Terrence Mawawa| Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo has ordered  pharmaceutical manufacturers and retailers to
accept all forms of payments including the bond notes and RTGS.

Moyo said he was concerned that some pharmacies were demanding United States dollars yet the Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe was supplying foreign currency to the pharmaceutical industry. Speaking to
263Chat, Moyo said “:RBZ has been extremely useful and helpful in releasing cash to wholesalers and manufacturers and we expect them to accept other forms of payment such as Bond Notes and RTGS, as a result of the injection of foreign currency.

We have heard a lot of people crying because they are being asked to make payments in USD.

Retailers and wholesalers should not to sell drugs in USD as the currency is not easily available in Zimbabwe, they should rethink positively for the sake of the chronic patients who are in dire need of medication.”

Terrence Mawawa|Commercial farmers and research experts in Chiredzi have vowed to resist attempts by the government to introduce a programme dubbed Command Sugarcane.

Commercial farmers in the Lowveld have described the scheme as totally useless arguing it will severely affect production.

“This is a direct attempt to politicise sugar production and we will not tolerate such disastrous manoeuvres,” said a Chiredzi based commercial farmer.

Sugarcane expert, Mutubani Nzima last week said the so called Command Sugarcane Scheme would grossly affect production of sugar in the country.

“The Command Sugarcane Scheme will spell disaster and production of sugar will be grossly affected,” said Nzima.

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By A Correspondent| scores of people in Bulawayo today told former South African president Motlanthe, ZANU PF leader Emerson Mnangagwa is responsible for shooting people dead on the 1st of August 2018. Below were the LIVE scenes:

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THE Supreme Court has ordered employers in the timber sector to pay the minimum wage of US$150 to workers.

In its application, the Timber Sector Employers’ Association had initially wanted the court to reduce the minimum wage from US$150 to US$105. This was to challenge a ruling at arbitration which had upheld that the minimum wage in the sector remain at US$150. The employers had wanted to continue paying US$105 which they had paid when they were exempted from paying the agreed minimum wage of US$150 for a six-month period. However, Gapwuz contested the position, resulting in the two parties going to arbitration.

However, in their heads of argument, the employers changed position and argued that since the award was borne out of compulsory arbitration and not voluntary arbitration, the award by the arbitrator was null and void. The collective bargaining agreement between the two parties of US$150 is constituted in Statutory Instrument 55 of 2013.

In the judgment, Justices Rita Makarau, Benjamin Gowero and Francis Bere ruled that the appeal succeeds and set aside the arbitral award of October 2015.

According to the interpretation by Gapwuz lawyers, Mabundu & Ndlovu Law Chambers, the judgement only set aside the arbitration award but did not reduce the minimum wage as the court does not have the power to do so.

“All employers who are paying below the minimum wage without being exempted are guilty of underpaying employees and the union (Gapwuz) can sue the employers on behalf of their members for underpayments,” the lawyers said.

Gapwuz acting general secretary Golden Magwaza told businessdigest when they won the wage dispute at arbitration that the ruling was a vindication of their fight for workers in the timber sector.

“We are very happy with this ruling because we have fighting for workers to get this minimum wage since 2012,” Magwaza said.

-Zimbabwe Independent

Harare City councillors have given town clerk Hosiah Chisango until October 31 to provide them with iPads in a move set to raise the ire of residents receiving poor service delivery from the local authority.

Minutes of the finance and development committee, tabled at a recent council meeting, show that councillors said the iPads were needed to avoid consumption of paper on documents as well as equip them with the latest information technology gadgets.

“It is resolved that the town clerk be tasked to ensure that councillors and relevant officials are provided with I-pads by October 31, 2018,” part of the minutes read.

This is not the first time that councillors have made such demands, with some who were in the previous council having threatened to boycott meetings if they were not given iPads as promised.

Normally, council communications are printed and distributed, but the move has been seen as going against green economy that advocates for a paperless society and the preservation of waste.

In January this year, government ordered that Bulawayo councillors pay for the free iPads they had received from council, with authorities stating that the municipality had no right to purchase the gadgets for the city fathers.

Meanwhile, council has resolved to commercialise part of its health service units in a bid to improve service delivery. Among services set to be commercialised with an initial capital injection of between $100 000 to $200 000 includes, the department of pest control service, the department of radiological services and the city’s pharmaceuticals.

Council also resolved to project an initial capital injection of$5 million for its hospitality ventures, which are, Cleveland and Harava dams where hotels and chalets are set to be constructed.

At the Harava Dam, council plans to construct a three-star hotel, upmarket ethnic lodges with camping sites and a golf course, among other recreational facilities.
In the city centre, council wants to refurbish the two old bus termini, Market Square and Charge Office, with a view to expand them.

-Newsday

ZANU-PF has no plans for a Government of National Unity (GNU) with the opposition and is focused on implementing policies beneficial to Zimbabweans, the President has said. MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa has been clamouring for a GNU since he lost the July 30 harmonised elections.

President Mnangagwa dismissed as dreamers those thinking of a GNU, saying Zanu-PF had no time for such people. He made the remarks while addressing the ruling party’s Central Committee.

“May I warn you not to take heed of utterances from various opposition quarters,” said President Mnangagwa, to wild applause.

“Let us focus our energies towards growing the economy. Let those who engage in dreams continue to dream and you must continue to be practical and move forward in the development of our country.

“We have no agenda, nothing is on our agenda about Government of National Unity. Hatina agenda iyoyo. Mr Chamisa has of late been pushing for what he terms “a transitional Government”.

He lost to President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF in the July 30 harmonised elections and is still to come to terms with the defeat after raising false hopes among his supporters that he was winning.

This week, Mr Chamisa convened a Press conference at Harvest House where he pleaded for a coalition Government with President Mnangagwa.

“In fact, we will ultimately discuss and resolve our national issues as a country, but there has been no appetite from Mr Mnangagwa to discuss,” Mr Chamisa told reporters during the Press conference.

“He seems to want to discuss with the international community, not realising that the local community is more important to discuss with, as much as international community is also important.”

-State Media

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has been summoned to appear before Parliament next week to explain corporate governance failure at the national broadcaster after it turned out that one of its top executives, Tazzen Mandizvidza, allegedly owed the company over $1 million.

ZBC chief executive officer Patrick Mavhura had appeared before the Prince Dubeko Sibanda-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, together with Information ministry permanent secretary Ndavaningi “Nick” Mangwana when the committee raised concern over corporate governance issues at the State broadcaster.

“My intention is to call ZBC and their board to appear before Parliament next week, because it is worrying that we hear reports of a manager who is said to have swindled the broadcaster of over $1 million,” Sibanda said.

“We hear that in 2014, he (Mandizvidza) was suspended, but he was rehired, and will he demand his pay for 2018? He has now been suspended again, and there are very serious issues of corporate governance and it is with a heavy heart that the committee says so as ZBC wants public funds yet it is a very dirty institution.”

Sibanda also expressed Parliament’s dismay over the reshuffling of staff at parastatals and media houses whenever a new minister or secretary of the Information ministry is appointed.

“Boards are hired and fired whenever there is a new minister or permanent secretary in order for ministers to get a feeding trough,” he said.

“We are not happy as a committee that some of your parastatals, like the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, do not have a board yet they want $35 million.

When those board members are appointed, we (Parliament) would want to see their curriculum vitaes and criteria used to appoint them.”

Bulilima West MP Dingumuzi Phuti (Zanu PF) said ZBC had a myriad of problems and owed money to individuals and organisations, including artists who were struggling to get their royalty fees.

“They have many labour disputes and they are perfunctory to issues of property rights, which have resulted in them owing artists to the tune of more than $1 million,” Phuti said.
“This is tantamount to pulling the State into the mud because ZBC is the flagship of artists and they must work well with them.”

Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC Alliance) also demanded that the State broadcaster should do live transmission of Parliament and committee sittings.

Other issues that the committee wants to grill ZBC on include how much they made through live broadcasting, especially of political parties.

-Newsday

Companies and individuals seeking to import basic commodities following the lifting of the import ban will have to use free funds, freeing the central bank from having to raise funds for the imports, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya has said.

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With most basic commodities in short supply, while the prices of those available are shooting up daily, government sought to mitigate the scarcities by lifting the suspension of imports by suspending Statutory Instrument (SI) 122 of 2017, which regulated the importation of certain basic goods.

“Those people with their own money, including those people from the diaspora or anyone with his own money, can bring in products into Zimbabwe,” Mangudya said.

-Newsday

GOVERNMENT’s budget deficit — which scaled about US$1,4 billion by June — is seen ballooning to US$2,3 billion this year, more than three times the projected figure as authorities fail to rein in spiralling expenditure set to top US$8 billion by year-end, a pre-budget strategy paper by Treasury has revealed.

The document informs the 2019 National Budget scheduled to be announced next month.

This comes at a time the country is burdened by a total national debt of US$16,9 million. Domestic debt accounts for US$9,5 billion, up from US$275,8 million in 2012, with external debt standing at US$7,4 billion. Inflation has shot up officially from 4,9% to 5,39%, although developments on the ground are painting a more precarious picture as prices of basic commodities have more than doubled in recent weeks.

This year’s total expenditure had been set at US$5,7 billion, with US$4,58 billion for current expenditures and US$1,16 billion for capital outlays. This was premised on projected revenues of US$5,07 billion, to give a fiscal deficit of US$672,2 million, which is 3,5% of the country’s gross domestic product.

According to the Treasury paper, revenues are projected to be US$5,7 billion, in line with the first-half performance. This entails US$4,7 billion tax revenues, US$466 million non-tax revenues, US$434 million retained revenues and US$100 million grants.

Revenue collections for the first half of the year amounted to US$2,51 billion against a target of US$2,21 billion, resulting in a positive variance of US$300 million, representing a variance of 13% of budgeted revenue.

Total expenditures during the same period stood at US$3,72 billion against targeted expenditure of US$2,6 billion as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government went into overdrive on a spending spree ahead of the July general elections.

Support towards the agriculture input support schemes (US$616 million) and grain procurement, (US$81 million); and capital expenditure towards roads of (US$225 million), and dam construction of (US$87,2 million), as well as capitalisation of public institutions of (US$212 million).

“The huge deficit for the period to June, 2018 is as a result of mainly unbudgeted expenditures and this calls for urgent reforms in order to contain the expenditures achieve the fiscal consolidation objective and create fiscal space for developmental budget and social services expenditure,” the paper says.

“The fiscal deficit, a major cause of macro-economic instability and financial sector vulnerability, is targeted at US$1,5 billion (5,2% of GDP) in 2019. This is achievable upon adoption and implementation of measures to begin regaining control and management of budget expenditures over the period January 2019 to December 2021”.

Financing of the deficit was through Treasury Bill issuances by the Reserve Bank amounting to US$548,3 million, while non-bank amounted to US$736,7 million.

Furthermore, lending to government by the central bank through the RBZ overdraft facility increased by US$478,2 million for the period January to June 2018. Government also financed itself through accumulation of arrears, which stood at US$115,8 million as at June 2018.

The runaway central bank lending to government is projected to reach US$2,5 billion, which is 64,6% of the previous year’s revenues.

“Pressure will also come from Treasury Bill maturities in the short term (2018 to 2020) of US$4,1 billion, which is 55% of the total TBs maturities of US$7,5 billion to year 2033.

The above position 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,” reads the Treasury paper.

The economy, reeling from a fiscal crisis, is currently in turmoil due to foreign currency market volatility and a wave of price increases, reflecting rising inflationary pressures and chaos.

-Zimbabwe Independent

THE Supreme Court has ordered employers in the timber sector to pay the minimum wage of US$150 to workers.

In its application, the Timber Sector Employers’ Association had initially wanted the court to reduce the minimum wage from US$150 to US$105.

This was to challenge a ruling at arbitration which had upheld that the minimum wage in the sector remain at US$150.

The employers had wanted to continue paying US$105 which they had paid when they were exempted from paying the agreed minimum wage of US$150 for a six-month period. However, Gapwuz contested the position, resulting in the two parties going to arbitration.

However, in their heads of argument, the employers changed position and argued that since the award was borne out of compulsory arbitration and not voluntary arbitration, the award by the arbitrator was null and void. The collective bargaining agreement between the two parties of US$150 is constituted in Statutory Instrument 55 of 2013.

In the judgment, Justices Rita Makarau, Benjamin Gowero and Francis Bere ruled that the appeal succeeds and set aside the arbitral award of October 2015.

According to the interpretation by Gapwuz lawyers, Mabundu & Ndlovu Law Chambers, the judgement only set aside the arbitration award but did not reduce the minimum wage as the court does not have the power to do so.

“All employers who are paying below the minimum wage without being exempted are guilty of underpaying employees and the union (Gapwuz) can sue the employers on behalf of their members for underpayments,” the lawyers said.

Gapwuz acting general secretary Golden Magwaza told businessdigest when they won the wage dispute at arbitration that the ruling was a vindication of their fight for workers in the timber sector.

“We are very happy with this ruling because we have fighting for workers to get this minimum wage since 2012,” Magwaza said.

-Zimbabwe Independent

 

A MAN from Gweru suffered 35 percent burns after he was scalded with hot water and cooking oil by his girlfriend because he had received a phone call from his ex-wife.
This was heard yesterday during the
sentencing of Tendai Wasara (28) of Athlone Suburb who appeared before Gweru Regional Magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa, facing one
count of attempted murder.
Wasara, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was convicted after trial and sentenced to three years in prison.
Mrs Msipa said crimes of passion should come to an end and a custodial sentence would send a message to would be offenders.
“You pre-planned this crime by asking the complainant to remove his clothes while you boiled 10 litres of water and cooking oil which you used to scald him and he suffered
35 percent burns. Such violent behaviour is not expected from a woman and the courts will not sit back and watch crimes of passion
go up. You are sentenced to three years in prison of which six months are suspended on condition of good behaviour,” she said.
It was the State case that on February 13 at around 6PM, Wasara went to her boyfriend, Mr Cedrick Govere’s workplace and found him communicating with his ex-wife over the phone.
An argument arose until the two lovers went home, slept and woke up on the following morning.
At around 9AM, Wasara asked Mr Govere to remove his clothes saying she wanted to wash them and he complied.
Wasara then asked Mr Govere what he thought about their relationship and why he was still communicating with his ex-wife considering that she was looking after him and paying maintenance for his children.
Wasara, the court heard, was not happy with her lover’s response and left the bedroom.
She returned carrying a pot with boiling water and cooking oil and poured it on her lover.
Mr Govere was rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he refused to disclose how he got the burns only telling the hospital staff that he had burnt himself accidentally with
cooking oil he uses to fry chips at home. On February 24, his friend went and reported the matter to the police leading to Wasara’s arrest- Chronicle.

 

Buhera South legislator Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu PF) has sued Chinese firm Sunny Zimbabwe
International together with its directors Mai Tao-Ming, Luo Su Yuan, Lin Qianlong and Lin Shuen at the High Court over a $65 755 debt.
Chiinotimba alleges that he supplied the firm with macadamia nuts worth $220 000 but only received a payment of $154 000. He alleges that the firm and its directors have failed and/or neglected to settle the balance of $65 755 despite repeated demands.The Chinese firm is yet to respond.NewsDay

Correspondent|THE commission of inquiry set up to investigate the post poll violence that took place in Harare on August 1,is likely to receive a frosty welcome in Bulawayo, Friday, when they conduct the second round of public hearings.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa established the seven member commission led by former South Africa president Kgalema Motlanthe to investigate the post-election violence that left six civilians dead.

The commission has already conducted public hearings in Harare and will also visit Gweru this Saturday.

Activists and political parties in the city told CITE that it was insensitive for the commission to hold hearings in Bulawayo for people killed in Harare when such action had not been taken to look into the 1980s Gukurahundi killings that claimed more than 20 000 in Matabeleland and Midlands.

ZAPU spokesperson, Ipithule Maphosa said the commission’s visit was unnecessary, especially if it omitted Gukurahundi.

“We do commiserate with the rest of the country over the killings that took place in Harare but we also wonder why the Montlante commission is coming to Bulawayo when the shootings they are investigating only happened in Harare,” he said.

“We are, however, not surprised because we know their reasons for coming here is to make more money from allowances. The commission has quickly learnt from Zanu PF and mastered the art of abusing and looting Zimbabweans funds. There is no other reason for them to undertake such a costly trip”.

Maphosa claimed the commission’s visit to Bulawayo was an insult to the people of Matabeleland as well as the victims of Gukurahundi.

“Thirty years have passed while people in Matabeleland and Midlands are still waiting for closure after the genocide. No step has been taken by the government. How the government ignores tens of thousands deaths at the hands of the army, only to spring to action for six people speaks volumes about a government whose only preoccupation is power amassing and retention,” he added.

His view was echoed by Alliance for National Salvation (ANSA) secretary general, Nketha Mangoye Dlamini, who claimed the commission inquiry would serve no relevance to Bulawayo.

“As ANSA, we belief the Monlanthe commission should have confined its investigations in Harare where the killings happened. If they felt that someone in Bulawayo or Gweru might have information concerning the shootings, the best thing was to place an advert and ask those people with evidence to come to Harare. Since most people in Bulawayo are a bit divorced from what happened Harare, they will certainly raise Gukurahundi issues, which directly affects them,” Dlamini said.

The ANSA secretary general predicted that the commission would likely face hostile reception from people in Matabeleland particularly relatives and survivors of Gukurahundi.

Former cabinet minister and now Public Policy Research Institute of Zimbabwe (PPRIZ) director, Dr Gorden Moyo, expressed a different view and said the commission was well in its mandate to come to Bulawayo.

But, he did say the 1980s atrocities would also prop up in the hearings as thousands of people in the country’s southern region were killed by the military as well.

“The hearings on callous, criminal and cruel murder of innocent citizens are welcome in any part of the country including Bulawayo. For Bulawayo, these hearings should serve as a precursor to the much awaited hearings on the atrocious activities of the 1980s,” he noted.

Dr Moyo noted he was sure people in Bulawayo and Gweru would speak less about the Harare events of 5 August, which they did not experience but more about the Gukurahundi genocide, which they have to contend with its recurring impact everyday.

“The people of Bulawayo, Matabeleland and Midlands provinces and indeed all Zimbabweans of conscience have a legitimate expectation that the current hearings will act as a launch pad for the bigger, broader and comprehensive programme of unearthing the hidden truths about the fate of the 20 000 victims of the 5th brigade,” he said.

The government says it will prioritise the alignment of all media laws with the constitution during the coming year, Nick Mangwana, the secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting has said.

Mangwana made the pledge when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media and Broadcasting on 25 October 2018. He was giving testimony on his ministry’s budget proposals for the 2019 fiscal year.Mangwana said one of his ministry’s focus areas for 2019 was the complete alignment of all media laws with the Zimbabwean constitution. He said this required a multi-stakeholder approach, stating that organisations such as MISA Zimbabwe have a role to play in assisting his ministry in its media law and policy reform mandate.

He said his ministry would distil the findings and recommendations of the Information and Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI), to influence and shape local media policy.
Mangwana’s submissions to the Committee provided insight on other areas of media and broadcasting that his ministry will also focus on in
2019 and beyond.Update on the national digitisation project In 2015, Zimbabwe embarked on its project to
digitise local broadcasting services. This drive to transition from analogue to digital broadcasting was
part of a greater initiative led by the International Telecommunications Union. The project has for the
past three years, progressed at a slow pace and Mangwana indicated that his ministry required $100 million to complete digitisation in Zimbabwe.
Mangwana said the Minister of Finance advised the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting

Services to cap their estimated budget to $45 million. This would cater for the ministry’s project costs and operational costs. Mangwana indicated that at this rate of financing, the digitisation project
would only be completed sometime in the year 2021.
Licensing of additional channels
The fact that Zimbabwe still has one national television channel was a cause of concern to Mangwana. He, however, said his ministry is of the
view that additional broadcasting television channels be licensed after the completion of the ongoing digitisation programme.
This means the prolonged delay in the completion of the digitisation programme is a delay in the realisation of media diversity and plurality in Zimbabwe.
In his submissions, Mangwana also referred to the need to license community radio stations. He said
his ministry currently does not have the funds to license community radio stations. This is not the first time that a government official has spoken about the need to license community radio stations, unfortunately, none of those past declarations was followed up in any practical way.
MISA Zimbabwe takes these revelations with mixed feelings as various government officials and
representatives have in the past made similar pronouncements, with little or no action taken thereafter.
We, therefore, urge the government to take concrete steps towards fulfilment of these long overdue
media reforms.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services has instructed parastatals under the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services to submit financial statements for the period from January to September this year before it deliberates on the requirements for 2019.

Chairperson of the committee Honourable Prince Sibanda and several parliamentarians expressed concern at the bad corporate governance practices evident in most parastatals to the Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana and called on all the heads of the parastatals to submit financial records on Monday and avail themselves next Thursday for intensive interrogation.

The committee was not impressed with the erroneous financial statement provided by the Finance Director in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

Zbc News online

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has engaged auditors to investigate the activities of four senior executives who were suspended over allegations of corruption and illegal foreign currency dealings.

In a statement, Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya said the Central bank was “seized with the matter” and had directed a special committee to address the issue.

“Further to the Press statement issued on 23 October 2018, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe wishes to advise members of the public that the Bank’s Board of Directors is seized with the matter and has directed its audit and oversight committee to urgently look into the issues,” he said.

“The committee has been tasked to immediately work in conjunction with external auditors and other stakeholders to investigate the matter. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the public will be appraised of the outcome in the interest of transparency and good governance,” said Dr Mangudya.

The central bank on Monday suspended with immediate effect the apex bank’s head of supervision Norman Mataruka, director financial markets Azvinandawa Saburi, director financial intelligence Mirirai Chiremba and head of security Mr Gresham Muradzikwa.

Mr Acie Lumumba, who chaired the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development communications taskforce before he was relieved of his duties on Monday, on Sunday publicly accused the quartet of running a foreign currency cartel at the Central Bank, at a time the country is facing acute foreign currency shortages that are crippling the productive sector.

In a 46-minute live Facebook video, Mr Lumumba exonerated Dr Mangudya but accused the four of various crimes ranging from off-the-books bond notes circulation to corrupt allocation of foreign currency.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared zero tolerance to corruption and vowed that his Government would have no sacred cows in its fight against graft.

The President has already hinted the net was closing in on corrupt officials as he lamented rampant acts of economic sabotage.

His concern follows a recent spate of unjustified price increases, which are being fuelled by spiralling parallel market currency exchange rates aided by spreading of alarmist fake news, mainly on social media.

These have squeezed consumer spending power on the back of hoarding of basic commodities, which have created artificial shortages.

In his video before his sacking from the job he held for three days, Mr Lumumba said corrupt dealings by senior apex bank officials were among the factors that are inflicting trouble in the economy and making it difficult for Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube and Government to manoeuvre in addressing the challenges facing the economy.

He further claimed that despite the accused RBZ senior managers not being allowed to sit on any company boards, they sit on the board that buys gold from Fidelity Printers and Refiners, and reportedly manufacture jewellery, which they would then sell outside the country. -state media

A man from Gweru suffered 35 percent burns after he was scalded with hot water and cooking oil by his girlfriend because he had received a phone call from his ex-wife.

This was heard yesterday during the sentencing of Tendai Wasara (28) of Athlone suburb who appeared before Gweru Regional magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa, facing one count of attempted murder.

Wasara, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was convicted after trial and sentenced to three years in prison.

Mrs Msipa said crimes of passion should come to an end and a custodial sentence would send a message to would be offenders.

“You pre-planned this crime by asking the complainant to remove his clothes while you boiled 10 litres of water and cooking oil which you used to scald him and he suffered 35 percent burns. Such violent behaviour is not expected from a woman and the courts will not sit back and watch crimes of passion go up. You are sentenced to three years in prison of which six months are suspended on condition of good behaviour,” she said.

It was the State case that on February 13 at around 6PM, Wasara went to her boyfriend, Mr Cedrick Govere’s workplace and found him communicating with his ex-wife over the phone.

An argument arose until the two lovers went home, slept and woke up on the following morning. At around 9AM, Wasara asked Mr Govere to remove his clothes saying she wanted to wash them and he complied.

Wasara then asked Mr Govere what he thought about their relationship and why he was still communicating with his ex-wife considering that she was looking after him and paying maintenance for his children.

Wasara, the court heard, was not happy with her lover’s response and left the bedroom.

She returned carrying a pot with boiling water and cooking oil and poured it on her lover.

Mr Govere was rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he refused to disclose how he got the burns only telling the hospital staff that he had burnt himself accidentally with cooking oil he uses to fry chips at home.

On February 24, his friend went and reported the matter to the police leading to Wasara’s arrest. -state media

Own Correspondent|A motorist trying to jump a fuel queue ploughed into two pedestrians, killing a woman and injuring another, Midlands police said.

The incident happened outside Jaran supermarket in Gweru on Sunday in Gweru, said Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende.

Vongai Mapako, 43, was not supposed to be in Gweru when she met her death on October 21, according to police. She had failed to get transport to her rural home in Tirimuhondo Village, Shangani, a day earlier due to the crippling fuel crisis gripping Zimbabwe.

Witnesses said George Mbanje, 39, was trying to jump a fuel queue leading to a Puma Energy service station which had reached Robert Mugabe Way and 3rd Street.

In a bid to gain a favourable position, Mbanje drove on a pavement just outside Jaran supermarket where the two victims Mapako and Tavawana Chinyoka , 50, were seated.

— ZimLive

Authorities at Kariba and Chirundu border posts have reduced the number of days on which Zimbabwean can cross to trade their wares in Zambia using passes.

An agreement reached between border authorities in Zimbabwe and their Zambian counterparts, effective this week, traders from both countries will only be allowed to trade on Mondays and Thursdays.

Department of Immigrations Area Manager for Kariba Mr Joshua Chibundu confirmed the development today.

He said, according to an agreement with their Zambian counterparts, traders had been given only two days per week to sell their products across the border.

“The restrictions are a temporary measure aimed at curbing the outflow of basic commodities which are currently in short supply in local shops and supermarkets.

“The measures are aimed at curbing shortage of basic goods in local shops and also in a way contributing to the stabilising prices of goods,” he said.

More to follow…

Correspondent|The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya has directed his investigations department to immediately institute an audit into the four senior officials suspended earlier this week on allegations of corruption.

The senior managers have already surrendered central bank assets such as vehicles, laptops and access cards to pave way for investigations.

In a press statement released Thursday afternoon, the central bank chief said that an audit and oversight committee would look into graft allegations submitted by Acie Lumumba against the suspended employees.

“Further to the press statement issued on 23 October 2018, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe of Zimbabwe (the “Bank”) wishes to advise members of the public that the Bank’s Board of Directors is seized with the matter and has directed its Audit and Oversight Committee to urgently look into the issues.

“The Committee has been tasked to immediately work in conjunction with external auditors and other stakeholders to investigate the matter. Upon conclusion of the investigations, the Public will be appraised of the outcome in the interest of transparency and good governance,” read part of the statement.

On Sunday, Lumumba made startling allegations on micro blogging site Facebook where he accused the central bank’s head of supervision Norman Mataruka, director financial markets Azvinandawa Saburi, director financial intelligence Mirirai Chiremba and head of security Gresham Muradzikwa of various crimes ranging from off-the-books bond notes circulation to corrupt allocation of foreign currency.

Although his claims resulted in the suspension of the four officials, Lumumba was fired from his position as the head of Communication Taskforce by Finance Mthuli Ncube after just three days at the helm of the taskforce..

In a letter gleaned by this publication, Ncube reversed Lumumba’s appointment suggesting it may have been inappropriate.

“On the 19th of October 2018 you were engaged by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development as the Chairman of the Ministry Communications Taskforce.

“New information has come to light over the appropriateness of the appointment. This letter serves as a notification of the termination of the contract with immediate effect,” wrote Ncube.

M&T

Correspondent|residents said that the local authorities major in the minor after City of Harare said that Traffic cameras are to be installed at all traffic intersections in Harare starting with the Central Business District.

Posting on twitter, City of Harare said that it was going to install traffic cameras at all traffic intersections in Harare as well on parking bays:

City of Harare‏ @cohsunshinecity

Traffic cameras to be installed at all traffic intersections in Harare. First phase in CBD

They further posted that traffic cameras will be used on parking bays and the whole issue did not go well with the residents who responded expressing their discontentment.

One Baleni Nkosinath doomed the plan calling it a misplaced priority.

Staples‏ @BaleniNkosinath 2h2 hours ago

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Replying to @cohsunshinecity

Case of misplaced priorities.

Another twitter account urged the authorities to install the cameras at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) saying it is the den of thieves after a video by Acie Lumumba that exposed bosses at RBZ went viral.

Oscar‏ @osymkch 2h2 hours ago

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Replying to @cohsunshinecity

Don’t waste money the place that really need cameras is the RBZ. That’s where the people who really break the law are.

A twitter account belonging to one Judith Maponga lamented that traffic lights are not functioning well and there are dangerous potholes in the city yet the council want to embark on traffic cameras.

Judith H Maponga‏ @JudithMaponga 11m11 minutes ago

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Replying to @cohsunshinecity

Then What? Lets start by fixing all the traffic lights that are not working, patch potholes, uninterrupted supply of clean water, fix sewage overflowing in ghettos, collection of refuse, the list is endless and there you are prioritizing cameras.

M&T

In an interview with a local daily, deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi responded to cleric Talent Chiwenga.

In a video Talent responded to a warning from his cousin Vice President Chiwenga saying he has the right to freedom of expression. Talent also said “VP Chiwenga was not fit to lead this nation.”

However, Mutodi said while government respects the right to freedom of expression in line with Section 61 of the Constitution, one needs not to infringe into other people’s rights and liberties when exercising his or her own right. Said Mutodi:

So when you call out the name of a whole vice president in the streets and purport to disclose his health condition, you really act outside the law. Such behaviour constitutes high levels of disrespect and may arouse public anger and disorder, considering that politicians have supporters who follow them.

So our position as government is that the pastor needs to be called to order and desist from infringing into other people’s rights. He is free to form a political party or to join already existing ones and must not hide under the church to further his own political ambitions or beliefs.

Monrovia – Liberian President George Weah, who overcame childhood poverty to become one of the world’s top footballers, has abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students in the poor West African country’s state universities.

Speaking Wednesday on the campus of the University of Liberia in the name of “the Liberian people and my government”, Weah declared “free tuition for all undergraduate students” at all the public universities.

Weah said his decision arose after a meeting he had with the university administration.

“The students came in front of my office to complain that the administrators have increased the tuition in the school. I was not happy about that,” said Weah, who took office in January.

An administrator informed him that the actual fee had not changed, but the fall of the Liberian dollar against the US one had led to a rise in the amount due in the local currency. Both currencies are legal tender in Liberia, which was founded by freed former American slaves.

“I was shocked when I was told that every semester about 20,000 (would-be students) go through the registration process, (but) only 12,000 attend.

“Furthermore, about 5,000 of the 12,000 who are in attendance are depending on some form of financial aids or scholarship. The rest of the students do not attend due to the lack of financial aid,” Weah added.

Weah was elected late last year on a platform of fighting poverty and kickstarting an economy still affected by two civil wars between 1989 and 2003, as well as providing stability and growth.

“The inability of our young people to continue their education is very troubling,” he said on campus.

Liberia has four state universities: the main University of Liberia, the Booker Washington Institute, Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law and the William Tubman University.

AFP

Scotland’s First Minister NICOLA Sturgeon has said her “heart goes out” to a paralysed man whose wife of 32 years is facing deportation to her native Zimbabwe.

The First Minister said she hoped David and Carin Connolly, who live with their son in Inverurie, would not be split up by the Home Office.

The family’s case was raised at FMQs by Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin, who described their situation as “horrific”.

Mr Connolly, 58, a British citizen, was left a quadriplegic by a car accident in 1984.

David Connolly, who is paralysed from the neck down, pictured with wife Carin and son Marcus in 2011
His wife Carin, 59, who was born in Zimbabwe, is his full-time carer.

After spending most of their lives in Africa, they moved to Scotland last year to be with son Marcus, who has lived here since 2010.

But the Home Office has now rejected Mrs Connolly’s application to be a British citizen.

Ms Martin said she had written in support of the couple ahead of an appeal tribunal, and asked what more could be done to support them.

Ms Sturgeon replied: “My heart goes out to Mr and Mrs Connolly, and I hope that they get the opportunity to stay as a family in Scotland.

“I have complete sympathy for anybody attempting to navigate the increasingly complex and restrictive United Kingdom immigration system.

“The one-size-fits-all approach imposed by Westminster is arbitrary, and it is very often inhuman, particularly in cases that threaten to rip apart families.”

She said “the vast majority of people in Scotland” would want the Connollys to stay.

– Herald Scotland

By Paul Nyathi|Fired up Gwanda Residents on Thursday morning dismissed a joint budget consultation meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance and the SDGs Committee in just under twenty minutes accusing parliament of wasting their time.

Led by firebrand Gwanda Residents Association Secretary General Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo, the residents told the high powered delegation of parliamentarians to pack up their bags and leave the town as government has never listened to any of the contributions they make to the national budget formulation.

“We have been raising the same issues to the government for years and none of these have ever been considered for the budget,” said Fuzwayo.

“We do not have confidence in your whole process and therefore move that you end this meeting and go back and check our contributions from all the years back.”

The only four speakers who contributed to the consultations demanded government to show commitment to their submissions by constructing the perennially flooding narrow Mtshabezi River Bridge in the town which was constructed in the fifties.

“How can you honestly expect us to continue making submissions on your budget every year when you fail to carry out a small project as construction of a bridge?” questioned Fuzwayo before seconding that the meeting ends at that juncture.

The residents demanded that as an alternative, government should prioritise the devolution of power implementation which would allow them to decide which projects to prioritise in the development of their areas.

According to the residents the current centralised government has always marginalised Matabeleland region while taking all the riches from the region to Harare.

After dismissing the meeting, the residents tried to force march the parliamentarians to visit the Mtshabezi River Bridge about a kilometre away from the venue, a move which the legislators declined to comply with.

Drama ensued after that as the residents blocked the parliamentarians bus from leaving unless they commit to passing through the site of the bridge.

The parliamentarians were locked inside the bus for over an hour as the Chairpersons of the two committees Honourable Mathew Nyashanu and Senator Mtshane Khumalo negotiated with the residents leader for the release of the parliamentarians.

It took an intervention by the Gwanda Central Member of Parliament Patrick Dube to calm the residents who eventually allowed the bus to leave.

Controversial preacher Talent Chiwenga — known for his uncanny prophecies about the country’s political situation — now fears for his life after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga issued a stern warning against him for attacking the national leadership.

In a video recording, the clergyman who claims to be cousin to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s second-in-command, prophesied recently that two senior government officials will lose their lives.

He went on to allege that the vice president, who is on sick leave after falling ill with an undisclosed ailment, was not fit for office.

In his latest recording, the man of cloth gave a narration of how he was forcibly interrogated and threatened by security officials in Hwedza, where Christians had gathered over the weekend to pray with the vice president at his rural homestead.

“… I now fear for the lives of my children, my wife and those that I work with. If I die today, people of the world I want you (to) know, this is the reason why I am going to die,” said the cleric.

“The vice president has got so many resources at his disposal, I may die through an accident, I may be shot dead, I may be poisoned, I may disappear, like Itai Dzamara disappeared. I am not saying the vice president is the one behind the disappearance of …Dzamara, I am simply mentioning the name of .. Dzamara because he also disappeared, because he also criticised a government that feels it is invincible, it is unquestionable to the people that it governs.

“I don’t believe that should be the case sir, this is a democratic country and you have also been on record, insulting other people, insulting other politicians and nobody has said anything about it, because maybe they were afraid of you,” Talent said.

Talent came to prominence after a series of pre-elections predictions where he claimed the election would be rigged and that a number of senior officials linked to the November 2017 coup would die in quick succession.

He said he did not fear Chiwenga but respected him and was not afraid of dying for speaking what God would have told him.

Last week, Chiwenga launched a scathing attack on Talent describing him as a fake prophet who is bent on criticising his elders using God’s name.

“There are others who are now calling themselves prophets,” said VP Chiwenga. “Aripo uyo anonzi ani, (there is someone called) Talent (Muzuva). That should come to an end today. Zvatoperera pano (It’s over from now). We don’t have that culture where one moves around attacking leaders under the guise of preaching the word of God. God does not say move around attacking other people,” Chiwenga said.

However, Talent said he loved the vice president as his brother, but was against some of the actions by government such as chartering former first lady Grace Mugabe a plane to travel to Zimbabwe from Singapore for her mother’s funeral and the killing of at least six people during the post-election violence.

He said he still maintained this was improper, considering that thousands of people are suffering.

“Now, when he said Talent Muzuva on Sunday, I knew he was talking about me, because Muzuva is my father’s name and Guvheya is his father’s name and our fathers are brothers, blood brothers, same father, Chiwenga is not his personal name, Chiwenga is a family name.

The one who was called Chiwenga is our grandfather. So, maybe he was not willing to use the name Chiwenga because he also uses it, but I know that so many people are confused, they do want to know what is happening and the reason why I am making this public statement, it is because I feel that my life is in danger, not only because of what he is doing, but most importantly because of what happened to me on Saturday,” he said.

Talent said he is ready to die for speaking the truth, however, he begged his cousin not to harm his wife and children, claiming this was a family issue that needed to be dealt with privately.

“If he says he doesn’t know me he would be lying; I have met with him more than twice, more than thrice. In my life, I have spoken to him even over the phone, even his wife… knows us, me and my wife. We have gone to see her at her offices because this is a family issue. But if I feel that my life is in danger and the life of my wife and children, I cannot keep silent while the vice president uses all the resources that are at his disposal,” he said.

Responding to the cleric, deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi said while government respects the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Section 61 of the Constitution, one needs not to infringe into other people’s rights and liberties when exercising his or her own right.

“There is also freedom of worship and freedom of association. However, one needs not to infringe into other people’s rights and liberties when exercising his or her own right,” said Mutodi.

“If you are preaching to your church and you are a pastor or religious leader, you certainly do not want to call names of political leaders and denigrate them as if you were a leader of a rival political party. That is wrong”.

Section 51 of the Constitution states that every person has inherent dignity in their private or public life, and the right to have that dignity respected and protected.

Section 57 (e) of the Constitution goes further to give citizens the right to privacy and forbids anyone from disclosing another person’s health condition.

“So when you call out the name of a whole vice president in the streets and purport to disclose his health condition, you really act outside the law. Such behaviour constitutes high levels of disrespect and may arouse public anger and disorder, considering that politicians have supporters who follow them.

“So our position as government is that the pastor needs to be called to order and desist from infringing into other people’s rights. He is free to form a political party or to join already existing ones and must not hide under the church to further his own political ambitions or beliefs,” Mutodi.

 

The Harare City Council has launched an operation to rid the central business district of pirate taxi operators, colloquially referred to as
mshika-shika.

This follows the City’s successful
removal of vendors from the CBD. Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba told the Daily News:”We are geared to cleaning up the city once and for all. At times we have seen that the police and our staff are not doing enough to reign in on illegal pirate taxis. We sometimes see municipal police parked opposite illegal pirate taxis with no action being taken.This will no longer be tolerated”-Daily News

 

Terrence Mawawa|MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Tendai Bit I has described the current Cabinet as the worst in independent Zimbabwe.

“This class of 2018 is easily the worst cabinet in the history of modern Zimbabwe.

The present day melt down and dislocation only happens when a country has gone through a war . It’s a man made tsunami . The regime’s
praise singers owe us an apology,” tweeted Biti.

Biti has also indicated that the

“illegitimate regime” cannot solve the economic crisis without solving the legitimate crisis.