President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa have taken hardline stances to political engagement, which has stalled progress towards interparty dialogue seen as critical to pulling the southern African nation out of international isolation and launching economic recovery, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has said.

ZCC has been trying to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa, who were the main contenders in the July 30 poll, to the negotiating table, but despite both of them insisting they were ready to dialogue, they remain far apart.
Chamisa has rejected Mnangagwa’s victory despite the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) throwing out his petition challenging the result and has since maintained that he won the election, frequently calling his rival “illegitimate”.

Mnangagwa has reportedly offered an olive branch to his nemesis, saying he has “a vital role to perform in Zimbabwe’s future” and proposed an official Westminster style “Leader of Opposition” post in Parliament for his rival to be part of the national discourse, but insists that Chamisa must recognise his Presidency.

ZCC secretary-general Kenneth Mtata yesterday said none of the parties seemed ready to compromise.

“Our hope is that political expediency will not jeopardise the possibility of fruitful dialogue. The challenges are not secret at all. They are open for everyone. The first issue is that the MDC (Alliance) leader has not yet accepted the officially announced results of the election, even after the verdict of the ConCourt,” Mtata said.

The ZCC secretary-general suggested Chamisa was held up by a need to appease his supporters, while Mnangagwa wanted recognition from the opposition leader first before any talks could begin.

“There are challenges for him (Chamisa) to accept the result because it has been his rallying cry for his followers. But this is the problem for Mnangagwa, who says he cannot go into dialogue with Chamisa if he doesn’t recognise him as President,” Mtata told NewsDay.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the ruling party did not have an appetite for the dialogue.

“Elections were held and (are) gone, and the opposition challenged the elections, but the Constitutional Court endorsed them (polls).

What is the issue now? Let’s look ahead in terms of our economic development, that is the challenge we are facing, the stabilisation of the economy in terms of our Vision 2030,” Khaya Moyo said, adding Zanu PF was already setting its sights on the 2023 elections.

Chamisa has submitted five demands, including one suggesting that Mnangagwa should cede power to him.

The MDC leader’s spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda, yesterday maintained his boss’ stance.

“The president still says his doors are open for dialogue, and he has a five-point plan, which must be part of any dialogue,” he said, without revealing whether or not there was progress on the talks.

Mtata, however, said ZCC’s agenda was to find a common post-election national narrative in the country as well as to find a shared understanding of the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament proposed by Mnangagwa.

“This is a ministry of the church. We were given that ministry of reconciliation in the Bible, and we believe this is a core mandate of the church and this is the reason why we won’t give up. On the other hand, I can say no, because we haven’t moved fast enough.”

While Zanu PF hawks insist Mnangagwa has a clear mandate from Zimbabweans to govern, Mtata suggested elections alone could be an impediment to nation-building.

“The national question is always resolved by dialogue in Zimbabwe. Anyone who thinks only elections can make things right will have to check again because national questions cannot be resolved by a process that produces winners and losers, but by courageous people who choose to forgo their personal advantages and personal gains to seek the common good at a dialogue table,” he said.

“This is true in the past, present and future. If there are people who are waiting for the national question to be resolved by elections, then they can wait forever.”

Zimbabwe is gripped by a worsening cash crisis and escalating shortages of some basic products.

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Despite assurance by government that the country has adequate fuel stocks, minister of Energy and Power development, Joram Gumbo has threatened to withdraw licenses of service stations that accept jerry cans from motorists, raising questions on the exact situation with regards to fuel supply in the country.

Gumbo told The Chronicle that government was concerned with the uncouth practices in the supply of fuel by some unscrupulous service stations and individuals, who continue to accelerate perceived shortages countrywide.

“Those using tanks, drums and jerry cans all, those forms of containers should stop and we are sending out inspectors and the Zimbabwe Republic Police and if anybody is going to be found maybe overcharging or using drums might have their licences withdrawn. We are not going to allow that,” said Dr Gumbo.

He also said Government would not hesitate to crack the whip on errant oil companies that are demanding motorists to pay for fuel in foreign currency.

“We also had to warn some of the companies that we heard were demanding forex for fuel because it’s not their responsibility because the forex that we use to buy fuel from Msasa or Mabvuku or international companies is sourced by Government. So, there is no point in an individual company demanding payment for fuel in foreign currency and some of them were saying they were only serving their clients with coupons from their companies that should not happen,” said Dr Gumbo.

If there is adequate fuel as noted by Gumbo why move to limit people. Is it in line with free market economic?

POLICE were called to restore order when violence broke out after more than 8 000 job seekers thronged the Egodini Mall project site in Bulawayo yesterday for recruitment for the first phase of the project.

Some people started queuing at the contact centre as early as 4AM in a bid to be recruited under phase one of the $60 million project to be completed in November 2019.

Terracotta Private Limited director Mr Thulani Moyo said they were overwhelmed by the number of people who responded to their call for jobs and they had to suspend giving out forms for people to apply after violence broke out.

People frustrated with the process started the violence.

“So many people came, more than we had prepared for. We just need about 400 people for the first phase but so far close to 8 000 people have gathered here,” he said in an interview in the morning.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in the afternoon after the process was halted, Mr Moyo applauded the police for a sterling job in controlling the crowds.

“Upon opening the contact centre, we got an overwhelming response from people who came to the centre to collect application forms to register in the database.

“Fortunately, we had support from the police and other security clusters to try and control people,” said Mr Moyo.

He said they had to abort the form distribution process after violence erupted as some people were attacking those that had received forms.

“Job seekers were being attacked by other people who were snatching application forms from them.

“We were advised by the police to stop issuing the forms as it looked like those who got them were not safe as they were being attacked for them,” Mr Moyo said.

“In terms of employment process, we were ready and hoping that some people would collect application forms, attach supporting documents and submit.
We anticipated that some people would come today, some tomorrow, and the day after for the rest of these 30 days.

“However, maybe due to excitement about the project, a lot of people just came today. Everyone wanted to get a form today.”

He said people can start collecting the forms from today to November 30 and then come back to the contact centre for submission.

“If you come and see there is a queue and it is too long, there is no need to join it, you can come back the following day. We can take 300 – 350 applications each day for registrations,” Mr Moyo said.

He said forms were available at the contact centre for free although some youths were selling copies for 50 cents each.

“We are distributing forms for free but if you want to buy it on the streets, it is ok, you can buy it from someone who is photocopying the form and selling it on the streets. That is a private arrangement,” said Mr Moyo.

Actual construction works are expected to begin soon after completion of the registration process.

The long-awaited project is being implemented at an estimated cost of $60 million although final budget figures are likely to be reviewed considering the volatile macro-economic climate.

State Media

GOVERNMENT will withdraw licences for fuel service stations found promoting acts of hoarding and overcharging of petroleum products thereby creating artificial shortages, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Energy and Power Development Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo, said in an interview at the weekend that Government has noted with concern uncouth practices in the supply of fuel by some unscrupulous service stations and individuals, who continue to accelerate perceived shortages countrywide.

He said in an effort to curb hoarding his ministry would forthwith issue a directive to service stations to stop serving individuals using any form of containers.

“Those using tanks, drums and jerry cans all, those forms of containers should stop and we are sending out inspectors and the Zimbabwe Republic Police and if anybody is going to be found maybe overcharging or using drums might have their licences withdrawn. We are not going to allow that,” said Dr Gumbo.

He also said Government would not hesitate to crack the whip on errant oil companies that are demanding motorists to pay for fuel in foreign currency.

“We also had to warn some of the companies that we heard were demanding forex for fuel because it’s not their responsibility because the forex that we use to buy fuel from Msasa or Mabvuku or international companies is sourced by Government. So, there is no point in an individual company demanding payment for fuel in foreign currency and some of them were saying they were only serving their clients with coupons from their companies that should not happen,” said Dr Gumbo.

He said the Ministry held talks with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to consider increasing its foreign currency allocation for the purchase of fuel by oil companies.

“There are enough stocks of fuel, we have not run out. There is sufficient fuel in the country but for us to access that fuel we need forex and the demand for fuel caught everyone by surprise. So, what we have been doing for now is negotiate with RBZ that they can increase the fuel allocation they give to companies . . . my (ministry) officials and officials from RBZ met . . . and the indication is that RBZ has agreed and are going to consider increasing the allocation, which they give to oil companies,” said Dr Gumbo.

He also said in the meeting he held with oil companies it was suggested that RBZ should consider raising foreign currency allocation to around $30 to $35 million per week up from the $20 million it was previously allocating.

To ensure improved deliveries the Environmental Management Agency has given oil companies a reprieve to move fuel during the night. Energy and Power Development permanent secretary Engineer Gloria Magombo reiterated that the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has intensified monitoring of fuel service stations in a bid to ensure efficient supplies to motorists.

“Zera is also monitoring compliance in the market and general distribution,” she said.

Eng Magombo however, said the public should refrain from panic buying as it was causing artificial shortages. She also urged motorists to desist from buying fuel from the black market as doing so might be hazardous to their vehicles.

State Media

Mnangagwa appointment discouraging

By Jacob Mafume| The MDC is irked by the decision to appoint Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa on the National Building Society Board.

Just like any other form of corruption, nepotism has no place in a Democratic society. We have made the point of a total failure to break from the past by the regime.

In previous arrangements, we witnessed appointments of President Mugabe’s kins and folk into influential positions including the appointment of both Bona Mugabe and her husband to state institutions.

The MDC in the SMART document argued then, as we do now, that combating corruption and parastatal reform is part of rethinking the state in an endevour to create a modern functional state.

We are of the view that the NBS must be concentrating on a radical housing program specifically for Development and Urbanisation of Rural Areas (DURA).

Appointing a Mnangagwa to the board will not help this cause. As a NSSA-owned bank, a clear appointment criteria must be used and appointments must be made public.

In our SMART document we suggest public interviews for appointments of this level.
We also restate that NSSA reform is imperative to ensure the commercial section brings back profits to the core business of paying out pensions, we find this kind of corruption to be an impediment.

More importantly institutions meant to combat corruption must investigate these kinds of decisions.

The Judiciary, National Prosecuting Authority, Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission must be strengthened and their independence guaranteed in line with reforms outlined in President Chamisa’s five point plan.

By a Correspondent| A South African flamboyant Congolese preacher, Alph Lukau has claimed that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga was (poisoned) be-witched apparently by a lion (Mnangagwa’s Africa surname) whose tail he stepped upon. (CONTINUE READING)

Prophet Says Mnangagwa (Shumba) Poisoned Chiwenga (BeWitched Him) | IS HE A MAN OF GOD OR A MAN OF GOOGLE? | FULL TEXT, FULL VIDEO

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) October 15, 2018

VIDEOS:

https://youtu.be/7f2Dr8Eysi4

https://youtu.be/X_gQd_gI3eo

Speaking at the weekend, Lukau said “but I also want to pray. It seems like you have somebody I am seeing laying in hospital, I’m seeing somebody family member.”

Woman: yeah.

Lukau; ” Who is sick.”

Woman: Yeah it’s my uncle Chiwenga.

Lukau: “From Zim?”

Woman: ” yeah the vice president of Zimbabwe.”

Lukau: Okay, hear this. I am not just saying this to say, but there will be bad news if you don’t pray. Because you see his body is swelling, you may lose your uncle the vice president of Zimbabwe.

Woman: Yes.

Lukau: I can even see him he is like bleaching.

Woman: True Papa.

Lukau: Is that true?

Woman: Very true Papa!

Lukau: It’s like he is losing his colour.

Woman: ” it’s very true papa. It’s very true Papa!”

Lukau: Right now, he is critical.

Woman: Yes.

Lukau: is that true?

Woman: Yes. Very true papa. It’s true my father. Thank you Jesus!

Lukau: the situation right now right now the situation with your uncle….

Woman: Yes.

Lukau: ” it’s not natural… that is why no matter where they look they are not finding satisfactory results, they do not really know what is happening because this is witchcraft,

Woman: Oh God!

Lukau: ” this is witchcraft”

Woman: ” thank you my father.”

Lukau: “hear me, I am saying this with respect and understanding the sensitivity of what is happening this is the vice president of a nation, but I am telling you your uncle stepped on the tail of a lion. ”

Woman: Thank you Jesus.

Lukau: But I can help!

Woman: I believe you papa!

I believe you papa!

I believe you papa!

[SOME MUSIC]

Lukau: ” because witchcraft in Zimbabwe at this time has increased levels that is why my brothers and sisters from Zimbabwe seek the Lord… ”

WAS CHIWENGA TRULY POISONED or BE-WITCHED?

Several medical experts reveal that the symptoms Chiwenga explained by the preacher above from come from skin lightening creams.

ZimEye investigates if Chiwenga was poisoned or he just poisoned himself (skin lightening creams). WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

https://youtu.be/X_gQd_gI3eo

Terrence Mawawa| Former Minister of Defence Sydney Sekeramayi has made a payment plan to settle an unpaid electricity bill of $327 481 owed to the Zimbabwe Electricity
Supply Authority (Zesa).

In September, the former minister was sued by the power utility.According to Energy and Power Development Minister Joram Gumbo Zesa will go after all senior politicians from the ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition who have unpaid bills.

In an interview with the Daily News, Gumbo said:”I have asked the permanent secretary to give me a list of debtors and that includes government ministries, senior
people in government, companies,
farmers, schools, mines etc. I want
them listed and we will write to them
asking them to come up with payment plans and clear their debts.

As far as I am concerned, there is no one who is exempted from paying for the energy they use at their institution or their homes, farms, schools or even government hospitals. Everyone should pay and that includes me. At one time I had a debt with Zesa…I am happy to say that I cleared my debt at my farm
and I pay monthly.

…All individuals, senior politicians,
be they from Zanu PF or MDC – they have to pay.Sydney Sekeramayi is one of the most senior politicians in the country but he came to me and said he was surprised to see his name in the press saying he owes Zesa yet he has a plan with the power utility.

That is what we must do. I encourage everyone to do likewise.
Sekeramayi is a good example of
senior people who know the importance of paying Zesa bills. He
went to Zesa with a payment plan and it was readily accepted.”

ZBC head of news and current affairs Tazzen Mandizvidza has been slapped with a $1 million lawsuit over financial irregularities that plunged the State broadcaster into massive losses.

Mandizvidza was suspended, together with other bosses some four years ago, over misconduct prejudicial to the company, but was later conditionally rehired.

ZBC claims the debt was never cancelled and that the court should now issue an order compelling him to pay $1 083 362,09 with interest.

The employer is also seeking an order for costs against Mandizvidza.

According to the plaintiff’s declaration, Mandizvidza was suspended in November 2014 pending disciplinary hearing for misconduct. Allegations against him were that he had committed numerous financial irregularities causing massive losses to the parastatal.

The infractions were discovered through a forensic audit report and the case affected a number of top managers including Mandizvidza.

More to follow…

Terrence Mawawa|MDC T deputy resident has said those who celebrate the death of a fellow human being are social renegades.

In a tweet Gutu argued:” Zimbabwe is alive and kicking! The economy
will only collapse in the demented and miserable minds of hopeless prophets of doom and desperate naysayers.”

“Where I come from in rural Gutu, if you wish someone dead,the community will say you’re a
witch or a wizard. Unotonzi uri chitopota

chemuroyi…” added Gutu.

Terrence Mawawa|Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo is back in the country after spending some time in South Africa seeking medical attention.

Information Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi told Newsday Moyo returned home  from South Africa where he was receiving treatment.

Mutodi who last month announced that Moyo was unwell, said his colleague might visit his doctors in South Africa again this week.

“Minister Moyo is back in the country
and recovering from home. He will,
however, continue to see his doctors in South Africa and might visit them again

this week,” said Mutodi.

Jane Mlambo| Deputy Information Minister, Energy has posted on Twitter announcing that he had buried the hatchet with Alpha Media Holdings Chairperson, Trevor Ncube.

Mutodi and Ncube exchanged harsh words over the weekend following the decision by Alpha Media Holdings to hike price of its newspapers by 100 percent.

This prompted Mutodi to threaten to force government ministries and parastatals not to advertise in all AMH products.

Ncube on the other hand accused to Mutodi of sending his Zanu PF thugs to burn AMH newspapers which resulted in more exchanges.

I have buried the hatchet with my brother @TrevorNcube in the good spirit of our new 2nd Republic. A friendship built after a fight is long-lasting. pic.twitter.com/7rYquNiBAL

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) October 15, 2018

Jane Mlambo| Civil society groups currently meeting in Harare have expressed anger at the government over its failure to address corruption in the mining of diamonds saying the exclusion of communities in the negotiation of contracts was unfair on them.

Farai Maguwu of the Centre for Natural Resource Governance charged that due to government’s heavy security brigade, Marange had become a colony of Zimbabwe.

“Marange is a colony, if you want to go to Marange you need a visa or what they call permit which we are against.

“We can’t be a country where those in government negotiate contracts that benefits them only without involving the communities,” fumed Maguwu.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

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The main opposition MDC Alliance has expressed displeasure at the appointment of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s relative, Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa, to the National Building Society (NBS) board, describing the move as nepotism.

MDC Alliance national spokesperson Jacob Mafume said the appointment showed that Mnangagwa’s new dispensation was not different from that of former President Robert Mugabe, who appointed his daughter, Bona, and her husband Simba Chikore to very influential positions at State-owned Enterprises (SoEs).

Bona was appointed to the Censorship Board last year, while Chikore was appointed chief operating officer of national carrier Air Zimbabwe in 2016.

Other members of the NBS board include Douglas Zimbango (board chairperson), Precious Sibiya (board vice-chairperson), Tinotenda Kambasha, Josephine Ncube, Nimrod Chiminya, Betserei Madzivire, Stanley Kudenga, Munashe Shava, Theresa Murumbi and Ethel Chitanda.

“The MDC (Alliance) is irked by the decision to appoint Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa on the NBS board, and just like any other form of corruption, nepotism has no place in a democratic society,” Mafume said.

“In previous arrangements, we witnessed appointments of Mugabe’s kith and kin and folk into influential positions, including the appointment of both Bona and her husband Simba to State institutions,” he said.

Mafume described the move as “corrupt” and a total failure to break from the past by the new regime.

“We are of the view that the NBS must be concentrating on a radical housing programme, specifically for development and urbanisation of rural areas. Appointing ‘a Mnangagwa’ to the board will not help this cause. As a NSSA-owned [National Social Security Authority] bank, a clear appointment criterion must be used and appointments must be made public.”

Mafume said the MDC Alliance, in its economic blue print SMART, suggested that there be public interviews for appointments of people in SoE boards to ensure transparency.

“We also restate that the NSSA reform is imperative to ensure the commercial section brings back profits to the core business of paying out pensions, and we find this kind of corruption to be an impediment. More importantly institutions meant to combat corruption must investigate these kinds of decisions.”

He said the roles of independent institutions like the National Prosecuting Authority, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zimbabwe Republic Police should be strengthened to deal with corruption.

-Newsday

There was chaos and near clashes on Thursday in Hwange’s Mabale ward after former councillor Spiwe Mapfuwa diverted a truck ferrying inputs for the Presidential Inputs Scheme to a Zanu PF base, resulting in a standoff with villagers.

Part of the road blocked using tree branches, where presidential inputs were supposed to be distributed

It is alleged that Mapfuwa, a former Hwange Rural District council chairperson, who lost to Joseph Bonda (MDC Alliance) in the just-ended election, diverted the truck to the Zanu PF base.

However, Bonda and villagers who had assembled at Mabale business centre, intercepted the vehicle as it was driving into the base.

Tempers flew as Mapfuwa, who had also organised her supporters in a bid to stop the truck from leaving the base, blocked the road before threatening Bonda and supporters with violence.

“It’s fortunate that the volatile situation did not turn violent as Mapfuwa’s supporters had surrounded Bonda and his people at the base, which made them vulnerable. The atmosphere was charged, with accusations of corruption being traded between the feuding parties,” one village head, who was called in to diffuse the situation, said.

Police details could not intervene during the standoff Bonda said he had to mobilise people in order to stop the politicisation of inputs, which had characterised the former councillor’s reign, who argued that only Zanu PF sympathisers should benefit from national programmes.

“What happened is quite pathetic. The people who are no longer in authority should give way to those that have been bestowed with the mandate to serve the people. The former councillor does not want to accept that she is no longer in charge and has, on several occasions, got me into trouble, including getting me arrested in an effort to get rid of me,” Bonda said.

“This time around, she was at it again. We intercepted a truck which was ferrying fertiliser for the Presidential Input Scheme at a Zanu PF base. So we said as the new council, the distribution was going to be apolitical, something that Mapfuwa was opposed to.”

He said they later agreed to park the truck at Chief Nelukoba overnight.

“It took us some three hours to bring the truck to the distribution centre after she barricaded the roads with branches and stones. This surprised us since the chief had authorised the truck to go to the business centre, where people were supposed to get their allocations freely and fairly,” Bonda said.

He said police details watched helplessly as Mapfuwa refused to move the barricades from the road.

“We later proceeded to the centre, where army and GMB [Grain Marketing Board] personnel, and village heads aided in distributing the inputs fairly, something that has not happened in 20 years,” he added.
Bonda said they received 535 bags for distribution to Dopota, Sianyanga and Lupote.

“So, maybe some bags were removed while the truck was parked at the base before we arrived,” he said.

Chief Nelukoba-Dingani confirmed the standoff, saying he had to intervene before the situation turned violent.

“I was actually surprised when this truck came to my homestead without my knowledge, with people suggesting that it was fair for it to be parked there overnight following a disagreement over the place of distribution. At first, I refused as I feared violence would break out at my homestead.

Eventually, after getting assurances, I agreed and looked for men to guard the consignment so that none of the feuding parties could access it.”

The traditional leader slammed Mapfuwa’s politicisation of the donations and called for fair distribution of presidential inputs and urged her to accept defeat.

“I implore both Mapfuwa and Bonda to find common ground and work together for the good of the people,” he said.

Chief Nelukoba added that following the incident, he had since resolved that no politician would be involved in the distribution of government food aid.

Hwange West legislator Wesley Tose, in whose constituency the ward falls, has often complained over the partisan distribution of the presidential inputs.

During distribution, Southern Eye observed that buyers from as far off as Harare, Bulawayo and Chinhoyi had descended on the area to sweet-talk villagers into selling their fertiliser.

A 50kg bag was fetching $10 and some of the impoverished villagers were falling prey to the unscrupulous buyers.

Mapfuwa could not be reached for comment.
Matabeleland North Zanu PF chairperson, who is also the Provincial Affairs minister, Richard Moyo, lambasted both Zanu PF and MDC Alliance members who fought for control of the inputs.

“Both of them were wrong in fighting for something which does not belong to them. Things have since changed. The inputs must be distributed by the Grain Marketing Board, Agritex [Agricultural Rural Extension Services], with the assistance of the community and the police,” Moyo said.

He said politicians must not interfere with government programmes.

-Newsday

Five people from Buhera died recently from the cholera outbreak putting the national death toll at 54, a Cabinet minister has said. The majority of the deceased were mainly from Harare’s Glen View and Budiriro suburbs.

Speaking during a cholera medicine handover ceremony held in Harare on Friday, Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo said there was need to ensure that people were vaccinated to control the spread of cholera.

“We were stagnant at 49 deaths and suddenly five people died in Buhera,” he said.

“This has brought our numbers to a total of 54 deaths in Zimbabwe. I want to encourage everyone to be vaccinated so that we can be able to prevent a new wave of cholera. The vaccination is safe, Members of Parliament and the Senate led by example and the majority were vaccinated against cholera. The first phase of the oral cholera vaccine was launched on October 3, and on the first day we had a coverage of 11 percent and the last day we had a coverage of 74 percent and a total of 147 males and 165 females were vaccinated.”

TWO Gwanda-based police officers, who were accused of fatally assaulting a drunken prison officer for refusing to be taken to a police holding cell for detention have been acquitted by the High Court.

Tinofara Moyo (38) and Admire Matsveru (34) both stationed at Gwanda Police Station appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva facing murder charges in connection with the death of Johannes Moyo (33), a prison officer who was also stationed in Gwanda.

Justice Takuva acquitted the two cops following an application for discharge at the close of the State case by their lawyer Mr Simbarashe Chivaura of Mashayamombe and Company Attorneys.

The State, which was represented by Mrs Sifiso Ndlovu-Sibanda, conceded.

The judge ruled that there was no evidence linking the two cops to the murder after the only key State witness, Lovemore Tsvaki, backtracked from his warned and cautioned statement.

Tsvaki turned hostile against the State while testifying in court.

“It is trite at law that the State could not rely on the evidence of its witness who has been declared hostile. It’s unfortunate because the State failed to lead any other evidence and as courts our duty is to ensure that justice is done,” said Justice Takuva.

He said there was no evidence upon which the accused persons could be convicted. “Our hands are tied because no essential physical elements were established. Accordingly, both accused persons are found not guilty of murder and acquitted,” ruled the judge.

Tsvaki in his evidence said he was forced to sign his warned and cautioned statement by detectives amid threats.

He told the court that the post mortem report was falsified, arguing that the initial document showed that Johannes died as a result of injuries sustained following an accident.

Tsvaki, who is also a police officer, said the accused persons did not assault the deceased at any given time.

Prosecuting, Ms Sifiso Ndlovu-Sibanda said on January 9 in 2010 at about 10PM, Johannes was picked up by police after he was found lying on the side of the road with his bicycle.

He was taken to Gwanda Police Station where he was supposed to be detained overnight for his own safety.

The court heard that the deceased was drunk to an extent that he struggled to either talk or walk and police had to assist him.

After Johannes was booked for overnight detention, he was handed over to Tinofara and Matsveru who escorted him to the holding cells.

While being taken to the holding cells, the deceased protested and wrestled with the two police officers.

The two police officers allegedly assaulted Johannes before they tripped him. They allegedly went on to trample on him as he lay helplessly on the floor.

The following morning Johannes started complaining of pain and he was rushed to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he died on admission due to injuries sustained during the assault.

A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of the two cops.

According to a post mortem report, the cause of death was due to multiple ribs fracture, perforated right lung and hypovolemic shock.

State Media

A 20-YEAR-OLD Gwanda man stoned his elder brother to death for refusing to accompany him to the town’s central business district (CBD.)

Londani Sibanda of Copthal Block in Colleen Bawn area was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Ms Nomagugu Ncube facing allegations of murdering 26-year-old Sandiso Sibanda.

Londani was remanded in custody to October 25.

Prosecuting, Mr Takunda Mafudze said Londani attacked his brother on October 3 and he died five days later while admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital.

“Londani was at home with his brother Sandiso Sibanda on October 3 and he asked him to accompany him to the Gwanda CBD to run some errands.

Sandiso refused and a misunderstanding ensued between them.

“Londani retrieved a stone and struck his brother on the head several times leaving him severely injured before fleeing from the scene. Sandiso was rushed to Mpilo Hospital where he died on 8 October. The matter was reported to the police and Londani was arrested on the following day,” said Mr Mafudze.

State Media

THE trial dates have been set for former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela and his wife, Nomagugu who are facing charges of hijacking Choppies retail business and “looting” more than $80 000 in cash and goods from the outlets countrywide without board approval.

Siqokoqela Mphoko (40) who is a director of Nanavac Investments (Private) Limited, a local partner for the Botswana-registered Choppies Distribution Centre (Proprietary) Limited is facing 170 counts of fraud and theft involving more than $50 000.

Nomagugu (36) is facing 49 counts of extortion after she allegedly ordered supermarket managers to unlawfully dispense over $30 000 cash from their point of sale machines after threatening them with either deportation or dismissal.

The couple, of Hillside suburb, is out of custody on $200 bail each. As part of the bail conditions, the two were ordered not to interfere with State witnesses.

They appeared separately before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure last Friday.

Siqokoqela was remanded to Wednesday for trial with Nomagugu’s trial starting two days later.

Siqokoqela, who is a shareholder in the retail business and a non executive director, is accused of abusing his power to “loot” cash realised from sales at different supermarkets and replacing it with transfers.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said between July last year and June this year, Siqokoqela proceeded to various Choppies supermarkets where he allegedly demanded varying amounts of cash, goods and services for various purposes from the employees without approval from the board.

“The accused person deceived the employees into believing that he was the one at the helm of Choppies Zimbabwe and had authority to demand or collect anything he wanted from the business. He also told the employees that he had the authority to collect goods on a credit facility, which was a misrepresentation,” said Mr Dlodlo.

The court heard that on different occasions, Siqokoqela collected cash, groceries and an assortment of building material and ordered personnel from the finance department not to deduct the money from his salary.

“There were occasions when he also misrepresented that he intended to replace the money through swiping from Point of Sale (POS) machines,” said Mr Dlodlo.

In papers before the court, Siqokoqela by virtue of being a non-executive director was entitled to a monthly gross salary of $10 000, company vehicle, fuel, telephone allowance and 3,53 percent of profit after tax as dividend at the end of each year.

Although he was not supposed to be directly involved in the day to day operations of the company, Siqokoqela allegedly masqueraded as the owner of the company in Zimbabwe and even threatened to either dismiss or deport employees of Indian origin for defying his orders.

The matter came to light in May 2018 when the Botswana based Choppies group chief executive officer, Mr Ottapathu Ramachandran discovered that there were a series of financial imbalances while going through the company management accounting books.

It was discovered that the company was prejudiced of $51 945,53. The matter was reported to the police and investigations were conducted leading to Siqokoqela’s arrest and nothing was recovered.

Nomagugu allegedly bulldozed various Choppies outlets in Bulawayo and demanded cash. She allegedly ordered 15 Choppies Supermarket managers in Bulawayo to unlawfully dispense more than $30 000 cash from their POS machines.

The court heard that between June 13 and 29 this year, Nomagugu went to the complainants, some of whom are Indians, and demanded cash during which she also threatened to either get them fired or deported if they refused to comply.

The court heard that as a result of the threats, the complainants acceded to the accused person’s demands.

“The accused person derived the advantage of easily accessing cash which is hard to come by, their conduct resulted in loss for Nanavac Investments in that being a retail business, the company’s outlets rely heavily on cash to pay critical suppliers, including arranging for foreign payments with local banks,” said Mr Dlodlo.

She would then swipe the equivalent of the money she received using different bank cards. The cash unlawfully collected by Nomagugu from the 15 shops amounts to $30 230. The money was looted on different occasions from Choppies shops in Bulawayo’s city central business district, Luveve, Pumula East, Entumbane, Bellevue, Nkulumane and Lobengula suburbs.

The Mphokos are being represented by Professor Welshman Ncube of Mathonsi Law Chambers.

By Jane Mlambo| ZimEye brings our valued viewers and readers LIVE updates of the planned National Shutdown to push government to address the economic meltdown currently gripping the country as well as the newly gazetted 2% tax on all mobile money transactions.

REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE LIVE COVERAGE.

State Media Report|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is recovering well at a South African hospital where he is receiving thorough medical attention on the effects of the Bulawayo bombing incident in June, Government said on Sunday.

The bombing incident affected VP Chiwenga and his wife Mary, alongside Vice President Kembo Mohadi and several Government officials and security personnel.

Since the incident happened at the height of the July 30 harmonised elections campaign, VP Chiwenga could not receive thorough medical attention as he soldiered on to complete the campaign process.

Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, who is also the Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, said that VP Chiwenga was in good health and expected back in the country sometime this week.

He said President Mnangagwa had been communicating with Chiwenga and his wife on a daily basis from the time he flew out of the country last week.

Remarks by Charamba come in the wake of speculative reports on social media that VP Chiwenga’s health had deteriorated and that he was in bad shape.

“Alongside VP Mohadi, Mai (Oppah) Muchinguri-Kashiri, General Engelbert Rugeje, Mabel Chinomona and scores of other security personnel, General Chiwenga and his family were affected by the White City bombing incident,” he said.

“It happened in the middle of elections so it was not possible for him to go for a thorough medical examination. After the elections, we had pressure of forming a new Government and again he couldn’t go out for that examination.

“His wife, as you may be aware, went for medical treatment alongside other officials. A decision was then taken that now that elections are behind us, and also that the new Government has been constituted, the General should now go for a thorough medical examination.

“So he flew out last Tuesday alongside his wife who was also due for a review in South Africa where they then went for medical checks. And in the case of the wife, it was a review. Apart from the White City Stadium injury, the General was injured towards ceasefire in the Chiduku area in Hwedza and for a long time he had a bullet lodged in his lung.

“There is that historical problem he already had over and above what happened at White City Stadium. That then made it urgent for him to then get that thorough medical attention I am talking about.”

Charamba continued: “Happily, the review has been done both for the General and his wife. The President has been constantly talking to the couple on a daily basis.

“Equally, I also spoke to them this morning (yesterday) and besides they went with Dr John Mangwiro who is the Health and Child Care Deputy Minister just to ensure that there is a Government medical official in attendance. Both General Chiwenga and Amai Chiwenga are in good health.

“They have been cleared except for some little problems that were detected and have since been treated.

“The VP is very well and when I chatted with him he ended up barking orders to me in respect of Kanyemba projects and in respect of Bulawayo Kraal project in Binga.

“I said to him vakuru chimboteereraika muviri and he said no, no Charamba. He also told me of the plans he has because he was telling me that by harvest time this coming season we should never have any difficulties with cooking oil.

“So, uppermost on his mind are projects which are meant to revamp our irrigation infrastructure. Barring the unforeseen, we expect the couple back into the country sometime this week.”

State Media

In a case of comparison between fraudster Wicknell Chivayo (cleared after stealing over $5 mln) and the Mphoko family, the trial dates have been set for former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela and his wife, Nomagugu who are facing charges of hijacking Choppies retail business and “looting” more than $80 000 in cash and goods from the outlets countrywide without board approval.

In Chivayo’s case, the latter obtained a straight payment of over $5 million, also without approval and without a bank guarantee; the money meant to develop electricity in Matebeleland South, which he squandered on cars, shoes and expensive foreign trips.

Siqokoqela Mphoko (40) who is a director of Nanavac Investments (Private) Limited, a local partner for the Botswana-registered Choppies Distribution Centre (Proprietary) Limited is facing 170 counts of fraud and theft involving more than $50 000.

Nomagugu (36) is facing 49 counts of extortion after she allegedly ordered supermarket managers to unlawfully dispense over $30 000 cash from their point of sale machines after threatening them with either deportation or dismissal.

The couple, of Hillside suburb, is out of custody on $200 bail each. As part of the bail conditions, the two were ordered not to interfere with State witnesses.

They appeared separately before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure last Friday.
Siqokoqela was remanded to Wednesday for trial with Nomagugu’s trial starting two days later.
Siqokoqela, who is a shareholder in the retail business and a non executive director, is accused of abusing his power to “loot” cash realised from sales at different supermarkets and replacing it with transfers.

Prosecuting, Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo said between July last year and June this year, Siqokoqela proceeded to various Choppies supermarkets where he allegedly demanded varying amounts of cash, goods and services for various purposes from the employees without approval from the board.

“The accused person deceived the employees into believing that he was the one at the helm of Choppies Zimbabwe and had authority to demand or collect anything he wanted from the business. He also told the employees that he had the authority to collect goods on a credit facility, which was a misrepresentation,” said Mr Dlodlo.

The court heard that on different occasions, Siqokoqela collected cash, groceries and an assortment of building material and ordered personnel from the finance department not to deduct the money from his salary.

“There were occasions when he also misrepresented that he intended to replace the money through swiping from Point of Sale (POS) machines,” said Mr Dlodlo.

In papers before the court, Siqokoqela by virtue of being a non-executive director was entitled to a monthly gross salary of $10 000, company vehicle, fuel, telephone allowance and 3,53 percent of profit after tax as dividend at the end of each year.

Although he was not supposed to be directly involved in the day to day operations of the company, Siqokoqela allegedly masqueraded as the owner of the company in Zimbabwe and even threatened to either dismiss or deport employees of Indian origin for defying his orders.

The matter came to light in May 2018 when the Botswana based Choppies group chief executive officer, Mr Ottapathu Ramachandran discovered that there were a series of financial imbalances while going through the company management accounting books.

It was discovered that the company was prejudiced of $51 945,53. The matter was reported to the police and investigations were conducted leading to Siqokoqela’s arrest and nothing was recovered.

Nomagugu allegedly bulldozed various Choppies outlets in Bulawayo and demanded cash. She allegedly ordered 15 Choppies Supermarket managers in Bulawayo to unlawfully dispense more than $30 000 cash from their POS machines.

The court heard that between June 13 and 29 this year, Nomagugu went to the complainants, some of whom are Indians, and demanded cash during which she also threatened to either get them fired or deported if they refused to comply.

The court heard that as a result of the threats, the complainants acceded to the accused person’s demands.

“The accused person derived the advantage of easily accessing cash which is hard to come by, their conduct resulted in loss for Nanavac Investments in that being a retail business, the company’s outlets rely heavily on cash to pay critical suppliers, including arranging for foreign payments with local banks,” said Mr Dlodlo.

She would then swipe the equivalent of the money she received using different bank cards. The cash unlawfully collected by Nomagugu from the 15 shops amounts to $30 230. The money was looted on different occasions from Choppies shops in Bulawayo’s city central business district, Luveve, Pumula East, Entumbane, Bellevue, Nkulumane and Lobengula suburbs.

The Mphokos are being represented by Professor Welshman Ncube of Mathonsi Law Chambers. -additional reporting state media

ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has assured the nation that no one will lose their money in banks as Government continues to work flat out to protect consumers through defending wage values and securing their savings.

In the first instalment of his new weekly column in our sister paper, The Sunday Mail, Mnangagwa said Government is in the process of putting mechanisms in place to protect earnings and savings both in local and foreign currency, including $9 billion in real-time gross settlement (RTGS) deposits.

“Government continues to work flat out to protect consumers, defend wage values and secure savings. This includes the $9 billion in RTGS deposits in our banks. We are already putting in place legally enforceable measures to protect such earnings and savings, whether in local or foreign currency. No one will lose their money,” he said in the column published yesterday.

Mnangagwa urged the nation to embrace the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), saying there were pains to be borne and sacrifices to be made before things start looking up for the ordinary man in the street.

TSP, which was recently presented by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, is a sound fiscal adjustment policy aimed at enhancing the country’s economic growth and development.

“We must all gird for belt-tightening measures, leaders and ordinary citizens alike. No one is immune to the sacrifices that are necessary to stabilise the economy. Those of us in leadership across all sectors of our economy must show the way through even bigger sacrifices,” he said.
Lately, Mnangagwa, said, Government has announced a raft of monetary and fiscal measures which the markets are digesting daily for business decisions.

He said the Second Republic is committed to addressing the issue of instability in prices.
“This process has triggered initial dis-equilibria in the economy, which have shown by way of instability in prices. I am fully conscious of this and remain committed to ensure that we stabilise things in the shortest possible time. Equally, I am aware that information must continue to flow to the citizenry so that there is an appreciation of the direction we are taking, the course we must walk and the sacrifices to be made, and for how long,” he said.

Mnangagwa reiterated that there was no need for people to panic in light of the prevailing economic situation.

“Temporary pressures must not blind us to the major gains we have made and continue to make on the economic front. Let us keep our focus on things that matter and on what needs to be urgently done. Our Vision 2030 expresses our aspiration to upper middle-income status with a per capita income of US$3 500. The economy whose growth rate this year has been revised upwards from 4,5 percent to 6 percent confirms that the aspiration is achievable and our Transitional Stabilisation Programme, which is already underway, seeks to do just that,” he said.

Mnangagwa is also targeting illegal currency trading and related illicit financial activities through new measures that would be employed.

It is also understood that Mnangagwa last week summoned his security cluster and discussed the matter, paving way for the imminent arrests of high-profile figures suspected of masterminding black market activities.

Last week there was a sudden spike in black market currency trading that saw the bond note trading as low as 1:6 to the US dollar at some point, resulting in a sharp increase in prices of basic commodities at retail outlets and panic buying of fuel prompting long queues at service stations.

However, the parallel market rates have since plunged after Government guaranteed the 1:1 convertibility value of RTGS balances to the United States dollar as well as availability of the greenback for Nostro foreign currency accounts.

Mnangagwa is leading an aggressive realignment of the country’s economy through introducing far-reaching reforms and re-engaging the international community.
Mnangagwa has on many occasions emphasised that economic revival and growth are at the centre of his Government’s agenda. -state media

Terrence Mawawa|The MDC Alliance has expressed dismay at the appointment of Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa to the National Building Society Board.

Below is the MDC Alliance statement: The MDC is irked by the decision to appoint Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa to the National
Building Society Board.

Just like any other form of corruption, nepotism has no place in a democratic society. We have made
the point of a total failure to break from the past by the regime.

In previous arrangements, we witnessed appointments of President Mugabe’s kins and folk
to influential positions including the appointment of both Bona Mugabe and her husband to state institutions.

The MDC in the SMART document argues that combating corruption and parastatal reform are part of reshaping the state institutions in an endevour to create a modern functional state.

We are of the view that the NBS must be concentrating on a radical housing program specifically for Development and Urbanisation of
Rural Areas (DURA).

Appointing a Mnangagwa to the board will not help this cause. As a NSSA-owned bank, a clear appointment procedure must be used and appointments must be made public.

In our SMART document we suggest public interviews for appointments of this level.We also restate that NSSA reform is imperative to ensure the commercial section brings back profits to the core business of paying out pensions, we find this kind of corruption to be an impediment.
More importantly institutions meant to combat corruption must investigate these kinds of decisions.

The Judiciary, National Prosecuting Authority, Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission must be strengthened and their
independence guaranteed in line with reforms outlined in President Chamisa’s five point plan.
MDC: Change that Delivers! Jacob MafumeMDC National .

New Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza is ringing changes at the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara), going against advice he got from his predecessor Joram Gumbo who is now heading the Energy ministry.

While Gumbo had defended the Zinara board led by Wilfred Ramwi, which stands accused of refusing to act on a litany of allegations contained in an audit report by Grant Thornton, Matiza went on to fire the board regardless.

Gumbo had also argued that far from concealing the alleged rot at Zinara, the period covered by the audit was before the appointment of the Ramwi-led board.

Matiza’s deputy, Fortune Chasi, who was tasked by the Transport minister to clean up the mess at Zinara told the Daily News that while Gumbo was entitled to his opinion, his boss had the final say on issues under his portfolio.

“It is not true that the audit only focused on the previous board led by Albert Mugabe because its mandate was not limited to that so it was realised in the report  that the new board members had their own issues,” Chasi said.

Asked if the two ministers had a proper hand-over, take-over, Chasi said while that was done, Matiza still has the right to use his discretionary powers.

“That (hand-over and take-over) does not mean that the minister is no longer independent to see things his own way and take necessary decisions that we feel will make us achieve the vision of the president to ensure efficiency in these parastatals as well as good  corporate governance,” Chasi said.

Gumbo stands accused of trying to protect a certain clique of executives at Zinara from being suspended while persecuting its chief executive officer, Nancy Masiyiwa, whose future at the parastatal hangs in the balance.

The fired board is now under fire for dropping charges against senior management at Zinara who had been suspended by Masiyiwa namely Simon Taranhike, Precious Murove, Peter Boterere and Shadreck Mutengabadza who are accused of sourcing foreign currency on the black market without approval.

The board also allegedly refused to act on the damaging audit report.

-Daily News

Jane Mlambo| Think tank and advocacy institution on elections and democracy, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) has called upon government to pay attention to the issues raised by the European Union Observation Mission, insisting that the new administration must “change attitude on electoral reforms.”

The EU Observation team yesterday presented its final report on the 2018 election highlighting a plethora of electoral irregularities which could have been avoided if the government had paid attention to the statements of the local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Tawanda Chimhini, the ERC executive director, said its high time government changes its behavior on reforms.

“Now that the same things that we as ERC and others have said before have now been repeated by credible election groups who watched the 2018 elections at the invitation of Zimbabwean authorities, it is expected that the new administration’s attitude towards electoral reforms must change,” Chimhini said.

Chimhini bemoaned lack of political will to implement reforms by authorities.
“Sadly attempts to compel election authorities to adopt the necessary changes to improve elections in the past have fallen on deaf ears and have largely been ignored,” the ERC boss said.

The ERC executive director said authorities must walk the talk than just promising.

“The review done on the election by the EU suggests that going forward, it is no longer enough to base re-engagement efforts on mere rhetoric alone. It is no longer enough to just talk without acting,” he said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa had promised the nation and the world that Zimbabwe would have free, fair and credible elections on July 30 a test that he failed.

Chimhini said Zimbabwe must be prepared to move away from the current method of running elections for it to be accepted and appreciated internationally.

“This therefore suggests that re-engagement efforts at the international level must be accompanied by substantive changes in our democratic culture at a domestic level which is exhibited and not just said,” Chimhini said.

Chimhini said any re-engagement efforts that are devoid of addressing the electoral inadequacies which are now obvious to all “will be nothing but hot air”.

The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has resolved to join the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the rest of the suffering citizens in protesting against the deteriorating economic conditions in the country.

The resolution was made during the MDC’s urgent national executive committee meeting that was held at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday.

MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said yesterday that following the ZCTU action on Thursday that saw the State arresting the labour leaders to stop protests against the new two percent tax, the opposition party felt the need to “stand in solidarity with the people”.

“It was resolved by the national executive that we should show that we are with the people during this tough time, so we must join them in demonstrating against a government that is clearly clueless on how they can extricate the country out of the economic quagmire,” Mafume said.

Several trade union activists including ZCTU president Peter Mutasa and secretary-general Japhet Moyo were arrested for attempting to demonstrate against the proposed two cents per dollar transaction tax.

The tax that was gazetted on Friday comes at a time the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe reintroduced foreign currency accounts throwing the bond note into turmoil, hence sky-rocketing of prices as fears of 2008 when hyperinflation reached 500 billion percent grip the public.

Mafume said his party which will celebrate its 19th anniversary on October 27 cannot afford to fold its arms while the people were suffering.

“People have come to a point where they are saying enough is enough, hence the ZCTU action which we commend and will complement very soon after we meet all the stakeholders to come up with a convenient date.

“We have also been consulting our structures and they have signalled that they have had enough so we will stand with them in solidarity as dictated by the Constitution which provides for the right to demonstrate,” he said.

Mafume also revealed that the party will now go ahead with its anniversary celebrations that they abandoned last month following a government ban on public gatherings in the aftermath of a recent cholera outbreak that claimed several lives.

“We will have our celebrations here in Harare at Gwanzura Stadium because we have realised the police hypocrisy when they banned our event yet at the same time they let Zanu PF go ahead.

“They have allowed church gatherings that attract bigger crowds to go ahead, so we have said they should allow us to also do our activities or we will defy their ban, that is the point we have reached. We have since notified them of our intention to have our anniversary on October 27 but we have not yet received their response,” he said.

Pressed to say if the party will go ahead with its previous plans to inaugurate Chamisa as the people’s president to show their disdain for President Emmerson Mnangagwa whom they view as illegitimate after allegedly rigging his way to power in the July 30 elections, Mafume said that would be discovered on the day.

“We call upon all Zimbabweans to come and join us in our celebrations and get to know what is on the agenda when they come,” he said.

Last month, police proscribed the MDC anniversary celebration for the second time in less than a week claiming the ban on public gatherings occasioned by the cholera outbreak still subsisted.

Curiously, said the MDC, Zanu PF held a number of inter-district meetings across the country the same weekend despite the purported police ban.

Earlier, the police had given the MDC the green light to hold its rally but made a volte-face after realising that it may provide a fertile ground for the spread of the highly-infectious disease.

The main country’s main opposition called off its plans to hold a mock inauguration to name Chamisa as the country’s president.

The MDC Alliance had planned to hold the mock inauguration alongside its anniversary event to highlight its claims that Chamisa — and not Mnangagwa of the ruling Zanu PF party — was the rightful winner of the hard-fought presidential election.

This came after Chamisa had filed a petition at the Constitutional Court claiming that he had won the presidential election by 60 percent, while stating mathematical inconsistencies which he said if corrected would have reduced Mnangagwa’s tally to below 50 percent.

Despite the court dismissing his application with costs, Chamisa still insists that the ballot was rigged.

Government had threatened at the time that Chamisa would be arrested if he proceeded to swear himself in as president during the 19th anniversary celebrations.

DailyNews

South Africa is ready to assist Zimbabwe, although the latter is still to approach Pretoria for any assistance.

Lindiwe Sisulu, South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation minister, said the northern neighbour ‘‘cannot go to Zimbabwe and say; ‘here is a bag of whatever and you will have it’ as international relations depend on reciprocity”.

“It’s a country that we regard as a friend and we would like stability there and we would like the economic reforms to succeed there,” she said.

Sisulu made the comments as Zimbabwe grapples with economic challenges.

While the neighbouring governments have in the past opened dialogue and set agreements to regularise a mutual relationship in several aspects, Zimbabwe has not approached Pretoria for assistance to stabilise the economy.

Debate on the adoption of the rand as currency to stabilise the economy dominated Parliament this week.

This was preceded by the revelation by Hatfield parliamentarian, Tapiwa Mashakada on Tuesday that Zimbabweans are currently living in extreme poverty with 79 percent of the population surviving on less than $1,25 a day and a per capita income of less than $500.

A strong recommendation of the adoption of the rand to stabilise the economy has been seen as a more viable way by analysts; hence South Africa’s offer may be a doorway for new economic opportunities if considered.

In a heated debate on the issue, Mashakada said in order to bring some sanity to the financial and liquidity situation there was need for totally scrapping the bond note and strengthening the regime of multiple currencies.

“You need to choose a currency in the basket which is commonly available and in this case I propose that we adopt the rand as our currency,” said Mashakada.

This was seconded by former Finance minister Tendai Biti, who explained that Zimbabwe’s economy is in a serious state of malaise and the rand was a good option in the interim.

-Daily News

New Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza is ringing changes at the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara), going against advice he got from his predecessor Joram Gumbo who is now heading the Energy ministry.

While Gumbo had defended the Zinara board led by Wilfred Ramwi, which stands accused of refusing to act on a litany of allegations contained in an audit report by Grant Thornton, Matiza went on to fire the board regardless.

Gumbo had also argued that far from concealing the alleged rot at Zinara, the period covered by the audit was before the appointment of the Ramwi-led board.

Matiza’s deputy, Fortune Chasi, who was tasked by the Transport minister to clean up the mess at Zinara told the Daily News that while Gumbo was entitled to his opinion, his boss had the final say on issues under his portfolio.

“It is not true that the audit only focused on the previous board led by Albert Mugabe because its mandate was not limited to that so it was realised in the report  that the new board members had their own issues,” Chasi said.

Asked if the two ministers had a proper hand-over, take-over, Chasi said while that was done, Matiza still has the right to use his discretionary powers.

“That (hand-over and take-over) does not mean that the minister is no longer independent to see things his own way and take necessary decisions that we feel will make us achieve the vision of the president to ensure efficiency in these parastatals as well as good  corporate governance,” Chasi said.

Gumbo stands accused of trying to protect a certain clique of executives at Zinara from being suspended while persecuting its chief executive officer, Nancy Masiyiwa, whose future at the parastatal hangs in the balance.

The fired board is now under fire for dropping charges against senior management at Zinara who had been suspended by Masiyiwa namely Simon Taranhike, Precious Murove, Peter Boterere and Shadreck Mutengabadza who are accused of sourcing foreign currency on the black market without approval.

The board also allegedly refused to act on the damaging audit report.

-Daily News

Press Statement|The MDC is irked by the decision to appoint Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa on the National Building Society Board.
Just like any other form of corruption, nepotism has no place in a Democratic society. We have made the point of a total failure to break from the past by the regime.

In previous arrangements, we witnessed appointments of President Mugabe’s kins and folk into influential positions including the appointment of both Bona Mugabe and her husband to state institutions.

The MDC in the SMART document argued then, as we do now, that combating corruption and parastatal reform is part of rethinking the state in an endevour to create a modern functional state.

We are of the view that the NBS must be concentrating on a radical housing program specifically for Development and Urbanisation of Rural Areas (DURA).

Appointing a Mnangagwa to the board will not help this cause. As a NSSA-owned bank, a clear appointment criteria must be used and appointments must be made public.

In our SMART document we suggest public interviews for appointments of this level.

We also restate that NSSA reform is imperative to ensure the commercial section brings back profits to the core business of paying out pensions, we find this kind of corruption to be an impediment.

More importantly institutions meant to combat corruption must investigate these kinds of decisions.

The Judiciary, National Prosecuting Authority, Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission must be strengthened and their independence guaranteed in line with reforms outlined in President Chamisa’s five point plan.

MDC: Change that Delivers!
Jacob Mafume
MDC National Spokesperson

Correspondent|Former vice-president Joice Mujuru insists her National People’s Party (NPP) is not crumbling even after she was deserted by her top lieutenants following a dismal performance during the July 30 harmonised elections.

Mujuru said the party would soldier on despite the mass desertions and “everything is by God’s plan”.

“We are moving. Everything is by God’s plan. It is their democratic right, I am happy for them and wish them very well in their future political life,” she said.

Her new secretary general, Crispen Karanda, said the NPP was here to stay.

“We are going nowhere. we are still alive and very much alive,” said Karanda, who replaced Gift Nyandoro, Mujuru’s long-time aide who left the party soon after the election.

Former Zanu PF politburo member and ex-Energy minister Dzikamai Mavhaire was one of the most high- profile NPP leaders who left and joined the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa recently.

Mujuru contested her first presidential election as an opposition leader after putting together a coalition of fringe parties that constituted the People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC), but came out severely bruised.

She fared badly in the polls won by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, her former fierce rival in Zanu PF.

Mujuru was fired from government in 2014 after allegations that she was plotting to topple the president Robert Mugabe.

However, the 94-year-old former ruler apologised to his ex-deputy after he was overthrown in a coup last year.

Mugabe said he was misled when he fired Mujuru.

Bulawayo businessman and Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Raj Modi will donate his monthly salary during his tenure in Government to under-privileged people in Bulawayo.

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 harmonised elections.

In an interview with with state media Modi said the monthly donation is the least he can do for the people of Bulawayo, whom he credits for his success.

“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.

“The Government wants to eradicate poverty. I believe that the effort should start at the household level, at the grassroots, going up. I am in touch with the grassroots, I know what our people want as my lifestyle is not far removed from those of the electorate.

“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.”

Meanwhile, Modi, in partnership with Smile Africa, an NGO that helps the underprivileged, donated 1 260 packets of rice mixed with soya to more than 150 children at Sidojiwe Hostels in Belmont on Saturday.

“I partnered with Smile Africa to source food for the children of Sidojiwe because I believe it is time to work as a cohesive unit and make a coordinated effort to help the people of Bulawayo, instead of separate entities making individual efforts. Sidojiwe is in my constituency and as much as I want to help everyone who needs help, I cannot do it alone. That is why I am working with those who are willing to work with me to bring relief to our people,” he said.

Albert Mavunga, the founder and chairperson of Smile Africa, said they had decided to work with Modi as he is a prominent humanitarian.

“The Deputy Minister has been giving to the poor for over two decades now and he has been doing so from his pocket. Smile Africa saw it necessary to seek him out and to partner him because we believe we can do more together. This donation is just the first of many that we will be doing together,” said Mavunga.

State Media

ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa will meet Russia’s President Vladmir Putin early next year, as he continues his engagement and re-engagement drive that is calculated to integrate Zimbabwe into the global family of nations and spur growth as part of the vision to create an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

In August this year, his deputy Gen. Constantino Chiwenga was in Moscow as Mnangagwa’s special envoy, to relay a message to the Kremlin.

Writing for state owned Sunday Mail in his inaugural column, Mnangagwa said his charm offensive on the sidelines of this year’s United Nations General Assembly had yielded a “solid stock of goodwill”.

That goodwill, he said, had helped Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube make significant headway on an arrears clearance deal with creditors last week.

“As I write, our delegation led by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, is in Bali, Indonesia, where it is meeting development partners and creditors. This initiative, which is a continuation of our engagement and re-engagement policy, has elicited good responses from IFIs and development partners,” said Mnangagwa.

“The numerous contacts I made on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly gave our country a solid stock of goodwill which our delegation in Bali has fully exploited. Key countries which include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, the EU bloc and even the United States of America, have responded favourably to our engagement overtures, and have welcomed our debt-settlement plan for the US$5,6 billion we owe IFIs and the Paris Club, and our Transitional Stabilisation Plan which we will now fully implement.

“The People’s Republic of China continues to support us both bilaterally and internationally, including by way of private sector investments which continue to enhance national capacity.

‘‘Early next year, I am set to meet President Putin in Russia to explore ways to enhance our co-operation,” he said.

Last week, Prof Ncube announced that the IMF and World Bank had endorsed Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance plan and two-year Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).

The African Development Bank, EU, France, UK, USA, Australia, Netherlands and South Africa also expressed their support.

The TSP will guide the country’s economic thrust through to December 2020.

Zimbabwe arrears currently stand at $5,6 billion, which are spilt into $2,2 billion (multilateral creditors), $2,7 billion (Paris Club) and $700 million (non-Paris Club $700 million).

Prof Ncube told The Sunday Mail last week that next month Government would engage two specific sponsors who are G7 members to secure bridging finance required to clear arrears with multilateral creditors. The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“Government will engage the G7 as a bloc and also two specific creditors within G7, as potential sponsors. I have already told the two potential sponsors that I will be approaching them at the end of November,” Prof Ncube said.

In a speech at Chatham House — an international affairs think-tank in London — last Monday, Prof Ncube said the plan was likely to be “adhoc” and “custom-made”.

“In the end the arrears plan for Zimbabwe will be adhoc; it will be custom-made.

‘‘I think it will be similar to the Myanmar one, where Japan was the sponsor, so even for us, we need a sponsor to make this happen, then cajole the rest of the club for debt restructure,” he said.

Myanmar, which was saddled by a debt of $11 billion, met the Paris Club on January 25, 2013 and the latter agreed to cancel half of the arrears in two stages and rescheduled the rest over 15 years, with a seven-year grace period.

Norway cancelled all the $534 million owed to it, while Japan cancelled more than $3 billion.

The Japan Bank for International Co-operation extended $500 million to help clear arrears to the Asian Development Bank.- state media

Government expects the fuel situation to normalise this week after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe increased weekly allocations for imports for the second time this year to over $30 million. This follows a huge increase in demand for fuel, and rising international oil prices.

Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Jorum Gumbo told the state media yesterday that retailers were taking delivery of bulk fuel bought via a $41 million RBZ facility. Government has also relaxed regulations to allow bulk fuel to be transported at night, and given the National Oil Infrastructure Company the green light to load fuel around the clock.

“We have enough fuel in bond at Masasa and Mabvuku. There is no need to panic, the country will not go dry. The challenge we have is that of rising oil prices on the international market, which is something we have no control over and it is something that caught us unaware.

“You are also aware that the RBZ raised its weekly allocation for fuel from $10 million to $20 million earlier this year as a result of increasing demand and the skyrocketing prices of the commodity on international market,” said Min Gumbo.

“What we have done is that officials from my Ministry have been negotiating with the RBZ to increase the allocation further to between $30 million to $35 million a week.

“During the meeting I had with officials from the oil industry on Friday, we agreed that an allocation of around $30 million to $35 million will meet demand and meet the gap caused by the international prices. We are happy that the RBZ has taken our recommendation and will do so,” he said.

Dr Gumbo said letters of credit from the $41 million drawdown started reflecting on Friday.
“The other challenge is that when the RBZ released the $41 million for fuel imports, this was done through letters of credit and it takes between three and four days for the LCs to start reflecting at the suppliers’ side.

“So by yesterday (Friday), most of the LCs began maturing and deliveries commenced. The situation is now stabilising in spite of the continued panic buying, but as the LCs continue to mature, deliveries will continue as well and within three days we could be back to normal. But as long as people hoard the product, the situation may drag for a few more days.”
Government, he said, did not want to increase fuel prices despite increases on international markets.
Prices are pegged at $1,31 for diesel and $1,41 for petrol.

He added: “We are aware of some companies that are demanding US dollars payment for fuel; that should stop.

“We now have teams from (Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority) and (Zimbabwe Republic Police) who are carrying out impromptu checks to see which service stations are selling only in US dollars.

“The public should report such illegal activities and the law will take its course. It is Government that is providing them with foreign currency for the fuel and it is not the fuel dealers who are sourcing the forex. Mobile money and swiping are legal ways of tendering in Zimbabwe.”