Mutodi A Good Example Of Why We Don’t Need Deputy Ministers

Jane Mlambo| Controversial socialite, Wellence Mujuru has torn into Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services saying he is a good example of why Zimbabwe does not need Deputy ministers.

Since his appointment, Mutodi has made a lot of noise albeit for the wrong reasons and is accused of masterminding an attack on Alpha Media Holdings newspaper vendors after they hiked prices.

He has also been engaged in a bitter exchange of words with AMH founder, Trevor Ncube. The fight only ended following the intervention of Monica Mutsvangwa and Nick Mangwana who brought together at the government offices.

Many people have likened Mutodi to the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Terrence Mukupe whose short stint at the New government complex was riddled with scandals including picking fights with ministry employees.

https://twitter.com/wellencemujuru/status/1051334649027469312?s=21

New Twist To Diamond Saga As Parly Heard Former Govt Employee Had Shares In ZCDC

FORMER Mines ministry secretary Francis Gudyanga and another unnamed individual used to own shares in the government-controlled Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), Parliament heard yesterday.

This was revealed by legal officer in the ministry Jackie Manyonga when she appeared before the Temba Mliswa-led Mines committee together with Mines secretary Onesmo Moyo to speak on the ministry’s 2019 budget proposals.

MPs asked Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) chairperson Partson Chimboza to explain the legality of its subsidiary company, ZCDC, but he professed ignorance over the issue, resulting in the committee turning to Manyonga for answers.

“ZCDC was owned in terms of the Companies Act and we sought to regularise it as a subsidiary of ZMDC because there was the issue of shares owned by Gudyanga and another person, but government bought all the shares and now has 100% ownership,” Manyonga said.

Mliswa said if ZCDC was politicised, then the ministry officials must say so because the country was struggling financially and needed revenue from mining.

“Who is the personality that really runs the ZCDC? Is it the Mines minister or President? Some of us are prepared to be removed as chairperson for the sake of good governance,” Mliswa said.

The committee was not impressed by the goings on at ZCDC, especially after Manyonga further revealed that the diamonds mined by the entity in Chiadzwa were stockpiled and later auctioned in a manner which MPs thought was dubious.

“ZCDC was given a loan by the RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe), and in a bid to securitise it, there was a directive that the diamonds should not be sold immediately. That is why they were stockpiled, but a few months ago those diamonds were auctioned,” Manyonga said.

The committee said Manyonga’s revelations that diamonds were secretly sold will give rise for another diamond revenue probe.
“This means there is now need for another diamond probe to find out how much they were sold for and how much money was lost when these diamonds were stockpiled,” Mliswa said.

-Newsday

Mfundo Mlilo Not Done With Mthuli Tax, Resubmits His Dismissed Court Challenge

COMBINED Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA) director Mr Mfundo Mlilo has filed a normal court application contesting the recently announced 2 percent tax on electronic money transfers, following the dismissal of his initial challenge for lack of urgency.

Mr Mlilo, who is being represented by Mafume Law Chambers, also seeks nullification of Statutory Instrument 205-2018 which is the enabling law for the implementation of the new tax regime.

Last week, Mr Mlilo filed an urgent interdict to block the implementation of the new tax regime, but the High Court ruled it to be not urgent.

In a bid to resuscitate the challenge, Mr Mlilo on Monday filed a normal court application for a constitutional declaratory order to stop banks from charging 2 percent tax on every transaction above $10.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube was cited as the sole respondent in his official capacity.

Minister Ncube introduced the tax a fortnight ago in his Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) that came into effect last week.

In his application, Mlilo argued that the Government’s decision was made without the necessary backing of the law, citing in particular the amendment of the income tax or the regulation of the tax in a Statutory Instrument.

Mlilo further argued that on October 12, Minister Ncube enacted the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Monetary Transfer Tax) Regulations Statutory Instrument (SI205-2018) to legalise and actualise his announcement done on October 1, 2018.

He said the Statutory Instrument remained unconstitutional and a nullity, arguing the minister cannot amend an Act of Parliament in terms of the law.

To this end, Mr Mlilo wanted the higher court to put on hold the minister’s decision to review the intermediate tax from five cents per transaction to two cents per dollar.

The activists also wanted the immediate suspension of the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Money Transfer Tax) Regulations published in SI205 /2018.

President Mnangagwa recently put more weight on the intermediary money transfer tax of 2 cents saying it would remain in force.

The tax, he said, was critical in transforming the economy that has suffered from two decades of stagnation.

The President said the tax was not designed to hurt the ordinary people and companies, but to help the manufacturing sector to get funds for retooling and modernisation as the economy gears to ramp up production.

He hinted there was room for the tax to be refined going forward if suggestions were proffered, to create a win-win situation for individuals and companies.

Govt Punishes Local Industries For Sabotaging Economy

Jane Mlambo| Government’s move to lift the ban on importation of basic commodities was meant to punish local industries who were seen to be sabotaging the economy by unilaterally creating ‘artificial shortages’ and hiking prices, a source within government has said.

Following yesterday’s cabinet meeting, minister of information, publicity and broadcasting services, Monica Mutsvangwa said government had taken note of the hardships the general population was facing due to shortage of basic commodities and price hikes.

“We have therefore resolved to in the meantime open borders to allow people and companies with free money to import goods which were banned under SI 122,” she said.

According to a government source, the cabinet felt that local industries were sabotaging the economy hence the decision to open borders for imports which in most cases are cheaper than locally produced commodities.

“When government enacted SI 64 of 2016 followed by SI 122, the idea was to protect local industries from foreign products which in most cases are cheaper and better in terms of quality, then the government felt that the same industry they protected and helped capacitating is now working against them,” the source said.

The source added that local industries will now be forced to start producing again to save themselves from closing because by the beginning of next week, South African commodities will already be flooded in Zimbabwe as major retailers are already looking to restock their almost empty shelves.

Late Tongai Moyo Speaking To His Former Band Leader From His Grave?

After the death of sungura maestro Tongai Moyo on October 15, 2011, his son Peter Moyo, despite being a footballer took over the Utakataka Express Band which he has managed to keep afloat despite facing a lot of challenges.

When he took over, some of his late father’s band members like Shiga Shiga (chanter) and Spencer Khumulani (bass guitarist), abandoned the ship as they could not adjust to Peter’s management style. Even Tongai’s long-time manager and nephew, Knowledge Chosa, did not have any place in Peter’s relatively newly assembled line up. The ex-manager together with some of the seasoned artistes who had dumped Peter, joined forces and formed Express Zvakatsetseka with Chosa being the lead vocalist.

And now, Chosa claims he is in possession of the late sungura guru’s secrets saying he appears in his dreams where the two talk. He said those dreams cannot go to pass so he intends to reveal the secrets in an album — Pfimbi yaIgwee which he hopes to release soon. The album, his second offering, is set to be launched in Mbizo at The Club with the assistance of former Tongai’s sound engineer, Sukol Dube.

To make the album a masterpiece, Chosa has roped in Tongai’s instrumentalists Musaope Nikoma and Mhondoro.

“I thought of grouping those guys who were discarded by Peter and I came up with my own group Express Zvakatsetseka. I’m not competing with anyone, but simply relaying messages that I receive from Tongai.”

His first album, Tinosvika Chete, released in 2014, did not turn heads but the 40-year-old father of six reckons his latest offering will leave everyone convinced that indeed, Tongai’s music leaves on.

“The six-track album has songs that contain messages from Tongai. I shared a lot of secrets with Tongai whom I travelled a lot with as he was also my uncle.

“I also talk to him when he visits me during my dreams so I intend to share these secrets and messages through this offering,” said Chosa.

He said he initially wanted to release the album last week in honour of the late musician but failed to do so because of financial constraints. He said he would soon reveal a date for the release.

On his relationship with Peter, Chosa said the two were in good books and were actually planning to release a track together.

“I don’t have any problem with him. Every time he visits Zhombe to see Chihera, he comes to my farm and we have a great time. I’m also in good books with Ronnie Mudindo, Tongai’s former bassist,” said Chosa.

Besides music, Chosa runs a farm in Sessombe area in Zhombe.

State Media

Tshinga Dube Comes Face To Face With Reality

Former War Veterans minister and ex-Makokoba legislator Tshinga Dube recently came face to face with the desperation many Zimbabweans face after a pharmacy demanded that he pays for his medication in United States dollars.

Dube, who is also the Zanu PF deputy finance secretary, said the experience made him appreciate the challenges that many ordinary people have been going through.

“I personally went to a pharmacy to get some drugs, but failed to purchase any as they demanded foreign currency. I had ordered the drugs, but upon producing my bank card to make a payment, they flatly refused any electronic payment, insisting I settle my bill with the USD, which I didn’t have,” Dube said.

He was speaking to journalists on the side-lines of a health expo held at Jairos Jiri centre in Nguboyenja high-density suburb on Saturday.

“I then asked myself that if I can have this kind of a problem, what about the disadvantaged or those that are unemployed, who are desperate for life-saving drugs, but cannot access them because they do not have any US dollars?” he asked.

“The situation is very desperate and it is this status quo that pressurised me to have this health expo, realising that there are many amongst us who are sick, but cannot be treated because of lack of drugs and foreign currency.”

-Newsday

MDC And ZANU PF Supporters Accused Of Political Grandstanding At Inquiry Commission

Correspondent|Political analysts have decried the politicisation of the commission of inquiry into the August 1st post-election violence as MDC activists and Zanu PF supporters made up the majority of witnesses throughout the public hearings.

Last week’s public hearings saw MDC activists such as Lovemore Chinoputsa and Islam Madhosi clash with members of the commission whom they accused of being agents of the ruling Zanu PF.

In an interview on Monday, political analyst Alexander Rusero said the commission had become a missed opportunity, as its intended purpose had been forgotten.

“The purpose of the commission of inquiry is not to prosecute but to actually reach the bottom of the matter,” Rusero said.

“There is the involvement of an army that was deployed so it is very critical to know how it was decided to deploy it with firearms loaded with bullets. It is not criminal in any way to deploy the army but when you have an army deployed with firearms it becomes a contentious issue that needs to be unpacked.

“So the whole process of the inquiry is to cultivate or seek national healing and reconciliation but it has actually torn apart Zimbabwe,” he said.

Rusero said it seemed there was no middle ground in a “highly politically charged” society to the point where Zimbabweans no longer knew what they wanted.

“If the president had just kept quiet after six people had been shot, people were going to cry foul now that an inquiry has been put in place again people are crying foul so at the end of the day you really don’t know where this politicking and polarisation will lead,” he said.

Political analyst Valerie Jeche said she agreed with the opposition MDC regarding the lack of impartiality in the commission.

Jeche said although the MDC tended to seek attention she said their concerns about the commission were warranted.

“I think they are justified because the commission is more or less harassing the MDC witnesses while the same treatment is not being given to those in Zanu PF,” she said.

Jeche said she agreed with MDC national spokesperson Jacob Mafume who in a recent article called the inquiry a “sham.”

“It is a sham, what do they really want to inquire? It is quite obvious what happened, people were shot by soldiers so I do not understand what the point of the inquiry is.

“Although they claim it is an independent commission but we have a Zanu PF loyalist in that commission so it’s a sham they are just doing for the sake of doing it but we know the outcome.

“We know that what happened was soldiers were deployed to kill civilians, they are not investigating anything,” she said.

Jeche said although she could not predict the commission’s findings she was certain it would not result in any major upheavals within the current administration.

“It is quite difficult to predict what they are going to do, but at the same time there is no way they will say something that will be incriminating to the ruling party.”

“They will be silent on where the directive came from.”

The Commission of Inquiry was sworn in on the 19th of September and is comprised of three Zimbabweans and four foreign nationals namely Vimbai Nyemba, Charity Manyeruke, Lovemore Madhuku ,Rodney Dixon (United Kingdom) Emeka Anyaoku (Nigeria) General Davis Mwamunyange (Tanzania) and Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa) .

According to a presidential statement released at the end of August the commission is expected “to report to the President in writing, the result of the inquiry within a period of three months from the date of swearing-in of the commissioners.”

M&T

Mukupe Tells Suspended RBZ Official To Resign Or He Spills Beans On Him

Correspondent|Former finance deputy minister and Zanu PF legislator for Harare East Terence Mukupe has given the suspended Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) senior manager Norman Mataruka a 24 hour notice to resign or he spills the beans and provides corruption evidence against him.

Mukupe posted on his Facebook wall alerting the Zimbabwe anti-corruption chairperson Goodson Nguni that if Mataruka does not resign from RBZ within the next 24 hours then he will be ready to be a star witness and provide evidence of corruption by the RBZ official.

“ZACC Chairman Mr Nguni…. If this economic saboteur and thief does not resign from the RBZ within the next 24hrs I’m offering myself as a star witness with all the primary evidence you need,” Mukupe wrote.

The development comes on the backdrop of the suspensions of four senior executives following allegations of corruption and illegal foreign currency dealings by the RBZ.

Following a live Facebook video by Acie Lumumba which accused 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 of various crimes ranging from off-the-books bond notes circulation to corrupt allocation of foreign currency, the RBZ moved to suspend them.

RBZ governor, in a statement said: “The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe wishes to advise members of the public that following allegations of impropriety levelled against senior officials of the bank, namely Messrs Mirirai Chiremba, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa and Azvinandawa Saburi, by Mr Lumumba, the bank has found it necessary, for the sake of transparency and good corporate governance, that the allegations be followed through and investigated in line with the bank’s Employment Code of Conduct.”

M&T

Hardline ZANU PF Harare Vendors Dump Zvorwadza, “Muchinja Uyo”

Correspondent|Vendors from the Mupedzanhamo market in Mbare said they have no links with the Stendrick (Sten) Zvorwadza-led National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ).

The angry vendors described Zvorwadza as a greedy person who seeks to feed off vendors through some meaningless organisations.

Speaking to journalists representatives of Mupedzanhamo market said Zvorwadza is trying to creep his way into their marketing place after city vendors who were loyal to him were driven off the Harare central business district.

“Zvorwadza has been receiving commissions from the vendors who have been driven off the CBD by local authorities and now he is trying to lure us into his organisation which has never represented us. Vendors who operate here speak directly to the local authorities through councilors. We don’t know Zvorwadza and we don’t need him,” said Phillip Chikove who is the secretary of the Mupedzanhamo market center.

Zvorwadza was also branded as an egocentric someone who uses his political agenda to feed his family at the expense of the people he claim to represent.

“Sten is very greedy. He only seeks the happiness of his family at the expense of all of us. He is not one of us and he can never be. He uses his political agenda to try and disturb our peace. Muchinja uya,” one of the vendors said.

This comes after there were rumors that local authorities have given vendors a three day ultimatum to vacate Mupedzanhamo, something the vendors dismissed as rubbish.

“As you can see we are operating normally here with no single threat. All that is being said is rubbish. We were never told that. Such bogus messages are created by individuals who want to creep their way into our operating center,” Chikove said.

M&T

ZANU PF Youth Leader Calls On Mthuli To Grow Up

Own Correspondent|Newly appointed Zanu-PF Secretary for Youth, Lewis Matutu has advised Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube to be sober and mature in the way he handles his business. Matutu spoke out against Ncube after the minister allegedly criticised government programs such as Command Agriculture.

According to Matutu, Ncube through his (former) spokesperson Acie Lumumba, criticised the government while pretending to be exposing corruption at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). Matutu urged Ncube to use the proper channels to criticise government programs. Writing on social media, Matutu said,

Corruption should never be tolerated at all levels of government and society in general and it is every Zimbabwean’s responsibility to fight the cancer. However, the Finance minister Mthuli Ncube through his “spokesman” Acie Lumumba has decided to directly criticize government programs particularly command agriculture. under the guise of exposing corruption in RBZ, this is unacceptable.

We are very much aware that there are a lot of people who believed in the old dispensation but are still in government while others are not in government or outside the country influencing what is happening in government.

We call upon minister Mthuli Ncube to be sober and responsible in difficult economic circumstances like these, to be mature and to remain focused on the revival of the economy. I, therefore, call upon all young people particularly Zanu-PF youths, to use social media responsibly in defence of national interests and the leadership of the country, let’s resist the temptation to join gossip and unsubstantiated allegations that have a negative bearing on the economy and the country at large.

…Constructive criticism that is done through the proper channels will always be welcome and accepted but we will not allow a bogus “task force” to undermine a good government policy. Command agriculture brought back guaranteed food security in our country.

The Finance Minister seems to be ruffling feathers in the ruling party as a few days after announcing his fiscal policy Zanu-PF heavyweights Obert Mpofu and Simon Khaya Moyo said that Ncube had neglected to consult them and said he should realise that the party was supreme in all matters.

After Ncube’s purported appointment of Lumumba, Deputy Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi came out saying that Ncube was undermining his ministry by the appointment and claimed that Ncube had also neglected to consult the people at the Information Ministry. Mayor Justice Wadyajena, the Zanu-PF legislator for Gokwe-Nembudziya also called out Ncube for his seeming hypocrisy after he hired Lumumba and defied a government freeze on employment.

Lumumba has since been fired after the government said that Ncube had overlooked procedures for hiring him.

List Of Commodities That Can Now Be Imported Without Clearance

Correspondent|The government has suspended Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 until the economic situation in the country returns to normal. This means that citizens who have access to “free funds” will be able to import a wide range of products into the country without restriction.

The government made the decision to lift the restrictions on the importation of basic commodities after noting the price increases and persistent shortages of basic goods, particularly cooking oil and sugar. The decision was announced at a post-cabinet briefing which was attended by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Attorney General Prince Machaya, Acting Minister of Industry Sekai Nzenza and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda.

Ncube made it clear that while people will no longer need licences to import the basics they will still need to pay duty to Zimra. However, Ncube stressed that this was a temporary measure. Speaking at the briefing, Mutsvangwa said

We continue to support local manufacturing industries. We will continue to do allocations for forex for the said companies. But we cannot allow a situation where people cant get basic commodities. Hence the decision to suspend the SIs.
Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 repealed Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 which required people to get licences to import most goods. The goods which people will be able to import without requiring licences are:

Animal oils, fats (lard, tallow and dripping)
Baked beans
Body creams
Bottled Water
Cement
Cereals
Cheese
Coffee creamers
Cooking oil
Crude soya bean oil
Fertiliser
Finished Steel Roofing Sheets
Wheat flour
Ice-cream
Jams
Juice Blends
Margarine
Mayonnaise
Packaging material
Peanut Butter
Pizza base
Potato Crisps
Salad Creams
Shoe Polish
Soap
Sugar
Synthetic Hair Products
Wheel Barrows and wheelbarrow parts
Yoghurts
Agrochemicals
Stockfeeds

Ruvheneko Was Lumumba’s Deputy In Mthuli’s Task Force, Will She Take Over?

Correspondent|Media personality Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa was also part of the new Finance Ministry communications taskforce as deputy to chairperson Acie Lumumba who was booted out after top ZANU-PF hardliners applied pressure on Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

“Ruvhi (Ruvheneko) was the proposed deputy chair to Lumumba. You also had Lumumba’s ex-girlfriend Monalisa Dube who was coming in as a brand and communications strategist and Kudakwashe Musasiwa for branding,” a source close to the matter said.

The taskforce, which was setup ostensibly to shield Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube from a barrage of media attacks, has hit early turbulence after its chairman Acie Lumumba was dismissed on Tuesday.

“Mthuli wants to see action on social media and had given the taskforce authority to focus the public attention on reforms and corruption. The problem is Lumumba did his own thing; instead of strategically leaking information to the press he just blew up the whole thing and exposed Mthuli’s hand.”

Mthuli’s Zanu PF critics accuse him of hiring Lumumba as a mad dog to attack political opponents.

“Mthuli is already playing politics; it is obvious he staged this whole thing with Lumumba to target Sakunda. In the process, he has violated the Official Secrets Act by sharing intelligence with Lumumba,” one said.

It is unclear if the taskforce will continue under Parirenyatwa’s leadership.

She was pushed out of Capitalk radio after falling out with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s office for inviting NPF spokesman Jealousy Mawarire to the state-owned station. Mawaririre went on to assail Chiwenga on air.

The taskforce is believed to have been formed with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s blessings.

USA Backs Mthuli Ncube’s Economic Policies

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The top US diplomat for Africa on Tuesday voiced optimism over economic reforms by the new government in Zimbabwe, which remains under sanctions dating from Robert Mugabe’s 37-year reign.

Tibor Nagy, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, said that Zimbabwe’s level of education and infrastructure meant it stood to enjoy “dramatic economic progress” if the right policies were put in place.

“We are very much encouraged by some of the things they say; we are now looking for some concrete examples of moving forward,” Nagy said of the Zimbabwean leadership.

“I can tell you that Zimbabwe is another country that the American business community could be very excited by based on concrete achievements,” he told a press conference by telephone with African journalists.

He stopped short of saying whether the United States would lift sanctions, which target government officials and state-run businesses but do not include a blanket ban on US investment.

President Donald Trump in August renewed sanctions, saying more progress was needed, even after Zimbabwe on July 30 held its first elections since Mugabe stepped down last year.

The newly elected president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has vowed economic reforms and sought to woo foreign investors back to Zimbabwe, which under Mugabe saw hyperinflation so extreme that the country printed a 100-trillion-dollar note.

Nagy, a veteran US diplomat in Africa, was confirmed by the Senate in July after Trump nominated him for the post, which had been vacant for more than a year.

Nagy will head to the continent next week on a trip that will include a speech on US-Africa relations in Nigeria.

He will also visit Guinea, Mali and Togo as well as Britain and France, where he will meet his counterparts on Africa policy.

France24

Doctors Demand To Be Paid In $US

Doctors are demanding to be paid their salaries in United States dollars to cushion themselves from rampaging inflation.

At the same time, the doctors have implored government to declare the situation in the health sector a state of emergency to enable it to seek aid from international partners.

In a letter to Health Services Board (HSB) chairperson Paulinus Sikhosana, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) said it has noted with concern that after the announcement of the fiscal and monetary policies early this month, prices of basic commodities have increased remarkably, resulting in shortages of mostly basic commodities.

“Also, the sellers prefer foreign currency and some are not accepting Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) currency.

“In addition to that, the Collective Bargaining Agreement of March 2018 states that our salaries are paid in US dollars.

“As of this month, our members were paid in RTGS and cannot access basic goods and commodities, let alone travel to work,” ZHDA said, adding:

“We implore the government to pay salaries in US dollars as previously agreed.

“Furthermore, we request non-monetary incentives such as fuel to be available to our members and the civil service at government-prescribed rates. Most hospitals have fuel tanks.”

The letter was copied to the minister of Health and Child Care Obadiah Moyo and the Finance minister Mthuli Ncube.

This comes as prices of basic commodities continue to spiral out of control owing to an economic meltdown triggered by Ncube’s introduction of an unpopular tax regime.

Several retail outlets, including those owned by Cabinet ministers, have pegged prices in US dollars to preserve value.

ZHDA said government had assured its members in several communications since February this year that US$22 million had been allocated to procure drugs and equipment, and that in July supplies would improve.

Contrary to this pledge, patients are being made to buy medication from private pharmacies, which also have run out of stock and/or are demanding US dollars.

ZHDA said it was now common knowledge that hospitals were understaffed.

“This grievance was raised in February this year, and the establishment was said to being reviewed but to no avail. We implore the government to unfreeze critical posts and increase the current establishment and staffing levels. If the personnel are not available, an overtime or locum allowance should be payable to those doing more work than they are warranted to do,” it said.

ZHDA also expressed concern that in some central hospitals, junior doctors are no longer working under supervision.

While it could be understandable that this could be a result of short-staffing, ZHDA said it is the association’s duty to protect patients at all costs and ensure quality of care.

DailyNews

GINIMBI SUFFERS LOSS: One Man Drinks Down $87,000 Of Kadungure’s Beer – Court

By A Correspondent| Court papers say that controversial businessman, Genius Kadungura has lost over $87,000 to a man who drank down beer worth the massive lumpsum.

The suspect, Mr Thulani Roy Dhlamini (23), has for over a week to date been struggling to obtain bail.

Dhlamini (pictured) was Ginimbi’s customer. He is alleged to have stolen alcohol worth $87 000 from the pleasure obsessed businessman.

Dhlamini last week appeared before Harare magistrate, Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing theft charges.

It is the state’s case that Dhlamini stole from Ginimbi’s upmarket Sankayi Club sometime last month and he drank several expensive bottles of beer and wine whose amount reaches $87,000.

He allegedly did this using fake payment slips.

ZimEye reveals some of the evidence currently under court probe(below). [THIS IS A DEVRLOPING STORY]

Dhlamini in court

Latest – Chikafu Shortage Horrors And ED Takes His Scarf To Zambia

Mnangagwa in Zambia
At a time when the nation is struggling under food shortages, Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken his scarf to Zambia.

Mnangagwa arrived in Zambia yesterday for a series of engagements which include the 54th independence anniversary of Zambia and a host of bilateral economic cooperation discussions, the state media reports.

The report continues stating: Zambia attained its independence from Britain on October 24, 1964 and in turn offered support to Zimbabwe’s quest for freedom.

The two countries enjoy close ties and are implementing several joint projects together.
President Mnangagwa is accompanied by Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu and Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, who is also the Presidential Press Secretary Mr George Charamba.

Mnangagwa was welcomed at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport by his Zambian counterpart Edgar Lungu, Ministers Joram Gumbo (Energy and Power Development Minister), Joel Biggie Matiza (Transport and Infrastructural Development), Sithembiso Nyoni (Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development) and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Zambia Gertrude Takawira.

The Ministers travelled ahead of the President to attend the 17th session of the Joint Permanent Commission of the two countries.

Mnangagwa inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Zambian military on arrival.

He was honoured with a 21-gun salute conferred to a visiting Head of State and Government.

Before leaving Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Mnangagwa mingled with Zimbabweans resident in Zambia who jostled to have a handshake with him.

Mnangagwa later paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s founding President Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

He spent over 40 minutes at Dr Kaunda’s residence, which is in the New Kasama area, recounting his liberation war days.

Mnangagwa was expected to attend the hoisting of the Flag ceremony by President Lungu, which is part of the independence celebrations.

The flag hoisting ceremony is done on the eve of independence anniversary and is symbolic of what Zambia experienced when they attained independence in 1964.

Today Mnangagwa will lay wreaths at the Freedom Statue before departing for State House for the main independence reception.

In an interview, his spokesman, George Charamba said the two countries were like Siamese twins.

“We have several joint projects along the Zambezi River but also projects which date back to history during the time of the Federation. In the present and in the future, there are quite a number of projects that we plan to do jointly. Most notably, the Batoka Gorge Power project of which a joint tender was issued and a decision taken. It will produce 2 400 megawatts that will be divided between the two countries,” said Mr Charamba.

“But presently we import things from each other. In the case of Zimbabwe, we were used to getting grain from them but not anymore because we are now self-sufficient. But we continue to meet our power deficits from neighbouring countries including Zambia.

“These are Siamese countries not just geographically but also in terms of the history of the liberation struggle as well as in terms of the current relations.”

Mr Charamba said the Joint Commission was being convened at very short notice to show that there was that appetite to deepen collaboration on both sides.

CHIWENGA’S HEALTH: Stop Spreading Fake News, Says Sekeramayi

Sydney Sekeramayi
Marondera-Hwedza senator Dr Sydney Sekeramayi has urged the nation to stop spreading and listening to fake news.

He made the call on Sunday in his closing remarks after a solidarity prayer meeting at Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s Hwedza homestead.

Dr Sekeramayi’s call came in the wake of fake stories which were circulating on various media platforms concerning the VP’s health, with most of the stories being spread by fake prophets.

“When we came here, some were even whispering, speculating, people were so keen to see you Vice President. There was a lot of speculation,” Dr Sekeramayi said.

“But when they saw you coming out of your house to attend the church service, the speculation died, people were happy to see you,” he said.

Dr Sekeramayi said the public appearance by VP Chiwenga, who was in a jovial mood as always, will put to rest lies perpetuated by gossipers.

“Now that you stood before us and addressed us today, Zimbabwe now knows the truth, and Zimbabwe now also knows the lies.

“To my fellow comrades, let us be commissars who will tell others the truth about our Vice President, we saw him, we heard him, we listened to him when he was teaching us the history of Hwedza. Anyone who wants to know about the history of Hwedza can easily get it from our Vice President.”

Dr Sekeramayi reiterated Vice President Chiwenga’s call for love and unity among Zimbabweans.

He said Zimbabweans should remain united and build a nation that would be a beautiful legacy for the future generation.

“The Vice President also talked about unity, yes we must be united and everyone should contribute in building the Zimbabwe that we want, a Zimbabwe we will all love and a beautiful legacy for our children,” he said.

Among the high-ranking officials who attended the church service were Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Matiza, Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Apolonia Munzverengi, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Mr George Charamba, Politburo members who included Dr David Parirenyatwa among others.-state media

He Must Stop Paying Me Maintenance

A man from Bulawayo yesterday appealed to a court to stop her boyfriend from paying maintenance, saying they had reconciled.

Ms Gamuchirai Runyowa had applied for maintenance for her minor child in 2017 and was receiving $50 from her then ex-boyfriend Prince Nkomo.

“I applied for maintenance when we were not on good terms with Nkomo. We were constantly fighting and he never supported the child,” said Ms Runyowa.

A court heard that the two have since resolved their issues and they are now back together.
“We have settled our differences and we moved in together and Nkomo is taking great care of me and our child.

“I hereby ask the court to relieve him from paying the money that he had been paying,” said Ms Runyowa with a smile.

Nkomo agreed with what Ms Runyowa was saying and promised to be a good father to his child. “I want to be a good father to my child and I promise to take good care of him and my girlfriend,” said Nkomo.

The magistrate Ms Ulukile Mlea relieved Nkomo from paying the money that he had been paying and wished the two a peaceful life.

“I have discharged you from paying maintenance and l hope you will do as you promised.
“I wish that you both have a peaceful life together,” said Ms Mlea.- state media

I Will Spill Out Dhewa’s Secrets, Manager Threatens

After the death of sungura maestro Tongai Moyo on October 15, 2011, his son Peter Moyo, despite being a footballer took over the Utakataka Express Band which he has managed to keep afloat despite facing a lot of challenges.

When he took over, some of his late father’s band members like Shiga Shiga (chanter) and Spencer Khumulani (bass guitarist), abandoned the ship as they could not adjust to Peter’s management style. Even Tongai’s long-time manager and nephew, Knowledge Chosa, did not have any place in Peter’s relatively newly assembled line up. The ex-manager together with some of the seasoned artistes who had dumped Peter, joined forces and formed Express Zvakatsetseka with Chosa being the lead vocalist.

And now, Chosa claims he is in possession of the late sungura guru’s secrets saying he appears in his dreams where the two talk. He said those dreams cannot go to pass so he intends to reveal the secrets in an album — Pfimbi yaIgwee which he hopes to release soon. The album, his second offering, is set to be launched in Mbizo at The Club with the assistance of former Tongai’s sound engineer, Sukol Dube.

To make the album a masterpiece, Chosa has roped in Tongai’s instrumentalists Musaope Nikoma and Mhondoro.

“I thought of grouping those guys who were discarded by Peter and I came up with my own group Express Zvakatsetseka. I’m not competing with anyone, but simply relaying messages that I receive from Tongai.”

His first album, Tinosvika Chete, released in 2014, did not turn heads but the 40-year-old father of six reckons his latest offering will leave everyone convinced that indeed, Tongai’s music leaves on.

“The six-track album has songs that contain messages from Tongai. I shared a lot of secrets with Tongai whom I travelled a lot with as he was also my uncle.

“I also talk to him when he visits me during my dreams so I intend to share these secrets and messages through this offering,” said Chosa.

He said he initially wanted to release the album last week in honour of the late musician but failed to do so because of financial constraints. He said he would soon reveal a date for the release.
On his relationship with Peter, Chosa said the two were in good books and were actually planning to release a track together.

“I don’t have any problem with him. Every time he visits Zhombe to see Chihera, he comes to my farm and we have a great time. I’m also in good books with Ronnie Mudindo, Tongai’s former bassist,” said Chosa.

Besides music, Chosa runs a farm in Sessombe area in Zhombe.- state media

Simba Chikore In Court

Simba Chikore walks into court flanked by his lawyer Jonathan Samkange
Former President Robert Mugabe’s son-in-law Simba Chikore who is accused of unlawfully detaining a former Zimbabwe Airways employee Bertha Zakeyo during a dispute, appeared in court yesterday.

Chikore had surrendered himself to police in the company of his lawyer following the recent arrest of his alleged accomplice, Simbarashe Mutimbe.

He was accompanied to court by his wife Ms Bona Mugabe.
Chikore appeared before magistrate Mr Elisha Singano who granted him $30 bail with the State’s consent.

As part of his bail conditions, Chikore was ordered not to interfere with the witness, Ms Bertha Zakeyo, and to reside at his Mt Pleasant house until the matter is finalised.
His alleged accomplice Mutimbe was released on the same conditions.

Chikore was remanded to November 7 and his lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange notified the State of his intention to apply for refusal of further remand on that day.

Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that Chikore, who was then ZimAirways boss, connived with Mutimbe, also employed by ZimAirways and unlawfully detained Zakeyo for hours thereby depriving her of her freedom.

It is alleged the pair barred her from leaving Zimbabwe Airways offices.
The reasons for the detention are not mentioned.

Meanwhile, former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe’s sister, Junior Shuvai Gumbochuma, who is facing three counts of fraud after she allegedly misrepresented to the Government her capacity to subdivide land into smaller residential stands but later sold the undeveloped land at a huge profit, was yesterday further remanded to November 22.

Gumbochuma, who is on $500 bail, appeared before magistrate Mrs Ruramai Chitumbura for her routine remand.

She is being represented by Professor Lovemore Madhuku.
It is the State’s case that sometime in August 2014, stands number 139 and 140 Gillingham Estate in Dzivaresekwa were available for sale to deserving and capable developers who could subdivide them into high-density residential stands.

Gumbochuma misrepresented to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing that she had the capacity to develop the land.

On March 27, 2015, she was offered the land and was asked to pay $424 426 to the ministry.
Gumbochuma, the State alleges, who had neither the capacity to pay the intrinsic land value nor to develop it, then formed and registered a company called Scanlen (Pvt) Ltd as a vehicle to effect her fraudulent transaction.

Between August and October 2017, Gumbochuma reportedly sold the land to N-Frasys for $2 060 000 without paying for it.

N-Frasys then paid the intrinsic land value to the ministry and paid the balance to Gumbochuma, the court heard. She made a profit of $1 636 574 without adding any value to the land.- state media

Pupil Killed In Kombi Accident

warning disturbing video picture image

A pupil died while 15 others, including two adults, were injured when a kombi they were travelling in broke a ball joint, overturned and rolled thrice in Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park suburb yesterday.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the accident which happened at about 6.45AM near Mahlathini turn-off.

She identified the deceased as Bradley Chris Phiri (19), an ‘A’ Level pupil at Elite College in the city centre.

“The driver of a Toyota Hiace kombi was driving from Cowdray Park to town with 16 passengers on board. When he reached Mahlathini turnoff, the vehicle broke the front left ball joint which caused the kombi to swerve off the road. It rolled three times, killing one passenger and 15 passengers were injured and referred to Mpilo Central Hospital. Twelve passengers were treated and discharged and three are still admitted but stable,” Chief Insp Simango said.

When The Chronicle arrived at the scene, the lifeless body of the high school pupil lay next to the kombi covered with a blanket. The injured had already been ferried to hospital.
The Chronicle spoke to the driver of the kombi, Mr Nkosilathi Moyo, who appeared to be in shock, in the aftermath of the accident.

He said he was a driver at Bravo Bus Company and had picked some passengers on his way to the city centre to cushion his fuel needs.

Mr Moyo said his kombi is a registered public service vehicle and he holds a valid driver’s licence.
“I was driving to town when I picked some passengers. I heard a loud bang emanating from the front tyre at the passenger’s side. A ball joint had broken. I lost control of the vehicle. There was oncoming traffic. I tried to swerve to the left but the vehicle was uncontrollable and I ended up facing the direction I was coming from,” he said.

Mr Moyo said there was a lot of commotion in the vehicle following the loud bang caused by the breaking of the ball joint.

“This car is a high roof vehicle. After the bang, people panicked and stood up and went to one side of the vehicle so I guess the weight was concentrated on one side. I don’t remember well what happened next but that people were injured and we had lost one of the passengers,” he said.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Richard Peterson said they attended the scene and ferried the injured to hospital.

“A road traffic accident occurred this morning in Cowdray Park involving a commuter omnibus carrying school children. One pupil died on the spot and the rest were transferred to Mpilo Central Hospital. Crews are still at the site dealing with the incident,” he said.- state media

Man Kills Own Mother After Accusing Her Of Being A Witch

A MAN from Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo allegedly strangled his mother to death after accusing her of bewitching him before locking the body in her house.

Keith Muponda (25), who is suspected to be on drugs, allegedly strangled Molly Muponda (52) using her doek at their home at Mhlophe Flats. He left the body locked in a room before going to his aunt’s home at Nguboyenja suburb where he told her that his mother wanted to see her urgently.
The incident occurred on Monday between 4PM and 5PM.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said Keith had been arrested on a murder charge.

“We’ve arrested a man from Mzilikazi suburb who is suspected to have killed his mother claiming that she was responsible for his misfortunes. The suspect claimed that his mother was bewitching him. He will appear in court soon,” she said.

Keith’s family is still at a loss as to what could have prompted him to allegedly commit the offence. His aunt, Ms Netsai Muponda, said her nephew arrived at her house in Nguboyenja’s Sotshangane Flats and informed her that his mother wanted to urgently see her.

“He was out of breath when he arrived at my house and he was visibly in an unstable state of mind. He just threw the keys to me saying I should go and see his mother at home. I tried to ask him why he had the house keys with him but he just left without saying a word,” said Ms Muponda.

She said when she went to the suspect’s home, she found her sister-in-law lying dead.
“When I opened the door, kitchen utensils were strewn all over the place and the entire house was a mess. I spotted the deceased’s body lying on a couch and I screamed because of shock. There was a doek on the side of the sofa and I suspect that he used it to strangle her,” Ms Muponda said.

“My screams seem to have attracted a neighbour who swiftly came”.
Ms Muponda said Keith was later arrested and when family members quizzed him about the murder, he said he didn’t know what got into his head.

She said Keith seemed troubled since his return from South Africa in August.
“There is a strong suspicion that my nephew could be in the habit of abusing drugs,” said Ms Muponda.

She said he always claimed that there were people and cars that were following him and the family had taken a decision that he should be taken to Ingutsheni Central Hospital for mental examination.

“We’re really shocked at what he did because he was his mother’s last born and her favourite child. We didn’t expect this from him and I suspect he abused drugs in South Africa which could have affected his faculties,” said Ms Muponda.- state media

Mthuli Ncube Officially Fires Lumumba

 

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has officially terminated Acie Lumumba’s appointment as Chairman of the Ministry Finance and Economic Development Communications
Taskforce.

In a letter to Lumumba, Ncube said the contract was terminated after new information came to light over the appropriateness of the appointment.
Ncube’s letter to Lumumba reads:
“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.Should you need any points of clarity please do not hesitate to contact the Permanent Secretary Mr George Guvamatanga.
Wishing you well in your future
endeavours.”

The Finance Minister seems to be ruffling feathers in the ruling party as a few days after announcing his fiscal policy Zanu-PF heavyweights Obert Mpofu and Simon Khaya Moyo said that Ncube did not consult them and said he should realise that the party was supreme in all matters. After Ncube’s purported appointment of Lumumba, Deputy Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi came out saying that Ncube was undermining his ministry by the
appointment and claimed that Ncube had also neglected to consult the people at the Information Ministry.

Mayor Justice Wadyajena, the Zanu-PF legislator for Gokwe-Nembudziya also called out Ncube for his seeming hypocrisy after he hired Lumumba and defied a government freeze

Acie Lumumba

on employment.

Minister Chitando Appoints New Mines Board

The Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando has appointed a new Minerals and Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) board.

In a statement to the ZBC News on Tuesday, Chitando said the new board is being mandated towards transforming the mining sector and unlock value in terms of mineral export receipts.

Mr David Murangari is the chairman of the new board while other members include Dr Isaac Kwesu (pictured), Mr Ignatius Tichivangana, Dr Merch Manyuchi, Ms Esther Maravanyika and Mr Jemister Chiminga.

The new board is also expected to facilitate growth in exports and contribution to economic development.

Zbc News online

ZANU PF Concedes To Being Out Of Sorts Allows Citizens To Import Water

Paul Nyathi|The ruling ZANU PF has all but conceded to failing to provide for the nation by opening up for the importation of all basic commodities including water after banning the same in 2016.

The government uplifted the controversial Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 which banned the importation of a host of products in a bid to promote local industry.

In the wake of the on-going shortages of basic commodities the government has given in to pressure for the removal of the restrictive instrument.

Below is the government publication with a list of all the goods now allowed to be imported including water.

LIVE: Chiwenga Brother The Apostle Speaks About Gen Guvheya’s Attack

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

In that video VP Chiwenga said there is this one called Talent Muzuva, HE IS A FALSE PROPHET HE SPEAKS BAD THINGS ABOUT VAKURU, THE ELDERS, HE should stop forthwith…

My aunt said just keep quiet about it, maybe I am going to talk about your uncle..what then prompted me to record this video is that I then saw a tweet, I want to read that message which was sent yesterday. A certain person has sent me a message and this message was extracted on twiitter…and he sent a message yesterday….that message the VP said, there is this one called Talent, and I saw let is end today.

Now this message was sent on twitter by the VP of Zimbabwe. When I received this message today…I then spoke to my aunt about it…

Wadjajena Heavily Blasts Mthuli Ncube, How Much Longer Will Mthuli Hang On?

Correspondent|Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Chairman on Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Justice Wadyajena has come out guns blazing castigating the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof Mthuli Ncube for appointing Acie Lumumba as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Communications Task force chair without following the procedure.

Responding to the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services’s announcement that Professor Ncube’s appointment of the Communications Taskforce had not followed due process as dictated in the procurement policy.

“Please stop taking us for a ride, we ain’t fools. Minister, Prof @MthuliNcube appointed @acielumumba without following correct procedure & must be liable. It’s not Acie’s fault that he was appointed, but the appointing authority’s. @MthuliNcube, have you been corrupted by fuel or cash?” He said.

Chamisa Calls For Setting Up Of A National Transitional Authority To Revive The Country

Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has called on Zimbabweans to unite and set up a National Transitional Authority which will strive to revive the country’s economic challenges.

Addressing a press conference on what the opposition party called the State off the Nation Address, Chamisa backtracked from his previous demands where he wanted keys to State House following the 2018 elections which he insists President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANU PF rigged.

Chamisa said he was inundated with calls daily from Zimbabweans wanting him to provide solutions and leadership to the country.

“I fully understand the pain of Zimbabweans, I associate with it everyday,” Chamisa said. “People are calling me wanting solutions, they want solutions from the person they voted for. I spoke about spaghetti roads, Mnangagwa has given us spaghetti queues.”

Chamisa said that his party is not calling for a government of national unity like the one that was entered into by former President Robert Mugabe and the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai and administered government between 2009 and 2013.

“The MDC wants a National Transitional Authority. This will be a creature of national discourse, we can’t map its contours and parameters now. We do not want repeat of the 2009 GNU, and our driving agenda is not about positions of power.”

Chamisa said no investor will come into a country where they are told country is open for business, when in fact “it is open for craziness.”

“To resolve the national crisis we have proposed a five point plan through a National Transitional Authority (NTA), constituting concrete steps to recover the people’s victory, your victory. We are clear about the path and formula this country should take to extricate itself from the current hardships imposed by this heartless illegitimate government.

The path to a Great Zimbabwe has the following sign posts. A 5 point plan which entails the following;
i. Immediately resolving and returning to legitimacy and the will of the people
ii. Undertaking comprehensive economic, political and electoral reforms
iii. Prioritising nation building and peace building
iv. End international isolation through collective engagement on the back of reforms
v. Resolving the emergency economic and humanitarian situation”

We Will Not Buy Goods From Shops Owned By Zanu PF Bigwigs- Teachers

NATIONAL, BUSINESS, BREAKING

 

Unions representing teachers have threatened to boycott all businesses that are owned by Zanu-PF politicians.

The teachers unions accuse Zanu PF honchos of causing the suffering of people.

Speaking to the Daily News, Progressive Teachers Union of
Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said: “They are the authors of the problems we are facing because we know for certain that they are behind the illegal cash dealings in the country and by buying from their businesses we are perpetuating our suffering so it is time we consider boycotting those that we can easily identify…We continue to be given bond notes when their businesses are charging US dollars.

We are consulting our membership to see how best we can take that action.”

Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (Zimta) president Sifiso Ndlovu said:” At the moment, we do not know who among the ruling officials owns what; so we want to establish that first because it could turn out that Zanu PF politicians are behind all this NATIONAL NEWSand we must take them head-on.”-Daily News

Government Suspends Restrictions On Importing Of Goods

 

The government has suspended Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 until the economic situation in the country returns to normal. This
means that citizens who have access to “free funds” will be able to import a wide range of products into the country without restriction. The
government made the decision to lift the restrictions on the importation of basic commodities after noting the price increases and persistent shortages of basic goods, particularly cooking oil and sugar. The decision was announced at a post-cabinet briefing which was
attended by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, Attorney General Prince Machaya, Acting Minister
of Industry Sekai Nzenza and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda.
Ncube made it clear that while people will no longer need licences to import the basics they will still need to pay duty to Zimra. However,
Ncube stressed that this was a temporary measure. Speaking at the briefing, Mutsvangwa
said:”We continue to support local
manufacturing industries. We will
continue to do allocations for forex for the said companies. But we cannot allow a situation where people cannot get basic commodities. Hence the decision
to suspend the SIs.Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 repealed
Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 which required people to get licences to import most goods. The goods which people will be able to import without requiring licences are:
1. Animal oils, fats (lard, tallow and dripping)
2. Baked beans
3. Body creams
4. Bottled Water
5. Cement
6. Cereals
7. Cheese
8. Coffee creamers
9. Cooking oil
10. Crude soya bean oil
11. Fertiliser
12. Finished Steel Roofing Sheets
13. Wheat flour
14. Ice-cream
15. Jams
16. Juice Blends
17. Margarine
18. Mayonnaise
19. Packaging material
20. Peanut Butter
21. Pizza base
22. Potato Crisps
23. Salad Creams
24. Shoe Polish
25. Soap
26. Sugar
27. Synthetic Hair Products
28. Wheel Barrows and wheelbarrow parts
29. Yoghurts
30. Agrochemicals
31. Stockfeeds

Dembare Wary Of Underdogs Herentals

Terrence Mawawa|Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe admits that Wednesday’s clash against Herentals is going to be even tougher following the controversial win over Black Rhinos at the weekend.

Dembare grabbed a last minute controversial goal from captain Marshall Machazane to beat the stubborn Army side.

“Herentals are a tough side because they are also not entirely safe. We are preparing well for this match. We are playing to win but after a victory in this match, there will be no pressure and Dynamos will change to play beautiful soccer,” said Chigowe.

The two teams recently clashed in the Chibuku Supa Cup with Dynamos triumphing on penalties after the match had ended 1-1 at fulltime.

Pasuwa Off To Winning Start In Malawi

 

Terrence Mawawa| Former Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa got off to a winning start at his new team Nyasa Big Bullets- which plays in the Malawian top flight.

The 48-year-old mentor took charge of his first match on Sunday, guiding his charges to a comfortable 2-0 win over Dwangwa United at Kamuzu Stadium. Bullets remain on top with 55 points.

Pasuwa signed a two-and-a-half month deal last week and is tasked to turn around the fortunes of the club and win the title.

He had spent almost two years on hiatus after leaving the national team coaching post in February last year.

Minister To Rename Shopping Mall After Mnangagwa

 

Terrence Mawawa| A Cabinet Minister has taken bootlicking to unprecedented levels as he seeks to please his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Deputy Minister of Industry Raj Modi stunned all and sundry when he announced that Cowdry Park Shopping Mall in Bulawayo would be renamed after his boss Mnangagwa

Modi’s $12 million shopping mall is scheduled for completion next year
will be renamed Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Shopping Mall.

Security Officers Murders Killed In Shoot Out With Police

Police in South Africa have confirmed that two men who were captured on video brutally killing two security guards, one of them a Zimbabwean, in Soweto have been killed during a shootout in KwaZulu-Natal.

Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the pair were shot dead in a shack in Clermont‚ west of Durban‚ on Monday.

“When police tried to arrest the two suspects‚ Lindokuhle Cebekhulu‚ 24‚ and Mbuyiselo Mthonti‚ 26‚ they resisted‚ which resulted in both suspects being shot dead. There are no reports of any police officers being injured at this stage‚” said Naidoo.

Cebekhulu and Mthonti had attacked the two security guards from 24/7 Security Services near Maponya Mall in Soweto. Footage of the gruesome killing was shared widely on social media. The security guards were named as Eric Ngobese and Boykie Moyo.

Footage of the attack was captured by a high-definition camera fitted inside the vehicle. The vehicle is also fitted with a camera on the outside.

The 30-second video showed the moment Ngobese and Moyo were shot dead in broad daylight at what appeared to be close range. They were clad in their uniforms and bulletproof vests. One of the guards was sitting with an occurrence book‚ used to record incidents‚ on his lap.

Moments later‚ two armed men opened fire through the window on the driver’s side‚ seemingly killing him instantly. Shots ring out on the other side of the vehicle and those hit the passenger in the head.

The two gunmen are then seen opening the doors of the vehicle as they search the bodies and vehicle. They then take a firearm from one of the guards while the other lifeless guard is yanked out of the vehicle‚ pulled by his bulletproof vest‚ and thrown to the ground.

The gunmen appeared oblivious to the dash cam‚ which captured their faces and distinctive tattoos.

On Tuesday‚ pictures believed to be of a deceased Cebekhulu and Mthonti were doing the rounds on social media. While their faces were not visible in the images‚ tattoos could be clearly seen on the bloodied bodies.

Geoff Schapiro‚ their employer at 24/7 Security Services‚ told SowetanLIVE earlier that the guards were killed by “heartless criminals with no regard for human life”.

Sowetan

Government Cannot Afford To Pay Me- Lumumba

 

Terrence Mawawa|Controversial political figure William Mutumanje also known as Acie Lumumba has sensationally claimed the government cannot afford to pay him.

Mutumanje is currently in the vortex of a storm following what is perceived as his appointment to the Finance Ministry’ s communication board.

Earlier today state media reports claimed Lumumba had been fired from the same Ministry.

“I run the largest communication strategy company in Zimbabwe, I am not employed by the Ministry of
Finance because they can’t afford to pay me. I am merely serving my country,” claimed Lumumba.

$32 000 Meant For Oppah Muchinguri Celebrations Vanishes In ZANU PF Systems

Minister of Defence and War Veterans Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has alleged that senior Zanu-PF officials in Manicaland misappropriated money which had been donated to the party to celebrate Muchinguri-Kashiri’s appointment to the party’s presidium.

Addressing the celebrations on Saturday, Muchinguri-Kashiri said: “We wanted to celebrate with our President (Emmerson Mnangagwa), but I was told that some money was stolen that was meant for my celebrations.

“But I am happy that people here in Mutasa Central you have shown your support by financing this event despite the fact that some funds that were meant for the celebrations went missing.”

Zanu-PF Manicaland political commissar Gift Kagweda confirmed that $32 000 had been misappropriated.

NewsDay

Is Chiwenga Not Playing With Fire By Openly Attacking Clergyman?

 

Terrence Mawawa|Zanu PF vice president Constantino Chiwenga openly attacked popular Harare preacher Apostle Talent Chiwenga during a church event and analysts have warned the former is literally playing with fire.

Chiwenga made the remarks at a thanksgiving mass at his homestead in Chigondo area in Wedza.Speaking at the event, Chiwenga said people should not use the name of God to insult others.

“There are some who are calling
themselves prophets. There is
one called Talent Muzuva. Let it end
today. It has ended here today. We
don’t have a culture where someone
moves around insulting seniors under the guise of worshipping God. God does not send you to insult others,” Chiwenga said.

Apostle Talent Chiwenga rose to prominence after a series of pre-elections predictions in which he predicted

elections would be rigged.

Mnangagwa’s Illegitimate Government Will Never Deliver Change- Biti

 

Terrence Mawawa|MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Tendai Biti has insisted that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “illegitimate” government does not have the capacity to transform the country’ s economy.

“There is a connection between State
Legitimacy and State effectiveness ,State delivery, economic growth and poverty reduction.

Without legitimacy, that is to say the consent of the governed , no State can deliver. This regime is

Tendai Biti

not legitimate. It will not deliver…” tweeted Biti.

Nelson Chamisa’s Full State Of The Nation Address In The Wake Of Economic Collapse

MDC PRESIDENT NELSON CHAMISA STATEMENT ON THE PREVAILING ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND HUMANITARIAN SITUATION
Tuesday 23 October 2018
Morgan Tsvangirai House

Fellow Zimbabweans!

1.1 I have taken time to assess the environment in the country to have a first-hand account of the economic, political and humanitarian situation. Indeed, this beautiful country has been sent into a freefall by the predatory policies of this illegitimate government.

a) THE ECONOMY

1.2 We have high and worsening levels of unemployment, deepening poverty and excruciating inequality. The country is also experiencing a confidence crisis defined as a binding liquidity crisis
.
1.3 The confidence crisis is a manifestation of structural deficiencies and distortions. There is massive deindustrialisation, rising informality, high public debt, declining export performance, dwindling capital inflows, illicit financial outflows, poor infrastructure, corruption, institutional weaknesses, weak confidence in the formal economic system, a volatile political environment among others.

1.4 Our core problem is fiscal indiscipline in government and hyperinflationary tendencies in the economy. Runaway government expenditure which is driving a budget deficit which in turn induces a excessive borrowing and debt outside parliament and the law.

1.5 Of course, we have always known that this illegitimate government is clueless but we never expected it to be so irresponsible as to unceremoniously run down the country into the abyss of decay in just a few weeks.

1.6 I have been in fuel queues. I have been to hospitals and clinics to assess the situation. I have visited cholera victims, even attending some of the funerals and understood their cries and pain. I fully understand your pain and suffering you are going through.

1.7 It is clear those hyper-inflationary days are back and have been triggered by fiscal indiscipline which has further eroded confidence and trust.

1.8 I have been with most of you Zimbabweans in the long-winding queues for fuel – which, by the way, wastes valuable time and derail economic productivity. Shops are closing down and those that have remained open have empty shelves.

1.9 Our people have been addressed with the indignity of physically fighting for a bottle of cooking oil. Prices for basic commodities are going up exponentially. Our hard-earned money remains inaccessible at the banks. Businesses continue to struggle with most shutting down because of the predatory economic environment. Investors remain sceptical about the new but old dispensation and have withheld investment.

1.10 I know the effects of economic decay to business, to the common man, the pensioners and elderly, to our entrepreneurs otherwise known as vendors, to students- local and abroad, to local businesses and the workers.

1.11 In Zimbabwe, we now see the emergence of two classes; the looting class comprising those in positions of trust and privileged access and the looking class, of the innocent suffering observing majority who are victims. What we need is a new class of active citizens not passive citizens. A nation of leaders, not followers. A leading class to replace the current ruling, ruining class. We must all be drivers not passengers in nation building processes.

1.12 Uncontrollable expenditure is the main ailment of this government. The incumbent administration has perpetuated the historical penchant of travelling outside the country.

1.13 The national debt has astronomically ballooned. At the start of the 8th Parliament, the MDC resisted the assumption by government, of the RBZ debt to the tune of $1,5billion on account of quasi-fiscal operations.

1.14 We call for an audit of the national debt to be done urgently and be indexed country by country, institution by institution and person by person.

1.15 Today, this administration, through the new minister of finance revealed disquieting and chilling disclosures of the greedy in government. The government has added over $7 billion to the National debt in less than 5 years and $4 billion since November 2017 through treasury bills, of which we are told more than three quarters of that money went to a few people.

1.16 We call upon parliament to institute a parliamentary inquiry into the fuel gate, domestic debt and treasury bills scandal.

1.17 The 2% transaction tax is daylight robbery. This cruelty tax is an illegal and unacceptable burden on the already suffering people of this country. Let Zimbabwe be best for business not open for craziness as instigated by the corrupt rich and powerful in government. They have targeted the Lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak. Yet exonerated and shielded are the high priests of corruption and the strongest of the strong cash barons connected to the high and mighty in government.

1.18 The 2% tax must be reversed immediately with ordinary people and business being reimbursed of their deprived value.

1.19 The agriculture season is upon us .We are extremely concerned by the lack of adequate preparation and the scant attention we are giving to our farmers. This government pays lip service to agriculture and farming. It has no resources to support farmers. Farmers need more resources. We pledge SMART agriculture.

1.20 The distortions caused by arbitrage and rent seeking activity are occasioned by the bond fiction. The bond notes must go. The nation must adopt the multi currency system immediately.

1.21 On our part, we have developed a ten-point economic plan meant to address and rescue our current situation. This plan entails currency reform, pro-poor inclusive economics, public sector reforms, dealing with corruption, a clear process of phasing out bond notes, moving away from control and command economics in dealing with foreign currency, fiscal measures to enhance productivity, responsibility, discipline and policy consistency, tax reforms and resolving the debt crisis. The detailed plan is available for the benefit of our troubled colleagues across the river.

b) THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

1.22 It is clear that this illegitimate government is out to punish the people for rejecting it on the 30th of July 2018. The killing of innocent and unarmed civilians on the 1st of August was unwarranted.

1.23 We have seen a total disregard of citizens’ civil and political rights. There has been increased brutality by the regime culminating in the beating and harassment of leaders and members of the ZCTU, in particular the uncalled for arrest of the ZCTU President Cde Peter Mutasa and Secretary General Cde Japhet Moyo.

1.24 Innocent and hardworking Zimbabweans continue to be brutalised and harassed in the City Centre for eking out an honest living.

1.25 There has been increased harassment of leaders of the democratic movement such as MDC vice President Hon Morgen Komichi, vice Chairperson Hon Tendai Biti, Youth leader Hon Happymore Chidziva and other activists.

1.26 The establishment continuously hides behind the cholera outbreak to ban activities of the people’s Party yet all other huge gatherings are allowed to take place.

c) THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

1.27 Our poor people are being forced to bear the brunt of this illegitimacy, bad governance and corruption whilst the government and Zanu PF cronies continue to live lavishly, splashing on expensive cars and goodies – abusing taxpayers’ money.

1.28 Preventable diseases are taking lives in our communities. Vendors struggling to eke out a living are being harassed from their markets. Hospitals and pharmacies have run out of medicines but the government is wasting money on a baseless Commission of Inquiry because we all know who killed unarmed civilians.

1.29 Young people wander on the streets without jobs as authorities continue to pursue command economics to the detriment of the country.

1.30 Workers continue to earn little for their hard work – the worthless Bond Note is exacerbating workers’ suffering. The civil servants, Teachers, Nurses, Doctors, Soldiers, Police, Prison Services Officers, CIO, Drivers, Gardeners, Cooks and Security Guards are surviving on less than one dollar per day and struggling to make ends meet.

1.31 We have ready answers and immediate solutions. All this could have been solved by sincere dialogue between the incumbent government and the alternative people’s government. The critical step in the resolution of the national crisis is inclusive dialogue and restoration of political legitimacy.

1.32 Fellow Zimbabweans, I would like to assure you that nothing and no one can stop an idea whose time has come. I would like to commend you for your resilience in these difficult times. We remain vigilant in pursuance of your stolen victory.

d) THE SOLUTION

1.33 To resolve the national crisis we have proposed a five point plan through a National Transitional Authority (NTA), constituting concrete steps to recover the people’s victory, your victory. We are clear about the path and formula this country should take to extricate itself from the current hardships imposed by this heartless illegitimate government.

1.34 The path to a Great Zimbabwe has the following sign posts. A 5 point plan which entails the following;
i. Immediately resolving and returning to legitimacy and the will of the people
ii. Undertaking comprehensive economic, political and electoral reforms
iii. Prioritising nation building and peace building
iv. End international isolation through collective engagement on the back of reforms
v. Resolving the emergency economic and humanitarian situation

1.35 We do not deserve the indignity of this illegitimate government on our country. Neither should we allow the curse of its creation to stay with us any longer. We are ready and able to deliver on the people’s mandate.

1.36 Give us back our reigns and you will see real change for the better. There is need for a national conversation, a sincere national dialogue. The might and main of our minds must be deployed to finding each other as a people. Engagement and dialogue moves nations. Arrogance, egos and pride destroys countries.

e) TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

1.37 To our leaders within SADC and AU, paying a blind eye and deaf ear to the evident theft of the people’s vote and victory is unsustainably hazardous. The ‘see no evil’ and ‘hear no evil’ approach is a major blow to the cherished Pan African ideal of ‘African solutions to African problems’.

1.38 To greater international community, we appeal for your solidarity with the peace loving people of Zimbabwe by underwriting the return to democracy, legitimacy and implementation of comprehensive reforms. Zimbabweans deserve democracy and freedom like the rest of the civilized world.

1.39 We remain entrapped in the vicious cycle of disputed elections and illegitimacy. We call upon your support to the people of Zimbabwe in their struggle for dignity and good governance. We need virtuous cycle of reforms to put Zimbabwe on a permanent path to stability. We count on you to help Zimbabwe to return to legitimacy, acceptable democratic standards and good governance norms and the rule of law.

f) TO FELLOW ZIMBABWEANS

1.40 Fellow Zimbabweans, as leadership, we are up for the task and fit for the purpose. I believe in the future of our country. I believe in us as a people. We are Zimbabwe, a house of stone and a nation of warriors. I charge you, as I encourage you to play your part and be ready to be part of the great journey to legitimacy.

1.41 For some, politics and leadership is a hobby, but for us and for me in particular, it is a calling. We genuinely deserve and desire “generational change” and “fresh leadership “not this “change” or “new dispensation” tokenism. We will fall short not!

1.42 Finally, I invite you to come and join us as we reflect on our journey in commemoration of the 19 years of the Party of Excellence at Gwanzura Stadium on Saturday 27th of October 2018 under the theme “Claiming the people’s victory!”

1.43 Let’s take things forward. The future is in our hands. The future is us. The future is now.

Let us remain peaceful. Peace is profitable unto all men.
God’s time is perfect; remain vigilant and ready for REAL Change that Delivers.

God Bless you
God Bless Zimbabwe

I thank you

Adv. Nelson Chamisa
MDC President

Zanu PF Youth League Boss Attacks Mthuli Ncube

 

Terrence Mawawa|Zanu PF Youth League deputy secretary, Lewis Matutu has accused Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube of deliberately discrediting government programmes under the guise of fighting corruption.

“Corruption should never be tolerated at all levels of government and society in general and it is every
Zimbabwean’s responsibility to fight the cancer.However Finance Minister @MthuliNcube through his “spokesman” @acielumumba has
decided to directly criticize government programs particularly Command Agriculture, this is unacceptable,” tweeted Matutu.

” We are very much aware that there are a lot of people who believed in the old dispensation but are still in
government.

We call upon minister @MthuliNcube to be sober and responsible in difficult economic circumstances like these,to be mature and to remain focused on the revival of the economy,” Matutu added.

Minister Chitando And Secretary In Trouble For Failing To Dissolve ZCDC Board

PARLIAMENT yesterday threatened to charge Mines minister Winston Chitando and new Mines secretary Onesmo Moyo with contempt of the august House if they failed to dissolve the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) as recommended by the Norton MP Temba Mliswa-led committee last year.

During the Eighth session of Parliament, the Mines committee produced a damning report which recommended the disbanding of ZCDC board as it was illegally constituted.

Mliswa said Chitando and Moyo must implement the committee’s recommendations or face contempt of Parliament charges.

Moyo had appeared before the committee to give oral evidence on the 2019 budget when the committee bombarded him with questions over whether the Mines ministry had disbanded ZCDC.

Mliswa challenged him to study Parliament’s recommendations on ZCDC since he was new in office. He said it would be difficult for Parliament to recommend that a certain entity like ZCDC was illegal, but then it continues to appear before Parliament to give oral evidence when in fact it was illegal.

“Parliament standing rules and order number 26 (a) stipulates that as required by section 107 (2) of the Constitution ministers must respond to matters raised by the committee within 10 sitting days and failure of which will constitute contempt of Parliament,” Mliswa said.

Committee members also queried why the Mines and Minerals Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) was operating without a board when it was a critical arm of the government.

When Moyo said he was still new at the ministry, MPs said he should be kicked out of Parliament because they showed ignorance on several issues.

Meanwhile, Chamber of Mines president Isaac Kwesu told the same committee that the new 2% tax on all transactions imposed by government will take nearly 60% off the profits of most mines.

Kwesu, who was speaking on the 2019 budget, said the foreign currency challenges posed a major threat to the mining industry’s viability and may push several smaller mines into closure.

“The 2% tax on electronic transactions is of great concern because it is effected on transactions and we feel this is very steep and will take almost 60% of the chunk of the profit, specifically for small mines,” Kwesu said. He pleaded that the tax be reviewed and charged on income rather than transactions as most mines relied on loans.

Kwesu said there were delays of over three weeks to get foreign currency while some suppliers of the industry’s raw materials were also charging in foreign currency and rejecting RTGS.

The Chamber of Mines president said the ideal situation will be that the foreign currency allocations be raised to 70% to 80%.

Meanwhile, ministry secretary Moyo said the Finance ministry was working on a mining fiscal regime to holistically look at all taxes applicable to the mining industry to ensure it remains viable.

NewsDay

Will Andrew Take Over From John At RBZ

By Paul Nyathi|As it gets more certain by the day that Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor John Mangudya will be relieved of his position, speculations are now rife as to who will take over arguably one of the country’s very challenging jobs at the moment.

Critics have started peddling various names with current World Bank Zimbabwean employee Andrew Ndaamunhu Bvumbe emerging as favourite to land the job.

Bvumbe is currently serving as the Executive Director for Africa Group 1 Constituency (AFG1) at the World Bank. He was serving as Alternate Executive Director from November 2014 to October 2016.

Bvumbe’s professional background includes experience in macroeconomic management as a senior official in the Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and as Executive Director at the African Development Bank.

Prior to joining the WBG, he served as Head of the Aid and Debt Management Office at the Ministry of Finance. Before that he served as Permanent Secretary for Planning in the Ministry of Economic Planning; Director in the Privatization Agency of Zimbabwe; and as Principal Director in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

Earlier in his career he served as Chief Economist and Assistant Director for Economic Research and Policy at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Bvumbe was Executive Director at the Board of the African Development Bank from 2007 to 2010, and Alternate Executive Director from 2005 to 2007.

He holds MSc and BSc in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe.

Renowned writer and commentator Hopewell Chinono said in his Facebook page on the possibility of Bvume being appointed governor of the Reserve Bank;

“That man will bring sanity to our Central Bank if the authorities summon the courage to do the right thing, not all these Mickey Mouse bankers. Before you go to bed, pray that the President appoints Andrew Bvumbe as the next RBZ Governor.”

Dr Thokozani Khupe To Walk For Cancer

Thokozani Khupe

By Own Correspondent| Dr Thokozani Khupe’s Cancer Foundation is set to hold a breast cancer awareness walk on October 27 2018 in a move at raising awareness on early detection of breast cancer.

Below is the full statement by Dr Khupe:

THOKOZANI KHUPE CANCER FOUNDATION Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, 27 October 2018, at 10:30 am at the Bulawayo City Hall Car Park.

The THOKOZANI KHUPE CANCER FOUNDATION will hold a breast cancer awareness walk in Bulawayo on the 27th of October, 2018. The walk will start promptly at 10:30 am at the Bulawayo City Hall car park and end at the same venue after a kilometre or two of walking in town.

Early detection of cancer saves lives!

The sad reality is that in Africa women only discover that they have breast cancer or any other cancers when the disease is already in its later stages 3 or 4, by which time chances of survival would have been greatly reduced.

The TKCF encourages all women to be breast cancer aware by continuously feeling their breast so that they would detect anything unusual and to get timely necessary treatment. As women self-examine their breast, some of the early signs of breast cancer to look out for include having a lump in one’s breast, a painful breast or armpit, or a discharge from the nipple. However, self-examination of breast cancer symptoms does not replace one’s regular visits to the doctor for a mammogram test where possible.

October being breast cancer awareness month, also referred to as Pink October, all participants in the march are request to be dressed in pink. Meanwhile the invitation is for all women and men because men can also suffer from breast cancer.

Issued by the THOKOZANI KHUPE CANCER FOUNDATION
+263 773 201 200

MDC Alliance To Hold Anniversary Despite Police Ban

By Own Correspondent| Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has said that the MDC will hold its 19th-anniversary celebrations this coming weekend whether the police grants the party permission or not.

Chamisa said this while addressing members of the media Tuesday morning at Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare.

He accused the police of hiding behind the Cholera outbreak to stop the opposition from holding events citing a ban on public gatherings while at the same time allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa gatherings, football matches and university graduation ceremonies to take place.

He went on to say that the opposition cannot keep postponing its ceremony and was going to hold its anniversary celebrations this coming weekend.

Chamisa said:

“Cholera has helped Zanu PF to ban our activities. This weekend we have said if police indicate they are not willing to let us proceed, we will use all peaceful mechanisms to ensure our anniversary celebration goes on on October 27.

We call on all our supporters to attend…To all the workers, to all Zimbabweans, the time has come. The time has come for us to reflect on our circumstances and find common solutions to our common problems.”

Court Orders Prophet To Pay Mberengwa Man Three Cows For Sleeping With His Wife

Own Correspondent|A man from Mberengwa demanded and was granted three beasts from a Mwazha Church prophet who slept with his wife when she went for evening prayers.

His demand for the beasts was granted by Chief Mapuravana when the case appeared before the traditional court

Jericho Moyo (57) of Kwashira Village under Chief Mapuravana said self-styled prophet Sidney Moyo slept with his wife several times on her way to night prayers. The wife Snikhiwe Mhlanga confirmed that she indeed has a relationship with the prophet and the affair was continuing.

However, the prophet has since appealed to Mberengwa Magistrate Court to quash the ruling of the three beasts.

He told the court that he never had an affair with Moyo’s wife but Moyo hated him for no reason.

However, Mhlanga told the court that she had sex on countless occassions with the prophet since their affair started last year. She said that they enjoyed the sex most in the bush and they had it for adventure. She said that all this happened when she was on her way for prayers or while they were praying.

She brought to light that the affair started last year as the prophet was always smiling at her to show that he was interested in her.

The matter was heard by Magistrate Evia Matura.

Seke Teachers College Bars Students From Writing Final Exams Over Non Payment Of Fees

By Own Correspondent| Seke Teachers College has shut out its Intake 18, ECD 14 students who were due to write their final examinations today over non payment of fees.

The group of students were this morning told by security details that they were not allowed inside the college premises and they would be addressed by the college principal Enock Mutubuki.

However, Mutubuki was in a no show until around lunch time despite that the students’ paid up colleagues had already started writing their first paper Professional Studies.

The prospective teachers could be seen milling around the college gate hopefully waiting to be allowed to write their final examination despite being in fees arrears.

They however refused to comment on the matter saying they may be victimised.

Efforts to get a comment from Mutubuki were unsuccessful by the time of going to print.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.

MDC’s Tapiwa Mashakada Prescribes Emergency Recovery Measures To Stop The Current Economic Freefall

By Dr Tapiwa Mashakada, ECONOMIST|This article will be brief and straight to the point. There is no need to continue to pontificate on the political-economy of the country because we all know that after the 30th July elections the economic situation deteriorated fast instead of improving. We do not need a rocket scientist to tell us that market and public confidence collapsed in the post election period. I will address these legitimacy issues elsewhere. For now please allow me to proffer Solutions to the current economic challenges.

1. Solution to price increases, commodity shortages:

(a*) Gvt should should suspend duty on all food stuffs. This will allow retailers and individuals to fill up empty supermarket shelves at competitive prices. Please let us drop the infant industry protectionist mantra. Import substitution is for long term. Here we are looking at emergency measures.

(b*) All prices must be denominated in Rands because they are purchased in Rands. Retailers have been converting rand prices to usd prices on parity. For example a product bought for R60 is sold in Zim for $60 usd. This is arbitrage. What is bought in rands should be sold in rands. Then the country can use USDs to import fuel , electricity and other imports that require forex.

2. SOLUTION TO THE LIQUIDITY CRISIS

(a*) The bond note must be de-commissioned as it is a surrogate currency. Bad money is chasing good money. The existence of the bond note on parity basis with the USD is driving parallel market rates. This bond is a feeding trough for inflation. It creates inflationary pressures. If gvt still wants to retain the bond i think its better to admit that it is the local currency of the day. In that case, it gvt must come to Parliament to have the bond adopted as the official currency with a floating official exchange rate. In that case the bond note should be availed in the banking system.

(b*) De-dollarize and replace the dollar with the Rand as the dominant currency in the multiple currency basket. In other words make the USD a foreign currency unit not a day to day medium of exchange. The wide usage of the Rand can be done de facto or dejure. Joining the Rand Monetary Union would make it de jure. Promoting its wide circulation would make the Rand a de facto currency.

(*d) The usd should be used as foreign currency because the economy does not have the capacity to generate usd money supply. Our major sources of forex are tobacco, gold, diamond, platinum, chrome, horticulture, diaspora, international organizations, foreign direct investment and private commercial loans. But with a debt overhang of usd $17 billion the foreign currency is just not enough to meet domestic and foreign obligations.

(*e) reintroduce foreign exchange bureaus which accept forex trading on a no question basis.

3. NOSTRO FCA ACCOUNTS AND INDIVIDUAL NOSTRO

As long as there is no externalization gvt must continue to promote retention of export earnings to levels that will not compromise the national interests. But for individual FCAs these must liberalized and individuala should be free to withdraw or deposit.

4. REINTRODUCTION OF THE DOMESTIC CURRENCY

should be done on conditions that
– no printing of money and this must be gazetted
– building of reserves for one year import cover
-stopping RBZ overdraft and domestic borrowing
-addressing the budget deficit and trade deficit ( the twin defcit).

It is one thing identifying these preconditions but another to address them. So far all Zimbabweans have chosen to defer implementation of these preconditions hence since 2009 economists have been talking about right fundamentals without doing anything. Zimbabwe must at some stage have its own currency whether we like it or not. But there must be a Covenant against re-igniting hyperinflation by resorting to inflationary financing of the defcit. So the first order of business is to totally get rid of the budget deficit in the first place. Can Zim successfully reintroduce its own currency? The answer is yes we can but it depends. Which leads me to touch on reducing gvt expenditure. Fiscal consolidation is a political issue that requires Leadership. This is where the ruling party has to smell the coffee. Again corruption is a political issue which needs political will and Leadership. The 2 are the babies of the ruling party which should address them head on.

(5) ADDRESSING PRODUCTIVITY requires new Capital injection and re-engineering of the Manufacturing sector. The agro-processing value chain must be reestablished, esp food processing. The agro-industrial value chain must restored esp engineering, iron, steel, mining. New technologies required. And so are lines of credit for retooling, innovation and adaptation.

(6) Investment Facilitation. This is key and requires no elaboration. Zimbabwe must be the choice for investors. We must improve our incentives and investment climate. Ease of doing business must be expedited. Practical reforns are required beyond rhetoric.

7. Re-engagement is necessary to clear our debts and unlock new money. But the language must change. In the gvt there are spoilers who should not be allowed to open their mouths. They are spoilers.

CONCLUSION

I bet you if this government listens and adopt even half of these measures, Zimbabwe can stop the current free fall and start to recover provided economic reforms are accompanied by the deepening of democracy and good governance.

Court Throws Out Mfundo Mlilo’s Appeal Against Mthuli’s 2 Cents Tax

Combined Harare Residents’ Association director Mfundo Mlilo’s attempt to block recently imposed 2 cents tax on electronic money transfers yesterday hit a snag after the High Court yesterday threw out the matter for lack of urgency.

Mlilo had taken Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube to the High Court contesting the legality of the 2 cents electronic transactions tax.

After going through the record, Justice Felistus Chatukuta saw no urgency in the matter and ruled that it should be brought as an ordinary court application.

The judge stated on the record her reasons for dismissing the application.

“The applicant having become aware of the decision of the Minister of Finance on 3 October 2018 does not explain why it took him almost two weeks to file the present application,” she said.

“The perception by the applicant that the tax is illegal is not a basis for urgency. The matter is not urgent and is accordingly removed from the urgent chamber application roll.”

After the ruling, Mlilo’s lawyers filed a fresh court application.

Minister Ncube introduced the tax a fortnight ago in his transitional stabilisation programme (STP) that came into effect last week.

In his application, Mlilo argued that the Government’s decision was made without the necessary backing of the law, citing in particular the amendment of the income tax or the regulation of the tax in a statutory instrument.

Mlilo further argued that on October 12 Minister Ncube enacted the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Monetary Transfer Tax) Regulations Statutory Instrument (SI205/2018) to legalise and actualise his announcement done on October 1, 2018.

He said the statutory instrument remained unconstitutional and a nullity, arguing the Minister cannot amend an Act of Parliament in terms of the law. To this end, Mlilo wanted the higher court to put on hold the Minister’s decision to review the intermediate tax from five cents per transaction to two cents per dollar.

The activist also wanted the immediate suspension of the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Money Transfer Tax) Regulations published in SI205/2018.

President Mnangagwa recently put more weight on the intermediary money transfer tax of 2 cents saying it would remain in force.

The tax, he said, was critical in transforming the economy that has suffered from two decades of stagnation.

The President said the tax was not designed to hurt the ordinary people and companies, but to help the manufacturing sector to get funds for retooling and modernisation as the economy gears to ramp up production.

He hinted there was room for the tax to be refined going forward if suggestions were proffered, to create a win-win situation for individuals and companies on the one hand, and the economy on the other.

State Media

Emergency Recovery Measures To Stop The Current Economic Freefall

By Dr Tapiwa Mashakada| This article will be brief and straight to the point. There is no need to continue to pontificate on the political-economy of the country because we all know that after the 30th July elections the economic situation deteriorated fast instead of improving. We do not need a rocket scientist to tell us that market and public confidence collapsed in the post election period. I will address these legitimacy issues elsewhere. For now please allow me to proffer Solutions to the current economic challenges.

1. Solution to price increases, commodity shortages:

(a*) Gvt should should suspend duty on all food stuffs. This will allow retailers and individuals to fill up empty supermarket shelves at competitive prices. Please let us drop the infant industry protectionist mantra. Import substitution is for long term. Here we are looking at emergency measures.

(b*) All prices must be denominated in Rands because they are purchased in Rands. Retailers have been converting rand prices to usd prices on parity. For example a product bought for R60 is sold in Zim for $60 usd. This is arbitrage. What is bought in rands should be sold in rands. Then the country can use USDs to import fuel , electricity and other imports that require forex.

2. SOLUTION TO THE LIQUIDITY CRISIS

(a*) The bond note must be de-commissioned as it is a surrogate currency. Bad money is chasing good money. The existence of the bond note on parity basis with the USD is driving parallel market rates. This bond is a feeding trough for inflation. It creates inflationary pressures. If gvt still wants to retain the bond i think its better to admit that it is the local currency of the day. In that case, it gvt must come to Parliament to have the bond adopted as the official currency with a floating official exchange rate. In that case the bond note should be availed in the banking system.

(b*) De-dollarize and replace the dollar with the Rand as the dominant currency in the multiple currency basket. In other words make the USD a foreign currency unit not a day to day medium of exchange. The wide usage of the Rand can be done de facto or dejure. Joining the Rand Monetary Union would make it de jure. Promoting its wide circulation would make the Rand a de facto currency.

(*d) The usd should be used as foreign currency because the economy does not have the capacity to generate usd money supply. Our major sources of forex are tobacco, gold, diamond, platinum, chrome, horticulture, diaspora, international organizations, foreign direct investment and private commercial loans. But with a debt overhang of usd $17 billion the foreign currency is just not enough to meet domestic and foreign obligations.

(*e) reintroduce foreign exchange bureaus which accept forex trading on a no question basis.

3. NOSTRO FCA ACCOUNTS AND INDIVIDUAL NOSTRO

As long as there is no externalization gvt must continue to promote retention of export earnings to levels that will not compromise the national interests. But for individual FCAs these must liberalized and individuala should be free to withdraw or deposit.

4. REINTRODUCTION OF THE DOMESTIC CURRENCY

should be done on conditions that
– no printing of money and this must be gazetted
– building of reserves for one year import cover
-stopping RBZ overdraft and domestic borrowing
-addressing the budget deficit and trade deficit ( the twin defcit).

It is one thing identifying these preconditions but another to address them. So far all Zimbabweans have chosen to defer implementation of these preconditions hence since 2009 economists have been talking about right fundamentals without doing anything. Zimbabwe must at some stage have its own currency whether we like it or not. But there must be a Covenant against re-igniting hyperinflation by resorting to inflationary financing of the defcit. So the first order of business is to totally get rid of the budget deficit in the first place. Can Zim successfully reintroduce its own currency? The answer is yes we can but it depends. Which leads me to touch on reducing gvt expenditure. Fiscal consolidation is a political issue that requires Leadership. This is where the ruling party has to smell the coffee. Again corruption is a political issue which needs political will and Leadership. The 2 are the babies of the ruling party which should address them head on.

(5) ADDRESSING PRODUCTIVITY requires new Capital injection and re-engineering of the Manufacturing sector. The agro-processing value chain must be reestablished, esp food processing. The agro-industrial value chain must restored esp engineering, iron, steel, mining. New technologies required. And so are lines of credit for retooling, innovation and adaptation.

(6) Investment Facilitation. This is key and requires no elaboration. Zimbabwe must be the choice for investors. We must improve our incentives and investment climate. Ease of doing business must be expedited. Practical reforns are required beyond rhetoric.

7. Re-engagement is necessary to clear our debts and unlock new money. But the language must change. In the gvt there are spoilers who should not be allowed to open their mouths. They are spoilers.

CONCLUSION

I bet you if this government listens and adopt even half of these measures, Zimbabwe can stop the current free fall and start to recover provided economic reforms are accompanied by the deepening of democracy and good governance.

“I Am Not Fired And Very Much At Work,” Lumumba

By Paul Nyathi|ACIE Lumumba has scoffed at state media reports that he has been fired from his new role as Finance Ministry Communications Taskforce Chairperson, saying he is very much ‘at work’ and is reporting to his ‘bosses’.

Lumumba has said that he is still reporting to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and President Emmerson Mnangagwa, setting an explosive stage in ZANU-PF and the government.

He scoffed at his firing in a social media conversation asking: “How can a manager at TM Supermarket fire a manager at OK Supermarket? No, I am still doing my job as assigned to me, and I am reporting to my bosses.”

Lumumba insists that he was not fired by the ministry of finance as hinted by a Ministry of Information statement on Monday saying he will be back to unmask the shadowy ‘Queen B’ whom he says is the most corrupt individual in the country.

“I am not fired and I promise to come back again, and slowly I will unmask the Queen Bee who has caused much suffering to Zimbabweans,” he told local paper Newsday.

Lumumba claimed to have unearthed a conspiracy involving shadowy figure called ‘Queen B’ who has captured the country’s central bank and the finance ministry.

He took to Twitter to muse over the events of Monday, which led to his sacking.

“Many senior gvt officials spent their day making calls & sending orders for & on behalf of Queen B, lots of money paid. The capture goes high! One Ministry(except it’s Minister) is so captured the only thing it updated the country on today was ME. Do your job, let me do mine! Friends, I have unearthed a frightening string of payments between Queen B & many appointed officials. Good thing is if the President deals with it, Zimbabwe wins,” he said.

Lumumba’s appointment last Friday split general opinion among the general public, with some saying the position was supposed to have been advertised on the open job market while others felt Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube should be allowed to headhunt those he felt would add value to his portfolio. However, the appointment might have ruffled political feathers within the ruling ZANU-PF party and the top echelons of state power, with some expressing reservations over the manner Acie Lumumba was hired.

The ruling ZANU-PF Youth League came out in support of Lumumba, urging the government to speedily investigate all issues he raised and take action against those trading in bond notes on the parallel market.

Lumumba has told a close colleague: “How can a manager at TM Supermarket fire a manager at OK Supermarket? No, I am still doing my job as assigned to me, and I am reporting to my bosses.”

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and President Mnangagwa have maintained silence on the developments. This has not helped speculation that all that is happening is a microcosm of some factional battles within the ruling party involving the President and one of his deputies.

Simba Chikore Granted $30 Bail

Former President, Robert Mugabe’s son in law, Simba Chikore has been granted $30 bail by Harare Magistrate, Elisha Singano.

Singano said there was no compelling evidence to deny the accused bail, ordering him to reside at the given address and not to interfere with state witnesses.

Chikore was arrested last night on allegations of kidnapping of a Zimbabwe Airways employee Bertha Zakeyo.

More to follow….

Zanu Pf Stalwarts Steal Own Donation Meant For Victory Celebrations

By Own Correspondent| Zanu-PF chairperson who is also the Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri said some funds and fuel coupons donated to the party to celebrate her appointment into the party presidium have gone missing.

Muchinguri revealed this while addressing Zanu-PF supporters who attended the party’s victory celebrations in Mutasa Central constituency on Saturday.

She however could not confirm the exact amount stolen, but the party’s Manicaland political commissar Gift Kagweda told a local publication that at least $32 000 was missing.

Said Muchinguri:

“We wanted to celebrate with our President (Emmerson Mnangagwa), but I was told that some money was stolen that was meant for my celebrations.

But I am happy that people here in Mutasa Central you have shown your support by financing this event despite the fact that some funds that were meant for the celebrations went missing.”-Newsday

Parking Tout Killer Given Bail, Court Says He Acted In Self Defence

Correspondent|Lloyd Boniface Moyo, the man who shot a tout dead over a parking dispute has been granted $100 bail by the High Court.

Justice Ammy Tsanga freed Lloyd Boniface Moyo, 24, from custody Monday, ruling that he acted in self-defence.

However, defence lawyer Oliver Marwa said client’s charges had not been altered from murder despite the court finding that he acted in self-defence.

Lloyd Moyo was charged with murder at the magistrate’s court after the shooting in broad daylight in central Harare earlier this month.

Eyewitness reports on the day said that LLoyd Moyo had refused to pay touts who demanded money when he parked his car in a busy shopping street in the Zimbabwean capital. He insisted he would only pay a licensed car park attendant from the city council.

A fracas ensued – and Moyo shot the tout in the head at point-blank range.

News of the killing spread like wildlife in an already-tense Harare, where shoppers have been queuing for hours at stores and petrol stations fearing a currency crisis.

There was speculation the killing had a political link, since Moyo was said to have been wearing a scarf that is now closely linked to the ruling party.

However, the High Court agreed Monday with defence lawyers who argued that their client is the one who could have been killed if had not used his firearm.

Prosecutors have also said that, after the suspect was mobbed by youths on the day in question, he fired warning shots to disperse them, but they did not withdraw.

According to court papers, the now-deceased Gresham Mwakapira started the fight which ended up with him losing his life.

Mwakapira reportedly confronted Moyo’s sisters who had remained in the latter’s car as he was pursuing some private business within the city centre.

When Moyo returned to his vehicle, he had a confrontation with the tout over parking space.

“The deceased, who was a rank marshal, then came and confronted the vehicle occupants on why their car had been parked in one of his bays.

“The now deceased became violent, demanding that the vehicle be removed from the bay,” said prosecutors.

Injured Moyo with sister
Some of the deceased’s colleagues allegedly broke the windows of Lloyd Moyo’s car, stuffed some cardboard boxes into the vehicle and set it on fire.

Court heard that the accused tried to escape but the now-deceased and his friends continued to attack him with stones and iron bars.

“The accused then produced his AG Brevet pistol, serial number 330822 and fired three warning shots in the air but the deceased and his colleagues continued attacking him.

“When they arrived at the intersection of First Street and Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, the accused fired and shot the deceased in the head.”

Moyo’s family is originally from the Sidakeni village in Zhombe.

Mangudya Himself The Next In Line On RBZ Purging

Correspondent|senior banker at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ,has revealed that the suspension of four directors in connection with illegal foreign currency dealing is only a strategy to remove all long-serving stalwarts, including the governor John Mangudya , so as to line up the bank with easily intimidated personnel.

According to the unnamed source,the suspended four are well known as the stalwarts of uprightness at the RBZ who are incorruptible, unmoved by threats and straight as rulers.

“The strategy is to remove all long-serving stalwarts, including John Mangudya himself, so as to line up the bank with easily intimidated personnel that could be aligned one way or the other. Most of those so-called corrupt directors have served all three past governors. How come only now, their sins are seen?”

He added: “I can vouch 100 percent innocence for Mirirai Chiremba, Gresham Muradzikwa, Azvinandawa Saburi and Norman Mataruka, the four Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe directors accused of running a forex cartel. These are the stalwarts of uprightness in that institution – incorruptible, unmoved by threats and straight as a ruler.”

The source, according to Zimlive online paper, said there is a background to why all of them are being targeted.

“Saburi is head of forex allocations and won’t be intimidated if your paperwork is not sufficient. Your story must be tight, or you won’t get a cent. He does not work alone but chairs a very powerful committee,” the source said, according to Zimlive.com.

“Chiremba is head of anti-money laundering and again, a modest, but very intelligent and incorruptible gentlemen with a strong no-nonsense reputation locally, regionally and internationally. He has had running battles with the corrupt in this country and knows them all! It’s the same with Muradzikwa, hence both being targeted for removal.
“Mataruka is head of bank supervision and is registrar of banks with powers to close banks. He is an International Monetary Fund country and regional expert whom the IMF assigns countries to go and inspect. He is the author of all reports and findings that led to the closure of all the banks that have been shut down since 2004,”said the source.

The source added that the RBZ should have consulted the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission to investigate if there was concrete evidence than to use Acie Lumumba.

“There are real reasons for targeting all these stalwarts. If they have evidence, why not bring it out or call on Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate than use a tainted person to taint others? How come it’s Acie Lumumba announcing? To say that they are causing Ncube headaches is laughable. So early into Ncube’s term of office?

“Lumumba and his boss Ncube are on a trajectory of vendettas! This nation will burn if the truth is to come out. Whoever is behind it knows Chiremba, Muradzikwa, Saburi and Mataruka have intimate knowledge of all the dirt they have been up to. Why is Lumunba exonerating Mangudya yet he is head of the institution? How come Ncube hires this Lumumba to do pronouncements he himself ought to make?,”asked the source.

Is The Bond Note Going On The 1st Of November

There is an undated message circulating suggesting that Zimbabwe’s Bond Notes money will be rested next month.

See message below:

Reports coming from RBZ are saying the bank is targeting high transacting personal accounts with all local banks. The bank intends to pull out data for all high volume and frequently transacting personal accounts suspected in using the ZIPIT facility to ‘burn’ money on the black market.

These account holders will be questioned and asked to justify the deposits or frequent transfers with receipts,invoices,tax returns and bank statements. Failure of which the accounts will be frozen.

Zimswitch has already provided the requested data to the central bank for USSD, Web based and POS transactions.

Bond notes to be demonitised (phased out) on 1 November 2018. The central bank is going to outline a plan to float the RTGS to US$ exchange rate to allow corporates,fund recipients and exporters to fund their FCA accounts. Once floated, the central bank will adopt a favourable rate to pay off or settle RTGS balances to local holders of TBs and demonitise Bond Notes on 1 November 2018.

Source: Online

Industry Minister Goes To China To Beg For Ziscosteel

Correspondent|The Government said yesterday it has decided to put back on track the proposed $1 billion investment in the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company by a Chinese investor.

Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizita Mangaliso Ndlovu said he was hoping his visit to China next week would help tie up loose ends on the deal.

If successful, the resuscitation of the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company could ignite downstream economic turnaround in Redcliff, Kwekwe and other related businesses countrywide. Zisco ceased operations at the height of economic challenges in 2008 resulting in more than 5 000 people losing jobs.

Masawara group of companies’ chief executive officer, Dr Shingi Mutasa, said the demise of Zisco has crippled business operations in Kwekwe and the economy at large.

“If we simply start by awakening the giant, Ziscosteel, then all these other smaller companies that rely on it will spring to life and that will be our first major step towards economic recovery,” said Dr Mutasa.

Lancashire Steel, Zimchem, Hagie Rand and Bimco, National Railways of Zimbabwe and Hwange Colliery are some of the companies that used to rely on the Redcliff-based steel manufacturing company. Sable Chemicals, which is owned by Masawara group of companies, also used to have good business with Zisco.

As Zimbabwe focuses on transforming the economy, Dr Mutasa said adequate attention must be given to big projects that have a downstream impact like Zisco.

“Those that are going to benefit from the process are the ones who are actively involved. All we need as Zimbabweans is a positive mind that tells us that we are in the right direction.

“I know we have been battered and bruised by the economic hardships, but let us remain focused,” said Dr Mutasa.

He said the country has the potential to become one of the fastest growing economies since it has the required infrastructure and other resources.

Municipalities have also been urged to play a key role in the development of adequate infrastructure to support business growth. Kwekwe Business Association chairperson, Mr Michael Hanyani said economic turnaround efforts should cover small to medium enterprises as they possess a huge potential.

“We plead with the local authority to get us proper places where we can operate from to avoid this cat and mouse game with authorities,” said Mr Hanyani.

Last month, Minister Ndlovu told a business conference that the Government was not happy with the progress by R and F, nearly a year after it expressed interest in reviving Zisco.

He said the Government had done everything to accommodate “a lot of the demands from the potential investor (R and F) but still progress has not been much”.

He also said the Government was considering looking at inviting other interested investors.

However, Minister Ndlovu said he was expecting to finalise the deal when he meets the investor in China next week.

“Everything remains intact,” Minister Ndlovu said in an interview. “They have expressed willingness to see the deal sail through and we will be consolidating our positions.”

He said the Government was not talking to “anyone other than the Chinese investor”.

Zisco closed operations in 2008 after facing operational and financial challenges. Essar Africa Holdings, a unit of India’s Essar Group, had agreed to invest in Zisco in 2011 but the deal collapsed in 2015 largely as a result of failure to access iron ore claims. This was after a similar deal with another Indian company Global Steel Holdings failed to materialise.

Essar had proposed to build a new steelworks complex, replacing the antiquated plant. The company was also looking to build iron ore and coal terminals at port Beira.

Zisco, once a major foreign currency earner, used to produce about one million tonnes of steel per year. In the quest of opening the industry to other players, the Government recently granted Chinese stainless steel giant Tsingshan a special grant to iron ore mining rights in an area around Chivhu, Mashonaland East Province, to enable the company to set up a stainless steel manufacturing plant.

The development would require significant increase in key feed stock minerals namely iron ore, nickel and coal. According to Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, the Chinese firm had already begun conducting feasibility studies. The stainless steel plant, would result in an investment of over $1 billion and would generate annual export revenue in the order of $2 billion annually.

The $1 billion, however, excludes other investments in related sectors earmarked to support the facility.

Zimbabwe is already working on a new mining policy targeting to grow the industry to $17 billion by 2030, driven by a wave of foreign investments which will see a jump in production at existing operations, and the development of new mines.

Zimbabwe generates about 65 percent of its foreign currency from mineral exports.

WATCH: Chamisa LIVE On ZimEye

ZimEye brings our valued readers and viewers LIVE coverage of the Zimbabwean People’s President, Nelson Chamisa. 

The program begins shortly…

 

I had to go and apologise somewhere where we were going to hold our press conference that is why I have to tender my apologies… this statement is coming at a very important stage this is a statement we are making in light with the situation in the country that is worsening by the day….

– REFRESH TO WATCH

Breaking News: Simba Chikore Arrested

Former President, Robert Mugabe’s son in law, Simba Chikore was arrested last night at the Robert Mugabe International Airport and is currently in police custody, according to state media sources.

State Media scribe Larry Moyo said he was arrested last night

Acie Lumumba Fired After 3 Days At Work, But Mission Accomplished

Paul Nyathi|Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube dumped Mr Acie Lumumba, as the Chair of Communication Taskforce in the ministry, three days after his appointment but not before Lumumba had accomplished a huge mission, exposing the rot at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Upon his appointment, Lumumba hit the ground running and in live video that went viral on the social media platforms, announced that Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe directors were feeding the blackmarket with bondnotes.

He boasted that he had access to financial intelligence supplied to him during briefings with Minister Ncube.

He went on to name Mirirai Chiremba, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa and Azvinandawa Saburi as the chief culprits behind parallel markets nefarious activities.

This resulted in RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya suspending the four, to pave way for investigations.

The appointment of Mr Lumumba for the public relations job drew relentless brickbats from many quarters of the society with questions being raised over his credentials to run the high-profile portfolio in the ministry.

Minister Ncube appointed Lumumba to head the Communications Taskforce in the ministry last Friday.

According to the letter Minister Ncube said: “This letter serves to appoint you as chairman of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Communications Taskforce.

“The (task-force) will reimburse you for all your reasonable and properly documented expenses that you incur in performing the duties of your office.

“It is my expectation that you will bring your experience in leadership and communications strategy to improve the communication between my office and the people of Zimbabwe.”

CIO Operative Fired By Mangudya Was Previously Dismissed By Gono For Similar Offences

Correspondent|AT LEAST one of the four Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) bosses that Governor John Mangudya suspended on Monday has been once suspended by former RBZ chief Gideon Gono for related offence. However, the cases never went far as Gono was advised that this would implicate some very powerful people in the top hierarchy of government.

Mirirai Chiremba, the head of the Financial Intelligence Inspectorate, Evaluation and Security (FIIES) division was suspended by Gideon Gono in August 2008 over a financial scandal that exposed the RBZ as the star player on the foreign currency black market.

Gono suspended Chiremba in 2008 for two weeks without pay, after the eruption of a damaging scandal believed to have prejudiced the central bank of billions through under invoicing.

As divisional chief for Financial Intelligence, Chiremba – an ex-Central Intelligence Organisation operative – was responsible for raising forex on the black market for the central bank to bankroll key imports. But he allegedly abused his position by inflating the rate at which he purchased the forex, pocketing huge sums for himself with each transaction.

Highly-placed sources alleged that Chiremba would authorize the withdrawal of large sums of Zimdollars from the Retail Banking Division on Level 1 of the glass and mortar tower along Samora Machel Avenue and then allocate his various agents outside the bank to source forex from the black market.

After mopping all the foreign currency from the black market, Chiremba would then misrepresent the rates at which he bought the forex, alleged the source. “It was easy to fleece the central bank governor this way because no receipts were given from the black market,” he said.

“But the governor became suspicious when at one point Chiremba claimed the rates were at Z$250,000 to the US dollar when in actual fact the greenback was fetching Z$180,000 on the day in question.”

Gono then engaged his own investigators, resulting in the scam being exposed.

It was understood that in 2008, forex purchased from the black market would be repatriated to South Africa through Stanbic Bank to a “NOSTRO Account”, which is an RBZ forex account domiciled in Johannesburg.

This is the account that the RBZ would use to wire cash for various payments for supplies such as fuel, food and electricity imported from South Africa and other foreign countries.

The RBZ allegedly started using Stanbic Bank for repatriating cash to South Africa after Dr Munyaradzi Kereke joined the central bank as Gono’s policy advisor. Kereke was a director at Stanbic before joining the RBZ.

According to the source, Gono also took great exception when it emerged that Chiremba was allegedly lying about the amount he paid panners for gold deliveries. Up until the review of the gold support price from Z$350,000 to Z$3 million last in July 2008, Chiremba allegedly claimed he had bought gold from panners at Z$3 million when he bought it for Z$500,000, thus prejudicing the central bank of up to Z$2,5 million with each transaction. Again, no receipts were produced.

Chiremba was reportedly using one Scot to go out and purchase gold from the panners. Scot would then engage his own “foot soldiers” to go out to the panning sites to purchase gold. One of the persons involved in this racket, Elvis Tsunda, was convicted in 2008 at the Rotten Row Magistrates Court after being found in possession of 500 grams of gold intended for onward transmission to Chiremba.

It is also believed that although Gono was under pressure to fire Chiremba, he was strongly advised against doing that amid reports the move could open a Pandora’s box of corruption in the central bank by the his own trusted lieutenants. This is how Chiremba survived the chop.

But that was not Chiremba’s only involvement in controversy at the central bank.

In March 2016, Mirirai Chiremba’s name popped in the trial of former RBZ official Munyaradzi Kereke for rape. Chiremba was a star witness against Kereke. The court heard that Kereke threatened Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe head of financial intelligence inspectorate, evaluation and security Mr Mirirai Chiremba with unspecified action for refusing to backdate the surrender of a gun he is suspected of using earlier in committing an offence.

Mr Chiremba claimed Kereke forced him to sign a provision of receipt dated June 14.

“He threatened me saying that if I did not sign, he was going to fix me and as an advisor to the Governor then, he was a powerful man hence I signed under duress,” he said to the court.

Private prosecutor handling the matter Mr Charles Warara asked Mr Chiremba to narrate to the court how and where he was given the pistol. This is what Chiremba said:

“On August 22 around 5 am, I checked my phone and noticed there was a missed call from the accused (Kereke) and I returned the call. He then ordered me to meet him at Bon Marché in Chisipite and we met at around 6:45am. He produced the pistol and told me he wanted it taken back to the RBZ security department.”

“He said there were people alleging that he had committed an offence using the pistol. I asked him to shed more light on the allegations and he said it was a minor misunderstanding with a relative. He said,if possible, I should enter an earlier date of return. He looked stressed and worried.”

Mr Chiremba said he took the pistol and locked it up in his office safe intending to hand it over to RBZ head of security Mr Grasham Muradzikwa.

Muradzikwa is still the RBZ Head of Security and is among the four bosses suspended this Monday by Mangudya.

He said Kereke stormed into his office the following day at around 8am.

Chiremba continued: “When he insisted that I sign the provision of receipt which was dated June 14, I told him that the master register would show the actual date of return and I would be in trouble. He said he was not going to leave my office until I signed the document and I later gave in,” he said.

Mr Chiremba further told the court that he later called Mr Muradzikwa and narrated to him what had happened.

He said Mr Muradzikwa refused to take the pistol or backdate the return entry.

Mr Chiremba said he took the matter to then RBZ Governor Dr Gideon Gono who advised him not to touch the gun since they were not sure of the allegations Kereke said he was being accused of.

“Dr Gono told me to leave the pistol in the safe in case someone comes asking about it. He said I should tell the truth if anything relating to the pistol came up,” Mr Chiremba said.

During cross-examination, Kereke’s lawyer, Mr Erum Mutandiro, accused Mr Chiremba of lying.

He further accused him of conniving with Dr Gono to frame charges against Kereke in a bid to cover up for the offences Kereke reported against them to the police.

“Witness, why are you framing the accused person? Are you aware that he reported Gono to the police for fraud and treason? You and Gono want to frame him so as to cover up for the crimes he reported against the two of you. You connived to fabricate charges against my client,” he said.

Mr Mutandiro said if Kereke was guilty, Mr Chiremba was also guilty of concealing evidence by keeping the pistol in his safe for five years.

“The firearm is still with you. Do you know that concealing evidence is a crime? You said you told Gono of what had happened, so are you telling this court that Gono helped you to conceal evidence?” he asked.

Mr Chiremba refused to answer some of Mr Mutandiro’s questions on the basis that they were irrelevant to the case.

This Tuesday, the RBZ chief Dr John Mangudya said that following allegations of impropriety levelled against Messrs Mirirai Chiremba, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa, and Azvinandava Saburi, by Mr Lumumba, the central bank has found it necessary, for the sake of transparency and good corporate governance, that the allegations be followed through and investigated in line with the bank’s Employment Code of Conduct.

The bank said it has suspended the four senior employees effected 22 October for an indefinite period of time so as to pave way for investigations.

The Governor said once investigations have been concluded, the public shall be advised of the outcome and appropriate action shall be taken depending on the outcome of the investigations.

In a Facebook Live video Sunday evening, Lumumba named RBZ Director Bank Supervision Norman Mataruka, Director Financial Markets Azvinandava Saburi, Director Financial Intelligence Mirirai Chiremba and Head of Security Gresham Muradzikwa, accusing them of crimes ranging from off-the-books bond notes to corrupt allocation of foreign currency.

“Muradzikwa has more money in his bank account than all his bosses … I do not believe Mangudya is involved,” Lumumba said.

Lumumba went on to accuse Muradzikwa of using his access to the flight manifest that guides the movement of bond notes from their printing press in Eastern Europe up to delivery in Harare.

According to Lumumba, the delivery plane always stops by Mozambique or South Africa where a chunk of the newly minted bond notes are offloaded and then smuggled into Zimbabwe in bales.

“Five RBZ directors have made Mthuli’s life impossible. I will not allow that. This country is being run by a cartel and Minister Ncube is going to break that cartel … This cartel is being run by Queen B … I used to go to Kasukuwere’s house and Queen B was always there … Queen B gave us the money for the Amai Mugabe rallies.”

Sakunda’s Kudakwashe Tagwirei who dominates the fuel industry and Command Agriculture was also named as a part of the supposed Queen B cartel.

Lumumba claimed to have access to financial intelligence provided to him during briefings with Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube.

Zoom

Khupe Claims That Women Are Regretting Not Voting For Her

Opposition MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe says she was shocked that women were seeking her assistance on various matters when they did not vote her in the July 30 presidential elections in which a victory would have placed her in a better position to give them a helping hand.

She told the Gender Commission Forum held in Bulawayo last week that after opting not to vote for her and other female candidates, the women were now seeking her support.

“We had four female presidential candidates, but women completely refused to vote for women as presidential candidates. Only 25 women were elected out of the 210 candidates for Parliament. Women refused to send 105 women into that Parliament,” she said.

“Women refused to send (fellow) women to the local authorities and only 13% women were elected into the local authorities. But women are the first ones to say we are being marginalised, we are being discriminated. The President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) has appointed six women ministers and where did you expect the President to appoint those women from when you failed to send 105 women into that Parliament?”

She said if 105 female candidates had been voted into Parliament, President Emmerson Mnangagwa would have had no justification for appointing less than 50% of women in the government.

Khupe described women as their own enemies because all the female candidates who contested as MPs, councillors and presidents lost because very few women voted for them.

“So, what I would like to urge our women and men in politics for 2023 is that, women, you have the power in your hands to achieve the 50/50 gender priority and let us use it,” she said. She urged the Gender Commission, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and women’s organisations to start pushing dialogue and get women to vote for their own.

“Let’s go to all the 1 958 wards, all the 210 constituencies and the 10 provinces and have a serious conversation with the women on the importance of voting for other women. What happens is that the Gender Commission and other women’s organisations only start to run when it is six months down the line towards elections, and it will be too late,” she said.

Addressing the same meeting, MDC Alliance chairperson Thabitha Khumalo said those aspiring to contest in the next elections should start campaigning immediately.

“From the day the elections ended, I started campaigning for the next election. So whoever wants to be a candidate must start now and come 2023, you are just icing the cake. It becomes easier and it’s more equitable and your penetration even becomes greater,” she said.

Zim Tops In Africa On Teenage Pregnancies

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe is one of the African countries which has alarming statistics of teenage pregnancies, the United Nations Family Planning Agency (UNFPA) has said.

Lack of information on reproductive health and personal development gained through sending girls to school are reasons which have contributed to the increase in teen pregnancies as girls fail to make their own choices.

UNFPA Country Representative, Dr Esther Muia told journalists during a media workshop in Mutare that efforts by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in the country to review the Marriage Act with the aim of criminalising child marriages is thus a commendable move in the fight to reduce teen pregnancies and child marriages.

“We need to work with parliamentarians because they are key in leading efforts to end child marriages. Access to choice for girls and young women in Zimbabwe will continue to improve their chances of staying in school longer because if we are able to enhance their ability to exercise choice and support them to practice choice, we hope they will be able to go through education to the highest attainable level possible,” she said.

Combined efforts are needed in cooperating vulnerable groups who include the disabled on issues of reproductive health so that they can all be able to make their own choices.-StateMedia

Nurses Warn Government Of High Number Of Deaths At Hospitals

The Zimbabwe Nurses Association has revealed that many patients are now dying at public hospitals due to the worsening shortage of drugs in the country.

This comes as pharmaceutical companies have also warned the government that thousands of patients more risk dying as the health sector continues to fail to import much-needed medicines due to the country’s biting foreign currency crisis.

Although authorities recently released some money for the procurement of key drugs, this was hardly enough to meet the requirements of pharmacies, as well as both government and private hospitals.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association secretary-general Enock Dongo told the Daily News yesterday that nurses in the public sector in particular were watching “helplessly” as patients were dying after failing to get drugs.

“As nurses, we are not happy with the situation in our hospitals. We are saying that the government must urgently look at this issue.

“We don’t have anything to use and we feel sorry for patients. We are watching them dying as many of them are failing to buy drugs which are now being sold in US dollars.

“I think the crisis in the health sector is not being handled well at all,” the despairing Dongo said.

Zimbabwe needs about $400 million per year to meet its full drug requirements for both public hospitals and the rest of the health services sector.

But due to the country’s worsening foreign currency shortages, Zimbabwe has been battling to have normal stocks of essential medicines.

The Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association (PWA) has said that the current economic turmoil has had “a devastating impact” on the health sector.

“The situation deteriorated sharply over the past three months during which the association was allocated five percent of the foreign currency it needed.

“Collectively, association members owe their foreign suppliers $27 million, and this has led to the suspension of credit facilities, and suppliers now demand prepayment of any new orders,” it said.

“The association is grateful to the ministry of Health and Child Care, the ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for the productive engagements which have seen the association getting $2,5 million … benefiting four of the 27 association members … and $1 million cash benefitting 12 members,” PWA added.

It also warned that it would take a long time to have enough drugs in the country once the supply chain dried up, as importing key medicines into the country took between four and six months on average.

Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro said the government was working hard to try and solve the problems being experienced by the health services sector.

This comes as Zimbabwe’s health delivery system is battling myriad problems, primarily as a result of the worsening economic climate and the government’s incompetence.

In the past, major referral hospitals had to suspend many critical services as a result of collapsing infrastructure and the shortage of drugs, including painkillers.

At the peak of its economy, Zimbabwe did not import most of its drugs due to the then healthy state of its pharmaceutical industry, which was dominated by CAPS Holdings.

However, CAPS has been teetering on the brink of collapse for most of the past five years, when it started experiencing severe financial problems.

The struggling drug manufacturer accounted for 75 percent of the local healthcare products market — and was involved in the manufacture, wholesale, distribution and retail of pharmaceutical, consumer and veterinary products.

Today, the company is only operating one of its four plants in the capital Harare, as a result of a lack of funding — leaving the country’s health institutions with no option but to procure medicines, including intravenous drip water, from outside the country.

DailyNews

Acie Lumumba Fired?

 

The State owned Herald reports Finance and Economics Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has fired Acie Mutumanje Lumumba, as chairman of the Communications Taskforce in
the ministry, three days after his appointment.
The Herald says a source who refused to named and quoted confirmed the development.
Lumumba’s appointment was criticised by Zanu- PF members and Information Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi who said Lumumba’s appointment undermined his ministry.
Yesterday, Government through the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services seemingly distanced Ncube from Lumumba, real name William Gerald Mutumanje . The Information Ministry said that Ncube does not have spokesperson outside of the government and
said that Lumumba’s appointment was yet to come into effect as the Minister was still

Acie Lumumba

formalising the requirements of the Civil Service
Commission and the Procurement Regulatory
Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), formerly the State
Procurement Board (SPB).

Court Confirms Zanu PF Victory In Chikomba

 

Electoral Court judge Justice Samuel Kudya on Wednesday threw out independent losing candidate Mr Ngonidzashe Chandiwana petition
challenging Zanu-PF candidate Tapiwa Felix Mhona’s victory. Justice Kudya declared Mhona the duly elected member of the National
Assembly for the Chikomba Central Constituency.
Chandiwana filed a petition at the Electoral Court citing electoral malpractices, intimidation of voters and violence. After hearing arguments from the parties involved, Justice Kudya last week dismissed the petition with costs saying the petition is defective. Justice Kudya said Chandiwana did not comply with the rules of the
court because he did not state the full names and addresses of the perpetrators, in violation of Rule 21 (f) of the Electoral Court. Part of Justice Kudya’s ruling reads:
Accordingly , it is ordered that: 1.The
electoral petition filed by the petitioner in this case is fatally defective and is of no force and effect for want of compliance with Rule 21(f) and (g) of the Electoral (Application, Appeals and Petitions) Rules, 1995.Chronicle

High Court Dismiss 2 Percent Tax Challenge

Combined Harare Residents’ Association director Mfundo Mlilo’s attempt to block the recently announced 2 percent tax on electronic money transfers yesterday hit a snag after the High Court yesterday threw out the matter for lack of urgency.

Mlilo had taken Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube to the High Court contesting the legality of the 2 percent electronic transactions tax.

After going through the record, Justice Felistus Chatukuta saw no urgency in the matter and ruled that it should be brought as ordinary court application. The judge stated on the record her reasons for dismissing the application.

“The applicant having become aware of the decision of the Minister of Finance on 3 October, 2018 does not explain why it took him almost two weeks to file the present application,” she said.

“The perception by the applicant that the tax is illegal is not a basis for urgency. The matter is not urgent and is accordingly removed from the urgent chamber application roll.”

After the ruling, Mlilo’s lawyers filed a fresh court application.

Minister Ncube introduced the tax a fortnight ago in his Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) that came into effect last week.

In his application, Mlilo argued that the Government’s decision was made without the necessary backing of the law, citing in particular the amendment of the income tax or the regulation of the tax in a Statutory Instrument.

Mlilo further argued that on October 12, Minister Ncube enacted the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Monetary Transfer Tax) Regulations Statutory Instrument (SI205 /2018) to legalise and actualise his announcement done on October 1, 2018.

He said the Statutory Instrument remained unconstitutional and a nullity, arguing the minister cannot amend an Act of Parliament in terms of the law.

To this end, Mlilo wanted the higher court to put on hold the minister’s decision to review the intermediate tax from five cents per transaction to two cents per dollar.

The activists also wanted the immediate suspension of the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Money Transfer Tax) Regulations published in SI205 /2018.

President Mnangagwa recently put more weight on the intermediary money transfer tax of 2 cents saying it would remain in force.

The tax, he said, was critical in transforming the economy that has suffered from two decades of stagnation.

The President said the tax was not designed to hurt the ordinary people and companies, but to help the manufacturing sector to get funds for retooling and modernisation as the economy gears to ramp up production.

He hinted there was room for the tax to be refined going forward if suggestions were proffered, to create a win-win situation for individuals and companies.

-State Media

Community Service For Media Student Who Stole Girls’ Underwear

 

Final year media studies student at Midlands State University, Prince Danda (21) was sentenced to perform free labour for 70 hours
after he was convicted of stealing girls’ underwear from washing lines.
He pleaded guilty when he appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Beauty Dube saying he stole the pants as he is used to masturbating while holding girls’ underwear. Ms Dube
sentenced him to perform 70 hours of community service at Senga Poly Clinic.
The court heard that on October 14 at around 12:30PM, Danda was seen by the complainant entering a residence where she is a tenant. Upon entering, Danda went straight to the back of the house where there were some clothes on the washing line. He stole the complainant’s pant
which was on the washing line and hid it in his jeans pocket. On the way out, the complainant asked Danda what he wanted and he replied that
he was lost before he went out of the yard. When the complainant went to check for her clothes, she found that her pant had been stolen.
She followed Danda and met some police officers on patrol and reported her case.Chronicle

Woman Demands More Money From Her Ex Due To Price Hikes

A Bulawayo woman has taken her ex-husband to the Civil Court demanding an increase in maintenance following countrywide price hikes.

Blessing Kanombirira, who was demanding that maintenance be doubled from $100 to $200 a month, told magistrate Ms Ulukile Mlea that the $100 that was being contributed towards the upkeep of their two minor children was insufficient because prices and school fees had gone up.

Ms Kanombirira told the court that her husband, Kudakwashe Mukurunge has been contributing $100 and was once in arrears that led her to apply for a garnishee order that was granted in March last year.
She told the court that the children’s fees changed from $50 a term to $75.

“I want an upward variation from $100 to $200 because everything has gone up groceries, school fees, and clothes, generally everything hence $100 cannot cover all the expenses for our two children,” she said.

Mukurunge agreed to increase maintenance for his minor children stating that he understands the reasons behind the need for increase.

“I am offering $100 as increase. I understand why there is need for me to add $100 especially since she is not employed,” he said.

The magistrate ordered Mukurunge to contribute $200 as maintenance with effect from October.

“By consent upward variation is granted from $100 to $200 with effect from October 31 with reference to the previous conditions and the garnishee,” said Ms Mlea.

The court heard Mukurunge is a police officer and the children are five and three years old. – state media

RBZ Releases US$6,7mln for Drugs But They’re Just Useless Letters Of Credit

…the initial US$6,7 million availed on October 11 was in the form of letters of credit …

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has availed a further US$3,3 million towards drug procurement, bringing to US$9,9 million the total disbursements made in the past two weeks.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the latest disbursement was earmarked for both private and public sector pharmacies as well as the manufacturing sector.

“As we continue on the path to normalisation of the health service, the ministry further advises players in the health sector that Government is committed to resourcing the industry and the RBZ has in response released a further US$$3,3 million cash to pharmaceutical industry and other health institutions,” reads part of the statement.

According to the ministry, the development is expected to see things normalising in the health sector, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector.
“As was agreed with various stakeholder representatives, the health sector would embark on the normalisation process and revert back to the status quo through accepting different forms of payment for services, service providers accepting medical aid cards, medical aid societies timely meeting reimbursements for prescriptions and upholding the value of RTGS:US$ at 1:1,” further reads the statement.

Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe president Mr Portifa Mwendera yesterday emphasised the need for consistency in availing of foreign currency to improve drugs supplies.

He said the initial US$6,7 million availed on October 11 was in the form of letters of credit and drug suppliers were yet to confirm production of drugs using this arrangement.

Mr Mwendera said the pharmaceutical sector had for long not been operating using letters of credit.

They were using direct payments, hence suppliers were waiting for approval from manufacturers on whether they approve production using this facility.

“So far, none has been able to confirm that supplies will be delivered using letters of credit and we were told the process takes between two to three weeks before we receive a confirmation,” said Mr Mwendera.

He said the latest disbursement of US$3,3 million was a direct payment and supplies were expected to improve soon, but only for a short period since the amounts involved were far from what is required to meet the national demand. He said the pharmaceutical sector alone required US$2 million per week to meet its demand.

“Retail pharmacies were allocated US$1 million for importation of medicines and we are going to prioritise medicines for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Natpharm company, was also allocated US$1,5 million to procure drugs for the public sector and the remaining allocation went to local pharmaceutical manufacturers,” he said.

Mr Mwendera said the allocations were not enough. Natpharm managing director Ms Flora Sifeku was unreachable for comment regarding progress towards procurements in the public sector.

Most private pharmacies are still demanding payments in US dollars and refusing to accept medical aid cards. – state media

Chiyangwa Demands Respect

Philip Chiyangwa
ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa has demanded that his leadership be accorded respect as they battle to keep national football afloat in a tough operating environment under which many an institution could easily have closed shop.

The association has battled long and hard in a harsh economic climate to ensure that national teams fulfil their international obligations with Chiyangwa, his deputy Omega Sibanda and board member Philemon Machana the principal figures in that tireless fight.

The latest of such crucial obligations were the back-to-back African Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Democratic Republic of Congo where ZIFA had to part with more than $200 000 to ensure a successful fulfilment of the home and away assignments.

Yet in fulfilling such international obligations for the Warriors, the Mighty Warriors and the Young Warriors, the association have had to dig deeper into their own resources and rely on the ingenuity of their board.

It is against this background that Chiyangwa believes his leadership deserves some respect for bringing back a business approach to an institution that had earlier in 2015 been declared technically insolvent, only for the Sport and Recreation Commission to sit on the findings of the Obadiah Moyo probe team.

The ZIFA boss has been telling those who care to listen, especially those in a poisoned football environment that his board needed to make some tough business decisions for the association to stay afloat and ensure that the Warriors are back playing again.

As the Warriors stand on the threshold of a return to the Nations Cup show-piece, Chiyangwa said his ZIFA would continue with their business approach and ensure there is stability in all of the domestic game’s organs.

The Harare business tycoon had earlier also taken time to tell listeners on Capitalk 100.4 FM that his board would continue to pull all the stops to ensure they fulfil their mandate to govern and develop the game in the country.

A case in point is when the Warriors travelled to Kinshasa where they had to source for the scarce foreign currency for the airfares to fly the players from their different bases in Europe and South Africa mostly for the training camp.

The association also needed the hard currency for the Warriors trip to Kinshasa, their upkeep in the DRC capital where to their credit Chidzambwa’s men went a little earlier in order to accord themselves enough time to settle down, get down to some hard work and still have occasion to recover.

“I think when I came in (December 2015) there was a crisis which you are all well aware of and I sort of came in as a crisis manager.

“We had to get rid of the negativity that had become the order of the day, there was no day that would pass without the media reporting on the negativity that was prevalent in the game.

“I am doing the best I can with the team that I have and we are not going to look back, we just want to continue to achieve more,’’ Chiyangwa said.

World soccer governing body FIFA have also restored confidence in ZIFA and have resumed release of tranches of FIFA Forward Funds upon presentation of audited accounts and budgets.

Chiyangwa admitted, however, that ZIFA still needed to improve on game management with the Warriors night match against the Leopards which raked in just over $78 000 providing them some harsh lessons from the problems encountered during that match.

ZIFA also apologised to the fans who ensured a frustrating night at the turnstiles with Chiyangwa indicating that the future solution lies in securing machines that would scan out any fake tickets.

“Zimbabwe Football Association would like to express sincere gratitude to all supporters who watched the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier match between the Warriors and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday night. We are humbled by your support. A total of 13 090 fans paid to watch the match and we collected a gross amount of $78 669,00. However, it is the organising committee’s contention that approximately over 30 000 were at the National Sports Stadium to watch the match.

“The Association regrets the unfortunate crowd trouble and stampede which occurred at some entry points. We are very thankful that no life was lost.

“The match organisation committee which comprises of all relevant stakeholders met on Friday, the 19th of October to introspect on what went wrong and to proffer solutions going into the future.

“We would like to inform our beloved fans that gates were opened at 4pm, well ahead of the 7pm kick-off. Twenty-one (21) gates were opened out of the thirty (30) gates because the other nine (9) were not functioning,’’ ZIFA said in a statement.

But it is the bigger picture of the achievements that the national teams have recorded that Chiyangwa, who also dramatically rose to become the COSAFA president and a member of the CAF executive committee, believes even their biggest critics and detractors, needed to respect them.- state media

WILL THIS WORK? – Govt Says No Cash Targets For Traffic Cops

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (RBZ) must not give traffic cops manning roadblocks targets as this fuels corruption and other forms of misconduct, Home Affairs and Culture Secretary Dr Melusi Matshiya, has said.

Responding to questions from the Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services yesterday while presenting requirements on the 2019 National Budget, Dr Matshiya also indicated that the ZRP had dismissed some of its members for engaging in corruption.

“Corruption in ZRP was there and those who were caught red-handed by their bosses were fired. On the aspect of targets, I was not aware. The problem with targets is that you will push officers into doing something which ordinarily they would not want to do. This creates a problem,” he said.

“In terms of our image and how we now relate to the public and the mentioning of too many roadblocks we are rationalising to come up with an appropriate number. The critical issue is when the police mount a roadblock.

“It is to look at the dangers within the society which are speeding, unroadworthy vehicles and many other societal ills such as theft.

“The public said roadblocks are required, but within certain parameters. It is those parameters we are trying to develop to make sure we weed (out) corruption. There is an issue of accountability where we want to see money reaching its intended destiny.”

Dr Matshiya said measures were being put in place to restore the public’s confidence in the police.

These include removal of mandatory spot-fines and giving the public at least seven days to pay their traffic fines.

“The public could now swipe, EcoCash, or pay the fines when they are paying their licence fees or even take their case to the court if they felt duped by the traffic police officers,” he said.

Dr Matshiya said the ZRP was struggling in its operations because of the minimal budget allocation it was receiving from Treasury.

He said the security of the country should be prioritised in terms of funding.

On immigration, Dr Matshiya said there was need for the upgrading of computerisation system.

ZRP Deputy Commissioner-General Levy Sibanda said the police were failing to provide decent accommodation to its members and some of them were living in pathetic conditions.

The ZRP is also facing challenges of vehicles and this has seen police failing to attend to accidents and crime scenes on time.

“Provision of security and prevention of crime is not a menial business. It is quite expensive and it needs a lot of support in terms of the fiscus. We are provided with 30 to 40 percent budget allocations from what we request,” he said.

“The ZRP as an organisation is seriously underfunded and that compromises its operations in terms of accommodation and the communication sector. Without these issues being looked into more objectively, it means we might stay with this problem and our performance will be next to zero.”- state media

Man’s $10K Stolen While Watching Street Fight

A man from Bulawayo’s Kumalo suburb allegedly lost US$10 000 and R160 000 after thieves broke into his car which he left unattended while watching a street fight in the Central Business District on Saturday.

The man who was only identified as Mr Moyo is alleged to have lost the money after he left a bag which had cash in the car at about 12 noon.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident saying two people have since been arrested in connection with the theft.

“We’re investigating a case where a man from Kumalo suburb lost $10 000 and R160 000 which he had left in his car. The victim is alleged to have parked his vehicle a Toyota Fortuner to watch a fight which was happening along Robert Mugabe Way between 4th and 5th Avenue on Saturday afternoon. When he returned a few minutes later he found that his car doors had been unlocked, and the money which was in a green bag was missing,” said Chief Insp Simango.

She said a passerby informed Mr Moyo that he saw two people milling around his car and later the suspects left in a Honda Fit vehicle.

“The victim claimed the Honda Fit was still in the vicinity and he managed to pursue it before catching up with it at Highlanders Sports Club. He told the police that he confronted the three guys who however claimed they had nothing to do with the theft from his car.

“He called the police who assisted in searching the vehicle but the bag and the money were not there,” she said.

Chief Insp Simango said police arrested the driver and the passenger of the Honda Fit who are assisting police with investigations.

She urged motorists to avoid keeping large sums of money in their vehicles as this exposes them to criminals. “We continue to record theft from vehicle incidents and we want to urge motorists to avoid keeping valuable possessions in their vehicles.

“The cases that are continuously being reported to us prove that motorists are not heeding our calls. We can’t effectively fight crime when residents are not complementing our efforts,” she said.

The incident comes just a few days after an alleged money changer Mrs Lindiwe Moyo lost $90 000 belonging to local musician Mrs Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi in Colleen Bawn after a vehicle she had sought a lift from sped off leaving her behind.- state media

Judge Says 2% Tax Challenge Not Urgent

Combined Harare Residents’ Association director Mfundo Mlilo’s attempt to block recently imposed 2 cents tax on electronic money transfers yesterday hit a snag after the High Court yesterday threw out the matter for lack of urgency.

Mlilo had taken Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube to the High Court contesting the legality of the 2 cents electronic transactions tax.

After going through the record, Justice Felistus Chatukuta saw no urgency in the matter and ruled that it should be brought as an ordinary court application. The judge stated on the record her reasons for dismissing the application.

“The applicant having become aware of the decision of the Minister of Finance on 3 October 2018 does not explain why it took him almost two weeks to file the present application,” she said.

“The perception by the applicant that the tax is illegal is not a basis for urgency. The matter is not urgent and is accordingly removed from the urgent chamber application roll.”
After the ruling, Mlilo’s lawyers filed a fresh court application.

Minister Ncube introduced the tax a fortnight ago in his transitional stabilisation programme (STP) that came into effect last week.

In his application, Mlilo argued that the Government’s decision was made without the necessary backing of the law, citing in particular the amendment of the income tax or the regulation of the tax in a statutory instrument.

Mlilo further argued that on October 12 Minister Ncube enacted the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Monetary Transfer Tax) Regulations Statutory Instrument (SI205/2018) to legalise and actualise his announcement done on October 1, 2018.

He said the statutory instrument remained unconstitutional and a nullity, arguing the Minister cannot amend an Act of Parliament in terms of the law. To this end, Mlilo wanted the higher court to put on hold the Minister’s decision to review the intermediate tax from five cents per transaction to two cents per dollar.

The activist also wanted the immediate suspension of the Finance (Rate and Incidence of Intermediated Money Transfer Tax) Regulations published in SI205/2018.
President Mnangagwa recently put more weight on the intermediary money transfer tax of 2 cents saying it would remain in force.

The tax, he said, was critical in transforming the economy that has suffered from two decades of stagnation.

The President said the tax was not designed to hurt the ordinary people and companies, but to help the manufacturing sector to get funds for retooling and modernisation as the economy gears to ramp up production.

He hinted there was room for the tax to be refined going forward if suggestions were proffered, to create a win-win situation for individuals and companies on the one hand, and the economy on the other.

Lumumba Fired After Spilling The Beans? | EVIDENCE SHOWS SERIOUS SCUFFLE OVER HIS JOB

The State Media reports claiming that Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube has dumped Mr Gerald Mutumanje (also known as Acie Lumumba), as the Chair of Communication Taskforce in the ministry, three days after his appointment.

ZimEye issues caution at the development since there is not a single word communicated to date by Mthuli Ncube. Investigations to date show that Lumumba has been rejected by the Information Ministry, not Mthuli himself.

Mutumanje was never hired as an employee on salary, and yet the state media portrays him as such.

To add more evidence to the pile, Lumumba as late as 10 pm Monday night was freely publishing as per his role in the Finance Ministry. SEE BELOW:

Notwithstanding, the state media full print continued as follows:

The appointment of Mr Lumumba for the public relations job drew relentless brickbats from many quarters of the society with questions being raised over his credentials to run the high-profile portfolio in the ministry.

The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Service announced on its Twitter handle the latest development.

“The Minister (Mthuli Ncube) would like to inform the public that he does not have a spokesperson outside institutions of government. Regarding the ‘Communications Taskforce’ he is yet to operationalise it as he is dealing with requirements of PRAZ and Civil Service Commission,” said the ministry.

Minister Ncube reportedly appointed Mr Lumumba to head the Communications Taskforce in the ministry last Friday.

According to the letter Minister Ncube said: “This letter serves to appoint you as chairman of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Communications Taskforce.

“The (task-force) will reimburse you for all your reasonable and properly documented expenses that you incur in performing the duties of your office.

“It is my expectation that you will bring your experience in leadership and communications strategy to improve the communication between my office and the people of Zimbabwe.”

Following his appointment, Mr Lumumba hit the ground running and in live video that went viral on the social media platforms, announced that Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe directors were feeding the blackmarket with bondnotes.

He boasted that he had access to financial intelligence supplied to him during briefings with Minister Ncube.

He went on to name Mirirai Chiremba, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa and Azvinandawa Saburi as the chief culprits behind parallel markets nefarious activities.

This resulted in RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya suspending the four, to pave way for investigations.

Efforts to get a comment from Minister Ncube were fruitless. Secretary for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Mr George Guvamatanga said he left office early and could neither deny or confirm Mr Lumumba’s sacking.

He pledged a response after 15 minutes but was no longer answering his mobile phone. – state media

Mastercard Reinforces Commitment to Set Up Office in Zimbabwe

Left to Right: Professor Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Ajay Banga, President and CEO, Mastercard and Dr John Mangudya, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Harare, Zimbabwe, 22 October 2018 – Mastercard President and CEO, Ajay Banga, this week visited Zimbabwe to show Mastercard’s strong support for the country’s drive to create a new wave of digital payments and inclusive growth. He outlined how Mastercard will collaborate with local private and public sector partners to drive greater financial inclusion through the implementation of innovative payment technologies.

Banga met with key government and private sector stakeholders including Professor Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, and Dr John Mangudya, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, to formalise Mastercard’s support for payments innovation in Zimbabwe.

Banga also disclosed Mastercard’s plans to establish an office in Harare, Zimbabwe to coordinate its efforts to address financial inclusion – a pressing challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa where only 42.6 percent of the adult population has access to an account.

He made the announcement in Harare today at the company’s CEO Conversations event, a gathering of senior leaders from top financial institutions, mobile network operators and retailers. The new office will allow Mastercard to provide more effective support to its customers in neighbouring Southern African countries.

“Too many people and businesses are still excluded from the financial mainstream. This leaves them without the things we take for granted – a way to save money for a rainy day, get loans, or insure themselves or their crops,” says Banga. “Harnessing our global technologies and expertise, our Zimbabwean team will closely collaborate with all stakeholders to solve local challenges and enable more inclusion in the formal financial system.”

Mastercard’s expertise and products will be relevant across Southern Africa and in Zimbabwe, as the country implements the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, which aims to increase access to formal financial services from 69 percent in 2014 to at least 90 percent by 2020.

Dr John Mangudya, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, says: “We see Mastercard’s investment as a positive development that will help us achieve our long-standing vision and our strategic plan to accelerate the shift towards cashless payments, modernise payments systems and infrastructure, and build an inclusive financial sector that supports the socio-economic development of the country.”

To increase financial inclusion in Zimbabwe, Mastercard recently partnered with EcoCash to launch EcoCash Scan & Pay, offering a simple, secure and instant QR code-based mobile payments solution to merchants and consumers. Since it leverages low-cost QR code technology rather than physical point of sale devices, Masterpass QR makes it simple and affordable for small and informal traders to accept digital payments.

“We applaud the remarkable steps Zimbabwe has taken towards modernising its electronic payments sector and the significant strides it is taking towards a more inclusive society,” says Mark Elliott, Division President for Mastercard, Southern Africa. “We are excited about the opportunity to partner more closely with Zimbabwe’s financial institutions, businesses and public sector to bring greater interoperability and payments innovation to the benefit of consumers and merchants.”

Recruitment Of Nurses To Be Done Publicly

By Own Correspondent| Harare Hospital CEO Dr Nyasha Masuka has revealed that the Central Hospital School of Nursing will be conducting their recruitment process in public from this year onwards.

The media has been awash with reports of some prospective nurses bribing officials to get a place at nurses’ training schools. Dr Masuka invited members of the public to observe the selection process.

Said Dr Masuka:

“All applications will have to come via the post office and will conduct the selection in a ballot box. We will invite members of the public to observe the selection process.”

Harare Hospital will be reducing its intake from the current 72 to 35 so as to scale up the standards of its graduates.

Last week, the Ministry of Health and Child Care announced revised requirements of trainees for the registered general nurses’ course from May 2019, citing that they now require 5 Ordinary levels including Mathematics, English  and Science in one (1) sitting. Only those below 30 years will also be accepted to train as nurses according to the new requirements.

Government Not Aware Of Lumumba’s Appointment

By Paul Nyathi|Government has declined the appointment of Acie Lumumba as the so called Spokesperson for the task force in the Ministry of Finance.

In a post on Twitter on Monday through the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services government distanced Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube from Lumumba and his new appointment.

The Information Ministry said that Ncube does not have spokesperson outside of the government and said that Lumumba’s appointment was yet to come into effect as the Minister was still formalising the requirements of the Civil Service Commission and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), formerly the State Procurement Board (SPB).

“Minister of Finance, Hon @MthuliNcube would like to inform the public that he doesn’t have a spokesperson outside institutions of govt. Regarding the “Communications Taskforce”, he is yet to operationalise it as he is dealing with requirements of PRAZ & Civil Service Commission.”

Net Closing In On Big Fish In Forex Deals, Mangudya Fires Warning Shots

By Own Correspondent| Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr John Mangudya, has suspended with immediate effect four senior managers following allegations of impropriety raised against them by newly appointed Finance ministry spokesperson Acie Lumumba.

The managers are messers Mirirai Chiremba, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa and Azvinandawa Saburi.

Controversial Zanu PF politician, Lumumba recently claimed that state security agents had narrowed down sources of illegal foreign currency dealings and will soon meet up with Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube to sniff out economic saboteurs.

Lumumba told a local publication that top Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) officials were fuelling the mess on the market and would soon be placed under surveillance.

“The minister is receiving briefs, yes, and will meet them (security sector) this week. The minister is committed to arresting the situation and the security agencies have narrowed down the source of the criminal activities. It’s clear we have dirty hands collaborating with government officials and it’s only a matter of time now before government shuts down the aggressive influence of the black market and clean up errant government complicity,” he said.

He added that the level at which RBZ had been “captured” by the suspected saboteurs required the intervention of the security sector, as Ncube would not be able to execute the job alone.

“There are directors at RBZ, especially, who are holding industry captive. The corruption at director level of the RBZ is pure poison and there is no single business that doesn’t know that the directors are out of control. RBZ has been captured and the governor will need security sector support to clean that up,” he said.

 

Mnangagwa Top Aide Not Happy With Lumumba’s Appointment

The Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ministry have voiced concern over the controversial appointment of Acie Lumumba as head of the newly-created Finance ministry communications committee.

Deputy Information minister Energy Mutodi yesterday said that the appointment came as a surprise to them, as they were never consulted.

“I am afraid that the appointment of a communications chairperson in the ministry of Finance may undermine the role that is to be played by the Information ministry. Most governments realise the world over that not all ministers, especially those appointed for their technical expertise have good communication skills, hence the need for an Information ministry that communicates government policy to the public,” Mutodi said.

Lumumba, whose real name is William Gerald Mutumanje, was appointed to chair a communications “taskforce” in the Finance ministry.

However, Ncube came under fire over the appointment, which was made on Friday, as several citizens, argued this was an ill-informed decision.

The Finance minister, who is one of the technocrats appointed by Mnangagwa after the July 30 elections, has however, not yet made public the names of the other members of the committee.

But Mutodi, yesterday said if all government ministries were to go by Ncube’s stance, the government will end up with an inflated workforce.

“If all ministries manned by technocrats would resort to communications chairpersons we will eventually have a bloated workforce and a duplication of duties as the Information ministry must continue to maintain its oversight role on all policy communications.

“We have a minister, a deputy minister and a permanent secretary in the Information ministry and I think this is enough staff complement to cover government communications. We even further have a deputy chief secretary for presidential communications hence the need for us to limit recruitment of any additional communications personnel at government level,” Mutodi said.

He further said that people with a passion for communications such as Lumumba could assist as members of the ZBC board that they are currently putting together.

Lumumba, who is a former Zanu PF member, quit the liberation movement in 2016, citing failure to deliver on its electoral promises.

He later launched his own opposition party, Viva Zimbabwe, after he was fired as the chairperson of a steering committee on the Zimbabwe Youth Empowerment Strategy for Investment, amid allegations of misappropriation of funds meant for the Zimbabwe Youth Council.

He was also at the centre of controversy after he was filmed performing a sexual act with his partner. The sex tape was recovered from his house during a police raid.

Lumumba, who has three unresolved fraud cases, was also previously in the eye of a storm when he was accused of “lying” that he had obtained a degree from the prestigious Harvard University.

Daily News

Lumumba Leak: Mangudya Fires Four RBZ Employees

Jane Mlambo| Following controversial Zanu PF politician, Acie Lumumba’s allegations that top Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe officials were fueling the mess on the foreign currency black market, central bank Governor Dr John Mangudya has suspended four employees pending investigation on their involvement in the said crimes.

In a statement released this afternoon, Mangudya said Mirirai Chiwenga, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa and Azvinandawa Saburi have been suspended for the sake transparency and good corporate governance.

Public Consultations On The National Budget Begin

THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development began nationwide public consultations on the 2019 national budget on Monday.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube is expected to present the upcoming fiscal policy statement at the end of next month.

According to Parliament, two teams conducted the public hearings in different areas starting with Kariba, Chinhoyi, Kwekwe and Gweru on Monday

The Portfolio Committee will be at Bulawayo Rainbow on Tuesday as well as Bindura and Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central.

On Wednesday, the public consultations will be taken to Chinotimba Hall in Victoria Falls in the morning, Hwange in the afternoon, Chivhu and Masvingo at the Civic Centre.

On Thursday, the Portfolio Committee is expected to be in Gwanda (Gwanda Hotel) in the morning as well as in Gutu (Bikita Rural District Council boardroom) in the morning and in Mutare at Sakubva Hall in the afternoon.

On Friday, the team will be in Beitbridge (Vembe Seconday School) in the morning, Marondera (Mbuya Nehanda Hall) in the morning and Harare (New Ambassador Hotel) in the afternoon.

The public hearings, which seek to strengthen Parliament and citizens’ role in the formulation of the national budget, are conducted every year in fulfillment of section 28 (5) of the Public Finance Management Act.

The Act states, “the minister may, through the appropriate portfolio committee of Parliament, seek the views of Parliament in the preparation and formulation of the annual budget, for which purpose the appropriate portfolio committee shall conduct public hearings to elicit the opinions of as many stakeholders in the national budget as possible”.

The provision is also in line with section 13 of the Constitution, which compels the State to involve the people in the formulation and implementation of development plans and programmes that affect them.

TOUCHING STORY: Man Drops Dead After Being Denied Medicals, Mnangagwa Told: ” Mwari ave nemi nemhuri yenyu”

By Farai D Hove| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has been accused of causing the current economic downturn. Mnangagwa was named for committing a “soft genocide” on the povo following his defeat during the just ended elections, which saw the Chief Justice, handpicked by him, Luke Malaba, ruling in his favour.

Mnangagwa has also been labelled for blowing hundreds of millions of dollars on expensive foreign made vehicles among other luxuries for his party which have seen the economy tumbling down after the elections.

A man writing directly to him during the day said his nephew has dropped dead after being denied medical aid. The man writing under his Twitter name, “Thanos Taflo,” said, “I shared a room with my nephew for 4 years and we got along. Yesterday the Lord chose to end his suffering.

“He was in hospital for 2 days, No doctors, his HMAS medical aid was denied. President my nephew is gone, zvenyu zvirikufamba. Mwari ave nemi nemhuri yenyu.”

Violence Wrecks TelOne PSL Promotion Celebrations

Terrence Mawawa|TelOne’ s celebrations for gaining promotion into the Premier Soccer League were marred by violence following their 1-0 win over Tongogara yesterday.

The Joel Luphahla coached side finished the season with 44 points, three ahead of the Army outfit who have now missed the championship on the last day for the second time in a row, having surrendered the race to Nichrut in the last campaign.

Violence broke out after the final whistle as angry Tongogara fans started to beat up officials from the opposite team.

In one video footage soldiers had to intervene after a mob attacked a man who seemed to be wearing a police uniform.

Adieu Shabanie FC!

Terrence Mawawa| Shabanie Mine FC have become the first team to be relegated to the less fashionable world of division one football following a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Harare City.

The Chinda Boys needed a victory to maintain their slim chances of surviving the chop, but the loss left them fifteen points behind the team occupying the 14th position with only four games to go.

Tatenda Tumba scored the solitary goal for the Sunshine City Boys in the 84th minute. Shabanie had a chance to get the advantage earlier in the game but Joseph Sibanda’s penalty kick in the first minute was stopped by keeper Ryan Harrison.

Why Nelson Chamisa’s Post Should Not Be Contested At Next Congress

 

Terrence Mawawa|Prominent social media analyst Antony Taruvinga believes MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has the capacity to lead the party after the 2019 congress.

Below is Taruvinga’ s argument:
I have for a couple of times come across debates centred on the MDC Congress, especially on whether or not the president should be contested.

So intriguing that a person who won the election with 2 674 032 is being contested.Competition is the beauty and foundation of democratic institutions and society. The MDC and its president Nelson Chamisa cherish and promote competitive internal democracy.

That having been said, we are practising democracy in a country ruled by merciless autocrats who will always try to infiltrate and destabilise institutions run by their competitors.

They will hit hard until they find a weak spot and they will use it to get to the epicentre of the organization and start the destruction and destabilisation process.

Lets be suspciously prudent because the vultures are out to destroy the people’s movement. They attempted it using Thokozani Khupe and hit a brick wall resulting in Khupe getting booted out of the party.

They are not done. Zanu PF’s primary priority is to have the weakest and the least popular candidate emerging from the MDC at any cost.We will not be quick to expose the individuals who are being used to destabilize the people’s struggle, but we will. We will release the can’s lid and the worms will flood the floor. We will make them lose at the National Congress by voting enmasse against them.

In my well thought and considered view, the need not to have Chamisa contested outweighs the need to. The elective Congress is a competition full of liars and propagandists. We may unnecessarily cause bruises on our “horse.” The task will still be ours to treat and clean the “horse” for 2023.

“We Doubt If Matemadanda Even Shot The Enemy’s Dog During The Liberation War”

 

Terrence Mawawa|MDC Alliance official official Jeffryson Chitando has said war veterans leader Victor Matemadanda’ s liberation struggle credentials are questionable because of his “reckless utterances.”

In the statement below Chitando responds to Matemadanda’ claims that Dzikamai Mavhaire’s is a political liability.

Victor Matemadanda must be reminded that the liberation struggle was fought by armed vanamukoma;vasungwa;mujibha,chimbwidos and ordinary citizens.

Matemadanda should be reminded that some of those vanamukoma came back to independent Zimbabwe without having shot a single enemy or the enemy “s dog.Those vocal war veterans like Matemadanda were the worst cowards.

Matemadanda must be reminded that the freedom fighters (Vanamukoma) never brought food and clothes from Mozambique or Zambia but the people of Zimbabwe provided such items to the freedom fighters.

Such shallow minded war veterans like Matemadanda were busy abusing young women.Zimbabweans should doubt the liberation credentials of people like Matemadanda.

True war veterans understand that the war for liberation wasn’t going to be successful without other units ,namely Chimbwidos and mujibhas.

Matemadanda must seriously explain his war credentials. If he was a true freedom fighter he must have appreciated the roles played by various groups to fight the enemy.

For Matemadanda to label Dzikamai Mavhaire a herdboy is irresponsible.

The people of Masvingo understand the role played by Dzikamai Mavhaire during the liberation struggle. The recruitment of thousands of young people to join the liberation struggle,clothing of war veterans ,logistics,organising and medical supplies to freedom fighters were some of contributions made by Dzikamai Mavhaire in Masvingo.