As they say there is no love lost between Emmerson Mnangagwa and his former boss, Robert Mugabe as the former idolised his mentor  for spearheading the controversial land reform programme.

According to the state media, Mnangagwa said not everyone can be employed and that farming is more than being employed.

He said this while addressing a crowd of Zion Christian Church (ZCC) congregants during the
Kudzika Mugomo conference meant to pray for the rains at the church’s headquarters in Bikita.

“There are others who do not listen and always talk of unemployment when land can be a panacea to all our economic challenges. Do you think if all of you here, with your numbers, look for employment, will you all be employed? I think working on land is more than being employed. At the turn of the millennium, our former President
Mr Mugabe gave us land and it is now time to till that land –making it
productive. We never chose to be
between Zambezi and Limpopo, as a
country, and Zimbabwe is now the
Garden of Eden, it’s God who made
that.State media

By Dorrothy Moyo| ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed regrets over the 2% transactional tax.

Government will review the two percent transactional tax on electronic money transfers to make it sensitive to the needs of both business and consumers, the ZANU PF leader.

Mnangagwa said a new law was being drafted to deal with “unexplained wealth and deposits” after which new tax measures would be announced.

In his weekly column in The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said his Government would always listen to business.

“Government took to heart the cry that the two percent transactional tax has compounded the tax burden for both business and for the consumer.

“Once the legal instrument we are crafting against unexplained wealth and deposits is in place, new measures will be announced to review the tax which, among other considerations, had been occasioned by illicit activities in the financial services sector,” said Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa claimed that his Government would not consider policies that eroded wealth, wages, savings and pensions.

“A key consideration of both monetary and fiscal policy must be to secure the values of wealth, earnings, wages and savings in the economy. We should never make or allow decisions that erode value, as happened in 2008. On this one matter we stand firm and unmoved. No policy will be entertained whose net effect is to undermine value in the economy.”

Indications are that some of the measures Mnangagwa is speaking of will be captured in the 2019 National Budget that will likely be presented in late November.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said he is simplifying the tax structure and coming up with incentives for SMEs to contribute to the fiscus. – Additional reporting – state media

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Indian Vice President, Mr Venkaiah Naidu has left the country after a successful visit which saw him announcing a US$310 million line of credit for the upgrading of Hwange Thermal Power Station and an additional US$23 million for the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo Thermal Power plant, among other projects.

Vice President Naidu started his three-nation visit in Botswana before coming to Zimbabwe and has left for Malawi on the last leg of his visit to Africa.

During his three day state visit to Zimbabwe, he held separate meetings with the President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Kembo Mohadi.

Iin a joint statement issued this Sunday, the Indian Vice President announced a US$310 million line of credit for the upgrading of the Hwange Thermal Power Station, an additional US$23million line of credit for the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo Thermal Power plant and another US$19,5 million line of credit for Deka pumping and river water intake system.

Mr Naidu also announced a grant for the construction of Mahatma Gandhi Convention Centre and a US$2,93 million grant for the upgrading of the Indo-Zimbabwe Technology Centre.

He also pledged 10 ambulances to the government of Zimbabwe and a variety of medicines while the Indian health sector will second experts in various specialties to Zimbabwe.

On Saturday, the two countries signed six memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and action plans in health, mining, media, sport and ICT sectors that are expected to expedite the country’s socio-economic transformation.

On the multilateral front, the two leaders agreed on the need for an urgent reform of the UN Security Council and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestation.

India is Zimbabwe’s third biggest source market for raw materials, tying in with Australia and Zambia, according to a report by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI).

The Indian Vice President was seen off at the Robert Mugabe International Airport by his Zimbabwean counterpart Vice President Mohadi, acting Foreign Affairs Minister Cain Mathema, several senior government officials and Indian embassy staff. – state media

Former Finance Ministry communications agent Acie Lumumba has denied media reports that he was paid $40, 000 to smear the four suspended RBZ top officials, as well as businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

Lumumba briefly worked for Finance minister Mthuli Ncube for just 3 days before he was fired.

The local Daily News reported that Lumumba has admitted receiving USD40, 000 in order to smear the four plus Tagwirei.

Lumumba Sunday morning responded in a tweet saying: “Let’s set the record quickly, I have never received any money from @MthuliNcube , clearly Queen Bee has now set sights on destroying his image so he can be replaced with someone you can capture. Oh Queen Bee, I almost let you go, I really did, now PLEASE google ‘cuddle death’ “

By Own Correspondent| Popular musician and dancer, Sandra Ndebele has refuted claims that she is a foreign currency dealer accusing one Lindiwe Moyo who lost cash amounting to US$8 330 and $80 000 bond as stage managing the robbery to evade paying her back her money.

Moyo claimed the money belonged the singer, Ndebele and that she lost the money to robbers two weeks ago while travelling from Beitbridge to Bulawayo.

Sandy, as she is called by her fans, has threatened to file a lawsuit against Moyo as she believes that she did not lose the money to robbers but invented the story.

Sandy said:

“From what I see, the whole process was stage-managed. How can one leave such large amounts of money unattended in a car with strangers? she is lying, but I won’t have any of it at all.

AlI I want is my money… We agreed that she pays $1 000 per day and she signed an affidavit, but she hasn’t come through. So, I am left with no choice, but to get her arrested… I am a professional musician who makes money through music and bookings. I am also a businesswoman in the business of poultry and clothing.

That’s where I get money from. I am not a cash baron or a forex dealer… I was looking for foreign currency for my travels to Dubai and China where I get some of my stuff.

There should be investigations on the disappearance of my money and not where I got my hard-earned money from.”-StateMedia

Terrence Mawawa|MDC Alliance Masvingo Provincial Executive member Stanley Manguma has said Emmerson Mnangagwa must be arrested for telling “blue lies” to the nation.

Manguma argued Mnangagwa must be arrested because PHD leader Walter Magaya was apprehended for misrepresentation of facts.

“What’s the difference between the self styled prophet Walter Magaya and Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, the First Secretary of Zanu PF .I think the herbalist is better.

Dambudzo is a liar and he must be arrested . No mega deals were signed.

The Zanu PF Secretary is a cheat. Trust him at your own risk,” charged Manguma.

Zimbabwe is currently going through serious shortages of literally everything from bottled water to bread.

Queues have become a common feature across the country as Zimbabweans struggle to purchase even the basics.

Even after suspending import restrictions that were imposed two years ago, the situation has hardly normalised.

All these shortages can however be traced back to the limited availability of foreign currency.

This comes at a time deposits in Zimbabwean banks are at an all-time high of more than $9bn (about R129bn).

Zimbabwe is currently using a multi-currency system anchored on the US dollar.

Treasury and central bank authorities insist the $9bn in the banks is equal to US dollars. But this money can only be used by electronic means, and mostly within Zimbabwean borders.

An attempt to withdraw or make a foreign payment will most likely yield a negative result.

There is hardly any cash in the banks. This is at a time Zimbabwe’s export earnings are at their highest having already reached $6bn (about R85bn) before the end of the year. The country’s two biggest foreign currency earners, gold and tobacco are at an all-time high in terms of production.

Authorities claim it’s a sign of a growing economy, and demand for cash, foreign currency in particular has heightened. But where is the forex generated going, because everybody claims they are not getting anything from the central bank, which took it upon itself to allocate the scarce resource.

It even came up with a priority list, which claims to allocate forex according to importance.

But just last week, one of the country’s largest gold miners closed shop claiming it had hardly received cash from the central bank in 30 months.

Portfolio investors on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange have long given up on repatriating their investments, and yet they are considered as top priority by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

Eskom is reportedly threatening to cut electricity supply to the southern African country for none payment of imported power.

Considering Zimbabwe’s foreign currency earnings are at their highest since dollarisation, it’s hard to explain how it can still experience these crippling shortages.

The import bill, of more than $5.8bn (about R83bn) points to the country’s strong appetite for imported products, but given the shortages and claims by several industries that they are not getting foreign currency allocations, raises many questions.

It points to the underworld where cash must be disappearing to. Claims have already been made that Government and central bank officials are captured by this underworld where they have been diverting cash.

Last month the RBZ suspended four senior officials following claims they were fueling the foreign currency illegal market. There have also been claims of a cartel in the fuel industry, which is also facing serious shortages and yet getting the biggest allocation of foreign currency.

Its hard to explain how fuel imports can increase by more than 50% in a month but the country still experience shortages.

Is the money being used to import, or there is a big heist going on and the foreign currency is being siphoned out of the country?

– Fin24

FOUR Botswana nationals who illegally crossed into Zimbabwe while trailing a spoor of their alleged stolen donkeys, have escaped jail after a court noted that they were simple rural folk.

The quartet of William Mbule Mangalani (66), Mothusi Mbisana (25), Charles Nkathazo (27) and Mooki Mbule (27) of Botswana were convicted on their own pleas of guilty to contravening section 1 (1) as read with section 11 (5) (6) of the Immigration Act chapter 4.02 (Entry into Zimbabwe through an undesignated entry point) when they appeared before Plumtree resident magistrate, Miss Sharon Rosemani.

They were each fined $60 in default of which they were supposed to serve an alternative sentence of 20 days in prison.

Sentencing them, Miss Rosemani noted that the Batswana were simple rural folk who are ignorant of the law, but driven by the desire to find their donkeys which they suspected were stolen and taken into Zimbabwe.

“They are simple rural folk and could not perform community service because they have no place to reside in Zimbabwe. They even went to the police seeking help to find their donkeys. A fine will suffice as they could be able to pay and go,” said Miss Rosemani.

In mitigation, the quartet which cannot read and write, said they entered the country tracking a spoor of their stolen donkeys which was their source of livelihoods as peasant farmers in the neighbouring country.

Prosecuting, Mr Zorodzai Pengapenga told the court that on Friday last week at around 7AM, the quartet entered Zimbabwe through an undesignated point of entry tracking a spoor of their alleged stolen donkeys.

They proceeded to Butshe police base in Madlambuzi to seek assistance to track the donkeys into Tsholotsho.

However, police officers manning the police base interviewed them and discovered that they had no travelling documents leading to their arrest. Their donkeys were still to be recovered.

State Media

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe ace school Peterhouse has advised parents of students at the school that next term fees will only be accepted in United States Dollars and full payment of the $4000.

A circular sent to parents by the school said that it will be refunding all parents who had already paid their fees in advance in RTGS Bond Notes.

The letter from the school reads as follows:

FROM: THE BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Mark Whitaker

Terrence Mawawa|A cholera outbreak is looming at a farm that was invaded by ZANU PF apparatchiks at the height of the land grab exercise, it has emerged.

MDC Alliance councillor for ward 18 Chiredzi West Constituency yesterday said :”For up to 12 years people in Emanzini (Rutanda) Village and Thandabantu Village have been living without drinking safe water and toilets.This area is owned by small scale farmers who grabbed land from whites during fast track land reform programme.They drink water from canals that irrigate sugarcane.

I was disappointed last week when I visited the place.There are no toilets at the farm.The farm owners drive luxurious cars yet their workers are drinking contaminated water.Some of the farmers are esteemed people in the society, for example Honourable Denford Masiya , MP Chiredzi East.We don’t expect people like him to be inconsiderate.”

As a Councillor I engaged some of them but they were adamant and uncooperative.

We are pleading with the District Administrator together with the Ministry of Health to close such compounds as soon as possible.
Last year one woman died of cholera, ” said Mutubuki.

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A sixty year-old man from Worringham on the outskirts of Bulawayo reportedly suffered a heart attack and died last Thursday after he allegedly had sex with a pig.

The body of Mr Elias Ndlovu was discovered in the morning in the pigsty with his zip down with traces of sperms on his manhood while other suspected sperms were also evident on a pig’s back, sources claimed.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango said they received a report of sudden death, saying they suspected that the man had suffered a heart attack.

“I can confirm an incident of sudden death that occurred at Worringham in Bulawayo.

The body of the deceased was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospital for post mortem but at this stage no foul play is suspect. It is suspected Mr Ndlovu suffered a heart attack after a sexual act with the pig,” said Chief Inspector Simango.

Mr Ndlovu was employed as a night watchman at the Worringham plot and was on night duty on the night in question.

A co-worker at the plot who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that Mr Ndlovu had been last seen when he was resuming his duties on Wednesday only to be discovered at the pigsty the following morning.

“In terms of personality he was a nice man, who minded his own business, he had no enemies at all. On the night in question I saw him doing his rounds in the evening as he resumed his security duties. We were shocked when we discovered his body in the pigsty the following morning,” said the co-worker.

-State Media

Correspondent|This is what Strive Masiyiwa recently said about his relationship with Joshua Nkomo, commenting on his Facebook thread.

The late Dr Joshua Nkomo loved me like a dear son. In the last years of his life he would just call for me, like a priest, and I would sit there quietly as he reminisced about his life.

“I looked at the suffering of the people. You must always try to do something if you see your people suffering.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is now distancing himself from his top ally Christopher Mustvangwa amid warnings by the war veterans’ leader that he won’t be silenced after he spoke out against alleged state capture.

Mutsvangwa, who was instrumental in Mnangagwa’s rise that culminated in the ouster of former president Robert Mugabe in November last year, last week claimed Sakunda Holdings owner Kudakwashe Tagwirei was behind state capture.

However, Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba, in an exclusive interview with The Standard on Friday, referred to Mutsvangwa as the president’s ex-advisor.

He said the outspoken former War veterans minister was resorting to fake politics after failing to penetrate the fuel industry.

Charamba said Mutsvangwa must provide evidence that Tagwirei was behind “state capture” and that he was running a cartel in the fuel industry.

“That is where we differ with our colleagues. Go and provide evidence because culprits are not dealt with by headlines, but they are dealt with by handcuffs, and if he has got some information please can he help the system?” he said.

“It’s not that if you are fronting a rival planning to bring fuel, then you retreat in the political deck because you cannot stand the heat in the boardroom, no, that is not acceptable.”

Charamba said Mutsvangwa was not a whistleblower, but an interested party in the fight for control of the fuel industry in Zimbabwe.

“We have made this information available to you that you draw a line between bona fide whistleblowers and rivals who are trying to fall back on political clout to get the better of competition,” he said.

“We are saying to you the doors are open, the market is open so get in the market together with your people and compete with others just like any other person.

“You get blooded, we say sorry, and you win, we say hallelujah and not try to use fake politics.”

Mutsvangwa, who is said to have links with a South African-based fuel giant Mining, Oil and Gas Service (MOGS), last week insisted he had a three-year contract to be Mnangagwa’s advisor.

He said he still had an office and personal assistant, but had been away for a while because of health reasons.

“Those who say I am fired thought my appointment was tied to me being an MP, that is why they sponsored a rival candidate so that I lose hoping that I would be automatically fired from being an advisor,” he said in a recent interview. “They are sulking bitterly.”

Charamba said the former minister’s criticism of command agriculture sounded like former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo’s argument.

Moyo described the programme championed by Mnangagwa as “ugly culture”, saying it was being used to fleece the government.

“We don’t think the former advisor meant it, we don’t think so,” Charamba said when asked about Mutsvangwa’s criticism of the programme.

“Does he really want to share the same argument with (former minister) Jonathan Moyo?

“That is Jonathan Moyo’s argument and I don’t think he wants to because I know he doesn’t want to.”

Meanwhile, Mutsvangwa last night denied that he was a front for MOGS and charged that he won’t be silenced.

“I do not front for MOGS which came to my attention in 2015 from the Ministry of Defence department of business development.

“The (then) head of the unit, General Sibusiso B Moyo, and permanent secretary Martin Rushwaya asked me to lobby for the MOGS in Cabinet,” he said.

“I challenge anyone who has proof of my contractual links to MOGS to publish it. They should provide something beyond sulky assertions.”

Mutsvangwa said Mugabe’s ouster last year ushered in a new dispensation where there was freedom of expression and he would continue speaking his mind.

“I am Zimbabwean and a revolutionary before I am a politician, functionary or whatever.

“All other attributions are subordinate to my democratic rights. After all, November 2017 ushered in an open season of free discourse,” he said.

“The 2013 constitution allows and entrenches free thinking and unfettered open speech.

“My first obligation is to be a democrat. I fought for that side by side with many of my generation. There is no earthly price tag to freedom of speech.”

Mutsvangwa said as things stood, several companies among them Vitoil of Switzerland, ADNOC of Abu Dhabi, OTI of Oman, IPG of Kuwait and a “bevy” of other global hydrocarbon global players from Singapore, Beijing, Moscow and Johannesburg were in Harare to explore market opportunities in the country.

“My sole interest is to see the nation benefit from the lowest fuel price possible from these interested market players, a case which has not been obtained to date,” he said

“For the record, most, if not all, these companies have been to my office. I handled all the same way as MOGS under the banner Zimbabwe Is Open for Business. In Shona, kuvhunduka chati kwata hunge uine katuruke [he who has something to hide panics easily]. Otherwise those who have always hated me should go beyond banal accusations to adduced evidence.”

He refused to comment on Charamba’s claim that he was no longer Mnangagwa’s advisor.

“I will not comment on a matter of public office. Just that it is not an elected office, thus is beyond my purview,” he said.

-The Standard

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and ailing Vice President Constantino Chiwenga appeared together to announce that Australia’s Invictus Energy had found oil and gas deposits in the northern Muzarabani area, showing a united front in the face of widening divisions in the presidium.

Mnangagwa and Chiwenga attempted to paper over their divisions as they addressed the press on Thursday afternoon about the oil find, a discovery which has since been refuted by Australian-listed Invictus Energy which has now said it had not found any oil and gas deposits but there were indications of a “working petroleum system” which could only be confirmed by a planned exploration well.

Despite attempts to present a united front, the two top government figures remained at loggerheads, top officials said.

Chiwenga’s health had improved considerably. He has been receiving medical treatment in neighbouring South Africa for wounds reportedly sustained during the White City bombing.

It also seems Mnangagwa was keen to present a united front when he hosts Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, who was expected in Harare yesterday, the first such high level visit in more than two decades.

The deputy chief secretary to the President and Cabinet responsible for communications George Charamba confirmed that Chiwenga will be part of the team hosting the VP, despite his continuing health challenges.

Asked if Chiwenga is now back on his feet, Charamba said the vice president was fit enough to be part of the team hosting his Indian counterpart.

“He has a long way to go, he is slowly creeping back to work.

“I will tell you what, remember his counterpart from India is coming back and remember this is a counter visit, so we are only trying to bring him up to speed and he is also to be part of the programme,” Charamba said.

Chiwenga’s public appearance is the first since news of divisions in the presidium emerged late last month amid reports that a powerful businessman with links to the VP was formenting divisions in the corridors of power.

In an earlier interview with the Daily News, Charamba dismissed suggestions that the two former allies were fighting, saying “not a single day passes without a conversation between Chiwenga and Mnangagwa.”

Political analysts said the move to wheel out Chiwenga at a time of widening divisions in the presidium was for optics and also meant to quieten speculation over divisions “real or perceived.”

“I think it’s trying to dress the fiasco with a veneer of unity, solidarity and cohesion while we know there are huge rifts between the two and difficult to reconcile approaches to national issues.

“The other prefers civilian approaches while the other prefers military approaches,” political analyst Maxwell Saungweme said.

United Kingdom-based scholar Alex Magaisa said after Mnangagwa and the Zanu PF youth league boss Pupurai Togarepi attacked some senior party leaders in a thinly disguised veil, it was now clear that all is not well in the ruling party.

“It is clear that there are ructions and Mnangagwa has adopted a Grace Mugabe-like approach of attacking party members without naming them,” Magaisa said.

“Like Mugabe, he’s now demanding party members to toe the party line or to leave.

“The youth leader Togarepi also joined in, just like Chipanga before him. It is a sign that things are not well in the camp.

“Chiwenga is trying to manage the situation by presenting himself when he should be recuperating at home.

“It is about keeping and watching the space.

“Note also that Mnangagwa has taken away defence and war veterans and dumped him in procurement and research as areas of supervision.

“That’s a demotion given his previous role, although it will give him a role in tenders since he oversees public procurement,” Magaisa said.

Professor of world politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, Stephen Chan, said Zanu PF cannot do with infighting never mind the perilous state of the economy.

“There have been moves and countermoves involving Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.

“It’s in fact far too early for any serious succession talk, but the two most likely candidates are manoeuvring just to ensure they remain in the frame.

“It’s part of a Zimbabwean political disease I’m afraid. People talk of who is in power and no one knows how to use that power to redevelop the economy and the country,” said Chan.

-Daily News

Business mogul and Econet Wireless founder, Mr Strive Masiyiwa could soon head an International Advisory Council which will advise President Emmerson Mnangagwa on global economic issues and push the re-engagement process.

Masiyiwa who last week dominated local and international media headlines following his call for the removal of sanctions is understood to be one of the key people eyed by Mnangagwa to prop up his in global image, following countless efforts to quote investors hit a brick wall.

According to The Sunday Mail, the team will also assist the country in having the US sanctions law, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery (Amendment) Act 2018, removed.

Industrialists also proposed establishment of a local advisory council during their interface with President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare last Monday.

President Mnangagwa agreed with the proposal and asked the industrialists to second names of their “best brains” to constitute the grouping.

Last week, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba said: “We are working on an international advisory team. So we will have a local advisory business team but there is also going to be an international advisory team.

“By now we are in the final stages and in the next two to three weeks, we should have some announcement of sorts. “We are looking at retirees from IFIs; we are looking at persons from America, we are looking at persons from Britain, persons from China; we are looking at characters from Germany, we are looking at characters from South Africa; and we are also looking at eminent Zimbabwean businesspeople.”

Mr Charamba said some of the people were consulted during the 73rd Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, but declined to mention names as consultations were ongoing.

“It worked very well in Rwanda. Rwanda used that to good effect. That business council will not just advise the President on international economic issues, it will also help us in the re-engagement process.

“Essentially, it means helping us develop strategies of rolling back sanctions and also engaging international finance markets for new credit lines,” said Mr Charamba.

At a meeting between President Mnangagwa and Diasporan Zimbabweans in New York in September, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube — who was part of the Zimbabwe delegation to the General Assembly — said the board would have about ten people.

“This is not an unusual path. Pakistan has announced its international advisory board, it was done by the new Prime Minister Imran Khan. Somalia has just set up a board, Somaliland has a board as well. Rwanda has a board. In Nigeria there used to be a board but I’m not so sure now. But this is common practice, we should get the best minds to assist us,” Prof Ncube explained.

As part of President Mnangagwa’s international engagement and re-engagement drive, his administration is lobbying for an end to economic sanctions on Zimbabwe as well as normalisation of relations with multilateral lenders and development partners.

This is in line with his vision to create an upper middle-income by 2030.

US sanctions direct Americans at IFIs to block extension of credit to Zimbabwe, and Prof Ncube is in January 2019 expected to travel to that country as part of the anti-embargo lobby.

Last week, leading businessman and Econet founder Mr Strive Masiyiwa said, “… sanctions should be removed, there’s no justification for them anymore.

“They should be removed. I’ve always been on record to say the sanctions are not justified and now we’re almost 20 years into the sanctions. You can’t have one country operate with its hands tied behind its back.”

By Paul Nyathi|The Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition has invited SADC to urgently arbitrate in trying to stabilise the Zimbabwean political and economic situation.

The Coalition met with the current SADC chairperson and provided the statememt below:

Attention: The SADC Chairperson, H.E President Hage Geingob

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

Own Correspondent|The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on recently met with the SADC Chairperson and President of Namibia, H.E Hage Geingob at State House in Windhoek, Namibia to brief him on the deepening political and economic crisis bedevilling Zimbabwe.

The meeting, came upon a request by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and a delegation from the Coalition presented its position to the SADC Chairperson with regards the state of affairs in Zimbabwe.

The Chairperson of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Rashid Mahiya led the discussion and called upon SADC to urgently put Zimbabwe on its agenda and find ways of resolving the deepening political and economic crisis in the country.

Briefing the SADC Chair, the Coalition’s Chairperson, Mahiya expressed concern that Zimbabwe has not fully implemented the 2013 Constitution. He said the implementation of the constitution has been slow and there is limited movement in repealing repressive legislation which is in conflict with the constitution. He added that the Zimbabwean society continues to call for security sector and media reforms adding that another issue of concern was the non-implementation of recommendations by the SADC Election Observer Mission to facilitate for diaspora voting.

The Coalition also noted that Zimbabwe has been experiencing a perpetual economic meltdown which has resulted in high levels of inflation and an increase in domestic debt which has compromised the government’s capacity for the provision of social services.

“If left unresolved this has economic, social and security effects at a regional level. We however acknowledge efforts at attracting foreign and local investments,” the delegation warned.

Mahiya also noted that the Zimbabwean society is heavily divided and polarised and there is huge trust deficit characterised by a perpetuation of political polarisation in post-election period. And Military involvement in civilian processes is worrying.

“The events of August 01, 2018 in which the military shot 7 unarmed civilians in the full glare of both regional and international media is evidence of the above,” stressed the full briefing statement shared with President Geingob.

In his response, President Geingob committed to engage the Zimbabwean authorities and bring the concerns raised by the Coalition to the attention of SADC.

The SADC Chairperson reiterated calls for peace and stability in Zimbabwe adding that citizens and civil society should continue playing their part in holding the state to account. President Geingob hailed the initiative by the Coalition and gave assurance that follow up meetings will be conducted as a way of finding common ground with regards to the situation in Zimbabwe.

The meeting is part of the coalition’s regional lobbying efforts and follows previous engagements with the SADC secretariat in Botswana in May 2018.

Other members of the delegation included Okay Machisa (ZimRights), Wadzanayi Vere (NANGO), Rev Useni Sibanda (Zimbabwe Christian Alliance), Sandie Tjaronda Chairperson (Namibian NGO Forum Trust) and Blessing Vava, CiZC Regional Coordinator, Rev Sipho Theys (CiZC SA Board).

President Geingob was accompanied by Martin Andjaba, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Economic Advisor Ms Penny Akwenye and a Permanent Secretary in the Presidency.

Apart from the meeting with President Geingob, the delegation also met with civil society leaders in Namibia operating under the banner of Namibia NGO Forum Trust. The meeting with CSOs sought to mobilise and strengthen people to people solidarity in the SADC region. The CSO leaders resolved to strengthen regional solidarity actions amongst organisations in SADC adding that civil society should consider creating a framework for an internal dialogue on Zimbabwe

The CiZC Regional Information & Advocacy Programme exists to amplify citizen voices into the regional space and provides regional, continental and international lobby and solidarity platforms for Zimbabwean CSOs.

The programme which is being run through the CiZC regional office based in Johannesburg, South Africa and has been key as a one-stop shop for up-to-date information on key developments (political, social and economic) in Zimbabwe and informs various stakeholders’ interventions in promoting democratization in Zimbabwe. The stakeholders include diplomats, solidarity partners and governments in the SADC region and the African Union.

Government will review the two percent transactional tax on electronic money transfers to make it sensitive to the needs of both business and consumers, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

The Head of State and Government said a new law was being drafted to deal with “unexplained wealth and deposits” after which new tax measures would be announced.

In his weekly column in The Sunday Mail, President Mnangagwa said his Government would always listen to business.

“Government took to heart the cry that the two percent transactional tax has compounded the tax burden for both business and for the consumer.

“Once the legal instrument we are crafting against unexplained wealth and deposits is in place, new measures will be announced to review the tax which, among other considerations, had been occasioned by illicit activities in the financial services sector,” said President Mnangagwa.

To ensure greater cohesion, a local business advisory body made up of representatives seconded from industry is being created.

Further, an international advisory body will be formed to keep the President “keyed on international business and investment issues”.

“To narrow the communication gap, I have embraced the idea of a Business Council to advise me and Government. At the Monday meeting (with business representatives at State House, Harare), I requested that business forward names so that such an advisory body is urgently constituted.

“Because we operate in the global market, I have also decided to create another advisory body comprising international experts who will keep me keyed on international business and investment issues.

“The catchment for such a team will be global, both geographically and by way of the range of experience. Zimbabwe must improve her international appeal for FDI,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa said his Government would not consider policies that eroded wealth, wages, savings and pensions.

“A key consideration of both monetary and fiscal policy must be to secure the values of wealth, earnings, wages and savings in the economy. We should never make or allow decisions that erode value, as happened in 2008. On this one matter we stand firm and unmoved. No policy will be entertained whose net effect is to undermine value in the economy.”

Indications are that some of the measures President Mnangagwa is speaking of will be captured in the 2019 National Budget that will likely be presented in late November.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said he is simplifying the tax structure and coming up with incentives for SMEs to contribute to the fiscus.

-State Media

Correspondent|South African businessman Zunaid Moti, who has been locked up in a prison in Munich, Germany, for two months after he was arrested on the strength of an international warrant of arrest, could walk free as the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) says he is not of interest to them.

A statement issued by the Interpol secretary-general yesterday said Moti was not subject to any notices.

“The general secretariat of the international criminal police organisation hereby certifies that as of today Zunaid Abbas Moti, born on 03 September 1974, is not subject to Interpol notice or diffusion,” said the statement.

Moti was arrested at Munich airport on August 19 when he was leaving Germany after a business trip.

Moti has interests in mining, finance and logistics in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and counts the likes of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and British peer Peter Hain among his friends.

According to Zunaid Moti’s father, Abbas Moti, his son was facing extradition to Russia to face criminal charges. The arrest was connected to a “red notice” after a complaint was lodged against him by Russian businessman Alibek Issaev.

Issaev claimed that Zunaid and his associates, including Abbas, defrauded him of R6,6 million in a sham mining deal in Lebanon in 2013.

But Zunaid has consistently denied having been to Lebanon and claims that Issaev instead stole intellectual property and a R500 million pink diamond from him.

State Media – Government will review the two percent transactional tax on electronic money transfers to make it sensitive to the needs of both business and consumers, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

The Head of State and Government said a new law was being drafted to deal with “unexplained wealth and deposits” after which new tax measures would be announced.

In his weekly column in The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said his Government would always listen to business.

“Government took to heart the cry that the two percent transactional tax has compounded the tax burden for both business and for the consumer.

“Once the legal instrument we are crafting against unexplained wealth and deposits is in place, new measures will be announced to review the tax which, among other considerations, had been occasioned by illicit activities in the financial services sector,” said President Mnangagwa.

Mnangagwa claimed that his Government would not consider policies that eroded wealth, wages, savings and pensions.

“A key consideration of both monetary and fiscal policy must be to secure the values of wealth, earnings, wages and savings in the economy. We should never make or allow decisions that erode value, as happened in 2008. On this one matter we stand firm and unmoved. No policy will be entertained whose net effect is to undermine value in the economy.”

Indications are that some of the measures President Mnangagwa is speaking of will be captured in the 2019 National Budget that will likely be presented in late November.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said he is simplifying the tax structure and coming up with incentives for SMEs to contribute to the fiscus.

State Media

A teacher from Camelot High School in Kwekwe, who was allegedly caught red handed trying to write a Mathematics examination paper for a pupil, has vehemently denied the allegations saying although he was caught in possession of the paper, he never intended to write for any pupil.

The teacher, Mr Ian Mhembere, a Mathematics teacher at the Kwekwe-based private school, was reportedly caught in possession of a partly written Mathematics Paper 1 while the exam was underway on 17 October.

Allegations are that Mr Mhembere took the paper with him with the intention of completing it on behalf of an external student who was writing at the school. He was intercepted by Zimsec officials who had visited the school on their routine checks.

He has since been suspended pending investigations being carried out by police and Zimsec. But Mr Mhembere, through his lawyer Mr Davious Mujaya of Mawadze and Mujaya Legal Practitioners, said although he was caught in possession of the paper, his intention was never to write on behalf of the student.
“He is in the School’s Examination Board which he actually chairs. On the day in question, one of the invigilators who was supposed to have presided over the examination was late and he decided to stand in for him.

“While in the examination, the student in question requested another paper as he had made mistakes and he went on to give the student another paper while taking the partly completed one with him,” said Mr Mujaya.

Upon the arrival of the said invigilator, Mhembere mistakenly took the paper with him to his office.
“When the Zimsec officials came they discovered that the papers were missing and my client volunteered to check his office, where he found the paper among some of his books,” said Mr Mujaya.

Mr Mujaya said, if he was guilty, he would have not produced the paper but he knew that he was innocent hence he genuinely volunteered to go and check for the paper. Mr Mujaya said what was worrying was the fact that, two weeks down the line, his client was yet to be charged of any crime.

“He is yet to receive any charge up to now and that shows that both Zimsec and police do not have an issue against my client. Under normal circumstances, the matter should have been taken to court within 48 hours but up to now, he is yet to be charged. It also shows that the school had no case against him as it only issued him with a suspension letter after reading the newspaper article. Why were they not acting all along?” he said.

Zimsec public relations officer Ms Nicki Dlamini said investigations were still ongoing. – state media

A Bulawayo lawyer who defrauded more than $400 000 from 41 clients within a period of two years was on Friday convicted of fraud.

Leslie Bhekimpilo Sibanda who was once employed at Webb, Low and Barry Legal Practitioners was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza after a full trial on Friday.

Mr Mabeza remanded Sibanda in custody to 9 November for sentencing. In his defence, Sibanda had claimed that he restituted one of his clients $50 000.

The court has since asked him to produce proof of the restitution. The State’s case is that Sibanda was employed as an attorney by Webb, Law and Barry incorporating Ben Baron and Legal Partners and between 8 January 2014 to 1 July 2016.

Sibanda was allegedly stealing and scamming clients of money that adds up to $404 367. Prosecutor Mr Charles Danda said that Sibanda would allegedly call for and withdraw money out of a client’s trust account.

He would pay part of the money to the client and pocket the difference or he would request for cash from the petty cash account alleging that it was money for transport or other ancillaries on behalf of a client when a client had not given him such instructions.

Mr Danda told the court that Sibanda would also transfer funds from one’s client account by means of a transfer journal into another client’s account when the client’s accounts were not related in any way.

On one occasion he used the law firm as a security to guarantee payment for a loan he acquired from Wilsgrove Enterprise Private Limited.

Sibanda is said to have run out of luck when he moved money from the law firm’s account into a Mr Daemon’s account to settle a debt.

Several lawyers have of late been dragged to court for swindling their clients of thousands of dollars leading to some being de-registered by the Law Society of Zimbabwe.- state media

In a bizarre incident, a Gweru prostitute was allegedly raped and murdered by her client before her body was dumped in a water drainage in a bushy area near Mkoba 5 high- density suburb.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident which occurred on Thursday when Precious Tshuma was allegedly murdered by an unknown client who had hired her for the night.

It is understood that the client first raped her before stabbing her several times on the head.

“Police in Gweru are investigating a murder case where a 23-year-old female was found dead, naked with a deep cut on the head in a bushy area in Mkoba 5 on 31 October. Circumstances are that on 30 October at about 7pm, the now deceased was drinking beer at Mkoba 6 Business Centre in the company of her friends Lillian and Claudius Buzeta. It is alleged that at about 12 midnight Tshuma left the bar in the company of an unknown male adult,” she said.

Asst Insp Mukwende said it is suspected that the two had a misunderstanding resulting in the man killing Tshuma by stabbing her with a sharp object on the head.

“It is alleged that after an hour, Claudius left the bar and proceeded home. While on his way he met the suspect who was heading back to Mkoba 6 Business Centre. The suspect then told Claudius that he had an altercation with Tshuma and he murdered her after she tried to stab him with a broken beer bottle. He force marched Claudius to the scene before releasing him.

“The matter was reported to the police and the suspect is still at large. Tshuma’s body was taken to Gweru Provincial hospital Mortuary,” she said.

A source told Sunday News that it is also suspected that the man first raped the woman before stabbing her, as her body was naked. – state media

Own Correspondent|Movement For Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has labelled the two percent tax on every electronically-transacted dollar an unabashed robbery of the masses.

“I heard him saying we want to move forwad but there is no moving forwad unless we all face the reality of who won the elections. The economy is on its knees,” Chamisa said.

“The riches of the land are being helplessly squandered. You saw the money being forked out by the government, the two percent tax that you have been made to pay for every EcoCash transaction. It is daylight robbery because it is your personal money that is being taken from you by the very same people who keep embezzling government funds.

“What am I talking about? We saw a deficit of treasury bills worth nine billion dollars, $90 million of which went towards supporting Zanu-PF. Now they want to replace the money through deducting the two percent tax from every EcoCash transaction that you make.You try sending money to your relative who has passed away but your money is taken,” Chamisa fumed.

The Ministry of Finance implemented the new tax regime earlier this month ostensibly to widen the nationalfiscal space but critics have slammed the move as an illegal and unfair way of forcing the ordinary citizen pay for government profligacy.

Addressing thousands of supportes who gathered at Gwanzura Stadium for the 19th anniversary of the party’s formation on Saturday last week, Chamisa attacked President Emmerson Mnangagwa as an illegitimate leader who was now being rejected by the economy.

The charismatic leader said he was sure Mnangagwa will not survice the economic crisis and will soon be removed from power by popular revolts.

“We are dying of hunger. You are seeing how patients in hospitals are suffering, in pharmacies BP patients are expected to pay drugs in US dollars and tell me where one can get that forex from. We once told them that bond note is not money, give us real money. If we were in power like now, it could have been a walk in the park. Each one of you would practically be enjoying their money because an economy like this is a reflection of politics that is not in proper shape,” he said.

On the debilitating fuel shortages, Chamisa seemed to agree with the dominant narrative that a powerful cartel was directing the shortages for selfish gain.

“I heard that there is a queen bee but I don’t know that person. However, if there is a queen bee, then there is a king bee who happens to oversee how things are running in this country.These people should be brought to book with all the deals that they are doing with fuel, chrome, gold and diamonds as well as all that they are doing to rob the children of Zimbabwe of their wealth,” Chamisa said.

He told the people to be patient as he maps the way forward on how to take power form Mnangagwa.

“Be still people because we have the programme lined up to go and tell somebody to return what isn’t his and from next week, I will be travelling from place to place urging and strengthening the people that it is time to react. I will be taking over everyone to Canaan,” said Chamisa.

Dynamos has survived relegation after Nichrut who are occupying the last slot fell to Herentals at Ascot Stadium this afternoon.

Nichrut has 33 points and can only manage 39 points should they win their remaining two matches. Dynamos has 40 points.

Nichrut’s chances of surviving the chop suffered a tremendous blow when they lost 0 – 2 to Herentals.

The Students opened the scoring early in the 6th minute courtesy of William Kapumha’s effort. They doubled the advantage on the stroke of full-time after Brighton Majarira capitalised on a howler by the keeper.

The victory puts Herentals in the 5th place with 47 points while Nichrut is still occupying number 15.

Meanwhile, Chicken Inn and Black Rhinos have now gone for four games without a win after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.

The Gamecocks dominated possession in the first half, creating many chances but they went to the break trailing by a goal to nil thanks to Honey Chimutimunzeve’s 32nd strike. The home team continued to command the pace in the second period and finally found their breakthrough in the 70th minute when Clement Matawu got the equaliser.

The game ended 1-1 as Chicken Inn remained in third place while Black Rhinos slumped to number 10.

Elsewhere, Yadah were held to a goalless draw by an already relegated side, Buluwayo City in a match played at Rufaro Stadium. ZPC Kariba moved two places up to 8th position following a 2-0 victory over Chapungu United.

Results:

Chicken Inn 1-1 Black Rhinos
Yadah 0-0 Bulawayo City
ZPC Kariba 2-0 Chapungu
Nichrut 0-2 Herentals

Soccer24

MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has fired another salvo at Masvingo mayor Collen Maboke, saying the beleaguered city father was a product of some Zanu-PF arrangement and not the party’s choice for the coveted position.

Chamisa told TellZim News over the phone on Tuesday that Maboke was digging for himself a hole in which he would suffocate should he continue on his chosen path of defiance of the opposition alliance’s call to step down immediately.

Chamisa said the party had made itself clear on the kind of arrangement it wanted to see in Masvingo City Council, and would therefore not accept to continue being held to ransom by one man.

“This is a very straightforward one. The party through internal democratic processes, arrived at the candidate who should be mayor, and Maboke is not that candidate. Maboke is a product of some arrangement with Zanu, and we said look, we will not have arrangements that are made without the knowledge of the party. So he has to step aside, if he doesn’t, he faces the risk of being fired if he does not act to the dictates of the party.

“It is a simple one, he has to step aside and give way for a proper arrangement as required by the party. He will be expelled for sure. We can’t allow indiscipline that undermines the strength of the party. He has to step down right away or be expelled,” Chamisa said.

He drew comparisons with what happened in Chegutu and Victoria Falls where mayors were made to step down after landing the positions by contradicting the party’s preferred arrangements.

“It would be good if people are to pull together in one direction rather than remain stubborn while getting lost. We have serious work to do and we can’t be seen to be talking about the same issues every day. This has to come to an end sooner than later,” he said.

Maboke controversially landed the position of mayor at the expense of the party’s then preferred candidate Godfrey Kurauone after striking a secret trade off deal for the position of deputy mayor with Zanu-PF councillors in exchange for their votes for the mayoral position.

With three councillors out of 10, Zanu-PF stood no chance of taking the deputy mayoral position had it not been for the bargain.

In Chegutu, Hillary Muchatibaya was fired last week for defying party orders to step down, with six councillors suspended for voting for him against official orders to vote for Maphios Shumba.

In Victoria Falls, Somvelo Dhlamini was also forced to step down and pave way for Margaret Varley, the party’s chosen candidate.

Tell Zim

Mwonzora Ready For Battle Against Chamisa

MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has flexed his political muscle and nullified all the mass expulsions announced by the party’s provincial executives as the Nelson Chamisa-led opposition outfit prepares for its elective congress early next year.

Several party members were axed for turning rebellious and standing as independent candidates in the run-up to the July 30 polls.

Several heads also rolled after the election with some MDC councillors defying party directives and contested mayoral elections against “anointed” party candidates.

The party is set to hold its elective congress next year following the elevation of Chamisa who succeeded the late MDC founder leader Morgan Tsvangirai in February this year.

According to reports, the purges have caused divisions with the growing disgruntlement seemingly getting out of hand. Mwonzora on Wednesday stepped in calling the suspensions null and void.

“Please take note that all suspensions of party members must be referred to the national organising committee through the secretary-general,” Mwonzora said in a letter dated October 31.

He said the national organising committee has powers to confirm or vary any suspension in terms of clause 3.5.5 and 3.6.5 of the party constitution.

“Further, please take note that the ward, district and provincial executives do not have powers of expulsion of any member of the party. The power to expel any member of the party lies with the national council in terms of clause 5.11 of the constitution or the national disciplinary committee headed by the national chairperson,” Mwonzora said.

“All the lower organs can do is to recommend an expulsion to the national chairperson. Please note that all the purported suspensions and expulsions not done in accordance with these constitutional requirements are null and void.”

However, in an interview yesterday party vice-president Morgen Komichi said their national council resolutions stood and all “rebels” remain expelled.

-Newsday

In Zimbabwe, where an economic meltdown grows worse, businesses increasingly want payments to be made in U.S. dollars. The government has printed its own currency, called bond notes, for the past two years. But Zimbabweans are quickly losing confidence in the bond notes.

Dr. Ahmed Bilal Shah operates a medical center in one of Harare’s poorest suburbs. He needs money to keep going, but cash is hard to find.

“Let’s face realities of the ground,” he said. “I am accepting transfer or bond notes, but the thing is I have to make some solution from that to buy some U.S. dollars to buy some medicine to replace my stock. If I do not replace my stock, after one month I have to close my surgery. Pharmacies do not accept medical aid (insurance) or bond notes. But they are asking for the U.S. dollar. They have their own problems. So this is a question we are stuck up in.”

Zimbabwe abandoned its own dollar in 2009, after years of hyperinflation. Since then the country has been without an official currency and relied on U.S. dollars, the British pound and South African rand to conduct transactions.

In the past three years, however, all three currencies have been hard to find, paralyzing the economy and forcing the country to rely on bond notes.

Shah says if he cannot get U.S. dollars from his patients who have them, he has to turn to the black market.

But that presents problems, too. Over the past few days, police have arrested nearly 200 black market currency dealers, as the government tries to shut down their thriving but illegal business.

But on the black market, a dollar is now worth more than three bond notes.

​Gift Mugano, an independent economist, says Zimbabwe’s economy will get worse unless the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa takes action.

“The only thing to do in my view is to demonetize the bond notes,” he said. “I was one person who was against the bond note from the word go: I was very clear. This bond note will depreciate and will create havoc. The impact of the bond notes is beyond the size of how much bond notes we have. It is about perception. You take away confidence. We need to go back to full dollarization, where we have U.S. dollars, then attract investors because they gave certainty in your currency.”

Zimbabwe has struggled to attract investors for nearly 20 years, after a steep decline in the economy sparked by the policies of former president Robert Mugabe.

President Mnangagwa, who took office after Mugabe resigned under military pressure a year ago, has promised improvement. But so far, Zimbabwe remains struck in the crisis and is facing shortages of not only medicine, but nearly all essential goods.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repealed Statutory Instrument 96 of 2018 which had been designed to award Vice President Constantino Chiwenga with powers to oversee the defense and war veterans, a move widely seen as calculated to elbow out the powerful former Army General.

According to SI 214 of 2018, “Assignment of Functions (Vice President and Minister responsible) for the Ministry of Defense and War Veterans Affairs) Notice 2018 published in Statutory Instrument 96 of 2018 is hereby repealed.”

Chiwenga who was the key player in a military coup that displaced former President, Mr Robert Mugabe last year had remained in charge of the military and war veterans.

The latest development could be revealing of the fissures within the ruling party and Mnangagwa’s insecurity- hence the decision to make sure his powerful deputy does not continue to handle military issues.

Writing on his Twitter yesterday, United Kingdom based lecturer Alex Magaisa described the SI 214/2018 as significant as it takes away Chiwenga’s control of the military.

“This statutory instrument is more significant than it looks. This is President Mnangagwa’s latest move to completely remove the principal author of the coup (VP Chiwenga) from any official role over the military. VP is down from overseeing the military to “research and procurement,” Magaisa said.

“First he took away the Ministry of Defense and gave it to Oppah. Now he has taken away the Ministry from the areas that Chiwenga oversees. Instead, the VP has been shunted to oversee “procurement and research”. The only sweetener is he will have oversight tenders authority,” he added.

Short lived Communications Taskforce Chair in the ministry of Finance Gerald Mutumanje added that the SI214/2018 reduced Chiwenga’s meaningful powers.

“Essentially President has stripped The VP of any meaningful powers. The President has stripped the Vice President of any meaningful powers! So the question is what power does the Vice President have? None Really. I’m not the one who did it, I just the one who said it,” he said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repealed Statutory Instrument 96 of 2018 which had been designed to award Vice President Constantino Chiwenga with powers to oversee the defense and war veterans, a move widely seen as calculated to elbow out the powerful former Army General.

According to SI 214 of 2018, “Assignment of Functions (Vice President and Minister responsible) for the Ministry of Defense and War Veterans Affairs) Notice 2018 published in Statutory Instrument 96 of 2018 is hereby repealed.”

Chiwenga who was the key player in a military coup that displaced former President, Mr Robert Mugabe last year had remained in charge of the military and war veterans.

The latest development could be revealing of the fissures within the ruling party and Mnangagwa’s insecurity- hence the decision to make sure his powerful deputy does not continue to handle military issues.

Writing on his Twitter yesterday, United Kingdom based lecturer Alex Magaisa described the SI 214/2018 as significant as it takes away Chiwenga’s control of the military.

“This statutory instrument is more significant than it looks. This is President Mnangagwa’s latest move to completely remove the principal author of the coup (VP Chiwenga) from any official role over the military. VP is down from overseeing the military to “research and procurement,” Magaisa said.

“First he took away the Ministry of Defense and gave it to Oppah. Now he has taken away the Ministry from the areas that Chiwenga oversees. Instead, the VP has been shunted to oversee “procurement and research”. The only sweetener is he will have oversight tenders authority,” he added.

Short lived Communications Taskforce Chair in the ministry of Finance Gerald Mutumanje added that the SI214/2018 reduced Chiwenga’s meaningful powers.

“Essentially President has stripped The VP of any meaningful powers. The President has stripped the Vice President of any meaningful powers! So the question is what power does the Vice President have? None Really. I’m not the one who did it, I just the one who said it,” he said.

CONFUSION swirled yesterday around claims that Zimbabwe had discovered crude oil a day after President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed a Press briefing announcing exploration of the product would be done in Muzarabani.

MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has flexed his political muscle and nullified all the mass expulsions announced by the party’s provincial executives as the Nelson Chamisa-led opposition outfit prepares for its elective congress early next year.

Several party members were axed for turning rebellious and standing as independent candidates in the run-up to the July 30 polls.

Several heads also rolled after the election with some MDC councillors defying party directives and contested mayoral elections against “anointed” party candidates.

The party is set to hold its elective congress next year following the elevation of Chamisa who succeeded the late MDC founder leader Morgan Tsvangirai in February this year.

According to reports, the purges have caused divisions with the growing disgruntlement seemingly getting out of hand. Mwonzora on Wednesday stepped in calling the suspensions null and void.

“Please take note that all suspensions of party members must be referred to the national organising committee through the secretary-general,” Mwonzora said in a letter dated October 31.

He said the national organising committee has powers to confirm or vary any suspension in terms of clause 3.5.5 and 3.6.5 of the party constitution.

“Further, please take note that the ward, district and provincial executives do not have powers of expulsion of any member of the party. The power to expel any member of the party lies with the national council in terms of clause 5.11 of the constitution or the national disciplinary committee headed by the national chairperson,” Mwonzora said.

“All the lower organs can do is to recommend an expulsion to the national chairperson. Please note that all the purported suspensions and expulsions not done in accordance with these constitutional requirements are null and void.”

However, in an interview yesterday party vice-president Morgen Komichi said their national council resolutions stood and all “rebels” remain expelled.

-Newsday

By Farai Maguwu| A major issue we must address together as Zimbabweans is the abuse of our Police force by corrupt, self serving politicians. Yesterday, a big portion of uniformed and plain clothes Police from Mutare Central and Mutare Rural Police, including very senior officers, were all deployed to Marange. There were scores of CIOs too. T

his was despite the overwhelming endorsement of the event by the community. But it was very clear some of the Police officers had no intention, whatsoever, to disrupt the event.

They were simply on duty. The senior officers present where on the phones most of the time, receiving instructions and giving feedback to their superiors who were also under instruction. It was as if the nation as under attack from an external enemy. Soldiers were roaming the community though they didnt come anywhere close to the tent. But it was clear, some people in Harare with direct cotrol of the Police and the military were dictating proceeds from behind the scenes. I personally felt betrayed. I just felt like we are under an occupation force.

At the boomgate one Police officer was heard telling his colleagues to let the people proceed to the venue, arguing ‘ndezve community izvi, let them pass, ko isu takambowana chii from these diamonds’.

I am aware Police in Marange have been instructed never to arrest ZCDC guards who have been instructed to murder artisanal miners. 2 months ago, Police in Marange quarrelled with ZCDC guards after the later had murdered an artisanal miner and now wanted the Police to carry the body. Police refused to carry the body and told the guards to complete what they had started. And yet the Police could not arrest the murderous guards, fearing to cross the path of vakuru.

I called Sugar Chagonda, ZCDC public relations officer who said he will get back to me, and am still waiting.
Our Police force has been instructed NOT to arrest the Chinese who are terrorising citizens throughout the country. Instead, our Police and army are deployed in Marange in their hundreds, if not thousands, using tax payers funds, to guard thieves robbing our country. All the looting taking place in Marange since 2008 is being done under the watch of our security forces who are also forced into illicit diamond deals because their salaries remain below the poverty datum line.

Leaders must change how they view our natural wealth. its not for leaders. The only role of leaders is to make patriotic decisions that maximize our collective benefits from these natural resources. They must lead to better schools, better road infrastructure, better hospitals and more jobs across all sectors. When that happens the number of artisanal miners will significantly go down- human rights violations in the extractive sector will decrease.

To get to that phase the first step is devolution of power and decision making. If the Manicaland people are allowed to make decisions over Marange diamonds the outcome will be different – and the whole nation will benefit. Its the same with Mutoko over its black granite, Mat North over Hwange, Victoria Falls, Lupane etc. We will develop faster and evenly. This doesn’t mean promoting tribalism. Its about improved governance of natural resources and to ensure people close to natural resources also benefit.

Government will, through the Asset Forfeiture Unit housed under the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), seize all assets accumulated through corruption proceeds in the event of a conviction as the fight to stem out corruption in both the public and private sectors gathers pace.

It is believed that there are huge amounts of corrupt wealth and tainted cash laundering through Zimbabwe’s banks and that much of it ends up in real estate and in other assets such as luxury cars.

The seizure of assets is in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vow, since assuming office a year ago, to fight corruption in the country.

Mnangagwa has since set up a Special Anti-Corruption Task Force in his office to assist in the speedy prosecution of people suspected of involvement in corruption.

A well-placed source who requested anonymity told Business Times on Wednesday that efforts were underway to make sure government recovered stolen or embezzled money through the seizure of assets mainly accumulated through corruption proceeds. This will be done through the revival and equipping of the Assets Forfeiture Unit.

“Of late, there have been some convictions but nothing was done with regards to government recovering the stolen funds,” the source said.

“However, efforts are underway to fully equip and revive the Assets Forfeiture Unit, which is housed under the NPA. This move will make sure that the government recovers its funds by seizing the assets of people convicted of corruption and selling them in some instances,” the source added.

In his 2019 pre-Budget Strategy Paper, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said the fight against entrenched indiscipline and corruption would be dealt with through necessary disincentives and penalties.

“This will include the review of the penalty regime so that persons guilty of corruption are subject to effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties, including empowering the courts, on the application of the Prosecutor General, to grant Civil Forfeiture Orders in respect of property from proceeds of corruption,” Ncube said.

The Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet is meant to improve efficiency in the fight against all forms of graft and to strengthen the effectiveness of national mechanisms for the prevention of corruption.

The unit’s terms of reference include collaborating with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other such institutions in the fight against corruption.

But according to a source at the NPA, efforts by the Special Corruption Unit have been hampered by the judicial system which has, in some instances, proven to be ineffective in handling corruption cases.

“The other underlying factor has been the lack of capacity to prosecute cases of a commercial nature hence the urgent need to make the Commercial Crimes Court come into motion,” the source said.

Corruption has been blamed for stalling economic development and a cost on business as high-level bureaucrats demand kickbacks before approving projects.

A 2016 report by Transparency International showed that Zimbabwe was losing at least US$1 billion annually due to corruption.

But the wheels of correction have been moving slowly in stemming the canker, with analysts saying the anti-corruption dragnet has so far targeted only small fish and political rivals.

BusinessTimes

WHY DID ED REDUCE HIMSELF LIKE THIS?

By Farai D Hove| In what was supposed to be a VP to VP convergence between the two nations India and Zimbabwe, ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday usurped his deputy Constantino Chiwenga’s duties and went ahead to on his own meet India’s Vice, President Venkaiah Naidu.

The development comes against the backdrop of reports that the two coup beneficiaries are on each other throats barely a year after removing their former boss, Robert Mugabe.

Soon after the meeting, Mnangagwa celebrated the visit saying, “I had an excellent meeting with Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu this morning. This is the first high-level Indian visit to Zimbabwe in two decades, and a sign of our ever improving relations with one of the largest and most significant economies in the world.

“As part of his visit, Mr. Naidu will address the India-Zimbabwe Business Forum, which is being attended by a host of Indian business people who are interested in investing in Zimbabwe.

“Our improved relations with the global community will create significant benefits for the Zimbabwean people.”