Staff Reporter|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed excitement at meeting with Zimbabweans  living in the United States  of America.

Wrote Mnangagwa on his Facebook page on Monday morning.

“Great to meet with members of the Zimbabwean diaspora in New York. The spirit in the room was both positive and proud. We truly are one nation, united in our hopes and dreams.

We are embarking on a new journey of growth and development for Zimbabwe. It won’t be easy, but we must traverse it together.

Together we are stronger.”

Newly-appointed Registrar- General Mr Clement Masango yesterday vowed to end perennial queues for various documents, fight corruption and instill a new work ethic to ramp up service delivery in line with the demands of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.

In an interview, Mr Masango said he would widen computerisation of the department to ensure efficiency by minimising personal contact between officers and clients, as part of efforts to combat corruption as well as making services affordable.

Mr Masango, who was Immigration Department principal director, replaced long-time civil servant Mr Tobaiwa Mudede, who was among several senior Government employees who were retired last week.

“Part of my vision is to improve computerisation in order to modernise our operations and improve efficiency. There is no reason why one should queue just to pick up an application form, say for a passport, that should be easily available online where they download, submit; only to be called for interviews,” said Mr Masango.

He said computerisation would also address the challenge of touts who have been a menace at the RG’s Office, fleecing unsuspecting members of the public of their cash.

Asked what he would do to end the challenge of passports being limited to a few applicants per day, Mr Masango said he would get to the bottom of the matter to understand the reasons.

“I need to know where the problem lies. Is it staff shortages or resources?

Once I establish that, I will ensure that the root cause is addressed. There are long queues of people seeking to get a passport and I understand a limited number of the travelling documents are issued per day. Some have to sleep in queues or get there early. These are some of the issues that ought to be addressed,” said Mr Masango.

“My word for those in the diaspora or all Zimbabweans is that I will respect one’s right to citizenship and everyone who is entitled to a passport will get it as long as he satisfies the provisions of the law. If unavailability of passports has to do with a problem of financial resources, authorities will be approached and have the situation addressed.”

Mr Masango said he would also accelerate decentralisation of the department’s services to the remotest parts of the country.

“There must be certainty that one’s application will be processed expeditiously; dispatched without delay. Another way of assuring clients is to give feedback at every stage of their application either through e-mail or mobile service’s short service message to say your passport application is now being considered, it is now going for printing or to say it is now ready for collection. I intend to introduce a hotline so that we get feedback,” said Mr Masango.

Asked how he feels about his new role, Mr Masango said he excited.

“I appreciate the trust my principal has demonstrated in me. I will discharge my duties to the best of my ability. I am not new to this kind of responsibilities because I have been head of immigration for 11 years and public offices are never made to be permanent. It is up to the appointing authority. For me, the 11 years that I served are enough time for someone to move and allow for rejuvenation of the organisation,” he said.

State Media

Correspondent|A TEAM of human rights defenders, data and science experts, Team Pachedu, has upped the tempo in the inquiry of the post-elections fatal shootings of August 1 which left seven people dead, by opening its own inquiry which will run parallel to the independent commission of inquiry appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Team Pachedu said it would be using modern science and investigative tools which would see the team recreate events that unfolded from the morning of August 1 until armed soldiers came in to quell opposition supporters’ demonstrations using lethal force.

Team Pachedu said it had a forensic sub-team which would be using geo-tagging, facial and pattern recognition to recreate a three-dimensional space-time model of the events and has since launched a crowd-sourcing platform to allow for the collection of pictorial and video evidence.

“Investigative crowd-sourcing will help us know who did what, when and where. There’s a lot of footage out there. Our hope is to be able to survey it to get an overall view and if we manage to get all the data, we will put it in the public domain so that fellow Zimbabweans can appreciate what really happened,” the internet-based team said.

Team Pachedu has indicated that it is worried that the commission of inquiry, led by former South Africa President Kgalema Motlanthe, could gloss over what happened, given that two of the three local members of the commission had alleged Zanu PF links. In a detailed graph, the team listed the close links that the three commissioners allegedly had with Zanu PF.

The MDC Alliance, which has been blamed by Zanu PF for instigating the violence, has already raised concern about the commissioners, particularly losing presidential candidate Lovemore Madhuku and Zanu PF member Charity Manyeruke, whom they want removed from the probe team.

Other members of the team are Rodney Dickson (Queen’s Counsel, United Kingdom), Davis Mwamunyange (former Chief of Defence Forces, Tanzania), Nigerian Emeka Anyaoku (former Commonwealth secretary-general) as well as Law Society of Zimbabwe former president Vimbai Nyemba.

Madhuku said there was nothing wrong with any interested parties conducting their own investigations into what happened on August 1.

“We understand the terms of reference are to investigate what happened and find facts relating to the violence of August 1. That is all that has to be investigated. The commission does not stop any person or Zimbabwean from still looking at other issues related to the violence. This is one attempt to say what happened and is coming from the commission and we will see what comes out, but others can still do their own investigations in their own frameworks and still publish their own results, this is not stopping anyone,” he said.

Information deputy minister Energy Mutodi said Team Pachedu could go ahead with its own investigation, but it is not official and will not guide the government’s response.

“It has nothing to do with government. Maybe they have their own audience, one which we cannot envisage, but government has appointed a commission whose findings will be official and will guide government response,” he said.

Source:NewsDay

CHINESE diamond miner Anjin Investment is set to resume mining operations in Chiadzwa after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government allegedly bowed to pressure from Beijing.

Anjin and other diamond companies were barred from mining in the once rich diamond fields by former President Robert Mugabe’s government in 2016 following allegations of looting.

Other companies were forced into a merger to create the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), but Anjin resisted the move.

According to government sources, Anjin’s licence was restored following intense pressure from Beijing, and operations at the miner’s Chiadzwa site will resume soon.

The revelations were first made at a human rights workshop organised by the Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNG) and Bocha Diamond Community Trust (BDCT) last week amid protests by locals.

Moses Makwanda, a BDCT official, told the workshop that he had received a call from an unnamed ZCDC official who disclosed the developments.

CNG director Farai Maguwu said he was aware of Anjin’s return, describing it as a sad development.

“Yes, I am aware and they were seen loitering in Marange barely two weeks after (President Emmerson) Mnangagwa took over the reins of power (in November last year),” he said.

“It is sad that a company that was accused by former Finance minister Tendai Biti for not remitting anything to Treasury has been re-engaged to continue looting.”

Maguwu said the Marange community was not happy about the return of Anjin.

“Mnangagwa must tell us something good that Anjin did which we all don’t know,” he said.

Anjin is jointly owned by Chinese companies Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company Limited and Matt Bronze —an investment arm of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

Mines and Mining Development minister Winston Chitando last week demanded questions in writing but had not responded to them by the time of going to print.

Besides allegations of looting, the diamond companies were accused of polluting water sources and causing environmental degradation.

NewsDay

Staff Reporter|In a somewhat surprising stance recently elected Kwekwe mayor, Angeline Kasipo has opened up her heart to ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa and his erstwhile partner Local Government Minister July Moyo, sentiments which are contrary to her MDC Alliance boss Nelson Chamisa.

Kasipo who broke headlines as the only officially elected female mayor from the opposition party told weekend media that she recognised President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership and would work with him in pushing for the development of the City.

On the other hand, the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, who made sure that she was elected as the Mayor, has adamantly refused to recognise Mnangagwa as the elected President of the country claiming that Mnangagwa worked in cohorts with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to rig the July 30 election.

Kasipo did not only end at showing her adoration at Mnangagwa as she extended her affection to July Moyo who she said she will also work with closely since he is a resident of Kwekwe.

“The Minister of Local Government stays here in Kwekwe and we are going to be working with him,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter which party he belongs to. What is important is that he is the minister.

“He was appointed to that position by the president to implement government policies.

It doesn’t matter the party where the President comes from. What is important is that he is the President.”

“What is important is for us to deliver services to the people regardless of our political affiliations. The moment we get to be professional, then we will not have problems.”

Kasipo further defended Town Clerk Emmanuel Musara who lost the ZANU PF primary elections to contest the Kwekwe Central Constituency claiming that he got the council top job on merit.

POLICE Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has disbanded the traffic section, rendering top posts in that department redundant, as he moves to create a lean structure at the top following indications the top brass has been milking the fiscus and burdening his budget.

In a memo dated September 13 and addressed to all stations, Matanga announced the restructuring of the traffic branch, which had become the cash cow, funding police operations and flashy lives of top officers in the force before the November military coup last year.

“Addressees are hereby advised that the restructuring exercise agreed on by the central planning committee (CPC) through CPC minute 8/2018 in respect of the Traffic branch is now underway, with immediate effect all traffic stations are to report both administratively and operationally to officers commanding district in which they are currently operating,” the memo read.

Previously, the Traffic branch had its own reporting structure with its own officer commanding at district, provincial and a national traffic co-ordinator, who was stationed at Morris Depot, but these posts have now been made redundant.

Former national traffic co-ordinator Assistant Commissioner Elliot Muswita has been transferred to Mutare.

Matanga opened a process to identify new leaders for the traffic sections under their command, saying names should be forwarded to him for consideration.

“As a preliminary step in the exercise, all officers commanding provinces are, therefore, directed to identify suitable members of the rank of inspector capable of heading traffic sections in their respective provinces, the list of nominees should be immediately submitted to this office,” he wrote in the memo.

The Minerals and Border Control branch together with Anti-Stock Theft have also suffered a similar fate after being reduced to sections as opposed to branches.

The creation of branches in traffic, minerals and anti-stock theft had created fat cats in the police and multiple reporting structures were creating problems and fanning corruption within the police, insiders said.

“There were a lot of bosses doing nothing and most of these presided over massive corruption, especially at the minerals and traffic branches. These had become cash lords in the force and collapsing the branches makes command structure easy and manageable,” a senior police officer said.

National Traffic, which operated the national highway patrol, drew massive allowances for accommodation, meals and did not respect the authority of officers commanding districts, according to insiders.

NewsDay

OPPOSITION MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said he was ready to weigh any offers tabled by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to enable them to work together for the good of the country, but cautioned that dialogue would be centred around five key issues his party wants addressed first.

This follows Mnangagwa’s claim in New York, the United States, on Friday that he was proposing to officially recognise his nemesis as leader of the opposition leader and extend financial and material benefits due to him.

Mnangagwa told Bloomberg TV in an interview in the US that: “Under our Commonwealth parliamentary democracy, the opposition is recognised; we recognise the leader of the opposition in Parliament. This is what we are going to do ourselves.

“But under the former administration, there was no formal recognition of the opposition leader, but now under my administration, we are embracing the Commonwealth approach to parliamentary democracy, where we recognise the leader of the opposition, who is given certain conditions and perks in Parliament.”

Chamisa, however, yesterday said no formal offer to that effect had been tabled.

Through his spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda, Chamisa said the MDC’s national council had already given the greenlight for negotiations to unlock the current political and economic logjam.

“President Chamisa got authority from his national council to enter into negotiations around five key issues, which we consider important to help move the country forward. He has publicly made an announcement that he is open to national dialogue and since then, nobody has knocked on the door,” Sibanda said.

“If a formal move is made, it means that there will be material office with facts and what is being offered, only then can we respond. Right now, it’s speculation, nobody knows what ED is saying and what he is talking about, the only reasonable thing we can do is we are sending back to him the reality on the ground, that there are five key issues which need to be addressed first.”

The five key issues Chamisa wants to discuss with Mnangagwa include ensuring that future elections are safeguarded so that they are held in a transparent manner and can never be disputed again, that there are moves to ensure the country returns to legitimacy and normalcy following what the opposition claims was a stolen July 30 election.

The opposition leader also wants to have dialogue centred around the economy to avert a complete meltdown.

The fourth issue is around national healing, starting from the Gukurahundi massacres to the August 1 shootings.

The MDC Alliance leader also wants measures put in place to allow constitutional Chapter 12 and 13 institutions — the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, among others, — to have complete independence without undue influence from political players.

On this point, he includes implementation of devolution in full.

Mnangagwa’s climbdown has generated heated debate in the MDC Alliance, with some party hardliners saying Chamisa should not accept any such offer since the party has refused to recognise Mnangagwa’s electoral victory.

“He cannot accept that offer. It’s a kiss of death for the opposition. Remember, we walked out of Parliament when Mnangagwa was presenting his State of the Nation Address because we don’t accept his victory, so taking a salary and that recognition from Mnangagwa would be endorsing his presidency through a bribe. That should not happen,” a parliamentarian and senior official in the MDC Alliance said.

Other senior officials said it was not Mnangagwa speaking during that interview, but his public relations handlers, who asked him to act like a statesmen so that he secures the much-needed economic rescue package for his administration.

“Why would he make such pronouncements for the first time in New York? That line is not official. ED is known for lying. He just said that for the media and we are not yet sure what trick he wants to play. But his PR handlers have told him to appear as a statesman who is building the country, yet in reality, he is a repressive junta leader,” a highly-placed source said.

Other opposition sources, however, indicated that Chamisa was willing to recognise Mnangagwa as legitimate leader of Zimbabwe “in the interest of the nation”.

The sources said Chamisa wants Mnangagwa to approach him to end the current political stalemate.

“There are internal discussions between Chamisa and his inner circle. He is willing to compromise, never mind the public posturing. Chamisa is willing to put the country first.

The talk about dialogue is real, but, unfortunately, this seems to be coming a bit late because while Mnangagwa might have considered this just after the election, Chamisa squandered his chance with not only the Constitutional Court petition, but also his pronouncements against the legitimacy of the elections,” another insider said.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Chamisa’s call for talks was meant to provide Mnangagwa with the legitimacy the Zanu PF leader “badly needs”.

“The position of the president (Chamisa) is that there should be dialogue to deal with the legitimacy issue. That dialogue is not premised on us being in some governing arrangement with Zanu PF or that we should recognise Mnangagwa, but on the need to have a truly democratic nation. A need to have a clear road-map for reforms and the restoration of a normal economy,” he said.

“Anything else is mere speculation without basis. We note that Mnangagwa has been all over the world looking for legitimacy and still has none. We should remind him that legitimacy is acquired from the governed. We are the people he wants to govern, so he must sit down with us.”

NewsDay has been told that, in fact, the opposition has three options it would want to agree with Mnangagwa.

“There are three options that are being considered and that the MDC would be agreeable to. First, we can have a transitional authority with Mnangagwa as leader, but with a limited time frame of at least three years. There must be clear signposts that must be followed,” another source said.

“(Former President Robert) Mugabe imposed an election on the country in 2013 without reforms, which is where (late MDC leader Morgan) Tsvangirai had wanted to go when Mnangagwa visited him last year. We can then have concrete reforms. We raised the 10-point plan for reforms that was never agreed to by Zanu PF.”

Mnangagwa visited an ailing Tsvangirai early this year amid speculation the two had cobbled an agreement for a transitional government that would have deferred elections.

As fate would have it, Tsvangirai lost a two-year battle with cancer of the colon in February, paving the way for Chamisa to take over after an acrimonious battle with co-deputy president Thokozani Khupe, leading to another split.

The MDC-T, then under Tsvangirai, agreed to a Government of National Unity with Mugabe in 2009, but was waylaid into an election in 2013 in which it lost heavily.

While Chamisa is reportedly also considering this as an option, he, according to his lieutenants, is aware of the pitfalls of working with Zanu PF.

Reports have also claimed that former colonial master Britain is involved in behind-the-scenes talks to bring Mnangagwa and Chamisa into a working arrangement. It has emerged that other Western countries seem to be nudging Chamisa in the same direction.

“This is what the British have been pushing for, a scenario in which Chamisa would assume a position as leader of the opposition in a Westminster style arrangement,” another source said.

By Paul Nyathi|THE Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ) has come out in full support of a school teacher who on Friday made a bold disclosure to students and staff at school assembly that he was gay.

Neal Hovelmeier a 6th form teacher at St John’s College, said the decision to come clean on his sexual orientation was aimed at helping curb homophobia at the school.

GALZ director Chester Samba at the weekend came out in full support of the teacher’s disclosure claiming that his action would go a long way in helping those who feared coming out in the open about their sexual orientation do so.

“I think coming out will undoubtedly assist teachers in managing some of the challenges associated with learners such as dealing with student assumptions around heteronormativity,” Samba said.

“It will help in developing a classroom culture of inclusivity for other LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, intersex people) learners and how other students can be supportive of LGBTI students in ways that embrace diversity in the classroom.”

The GALZ director said the revelation will also help school teachers in addressing similar topics within the learning environment.

“Normally, teachers choose to skip topics in class that they find embarrassing to talk about,” he said.

“Coming out will help end social isolation within the school as he will now begin to feel a sense of community with the reported support and cheers he received from learners.”

We do not have a window reserved for diasporans, and a window reserved for people back home you are equal.

The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) has intervened in a mine ownership wrangle after senior Zanu PF officials and officials from the
Mines ministry attempted to wrestle a gold mine from Chief Sigodo in Silobela.

The officials include Silobela Zanu PF legislator Mthokozisi Manoki Mpofu, Nelson Munyanguri,
Midlands provincial mining director Ernest Mgandani, a mines ministry worker one Manhayi, a coordinator in charge of minerals and border control Munyonga, legal director at the ministry of Mines Apollo Mhlophe and Sibusisiwe Moyo, sister to former Mines deputy minister Fred Moyo.

Information gathered by the Daily News on Sunday shows that the takeover of Peace Mine started
during the reign of deposed President Robert Mugabe, after Sigodo was accused of being a
member of the Team Lacoste faction in the ruling Zanu PF.
As a result, Sigodo approached the courts over the matter and eventually won the case.

The “intruders” were ordered off the mine by High Court judge Nokuthula Moyo on August 23.
However, the illegal occupants resisted the order, forcing Sigodo — through his lawyer Dumisani
Dube of Mathonsi Ncube Attorneys — to file contempt of court proceedings against the ministry
of Mines permanent secretary and the provincial mining director.

The application is still pending at
the High Court. In a new twist to the dispute, the AAG has now waded into the wrangle, taking a position to defend Sigodo.
A letter penned by AAG principal officer Denzel Sita to provincial mining director Munyanguri, and
copied to the chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mines Ministry, the Minister for Provincial
Affairs, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe said:“We write to you flabbergasted by your contemptuous disregard of a lawful court order
including your cabal of friends, Munyanguri, Munyonga and Mgandani.
“This therefore, confirms your involvement in the illicit mining activities and the criminal
externalisation of gold extracted from Peace Mine in the last three years.”

AAG said it was aware that Mgandani, Manhayi, Munyonga, Manoki Mpofu and Urayayi Marima had illegally mined over 40kg of gold and externalising it without declaring it to Fidelity Printers — the sole
buyer of all gold produced in Zimbabwe, irrespective of its origin.
“Your involvement in these dealings is a slur to the office you bear and disgrace to the civil service you
purport to represent.
“Your total disregard of a court order and continued criminal behaviour begs the attention of the President’s Office, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption
Commission and the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” Sita said.

AAG gave the mines ministry a 24-hour ultimatum to address the matter or face litigation.
“We therefore give you 24 hours to redress according to the court order or face the full wrath of justice as we take all measures within our arsenal
to remove you and all vermin from Peace Mine.
Forewarned is forearmed. It is prudent of you to advise your cabal accordingly.” Daily News.

INDUSTRY and Commerce Minister Cde Mangaliso Ndlovu has blasted retailers who are increasing prices of goods and services saying the price hikes are illegal as there was no justification whatsoever, other than profiteering and warned them to stop the price madness.

The minister was responding to calls by consumers who have been on the receiving end as there was an unexplained increase of many goods in shops and supermarkets throughout the country in the past week.

He said there was no justification whatsoever as to why prices suddenly shot up other than speculative behaviour which had no basis at all. He said he was having marathon meetings with stakeholders in the business sector to get to the bottom of the price frenzy that was hurting the ordinary people.

“The price hikes are not justified at all. People ride on speculation and that is really uncalled for. I urge the retailers to reverse their prices,” he said.
The minister said it was sad to note that manufacturers of the same goods had not increased their prices to guarantee price hikes but the retailers have increased theirs.
“If you check with the manufacturers of the goods and wholesalers too they have not increased their prices and you wonder at what point in the value chain is the price hike effected,” he said.

Minister Ndlovu also bemoaned the fact that some sections of the value chain were operating on speculative basis which he said was uncalled for and unnecessary.
“We are following these events with great concern and hopefully they (retailers) will just get back to proper business ethics and stop this profiteering tendency,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Corporate Capital Consultancy Zimbabwe will host a business forum under the theme “Meet the Industrialists” on Saturday where the Minister of Industry and Commerce together with his deputy Raj Modi will be the guest speakers.
Speaking to Sunday News, Miss Rejoice Mafukidze, the co-ordinator of the event said all sectors of industry were expected to come and be part of the event.

“This is a forum that we are having which is based on hearing the possible solutions to reviving our industry. We want expert brains in industry throughout the country to come and proffer their ideas on how we can get our industrial hub Bulawayo back on its feet,” she said.
She said it was essential that the citizens get confidence in the captains of industry as they speak out on how best the city could be transformed to be the industrial hub that it used to be in the not far away past.

“It is now time for action and everyone has to be in this bandwagon as we reinvent the industrial hub via this solution making forum,” she added.
The deputy minister Cde Modi said the forum was also an opportunity to have conversations with the captains of industry and hear their success stories and also the operational challenges that they were having and map the way forward- Sunday News

By Own Correspondent| Apostolic Faith Mission in Zimbabwe theological college Principal Pastor Lovejoy Chabata has been sucked into a sex scandal after he allegedly made sexual advances to his assistant, Victoria Phiri.

ZimEye brings our viewers and readers LIVE coverage Sunday morning scenes in Harare as the nation searches for the preacher Talent Chiwenga whose whereabouts were not clear after his meeting was violently disrupted Friday night.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

ZimEye brings out viewers and readers LIVE coverage Sunday morning scenes in Harare as the nation searches for the preacher Talent Chiwenga whose whereabouts were not clear after his meeting was violently disrupted Friday night.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa set an example of forgiveness when he gave a helping hand to the former First Family in their hour of need despite the hostility they showed towards him in the past, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cde Sithembiso Nyoni has said.

Cde Nyoni was speaking during a party to celebrate the life of her family’s oldest surviving member, Mr Lazarus Nyoni (92) at Vaka Kraal in Zvishavane yesterday. The party was a double celebration, as the occasion was used to toast to Zanu-PF’s outstanding performance in the 31 July harmonised elections.

The ruling party put up an impressive showing in both Zvishavane-Runde and Zvishavane-Ngezi constituencies, coming out tops in the Parliamentary, local Government, Senate and Presidential elections. Cde Nyoni said President Mnangagwa had set an example for everyone to follow by extending an olive branch to the former First Family. President Mnangagwa helped facilitate former First Lady Mrs Grace Mugabe’s journey back from Singapore for her mother’s funeral.

“What I would like to tell the young that are at this gathering is that I have been following the example set by ED. Although former President Mugabe, who had taken the wrong path with both party and country, went against him, he never said anything back,” Cde Nyoni said.

She said that by extending a helping hand, President Mnangagwa had shown that one should always honour their elders no matter how much they wronged them.

“The lesson that I learnt is that you have to be lenient with your parent no matter how bad that parent is. A parent should be given their rightful place. Like ED learn from the people. Forgive and do good, do good things for even those who go against you. Focus on your agenda,” Cde Nyoni said.

She also took the opportunity to thank the community of Zvishavane for showing their support of President Mnangagwa’s vision by voting for him and other local Zanu-PF representatives in the 30 July poll.

“We have this party to thank the community for what they did for us when it was time to vote. We would like to send a message to the President that the Nyoni clan had a party to celebrate the oldest Nyoni and to thank them for voting for this perfect line up,” she said

Cde Nyoni’s sentiments were echoed by the Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Larry Mavhima, who said that the ruling party’s leadership would not take the support the people showed it granted.

“The people have the power to hire and fire. We are already looking ahead to 2023 and if we don’t do things for them they won’t vote for us again,” he said.

Cde Mavhima said that the country had to pull together in one direction, taking a cue from President Mnangagwa who was determined to set the country on a positive trajectory. More celebrations of Zanu-PF’s resounding victory were set to follow in Zvishavane, he added.

“In everything we do we have to place the President ahead. This is because he’s the head of the train. No train moves without its head. The President said let’s do things for people because that way they will vote for us.”

Zanu-PF National Youth League deputy secretary Cde Lewis Mathuthu said it was important to honour promises made in the run-up to the election. He said President Mnangagwa’s insistence on prioritising the economy over politics should be admired by all.

“We need a mixture of business and politics like the President has been saying. If it’s just politics without any business understanding then the country becomes ungovernable,” he said.

-State Media

THE City of Bulawayo will embark on temporary water shedding which will see most suburbs in the Western areas going for three days per week without water as the council battles to normalise and manage water supplies at the Magwegwe Reservoir.

This is the second such programme after the council introduced water rationing to some suburbs at the beginning of the month. In a notice, town clerk Mr Christopher Dube said the affected areas are suburbs that are fed from Criterion and Magwegwe Reservoir.

“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public that there is an ongoing exercise to normalise Magwegwe Reservoir level. The level has been critical for the past three weeks, due to erratic pumping from Nyamandlovu Aquifer.

Bulawayo City Council is working in conjunction with Zinwa to increase the borehole hours pumping to the City. In a bid to manage water supply from the reservoir, Council would like to advise that there will be an emergency interruption of water supplies to the following areas fed directly from Criterion and Magwegwe Reservoir and some surrounding areas,” he said.

Nkulumane, Nketa, Sizinda, Tshabalala, Bellevue, Newton West and West Somerton will experience water cuts on Monday from 8am and it will be restored Wednesdays at 6pm. It will be cut again on Friday at 8pm and restored the next day at 6 pm.

In Emganwini and Pumula, water will be cut on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8pm and back on Fridays and Sundays at 6pm.

Mr Dube said in Cowdray Park, Emakhandeni, Gwabalanda and Maplanka water will be cut at 8pm on Mondays and Fridays and pumped at 6pm on Wednesdays and Saturday.

In Luveve, Magwegwe, Njube, Entumbane, Mpopoma, Lobengula, Mabuthweni, Iminyela, Pelandaba and Matshobane water will also be cut on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8pm and restored on Fridays and Sundays at 6pm. The town clerk said the programme is subject to change if the reservoir level improves or deteriorates beyond critical level.

“All the high areas that are likely to be affected for more than 48 hours will have water supplied by bowsers.

“Residents are urged to conserve water until further notice and Bulawayo City Council wishes to apologise to its valued customers for the inconvenience caused,” said Mr Dube.

Bulawayo has a history of introducing water shedding as the city faces water shortages either because of lower dam capacity or failure to pump adequate water. In 2012, the city made international news after it introduced the “Big Flush”, a synchronised toilet-flushing programme on weekends, aimed at unblocking the city’s sewer system after prolonged water restrictions. The city also introduced water shedding in 2016 after some of the supply dams were decommissioned due to reduced water levels.

State Media

Featherstone Police Station’s backyard is not for the faint-hearted.

Accident-damaged vehicles, some blood-stained, can invoke scary images, fear and especially traumatic memories for survivors and relatives of deceased accident victims who perished on the treacherous Harare — Beitbridge highway.

The scrap yard can be seen from the Harare-Masvingo highway and has become a grim reminder of the countless deaths that occur on one of the country’s worst yet busiest roads everyday.

“Most of the road accidents between Harare and Chivhu occur around Featherstone and this could be the reason why we have so much wreckages in the police yard,” said fuel dealer Tinotenda Samuwi, who lives close to the road.

“I live around here and during the night we are used to loud bangs and crashes.

“The reason is that we have two stretches that are dangerous when it comes to head-on collisions.”

At the police station more than 15 accident-damaged vehicles were in the yard with most of them bearing evidence of either a side-swiping or head-on collisions.

Despite a 24-hour police roadblock, road accidents between Chivhu and Harare are on the increase as the highway’s condition continues to deteriorate.

According to police in Mashonaland East, the accumulation of accident-damaged cars at the police station is a result of vehicle owners who don’t bother to collect the wrecked cars after accidents.

“After an accident, the damaged vehicles are towed to the police station where officials from the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) do an inspection,” said a police officer, who requested to remain anonymous as he was not cleared to talk to journalists.

“The problem is that some of the owners or relatives of the dead do not turn up to collect the wreckages or vehicles resulting in a pile-up.”

According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, about 90% of road accidents are a result of human error.

Panganai Motsi (47), a truck driver who uses the Harare-Beitbridge highway regularly, attributed the high number of accidents to the bad state of the road.

“This is the worst road I had ever used in my 10-year career as a truck driver,” he said.

“Most of the accidents are a result of side-swiping due to its narrowness.

“The head-on collisions are a result of motorists encroaching into each other’s lanes due to the bad surfaces.”

Following a deadly accident in 2016 that saw more than 30 people burnt to death in a Proliner bus after side-swiping with a haulage truck, the then Robert Mugabe-led administration vowed to start the dualisation of the highway.

Mugabe officiated at a ground-breaking ceremony at Chaka business centre near the accident scene amid high expectations.

The project was to kick-start in October that year but still remains a pipe dream.

Arrive Alive Awareness Campaign director Isaac Tsikai Simbarasi said the government must move fast to rehabilitate the highway.

“We pray that the new leadership will consider rehabilitating the highway to avoid loss of life in road accidents,” he said.

“We have cross-border traders who use that road almost every day using public transport and there is need for safety.”

The Standard

The Zimbabwe dollar is not likely to return anytime soon according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya.

Mangudya told Bloomberg Television that three things are required before the local currency is brought back.

The first thing is that Zimbabwe needs to improve its confidence, both business and consumer confidence.

The second is that Zimbabwe needs to ensure that it reduces the fiscal imbalances that are putting pressure on the financial services sector on the rate of exchange.

Thirdly Zimbabwe needs to have access to foreign finance.

“When those things are done, then we can have our local currency,” he said.

Asked about the timeframe, Mangudya said he was looking at three to five years.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube says government is drafting reforms that will see Zimbabwe eventually introducing its own currency.

Ncube, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, told Bloomberg TV in an interview that bond notes would remain in circulation until “fundamentals are conducive for the introduction of a local currency”.

“Over time, we will move back to a domestic currency, but that requires certain steps like fiscal consolidation around government expenditure and on the revenue front,” he said.

The renowned economist and former banker said Zimbabwe needed a stabilisation plan to be implemented within the shortest possible time.

Ncube said Zimbabwe was banking on increased tobacco, gold, chrome and platinum exports as it worked on plans for a new currency.

“There is no time frame, but we need these things to happen sooner than later,” he said.

“We need certain triggers such as that we need to have a full momentary policy committee that is working and be able to move to a market-based allocation of foreign exchange so that those who are exporting are able to have their accounts in foreign currency and keep those as their receipts and build those blocks of reserves.”

Ncube is the only Cabinet minister who accompanied President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose delegation also includes Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya.

The minister said his vision was to create an investor-friendly environment and challenged African leaders to negotiate for better deals with China.

Mangudya also told Bloomberg TV that the new administration had put in place mechanisms to compensate white farmers who lost land during the land reform programme as a way of improving investor confidence.

Mnangagwa is pushing for increased foreign direct investment to reverse years of economic decline under former president Robert Mugabe.

He also wants to end Zimbabwe’s decades of international isolation due to human rights violations and electoral theft.

The Standard

Here is the transcript of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s interview with Cable News Network (CNN) anchor Christine Amanpour. Mnangagwa was interviewed on Friday and is currently in New York to attend the 73rd Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

CA: President Mnangagwa, welcome to the show. Thanks for joining me.

ED: Thank you, thank you.

CA: So here you are in the United States at the UN General Assembly. It’s your maiden speech. And it’s no secret that the world had a very, very negative impression of Zimbabwe for many, many years. President Mugabe seemed to stay in power forever and now here you are. What is it that you want to tell the world from the pulpit of the UN?

ED: Well, the first point is that there is a new administration of the Second Republic of Zimbabwe, which I lead. We have just completed harmonised general elections in July this year. So this time around, after many years of Independence and several elections, this is the only time we as Zimbabweans had democratic space for everyone, to exercise their rights. This is the only time in our history since Independence in 1980 that we had more – we usually had about five political parties contesting elections, this time around, because of the democratic political space which we created, we had 133 political parties; and of those 133 political parties, 56 contested the elections.

CA: So you’re talking about a much more pluralistic Zimbabwe. You say that it’s a new day, a new team, and a new democracy. What do you say to the people of Zimbabwe and the people who are observing around the world about whether you can be a unifier? Obviously, your election victory was very, very narrow, it was less than one percent and people have complained about it; people have said, you know, they hope you won’t be divisive, and be just for the Zanu-PF voters. Let me tell you what the United States has said about the post-election situation. The State Department in August said, “The United States government is greatly concerned by credible reports of numerous detentions, beatings and other abuses of Zimbabweans over the past week, particularly targeting opposition activists.” That is the new Zimbabwe?

ED: I can assure you that this time around we had a very peaceful, free, fair election, which we have never experienced before. I am happy that that culture is taking root. I believe that we should do everything possible under this administration to cultivate that culture, to make sure our people develop a culture of accepting opposing views within the community. And I am happy that during the entire process, the electoral process, we didn’t have any disturbances. All the political parties accessed voters whom they thought would support them. The only event which is regrettable is the one which happened two days after the elections. We regret that event and we are doing everything possible… Just before I came here I appointed a commission of inquiry to deal with that. I felt that it would not be proper for ourselves to investigate ourselves, which is why we have an outside inquiry. But besides, my message from the day I took over on the 24th of November last year is peace, peace, unity, unity and love among our people. Yes, indeed, in terms of our constitution and the terms of Commonwealth parliamentary democracy, it is first-past-the-post. I had 50,6 percent. My nearest contender had 44, I think. In terms of our Constitution, I won the elections, although the victory is very narrow as you say (chuckles). I hope that as we go forward and as we open up Zimbabwe … people can understand that we can do better. But if the opposition are going to have a better message than us, then the next election someone else (will win).

CA: The opposition, you say, they have a better message…?

ED: If the people think the other political parties have a better message than my political party they will obviously vote for the party that has the better message.

CA: So, Mr President, you have a pretty big task because you say all these things and you also were part of the old regime, right, the Mugabe regime, for all those years from the liberation struggle until you took over. And many people are asking, I think legitimately, is this really a new Government? Is it really a new dawn? Or is it a lot of the old guard now taking on a new role? Some people will describe is as old wine in new bottles.

ED: If you look at me, then you would say I belong to the old guard, and that is a fact. But look at my Cabinet, look at the new Cabinet which I have. How many people are new in that Cabinet? You can see the direction which we are going. And I said this before the conclusion of the elections: that I’m going to bring in new people with expertise in various areas, women and youth. And I have done so. So I believe that people should examine what I am doing and not live on perceptions. I believe that the past should be left behind and we do our best for the future and work for the betterment of our people. To do so, in my view, I need the best brains the country can produce across the board.

CA: So in that case are you asking for many expatriates to come back, whether they are black or white? Because you know it was a very difficult situation for many in Zimbabwe, but especially for whites. President Mugabe said many things about them and they were, you know, burnt out or run out of their farms and homes and country. You have appointed a commission to try and attract them back. Is it going to be a friendly place for white Zimbabweans?

ED: I can assure you that under my administration, the issue of colour has no place. It is the issue of expertise which we want. We want to grow our economy, we want to modernise our economy, we want to industrialise our economy. Expertise can reside in whatever colour. And fortunately, our people in Zimbabwe, they reason above that. We have a huge white population; Indian, white, other groups, they’re there. We are a family. So we have no problem with that at all.

CA: You may not think it is about colour but it is about reconciliation, and I’m interested – you did just say you want to forget about the past and move forward. I guess I just want to ask you, President Mugabe was accused of many violations of human rights, of corruption, of all sorts of violations and abuses. Would a Mnangagwa administration hold the former President accountable in any kind of way, in a court, in a truth and reconciliation kind of way? Is that on the agenda?

ED: We cannot put an agenda on a person. We put an agenda to make sure all those involved in corruption account for (the) corruption they committed. We have a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. I have strengthened that one, which is indicative of my desire to deal with corruption. And so many cases are being prosecuted, if you are following, of prominent persons who have been affected by the drive we are having now against corruption. But, indeed, we will not, as the new administration, focus on the past. We need to focus, because we are going to live in the future, we will never live in the past again. Yes, we regret whatever happened in the past. And I have a National Peace and Reconciliation Commission dealing with things that happened in the past. My administration, our focus is to make Zimbabwe a better place; is to make Zimbabwe acceptable again in the international community. We must embrace. We are re-engaging and engaging nations and international organisations to be accepted. And we must remove any pieces of legislation which will be constraints in the areas of political reform. We are determined to move forward and be a member of the international community again, embraced by all societies in the family of nations.

CA: So President Mugabe has been one of the longest serving presidents on the African continent. He just wouldn’t leave. Elections or no elections, he just wouldn’t go. And I asked him in my interview with him …

ED: Oh you did? (Laughing)

CA: … and he said I will never leave at the hand of imperialists, and he was furious at the idea of leaving. I’m going to play a sound bite, and he was saying I will not leave power, this is about regime change, we will dig in, we will remain in our trenches. So in retrospect, Mr President, now that you are the President, was it regrettable that President Mugabe didn’t leave legitimately and under elections a long, long time ago?

ED: The issue is that under Commonwealth parliamentary democracy, the political party which has the majority in Parliament chooses its leader, and my predecessor was generally being accepted by his party. But now under the new Constitution, which came into effect on the 22nd of May 2013, we have now limited the terms of presidency to two terms – if you are able to have two terms. But beyond that, the Constitution forbids …

CA: (Interjecting) you have pledged that you will abide by that…

ED: I’d like to entrench constitutionalism in Zimbabwe…

CA: (Interjecting) Will you abide by the …

ED: I will abide by that without any iota of resistance at all. Even if the people love me, I will still go away because I believe constitutionalism is important. In fact, we must give people the chance to have other leaders. Ten years is not a short period. In my view, it’s quite a long period; and if you have a vision, a period long enough to implement your vision.

CA: Clearly you have a vision, a desire, to move Zimbabwe away from the past. But let’s face it, you are part of the old regime, you were President Mugabe’s intelligence chief, you did take part in the suppression of the elections in 2008, when Morgan Tsvangirai actually won the parliamentary vote and actually they believe they won the first round of the Presidential election. Again, do you regret that? And I ask you this because upon Morgan Tsvangirai’s death not so long ago, you said something very important about it. You said, both in and after the Government of National Unity, he remained a national figure who obdurately insisted on free, fair and credible non-violent elections as a way of strengthening our democracy. Those were your words.

ED: That is true, that is what I said. But the point is, during that election, former Prime Minister Tsvangirai had 47 percent of the vote and my predecessor had 43, I think, percent of the vote, which meant that the former Prime Minister had a better vote than my predecessor. But the Constitution demanded that for one to become President he must have 50 percent-plus-one, which the former Prime Minister did not achieve. That was the basis of that run-off. But again, as I said…

CA: (Interjecting) It was considered a bit of a stitch up. Do you regret it?

ED: The voters themselves did not make Tsvangirai get 50 percent-plus-one. I regret that (the President at that) time did not achieve 50 percent-plus-one in that election. But, again, I do not feel it is necessary anymore for people to dwell on the past. Let us look into the future. Let us – all of us – collectively as a people under one flag, under one national anthem, under the guidance of our new Constitution, move forward and improve the economic environment so that we attract global capital to our country. For the past two decades we have been an isolated island (inaudible) … Let us have this change.

CA: You have constantly said “my predecessor, my predecessor”, you never mentioned his name …

ED: (laughing) You have mentioned it.

CA: …Mugabe. And I wanted to ask, does he call you “Mr President”? Do you hear from him? What is his …

ED: (laughing) He calls me ED.

CA: ED?

ED: Yes.

CA: And what is “ED”?

ED: I’m Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. E for Emmerson, D for Dambudzo … And he calls me, when I phone him, he says, “ED, how are you?” And I say…

CA: (Interjecting) And he doesn’t say Mr President to you?

ED: Officially, when he writes letters, he addresses me as “President”. He calls me that, formally.

CA: Because I read that you tried to restrain some of his excesses, some of his impulses. He wanted to go with a big plane, with a 38-person entourage, for his medical check in Singapore. And you had to try to clip those wings. Was that difficult for you? What did you say to him?

ED: No. I followed the Statutory Instrument which provides for the issues of a former President. It states how many security (personnel), how many staff, and how many times he will be able to go out per year. So it indeed is correct that initially he wanted the same level as before, then I informed him that this is not the correct (position) anymore. My predecessor is a lawyer, like myself … And he accepted it.

CA: His wife, Grace, is …

ED: That is something …

CA: What did you say?

ED: That is something else. (laughs)

CA: (laughing) I mean she wanted to be the leader, she didn’t want you to be the leader. There are suspicions that she and her gang even tried to poison you with a poisoned ice cream cone…

ED: Well, I was poisoned. And up to today I don’t know what was happening for (the first) two days. My Vice President, one of my current Vice Presidents, was quick enough to fly me to South Africa where I was saved. I …

CA: How did they save you? What was the process?

ED: After two days of being unconscious…

CA: Unconscious?

ED; Yes. So they said the level of poisoning was very high, something like 31 percent. It was reduced in six days down to 11 percent. And I had something like three to four hours of life (had I not been rushed to South Africa). I would have died of cardiac failure. The research which was done by various doctors in South Africa, in Australia and some other places, Europe, I think, where the tests were done, called it metal poisoning, arsenic metal poisoning. And they narrowed it as to where it could have come from … Well, the speculation as to who administered it … Well, I’m back now. The level of poisoning, my last review says the level of poisoning in my system now is under three percent.

CA: Well that’s good news for you, but do you think you still face a threat from, they call her Gucci Grace, Mrs Mugabe?

ED: Well, on the 23rd of June I escaped another assassination attempt. But, again, I don’t say it is from Mrs Mugabe. That’s the duty of security services and the intelligence services.

CA: Have you said anything to your predecessor, Robert Mugabe, about this, to keep his wife under control?

ED: If I did that it would mean I have something against her, or some evidence against her. I don’t have evidence against her, the former First Lady. I like the legal process to take place, let the security handle it… Whatever the outcome (of the investigations). At the end of the day, I’m alive.

CA: You’re alive. And my last question is, you’re also known as The Crocodile. (ED laughs) Snapping jaws, vicious…

ED: Well, if you have the time I can explain how it comes about.

CA: Are you The Crocodile?

ED: No, I’m human. (Laughter). In 1964, when we had come from Nanking, China, where I had done my military training, our leader then, the late Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, deployed us. And he named my group “Crocodile”. None of my colleagues are around, they passed on. So during the entire process of the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, my colleagues referred to me as Crocodile. But my totem is Lion. So this is how it is. Let me assure you, I’m as soft as wool. But I have the traits of being patient like a crocodile.

CA: What about the traits of the lion?

ED: That depends, being calculative, and also hunting.

CA: So I want to ask you, you mentioned the liberation struggle, in the spirit of truth and reconciliation. Obviously, there was a massacre in Matabeleland during the 1980s, and you know, there were descriptions of what was being described as North Korean-trained Zimbabwean forces killing some 20 000 people. Again, is that something that you would consider a formal, national apology for?

ED: At the time that happened, my predecessor said it was a moment of madness, that’s what he said, which is a result of what was happening internally. But when I took over, I felt that we needed to have finality on this issue. So I appointed a Peace and National Reconciliation Commission, which is now eight months into investigations and gathering evidence. And whatever report they are going to make, I’ve promised the nation that I will make it public.

CA: And if it’s the worst of the worst, will you apologise?

ED: Exactly. It will be on the basis of that report and the recommendations of that report. We should be man enough as a Government to accept whatever recommendations are made and see how, as a Government, we comply with the recommendations of the report. What I will not want to do is, in advance, say I will do this, I will do that. We will act according to the report.

CA: President Emmerson Mnangagwa, thank you very much.

ED: Thank you

BULAWAYO has set sights at establishing the first Municipal Bank in the country as it seeks to attract more investors while unravelling new revenue streams for the local authority.

The bank, which will be a first of its kind in the country and continent, is expected to boost investor confidence and ensure that resources meant for infrastructure development are not diverted for other purposes.

In an interview with Sunday Business the City’s deputy mayor, Councillor Tinashe Kambarami said the setting up of the financial institution was one of their major priorities as they forge ahead to uplift the City’s infrastructure and economic status.

He said working together with the mayor, Clr Solomon Mguni and the rest of the councillors their vision was to establish a bank, which was not only going to boost investor confidence but was to also create employment in the city.

“We want to set up a Municipal Bank that will help us build trust among our investors. This will be one of our biggest projects as I think we will be one of the only cities in the world to have such a bank.

“In this bank we will be managing our investors’ money, we won’t have any stories that the money has been diverted for other projects, we are going to manage our resources within this bank,” said Clr Kambarami.

He said not only will the bank be entrusted with investors’ funds but will also have other income generating schemes meant to create revenue inflows to the local authority which will then be directed to service delivery.

“The bank will have facilities like pension schemes for our employees, medical aid facilities, insurance schemes both for vehicles and in the long term for houses and buildings, which is one of the core functions of the local authority.

“We will employ professional people to run this bank and this will be an upside because we will be creating employment to our people, which is also critical considering the state of unemployment in our city,” said the deputy mayor.

On other key projects, Clr Kambarami also noted the importance of improving the city’s internet connectivity by establishing a facility termed City Data.

“We will also have city data, as an IT person I want to see the entire city having data. I have seen this happening in Dubai, where the second you disembark at the airport you immediately have data connection. If one is able to give people data at a very cheap rate it improves connectivity and will see us achieve our goals of turning Bulawayo into a Smart City.

“Further these internet service providers operating in the country, who have been digging our roads to install their cables, we now want to build a subway for them where all their cables will now pass through and they will be paying rentals for the use of this subway,” he said.

He revealed that they will be prioritising Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) projects as these do not just benefit an organisation or individual but the local authority will also benefit as they will be in a position to operate these facilities after a specified time.

“As we go forward as a local authority we want to partner with people that are determined, people who are ready to work and take our city to the next level. We want to partner with organisations that have the capacity to build our city, more in the line of Build Operate and Transfer (BOT).

“An example of such a project which we are hoping to partner organisations in is an ambitious solar project. We want to get an investor to build the solar project, operate it for a number of years after which they will then transfer to the local authority, leaving us with the infrastructure for us to operate and get an additional revenue stream, said Clr Kambarami.

State Media

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has finally promised to apologise on behalf of the Zanu PF led government’s 1980s atrocities 20 000 civilians in the western parts of the country.

The so-called Gukurahundi atrocities were committed under then President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

Mnangagwa, in past interviews with international media, has refused to apologise for the atrocities, insisting dwelling on the past was not going to help his cause of refocussing his troubled country on the future.

However, speaking in an interview with US cable television CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Mnangagwa said he was prepared to issue an apology based on the recommendations of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC).

Asked if he would accept the findings even if the report implicated him, Mnangagwa said, “Exactly. It would be on the basis and recommendations of that report.

“We should be man enough as a government to accept whatever recommendations which are made and see how we can comply with them.”

The Zimbabwean leader however said he would be running ahead of himself if he were to make presumptions now.

“I would not want in advance to say this is what I will do. This is the first time in our history we are having such things done in the open,” he said.

Numerous investigations into the atrocities including one by the respected Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace as well as one led by former Chief Justiceand late Enoch Dumbutshena.

But Mugabe refused to publicise the Dumbutshena Commission report and dismissed the one by the Jesuits.

Mnangagwa was the country’s Intelligence Minister during what has often been regarded as darkest period of Zimbabwe’s post liberation period.

His name features prominantly among those who masterminded the killings.

-NewZimbabwe.com

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed that Zimbabwe relations with the western world have been good each time those countries are led by women, citing the 1979 and 2018 periods when Britain were led by Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.

Speaking during his trip to the United Nations General Council, Mnangagwa said United States has been left in the cold as other western giants had embraced Zimbabwe.

“But I’m happy now they have a lady. You know when we got our Independence in 1980, in 1979 there was a very serious war in Zimbabwe against Ian Smith. But there was a change of government in the United Kingdom and Margaret Thatcher came to power. She was the person who ended our war.

“So each time there is a lady in Britain, things change. This time around, on the 24th of November (2017) when I was inaugurated, within 35 minutes I had a minister from (UK Prime Minister) Theresa May calling on me. Our relations with Britain have improved tremendously and we are now talking.

“So America is left out in the cold by the British and the EU. But I’m happy that also the German (leader) is a lady. She has sent a minister to come and resuscitate relations between Zimbabwe and Germany. And we are so happy with Germany. The same with France, though he is a man but again, he’s very good.”

Grain Marketing Board official Mr Basilio Sandamu has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the parastatal of over $1 million in a State land deal. Mr Sandamu recently appeared in court and is out of custody on $500 bail.
It is alleged that in April 2013, the non-executive director connived with GMB Pension Fund CEO Mr Taona Munzvadi to enter a fraudulent agreement of sale of Romany Farm for $2,5 million. The 197-hectare Romany Farm was acquired by the State in terms of the Land Acquisition Act (Chapter 20:10) and through Extraordinary Government Gazette General Notice 591 of 2001 under deed of transfer 5421/99.

In July 2002, Mr Korbs Mutandiro, who is jointly charged with Mr Sandamu, allegedly fraudulently acquired 51 percent of the shares of Romany Farm from the previous farm owner, Mr David John Sheehanm, for a purported value of ZW$5 million.

Messrs Sandamu, Munzvadi and Mutandiro reportedly hatched a plan to sell the State land to GMB Pension Fund for $2,5 million, of which $1 million was transferred to Organs Resources Private Limited, where Mr Mutandiro is a director.

“When the accused person (Sandamu) connived to sell the farm, he knew that the farm was State land acquired in terms of the Land Acquisition Act (Chapter 2010) through Extraordinary Government Gazette General Notice 591 of 2001 dated 16 November 2001 and that he had no certificate of no present interest which is issued by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement and is a statutory requirement in the disposal of land in terms of the Land Acquisition Act as read with Section (2) and (3) of Statutory Instrument 287/1999, Land Acquisition (Disposal of Rural Land) Regulations, 1999,” reads part of court papers.

“As a result of accused person’s action, GMB Pension Fund suffered a potential prejudice of $2 500 000 and actual prejudice of $1 040 000 and nothing was recovered.”

In a separate case, the Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an investigation into Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe acting general manager Ms Nomsa Moyo for allegedly overpaying ex-company boss Mr Onesimo Moyo.
According to a legal opinion by lawyers at Mutamangira and Associates, Ms Moyo paid $240 633,17 and fuel valued at $3 903, 05 to Mr Moyo without authority after the latter’s contract had been terminated by MMCZ in 2011.
“She also gave to Mr O M Moyo property belonging to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe Management Services (Private) Limited without authority. That is clear misappropriation,” wrote Mutamangira and Associates.

“This is the nub of the charges against Ms N Moyo. There is a strong basis for finding her guilty of misconduct on the basis that: (a) the items that she paid out were not part of the agreement signed by the parties.

“(b) The agreement had been signed by six persons, including the parties involved and their legal practitioners and thus it is strange for Ms Moyo to purport to be more meticulous and attentive than everyone else.”

Zacc investigators recently told The Sunday Mail that they were keen on interviewing Ms Moyo over the allegation. – state media

Nelson Chamisa’s MDC is strengthening measures to enforce gender parity in the party’s leadership rings, as evidenced recently in Victoria Falls where the elected mayor stepped down to pave way for a female contestant.

Chamisa ordered Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dlamini to step down and make way for Margaret Varley, whose nomination had been rejected by both councillors and residents.

Dlamini, who had won 8 votes against Varley’s 3, was then made the deputy mayor of the resort town.

In an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Chamisa confirmed he ordered Dlamini to step down but referred all questions to his spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda.

Sibanda said the party is on an affirmative action drive and what happened in Victoria Falls is directed towards fulfilling this agenda.

“Yes, what happened in Victoria Falls is true. It is the party’s tradition. The mayors are selected by the whip guided by the president, to ensure that the promises made during the elections are fulfilled,” he said.

“We are taking very strong measures to ensure that we achieve gender equality. We want to ensure that our appointments support affirmative action.”

Sibanda said society continues to perpetuate the idea that women should take the back row in leadership and that has been a major problem.

“Society is still very inequitable. We find that when we go for primary elections, people tend to vote for the male candidate instead of female candidates who will be available. At the moment, our party has 39 percent female representation in both lower and upper houses,” he said.

“President Chamisa has insisted that we have a female mayor in Victoria Falls and Kwekwe, not only because they are the only women available but because they have the capacity to deliver.”

Recently, Chamisa has been under fire for his denigrating remarks on women.

Chamisa caused an outcry when he made seemingly reckless comments after the appointment of Kirsty Coventry as Sports, Youth and Culture minister.

He has also been viewed as gender insensitive, following his appointment of a bloated male-dominated presidium with Elias Mudzuri, Welshman Ncube and Morgen Komichi as his three deputies.

Women generally failed to cover much ground in the July elections, attaining only 26 of the 210 parliamentary seats.

A gender analysis carried out by Harare Residents Trust indicated that out of 86 women who contested in the 46 wards in Harare, only 12 succeeded.

DailyNews

Legislators from both Zanu PF and the MDC have expressed anger at the government’s decision to suspend the purchase of new vehicles for them — with the money budgeted for that now earmarked to fight the deadly cholera outbreak which has claimed dozens of lives and left thousands of people requiring treatment.

This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration recently declared the cholera epidemic a national emergency, as it struggles to raise about $60 million needed to contain the highly infectious disease — which by end of this week had killed at least 32 people.

MPs from both the ruling party and the opposition who spoke to the Daily News yesterday said government’s decision to suspend the purchasing of the vehicles and channel that money to fighting cholera was a “travesty” of justice as they were entitled to all their benefits.

Outspoken and independent legislator for Norton Temba Mliswa led the chorus of disapproval over the decision saying it was wrong for the government to suspend the MPs’ entitlements simply because there was a disease outbreak.

“You cannot suspend people’s salaries because there is a cholera outbreak. The problem is that councils are mismanaged. This is an issue of mismanagement.

“The issue is also about land barons taking over and there is no master plan anymore. The city (of Harare) has lost order. Town councils are so corrupt and at times people are building on wetlands using septic tanks that will get into water sources … and all this has nothing to do with people’s benefits,” Mliswa said.

“There are new MPs who don’t have what we have. You cannot say we are building a nation by destroying the other arm. I have told them (the government) to source cars locally but they have not listened. What is not in doubt is that Parliament is under-funded already. What we need are reserves for such emergencies,” he added.

Although Mliswa is fighting for his colleagues, he is renowned for having consistently refused to accept a parliamentary vehicle ever since he became an MP.

“Whilst it may seem a good move to suspend MPs & Ministers vehicles, in general, parliamentarians are underpaid and for as long as this remains the status quo, the checks and balances in terms of oversight will be compromised. Kenyan parliamentarians are paid plus or minus $10k a month. I’m the last person to be extravagant. I’ve never taken a car and believe that government should use locally assembled cars.

“Besides meagre salaries & fuel & accommodation allowances, local MPs don’t get much else in the way of benefits.

“Yes, I’m very well aware that the economy is struggling & I’m in no way saying that MPs must be over-catered for whilst the majority is struggling, but I’m saying there are other areas that will make a bigger impact if targeted,” Mliswa said further on microblogging site Twitter.

Before the cholera epidemic hit the country, the government had set aside $20 million for the purchase of vehicles for MPs and Senators.

“We have had to suspend certain things to make sure that we deal with this endemic immediately. That is exactly what we have done,” new Finance minister Mthuli Ncube told journalists early this week as he mobilised funds to channel towards fighting the disease.

Cholera — a treatable, poor man’s disease which causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea and which is lethal if not attended to promptly — has struck Zimbabwe for the fourth time in 15 years.

DailyNews

Cllr. Herbert Gomba, Harare Mayor
Speaks to ZTN media about : the 100 day Transformation plan for Harare.

The church says the public announcement made by a deputy headmaster from a local private high school where he divulged his sexual orientation is unfortunate and overboard.

The deputy headmaster of St. John’s College in Harare yesterday announced at a school assembly that he was gay.

The pastors concurred that Zimbabwe has bigger issues like the cholera outbreak to worry about, than issues of sexual orientation.

Many people agree that sexuality and its expression are private issues that have no place in a school environment and should be explored and dealt with outside of the school environment.

Dr Neal Novelmeier (pictured above) said he had made the decision to declare his sexuality in the hope that it would “curb homophobic behaviour” at the boys school located in the plush neighbourhood of Borrowdale.

“I simply feel and believe that as an educator I will be able to better address and advance this issue if I am prepared to be fully open and transparent about it myself,” he said in a letter to parents.

The announcement was irresponsible and places numerous burdens on the school community especially since the deputy head is claiming that he has the support of the school head, the other deputy head and the chairman of the board of governors.

Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) president Pastor Shingi Munyeza said people must not be diverted.

President and co-founder of Zoe Life Changing Ministries and Grace Unlimited Ministries Apostle Florence Kanyati weighed in saying Zimbabwe has laws against gay sex and openly expressing his sexuality to students at a school was irresponsible on the part of the deputy head.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on record saying that he will not give gays and lesbians any special treatment, but will follow the Zimbabwean Constitution, which bans same-sex marriages.

ZBC News

Statement By Promise Mkhwananzi|Friends I have finally been granted bail in what was a totally unnecessary arrest, not to mention the overnight detention and the ridiculous charge.

We are not going to stop to fight for social justice, economic freedom and political emancipation using peaceful and non-violent methods. I know that ZANU PF will use the same old tactics to try to criminalize and delegitize our struggle and our cause.

They will say we are looking for money, we are looking for relevance, we are looking for western allies, we are inciting public violence, we are committing treason etc. All of this will not deter us now, or ever.

It’s a standing resolve to fight and achieve the objectives we have set. We cannot sit as citizens and allow ZANU PF to behave in the way it is behaving. We have to mobilise, organise and establish standing structures of agitation in every corner of country. We have to work with all groups (unemployed, vendors, students, youths, business, churches, rural, peri urban etc) and be democratic, consultative and inclusive in our approach, always driven and guided by our unbending loyalty and commitment to the democratic values and principles.

I personally believe that the illegal and illegitimate government of Emmerson Mnangagwa cannot and should be allowed to stand for more than two years. But this requires a solid, dedicated, selfless, servant and grassroots-driven leadership. Our citizens must not allow themselves to be divided or intimidated by the minority. We have to be steadfast, vigilant and forward moving.

Thank you once again for your love, support and solidarity #Tajamuka.

Jane Mlambo| Harare Magistrates court has granted $50 bail to Tajamuka Leader, Promise Mkwananzi who was arrested yesterday and charged with committing public violence during a demonstration held on 01 August 2018 against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s management of the 2018 harmonised elections.

Mkwananzi, who was represented by Kossam Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, was ordered to report once a week at Criminal Investigations Department Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station and not to interfere with witnesses and to continue residing at his given residential address until the matter is finalised.

More details to follow…

Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairman, Ezra Chadzamira recently told supporters that his party won resoundingly in Chiredzi in the July 30, 2018 elections because people there are not exposed to social media.

Speaking at an inter-district party meeting in Chiredzi three weeks ago, Chadzamira mocked colleagues in the opposition MDC Alliance and said that they should have realised that in rural areas people need to be met with and not receive messages through social media.

He said the rural populace does not have access to social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp and added that these facilities are for people in the diaspora who don’t vote

“MDC thought the elecetions were going to be won through the social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsAzzzztpp. Elections are not won by such but by meeting the people.

“Such social media platforms are used by those in diaspora and unfortunately they do not vote,” said Chadzamira.

Zanu PF won the elections by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and its leader Emmerson Mnangagwa won the presidential race by 50,1 percent.

“In Ecclesiastes 10:16  the Bible says Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and when your [incompetent] officials.

“You then pulled Zimbabwe from being dragged to economic woes by voting out Chamisa who is very young. You chose a focused Mnagagwa to rule and revive this country,” added Chadzamira.

Jane Mlambo| Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairman, Ezra Chadzamira recently told supporters that his party won resoundingly in Chiredzi in the July 30, 2018 elections because people there are not exposed to social media.

Speaking at an inter-district party meeting in Chiredzi three weeks ago, Chadzamira mocked colleagues in the opposition MDC Alliance and said that they should have realised that in rural areas people need to be met with and not receive messages through social media.

He said the rural populace does not have access to social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp and added that these facilities are for people in the diaspora who don’t vote

“MDC thought the elecetions were going to be won through the social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsAzzzztpp. Elections are not won by such but by meeting the people.

“Such social media platforms are used by those in diaspora and unfortunately they do not vote,” said Chadzamira.

Zanu PF won the elections by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and its leader Emmerson Mnangagwa won the presidential race by 50,1 percent.

“In Ecclesiastes 10:16  the Bible says Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child and when your [incompetent] officials.

“You then pulled Zimbabwe from being dragged to economic woes by voting out Chamisa who is very young. You chose a focused Mnagagwa to rule and revive this country,” added Chadzamira.

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe will soon establish the position of leader of opposition in Parliament in accordance with Commonwealth tradition, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Mnangagwa confirmed the plans in an interview with US television Bloomberg TV.

He is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

“We are going to introduce the office of the leader of the opposition in Parliament,” said the Zimbabwean leader Friday.

“This is what we are going to do ourselves but under the former administration (Robert Mugabe’s) there was no formal recognition of the leader of the opposition.

“Under my administration we are embracing the Commonwealth approach where we recognise the leader of the opposition.”

The MDC Alliance is Zimbabwe’s main opposition and it is led by Nelson Chamisa who has refused to recognise Mnangagwa’s July 30 victory which was rubber stamped by the Constitutional Court.

In the aftermath of the elections, Chamisa approached the Constitutional Court challenging the result and arguing that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) had connived with Zanu PF to rig the poll in Mnangagwa’s favour.

Despite the apex court’s ruling, Chamisa maintains he won the elections and scoffed at Mnangagwa latest overtures.

The opposition leader’s spokesman Nkululeko Sibanda said Chamisa wants Mnangagwa to return the country to “legitimacy”, meaning recognising the MDC Alliance leader as winner.

“Our president is worried about the people’s welfare. The party and president Chamisa are not worried about creating new position but a return to legitimacy because the people voted for their leader but were cheated.

“We want the implementation of the people’s five point plan that includes a return to legitimacy, a clear economic rescue plan among others,” said Sibanda.

MDC Alliance national chairperson Tabita Khumalo is the party’s leader in Parliament.

-NewZimbabwe.com

MDC Alliance Victoria Falls Councillor Clr Ephias Mambume has been dragged to the Maintenance Court after bedding and impregnating a married woman.

The councillor is one of the town’s councillors who are already under the MDC Alliance leadership probe for defying the party directives in the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The woman, Ms Pretty Mutakela, of Chinotimba suburb turned to the courts when Clr Mambume of Ward 6 denied paternity and blocked her phone number.

Clr Mambume, who works at a local lodge appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje on Thursday where he denied impregnating the woman whom he accused of being a gold digger.

The councillor, who is married with four children, told the court that the woman had slept with three other men including his close friend and only sued him because he is financially stable.

The two started dating in December last year and had sex on several occasions in March and April whereupon Ms Mutakela discovered she was pregnant. She applied for lying-in expenses, which is a form of maintenance granted in respect of a yet to be born child, claiming that Clr Mambume blocked her on the phone and refused to buy preparation after she told him about the pregnancy.

“I started dating him on the 31st of December 2017 when I was still married. My husband found out about the affair in January this year and threw me out. The respondent would visit me time after time at my new place of residence and we slept together in March and also three times in April,” said Ms Mutakela.

She said she discovered that she was pregnant in April and phoned Clr Mambume who then blocked her phone.

“There was no-one I was sleeping with besides him. He is responsible for the pregnancy and does not want to buy preparation,” insisted the woman after Clr Mambume said she had slept with several other men. Clr Mambume said he was surprised why Ms Mutakela had chosen to sue him instead of the other boyfriends.

“She is a legally married woman who is staying with her husband and it’s a surprise that she chooses me. I’m the second person that she is attempting to sue over the case. I last slept with her in March and from there until April 4 I was away at school,” said Clr Mambume.

“On April 6 she slept with Mike my friend and she then ran away from her home and started staying with him. I only got to know about this in June when she told me about it, so my submission is that there are three men involved with this lady and for economic reasons she is choosing me.”

Clr Mambume who was one of MDC Alliance leadership’s preferred candidates for the mayoral post but opted out when residents protested, offered to give the woman $80 saying the $240 demanded by Ms Mutakela was beyond his means since he earns $400. The magistrate ordered him to pay lying-in expenses of $150 which he should deposit into the applicant’s bank account before October 31.

State Media

Paul Nyathi|Government has set up a modern type traffic circle at the busy Harare Drive and Gaydon road in Chisipite which commentators have called the Mnangagwa spaghetti roads.

The intersection used to be an accident dark spot and the circle comes as a relief to motorists in the area.