Terrence Mawawa| World-renowned economic commentator, Steve
Hanke has spoken against the economic sanctions against other countries as they mostly affect the poor.

Hanke shares the same sentiments with Econet boss Strive Masiyiwa.He described sanctions as war crimes.

Hanke’s views are also in sync with what most of the local business people have said.There has been a lot of talk around the amended ZIDERA and Zanu PF bigwigs argue that the punitive economic measures have to go in order to give the local economy a new lease of life.

Hanke wrote on twitter:” Sanctions are economically illiterate and they punish innocent civilians rather than targeted governments. Often times the political elite get rich while the
ordinary citizens are left to live off scraps. It’s time

to call sanctions what they are: war crimes.”

Zimbabwe’s cash- strapped government is splashing close to $11 million on school fees for war veterans’ children.

This comes as government is failing to adequately fund the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) initiative, meant to assist orphaned and vulnerable children, those living with disabilities or in foster care under poor parents, street children, or children with chronically ill guardians or in child-headed households with their school fees.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said the money paid to war veterans’ children was contributing towards the country’s ballooning budget deficit, which is expected to reach $2,3 billion by the end of 2018. “This has far reaching consequences in the economy in terms of government crowding out private sector lending.

Additionally, continued payment of government obligations through an overdraft will also worsen the liquidity challenges in the economy,” he said in his 2019 pre-budget statement released last week. According to official government figures, treasury pays over $6,4 million every term in school fees for 22 000 children of war veterans, while Beam that caters for over 200 000 students is not being funded.

University of Zimbabwe political analyst Eldered Masunungure said the move to pay school fees for war veterans’ children was a cheap political game as they are lot of disadvantaged children in the country who lack access to basic education.

“Beam has not been funded for years now but it’s a facility that caters for the underprivileged children and schools are suffering. When a segment of population is being given favourable treatment, then it raises suspicions of political interests,” he said.

Masunungure noted that the Zanu PF led government wants to draw political advantages from such actions, adding that the move is not meant to advance the welfare of war veterans children but is merely politically motivated.

“The war veterans’ children are lucky that they are being privileged but it’s a drop in the ocean in relation to the needs of all the children at a national level, particularly those schools that have been catering for Beam-funded nutrition.

“You cannot segment people with similar needs differently,” he said.

National director of the Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children Taylor Nyanhete said government should lobby enough resources for children under Beam.

He, however, said the government also has an obligation to pay for the war veterans children.

“The paying of school fees for war veterans’ children is in the War Veterans Act, so they have to pay,” he said.

-Daily News

Businessman Kuda Tagwirei, has triggered off fresh fissures within Zanu PF and government, with the Sakunda Holdings founder wittingly or unwittingly driving a wedge between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some of his allies over the tycoon’s unsettling influence.

Barely a year after a soft coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa’s administration is facing a huge crisis caused by an imploding economy.

The meltdown has led to finger-pointing, with Tagwirei coming under scrutiny for his octopus-like grip on the fuel industry, hit by serious shortages of petrol and diesel.

One of Zimbabwe’s richest men, Tagwirei is accused of monopolising fuel infrastructure, and flaunting his wealth to influence government to make decisions in his favour.

He is reported to have amassed excessive influence over the three arms of the State, with critics claiming his actions — real or perceived — amounted to State capture.

Tagwirei has openly financed Command Agriculture ahead of the July 30 elections, a programme the opposition alleges was designed to pursue a narrow electoral agenda, specifically securing a Zanu PF victory in the harmonised elections.

He has declined to speak to the Press about these allegations.

Despite his fabulous wealth and power, he now seems to have fallen afoul with Mnangagwa, and is facing unrelenting persecution, with his business being hammered endlessly.

A Communications Taskforce appointed by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and headed by Acie Lumumba made shocking allegations last week, claiming “Queen Bee” — widely viewed as Tagwirei — was part of a syndicate fuelling the foreign currency black market by supplying street dealers with bond notes and corrupt allocations of foreign currency from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

Grey-haired and tall, with piercing eyes and a quiet, hushed voice, the Sakunda boss was then lynched by Mnangagwa’s special advisor Christopher Mutsvangwa, who brazenly accused him of “dividing the presidium”.

Mutsvangwa alleged there was a powerful political hand helping Tagwirei to jump the foreign currency allocation queue at the RBZ and called for his monopoly in the fuel industry to be crushed.

The former War Veterans minister seemed to suggest that Mnangagwa and his powerful deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga were not seeing eye-to-eye on the Tagwirei issue.

But Mnangagwa’s spokesperson — George Charamba — rejected the claims yesterday, saying: “We will tell you when we are divided.”

Asked if there is still unity in the presidium, Charamba retorted: “To answer that question means there is a problem.”

“Not a single day passes without a conversation between Chiwenga and Mnangagwa and, as a matter of fact, the same person who is accused of dividing the presidium is the very person who is providing vehicles?” he asked rhetorically, referring to the allegations that Tagwirei had purchased top-of-the-range vehicles for the presidium and their spouses, service chiefs as well as other top Zanu PF and government officials.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Daily News, Charamba said claims that an oligarchy has captured the presidium, with Tagwirei’s influence said to be extending right up to the RBZ, were not true.

“This is just an allegation and we will treat it as such and nothing else. At the heart of it all is just a simple commercial issue which doesn’t need so much political bicker. What it needs is capital, business acumen and business decisions —finish. The presidency speaks for itself — it doesn’t need an interlocutor body,” he said referring to Mutsvangwa.

Charamba also dispelled claims that Mutsvangwa was Mnangagwa’s hired gun.

He said: “Really, I don’t know. You know what, to be frank with you, no one in the presidency is concerned about that allegation, whether hired or shooting on his own — who cares? The country goes on, and as you can see, at the height of the allegations, solutions are being made, which is what matters; and solutions which are all encompassing, including the persons making the allegations; they also go to the same oil companies to refuel.”

Charamba said Tagwirei must actually be commended for ending fuel shortages, referring to the move by Sakunda to give government 100 million litres of fuel this week, which will only be repaid after 12 months.

He said a monopoly cannot be ended by “bickering but by organising and importing”.

Asked about Sakunda taking over the Feruka pipeline, Charamba retorted: “No, the pipeline you rent to use it. It’s not like it is always pumping 24 hours.

“The way to stop a monopoly is to make sure you get in as a player. There is no law, there is no convention, there is not even an economic principle that stops anyone from getting into the fuel sector,” he told the Daily News.

He declined to comment further on the allegations.

Tagwirei — whose father’s death earlier this year halted government business as virtually all ministers abandoned their workstations to attend his burial — was recently interviewed by the police, although it is not clear whether the police team unearthed evidence of illegality or if the questions were simply exploratory in nature.

Police also wanted to search his home but he reportedly left for Wedza for Chiwenga’s rural home, where he was recuperating far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Government insiders alleged Mutsvangwa was hammering Tagwirei because he was keen to replace dominance of Sakunda with MOGS Oil & Gas Services — a Johannesburg-based fuels company which owns and operates pipelines, fuel storage facilities and other oil and gas infrastructure across Africa and further afield.

Mutsvangwa, who has been vocal about breaking Sakunda’s monopoly in the fuel industry, was said to be MOGS’ front, and reportedly approached Mnangagwa with a proposal to have the pan-African leader in the oil and gas midstream infrastructure sector to build a second fuel pipeline from Feruka.

He was said to be in partnership on the MOGS deal with former senior MDC official Eddie Cross.

The Daily News heard that towards elections, Mutsvangwa reportedly told Mnangagwa that he had been working with Cross on the MOGS deal since the coup and that Cross will no longer root for opposition leader Nelson Chamisa in the elections.

Cross has since exited the MDC Alliance after pouring scorn on the party.

Reached for comment, Cross said “there is a measure of truth” in the claims.

He said he has been involved in talks to have MOGS build a second pipeline since the days of the government of national unity (GNU), a project he said was mooted by then Energy minister Elton Mangoma.

“During the GNU, I was asked by Mangoma to find a company which could build a new pipeline from Beira to Harare to supply regional states from regional fuel pool in Harare, centred in Mabvuku, where we have a large fuel storage facility that can take 400 000 cubic metres of fuel,” Cross told the Daily News.

He said he embarked on a programme to find a suitable partner and opened talks with MOGS.

Cross said the deal was put on ice after the dissolution of the GNU.

Then after the coup, Cross said he was asked by Mnangagwa as part of his 100-day plan to revive the deal with MOGS.

He said a deal was reached on December 13, 2017 with MOGS.

Cross said at the end of January, the deal was put to Cabinet but was blocked by “senior elements”.

“The reason given was that the pipeline was a strategic asset and (a) private company can’t own shares,” Cross said.

Mutsvangwa rubbished the allegations made against him yesterday.

“I have completely nothing to do with this except promoting those who want to invest. Ask (the) permanent secretary in the ministry of Defence. This company MOGS has been here since 1994. All companies come to my office. It’s one of many; there are 15 other companies that are interested,” Mutsvangwa told the Daily News.

Asked if he was in a partnership with Cross, Mutsvangwa said: “It’s nonsense.”

Asked if Cross was a front for MOGS, Mutsvangwa said: “I don’t know, I can’t speak for other people. I can only speak about companies that come to my office. Why don’t you speak to Eddie, I can’t speak about Eddie’s business.”

The Daily News can exclusively reveal that Mnangagwa met with Errol Gregor, the chief executive officer of MOGS, on Monday to tie up the deal to start work on the second pipeline, with the project said to be worth $800 million.

The meeting was also attended by Joram Gumbo, the minister of Energy.

This has heightened tensions with Sakunda.

Recently, Gumbo clarified that Tagwirei’s Sakunda, through Trafigura, does not hold the sole and exclusive right to transport all petroleum products imported into Zimbabwe through the pipeline.

He also denied claims that Sakunda now controls the pump station at Feruka, the pipeline and ancillary assets from Feruka to Msasa, the pump station at Wilton near Marondera as well as the tank farm at Msasa.

“It’s a pipeline that is owned by a JV, a joint venture company, between the government of Zimbabwe and Mozambique CPMZ (Companhia Do Pipeline Mozambique). There is no problem about bringing in fuel into the country,” he said.

The 208-km long Harare-Feruka pipeline was owned and operated by Petrozim Line (Private) Limited — owned by National Oil Infrastructure of Zimbabwe (NOIC) and Lonmin, 50 percent each.

Lonmin Plc assumed the Lonrho shareholding.

In June this year, the South Africa-registered platinum group metals producer Lonmin announced it was disposing its 50 percent stake in Zimbabwe’s Petrozim for $14,8 million.

Lonmin — listed on both the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges — announced it was part of strategies to focus on core business.

“Lonmin … has … entered into a conditional sale of shares agreement to sell its 50 percent interest in Petrozim for a gross cash consideration of USD14 750 000 to the National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (Private) Limited,” the mining group said in a cautionary.

Subsequent to the disposal, Sakunda, through Trafigura, had reportedly rented the pipeline that has the capacity to deliver six million litres of fuel per day from Feruka to bonded warehouses in Msasa, Harare.

The pipeline delivers around 80 percent of the petrol and diesel requirements for the country.

-Daily News

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 President 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.

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is moving to consolidate his grip on the opposition party ahead of its elective congress early next year, which is expected to make or break his political future.

Insiders who spoke to NewsDay said Chamisa’s plan was to build a public swell of support around himself so that it becomes difficult for any potential challengers to get into the ring with him.

“Chamisa is drumming up support and raving his popularity both within and outside the structures of the party, mainly to create an intimidatory fence that will deter other members of the party from challenging him at congress,” a senior official in the opposition party said.

“He knows he can’t stop the elections at congress, so he wants to make it seem like he can’t be challenged.”

Chamisa will be going on a whirlwind tour in the coming week to galvanise party structures across the country ahead of planned street protests seeking to unseat President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“We are going to be organising ourselves internally, then we go to programmes that we want to do throughout the country from next week,” Chamisa said at the MDC 19th anniversary commemorations held in the capital at the weekend.

“I will be going to every area, where I will be setting out the plan, something big in this country, hold your cards on the intended march to State House.

When we do this, we want to have a clear plan on what date we start and to the day we end. We will not go back home until we achieve the intended plan.”

Youth assembly secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa declared at the party’s 19th anniversary celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium that the party’s national executive was clear that Chamisa would remain leader of the MDC Alliance.

Chinoputsa said there was no need to change a winning team, saying it was time for the MDC family to endorse the leadership of Chamisa, claiming he polled 2,6 million votes in the July 30 presidential poll instead of the 2,1 million announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

“The general position of the MDC (Alliance) is that our president Chamisa won the election, which was stolen by the junta government.

He got 2,6 million votes. Why would we want to change a winning team? We have to rally behind him and improve our brand,” he said.

Chamisa followed suit, saying: “Remain in the direction of the party, that direction is (late MDC leader Morgan) Tsvangirai left power in my hands.

I will leave power in the hands of another, going on that direction, doing the work, going forward. You can’t seek to wrest power from me before I even reach the desired goal.”

-Newsday

 

Correspondent|A Zimbabwean has been killed by a mob at a bus rank in Gaborone, Botswana. The mob descended on the Zimbabwean after he was caught pick pocketing.

The mob gave chase, assaulting the victim and by the time the police arrived at the scene, he was unconscious. The deceased was rushed to the hospital where he was later that day certified dead by a medical doctor.

Police are still investigating the murder of the 29-year-old Zimbabwean and have not made any arrests yet.

“We managed to locate the victim’s parents who managed to identify him and a post mortem has been carried out,” Borakanelo station commander, superintendent Amos Solomon told Mmegi.

“The victim’s family might have taken his body to process the burial proceedings because they were given two days to move him from Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) mortuary to a private mortuary last Wednesday.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Deputy Information Minister Energy Mutodi has been ejected from Parliament for Mutodi ejected for displaying a badge bearing Emmerson Mnangagwa’s face…more to follow…
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Correspondent|Harare City Council (HCC) officials who are accused of trying to steal humanitarian aid meant to stem Zimbabwe’s deadliest cholera outbreak in a decade are set to appear before a disciplinary committee.

The four, Philimon Rwafa a procurement and stores officer, Smart Mhuka a buyer, Tawanda Marange a cadex clerk and Tafadzwa Reza a buyer were accused of inflating prices of goods and services after Econet Wireless donated $10 million.

Econet founder and executive chairperson Strive Masiyiwa took to social media to blow the whistle on the alleged inflated prices.

After the billionaire voiced his concerns , HCC announced on its twitter page that it had suspended the four who were suspected of inflating prices for goods and services to be used in the fight against cholera.

In full council meeting minutes released yesterday, HCC resolved to bring the employees before the disciplinary committee for bypassing the internal audit process and to answer to charges of inflating prices for cholera relief items.

“The four employees mentioned in the Acting Audit Manager’s report appear before a disciplinary committee to answer charges of inflating cholera prices for items which resulted in council being exposed to a potential prejudice of US$30 951, US$81 114,50 ,US$38 801,50, and US$11 035 respectively.

“The employees mentioned should appear before a disciplinary committee for bypassing the internal audit process which verifies purchase orders and for not bench marking prices against manufacturer prices as per council resolution,” read part of the minutes.

Council also resolved to recover US$2 625 from Climbot Hardware.

“That council recovers US$2 625 from Climbot Hardware that was charged as Value Added Tax (VAT) on exempted goods,” further stated the contents of the minutes..

HCC also said the employees would be transferred to other departments.

“That the employees be transferred in the mean time to other sections of departments and their duties must not involve procurement.

“Buyers should stop contracting middle men as recorded in audit minutes dated February 2016 which state that prices should be bench marked against manufacturers/ main player or negotiable prices accordingly to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets,” council said.

Meanwhile, a quick search on some of the alleged looters social media handles shows that they have been living a flamboyant lifestyle as evidenced by the pictures posted on the pages.

M&T

Controversial Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity, Energy Mutodi was today ejected out of parliament for wearing a badge reflecting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

 

By Paul Nyathi|A civil society group by the name Citizen Manifesto has unveiled what it terms “THE CITIZNES’ CABINET”.

This is led by Briggs Bomba. The rest of the members are as follows:

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

 

Terrence Mawawa|Controversial MDC- T deputy president Obert Chaurura Gutu has applauded business tycoon Strive Masiyiwa’ s stance on the removal of sanctions imposed on Harare at the beginning of the new millennium.

“The political change in Zimbabwe is real,President Mnangagwa is sincere, sanctions must go, politicking must stop and let’s focus on rebuilding the country,” said Masiyiwa.

In augmenting Masiyiwa’s sentiments Gutu tweeted:”Now when a whole billionaire like Strive Masiyiwa calls for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe,iwe zvako Mupurwa…iwe

zvako Zuze… you still clamour that sanctions
shouldn’t be removed! Who does that?”

 

Terrence Mawawa|Professor Jonathan Moyo has accused business tycoon Strive Masiyiwa of deliberately turning his back on millions of suffering Zimbabweans in a bid to please Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ilk.

Masiyiwa claimed the new dispensation introduced new ideologies conducive for economic revival such that sanctions on Harare should be removed.

“In times like these it’s fundamental for everyone, including @StriveMasiyiwa , to listen to the people who live from hand to mouth
while enriching billionaires. So as a billionaire, Masiyiwa must put his mouth where his money

is. It’s the people, not billionaires, who come
first,” Moyo wrote on Twitter.

Analysts have pointed out that Masiyiwa’ s gambit is meant to spruce up his image in the eyes of the regime at the expense of suffering Zimbabweans.

Zanu PF Secretary for Youth league, Lewis Matutu has already declared his support for Emmerson Mnangagwa’s candidature in the 2023 elections, effectively closing the door on Constantino Chiwenga who is believed to be eyeing the hot seat.

Mathuthu who introduced Mnangagwa at the ongoing Youths League meeting in Harare chanted what he said is the party’s 2023 slogan which says, “2023 ED Pfee.”

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Chiwenga is pushing for Mnangagwa to go for one term and relinguish power but Mathuthu said his slogan was meant to warn those dreaming of taking over the party reigns before 2023.

The First Secretary of Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa is meeting provincial members of the youth league at the party’s headquarters in Harare today.

The youth league members are attending a National Assembly Meeting of the Youth League.

More details to follow…

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is moving to consolidate his grip on the opposition party ahead of its elective congress early next year, which is expected to make or break his political future.

Insiders who spoke to NewsDay said Chamisa’s plan was to build a public swell of support around himself so that it becomes difficult for any potential challengers to get into the ring with him.

“Chamisa is drumming up support and raving his popularity both within and outside the structures of the party, mainly to create an intimidatory fence that will deter other members of the party from challenging him at congress,” a senior official in the opposition party said.

“He knows he can’t stop the elections at congress, so he wants to make it seem like he can’t be challenged.”

Chamisa will be going on a whirlwind tour in the coming week to galvanise party structures across the country ahead of planned street protests seeking to unseat President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“We are going to be organising ourselves internally, then we go to programmes that we want to do throughout the country from next week,” Chamisa said at the MDC 19th anniversary commemorations held in the capital at the weekend.

“I will be going to every area, where I will be setting out the plan, something big in this country, hold your cards on the intended march to State House.

When we do this, we want to have a clear plan on what date we start and to the day we end. We will not go back home until we achieve the intended plan.”

Youth assembly secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa declared at the party’s 19th anniversary celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium that the party’s national executive was clear that Chamisa would remain leader of the MDC Alliance.

Chinoputsa said there was no need to change a winning team, saying it was time for the MDC family to endorse the leadership of Chamisa, claiming he polled 2,6 million votes in the July 30 presidential poll instead of the 2,1 million announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

“The general position of the MDC (Alliance) is that our president Chamisa won the election, which was stolen by the junta government.

He got 2,6 million votes. Why would we want to change a winning team? We have to rally behind him and improve our brand,” he said.

Chamisa followed suit, saying: “Remain in the direction of the party, that direction is (late MDC leader Morgan) Tsvangirai left power in my hands.

I will leave power in the hands of another, going on that direction, doing the work, going forward. You can’t seek to wrest power from me before I even reach the desired goal.”

-Newsday

 

MDC Alliance has given Bulawayo deputy mayor Tinashe Kambarami a seven-day ultimatum to step down from his position or face expulsion for defying a party directive on the election of the deputy mayor.

This followed recent protests by activists and some pressure groups calling for Kambarami’s recall as deputy mayor, arguing that he was not Bulawayo-born.

Another MDC Alliance councillor Batirai Dube faces the same fate.

Dube was in the eye of the storm recently when he refused to take oath in English during the swearing in of incoming Bulawayo councillors at the council chambers.

In a letter dated October 29, 2018, Bulawayo province secretary, Sibusisiwe Adams, informed Kambarami that he had been directed to step down from his position within seven days, failure of which he would be expelled from the party.

“In pursuant to the letter addressed to us by the national secretary for Local Government. We hereby inform you that you are instructed to step down from the position of deputy mayor of Bulawayo Municipality within 7 days of receipt of this letter. Failure to comply within the stipulated period shall result in your expulsion from the party and also recall from the council,” read the letter in part.

The letter was also copied to Local Governance and Devolution secretary Sesel Zvidzai, Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni and provincial secretary for Local Government, O Ncube.

On October 9, 2018, Zvidzai wrote a letter to Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Gift Banda, directing him to implement the party’s position.

“Following the election of Cllr Tinashe Kambarami as the deputy mayor of Bulawayo against the party recommended candidate, Cllr Mlandu (Ncube), subsequently, Councillor Kambarami was summoned three (times) to the head office and he failed to avail himself,” the letter read in part.

Zvidzai said a decision was made for Kambarami to withdraw from the position of deputy mayor and remain an ordinary councillor.

“Failure to which, the party was to expel him and recall him from council. Similar cases of defiance elsewhere were dealt with by the party in the same way. You are aware that the member concerned falls within your area of control, thus we kindly invite you to put the due process in motion,” the letter reads.

Kambarami refused to comment when Southern Eye contacted him.

-Newsday

 

Zimbabwe’s cash- strapped government is splashing close to $11 million on school fees for war veterans’ children.

This comes as government is failing to adequately fund the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) initiative, meant to assist orphaned and vulnerable children, those living with disabilities or in foster care under poor parents, street children, or children with chronically ill guardians or in child-headed households with their school fees.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said the money paid to war veterans’ children was contributing towards the country’s ballooning budget deficit, which is expected to reach $2,3 billion by the end of 2018. “This has far reaching consequences in the economy in terms of government crowding out private sector lending.

Additionally, continued payment of government obligations through an overdraft will also worsen the liquidity challenges in the economy,” he said in his 2019 pre-budget statement released last week. According to official government figures, treasury pays over $6,4 million every term in school fees for 22 000 children of war veterans, while Beam that caters for over 200 000 students is not being funded.

University of Zimbabwe political analyst Eldered Masunungure said the move to pay school fees for war veterans’ children was a cheap political game as they are lot of disadvantaged children in the country who lack access to basic education.

“Beam has not been funded for years now but it’s a facility that caters for the underprivileged children and schools are suffering. When a segment of population is being given favourable treatment, then it raises suspicions of political interests,” he said.

Masunungure noted that the Zanu PF led government wants to draw political advantages from such actions, adding that the move is not meant to advance the welfare of war veterans children but is merely politically motivated.

“The war veterans’ children are lucky that they are being privileged but it’s a drop in the ocean in relation to the needs of all the children at a national level, particularly those schools that have been catering for Beam-funded nutrition.

“You cannot segment people with similar needs differently,” he said.

National director of the Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children Taylor Nyanhete said government should lobby enough resources for children under Beam.

He, however, said the government also has an obligation to pay for the war veterans children.

“The paying of school fees for war veterans’ children is in the War Veterans Act, so they have to pay,” he said.

-Daily News

Jane Mlambo| Government has changed its mind on the complete dualisation of Beitbridge- Chirundu highway after a feasibility study pointed to non-viability of the planned developments.

Posting on Twitter, Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services said the new plan will be to widen the road and dualise every 10 kilometres into cities.

Feasibility studies have indicated that the complete dualisation of the Highway is not viable because traffic volumes are not sufficient for the project to recoup it's costs. The entire Highway would require 6k vehicles daily, paying tolls fees at each of the 7 tollgates #TSP pic.twitter.com/qBxr1SLvc6

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) October 31, 2018

Presently, traffic on the Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare Highway is about 2 600 vehicles per day while on the Harare-Chirundu Highway it's 1040 vehicles per day. In light of this, the best course of action is to widen most parts of the road #TSP #Vision2030 pic.twitter.com/cBPQul6Nwm

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) October 31, 2018

Jane Mlambo| In the ongoing High Court hearing on the legality of the President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s instituted Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 army shootings, the applicant Allison Charles has told the judges that the whole process is not to bring truth but confirmation the Zanu PF leader’s earlier remarks blaming the opposition for the fracas.

He questioned the decision by Mnangagwa to set terms of reference for the commission when he had nothing to lose by leaving it open.

“Mnangagwa already made a decision that the opposition is responsible for the violence. this already reflects a conflicted position. … this could only be done first by making sure that this (commission) passes through cabinet,” argued Charles.

Refresh for more details…

Jane Mlambo| High Court is currently hearing an application to declare the Kgalema Mothlante led Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 army shootings that resulted in the death of six innocent civilians illegal.

The applicant has told the court that the absence of a cabinet when the Commission was instituted makes the whole process illegal.

“There was no cabinet hence appointment of the Commission is illegal. The Constitution says President has executive powers and he/she exercises executive authority in terms of the constitution.

“There was no cabinet at the time the proclamation was made once, it is accepted that there was no cabinet it must also fall into place that the proclamation is out of place,” said the applicant Allison Charles.

 

Government has deregulated the importation of fuel and reports of the existence of a monopoly or cartel are baseless, Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo has said.

He said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) was making proportionate allocations of foreign currency to fuel companies based on the number of their service stations and reports of preferential treatment were not true.

Dr Gumbo said this on Monday evening during an interview on Star FM. He was responding to claims that there was a fuel monopoly controlled by Sakunda Holdings, which some quarters alleged was getting the lion’s share of hard currency.

“Let me give you the Government position and not speculation. The truth of the matter is that what I found at the ministry is that there is no fuel monopoly whatsoever. Government deregulated the importation of fuel in 2012, so it is open for anybody.

“Over 50 companies or entities did register to bring in fuel so that tells you that there is no monopoly. If the monopoly means bigger players are bringing in more fuel than smaller players then I do not know how to answer that,” said Dr Gumbo.

“If you look at the companies that bring in fuel, let me give you an example of say Total or Puma you will see that they have a lot of service stations with their emblem, so the number of service stations that they are able to supply fuel with translates to the money or foreign exchange that they will be given in order to feed those service stations.

“But if you are a person or company that has got only one outlet then you are given what is enough for your outlet. So that is the politics that is there. It is no that somebody is being segregated for any other reason.”

Dr Gumbo’s remarks come as the fuel situation has improved significantly with Sakunda Holdings and its partners providing Government with 100 million litres of fuel, which will only be paid for after 12 months.

Government and Sakunda are also finalising a deal that will see the latter supplying the country with 1,6 billion litres of fuel that would ensure adequate fuel supplies over the next 18 months.

Independent Petroleum Group (IPG), Glencore, Engen and Total have also chipped in and are working on various structures with the Government.

Dr Gumbo dismissed claims that Sakunda Holdings controlled the Beira-Feruka oil pipeline, which was supplying most of Zimbabwe’s fuel.

He said Government had no problem with establishing a second pipeline to make Zimbabwe a hub for fuel supply to the region.

“I am aware as the responsible minister that the pipeline from Beira to Feruka has nothing to do with Sakunda. It is a pipeline that is owned by a joint venture between the Government of Zimbabwe and Mozambique and it ends there,” said Dr Gumbo.

“The question of the second pipeline does not apply today. The point about a second pipeline will apply in future and I have a plan for that. I would want to make Zimbabwe a hub for distributing fuel in the region, Botswana, Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the existing pipeline is not being used to full capacity. There is still underutilisation of that pipeline.”

He reiterated that the fuel shortage experienced recently was because of foreign exchange shortages.

“First of all you must know the causes of the fuel shortage. The economy is improving, so as it is improving it means you must have more of fuel in the country,” said Dr Gumbo.

-State Media

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is moving to consolidate his grip on the opposition party ahead of its elective congress early next year, which is expected to make or break his political future.

Insiders who spoke to NewsDay said Chamisa’s plan was to build a public swell of support around himself so that it becomes difficult for any potential challengers to get into the ring with him.

“Chamisa is drumming up support and raving his popularity both within and outside the structures of the party, mainly to create an intimidatory fence that will deter other members of the party from challenging him at congress,” a senior official in the opposition party said.

“He knows he can’t stop the elections at congress, so he wants to make it seem like he can’t be challenged.”

Chamisa will be going on a whirlwind tour in the coming week to galvanise party structures across the country ahead of planned street protests seeking to unseat President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“We are going to be organising ourselves internally, then we go to programmes that we want to do throughout the country from next week,” Chamisa said at the MDC 19th anniversary commemorations held in the capital at the weekend.

“I will be going to every area, where I will be setting out the plan, something big in this country, hold your cards on the intended march to State House.

When we do this, we want to have a clear plan on what date we start and to the day we end. We will not go back home until we achieve the intended plan.”

Youth assembly secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa declared at the party’s 19th anniversary celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium that the party’s national executive was clear that Chamisa would remain leader of the MDC Alliance.

Chinoputsa said there was no need to change a winning team, saying it was time for the MDC family to endorse the leadership of Chamisa, claiming he polled 2,6 million votes in the July 30 presidential poll instead of the 2,1 million announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

“The general position of the MDC (Alliance) is that our president Chamisa won the election, which was stolen by the junta government.

He got 2,6 million votes. Why would we want to change a winning team? We have to rally behind him and improve our brand,” he said.

Chamisa followed suit, saying: “Remain in the direction of the party, that direction is (late MDC leader Morgan) Tsvangirai left power in my hands.

I will leave power in the hands of another, going on that direction, doing the work, going forward. You can’t seek to wrest power from me before I even reach the desired goal.”

-Newsday

 

MDC Alliance has given Bulawayo deputy mayor Tinashe Kambarami a seven-day ultimatum to step down from his position or face expulsion for defying a party directive on the election of the deputy mayor.

This followed recent protests by activists and some pressure groups calling for Kambarami’s recall as deputy mayor, arguing that he was not Bulawayo-born.

Another MDC Alliance councillor Batirai Dube faces the same fate.

Dube was in the eye of the storm recently when he refused to take oath in English during the swearing in of incoming Bulawayo councillors at the council chambers.

In a letter dated October 29, 2018, Bulawayo province secretary, Sibusisiwe Adams, informed Kambarami that he had been directed to step down from his position within seven days, failure of which he would be expelled from the party.

“In pursuant to the letter addressed to us by the national secretary for Local Government. We hereby inform you that you are instructed to step down from the position of deputy mayor of Bulawayo Municipality within 7 days of receipt of this letter. Failure to comply within the stipulated period shall result in your expulsion from the party and also recall from the council,” read the letter in part.

The letter was also copied to Local Governance and Devolution secretary Sesel Zvidzai, Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni and provincial secretary for Local Government, O Ncube.

On October 9, 2018, Zvidzai wrote a letter to Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Gift Banda, directing him to implement the party’s position.

“Following the election of Cllr Tinashe Kambarami as the deputy mayor of Bulawayo against the party recommended candidate, Cllr Mlandu (Ncube), subsequently, Councillor Kambarami was summoned three (times) to the head office and he failed to avail himself,” the letter read in part.

Zvidzai said a decision was made for Kambarami to withdraw from the position of deputy mayor and remain an ordinary councillor.

“Failure to which, the party was to expel him and recall him from council. Similar cases of defiance elsewhere were dealt with by the party in the same way. You are aware that the member concerned falls within your area of control, thus we kindly invite you to put the due process in motion,” the letter reads.

Kambarami refused to comment when Southern Eye contacted him.

-Newsday

 

Two artisanal miners in Nyakapupu, Guruve under chief Bepura have been arrested on allegations of murdering a colleague they accused of stealing $100.

Gold panners Brian Kamhuka (34) and Anorld Nhemachena (20) allegedly stripped and detained Lawrence Jeremiah overnight while beating him with sticks until he died. Mashonaland Central acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Petros Masikati confirmed the incident which he said was under investigation.

“We are investigating a murder case that occurred on 22 October around 4am at Mapeta Hills, Nyakapupu Guruve involving illegal gold miners. We arrested two suspects in connection with that case. They are assisting police with investigations,” Masikati said.

A friend Tafadzwa Taunaruso, discovered Jeremiah’s body the following day and reported the matter to the police.

-Newsday

 

MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe has called on the MDC Alliance to acknowledge President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the winner of the July 30 presidential election to allow the country to move forward.

“In any election, there is only one winner. Once there is a winner, we must rally behind those that would have won, put our ideas together and move this country forward. We cannot be talking about the just ended elections forever,” Khupe, a losing presidential hopeful, said.

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa disputes Mnangagwa’s victory, citing vote fraud and has refused to accept a Constitutional Court ruling that upheld the win.

Khupe said Zimbabwe “cannot be in election mode forever.”

“It should not be just about power, but all Zimbabweans who want a better life but if we pull in different directions, it is not going to help any of us. The people who will suffer are our followers, let us talk about the future. We would want a situation where there can be a platform where we as opposition can put ideas on how to solve the problems the country faces. That must be our preoccupation.”

MDC Alliance Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Felix Magalela Mafa-Sibanda, however, dismissed Khupe’s comments as offside, before accusing the former deputy Prime Minister of being a Zanu PF decoy.

“As the MDC, we are not keen to criticise other progressive opposition parties. We feel Khupe must just join hands with Zanu PF since she’s the one who acknowledges that Mnangagwa won the elections. We see her as a Zanu PF surrogate,” Mafa-Sibanda said.

-Newsday

 

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy from Jambezi in Hwange district has been charged with five counts of attempted murder after he set on fire a hut where his two grandmothers and three siblings were sleeping as punishment for not leaving him supper.

The boy, who is in Form Three at a local school, committed the offence after he returned home at night and found that his grandmother had not left him food.

In a fit of anger, the court heard, the boy used a piece of wire to tie the door before setting on fire a bedroom hut where his 86-year-old great grandmother Mrs Grace Hadebe, grandmother Ms Judith Hadebe (60), and three minor siblings aged between six and nine were sleeping.

The juvenile pleaded guilty to five counts of attempted murder when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere who presided over the case on behalf of resident regional magistrate Mr Collet Ncube who is on leave.

The boy was however, lucky to escape a custodial sentence after the court considered that he is a juvenile and is legally protected from jail life in line with the African Charter on children’s rights.

As such sentencing was postponed for five years as the court noted that a suspended sentence would be harsh on him. The juvenile boy will also be taken for counseling to reform him.

His lawyer Ms Joyline Change had pleaded for the court’s mercy saying the juvenile was doing well at school and any form of sentence would have transformed him into a criminal.

The lawyer said the boy grew up without a father as he was raised by his mother hence he acted out of emotion when he found that his grandmother had not left food for him. “He wasn’t thinking straight at that time and a suspended sentence will be harsh on him,” said Ms Change.

The boy concurred with his lawyer saying he acted out of anger. Prosecuting, Mrs Charline Murove-Gorerino said the juvenile committed a serious offence by attempting to kill his five relatives. “On January 29 the boy left home at around 11AM going to Chikandakubi about 5km away to get school notes from his classmates. He returned at 9PM when everyone was asleep and found that there was no food left for him.

“The accused went to the bedroom hut where his great grandmother, grandmother and three siblings were sleeping and used a wire to fasten the door before setting the hut on fire,” said Mrs Murove-Gorerino.

She said the boy’s grandmother was awakened by the smell of smoke. The grandmother discovered that the hut was on fire and woke the others before breaking down the door.

State Media

Government’s wage bill is seen growing by 16% this year to $3,7 billion, rising to $3,9 billion next year and pushing the budget deficit to nearly 14% of the gross domestic product (GDP), government projections show.

Zimbabwe already spends 80% of its budget on salaries for government workers, who received a raise of 17,5% from July, adding a further $500 million to the wage bill this year, from an original projection of $3,2 billion.

“While we had estimated employment costs for 2018 at around $3,2 billion, the projected out-turn indicates a total expenditure of employment cost of $3,7 billion. We expect gradual increases in 2019 to about $3,9 billion. The budget deficit out-turn is expected at 11,1%, a double digit budget deficit is not sustainable,” Finance permanent secretary George Guvamatanga told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development concerning the bids and priorities for the 2019 National Budget in Harare on Monday.

“I think there are economic models that have clearly indicated that the moment you start to run to the 14% or 15% as your budget deficit, you start to invite hyperinflation into the economy. That is why … the budget framework for 2019 looks at fiscal consolidation, expanding the revenues collection, but with a much more tighter expenditure control.”

Government expects to cut the 2019 wage bill by $200 million, which is seen lowering the budget deficit.

“But it is important to also highlight that two weeks ago, we did rebase our economy,” Guvamatanga said.

The Parliament Budget Office (PBO) said in a report released in September this year that the budget deficit could reach a “record-breaking” $3 billion due to rising employment costs and that it expects the deficit at 11,6% of GDP.

Since the country dollarised in 2009, public expenditures have remained skewed towards recurrent spending.
The Budget, Finance and Economic Development parliamentary committee chairperson Francis Mona said the budget deficit was quite unacceptable.

“The numbers you and the minister (Finance minister Mthuli Ncube) presented, are you going to manage that culture of overspending without seeking condonation from Parliament? Because, you have seen that the budget deficit you talked of, which is quite unacceptable, and yet the ministry has never approached Parliament,” he said.

“So, I am saying concerning the three arms of the State, is it the other arm becoming bigger than the other arm? I wonder how you are going to address this issue given the culture of overspending.”

The committee concluded that starting next year, Treasury would have to make quarterly reports to the committee and seek approval for any additional expenditure not budgeted.

-Newsday

 

Own Correspondent|ZANU PF Member of Parliament for Chegutu West Dexter Nduna has called for Parliament to put in place laws that criminalize the calling of sanctions.

Nduna lost the parliamentary election to MDC Alliance candidate Gift Konjana but mysteriously found himself back in parliament following a mathematical error by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and a similar technical error by Konjana’s lawyers at the appeal court.

Nduna said any citizen who calls for sanctions should be sentenced to death by a firing squad. Nduna was making a contribution to a report that was presented by Kindness Paradza who attended a workshop to review progress by Member States on the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 of 2004 calling for the total ban, in warfare, of all forms of Weapons of Mass Destruction including Biological and Chemical weapons.

Said Nduna: “I therefore, call upon the powers of this nation and Parliament of Zimbabwe to ratify a motion that says anybody who calls upon any nation to impose sanctions on this country, so that we are unable or impeded in our quest to ratify some of these very genuine protocols that are going to make sure there is complete eradication of weapons of both mass destruction and dangerous chemical weapons, anybody that calls on unilateral or otherwise sanctions who is a citizen of Zimbabwe calls on sanctions on Zimbabwe.

“I call as we speak about the removal of death sentence, that person should be sentenced to death by a firing squad.”

Self-styled prophet Gathry Chiredzero, better known as Madzibaba Gathry, has been jailed for 12-and-a-half years for masquerading as a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative and stalking President Mnangagwa for unknown reasons while armed with a gun.

Chiredzero (40), who went near the podium with a loaded gun while the President was speaking during the renaming of King George VI Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks, was found guilty of possessing offensive weapons at public gatherings, forgery, impersonating a public official, possession of articles for criminal use and driving without a valid licence by Harare magistrate Ms Esteri Chivasa.

Ms Chivasa initially sentenced him to 16 years in prison before she suspended three-and-a-half years on condition that he does not commit similar offences within the next five years.

She said that there was overwhelming evidence against Chiredzero on all counts and the fake articles that he possessed proved that he intentionally had them for criminal use.

Ms Chivasa also said that Chiredzero had proffered no explanation for the fake documents that were in his possession and the reason he was at the event pretending to be carrying out presidential security duties.

Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that on December 4, Chiredzero was spotted at the swearing-in ceremony of Cabinet ministers at State House.

It is alleged that he was near the podium, controlling the movement of people while masquerading as a security agent.

It was later established that he had produced a fake CIO identity card at the security checkpoint to gain entry into State House.

It is alleged that on December 6, he also attended a ceremony for renaming King George VI Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks.

Both programmes were officiated by President Mnangagwa and were attended by senior Government officials, service chiefs and Zimbabwe National Army commanders, among others.

The court heard that Chiredzero was in the company of two unidentified men and were travelling in a blue BMW X5 (registration number ADI 3317).

It is alleged that upon arrival at the barracks, he approached the Zimbabwe Defence Intelligence personnel manning the main gate and identified himself and his accomplices as CIO Close Security Unit officers deployed to beef up the President’s security.

Chiredzero produced a fake CIO identity card bearing his names and as a result they were allowed entry into the barracks.- state media

A Harare man is claiming $96 588 from his late brother’s estate to recover expenses he reportedly incurred while looking after his sibling during his long illness.

Mr Paul Simango claims he took care of his brother during a period that stretched from 2010 to January this year and incurred medical expenses.

He is claiming $9 600 for the food that he provided to the now deceased brother for the eight-year period plus airtime to the tune of $960.

Mr Simango is claiming funeral expenses to the tune of $11 400. In a court claim filed at the High Court by TK Hove & Partners, Mr Simango said his brother’s widow was staying in America when he incurred expenses related to the illness.

When Mr Simango’s brother, Nathan, died on January 29 this year, the estate was registered with the Master of High Court. Efforts by Mr Simango to recover the debt from the estate were fruitless, prompting him to approach the High Court.

Top Harare lawyer and executor to the estate Mr Lloyd Mhishi rejected Mr Simango’s demands. In summons filed at the High Court, Mr Mhishi was cited as a defendant in his capacity as the executor dative.

According to the plaintiff’s declaration, Mr Simango stated that the surviving spouse never contributed towards the medication and upkeep of his late brother during the stated period of illness.

“Sometime in February 2010, I started looking after the late Nathan Simango who was ill when the late Nathan’s wife left him in Zimbabwe having returned with him from America.

“Plaintiff was exclusively and solely responsible for looking after the late Nathan Simango with no assistance from the wife or anyone else,” he said.

Mr Simango said he had entered an agreement with his late brother stating that in the event of his recovery from illness, he would be reimbursed his money.

In the event of death, Mr Simango said the agreement was that he would claim the expenses from the estate.

“It was mutually agreed between plaintiff and the late Nathan Simango that plaintiff will be refunded and reimbursed all the monies that he would have spent looking after the late brother in the event of the he recovered from his illness.

“In the event of death, plaintiff would claim the money from the deceased’s estate,” reads the declaration.

The list of expenses attached to the summons shows that Mr Simango spent $28 800 on a nurse aide plus medical bills amounting to $9 970.

He claims to have paid $3 200 for physiotherapy, $12 480 for diapers, $9 600 for food and $300 for the purchase of a wheelchair. Mr Simango claims $4 800 he paid for the physician’s visits (thrice annually) and $1 440 for the general practitioners’ services.

He claims to have paid $814 to Trinity Pharmacy, $1 468 to Trauma Centre in Borrowdale, $915 to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, $315 to St Michael’s Clinic, $600 for washing machine and $500 for the purchase of a drying machine among others.

The $11 400 spent at the funeral included the purchase of a grave at Glen Forest Memorial Park, food and general expenses, fuel, hiring of tents, chairs and toilets and others.

The executor is yet to respond to the claim. – state media

At a time when government has fallen under notorious cartels, and parastatal board members have gone from rich to richer, some getting to the point of even building private schools for themselves, the Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira has as of yesterday created new Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and Allied Timbers boards.

The state media reports saying this is because of the expiry of the term of office of the previous board of Allied Timbers while ZimParks was being run by an Oppah Muchinguri-cherrypicked interim board.

The report says the ZimParks board will be chaired by Justice Moses Chinhengo who also served in the same capacity in the previous board.

Other members are Ms Tandiwe Nkomo, Mr Ashton Murwira, Ms Teresa Murumbi, Mr Charles Mutisi, Mr Never Nyemudzo, Ms Beatrice Tonhodzayi and Mr Tanyaradzwa Mundoga.

Minister Mupfumira told the board members that they had the responsibility to conserve Zimbabwe’s wildlife in a way that is sustainable and beneficial to the environment, as well as to the current and future generations.

“It is common cause that Parks estates border communities and you are expected to ensure protection of wildlife, at the same time exercising sensitivity to such communities,” she said.

The Allied Timbers board will be chaired by Mr Chris Amira.

Other members include Dr Perpetua Gumbo, Mr Simba Kanzou, Ms Phillipa Philips, Mr Tafadzwa Mahachi, Ms Tracey Mutaviri and Mr Albert Mandizha.

“I expect the board to steer Allied Timbers towards the development of a vibrant business plan that will transform it into a viable company, within 12 months,” said Minister Mupfumira.

She also announced additional members to the boards of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and Forestry Commission.

“The following will join the Forestry Commission board; Ms Veronica Gundu-Jakarasi, Mr Douglas Runyowa, Ms Shelly Ann Cox and Ms Rudo C. Mudenda.

“The additional members for the EMA board will be Ms Cecilia Paradza, Mr Leon Muoni, Mr Christopher Chitindi, Mr Edward Samuriwo and Ms Molly Mayahle,” she said.

Minister Mupfumira urged the boards to work hard.

“I implore all our boards to live up to their tasks. The road may not seem smooth, but I am confident that, if we work in close cooperation, we can collectively deliver and contribute to the development of the economy.”

“May I also reiterate the vision of the Second Republic to open up our economy to investors, hence our mantra; ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’!

“It is my hope that you will embrace our President’s vision with an open mind and ensure that the ease of doing business principles are effected,” she said.

Former President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace have filed High Court papers challenging an application by three Mazowe farmers evicted from Teviotdale Farm in 2009 to pave way for the ex-first family’s company Gushungo Holdings (Private) Limited.

In their application, the three farmers — Adonia Makombe, Sahungwe Hungwe and Nyika Chifamba — cited Mugabe, his wife Grace, Gushungo Holdings, Lands minister Perrance Shiri, Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema, police commissioner-general Godwin Matanga, chief superintendents only identified as Nhubu and Kunene, as respondents.

The three told the court that they grabbed Lot 1A Teviotdale Farm in Mazowe District of Mashonaland Central Province at the height of the land reform programme in 2000 and were given government offer letters in 2009 before being kicked out by police on Mugabe’s orders in 2009.

They are now seeking Mugabe, Grace and their company’s eviction from the property, situated in Mashonaland Central Province and payment of $25 000 in damages to Makombe, $7 000 each to Hungwe and Chifamba.

They are also demanding $3 000 in holding over damages for every month, calculated from the date of the judgment to the date when the former first family vacates the property. However, the Mugabes have tendered a special plea to the application, demanding the dismissal of the application.

“The first, second and third defendants (Gushungo Holdings, Mugabe and Grace) have raised a special plea in bar on the grounds that the claim is prescribed, no cause of action or legal right of occupation has been shown and there is a misjoinder of the second and third defendants (Mugabe and Grace),” the court heard.

They told the court that a debt or a cause of action prescribes after three years in terms of Section 15 (a) of the Prescription Act and cannot be pursued beyond this period. “The plaintiffs by their own admission, were evicted in 2009, their claim should have been brought within three years.

It is submitted that the plaintiffs’ claim is prescribed and should be dismissed with costs,” the Mugabes argued.

They further said that the application fails to disclose a cause of action against the defendants. “It is categorically stated in the declaration that the State owns the land in question and it is the State that evicted them.

The defendants can then not be called upon to answer for actions that were performed by the State as the owner of the land,” they said. High Court judge Jester Charewa, yesterday conducted a pre-trial conference for the matter.

-Daily News

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has threatened street protests against government’s Command Agriculture, believed to have been used as a vehicle by Zanu PF bigwigs to loot state resources through Sakunda Holdings, a private company owned by business mogul Kuda Tagwirei.

In statement released today, MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume warned government against taking people for a ride, raising concern over the murky nature of the whole deal.

“The MDC will deal with this issue in parliament and in the streets. The time for games is coming to an end. Zimbabweans must come on board; collectively we can stop the rot,” Mafume said.

“The MDC is aware that the 2017 version of command agriculture was implemented in collaboration with Sakunda representing the interests of Trafigura. There is a likelihood that as capture continues, the same culprits will enter into another murky agreement with government.

“The terms and conditions of the loan extended by Sakunda are, up to now, unknown, the interest rates are obscure and the time frames a mystery. With this backlog of problems, the people of Zimbabwe cannot be taken for a ride by allowing an extension,” added Mafume.

The opposition statement comes on the back of latest disclosure of massive rot at the central bank with high ranking politicians fingered in the abuse of foreign currency reserves.

Mafume expressed shock over government’s decision to continue with a programme that is responsible for worsening Zimbabwe’s debt.

“It is clear from the statement that command agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of the ballooning debt. It is therefore shocking to learn of its continuation before the 2019 budget is presented,” added Mafume.

MDC President Nelson Chamisa last week called for an inquiry into the country’s debt to establish the rationality behind the usage of such funds.

Command Agriculture has been a source of conflict since revelations by former Zanu PF member, Acie Lumumba that there was a ‘Queen Bee’ who was literally running government and controlling parallel foreign currency exchange rates.

Wide speculation from the public have fingered Sakunda owner, Kuda Tagwirei as the name behind the Queen Bee character revealed by Lumumba.

-263Chat

The political future of former Cabinet ministers who were recently re-assigned to the ruling Zanu PF’s headquarters by President Emmerson Mnangagwa is becoming increasingly uncertain.

This comes after disgruntled war veterans ramped up their determined bid to kick the unwanted bigwigs out of the party on Friday last week by locking the under siege “chefs” out of their offices.

The unprecedented move came a few days after the former freedom fighters also picketed the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare, demanding the sacking of the former Cabinet ministers and the party’s administrator Dickson Dzora.

The war veterans accuse the under-fire party bigwigs — who include secretary for administration Obert Mpofu and fellow politburo members David Parirenyatwa, Patrick Chinamasa and Sydney Sekeramayi — of undermining Mnangagwa and of engaging in corrupt activities.

Mnangagwa re-assigned the heavyweights to the party’s headquarters in a bid to breathe new life in government and to strengthen the former liberation movement’s administration.

The idea was apparently to emulate the Chinese Community Party’s model, which has also been adopted by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa

Yesterday, the angry war veterans told the Daily News that they had stepped up their bid to have the bigwigs barred from working at the party’s headquarters — often referred to as Shake Shake House— on account of the serious allegations that they face.

“When we went there last week they had all left except for Dzora whom we told in no uncertain terms that he was now a persona non-grata at Zanu PF offices.

“We went on to put key blockers on their offices so that they do not come back,” Efanos Mudzimunyi, the war veterans’ chairperson for Mazowe District said.

Mashonaland West war veterans’ chairperson, Cornelius Muoni, chipped in saying the ex-combatants were determined to see the backs of the bigwigs.

“Yes there is a clear instruction that they must not attempt to come back and open those offices and we hope they will comply with the directive.

“We are talking about people who were appointed by the president, and so we hope that he will appoint proper cadres of the party whose past is clean,” he said.

The targeted officials were not picking up calls to their mobile phones yesterday when the Daily News tried to get comment from them.

Mpofu and his colleagues also stand accused of undermining and sabotaging Mnangagwa’s efforts of reviving the country’s sickly economy.

Of particular concern to the war veterans in this regard is Mpofu’s recent statement in which he said Finance minister Mthuli Ncube had not consulted the bigwigs when he unveiled his controversial austerity measures — which include the much-criticised two percent transaction tax.

-Daily News

Jane Mlambo| Seven Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders on Tuesday 30 October 2018 petitioned a Zimbabwean court seeking an order dropping public violence charges against the unionists after arguing that they did not commit any offence warranting their arrest and prosecution.

The seven ZCTU leaders namely President Peter Mutasa, Secretary-General Japhet Moyo, Benice Maluleke, Prescilla Jonhi, Simon Mutasa, Munashe Chirovamari and Ezekiel Matema filed an application before Harare Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa challenging their placement on remand.

The ZCTU leaders, who were represented by Alec Muchadehama, Tinomuda Shoko and Kossam Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), argued that there were insufficient grounds to find objectively that there is reasonable suspicion that they committed an offence, which led to their arrest.

The ZCTU leaders were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Thursday 11 October 2018 and charged with committing public violence as defined in section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in a
gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry.

Their arrest came after ZRP swooped on them in a pre-emptive strike to thwart an anti-government protest organised by the labour union to protest against government’s disastrous economic policies.

In their application challenging placement of remand, the ZCTU lawyers argued that their clients did not violate any of the country’s laws and even had the courtesy to notify ZRP of their planned peaceful demonstration.

Magistrate Mugwagwa will on Friday 02 November 2018 hand down her ruling on the labour union leaders’ application, which was opposed by the state.

Meanwhile, in Masvingo province, 12 ZCTU leaders and members, who were represented by Collen Maboke of ZLHR, will appear in court on Friday 23 November 2018 after they were summoned to stand trial.

The 12 ZCTU leaders and members, who include Elliot Meso, Agnes Hlanga, Kevin Mawoyo, Gilbert Sibanda, Tasara Dunia, Richard Munyenye, Davison Madzivire, Tamutswa Chikonyora, Peggie Rukawu, Stephen Madoyi, Chrispen Matipedza and Maxwell Madhunha are accused of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry.

Nelson Chamisa faces a challenge for the MDC presidency from his deputy Elias Mudzuri when the party goes for a potentially explosive congress next year, the Daily News can report.

Chamisa came to the leadership of the MDC in controversial fashion early this year following the death of the party’s founding father Morgan Tsvangirai.

His dramatic ascent was at the expense of Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe, his two rivals who were both claiming to be the rightful heirs to the throne.

However, while Khupe packed her bags and went on to form her own MDC-T, Mudzuri soldiered on and is now one among three vice presidents in the MDC.

The party’s secretary general Douglas Mwonzora told the Daily News that the MDC is most definitely going for congress next year.

“Congress is definitely there, we have not set the dates but we must have it by the 30th of October next year,” said Mwonzora before referring further questions to Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda.

Until now, Mwonzora has been touted as Chamisa’s likeliest challenger, but the Daily News can report that it is Mudzuri who is now girding his loins for the throne.

Yesterday, Mudzuri could neither confirm nor deny that he wants to contest for the highest office in the opposition.

“When the time comes, I will tell the people what position I want,” Mudzuri told the Daily News yesterday.

Sibanda said his boss is ready to be contested at congress.

“The National Council made an undertaking that they will be preparations for a congress but the dates will be announced in due course. The president is the most ardent supporter of democracy. He is never against being contested. He is ready to be contested by anyone and will listen to the will of the people,” Sibanda told the Daily News.

While addressing the MDC’s 19th anniversary rally on Saturday, Chamisa appealed to his potential internal challengers to hold their horses.

The MDC leader, who lost in the July 30 elections to President Emmerson Mnangagwa by a wafer-thin margin, told thousands of his supporters that removing him now would poke holes into Tsvangirai’s legacy.

“I have told my colleagues in the top leadership that none of us should go wayward because it will be akin to a fish taking itself out of water where it cannot survive,” Chamisa said.

“So, we need to continue to follow Tsvangirai’s way, the party’s ways. Tsvangirai left power for me so that I will also pave way for the next leader, in that order. We don’t want a situation whereby someone would want to grab from me what I was given by Tsvangirai before I even start the journey he set me to embark on, yet you don’t even know what he wanted me to achieve. Why don’t you wait for me to accomplish that first, then I will also show you the way when you eventually take over?” he asked rhetorically.

Earlier, Chamisa had jokingly asked his deputy Mudzuri if he did not believe that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had rigged his way to power.

This was after Mudzuri had not raised his hand when Chamisa asked who among the thousands present agreed with him that the July 30 elections had been rigged in Zanu PF’s favour.

“I see you have kept your hands down when I asked the question. Does this suggest that you do not believe that the election was rigged,” Chamisa asked Mudzuri, tongue-in-cheek.

Only recently, Chamisa called Mudzuri to order during the party’s National Standing Committee meeting for engaging in perceived acts that could undermine unity in the party.

This was after Mudzuri had been linked to a controversial Twitter post expressing the desire to challenge Chamisa at the party’s elective congress.

-Daily News

MASQUERADING as a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative and stalking President Mnangagwa for unclear reasons while armed has earned self-styled prophet Gathry Chiredzero (popularly known as Madzibaba Gathry) an effective 12 and half years in prison.

Chiredzero, who approached the podium as the President was speaking at the renaming of King George VI Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks with a loaded gun, was sentenced to 16 years in prison with 3 and half suspended for 5 years on condition that he won’t commit a similar offence.

Chiredzero (40) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Esteri Chivasa who found him guilty of 5 counts of possession of offensive weapons at public gatherings, forgery, impersonating a public official, possession of articles for criminal use and driving without a license.

Ms Chivasa said there was overwhelming evidence against Chiredzero on all counts and thatthe fake articles that he possessed proved that he intentionally had them for criminal use.

-State Media

 

Terrence Mawawa|Vocal opposition leader Barbara Nyagomo has urged the MDC Alliance to tolerate diverse views.

Yesterday Nyagomo blamed the country’s main opposition party for failing to come up with a clear winning strategy.

However political analysts dismissed Nyagomo’ s assertion as baseless.Responding to comments on her line of argument, Nyagomo said: “Dear Zimbabweans,my compatriots in the MDC Alliance- please accept the truth,be tolerant and allow others to have a voice.

Don’t dictate matters, these are the basic tenets of democracy.The 2.6 million people who voted are waiting for a clear winning strategy in 2023.

Rallies and empty sloganeering will not bring food on  their tables.
You can simply form a shadow government to keep the present government under pressure.”

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development George Guvamatanga says the 2 percent tax is necessary as it will fund subsidies that Zimbabweans enjoy.

The government introduced a 2 percent tax earlier this month which is levied on all electronic transactions across all platforms.

Under the tax, the government gets a 2 percent tax on every dollar that is transacted after the first US$10; however, the tax drew a lot of criticism in the market.

Giving oral evidence to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance as part of the on-going 2019 budget consultations, Guvamatanga said the tax came to ensure that everyone contributes to the funding of the subsidies.

“The structure of this economy has significantly shifted and it has largely gone informal and there was no opportunity for those in the informal sector to directly contribute to the government revenue, but let me paint you a picture here.

“Each and every citizen of this country enjoy when compared to other countries or any other region they enjoy cheap bread which is subsidised by government, they enjoy cheap maize meal which is subsidised by government, they enjoy cheap fuel which is subsidised by government, they enjoy cheap electricity also subsidised by the government and even enjoy cheap cooking oil also subsidised by government but the government needs to fund those subsidies,” he said.

Guvamatanga added that “we can’t expect a small population of this country to be funding the subsidies and for everyone else to be enjoying so this 2 percent tax, we might have conservations around the level of the tax, around the exemptions, but it is important to agree with everyone in this room including media that the principle of everyone must contribute is the right principle,” said Guvamatanga.

The former Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe managing director said the introduction of the tax was not open for debate but that conservation can be centred around such areas as the level, quantum, duration and exemptions only.

“So if we start our conversation from the point which says each and every citizen of Zimbabwe should contribute, then we shift the conversation to a different level which says what is the quantum of the contribution because there isn’t anyone who has not enjoyed cheap bread, cheap maize meal, cooking oil, electricity, fuel in this room I would want to see that person if they are there,” he said.

The permanent secretary added that the subsidies are part of the reason for the current budget deficit in the country adding that it will not be fair to allow a few people to carry the whole budget while the majority are only enjoying without paying.

“We can quantify the level of these subsidies, they run into billions and they are also the reason for the budget deficit but not all of it, we can actually demonstrate that as a government that some of the budget deficit has been incurred so that we can support these social nets to protect the citizens of Zimbabwe but then we can’t only have 4 percent contributing to taxes and the other 96 percent just benefitting.

“But we are happy to engage, to refine the tax so that we make it more affordable, more sustainable but the underlining principle is that it was a necessary pain to bear,” said Guvamatanga.

However, some legal and economic analysts are of the view that the tax is currently illegal as it supposed to get Parliament’s approval.

-Open Parly

 

Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Chegutu West, Dexter Nduna has called for a stiffer penalty on anyone found guilty of calling for sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Nduna said the punishment should be death sentence by a firing squad with automatic machines guns and not small weapons.

 

English premiership side, Tottenham Hotspur, has flattered to deceive in the last decade in England’s football top division.

Spurs or Lilly Whites, as the London club are fondly called by their faithful, have produced great talent and fused it with a few buys from a strict budget which their chairperson Daniel Levy rarely compromises.

One thing about Spurs that stands out is the club’s bravado when mixing it with teams considered “moneybags” such Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.

This is summed up by Spurs banner at its all home games: To dare is to do.

Indeed when you show courage you have to complete the task that triggered such bravado — and coming back home, there is a lot that our leadership can learn from the Spurs banner.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa had a lot of goodwill when he assumed office following the fall of long time leader Robert Mugabe last November.

That goodwill has almost dissipated mainly as a result of perceived failure to chart a different path from Mugabe’s long ruinous rule.

Yet, Mnangagwa, on paper has brilliant ideas which have not been backed by action and good results.

In all fairness, it would be unfair to expect Mnangagwa to end Zimbabwe’s problems in one term but it is the expectation of millions of ordinary people that the 76-year-old show direction and support it with concrete action.

This is why he has to go beyond the warnings he has issued to unscrupulous and corrupt Zimbabweans who are militating against his government’s desire to revive the economy.

The allegations of corruption that have been raised against people allegedly close to him provide the Zanu PF leader with a perfect platform to show those who doubt, that he is serious about eliminating obstacles to improving the lives of long-suffering Zimbabweans.

Mnangagwa has been consistent about fighting corruption but the return from prosecution so far has been under-whelming.

People looked with hope to his well-publicised fight against money laundering and externalisation but the end was an anti-climax as the list hatched an addled egg.

Only little known companies and small fish dominated the list of those alleged to have siphoned billions of US dollars from Zimbabwe.

So, Mnangagwa has an opportunity to prove to all and sundry that he can throw the kitchen sink at those fingered in corrupt practices by causing their arrests.

To dare is to do, Cde President!

-Daily News

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly banned Zanu-PF politburo members from bringing cellphones to party meetings.

According to Daily News, party executives were last week told to leave their electrical gadgets – including mobile phones – at the entrance of the Zanu-PF headquarters.

They were also searched on their way in.

Analysts said the move was a clear sign of “deep mistrust within the ruling party”, adding that this risked the party sliding into the old order when Mnangagwa’s predecessor Robert Mugabe also banned the use of cellphones at party meetings.

NewsDay reported in June last year that Zanu-PF introduced a security scanner at the entrance into the boardroom, where everyone, excluding Mugabe, left their phones at the door.

Insiders said at the time that Mugabe had been unhappy that politburo deliberations were being leaked to the media verbatim, raising fears meetings were being recorded using cellphones

-News24

 

 

Gospel music couple of Pastor Charles and Mai Olivia Charamba have left Apostolic Faith Mission
in Zimbabwe church to form their own church Rooted in Christ Ministries that will have its launch service at the Zimbabwe College of
Music on Sunday.

Pastor Charles Charamba confirmed the development in an interview with The Herald. Said Charamba:”We have officially left the AFM after several considerations that followed a call to mission that I received from God more than two years ago. The idea has been in the pipeline as we prayed and let God’s call come to fruition
according to His time. Until last
Sunday, we were attending the AFM
church services as usual. We had
notified our leaders about our intention and we were doing the groundwork at home during mid-week services. We thank God that we have finally fulfilled his call. We are starting as a small ministry and we believe the church will

grow with time.”The Herald.

Correspondent|Corruption accused ex-minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has pleaded with a Harare magistrate’s court to grant him temporary access to his passport so he could play a part in sourcing for scarce basic commodities into the country.

Government recently lifted its 2017 import ban on selected items following an acute shortage on basic commodities.

Citing the development, Kasukuwere on Monday requested Harare magistrate, Hosea Mujaya to allow him to use his travelling document saying that since he was no longer employed, this would also be an avenue for him to fend for his family.

He told court that he wanted to attend a business meeting in South Africa with a company called Cashbuild, in his capacity as Migdale Holdings executive director.

“Your worship, I want the passport to go and fulfil the transactions as I stated in the emails tendered before this court,” he said.

“I’m doing this in view of government’s mandate to allow us to bring goods into the country by scrapping stringent conditions.

“This also will be a better prospect for business between the country, promoting more goods to come into the country and assist our people.

“It’s a great opportunity to bring money into our country by engaging a company which has major footprints across the world.

“I’m a businessman and I have to fend for my family and I have no reason to abscond. I will be in court whenever I’m required.”

However, he did not mention the specific goods he intended to import.

Prosecuting, Zivanai Macharaga of the President’s special anti-corruption unit, crushed his requests saying he was unnecessarily trying to delay his trial.

“These are tactic skills of delaying his trial,” Macharaga said.

“The accused was in this court on October 9 and he applied for variation of bail conditions well knowing that he had pending meetings in South Africa.

“What is clear is that when he appeared in court on this day, he was already aware of the meeting since the emails he tendered as exhibits are dated September 11. If the meeting was genuine, he should have made the application on the 9th and not wait for the trial date.

“Nothing has been tendered to show that the meeting is genuine. As such, the trial should commence,” argued the prosecutor.”

Kasukuwere was then forced to take it to the witness stand where he tried to explain how the meeting was important for both him and the country.

He told court that he did not request for his passport then since he was busy preparing for his trial.

After being cornered by the prosecutor during cross examination, Kasukuwere was forced to abandon his request before his case was postponed to November 7 for trial commencement.

The former Zanu PF political commissar is facing three counts of criminal abuse of office as a public officer during his tenure as a cabinet minister under former President Robert Mugabe government.

The first three charges were allegedly committed when he was serving as a Local Government minister.

The other count was allegedly committed while he was the Minister of Youth Development.

The state alleges that he awarded a tender to a company called Brainworks Capital without following procedures.

The first three counts were related to land issues involving former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s sister, Junior Shuvai Gumbochuma.

THE fuel supply situation in the country has stabilised after local petroleum giant — Sakunda Holdings — and its partners, last week provided Government with 100 million litres of fuel, which will only be paid for after 12 months.

This comes amid revelations that to ensure adequate fuel supplies over the next 18 months, Government and Sakunda are finalising a deal that will see the latter supplying the country with 1,6 billion litres of fuel.

Independent Petroleum Group (IPG), Glencore, Engen and Total have also chipped-in and are working on various structures with the Government.

Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo yesterday said the improvement in fuel supplies came after the intervention of major companies.

“The fuel situation is stabilising and we hope that we continue on this path,” he said.

“As Government, we have put in place some mitigatory measures and these mainly include a facility we are concluding with Sakunda and its partner Trafigura. The deal is already in motion and it will stand for the next 12 to 18 months. The draw down began last week and we were given 100 million litres upfront and it is one of the facilities that have resulted in the stabilisation being witnessed. We will be getting 50 million litres of fuel a week from that deal.”

“To cover the gap left by Sakunda, there is the IPG deal, which became operational end of last week where we will be getting about 20 million litres per month . There are also other players, which are giving us their facilities for example Engen and Total have also come up with their facilities. The market is liberal and we urge those with similar facilities to come forward and present them to us. We welcome them.”

A survey by The Herald yesterday showed that queues had disappeared at most service stations and fuel was available.

Experts yesterday said structures like the one sealed with Sakunda will give Government ample time to rebuild its export receivables over the next 18 months and cover the loans.

They said the intervention by Trafigura also showed the confidence the international community had in Zimbabwe in terms of debt repayment.

According to documents in our possession, Government will only pay for the 100 million litres provided by Sakunda and Trafigura upfront after a year.

When its starts repaying the loan, Government will be parting with $5 million a week and this means the repayment period will stretch for 20 weeks.

Documents show that on the 1,6 billion litres to be supplied over 18 months, Government will avail foreign currency to Trafigura for 50 percent of what the international company would have sold into the market.

The balance will be paid after the consumption period.

On all the structures, Sakunda will be servicing its own customers as agreed to with Government and allows other oil marketing companies to come in.

Dr Gumbo appealed to the public not to hoard fuel.

“My appeal is for the people not to let us down by hording, panic buying and charging high prices,” he said.

“Prices have remained the same and no one should charge in US dollars. We are grateful for the intervention that has come from fuel companies. It is something that has taken away pressure from Government and provided relief to our people, the industry, mining, agriculture and other users of this precious liquid.”

-State Media

 

THE Police have stepped up their crackdown against perceived opponents of President Emmerson Mnangagwa after arresting and charging a Bulawayo man with undermining his authority.

Wisdom Mkwananzi was arrested on Friday last week and charged with undermining the authority of or insulting Mnangagwa as defined under section 33(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

Mkwananzi last week allegedly burst out during a public hearing conducted at a Bulawayo hotel by the commission of inquiry into the August 1, killing of civilians, that he was orphaned because the Zanu PF party leader had masterminded the killing of his parents during Gukurahundi, where human rights groups claim over 20 000 people were killed during the post-independence disturbances in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.

He allegedly pointed at Mnangagwa’s portrait during his testimony before the former South African leader Kgalema Motlanthe-led commission of inquiry into the post-election violence and stated: “I am an orphan because of this man, he killed my parents.”

Mkwananzi, who was represented by Jabulani Mhlanga and Tinashe Runganga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), was accused of engendering a feeling of hostility or ridicule towards Mnangagwa.

Mkwananzi was also charged with lying under oath.

The police officers claimed that Mkwananzi unlawfully and intentionally supplied a false name to the commission of inquiry after he allegedly told the probe team that his name was Siphatha Mandla, which is different from the name, which appears on his national identity card.

Mkwananzi also faces a third charge of assault as defined in section 89 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, where ZRP officers alleged that he intentionally bit Luckmore Dube once on the right hand intending to cause bodily harm.

Mkwananzi, who appeared in court on Saturday, becomes the second man to be charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa inside one month after police officers arrested Alexander Samuel Chidzedzere of Kariba early this month, and charged him with undermining the authority or insulting the President after he alleged that the ruling Zanu PF party had won the July 30 harmonised elections through rigging.

Meanwhile, ZLHR lawyers on Saturday secured the release on bail of three Bulawayo men Marshal Sibanda, Welcome Moyo and Venat Ncube, who were last Friday charged with committing public violence.

The trio was also charged with disrupting a public gathering as defined in section 44(a) Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 after they allegedly engaged in a disorderly and riotous conduct intending to disrupt the Commission of Inquiry proceedings.

Sibanda, Moyo and Ncube were granted $150 bail each and remanded to 13 November 2018 for commencement of their trial. Mkhwananzi was yesterday released on $200 bail when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Rachel Mkanga, facing charges of undermining the president, assault and lying under oaths. He was remanded to November 13.

-Newsday

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday met captains of industry to tackle challenges in the economy, but the meeting failed to come up with solutions, according to people with knowledge of the meeting.

Mnangagwa met leaders from the Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, Grain Millers’ Association of Zimbabwe, Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers and Chamber of Mines, among others.

Sources at the meeting said business indicated to the President that price distortions in the market were a creation of currency misalignment.

A business leader who attended the meeting said they stressed that the solution lay in liberalising the exchange rate.

“It will be painful in the short run, but convergence will be realised in the medium to long term, assuming austerity from the government holds,” he said.

Business also expressed concern that claiming parity existed between the United States Dollar and the RTGS was a source of distortions that creates inflationary pressures as well as promoting black market trading.

“How exactly do we expect to tame government spending by just outlining ambitious strategies which are devoid of figures? How many parastatals are to be weaned off by year-end, how many foreign missions do we want to close as cost-cutting measure, and how are we going to deal with pressure for bonuses this year given the fact that civil service salaries had been significantly eroded by black market dominance?” submissions made to the Mnangagwa read in part.

In a statement summarising the outcome of the interface, the Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ministry noted that the meeting agreed that both private sector and government should find each other and speak with one voice.

“There was a lot of listening happening today as speaker after speaker gave their views on the state of our economy, that the threading link between speakers was that despite current challenges, Zimbabwe’s economy was expanding and, therefore, there was a higher demand for foreign currency. That messages from government must be in sync and consistent; that government needs to control its fiscal expenditure as a matter of priority in order to reduce fiscal imbalances,” the ministry said.

Mnangagwa told the meeting that the nation could not run away from its challenges and there was need to rebuild the economy.

The Information ministry said government had put in place measures to alleviate shortages of basic goods.

“As we start our preparations for the festive season, we can assure the nation that government is seized with and implementing solid plans to ensure that the increased demand of forex will be met.”

During the meeting, business applauded government for lifting Statutory Instrument (SI) 122 given the shortages of basic goods and industry’s capacity challenges. Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Sifelani Jabangwe, however, said he raised pertinent issues affecting the manufacturing industry and insisted the SI be suspended only until year-end.

“We are quite clear about what we want. We need policy consistency, communication and we highlighted that the suspension of SI 122 be temporary as it may affect the gains that we had achieved as an industry,” he said.

“The meeting was fruitful, but there are no immediate solutions, but from the engagement perspective, it is was productive.”

Chamber of Mines chief executive Isaac Kwesu said although he attended the meeting, it was not a platform for business to air its grievances, but to interact.

“At the meeting the issue of forex was not a chamber issue, but it was an entire business issue. This was just an interactive [meeting]. People who wanted to raise issues were asking questions. As a chamber, we were not waiting for this meeting to air our issues but we have done that in Parliament where we presented a paper last week,” he said.

-Newsday