INGUTSHENI Central Hospital claims it now has adequate drug stocks and food supply for its patients following a 200 percent budgetary increase from government.

The institution – the largest referral center for mental patients in Zimbabwe, was also one of the first beneficiaries of the Health Levy Fund, which acts as insurance for hospitals.

So far, Ingutsheni Hospital has used USS$650 000 from the Health Levy Fund to procure Central Nervous System (CNS) drugs, which are critical in psychosis therapy.

Recent reports had said the institution was facing a critical shortage of essential drugs, with some supplies having completely run out.

In a fact finding mission, CITE spoke to Ingutsheni Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Ernest Manyawu, who revealed government had increased its 2018 budget by 200 percent, which had boosted the institution’s stocks.

“As of 2017, our recurrent budget was $450 000 and for 2018 our recurrent budget is now $1.55 million. That’s effectively a 200 percent increase because of that we have been able to buy food and stock up on necessary drug supplies. What I have noticed is when you tell people you have drugs people don’t want to believe you, we don’t know why,” he said.

In addition, Manyawu said the health levy account introduced by the Ministry of Health and Child Care had topped up to the $1.5 million budgetary allocation,

“We used this money to buy CNS drugs, which are psychiatry medicines. We have a list of what we need to buy and if you say Ingutsheni doesn’t have drugs, it means we don’t have those in supply but we actually have them,” he claimed.

Ingutsheni Hospital sources its drugs from the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) and has a supply of 76 percent in stock.

“We are not going into the private market to buy drugs. I’ve been asked that question and people were actually assuming that because the private market is asking for US dollars that situation is applicable to us but no, we acquire our drugs from Natpharm. Senior management from NatPharm was here last week and we actually communicate with them.

“We produced a graph of our consignment and this year our drug supply is exceeds last year’s 70 percent. The drug availability is around 76 percent for CNS drugs that means we have enough for drugs for patients. When we don’t have a specific drug for a patient we have an alternative so we in terms of drugs we are ok,” he claimed.

Manyawu said in its planning model presented to the health ministry, some types of CNS drugs were lower as they had increased the dominator list.

“We had a list of 14 types of drugs required then it went up to 18 and then to 23. Initially last year we had 14 drugs on the list and we achieved 100 percent stock but when we moved to 18 drugs we were hitting 80 percent. Now that we have moved to 23 lists, we have 76 percent availability which for our purposes is good and everyone who comes in will have something,” he explained.

“For as long as the health levy fund is available, our medicines will be covered. From the day the health levy account came on board, Ingutsheni because of our peculiarity was actually among the first to utilise it. To date the ministry of health calculated and gave us a report that we have used USD$650 000 for those 23 drugs. That is why in the national health sector we talk about national health insurance because it makes a difference”.

As for food supply the situation is stable said Manyawu.

“We don’t have cases of pellagra and our children are actually well fed. Our worry now is the price instability on the market it will begin to affect as from January early next year that’s if the prices on the market don’t stabilise. Not just Ingutsheni but everyone will have a problem because you will still need to go to the shops to buy cooking oil and a lot of things.

For now, we have enough stocks. I remember we have cooking oil to last us six months, sugar for four months. Our meat situation is actually stable as we are able to procure meat. Our protein level is good, we have beans, soya mince and beef itself. We are ok but we need the donations. The Anglican Church just donated 250kg of beef,” he noted.

The CEO said what Ingutsheni needed was more detergents to sanitise the hospital and patients surroundings.

“This is because the type of patients we are dealing with. Some of them may not really be conscious of what is happening and if you have a dirty environment patients may touch then put hands into their mouth. Until they grow conscious about their environment we need it to be clean. We also need linen in the forms of uniforms, blankets and bedding. Then you need infrastructure that is very important. You need boilers to supply hot water, need a kitchen, need wards, roofs with no leaks. This is what you need in a hospital like Ingutsheni right now,” Manyawu summed.

CITE

Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando yesterday defended Government’s decision to place Hwange Colliery Company under the control of an administrator as there were no prospects of a turnaround amid rising debt.

He said Hwange Colliery Company had continued to suffer losses, despite coming up with a strategic plan which envisaged huge margins of profits.

Minister Chitando said this while giving oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy chaired by Norton MP, Mr Temba Mliswa.

Last week, the Government placed Hwange Colliery Company under the control of an administrator in terms of the Reconstruction of State Indebted Companies and Insolvency Act to avert further worsening of fortunes.

“The story of Hwange Colliery Company is a sad one. If you look at the results of Hwange, the biggest problem is that it has made a gross loss. The revenue you are getting is less than what it is costing to produce,” said Minister Chitando.

He said Hwange Colliery had incurred a net loss of $23 million in its half-year in 2018 despite promising to be working on a $5 million profit in its strategic plan.

Minister Chitando said Hwange had made successive losses over the years.

“That is why fundamentally there is no business in this world which can ever succeed if it is costing you more than your revenue. Who is paying you for that cost? In January to December 2017, Hwange for the first time made a profit of $1,3 million, but posted a net loss because that time there were a number of intervention measures.

“January to June 2018 things went berserk; it was now losses, we had a fundamental problem.

“That gave Government warning shots that as a shareholder we have a problem. You now have a deterioration,” said Minister Chitando.

Legislators asked why there were no adequate consultations with other stakeholder such as fellow shareholders before a decision was made.

Questions were also raised on whether the decision to place the coal miner under reconstruction would not scuttle a forensic audit the outgoing board had initiated.

Minister Chitando said the forensic audit would continue and that the results would be made public.

The Minister said the decision to place Hwange under an administrator was meant to arrest a further deterioration. He said the Government wanted Hwange Colliery Company to return to profitability.

-State Media

President Mnangagwa arrived here yesterday on a two-day State visit at the invitation of President Alpha Condé and will use the occasion to appeal for African support in Zimbabwe’s efforts to re-engage the West and end economic sanctions on the country.

Zimbabwe is under illegal Western sanctions which have hurt its economy for nearly 20 years.

President Mnangagwa landed at the Airport Conakry Gbessia in the afternoon and was welcomed by his host, President Condé, who is past President of the African Union (AU).

The President received a 21-gun salute and inspected a guard of honour.

He had a brief meeting with President Condé and the two leaders were set for a closed-door dialogue last night.

Briefing journalists, Presidential spokesperson and Deputy Chief Secretary (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba said the trip here was critical for Zimbabwe’s cause for the removal of sanctions.

“We are consolidating African support towards our re-engagement with the Western world where we must make sure that all the sub-regions of Africa are solidly behind Zimbabwe in its efforts to break sanctions as well as achieve some rapport with the West,” said Mr Charamba.

“Generally, you are more effective when your neighbour adopts your own cause so that it becomes an African position. That is precisely what we are trying to do by consolidating our support in Sadc, which we have already done. You notice that the last Sadc summit (held in Namibia) passed a resolution against sanctions. Now, we are trying to bring that same consensus continentally and in the case of French West Africa, we also expect that countries like Guinea Conakry will help put in a word for Zimbabwe to the French, who by the way, are critical especially after the exit of Britain,” he said.

He added: “We are also aware that the French Bank Lazard is working with Afreximbank to put up a financial package for Zimbabwe as well as help the country reconnect with international financial institutions. France is a key member of international financial institutions and it is important that we consolidate our interests and our message to Francophone Africa. We have been to Mali. We are now in Guinea Conakry and Guinea Conakry is critical to us because this is the past President of the AU. He (Mr Condé) also has clout in this sub-region.”

Mr Charamba said it was important to seek African support in the removal of sanctions.

“He is the past President of AU. We want to consolidate our viewpoint and our own interests so that it helps us to persuade West Africa to complete the agitation for the removal of sanctions as well as re-engagement with the west but more critically, we think that Guinea is in a good position to consolidate our relations with the French who, by the way, are very forthcoming now as evidenced by Bank Lagard which is working with Afreximbank to create a facility for Zimbabwe,” said Mr Charamba.

President Mnangagwa’s administration has been pushing for engagement and re-engagement in an effort to end Zimbabwe’s isolation from the West since 2000 as a result of the land reclamation programme.

-State Media

 

Government has issued a stern warning to schools after it emerged that some were demanding tuition fees in United States dollars.

Some top private schools have already sent out circulars to parents advising them to pay next term’s tuition in US dollars.

Parents fear more schools might follow the bandwagon.

Responding to questions from journalists after a media briefing, Primary and Secondary Education Secretary Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango warned schools to desist from making such demands saying it was a violation of Government policy.

“If there are schools asking for US dollars they will be brought to book because we have not received any policy to the contrary. We know that fees are being paid in local currency because people are getting their salaries in local currency.

“We have not been advised of any changes so far,” said Dr Masango.

Her remarks come after Government, through the Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, urged businesses to observe the multi-currency system prevailing in the country.

The move by some schools to ask for a single currency is clear contempt of the Government’s position.

Dr Masango assured parents that this year the Electronic Ministry Application Platform (EMAP) for Form One boarding pupils will be seamless unlike last year when it was marred by technical glitches.

“We took in suggestions that came from stakeholders when we were making improvements on the EMAP system, as a result we do not expect it to crush especially with the measures we have put in place,” said Dr Masango.

Parents were also urged to apply early on the platform as there are just 24 320 boarding places yet 350 810 candidates sat for their Grade 7 examinations in 2018.

“Parents who wish to send their children to boarding schools are advised to start applying through the platform (www.emap.co.zw). This year’s platform will run from November 5, 2018 to December 21, 2018.

“Successful applicants will be notified through short message service (sms) by the respective school heads. Details about individual school enrolment patterns, school fees and levies are available on this platform,” Dr Masango said.

-State Media

 

ZIMBABWE Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Elasto Mugwadi yesterday said the majority of citizens are having their socio-economic rights violated as government is failing to provide safety nets to cushion the poor in light of the economic turmoil inflicting the country.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of a national conference on human rights and access to justice organised by the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF), Mugwadi said enjoyment of rights could not be separated from the economic situation in the country.

“When we are talking of enjoyment of human rights, you cannot separate that from economic development, especially with our current situation and the economic challenges that we are facing,” he said.

“There are so many rights, especially socio-economic rights, that are being violated in this country and the approach of the State in terms of the Constitution is progressive realisation of such rights. A right that may need to be addressed now will have to wait because there are no resources for up to 20 years and the damage would have already been done.”

He urged people to put the just-ended elections behind them and focus on working together for economic development.

Addressing the conference, the president of the Commonwealth Judges and Magistrate Association, Justice Charles Mkandawire said there was need to make justice accessible to all.

“Access to justice has largely been affected by corruption and people now neglect courts because of corruption. Most people who are in need of judicial services come from marginalised communities continue to be sidelined when they are the ones who most need it. There is need for a set of guidelines that enhance human rights and promote access to justice in Africa,” Mkandawire, who is also a Malawi High Court judge, said.

He noted that access to justice in Africa was being stifled by a raft of issues, including corruption.

The two-day conference is focused mainly on key human rights issues confronting Zimbabwe and strategies to address these issues in the next five years.

Running under the theme Enhancing Human Rights and Access to Justice in Zimbabwe, the conference saw civil society organisations and State institutions exploring opportunities for collaboration in advancing human rights and access to justice in the country and shaping advocacy strategies.

NewsDay

 

SHORT VIDEO OF MINISTER ADMITTING WALTER MAGAYA HAS NO DOCUMENTATION AT ALL ON TESTS FROM INDIA:

COMMENT: That Walter Magaya who government has declared intention to assist in testing/ developing an HIV cure, is a serial conman is without question: There are numerous cases of victims he has stolen money from under the guise of financial products he advertised. One of those victims is a Zimbabwean assisted by ZimEye in July this year after she was conned 20,000 British pounds. There are numerous other victims within and outside Zimbabwe and all this is public knowledge.

Secondly – that Walter Magaya is a serial rapist is without question. Although he does not have a conviction as yet, there are several cases he has paid out of court settlements for. He is currently battling prosecution for his latest case, another which he doled out an out-of-court lump sum for.

What has irked Zimbabweans is the fact that government entertained Magaya despite the fact that he lied that his Aguma medication was tested and approved in India. To this date, there is not a single record of the said tests in India. Last week the ministry of health conducted a whole press conference with Magaya inside as they declared that they are going to assist him on his HIV concoction. The minister of Health’s side of the story is that an African science innovator must be given equal access to state resources so they can test their products. It however appears that, apart from Walter Magaya, no other citizen has ever been granted a press conference to speak about their innovation.

YOUR VIEWS?  

Mnangagwa Govt Announces It's To Assist A Serial Rapist Develop An HIV AIDS Cure, What Special Message Is Govt Sending To Investors?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 6, 2018

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa used his Executive powers to refuse Hwange Colliery a renewal licence for the Western area concession, Mines minister Winston Chitando told Parliament yesterday, a claim which businessman Billy Rautenbach last week said was not his.

The concession, which measures more than 10 000 hectares, was among the three that the Colliery was granted by government in 2015, along with Lubimbi East and West, with an estimated resource of 750 million tonnes of mainly coking and thermal coal.

The resources are expected to prolong its lifespan by 50 to 70 years.

“There were four grants whose licences were to be renewed and clearly Hwange did not qualify for renewal of any of these licences,” Chitando told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines.

“A company called Localise Mining was then successful and given the Western area grant and they paid $100 000 to secure it and subsequently the letters of authority were signed by the former Mines minister Walter Chidakwa.

“Section 301 of the Mines and Minerals Act says all mining renewals are taken to the President, who does the renewals, and for the Western area, the President declined to sanction the grant to Hwange Colliery.”

The chairperson of the Hwange Scheme, Andrew Lawson, last week told the same committee that businessman Rautenbach had claimed ownership of the concession.

“You are giving the same Rautenbach another concession when he sold one concession, Tidal, to a Kazakhstan businessman for $4 billion and never mined there? Billy now owns everything in Zimbabwe when blacks are suffering,” committee chair Temba Mliswa said.

On Shepherd Tundiya, who was said to be calling the shots at Hwange and giving orders to the board, Chitando denied any relationship with him.

“I only met Tundiya once at a rally in Hwange and he did come to my office with Juliana Muskwe (acting Hwange Colliery board chairperson) to speak about issues of Hwange Colliery as a stakeholder. So, Tundiya has no mandate to give instructions to the Hwange board on behalf of anyone,” Chitando said.

He said he placed the Colliery under administration because the miner owed government $150 million and had made a loss of $23 million in the first six months of the year.

Chitando said Hwange also owed $42 million to Portuguese conglomerate Mota-Engil, which was contracted to mine coal on a five-year contract in 2014.

Hwange Colliery company secretary Allen Masiya then told the committee that the $6,4 million, which was ring-fenced for developing the Western area concession had been misused by management without board approval, adding that when they were about to report the case to the police, they were then harassed by Tundiya.

A forensic audit on the $6,4 million is currently underway.

Masiya also told the committee that the manner in which Chitando placed Hwange under administration was unlawful.

The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) acting chief executive Martin Matanda told the committee that Chitando was supposed to meet other shareholders before putting it under reconstruction since it is a listed company on the ZSE, Johannesburg and London stock exchanges.

He said government’s illegal move will drastically affect investment into the country.

NewsDay

Own Correspondent|The government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality has signed a Memorandum Of Uunderstanding (MOU) with AlJazeera Media Network to promote Zimbabwe on the global network.

“This is an opportunity to showcase the beauty of our country to the world!” said Hon. Prisca Mupfumira, the Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Minister who signed on behalf of Zimbabwe.

Minister Mupfumira also adressed the 109th session of UNWTO executive council, in Manama Bahrain. She acknowledged the UNWTO program of works on poverty alleviation in Tsholotsho, Zimbabwe and called for continued cooperation to support biodiversity.

“All our hands are on the deck in promoting Zimbabwe as a destination of choice,” she added.

This comes as the government is mulling plans to set up a State-run and fully-fledged university of wildlife management at Mushandike College in Mashava, as part of efforts to boost the country’s tourism and hospitality sector and up its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.

The move is also aimed at priming the tourism and hospitality sector to be a major pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision to make the country an upper middle income economy by 2030.

In a speech read on her behalf by the permanent secretary in her ministry, Mr Munesu Munodawafa, at Mushandike College’s eighth graduation ceremony last Friday, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira said opening a wildlife management university would help Zimbabwe accrue more benefits from its rich wildlife resource base.

At least 245 graduates were awarded diplomas and certificates in wildlife management.

According to New Zimbabwe.com, men from Mpandawana Growth Point said that they were at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, as some of the condoms often burst during sex.

The country’s National Aids Council (NAC) reportedly identified Mpandawana, the largest service centre in Gutu, as a “hot spot” for new sexually transmitted diseases in Masvingo province.

In February, former health minister David Parirenyatwa challenged local manufacturers to produce condoms so as “to address concerns over the size of condoms imported from China”.

‘Too small’

Parirenyatwa urged manufacturers to produce condoms that were suitable for Zimbabwean men.

According to NewsDay, Parirenyatwa said at the time that the move would also save on foreign currency.

He said that young people in the southern African country complained about the size of the imported condoms, saying they were “too small”.

At least 109.4 million condoms were distributed across Zimbabwe in 2016 which amounted to about 33 condoms per individual for the year, a New Zimbabwe.com report said.

This made Zimbabwe one of the five countries that exceeded the United Nations Population Funds regional mark of 30 male condoms per man per year, the report said.

Condoms were one of the key measures that government and development partners were using to fight the HIV and Aids prevalence.

-News24

Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) chairperson Elasto Mugwadi yesterday said the majority of citizens are having their socio-economic rights violated as government is failing to provide safety nets to cushion the poor in light of the economic turmoil inflicting the country.

Speaking to NewsDay on the sidelines of a national conference on human rights and access to justice organised by the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF), Mugwadi said enjoyment of rights could not be separated from the economic situation in the country.

“When we are talking of enjoyment of human rights, you cannot separate that from economic development, especially with our current situation and the economic challenges that we are facing,” he said.

“There are so many rights, especially socio-economic rights, that are being violated in this country and the approach of the State in terms of the Constitution is progressive realisation of such rights. A right that may need to be addressed now will have to wait because there are no resources for up to 20 years and the damage would have already been done.”

He urged people to put the just-ended elections behind them and focus on working together for economic development.

Addressing the conference, the president of the Commonwealth Judges and Magistrate Association, Justice Charles Mkandawire said there was need to make justice accessible to all.

“Access to justice has largely been affected by corruption and people now neglect courts because of corruption. Most people who are in need of judicial services come from marginalised communities continue to be sidelined when they are the ones who most need it. There is need for a set of guidelines that enhance human rights and promote access to justice in Africa,” Mkandawire, who is also a Malawi High Court judge, said.

He noted that access to justice in Africa was being stifled by a raft of issues, including corruption.

The two-day conference is focused mainly on key human rights issues confronting Zimbabwe and strategies to address these issues in the next five years.

Running under the theme Enhancing Human Rights and Access to Justice in Zimbabwe, the conference saw civil society organisations and State institutions exploring opportunities for collaboration in advancing human rights and access to justice in the country and shaping advocacy strategies.

-Newsday

 

Kwesé parent company Econet Media (Mauritius) says reports that it has lost a court case against the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) are malicious, misinformed and misplaced.

Responding to reports in the Herald newspaper that the Supreme Court had ruled that “Econet Media (Mauritius) cannot distribute Kwesé TV satellite content to Zimbabwean viewers because it failed to comply with the terms and conditions under which it was granted license”, Econet Media insisted that it had never been in any court in Zimbabwe against BAZ, and that its affiliate, Econet Media Zimbabwe, was properly licensed to distribute multimedia satellite content in Zimbabwe by the government’s licensing authority, BAZ.

“The article is referring to a recent Supreme Court judgement (Judgement No. SC62/18) in the case between The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe and Dr Dish (Pvt) Ltd in which the Court ruled that Dr Dish (Pvt) Ltd had failed to comply with the terms of a Content Distribution License issued to it by BAZ when it tried to distribute content from Econet Media (Mauritius),” an Econet Media spokesman said.

“Although Dr Dish had a Content Distribution Agreement with Econet Media Mauritius, Econet Media Zimbabwe terminated all and any agreements with Dr Dish when Dr Dish persisted with litigation against BAZ. At the time that Econet Media Zimbabwe ended the relationship Dr Dish, Econet Media Mauritius also terminated its Content Distribution Agreement with Dr Dish. Econet duly notified the Courts of its withdrawal from the agreement with Dr Dish,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman denied that Econet Media had changed its business model and scaled down its DTH (satellite) service because of the judgement.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. On observing global changes being driven by the internet, technology and globalisation, and their impact on business models, consumer preference and behaviour patterns, we have taken the strategic decision to refocus the business based on market trends. ” the spokesman said.

“All we have done is to de-emphasise our satellite service and redirect our efforts and resources towards a future-proof business model, which recognises the global shift by consumers towards connected digital services,” the spokesman said.

He added that contrary to recent reports, Kwesé was growing and expanding its services around Kwesé iflix, its flagship service and Africa’s fastest growing mobile service, with several million customers across Africa.

Kwesé, he said, was also extending its Kwesé Play (broadband TV) service which offers premium, unlimited video-on-demand services – including Netflix – to several African countries over the next few months. He said its Kwesé Free Sports is now in over 27 African countries, and was riding high on successfully bringing the FIFA World Cup to over 200 million viewers across Africa.

“As a matter of fact, Kwesé TV has not gone anywhere. We have streamlined our service to 15 Channels which include the popular Kwesé Free Sports channel, premium faith TV channels and news. More importantly we have, in line with the refocus and strategic shift to digital, extended a free 12-month Kwesé iflix subscription to each of our existing Kwesé TV subscribers, to enable them to enjoy an unlimited choice of videos and movies as well as linear channels available on Kwesé iflix. We are excited to be leading in this digital entertainment revolution,” the spokesman said.

 

 

Correspondent|A ROW has erupted between a Form 3 pregnant student and school authorities at St Anne’s Goto High School in Wedza with the former accusing the administration of violating her rights after expelling her from the institution in September this year.

“I am pregnant and the school authorities expelled me on September 24, 2018, because of my condition. My boyfriend committed suicide in August 2018. My biological parents separated a long-time ago and grew up with my grandmother. I want to resume studies with others this term at the same school, hence the need for your assistance,” part of the girls’s affidavit read.

The girl (name withheld) is fighting to be readmitted to the Anglican-run school after she was expelled for falling pregnant.

According to a letter dated September 23 and signed by the school head only identified as KK Mutseyekwa and addressed to the girl’s guardians, the pupil’s expulsion became necessary when she fell pregnant.

The school authorities said the move was in the best interests of the school and the unborn child.

“I regret to advise you that I have reason to believe that your daughter in Form 3 fell pregnant while at school. It is in the best interest of the school, the learner and the child to be born that she be allowed to take leave from the school,” the letter read.

In her affidavit stamped at Mukamba Police Station in Wedza on October 2, the 18-year-old girl, who is an orphan pleaded with government to intervene so that she could go back to school.

“I plead with the government authorities and Constitutional Court to assist by ensuring that I go back to St Anne’s Goto High School. I am pregnant and the school authorities expelled me on September 24, 2018, because of my condition. My boyfriend committed suicide in August 2018. My biological parents separated a long-time ago and grew up with my grandmother. I want to resume studies with others this term at the same school, hence the need for your assistance,” part of the affidavit read.

Efforts to get a comment from the school authorities were fruitless yesterday.

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe Mashonaland East provincial chairperson Tapiwa Chengeta confirmed the case and said the school violated the girl’s rights.

“We have an obligation to safeguard not only the teachers who are our members, but also the pupils who are our stakeholders. To us, expelling the girl is a violation of circular P35 which gives exceptions to the girl child in the event of pregnancy. It is also a violation of the child’s constitutional right to education.

“We intend to take the issue through our legal department and the relevant education authorities. An innocent child cannot suffer because of rotten implementation of the statute. We stand guided by the regulations,” he said

By Professor Mthuli Ncube|ON Friday, November 2, 2018, I visited Surface Wilmar based in Chitungwiza. The company is owned by one of the largest companies in the world in the production of edible oils, based in Singapore. The factory floors are most impressive and world class, and it was not lost on me that this was right in the middle of Chitungwiza.

To see this modern plant operated by automated robotic systems, making it one of the most efficient companies in Africa in the edible oils sector, was uplifting, as the last time I have visited a robot-controlled factory was in Hyundai in South Korea a few years ago.

The futuristic robotic systems-controlled factor floors at Surface Wilmar are testimony to the aspirations of Vision 2030, and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), that Zimbabwe can become the gateway to investment into Africa.

Turning Zimbabwe into a gateway into Africa means establishing an Offshore Investment Centre with strong links to the Zimbabwe One-Stop-Investment Shop which processes investments. This needs to be seriously explored for Zimbabwe to continue to attract global investors such as Surface Wilmar from Singapore. This means all new foreign investment into Zimbabwe, going forward, could be registered in the Offshore Centre, giving foreign investors similar benefits as are enjoyed in centres such as Mauritius, Guernsey and Isle of Man.

There are many reasons why Zimbabwe could be a successful gateway into Africa, through the Offshore Centre.

First, Zimbabwe has a highly educated population with the requisite skills to service such an offshore centre. The competent crop of legal firms, accounting firms and other service providers can successfully provide the services needed to support the offshore centre.

Second, Zimbabwe has a strong regulatory environment in the form of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, tax regulator (ZIMRA), securities regulators, among others. These regulators are already operating at global standards and are globally compliant in their approaches.

Third, the multi-currency regime positions Zimbabwe as an ideal place for foreign investors to preserve their value in hard currency. Even, investors from neighbouring countries could find Zimbabwe very attractive in terms of value preservation, apart from the investments that Zimbabwe offers in the first place.

Fourth, locally the Offshore Investment Centre could also help stem any unnecessary capital outflows out of Zimbabwe, as the country would be as good as any centre in the world for offshore investments.

Fifth, while there is need to make more investments in Zimbabwe’s infrastructure, the current infrastructure is very good by standards on the African continent, outside South Africa. Having traversed the whole of Africa, in the last 20 years, and when I was with the African Development Bank, I am convinced that Zimbabwe has very good infrastructure. This again makes the country an attractive location for an Offshore Investment Centre.

Sixth, one of the benefits to be offered by the Offshore Investment Centre is a special low tax environment for any company that invests through it. ZIMRA has the capacity to administer this dual tax environment of offshore investors and domestic investors. ZIMRA is a member of Africa Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) which ensures that its systems, processes, capacity and capabilities are of world standards.

Finally, Zimbabwean banks have the capacity to offer world class custodial services and administrators can equally offer administrative services, where they are required by foreign investors, in addition to the capacity offered by accounting firms and legal firms.

Turning Zimbabwe into a gateway into Africa, means establishing such an Offshore Investment Centre. This vision means that investors would now come into Zimbabwe to access the entire opportunity in the region and the rest of Africa, and not just Zimbabwe.

It is doable, and sends the right signal that Zimbabwe is truly open for business, even beyond its borders.

Mthuli Ncube is Minister of Finance and Economic Development

Correspondent|AFTER weeks of chaos, fuel prices in the country fell by at most four cents, with Energy minister Joram Gumbo attributing this to a dip in international crude oil margins.

A survey around Harare showed that most service stations had reduced petrol prices from $1,43 to $1,39 per litre, with availability seemingly having stabilised and queues that had become an eyesore no longer visible.

“We only have a problem with diesel. Petrol supplies have stabilised. We have enough stocks and that is why maybe the price has fallen. No retailer wants to hold it for long. The more we sell, the better the margins. We have been asked to push volumes,” a fuel attendant in Harare said.

Following the announcement of a new monetary regime that included a 2% transactional tax, Zimbabwe spiralled into fresh economic turmoil last month, with basic goods disappearing from supermarket shelves.

Shortages of fuel, one of the most important industrial inputs, also re-appeared, with motorists being forced to queue for the commodity for long hours on end as government scrambled to deal with the desperate situation.

Gumbo yesterday said prices would continue to fluctuate in the coming days and weeks.

“We are monitoring international oil prices and when they fall, our retail prices will follow suit. We will also allow the local market to determine the prices, but under strict monitoring. If international oil prices rise, you will see a similar movement here,” he said.

The shortages, which Gumbo last month attributed to panic-buying, triggered black market trade in the commodity in Harare and other cities, with illegal fuel dealers cashing in on the crisis, charging as high as $2 per litre against a pump price of $1,40.

The spiralling United States dollar parallel market went into meltdown after Finance minister Mthuli Ncube announced a 2% tax on all electronic transactions, triggering a fresh wave of price increases and consequently shortages.

In response, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government capitulated to public demands and indefinitely suspended sections of Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 to increase the flow of basic goods into the market, mainly from neighbouring South Africa, ahead of the festive season and ease pressure on foreign currency demand on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Correspondent|A gang member who was part of a syndicate that went on a movie-style shooting spree and open fire battles with the police before getting away with over $25 000 lost his manhood in the shootout.

Godfrey Josi (35) allegedly lost his manhood after his gang engaged in an open fire battle with the police in Chitungwiza which also resulted in the injury of one police officer, Prince Gwashura .

Austin Ncube (27), Harmony Nyathi (29), Polite Madamombe (34), and Sangulani Chikumbutso (38) appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing six counts of armed robbery.

Wisdom Tariro (22) who is believed to be part of the syndicate was issued with a warrant of arrest and the gang was remanded in custody to November 19 .

They are represented by Tawanda Takaendesa who submitted that his clients had complaints against the police claiming that they were assaulted.

Prosecuting, Shepherd Makonde said the State would look into the assault allegations.

It is alleged that on October 20, at around 0015 hours, the gang went to Mabamba complex at Chitungwiza Town Centre where they confronted Noel Mapingura who was guarding the premises. Mapingura fled from the scene and reported the matter to the police.

He came back in the company of police officers and noted that the gang had broken into Mukuru.Com offices and set detonators at the office’s safe and got away with US$494, $364 Bond notes and a car battery.

Police officers fired warning shots at the gang to scare them off but the accused persons retaliated and shot Prince Gwashura, a police officer on the groin.

On October 16, at around 2120 hours, the armed gang allegedly proceeded to Glen Norah A and requested to see the owner of the house Tatenda Mugwenhi who was not around at that time.

It is alleged that they threatened to shoot a woman Stella Ruvengo who was at the house if she made any noise.

They demanded cash and ransacked the whole house and stole US$5 550, $375 Bond notes and a phone. They reportedly tied Ruvengo’s hands at her back using shoe laces and fled from the scene.

The State alleges that on October 17, the gang went to Samson Mutenda’s work place in Willowvale armed with pistols and disguised as potential customers.

They reportedly produced pistols and ordered Mutenda and his co-workers who were in the shop to lie down while they ransacked the offices. They alleged stole $7 000 Bond notes and two cell-phones.

On October 30, the accused persons were allegedly driving a Mercedes Benz E240 when they went to a cement retailer. They allegedly produced pistols and fired three shots at one Simbarashe Maposa shooting him on the stomach. The gang reportedly stole US$1 200.

M&T

A Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officer has been relieved of his job after a disciplinary hearing convicted him for using “traitorous or disloyal” words towards President Emerson Mnangagwa.

John Mahlabera was accused of tweeting in favour of then MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa April 9.

He was also charged for undermining President Mnangagwa and attending an MDC Alliance rally held in Tshovani Stadium, Chiredzi on June 10, 2018.

On count one, Mahlabera was found guilty for contravening Section 3(1) of the Prisons (staff) (discipline) Regulations of 1984, using “traitorous” or “disloyal” words against Mnangagwa.

“On the 9th day of April 2018 and at (or near) Chiredzi prison, the said 2929948A C01 Mahlabera John (Herein referred to as accused), being a member of the Service, did: Unlawfully made political comments on his Twitter account after an MDC Alliance rally that was held at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka which was addressed by Nelson Chamisa, the President of MDC Alliance political party,” reads the charge sheet in part.

“He wrote the following words on his Twitter account ‘Come to Chiredzi my President’ thus showing loyalty to the opposition party president, thereby exhibiting disloyalty and disgraceful conduct to the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.”

On the second count, Mahlabera was also found guilty for contravening Section 3(46) of Prisons (Staff) (Disciplinary) Regulations 1984 after he attended Chamisa’s rally which was held in Chiredzi.

“Being a member of the Service, did: Unlawfully and intentionally participated in active politics when he attended MDC Alliance rally which was held at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi on 10 June 2018, whereupon, the accused was invited to the podium by MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa who then introduced him to MDC Supporters.

“The member was then promised promotions or work as a security detail if Nelson Chamisa wins the harmonised elections that were held on 30 July 2018 for showing a partisanship with MDC party,” the charge sheet further reads.

Advocate Collin Maboke of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who represented Mahlabera during the disciplinary hearing said he will appeal against the prison officer’s conviction at the High Court.

Correspondent|Political activist Patson Dzamara has warned Zimbabweans from taking sides in the ongoing fights between Zanu-PF factions saying Zimbabweans stand to benefit nothing because the fight is about personal egos and not about the nation.

“Until the day we learn that Zanu-PF fights are never about us, I’ll vehemently reject the notion that we are an educated bunch. When they fight, its a case of 1 beggar trying to drive others out of town. We must just drive all of them out rather than getting dazzled by their crap,” Dzamara said.

“I repeat, problems are never solved at the same level they were created. Expecting Zanu-PF to retrieve us out of this pit they put us into is foolish. It won t happen. If we are going to allow them to continue forcing themselves on us, we may as well get used to failure and poverty.”

Dzamara’s statements come at a time when Zanu- PF factions are embroiled is messy fight for the control of the Party. The factions are allegedly aligned to President Mnangagwa and Vice President Chiwenga respectively.

Whistle blower Acie Lumumba was recorded confessing to Wedza South ZANU-PF Member of Parliament MP Tinoda Machakaire that he was used by Christ Mutsvangwa and Mthuli Ncube to fight RBZ bosses and tarnish the image of Fuel Boss Kuda Tagwirei.

“They tricked me,” Mutumanje says of Mutsvangwa and Ncube.

“The only reason these people got me is that they knew I was in a tough corner. My father wasn’t feeling well. I went to Chris and said why are you letting my father suffer like this when you worked together? He said we will take care of him, but there’s something I want you to do for me but because at the time I wasn’t thinking the only thing that was on my mind was to look after my father and I made commitments, I said yes I will do it without knowing what it is. Little did I know I’had signed my life away, now this whole operation was about to start.

“I knew that they were planning something, but I didn’t know that I would be part of it, talking about it.”

The Muzarabani oil project has high potential to produce 3,9 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas and 181 million barrels of conventional gas, Australia-listed company, Invictus Energy has confirmed. Cubic feet are used to measure volume in the oil and gas industry.

A maiden resource estimate report released by Invictus yesterday said the Muzarabani project had net mean recoverable conventional potential of 680 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), consisting of 3,9 tcf and 181 million barrels of condensate or conventional gas.

The report was completed by a leading petroleum consultancy firm, Netherland, Sewell and Associates Inc (NSAI).

The 3,9 tcf of natural gas can give the country 500 megawatts of power for 40 years while 181 million barrels of conventional gas can give Zimbabwe enough fuel for the next 20 years at current consumption levels of 25 000 barrels per day, according to Invictus managing director, Mr Scott Macmillan.

The fuel that can be produced from conventional gas includes high-octane petrol, as well as jet, diesel and boiler fuels.

Invictus cautioned that the quantities of petroleum that may potentially be recovered by the application of a future development project relate to undiscovered accumulations.

“These estimates have both an associated risk of discovery and a risk of development. Further exploration, appraisal and evaluation are required to determine the existence of a significant quantity of potentially movable hydrocarbons,” reads part of the statement by Invictus.

“Prospective resource assessments in this release were estimated using probabilistic methods in accordance with SPE-PRMS standards,” it said.

While Invictus has not yet discovered oil and gas, subject to exploration and drilling, information available so far points to vast potential for the two resources in the area under exploration.

“The high side estimate of over 2,2 billion boe gross is enormous and confirms Muzarabani as potentially the largest undrilled seismically defined structure onshore Africa,” said Mr Macmillan.

He added that the estimate excludes the additional prospective horizons above and below the Upper Angwa in the Muzarabani structure as well as further plays and leads within the SG 4571 area which have the potential to add material prospective resources to the Cabora Bassa project.

Significant additional potential would be evaluated in post seismic reprocessing results in the first quarter of 2019, the statement said.

Going forward, Invictus will continue with its geological and geophysical studies, including additional basin modelling and a further resource estimate leading to a planned marketing programme to attract a farm-out partner.

Following on from the reprocessing work, a final independent Prospective Resource Report encompassing the entire SG 4571 area will be delivered early next year. “Our technical work programme continues to highlight the enormous potential of the world class Muzarabani prospect in our Cabora Bassa Project. We look forward to maturing the additional potential within our acreage and continue to build on our significant prospective resource inventory,” reads Invictus’ statement.

President Mnangagwa on Thursday last week addressed a press conference in the presence of officials from Invictus and updated the nation on oil and gas prospects in Muzarabani.

He pledged Government’s full support for the project and indicated that if all goes according to plan, Zimbabwe would have its first oil exploration well by 2020.-state media

A 27-year old woman from Bulawayo has been arraigned for beating her younger boyfriend for allegedly dumping her.

Memory Dube of Pumula East suburb had allegedly tried to scald Canaan Ndlovu (22) with boiling oil.

She allegedly assaulted him using an empty pot after he told her he wanted to collect his property and move out of the house.

Dube convinced him to sleep over and assaulted him during the night. The court heard that Ndlovu is employed at the National Railways of Zimbabwe while Dube is not employed.

Mr Kenneth Shava prosecuted. Dube pleaded guilty to physical abuse charges when she appeared before Western Commonage magistrate, Mr Lungile Ncube.

“We started fighting because he came back home late at night and started playing loud music. I eventually overpowered him,” she said. Mr Ncube remanded her out of custody to today.

The State alleged that on October 4 at around 6PM, Ndlovu told Dube that he was separating from her and had come to collect his property.

Dube convinced him to sleep her over. During the night she tried to pour some boiled cooking oil on Ndlovu who had just woken up but he managed to avoid the hot oil.

“She then took an empty pot and assaulted him several times on the head and face injuring him,” said Mr Shava.

Ndlovu reported the matter to the police leading to Dube’s arrest. Ndlovu did not seek medical attention.-state media

ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has dismissed from employment, John Mahlabera, a prison officer, after convicting him for undermining President Emmerson Mnangagwa and posting a Tweet viewed by his superiors as disloyal to the ruling ZANU PF party leader.

Mahlabera was convicted on Monday 5 November 2018 and dismissed from employment by the trial officer only identified as Superintendent Muzhingi.

When trial commenced on Thursday 1 November 2018 at Chiredzi Prison, Masvingo province, Mahlabera pleaded not guilty to charges of undermining President Mnangagwa through posting some political comments on social media and to some misconduct charges.

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

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

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

Mahlabera was also convicted for misconduct, where ZPCS authorities alleged that he attended an opposition political party rally ahead of the country’s harmonised elections held in July 2018 in contravention of section 3 (46) of Prisons (Staff) (Disciplinary) Regulations 1984 that is being guilty of any other act, conduct, disorder or neglect of duty to the prejudice of good conduct or discipline as read with section (19) (a-g) of Staff General Regulations 1968.

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

ZPCS charged that Mahlabera was promised employment by Chamisa, where he would work as a security detail for the opposition political party leader in the event that he emerged the winner of the harmonised elections that were held on 30 July 2018.

ZPCS said Mahlabera had no right whatsoever to conduct himself in the manner he allegedly did.

A record 2,215 people took to vote for the best leader between Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga and below were the results whose reliability was maintained by a strict IP filter that ensured only human beings vote:

BE HONEST, BETWEEN MNANGAGWA & CHIWENGA – WHO'S A BETTER PRESIDENT?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 3, 2018

BE HONEST, BETWEEN MNANGAGWA & CHIWENGA – WHO'S A BETTER PRESIDENT?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 3, 2018

Jane Mlambo| Bulawayo Deputy Mayor who was forced to resign by the Movement for Democratic Change has been re-elected back into his position in a move that leaves the party leadership with an egg on the face.

Kambarami resigned yesterday after the party gave him seven days to relinquish his position or be expelled.

Tinashe Kambarami has won the deputy Mayor position in the party uncontested .That means he is still the deputy Mayor .#Asakhe

— Zenzele (@zenzele) November 5, 2018

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesman, George Charamba has said Zimbabwe has no option but enter into an agreement with Kuda Tagwirei’s Sakunda Holdings to supply 100 million litres of fuel.

Government is said to have begun negotiations with Sakunda so that it will eventually provide 1,8 billion litres of fuel over an 18 month period.

Said Charamba: “we are already mortgaged and if it was not Sakunda, it was going to be another company.

“As long as you are not an oil-producing country you are already mortgaged anyway and what is the point? Don’t get caught up with the politics that who are you indebted to because that is a foolish argument.

“The point is you cannot avoid being indebted because you don’t have the product. What we have is a line of credit and Zimbabwe has been for a long time on a cash budget and very few friends will be able to give you a line of credit as has happened with Sakunda. We must say Hallelujah, fuel is an unavoidable expenditure.”- Standard

Bindura North Ward 2 Report on RAN Mine evictions

In my capacity as the councillor of ward 2 , Bindura town council I held a meeting with residents of Ran Mine compound. The agenda was on the letters of eviction that have been given to families of mine workers to vacate the compound by the 31st of December 2018.

The workers have been employed at this mine for over twenty years and have outstanding salaries that date back to 1999.

A few Misguided elements and 3 ZRP uniformed police distributed letters of eviction forcing ran mine residents to sign forms agreeing to the eviction.

After receiving numerous calls I organised a meeting which was attended by 465 people (based on the number of signatures appended to the petition against the evictions).

At the meeting we resolved that the company must first pay all outstanding salaries to workers before evicting them, provide a descent alternative place for relocation considering that these workers have spend all their lives at the compound, properly follow the law in all their processes. All communications shall be done through the councillor and feedback meetings shall be held on weekly basis.

As the councillor for all in this ward, I represent all citizens despite political affiliation and also hope that the Member of Parliament for Bindura North(Kenneth Musanhu) also comes on board to defend the welfare of these workers and protect their wellbeing from abuse by the capitalist mine owners. I also want to guarantee the ran mine that they should not live in fear as we are about to take this case to the courts,victory is certain.

Ian Makone (Bindura North Ward 2 councillor)

Zimbabwean colours scart branding President Emmerson Mnangagwa has arrived in Guinea. The big question remains, What Will he bring back home.

A ZANU PF party Central Committee member Joshua Muzamba has relinquished his position in the ruling party in compliance with a court order, which directed him to choose between holding a position in ZANU PF party or remain as Binga Rural District Council (BRDC) Chief Executive Officer as provided in the Constitution.

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court in August 2018 ruled that Muzamba must either resign as a ZANU PF Central Committee member or quit being BRDC’s Chief Executive Officer as he cannot occupy both positions at the same time.

Three Supreme Court Judges of Appeal namely Justice Anne-Mary Gowora, Justice Ben Hlatshwayo and Justice Lavender Makoni noted that after assuming political office, Muzamba was automatically barred in terms of section 266(3) of the Constitution from maintaining employment in whatever capacity with BRDC. Section 266(3) of the Constitution provides that employees of provincial and metropolitan councils and local authorities must not be office-bearers of any political party.

Muzamba was given three months by the Supreme Court to decide which position to drop as he could not double up as BRDC Chief Executive Officer and ZANU PF Central Committee member.

In a letter written to Obert Mpofu, the ZANU PF party Secretary for Administration, Muzamba said he was relinquishing his membership of the ruling party with effect from 25 October 2018 in compliance with the terms of the Supreme Court order.

Muzamba was hauled to court by Binga North legislator, Prince Dubeko Sibanda, who was represented by Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara instructed by Kay Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who argued that the Binga local authority leader had breached the Constitution by remaining as the BRDC’s Chief Executive Officer and at the same time maintaining his position as a Central Committee member of ZANU PF party.

 

Correspondent|Former Zimbabwe national team goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar and striker Stewart Shutto Murisa have been roped in a musical project that seeks to champion the welfare of people living with disability.

Other football legends in the project include Labani Kandi, Harrington Shereni, Elvis Chuchu Chiweshe and Justice Majabvi.

The project is an initiative of Light Africa Project, an organisation made up of young Zimbabweans living in the country and diaspora.

In an interview Light Africa founder Chanda Dzawo said they came up with the initiative after noticing how some talented musicians living with disability were having their careers cut short. He cited Tedious Matsito as an example.

“We decided to start this project to assist people living with disabilities from proceeds of the sale of the single we are producing.

“We are targeting at least 15 people including football legends, celebrities and even government officials to be part of this music project.

“We are happy that Stewart Murisa, Bruce Grobbelaar, Munyaradzi Munodawafa and others have agreed to be part of this project. Even people like Ginimbi or anyone who feels like helping is free to join. Bruce agreed in principle but he requested to see part of the intended beneficiaries first so we are waiting for his representative Dickson Choto to revert to us but at this stage he is willing” he said.

Chanda extended an invitation to Harare International Carnival ambassador Genius ‘Ginimbi’ Kadungure and Zimbabwe Tourism authority boss Karikoga Kaeke to lend a voice in the project saying its vital to have them on board since the artists who will be supported were potential tourism ambassadors because of their musical talent.

A fortnight ago a disabled musician Terrence Green secured a free recording contract from the popular Mt Zion Studios after Light Africa had posted a video of him on social media.

“The young boy (Green) had no money to record and this touched our hearts and we sent his video on social media,
“T-Man , a producer with Mt Zion then saw the video and offered to record him for free and they have already recorded and we are excited ,” explained Dzawo.

He hailed Murisa and Grobbelaar for accepting to be part of the project.
Grobbelaar , a former soldier, has no known history of music and his willingness shows that he was touched by the plight of people living with disability.

Munodawafa is a blind musician who started singing at the age of nine and he got generous airplay on radio.

M&T

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba is expected to appear in court as a state witness against a Chitungwiza resident Shadaya Tawona, accused of retweeting a defamatory message against the former High court judge.

Tawona’s trial which was supposed to kick off today was rolled over to 20 November 2018 after the state failed to serve the complaint, Chigumba with papers.

Tawona pleaded not guilty to the offence arguing that all he did was re-tweeting something written on social media by a person he did not know.

The accused had earlier pleaded guilty and later made an application of change of plea after his lawyer Noble Chinhanu from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) successfully applied for change of plea arguing that his client had mistakenly pleaded guilty to the charge due to a misunderstanding of the essential elements of the offence.

In her ruling, Harare Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa said it was clear from the record that the essential elements of the matter were not clearly stated and that there was a possibility that the accused thought the Twitter account belonged to Chigumba.

He also said that when he re tweeted the defamatory message against Chigumba, he was drunk and the account which he took the massage from was named Chigumba.

-263Chat

ZANU PF National Youth League chairperson Pupurai Togarepi has dismissed MDC Alliance principal Tenda Biti’s claims that there are fissures in the party’s presidium and advised him to to continue supporting their mock president Nelson Chamisa and stop hallucinating.

Biti posted on micro blogging site Twitter on Friday alleging that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is no longer in charge of the nation but the military under his deputy Constantino Chiwenga had taken over..

Reports have been awash in the private media where Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are said to be at loggerheads in their alleged quest for power in ZANU PF and the nation at large.

Biti took to twitter saying he has information that Mnangagwa has been captured by Chiwenga and his lieutenants.

“I can strongly confirm that Mnangagwa is under state seizure. He is no longer in charge but the military under Chiwenga and Tagwirei has taken over Zimbabwe with effect from 1 November 2018. What happened last year to Mugabe is happening again in a different way. Chiwenga and Tagwirei have captured the executive powers as they have given Mnangagwa a condition:

Either you play by the rules of the Cartel or you step down by resignation or by military backed public demonstrations. Watch this space, Mnangagwa’s days are numbered. This time Chiwenga is taking over.” he tweeted.

In an interview on Monday, Togarepi leapt into his superiors defence and said there were no fissures in the presidium.

“Zanu PF is in charge and our President (Mnangagwa) is totally in charge and fully supported by his entire presidium. Biti’s utterances are a sign of desperation to divert attention from deep seated divisions in MDC Alliance,” Togarepi said.

MDC Alliance is said to be in an unstable state after the party’s Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora is said to be garnering for the party presidency challenging Nelson Chamisa in next year’s congress.

In a move that suggests Mwonzora is laying the foundation for take over, he recently nullified the suspension of all party members who were dismissed by Chamisa.

Togarepi said Biti can continue to say things that are not existing.

“Biti can continue to hallucinate, his party can continue with their mock president and failed flames while we in Zanu PF continue to work for our great country,” he said.

M&T

 

Terrence Mawawa| Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has been literally captured by the state as the ruling party implodes.

MDC Alliance deputy chairperson, Tendai Biti has said it is a matter of time before Mnangagwa is removed from power by his own comrades.

“I can strongly confirm that Mnangagwa is under state seizure. He is no longer in charge but the
military(under Chiwenga and Tagwirei)has taken control of
state affairs with effect from 1 November 2018.

What happened last year to Mugabe is happening again in a different way. Chiwenga and Tagwirei have captured the executive powers as they have given Munangagwa a condition: Either you play by the rules of the Cartel or you step down by resignation or as a result of military backed public demonstrations. Watch this space, Mnangagwa’s
days are numbered.This time Chiwenga is taking over,” Biti tweeted.

The Zimbabwean government has been drawn into the development of the Makhado-Musina Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Limpopo to supply water to the now controversial multi-billion rand project.

According to MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Seaparo Sekoati, the move was motivated by a fact that the Makhado-Musina is a dry and water-scarce area and the supply of bulk water to the SEZ may be a huge challenge.

The area borders Zimbabwe to the north.

“Zimbabwe is keen to provide water to the SEZ,” Sekoati said on Thursday after the provincial cabinet meeting. He, however, did not provide much detail on Zimbabwe’s involvement.

It is known that China also has billions of rand of investments in Zimbabwe.

Sekoati blasted the DA for making allegations that the project was shrouded in secrecy, describing the party’s stance as “putting a cart before the horse”.

Calls for transparency

A week ago, DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, submitted a memorandum to the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) in Polokwane demanding transparency in the development of the much-anticipated SEZ.

LEDA, which is a lead implementing agent, has a 51% stake in the project in which nine Chinese companies will invest R145bn.

In the memorandum, the DA demanded, amongst others, that it be made public the terms and conditions of the investment, the plan to build a new power station at the SEZ area despite it not appearing in the country’s IRP and the details of the local beneficiation around the project.

The DA also wanted to know how the contracts were signed before any of the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s) were concluded.

Five-year term

However, Sekoati said, “We have been very much open about the project unless people in charge are not reporting all to the legislature.

“We are compiling a set of skills to ensure we are training people and not preparing passive people. We’ve learnt our lessons from the [construction of] Lephalale power station. As much as we are implementing the project, this is a national project and people from other provinces will be coming in.”

He said given examples from other countries such as Korea, the project may take up to five years to be fully functional.

“It’s not something that you wake up tomorrow and say it is running. If you look at Musina, you need a power station. The EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) is the one that’s taking too long to be completed.”

He said the government will provide all the bulk infrastructure needed and the Chinese companies will only set-up their buildings.

– Fin24

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– DailyNews

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

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

LOADING BELOW….

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

— Larry Moyo (@larry_moyo) November 5, 2018

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

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 5, 2018

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

VIDEO LOADING…

 

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

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

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

— Busisa Moyo (@BusisaMoyo) November 5, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— NewsDay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Health Times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-Newsday

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

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

You said you were going to go live at 9pm before the audio clip had flooded our devices now that we’ve got a sense of what the Daily News headline was trying to say, you then come again and type a lousy conspiracy theory on your wall instead of the promised live framing Mangudya the very guy you were vouching for detailing how clean and untainted he is, now he is the bad guy?

I was very happy for you when you were appointed in the ministry of Finance communications taskforce as you had demonstrated impeccable skills in that regard plus you deserved another chance to redeem yourself but it seems the greedy Acie of yesteryear that will do anything for a quick buck is still with us today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No more Mickey Mouse electricians

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Traditional lights target for curbing climate change

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He said they would ensure transparency.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He emphasised that people should continue taking their ARV medications.

He also said new discoveries should got though scientific processes

State Media

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

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

Her boyfriend is on the run.

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

She pleaded not guilty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She allegedly sneaked out of the lodge.

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

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

Kuvarega is still at large.

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

His family finally identified it on Saturday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

State Media

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source Daily News

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

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

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

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

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

Mugabe’s associates

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

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

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

 

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

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

order to combat the disease.The Herald

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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