By Business Reporter| The oil/gas exploration company which ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa contracted for the Mzarabani fields, does not have any assets at all other than what they hope to dig out of Zimbabwe, it has emerged.

Its shares are not even trading, ZimEye can reveal.

Invictus Energy’s entire business activity was solely dangling on Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Thursday press conference hoping it would “strike the magic” for a share value.

Their entire asset base is what they envisage to get from this Zimbabwean prospective contract, analysts revealed.

Mnangagwa on Thursday announced that the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed entity, Invictus Energy (IVZ), has discovered oil and gas deposits in the southern African country’s Mashonaland Central Province.

Invictus shares have however been swiftly suspended from trading on the ASX pending the release of the announcement regarding the Maiden Prospective Resource Estimate, ZimEye can reveal.

The main director, Scott Macmillan spoke to ZimEye in an interview that nothing will move until after next week, Monday. SEE INTERVIEW BELOW [TIMELINE 32:00]:

https://youtu.be/TYw0vEA_eGw

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

The company property was today found locked during working hours when the Australia based Zimbabwean, Mr Simba Mugadza arrived at Invictus Energy’s official address.

LIVE – Has Mnangagwa Another Queen Bee With Our Gas And Oil?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 2, 2018

The ASX said IVZ’s shares “will remain halted until the earlier of, either the release of relevant information, or the commencement of trading on Thursday 1 November 2018”.
https://youtu.be/TYw0vEA_eGw

In accordance with ASX’s Listing Rule 17.2, a trading halt was granted on Tuesday 30 October 2018, pending the completion and the subsequent announcement on Friday of the Invictus Maiden Prospective Resource Estimate.

Government has up to early December to process former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s full pension or risk a civil suit, his lawyer Welshman Ncube has said.

Mphoko is yet to receive his terminal benefits following his removal from office after the fall of former President Robert Mugabe in a November 15, 2017 coup.

He has been engaging government over his terminal benefits for months on end but has reached a deadlock over the matter, resulting in Mphoko’s lawyers giving notice to sue.

“The notice has not yet expired. I do not have the papers with me right now (to confirm the date of expiry of notice), but it expires in early December,” Ncube who is also MDC Alliance vice-president, told Southern Eye yesterday.

Government admits Mphoko is entitled to his pension but disputes he deserves full benefits such as security aides, an office, telephone, secretary and domestic workers in line with the Constitution.

Government argues Mphoko does not deserve full benefits as he did not serve a full term under Statutory Instrument 86 of 2015 that states only a VP who served at least one term in office can enjoy exit packages such as a security officer.

Section 102 of Zimbabwe’s constitution stipulates that “… A person who has ceased to be President or Vice-President is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the salary of a sitting President or Vice-President, as the case may be; and such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.”

-Newsday

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder and leader, Prophet Walter Magaya is has been arrested and released on $300 bail following his arrest on three counts of advertising medicine without approval.

Magaya was arrested yesterday after the joint press conference with the ministry of health where he apologized about his HIV cure claim.

He is being charged of contravening Section 41 Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.

It is the state’s case that on 31 October 2018, Magaya made an advertisement on Yadah TV and on Aretha Medical website www.arethamedical.com of Aguma medicine which he claimed was a cure for HIV, AIDS cancer and other ailments.

The court heard that, Magaya further made claims on Aretha medical website and that Aretha medical and himself were manufacturers of the Aguma medicine which he claimed can cure HIV.

Police later searched Magaya’s Marlborough offices where they seized twenty travelling bags containing empty capsules, plastic containers and plastic container lids.

Magaya allegedly destroyed some of the exhibits by flashing them in the office toilets and burning the containers which were however recovered half burnt.

FROM a distance, she is an ordinary vendor selling bottled water in the sweltering heat of Chirundu, but she is also a commercial sex worker.

Prudence (42) is one of many sex workers who operate at Chirundu Border Post and has been in the trade for over 20 years having bedded more 1 000 men from every tribe in the Sadc region.

“The water I sell is a disguise so that I can easily manoeuvre and do my business,” she said.

“It also helps me ensure that my children do not suspect me of anything like sex work. But I am a sex worker who has managed to build a house for my children and pay school fees for them.”

Her skin has aged, and so has her skill in her trade, which she says has improved due experience and exposure to a variety of clients.

Prudence is a member of the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV and Aids research in Zimbabwe, (CeSHHAR), a non-government organisation that helps sex workers avoid abuse and other forms of ill treatment.

She said with age, she is now able to negotiate for safe sex and tackle abuse.

“Before I joined CeSSHHAR, I was being abused by men who demanded unprotected sex. Some would forcefully remove the condom and others were refusing to pay after getting my service,” Prudence said.

She is one of the oldest sex workers in the area who now commands respect and has a permanent clientele base.

Despite the pain and abuse associated with the trade, Prudence is at least happy that she has put some of her earnings from prostitution to good use.
“I have done everything and met with different types of men. Some are abusive and others just want sex for no money.

“I think it is time I quit. I have bedded many, more than 1 000 and I have achieved a lot. I now have a seven-roomed house which I built from the proceeds of sex work,” Prudence said as she recounted her life story recently to journalists who visited the area under the banner of the National Aids Council (NAC).

With training from CeSHHAR, Prudence and her colleagues now know their HIV status and have been empowered to negotiate for safe sex-closing the tap for new HIV infections.

“This business of selling water provides me with extra revenue which if I don’t get a man to sleep with, I will not stress myself. I have lost appetite for man and I think it is now time I call it a day and find something else to do,” she said.

Before being empowered on safe sex and how to deal with abuse, Prudence like her counterparts, suffered on numerous occasions with sexually transmitted infections.

“Some men offer as much as $20 per night and demand that you have unprotected sex with them. Because of poverty and inability to negotiate for safe sex, I used to agree to that. This exposed me to STIs,” Prudence said.

Chirundu Border town in the last two months has recorded 129 cases of STIs among the 1 013 sex workers who are registered said Varaidzo Muchina, the representative for CeSHHAR based in the border town.

Through engagement with sex workers, at least 167 of them have been tested for HIV and Aids and those who turned out to be positive have been initiated on anti-retroviral drugs.

“The biggest challenge that we have is tracing most of our clients as a number of them are mobile. They travel across Sadc and in some cases some default,” she said.

CeSHHAR also has a strong commitment to strengthening research capacity among Zimbabwean graduates in HIV-related issues.

Statistics released by the NAC indicate that Zimbabwe’s border towns continue acting as breeding grounds to the pandemic and CeSHHAR had taken it upon themselves to fight new infectious in these areas.

The large numbers of people who pass through border towns as they trade or look for greener pastures in neighbouring countries has resulted in commercial sex becoming big business in the town.

As a result, border towns have been transformed from business hubs to breeding grounds of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV. Through its various projects that include educational programs, sex workers now can access condoms and get treatment to those who would have tested positive.

Muchina said most of the women had confirmed that they engage in unprotected sex which guarantees them more money.

“However, it is encouraging that we are getting a positive response in behavioural change from these communities as we continue to conscientise them about the dangers of indulging in unprotected sex,” she said.

Activists have been calling for behavioural change as the best way of effectively combating HIV and Aids.

Prevention remains the pillar of HIV interventions in Zimbabwe.

The behavioural change programme focuses on reducing key risk sexual behaviours, in particular multiple and concurrent sexual partners, low risk perception as well as other underlying vulnerability factors such as imbalanced gender relations, stigma and discrimination and risky cultural and religious practices.

The programme also seek to address the needs and vulnerabilities of workers in the informal economy who do not have access to coping mechanisms to mitigate the impact of the disease, such as lack of access to social protection and income.

In Zimbabwe, sex workers have been regarded as a key population with high risk of HIV infections.

According to latest statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, new HIV cases were more prevalent among long distant truck drivers, sex workers, prisoners and adolescents.

“Our aim is to prevent the spread of HIV from a sex worker to their client or from the sex worker to the client,” Muchina said.

The truck drivers who ply the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Highway have, for years been preying on under-age and vulnerable girls in the border towns of Beitbridge, Victoria Falls and Chirundu.

Recently, the NAC also estimated the number of children involved in sexual exploitation in Zimbabwe was about 160 000.

Besides empowering them with information on safe sex and sustainability, Ceshhar is also involved in fighting gender based violence.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| Air Zimbabwe has cancelled its flight UM462 JNB/HRE 1Nov 2018 and UM467 HRE/JNB 2 Nov 2018.

The airline advised its customers that the cancellation had to do with operational challenges beyond its control.

Tweeted the airline:

An update will be made available to all affected passengers at 0900, 2 Nov 2018.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.

— Air Zimbabwe (@FlyAirZimbabwe) November 1, 2018

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday announced that Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed entity Invictus Energy (IVZ), has discovered oil and gas deposits in the southern African country’s Mashonaland Central Province.

Invictus shares are currently suspended from trading on the ASX pending the release of the announcement regarding the Maiden Prospective Resource Estimate.

The ASX said IVZ’s shares “will remain halted until the earlier of, either the release of relevant information, or the commencement of trading on Thursday 1 November 2018”.

In accordance with ASX’s Listing Rule 17.2, a trading halt was granted on Tuesday 30 October 2018, pending the completion and the subsequent announcement on Friday of the Invictus Maiden Prospective Resource Estimate.

As an entrepreneur, on many occasions I have had initiatives for my country Zimbabwe, which could have created tens of thousands of new jobs. When I have discussed them with either investors or banks, they have turned me away, saying: “We don’t want to violate the sanctions in your country.”

I have documents and emails from bankers and investors. I tried so hard to persuade some of them, often suggesting that they are not interpreting the sanctions correctly.
In my case I was forced to go to China to secure loans to support our Zimbabwean businesses. But this was not always ideal. I have spoken about it publicly on many occasions even in the US and China itself.

It is not right that we as business should have to work under such conditions, when all we want is to create jobs and livelihoods for ordinary people.

Now, if Zimbabwe had been a person who committed a crime, for which they went to prison, would you not say 20 years is enough? Zimbabwe has served its prison time. It’s time for the country to be given a chance to get back on its feet.

I fled my country when assassins were sent to kill me. I had been tipped off by someone in the Mugabe government who was related to me. Even when I left the country, there were other attempts to kidnap me in SA. It has been 18 and a half years. Only I have the right to decide when to come home.

My executives [in Zimbabwe] were arrested and held in leg irons for 16 days. I endured all the persecutions, including the bombing and shutting down of my newspaper business. No one stood in our corner, or expressed indignation, perhaps because there was no Twitter?

Now will the end of Western sanctions end all our problems? Absolutely not! As I have said, no one should be under any illusion that this is not going to be very, very tough, as many of the issues to be tackled are due to bad policies going back decades including corruption.

-Report Focus

Government is considering giving the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) absolute powers to descend heavily on tax dodging companies so as to recover the outstanding $4,5 billion. Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, said this on Wednesday night in Harare during the Zimra Appreciation Awards Dinner.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was guest of honour during the awards dinner.

Prof Ncube said tax avoidance by companies has compelled Government to issue Treasury Bills and borrowing to finance budget deficit.

He said Government was alive to the challenges faced by companies due to the depressed environment they are operating under, but called on them to honour their tax obligations.

“ . . . those businesses and taxpayers who know they have a share of the $4,5 billion tax debt owed to Zimra, I wish to make this unequivocally clear that you need to own up, come forward and pay your tax debt,” said Prof Ncube.

“Collecting PAYE (pay as you earn), VAT (value added tax) and other withholding taxes on behalf of Government and converting it to your own use breaks the law and sabotages our desire to achieve fiscal equilibrium. I will ask Zimra to adopt more aggressive measures to recover the debts.”

Recently, Zimra Commissioner General Ms Faith Mazani, said the national tax collector was unable to meaningfully collect revenue due to the absence of instruments that compel taxpayers to honour their obligations.

Zimra has only resorted to garnishing accounts of defaulting taxpayers and imposing hefty penalties, but cannot do anything if the defaulters close their accounts.

Statutory Instrument 97 of 2013 on Revenue Authority (Civil Penalty for Late Submission of Returns) Regulations, 2013, provides for penalties to be charged on defaulting taxpayers.

Currently, Zimra is inviting companies that are not tax compliant to take advantage of the “voluntary disclosure” window and regularise their operations on a “no questions asked” basis.

Companies and individuals that continue to operate outside the tax net by December 31 will be dealt with.

Prof Ncube said as the country has been opened for business, success depends “on a unified and patriotic” approach to challenges.

“Together we are the success we wish to see and attain,” said Prof Ncube, adding that Government was thankful for companies’ resilience y with their tax obligations.

“As our Government remains committed to creating an environment conducive for business, we expect you as business to continue to work closely with Government to help recover the economy and create a mutually beneficial and sustainable economy.

“Please refrain from complaining behind closed doors about policies in your ‘own circles’, come forward with suggestions that we can explore for the benefit of our great nation. Our doors are open,” said Prof Ncube.

-State Media

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Zimbabwe has begun the implementation of its Lean Season Assistance programme for the 2018/19 season in October with a contribution (US$22 million) from the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which will support more than 430,000 food insecure people.

“This contribution is supporting the most vulnerable people in food insecure areas in Zimbabwe over 6 months to get through what is for many the most difficult time of the year,” said WFP Zimbabwe Representative Eddie Rowe.

In Zimbabwe, more than 2.4 million people residing in the rural areas will face acute food insecurity at the peak of the lean season (January – March 2019) according to the findings of the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC). The number is likely to increase if there is recurrence of the El Niño climatic phenomenon and late start or poor showing of the rainy season.

USAID’s Office of Food for Peace has provided support to the LSA program with a contribution towards food assistance for cash based transfers and purchase of local and regional commodities such as sorghum, as well as an additional contribution of in-kind commodities sourced from the U.S.

WFP’s ability to respond to escalating needs in the country hinges on timely and sustained financial contributions from donor nations. The U.S. Government has provided more than US$77 million in 2017 alone to emergency food support, nutritional assistance, and other programmes.

WFP is currently scaling up to provide life-saving food assistance to more than 1.1 million people per month in Zimbabwe—an effort that will require at least US$73.5 million in additional funding through April 2019.

The Zanu-PF Youth league yesterday threatened to descend on foreign-owned shops allegedly involved in siphoning hard foreign currency out of the country resulting in severe economic stress.

The ruling party’s Secretary for Youths, Pupurai Togarepi accused foreign-owned businesses of starving local banks of the much-needed cash due to their corrupt dealings.

“There are foreigners doing business in the downtown area who are not banking money to local banks. We are going to demand that they bank their money because they are milking all our foreign currency and are putting it on the black market.

“We suspect that several of them are taking the money to several countries. These people are not accepting Ecocash transfers neither are they accepting our bond notes. They are demanding payments in US Dollars and they are not doing business in a transparent and professional way.

“They are the same people involved in money laundering because they don’t even have bank accounts,” he noted.

“So after consulting with the Harare Province Chairperson (Godwin Gomwe), we have decided that we will confront these foreign-owned businesses and demand that they show us their bank accounts. Those without bank accounts will be chased back to their countries,” Togarepi added.

He made reference to some transport operators whom he said risk losing their licenses should they continue with their trends.

“There are people who own commuter omnibuses written ‘GOD GIVEN’, those ones do not own a single bank account but they demand hard currency yet they do not bank with the local banks. Those are the people who are fueling the cash crisis and we are going after them,” warned the youth league’s boss.

Zimbabwe has been facing acute cash shortages resulting in the re-emergence of the black market where both the local bond notes and United States dollars are flooded and selling for a premium.

Early this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued a moratorium against companies and individuals fingered in money laundering and externalization of foreign currency.

-263Chat

Renowned constitutional lawyer Fadzayi Mahere has come out guns blazing against Econet Wireless Zimbabwe founder Strive Masiyiwa over his call for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and United States of America.

Mahere charged that government must honor its responsibilities including human rights before calling for sanctions removal.

Speaking in an interview CNBC Africa television station on Tuesday, Masiyiwa threw his weight behind President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying his administration deserves a chance while disapproving continued imposition of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe by the west.

Mahere who lost in the Mt Pleasant constituency parliamentary elections called on government to change its governance style and introduce sound policies before sanctions can be removed.

“More importantly, US laws aren’t changed by external opinions. Government must change the way it governs. Corruption and overspending must end. Sound policy must take over.

“Government must comply with ZIDERA’s requirements if they want that law repealed. Nothing else can change it.

“As Zimbabweans, we need to accept that the only Govt that has any lawful obligations towards us is our own. We can only hold our Govt to account. If we want sanctions lifted/foreign assistance, our Govt must play by their rules,” she said.

In the wake of post-election violence that saw at least six unarmed civilians gunned down in Harare by the military and government’s unpopular financial reforms early October which sent distortions in currency value in the market leaving prices of goods skyrocketing, Mahere described the developments as the greatest sanction the country is trapped in.

“Quite frankly, there are no greater sanctions than those that a government imposes on its own people. Bad governance, creating fake money to facilitate theft of value from our bank accounts, army killings, and irrational taxation – these are the sanctions the common man faces daily.

“The more reason business/the billionaires should lobby @edmnangagwa to do the needful to ensure those sanctions are lifted. But let’s not pretend “sanctions” are the cause of our problems. Our Govt sold diamonds in Europe. Nobody stopped them yet the $ remains unaccounted for,” she added.

The United States imposed economic sanctions against Zimbabwe on the back of gross human rights violations targeted at opposition supporters.

-263Chat

Jane Mlambo| Unconfirmed reports reaching Zim Eye indicate that senior police officers, Innocent Matibiri, Josephine Shambare and Levi Sibanda were fired last night over G40 links.

Check out tweet from Larry Moyo below

BREAKING (Exclusive)
TOP COPS FIRED
I am reliably informed Police DCGs Innocent Matibiri, Levi Sibanda and Josephine Shambare fired last night together with Commissioners Nonkosi Ncube, Eric Magejo and Bungu pic.twitter.com/3Th0ih5bOn

— Larry Moyo (@larry_moyo) November 2, 2018

Harare City Council has approved a lease of 5 000 square metres to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope at a monthly rental of $250 to build an orphanage.

According to minutes of the finance committee tabled on Wednesday at a full council meeting, the First Lady will lease the land for 10 years and pay $0,05 per square metre as well as meet other costs related to the construction of the property.

“Council resolved that notwithstanding the council policy recorded under item three of the minutes of the land alienation sub-committee dated September 26, 2005 to lease such stands through tender and subject to the provisions of section 152 of the Urban Council Act, stand 41159 STL – Belvedere Township measuring five thousand square metres be leased to Angel of Hope Foundation Trust for orphanage purposes for an initial period of 10 years at an initial monthly rental of $250,” part of the minutes read.

According to the foundation’s board chairperson Molly Dingani, they intend to build a skills centre where women and youths would embark on sustainable projects.

Early this month, the foundation received an ambulance from Mall Route Group.

Council said the rentals would be reviewed from time to time.

-Newsday

A Zimbabwean prison officer on Thursday 1 November 2018 pleaded not guilty to charges of undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa through posting some political comments on social media and to some misconduct charges.

John Mahlabera, who is employed as a prison officer by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) pleaded not guilty to the two charges he is facing as his trial commenced on Thursday 1 November 2018 at Chiredzi Prison, Masvingo province.

According to ZPCS, Mahlabera unlawfully made some political comments on his Twitter account after an MDC-Alliance party rally held at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka, Masvingo province, which was addressed by Nelson Chamisa, the opposition party leader, where he allegedly posted a message, which reads; “Come to Chiredzi my president”.

ZPCS said by posting such a message on Twitter, Mahlabera contravened section 3(1) of the Prisons (Staff) (Discipline) Regulations 1984 for using traitorous or disloyal words regarding the leader of government and had showed loyalty to Chamisa and disloyalty to President Mnangagwa.

But the ZPCS officer, who is represented by Collen Maboke of Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights, denied uttering any treacherous or disloyal
words against President Mnangagwa or government and indicated that the
Twitter account, which ZPCS authorities alleged belongs to him is in
the name of Shephard  Mahlabera.

Mahlabera is also answering to charges of misconduct, where ZPCS authorities alleged that he attended an opposition political party rally ahead of the country’s harmonised elections held in July in contravention of section 3 (46) of Prisons (Staff) (Disciplinary)
Regulations 1984 that is being guilty of any other act, conduct, disorder or neglect of duty to the prejudice of good conduct or discipline as read with section (19) (a-g) of Staff General Regulations 1968.

ZPCS authorities alleged that the 36 year-old prison officer unlawfully and intentionally participated in active politics when he attended an MDC Alliance party rally, which was held at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi, Masvingo province on 10 June 2018, where he was invited to the podium by Chamisa, who then introduced him to opposition political party supporters.

ZPCS charged that Mahlabera was promised employment by Chamisa, where he would work as a security detail for the opposition political party leader in the event that he emerged the winner of the harmonised elections that were held on 30 July 2018. ZPCS said Mahlabera had no right whatsoever to conduct himself in the manner he did.

Mahlabera’s trial, which was adjourned late Thursday, will continue on Saturday 3 November 2018, where his witnesses are expected to testify before the trial officer only identified as Superintendent Muzhingi.

ZPCS Principal Correctional Officer Nyikadzino Machingura is prosecuting on behalf of ZPCS.

Own Correspondent|Computers donated by former president Robert Mugabe in early 2000 are now obsolete forcing rural schools that benefited from the handouts to buy refurbished machinery.

Former president Mugabe launched the computerisation program and donated computers at selected schools around the country.

He targeted mainly rural schools during the project.

Magunje High school located in Ward 10 in Hurungwe district is one of those schools that got computers from Mugabe.

It is situated 36 kilometres west of Karoi town near Magunje growth point.

Speaking during the Prize and Speech Day held on Friday, headmaster Moses Namaona said although the school had benefited from the computer donation, the machinery is not working at the school.

“As Magunje High Secondary School, we were fortunate to get computers from (former) president Mugabe. Unfortunately, they are no longer working. We have them stuck in the storeroom here.

“We cannot dispose them for accountability purposes. We were forced to look for alternative and had to buy second hand and refurbished ten computers valued around $180.00 each.

“We want our students to be computer literate and use internet to access for research like those in towns and other places,” he told parents and former students who graced the occasion here.”

Magunje High school is among several schools in Hurungwe as well as Mola in Kariba rural, Makonde, Kadoma districts within the province that got computers.

During the time that the machines were donated, most of the schools had no electricity and had to use solar panels installed for the computerisation project.

However some sources at different schools confirmed that Mugabe donated computers that were old models.

“Not all machines are not working (sic) at our school, as we have managed to repair some. They are old version,” said one of our sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

Another teacher in Kadoma district confirmed that the computers are now obsolete.

“It is true that some of these computers are not working. They are obsolete and we are no longer using them,” said our source.

Mashonaland West acting provincial director Richard Mhumha was said to be out of office for official comment but sources confirmed receiving reports of computers not working.

“This was (former) president Mugabe gesture and is not bound to have them repaired. We hope parents must now understand why it is vital to buy personal computers for their children. Schools can buy these as part of school property,” said an official.

He added that officially, nothing can be thrown out without approval.

“Audits are done annually and school headmasters have to account for everything including donated computers,” added our source.

School Development Committee chairperson Patrick Chinodakufa said it was disheartening that parents were not paying school fees for their children making operations tough without financial support.

“The school is being owed a lot of money and we need around $20 000 for progress around the school. The buildings need a facelift and we appeal for assistance,” said Chinodakufa.

Former student and guest of honour Moses Chundu a University of Zimbabwe economics lecturer challenged students to study mathematics and science as the world is fast changing.

“We must impart science knowledge as technology is now part of global village,” said Chundu.

He later launched Chundu Maths Award covering best students from Form One to Six.

“The best students will get sponsorship and prize money. We must motivate them to do better,” said Chundu.

M&T

Correspondent|Tsitsi Masiyiwa, wife to telecommunications mogul Strive, has decried the culture of corruption that has taken toll in the country in all sectors of the economy.

Her sentiments come barely two days after her husband called for the removal of illegal sanctions against the country in developments that indicate the powerful couple’s commitment and goodwill towards the recovery of the economy.

Strive’s media sentiments drew brickbats from the opposition who accused him of siding with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Tsitsi registered her displeasure through a tweet on Thursday.

When the country faced a cholera outbreak, Masiyiwa donated $10 million to alleviate the crisis and Tsitsi also contributed through her philanthropic organisation Higher Life Foundation.

However, some Harare City Council employees were accused of ‘looting’ these funds through inflating figures and they are expected to appear before the disciplinary committee to answer the charges.

Masiyiwa blew the whistle on the alleged corruption by the Harare City Council Officials.

This is not the first time Tsitsi has aired her views on the state of the economy. In the recent past she stirred an hornet nest when she insinuated that the economic dip was a result of laziness.

M&T

The controversial preacher and serial sex scandal man, Prophet Walter Magaya is currently at Harare Magistrates Court as unconfirmed reports flared that he will be answering to charges of selling medicine without a license.

Reports by a social news site say Magaya appeared at the courts Friday morning.

263Chat did not however state what Magaya is at the courts for. ZimEye could not at the time of writing verify what he is in court for.

Magaya caused a stir early this week when he announced during his Sunday service that he had found an HIV/AIDS cure named Aguma Onco.

Following widespread condemnation from both the government and HIV/Aids advocacy groups, Magaya later apologized for rushing to announce his discovery without going through the legal procedures including conducting clinical tests.

More to follow…

Harare City Council has approved a lease of 5 000 square metres to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope at a monthly rental of $250 to build an orphanage.

According to minutes of the finance committee tabled on Wednesday at a full council meeting, the First Lady will lease the land for 10 years and pay $0,05 per square metre as well as meet other costs related to the construction of the property.

“Council resolved that notwithstanding the council policy recorded under item three of the minutes of the land alienation sub-committee dated September 26, 2005 to lease such stands through tender and subject to the provisions of section 152 of the Urban Council Act, stand 41159 STL – Belvedere Township measuring five thousand square metres be leased to Angel of Hope Foundation Trust for orphanage purposes for an initial period of 10 years at an initial monthly rental of $250,” part of the minutes read.

According to the foundation’s board chairperson Molly Dingani, they intend to build a skills centre where women and youths would embark on sustainable projects.

Early this month, the foundation received an ambulance from Mall Route Group.

Council said the rentals would be reviewed from time to time.

-Newsday

Harare City Council has approved a lease of 5 000 square metres to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope at a monthly rental of $250 to build an orphanage.

According to minutes of the finance committee tabled on Wednesday at a full council meeting, the First Lady will lease the land for 10 years and pay $0,05 per square metre as well as meet other costs related to the construction of the property.

“Council resolved that notwithstanding the council policy recorded under item three of the minutes of the land alienation sub-committee dated September 26, 2005 to lease such stands through tender and subject to the provisions of section 152 of the Urban Council Act, stand 41159 STL – Belvedere Township measuring five thousand square metres be leased to Angel of Hope Foundation Trust for orphanage purposes for an initial period of 10 years at an initial monthly rental of $250,” part of the minutes read.

According to the foundation’s board chairperson Molly Dingani, they intend to build a skills centre where women and youths would embark on sustainable projects.

Early this month, the foundation received an ambulance from Mall Route Group.

Council said the rentals would be reviewed from time to time.

-Newsday

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mines minister Winston Chitando were yesterday dragged into a case in which $6,4 million pumped into Hwange Colliery Company for exploration, allegedly disappeared, while board members were kidnapped and held hostage by an operative linked to the two with assistance from police officers.

Government on Monday put the troubled coal producer under reconstruction and appointed Bekithemba Moyo of DBF Capital as its administrator.

The move also suspended the functions of Hwange Colliery’s board of directors.

But members of the board, led by acting chairperson Juliana Muskwe, yesterday appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Mines, which is chaired by Temba Mliswa, to shed light on the goings-on at the mine.

She also spoke on the abduction of company secretary Allan Masiye and internal auditor Gilbert Mudenda by Shepherd Tundiya with the assistance of the police.

“There was a lot of mismanagement of funds by Shepherd Manamike (financial director) and Thomas Makore (former managing director) to the extent that Makore was even said to be paying a journalist at ZBC and when we demanded to know how much, Masiye was arrested and when we called for an enquiry on May 23, Makore resigned,” Muskwe said.

However, Makore reportedly continued getting payment under unclear circumstances even though he had been given his statutory retirement package.
“The $6,4 million for (exploration of) the western area was used without board authority,” Muskwe said.

“When we suspended Manamike, Tundiya stormed in with two police officers during a board meeting with our lawyers in Harare. They grabbed Masiye and Mudenda and threw them into a car without number plates.”

Muskwe said that Tundiya owned two companies — Phil Cool and Avin Investments — which had contracts to transport coal from Hwange to a Zimbabwe Power Company plant in Kwekwe and bragged that he was connected to Mnangagwa and Chitando and was taking instructions from the President’s office.

“When we suspended Manamike, Tundiya called me to say that Mnangagwa wanted to see me and I must report to the President’s office,” Muskwe said.

“When we went to the President’s office, we only saw a director (name not given), who instructed that we should work well with Tundiya. He (Tundiya) then took control and ordered the board to reinstate Manamike. He also called for another meeting at Chitando’s office where he gave instructions and surprisingly Chitando was quiet and did not say anything.”

Another board member, Edward Tome, said the financial problems at Hwange were caused by gross mismanagement.

He said a European company, Motor Engine, which was contracted to mine coal by the Hwange Company Scheme, had not been paid, alongside several other creditors and workers as management allegedly embezzled funds, while Tundiya called the shots.

“When we suspended Manamike and Makore for the second time, we were told that there were instructions from the top to reinstate him,” Tome said.

Former board member Ntombizodwa Masuku said they later heard that the instructions allegedly came from Mnangagwa, who said that Manamike was his neighbour and so could not be suspended from Hwange.

Tundiya allegedly owes Hwange more than $200 000 after he diverted coal for his own use.

After the board directed that a forensic audit be carried out, Chitando put the company under reconstruction.

The board members said they learnt of the development in newspapers as they were not consulted.

In an Extraordinary Government Gazette published on Monday, Chitando said Hwange owes the government over $150 million, with its liabilities far outstripping the value of its assets.

Hwange Colliery Company Scheme chairperson Andrew Lawson told the committee that placement of the coal producer under reconstruction was unlawful because it was publicly listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.

The miner also lost the Western area concession, with businessman Billy Rautenbach telling the board that it was now his, Lawson told the committee.

Government has 37,1% shares in Hwange, Messina Investments 16,76%, Meikles Steel 9,76%, London Register 6,87%, National Social Security Authority 6,45%, Hamilton and Hamilton Trust 4,9%, Local Authorities and Pension Funds 1,2%, as well as several minority shareholders (4 401 in total).

-Newsday

Correspondent|MDC Alliance secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora says he is undecided on the position he will contest for at his party’s elective congress next year, despite speculation that he is gunning for the coalition’s presidency.

He did not categorically state the position in which he will contest but he kept his options wide open and is not restricting himself to a particular position.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mwonzora said he was still undecided on the position he would contest for.

He however made it clear that as a party member he had the right to contest for any position.

“At that congress any position is open for contest I really have not yet made up my mind regarding which position I will contest when congress comes,” he said.

Mwonzora’s statement comes amid speculative reports of a widening rift between him and MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa.

“I have read speculative reports in the newspapers and that still remains speculation but I have my rights as a member of the party and the rights I know I have include the right to elect office bearers or to be elected as an office bearer so I will make my decision when the time comes,” said Mwonzora who was keeping his wide options open.

Political analyst Alexander Rusero said Mwonzora would have to tread carefully towards the party’s 2019 congress as any message could be (mis)interpreted as a threat.

“So long as Mwonzora is still around Chamisa will continue to see shadows, so one way or another if Mwonzora is quiet he is suspected, if he says something he is also suspected.

“He is in a precarious position and has to play his cards close to his chest or risk finding himself in the political wilderness,” he said.

Rusero said Mwonzora’s decisive win for the secretary general post in 2014 over Chamisa’s bid is still fresh in the opposition leader’s mind.

“Mwonzora is very shrewd he is not a fly by night politician and as long as Mwonzora is in MDC he will always pose the greatest challenge for Chamisa, because Chamisa is still being hounded, traumatised by the dismal defeat he suffered at Mwonzora’s hands for the secretary general’s post in 2014,” Rusero said.

Despite, his 2014 loss to Mwonzora, Chamisa controversially became leader of the MDC Alliance shortly after the death of MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

His rise to power was contentious and led to the the break away of Thokozani Khupe and subsequent formation of MDC-T.

M&T

Custodians of the sacred Nharira Hills Heritage Site are up in arms with a Chinese-linked company Edsabri Investments, which has interest in mining quarry in the area for cement production.

The hills are a sacred site for the Nyamweda clan and were declared a national monument site in 2000 in terms of section 20(1) of the National Museums and Monuments Act. The clan had free access to the hills to practice traditional rites such as rain-making ceremonies.

When NewsDay arrived at the site yesterday, the company was already removing its equipment as ordered by the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe with villagers witnessing and jeering Chinese nationals who were supervising the movement.

Nharira Heritage Trust chairman Israel Pasipanodya Kawanzaruwa said the Environmental Management Agency did not fully consult other stakeholders before granting the Chinese approval to start operations after conducting a Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) .

“We want to know the people who were consulted by EMA when they were doing their EIA because we were never consulted. We, as villagers, are demanding an urgent stop to the excavation, mining and desecration of the Nharira Hills given its status as a traditional heritage site.

“They should find another place to do their mining out of this area. This year, we failed to do the rain-making ceremony (mukwerera) because of this dispute. The whole process needs to be revised right from the start as everything is shady, due procedures must be followed with all stakeholders involved. Nharira Hills Heritage Site is a protected site,” Kawanzaruwa added.

Nharira Hills are located near Norton, about 20km west of Harare, and comprises of five hillocks that are interconnected by underground tunnels, spreading over Somerby, Kilworth, Saffron Walden and Stonehurst farms.

Kawanzaruwa added that operations of Chinese companies in the surrounding hilllocks as there will be mining quarry would destroy cultural and ancestral relics beneath the ground and were supposed to move further from the hills as they are interconnected by underground tunnels.

National Museums and Monuments regional director Godhi Bvocho was also at the site witnessing compliance by Edsabri Investments as this was meant to preserve sacredness of graves, rock paintings and the ruins at Nharira Hills.

“An instruction was given to Edsabri Investments to move all the equipment and go outside Nharira Hills because it was illegal for them to operate there. There was no authorisation from National Museums and Monuments,” Bvocho said.

-Newsday

GOVERNMENT has up to early December to process former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s full pension or risk a civil suit, his lawyer Welshman Ncube has said.

Mphoko is yet to receive his terminal benefits following his removal from office after the fall of former President Robert Mugabe in a November 15, 2017 coup.

He has been engaging government over his terminal benefits for months on end but has reached a deadlock over the matter, resulting in Mphoko’s lawyers giving notice to sue.

“The notice has not yet expired. I do not have the papers with me right now (to confirm the date of expiry of notice), but it expires in early December,” Ncube who is also MDC Alliance vice-president, told Southern Eye yesterday.

Government admits Mphoko is entitled to his pension but disputes he deserves full benefits such as security aides, an office, telephone, secretary and domestic workers in line with the Constitution.

Government argues Mphoko does not deserve full benefits as he did not serve a full term under Statutory Instrument 86 of 2015 that states only a VP who served at least one term in office can enjoy exit packages such as a security officer.

Section 102 of Zimbabwe’s constitution stipulates that “… A person who has ceased to be President or Vice-President is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the salary of a sitting President or Vice-President, as the case may be; and such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.”

-Newsday

Harare City Council has approved a lease of 5 000 square metres to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope at a monthly rental of $250 to build an orphanage.

According to minutes of the finance committee tabled on Wednesday at a full council meeting, the First Lady will lease the land for 10 years and pay $0,05 per square metre as well as meet other costs related to the construction of the property.

“Council resolved that notwithstanding the council policy recorded under item three of the minutes of the land alienation sub-committee dated September 26, 2005 to lease such stands through tender and subject to the provisions of section 152 of the Urban Council Act, stand 41159 STL – Belvedere Township measuring five thousand square metres be leased to Angel of Hope Foundation Trust for orphanage purposes for an initial period of 10 years at an initial monthly rental of $250,” part of the minutes read.

According to the foundation’s board chairperson Molly Dingani, they intend to build a skills centre where women and youths would embark on sustainable projects.

Early this month, the foundation received an ambulance from Mall Route Group.

Council said the rentals would be reviewed from time to time.

-Newsday

Correspondent|ZIMBABWE Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA) founder, Ezekiel Guti’s son-in-law is in trouble with the law after he allegedly bashed his wife and fired a bullet through the roof of the couple’s home while threatening to kill the archbishop’s daughter over adultery claims.

Lindsay Nyajeka (35) was Thursday hauled before a Harare magistrate’s facing charges of contravening the Firearms Act and the Domestic Violence Act.

He was not asked to plead and his case was remanded to November 17 for trial commencement.

His 29-year-old wife failed to come to court citing health problems.

“It is the State’s case that sometime in December last year, Nyajeka had a misunderstanding with his wife Ethanim Perfect Munamato Nyajeka over extra marital affairs. Nyajeka accused his wife of having an extra marital affair with her workmate Gilbert Chadyemhunga who is also a pastor in their church,” read the court papers.

Prosecuting, Devoted Nyagano Gwashavanhu told court that the wife tried to explain that she was not having an affair but Nyajeka became violent and suddenly drew a pistol from his drawer and pointed it at her.

It is further alleged that due to fear, his wife peed on herself while screaming for help.

Nyajeka then pointed his gun to the ceiling and fired a shot.

It is also alleged that he went outside the house and fired another shot before he went away only to return home during early hours of the following day.

On another incident, he is accused of bashing his wife for wearing trousers.

Court heard he assaulted her when she was about to leave for work ordering her to remove the trousers she was wearing and further scolding her for being a “spoilt child”.

Nyakeka is employed by his in-laws and works at the church’s headquarters in Harare.

A HARARE magistrate yesterday dismissed an application by MDC vice-president Morgen Komichi to have access to V11 forms for him to prepare for his trial as the State concedes the documents had already been destroyed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).

Komichi, who appeared before magistrate Elisha Singano is facing allegations of disrupting the announcement of the July 30 Presidential election results.

The MDC senior member, who is represented by Obey Shava and Jeremiah Bhamu, had approached the court to force the State to supply him with a police running diary, V11 forms and minutes of the meeting held on August 2 before the announcement of the results.

In dismissing the application, Singano ruled that Komichi did not specify why he needed the running diary

Singano said the V11 forms were not necessary in the trial as Komichi is facing a charge of interrupting the announcement of the result.

He also ruled that Zec denies ever holding a meeting before the announcement of the results with election agents of various political parties and he cannot direct an order for minutes of a meeting which never took place. After delivering his ruling, Singano recused himself from the case, saying he had other duties and another magistrate Ruramai Chitumbura took over the proceedings. However, Shava unsuccessfully applied for a postponement, saying the rights of the accused to have a fair trial is being violated.

But prosecutor Michael Reza told court that the V11 forms had been destroyed by Zec in accordance with Section 73 (3) of the Electoral Act which states that the residues must be destroyed after 14 days of the election.

In denying the offence, Komichi told court that he was surprised to hear Zec officials announcing results before adhering to the agreed verification process.

“Komichi did not stop them from announcing those results of figures. He let them continue as he did not want to disturb what was going on. After Zec officials took an adjournment, Komichi seized the opportunity to advise the people who were in the room that what Zec had done was contrary to what was agreed upon,” Shava said.

“He only advised the people that the results which had been announced by Zec were not genuine and had not been verified by his MDC Alliance party.”

However, Reza called first witness Phineas Gutu a ZBC producer who told the court that he was not in the room when the election results were being announced, but he was in the outside broadcasting van.

He told court that he only heard that Komichi stood in front where the Zec commissioners were seated.

The trial is expected to continue on November 16.

-Newsday

Mutare Magistrates court has acquitted three villagers, who had been on trial for allegedly insulting a traditional leader, whom they had allegedly denounced for disapproving their support to an opposition political party.

The three villagers namely Trymore Kutadzaushe, aged 34 years, Chipo Mushonga, aged 38 and Justine Mapfumo, aged 68 years, had been on trial on charges of disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors charged that the villagers, who live in Chimombe Village in Buhera North constituency, Manicaland province, provoked a breach of peace by insulting Causemore Chimombe, a traditional leader on 23 June 2017 by telling him that “We are tired of being intimidated. We no longer need to be oppressed. We are not bothered that someone is a Chief. With your age, can’t you see that you support what is useless? I cannot be forced to support a party which I do not like. We do not have a headman. Councillor, Chief, Member of Parliament and President”.

In their defence, the villagers, who were represented by Blessing Nyamaropa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, argued that Chimombe, who doubles up as a ZANU PF party youth leader in their village laid the disorderly conduct charges against them after he had been infuriated by seeing one of them wearing the opposition MDC-T political party regalia and expressed his reservations about support and activities conducted by the opposition party in the area of his jurisdiction.

Kutadzaushe, Mushonga and Mapfumo told the court that they only responded to Chimombe by telling him that he had no powers to order them not to support the MDC-T party.

In acquitting the trio, the court on Wednesday 31 October 2018 ruled that the state failed to prove its case beyond any reasonable doubt and that the words allegedly uttered by the villagers did not constitute a crime.

Acting Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi was yesterday grilled for allegedly not doing enough to effectively prosecute high profile corruption cases in his first 93 days as head of prosecution amid complaints that he was pre-emptying investigations through premature press briefings.

Appearing before a panel of 11 commissioners of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) yesterday, Hodzi said he had taken a record 27 high profile graft cases to court but panellists questioned the quality of some of the dockets considering acquittals were being recorded at the courts.

Hodzi was part of the 10 aspiring Prosecutor Generals publicly interviewed in Harare yesterday. He was the fourth candidate to be interviewed yesterday.

Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza was the first to quiz Hodzi, asking him to state the number of high profile cases which had been taken to court in his first 93 days in office.

Hodzi said: “We have taken at least 27 high profile cases to court since my appointment as Acting Prosecutor General.”

Justice Gwaunza quizzed him further: “Why are we not hearing about them?”

Hodzi responded by proposing the training of judicial officers on how to properly preside over corruption-related cases.

“Our magistrates need special training on anti-corruption cases. Even some judges need to be properly trained on how to handle graft matters. We also need to have judges properly trained to effectively deal with cases of corruption,” he said.

Commissioner Priscilla Madzonga weighed in with a follow up question on the progress made in the first 93 days.

“Can you tell us about just one high profile corruption case that your office has so far effectively prosecuted with a conviction?”

Hodzi informed the panel that he was working on at least two cases which will soon be brought to court.

“I have put resources on two or three high profile cases of corruption that are coming soon . . .”

Comm Madzonga questioned him on the quality of the 27 dockets which Mr Hodzi said had been referred to court.

“Were the dockets ready for trial? Were the 27 cases properly investigated? We hear some of the cases are not being properly investigated.”

Hodzi insisted that the cases had adequate evidence for conviction.

Comm Josphat Tshuma said JSC was in possession of a written complaint that the Acting PG was pre-empting investigations through abuse of the media.

“We have received a complaint against you of inappropriate use of the media, pre-empting corruption investigations. How do you respond?”

Hodzi said his engagement with the media was meant to ensure accountability to be public, being a public officer.

“There was no any impropriety in me dealing with the press. In fact, so many complaints have been raised against me with some wrongly accusing me of interfering with a judge,” he said.

Comm Tshuma added: “Is it appropriate for you as Acting PG to be the NPA spokesperson, dealing with the media?”

“I no longer chair the meetings. I have created a corporate affairs department to speak for the NPA headed by Mrs Angeline Munyeriwa.

“I only speak on issues to do with the prosecution and the media will be present to ensure accountability and transparency. This is meant to ensure that I will not have anything to hide,” he responded.

Comm Lloyd Mhishi questioned Hodzi on another complaint written to JSC in which he was accused of appearing before a Harare magistrate in a matter that was being handled by his juniors simply to introduce himself as the Acting PG before addressing the court on how to deal with corruption cases.

In that case the complainant said he objected to Hodzi’s approach saying he had used the wrong platform to discuss such issues.

“The complainant one Mr Kurunera said you appeared in a court before magistrate Mujaya and you started addressing the court on how you were going to handle corruption cases. Mr Kurunera said he questioned your approach. Is that correct?” asked Comm Mhishi.

“When I went there it was just a courtesy visit to my officers. After all I have a right of audience in any matter. I just opened the matter and handed it over to my juniors. There is nothing wrong with that,” said Mr Hodzi.

Comm Mhishi asked MHodzi whether he was just taking people to court before investigating because in most cases people were being acquitted.

“I understand former Cabinet ministers and a businessman have been taken to court but in most of the cases, the accused have been acquitted. Can you tell us how you deal with cases at your office. Are you taking people to court before making the decision to prosecute?”

“We first decide on whether to prosecute or not. If there is enough evidence, we then take the case to court,” he answered.

Comm Mishrod Guvamombe asked Hodzi to comment on the public perception that most of the so called high profile cases were not being properly prosecuted.

“There is a perception that in most of the cases you are referring, you simply arrest to investigate and the matter end there. Can you comment on that?”

Hodzi said: “We agreed that we are not going to have cat fights between prosecutors and magistrates on who is not doing his or her job.

“The public is not interested in our cat fights. We agreed to work together as a seamless machine. If the police do their investigations poorly, the whole system will suffer disrepute. We just need to work together well,” said Hodzi.

State Media

AN inyanga from Gokwe 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.

Pardon Nzanga (31) of Siyamuzula village, under Chief Simuchembo in Gokwe, was implicated in the case of a missing Constable Edmond Sibanda who is stationed at Tsholotsho Police Station.

Cst Sibanda reportedly went missing on October 10 during his deployment at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) offices at DDF premises in Tsholotsho.

Sources close to Cst Sibanda said he disappeared while tracking $1 900 that he had mistakenly sent to a stranger via EcoCash.

“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.

Cst Sibanda had been deployed to guard duties as from October 10 to October 16 but he only reported for duty on the first day and thereafter disappeared.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident saying police suspected foul play.

She said security had been increased around the traditional healer as he assisted police with investigations.

“We are investigating a case of a police officer from Tsholotsho who allegedly went missing on October 10 and his belongings which include his car, driver’s licence and R2 500 were found with an inyanga in Gokwe,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

A source close to investigations said Const Sibanda’s relatives tracked down Nzanga on Monday after officially filing a missing person report on October 15.

“Through their investigations, they found Const Sibanda’s vehicle — a silver grey Toyota Axio registration Number AED 7571 — at Gokwe Centre being driven by Pardon Nzanga (31) of Siyamuzula village, under chief Simuchembo in Gokwe 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 kept in his wallet and was using it.

“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.

Sources close to Const Sibanda said he loved his car and it was highly unlikely that he could have just left it with a stranger.

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.

Villagers, who had gathered at his home to witness what was taking place, gave chase and caught up with him in some bushes.

The suspect is said to have allegedly given contradicting statements to the police.

State Media

A 38-year old Bulawayo man has been arraigned for beating up his wife after she refused to take the money he had offered her for groceries saying it was very little.

Richard Moyo of Pumula South slapped and punched Mrs Melody Moyo (31) after a misunderstanding erupted between the couple.

Mrs Moyo was given money to buy groceries by her husband but she felt the money was not enough.

She told her husband she was not going to accept the money. Moyo pleaded guilty to assault charges when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate, Mr Lungile Ncube. Mr Ncube fined him $100 or 90 days in prison.

In sentencing him, Mr Ncube said the court had considered that he was a first offender.

“I have considered that you are first offender and that the complainant was not injured. You will be fined $100 or 90 days in prison,” he said.

On October 14 at around 6PM, the court heard, Moyo and his wife were at their home.

Moyo gave her money to buy groceries and she refused to take the money saying it was insufficient to buy household goods leading to their misunderstanding.

“Moyo got angry and assaulted her using his hands and fists several times on her face,” she said.

Mrs Moyo reported the matter to the police but did not seek medication since she was not injured.

The amount of the money Moyo had given his wife was not mentioned in court.
Mr Kenneth Shava prosecuted.- state media

Binga Rural District Council chief executive officer, Joshua Muzamba, and two senior council officials have been arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office and fraud.

Muzamba (53), who resides at number 176 Lakeview in Binga, allegedly promoted an employee without following procedure in terms of the Urban Councils Act which requires that there must be a council resolution before a job is advertised.

The RDC boss allegedly promoted Lovemore Siamunya who was a revenue officer in 2014 to a higher position without seeking the consent of councillors.

Muzamba was not asked to plead to criminal abuse of office when he appeared before Binga magistrate, Mr Talent Phiri, on Monday.

He was remanded out of custody to next week Monday on $200 bail and ordered to surrender his travel documents, report once on Fridays at Binga Police Station and not interfere with witnesses.
Prosecuting, Mr Bruce Maphosa said Muzamba favoured Siamunya.

“On November 3, 2014, Muzamba promoted Siamunya without advertising or carrying out interviews while there was also no council resolution to employ a public officer,” he said.
Siamunya also appeared before the same court to answer to a charge of fraud for allegedly forging a receipt of $600 paid by a client for lease renewal.

The prosecutor said on January 12 last year, Siamunya received $600 from Mr Edmore Siabechu to renew a shop lease for Mr Peter Mudenda. Instead of receipting the money, Siamunya allegedly issued the customer with an old counterfeit receipt which was used in 2015.

It was not mentioned how the offence came to light. Siamunya was remanded to today when he is expected to bring a lawyer. He was released on $100 bail and ordered to report at Binga police station daily.

The third official, Naison Siamuloba (46), who was employed as a revenue officer, appeared in court last Friday when he was jailed for an effective three months on a count of fraud and fined $100 on the second one.

Siamuloba received $600 from Mrs Mary Magdalene Esterhuizen of Mlibizi Resort for renewal of a lease.

Siamuloba under receipted the money and pocketed $500, after giving the client a fake receipt with the correct figure while council master copy had $100. On the second count, Siamuloba received $270 from the same client and converted $100 to his own use.

He had repaid all the money when he appeared in court. The magistrate sentenced Siamuloba to six months in jail for the first count and fined him $100 or alternatively two months in jail for the second count.

He will serve an effective three months after half of the sentence was suspended on condition of good behaviour within five years. – state media

By Own Correspondent| Prophet Walter Magaya has apologised for skipping government as the regulatory authority in his announcement about his purported HIV medicine which he claimed cured both HIV and cancer.

Magaya, who is the PHD ministries leader said this at a joint press statement with the ministry of Health and Child Care held in Harare on Thursday.

He said he regrets prematurely announcing the “cure” when the regulatory authorities had not “scrutinised and certified it”.

Said Magaya:

“I spoke before I looked into authorities regulations. For me to come and apologise, it is a sign of regret that I rushed the announcement.

When I discovered what I discovered which was tested in India, I was holding a report which I overwhelmingly went on and announced what I was carrying in my hands without taking note of the authorities of Zimbabwe.

I have however learnt that the authorities of Zimbabwe and all the regulatory authorities were supposed to scrutinise, analyse and be satisfied with what I was holding before I prematurely announced.

The apology that I carry is an apology of saying we rushed to announce what we were carrying without the authorities analysing it but at the same time, I want to salute the Ministry (Health) which has handled me like a child and showed me what I should have done.

The reason why I rushed to make the announcement was because of excitement of what I was holding, the excitement which overwhelmed me.”

Zimbabwe’s per capita income has grown from US$900 to US$1 900 over the past year in spite of the appearances of worsening economic climate, setting it on course to meet its target of being a middle income country by 2030, a senior government official has sensationally claimed.

Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri told Zanu PF supporters at Mutasa DC, who had gathered to celebrate her appointment as the first female to hold the post in Zimbabwe, said the improved per capita income was revealed by the international community.

She said this was a result of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to foster unity in rebuilding the country’s economy which was in the dump for nearly two decades at the back of Zanu PF’s ruinous economic policies.

Muchinguri-Kashiri said all the improvements have come about since his ascendancy to the presidency at the back of a soft coup last November.

“President Mnangagwa’s call from the beginning is a call for unity as Zimbabweans because the work at hand is to develop this country through opening the country for business and transform it into a middle income country — moving it from US$900 per capita income to a bigger value in 2030.

“We were at US$900 but the economy has already improved in his short time in office and that has gone up to US$1 900. This is being confirmed by the international community as we were even looking down upon ourselves,” she said.

Muchinguri-Kashiri — who is also Zanu PF chairperson — said the improved per capita income can also be shown through the improved lives of farmers and the sheer volumes of vehicles on the country’s roads.

“This is being witnessed through our tobacco farmers’ lifestyles, the huge volume of vehicles on the roads, it’s because of current economic activities and the growth of the economy,” she said.

She added that the current crippling diesel shortages were due to an increase in economic activities with the country’s diesel consumption increasing more than threefold from $4 million to $14 million per annum.

“Even the consumption of diesel. We would use $4 million a week for its importation but we are now consuming $14 million. This means demand has grown due to ongoing economic activities. Industry and farmers are demanding diesel as they are appreciating the thrust and vision of our president,” the Defence minister said. – Daily News

President Mnangagwa this afternoon announced the discovery of oil and gas deposits in Muzarabani Basin by Invictus Energy.

Details of the discovery will be announced tomorrow.

THE price of bread is set to marginally rise to $1,40 with effect from tomorrow, after Government moved in to provide more assistance to the baking industry.

Last week, bakers had proposed to increase the price of bread to $2,20 from $1,10 to defray what they claimed were unsustainable operational costs. Government rejected the increase as it came amid a wave of price madness and commodity shortages across all sectors of the economy.

The National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe (NBAZ) today said after realising that bread had become the most affordable staple for Zimbabweans, they had “made every effort to keep the bread price affordable”.

“We therefore notify the public that the price of a standard loaf should not exceed $1,30 and $1,40 to the wholesale and consumers respectively, flour being at a maximum price of $36,50 per 50kg bag.

“This watered down increase has been arrived at following the Government’s intervention through the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe that has committed to avail to the bakery industry at least 80 percent of its monthly foreign currency requirements from a current maximum of 35 percent allocation,” reads the NBAZ statement.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu confirmed that Government had agreed to increase its support to bakers.

“They really did not need our permission to do that (increase the price), but they notified us. They initially wanted to be $2,20 (but) then we had to come up with ways of mitigating that and there is now more assistance that they are getting which could not be 100 percent really, to keep the prices where they were.

“So they told us that with the assistance and having looked at their costs and having looked at everything, the wholesale price from the manufacturers will be $1,30 and from the retailers it will be $1,40,” said Minister Ndlovu.

-State Media

ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa has been accused of rigging the soccer mother body’s presidential elections set for next month by employing unorthodox ways to bar his rival, Felton Kamambo, from contesting.

Kamambo, who was part of the current Zifa board before he quit early this year, has taken the incumbent out of his comfort zone after he declared his interest to contest for the top post.

In a bid to maintain his grip as the Zifa boss, Chiyangwa is allegedly employing all dirty tricks in the book, including amending the electoral rules.

On top of frustrating Kamambo to access a nomination form, it has emerged that prospective candidates for the executive committee posts were required to pass an integrity test by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

It is believed Chiyangwa, who has strong links with senior officials in ZACC, was desperate to ensure that his challenger was banned from contesting on a technicality.

Traditionally, background checks for people eyeing top positions, even for Zifa executive committee elections, were carried out by the police, and Chiyangwa’s decision to involve ZACC this time around raises stink.

Kamambo believes he is the one being targeted by the new rules, and cried foul after he failed to get a letter from ZACC, which should be attached to his nomination form.

As it stands, his bid will fail on a technicality.

“I went to ZACC, but they denied me the letter. It’s surprising because this is the letter I was supposed to attach to my nomination form. Whatever the letter contained, I was supposed to be given that letter,” Kamambo said.

“So I had to submit my nomination form without the letter. These are all efforts to try and disqualify me.”

Reports also suggested yesterday that councillors who nominated Kamambo to contest the post were being investigated as part of a broader strategy to intimidate them ahead of the elections scheduled for December 1.

Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said he could not comment on electoral matters as it was incumbent on the electoral committee to decide.

“I am not in a position to comment on electoral matters suffice to say the electoral committee will decide,” he said.

Former Njube Sundowns director Gift Banda submitted his nomination form seeking to challenge for the Zifa vice-presidency post, where he will go head-to-head with incumbent Omega Sibanda.

Banda, now a House of Assembly member for Njube-Lobengula constituency in Bulawayo, feels he still has more to offer to Zimbabwean football, having also been part of the Zifa board.

Zifa board member for finance Philemon Machana has said he would seek re-election.

Sports caster and businessperson Barry Manandi has also thrown his hat into the ring for an executive committee position.

Chiyangwa’s close ally, Chamu Chiwanza, whose football background is dubious, is also seeking election into the Zifa board, as is public relations practitioner Sugar Chagonda.

By Farai D Hove| Controversial preacher, Walter Magaya has apologised for making an HIV cure claim.

The Health Ministry which held a meeting with the man today, afternoon, has announced that Magaya has poured out apologies.

The ministry statement read: “Prophet Magaya’s medication for HIV/AIDS is not yet approved Hon Minister Dr O. Moyo has confirmed and the Prophet has apologized for not following the procedure of registration.”

ZimEye could not at the time establish Magaya’s full statement or apology as claimed by the ministry. – THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY

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ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially announced oil and gas deposits discovery in Muzarabani, Mashonaland Central province, following a study carried out by an Australian company, Invictus Energy Limited.

In a televised address to the nation late afternoon today, Mnangagwa said, government in the last few months worked with and facilitated Invictus, which is quoted on the Australian Stock Exchange, to undertake oil and gas exploration studies in Muzarabani.

He revealed that government has been advised by Invictus that the findings “are positive and point to oil and gas deposits in this area”, adding that Invictus and their partners will be making a statement to their shareholders through the Australian Stock Exchange in a few hours.

“Invictus is utilising data which was generated by Mobil Oil in the early 1990s when extensive oil and gas geophysical work was undertaken in the greater Muzarabani area.

“As part of its exploration studies, Invictus has engaged a number of world-wide professional companies with extensive experience in oil and gas,” said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa said the findings by Invictus are an exciting development for the country, adding that government will work closely with the firm.

“The govt of Zimbabwe will work very closely with Invictus to ensure that the Invictus realises its plans to sink an exploration well by mid-2020. After exploration well, the next stage will be commercial exploitation of the resource,” he said.

Mnangagwa further highlighted that in the interim, additional geophysical work is on-going to identify further exploration targets, while updates will be given as and when the planned exploration work results come in.

He noted that, on its part, Invictus has committed itself to enter a production-sharing agreement will the government of Zimbabwe, which will be applicable when the project proceeds to commercial production stage.

Invictus Energy Limited is an independent oil and gas exploration Australian firm focused on high impact energy resources in sub-Saharan Africa.

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“…Now will the end of Western sanctions end all our problems?

Absolutely not!”

Econet boss, Strive Masiyiwa has hit back at critics who say his statement calling for an end to sanctions is cruel and misguided.

The attacks saw revelations showing his earlier political life in the 90s when he was colleagues with ZIFA boss Phillip Chiyangwa and Peter Pamire.

Masiyiwa titled his response:  “Reflection: This is the place I comment.”

He also used a famous quote:

“I BELONG TO EVERYBODY, AND I BELONG TO NOBODY”

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Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa will this week invade Gwanda and Beitbridge where he is set to hold his next ‘Thank You’ rallies.

Chamisa who garnered 2,4 million votes, has refused to accept the election results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission citing various irregularities including intimidation of his supporters.

The Thank You rallies are meant to salute his supporters for voting in large numbers.

Voters have often accused politicians of only appearing when they are looking for votes and fast disappearing soon after elections and Chamisa’s move will definitely go well with his supporters and keep the momentum high.

TOBACCO farmers, who are battling to access exorbitant inputs, are demanding that the government pays them in foreign currency before the next selling season starts so as to cushion them from currency volatility ravaging the economy.

This came at a time non-contracted farmers are battling to procure inputs whose prices have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many.

Tobacco outperformed initial projections by 5%, with the output reaching 250 million kilogrammes in 2018, well in excess of the previous all-time high of 235 million kilogrammes achieved in 1999.

Zimbabwe Tobacco Association chief executive Rodney Ambrose told NewsDay that farmers need an upfront incentive in line with the current economic environment.

“Without a doubt, the incentive, if going to be in effect in the 2018/19 season, has to be reviewed in line with the economic environment that may be prevailing during April/May 2019. Farmers are facing a number of viability challenges and the right framework must be in place well before any proposed opening of sales next season,” he said.

During the just-ended season the central bank was paying farmers half of their money in US dollars. Tobacco, one of the country’s biggest forex earners, raked in a total of $725,9 million, which is 30% higher than the $547 million realised in 2017. As such, Ambrose believes tobacco farmers who are principal generators of foreign currency need fair economic recognition.

“With the separation of RTGS FCAs and nostro FCAs [foreign currency accounts] and key inputs soon only to be purchased only through nostro FCAs, tobacco growers should be awarded a portion of their sales into nostro FCAs,” he said.

Despite being key forex generators, the central bank through the mid-year monetary policy statement early this month prescribed that tobacco producers would retain 20% of their foreign currency proceeds, with the rest going to the central bank.

According to the policy, gold producers retain 30% of export proceeds; and platinum, diamonds and chrome producers 35%.

The apex bank has been allocating forex for fuel and pharmaceutical products, among others.

Appearing in Parliament on Monday, Finance secretary George Guvamatanga did not respond to the question from legislators whether farmers were going to paid through nostro foreign currency accounts.

While growers under contract have received their required inputs for this season, Ambrose said uncontracted farmers were facing a torrid time in buying inputs.

“For many farmers not under contract, this is a major issue. However, a fair portion did buy some critical inputs using their proceeds during the selling season. For those trying to source inputs and re-tool now, it is a very difficult task,” he said.

Federation of Farmers’ Union president Wonder Chabikwa said: “Now we face a huge challenge with unstable prices, yet we have done our seasonal budgets. Farmers are now subjected to volatile input prices and availability, with some suppliers demanding US dollars or cash,” he said.

-Newsday

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PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa said he was disappointed by the behaviour of local manufacturers who abused laws meant to protect them from cheap imports, by holding the market at ransom.

Speaking at the commissioning of a $7 million ProDairy milk processing plant in Ruwa, Mnangagwa said his government had to suspend the Statutory Instrument (SI) 122 due to mischief by manufacturers, who had withheld their products to push prices up.

He said SI 64, which was replaced by SI 122, was his brainchild and was meant to encourage and capacitate manufacturers.

“I was greatly disappointed three weeks ago when some of the manufacturers were now hoarding and not releasing products to the consumers. This is why I have now moved to remove SI 122 to allow, temporally, the inflow of some of these goods,” Mnangagwa said.

He warned manufacturers against ambushing government with price hikes and withholding goods, and called on them to work to help improve the economy.

“If there is need to look at the cost drivers in your products, it should be done properly, have dialogue with the markets and everybody will sleep happy, no ambushes, the war finished in 1980. That’s when we had ambushes, no more ambushes,” he said.

The ProDairy plant employs 175 workers.

“This is a commendable response by ProDairy to my government’s thrust towards value addition and beneficiation of local resources. It is our hope that the company’s products will enter the domestic market at favourable prices, thereby, widening consumer choice,” he said.

-Newsday

Westlake International Finance Limited has petitioned the High Court seeking an order to compel former Information and Communication Technology minister, Supa Mandiwanzira, to settle a $317 166 debt in high interest loans to a company owned by the MP for Nyanga South over six years ago.

The micro finance institution filed summons at the High Court on October 29 through its lawyers, Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans, citing Mandiwanzira and Florence Erina Ziumbe — a lawyer and businesswoman — as respondents.

“During the period stretching from January 2012 to February 2013, plaintiff (Westlake International) concluded three separate loan agreements with Tarcon (Private) Limited (“Tarcon”) in terms of which the plaintiff lent and advanced the following sums of money to Tarcon, that is $700 000 on or around January 2012; $615 960 on or around August 1, 2012 and $416 100 on or around February 4, 2013,” the firm said.

According to the court papers, Mandiwanzira and Ziumbe bound themselves as sureties and co-principal debtors to the loan.

“In terms of all the three loan agreements, the aforesaid Tarcon was obliged to repay the advanced sums of money, together with interest thereon within a period of 180 days from the date of each advance. Despite signing several acknowledgments of its indebtedness, Tarcon has failed and/or neglected to repay the full amount and has to date, accumulated arrears in the total sum of $317 166, 33.”

In the same litigation, the financial company said it was also demanding interest at the rate of 8% calculated from the loan payment due date to the date of payment in full.

However, Mandiwanzira and Ziumbe are yet to respond to the lawsuit and the pair has 10 working days to file an appearance to defend.

-Newsday

The Supreme Court has ruled that international organisations have absolute immunity from every form of legal process and execution in Zimbabwe, overturning its own 2004 position in which it ruled that international organisations have limited immunity.

In a 2004 matter between the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Supreme Court ruled that international organisations enjoy limited immunity just as sovereign states and can be sued in local courts for breach of contracts of employment.

However, in today’s landmark ruling, Chief Justice Luke Malaba sitting with Justice Paddington Garwe, Justice Anne Mary Gowora, Justice Antonia Guvava and Justice Susan Mavangira made a far reaching judgement, declaring all international organisations immune from legal processes.

This followed an appeal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs against a High Court order which held that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an international organisation, did not enjoy absolute immunity from every form of legal process and execution in Zimbabwe.

The background to the matter is that in 2004, FAO employed Michael Jenrich as an Emergency Programmes Officer and renewed the fixed term contract for six consecutive years.

In January 2015, FAO did not renew Jenrich’s contract following the abolition of the post of Emergency Programmes Officer, amid allegations of misconduct.

Jenrich challenged the termination of his contract on the basis that he had a legitimate expectation that the contract would be renewed, the abolishment of his post was unilateral and the termination was unlawful.

The matter was taken for conciliation and FAO took the view that it enjoyed absolute immunity from any legal processes instituted in the local courts.

FAO absconded the proceedings which followed at the Labour Court in 2014 and a default judgement was subsequently handed down on the 13th of February.

The Labour Court ordered FAO to reinstate Jenrich without loss of salary and benefits from the date of termination of his contract and if reinstatement was no longer tenable FAO was ordered to pay him $623 000.

FAO’s Legal Advisor from Rome, Italy wrote to the Registrar of the High Court that the international organisation had not waived its immunity rights under the treaties and the agreement and it was not going to participate in the proceedings before the local courts or respond to the allegations raised by Jenrich because this would be tantamount to interference with its independence and impartiality in the discharge of its affairs.

Jenrich then sought an order of the court for execution of FAO’s property to recover his damages.

The High Court ruled in favour of Jenrich with the effect of activating garnishee order against FAO.

The minister of Foreign Affairs then sought legal ways of protecting FAO’s property from execution and issued a ministerial statement in terms of section 14 of the Privileges and Immunities Act chapter 3:03, attesting that FAO’s property enjoyed absolute immunity.

However, the High Court took a different view and ruled that FAO did not enjoy absolute immunity and its property could therefore be executed through a garnishee order.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs then approached the Supreme Court, appealing against the High Court decision and the 5-member bench unanimously overruled the decision of the High Court.

Handing down the ruling, Chief Justice Malaba said each specialised agency such as FAO has provisions for appropriate modes of settlement of disputes arising out of contracts or other disputes of private character.

The mechanisms were specifically created to enable the organisation to deal with disputes arising out of contracts to which it is a party to ensure that justice could be done to aggrieved parties who would otherwise be without remedies due to immunity enjoyed by the organisation.

Accordingly, the court upheld the appeal lodged by the Minister of Foreign Affairs with costs, and set aside the order of the High Court.

The court declared that FAO enjoys absolute immunity from any form of legal process and execution in Zimbabwe and finally overruled the decision in the case of ICRC versus Sibanda and another 2004 ZLR 27 SC extending the principle of restrictive immunity applicable to sovereign states to international organisations on the basis that it is wrong at law.

Zbc News online

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High Court Judge Justice David Mangota on Wednesday 31 October 2018 reserved judgment after presiding over the hearing and determination of an application filed by a relative of a shooting victim of the August 2018 violence, challenging the legality of ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s executive decision to appoint the Commission of Inquiry set up to probe the post-election violence including its composition.

Justice Mangota reserved ruling after hearing the urgent chamber application filed by Alison Charles, whose brother was shot and killed alongside six other civilians in post-election violence on 1 August 2018.

Charles and the Counselling Services Unit (CSU), who are represented by Advocate Eric Matinenga instructed by Chris Mhike of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, are challenging the legality of Mnangagwa’s executive decision to appoint the Commission of Inquiry, its composition and its terms of reference.

Charles and CSU, who are the applicants have cited President Mnangagwa, former South African leader Kgalema Motlanthe, who heads the Commission of Inquiry, the Commission of Inquiry, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema, Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri, Commissioner-General of Zimbabwe Republic Police Godwin Matanga, Commander of Zimbabwe Defence Forces Philip Sibanda, Attorney General Prince Machaya, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, Professor Charity Manyeruke, Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and National Peace and Reconciliation Commission as respondents.

Charles, lost a brother Gavin Dean on 1 August 2018 after he was shot dead by soldiers, who opened fire on ordinary citizens and opposition political party supporters in Harare during a post-election protest over the mismanagement of the 2018 harmonised elections.

Correspondent|In a move that borders on corruption the Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) board has agreed to ‘sell’ two million tonnes of coal fines to Woolwork Investments (Pvt) Ltd at a massive $8 million discount in exchange for vehicles for its executive officials and equipment.

Investigations show that instead HCCL could have raised $28 million if it had sold the coal fines at the current market price of $14 per tonne.

Industry sources also said HCCL could have even raised over $30 per tonne by beneficiating the coal fines through briquetting, a project that Woolwork are pursuing.

Internal sources said Woolwork, a subsidiary of Croco Motors, will receive the coal at a huge 29 % discount as it has to provide vehicles and equipment valued at $20 million.

Sources said the terms of the agreement are so favourable for Woolwork and can be viewed as another example of corruption and unethical practices within the ailing HCCL.

The company is not receiving any advanced payment from Woolwork, which in normal circumstances would justify a discount.

Secondly, Woolwork does not have to provide the prices of the vehicles and equipment it will provide, essentially meaning the goods may not even reach the agreed upon $20 million value.

Another surprising aspect in the deal is there is no provision of timelines for Woolwork to provide the vehicles and equipment, essentially meaning non-delivery could continue indefinitely.

HCCL reportedly has accumulated a coal stockpile of about 345 000 tonnes and according to the source had recently put up a tender for the beneficiation of coal.

A partner was found willing to invest $5,5 million in a briquetting plant but this was put on hold, which sources say, was meant to pave way for the Woolwork deal.

“This deal is another dubious decision by senior executives at the company as Woolwork could have applied for the tender when it was offered,” the source said.

The Mail and Telegraph reported this week that infighting between senior management and the board has highlighted the rot at the very top of Zimbabwe’s largest coal company.

Providing a questionable discount as HCCL is failing not only to repay its creditors but also pay its employees maybe indicative of the culture of “unethical business practices characterised by financial improprieties.”

The Zimbabwe Independent reported earlier this month that the mining company had been paying its workforce 50% of their salaries since the beginning of last year and in June the company paid 7 % of the employees’ 36 months outstanding dues.

Also this month the Herald reported HCCL had defaulted on a “Scheme of Arrangement” it entered into with creditors to manage its $352 million debt. Under this scheme employees were to receive a monthly payment, but reportedly the company is $7,6 million in arrears, owing a total of $4,6 million to its employees for the past two months.

M&T