Jane Mlambo| Captains of industry have urged the government to cut on the number of state universities, saying some of them are adding no value to the economy.

Industry representatives who attended a Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) Business Leaders Conference here recently expressed concern at the quality of graduates coming from the country’s institutions of higher learning.

They said some graduates are ‘useless’ to the industry as they are out of sync with their trades and thus become a burden to the employer.

Speaking at the SAZ 5th conference Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Chris Mugaga said some universities were adding no value to the economy.

“In terms of the education sector, there are too many state universities in the country,” he said.

“Let’s reduce them and also change the curriculum because a majority of them concentrate of social sciences when the country requires engineers.”

Participants at the conference challenged the education sector to embrace international standards in order to produce competitive graduates.

“The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology is the foundation of ideas hence should be the centre of research and development,” said one conference delegate.

“The challenge is that students that join the industry don’t properly meet requirements in terms of holistic work.

“Institutions of higher learning should embrace world standards so as not to produce half-baked graduates.”
-Newzimbabwe.com

A SUSPECTED Peruvian drug trafficker has been arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after he was found in possession of over a kilogramme of cocaine worth $91 520.

Wilmer Taruzona Aro (32) was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa who remanded him in custody to October 6 for bail application.

The State sought a long remand for Aro before bail application to allow it to seek a Spanish interpreter after the accused advised the court that he did not understand English.

The State also wants to verify his criminal record with Interpol, Harare, as they suspected Aro to be an international criminal who traffics drugs from country to country as evidenced by his passport which has stamps from a source country of hard drugs, Brazil.

It is the State’s case that detectives from Drugs and Narcotics, stationed at the airport, received information that a male Peruvian national was coming from Brazil aboard United Arab Emirates flight number EK 713.

The State alleges that Aro was suspected to be in possession of dangerous drugs. As the flight landed at around 5pm, Aro went through verification with Immigration before picking his two suitcases and headed for the green route exit point where he was intercepted by detectives.

It is alleged searches were conducted by detectives, who discovered a whitish substance concealed in the holes of Aro’s suitcases’ handle rails.

A field test analysis was carried out on the whitish substance and it tested positive to cocaine, with a weight of 1,144 kilogrammes and a street value of $91 520.

Francisca Mukumbiri appeared for the State.

NewsDay

Jane Mlambo| Spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front (NPF), Jealousy Mawarire has dismissed rival faction leader, Ambrose Mutinhiri who yesterday announced his decision to disband the party to re-join the ruling Zanu PF saying he was nolonger part of the former President Robert Mugabe backed movement after he failed to rise to the challenge.

NPF split into two camps prior to the July 30 harmonised elections with Mawarire and other members appointing Eunice Sandi Moyo as Acting President while Mutinhiri remained with the other group.
In a series of Twitter posts, Mawarire said NPF recalled Mutinhiri after he failed to lead the party adding that he is free to continue working with Zanu PF.

The National Patriotic Front (NPF) is run by a 38 member National Executive Committee, which recalled Ambrose Mutinhiri and made a resolution to appoint Hon Eunice Sandi Moyo as Acting President. That NEC has not made a resolution to disband the NPF or join Zanu-PF. pic.twitter.com/XuxXQFqf0l

— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) September 21, 2018

Mutinhiri, as an individual, and Zanu-PF project during the elections, is free to continue working for Zanu-PF and shld not purport to be dissolving a party whose NEC he never chaired. The NPF is a people's movement and will remain a permanent feature of Zim politics.

— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) September 21, 2018

Mutinhiri shld enjoy the small trinkets he was promised by @edmnangagwa when they met & stop pretending like he was still the leader of NPF. It's on record that the Party recalled him & didn't support his gimmicks when he tried, and failed dismally, to run for the presidency pic.twitter.com/wrgIzHqUOm

— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) September 21, 2018

Jane Mlambo| Marondera police have arrested three suspected robbers linked to a spate of car thefts recorded in Mashonaland East province over the past two months.

Vincent Chikasha (19), Lawrence Marimbizhike (32) and Alfred Dzobo, all of Goromonzi who allegedly targeted pirate taxi drivers, were arrested after they were found in possession of two stolen vehicles.

Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the arrests, saying investigations were in progress to verify if the suspects were not linked to other vehicle theft cases.

“As police we urge pirate taxi drivers to be on alert when hired by strangers,” he said.

According to police, on July 29, Kudakwashe Maliseni of Goromonzi was operating a pirate taxi at Majuru business centre when he was approached by the three accused who allegedly hired him to drive them to Valley Grower’s Farm for a ‘funeral.’

It is reported that upon approaching Cyclone Acturus Farm, one of the suspects pulled a knife and stabbed Maliseni several times, dragged him out of his vehicle and sped off.

However, on August 9, Maliseni received information that his vehicle had been spotted at Majuru business centre but with different registration number plates fixed on it.

He tipped police detectives who arrested Marimbizhike and Chikasha.

The pair then implicated Dzobo who was also arrested.
-Newsday

By Paul Nyathi|MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has held talks with elected party councillors who opted to vote for Mayors and Deputy Mayors who were not prescribed by the party.

On Tuesday, he met councillors from Victoria Falls where the party preferred mayoral candidate councillor Margaret Varley was replaced by Somvelo Dlamini and on Thursday he met Bulawayo councillors where councillor Tinashe Kambarami was voted in instead of Malandu Ncube as directed by the party.

Chamisa’s spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda confirmed the meetings indicating that Chamisa or his representatives would be meeting more councillors next week.

Dr Sibanda said that it was only proper for Chamisa to dialogue with the councillors if they don’t toe the party line.

“The president will necessarily whip all councillors that don’t follow party directions and if there are those who have done that they will be whipped, yes. He has the right to do that. They have to follow the party’s instructions as required by the party’s constitution. The smooth running of the councils is very important.

“The long and short of it, just as the case in any political party, any representative sent by the party to represent it in Government must be willing to implement the party’s policies. All councillors are being told and all councillors know that they have to follow the party’s policies because that is what the people voted for.

“The council (meetings) agenda is about the 100 day plan. He was also whipping the councillors as he should just to make sure that they are following the party’s priorities. The electorate will be questioning the party when things don’t go right. There is nothing out of the ordinary. He will be meeting councillors from everywhere next week. He was meeting councillors from Bulawayo today (Wednesday).”

Chamisa has held similar meetings with councillors from Masvingo and Chegutu who were also charged for defying the party directives on the mayoral candidates.

Jane Mlambo| The Ambrose Mutinhiri-led National Patriotic Front has disbanded and its officials are rejoining Zanu-PF after realising that the events that led to the removal of the Robert Mugabe-led government in November last year were in the best interests of the country.

“We the founders, leaders and supporters of the NPF hereby inform the nation of Zimbabwe that the NPF has disbanded with immediate effect from September 19, 2018,” Brigadier-General (Retired) Mutinhiri said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The main reason for disbanding the party is that NPF has outlived its purpose. NPF was formed as a response to the events and circumstances of November 2017 that led to the removal of the previous Government of Zimbabwe and in our opinion we perceived it to be a threat to national security and stability.”

Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mutinhiri said they had re-considered their position and decided to rejoin the ruling party in its drive to rebuild Zimbabwe.

“However, after careful considerations and deliberations our party came to the conclusion that the November 2017 events were in the best interest of Zimbabwe as a nation. To that end, the existence of the NPF is no longer necessary. “As such we deem it expedient and appropriate to disband NPF and also to join and support the Zanu-PF party and Government in its endeavour to build a better Zimbabwe for all unity and loving and progressive Zimbabwe,” he added.
-State Media

A PROPHET from Bulawayo appeared in court yesterday for allegedly raping a pregnant woman who had visited him for consultation.

Wilson Thabe (52) who resides at Robert Sinyoka pleaded not guilty to rape when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere.

He was remanded in custody to October 3 for commencement of trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said sometime in May this year, the complainant (19) fell ill and approached the healer for assistance.

The court heard that the complainant was assisted with prayers and returned to her home in Umguza on the same day.

Mr Manyiwa said on May 12, Thabe visited the complainant’s place of residence to check if she was getting any better and ministered prayers to complete the healing.

The court heard that after prayers, Thabe did not return to his home and was given a hut to spend the night.

“During the same night, Thabe sneaked into the complainant’s hut and gave her holy water to sprinkle,” said the prosecutor.

The court heard that when the complainant retired to bed, Thabe allegedly joined her before raping the woman three times without protection.

“Thabe went back to his house on the following day at around 8AM,” said Mr Manyiwa. The complainant told the court: “On May 19, l slept with my husband and he felt something different which made him ask if l had slept with anyone else.”

The court heard that the complainant revealed to her husband that Thabe raped her.

They then reported the matter to the police leading to Thabe’s arrest.

State Media

Staff Reporter|The Zimbabwean authorities must bolster the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry into the country’s post-election killings if victims’ families have any hope of obtaining truth, justice and reparations, Amnesty International said after the swearing in of the commissioners on Wednesday.

The organization is also concerned about the independence and impartiality of the Commission, which includes a presidential candidate in the 30 July elections, who has criticized opposition parties challenging the results of the vote, and an academic, who has publicly expressed her support for the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). Commissioners with strong ties or support of ZANU-PF may compromise the independence and impartiality of the investigation and expose it to external interference.

“Zimbabweans deserve to know what happened in the bloody aftermath of the elections, including who shot six people dead, who gave the command to shoot and who was responsible for the deployment of soldiers. But as the Commission of Inquiry’s mandate stands right now, they may never know,” said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa.

“The authorities must show that this Commission is not a fig leaf intended to cover the human rights violations and abuses committed in the aftermath of the election. The first step is to broaden the Commission’s mandate to investigate violations and abuses committed by all parties involved.”

An MDC-T activist based in Mutare was yesterday slapped with a six-month jail term for threatening to torch 25 houses belonging to Zanu PF supporters soon after the July 30 elections.

James Oswell Chitere was also facing a charge of arson, but Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe ruled there was no evidence linking him to the latest offence.

Mahwe, however, said Chitere violated the Electoral Act by threatening a political opponent and sentenced him to six months in jail.

The magistrate, however, suspended two months of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.

On August 2, the complainant’s daughter Linnet Kagweda (22), who is a Zanu PF supporter, met Chitere while on her way to Watsomba business centre.

Chitere confronted her with the intention of showing him videos of MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa, but Kagweda refused to entertain him.

The convict threatened to burn Kagweda’s home, after labelling her a Zanu PF supporter.

Kagweda later informed her mother Raviro Kagweda (56) about Chitere’s threats after their hut was set ablaze that same day.

All the property in the hut was reduced to ashes.

Newsday

THE MDC Alliance leadership has instructed provincial structures of coalition partners to begin the integration process bringing their membership under one roof, a process that could see some members losing their positions and causing tensions in the party.

This comes after MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa recently announced the appointment of MDC leader Welshman Ncube and MDC-T chairperson Morgen Komichi as his deputies and former PDP leader Tendai Biti as deputy national chair as the coalition starts morphing into one political party.

The MDC Alliance brings together seven opposition parties — MDC-T, MDC, PDP, Transform Zimbabwe, ZimPF, Zanu-Ndonga and Multi-Racial Democrats.

In an interview, Ncube confirmed the provincial structures of the seven parties to the MDC Alliance have been ordered to begin the painstaking process of integrating.

“What is happening is that we are integrating; we are integrating the parties which are in the alliance. All the seven parties in the alliance have passed resolutions to authorise the integration of all the parties in the alliance,” he said.

“The provincial leadership has been instructed to meet and say how do you integrate, how do you bring together at provincial, district and ward level, the leaders of the seven political parties into the Alliance?,” Ncube told Southern Eye on Wednesday.

The exercise is likely to stoke tensions and horse-trading among the leadership in the provincial structures to ensure they keep their positions after Ncube admitted some were likely to lose their positions.

“There are obviously people who will not have space to be integrated at provincial level, they will then have to be integrated at district level, and those who have no space at district level will have to be integrated at ward level, while everyone eventually integrated at branch level because the branches can be as many as there are members,” Ncube said.

“Anyone who has not found any space at national, provincial, district and ward level will ultimately find space at the branch level. So everyone will ultimately be integrated.

That is in terms of the structures. Then there is membership, people who are just card-carrying members, they automatically then become members of the MDC Alliance by virtue of being a member of one of the seven parties.”

Ncube admitted the process will not be uniform as the negotiations will be determined by the political dynamics and political party presence in each province.

“In Bulawayo, for example, you might find that there are three parties, the MDC-T, MDC and PDP with a full leadership and those will be integrating. The same runs true in many provinces,” said Ncube.

Southern Eye

Scores of stakeholders drawn mainly from the motoring public and sections of the commuting public have raised concern over their non-consultation by the Chitungwiza municipality on the Unit C-junction traffic light project. The stakeholders have recently been frequenting the Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association (CAMERA) offices urging the Association to facilitate that there is dialogue between the local authority and the related stakeholders.

Some stakeholders are of the view that a traffic circle popularly known as a roundabout could have been a better solution in addressing matters connected to traffic jam, unruly conduct by some motorists and general traffic mayhem associated with this busy intersection. The demonstration traffic light by Solarlux Solutions Company could have been a strategic intervention had the local authority sought the opinions of the motoring and commuting public before the trial-run phase.

The Chitungwiza pilot project by Solarlux Solutions Company comes at a time after the same company was ordered to remove a similar demonstration traffic light at the corner of Masotsha Ndlovu and First Avenue in the Waterfalls area in Harare. The company was ordered to remove the traffic lights owing to an absence of prior feasibility studies and lack of stakeholder engagement as the case in Chitungwiza.

CAMERA calls on the Chitungwiza municipality and Solarlux Solutions Company to engage related stakeholders who are directly affected by such a development. Some of these stakeholders include the motoring public, commuters and residents among others. Several Chitungwiza residents interviewed on the traffic lights matter indicated that the areas that are in critical need for traffic lights are along Harare-Chitungwiza highway adjacent to St Mary’s police station and at the intersection of Tilcor road and Chitungwiza-Machipisa highway.

Source: Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association (CAMERA)

Jane Mlambo| Police yesterday refused to open a docket in a case in which a Harare resident, Alice Kasinamunda sought to file criminal charges against City of Harare officials implicated in attempts to swindle Econet Wireless by inflating figures of goods procured towards combating the cholera outbreak.

According to Community Water Alliance (CWA), an organization behind the move, Kasinamunda was referred from one officer to another, in a manner that is clearly meant to frustrate her.

“Out of the six police officers to which Alice was referred, not even one of them accepted opening a docket.

Instead of getting assistance Alice had to endure unnecessary questions like: are you a council employee? and are you a worker at Econet?. They were ready to interrogate her on what is your interest,” noted CWA.

The organization noted that Kasinamunda’s case warranted action by the Zimbabwe Republic Police as it clearly demonstrated that there is a primafacie case, there is a reasonable suspicion that the accused persons committed the crime.

CWA condemned City of Harare for its move to suspend despite there being enough evidence to prosecute the accused.

”The action by the Local Authority to suspend the accused, shows reasonable suspicion.

“This case has evidence that the court can rely upon. Although there is dispute on whether the charge of gloves was inflated to $65, there is evidence that it was pegged above $30 instead of a mere $3. Receipts to that effect are there. The actions by the accused show a clear case of fraud, which is a crime. These facts make CWA believe that Alice had a case that the state should have acted upon,” added CWA.

“Alice Kasinamunda’s treatment casts doubt on the commitment of the Executive ( the police being part of the Executive Arm of the State) to fight graft. It places in jeopardy even any policy pronouncement by councilors to fight graft,” further noted CWA.

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has called on workers to resist the ‘barbaric actions of the state’ of chasing vendors from Harare CBD saying government does not understand the difficulties citizens are through.

Posting on Twitter today, ZCTU questioned the logic behind government’s decision to chase vendors from the streets considering that they will be fending for their families.

A Government that does not understand the difficulties citizens are going through, will not develop the country. If vendors are chased away from their sources of livelihood, how will all the affected families survive? All workers must resist this barbaric actions of the state.

— ZCTU – Zimbabwe (@ZctuZimbabwe) September 20, 2018

Police have been engaged in running battles with vendors who are resisting being displaced due to the cholera outbreak that has so far claimed the lives of 32 people including under fives.

By Paul Nyathi|The Harare City Council has appointed Engineer Hosea Abraham Chisango as the substantive town clerk with immediate effect. Chisango had been acting town clerk since last year.

In April 2016 James Mushore was appointed as town clerk only to be suspended after two weeks in office by (then) Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere. The minister claimed that the council had gone against appointment procedures.

Kasukuwere later clashed with the council again after he blocked the appointment of MDC legislator Tapiwa Mashakada despite the fact that he came out tops in interviews for the town clerk job.

Watch Mayor Herbert Gomba announce the appointment of the town clerk.

Jane Mlambo| The ghost of the G40 faction has continued to haunt the ruling Zanu PF with party supporters in Manicaland yesterday storming the provincial headquarters in Mutare, demanding the election of a new executive to replace the current one led by Mike Madiro.

Placard-wielding demonstrators accused Madiro’s provincial executive of fanning divisions by suspending perceived rivals.
Some of the placards read: “We don’t want imposition of candidates,” “No to imposition of party leadership”, “We want the current leadership to be dissolved. Why sacrificing party members?”

Several party members, including former provincial vice-chairperson Joseph Mujati and Prosper Sithole, who is political commissar in Chipinge, were recently slapped with prohibition orders.

The duo, alongside several others, yesterday underwent disciplinary hearings led by Zanu PF provincial vice-chairperson, Dorothy Mabika.

Mabika, who was also reportedly imposed by Madiro, was humiliated as party supporters stormed the hearings and started singing protest songs.

The visibly shaken Mabika watched in despair as the supporters openly told her that she was imposed by Madiro and, therefore, illegitimate.

One of the demonstrators, Aphia Ingresi, who is the Zanu PF Headlands constituency youth chairperson, said they were being victimised by Madiro, claiming that he was responsible for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s poor showing in the province in the July 30 poll.

Despite Zanu PF winning 19 parliamentary seats out of the 26 available in the province, Mnangagwa lost in the presidential elections to MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa.
“We are worried that Madiro is no longer popular in the province. He imposed himself and he later imposed his deputy, Dorothy Mabika,” he said.

“He was responsible for the loss of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the province, and if this is not addressed, things are going to get worse.”
-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Renowned traditional healer Kamwelo Banda popularly known as Sekuru Banda has joined the fight against cholera and pledged support to those impacted by the pandemic.

In a rare show of love and compassion, Sekuru Banda took time off his busy schedule where he often meets his legion of clients who come with various problems and ailments to visit the sick at Glenview Polyclinic Cholera Treatment Centre.

“It is not something we often get every day to be visited by a person of the calibre of Sekuru Banda whom we know to be a very busy man. This visit on a hospital bed, especially from a stranger, should be applauded because it gives us hope for life despite being diagnosed with cholera. I know he is a popular traditional healer and what he has done to me and other families is a huge show of compassion and philanthropy and for that I am very grateful,” said a middle-aged man who identified himself as Charles to protect patient confidentiality.

Apart from assuring the bed-ridden that they would walk out of the treatment centre strong and energetic, Sekuru Banda donated an assortment of hygienic stuff to the sick and their families.

On Wednesday 19 September 2018, Sekuru Banda bought hygienic ware to more than 100 families in Glenview, which is the epicentre of the cholera pandemic. Each of the families received an assortment of groceries like cooking oil, sugar, rice, maize meal and toiletries like soap, water disinfectants, washing powder, detergents and toilet paper.

He capped the donation by visiting the sick at Glenview Polyclinic after which he led reporters and other members of the corporate world to the Nyamweda family where he commiserated with the bereaved following the death of Jane Mandaza Nyamweda who succumbed to cholera a fortnight ago.

Titus Nyamweda, brother to the late Jane, thanked Sekuru Banda for his philanthropic heart and compassionate gesture of his love to his family and the whole of the Glenview community.

“I don’t have words to aptly describe how grateful I am to Sekuru Banda. It is not easy for an individual to subtract from the little he gets and come to help us in this magnitude.

The donation he gave us will go a long way in protecting other family members from contracting the deadly cholera. We urge other corporates and well-wishers to follow in the footsteps of Sekuru Banda so that we can have a healthy society,” Titus Nyamweda said.
-Spiked

The Harare City Council (HCC) has said it will apologise to Zimbabwe’s largest mobile telephone company Econet Wireless after municipal officials attempted to steal humanitarian aid meant to stem Zimbabwe’s deadliest cholera outbreak in a decade.

Econet founder and executive chairperson Strive Masiyiwa blew the whistle on the attempted fraud after the telecommunications giant had pumped $10 million to contain the outbreak of cholera that has so far killed 32 people, mostly in the capital, Harare.

Masiyiwa — who overcame protracted government opposition to launch mobile phone network Econet Wireless in 1998 — had responded to a crowd funding campaign launched by new Finance minister Mthuli Ncube on microblogging site Twitter to contain the rampaging outbreak, being fuelled by contaminated water and collapsing infrastructure.

The disgusted billionaire took to social media to express disappointment on the attempted fraud of humanitarian aid.

“One of the saddest things that happened last week when Econet announced that it had set aside $10 million to help with support to buy medicines and materials, was the number of suppliers and even officials in some of the affected municipalities who tried to defraud our company by offering things at highly inflated prices. Gloves worth $3 were suddenly worth $65. That is just pathetic.

“I have told my people to prepare lists of anyone who wilfully tries to exploit the situation. After this crisis is over, we will go after them on this platform, naming and shaming them,” he tweeted.

After the 57-year-old businessman expressed outrage, HCC quickly posted on its Twitter page that it had suspended four of its officials suspected of inflating prices for goods and services to be used in the fight against cholera.

The Zimbabwean businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist’s post went viral, attracting unprecedented public opprobrium.

Econet — one of the largest companies on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalisation — is the largest provider of telecommunications services, providing solutions in mobile and fixed wireless telephony, public payphones, Internet access and payment solutions.

Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba told the Daily News that council takes full responsibility for the regrettable attempted fraud of a company with a Christian-based vision and mission and a broad strategy for social and community investment, run under the “Econet in the Community” banner.

“We intend to write to Masiyiwa,” a remorseful Gomba said.

“Collectively council is responsible but individually those suspended are responsible. So, as the mayor, I have considered writing to him, apologising and stating what
happened.”

Gomba said council “intends to set up a special committee to look into what happened, what is currently happening, the pricing, the quality, the supply of the goods bought and whether it all conforms to the procedures of council and the procedures of the State procurement regulatory authority of Zimbabwe.”

He said there are still ongoing investigations on the four suspended officials.

“We suspended four officials from the Harare Water department procurement division and these are Philimon Rwafa a procurement and stores officer, Smart Mhuka a buyer, Tawanda Marange a cadex clerk and Tafadzwa Reza a buyer.

“Allegations are that they inflated the prices for the materials that were supposed to be bought for cholera.

“Investigations are ongoing and we will look at what they did and what items they had inflated,” he said.

It is not immediately clear if criminal charges will be preferred against the fraud-accused officials.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister July Moyo said donors should not be discouraged by the conduct of the four but continue to come through.

Government has declared a state of emergency that has seen the ban of public gatherings, closure of some schools around the epicentre of Glen View, and also banned the sale of meat and fish by vendors in affected areas, said the new Health minister, Obadiah Moyo.

Police are enforcing the ban to the hilt.

Moyo slammed the fraud and vowed to halt the theft of humanitarian aid by corrupt municipal officials.

“Immediate action was taken, and fortunately we know them. We are glad that the system caught those who were trying to be mischievous,” a tough-talking Moyo said.

“We are now alert that there are some people who have wrong intentions on the cholera funds.”

This is not the first-time officials have taken advantage of the cholera fund. When cholera struck Zimbabwe in 2008- 2009, the international community cried foul over their resources being abused as their monies were not accounted for and fatalities increased among those infected. At least 4 000 were killed during that era.

The incubation period for cholera, which spreads through ingestion of faecal matter and causes acute watery diarrhoea, is a matter of hours. Once symptoms start, it can kill within hours unless the patient receives treatment.

The World Health Organisation has rolled out an emergency treatment programme, based on the vestiges of Zimbabwe’s shattered health system, to try to catch new cases early and stop the explosive spread of the disease.

DailyNews

Most service stations in Harare have run dry with long queues emerging as the fuel crisis continues, despite Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya saying the sector is fully-funded.

Mangudya told the media yesterday that logistical challenges that were faced by the sector, coupled with high demand, had resulted in intermittent supplies of fuel.

“We have made arrangements to ensure that there is fuel in Zimbabwe. There is an increase in the number of vehicles in the country and that the demand for fuel has also increased, we have also increased the facilities of fuel that we have been arranging, to ensure that you and me keep on driving our vehicles and therefore what you are seeing is an increase in the demand for fuel. What you are seeing are efforts that we are putting in place to ensure that at least people continue driving their vehicles.

“What you also need to know is that there are logistical issues that are in fuel, that fuel is not produced in Zimbabwe, it comes from offshore through ship, and transported by pipeline to Harare at Msasa, so sometimes what you see are intermittent logistical issues that will be there, otherwise the fuel companies are fully funded,” Mangudya said.

Zimbabwe has, over the last few months, been experiencing intermittent fuel supplies, which has been previously blamed on foreign currency shortages.

But Mangudya yesterday said the sector was adequately funded.

“We do allocate $20 million per week, which is $80 million a month and that’s a lot of money, because you are also aware we are also allocating foreign currency to import wheat, which is basically to supplement local production. In fact, the local production is supplementing imports, because, if we produce 120 tonnes, it means it’s only good for three months, we spent about 40 000 metric tonnes, that’s about $16 million per month, over and above that you guys need cooking oil, which is about $20 million per month, so it means that you need to export more.

“So what we are talking about is that we need to generate more foreign currency in Zimbabwe, so that at least there will be no shortage at all in the country as that needs foreign currency and foreign currency does not come cheap. We need to work very hard, that’s why we need to export more minerals, more platinum, more chrome … we need to ensure that everyone works hard to ensure increased production in this country, so that we improve on import substitution. Produce more soya beans, produce more wheat, so that we don’t import wheat, produce more importable goods so that we increase on the foreign exchange, so as I have said, the permanent solution to Zimbabwe is to increase production,” he said.

Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) chief executive officer Gloria Magombo told the Daily News on Sunday during the weekend that the shortages were attributed to logistical challenges, adding efforts had been made to normalise the situation.

“Some logistical challenges were experienced in some areas resulting in erratic supply of fuel. Stakeholders in the energy sector are seized with the matter and the logistical challenges have been addressed.

“Relevant stakeholders in the energy sector are being appraised of the situation on the ground and so far indications are that normal supplies have resumed across the country,” Magombo said.

Petrol in Zimbabwe is going for $1,39 per litre, while diesel is sold for $1,32, and is one of the most expensive in the region.

Fuel operators also attributed the obtaining intermittent fuel crisis to the shortage of foreign currency, as the country is grappling with a serious cash crisis, a devaluing bond note and inflated exchange rates on the black market.

Retailers buy their products outside the country through the RBZ which pays directly to the suppliers.

In terms of the arrangement that was created by the RBZ, oil companies, which are top on the priority list, approach their banks and request that payment of a certain amount be made to a company that they will be dealing with on the basis of their nostro accounts. Nostro accounts are accounts that a bank holds in foreign currency in another bank.

Following the request, the bank would accept the request, with approval from RBZ. Most fuel suppliers get the commodity outside the country, where they pay cash upfront in United States dollars, but have been having some challenges.

DailyNews

MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has ordered Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dhlamini to step down and make way for Margaret Varley whose nomination had been rejected by both councillors and residents, MDC Alliance Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Joel Gabuza said yesterday.

Dhlamini and his 10 fellow councillors appeared before Chamisa at Richard Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare yesterday.

“Yes, he has been asked to do that because he has to comply with the party’s directive and that directive is that, the president (Nelson Chamisa) appointed mayors in terms of the (party) constitution, so he should simply do that.

“He is supposed to do what the president directed. He is not paving a way for anyone. He is simply going to where he was put [deputy mayor] and where each one of them was put,” Gabuza said.

“The meeting was simply to explain that and for them to explain to us what exactly transpired.

In their explanation, they indicated that they had misfired and erred by not following the party directive.”

Gabuza said Varley was likely to assume the mayoral post after dismally losing to Dlamini who garnered eight votes while she got only three.

“Most probably she will attain her original position because the onus is on them. We are finalising discussions with them confirming the position because they sold out.”

Asked if Dhlamini would comply, Gabuza said: “If he is a member of our party, he has to just comply.

The president is empowered to choose (people for) those positions.

We can’t have [President Emmerson] Mnangagwa appointing a minister then another minister comes in, it doesn’t work that way.”

“So, firstly, let’s see what happens to that directive.

Once he complies, then the other things will just fall in place,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Dhlamini were fruitless.

Meanwhile, the Victoria Falls Municipality has postponed the 2019 budget consultative meetings after all councillors were summoned to Harare, town clerk Ronnie Dube had said.

“We were left without choice after all the 11 councillors were called to report to Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare,” he said.

“We will likely resume from Friday [tomorrow] into the weekend, hoping they will be back by then. These issues disturb council operations.

“We will also seek guidance from the Ministry of Local Government on how we should proceed under such circumstances, because we have failed to execute our mandate as council.

The postponement was uncalled for because the budget meetings were scheduled and these councillors should have politely informed their party then travel after that,” he said.

NewsDay

Jane Mlambo| Former South African President, Kgalema Motlanthe, who chairs Zimbabwe’s Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 violence in which six civilians were shot dead by the army, has assured Zimbabweans his team shall come up with a credible report after the hearing.

He was addressing journalists soon after the commission’s swearing in by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House Wednesday afternoon.

Motlanthe urged locals to allow his probe team some time to do its work before passing negative comment over both its composition and impartiality.

“So far allow us to do that assignment. The members in the commission are honourable people so it gives the commission a bit of credibility,” he said.

Some Zimbabweans are anxious the appointment of the team was a cover-up attempt by Mnangagwa whose government came under fire for unleashing the army to gun down unarmed civilians.

Citizens have also questioned the inclusion of University of Zimbabwe professors Charity Manyeruke and Lovemore Madhuku who are seen as interested parties in the matter.

Manyeruke is a known Zanu PF apologist whom many say was incapable of producing an impartial report while Madhuku, leader of the National Constitutional Assembly, was a presidential candidate in the just ended election.

Madhuku has angered opposition supporters through public denials the July 30 elections were rigged by the incumbent.

In his comments, Motlanthe dismissed the assertions some of his colleagues were not suited for the job.
“We did not select ourselves, the authorities, the powers that be, the person of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe was satisfied that these commissioners are fit and proper for this job.

“This does not worry us at all because we want to hear from the people. We will consider that as a commission,” he said.
Motlanthe also said the outcome of the investigation shall be made public, adding, “You cannot have public hearings and thereafter have a secret report. It must be a public report of course.”

Angry protests rocked Harare’s CBD August 1 when there were clear signs the MDC Alliance was headed for defeat following the July 30 elections.

The opposition supporters were also angered by the erratic announcement of the results by ZEC with fears the Zanu PF led administration was buying time to tamper with the outcome.

Other members of the probe team assembled by Mnangagwa include renowned British attorney Rodney Dixon, former Commonwealth secretary general Chief Emeka Anyouko, ex-Tanzanian military boss General Davis Mwamunyange and Vimbai Nyemba, former President of the Law Society of Zimbabwe.

-Newzimbabwe.com

By Jane Mlambo| Police have intensified crackdown on vendors operating in the central business district of Harare.

In the pictures below, more than five police trucks were seen roaming around the CBD arresting and confiscating vendors wares, in an operation that is aimed at containing the deadly cholera outbreak currently ravaging Harare.

Jane Mlambo| Government has urged people to change their habits when greeting each other and do away with handshakes to avoid the spread of cholera.

Addressing the media in the capital yesterday, deputy minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said people should try other means of greeting each other so as to avoid cholera epidemic.

“Personal hygiene remains something that we need to continue doing because it is the main form of transmission of cholera, cleaning up our dump areas needs to be done very urgently and we should continuously do it as a nation not only because there is an outbreak of cholera.

“For us, cholera and typhoid are diseases of the past, when people didn’t know how to go about it. These are just diseases of cleanliness so we must be always clean.
“We need to change our habits, l know it’s very rude when someone extends a hand and you do not greet them, it might be very unfair so we have to change the way we greet so that we don’t really clasp each other’s hand hence we have to do it other way round,” he said.

Mangwiro confirmed that government was now in control of the outbreak, thanks to the intervention of various corporate companies.
“We have managed to contain the outbreak for now through interventions from different people.

“We still have cases people report but the curve is now going down which shows that our interventions are working and this is something we need to continue doing.

“The numbers arriving at our camps are now reduced so it shows that things are much better because as the disease the emergency was declared, a lot of people are conscious they rushed to the centers and people have been treated and we hope to continue like that as a nation,” added Mangwiro.

-263Chat

Jane Mlambo| Deputy Minister of Information, Energy Mutodi has tweeted that   Sibusiso Moyo, the minister of Foreign Affairs is recovering well from ‘minor illness’ at Avenues Clinic.

Mutodi who visited SB Moyo this morning said;

I have visited Minister SB Moyo at the Avenues clinic this morning. I can confirm that he is recovering well from a minor illness.

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) September 20, 2018

SB Moyo is reportedly suffering from renal complication and was expected to join President Emmerson Mnangagwa on his trip to the United Nations General Council but could not make it as he is admitted in hospital.

A 28-year-old kombi driver from Gweru committed suicide by downing poison in an attempt to evade arrest after impregnating a 14-year-old form two pupil.

Acting Midlands police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the incident which occurred on 14 September in Mkoba 9 when Godknows Zambezi of Mkoba 10 took a pesticide in a bushy area near Mkoba 9.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a case of sudden death where a male adult committed suicide by drinking a pesticide. It is suspected that the now deceased Godknows Zambezi committed suicide by drinking a pesticide in a bushy area near Mkoba 9 high density suburb. He was rescued by his brother who called an ambulance and was taken to Gweru Provincial Hospital. He later died on 14 September around 5 PM.

We suspect that he must have had personal problems,” she said.‎

Asst Insp Mukwende could neither deny nor confirm that Zambezi had impregnated a form two pupil.

She said it is suspected that Zambezi had personal issues.

Asst Insp Mukwende appeared to the public to seek counselling whenever they have challenges and avoid committing suicide.

A source however alleged that Zambezi had allegedly impregnated a form two pupil.‎

“What happened is that Zambezi had impregnated a form two school pupil who he used to offer lift going to school. When the girl informed him that she was pregnant he panicked and decided to commit suicide. He took a pesticide and went to a bushy area near Mkoba 9 and committed suicide. He was spotted by his brother who immediately followed him and managed to rescue him. This incident occurred on September 13 but he later died on September 14,” said the source.

State Media ‎

Flamboyant former Finance deputy minister Terrence Mukupe yesterday successfully overturned two default judgments entered against him, and which compelled him to pay a combined debt of $58 000 to a private school and Chinese-owned construction company.

In July this year, Mukupe was slapped with a $30 000 default judgment after the school, which cannot be named to protect the identity of his three minor children, petitioned the High Court demanding that the former Zanu PF legislator settle his children’s outstanding tuition fees. It later turned out that the school sought and won a default judgment after Mukupe had already paid the claimed amount directly into the school’s account.

During the same month, Mukupe was slapped with another default judgment for $28 000 in a matter involving a Chinese company, China Industrial International Group (Pvt) Ltd.

But, in his court applications filed on August 28, 2018, through his lawyers IEG Musimbe and Partners, Mukupe said he was asking the court to rescind the judgments because he had settled the debts well before the default judgments were entered.

High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi yesterday ruled in Mukupe’s favour and allowed the rescission of the two default judgments, effectively sparing the former Finance minister a civil imprisonment.

“It is my (Mukupe) averment that although summons were served upon me, I did not file an appearance to defend because I had already paid the amount claimed by the respondent (school) in June 2018, direct into respondent’s bank account when I saw a newspaper article about the respondent’s claim,” Mukupe said.

“It is my averment that I paid the respondent $30 000 in June 2018…, therefore, I had extinguished the amount being claimed by the respondent and there was, therefore, no reason to proceed with claim under case number HC5641/18.

In response to the Chinese-owned construction firm’s debt, Mukupe said he had equally settled the debt, and there was no need for the firm to secure a default judgment.

“I submit that I was unable to make payment due to some financial constraints earlier on in the year, however, when I was advised by my legal practitioners of the balance being claimed, I made a transfer of $14 000 through my legal practitioners of record to the respondent’s legal practitioners. Therefore, I submit that I have always been willing to pay as evidenced by the fact that I had already paid part of the balance and I intend to clear the balance as soon as possible,” he said.

HARARE mayor Herbert Gomba yesterday launched his 100-day plan in which he is seeking to change the face of the once sunshine city by attending to the deteriorating infrastructure that has, in some cases, turned into death traps.

These include roads, lighting, water and sewer reticulation, among others.

In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy Enock Mupamawonde, Gomba said the onus was now on various council executives to start delivering on his 100-day plan.

“This council is using this initiative to articulate the right strategic priorities,” he said.

“Thematic working groups, which will be implementing the goals, have been set up. The goals are covering roads, water, capturing of Hopley properties and general beautification of the city. A plan for measuring goals and tracking success has been put in place.

“The teams will be reporting weekly to a monitoring and evaluation committee.”

Gomba said council believed that when there was a policy direction, it must be followed religiously so that all activities were in sync and moving in the same direction towards the development of the city.

The mayor said as the capital, Harare must lead by example to allow other local authorities to follow suit.

“Harare, as the capital city, should show the strategic leadership so that other local authorities can also tap into the knowledge and vast experience of our teams, which have been implementing the rapid results initiative,” he said.

Various team leaders drawn from senior managers at Town House also outlined their targets and how they would be implemented.

Some of the targets include resealing, overlaying and road markings, repairing of traffic lights and improvements on solid waste management, among others.

Newsday

SCORES of Zanu PF supporters in Manicaland yesterday stormed the provincial party headquarters in Mutare, demanding the election of a new executive to replace the current one led by Mike Madiro.

Placard-wielding demonstrators accused Madiro’s provincial executive of fanning divisions by suspending perceived rivals.

Some of the placards read: “We don’t want imposition of candidates,” “No to imposition of party leadership”, “We want the current leadership to be dissolved. Why sacrificing party members?”

Several party members, including former provincial vice-chairperson Joseph Mujati and Prosper Sithole, who is political commissar in Chipinge, were recently slapped with prohibition orders.

The duo, alongside several others, yesterday underwent disciplinary hearings led by Zanu PF provincial vice-chairperson, Dorothy Mabika.

Mabika, who was also reportedly imposed by Madiro, was humiliated as party supporters stormed the hearings and started singing protest songs.

The visibly shaken Mabika watched in despair as the supporters openly told her that she was imposed by Madiro and, therefore, illegitimate.

One of the demonstrators, Aphia Ingresi, who is the Zanu PF Headlands constituency youth chairperson, said they were being victimised by Madiro, claiming that he was responsible for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s poor showing in the province in the July 30 poll.

Despite Zanu PF winning 19 parliamentary seats out of the 26 available in the province, Mnangagwa lost in the presidential elections to MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa.

“We are worried that Madiro is no longer popular in the province. He imposed himself and he later imposed his deputy, Dorothy Mabika,” he said.

“He was responsible for the loss of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the province, and if this is not addressed, things are going to get worse.”

Sithole’s prohibition order alleged that the activist booed the party leadership, including Madiro, during an inter-district meeting at Tanganda Primary School in Chipinge.

“You shouted obscenities at the provincial leadership, fanning factionalism even after a verbal warning by the provincial disciplinary committee,” said the prohibition order.

Sithole yesterday accused Madiro of witch-hunting members not supportive of Mabika in the recent party’s primary elections for the Chipinge Central seat.

Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Chipinge is on high alert following a suspected cholera case reported at one of the district clinics with the District Administrator, Mr William Mashava urging villagers to stop all community gatherings until further notice.

In a communication seen by Zimeye, Mashava said the suspected case was highlighted likely going to test turn positive following the outbreak being reported just six kilometers outside the district.

“Please be advised that Cholera is real and we must remain vigilant at any time and at any place.

“We must stop all gatherings especially to do with communities.

“There’s a suspected case in the district at Mutandahwe Clinic and chances are high that this might turn out positive as cases have been confirmed positive just 6km away from Mutandahwe across Jack Quinton Bridge at Rupangwana,” said Mashava.

He added that the Ministry of Health and Child Care is currently carrying tests to determine the status of the suspected case.

Cholera has been reported in other parts of the country besides Harare where it has claimed more than 30 lives.

Government has since declared the outbreak a national disaster to allow the corporate and well wishers to help towards containing the epidemic that has so far recorded more than 5000 cases.

ZIMBABWE Revenue Authority (Zimra) and its employees have clashed over loss control lifestyle audits after the board approved a policy which permits use of the audit findings as a basis for contract renewal.

The body which represents employees of the revenue authority has begun mobilising its members not to comply with the policy and asked them to refer the issue to the union.

A Zimra board communique dated August 26 2018 and signed by chairperson Willia Bonyongwe authorised loss control officers to conduct comprehensive lifestyle audits on employees and report any “unusual and unethical conduct” to the commissioner-general.

“Lifestyle audits findings may be used as part of the contract renewal screening process,” reads an excerpt from the board communique.

Efforts to obtain a comment from Bonyongwe were fruitless at the time of going to print.

The lifestyle audit policy, developed and adopted as an anti-corruption measure, gives the loss control division powers to effect audits on spouses and children of Zimra employees in terms of section 44 (1) of the Income Tax Act.

The scope of the loss control appraisals includes identifying the existence or the potential of integrity failures and breaches by Zimra employees that may result in actual or potential losses to the organisation or impairment of its objectives.

Employees are expected to provide loss control documented responses and all the necessary attachments within three working days.

In cases where one fails to provide such documents or attachments within the stipulated timeframe, loss control officers are authorised to make an opinion it deems appropriate without further reference to the subject concerned.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and Allied Workers Trade Union (Zimtratu), in a letter dated September 1 2018, has demanded a withdrawal of the policy, labelling it as “illegal”.

“Our considered view after analysing the policy is that the loss control policy is illegal and that Zimra must withdraw it as it is a legal nullity,” Zimratu said in the letter.

“We have noted that this policy violates the Constitution of Zimbabwe on privacy and the Labour Act on fair labour practices.”

“The employees are required to give relevant documents requested by loss control as documentary evidence. In the event of a staff member refusing to give documented responses and attachments, this shall result in the employee being disciplined in terms of the Zimra code of conduct.”

Newsday

By A Correspondent|Prominent Harare preacher, Apostle Thomas Chiwenga, who usually predicts major events in the country has revealed that he sees two important people dying in quick succession in Zimbabwe, which will have an impact on the future.

“I see two coffins, coffins that will bring this country to a standstill. People right now have people they have in mind that they think are dying, but I see people surprised, saying ‘we thought this one was in good health, what happened?’

“One person is being buried and preparations are being made to go and pick up the second body for burial,”

Chiwenga, who leads Jesus Revelation Ministries, said this in his latest prophecy delivered during a Sunday service on September 16 and posted on YouTube on September 18.

Apostle Chiwenga, previously foretold the death of former MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and former President Robert Mugabe’s ouster.

In the same prophecy on Mugabe’s exit, he said his successor would be an interim leader and would rule for a “very short time”.

LOCAL financial institution, CBZ Limited, has petitioned the High Court seeking an order to compel former Home Affairs minister, Obert Mpofu, his wife Sikhanyisiwe, and the couple’s business, Trebo and Kays, to settle an outstanding $76 000 bank loan.

Through its lawyers, GN Mlotshwa and Company, the bank issued summons in August after which Mpofu, his wife and business — through their lawyers Mataka, Chambati and Makonese — entered appearance to defend but later requested for further particulars from the bank.

In its declaration, the financial institution said sometime in December 2009, it entered into a written loan facility agreement with the former minister’s business which the latter allegedly reneged on, prompting the current litigation.

“The material terms of the said loan facility where plaintiff (CBZ) would allow the first defendant [Trebo and Kays] to access an amount not exceeding $1 000 000, the loan will be payable on demand but until such demand had been made; the facility would expire on October 31, 2010,” the bank said.

According to the court papers, Mpofu and his wife stood as surety and co-principal debtors to the bank for the payments of all amounts due to the bank by their company.

“The plaintiff has complied with all material terms of the contract by performing all its obligations. In breach of the contract and despite demand, the defendants have failed, neglected and or refused to pay the outstanding amount of $75 763,38,” the bank said.

“Wherefore plaintiff claims $75 763,38, interest at the prescribed rate from the date of summons to date of full and final payment, collection commission as prescribed by the Law Society of Zimbabwe and cost of suit on a legal practitioner and client scale.”

However, in their response to the claim, Mpofu and his co-defendants filed a request for further particulars on September 14, 2018 in which they requested for a copy of the claimed written loan facility agreement.

They also said they would want the bank to explain that of the claimed amount “what was the actual draw down by [Trebo and Kays] as a principal debtor”, adding they also want “evidence of the draw down in the form of withdrawal payment instruction vouchers”.

Lastly, they said the bank should explain “why was the demand not done on expiration of the facility on October 31, 2010” and how the claimed amount has been computed.

The matter is still pending.

Newsday

MDC Alliance senior member who wanted to contest the Insiza South Parliamentary candidate Honest Mafu is on the run from the police who are pursuing him for three counts of stock theft.

Mafu (34) of Mthabisi Village in Filabusi allegedly fled from the police who had set a trap for him at Mbokodo Abattoir on the outskirts of Bulawayo on August 28.

He left behind his two accomplices who were arrested and are assisting police with investigations.

The three were intercepted as Mafu was driving his Mitsubishi Pajero registration number AAP 0472 behind a truck carrying five cattle.

Earlier in May, Mafu was arrested for allegedly stealing nine head of cattle with the assistance of two accomplices. He was supposed to appear in court on August 25. The allegations led to the MDC Alliance coalition disqualifying him from contesting the Insiza South seat which was eventually lost by Angilacala Ncube to ZANU PF.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele yesterday said Mafu faces three counts of stock theft, with his latest crime having been committed three weeks ago.

“Police are appealing to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of a serial stock thief who fled from the scene about a week ago, abandoning his truck with five head of cattle and his two accomplices. If anyone has information on his whereabouts, may they contact their nearest police station or our operations number 0284-20139,” he said.

Sources said villagers tipped-off the police on Mafu’s alleged case of stock theft and they set up a trap at Mbokodo Abattoir where he intended to sell the beasts.

However, upon seeing the police, Mafu reportedly sped off but along the way crashed the vehicle and abandoned it. The vehicle is under police guard at Donnington Police Station.

The sources said Mafu was recently spotted in Johannesburg, South Africa where he reportedly fled to escape prosecution.

“Some of our home boys in neighbouring South Africa have claimed to have seen the serial stock thief. We pray that he is arrested so that he goes to jail where he rightfully belongs,” said the source.

In May, Mafu was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Mr Obedience Matare, facing stock theft charges. He was granted bail.

The allegations against Mafu were that he connived with two other people and stole nine beasts from Riverbrock Farm in Colleen Bawn.

The offence came to light after his two accomplices, who are on the run, were seen loading the cattle onto a truck at Jessie Mine.

The two accused persons, upon seeing that they had been spotted, fled.

A follow up was made with the assistance of the truck driver which led to Mafu’s arrest after a trap.

Mafu was found with a sim card that was used for communication during the commission of the offence.

An EcoCash transaction incriminating Mafu was also found.

State Media

The seven-member Commission of Inquiry into the post-election violence that took place on August 1 in Harare, was sworn in at State House yesterday.

The commission has been tasked to investigate the violence that resulted in the death of six people after MDC-Alliance supporters stormed the capital’s central business district resulting in the destruction of property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Members of the commission, chaired by former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe, took their oath before President Mnangagwa.

Members of the commission from outside Zimbabwe are international law expert Mr Rodney Dixon QC from the United Kingdom, former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku from Nigeria and former Chief of Defence Forces of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces General (Retired) Davis Mwamunyange.

Local members of the team are University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturers Professors Charity Manyeruke and Lovemore Madhuku and former president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) Mrs Vimbai Nyemba.

Speaking to the media, former President Motlanthe said they would listen to all views from any Zimbabwean.

“It won’t be a private thing, we will meet everybody and the Zimbabweans,” he said.

“We will be issuing a statement on Saturday inviting all Zimbabweans (to give their views) and giving them all the phone numbers (to contact us). We want to hear all the versions (of what transpired).”

He added that as the chairperson, he was happy with the latitude they had been given to do their job.

“So far they have allowed us to that work so I think its fine,” he said.

On concerns raised in some quarters on some of the local commissioners, the former South African President said they were honourable people.

“Well these are honourable people and it gives the commission some kind of credibility. If people have that kind of worry (on the commissioners’ credibility) they will tell us and we will consider that as a commission,” he said.

“We didn’t select ourselves and the person of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe satisfied themselves that these commissioners are fit and proper for the task so we will work with them.”

He said their findings would be made public once they complete their work in three months as is envisaged.

Prof Madhuku said there was no room for bias in their investigations.

“The terms of reference are very wide they allow the commission to investigate anything that Zimbabweans want to investigate,” he said.

“I am aware that people have raised that (alleged bias). They should understand that what is happening is an inquiry based on evidence so it’s our capacity and my capacity to understand what has happened so there is no room for partiality and bias because it is based on evidence.”

Also present at the ceremony were the two Vice Presidents —Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi — Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Attorney-General Prince Machaya, Acting Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi and other senior Government officials.

State Media

By Paul Nyathi|Minister of Foreign Affairs Sibusiso Moyo has been hospitalised at the Avenues clinic with a renal infection, sources have revealed to ZimEye.com.

Moyo was meant to be part of the rather huge Zimbabwean entourage that accompanied President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday evening but could not make the trip as his health deteriorated.

The sources revealed that Moyo might be going for theatre at the hospital on Thursday.

Moyo, who is a darling of many is referred to as the “People’s Soldier” after the famous television appearance as army spokesperson announcing the removal of former President Robert Mugabe in a “smart” coup in November last year.

Zimbabweans travelling to Zambia through Chirundu Border Post have described as inhumane the cholera screening process introduced by Zambian authorities at the one-stop-border post that involves making people take laxatives.

Passengers travelling by bus are reportedly being given laxatives to induce bowel movement to produce stool that is then tested for cholera.

Ministry of Health and Child Care officials in Mashonaland West yesterday indicated that the matter had been reported to the highest offices.

The Zambian government yesterday announced that the capital city — Lusaka — had recorded 21 cases of cholera without any fatalities. The testing programme using laxatives has also reportedly caused congestion at the border.

Mashonaland West provincial medical director Dr Wenceslaus Nyamayaro confirmed receiving similar reports from officials at Chirundu Border Post.

“We have received the reports of travellers being screened at the border post and we have engaged our permanent secretary (Dr Gerald Gwinji) on the matter,” Dr Nyamayaro said.

“The issue of people being given tablets to trigger bowel movement is a bit disturbing because we know that we cannot control cholera by shutting down the border, but to encourage hygiene among our people.”

He said Zambia had a cholera outbreak whose epicentre was in Lusaka that claimed more than 100 lives and affected over 5 000 people, but travellers from that country were not subjected to that treatment.

According to sources at Chirundu, the screening involved people being asked to take the laxative, a doxycycline preventive tablet while being asked to wash their hands.

“The situation was particularly pathetic on Monday morning when members of an apostolic sect were asked to take the tablet that caused them to visit the toilet.

“People lined up intending to relieve themselves at the same time. This is inhuman.”

No sample tested positive for the disease.

Health and Child Care provincial health promotion officer Mr George Kambondo said Government had since activated a hotline that can be used to report any health matters and complaints.

“We are appealing to all the people who may have any health complaints to call on PMD Mashonaland West Hotline 0771489415,” he said.

Mr Kambondo said there was no reason for Zambian immigration officials to react in the manner they did as rapid response teams were on high cholera alert.

“All the health workers at village level and stakeholders have been sensitised on the cholera outbreak in the province.

“The teams composed of provincial health executives from the ministry are conducting routine inspections at food outlets while illegal cooking stations have been closed,” he said.

Mr Kambondo said the Chirundu Local Board had been engaged to attend to potential hazards that may trigger an outbreak.

Further, he said, Government was reviewing water rationing programmes in some areas where water was only available at midnight.

Police details are also confiscating fish from vendors coming from Harare to Chinhoyi and other areas in the province at roadblocks.

A multi-stakeholder taskforce has been set up in Chirundu to collaborate with Zambian authorities to spearhead cholera prevention initiatives.

The taskforce comprises Government departments, Chirundu Local Board and non-governmental organisations operating in the border town.

Local board secretary Mr Wilson Gunhe said clean-up campaigns were being conducted in the border town among other efforts to eliminate chances of an outbreak.

“We meet regularly with our Zambian counterparts because of the high volumes of people that come to the border town.

“We have people coming from as far as the Democratic Republic of Congo where there is an Ebola outbreak, Tanzania and other countries in the region. We are always on alert,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Government of Zambia yesterday issued a statement indicating that Lusaka district had recorded 21 new cases of cholera.

“There are no cholera deaths recorded. All patients are currently under treatment. Several measures will be undertaken in an effort to help safeguard lives and prevent further spread of this deadly disease.” – state media

ZANU PF leader Emmerson nangagwa last night left for the 73rd Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he will join other world leaders in discussing how best to create equitable and peaceful societies.

The 73rd General Assembly Ordinary Session will mark Mnangagwa’s maiden address to the world’s largest inter-state organisation, following his victory in the July 30 Presidential election.

Mnangagwa was seen off at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by senior Government officials.

Kembo Mohadi is the Acting President. Zimbabwe’s Head of State and Government has made engagement and re-engagement with the international community one of the pillars of his transformation agenda that seeks to make Zimbabwe a middle-income society by 2030.

Mnangagwa is expected to hold bilateral talks with fellow leaders, as well as have engagements with business interest groups as part of an investment drive that has secured commitments worth more than $20 billion in less than a year.

Further, the theme for this year’s General Assembly debate dovetails well with Mnangagwa’s crusade to foster sustainable peace and economic equity at home.

World leaders’ discussions this year have been themed: “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies”.

The 73rd Session of the General Assembly started on September 18, 2018, while the Grand Debate proper — led by Heads of State and Government and/or their representatives — opens on September 25.

Prior to the Grand Debate, there will be a high-level plenary on global peace to mark the centenary of the birth of South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela (The Nelson Mandela Peace Summit).

On September 26, leaders will discuss the global fight against tuberculosis, as a follow up to discussions in February this year.

The following day will focus largely on the review of progress made in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

This will be the third time that the UN General Assembly has set aside a day for discussion of this emerging global health concern.- state media

A popular Bulawayo DJ and car salesman sustained injuries on his belly and hands after his landlady allegedly poured hot cooking oil on him following a hot chips row, police confirmed yesterday.

Mrs Cecelia Sibanda (60) allegedly accused Mr Ngqabutho Mpofu (34) popularly known as DJ Vulcan who also runs Vulcan Car Sales, of trying to burn down her Nkulumane house after he forgot a pan containing cooking oil on a lit stove.

Mr Mpofu yesterday told Chronicle that he was frying hot chips on Saturday when Mrs Sibanda attacked him.

“I was frying potato chips but unfortunately l went to do something in my bedroom and the chips over burnt. She (Sibanda) panicked when she saw the smoke and advanced into my bedroom holding the pan of oil. She poured it on me shouting that l had plotted to destroy the house and l was wasting electricity,’’ he said.

Mr Mpofu said he was rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals where he was treated and discharged. He has a swathe of bandages around his arms and torso.

Mr Mpofu said he wants police to arrest Mrs Sibanda. “She has no right to burn me even though l’m her tenant. The police should make her account for this. She cannot claim that l wanted to burn the house, those are false allegations,’’ he said.

Mr Mpofu said the incident has affected his business because he has not been able to go to work. “I am a car sales person and a public icon so imagine moving around with such wounds. How will customers and the public react?’’ said Mr Mpofu.

Contacted for comment, Mrs Sibanda said Mr Mpofu burnt himself. “I was awakened by thick smoke in the house and went on to knock at his door. He appeared to be fast asleep. I did not burn him, he burnt himself,’’ said Mrs Sibanda.

Bulawayo Province Police Spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango said police were investigating the incident.

“I confirm a case between Ngqabutho Mpofu and Cecelia Sibanda. The tenant accuses the landlady of burning him with cooking oil,’’ she said.

She said members of the public should desist from using violent and life threatening measures when a dispute arises.

“Being humane calls for people to involve a third party when there is a misunderstanding, rather than using violence,’’ she said.

State Media -Both Emmerson Mnangagwa and new Finance minister Mthuli Ncube have ruled out the immediate return of the decommissioned Zimbabwe dollar — saying the country will for now continue to use bond notes and the multiple currency system until the local economy stabilises.

This comes as there has been growing anxiety among both business and ordinary Zimbabweans, following the dramatic spike in foreign currency rates on the parallel market over the past few weeks.

The forex black market rates ran amok last week following the suggestion by Ncube that the government would be phasing out bond notes before the end of the year — a position that authorities have since moved to dampen.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday during his inaugural State of the Nation Address (Sona), Mnangagwa said bond notes and the multiple currency regime would remain in place, at least until the economy had stabilised.

Similarly, Ncube also said yesterday that the bond notes and the multiple currency system — in which the much-coveted United States dollar is effectively the country’s anchor currency — would continue to power all monetary transactions until the government had finalised its planned currency reforms.

He revealed that a committee to deal with both the currency and fiscal reforms would be appointed next month — although he didn’t give the time lines for the completion of this work.

“People should accept the bond note because as of today we have not changed the currency. They should accept it … until we have come up with a package which will then be a lasting solution to the currency and fiscal issues.

“The direction on currency reforms is also linked with the direction on fiscal reforms. What we are considering is a package that will be a foundation for a strong currency going forward.
“As I often say, monetary reforms and fiscal reforms are two necks of the same body,” Ncube told the media.

The highly-regarded new Finance minister had sent the markets into a tailspin last week after he outlined his vision, soon after his inauguration, where he suggested that bond notes would be gone before the end of this year.

“I am very clear that there have to be currency reforms and the (current) currency approach is not working.

“In doing so, there are three choices that I will explore and pursue with urgency. One, adopt the US dollar only and remove the bond notes from circulation through a demonetisation process and also liberalise exchange controls.

“Two, adopt the Rand by negotiating to join the Rand Monetary Area, and this will close the gap with regards to the loss of competitiveness against our largest trading partner, South Africa.

“Three, adopt a new Zim dollar, and here one needs to be clear that it has to be backed by adequate foreign reserves and macroeconomic conditions for its stability.

“Foreign currency accounts will also be introduced. For sure, currency reforms will be implemented,” Ncube said in remarks which were later seen as contributing to the current upheaval on the parallel market.

Zimbabwe introduced the bond notes towards the end of 2016 as part of its desperate bid to address the country’s severe cash and liquid crisis — all this under a special arrangement with Afrexim Bank.
However, the country has remained in the grip of a ginormous economic crisis characterised by endless cash queues and the acute foreign currency shortages.

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

Ncube also said yesterday that the government was not only working on broader economic reforms aimed at addressing the currency problems, but also the government’s excessive spending which has been fingered as being behind many of the country’s macro-economic problems.

“The fiscal side is also an albatross on the monetary side. So, if we are going to have monetary sector reforms, we also need reforms on the fiscal side and these include reducing the budget deficit to a single digit as quickly as we can and adopting a budgeting approach that always take a medium-term approach.

“So, it’s a package that we are working on rather than something as narrow as the currency that is being used on the street … that’s the foundation for a strong currency going forward,” Ncube said.
Mnangagwa and his Cabinet are under pressure to stop the economy from sliding back into the throes of an economic crisis similar to the 2008 hyperinflation era.

Over the past few weeks, the prices of basic commodities shot up sharply, while some goods have disappeared completely from supermarket shelves due to the country’s acute foreign currency shortages.

This has come at the same time that industry has warned that the deepening foreign currency crisis is making it difficult for manufacturers to import critical raw materials on time.

Industry, as a result, has also warned of further price hikes and shortages of basic consumer goods.

Already the country is experiencing shortages of basic goods, hospital drugs and construction materials such as cement.

Last week, millers also confirmed that a bread crisis was looming as wheat stocks in the country had now reached critical levels.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe yesterday received a huge boost from Britain which said it would be supporting the country’s plan to clear its debt arrears with the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Zimbabwe owes the two institutions a combined $1,8 billion.

Clearing the arrears would help the country to be considered for borrowing fresh money, and thereby help to resuscitate the ailing economy. – state media