Jane Mlambo| 19 activists of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) have been arrested and are currently detained at ZRP Mutare Central.

More details to follow…

THE European Union (EU) yesterday released its final report on the July 30 harmonised elections, which largely regurgitated MDC-Alliance claims aimed at discrediting the widely hailed polls. Other international observers, among them the African Union and Sadc have endorsed the elections won by President Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF as free, fair and credible, and a true reflection of the will of the people.

Zanu-PF trounced the MDC-Alliance, amassing 145 seats to the MDC-Alliance’s 63, with the Mugabe project, the National Patriotic Front (NPF) managing one seat and independent candidate Mr Temba Mliswa retaining his Norton seat in the 210-member National Assembly.

In the presidential contest, President Mnangagwa trounced MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa with 50,67 percent of the votes cast, to 44 percent.

Presenting the EU Election Observer Mission final report yesterday, deputy chief observer Mr Mark Stevens said the campaign period was largely peaceful, with freedoms of movement, assembly and expression respected, and both the main presidential candidates held numerous rallies across the country.

He, however, went on to regurgitate the MDC-Alliance claims, which included, but were not limited to layout of presidential ballot, modalities for printing and distributing ballots, alleged State media bias and conduct of postal voting.

The EU conceded that the 2018 election was conducted in an unprecedented level of freedom compared to previous elections, with voters actively participating in campaign, while civil society was free to engage without hindrance.

“The right to stand was provided for, the elections were competitive and political freedoms during the campaign were respected. On Election Day, voters enjoyed the right to vote and both campaign and Election Day were largely peaceful,” reads the report.

“The introduction of a number of legal and administrative changes was welcomed, including increasing the number of polling stations, limiting voters to voting only at registered station, and limiting the number of excess ballots to be printed.”

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Secretary Mr Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana yesterday said Government would comment after being presented with the report.

“We have not been presented with the report yet and we are meeting with that delegation on Friday. We do not have it (the report), so we cannot comment until we have been presented with it,” he said.

Zanu-PF secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said SADC and AU had endorsed the elections and he was no privy to the standards referred to by the EU Observer Mission.

“It is their opinion and it remains so. We are measured by Sadc and AU standards and we met those standards. The AU and Sadc said so. We cannot be measured by standards we know nothing about,” he said.

-State Media

Urban grooves musician Plaxedes Machuma Joka (popularly known as Plaxedes Wenyika, pictured) has filed for maintenance against businessman Dr Mika Joka following the couple’s separation pending divorce. The couple’s 13-year marriage is teetering on the brink of collapse after the artiste filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences with the entrepreneur. Dr Joka is the founder of Corporate 24 medical centre.

The couple married in 2005 and solemnised the union in terms of the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:11).

In the divorce summons filed at the High Court on August 30 this year, Wenyika claimed monthly maintenance of $3 500 for herself and the upkeep of the couple’s three children.

Pending termination of the union, the musician has upgraded her claim to $6 330 through a separate court application for maintenance.

In the court application filed at the High Court on Tuesday, Wenyika indicated she required $1 500 for her welfare and maintenance every month.

She is also claiming $1 110 monthly for each of the three children, including the one in boarding school.

The total claim in respect of the three children becomes $3 330. In addition, she is claiming $300 for the wages of her two maids and a gardener. She also claims $80 monthly for DSTV subscription.

The artist, who initiated the divorce proceedings, wants the businessman to maintain her in a manner she “had been accustomed to” during the happier times of the union.

“I am therefore approaching this honourable court to ensure that the children and myself are supported and that we carry on with the life we had been accustomed to in the interim, pending finalisation of my matrimonial suit,” she said.

The businessman already pays close to $8 000 termly as fees for the children’s who elite private schools but the musician wants the responsibility to be turned into an enforceable court order.

“In similar vein, I am seeking an order that the respondent be directed to pay school fees of the children in the private schools and pre-schools they are currently enrolled in and that in the process he acquires all uniforms and equipment as may be required,” reads Wenyika’s founding affidavit.

She is also seeking an order ensuring the children remain on the father’s medical aid. In addition, Wenyika wants the businessman to meet any shortfalls that may arise in respect of the medical aid.

The musician who is an economist by profession and holds an MBA has also claimed $150 per week as entertainment fees for her and the kids.

The handful list also includes a demand to have her car repaired and maintained by Dr Joka anytime it breaks down.

Jane Mlambo| Harare currently resembles a war zone with riot police officers patrolling streets to scare people from participating in a planned demonstration organized by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions against the 2 percent tax imposed by government on all electronic transactions.

A few minutes ago, a group of protestors attempted to march but heavily armed police   descended on the ZCTU offices where workers were gathered in preparation of the protest and arrested its President Peter Mutasa.

ZCTU insists that the protest will go ahead as they are exempted from the requirements of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

The Labour body has also approached the Constitutional Court to challenge police’s decision to ban their protest citing the cholera epidemic.

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) yesterday conferred President Emmerson Mnangagwa with an honorary Doctor of Laws degrees during the 2018 graduation ceremony amid tight security as speculation was rife that students wanted to embarrass him.

Mnangagwa was also installed Chancellor at his inaugural graduation ceremony at the university.

The Zanu PF leader urged the university council, senate, and staff to spur the institution to deliver education in line with global standards, national vision and aspirations.

“The African intelligencia in pre-independent Zimbabwe agitated for justice, equality and the right to self-determination,” he said.

“We envisaged a Zimbabwe where all men and women have equal access to opportunities. We fought to see society living in harmony, peace, love and unity. In the second republic, these aspirations must be realized and enjoyed by all of us; talent and hard work rewarded.”

A total of 3 632 graduands were conferred with degrees from nine faculties and the College of Health Sciences.

-Newsday

KFC and other fast food restaurants in Zimbabwe are unable to purchase supplies because of a shortage of U.S. dollars, forcing many to close.

KFC restaurant in the southwestern city of Bulawayo posted a notice to customers saying that it was shut until further notice “due to the fact that we are unable to source stock from our suppliers as they require U.S. dollars.”

Local chains Chicken Inn and St. Elmo’s Pizza have suffered a similar fate.

The closures are the latest in a wave of difficulties caused by Zimbabwe’s foreign currency crisis, which has seen the price of basic commodities “spiralling out of control”.

Some shops have already run out of essential items. Pharmacies have also exhausted stocks of diabetes and blood pressure medications.

The head of a retail association says that there is “panic in the market” as frustrated consumers snap up whatever is available. However, government officials deny there is a shortage of commodities in the country and said the crisis was born of “profiteering” and “greed.”

Hyper-inflation forced Zimbabwe to jettison its own currency, the Zimbabwe dollar, in 2009 and switch to foreign cash instead.

news24

Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema has warned that police will be out in full force today to thwart any attempts by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) to demonstrate against the worsening economic crisis in the country.

Addressing journalists after touring the country’s central registry headquarters yesterday, Mathema said while it was everyone’s democratic right to demonstrate, that right must be exercised within the limits of the law.

“We hear that there are some who want to demonstrate against what they say are an untenable economic situation in the country. Let me say that our President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is a peace-loving person. We are a law-abiding government and so is our President,” he said.

“If people go against the law and go to demonstrate, they must know that our law will deal with them harshly. We don’t want law breakers. We don’t want people who break our peace.”

ZCTU has pencilled demonstrations across the country to protest against the two cents per dollar transactional tax announced by government last week and triggered price hikes by retailers and suppliers, disappearance of some basic goods, while some companies closed shop.

The labour body yesterday vowed to go ahead with today’s protests despite the police banning it on account of fears of a fresh cholera outbreak.

ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo said the labour group would not be stopped by the police to demonstrate against what he termed “economic sabotage”.

“We are going ahead as planned. We have instructed our lawyers to challenge (the police ban). We are very confident that we are going to exercise our rights as citizens and the police cannot determine or infringe on those rights like that,” Moyo said.

Meanwhile, Mathema said his ministry was working on decentralising production of passports in order to clear a huge backlog of up to six months.

“I have discussed this with the Registrar-General, who has assured me that there is now a work plan in place to clear the backlog within the shortest possible time and bring passport production to within normal timelines,” Mathema said.

NewsDay

THE Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Joel Biggie Matiza has dissolved the Zimbabwe National Roads Authority (Zinara) board.

He said the entity’s board, whose management is at the centre of allegations of corruption and abuse of office, was dissolved on Tuesday.

According to the Zinara website, the dissolved board comprises Mr Wilfred Ramwi (chairperson). Other members are Dr Mercy Manyuchi, Mr Aaron

Tapfuma, Mrs Lucy Furamera, Mr Fidelis Ngorora and Engineer Goodwell Mapako.

The board also included former Victoria Falls mayor Mr Sifiso Mpofu, Mr Aaron Mazingaiso and Mrs Patricia Bwerinofa.

Eng Matiza made the revelations during a tour of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) facilities in Bulawayo yesterday.

He was commenting on the delays in the commissioning of the Plumtree-Mutare highway.

“The issue of the Plumtree-Mutare highway is being looked at and I will soon meet relevant authorities in that regard. However, I have just dissolved the Zinara board as we need to put things together and start afresh. The board was dissolved on Tuesday,” he said.

Over the past few years, Zinara has been under fire from various stakeholders over its failure to upgrade roads in several parts of the country despite the fact that the entity collects toll fees from the motoring public daily.

Eng Matiza said he has since delegated his deputy, Cde Fortune Chasi to deal with corruption at Zinara, a key parastatal under his portfolio.

“I have assigned my Deputy Minister to investigate the entity including issues of abuse of office. The Deputy Minister will oversee the establishment and maintenance of corporate governance at Zinara and its alignment to statutory requirements,” he said.

Eng Matiza said his Ministry has put in place measures aimed at restructuring Zinara to ensure that it is more effective.

Zinara chief executive Engineer Nancy Masiyiwa was in June suspended over what insiders say are frivolous and laughable charges including that she called one of the senior managers a “Satanist”.

However, investigations have since shown that the principal reason for her suspension is linked to her fight against corruption at the parastatal.

It is believed that a forensic audit report by an international audit firm Grant Thornton, which exposed the rot at the State enterprise, contained damaging information regarding the awarding of several road tender projects and even the Auditor General’s Office was not favoured with the copy of the report.

Eng Masiyiwa’s hearing last week opened a can of worms as it emerged that the parastatal is refusing to release the forensic audit report in question.

Last year, the Government set up an independent probe team to look into the operations of Zinara after the Grant Thornton forensic audit unearthed a number of questionable business transactions prejudicial to the State.

One of the questionable transactions exposed by the audit was the Plumtree-Bulawayo-Harare-Mutare project implemented by Group Five of South Africa at a cost of $206 million. The project was bankrolled by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

The report findings compiled by the five-member independent committee, revealed that Zinara lost more than $119 million to two of its managers through shady deals and unprocedural tenders.

The committee was appointed last year in October by former Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo to investigate all projects that were undertaken by Zinara in the five-year period between 2011 and 2016, including the $206 million rehabilitation of the Plumtree-Mutare highway, after the forensic audit revealed financial rot at the parastatal.

On Tuesday, former Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma was jailed for effective two years after being convicted of criminal abuse of office.

Juma was first arrested in 2016 but was released from police custody at the instigation of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

The former VP allegedly stormed Avondale Police Station and ordered the release of Juma and Davison Norupiri.

State Media

The Meteorological Services Department has warned that a heat wave will sweep across the country tomorrow.

” Zimbabwe is expected to experience high temperatures tomorrow, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees in some parts of the country,” the department told the state broadcaster yesterday.

Energy and Power Development minister Joram Gumbo has stuck to his guns, declaring that he will not resign despite pressure from stakeholders peeved by the worsening fuel situation.

This follows calls for his resignation for allegedly misleading the nation into believing that the country had enough fuel when long, winding queues have become the order of the day at pump stations.

Gumbo told the Daily News yesterday that he cannot throw in the towel for telling the truth.
The Energy minister said the fact that there are queues at service stations countrywide does not follow that there is a shortage of the product.

He said the country has enough fuel at the Msasa and Mabvuku gantry held in bondage, which petroleum companies are able to access upon releasing payment for the product.

Gumbo said that stock had always been accessed by companies through provision of foreign exchange (forex) from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

“People must understand one thing about the mandate of the ministry. Its mandate is fuel provision in the country, and I am telling people that there is enough fuel in the country and I stand by that even when they say I lie and I must resign. I can’t resign for telling them the truth,” he vowed.

Gumbo said the country has five major companies that bring in fuel at Msasa and Mabvuku depots since the industry was de-regulated.

Fuel retailers are then allocated foreign currency by the RBZ to enable them to access the product.

In the past, the central bank would release US$10 million per week, which was later increased to US$20 million weekly to match the demand for the product.

“You cannot access it if you have not paid for it but it is in the country so my stance goes and I still maintain that there are enough stocks of fuel in the country,” said Gumbo.

The former Transport minister said due to the fact that the international price of fuel has gone up, the money being released by the apex bank is no longer sufficient for petroleum companies to buy the same quantities of fuel needed to meet local demand.

Whereas fuel retailers used to buy 2,5 million litres of diesel and 1,5 million litres of petrol with $20 million per week, this is no longer the case.

What had also complicated matters is that Treasury had introduced a new tax for electronic transfers that had increased the cost of sales at a time when fuel retailers were not allowed to pass on the cost to the consumer.

Gumbo expects the situation to return to normalcy in less than a week now that Finance minister has said foreign payments are exempted from the tax, and that the RBZ has paid US$41 million to the fuel companies.

“What the RBZ had to do was to look back to say in order to maintain the same amount of fuel how much should I pay and I am glad to say he (central bank governor John Mangudya) has already paid $41 million to the fuel companies by Friday last week.

“The demand for fuel is because we opened the country for business which means more consumption of fuel because the economy is rising from its slumber…

“Because of the black market, foreign companies were now filling up (their trucks) here because of the bond rate to the US dollar hence the decision to say that foreign companies must buy in forex,” said Gumbo.

He said there was no reason for panic, saying petroleum companies have been picking up fuel from Msasa and Mabvuku.

“The queues are clearing; just give us a day or two. I have not said your service stations have fuel but that there is enough fuel in the country which must be accessed in a certain way and I have not lied,” he added.

Fuel queues started building up last week with outlets in Harare and Bulawayo having either run out or had long queues as motorists patiently waited for their turn to fill up their tanks.

At some outlets owned by Total, attendants only served motorists with pre-paid cards.

Other outlets refused mobile payments, preferring bank cards and cash.

Mangudya has said the fuel shortages had been caused by the introduction of a two percent tax on electronic payments last Monday, which meant oil firms would incur weekly bank charges of $400 000 for fuel imports but were not allowed to pass the cost to consumers.

The companies had stopped supplying fuel as a result, Mangudya said, but he added the situation would improve soon because the government on Friday night scrapped the tax on foreign payments.

It is not just Gumbo who has been under pressure to resign.

A section of society has also been baying for Mangudya’s blood, saying the RBZ governor had made an undertaking to resign should the bond notes introduced in 2016 fail to address the liquidity challenges facing the country’s economy.

Mangudya has been adamant that the bond notes have not yet failed because they have managed to increase exports by 35 percent in 2017 and 36 percent in the first six months of this year.

“Yes, I said if the bond note fails as an export incentive, then I will resign when I was asked the question by a reporter from the Sunday News of Bulawayo at the introduction of the export incentive scheme.

“Evidence on the ground shows that the export incentive scheme paid out in bond notes has been very successful. Exports grew by 35 percent in 2017 and by 36 percent during the first six months of this year.

“Tobacco, for example, at 250 million kilogrammes produced this year, is the highest ever produced in Zimbabwe, gold at 28 tons during the first nine months of this year is the highest ever produced in Zimbabwe over the same period.

“The same is true for the manufacturing sector, where a number of firms have increased exports. The success of bond notes as an export incentive is therefore evidence-based and that’s the reason I did not resign.”

Zimbabwe introduced the bond note towards the end of 2016 as part of its desperate bid to address the country’s severe cash and liquidity crisis — all this under a special arrangement with Afrexim Bank.

However, the country has remained in the grip of a ginormous economic crisis characterised by endless cash queues and the acute foreign currency shortages.

Despite Zimbabwe having a decent tobacco season, as well as having significantly improved its gold sales, the RBZ has not been able to allocate adequate foreign currency to key sectors of the economy.

This led to the increase of prices for basic commodities.

However, Mangudya said the current inflation has nothing to do with bond notes but is caused by fiscal imbalances. — Don’t miss the full Question and Answer interview with Gumbo in the Daily News on Sunday. – Daily News

By Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law by the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) allegedly for his commitment to justice and the rule of law.

Mnangagwa was capped by UZ acting Vice-Chancellor Paul Mapfumo at the university’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday.

Mnangagwa who was officiating at his first UZ graduation ceremony also capped Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda who graduated with a Masters of Laws degree.

A total of 3632 students graduated in the day with 639 being Masters Degrees graduates.

By A Correspondent|The EU Observer Mission today said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) lacked independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner.

Addressing a presser streamed LIVE on ZimEye.com today, the EUOM also said ZEC’s independence was undermined by contestant, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s subordinate, Ziyambi Ziyambi’s Ministry of Justice.

“ZEC’s independence is, to some degree, undermined by the involvement of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in the approval of regulations adopted by the Commission,” they said.

ALSO WATCH THE FULL ADDRESS HERE:

It continued saying, “further, the complaint that large numbers of ZEC staff are former security force personnel, and had been employed during previous contentious elections, was never fully clarified by the institution, raising concerns regarding ZEC’s independence and impartiality. Thus, doubts remained about its capacity to carry out its mandate without government and security force interference, as seen in past polls.

Meanwhile, the EU also said that ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has illegally changed the laws and he now has powers to appoint the Chief Justice and the Judge President, which effectively makes him their employer.

ALSO WATCH THE FULL ADDRESS HERE:

In their long report, the EU stated:

Regrettably, the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.1) Act of 2017 that amended the system of the appointment of the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice and the Judge President of the High Court by the President after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, which was actually the system in the Lancaster House Constitution 12, limited the independence of the judiciary by enhancing the presidential powers. The 2013 Constitution introduced in s.62 for the first time the right of access to information held by the State, its institutions or its agencies of government at any level.

10 Funding of political parties was already provided in the Political Parties Finance Act (PPFA), enacted in 2002, but only for those parties whose candidates participated in the general election and received five per cent of the votes cast; importantly, the 2013 Constitution in its s.67(4) does not impose such restrictions. 11 A quota with an 60 seats for women through a PR party-list system was introduced in the 2013 Constitution. 12 The Lancaster House Agreement, signed on 21 December 1979, declared a ceasefire in the Rhodesian war, and led to the creation of the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Agreement included an Independence Constitution as well as pre-independence arrangements and a ceasefire. The Agreement is named after Lancaster House in London, where the parties to the settlement attended the conference on independence from 10 September to 15 December 1979. 13 Under the previous system of appointment, the President should make these appointments from a list of nominees put forward by the Judicial Service Commission, following a public interview of the candidates. On 1st February 2018 the Constitutional Court heard a matter brought before it by two opposition party MPs, who were challenging the legality of this amendment. They argued that, when the bill was debated and voted for, the National Assembly and Senate were not fully constituted as some legislators who did not attend the sessions were counted as present, this resulting in a contravention of s.328(5) of the Constitution which requires a Constitutional Bill to be passed by two thirds of the membership of both Senate and National Assembly, sitting separately.

They also argued that no vote was conducted as required by law, as assumption had been made that all ZANU-PF MPs would vote for the bill while those in opposition would oppose it, resulting in simply counting the number of people on each side. Up to date, the Court has not delivered its judgment. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT…

By Paul Nyathi|The shooting incident in Harare on Wednesday morning was actually a misunderstanding over a parking space ZimEye.com is reliably informed.

Contrary to wide spread speculation that the incident was politically motivated, impeccable ZimEye.com sources indicated that the fracas between the two man was over a parking space which the deceased person would not cede to the assailant.

The assailant a twenty eight year old man shot and killed a yet to be named 40 year old parking assistant in cold blood and attempted to escape before he was blocked by a ragging crowd which set his vehicle on fire while police officers whisked him away.

According to witnesses, the younger man had a hip of ZANU PF regalia on the back seat of his car.

The sources who are close to the deceased indicates that the man was a father of four children and left behind a heavily pregnant wife.

According to the sources the man was previously a street vendor who recently quit vending because of a police blitz on vendors to take up the parking assistant trade.

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Further to my address on the need to accelerate economic reforms that are necessary to stimulate the economy, I have found it necessary to restate Government’s strong commitment to reducing fiscal imbalances which are the root cause of the many challenges the economy faces. The challenges include cash shortages and the proliferation of foreign exchange parallel market rates which have a negative effect on prices.

These challenges require that government position the economy on a strong footing by implementing painful but necessary reforms that include cutting on government expenditure, increasing efficiency on government delivery systems and fast tracking reforms of state owned enterprises, among a host of other measures.

These reforms should be accompanied by a strong and sustainable currency reform system set to follow after the execution of the above reforms. This is necessary to ensure that any currency reform programme that the government puts in place is effective, and causes minimum disruption to business.

Accordingly, and in view of the need for an orderly currency reform programme that will be followed when the economic fundamentals are right to do, government shall continue with the multi-currency system which it put in place in 2009.

This system entails that foreign exchange earners are not prejudiced of their regulatory foreign exchange receipts, and that those who do not earn foreign currency but produce for the domestic market access foreign exchange through the banking system as per the current policy on foreign exchange management system.

I will therefore to reiterate government’s position as articulated in my state of the nation address that the country shall continue to use the multi-currency system of exchange for the foreseeable future.

Global financiers have expressed optimism about Zimbabwe’s recently launched Transitional Stabilisation Programme, which is aimed at instituting critical economic reforms.

This comes as Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube today met with heads of several global financial institutions in Bali, Indonesia as Zimbabwe expedites re-engagement with co-operating partners on the arrears clearance road map.

The meeting was chaired by the World Bank Group and was attended by the all three International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the African Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, Paris Club Group of creditors as represented by the French, the European Union, and other key bilateral partners such as the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, Netherlands, South Africa, among others.

“In the ensuing discussions, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube made a presentation on policy reforms being undertaken by the New Dispensation, focusing on Vision 2030, as enunciated by His Excellency, the President and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), which is the policy implementation programme of Vision 2030.

“The Minister’s presentation centred on political and economic reforms being undertaken by Government, especially fiscal consolidation, state enterprises reforms, monetary sector reforms and a road map on arrears clearance,” said Treasury in an update.

“The co-operating partners expressed their endorsement to the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, as it captures adequately the policy reforms that Government is implementing in order to turn around the country’s economic fortunes.

“In this regard, the international community emphasised the need to judiciously implement the measures as outlined in the TSP. They reiterated that implementation of the TSP is crucial for arrears clearance. Furthermore, Zimbabwe’s request for a more accommodative treatment under the Pari Passu principle received positive consideration by the partners.”

-State Media

Jane Mlambo| Self-exiled former cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has warned Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube against issuing contradictory press statements saying it impacts on economic stability especially financial markets and people’s livelihoods, advising him to slow down and take it easy.

Slow down & take it easy. Consult before you leap. It's dangerous to issue contradictory press statements every other day on fundamentals that impact on economic stability; especially with reference to financial markets, availability of goods & services & people's livelihoods! https://t.co/HG0oUNr38K

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) October 10, 2018

ZRP PRESS STATEMENT 10 OCTOBER 2018
SHOOTING INCIDENT AND SUBSEQUENT DEATH OF A MAN IN HARARE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the death of a 40 year old man following a shooting incident that occurred at the corner of Angwa Street and Nkwame Nkrumah near QV Pharmacy. Harare today, 10 October 2018 in the morning.

Circumstances are that a 24 year old man parked his Subaru car at the corner of Angwa Street and Nkwame Nkrumah, Harare and left his two sisters in the car whilst carrying out business in the Central Business District. Five men approached the sisters who were seated in the Subaru car and demanded that the car be removed from where it was parked.

A dispute arose and the two sisters called the owner of the vehicle to come back. When the owner of the vehicle came back, a scuffle ensued resulting in the owner of the Subaru vehicle drawing out a pistol. He then fired a shot which resulted in the death of the 40 year old man.

The mob that had gathered then became violent and set on fire the Subaru vehicle. The police quickly moved in and managed to arrest the 24 year old man and the four men who had incited the violence.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to warn members of the public to desist from interfering with movement of traffic and allocation of parking space for motor vehicles in the Central Business Districts. The law will certainly take its course on people who engage in activities bent on hindering the maintenance of law and order. The Zimbabwe Republic Police is continuing to carry out investigations in this unfortunate shooting incident.

Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s independence has once again come under scrutiny following the release of the European Union Election Observer Mission to Zimbabwe (EUEOM) final report which questioned the involvement of the Ministry of Justice in the operations of the electoral mother body.

The EU observer mission also questioned the employment of ex-military personnel as part of ZEC secretariat saying it raised doubt on the Justice Priscilla Chigumba led body’s capacity to carry out its mandate without government and security forces interference.

“ZEC’s independence is to some degree undermined by the involvement of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in the approval of regulations adopted by the commission.

“Further, the complaint that large numbers of ZEC staff are former security personnel, and had been employed during previous contentious elections, was never fully clarified by the institution, raising concerns regarding ZEC’s independence and impartiality.

“Thus doubts remained about its capacity to carry out its mandate without government and security force interference as seen in past polls,” reads part of the EU report.
Deputy Chief Observer, Mark Stevens called for the strengthening of ZEC’s independence saying the commission should be free from government oversight in the approval of its regulations.

“ZEC’s independence needs to be strengthened, free from governmental oversight in the approval of its regulations,” said Stevens.

He added that ZEC lacked inclusivity and transparency in its operations which in the end overshadowed some of positives they noted during their election observation.
The EU observer mission also raised concern on the failure by the commission to publicise newly created polling stations saying this resulted in suspicions among the opposition.

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Terrence Mawawa|A senior MDC Alliance official, Stanley Manguma has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF ilk to provide answers to questions that are nagging the entire nation.
ALSO WATCH PARLIAMENT LIVE COVERAGE RIGHT NOW:

Below is Manguma’s statement:
l have a few questions to Emmerson Mnangagwa and my ZANU PF friends.
1. You say you won elections (according to ZEC and the Con court).
2. You had your work plan going into the elections, that in the event that you were declared winners you would implement to improve people’s
lives right ?

3. You have dozens of mega deals that you signed after November 17 and to date you are still signing new ones right? I deliberately ignored pre November 17 so that we concentrate on what you call a new “dispensation ”
4. You don’t need or seek any endorsement from a”loser ” who is just power hungry as you put it right?

5. You have a wonderful team of technocrats in the cabinet right?
6. You have all powers in the legislative assembly right? over two thirds majority in both houses.
7. You have 100% representation in the cabinet (Executive )
8. The judiciary is fully functional and 100% behind you right? (Taking even from their new themes where they have banners inscribed “Zimbabwe is
open for business ” which has been ED’s mantra since taking oath of office last year.

9. You have aired several meetings on ZBC TV and published in The Herald ED’s “several multi billionaire investment deals warming up to the new dispensation right?
10. You have Britain and your all weather friends (China and Russia ) on your side right?So what has Chamisa got to do with the current
crisis bedevilling our nation?
Why are you saying Chamisa is holding back the nation?
Has Chamisa got power to stop your warmed up multibillionaire investors?
Has Chamisa got power to Influence the currency exchange rates of your RTGs balances/Nostro / Bond notes and USD? Does Chamisa control the coming in of fuel into the country ?
Does Chamisa control the the price hikes?

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By Paul Nyathi|A plain clothed man has been fingered in the brutal shooting of a vendor in the streets of Harare’s CBD on Wednesday morning.

All this happened during a suspected scuffle between the man and parking attendants at Corner Kwame Nkrumah And First Street. – SEE THE SATELLITE OVERVIEW MAP –

While some eye witnesses said the suspect was a state security official who was part of a gang of a combination of police officers and the CIO raiding foreign currency traders around the Ximex Mall area, others told ZimEye.com the matter was a scuffle over parking

“It was a parking issue and there was an argument when the man refused to pay $1 and it all resulted in the suspect later pulling a gun at a vendor. He shot 4 bullets, one which also shot a female passerby,” a source told ZimEye.com

The suspect, said to be a Nigerian had some ZANU PF regalia inside his car.

During the melee, his vehicle was burned down. WATCH BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS:

THE NEED FOR ECONOMIC AND CURRENCY REFORMS
Further to the various measures that Government is putting in to accelerate economic reforms that are necessary to right-sizing the economy, it is critical to restate Government’s great commitment to reducing fiscal imbalances which are the root cause of the many challenges the economy is facing.

The challenges include cash shortages and the proliferation of foreign exchange parallel market rates which have a negative effect on prices. These challenges require that Government position the economy on a strong footing by implementing reforms that include cutting on government expenditure, working towards import parity pricing system, increasing efficiency on government delivery systems and fast-tracking the State Owned Enterprises reforms, among a host of reforms.

These reforms shall be accompanied by a strong and sustainable currency reform system which will follow after the execution of the above reforms. This is necessary to ensure that any currency reform programme that the Government would put in place is effective and that it has minimum disruption to the business.

Accordingly and in view of the need for an orderly currency reform programme that will be followed when the economic fundamentals are right to do, the country shall continue to use the multi-currency system which was put in place by Government in 2009. This system entails that foreign exchange earners are not prejudiced of their regulatory foreign exchange receipts and that those who do not earn foreign exchange have access to foreign exchange through the banking system as is per the current policy of foreign exchange management system. In parallel, the Reserve Bank shall continue to maintain adequate resources for the import of essential commodities.

Over and above the Nostro Deposit Protection Guarantee from Afreximbank, we are also reinforcing Nostro foreign currency accounts with a statutory instrument to guarantee that these are private deposits, and neither the Reserve Bank nor government has any access to them.
Government recognise concerns surrounding RTGS deposits, and we commit to preserve the value of these balances on the current rate of exchange of 1 to 1, in order to protect people’s savings.

Hon. Prof. Mthuli Ncube
Minister of Finance anti Economic Development
10 October 2018

Jane Mlambo| Deputy Minister of Information, Energy Mutodi has discouraged newspapers against hiking prices saying the media industry should never be subjected to speculative behavior under government’s watch.

Alpha Media Holdings, publishers of the Newsday, The Standard and The Zimbabwe Independent have announced a 100% hike in prices of newspapers.

The Zimbabwe Independent will now be sold at $4 While the Newsday is selling at $2.

NEWSPAPER PRICES TO REMAIN AT $1: Following a gvt directive for unscrupulous businessmen to stop hiking prices, I am urging all newspapers to stop flying along the wind & keep their prices @ $1. The media industry shall never be subject to speculative behavior under our watch.

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) October 10, 2018

On 31 July, the Zimbabwean election was in the world news. After 24 hours, opposition supporters were crying foul and alleging electoral fraud. Protests spilled on to the streets of Harare. The military stepped in. When the dust had settled, bullets had been fired and six people lay dead.

According to Human Rights Watch, a crackdown on civil liberties followed. In outlying townships of Harare, there were reports of masked men intimidating and assaulting residents. Police had a “wanted list” and were searching for opposition leaders they said were instigators of the post-election protests.

The Zimbabwean army and police denied the allegations. They said the violent men on the prowl were not their officers but criminal impostors.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a seven-member independent commission to examine the post-election violence. Its chair is Kgalema Motlanthe, former interim president of South Africa. Other prominent members include Rodney Dixon QC, who advised the prosecution in the UN International Criminal Tribunal on former Yugoslavia; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, and General Davis Mwamunyange, former Chief of Defence Forces of Tanzania.

Does this illustrious-looking panel mean Zimbabwe’s investigation into the 1 August killings will be thorough, impartial and obtain justice for families of the dead?

The opposition believes the commission of inquiry is a public relations gimmick and a “long-winded route to dupe the world”.

Analysts draw attention to the failed history of numerous inquiries in Zimbabwe, the assumed fear among victims’ relatives to speak boldly, and the restrictive guidelines set for the inquiry.

There are also doubts about the three Zimbabweans on the panel: professor in political science Charity Manyeruke; law professor Lovemore Madhuku (both from the University of Zimbabwe), and Vimbai Nyemba, former president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe.

Manyeruke is a senior member of the ruling party’s elite women’s wing, though the ruling party legal secretary claimsshe has stopped being an active party activist and is therefore a neutral investigator. Critics says she is a damning example of a conflicted inquirer.

Nyemba is on a state board that dishes out contracts for government and has ties to the establishment, say her critics.

Since independence in 1980, sensitive inquiries into crimes of violence have rarely been published. They simply became pages, unopened.

Many doubt the findings of this latest inquiry will be heeded, even though Mnangagwa vows to honour the inquiry’s outcome. While visiting China, he told The Guardian: “I shall fully implement the recommendations of this commission.”

Alex Magaisa, law professor at Kent University, and former adviser to the late Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, told the country’s largest independent daily that a missing term of reference is the identification of the military personnel who actually killed the civilians.
“Surely it makes sense to identify leaders who gave commands and the soldiers who shot and killed?” he asked.

In August, as families began to bury their dead, reports filtered in that unnamed, security officers told one bereaved family not to talk to foreign reporters.

Meanwhile, Mnangagwa publicly consoled the families of victims.

However, critics say the inquiry is simply a witch hunt. “A clear way to pin blame on key opposition figures,” said the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC opposition party.

-Citizen

National Patriotic Front’s sole legislator, Masango Matambanadzo, who represents Kwekwe Central in the National Assembly, has called on Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema to address the issue of machete attacks, which is claiming several lives in the gold mining town every week.

Matambanadzo told the National Assembly last week that sometimes, three people die in a single day due to machete attacks in Kwekwe’s informal mines.

“People are fighting in Kwekwe using machetes and it is now common since it is a gold mining town,” Matambanadzo said.

“In my constituency, at least three to five people are murdered every day, and I would like the Home Affairs minister to explain government policy to ensure that this issue is brought to an end.”

He said there were terror gangs in the mines, with some of the fights spilling into Kwekwe urban.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda said in order for the issue to be responded to effectively, there was need for the MP to give specific incidences and specify whether the issues were reported to the police with no action being taken.

Mudenda asked Matambanadzo to put his questions in writing to enable Mathema to respond to them this week.

NewsDay

The Zimbabwe Congress Trade Union (ZCTU) is headed for a clash with police after banning the labour body’s planned demonstrations against the 2% tax, tomorrow, saying it could lead to a fresh cholera outbreak.

The statement by police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi came after ZCTU threatened to go ahead with the demonstrations which the labour body said would completely shut down industry to force government to reverse the 2% tax on money transfers.

Nyathi said the police could not allow the demonstration to go ahead because of a directive by the ministries of Health and Local Government to ban public gatherings in the central business district, following a cholera outbreak that has so far killed 49 people and left over 10 000 needing treatment.

“Therefore, the organisers of the intended demonstrations by ZCTU and its affiliates should take note of the government’s directive, particularly the movement of large numbers of people from one point to another which includes cholera epicentres,” Nyathi said.

The police said ZCTU would be held accountable if the situation turned “nasty”.

“Members of the public are accordingly warned that if anything turns nasty, those organising the demonstrations will be held responsible, especially with regards to maintenance of law and order,” Nyathi said.

But ZCTU secretary-general, Japhet Moyo accused the police of becoming political appendages, who applied the law selectively and, therefore, did not deserve to be taken seriously.

“We have seen other organisations doing public gatherings, just two weeks ago Zanu PF had a district meeting at Stodart netball grounds in Mbare, we have seen churches gathering everyday and soccer matches that are happening, why does it become an issue when it’s ZCTU, is this cholera selective?” he queried.

Moyo said because the police were yet to communicate directly with his office, the labour body will not change its plans and if it was to be delivered, this would be challenged.

-Newsday

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday told opposition parliamentarians to brace for protests over the worsening economic situation in the country.

Chamisa addressed the MPs at Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare, where he said the party could not stop people from exercising their constitutional right to protest against the collapse of the economy.

“We have noted the total collapse of the economy in the hands of the Zanu PF government and president Nelson Chamisa, through engagements with the people, had seen it reasonable to allow the people to express themselves through protests,” MDC Alliance spokesperson Jacob Mafume said.

“Prices of goods are out of reach of the majority and, as the people’s party, we need to protest against this economic problem, which is the creation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.”

Mafume said the party was open to suggestions about protests from their constituents as the situation was now dire.

“The situation is now dire and the people cannot just watch. It is the voice of God to protest and, therefore, where there is need, people have to protest,” he said.

He said the Alliance was still making consultations over the protests.

However, Chamisa’s address came in the wake of police threats to ban tomorrow’s planned demonstration by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.

-Newsday

THE Public Service Commission (PSC) is targeting “ghost workers” in the civil service as part of government’s transformative agenda, Chairperson Vincent Hungwe has said.

Hungwe told journalists during an induction workshop for permanent secretaries in Harare yesterday that the government had no choice, but to tackle problem areas in Zimbabwe’s civil service.

“A ghost worker is a moniker for someone who is not supposed to be in a particular space or performing a particular function. Of course, there are instances where people have been employed outside the rules and procedures of the Public Service Commission,” Hungwe said.

“The PSC has dealt with such issues and we continue to identify them and get rid of them. But in instances where we have more personnel than is institutionally required, that does not render the person a ghost worker. It is only that our systems have not been efficient and effective enough in terms of making sure that there is resonance between what we require and the numbers we hire.”

A government staff audit a few years ago revealed former President Robert Mugabe’s administration connived with the ruling Zanu PF party to employ over 70 000 youth officers outside the remit of the PSC.

With multi-lateral institutions demanding a rationalisation of the civil service as a precondition for financial and technical support, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly committed to slashing recurrent expenditure by reducing the size of the workforce.

Hungwe said it was not possible to determine the number of civil servants required, but this will be informed by the strategic plans that line ministries will come up with which the PSC will use to set up structures that will help in the implementation of government policy.
He also said that government’s workforce was top-heavy.

“The whole idea is to right-size the civil service, making sure that the right persons are performing the right jobs given the skills sets that they have. It’s a combination of right-sizing, right-skilling and right-tooling. There has always been a tendency to assume that the overall size of the civil service in Zimbabwe is too big,” Hungwe said.

“There are certain areas in respect of certain levels where there are more people than required and that has tended to be the case at the highest level of the civil service like permanent secretaries and principle directors. But this does not, in aggregate terms, imply that the civil service is too big.”

-Newsday

Opposition MDC Alliance MPs yesterday tabled their party’s alternative economic policy, which includes demonetising the surrogate bond note and for the country to join the Rand Monetary Union.

Their presentations were made through a heated motion on economic hardships introduced in the National Assembly by Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada and seconded by Harare East MP Tendai Biti.

Mashakada said the country missed a big opportunity during the November 2017 Operation Restore Legacy, where, instead of rushing to elections, a national transitional authority should have been introduced to restore confidence in the economy.

“The solutions to our economic problems right now is to join the Rand Monetary Union and stop government borrowing and issuance of Treasury Bills, tighten our borders for revenue collection because right now, the uncollected revenue is $4 billion, and we also need leadership or political will to grow the economy,” he said.

Mashakada said there was also need to decommission the bond notes, and price goods in rands instead of in the United States dollar because the country was importing most of its goods from South Africa.

“The reasons we should adopt the rand is that 60% of our imports, like fuel and medicines, come from South Africa, and if you buy something in SA, for R100 and then sell it for $100, then you are causing inflation,” he said.

Mashakada criticised the stabilisation measures recently announced by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube.

He said Ncube was pursuing economic stabilisation, which is about balancing the books and yet the country needed a structural transformative agenda to kick-start the economy.

“You just want a good balance sheet through servicing debts, but at this juncture, can we pay $5 billion to service debts when our roads are in bad shape and there are no drugs?

These multilateral institutions are debt collectors and they dangle the carrot and then later tell you to reform this and that,” Mashakada said.

“What we need to do as a policy alternative is to go for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Strategy (HIPIC), and we qualify for that. We speak to the creditors so that we pay a proportion and then the rest we use it to build schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.”

-Newsday

Former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma, who was facing criminal abuse of office charges, was yesterday jailed for an effective two years. Juma was first arrested in 2016, but was released from police custody at the instigation of then Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

The former VP allegedly stormed Avondale Police Station and ordered the release of Juma and Davison Norupiri.

The duo was later rearrested and Norupiri was made an accomplice witness.
Representing the prosecution, Mr Chris Mutangadura urged the court to send Juma to jail, saying he committed a serious offence.

He said such cases were prevalent and a deterrent sentence was necessary.

Mr Mutangadura said with the new dispensation calling for zero tolerance to corruption and related criminal activities, a strong message should be send to would-be offenders.

“Your Worship, the new dispensation is now viewing corruption as a cancer that needs to be exorcised from the society and that the penalty must deter would be offenders,” he said.

“A clear message has to be sent out that crime does not pay.”

Magistrate, Mr Hoseah Mujaya concurred with the State, saying corruption should not be treated as a normal game.

He sentenced Juma to 30 months behind bars before suspending six months on condition of good behaviour.

Juma was convicted after a full trial. Mr Mutangadura proved that sometime in 2014, Zinara had a tax obligation with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority of $15 418 133, 61 and as a result the tax authority garnished $5 714 587, 25, leaving a balance of $9 703 546,36.

A report was made to the Zinara board by management for guidance to reduce the tax obligations.

The Zinara board tasked the finance committee to engage a tax consultancy firm to help reduce the obligations.

-State Media

Government has put permanent secretaries on performance-based five-year contracts which can only be renewed once, Civil Service Commission chairperson Dr Vincent Hungwe has said. He said no permanent secretary will serve beyond the mandatory 65 years of retirement, unless there were compelling reasons.

Dr Hungwe said Government had set targets for the permanent secretaries to enhance public administration and achieve efficiency and professionalism in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.

He said this yesterday while addressing permanent secretaries and principal directors for ministries during an induction workshop in Harare.

Dr Hungwe said permanent secretaries were obliged to ensure that Government’s work culture was rebranded, put deliberate focus on programme deliverables such as outputs and impact and be exemplary in adhering to those work ethics.

He said to achieve this, strategic plans must be ready by December 2018 with annual plans to operationalise them, including a Detailed Establishment Table.

“Secretaries need to perform as expected, leaving a trail of tangible deliverables that speak to the outputs, outcomes and impact in line with the given mandate,” he said.

“The new ethos no longer provides for permanent secretaries appointed for an indefinite period, but instead, envisages ‘Performing Secretaries’ who are appointed on fixed five year term contracts, renewable only once, subject to performance and delivery. They cannot be taken beyond the mandatory retirement age of 65. Only in exceptional circumstances, only in circumstances merited by the exclusive possession of outstanding skills and competencies would one be considered for engagement on an annual contract beyond their retirement age of 65.

“This performance will be measured on the basis of a performance contract, based on the Strategic Plan agreed upon and results achieved at the end of each performance cycle.”

Dr Hungwe said all issues to do with structures and establishments should be concluded by December 2018 after which the focus will entirely be on delivery and results.

“All new Detailed Establishment Tables should reflect the strategic direction of any given Ministry and Cluster,” he said. “When the direction is clear, the Commission will facilitate the creation of Strategic Business Units without necessarily increasing the establishment.”

Dr Hungwe said Government expected secretaries to be guided by the law, values, professional norms, citizen interests and to exhibit leadership underpinned by integrity and zero tolerance to corruption.

He outlined obligations of the secretaries which included supporting ministries through training modules, develop a proper communication module, develop capacity at national, provincial and district level in monitoring and evaluation of all projects and conducting systems audit.

-State Media

Paul Nyathi|President Emmerson Mnangagwa says that he is aware of the sufferings brought on citizens by the radical economic measures introduced by new Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and claims he will do something to ease them.

In a Facebook post early thus week, Mnangagwa said that his government was doing all it can to make available all the missing basic commodities.

Said Mnangagwa:

Last week, Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube, drawing on his vast experience as chief economist and vice president at the African Development Bank (AfDB), announced a series of measures to reform and revive our economy, and put us on the path to steady economic growth. Cognisant of the scale and urgency of the challenges facing us, our plan is bold and far reaching, and will have the desired effect.

We are on a shared journey to a better and more secure future. The road is long, winding and at times bumpy, but there is no other way. This is the road to a middle-income economy, and if we travel it together, with patience and purpose, we will realise our vision.

Correspondent|PF has called on the government to consider revoking statutory instrument (SI) 64 of 2016 in light of the current rise in the cost of living triggered by the unjustified escalation in the prices of essential goods and commodities.

In a statement to ZBC News, the Zanu PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo said the government should immediately enforce the law to eliminate all forms of informal money market activities.

The ruling party has also directed the government to ensure that prices of goods and services be reverted to those ruling at the time prior to the pronouncement of the fiscal and monetary policy measures.

Ambassador Khaya Moyo called on the productive, financial, wholesale, retail and service sectors to strictly adhere to the principles of good corporate governance and ensure that goods and services are delivered to the people without artificial constraints.

He said following the assurances by the relevant authorities on the sufficiency of fuel and other goods and essential commodities, Zanu PF has called on members of the public to desist from panic buying and hoarding activities.

The ruling party has also called on all fuel suppliers not to withhold the supply of the precious product and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to stop the commodity from being off-loaded onto the black market.

Ambassador Khaya Moyo added that the party has observed signs of negative forces bent on derailing the government’s set economic trajectory of Zimbabwe being a middle income economy by 2030.

Khaya Moyo further indicated that government has not changed the 1 on 1 exchange rate between the US dollar and the local Bond Notes.

FINANCE minister Mthuli Ncube however admitted that the country’s surrogate bond note is not equal to the United States dollar, contradicting the government pronouncements on the currency.

Ncube was addressing British think-tank Chatham House in London on Monday, where he admitted that market forces were dictating government policy.

“The market is setting the pace. What is left for us is choreography and management of the economic fundamentals. The economy has dollarised. RTGS [real time gross settlement] balances are over $6 billion. The market is doing everything, we are going through a transition. The market has said these currencies [US dollar and bond notes] are not at par. I don’t want to argue with the market. The bond notes will, at some point, have to be demonetised and I cannot tell you (when that will be),” Ncube said.

ALPHA Media Holdings (AMH) has with immediate effect reviewed the cover prices of its three leading newspapers as it seeks to weather the current economic storm and continue providing premium news content to the public.

To that effect, the country’s top selling daily, NewsDay, will now cost $2, while the two weeklies, The Standard and Zimbabwe Independent, will now sell for $2 and $4, respectively.

AMH are the publishers of NewsDay, The Standard and Zimbabwe Independent under its publishing house, Zimind Publishers.

“Basically, we want to stay in business and at the current pricing, we were not going to be able to print the quality news that we are known for because it is a cost in terms of gathering the news. This includes getting newsprint and printing the paper to put on the street to sell of which all these costs have gone up which are in United States dollars, which we do not earn,” AMH finance director Brian Maphosa said yesterday.

“Therefore, we found it necessary that we increase the cover price so that our readers can help us to stay in business. It is our intention for this price increase to be as temporary as possible, just to make sure we can continue to provide the service in terms of quality news. So, it is something that we are going to be monitoring on a daily basis.”

He said as conditions in the country improve, the media company would revert to the old prices.

“We will make sure that we revert to the old prices as quickly as possible and that is the mid-to-long-term position,” Maphosa said.

AMH

By Paul Nyathi|Former Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who is facing four counts of abuse of office, will stand trial on October 29.

The trial will run from October 29 to November 2.

He is allegedly facing three counts of criminal abuse of office as a public officer during his tenure as a Cabinet minister under former President Robert Mugabe government.

The first three charges were allegedly committed while Kasukuwere was serving as a Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

The other count was allegedly committed while he was the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment in which he reportedly corruptly awarded a tender to a company called Brainworks Capital.

The first three counts were related to land issues involving former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe’s sister, Junior Shuvai Gumbochuma.

Gumbochuma appeared in court recently facing three counts of fraud.

She was reportedly given land through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

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

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

On March 27, 2015, she was offered the land and was asked to pay $424 426 to the ministry.

Gumbochuma, the State alleges, who had neither the capacity to pay the intrinsic land value nor to develop it then formed and registered a company called Scanlen (Pvt) Ltd as a vehicle to affect her fraudulent transaction.

Between August and October 2017, Gumbochuma sold the land for $2 060 000 without paying for the land. She made a profit of $1 636 574 without doing anything.

Kasukuwere is now being represented by Charles Chinyama after his lawyer Jonathan Samukange renounced agency citing conflict of interest. Samukange a ZANU PF legislator was pushed not to represent Kasukuwere by party members who felt he was working against the party.

Meanwhile, Kasukuwere successfully applied to have his bail reporting conditions altered from reporting twice a day to once a week.

Kasukuwere appeared before magistrate Ms Victoria Mashamba.

FORMER Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma, who was facing criminal abuse of office charges, was yesterday jailed for an effective two years.

Juma was first arrested in 2016 but was released from police custody at the instigation of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

The former VP allegedly stormed Avondale police station and ordered the release of Juma and Davison Norupiri.

The duo was later re-arrested and Norupiri was made an accomplice witness.

Representing the prosecution, Mr Chris Mutangadura urged the court to send Juma to jail, saying he committed a serious offence.

He said such cases were prevalent and a deterrent sentence was neccessary.

Mr Mutangadura said with the new dispensation calling for zero tolerance to corruption and related criminal activities, a strong message should be sent to would-be offenders.

“Your Worship, the new dispensation is now viewing corruption as a cancer that needs to be exorcised from society and that the penalty must deter would be offenders,” he said. “A clear message has to be sent out there that crime does not pay.”

Magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya concurred with the State, saying corruption should not be treated as a normal game. He sentenced Juma to 30 months behind bars before suspending six months on condition of good behaviour.

Juma was convicted after a full trial. Mr Mutangadura proved that sometime in 2014, Zinara had a tax obligation with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority of $15 418 133,61 and as a result Zimra garnished $5 714 587,25 on the firm’s account, leaving a balance of $9 703 546,36.

A report was made to the Zinara board by management for guidance to reduce the tax obligations.

The Zinara board tasked the finance committee to engage a tax consultancy firm to help reduce the obligations.

Three firms, Misfot Tax Consultancy, Excel Tax Consultancy and Central Source Management Consultancy trading as Tax Management Services, were chosen to make presentations.

On September 23, 2014, the firms made presentations and Tax Management Services was recommended.

Juma, in his capacity as acting accounting officer at that time, went on to engage Tax Management Services without following proper tender procedures and Zinara was charged $17 250 for tax health checks.

The offence came to light during an inquiry by the Auditor General’s Office which discovered that there was no contract between Zinara and Tax Management Services.

State Media

State Media – At least 90 percent of the targeted population in Mbare, Glen View, Glen Norah and Budiriro, Harare, has been vaccinated against cholera, Epidemiology and Disease Control director in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Portia Manangazira, has said.

She said Glen Norah recorded the highest number of residents who turned up for the vaccination, accounting for 92 percent.
Glen View and Mbare recorded the lowest vaccination rates of 69 and 56 percent, respectively.

Dr Manangazira said while they managed to vaccinate over half of the targeted residents in Glen View and Budiriro, officials were worried by the turn up as the suburbs were the epicentres of the cholera outbreak.
Government has extended the mass vaccination campaign in Budiriro and Glen View.

“From our statistics, the programme went on very well, especially when you are looking at the overall picture, but when it comes to vaccination by suburb, we are still worried with Glen View and Budiriro where the outbreak of cholera emanated.

“We would want to see as many residents as possible from these suburbs being vaccinated. We have, therefore, agreed to further extend the vaccinations up to Thursday just to make sure we reach as many residents as possible.”

Dr Manangazira said following the delivery of additional 900 000 doses of the cholera vaccine last Sunday, Epworth and Chitungwiza residents would be vaccinated on October 15 and 17.

“Dates for vaccination of residents in other targeted suburbs of Mufakose, Kambuzuma, Dzivaresekwa, Stoneridge, Mabvuku, Tafara, Hatcliffe, Highfield and Hopley will be announced in due course,” said Dr Manangazira.
The mass vaccination programme started last Wednesday.

It is targeting 1,4 million people in selected suburbs in Harare, including Epworth and Chitungwiza.
According to health expects, the residents will receive an additional dosage before the onset of the rainy season for them to be fully protected against cholera for the next three to five years.

Although Government managed to contain the cholera outbreak in Budiriro and Glen View, health experts warn of another potential outbreak as council is failing to supply residents with potable water.

Former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) acting chief executive Moses Juma, who was facing criminal abuse of office charges, was yesterday jailed for an effective two years.

Juma was first arrested in 2016 but was released from police custody at the instigation of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.
The former VP allegedly stormed Avondale police station and ordered the release of Juma and Davison Norupiri.

The duo was later re-arrested and Norupiri was made an accomplice witness.
Representing the prosecution, Mr Chris Mutangadura urged the court to send Juma to jail, saying he committed a serious offence.

He said such cases were prevalent and a deterrent sentence was necessary.

Mr Mutangadura said with the new dispensation calling for zero tolerance to corruption and related criminal activities, a strong message should be sent to would-be offenders.

“Your Worship, the new dispensation is now viewing corruption as a cancer that needs to be exorcised from society and that the penalty must deter would be offenders,” he said. “A clear message has to be sent out there that crime does not pay.”

Magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya concurred with the State, saying corruption should not be treated as a normal game. He sentenced Juma to 30 months behind bars before suspending six months on condition of good behaviour.

Juma was convicted after a full trial. Mr Mutangadura proved that sometime in 2014, Zinara had a tax obligation with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority of $15 418 133,61 and as a result Zimra garnished $5 714 587,25 on the firm’s account, leaving a balance of $9 703 546,36.

A report was made to the Zinara board by management for guidance to reduce the tax obligations.

The Zinara board tasked the finance committee to engage a tax consultancy firm to help reduce the obligations.

Three firms, Misfot Tax Consultancy, Excel Tax Consultancy and Central Source Management Consultancy trading as Tax Management Services, were chosen to make presentations.

On September 23, 2014, the firms made presentations and Tax Management Services was recommended.

Juma, in his capacity as acting accounting officer at that time, went on to engage Tax Management Services without following proper tender procedures and Zinara was charged $17 250 for tax health checks.

The offence came to light during an inquiry by the Auditor General’s Office which discovered that there was no contract between Zinara and Tax Management Services.

Meanwhile, former Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, who is facing four counts of abuse of office, will stand trial on October 29.

The trial will run from October 29 to November 2.

Kasukuwere is now being represented by Mr Charles Chinyama after Mr Jonathan Samukange renounced agency citing conflict of interest. He successfully applied to have his reporting conditions altered from reporting twice a day to once a week.

Kasukuwere appeared before magistrate Ms Victoria Mashamba.

State Media – Police in Bulawayo yesterday arrested 46 illegal money changers in the Central Business District in an operation aimed at ridding the city of illegal foreign currency dealers.

Law enforcement agents were out in full force days after Chief Justice Luke Malaba bemoaned illegal activities around Tredgold Building which houses the Bulawayo Magistrates Courts where most illegal forex dealers operate from.

Illegal vendors and pirate taxis add onto the lawlessness. The environs of the courts, popularly known as the ‘World Bank’, usually characterised by a buzz of activity, were next to deserted as police barricaded Leopold Takawira Avenue between Herbert Chitepo and Fort streets with cones, blocking cars from parking and osiphatheleni from setting up shop.

The operation code named “Flush out illegal foreign currency dealers” which began on Monday, gained momentum yesterday as suspected foreign currency dealers were arrested.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango said the operation was aimed at bringing sanity on the city’s streets and easing congestion at the area around the courts. “We yesterday launched an operation code named ‘Flush out illegal foreign currency dealers.’ The arrest of osiphatheleni will be an ongoing operation until there is sanity. We want to sustain our maintenance of law and order and sanity in the city,” said Chief Inspector Simango.

She said they expect more illegal forex dealers to be arrested as the operation continues.
The police spokesperson said police were working jointly with the Bulawayo City Council in the operation.

There was irony when the ZANU PF regime yesterday imposed an age limit of 65 on permanent secretaries, but ignored touching on the presidency post. STATE MEDIA FULL TEXT:

Government has put permanent secretaries on performance-based five-year contracts which can only be renewed once subject to delivery by the senior civil servants, Civil Service Commission chairperson Dr Vincent Hungwe has said.

He said no permanent secretary would serve beyond the mandatory 65 years of retirement, unless there were compelling reasons.

Dr Hungwe said Government had set targets for the permanent secretaries aimed at enhancing public administration and achieving efficiency and professionalism in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.

He said this yesterday while addressing permanent secretaries and principal directors for ministries during an induction workshop in Harare.

Dr Hungwe said the permanent secretaries were obligated to ensure that Government’s work culture was rebranded, put deliberate focus on programme deliverables such as outputs and impact and be exemplary in adhering to those work ethics.

He said to achieve this, strategic plans must be ready by December 2018 with annual plans to operationalise them, including a Detailed Establishment Table.

“Secretaries need to perform as expected, leaving a trail of tangible deliverables that speak to the outputs, outcomes and impact in line with the given mandate,” he said. “The new ethos no longer provides for permanent secretaries appointed for an indefinite period, but instead, envisages
‘Performing Secretaries’ who are appointed on fixed five year term contracts, renewable only once, subject to performance and delivery.

“They cannot be taken beyond the mandatory retirement age of 65. Only in exceptional circumstances, only in circumstances merited by the exclusive possession of outstanding skills and competencies would one be considered for engagement on an annual contract beyond their retirement age of 65.

“This performance will be measured on the basis of a performance contract, based on the Strategic Plan agreed upon and results achieved at the end of each performance cycle.”
Dr Hungwe said all issues to do with structures and establishments should be concluded by December 2018 after which the focus will entirely be on delivery and results.

“All new Detailed Establishment Tables should reflect the strategic direction of any given Ministry and Cluster,” he said. “When the direction is clear, the Commission will facilitate the creation of Strategic Business Units without necessarily increasing the establishment.”

Dr Hungwe said Government expected secretaries to be guided by the law, values, professional norms, citizen interests and to exhibit leadership underpinned by integrity and zero tolerance to corruption.

He outlined obligations of the secretaries which included supporting ministries through training modules, develop a proper communication module, develop capacity at national, provincial and district level in monitoring and evaluation of all projects and conducting systems audit.

Dr Hungwe said Vision 2030 demanded that there be a paradigm shift towards leveraging Information Communication Technology platforms.

“In this regard, all ministries and their partners in the sector should have functional websites that are continually updated,” he said.

Addressing the same gathering, CSC deputy chairperson Ambassador Margaret Muchada said the task at hand was to eliminate duplications.

To address redundancy, Ambassador Muchada said, staff might be moved to where their skills were needed.

“Those who remain unaccounted for after the exercise may require to be relocated elsewhere in the economy and must likewise be assisted to do so with as little upheaval to their lives and to the economy as possible,” she said.

Ambassador Muchada said Government envisaged integration of its departments with State enterprises, as well as establishing closer ties with the private sector.-state media

Two murderers have been sentenced to death after being convicted of stabbing to death a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) member.

Admire Maorere (28) of Maorere village under Chief Ndanga and Windas Munzweru (27) of Chidyamatombo in Karoi were found guilty of stabbing a ZNA Captain, Phio Jeketera several times all over his body leading to his death.

Prosecutor Tawanda Chikwati said on the 19th of May, Jeketera was travelling from Harare to Zaka when he gave a lift to Maorere and Munzweru who were going to Gutu.
At Gutu turn off, the two are said to have produced an okapi knife and demanded money from Jeketera.

Jeketera is said to have resisted, before the two convicts dragged him to the side of the road and stabbed him.

Prosecutor Chikwati said the two then took his phone and cash amounting to $540 and they put Jeketera’s body in the boot before driving off towards Masvingo city where they dumped the vehicle by the road side, a kilometer from the city center.

The court heard that Jeketera’s body was discovered in his dumped car by police officers who were manning a road block.

The body was taken to Masvingo general hospital were a post mortem was conducted by Dr Godfrey Zimbwa, who revealed that Jeketera died of hemorrhage shock as a result of wounds from the numerous stabs.

The police arrested the two through a cellphone vendor based in Masvingo who bought Jeketera’s phone from the two.

Delivering the sentence, Masvingo High Court judge, Justice Garainesu Mawadze, who set with assessors; Samuel Mutomba and Joseph Mushuku, said the actions of the two were in common purpose to kill the deceased.

Justice Mawadze said according to section 47 (2) of the constitution, a law may permit the death penalty to be imposed only on a person convicted of murder committed in aggravating circumstances. – state media

The ruling Zanu PF party claims that the United States of America tried to sabotage their campaign by blocking them from wiring their transaction to a Chinese firm which printed the party’s regalia until the party sought ways of circumventing the restrictions and get the money to China without detection by New York, TellZim News has heard.

Addressing an inter-district meeting last weekend at Masvingo Polytechnic College recently, Zanu PF politburo member and principal director of the Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology, Munyaradzi Machacha lashed out at America for trying to effect regime change hiding behind MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa.

It was said that the Chinese firm which printed the Zanu PF campaign material had refused to release the regalia until they were paid, a development which caused delays in the arrival of the regalia.

Most, if not all, global financial transactions go through New York, and are closely monitored by the US treasury department and CIA which have power to freeze dealings suspected to be involving sanctioned individuals, organisations, states and terrorist movements.

Flanked by Zanu PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi and Senator Josaya Hungwe, Machacha declared that the United States was the real enemy of the country and should be treated as such in any dealings the country finds itself in with them.
Machacha narrated how America tried to sabotage and derail the Zanu PF campaign by making sure that the payment to China failed.

“We are fighting a formidable enemy. America mukono. Hachisi chana chidoko chaunorova mbama chochema chichimhanya kumakumbo amai (America is a real giant; it’s not like a child one can easily beat up).

“We had a problem with regalia during our campaigning period. The regalia was done in China and it was finished in time. The problem came when we wanted to pay the supplier his money. He said he was not going to release the regalia until we wired his payment into his account.

“We wired the money and it was hanging for about a week then it reflected back into our account. We tried wiring the money again and it spent two weeks suspended before reflecting back into our account.

“President Mnangagwa then thought of other ways of getting the money to China, avoiding monitoring by the Americans and we successfully delivered the money and our regalia was released but it was too late because people had already started voting,” said Machacha.
He said that planes loaded with regalia arrived in the country late and there were heaps of regalia awaiting distribution at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

“You should go and tell our people that we have a lot of regalia in Harare and it is coming. We know our people are not happy but we will give all our Members of Parliament enough to distribute to their respective constituencies as we celebrate our victory.

“The issue of regalia left a lot of people dejected and we had cases where people where fighting to access it. There are plenty of t-shirts, caps, scarfs and wrapping cloth enough for everyone and ready for distribution,” said Machacha. – Tell Zimbabwe

By Paul Nyathi|Six people have so far been arrested after deadly tribal fights between informal miners emerged in Gwanda over the weekend.

Matabeleland South Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed that police have arrested six people out of a possible group of fifty who ganged up to attack rival miners at Vhovha Mine in Gwanda.

Reports from the mine are that about fifty heavily armed miners suspected to have come from Kwekwe landed in Gwanda on Saturday and brutally attacked local miners for denying their Shona speaking collegues a chance to mine in the area.

Allegations are that the local Ndebele speaking miners have for a long time been victimising the Shona speaking miners ordering them off the mines a move which angered the Shona miners who went back to Kwekwe and sort reinforcement by bringing in at least fifty collegues to attack the Ndebele speaking miners.

The miners from Kwekwe heavily overpowered the locals and cleared them from the mines before disappearing from the area. At least three people are reported to have died from the incident and a lot more injured.

The injured are currently admitted at Gwanda Provincial Hospital under police guard and will be arrested and charged for public violence as soon as they are discharged from hospital, according to the police.

Meanwhile, a high powered battalion of the ZRP Support Unit from Fairbridge in Bulawayo has been deployed in the town to search for the killers and bring sanity at the informal mines around Gwanda town. A mini curfew is also being experienced in the town as the police are on a massive stop and search exercise.