We are this morning covering a big business function in Norton with The Minister of Trade And Commerce, Nqobizitha Ndlovu,

Nqobizita Ndlovu, Minister of Trade And Commerce.

Provincial Minister for Mash West, Mary Mliswa Chikoka

The Chairperson For the Special Economic zones, Gideon Gono.

CEO of CZI, Jabulani Sifelani.

Former CZI President,, Calisto Jokonya.

Norton Town Council Chairperson, Counselor Gumusirai

Companies being visited are Best Food Processors, Lucas Batteries, Wilson Furniture, Non Ferrous, Hasst, and Dandy.

Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution managing director Julian Chinembiri together with his finance director Thoko Dhliwayo have been arrested over a $35 million corruption scandal involving an Indian firm called PME.

They were picked by detectives last night and are still in police holding cells while their court papers are still being finalised.

Sources close to the developments confirmed to Business Times this morning that the two were picked for corruption allegations involving an Indian engineering company.
More details to follow…

-Business Times

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has cautioned government that workers will not allow them to play with their lives through anti-poor policies announcing that they will be announcing their action to resist such moves soon.

Workers have said NO to the clowns ? playing yo-yo with our lives @ReserveBankZIM and #Zimbabwe Ministry of Finance. We will not allow them to play with our lives and we are calling all Citizens to resist. We are announcing dates of action soon. #2centsmustgo #wewantourmoney

— ZCTU – Zimbabwe (@ZctuZimbabwe) October 3, 2018

Opposotion MDC has slammed a new 2% tax on electronic transactions, which it says is meant to “pick-pocket the poor”.

New Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Monday the new charge was designed to expand the tax collection base.

Many within Zimbabwe’s vast informal sector do not pay income tax, but the MDC said the revenue raised would be used to “fund the lifestyles of the political elite”.

In a statement, party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said with chronic shortages of hard cash, Zimbabweans had no choice but to use electronic money transfers, and now they would be punished for it.

“This is a war being declared on a particular class of Zimbabwe, the working people,” he said.

Other prominent Zimbabweans weighed in with their criticism.

*This is not right*

“Have the authorities considered the impact of this decision on the already rampant price increases?” asked lawyer Fadzayi Mahere on Twitter.

Activist Evan Mawarire called the government’s new tax “unjust”. He wrote: “They specialise in making us poor. How many times will you rob us and expect us to be okay with it? This is not right, it is unjust and it is cruelty to an already struggling people.”

The tax on electronic transactions was proposed in February by top MDC official Eddie Cross, when he was still an MP. He said the measure would be effective in collecting revenue from the informal sector, where most economic activity takes place.

News24.com

PRICES shot up by up to 10% yesterday, as suppliers and manufacturers reacted to the introduction of a 2% tax on money transfer transactions by new Finance minister, Mthuli Ncube in a move that could hit consumers hard as retailers warned of further price hikes.

While taxation on electronic transactions has been on the books since January 2003 at five cents per transaction, Ncube’s move is seen as part of government’s efforts to widen its tax base by taxing the informal sector, whose effect will raise the cost of living for the majority.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Denford Mutashu told NewsDay that in light of the new tax rate, suppliers and manufacturers yesterday morning started sending notices to retailers effecting price increases of up to 10%.

“So, the citation was on the two cents per dollar tax and obviously, the parallel market rates also went up today (yesterday). This means that further price increases are likely if manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers do not get foreign currency allocations,” Mutashu said.

A snap survey showed that prices of some basic goods at a number of retail shops in Harare’s central business district, which include cooking oil, mealie meal, flour, washing powder and rice, had gone up.

“Some of the prices are slightly different from when I came here the previous day,” one TM Pick n Pay shopper who identified himself as Tony said.

Shortages of bread were also reported in retail outlets towards the end of business yesterday.

Rates on Zimbabwe’s black market rocketed after the announcement.

As of yesterday, a $100 USD note was fetching $230 in electronic transfer, while the R100 note traded at $14 in bond notes and $16 on electronic transfers.

“The premium on the US dollar is currently at 130% and this is lucrative business for us,” a cash dealer, who did not identify himself, told the NewsDay.

Parallel market rates have been skyrocketing ever since Ncube opined that he planned to scrap the bond notes, which he said were a surrogate local currency, “but without the fundamentals to support it”.

On the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, market turnover jumped over 1 000% to $4,36 million from $358 739,74 recorded on Monday as investors sought cover in company shares to preserve value of their money.

The market’s total valuation rose 6,53% to $13,24 billion from $12,43 billion the previous, while analysts said a bull run was likely if the uncertainty persisted.

“I think it is a knee-jerk reaction and I think people are still digesting what is coming out of the monetary policy and the fiscal measures. But, it is those initial moves that show that investors are seeing value preservation in the shares,” the Stockbrokers” Association of Zimbabwe vice-chairperson Arnold Dhlamini said.

“It also looks like a lot of liquidity wanted to find a home quickly, but for government, what it wants to achieve is to remove a lot of liquidity from the market.”

NewsDay

Opposition MDC has slammed a new 2% tax on electronic transactions, which it says is meant to “pick-pocket the poor”.

New Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Monday the new charge was designed to expand the tax collection base.

Many within Zimbabwe’s vast informal sector do not pay income tax, but the MDC said the revenue raised would be used to “fund the lifestyles of the political elite”.

In a statement, party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said with chronic shortages of hard cash, Zimbabweans had no choice but to use electronic money transfers, and now they would be punished for it.

“This is a war being declared on a particular class of Zimbabwe, the working people,” he said.

Other prominent Zimbabweans weighed in with their criticism.

*This is not right*

“Have the authorities considered the impact of this decision on the already rampant price increases?” asked lawyer Fadzayi Mahere on Twitter.

Activist Evan Mawarire called the government’s new tax “unjust”. He wrote: “They specialise in making us poor. How many times will you rob us and expect us to be okay with it? This is not right, it is unjust and it is cruelty to an already struggling people.”

The tax on electronic transactions was proposed in February by top MDC official Eddie Cross, when he was still an MP. He said the measure would be effective in collecting revenue from the informal sector, where most economic activity takes place.

News24.com

Jane Mlambo| Just two days after Nick Mangwana was appointed to replace George Charamba at the Ministry of Information, a Twitter account has been opened which according to the first post will be giving updates and responding to people’s queries.

This is the official Ministry for Infor, Media & Broadcasting Services Twitter. We will be giving updates & responding to pertinent quiries. Our responses may not be in real-time as we may need to gather info from relevant ministries but we will respond at some point. Thank you

— Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting (@InfoMinZW) October 2, 2018

Mangwana made a name for himself among online users as his personal Twitter account vehemently defended the ruling party from attacks by opposition supporters.

The Twitter mad Mangwana was at some point suspected to be the face behind the controversial Matigari known for attacking anything opposition on the micro blogging site.

Press Statement By Crisis In Zimbabwe Coalition|Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Dr. John Mangudya on October 1, 2018 presented the 2018 monetary policy statement in terms of Section 46 of the Reserve Bank Act (Chapter 22:15).

Some of the major highlights of the monetary policy statement include the de-dollarization of the economy through the introduction of local currency bank accounts which will be traded in electronic transfers and bond notes.

The move to de-dollarize the economy is in essence a late rude awakening on the part of the administration that the fiscal measures which were pursued since the introduction of the bond note, which was declared to be at par with the United States Dollar are unrealistic.

The monetary policy statement also exposed how unsustainable budget deficits, coming on the backdrop of unnecessary government expenditure; continue to widen domestic debt which has risen from 275.8 Million in 2012 to 9.5 Billion at a time external debt stands at $7.4 Billion.

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) is concerned that at a time Zimbabwe’s economy continues on a downward trend, with the ordinary citizens being at the receiving end of the debilitating effects, the government, through fiscal measures announced by the Finance Minister has moved to pile more taxes on the transacting public.

The move to hike electronic transactions tax is ill advised especially given Zimbabwe’s current economic status which has seen the majority living far below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL).

The government has in actual fact abrogated on its social protection role and has turned into a commercialized State in which the poor are left exposed while the rich are protected through the mechanisms introduced to ring fence the Foreign Currency Accounts.

After the monetary policy presentation, it has become quite clear that the poor people of Zimbabwe stand as the biggest victims of ill advised economic policies and there is great risk that the country will be forced into a multi-tier pricing system.

CiZC also takes with great exception, misleading sentiments from Dr Mangudya that the Zimbabwean economy is expanding ‘owing to increased business confidence within the national economy and positive expectations following the peaceful completion of the electoral process’.

Such sentiments are misleading and uncalled for especially coming from a public official. The reality on the ground is that Zimbabwe’s economy is on a continuous downward trend and this has been further exacerbated by the legitimacy crisis on the part of the current government following a highly disputed election.

Governor Mangudya needs not be reminded that addressing an economy implies confronting the real challenges at hand rather than mere politicking.

While presenting government’s fiscal measures, Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube admitted that the economy was facing the following challenges; foreign currency and cash shortages, unsustainable high budget and current account deficits, emerging inflation pressures, slow moving re-engagement process, infrastructure deficiencies and weak social service delivery. He further highlighted that unsustainable high budget deficits were at the centre of these challenges.

As part of our response to the monetary policy and fiscal measures, we posit the following;

–          That low productive capacity from the supply side of the economy, massive de-industrialization, informalization, low economic growth rates, unemployment, poverty, poor social services, poor revenue inflows, a ballooning debt coupled with corruption and abuse of national resources are at the nerve centre of the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe.

–          Zimbabwe’s precarious economic state has been worsened by the professional decay of state institutions, failure to democratize the politics, breakdown of the rule of law, disregard of property rights, weak enforcement of thee constitutional Bill of Rights, poor political leadership characterized by the will to power rather than the will to transform (in this regard we reiterate that without a functioning constitutional democracy, sustainable economic development is not feasible)

Key recommendations

While we urge the government to strengthen its economic reform measures, as CiZC we are advocating for the following based on our alternative economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Social Market Agenda for Recovery and Transformation (ZimSMART);

–          Macro-economic stability that is pro-poor, inclusive and human centered with increased fiscal space, a high degree of competitiveness, a conducive environment for domestic and foreign investments, a strong export economy and high degrees of innovative capability with the State effectively playing its role in the economy by enhancing real sector performance, currency stability and ensuring the financial sector is stable. We further implore the government to put in place effective measures aimed at improving revenue generation in order to release funds into the productive sector.

CiZC further implores the government to adopt sustainable debt strategies, re-prioritize expenditure, restructuring state owned enterprises, implement sustainable taxation reforms, and promote domestic investment as well as to move with pace in re-engaging the international community (this of course is largely determined by the politics of the land).

–          Revival of the productive sector with Small to Medium Enterprises being prioritized given their dominance in the economy. This calls for the government to do away with Iron and Fist policies, but through coordinating, facilitate and provide focused subsidies and start up finances to rejuvenate the sectors.

–          A highly devolved, functional and modern infrastructure that forms the engine of economic growth. Rehabilitation of roads, rail, air, water and sanitation, energy and ICTs should be the government’s priority

–          Creation of professional, transparent, accountable and globally competitive economic institutions

–          Creation of a modern, equal, peaceful, open and pluralist society where everyone enjoys equal opportunities in life

CiZC would like to reiterate that in resolving the Zimbabwean crisis, there is need for a multi stakeholder dialogue aimed at coming up with economic solutions that are pro-poor.

For and on Behalf of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

Tabani Moyo

Spokesperson

Press Statement| Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has noted with concern the continued use of excessive force by the government of Zimbabwe in handling civilian affairs. The police and the army continue to use force against unarmed civilians seeking to eke a living out of vending in a failed economy.

Failure by the government to build a competitive and responsive economy, resulting in infrastructure decay leading to the recent cholera outbreak which the government has been trying to blame on vendors.
The move by the government to unleash soldiers and the police against vendors must be condemned in the strongest of terms. Since the government declared war against vendors, members of the public as well as journalists have fallen victim to the heavy-handed soldiers and the police.
On September 29, 2018 CiZC Advocacy Officer, Conrad Gweru was brutalized by armed police who accused him of taking pictures of them assaulting public commuter crews in the capital. He was detained for two nights and is currently out on bail after the State charged him with disorderly conduct.

Gweru is among a host of ordinary citizens and journalists who have been victimized by the army and police since government launched a ‘crackdown’ on vending in the capital.

Continued disregard of fundamental rights and freedoms by the government is a cause for major concern as the government is supposed to protect all its citizens, irrespective of socio-economic and political standing.
The army and the police have emerged as the major perpetrators of rights violations and this is coming at a time President Emmerson Mnangagwa has instituted a highly questionable Commission of Inquiry to investigate the shooting of civilians by the army after the much disputed July 30, 2018 polls. This throws into doubt his rhetoric that his administration will break with the dark past.

Prior to President Mnangagwa’s address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2018, we highlighted as CiZC that Zimbabwe had largely failed the litmus test in as far as creating peaceful and equitable societies was concerned.

We reiterate our call for a broad-based multi-stakeholder approach in responding to the crisis of governance and legitimacy bedeviling Zimbabwe.

We further call upon the progressive forces within and outside Zimbabwe to insist upon the demilitarization of the Zimbabwe polity and a return to constitutionalism as a panacea to the multifaceted crises the country is facing.

For and on Behalf of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition

Tabani Moyo

Spokesperson

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care will today embark on a weeklong vaccination programme against cholera which has claimed 49 lives in Harare and affected more than 10 000 Zimbabweans.

According to the Ministry, the vaccination, which will also cover typhoid that has claimed 13 lives, will run from Wednesday this week to Wednesday next week in Harare.

Responding to questions from state media journalists, the director of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Dr Portia Manangazira, said the vaccination will target people aged from one to 99 years.

“We received the vaccine on September 26 and we will start vaccinating from tomorrow (Wednesday) until October 10. The programme will be run by the Ministry with support from the World Health Organisation, Unicef, MSF and the Harare City Council,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said the vaccination for cholera is targeted at Glen View, Glen Norah, Mbare, and Budiriro residents which were hardest hard when the water borne disease broke out on September 1.

“All our vaccines are all pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation, (WHO), procured by Unicef and checked for quality by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. All or vaccinators are trained in the correct handling of the vaccine in accordance with the cold chain, vaccination technique and also the surveillance and management of any adverse events following immuniSation,” said Dr Manangazira.

She said the Ministry had been recording a decrease in new cases from last week.

“Then we were reporting 400 cases or more daily, but as from last week we are reporting about 100 cases daily. We are achieving control but not yet out of the woods. Outbreak over will be when we have gone 14 continuous days without reporting a single case,” she said.

Dr Manangazira added that vaccines for both cholera and typhoid are deployed to halt the outbreak(s), and to preserve the failing antibiotics; but will not replace the basic requirements for adequate safe water and sanitation and personal hygiene.

State Media

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube on Tuesday assured Foreign Currency Account holders that Government will not raid their hard currency, instead adequate measures will be put in place to ring-fence them.

Prof Ncube said the decision by the old dispensation under former President Robert Mugabe in which corporates, embassies and individuals lost their hard currency after they were raided will not “happen again under my watch” as people would access their money on demand.

The Head of Treasury said this after the Tuesday cabinet meeting while responding to questions from journalists during a press briefing on the Cabinet resolutions.

Journalists had asked what assurances were there that Government through the central bank would not raid FCAs as what happened in the 2008 where account holders lost their money as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe performed quasi-fiscal activities.

“I want to assure you that these FCAs will not be raided. They have been ring-fenced. These are kept offshore and you have a mirror account (domestic) which reflects those accounts. You know what happened the last time we did that, when we shut them down, the US dollar just disappeared. So we have learnt that if you raid these FCA, if you shut them down the US dollar disappears and you go back to disintermediation, which is what we have now,” said Prof Ncube.

“So we learnt a hard lesson. I would not recommend that to anyone to say raid people’s accounts. It is not a good idea, not under my watch if I am allowed to watch over those FCAs as Minister of Finance.”

Prof Ncube said Government would put enforcement measures to ensure that the policy announced this week in which foreign trucks on transit must buy fuel at local service stations in foreign currency.

There had been complaints that the policy measure might fuel rent seeking behaviour and corruption as foreign truck drivers might just engage locals to buy fuel on their behalf among other vices.

“On the truckers, where is your problem with the truckers? We have just laid down the law to say you will have to pay using US dollars , people can evade that, we need to think of enforcement mechanism but the principle of them paying in US dollars is a good one. The same for anyone coming to buy groceries, we are aware that our groceries are quite attractive because of prices we want to insist that they use US dollars but they might try to avoid that,” said Prof Ncube.

“I cannot assure you that there will be no be leakages. They will be leakages, absolutely.”
Prof Ncube defended levying of two cents per every dollar on every electronic financial transactions such as Real Time Gross Settlement or mobile money transfers saying that was meant to broaden the tax base.

He said Government was prepared to review any policy if it failed to produce intended objectives.

He was responding to concerns that the policy measures might affect ordinary persons as those that sell hard currency in the parallel market would simply raise the premium to cushion themselves.

“We are not the first country to do this. Every other country is doing it. In countries like Kenya these financial transaction tax are actually higher than what we are proposing. We have to change the way to collect our taxes, of course we will have an opportunity to review policies if it does not work, but for the moment we feel this is a good position to start with.

“We also recognised that the US dollars in Zimbabwe are floating all over the place, some of them being kept outside but goods and services are being enjoyed internally. This is evidence based policy making, let us see the impact and then we will adjust if it is not the best way to do it,” he said.

State Media

Staff Reporter|Fresh details emerging from the Robert Mugabe International Airport indicate that South African-based Zimbabwean businessman, Frank Buyanga actually owns the mysterious multi-million dollar Bugatti Veyron super-car delivered to Zimbabwe last week.

Ever since the arrival of a 2009 Bugatti Veyron Fbg Hermes edition at the Robert Mugabe International Airport, there has been speculation over the item’s ownership with several names being thrown around including that of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son.

Buyanga’s name never featured in the speculations until the latest revelation by sources at the ZIMRA offices at the airport.

$1,15 million was paid as duty to ZIMRA and sources claim that Buyanga said that the “beast” will not be leaving Zimbabwe as he did not buy it for regular travel, but rather as a collector’s item.

It is understood that the Bugatti was ferried to the airport by a KLM cargo plane at an estimated cost of $36,000.

Bugatti sent a representative to supervise the car’s loading in the Netherlands, its off-loading in Harare as well as its delivery to its owner.

ZIMRA parried media questions about the identity of the owner, and the amount of duty paid citing confidentiality
But sources say that the costs related to the acquisition and delivery of the car were broken down as: Euro 1.9 million (about $2.2m) to buy the car, Euro 31,000 ($36,000) to fly it to Zimbabwe and Euro 990,000 ($1.15m) for the duty.

The information was obtained from airport employees, who said the paperwork for the car – just as happened with the last Bugatti delivery in August – appeared to have been completed in advance, with mystery men thought to be state security agents ensuring the clearance procedures are not delayed.

The identity of the owner of the first car remains unknown, but airport workers said they had been told the car would be staying in Zimbabwe.

Staff Reporter|Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube scored a major goal in his new role on Tuesday when cabinet approved for immediate implementation his proposed Transitional Stabilisation Programme unveiled on Monday.

The endorsement of his much talked about economic transformation came after self exiled former ZANU PF stalwart Jonathan Moyo warned him that he will face huge resistance and frustration from the ZANU PF cabinet and politburo in implementing his technical plans.

Addressing journalists after the cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet deliberated on the measures after a presentation by Prof Ncube before adopting them.

“The implementation process will accordingly commence this month and run up to December 2020. The launch of the programme is to take place very soon,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said the programme’s main thrust is to ensure the stabilisation of the macro-economic environment that include the financial sector, introduction of necessary policy and institutional reforms to facilitate private sector led economic growth and the launch of the quick win projects and programmes to stimulate economic growth.

“Implementation of the quick win projects and programmes will be undertaken in 100 Day Cycles guided by the Rapid Results Approach. The Transitional Stabilisation Programme constitutes the first phase of the implementation of the Vision 2030 and will thus pave way for the implementation of two successive Five Year Development Plans which are to run from 2021 to 2030,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said key features and objectives included addressing various existing and external and macro-economic imbalances, thus providing a foundation for robust economic growth and development beyond 2020.
They also include strengthening fiscal responsibility and management of Government expenditures so as to divert resources from recurrent expenditure to productive activities, facilitate innovation in the design and administration of taxes to include simplified tax structures for micro, small and medium enterprises.

“Other features include targeting the eradication of corruption, which is a major source of leakages to public revenues and a cost burden to businesses. Instituting measures that seek to strengthen the economy’s balance of payments in order to enhance exports, currency competitiveness and capital inflows and reduce over dependency on imports,” she said.

Other features included the desire to rationalise the civil service so as to reduce the unsustainable public sector wage bill.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had also considered the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Bill that was presented by Industry and Commerce Minister, Nqobizitha Ndhlovu.

“The Bill is part of current efforts by the Government of Zimbabwe to create a regionally and internationally competitive investment and business environment. More specifically the Bill provides for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The Agency will serve as a One Stop Investment Service Centre with the goal to promote and facilitate quick processing and effective protection of investment.”

She said the Agency will take over the functions of the Special Economic Zones Authority, Zimbabwe Investment Authority and the Joint Venture Unit.

“The enactment will in 100 day cycles enhance the current legal and regulatory regime in Zimbabwe governing commerce and business in general, which has been consistently been cited as one of the major barriers to inflows of Foreign Direct Investment into the country,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Turning to cholera, Minister Mutsvangwa said Government was pleased to note that while the outbreak was not yet over there was a sharp decline in the cases of patients admitted in hospitals.

The Press conference was attended by Prof Ncube, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo, Minister Ndhlovu and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda.

Source: State Media

Government will not tolerate any more illegal farm occupations and those found on the wrong side of the law will face the full wrath of the law as police are now on standby to deal with all perpetrators, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Perrance Shiri has said.

Minister Shiri, who was addressing an inter-district meeting in Bindura last weekend, said as the ruling party, members should lead by example by following the right channels when they need land.

“On the issue of land, we have notified the police and there should not be any intimidations.
“If any farmer finds people illegally occupying his or her farm, he or she must immediately report the matter to the police who are mandated to enforce the laws of this country. We do not want lawlessness and anarchy to prevail, so we should not be found on the wrong side of the law.

“If we need land we should simply follow the correct procedures,” he said. “There are some of us who are becoming selfish and are now illegally distributing land and causing mayhem on farms. Some recently went to a farm belonging to Zimbabwe Assemblies of God-Africa (ZAOGA) farm in Mazowe District intending to forcibly take the farm.

“As party members we should stop doing things that are not within the confines of the law and end up getting arrested by the police.

“It is not a good thing to expect from party members.” Minister Shiri also said the party was concerned by illegal gold mining activities in some parts of the province. l- state media

The High Court has set aside both conviction and sentence of former Victoria Falls Municipality housing director Lot Siatimbula, who was last year fired for allegedly allocating a housing stand to his nephew without council approval.

Siatimbula (40) was last year convicted of criminal abuse of office by Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa and fined $500 or five months in jail.
In addition, Siatimbula was sentenced to 12 months in prison which was wholly suspended on condition of good behaviour.

The magistrate ruled that Siatimbula’s conduct, when he allocated stand Number 1585 measuring 3 300 square metres, at 25 percent of all costs to his relative Mr Sena Mumpande without council approval, coupled with failing to declare interest on the matter, was inconsistent with his duties as a housing director.

Aggrieved by both conviction and sentence, Siatimbula through his lawyer Advocate Lucas Nkomo instructed by Ncube and Partners, filed an appeal at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as the respondent.

Justice Nokuthula Moyo, sitting with Justice Thompson Mabhikwa during a criminal appeals court, set aside Siatimbula’s conviction and sentence after the State conceded.

“The appeal succeeds and the conviction and sentence of the appellant (Siatimbula) is hereby set aside in its entirety,” ruled the judge.

In his heads of argument, Siatimbula said his conviction was not supported by evidence. He argued that the State failed to discharge the onus on it to prove each essential element of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

“The State failed to adduce evidence showing that there must be a council resolution authorising the allocation of a stand to a prospective buyer before the housing department can process allocation. If there was truth in that allegation, the first two State witnesses, the Town Clerk and Chamber Secretary, ought to have availed to the State, by way of example, copies of such full council resolution,” argued Siatimbula.

“The documentary and oral evidence adduced by the appellant totally rebutted the State’s allegations. The appeal ought to succeed and the conviction of the appellant ought to be quashed.”

According to court papers, Siatimbula, who was suspended without pay on February 14 last year, un-procedurally allocated Stand Number 1585 in Victoria Falls to his brother’s son Mr Mumpande, who had not applied for it.

Siatimbula allegedly made misrepresentations to council about the stand and attempted to coerce the Chamber Secretary Ms Kholwani Mangena to process an agreement of sale and later tried to reverse the process.

Mr Mumpande would have paid $15 815 of the total $48 410 at 25 percent discount on all costs excluding 15 percent VAT, yet he joined council as a general hand in 2016.

This was in violation of Section 4(D) (1) of the Victoria Falls Municipality Code of Conduct thereby making him liable to a criminal charge of abuse of office as a public officer.
The Chamber Secretary picked the anomaly and alerted Town Clerk, Mr Dube, leading to Siatimbula’s suspension and arrest.

Municipalities’ power to disconnect water supplies to non-paying residents is reasonable and does not in any way contravene Section 77 of the country’s Constitution that guarantees the right to clean and potable water, the Supreme Court has ruled.

The court made the ruling in a case in which the Harare City Council was appealing against a High Court judgment granting a provisional order in favour of lawyer, Mr Farai Mushoriwa, who was contesting the disconnection of water at his flat in Harare.

Justice Bharat Patel said the city could terminate water suppliers provided they followed its by-laws.

Harare (Water) By-laws S.164/1913 require that council gives 24 hours’ notice to affected parties before disconnections.

Justice Patel quashed the lower court’s decision that stopped all municipalities countrywide from disconnecting water supplies for defaulting residents without seeking recourse to the courts.

“The provisional order granted by the court a quo be and is hereby set aside,” said Justice Patel, partially allowing Harare City Council’s appeal.- state media

ZANU PF Legal Secretary Paul Mangwana is addressing a press engagement on devolution.
VIDEO BELOW…
” there’s a difference between administrative functions and executive functions.. executive functions are for a provincial minister; administrative functions are for a provincial administrator,” says Mangwana.

Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, has proposed the creation of a world-class “Regional Fuel Dry Port” out of the Mabvuku Loading Gantry and Msasa Depot fuel storage facilities saying that will ease the pressure on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to source and allocate foreign currency for fuel consumption.

Addressing stakeholders at the RBZ mi-term monetary review yesterday, Professor Ncube, said the vision for the inland fuel port will turn it into a vital regional fuel port that will serve neighboring countries.

“The pressure on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to source and allocate foreign currency for fuel consumption on a monthly basis is enormous.

“One long term solution is to create a world-class “Regional Fuel Dry Port” out of the Mabvuku Loading Gantry and Msasa Depot fuel storage facilities. The vision for this inland fuel port will turn it into a vital regional fuel port that will serve neighboring countries,” he said.

He added that the strategy will be used to lure potential investors so that multiple fuel importers can source their own foreign currency in the market.

“An additional pipeline could also be built from Beira to the fuel storage facility in order to increase capacity. A strategy in this regard will be developed and new investors invited, so that in the end the multiple fuel importers can source their own foreign currency in the market.

“The concept of a Dry Fuel Port is an important economic development issue. The Ministry of Finance will work with Ministry of Energy and Power Development in order to realise the vision for a Dry Fuel Port for the Region,” added Ncube.

-263Chat

Municipalities’ power to disconnect water supplies to non-paying residents is reasonable and does not in any way contravene Section 77 of the country’s Constitution that guarantees the right to clean and potable water, the Supreme Court has ruled.

The court made the ruling in a case in which the Harare City Council was appealing against a High Court judgment granting a provisional order in favour of lawyer, Mr Farai Mushoriwa, who was contesting the disconnection of water at his flat in Harare.

Justice Bharat Patel said the city could terminate water suppliers provided they followed its by-laws.

Harare (Water) By-laws S.164/1913 require that council gives 24 hours’ notice to affected parties before disconnections.

Justice Patel quashed the lower court’s decision that stopped all municipalities countrywide from disconnecting water supplies for defaulting residents without seeking recourse to the courts.

“The provisional order granted by the court a quo be and is hereby set aside,” said Justice Patel, partially allowing Harare City Council’s appeal.
-State Media

Terrence Mawawa|While President Emmerson Mnangagwa is calling for reconciliation and tolerance, war veterans are exerting pressure on the Zanu PF leader to expel a perceived G-40 member.

War veterans and Zanu-PF electoral agents have called for the dismissal of former Mashonaland East Resident Minister David Musabayana from the ruling party.

They allege that Musayabana is
corrupt and that he is a G40 member who is  working against Mnangagwa’s efforts to revive the economy.

In one of the petitions sent to the Zanu PF Mashonaland East Provincial Headquarters, the war veterans said Musabayana was a G40 member.
Musabayana refuted the allegations saying, “Nobody has ever come to me with a complaint. I meet all my constituency members every month, including war veterans and nobody has ever raised the issue. It’s being pushed by people who lost theprimary elections and still angered by their loss.”

Terrence Mawawa| Fiery social media analyst Antony Taruvinga has castigated the Zanu PF government for devising a ploy to raid individual and company accounts.

“Banks have been instructed to separate bond note deposits from foreign currency deposits, meaning
there will the existence of two separate accounts or one account with 2 figures.

What it means is that they are encouraging people to deposit every foreign cent they may have hidden
under the pillow or in their houses and every foreign cent that may come your way.

They will then raid every foreign currency account, take everything, use it to finance their own activities and replace the forex with the useless bond note or any other useless currency of their own. It happened, it will happen again and
there wont be any sort of refund.

The grass will continue to suffer. There is nothing new. Failure is their option,” Taruvinga argued.

Jane Mlambo| High Court has today set aside the conviction of Patson Dzamara and Makomborero Haruzivishe who were sentenced to 12 months in prison for defeating the course of justice.

Represented by Obey Shava a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the two activists had appealed against a decision of a Harare magistrate sitting at Harare Magistrates Courts on 29 June 2017.

Dzamara and Haruzivishe had been convicted of defeating or obstructing the course of justice as defined in section 184(1)(g) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment of which 3 months were suspended for 5 years on condition of good behaviour and remaining 9 months imprisonment were suspended on condition that Dzamara and Haruzivishe perform 315 hours of community service.

Dzamara and Haruziviishe had completed 1 month of community service with the remaining 8 being suspended after the appeal was filed.

In setting aside the conviction and quashing the sentence, the High Court judges said the police had not been civil in its approach of the matter adding that the context of the whole case pointed towards a political motive.
The court also noted that this was not a bonafide arrest as the police wanted Dzamara and crew out of the Africa Unity Square at all costs or by hook or crook and this was not a bona fide arrest.

It is in light of the above that the High Court allowed the appeal, set aside the conviction and quashed the sentence.

Jane Mlambo| Self exiled former cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has hit out at government over its move to seperate retail time gross settlement (RTGS) from foreign currency accounts saying its a sign of cluelessness.

Moyo said the introduction of bond notes was on the back of the success of coins introduced earlier, charging that the surrogate currency became a disaster due to government spending indiscipline.

In a tweet, a few minutes ago, Moyo wrote that;

Bondnotes were good when they were launched on the back of the successful spell of bond coins. But they later became a big disaster due to their poor management arising from the government's spending indiscipline. Now to replace bondnotes with RTGS FCA is a mark of cluelessness!

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) October 2, 2018

By A Correspondent| The High Court has overturned the conviction of activists Makomborero Haruzivishe and the brother of abducted activist Itai Dzamra, Patson.

A conviction of obstruction of justice hung on the two’s heads over allegations of stealing a policeman’s hat and baton stick.

The conviction was passed by Harare magistrate Ms Josephine Sande.

As he set aside the conviction, the High Court judges said:

• the police had not been civil in its approach of the matter;
• the context of the whole case pointed towards a political motive behind the arrest of Dzamara and Haruziviishe and that the court could not turn a blind eye to that aspect;
• the police wanted Dzamara and crew out of the Africa Unity Square at all costs or by hook or crook and this was not a bona fide arrest;
• when this incident occurred, the police was trying to arrest Dzamara and crew for an alleged robbery of two ladies but the state never proceeded to charge them with the said robbery. The two ladies (victims of robbery) disappeared from the scene immediately after the arrest of Dzamara and Haruziviishe. Therefore, the High Court could not ignore Dzamara’s version that these were trumped up and politically motivated charges.

Representing Dzamara and Haruvishe was by Obey Shava a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

Former Finance Minister and Deputy National Chairperson of the MDC, Tendai Biti, has mounted pressure on the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) to sat his trial date.

Biti, through his lawyer Aleck Muchadehama, insist that the state is taking long to provide him with a trial date.

The former Finance Minister is facing charges of inciting public violence.
Biti demanded to be freed or called if the state is ready.

Muchadehama queried with state, represented by Michael Reza, who had suggested a long remand, 5 November to furnish a trial date.

“The state must give a reason why it is giving such a long remand without giving a trial date.

“On the last remand it was said that the investigations are complete therefore I do not see any reason why it is taking long for the state to provide a trial date,” said Muchadehama.

However, Prosecutor Reza promised that on the next remand date, 17 October a trial date will be provided.

He also said that prosecution is the prerogative of Prosecutor General, who will give a trial date if satisfied.

Magistrate Elisha Singano, however, ruled that on the next remand the court should be ready with trial date.

“The state should make sure it is ready on the next remand date, arresting a person it means you ready for the case, if he was arrested he should be tried,” he said adding that if the state fails Biti will be freed and called back when state is ready.

-263Chat

Jane Mlambo| Teenage whizz-kid, Maud Chifamba has told Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Dr John Mangudya to resign for fooling the country that bond notes will be at par with the US dollars.

Posting on Twitter, Chifamba said;

If 1USD is equal to 1 rtgs dollar; why then are banks creating different accounts, if they're all USDs? Sounds like an admission that its not the same to me, and I strongly believe someone must do the honorable thing which is 6 letters, RESIGN.

— King Moe (@maud_chifamba) October 2, 2018

Jane Mlambo| Members of Parliament have been given until Friday (5 October 2018) to declare their assets and income, as part of government drive to boost transparency and reinforce its commitment to fighting corruption in the country.

During the State of the Nation Address (SONA), Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda told MPs that those who fail to declare will be in contempt of parliament.

A tourist who was left for dead by an elephant bull in Victoria Falls on Saturday has been identified as Frank Sternhardt, a 56-year-old German national and has since been airlifted to South Africa for further treatment.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed the development.

“He was seriously injured and his condition kept worsening until he had to be airlifted to South Africa the same night. He sustained left arm and left leg fracture and other multiple body injuries,” Farawo said.

“Elephants are breeding this time and we would like to urge our tourists not to draw closer to them and start filming. When they have calves, they become very sensitive and protective and must be avoided at all costs.”

Sternhardt had visited the resort town with his wife and the two were walking to Kingdom Hotel where they were staying when he was attacked.

He was saved by souvenir vendors who said they were alerted to the danger by a woman’s screams.

Anele Mpofu and Nqobile Nkomazana said they used catapults to scare away one of the feeding cows to save the tourist’s life.

“We hit it hard on its left ear and maybe it thought it was a gun and it moved away along with three calves and the rest of the herd that was nearby. That is how he was able to be rescued,” Mpofu said.

“The wife had apparently ran away during the attack and came back to find out if her husband was still alive. She was in shock and tears but we managed to render first aid until the hospital ambulance came to pick him up.”

Mpofu and Nkomazana said they always carried catapults for protection as they work in an area full of dangerous animals.

Last Wednesday, another German tourist was trampled to death by an elephant in Mana Pools after she went close to the animal to take selfies.

Correspondent|A businessman who has been on the run since December last year accused of hijacking the daughter of former Vice President Joice Mujuru at gunpoint has been arrested.

Tatenda Answerlin Tsvuura, 24, the director of Exceptional Energy Limited, appeared in court last Saturday charged with vehicle theft.

He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to October 11 pending his trial.

His accomplice Longman Maridadi, who worked as a chauffeur in South Africa, is already on remand.

The court heard that on December 17 last year, Kumbirai Rungano Mujuru, in the company of her friend Tamuka Kelvin Keche, was driving in Harare and later parked her Mercedes Benz at the corner of Third Street and Josiah Chinamano Avenue.

Tsvuura and Maridadi, the court heard, had been following the pair in their vehicle with a plan to steal the Mercedes valued at $42,000.

When Kumbirai parked her vehicle, the two men pounced on her armed with pistol and threatened to shoot her, said Peter Kachirika, prosecuting.

The pair took control of the vehicle and drove to Kuwadzana where they topped up fuel worth $70 using Keche’s credit card.

Still holding Kumbirai and Keche captive, they drove to Lake Chivero where they tied the pair to a tree and left them stranded at around midnight.

Kumbirai and her friend later managed to untie themselves and filed a police report.

Mujuru’s car was found parked at one Rosemary Svosve’s place of residence and upon being interviewed, she told police that Tsvuura and Maridadi had left the car.

Maridadi was arrested after the police received a tip off that he was going to move the car from Svosve’s place to South Africa. A trap was set and he was arrested.

MEMBERS of the infamous National Youth Service (NYS) have defended their involvement in Zanu PF politics, saying their recent move to thwart demonstrations by party activists in Mutare and Chipinge last week was justified.

The NYS members were roped in after disgruntled ruling party activists stormed Zanu PF offices in Mutare and Chipinge, pushing for the ouster of provincial chairperson Mike Madiro and his deputy, Dorothy Mabika for allegedly fanning divisions.

The pair also stands accused of contributing to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s poor showing against opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa in the province in the July 30 poll.

NYS Manicaland chapter deputy commando Terrence Mukodza told NewsDay yesterday that they were ready to quash rebellion in the province.

“We are here to defend the revolutionary party and not individuals. We are here to defend the legacy of the party,” he said.

“As members of the national youth service, we are happy with the leadership that we were given by our President Emmerson Mnangagwa in our province, including our party structures,” he said.

“We were told that there were people who wanted to demonstrate at the party office in Mutare last week. We were waiting for them (protesters), we camped at the Manicaland Zanu PF headquarters, waiting for the protesters,” Mukodza added.

Last week, party activists petitioned Zanu PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri, political commissar Engelbert Rugeje and secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana, seeking the ouster of Madiro and Mabika.

NYS graduates have previously been used as Zanu PF paratroopers alongside war veterans and State security agents to intimidate and beat up opposition supporters, especially during elections.

NewsDay

Jane Mlambo| Newly appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi (Nick) Mangwana has promised to reform media laws with both Access to Information and Protrection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) and Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) high on the government agenda.

In a Twitter post this morning, Mangwana confirmed that media reforms were on the government agenda in what could breathe a sigh of relief to media practitioners who have always campaigned against repealing of laws deemed to infringe on freedom of expression and access to information.

A good friend mentioned something to do with AIPPA. I can confirm that it is on GoZ agenda to reform the Media Laws in the 2nd Republic. Both AIPPA & the BSA(Broadcasting Services Act) are on the agenda pic.twitter.com/Mpx7TZs96X

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) October 2, 2018

GOVERNMENT has gazetted Statutory Instrument (SI 178/2018) to facilitate amendment of the Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for Medicinal and Scientific Use) SI 62/2018 by cutting the application fee for production of cannabis from the previous $50 000 to $10 000.

The SI, gazetted on September 14, allows government to introduce a licence fee of $40 000 charged for production of cannabis.

The first SI 62/2018, which was promulgated for production of cannabis, stipulated that the application fee for a licence to produce cannabis was at $50 000, and the application fee for a licence to conduct research on cannabis was $5 000, application fee for renewal of licence to produce cannabis $20 000, and annual return fees of $15 000.

The amended SI 178/2018 also makes Robert Mugabe International Airport the only permitted port of entry for cannabis and cannabis products.

“For the purposes of these regulations, the designated port of entry or exit for fresh or dried cannabis, cannabis plants, cannabis seeds, or cannabis oil shall be Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Harare,” the new amendment in SI 178/2018 read.

The cannabis growing regulations also stipulate that the producer’s licence is valid for five years and may be renewed thereafter before its expiry.

The regulations give powers to the Health minister to cancel a producer’s licence in circumstances such as when the minister has reasonable grounds to believe that the licence was issued on the basis of false or misleading information in the submitted documents for application of licence.

Other reasons where the minister could cancel the licence were when they received information from an inspector, a competent authority or the United Nations raising reasonable grounds to believe that the licensed producer had been involved in the diversion of a controlled substance or precursor to an illicit market or use, among other reasons.

The regulations also restrict access to areas within a site where cannabis is present, with the areas restricted to persons whose presence in those areas is required by their work responsibilities.

NewsDay

Government has technically de-dollarised the economy by reintroducing local currency bank accounts, which will be traded in electronic transfers and bond notes only, and piled more taxes on the transacting public.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya, in a monetary policy statement presented yesterday, directed banks to create nostro accounts for foreign currency transactions (nostro FCAs), which will run separately from existing bank accounts, now limited to RTGS (real time gross settlement) transactions and bond notes only.

The measures, which will technically de-dollarise the economy and reduce existing FCAs to local currency accounts, take effect on October 15.

Mangudya said the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has agreed to provide a $500 million guarantee to the new nostro FCAs, which have been created to cater for exporters and other foreign currency earners.

It means non-foreign currency earners, who wish to open nostro FCAs, would have to fully fund their accounts with foreign currency.

It also means government has indirectly admitted that bond notes and RTGS balances cannot trade at par with the US dollar due to a growing mismatch between cash dollars and bond note/RTGS balances.

“With immediate effect, all banks are directed to effectively operationalise the ring-fencing policy on nostro foreign currency accounts by separating FCAs into two categories, namely nostro FCAs and RTGS FCAs,” Mangudya said.

“Accordingly, all banks are directed to use their know-your-client principles to comply with this directive to separate the accounts without requiring their clients to complete any other documentation other than for new bank accounts.”

Zimbabwe is reeling under a harsh currency crisis, characterised by a persistent shortage of cash and foreign currency, which has given rise to an active parallel market where foreign currency, bond notes, RTGS balances and mobile money are traded.

RBZ announced the currency measures, purportedly to strengthen the multi-currency regime, currently in circulation, under a broader framework of 13 measures introduced to stabilise prices; boost the amount of foreign currency in circulation and support the productive sectors of the economy.

The catalogue of interim measures include the provision of lines of credit for strategic imports; use of letters of credit for high-value foreign transactions and the introduction of a statutory reserve requirement to mop up excess liquidity.

-Newsday

GOVERNMENT has technically de-dollarised the economy by reintroducing local currency bank accounts, which will be traded in electronic transfers and bond notes only, and piled more taxes on the transacting public.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya, in a monetary policy statement presented yesterday, directed banks to create nostro accounts for foreign currency transactions (nostro FCAs), which will run separately from existing bank accounts, now limited to RTGS (real time gross settlement) transactions and bond notes only.

The measures, which will technically de-dollarise the economy and reduce existing FCAs to local currency accounts, take effect on October 15.

Mangudya said the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has agreed to provide a $500 million guarantee to the new nostro FCAs, which have been created to cater for exporters and other foreign currency earners.

It means non-foreign currency earners, who wish to open nostro FCAs, would have to fully fund their accounts with foreign currency.

It also means government has indirectly admitted that bond notes and RTGS balances cannot trade at par with the US dollar due to a growing mismatch between cash dollars and bond note/RTGS balances.

“With immediate effect, all banks are directed to effectively operationalise the ring-fencing policy on nostro foreign currency accounts by separating FCAs into two categories, namely nostro FCAs and RTGS FCAs,” Mangudya said.

“Accordingly, all banks are directed to use their know-your-client principles to comply with this directive to separate the accounts without requiring their clients to complete any other documentation other than for new bank accounts.”

Zimbabwe is reeling under a harsh currency crisis, characterised by a persistent shortage of cash and foreign currency, which has given rise to an active parallel market where foreign currency, bond notes, RTGS balances and mobile money are traded.

RBZ announced the currency measures, purportedly to strengthen the multi-currency regime, currently in circulation, under a broader framework of 13 measures introduced to stabilise prices; boost the amount of foreign currency in circulation and support the productive sectors of the economy.

The catalogue of interim measures include the provision of lines of credit for strategic imports; use of letters of credit for high-value foreign transactions and the introduction of a statutory reserve requirement to mop up excess liquidity.

Foreign truckers will now be required to purchase fuel in foreign currency.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, who issued fiscal measures to support the monetary policy, also announced an increase in mobile money transfer tax to two cents per dollar from five cents per transaction with effect from yesterday.

The tax applies to transactions conducted via RTGS, mobile phones and the internet.

“Treasury introduced the intermediated money transfer tax with effect from January 1, 2003 through the Finance Act 15 of 2002. The tax was set at five cents per transaction, which was a specific tax,” Ncube said.

“However, due to the increase in informalisation of the economy and huge increase in electronic and mobile phone-based financial transactions and RTGS transactions, there is need to expand the tax collection base and ensure that the tax collection points are aligned with electronic mobile payment transactions and RTGS system.

“The information that we have so far is that in 2018, 1,7 billion transactions went through as compared to 50 million four years ago. I, hereby, review the intermediated money transfer tax from five cents per transaction to two cents per dollar transacted, effective October 1, 2018 (yesterday).

“I am, therefore, directing financial institutions, banks and Zimra [Zimbabwe Revenue Authority], working together with telecommunication companies, to extend the collection to all electronic financial transactions.”

Government is currently working on a statutory instrument, which will give legal effect to the tax adjustment and provide more details about the measures.

Units less than a dollar will be excluded from the tax.

For example, only the first two dollars of a money transfer transaction of $2,20 will be taxed.

Ncube said the tax review has been prompted by revenue considerations following the mobile money explosion that has taken place since 2016 when the RBZ launched a campaign for a cashless economy.

“It’s a fairer tax, we’re moving in line with financial innovation that we’ve seen,” Ncube said.

In the first eight months to August 31, a total of 1,7 billion transactions were recorded, according to Ncube.

Mobile money constituted the largest share of transactions.

Newsday

TWO cholera cases have been confirmed in Bulawayo, both imported from one of the cholera epicentres — Budiriro suburb in Harare.

One of the confirmed cases is that of the popular apostolic sect leader who died last week and a city man who was admitted to Thorngrove Infectious Hospital on Saturday.

Bishop Enock Mhambare from the Paul Mwazha-led church died at Thorngrove Hospital last Monday after he fell ill on his way back from Botswana.

He suffered from stomach aches, watery diarrhoea and was vomiting.

Bulawayo City Council Health Services director Dr Edwin Sibanda said only two cases out of 36 suspected cases had tested positive for cholera.

“We had an elderly man who was admitted and treated as a cholera patient but the results were not yet out when he died and at burial. The final result confirmed it was cholera,” said Dr Sibanda.

He said the new case was reported on Saturday.

“On Saturday we got another one who tested positive for cholera through the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) .This is a 24-year-old man based here in Bulawayo who had gone to Budiriro in Harare for seven days from September 21 to 28. He was admitted at Thorngrove and was treated for cholera and has responded well. I think he was discharged today (yesterday),” Dr Sibanda said.

He said there were two patients at Thorngrove Hospital who are under surveillance.

“We have two patients now. The two patients are local but they have a history of travel to Harare. But you must know that if someone presents with a bit of diarrhoea in any of our institutions within the city they are taken to Thorngrove to clear if its cholera or not. In some cases it turns out to be false alarms.

The total so far has been 36 that were assessed through the health institution and of those only two have turned out to be positive for cholera,” Dr Sibanda said.

He said the local authority was prepared for any outbreak with 200 beds.

“We have 200 cholera beds in our storerooms so that in the case that we need to set up a cholera treatment centre in Pumula or Cowdray Park, the beds are already there. What is left are the tents and other ancillaries.

“We have the cholera beds, brick stands and buckets to go with. So we are doing capacity assessment that in case we have a major outbreak in the city, we can set up centres, so those 200 beds can be deployed,” Dr Sibanda said.

He said the most advisable thing is that when an outbreak occurs, a centre can be set up other than sending everyone to Thorngrove.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has said there has been no increase in the deaths from cholera in the last six days, with the death toll remaining at 49 recorded on Wednesday last week, a sign that the disease is being contained and is no longer a big threat.

Meanwhile, health officials in Matabeleland South have treated three cholera cases that were reported in Beitbridge and also activated the epidemic disaster response plans in all the province’s districts, an official has said.

The Provincial Medical Director, Dr Chipo Chikodzore, said they had mobilised enough resources including medication to deal with further outbreaks.

“Cholera is a preventable disease that is used as a barometer of inadequate access to safe clean water and sanitation,” she said.

Speaking during provincial commemorations of the World Habitat day at Dulivhadzimo Stadium yesterday, Dr Chikodzore said Beitbridge has the lowest rate of access to safe and water and sanitation facilities and the risky situation is worsened by the high movement of traffic in the area.

She said there was a need to revamp ageing water and sanitation infrastructure at most health institutions in the province, especially at Beitbridge, Gwanda and Maphisa hospitals.

A WOMAN from Bulawayo whose married neighbour was killed when they were allegedly having sex in the bush has professed undying love for the man from her hospital bed.

A panic-stricken Ms Fadzai Mativenga (33), the girlfriend to the late Jameson Mwembe (39), ran to inform his wife about the attack at around 10PM on Saturday.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Ms Mativenga yesterday denied having sex with her late lover in a bushy area between Mabutweni and Njube suburbs where they were attacked by unknown assailants.

“He is my boyfriend and we had been dating for 10 months. We were attacked while in a bushy area between Njube and Mabutweni .We were not having sex but we were just standing discussing some issues. People assume that when people go out in the night they will be having sex,’’ she said.

Ms Mativenga said she knew her late lover was a married man but their relationship had grown so strong that they could not separate.

“I knew he was a married man with children but l loved him so much and l enjoyed his company. We usually went out and we never experienced any misfortune. His death struck me and l do not know how to live without him,’’ she said, massaging the left side of her head that was bandaged.

Forcing back tears, Ms Mativenga said already misses her lover and if he had died a natural death, she would have bid him farewell.

She said the attackers also stabbed her on the throat.

“The way he died is mysterious and l am afraid of attending his funeral lest the family may attack me but it was my desire to say good bye. I wish I could talk to his wife and tell her how much I loved her husband. I want her to know I did not plot his death and I don’t know the people who attacked us,’’ Ms Mativenga said.

She said she knew Mwembe’s wife but the woman didn’t know her that’s why it was easy for her to rush to Mrs Mwembe’s house and alert her about the attack.

“She once stayed at a house behind where my sister stayed so l know her in and out. She didn’t know me until the night l went to her house to alert her of Mwembe’s death’’ Ms Mativenga said.

“I am really sorry about the Mwembe family’s sudden loss. It was my desire that he lives long but the death was beyond my control. If only l could save him, that is the first thing l would do’’.

Ms Mativenga said she received a call from Mwembe at around 8PM asking her to meet him.

“We went to a rocky place where we sat. When electricity went out I saw two men putting on black clothes advancing to where we were standing. I tried to alert Mwembe but it was too late because they struck him once on his head with an unknown object and he fell unconscious.

“I tried to flee to the houses southwards but the attackers caught me. They hit me on the left side of my head and l fell to the ground. When l saw that Mwembe was unconscious, I ran to his wife and alerted her. We took him to West Commonage Police where we were advised to go to Mpilo Hospital and upon arrival, he died,’’ she said.

Ms Mativenga said she is unmarried, unemployed and has three children with different fathers.

“I’m afraid of getting out of the hospital as I don’t know what the future holds for me,” she said.

Former cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo has lashed out at the Zanu PF led government insisting it is clueless saying the reason why they want to probe price increases is because of pressure from their supporters.

The economy continue to sink beyond the reach of the new administration with commodity prices skyrocketing, fuel shortages making own feet while the bond note value depreciates further to sell at more than 100 percent against the US Dollar.

Posting on his micro blogging twitter today, Moyo, a fierce critic of President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zanu PF has become clueless as pressure mounts from its structures to rescue the country from an economic collapse.

“Veduwe. When you hear news that ZanuPF is probing shortages of basic commodities, you know government has become clueless and the even more clueless ruling party is responding to mounting pressure from its structures that see that the wheels are falling off!,” he said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been on an offensive global re-engagement campaign centered on ‘Zimbabwe Is Open for Business’ mantra in a bid to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with the incumbent’s party saying foreign investment prospects had clocked at 16 billion on the eve of the July 30 elections.

Moyo fled the country in November during the military inspired protest that ultimately saw former president Mugabe resigning with the latter claiming his resignation was tendered to avoid bloodshed.

President Mnangagwa appointed Professor Mthuli Ncube as new finance minister, who is believed to have expertise in economic matters as the ruling party looks to him to save the nation from entering another 2008 era of hyper inflationary economy.

THE MDC President, Nelson Chamisa, Monday morning came out guns blazing demanding the State House keys insisting the people of Zimbabwe voted for him ahead of President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the just ended July 30 polls.

Speaking at the party Head Quarters in Harare at a welcome ceremony of the National People’s Party executive members who have resigned from the Joice Mujuru’s led party, Chamisa said he is not accepting President Mnangagwa’s bid to console him with a post in parliament.

Chamisa said the people of Zimbabwe’s presidential choice must be respected.

“I was not voted to go to parliament, those who were voted to go into parliament we have them. When I came to the people of Zimbabwe I asked for an opportunity to go to state house. People of Zimbabwe gave me the keys and the keys were stolen. We want our keys. But to reclaim our keys, there is need of a thoughtful program of action which we shall unleash in a peaceful manner.”

He said he has no problem with President Mnangagwa creating an official opposition office in Zimbabwe, but has a problem of overturning the choice of the Zimbabwean people who voted him to be the leader of the country not to be in parliament as opposition leader.

He added that Mnangagwa can pick from any of his parliamentarians to occupy the office not him because that is not what people voted for.

“We have said Mnangagwa should come and discuss on stolen election, we have to agree first who won the elections, and then we can dialogue from that position.

“I cannot be consoled by a minor position when I know that I’m the one who won the elections, how do I go back to the people of Zimbabwe who gave me victory to tell them that I have accepted the opposition leader in parliament, yet they know they gave me the mandate to lead the country.

“Takataura tikati haivhiyiwi, it takes two to tango,” retorted Chamisa.

Chamisa said the party is finalizing program of action to be executed peacefully in the near future in an attempt to reclaim the 2018 election victory.

“We are busy organising a collective program of action that we are going to enrol peacefully. [The program] seeks to call for respect to what we voted for. What have been announced does not resonate with the people’s choice,” he said.

President Mnangagwa recently revealed at the United Nations General Assembly in New York that he is working on a frame work that bids to award the opposition leader a post, a template reported to have been crafted by Britain to save the 76 year old leader from legitimacy crisis.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same occasion, former NPP chairman and former Zanu PF central committee member, Dzikamai Mavhaire heaped praise on Chamisa saying their decision to join the MDC is not driven by the desire to occupy top posts in the opposition party urging his compatriots to work hard.

-263Chat

“I hereby review the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax from 5 cents per transaction to 2 cents per dollar transacted, effective 1 October 2018,” said Minister Ncube.

He said due to the increase in the informalisation of the economy and huge spikes in electronic and mobile phone-based financial transactions and real-time gross settlement transactions (RTGS), “there is [the] need to expand the tax collection base and ensure that the tax collection points are aligned with electronic mobile payment transactions and the RTGS system”.

While the new tax seems like a downward review, it isn’t as consumer will now be charged on every dollar transacted, whereas in the past it was 5 cents for every transaction, including those above $1.

The new 2c per dollar tax effectively means most Zimbabweans will have to fork out more in tax for every dollar transacted as more than 96% of the transactions currently conducted in the southern African country are electronic.

Analysts have described the hikes as catastrophic for consumers who are already forking out more on value added tax and other bank charges related to electronic transactions.

READ: Zim surpasses 2017 tax collection target

“It’s catastrophic for most Zimbabweans, as most of our transactions are now conducted electronically. It’s an increase in costs on all transactions and the consumer will be hurt,” said Walter Mandeya, an analyst with Trigrams Investment.

In 2018, 1.7 billion transactions were conducted electronically.

The latest Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe figures for the half year to June show electronic transactions done in the country amounted to $64.7bn.

This means if 2 cents is charged on every dollar transacted, government coffers would have swelled by $1.3bn.

If similar transactions were to be conducted in the second half of the year, the country’s treasury can expect to collect at least $2.5bn for the year from transaction charges alone.

At least $4bn worth of transactions went through Point of Sales machines in retail outlets, which means on top of the 15% value added tax that is charged at POS, most transactions will add another 2% tax charge for every dollar spent at the till.-state media

https://twitter.com/hwende/status/1046833811902930946

Staff Reporter|Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya announced a plan to separate local and foreign currency bank accounts which he ordered banks to implement by 15 October 2018 latest.

Mangudya made the announcement when he presented his monetary policy statement in Harare on Monday.

“In February 2018, the Bank introduced a policy that requires banks to ring-fence foreign currency for foreign exchange earners that include international organizations, diaspora remittances, free funds, export retention proceeds and loan proceeds,” said Mangudya.

“Numerous enquiries received by the Bank point to the fact that this policy has not been implemented by some banks on a transparent basis that promotes confidence within the economy. With immediate effect, all banks are therefore directed to effectively
operationalise the ring-fencing policy on Nostro foreign currency accounts by
separating foreign currency accounts (FCAs) into two categories, namely Nostro FCAs and RTGS FCAs.”

Accordingly all banks are directed to use their know-your-client (KYC) principles to comply with this directive to separate the accounts without requiring their clients to complete any other documentation other than for new bank accounts. Banks have been provided with a period of up to 15 October 2018 to fully comply with this policy measure.”

“Banks are also expected to provide reasonable deposit rates on the Nostro
FCAs in line with international best practice on such accounts.

This policy measure is expected to encourage exports, diaspora remittances, banking of foreign currency into the Nostro FCAs and to eliminate the commingling or dilution effect of RTGS balances on Nostro foreign currency accounts.

The relationship between the two categories of the FCAs shall continue to be at parity. This is essential in order to preserve value for money for the banking public and investors during the
transition to a more market based foreign currency allocation system that shall be implemented once the economic fundamentals are appropriate to do so.”

Press Statement|Our demand, as MLO made to the Government of Zimbabwe through the Office of The President of Z imbabwe, was that Matabeleland be paid a compensation sum of US$100 billion for the multiple level damages suffered under successive Zimbabwe administrations since 18 April, 1980 and the rapacious exploitation of her resources to benefit of shona people at the exclusion of Matabeles.

The US$100 billion compensation covers the Matabeleland Genocide committed between 1980 and 1988 by the Zanu PF led government the loss of property, the needless subjection of Matabele people to economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West for Zimbabwe’s political indiscretions, the marginalisation of our citizens and their loss of dignity which has caused them to be displaced, dehumanized, traumatised and dispersed across the globe as economic refugees.

We urge all the people of Matebeleland to reject the pending apology without compensation from the government of Zimbabwe..Lets all stand together and enforce this demand for US$100Billion compensation as failure would be a betrayal of our of departed relatives.

By Paul Siwela
Mthwakazi Liberation Organisation
President

Jane Mlambo| Newly appointed Deputy Chairperson of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Tendai Biti has scoffed at the ruling ZANU PF saying the party has no capacity to pursue a transformation agenda as they have blood on their hands.

In a Twitter post this afternoon, who posed in a picture with his bosses,  Nelson Chamisa and Thabitha Khumalo said the MDC remained the only legitimate movement to deliver on the aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe.

https://twitter.com/BitiTendai/status/1046794084457893888

Staff Reporter|Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube has dissolved the entire ZIMRA Board with immediate effect.

The minister made the announcement at the presentation of the mid-term monetary policy statement on Monday.

A new board will be appointed in due course and until the new board is appointed Zimra management will be run by the Treasury.

Zimra has also been ordered to stop the appointment of key personnel. The hiring of all vacant senior positions has also been frozen.

The Minister said the decision was taken to enhance governance at ZIMRA.

Said Mthuli Ncube.

“In order to enhance governance at ZIMRA, I hereby terminate the term of the current Board with immediate effect. I have proposed names of new Board members which are currently being cleared.

The new Board will be announced in due course. In the meantime, ZIMRA senior management will be reporting directly to Treasury. I take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Board members for the services rendered. ZIMRA senior management is hereby directed to cease all recruitment of new personnel within ZIMRA until a new Board is in place. This is to allow the new board to have input into critical appointments.”

Jane Mlambo| With fuel in Zimbabwe now on high demand from international truck drivers due to the depreciating value of bond notes and retail time gross settlement (RTGS), enterprising locals have begun buying in bulk in anticipation of harvesting from future shortages.

In one of the pictures making rounds on social media, a Toyota Fun Cargo driver is seen filling a drum with diesel for an unknown purpose though speculation is high that it could be hoarding for re-sell once shortages hit the market.

Today, RBZ Governor has announced his mid term monetary policy which restrict vehicles with foreign number plates to buying fuel using foreign currency only.

Notorious carjackers recently pounced on an unsuspecting Zvishavane motorist and stabbed him several times before leaving him naked along the Zvishavane-Gweru Highway.

The victim has been identified as Rangarirai Chipunza (30) from the asbestos town’s densely-populated suburb of Makusha.

In his report to police, Chipunza said on the day of the mishap, he was driving from Zvishavane in a blue Nissan Sulphy and the three assailants asked for a lift to Gweru around 7pm. Along the way and near the Flamingo tollgate in Gweru, one of the three suspects asked for recess and the unsuspecting Chipunza parked his car on the roadside.

It was at that point that one of the suspects, who was seated in the front passenger seat, grabbed Chipunza by the neck and forced him out of the car.

When Chipunza tried to fight back into his car, one of the suspects stabbed him under the left eye with a sharp knife.

The three then ordered Chipunza to hand over the car keys and surrender all his possessions, including two mobile phones, US$40 and $70 bond notes.

He also surrendered his identity and bank cards. At that point, the suspects stripped Chipunza naked and sped off.
Nothing has been recovered so far.

Central Investigations Department national spokesperson Detective Inspector Portia Chinho has since advised motorists to be cautious when driving at night and to be wary of robbers.

“Police would like to urge motorists to exercise due diligence and ensure their vehicles are well secure. They must install alarm systems on their vehicles, tracking devices and anti-hijack systems as these act as preventive measures as well as assist in tracking down stolen motor vehicles,” she said.
-Newsday

THE MDC President, Nelson Chamisa, Monday morning came out guns blazing demanding the State House keys insisting the people of Zimbabwe voted for him ahead of President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the just ended July 30 polls.

Chamisa said that the 30 July polls were stolen adding that the keys to state house are not given on court pronouncement, but by the electorate who he said gave him the mandate to run the country and must be respected.

Speaking at the party Head Quarters in Harare at a welcome ceremony of the National People’s Party executive members who have resigned from the Joice Mujuru’s led party, Chamisa said he is not accepting President Mnangagwa’s bid to console him with a post in parliament.

Chamisa said the people of Zimbabwe’s presidential choice must be respected.
“I was not voted to go to parliament, those who were voted to go into parliament we have them. When I came to the people of Zimbabwe I asked for an opportunity to go to state house. People of Zimbabwe gave me the keys and the keys were stolen. We want our keys. But to reclaim our keys, there is need of a thoughtful program of action which we shall unleash in a peaceful manner.”

He said he has no problem with President Mnangagwa creating an official opposition office in Zimbabwe, but has a problem of overturning the choice of the Zimbabwean people who voted him to be the leader of the country not to be in parliament as opposition leader.

He added that Mnangagwa can pick from any of his parliamentarians to occupy the office not him because that is not what people voted for.

“We have said Mnangagwa should come and discuss on stolen election, we have to agree first who won the elections, and then we can dialogue from that position.

“I cannot be consoled by a minor position when I know that I’m the one who won the elections, how do I go back to the people of Zimbabwe who gave me victory to tell them that I have accepted the opposition leader in parliament, yet they know they gave me the mandate to lead the country.

“Takataura tikati haivhiyiwi, it takes two to tango,” retorted Chamisa.

Chamisa said the party is finalizing program of action to be executed peacefully in the near future in an attempt to reclaim the 2018 election victory.

“We are busy organising a collective program of action that we are going to enrol peacefully. [The program] seeks to call for respect to what we voted for. What have been announced does not resonate with the people’s choice,” he said.

President Mnangagwa recently revealed at the United Nations General Assembly in New York that he is working on a frame work that bids to award the opposition leader a post, a template reported to have been crafted by Britain to save the 76 year old leader from legitimacy crisis.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same occasion, former NPP chairman and former Zanu PF central committee member, Dzikamai Mavhaire heaped praise on Chamisa saying their decision to join the MDC is not driven by the desire to occupy top posts in the opposition party urging his compatriots to work hard saying the reward will be forth come in due course.
-263Chat