of the province by Editors from various media houses also indicated that the condom dispensers initiative has been well received by patrons from various sites including Truck Inns, Clubs and public hospital.

In Chiredzi however, the reopening of Chigarapasi beerhall has led to a spike in STIs in the area according to NAC.

Meanwhile, District Aids Coordinator for Gutu, Mr Pask Mukuwe said they had installed condoms dispensers in four beer and night clubs at Mpandawana Growth point and one at Gutu rural hospital.

“The condom dispensers concept came into play recently. It’s a program targeting our hotspots especially where sex workers run their trade. We know condoms can be accessed in hospitals and other places but this very concept we decided to take it to the places where high sexual activity takes place

“With this program, we are not anticipating a shortage in condoms even though we are dispensing them for free. We will be replenishing them time and again to ensure they never run out. The program now has two weeks but we a running massive awareness regards the issue,” said Mukuwe.

He added that before the introduction of dispensers, free condoms would be accessed in hospitals. He also said there was high sex work activity in the Gutu area even though some sex workers have devised a new model where they do their trade from the comfort of their homes away from the public eye. He also bemoaned the surge in the increase in sex workers numbers in Gutu with most of the new sex workers being young and underage girls.

“We now have a sex work sensitisation program where we talk to the girls with the aim of empowering sex workers. We also work in partnership with the ministry of health and child care in HIV treatment and care.

“We also have micro planning which is targeting sex workers where we have opened a clinic meant for sex workers every week on Tuesdays and Friday. The sex workers will be getting drugs tested and getting their medicines to those on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).”

The condom dispensers have a capacity to hold plus or minus 600 condoms at any given time and refills are done once the dispenser runs empty.

Meanwhile, DAC for Chivi district, Mr Jonathan Mashingaidze also applauded the Condom dispenser move which he says will go a long was in improving condom uptake in the district. Chivi currently has the highest HIV prevalence in Masvingo province currently standing at 14.6 percent while Bikita has 11 percent.

“We have dispensers at Chibi growth point and at Chibi Turn off. Chibi turn o is a high risk area and a hotspot since most truck drivers sleep over here and it’s a truck in.

“Highway corridors are the biggest hotspots and we are targeting these in our programing to ensure condom uptake increases so as to prevent infection or reinfection,” said Mashingaidze.

A reveller who only identified himself as Evans said they love the dispenser concept.

“I use condoms a lot, I am happy about this new program, at least now we can enjoy knowing very well that we don’t need to worry about buying condoms, we can always get them for free,” said Evans.

-Health Times

Leading beverages producer, Delta Corporation has raised red flags over delays by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to allocate them foreign currency needed to procure raw materials for its beer and soft drinks production.

According to Delta, they have not received foreign currency allocation in the past three weeks, leading to sporadic supply of its products on the market.

Delta company secretary Alex Makamure told NewsDay on Friday that the group requires
$5 million in foreign currency on a monthly basis to import raw materials.

“We have not yet received any foreign currency allocation for the past three weeks and this has negative impact on our production, as we require it to purchase raw materials needed to make soft drinks. The business requires at least US$5 million every month to meet its imported raw materials needs,” he said.

“Right now, we are not meeting the national demand in soft drinks and we also have a high demand in beer, in which we are trying to supply to consumers. So RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) needs to avail these funds in order for us to curb these challenges.”

Corporate executive manager Patricia Murambinda refuted claims circulating on the social media that the company would, resultantly, retrench.

“Delta is not retrenching any workers. Our soft drinks business is operating below capacity due to foreign currency shortages to import critical raw materials, especially concentrates, which has resulted in intermittent product supply gaps in the market,” she said.

“We continue to engage our banks and RBZ to avail the required foreign currency and they are doing the best they can to avail the required foreign currency.”

-Newsday

Correspondent|Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Raj Modi who promised he would donate his monthly salary during his tenure in Government to under-privileged people in Bulawayo, has kept the promise so far.

In keeping with his promise, Modi has donated his government salary for October 2018 to meet the medical costs of a patient at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo.

The patient, Brenda Zulu, suffered a stroke last week Friday.

“Today I donated my government salary to meet Brenda Zulu’s medical costs at Mater Dei Hospital. She had a stroke last week Friday. Get well soon Brenda,” Raj Modi said on Sunday.

Modi is the only Zanu-PF candidate who won a parliamentary seat in Bulawayo’s 12 constituencies. He was elected MP for Bulawayo South during the July 2018 harmonised elections.

Modi said last month that these monthly donations are the least he will do for the people of Bulawayo, whom he credits for his success.

Brenda Zulu’s medical costs at Mater Dei Hospital have been covered by Byo South MP Raj Modi (left) October salary. He is a deputy minister of Industry and Commerce.

Said Modi: “I am a successful businessman because of the people of Bulawayo. I am a Member of Parliament because of the people of Bulawayo and I was appointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce because I am a Member of Parliament, so I am a Minister because of the people of Bulawayo.

“While I can thank them all through words, I am compelled to show my gratitude by helping the under-privileged in our city. Therefore, I am making an undertaking to donate my entire salary every month to the needy. I will not touch or use a cent from that money. It will go to the poor, especially the children whom I love so much. I will also give to women, orphans, the elderly and people living with disabilities.”

The philanthropist said his humble monthly donation is an effort to contribute towards the national cause.

“However, I must hastily add that I am not going to help the people of Bulawayo South only but the people of Bulawayo, the city. I don’t care where you are from; if I have the opportunity to assist you, I will assist you. I know what it feels like to be poor. I have the emotional intelligence and the empathy that enables me to walk in the shoes of the underprivileged,” Modi said.

The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) will commence full-scale mining operations at its diamond fields in Chimanimani in the next two months, as it moves to increase diamond production.

ZCDC acquired the claims in Chimanimani from DTZ-OZGEO this year. Addressing stakeholders at the diamond security feedback meeting in Mutare last Friday, ZCDC chief executive Dr Morris Mpofu said the company had already started moving equipment to the new mine.

“Since we acquired Chimanimani from DTZ-OZGEO, we have been conducting exploration and working on the infrastructure development. We had not started full-scale mining so now we have completed most of the processes and we have gone through the tender process with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) for the contract miners. In the next 30-60 days we will be in full force mining in Chimanimani. We have already moved equipment to the mine,” he said.

He said the new mining operations would play an integral part in the economic growth of Manicaland and the country in general.

“Business growth is supposed to go on and on as we roll out new mining ventures for the benefit of the Manicaland province and the country. With the assistance of Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and environmental agencies, all things are going according to plan in line with mining laws and requirements,” he added.

ZCDC this year set aside at least $200 million to finance the opening of new mines in Manicaland as part of the mining group’s expansion initiative with the bulk of resources channelled towards conducting comprehensive exploration as well as opening additional mines, among other key priority areas.

The State miner has projected diamond production this year to increase to 3,5 million carats.

Dr Mpofu said the company was on a positive path towards increasing diamond production and achieving set targets.

“We need to have clarity of vision and that vision gets disturbed if we do not invest appropriately in diamond security and community development,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said the coming together of stakeholders was important in ensuring the security of the diamond sector.

“We should not have conflict when we are dealing with diamonds. We should not be fragmented but we need to come together as one and deliberate on important issues of security. In the past there was confusion and lack of coordination. That lack of coordination could disturb the smooth flow of business to diamond production, which can bring development to everyone,” she said.

“We cannot afford to ignore these fundamental issues because we are banking on the diamond resource to turn around the economy of this province and the nation at large.”

State Media

Correspondent|Flip flopping Acie Lumumba has been told to stop selling his soul for quick bucks and compromising himself.

Acie revealed that he was paid $40 000 for exposing Mnangagwa’s aides. He latter reversed the claim indicating new was not paid anything for exposing the rot.

Social media user Kudzai Karoro wrote the following comment on Lumumba’s Facebook post in which he was apologising to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for earlier statements accusing people close to Mnangagwa for destroying the country.

Acie Lumumba I don’t get you bro, we’ve spent the whole day listening to an audio clip you were recorded in begging to switch sides and help mukoma K, you said you sold your soul to the devil because guys from the mukoma K side failed to help you when you sent out an SOS.

When young bright minds like yourself willingly sell their souls for a quick buck we are doomed as a nation. Its unfortunate you’ve failed to realise the individual potential in you.

Government has amended the law that banned the buying and selling of incandescent light bulbs to now make even use of such lights an offence.

That means families could be fined not just for buying the old-style filament bulb, but also storing using in their homes. Businesses, schools and the like are not exempt.

“The use of incandescent lights is banned effective from September 1, 2018,” Energy Minister Joram Gumbo said, in new laws promulgated under Statutory Instrument 208 of 2018, recently.

The regulati0ns have a table of penalties, but generally use of inefficient bulbs (basically incandescent bulbs) under 1000W (the sort of bulb in a house) results in a $50 fine and seizure and destruction of the bulb.

Fines rise for selling or buying, generally $100 a household bulb, and jail sentences come into effect as offences become more serious.

In May 2017, Government, through energy regulator Zera, sponsors of the current amendments, passed a law banning the importation, manufacture or sale of conventional lights, such as Thomas Edison’s filament bulb, and fluorescent tubes.

Authorities are keen on pushing all consumers to switch to more efficient lighting such as the light emitting diode (LED). The idea is that this will help tackle the country’s two-decade power crisis, save up to 42 megawatts of electricity at any one timeand prevent the equivalent of 1 300 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions between now and 2030.

But after about 17 months since the ban came into force, not everyone has made the switch. Zera continues to battle stubborn retailers and wholesalers, mainly from Harare and Bulawayo, who continue to stock and sale the outlawed product. That’s despite the regulator’s glaring limitations due to a lack of manpower. The short-life energy guzzlers should now be all dead unless bought after the import ban.

To date, about 200 000 power-guzzling lights confiscated from several businesses have been destroyed in line with existing laws — and as a way by Zera to get Zimbabweans to listen to its message about the benefits of improved energy efficiency.

No more Mickey Mouse electricians

According to Sam Zaranyika, a senior electricity engineer with Zera, the amended law now makes it an offence to warehouse or to store the banned product, with fines for defaulting reaching $5 000 or two years jail. In the past, offenders were acquitted if they pleaded the stock they were holding was in transit (to another town or country).

Misleading or incorrect labelling will incur a fine of a minimum $25 for every bulb labelled wrongly. The updated version of the Electricity (Inefficient Lighting Products Ban and Labelling) Amendment Regulations also announce a series of measures aimed at preventing electrical accidents in the home and elsewhere while protecting public safety.

From September 1, only qualified electricians certified by a competent body will be allowed to wire houses.

No more backyard electricians and those that utilise such electricians face heavy penalties.

In the case of electrical faults, including those that result in death, state power supplier Zesa will be compelled to “inform the victims of electrical accidents or their next of kin of their rights” to be compensated for their loss.

“We are trying to rein-in the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (a subsidiary of Zesa),” Zaranyika told The Herald Business, by phone. “If there is an accident, it has to be investigated (by ZETDC) and whoever will be responsible, say for opening the wrong switch, will have to appear in court.”

Zaranyika added that those households who employ unqualified electricians will be “in serious trouble.”

Traditional lights target for curbing climate change

Old-fashioned lights have become a key target for governments seeking to curb climate change.

Several countries across southern Africa have outlawed the bulbs, blaming them for wasting quite large amounts of energy as heat.

For example, the incandescent light bulb, which creates light through electricity, heating a thin wire filament to about 3 000°C, converts just about 5 percent of energy it uses to light — the rest goes to waste as heat..

By comparison, Zera’s preferred alternatives for the incandescent, such as the light emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent, tend to cost more, but they last longer — about 3 to 5 years — and are more efficient at around 13 to 15 percent.

Zaranyika said the energy regulator is working together with tax collector Zimra and the Zimbabwe Republic Police to apprehend offenders of the lights ban. Zimra has been most effective bringing to book importers and wholesalers of banned lights

Until now, corporate offenders have often gotten off with a fine of as low as $100 — the equivalent of roughly 200 incandescent bulbs of several times the energy demand potential.

State Media

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Prophet Walter Magaya yesterday said he was ready to work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care who will conduct clinical trials on his Aguma herb following several engagements last week.

Prophet Magaya, who said he was happy Government had given him a chance, also said the Ministry of Health and Child Care would look into the report findings by an Indian company which conducted initial research on the herb.

“According to what the ministry has assured us, we are going to run very intense trials until they have come up with a position on the plant,” he said.

This announcement follows a joint Press conference by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Prophet Magaya in Harare last Thursday.

At the Press conference, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo said relevant local bodies would conduct clinical trials to test the efficacy of Aguma Onco, a herbal supplement which Prophet Magaya discovered and based his claims on.

The clinical trials will be funded by Prophet Magaya and both his team and several independent bodies and Government will conduct them for transparency, while a timeline for release of findings was not given.

Dr Moyo said any other person willing to have clinical trials in future would also fund them.

Dr Moyo said when he returned from Kazakhstan where he was attending a WHO meeting on primary health care, he engaged Prophet Magaya, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), the Secretary for Health and the National Institute of Health Research.

“We had a very good meeting and were very open with each other with Prophet Magaya. At the end of the day, he apologised for having gone a bit too fast and had not realised his popularity and the impact of his message to the general population of Zimbabwe.

“Normally you have other prophets who are of a small calibre, who will talk to a small congregation and there will be no distortions to what they say.

“He might have been under some form of pressure, but naturally he is now back in the fold,” Dr Moyo said.

He said they would ensure transparency.

“Prophet Magaya’s people will be part of the team. Everyone will be checking each other so that we do not come out with any falsification of results. We are an authority, a ministry, we are genuine and will make sure that whatever we do will be in line with laid-down laws.

“We will ensure the ministry and himself will carry out this clinical trial,” explained Dr Moyo.

He said it was not the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s responsibility to thwart anyone’s ideas and discoveries.

“We want discoveries in Zimbabwe. We have been using herbal concoctions from other countries. They come here and we accept them. We have so many of them coming from outside Zimbabwe, but they are not going through rigorous processes.

“But for this particular one because it started as a controversial product it is in everyone’s interest that it goes through a through testing process, a rigorous and scientific process so that at the end of the day we can say it was relevant or not,” he added.

He said Prophet Magaya’s popularity and the speed with which the “breakthrough” was announced might have causes some unease in medical cirxles.

“However, he now appreciates that there are regulations to be followed which is very good,” said Dr Moyo.

He emphasised that people should continue taking their ARV medications.

He also said new discoveries should got though scientific processes

State Media

A MAN from Bulawayo allegedly dumped his girlfriend at a lodge to avoid paying for a room they had booked overnight and she was apprehended trying to flee without settling the $355 bill.

The woman, a student at a local university, appeared in court facing a making off without payment charge.

Her boyfriend is on the run.

Cassandra Munzabwa (18) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure who remanded her out of custody on free bail to November 16 for commencement of trial.

She pleaded not guilty.

Ms Sharon Chidavaenzi an employee at Serenity Guest Lodge represented thelodge.

Allegations are that Terrence Kuvarega (28) on October 10 at around 11AM booked a room at Serenity Guest Lodge in Kumalo, Bulawayo.

He ordered juice, lunch, water bottles and snacks from room service and the total bill amounted to $355.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said: “Munzabwa joined her boyfriend Kuvarega and they spent the night together.

“The next day Kuvarega left the woman in the room.”

The court heard he told his girlfriend that he was going to a business meeting and would return.

Hours passed and Kuvarega who had promised to pay the bills after the meeting was nowhere to be found.

The court heard Munzabwa communicated with her boyfriend and he told her to escape.

She allegedly sneaked out of the lodge.

“They both went away without paying the bills,” said the prosecutor.

They were reported to the police who tracked down Munzabwa and arrested her.

Kuvarega is still at large.

State Media

A POLICE officer stationed at Tsholotsho who reportedly went missing last month was found dead in Gweru, with an inyanga who had lured him alleged to have killed him.

Constable Edmond Sibanda was allegedly stabbed once in the neck by the well-known traditional healer Pardon Nzanga (31) of Siyamuzula village, under Chief Siyamuchembo in Gokwe.

Cst Sibanda was last seen on October 10 during his deployment at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) offices in Tsholotsho.

He had been deployed to the Zec offices from October 10 to October 16 but he only reported for duty on the first day and disappeared.

Sources close to him said he disappeared while tracking $1 900 that he had mistakenly sent to a stranger via EcoCash while others say he had intentionally gone to Gokwe to consult the inyanga.

Police investigations have since established that the body of a man that was discovered by villagers at Bockloof Farm Hunters on October 17 and was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital was the missing police officer’s.

His family finally identified it on Saturday.

Nzanga allegedly admitted to police to having killed the victim and dumped the body in an area near Gweru.

He directed police to the location of the body, only for villagers to tell them that it had long been taken to the mortuary.

The villagers allegedly said the body was found facing downwards in an advanced state of decomposition.

A source close to investigations said Cst Sibanda’s relatives spotted Nzanga last week on Monday driving the deceased’s car at Gokwe Town after they had reported him missing on October 15.

When the late cop’s relatives approached the inyanga, a misunderstanding ensued and they reported him to the police leading to his arrest.

The inyanga later opened up about the murder to the police and the deceased’s body was identified by his relatives on Saturday in Gweru.

“The deceased’s relatives found Cst Sibanda’s vehicle — a silver grey Toyota Axio registration Number AED 7571 — at Gokwe Centre being driven by Nzanga in Gokwe Town for pirating purposes,” said the source.

A report was made to the police and investigations led to the recovery of Sibanda’s vehicle, R2 500 and his driver’s licence which the suspect was keeping in his wallet.

“Nzanga said he received the vehicle from a man only identified as Admore,” said the source.

“There was R2 500 stashed in a pocket at the back of a seat inside the vehicle. This led to strong suspicion that the suspect knew of the victim’s whereabouts and was immediately arrested,” said the source.

The inyanga last week escaped from police during crime scene indications at his homestead following his arrest after he was found in possession of a missing police officer’s belongings.

“Nzanga is the one he sent the money to. Upon follow-up, the inyanga ordered him to personally come to him to recover his money and that was the last we saw of him,” said the source.

Nzanga took to his heels after he had directed a police investigations team to his home, saying the missing man was there recovering after he had treated him for an undisclosed ailment. Police could not immediately comment on the matter.

State Media

William Gerald Mutumanje has made startling claims that a war was about to erupt between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

This bombshell comes after Mutumanje – who is more commonly known as Acie Lumumba – was last month briefly and irregularly appointed as the head of a communications taskforce in the Finance ministry.

“This fight is inevitable. There is a real fight starting between number one (Mnangagwa) and number two (Chiwenga).

“If I am going to be useful, can I please be useful to people who are my friends and who will also look after my interests than for people who are simply using me like the way you use a condom … you use it and throw it away. I hope you get back to me,” Mutumanje said.

Lumumba also claims that he was paid $40 000 to discredit the four suspended RBZ top officials, Mirirai Chiremba, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa and Azvinandaa Saburi, as well as businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

The maverick former Zanu-PF youth league official made the sensational claims in a recorded voice message in possession of the Daily News On Sunday.

After his earlier fingering of RBZ officials and Tagwirei in allegedly corrupt deals, Mutumanje had gone on to promise to “spill more beans” on other supposedly corrupt government officials – who he claimed were on the payroll of a powerful cartel said to be working hard to capture Mnangagwa – in the manner that the Gupta brothers in South Africa allegedly did on former president Jacob Zuma.

Last week, Mnangagwa reassigned the former Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander to exercise oversight in “procurement and research” instead.

The changes were published in the Government Gazette on Friday in Statutory Instrument 214 of 2018.

Chiwenga led a military coup that ousted former President Robert Mugabe in November last year, installing Mnangagwa in his place.

He assumed the Vice Presidency when Mnangagwa formed a new government, and the new leader had allowed him to maintain military oversight.

The blow is just the latest political setback suffered by Chiwenga, who has ambitions to be President, some say as early as the next election in 2023. Mnangagwa has systematically appointed tribal and political loyalists to government positions, including the Cabinet and key government institutions.

Earlier this week, the Zanu-PF Youth League appeared to shut the door on Chiwenga succeeding Mnangagwa after just one term by chanting the slogan “2023 ED-PFee”. Mnangagwa told the youths during their annual national assembly that he liked the slogan.

Source Daily News

Robert Mugabe has always been a well-kept secret with no one knowing exactly how much the Mugabes are worth. The only snippets has been the $1.35m diamond ring bought for Grace’s wedding anniversary. This publication revisited a Wikileaks Cable published under code: 01HARARE2547_a and it shed light on the Mugabe’s weal

The full extent of president Mugabe’s assets are believed to exceed US$1 billion in value, the majority of which are likely invested outside Zimbabwe. Inside Zimbabwe, the bulk of Mugabe s assets are reported to be in the form of real property. He and his wife have six residences, including a multi-story mansion still under construction in Harare, in addition to a number of farms around the country.

Mugabe’s nephew, Leo, is chairman of the integrated engineering group, a firm that received the multi-million dollar contract to build the new international Terminal at Harare airport (the terminal opened to traffic in April 2001).

We can only presume that Leo Mugabe made several million us dollars, at least, from the deal.

Mugabes are rumoured to Include everything from secret accounts in Switzerland, The channel islands, and the Bahamas to castles in Scotland.

Mugabe’s associates

Speaker of Parliament Mnangagwa, John Bredenkamp and Billy Rautenbach are known to be major beneficiaries of Zimbabwe s military contracts and mining concessions in the DRC, and they are presumed to channel some of that wealth to Mugabe.

How much wealth is generated or held by these individuals is unknown.

Laurent Kabila and Robert Mugabe
Mnangagwa is the chairman of the First National Bank of Congo and likely has a stake in the bank s management contract with a Zimbabwean firm. Bredenkamp’s company Tremalt is reported to have a 20 percent stake in the DRC mining parastatal Gecamines, which has granted substantial mining concessions to Zimbabwean companies controlled by Zanu-PF.

Zion Christian Church (ZCC) leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi yesterday described First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa as the “Mother Teresa” of Africa because of her philanthropy.

He praised the First Lady for being a humble mother of the nation who has less-privileged and marginalised communities at heart.
The First Lady is the patron of a charity foundation, Angel of Hope, a vehicle through which she runs and implements her development and charitable programmes.
She is also the champion of women and children’s health and has been conducting nationwide awareness campaigns against cervical and breast cancer.
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, following the intervention of the First Lady, the number of women getting screened
rose from 4 000 to 20 000 per month as compared to previous years.
The ZCC leadership asked the First Lady to bring her campaign to their annual “Ungano Yegore” and “Kudzaka Gomo” conferences
at Mbungo which take place before the farming season.
This saw thousands of female members undergoing cervical and breast cancer screening.
Addressing the female congregants, the First Lady urged them to constantly get checked in

order to combat the disease.The Herald

Reports of the anti-Chiwenga demonstration pencilled for 12 November by the ZANU-PF Youth League aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, both camps have moved in to beef up security for their leaders.

A source within the Youth League has said: “I can confirm that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has doubled his motorcade as suspicions are growing that the people aligned to the General are plotting a counter to our planned Presidential solidarity March and even to the extent of trying to stop it from happening. We are not sure what extent they are willing to go to in executing their plots.

“The other issue also is the General is operating like a ghost , appearing and disappearing. He is playing a secretive game and no one knows where he can be at what time. He removed the CIOs who were assigned to him and replaced them with military personnel and everywhere where he arrives like in public functions there is a Puma as an advance party. And this makes his a very divisive and dangerous person at the moment.

When asked on what really the fight is all about, the source said, “To understand what is going on in the party, you need to look at this from the pre-1980 context because that period sets the tone and the foundations for the relationships that we have today in the party.

“The General has always been a Mujuru person, has always been a Zezuru person, a part of the Zezuru mafia that has run ZANU PF since the days of the liberation struggle.

“Carry that into present day you will notice that everybody who was part of the Mugabe faction and everybody who was part of the Mujuru faction now goes to pay homage to number 2. They now recognise number 2 as their protector, the tree where they can get shade.

“If you were paying attention well at the function that was held to pray for the General in Hwedza you had the Mugabe faction people like Sidney Sekeramayi and David Parirenyatwa attending the event and posing for pics with Number 2. One may argue that there were there because they are from Mashonaland East but I can authoritatively informing you that their presence cuts deeper than that.

“As I said in the previous interview, Chiwenga is working closely with military personnel from Pamona barracks to neutralise the President and as the vanguard of the party we will not accept it.”

The source also revealed to us how Chris Mutsvangwa is the author of all the chaos happening in ZANU PF. They connected his links to Lumumba’s travels to South Africa during the period and how he linked Mthuli Ncube with Acie Lumba through his wife the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting.

As they say there is no love lost between Emmerson Mnangagwa and his former boss, Robert Mugabe as the former idolised his mentor  for spearheading the controversial land reform programme.

According to the state media, Mnangagwa said not everyone can be employed and that farming is more than being employed.

He said this while addressing a crowd of Zion Christian Church (ZCC) congregants during the
Kudzika Mugomo conference meant to pray for the rains at the church’s headquarters in Bikita.

“There are others who do not listen and always talk of unemployment when land can be a panacea to all our economic challenges. Do you think if all of you here, with your numbers, look for employment, will you all be employed? I think working on land is more than being employed. At the turn of the millennium, our former President
Mr Mugabe gave us land and it is now time to till that land –making it
productive. We never chose to be
between Zambezi and Limpopo, as a
country, and Zimbabwe is now the
Garden of Eden, it’s God who made
that.State media

By Dorrothy Moyo| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed regrets over the 2% transactional tax.

Government will review the two percent transactional tax on electronic money transfers to make it sensitive to the needs of both business and consumers, the ZANU PF leader.

Mnangagwa said a new law was being drafted to deal with “unexplained wealth and deposits” after which new tax measures would be announced.

In his weekly column in The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said his Government would always listen to business.

“Government took to heart the cry that the two percent transactional tax has compounded the tax burden for both business and for the consumer.

“Once the legal instrument we are crafting against unexplained wealth and deposits is in place, new measures will be announced to review the tax which, among other considerations, had been occasioned by illicit activities in the financial services sector,” said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa claimed that his Government would not consider policies that eroded wealth, wages, savings and pensions.

“A key consideration of both monetary and fiscal policy must be to secure the values of wealth, earnings, wages and savings in the economy. We should never make or allow decisions that erode value, as happened in 2008. On this one matter we stand firm and unmoved. No policy will be entertained whose net effect is to undermine value in the economy.”

Indications are that some of the measures Mnangagwa is speaking of will be captured in the 2019 National Budget that will likely be presented in late November.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said he is simplifying the tax structure and coming up with incentives for SMEs to contribute to the fiscus. – Additional reporting – state media

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Indian Vice President, Mr Venkaiah Naidu has left the country after a successful visit which saw him announcing a US$310 million line of credit for the upgrading of Hwange Thermal Power Station and an additional US$23 million for the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo Thermal Power plant, among other projects.

Vice President Naidu started his three-nation visit in Botswana before coming to Zimbabwe and has left for Malawi on the last leg of his visit to Africa.

During his three day state visit to Zimbabwe, he held separate meetings with the President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Kembo Mohadi.

Iin a joint statement issued this Sunday, the Indian Vice President announced a US$310 million line of credit for the upgrading of the Hwange Thermal Power Station, an additional US$23million line of credit for the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo Thermal Power plant and another US$19,5 million line of credit for Deka pumping and river water intake system.

Mr Naidu also announced a grant for the construction of Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centre and a US$2,93 million grant for the upgrading of the Indo-Zimbabwe Technology Centre.

He also pledged 10 ambulances to the government of Zimbabwe and a variety of medicines while the Indian health sector will second experts in various specialties to Zimbabwe.

On Saturday, the two countries signed six memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and action plans in health, mining, media, sport and ICT sectors that are expected to expedite the country’s socio-economic transformation.

On the multilateral front, the two leaders agreed on the need for an urgent reform of the UN Security Council and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation.

India is Zimbabwe’s third biggest source market for raw materials, tying in with Australia and Zambia, according to a report by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI).

The Indian Vice President was seen off at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by his Zimbabwean counterpart Vice President Mohadi, acting Foreign Affairs Minister Cain Mathema, several senior government officials and Indian embassy staff. – state media

Former Finance Ministry communications agent Acie Lumumba has denied media reports that he was paid $40, 000 to smear the four suspended RBZ top officials, as well as businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

Lumumba briefly worked for Finance minister Mthuli Ncube for just 3 days before he was fired.

The local Daily News reported that Lumumba has admitted receiving USD40, 000 in order to smear the four plus Tagwirei.

Lumumba Sunday morning responded in a tweet saying: “Let’s set the record quickly, I have never received any money from @MthuliNcube , clearly Queen Bee has now set sights on destroying his image so he can be replaced with someone you can capture. Oh Queen Bee, I almost let you go, I really did, now PLEASE google ‘cuddle death’ “

By Own Correspondent| Popular musician and dancer, Sandra Ndebele has refuted claims that she is a foreign currency dealer accusing one Lindiwe Moyo who lost cash amounting to US$8 330 and $80 000 bond as stage managing the robbery to evade paying her back her money.

Moyo claimed the money belonged the singer, Ndebele and that she lost the money to robbers two weeks ago while travelling from Beitbridge to Bulawayo.

Sandy, as she is called by her fans, has threatened to file a lawsuit against Moyo as she believes that she did not lose the money to robbers but invented the story.

Sandy said:

“From what I see, the whole process was stage-managed. How can one leave such large amounts of money unattended in a car with strangers? she is lying, but I won’t have any of it at all.

AlI I want is my money… We agreed that she pays $1 000 per day and she signed an affidavit, but she hasn’t come through. So, I am left with no choice, but to get her arrested… I am a professional musician who makes money through music and bookings. I am also a businesswoman in the business of poultry and clothing.

That’s where I get money from. I am not a cash baron or a forex dealer… I was looking for foreign currency for my travels to Dubai and China where I get some of my stuff.

There should be investigations on the disappearance of my money and not where I got my hard-earned money from.”-StateMedia

Terrence Mawawa|MDC Alliance Masvingo Provincial Executive member Stanley Manguma has said Emmerson Mnangagwa must be arrested for telling “blue lies” to the nation.

Manguma argued Mnangagwa must be arrested because PHD leader Walter Magaya was apprehended for misrepresentation of facts.

“What’s the difference between the self styled prophet Walter Magaya and Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the First Secretary of Zanu PF .I think the herbalist is better.

Dambudzo is a liar and he must be arrested . No mega deals were signed.

The Zanu PF Secretary is a cheat. Trust him at your own risk,” charged Manguma.

Zimbabwe is currently going through serious shortages of literally everything from bottled water to bread.

Queues have become a common feature across the country as Zimbabweans struggle to purchase even the basics.

Even after suspending import restrictions that were imposed two years ago, the situation has hardly normalised.

All these shortages can however be traced back to the limited availability of foreign currency.

This comes at a time deposits in Zimbabwean banks are at an all-time high of more than $9bn (about R129bn).

Zimbabwe is currently using a multi-currency system anchored on the US dollar.

Treasury and central bank authorities insist the $9bn in the banks is equal to US dollars. But this money can only be used by electronic means, and mostly within Zimbabwean borders.

An attempt to withdraw or make a foreign payment will most likely yield a negative result.

There is hardly any cash in the banks. This is at a time Zimbabwe’s export earnings are at their highest having already reached $6bn (about R85bn) before the end of the year. The country’s two biggest foreign currency earners, gold and tobacco are at an all-time high in terms of production.

Authorities claim it’s a sign of a growing economy, and demand for cash, foreign currency in particular has heightened. But where is the forex generated going, because everybody claims they are not getting anything from the central bank, which took it upon itself to allocate the scarce resource.

It even came up with a priority list, which claims to allocate forex according to importance.

But just last week, one of the country’s largest gold miners closed shop claiming it had hardly received cash from the central bank in 30 months.

Portfolio investors on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange have long given up on repatriating their investments, and yet they are considered as top priority by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

Eskom is reportedly threatening to cut electricity supply to the southern African country for none payment of imported power.

Considering Zimbabwe’s foreign currency earnings are at their highest since dollarisation, it’s hard to explain how it can still experience these crippling shortages.

The import bill, of more than $5.8bn (about R83bn) points to the country’s strong appetite for imported products, but given the shortages and claims by several industries that they are not getting foreign currency allocations, raises many questions.

It points to the underworld where cash must be disappearing to. Claims have already been made that Government and central bank officials are captured by this underworld where they have been diverting cash.

Last month the RBZ suspended four senior officials following claims they were fueling the foreign currency illegal market. There have also been claims of a cartel in the fuel industry, which is also facing serious shortages and yet getting the biggest allocation of foreign currency.

Its hard to explain how fuel imports can increase by more than 50% in a month but the country still experience shortages.

Is the money being used to import, or there is a big heist going on and the foreign currency is being siphoned out of the country?

– Fin24

FOUR Botswana nationals who illegally crossed into Zimbabwe while trailing a spoor of their alleged stolen donkeys, have escaped jail after a court noted that they were simple rural folk.

The quartet of William Mbule Mangalani (66), Mothusi Mbisana (25), Charles Nkathazo (27) and Mooki Mbule (27) of Botswana were convicted on their own pleas of guilty to contravening section 1 (1) as read with section 11 (5) (6) of the Immigration Act chapter 4.02 (Entry into Zimbabwe through an undesignated entry point) when they appeared before Plumtree resident magistrate, Miss Sharon Rosemani.

They were each fined $60 in default of which they were supposed to serve an alternative sentence of 20 days in prison.

Sentencing them, Miss Rosemani noted that the Batswana were simple rural folk who are ignorant of the law, but driven by the desire to find their donkeys which they suspected were stolen and taken into Zimbabwe.

“They are simple rural folk and could not perform community service because they have no place to reside in Zimbabwe. They even went to the police seeking help to find their donkeys. A fine will suffice as they could be able to pay and go,” said Miss Rosemani.

In mitigation, the quartet which cannot read and write, said they entered the country tracking a spoor of their stolen donkeys which was their source of livelihoods as peasant farmers in the neighbouring country.

Prosecuting, Mr Zorodzai Pengapenga told the court that on Friday last week at around 7AM, the quartet entered Zimbabwe through an undesignated point of entry tracking a spoor of their alleged stolen donkeys.

They proceeded to Butshe police base in Madlambuzi to seek assistance to track the donkeys into Tsholotsho.

However, police officers manning the police base interviewed them and discovered that they had no travelling documents leading to their arrest. Their donkeys were still to be recovered.

State Media

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe ace school Peterhouse has advised parents of students at the school that next term fees will only be accepted in United States Dollars and full payment of the $4000.

A circular sent to parents by the school said that it will be refunding all parents who had already paid their fees in advance in RTGS Bond Notes.

The letter from the school reads as follows:

FROM: THE BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Mark Whitaker

Terrence Mawawa|A cholera outbreak is looming at a farm that was invaded by ZANU PF apparatchiks at the height of the land grab exercise, it has emerged.

MDC Alliance councillor for ward 18 Chiredzi West Constituency yesterday said :”For up to 12 years people in Emanzini (Rutanda) Village and Thandabantu Village have been living without drinking safe water and toilets.This area is owned by small scale farmers who grabbed land from whites during fast track land reform programme.They drink water from canals that irrigate sugarcane.

I was disappointed last week when I visited the place.There are no toilets at the farm.The farm owners drive luxurious cars yet their workers are drinking contaminated water.Some of the farmers are esteemed people in the society, for example Honourable Denford Masiya , MP Chiredzi East.We don’t expect people like him to be inconsiderate.”

As a Councillor I engaged some of them but they were adamant and uncooperative.

We are pleading with the District Administrator together with the Ministry of Health to close such compounds as soon as possible.
Last year one woman died of cholera, ” said Mutubuki.

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A sixty year-old man from Worringham on the outskirts of Bulawayo reportedly suffered a heart attack and died last Thursday after he allegedly had sex with a pig.

The body of Mr Elias Ndlovu was discovered in the morning in the pigsty with his zip down with traces of sperms on his manhood while other suspected sperms were also evident on a pig’s back, sources claimed.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango said they received a report of sudden death, saying they suspected that the man had suffered a heart attack.

“I can confirm an incident of sudden death that occurred at Worringham in Bulawayo.

The body of the deceased was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospital for post mortem but at this stage no foul play is suspect. It is suspected Mr Ndlovu suffered a heart attack after a sexual act with the pig,” said Chief Inspector Simango.

Mr Ndlovu was employed as a night watchman at the Worringham plot and was on night duty on the night in question.

A co-worker at the plot who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that Mr Ndlovu had been last seen when he was resuming his duties on Wednesday only to be discovered at the pigsty the following morning.

“In terms of personality he was a nice man, who minded his own business, he had no enemies at all. On the night in question I saw him doing his rounds in the evening as he resumed his security duties. We were shocked when we discovered his body in the pigsty the following morning,” said the co-worker.

-State Media

Correspondent|This is what Strive Masiyiwa recently said about his relationship with Joshua Nkomo, commenting on his Facebook thread.

The late Dr Joshua Nkomo loved me like a dear son. In the last years of his life he would just call for me, like a priest, and I would sit there quietly as he reminisced about his life.

“I looked at the suffering of the people. You must always try to do something if you see your people suffering.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is now distancing himself from his top ally Christopher Mustvangwa amid warnings by the war veterans’ leader that he won’t be silenced after he spoke out against alleged state capture.

Mutsvangwa, who was instrumental in Mnangagwa’s rise that culminated in the ouster of former president Robert Mugabe in November last year, last week claimed Sakunda Holdings owner Kudakwashe Tagwirei was behind state capture.

However, Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba, in an exclusive interview with The Standard on Friday, referred to Mutsvangwa as the president’s ex-advisor.

He said the outspoken former War veterans minister was resorting to fake politics after failing to penetrate the fuel industry.

Charamba said Mutsvangwa must provide evidence that Tagwirei was behind “state capture” and that he was running a cartel in the fuel industry.

“That is where we differ with our colleagues. Go and provide evidence because culprits are not dealt with by headlines, but they are dealt with by handcuffs, and if he has got some information please can he help the system?” he said.

“It’s not that if you are fronting a rival planning to bring fuel, then you retreat in the political deck because you cannot stand the heat in the boardroom, no, that is not acceptable.”

Charamba said Mutsvangwa was not a whistleblower, but an interested party in the fight for control of the fuel industry in Zimbabwe.

“We have made this information available to you that you draw a line between bona fide whistleblowers and rivals who are trying to fall back on political clout to get the better of competition,” he said.

“We are saying to you the doors are open, the market is open so get in the market together with your people and compete with others just like any other person.

“You get blooded, we say sorry, and you win, we say hallelujah and not try to use fake politics.”

Mutsvangwa, who is said to have links with a South African-based fuel giant Mining, Oil and Gas Service (MOGS), last week insisted he had a three-year contract to be Mnangagwa’s advisor.

He said he still had an office and personal assistant, but had been away for a while because of health reasons.

“Those who say I am fired thought my appointment was tied to me being an MP, that is why they sponsored a rival candidate so that I lose hoping that I would be automatically fired from being an advisor,” he said in a recent interview. “They are sulking bitterly.”

Charamba said the former minister’s criticism of command agriculture sounded like former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo’s argument.

Moyo described the programme championed by Mnangagwa as “ugly culture”, saying it was being used to fleece the government.

“We don’t think the former advisor meant it, we don’t think so,” Charamba said when asked about Mutsvangwa’s criticism of the programme.

“Does he really want to share the same argument with (former minister) Jonathan Moyo?

“That is Jonathan Moyo’s argument and I don’t think he wants to because I know he doesn’t want to.”

Meanwhile, Mutsvangwa last night denied that he was a front for MOGS and charged that he won’t be silenced.

“I do not front for MOGS which came to my attention in 2015 from the Ministry of Defence department of business development.

“The (then) head of the unit, General Sibusiso B Moyo, and permanent secretary Martin Rushwaya asked me to lobby for the MOGS in Cabinet,” he said.

“I challenge anyone who has proof of my contractual links to MOGS to publish it. They should provide something beyond sulky assertions.”

Mutsvangwa said Mugabe’s ouster last year ushered in a new dispensation where there was freedom of expression and he would continue speaking his mind.

“I am Zimbabwean and a revolutionary before I am a politician, functionary or whatever.

“All other attributions are subordinate to my democratic rights. After all, November 2017 ushered in an open season of free discourse,” he said.

“The 2013 constitution allows and entrenches free thinking and unfettered open speech.

“My first obligation is to be a democrat. I fought for that side by side with many of my generation. There is no earthly price tag to freedom of speech.”

Mutsvangwa said as things stood, several companies among them Vitoil of Switzerland, ADNOC of Abu Dhabi, OTI of Oman, IPG of Kuwait and a “bevy” of other global hydrocarbon global players from Singapore, Beijing, Moscow and Johannesburg were in Harare to explore market opportunities in the country.

“My sole interest is to see the nation benefit from the lowest fuel price possible from these interested market players, a case which has not been obtained to date,” he said

“For the record, most, if not all, these companies have been to my office. I handled all the same way as MOGS under the banner Zimbabwe Is Open for Business. In Shona, kuvhunduka chati kwata hunge uine katuruke [he who has something to hide panics easily]. Otherwise those who have always hated me should go beyond banal accusations to adduced evidence.”

He refused to comment on Charamba’s claim that he was no longer Mnangagwa’s advisor.

“I will not comment on a matter of public office. Just that it is not an elected office, thus is beyond my purview,” he said.

-The Standard

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and ailing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga appeared together to announce that Australia’s Invictus Energy had found oil and gas deposits in the northern Muzarabani area, showing a united front in the face of widening divisions in the presidium.

Mnangagwa and Chiwenga attempted to paper over their divisions as they addressed the press on Thursday afternoon about the oil find, a discovery which has since been refuted by Australian-listed Invictus Energy which has now said it had not found any oil and gas deposits but there were indications of a “working petroleum system” which could only be confirmed by a planned exploration well.

Despite attempts to present a united front, the two top government figures remained at loggerheads, top officials said.

Chiwenga’s health had improved considerably. He has been receiving medical treatment in neighbouring South Africa for wounds reportedly sustained during the White City bombing.

It also seems Mnangagwa was keen to present a united front when he hosts Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, who was expected in Harare yesterday, the first such high level visit in more than two decades.

The deputy chief secretary to the President and Cabinet responsible for communications George Charamba confirmed that Chiwenga will be part of the team hosting the VP, despite his continuing health challenges.

Asked if Chiwenga is now back on his feet, Charamba said the vice president was fit enough to be part of the team hosting his Indian counterpart.

“He has a long way to go, he is slowly creeping back to work.

“I will tell you what, remember his counterpart from India is coming back and remember this is a counter visit, so we are only trying to bring him up to speed and he is also to be part of the programme,” Charamba said.

Chiwenga’s public appearance is the first since news of divisions in the presidium emerged late last month amid reports that a powerful businessman with links to the VP was formenting divisions in the corridors of power.

In an earlier interview with the Daily News, Charamba dismissed suggestions that the two former allies were fighting, saying “not a single day passes without a conversation between Chiwenga and Mnangagwa.”

Political analysts said the move to wheel out Chiwenga at a time of widening divisions in the presidium was for optics and also meant to quieten speculation over divisions “real or perceived.”

“I think it’s trying to dress the fiasco with a veneer of unity, solidarity and cohesion while we know there are huge rifts between the two and difficult to reconcile approaches to national issues.

“The other prefers civilian approaches while the other prefers military approaches,” political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said.

United Kingdom-based scholar Alex Magaisa said after Mnangagwa and the Zanu PF youth league boss Pupurai Togarepi attacked some senior party leaders in a thinly disguised veil, it was now clear that all is not well in the ruling party.

“It is clear that there are ructions and Mnangagwa has adopted a Grace Mugabe-like approach of attacking party members without naming them,” Magaisa said.

“Like Mugabe, he’s now demanding party members to toe the party line or to leave.

“The youth leader Togarepi also joined in, just like Chipanga before him. It is a sign that things are not well in the camp.

“Chiwenga is trying to manage the situation by presenting himself when he should be recuperating at home.

“It is about keeping and watching the space.

“Note also that Mnangagwa has taken away defence and war veterans and dumped him in procurement and research as areas of supervision.

“That’s a demotion given his previous role, although it will give him a role in tenders since he oversees public procurement,” Magaisa said.

Professor of world politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, Stephen Chan, said Zanu PF cannot do with infighting never mind the perilous state of the economy.

“There have been moves and countermoves involving Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.

“It’s in fact far too early for any serious succession talk, but the two most likely candidates are manoeuvring just to ensure they remain in the frame.

“It’s part of a Zimbabwean political disease I’m afraid. People talk of who is in power and no one knows how to use that power to redevelop the economy and the country,” said Chan.

-Daily News

Business mogul and Econet Wireless founder, Mr Strive Masiyiwa could soon head an International Advisory Council which will advise President Emmerson Mnangagwa on global economic issues and push the re-engagement process.

Masiyiwa who last week dominated local and international media headlines following his call for the removal of sanctions is understood to be one of the key people eyed by Mnangagwa to prop up his in global image, following countless efforts to quote investors hit a brick wall.

According to The Sunday Mail, the team will also assist the country in having the US sanctions law, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery (Amendment) Act 2018, removed.

Industrialists also proposed establishment of a local advisory council during their interface with President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare last Monday.

President Mnangagwa agreed with the proposal and asked the industrialists to second names of their “best brains” to constitute the grouping.

Last week, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba said: “We are working on an international advisory team. So we will have a local advisory business team but there is also going to be an international advisory team.

“By now we are in the final stages and in the next two to three weeks, we should have some announcement of sorts. “We are looking at retirees from IFIs; we are looking at persons from America, we are looking at persons from Britain, persons from China; we are looking at characters from Germany, we are looking at characters from South Africa; and we are also looking at eminent Zimbabwean businesspeople.”

Mr Charamba said some of the people were consulted during the 73rd Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, but declined to mention names as consultations were ongoing.

“It worked very well in Rwanda. Rwanda used that to good effect. That business council will not just advise the President on international economic issues, it will also help us in the re-engagement process.

“Essentially, it means helping us develop strategies of rolling back sanctions and also engaging international finance markets for new credit lines,” said Mr Charamba.

At a meeting between President Mnangagwa and Diasporan Zimbabweans in New York in September, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube — who was part of the Zimbabwe delegation to the General Assembly — said the board would have about ten people.

“This is not an unusual path. Pakistan has announced its international advisory board, it was done by the new Prime Minister Imran Khan. Somalia has just set up a board, Somaliland has a board as well. Rwanda has a board. In Nigeria there used to be a board but I’m not so sure now. But this is common practice, we should get the best minds to assist us,” Prof Ncube explained.

As part of President Mnangagwa’s international engagement and re-engagement drive, his administration is lobbying for an end to economic sanctions on Zimbabwe as well as normalisation of relations with multilateral lenders and development partners.

This is in line with his vision to create an upper middle-income by 2030.

US sanctions direct Americans at IFIs to block extension of credit to Zimbabwe, and Prof Ncube is in January 2019 expected to travel to that country as part of the anti-embargo lobby.

Last week, leading businessman and Econet founder Mr Strive Masiyiwa said, “… sanctions should be removed, there’s no justification for them anymore.

“They should be removed. I’ve always been on record to say the sanctions are not justified and now we’re almost 20 years into the sanctions. You can’t have one country operate with its hands tied behind its back.”

By Paul Nyathi|The Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition has invited SADC to urgently arbitrate in trying to stabilise the Zimbabwean political and economic situation.

The Coalition met with the current SADC chairperson and provided the statememt below:

Attention: The SADC Chairperson, H.E President Hage Geingob

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

Own Correspondent|The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on recently met with the SADC Chairperson and President of Namibia, H.E Hage Geingob at State House in Windhoek, Namibia to brief him on the deepening political and economic crisis bedevilling Zimbabwe.

The meeting, came upon a request by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and a delegation from the Coalition presented its position to the SADC Chairperson with regards the state of affairs in Zimbabwe.

The Chairperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Rashid Mahiya led the discussion and called upon SADC to urgently put Zimbabwe on its agenda and find ways of resolving the deepening political and economic crisis in the country.

Briefing the SADC Chair, the Coalition’s Chairperson, Mahiya expressed concern that Zimbabwe has not fully implemented the 2013 Constitution. He said the implementation of the constitution has been slow and there is limited movement in repealing repressive legislation which is in conflict with the constitution. He added that the Zimbabwean society continues to call for security sector and media reforms adding that another issue of concern was the non-implementation of recommendations by the SADC Election Observer Mission to facilitate for diaspora voting.

The Coalition also noted that Zimbabwe has been experiencing a perpetual economic meltdown which has resulted in high levels of inflation and an increase in domestic debt which has compromised the government’s capacity for the provision of social services.

“If left unresolved this has economic, social and security effects at a regional level. We however acknowledge efforts at attracting foreign and local investments,” the delegation warned.

Mahiya also noted that the Zimbabwean society is heavily divided and polarised and there is huge trust deficit characterised by a perpetuation of political polarisation in post-election period. And Military involvement in civilian processes is worrying.

“The events of August 01, 2018 in which the military shot 7 unarmed civilians in the full glare of both regional and international media is evidence of the above,” stressed the full briefing statement shared with President Geingob.

In his response, President Geingob committed to engage the Zimbabwean authorities and bring the concerns raised by the Coalition to the attention of SADC.

The SADC Chairperson reiterated calls for peace and stability in Zimbabwe adding that citizens and civil society should continue playing their part in holding the state to account. President Geingob hailed the initiative by the Coalition and gave assurance that follow up meetings will be conducted as a way of finding common ground with regards to the situation in Zimbabwe.

The meeting is part of the coalition’s regional lobbying efforts and follows previous engagements with the SADC secretariat in Botswana in May 2018.

Other members of the delegation included Okay Machisa (ZimRights), Wadzanayi Vere (NANGO), Rev Useni Sibanda (Zimbabwe Christian Alliance), Sandie Tjaronda Chairperson (Namibian NGO Forum Trust) and Blessing Vava, CiZC Regional Coordinator, Rev Sipho Theys (CiZC SA Board).

President Geingob was accompanied by Martin Andjaba, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Economic Advisor Ms Penny Akwenye and a Permanent Secretary in the Presidency.

Apart from the meeting with President Geingob, the delegation also met with civil society leaders in Namibia operating under the banner of Namibia NGO Forum Trust. The meeting with CSOs sought to mobilise and strengthen people to people solidarity in the SADC region. The CSO leaders resolved to strengthen regional solidarity actions amongst organisations in SADC adding that civil society should consider creating a framework for an internal dialogue on Zimbabwe

The CiZC Regional Information & Advocacy Programme exists to amplify citizen voices into the regional space and provides regional, continental and international lobby and solidarity platforms for Zimbabwean CSOs.

The programme which is being run through the CiZC regional office based in Johannesburg, South Africa and has been key as a one-stop shop for up-to-date information on key developments (political, social and economic) in Zimbabwe and informs various stakeholders’ interventions in promoting democratization in Zimbabwe. The stakeholders include diplomats, solidarity partners and governments in the SADC region and the African Union.

Government will review the two percent transactional tax on electronic money transfers to make it sensitive to the needs of both business and consumers, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

The Head of State and Government said a new law was being drafted to deal with “unexplained wealth and deposits” after which new tax measures would be announced.

In his weekly column in The Sunday Mail, President Mnangagwa said his Government would always listen to business.

“Government took to heart the cry that the two percent transactional tax has compounded the tax burden for both business and for the consumer.

“Once the legal instrument we are crafting against unexplained wealth and deposits is in place, new measures will be announced to review the tax which, among other considerations, had been occasioned by illicit activities in the financial services sector,” said President Mnangagwa.

To ensure greater cohesion, a local business advisory body made up of representatives seconded from industry is being created.

Further, an international advisory body will be formed to keep the President “keyed on international business and investment issues”.

“To narrow the communication gap, I have embraced the idea of a Business Council to advise me and Government. At the Monday meeting (with business representatives at State House, Harare), I requested that business forward names so that such an advisory body is urgently constituted.

“Because we operate in the global market, I have also decided to create another advisory body comprising international experts who will keep me keyed on international business and investment issues.

“The catchment for such a team will be global, both geographically and by way of the range of experience. Zimbabwe must improve her international appeal for FDI,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa said his Government would not consider policies that eroded wealth, wages, savings and pensions.

“A key consideration of both monetary and fiscal policy must be to secure the values of wealth, earnings, wages and savings in the economy. We should never make or allow decisions that erode value, as happened in 2008. On this one matter we stand firm and unmoved. No policy will be entertained whose net effect is to undermine value in the economy.”

Indications are that some of the measures President Mnangagwa is speaking of will be captured in the 2019 National Budget that will likely be presented in late November.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said he is simplifying the tax structure and coming up with incentives for SMEs to contribute to the fiscus.

-State Media