Jane Mlambo|A Bulawayo magistrate on Monday freed commuter omnibus driver David Ndlovu who had been arrested for insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Ndlovu was arrested on earlier this year for calling the Zanu PF leader a dog.
However, passing ruling on Monday, magistrate Gladmore Mushowe said prosecutors had failed prove their allegations.

The State alleging that the offence occurred when Ndlovu, of Sauurcetown in Bulawayo, met one Sibekezile Jele at Puma Service Station situated at corner Lobengula Street and 6th Avenue in the city.

Jele, a nurse aid at a local nursing home, approached a paraffin vendor only identified in court as Banda intending to buy the fuel.

When Jele complained that the paraffin was too expensive, Ndlovu allegedly interjected and said in isiNdebele “Wena hantsho wavota wathi ED pfee, sizibona ukuthi inja leyo izalenzani” (You voted for ED, we will see what that dog of yours is going to do for you).

However, magistrate Mushowe said the State failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused.

“The state failed to bring witnesses to corroborate what the complainant told the court,” he said.

“It is clear that there was no commotion or peace disturbances after the accused allegedly uttered those words.”

Ndlovu’s lawyer, Dixon Abraham from the Christian Legal Society, welcomed the ruling.
“I had always known that the State had no case,” he said.

“The State should not waste the court’s time by bringing petty squabbles before the courts.

“There are serious offences which are being committed every day which need urgent address and not these minor cases.”
-Newzimbabwe.com

Jane Mlambo|Britain will support Zimbabwe to get on to an interim IMF staff programme to help the country quickly clear its foreign arrears, Britain’s ambassador in Harare said on Tuesday.

Clearing the $1.8 billion in arrears to the World Bank and African Development Bank is seen as a major step for Zimbabwe to start accessing foreign credit, especially for the private sector as well as foreign direct investment.

Ambassador Catriona Laing said an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme would help Britain’s former colony expedite the clearance of its arrears. “We are here to give that support to try and encourage a process back to an IMF programme, perhaps through an interim staff monitoring programme as soon as possible,” Laing told reporters.

She said this would enable Zimbabwe “to start a serious dialogue” around the clearance of the arrears.

Zimbabwe’s finance minister Mthuli Ncube said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government was still deciding whether to follow the Highly Indebted Poor Country route or a commercial deal to clear the arrears.

Only then would it come up with a timeline to pay the arrears, he said, adding that he would launch an economic stabilisation programme next month. Zimbabwe, which is trying to shake off its international pariah tag, started defaulting on its foreign debt in 1999.

The West put sanctions on the country in 2002 as punishment against former President Robert Mugabe’s government.

Laing said along with economic measures such as reducing the country’s fiscal deficit, Britain also wanted Harare to carry out political reforms, including aligning the country’s laws to a 2013 constitution.

“We will be tracking both pathways, the economic pathway and political pathway. We want Zimbabwe to succeed,” Laing said.
-Online media

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has insisted that July 30 Polls were peaceful, free and fair, remarks that will not go down well with the opposition MDC Alliance which has dismissed the outcome of the Presidential elections as a cooked result.

Addressing the ninth session of parliament today, Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans heeded his calls for peaceful political contestation saying his government has begun entrenching constitutionalism and democratic practices and values.

”As per my promise, the recently held harmonised elections whose outcome constituted this parliament were peaceful, free, fair and democratic,” said Mnangagwa.

MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa is on record saying Mnangagwa rigged elections.

Chamisa who challenged the Presidential election results at the Constitutional Court where he sought to expose irregularities that proved why the elections were not credible.

The case was dismissed but Chamisa insists that the court did not give him a chance to submit subpoenas that had hardcore evidence to prove his case.

Jane Mlambo| The Harare City Council has named officials who attempted to swindle funds meant for cholera outbreak intervention with Mayor, Councillor Hebert Gomba saying disciplinary action has already been effected on the trio.

The officials are Philimon Rwafa who is the Procurement and stores officer, Smart Mhuka, Tawanda Marange and Tafadzwa Reza.

Speaking to 263Chat today, Harare Mayor Hebert Gomba said disciplinary action has already been effected to the officials saying suspension from work starting yesterday was the first step as part of the disciplinary process.

“We are continuously looking at the matter and the release of names is an indication on how we intend to take up the matter.

“The people involved have been suspended and they will be taken for disciplinary at the industrial relations offices of the council,” said Gomba.

The matter came to light yesterday following business mogul founder of Econet Wireless, Strive Masiyiwa expressing displeasure in the manner in which cholera fund was being handled.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Masiyiwa revealed that following the pledge to pump millions into cholera fight, some officials hiked prices of material intended for cholera fight in a bid to defraud Econet.

“One of the saddest things that happened last week when Econet announced that it had set aside $10 million to help support to buy medicines and materials was the number of suppliers and even officials in one of the municipalities who tried to defraud our company by offering things at highly inflated prices,” reads part of the post.

Jane Mlambo| MDC President, Nelson Chamisa has said his party will work to turn the 28 local authorities they lead into zones of excellence abhorring corruption which he said calls for strong leadership.

In his latest Twitter post, Chamisa said he has instructed his Mayors and Councillors to work hard towards service delivery.

DECISIVELY DEALING WITH CORRUPTION.. Reports of corruption in government, both local and national call for strong leadership. In the 28 cities & towns we lead, we’ve instructed all Mayors & Councillors to turn those local authorities into zones of excellence service delivery.

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) September 18, 2018

Just yesterday, Econet Wireless founder, Strive Masiyiwa complained of local authority employees who inflated prices of goods to be procured using his company’s $10 million donation towards fighting cholera.

The employees who have since been suspended by City of Harare Town Clerk, Engineer Hosiah Chisango were reported to have inflated the price of gloves from three dollars to $65, something that did not go well with Masiyiwa who threatened to name the officials once dust settles.

Staff Reporter|Highly reliable ZimEye.com sources have made claims that former Cabinet Minister Savior Kasukuwere has been arrested in Harare.

This comes as ZimEye was earlier this morning contacted by Kasukuwere as he dismissed the reports from Tuesday morning.

Kasukuwere was said to be set to appear at the Rotten Row Magistrates Court facing charges of some illegal land deals done while he was still in government.

It is also revealed that he was also questioned in connection with the Bulawayo bombing of July 23 where President Emmerson Mnangagwa missed assassination by a whisker.

Kasukuwere earlier today revealed to ZimEye.com that he was not aware of any arrests nor court appearances set for him after early morning reports from court roll indicated that he was due for court today.

This article is still developing and details will be updated as they become available.

Dear President ED Mnangagwa,

Ref: Demand for Immediate Restoration of Matabeleland State

Your Excellency, I am writing to you in my capacity as the leader of the Matabeleland Liberation Organisation (MLO), an organization whose ultimate objective is to achieve full political independence for the peoples of Matabeleland whose country is currently under Zimbabwe’s inherited colonial occupation since 1893.

Mr President, right from the outset I wish to categorically state that although I am averse to acts of injustice and inhumanity being perpetrated against innocent people in Zimbabwe by military elements loyal to you, I don’t wish to get myself entangled in your present domestic feuds with your Zimbabwean compatriots as that has nothing to do with the liberation of my country, Matabeleland. Even as I congratulate you and your party on your electoral victory in the just concluded harmonised elections in Zimbabwe whose aftermath was characteristised by bloodshed which is synonimous with Zimbabwean political traditions, I wish to state that the Matabeleland Nation we wish to reconstruct will be radically different from the chaos and disorder which define Zimbabwe including the means and methods you adopted to replace your mentor and predecessor, Mr Robert Mugabe.

First and foremost, Your Excellency, I write this letter to alert you to the existence of fundamental demands we made to your predecessor, Mr Robert Mugabe, regarding the urgent need for him as President of Zimbabwe by then, to facilitate a dialogue process that would eventually culminate with Matabeleland gaining her independence from Zimbabwe. The restoration of Matabeleland’s sovereignty is an extremely urgent matter we had hoped your predecessor would expeditiously act upon during his incumbency but unfortunately he was retired before he could find time to resolve it. As the new President of your country it is our hope that you will find time to study our demands as articulated in our correspondences with your predecessor and accordingly act upon them without further delay. As you would know, the people of Matabeleland have never willingly placed themselves under Rhodesia and its successor colonial construct called Zimbabwe and as such we demand to revert to our country’s pre-colonial status of self governance as was the case in 1893. Details of this demand are found in the correspondences made with your predecessor, Mr Robert Mugabe which should be in your office..

Your Excellency, kindly note that the Notice for the Restoration of Matebeleland Sovereignty was served to your predecessor on the 7th December, 2015. I am sure you will agree with MLO that it’s been quite a long time since then and our people are becoming more and more agitated by the passage of each day. As MLO we still commit ourselves to meeting the Zimbabwe colonial government to peacefully resolve this urgent matter to the satisfaction of all concerned through peaceful means.

Your Excellency, the second demand made to the Government of Zimbabwe through your predecessor but now under your leadership, was that Matabeleland be paid a compensation sum of US$100 billion for the multiple level damages suffered under successive Zimbabwe administrations since 18 April, 1980 and the rapacious exploitation of her resources to benefit Zimbabwe and its people at the exclusion of Matabeles. The US$100 billion compensation covers the Matabeleland Genocide committed between 1980 and 1988 by the Zanu PF led government in which you played a leading role, the loss of property, the needless subjection of Matabele people to economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West for Zimbabwe’s political indiscretions, the marginalisation of our citizens and their loss of dignity which has caused them to be displaced, dehumanized, traumatised and dispersed across the globe as economic refugees.

Your Excellency, we are delighted to note that as someone who participated in Zimbabwe’s struggle for national independence against the white colonial regimes, you fully understand the value of cooperation on matters like these in order to avoid unnecessary suffering. We also note that as someone who rose to power through unothordox means when your predecessor could not open sufficient political space for you and your faction within the ruling Zanu PF, you will fully understand the consequences of trying to delay the inevitable.

Mr President, we are also delighted to note that as a leader of the military government in Zimbabwe, you have committed yourself to restorative justice to the demands of white farmers who lost their farms under the previous regime. We therefore believe that as a genuine reformist siezed with rectifying the aftermath of the chaotic Land Reform Programme that savagely affected white people, you are the best disposed man to resolve a more serious African grievance through the peaceful methods that you have publicly laid claim to as your trademark. Your recent interventions in Mr Tendayi Biti’s fugitive dilemma in Zambia and commitment to resolving major national questions of the day peacefully gives us hope that you will also handle the Matabeleland Question with the utmost probity and empathy it deserves.

Mr President, Zimbabwe as a confirmed failed state should not be allowed to go down with Matabeleland which has not benefited anything from the frightful acts of corruption and plunder of the national fiscus. Zimbabwe is a country in which the distribution of power, resources and opportunities is skewed against Matabeles which is intolerable to the Matebeles and can no longer afford to carry on under the circumstances. This is a country in which Matabeles cannot produce a genuine national leader on democratic terms because the antagonistic non-Matabele population uses its majority status not only to undermine Matabele leadership but also to invade Matabele political space and subjugate them to Shona tribal supremacy.

The logical path left to resolve this impasse is a painless, costless and bloodless one which will allow Matebeleland to regain her independence and full sovereignty whilst retaining Zimbabwe as a preferred and natural major trading partner and neighbour. In this arrangement Zimbabwe has nothing to fear or lose as full diplomatic relations, free movement of people and trade between the two neighbouring countries will be maintained.

Mr President, we hope that you will not allow these demands to take any other direction but dialogue guided by wisedom, genuine and sincere cooperation through peaceful means.

Mr President, as you will appreciate it based on your own personal experiences last November when you had to briefly flee the country before retuning home to overturn the tables against your predecessor with military help, Zimbabwe is a very undemocratic country to live in and Matabeles do not wish to be holed up in it any longer. Over 3 million of our people live in abject poverty in what is supposed to be their home whilst a further 3 million lives in exile due to the operation of an ongoing bloodless genocide, marginalisation and state sponsored psychological and physical abuse. They now need to come back home, a home which Zimbabwe cannot and will never provide and guarantee.

Mr President, I don’t need to remind you of how the Government of Zimbabwe you served as a Security Minister under Predident Robert Mugabe arrested and detained George Mkhwanazi and I at Khami Maximum Prison in 2002 and charged us with subversion for condemning the ongoing ethnic cleansing programme against Matebeles as articulated in the Zanupf Anti-Matabele Grand Plan of 1979 and reviewed in 2010, a charge that is still hanging over our heads.

I also don’t have to remind you of how in 2011/12 the Government you served under as a Minister of Justice once again arrested and detained John Gazi, Charles Thomas Gumpo and myself at Khami Maximum Prison and charged us with treason, a charge that is still hanging over my head. Since 1893 upto date we are conscious and aware of selective justice system that is applied on us and note that our grievaces and Demands can not be resolved by the judicial system buy buy the political dialogue.

After relentless persecution of my person and family ,I was eventually hounded out of the country for my beliefs and convitctions , which are shared by the majority Matebeles in their diversity and can not be exchanged for anything but the Restoration of Matebeleland Independence and Sovereignity.

Looking forward to an urgent peaceful resolution of the Matabeleland Demand

Izenzo kungemazwi

Yours sincerely

(President of Matabeleland Liberation Organisation)

By Staff Correspondent|POLICE say the ban on public gatherings announced last week applies to churches as well.

In an interview, Police deputy spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged churches to approach local health workers and police before any gatherings so as to arrest the spread of cholera.

“Police has since banned any gathering in Harare and this also applies to churches and we are urging church leaders to approach local health workers and police for any gathering.”

Ass-Comm Nyathi said they will be on the lookout for gatherings where there are no adequate ablution facilities.

“Police will descend heavily on churches who gather at places where there are no toilets and we discourage more gatherings at places where a number of toilets cannot contain the number of people gathered,” he said referring further questions on musical show gatherings to City of Harare.

Britain will support Zimbabwe to get on to an interim IMF staff programme to help the country quickly clear its foreign arrears, Britain’s ambassador in Harare said on Tuesday.

Clearing the $1.8 billion in arrears to the World Bank and African Development Bank is seen as a major step for Zimbabwe to start accessing foreign credit, especially for the private sector as well as foreign direct investment.

Ambassador Catriona Laing said an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme would help Britain’s former colony expedite the clearance of its arrears.

“We are here to give that support to try and encourage a process back to an IMF programme, perhaps through an interim staff monitoring programme as soon as possible,” Laing told reporters.

She said this would enable Zimbabwe “to start a serious dialogue” around the clearance of the arrears.

Zimbabwe’s finance minister Mthuli Ncube said President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government was still deciding whether to follow the Highly Indebted Poor Country route or a commercial deal to clear the arrears.

Only then would it come up with a timeline to pay the arrears, he said, adding that he would launch an economic stabilisation programme next month.

Zimbabwe, which is trying to shake off its international pariah tag, started defaulting on its foreign debt in 1999. The West put sanctions on the country in 2002 as punishment against former President Robert Mugabe’s government, which was accused of vote fraud and rights abuses.

Mugabe, whose near four-decade rule ended after a coup last November, has maintained he was punished for seizing white-owned commercial farms to resettle blacks.

Laing said along with economic measures such as reducing the country’s fiscal deficit, Britain also wanted Harare to carry out political reforms, including aligning the country’s laws to a 2013 constitution.

“We will be tracking both pathways, the economic pathway and political pathway. We want Zimbabwe to succeed,” Laing said.

Reuters

Zimbabwe has the second most expensive mobile data in sub-Saharan Africa after Equatorial Guinea at $25 for one gigabyte, a technology report released last week has shown.

Despite the spread of mobile phones and Internet connectivity across Africa, the high cost of data remains a major block to digital innovation, noted the report, which is based on a survey of 37 African nations and prepared by pan African bank, Ecobank.

With revenue from voice calls continuing to drop, data has become the major driver of earnings for telcoms in the country. But the cost of data has become an emotive issue in the region, notably in Zimbabwe and South Africa where it sparked off the #DataMustFall.

Equatorial Guinea, whose average mobile data cost for 1GB was $35,47, was ranked the most expensive country out of the 37 African nations surveyed.

Zimbabwe’s data tariffs are among the highest in the region, while neighbouring countries like South Africa and Zambia charge $10 and $13 respectively.

In India, it costs less than a dollar.

The continental average is $7,04/GB.

The report titled The high cost of mobile data in Sub-Saharan Africa, was prepared based on the average cost of downloading 1GB of data with the number of mobile network operators operating in a particular country.

“Ironically, the cost of data in South Africa is significantly lower than for its neighbours.

Over the border in Zimbabwe, 1GB of mobile data costs $25, while in Swaziland it is $21.86…,” the report read.

“In countries like Zimbabwe, the DRC and Liberia, where mobile data is upwards of 13% of monthly GNI per capita, accessing the Internet regularly is unaffordable for most consumers, perpetuating digital exclusion.

The impact is felt not just by consumers, who do not have access to the services and information that can be provided digitally, but also by SMEs (which make up over 90% of businesses in Africa).”

According to the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Zimbabwe’s GNI per capita as at the end of 2017 was $1 079,60.

Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe and Swaziland were the only sub-Saharan countries to average mobile data charges over $20 for a GB of data.

As of July 1, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe reduced local out of bundle mobile data and internet charges after a cost modelling exercise for telecommunication network services to five cents per megabyte from the 12,5 cents.

These costs translate to about $50 per 1GB of data as the set regulatory amount for out of bundle mobile data.

Previously, Zimbabwe was ranked the fourth most expensive country in Africa concerning mobile data as at September 30, 2016 in a report prepared by a South African ICT firm Research ICT Africa.

In the report, Zimbabwe had an average charge of $30 per 1GB of mobile data at a time when the regulated prices were 12,5 cents per megabyte (MB).

In the Research ICT Africa report, the national average cost for one gigabyte of monthly data in South Sudan was $90,86, Mauritania $33,60 and Swaziland $32,33, followed by Zimbabwe.

While the average of $25 is an improvement from the $30 stated by Research ICT Africa due to Potraz reducing costs, Zimbabwe still rose to the second most expensive country in Africa due to its high mobile infrastructure costs and fees.

NewsDay

Bulawayo magistrate Gladmore Mushowe has freed a Kombi driver who had been arrested for calling President Emmerson Mnangagwa a dog.

David Ndlovu was freed on Monday after the magistrate ruled that the state had failed prove its allegations against the accused.

The court claimed that Ndlovu, of Sauurcetown in Bulawayo, met one Sibekezile Jele at Puma Service Station situated at corner Lobengula Street and 6th Avenue in the city.

Jele, a nurse aid at a local nursing home, approached a paraffin vendor only identified in court as Banda intending to buy the fuel.

When Jele complained that the paraffin was too expensive, Ndlovu allegedly interjected and said in isiNdebele “Wena hantsho wavota wathi ED pfee, sizabona ukuthi inja leyo izalenzani” (You voted for ED, we will see what that dog of yours is going to do for you).

“The state failed to bring witnesses to corroborate what the complainant told the court,” he said.

“It is clear that there was no commotion or peace disturbances after the accused allegedly uttered those words.”

Ndlovu’s lawyer, Dixon Abraham from the Christian Legal Society, welcomed the ruling.

“I had always known that the State had no case,” he said.

“The State should not waste the court’s time by bringing petty squabbles before the courts.

“There are serious offences which are being committed every day which need urgent address and not these minor cases.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

NATIONAL Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) board chair, Larry Mavhima, has resigned as the parastatal’s chairman following his recent swearing in as Senator for Shurugwi-Zvishavane and appointment as Minister of State for Midlands province.

He became board chair in March 2016, replacing Engineer Alvord Mabhena who was relieved of his duties in November 2015. Minister Mavima said in line with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, he had voluntarily resigned upon being sworn in as a Senator.

“I have voluntarily resigned as board chair of the National Railways of Zimbabwe. The law actually prohibits any members in the executive to hold directorship in State-owned companies so I have since resigned upon being sworn in as a Senator for Shurugwi-Zvishavane,” he said in an interview.

“I have actually handed over my responsibilities at NRZ to my deputy chairman Brigadier General William Dube until a new chairman is appointed by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development (Biggie Matiza).”

During his tenure at the helm of NRZ, Minister Mavima said the board and management did a lot of work to turnaround the strategic entity, which is about to reach financial closure for the $400 million recapitalisation deal. Last year, NRZ and the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG)/Transnet entered into a $400 million deal to fund the parastatal’s rehabilitation project, which involves renewal of plant, equipment, rolling stock, track signalling and telecommunications infrastructure as well as information technology systems.

“We have done a lot of work in respect of recapitalisation of NRZ of which he (Brig Gen Dube) was part of. I would urge him to continue with the process that we started, which has yielded significant results for NRZ and to see that financial closure is achieved as soon as possible in as far as recapitalisation is concerned,” said Minister Mavima.

The strategic entity, which requires about $1,9 billion in the long-term to fully recapitalise its operations, took delivery of railway equipment in February on lease terms under an interim arrangement with DIDG/Transnet while it awaits financial closure to the $400 million recapitalisation project.

Leased equipment under the interim solution comprises locomotives, wagons and passenger coaches. The equipment is meant to boost the NRZ’s capacity to move freight which had dropped drastically as result of obsolete equipment.

During its glory days in the 1990s, NRZ was moving 18 million tonnes of freight annually but the figure nose-dived to 3,1 million tonnes in 2017. In the first quarter of the year, the parastatal surpassed its revenue target of $18 million for the period by five percent on the back of the trust NRZ’s customers continue to build in the company.

Minister Mavima said his new office would work with various opportunities that exist in the mineral, agricultural, and commercial sectors to position the Midlands as the industrial power hub of Zimbabwe.

Chronicle

Press Statement|On behalf of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair Association (ZIBFA) General Council and Executive Board, we wish to advise that due to health considerations and the subsequent hold placed on all public gatherings, the 2018 Book Fair Indaba and Exhibition has been deferred until further notice.

We shall stand guided by further developments and announcements by the responsible authorities who are monitoring and evaluating the situation.

Should you require further information, please contact the ZIBFA Secretariat

Exchange rates on Zimbabwe’s parallel market have risen sharply in the past week to 100% for real time gross settlement (RTGS) transfers, triggering fears of more price increases.

Zimbabwe’s chaotic currency market means that there are several exchange rates for different forms of money: for the physical United States dollar, the bond note and electronic transactions.

The exchange rate for US dollar to electronic rate reached 100% at the weekend, while that for bond notes was at 85%.

After new Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said he was considering taking the quasi-currency out of circulation, its rate on the market fell to 10% from 25% while there are frantic efforts among traders to dispose of the notes.

New Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube lays out his plan September 9, 2018
Government has been employing quasi-currency instruments such as Treasury Bills to fund its activities, a move that led to growing mismatch between money in circulation and RTGS balances.

Broad money supply increased by 40,8% per annum from $6,4 billion to $9,1 billion by end of June 2018 according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe June report.

Bond notes and coins in circulation increased from $175,7 million to $379,2 million in June 2018.

The growth in the rate of the US dollar has an impact on the prices of the commodities as the majority of businesses source the greenback on the parallel market.

A money changer who doubles as a shop owner last Friday said he was putting a mark-up of 20% on all his clothing products due to the spike of the rate US dollar on the parallel market.

“The net effect is pushing prices northward unless companies are able to get foreign currency from the formal financial system,” Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers Denford Mutashu said.

“The parallel market rate is a reflection of confidence levels in the economy or lack of it thereof.

It is indicative of continued growth of electronic money supply and the decline in circulation of the US dollar within formal circulation versus high demand thereof.

The new Finance minister has a herculean task on his hands, but he should start doing something about the fiscal imbalance.”

Labour Development and Research Institute of Zimbabwe boss Prosper Chitambara said the current phenomenon was essentially feeding into the inflation spiral and was caused by uncertainties in respect to currency reforms.

“The increased US dollar premium is as a result of uncertainties.

It is not clear what is going to happen to the RTGS after the minister’s pronouncement.

But there is a direct relationship between the level of goods prices and the growth in premiums obtaining on the black market.

“Lack of confidence has also contributed to the current arbitrage on the market.

“I think, while these parallel market premium surges have been responding to Treasury Bills issuance, as well as general forex demand to import merchandise, there is also a clear case of market metathesiophobia of impending currency reforms as hinted by Finance minister Ncube,” economist Clemence Machadu said.

NewsDay

Jane Mlambo|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has ordered his cabinet ministers to each come up with “five quick and high impact projects” as he looks to make a quick impression after his disputed election in July.

The president chaired his first meeting with the 20-member cabinet on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s opening of the 9th Parliament and State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In a statement released after the meeting ministers, particularly the new ones, should adopt the 100-day cycle of doing business introduced when he first assumed power last November.

“Going forward we should continue to apply the 100 Day Cycles as a way of doing business in government supported by the monitoring of performance outcomes using the Executive Electronic dashboard,” he said.

“Each portfolio Minister should identify a minimum of five quick-win and high impact projects in order that work on them commences in earnest; where appropriate it is permissible to go beyond the five subject to approval by the Cabinet.”

And to encourage transparency, Mnangagwa said; “The Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services will issue a press statement (after cabinet) in the presence of the Chief Secretary and implementing Ministers.

“This will help us entrench transparency and a culture of responsiveness, as we seek to transform the quality of life of our people.”

Mnangagwa is under pressure to deliver after first taking over power through last November’s military coup which ended the four-decade rule of his mentor Robert Mugabe.

The subsequent July 30 elections have been disputed by the opposition which accuses the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of manipulating the results in Mnangagwa’s favour.
-newzimbabwe.com

Correspondent|Ishmael Maukazuva, an MDC Alliance councillor has complained against Chikomba District Administrator Michael Mariga who he accuses of forcing him to swear by the Bible during last week’s swearing in ceremony at the council offices.

Maukazuva who is an electrician with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) is a Moslem and had made prior request for the Koran to be provided for him during the swearing in ceremony.

Zanu PF councillors called for his immediate recall when he refused to hold the Bible.

Maukazuva was then ordered by Mariga to take the oath while holding a bible. He gave in but murmured his pledges in disappointment.

Mariga said, “I did not force him to swear by the Bible, he did it willingly,” when asked for a comment.
He later on called The Mirror and changed his statement saying that the acting CEO was handling the swearing in and he was a mere observer before accusing The Mirror of trying to tarnish his image.

Maukazuva who is a councillor for the first time said that he held the Bible because he didn’t want to be at war with the DA. He said that he was however very hurt and felt abused.

The Constitution of Zimbabwe allows for freedom of worship and it is therefore illegal for anyone to force someone to join a religion against his or her wish.
“I am not a Christian. I am a Moslem who is loyal to my religion. I gave in to the demands of the DA just for the sake of the electorate, whom I didn’t want to upset. I will however perform a cleansing ritual on myself after this incident,” said Maukazuva.

Constitutional lawyer Tawanda Kanengoni said ”Forcing the councillor to take the oath in a way which is against his religion was a deprivation of his freedom of worship inshrined in the constitution.”

Section 60 (2) of the Zimbabwean Constitution states that ‘No person may be compelled to take an oath contrary to their religion or belief or to take an oath in a manner that is contrary to their religion or belief’.

Meanwhile, Ward 17 Councillor Israel Dhikinya of Zanu PF was unanimously elected Chikomba RDC chairperson after another nominee, Learnmore Mufamba withdrew from contesting.

Masvingo Mirror

Jane Mlambo| A Harare magistrate yesterday issued a warrant of arrest to businessman Genius Kadungure, popularly known as Ginimbi, who is accused of swindling Zanu PF member of Parliament Dexter Nduna of R1 581 890 in a botched mining deal.

Kadungure, who is jointly charged with Wicknell Chivayo, was supposed to appear for trial before magistrate Morgen Nemadire yesterday but failed to do so, leading to the warrant for arrest being issued.

His lawyer Jonathan Samkange asked the court to issue his client with an administrative warrant of arrest saying his client was out of the country and the State consented to postpone the matter to October 9.

Chivayo, who is represented by Advocate Lewis Uriri instructed by Wilson Manase was also advised to appear on the same date.

Allegations are that Kadungure swindled Nduna’s construction firm, Badon Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, and a Kadoma-based miner only identified as Gatawa of R1 581 890.

Sometime in November 2012, Kadungure and Chivayo allegedly connived with unknown accomplices and created a fictitious company, Transco Civil Engineering, purportedly based in South Africa and opened a company account with Absa bank.

The State alleges the pair created an e-mail account pretending to be legitimate representatives of Marange Resources. It is alleged Kadungure then contacted the complainant and misrepresented himself as Marange Resources chief buyer and said he was looking for mining pumps at competitive prices.

The State alleges Kadungure referred Nduna to his bogus company, Transco Civil Engineering, in South Africa, on the pretext that it was a recommended supplier. On December 4, 2013, Gatawa sent his brother Enock to South Africa to purchase the pumps.

He was ordered to deposit R1 046 890 for the purchase of 10 flight pumps into the Absa account. After the transfer, Enock was told by Transco Civil Engineering that they would send the pumps via DHL after three days.

It is alleged on December 12, Gatawa went to DHL’s airport branch, to collect the pumps and was shocked to receive a parcel with mobile phone chargers.

That is when he realised that he had been duped, the court heard.
-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| Former cabinet minister, Savior Kasukuwere is today expected to appear at the Harare Magistrates Court for yet to be confirmed charges.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Kasukuwere is being charged over a land issue while another source said it is in connection with the Bulawayo bombing incident.

Kasukuwere who previously appeared in court on charges of border jumping is part of a clique of former ruling party members who were fired following a military coup that displaced Mr Robert Mugabe.

More details to follow….

THE police blitz on vendors in major towns has spread to Masvingo, with soldiers and the police clearing the city at the weekend as government responds to the outbreak of cholera that has claimed 30 lives so far and left thousands infected.

Riot police and the soldiers took the vendors by surprise on Sunday in Masvingo town and Zaka and forced them off the streets.

By yesterday morning, Masvingo city had been cleared of vendors, but some defiantly trooped back as the day progressed.

“We were beaten and told not to return.

Some lost their wares and others got injured in the process,” a vendor from Zaka Growth Point told NewsDay over the phone yesterday.

Another vendor in Masvingo City said they did not resist the order and just ran away for fear of being assaulted.

“They did not give us a warning. They just came and ordered us off the streets.

We did not resist for fear of being beaten because they were armed to the tooth,” she said.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Charity Mazula did not respond when contacted for comment yesterday.

Masvingo has so far recorded one cholera death which health officials traced to Harare.

Government has declared the disaster a state of emergency.

Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation director Wadzai Mangoma said: “We are against the move by the government.

It’s illegal! Vending has always been there.

We call upon the government and all its agencies to stop the evictions now and deal with the issue of provision of clean and potable water and collection of garbage.

Vendors are trying to survive in these harsh economic circumstances.”

Newsday

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment of a seven-member commission of inquiry into the post-election violence that led to the killing of seven civilians in Harare by members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) on August 1, 2018 has been challenged.

On August 29, Mnangagwa appointed a commission, led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, a Briton, a Tanzanian and Nigerian to work with three locals, Lovemore Madhuku, Charity Manyeruke and Vimbai Nyemba.

But one of the victims’ relatives has taken Mnangagwa to court, challenging the appointment which he claims is illegal, unreasonable and irrational.

Alison Charles, whose brother Gavin Dean Charles was shot and killed on the day in question, has, in conjunction with the Counselling Service Unit, petitioned the High Court to declare as unconstitutional the appointment of the commission.

“I respectfully contend that the decision by the first respondent (Mnangagwa) to appoint a commission of inquiry is reviewable on the basis that it is grossly unreasonable on at least two separate grounds and or interlinking bases,” Alison said in his founding affidavit.

“It is submitted that the decision of the first respondent is unlawful in that; it violates the principle of legality and/or it is irrational.”

Charles, through his lawyers, Atherstone and Cook Alison said Mnangagwa’s commission would not deliver as it comprised of biased commissioners such as Manyeruke and Madhuku.

“On August 29, 2018, Mnangagwa ‘purportedly’ acting in terms of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, appointed a seven-member commission of inquiry into what he termed “post-election violence on August 1, 2018,” he said.

“The postulated commission consists of local, regional and international members.

The first respondent has not yet gazetted the commission of inquiry as required of him by the Commissions of Inquiry Act.”

Charles said Mnangagwa appointed the commission before he appointed his Cabinet, making it illegal, according to section 88 (2) and section 105(1) of the Constitution.

He said it was “a notorious fact” that Manyeruke was a staunch Zanu PF supporter and thus it was not rational to appoint her into the commission.

He said Madhuku’s mind was soiled having made pronouncements on the matter.

In the alternative, Charles urged the court to declare the appointment of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission or the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission as the appropriate body to investigate the killings.

“Alternatively, the first respondent’s decision in appointing the following commissioners be and is hereby set aside; (1) Professor Charity Manyeruke (2) Professor Lovemore Madhuku,” he said, adding in the alternative the commission of inquiry’s terms of reference must be replaced.

He added that he was also not happy with the manner the police have so far handled the issue of his brother’s death, accusing the law enforcement agents of refusing to allow the family access to the post-mortem report.

NewsDay

Jane Mlambo| War veterans in Manicaland are up in arms against the Zanu PF provincial leadership, accusing the executive of making party leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa unpopular in the province.
Already daggers have been drawn between the Mike Madiro-led executive and other provincial leaders over the state of the party in the province that culminated in Mnangagwa’s poor showing in the July 30 harmonised elections.

The warring parties have refused to let go of the election results feud, but instead the situation has created a platform for the beginning of new fights in the province.

A letter directed to both Zanu PF national leadership and war veterans leadership from Makoni district points to an impending explosion, less than a year after Zanu PF purportedly renewed itself.

War veterans secretary-general Victor Matemadanda said he was yet to be briefed on the situation.

“They haven’t invited me yet (war veterans from Manicaland) and if they have a plan to invite me, I am still to receive their invitation. I cannot comment on that issue because I have not received anything,” Matemadanda said.

Part of the letter dated September 14 read: “The results of the 2018 harmonised election were to us most embarrassing in the sense that after a resounding meeting addressed by His Excellency the President at Mutare Aerodrome, we were left with a very clear impression that the President was certainly going to be the victor.

“Our shock came when the results placed out President in the second best position, a thoroughly degrading result to Manicaland province. We, as war veterans in Manicaland do not know who (sic) to apologise for that disastrous result.”

“The question then arises as to who then has to be apportioned the blame for that humiliating result.

We believe this arose from the acts of the provincial chairman,” the letter added.
In that same letter, the war veterans chronicled how certain people such as Joseph Mujati, Oliver Mandipaka and Brighton Muchuwo, who vehemently fought the G40 group were being sidelined while those reportedly aligned to that same deposed faction were being accommodated.
-Newsday

THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has petitioned the court seeking to compel former Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi to settle a $327 481 debt incurred at his Ulva Farm.

Through its lawyers Chihambakwe, Mutizwa and Partners, the power utility issued the summons to the former minister on September 13, 2018 but he did not respond to the litigation.

In its declaration, the power utility said Sekeramayi had refused and or neglected to settle the electricity bill despite numerous requests to do so prompting the firm to approach the court for recourse.

“The defendant (Sekeramayi) is indebted or liable to the plaintiff (ZETDC) as at August 31, 2018 in the sum of $327 481,92 being charges in respect of electricity supplied by the plaintiff to the defendant at the latter’s special request and instance in terms of the running electricity supply contract between the two,” the power utility said.

“The defendant has failed, neglected or refused to pay the above amount despite written demand. By reason of the said failure, neglect or refusal to pay the above amount, the defendant is obliged to pay the same with interest thereon at the prescribed rate which is currently 5%.

“Wherefore, the plaintiff herein claims a payment of $327 481,92, interest at the prescribed rate of interest from the date of the issue of summons to date of payment in full both date inclusive and cost of suit on a legal practitioner client scale.”

NewsDay

Jane Mlambo| The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is currently reviewing all government-funded programmes to identify possible cases of corruption, an official said yesterday.

Munyaradzi Magiga, a systems and processes review manager at the anti-graft body last week told a Transparency International Zimbabwe roundtable discussion on improving transparency and accountability that Zacc was working together with the Finance ministry to look at all government programmes to see how they were administered.

“You will see a lot of public and private sector companies being visited as the commission prepares to combat corruption this year,” Magiga said.

“We are now working closely with the Finance ministry to look at all funded programmes and amounts paid for projects that have stalled since the 1990s so that we investigate them for possible corruption,” he said.

Zacc commissioner in charge of investigations Goodson Nguni told the same forum that more arrests were likely, adding that more than 20 individuals have been arrested for corruption this
month.
-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| The election of an MDC Alliance councillor and an independent as chairman and deputy chair of Chiredzi Town Council has left the ruling Zanu PF party deeply divided.

Zanu PF won resoundingly all four constituencies in Chiredzi but lost the town’s chairmanship to the MDC Alliance despite having four councillors to the opposition party’s three. The town also has one independent councillor, who was elected deputy chairperson.

Ward 1 councillor, Gibson Hwende, pipped Zanu PF’s ward 5 councillor Blessing Mazinyani to the post, garnering five votes against the latter’s three, while Independent ward 3 councillor, Ropafadzo Makumire, beat ward 4 council Liberty Macharaga of Zanu PF by the same margin to land the vice-chair post.

Zanu PF MP for Chiredzi West, Farai Musikavanhu told party supporters in a ruling party’s WhatsApp group that he was going to raise the issue with the district and provincial leadership.

Part of the post read: “I and the district leadership have to meet today to take a position for recommendation to the provincial chairman/Res Minister Hon (Ezra) Chadzamira following the mess at the Chiredzi Town Council on Monday.

“May I, therefore, request that we now leave this topic until we give you feedback. I would, however, like to give you a challenge which is informed by a conclusion that I made: We need to start identifying now suitable candidates that will be groomed in party ideology for them to assume positions of councillors in 2023.

“These comrades must be loyal party cadres who are also adequately educated to effectively administer council business.
Whether we like it or not this is what the electorate did on their own in the elections we held on 30 July 2018.

“The electorate disregarded party boundaries and went to pick the most suitable candidates in their communities.
In future we must never allow this critical selection of suitable candidates to occur without the party being in control.”

Sources close to the matter revealed that the recommendations were to recall two councillors accused of selling out, adding a letter had already been written to the provincial chair.

However, some party members who spoke on condition of anonymity said grooming new leadership while there are still sitting councillors was tantamount to creating parallel structures.

Musikavanhu maintained that there was nothing wrong with grooming young people for future leadership positions.

“Creating parallel structures how…? This is called talent scouting and forward planning; any team that is serious about staying relevant does that.

I don’t know where the definition of parallel structures is coming from… All I am advocating for is the identification of talent to be groomed for future deployment by the party.

“I take my duties very seriously as a loyal Zanu PF member who would like to promote talent identification and grooming in my party to serve our country Zimbabwe to the best of our ability,” he said.

Zanu PF Masvingo provincial spokesperson, Ronald Ndava accused Musikavanhu of making his own personal opinions.

“That is not the party position,” said Ndava.
Provincial commissar, Jevas Masosota said there was nothing wrong with councillors exercising their constitutional rights to vote a chairperson of their choice to lead council business.
-Newsday

Emmerson Mnangagwa is today expected to deliver his first State of the National Address (SONA) and officially open the first session of the Ninth Parliament during which he will set the legislative agenda.

Mnangagwa will this morning address a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate.

Preparations for the event were in place yesterday, while a number of roads around Parliament Building will be closed to motorists during the proceedings.

Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda said everything was in place for today’s event.

“Everything is in place and we are looking forward to the event,” he said.

The legislative agenda is expected to be dominated by laws that enhance the country’s attractiveness to investors and streamline investment laws to smoothen the ease of doing business.

The Ninth Parliament is expected to be seized with amending Chapter 14 of the Constitution to streamline the structure of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils as part of the devolution being advocated by Mnangagwa and his Government.

Mnangagwa has already indicated that Government’s thrust is to consolidate economic reforms that started with the coming in of the new dispensation.

During his inauguration speech, he reiterated that the focus of his administration was on the economy. Parliamentarians have also embraced the policy direction given by the President and pledged to speed up the passage of laws in the august house.

Parliament is dominated by zanu-pf which retained its two-thirds majority in the just-ended harmonised elections.

Before addressing the legislators, the President is expected to inspect a guard of honour mounted by members of the Zimbabwe National Army while there will be a flypast by the Air Force of Zimbabwe as per tradition.

Following the President’s address, the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing will host the traditional luncheon for legislators.

Roads that will be closed today are Nelson Mandela Avenue at Sam Nujoma to Simon Muzenda streets, Third Street at Jason Moyo Avenue, George Silundika Avenue at Third Street, St Mary’s Lane and Nelson Mandela Avenue, Kwame Nkrumah from Sam Nujoma to Simon Muzenda streets and Samora Machel Avenue and and Sam Nujoma Street.

The roads will be closed from 6am to 3pm.

State Media

Government will not allow vending at undesignated areas and sites without toilets and other requisite infrastructure as this is contributing to the spread of diseases such as cholera, which have claimed many lives, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni has said.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of vendors’ organisations at her Kaguvi Offices in Harare yesterday, Minister Nyoni said her ministry will collaborate with other ministries to create conducive areas for trade.

Minister Nyoni’s statement comes as small groups of illegal vendors yesterday continued to engage in running battles with the police as they refused to leave the streets.

“Nobody will be allowed to vend anywhere anymore especially where there is no water and toilets because that is a health hazard. We are hoping that we will work together with the Ministries of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Health and Child Care and other ministries to make sure that you are allowed to do your business in healthy and more conducive areas,” she said.

“We are facing a crisis of cholera and a lot of you have been affected by this. I wanted to consult you so that we map a way forward so that we avoid the old mistakes. When we parted ways a few months ago you were beginning to rise as the informal sector.”

“Let me be very blunt. We are no longer going to have vending anywhere, everywhere. Let us be as organised as we had started to be. So those are the points of my agenda that I would like us to discuss.” She urged vendors to cooperate with Government to prevent and eliminate cholera and any related diseases.

Minister Nyoni said there were some vendors cooking everywhere and selling vegetables outside the designated areas, risking spreading diseases.

“If retail is your gift I would like you to grow from a vendor to a tuck shop, to a small shop and to a supermarket. If you are part of this ministry I would like you to vend with a bigger aim and we will classify you appropriately as vendors with an aim and vendors who just want to make money and go,” she said.

“We will create weekend vending sites like we are doing in Bulawayo for those who want to make quick money and send children to school.”

Zimbabwe Informal Traders chairperson Mr Arthur Muromba blamed Harare City Council for not attending to sewer bursts across the city.

“Council needs to attend to areas like Mbare Musika and inspect fruits, which are being brought to the market. They also need to upgrade the place because it is in a deplorable state. Whenever there is an outbreak vendors are the first to be blamed. We, however, encourage vendors to practice highest standards of hygiene,” he said.

Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation executive director Mr Samuel Wadzai said it was not time for blame game, but to find solutions.

“We are ready to play our part. It is more to do with water. It is our responsibility as leaders to tell our vendors to operate in clean areas. We are, however, against any intervention implemented without vendors. We believe the evictions are too early,” he said.

He said informal traders should be able to contribute to the economy.

State Media

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is today expected to deliver his first State of the National Address (SONA) and officially open the first session of the Ninth Parliament during which he will set the legislative agenda.

The President will this morning address a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate.

Preparations for the event were in place yesterday, while a number of roads around Parliament Building will be closed to motorists during the proceedings.

Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda said everything was in place for today’s event.

“Everything is in place and we are looking forward to the event,” he said.

The legislative agenda is expected to be dominated by laws that enhance the country’s attractiveness to investors and streamline investment laws to smoothen the ease of doing business.

The Ninth Parliament is expected to be seized with amending Chapter 14 of the Constitution to streamline the structure of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils as part of the devolution being advocated by President Mnangagwa and his Government.

President Mnangagwa has already indicated that Government’s thrust is to consolidate economic reforms that started with the coming in of the new dispensation.

During his inauguration speech, he reiterated that the focus of his administration was on the economy. Parliamentarians have also embraced the policy direction given by the President and pledged to speed up the passage of laws in the august house.

Parliament is dominated by zanu-pf which retained its two-thirds majority in the just-ended harmonised elections.

Before addressing the legislators, the President is expected to inspect a guard of honour mounted by members of the Zimbabwe National Army while there will be a flypast by the Air Force of Zimbabwe as per tradition.

Following the President’s address, the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing will host the traditional luncheon for legislators.

Roads that will be closed today are Nelson Mandela Avenue at Sam Nujoma to Simon Muzenda streets, Third Street at Jason Moyo Avenue, George Silundika Avenue at Third Street, St Mary’s Lane and Nelson Mandela Avenue, Kwame Nkrumah from Sam Nujoma to Simon Muzenda streets and Samora Machel Avenue and and Sam Nujoma Street.

The roads will be closed from 6am to 3pm.

State Media

ZIMBABWE has secured a US$250 million line of credit from Gemcorp Capital, an international independent investment management firm focused on emerging markets, for the importation of essential commodities.

In a joint statement, the central bank, the Treasury and Gemcorp said the five-year loan facility would enable the importation of essential and intermediate goods to support the economy.

The facility comes at a time when the country is facing serious foreign currency shortages, largely resulting from poor exports and subdued foreign direct investments.

Zimbabwe also saw its foreign currency requirements increasing since the beginning of the year, largely attributed to improved economic performance, but with no corresponding generation of the hard currency.

This is, however, expected in the short term.

In the long term – when productive capacities are fully utilised – the country is expected to export more and the trend will be reversed.

“The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and Gemcorp Group are pleased to announce that they have signed a $250 million commercial loan facility.

“This five-year facility will enable the importation of essential and intermediate goods to support the Zimbabwean economy,” reads part of the statement.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof Mthuli Ncube welcomed the development saying “granting of the facility by Gemcorp is a strong signal by foreign investors of their growing confidence in Zimbabwe. I expect more investors to follow suit”.

RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said the line of credit came at an appropriate time to shore up foreign currency liquidity after the end of the tobacco selling season.

“This, together with other facilities that we have secured, should go a long way to meet the import requirements for essential products and services for the national economy,” he said.

Commenting on the investment, Atanas Bostandjiev, founder and chief executive of Gemcorp Group, said, “with this facility, we are financing and coordinating the delivery of essential goods to help support the Zimbabwean economy. The trade finance gap in Africa remains significant and is an enduring constraint to economic development. The Gemcorp Group remains focused on working with local partners and borrowers across Africa and the rest of the emerging markets to provide creative funding solutions and foster trade and investment in the region”.

The Gemcorp Group comprises a London-based fund manager (Gemcorp Capital LLP) and a physical commodities trader (Gemcorp Commodities Trading). It focuses on emerging markets with a special interest in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe where the group has established itself as a reliable long-term partner for sovereigns and growth focused private companies.

State Media

Staff Reporter|The infamous Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are back on the road after being kicked out at the change of hands between former President Robert Mugabe’s regime to the so called new dispensation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa through a soft coup in November last year.

The removal of the heavy handed police was met by wild celebrations with people believing that indeed the Mnangagwa era was coming up with fresh governance after police on the road made life extremely difficult for Zimbabweans through wanton ticketing and bribes.

News that police have relaunched a countrywide blitz on the roads under the pretext that it’s an operation targeting unregistered vehicles and motorists who are flouting traffic regulations have brought gloom to motorists and ordinary citizens who are quite aware of what the return of the police means.

Police claim that the mass return of roadblocks is to fish out unregistered vehicles in the wake of a spate of armed robberies countrywide as criminals are using such vehicles to evade arrest.

Although police could not avail statistics of vehicles they had impounded so far, some roadblocks have been mounted in and around the city centres targeting such vehicles.

Police indicated that they will only release the impounded vehicles once the owners have registered them. Some of the vehicles will also undergo vetting to ascertain whether they had also been used in the commission of crime or not.

State media reports that on Monday a large number of cars were being impounded at the City centre roadblocks, while detectives were also moving around the city looking for unlicensed vehicles.

The development comes after Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga recently said the force will launch a massive crackdown targeting unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles in a nationwide blitz that will signal the return of roadblocks.

Comm-Gen Matanga made the announcement at this year’s World First Aid Day commemorations held at Morris Depot, Harare.

He said the days for those driving without licences and those driving unregistered vehicles were now over.

“By the powers vested in me by the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa), I would like to warn members of the public that starting on Monday, police will launch a massive operation to get rid of unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles,” Matanga said.

“Those caught on the wrong side of the law will have their cars impounded, while the law will take its course on unlicensed drivers.”

In October last year, Government warned that it would impound vehicles that had no number plates, while offenders would either be imprisoned or fined.

By Paul Nyathi|State media reports that government has launched an appeal for $57 million to contain the cholera outbreak at a time when 30 lives have already been lost and many more still coming what with at least 5 000 people seeking treatment.

The cholera outbreak certainly did not hit Zimbabwe by surprise especially Harare as all the warning shots of the impending epidemic were seen as far backbas 1990 but nothing was done to prevent the outbreak.

The development comes against the backdrop of Emmerson Mnangagwa’a office ordering the Zimbabwe electricity supply authority, ZESA to dish out $52 million to convicted fraudster Wicknel Chivayo (in addition to an earlier $7 million).

Besides the warning shots, government never committed to improving the health budget to prevent the cholera outbreak despite the hard lessons from the 2008 outbreak that killed thousands of people throughout the country. What happened to the adage that “prevention is better than cure?”

No investments were made into the decaying water and sanitation infrastructure that was evidently a time bomb for a cholera and typhoid outbreak in most major urban centres with the capital city top on the list.

Officially launching the appeal in Harare yesterday, chairperson of the inter-ministerial committee on cholera July Moyo said the health sector requires at least $51 million to assist about 50 000 patients.

Moyo said the City of Harare requires as a matter of urgency, at least $6 million to revamp sewer and water reticulation infrastructure in the hotspots of Glen View and Budiriro something that was known over the last ten years.

“The health sector had put in a budget of $63 million, but some monies have since come in from other partners, leaving a gap of $51 million.

“The immediate requirement for infrastructure for Harare was $12 million, but we have also since received about $6,2 million from Government but gaps still exist. This ($12 million) will enable water to start flowing in the hotspot areas.”

The minister said local authorities were faced with a number of challenges, which include, “illegal” settlements, where provision of services such as potable water and garbage collection is limited.

He said the areas also had contaminated water sources i.e boreholes, old sewer and water reticulation systems and rampant food vending.

Minister Moyo said Government has however, put in place a number of initiatives to respond to these challenges.

These measures, according to Minister Moyo, include infrastructure maintenance, intensification of health education, setting up of cholera treatment camps and dealing with vendors.

“My appeal is in two forms, material and financial support to plug the gaps we have.

“We need assistance to cover the gap that is there in upgrading the sewer and water system. We also need assistance on refuse collection and solid waste management,” said Minister Moyo.

Speaking at the same occasion, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said the current cholera outbreak was becoming difficult to contain because of the dual existence of bacteria that causes typhoid and that which causes cholera, coupled with increased cases of drug-resistant cholera and typhoid.

“The emergency of antimicrobial resistance has been threatening current efforts to contain both typhoid and cholera outbreaks, Alternative antibiotics are expensive and not easily available. The situation has been further complicated by some patients affected by both vibrio (bacteria that causes cholera) and salmonella (bacteria that causes typhoid) as well as E coli (another bacteria).

“This could have contributed to the increased deaths at the onset of the outbreak,” said Dr Moyo.

Dr Moyo said a number of organisations, corporates and even Zimbabweans living in the diaspora had since availed their assistance in the fight against cholera and typhoid.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, as of Monday, 30 people had died of cholera while 5 836 others were treated of suspected cholera.

Of the 30 people who died, 20 died within a health facility. Although suspected cases have since spread to other parts of the country such as Chitungwiza, Buhera, Gokwe, Shamva, Masvingo and Bulawayo, the epicentre remained Glen View and Budiriro.

On typhoid, 11 deaths and 6 675 cases were recorded in Harare and Gweru.

Typhoid and cholera are both water and food borne diseases, which are caused by consuming food or water contaminated with feacal matter. Both diseases are highly infectious and can pass on from one person to the other, if proper hygienic practices are not adhered to.

At least $10m has been set aside for the establishment of Zimbabwe’s first ever medicinal cannabis production facility in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central.

Operating under the firm, NIRCAN ZW Ltd, a subsidiary of the NIRCOM A.S.I.G, the consortium has already applied to Government for a Medical Cannabis Cultivation and Growing Licence for Export.

Government in April this year announced that individuals and businesses could apply for licences to cultivate cannabis for medicinal or scientific purposes.
According to sources, former Health and Child Welfare Dr David Parirenyatwa had, in principle, agreed to the application by NIRCAN ZW Ltd.

Issuance of the licence will lead to the establishment of the Medical Cannabis and Growing Centre in Mazowe.
According to documents gleaned by The Herald recently, NIRCAN ZW Ltd has set aside $10m for the project’s first stage.

The budget includes $4m for the basic assumption, which includes cultivation and growing centre with a gross size of 50 000 square metres.
This would also include the establishment of one Greenhouse growing unit and an outdoor growing unit.

The budget also includes working capital of $4,5 million for the first year and $1m set aside for miscellaneous expenses.

State Media

A man (52) from Mangwe District in Matabeleland South has been admitted to hospital in critical condition after a 21 year old man brutally attacked him over radio volume during a beer drink.

Mthokozisi Sibanda of Lydedard Farm Compound allegedly struck Sithembiso Sibanda with an unidentified object and he sustained several body injuries.
Mthokozisi wanted the volume of the radio to be turned louder while the elderly Sithembiso said it was already too loud.

The incident occurred at around 8PM on Saturday at their farm compound.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele said the suspect was arrested while the injured is battling for life in hospital.

“We are investigating a case of attempted murder of a man who was hit several times with an unknown object and he sustained severe body injuries. He was rushed to Plumtree District Hospital but due to his serious condition, was further transferred to Bulawayo for further management.

“The matter was reported to the police and the suspect was arrested. He is in custody and will appear in court soon,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele appealed to the public to desist from violence which has resulted in endless cases of murder and serious injuries.

“We warn members of the public to desist from violence. Some matters just need talking rather than fighting. We encourage people to engage third parties when in disputes instead of fighting. Youths are warned to refrain from drug and alcohol abuse because no-one in his proper senses can attack anyone over radio volume.

“Recently, we received cases of murder and attempted murder over petty issues, things which are not at all worth losing lives over, such as murder over bath soap, a dog, a shovel, a knife, $1 and beer. Surely we can’t continue to lose lives or people getting injured over such petty issues, matters that can be resolved with the word of mouth,” he said.- state media

President Mnangagwa yesterday chaired the first Cabinet meeting under the Second Republic where he introduced a new approach on the conduct of Government business and tasked the new Ministers to identify at least five quick-win and high impact projects that improve the livelihoods of the people.

Under the new approach, ministers are expected to make presentations during the course of a Cabinet meeting while decisions will be communicated to the nation every Wednesday to ensure transparency.
All the projects will be strictly monitored and implemented under 100-day programme cycles. Giving his opening remarks during the meeting, President Mnangagwa said the new Ministers—a blend of new talent and experience—should lead the transformation process.

“You should be aware of the mammoth task before us, that is, to lead the transformation process, on our trajectory to become a middle income economy by 2030, characterised by job-rich economic growth and a globally competitive society,” he said.

“Each portfolio should now identify a minimum of five quick-win and high impact projects in order that work on them commences in earnest. Where appropriate, it is permissible to go beyond the five, subject to approval by Cabinet.”

President Mnangagwa said Ministers were expected to speak with one voice. “Our approach will entail four or five Ministers making presentations during the course of a Cabinet meeting like this one until the 100-day cycle ends,” he said.

“The decision taken by Cabinet will be communicated to the nation every Wednesday after we have met. Thus, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services (Monica Mutsvangwa), will issue a press statement in the presence of the Chief Secretary (to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda) and the implementing ministers. This will help us entrench transparency and a culture of responsiveness as we seek to transform the quality of life of our people.”

President Mnangagwa said the 100-day cycles would continue and new ministers should embrace them as the norm of doing business in Cabinet.

“Since the advent of the new dispensation on the 24th of November, 2017, we adopted a new methodology of ensuring that Government Ministries and agencies deliver quality services to the people through the Integrated Results Based Management System with its accompanying Rapid Results Approach,” he said.

“We also adopted the 100-day programme cycle as a new model of doing business to support our drive to attain Vision 2030. The 100-day programme cycle helped us to accentuate the rapid and efficient implementation of priority projects with an immediate impact on the livelihoods of our people. Going forward, we should continue to apply the 100-day cycles as a way of doing business in Government supported by the monitoring of performance outcomes using the Executive Electronic Dashboard. This means that, at the click of a button, projects performance tracking has been made easy across Cabinet, Ministries and parastatals.”

He said workshops would be held to enable Ministers to familiarise themselves with the 100-day cycle.

“In the coming week, while I will be away on international business at the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly meeting, half-day workshops will be organised to enable all Ministers to adequately acquaint themselves with the essential components of the 100-day cycle, the Integrated Results Based Management System, The Results Rapid Approach and the Executive Dashboard. A similar exercise will be conducted for permanent secretaries and other senior Government officials.”

The Cabinet now has new faces after President Mnangagwa dropped several big names from previous administrations.

Mnangagwa’s dream team is expected to address a host of challenges, from persistent fiscal and balance of payments deficits to infrastructural and social decay accruing from the previous administration.

Government is currently seized with overcoming the cholera outbreak which has so far claimed 30 lives.- state media

Lab tests have ruled out cholera in 10 of the 12 people from Bulawayo who had been admitted to hospital on fears that they had contracted the disease.

Bulawayo City Council director of Health Services Dr Edwin Sibanda yesterday said the local authority was awaiting lab results for two more people who were admitted to Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital yesterday but 10 have been discharged.

“For the specimens that were sent to the laboratory; we have at least 5 negative Rapid Diagnostic Tests and we have at least 3 negative culture for vibrio cholerae, salmonella typhi and shigella. This simply means that there is no evidence that the admitted patients have cholera or typhoid,” said Dr Sibanda.

He said council was still in contact with the discharged patients as they will still be monitored.
“Residents are reminded that cholera is an individualistic disease as it is highly dependent on one’s hygiene. They should continue practising hygiene and ensure they wash and eat properly cooked food,” added Dr Sibanda.

Meanwhile, a teacher at a school in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North is suspected to have contracted cholera after visiting Harare amid reports that four cases have been reported in the province.

In an interview yesterday, Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Alfred Muchara said
three of the cases were not linked to the cholera epicentre in Harare while the fourth one involved a teacher who had recently visited the capital.

“We have so far recorded four suspected cases, two in Hwange district, and one from Umguza and today we had the fourth one from Tsholotsho District,” said Dr Muchara.

“The two cases we had in Victoria Falls and Umguza have no links to Harare but the most recent one in Tsholotsho there is a link with Harare. The patient travelled to Harare.”
The PMD said parents and guardians should not worry about the suspected infected teacher as she has been quarantined.

In 2008, about 4 288 people died from cholera in Zimbabwe.
The recent outbreak which has killed about 30 people in Harare has also forced two schools in Gwanda in Matabeleland South to shut down as learners do not have a safe water source after a community borehole they relied on broke down.

Learners and teachers at Mkwidzi Primary and Secondary Schools in Shake Ward were collecting water from a dirty stream which they shared with livestock.
The school closed on Thursday last week following a meeting between parents and community leadership.

The councillor of the ward, Nobukhosi Malila said efforts to repair the borehole were underway.
Government has since set up a cholera treatment centre in Gweru as part of its preparedness to fight the water borne disease which has been recorded in Harare and Gokwe North.

Midlands provincial medical director Dr Simon Nyadundu refuted claims that suspected cholera cases have been detected in Gweru.

“No cholera case has been detected in Gweru as of now. We have just set up a cholera treatment centre at an infectious disease hospital in Ascot as part of preparedness for cholera,” he said.
Dr Nyadundu who is also the coordinator for the Gweru typhoid outbreak committee said city of Gweru is still fighting typhoid outbreak which was declared last month.

Typhoid left about 2000 residents requiring treatment and eight dead. “There has been a general steady decrease in new typhoid cases in Gweru and we are now prepared for any suspected cases of cholera,” he said.

Gweru town clerk, Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza, said her local authority will just be on the lookout for any suspected cholera cases.

Masvingo Provincial Medical Director, Dr Amadeaus Shamu, yesterday confirmed that one case suspected to be coming from Harare had been recorded in the province.

“I can confirm that we received one case of suspected cholera. The victim is receiving treatment at Masvingo General Hospital and was coming from Harare’s Glen View suburb on his way to South Africa,” said Dr Shamu.

He said that people travelling from the cholera affected areas like Harare were supposed to be disinfected first before travelling to reduce the transmission of the disease.- state media

The government has intensified the fight against cholera and typhoid in Harare, and enforced the ban on all illegal vending activities in the central business district (CBD).

There was heavy police presence in Harare’s CBD yesterday, with vending activities minimal.

Harare City Council Spokesperson, Mr Michael Chideme said citizens must make use of legal vending sites in their respective residential areas and decongest the central business district.

Failure by the local authority to collect garbage in the CBD has however been cited as another challenge that requires urgent attention.

The council is already working on repairing toilets and ensuring safe water provisions so that Harare soon returns its Sunshine City status.

Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Spokesperson, Mr Rambwai Mapako said more still needs to be done by stakeholders and the citizens at large who must adopt a new culture of keeping the environment clean.

At busy bus termini like Simon Muzenda and Copa Cabana and Market Square, there was a semblance of sanity as only registered companies for food and drink were in operation.

Apart from fighting the epidemic, the exercise will guarantee cleanliness in the CBD. – State Media

Staff Correspondent|Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Chamunorwa Mangwiro has commended the hard work being done by doctors, nurses, health workers and the nation at large in trying to contain cholera outbreak in the country.

“I am happy with the progress that I have seen at this hospital it shows that everyone is working hard so as to end cholera in the country. There is need for correction of the problem other than just crying,” he said.

Dr Mangwiro said this yesterday when visited all the cholera camps in the Harare to asses and monitor the situation.

Dr Mangwiro first visited Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital (BRIDH) where he managed to speak to all the patients who had come to get treatment and those few who were admitted at the institution’s camp site.

At BRIDH most of the patients were males and children and were stable responding well to treatment and most of them were already at point of discharge. There were also some few patients who were waiting to be transferred to other hospitals as they had been tested negative to cholera but had come with fear of the worst in mind.

He said it was his duty as a deputy Minister and as a doctor to see to it that cholera is contained. He also encouraged all the patients to take their medication as advised by their health care providers so that they recover quickly.

Dr Mangwiro also managed to examine other patients as well as talking to the nurses and doctors on duty on the progress of containing the outbreak.
Deputy Minister was later joined by the town clerk Mr Hosiah Chisango at Glenview Poly Clinic. They managed to tour the camp together, only a few patients were admitted and a few suspected cases tested positive to cholera.

The team consisting of the Deputy Minister and town clerk proceeded to Tichagarika shopping centre. There were no food vendors operating at the area they all had complied to the Ministry of Health ‘s call for them to stop cooking and selling food at the shops in order to stop the spread of cholera.
They had to look at the area were pipes had burst leading to the outbreak, they had been repaired.

Mr Chisango promised to have continuous monitoring and maintenance of the pipes to avoid unnecessary blockages in the future.

At Budiriro Clinic there were only two female patients admitted and the sister in charge said they were happy with the progress made so far in trying to contain the outbreak before it became a disaster.

Dr Mangwiro urged all doctors and nurses not to do things casually, but always do the correct thing in their work in order to contain situations like outbreaks and avoiding the spread of diseases.
So far 30 people have died since the cholera outbreak.

The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo says government, together with the Harare City Council, has scaled up their rapid response in curbing the spread of cholera in the Harare Metropolitan province.

In a statement released this afternoon updating the nation on the progress made so far, Minister Moyo said his ministry, together with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, has engaged private partners to supply affected areas with clean water, assist in refuse collection and mend burst sewer pipes.

He added that the government has since released $6.7 million for urgent health related needs with the portion of the amount set to assist the city council in maintaining infrastructural requirements.

On improving sanitation in the capital, Moyo highlighted that government has also released $500 million to kick-start clean-up campaigns while insisting that vendors would not be allowed to operate in the central business district until the outbreak has been contained.

“It has become imperative that all types of vending be banned with immediate effect. The joint operation system has since been activated to assist in the removal of the vending public. May I also take this opportunity to urge a few way ward vendors who are playing hide and seek with the law enforcement agents to comply. I am aware that there are some vendors who were operating with permits from the City of Harare. I direct that the law enforcement agents should amicably dismantle the stalls they are operating from,” said Minister Moyo.

The Minister also indicated that a directive has been given to all Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs to closely and continuously monitor and assist local authorities in addressing some of the key drivers of the outbreak.

“As a way of unlocking more assistance from local and international organisations, the government of Zimbabwe will be making its appeal on 17 September 2018 at the National Sports Stadium VIP lounge at 15:00 hours,” he said.

Moyo said the compilation of a consolidated cholera outbreak response plan has made it possible to highlight sustainable immediate, medium and long-term solutions to such outbreaks.

Jane Mlambo| Opposition legislator and deputy chairperson of the MDC, Tendai Biti has lashed at the President Emmerson Mnangagwa government saying the spike in prices proves that without structural reforms, Zimbabwe will enter another meltdown.

“The spike in prices with bread rising to $1.10 and cooking fat to US$, evident that unless structural reforms are undertaken Zim enters another meltdown. Budget deficit at center of meltdown and requires boldness to deal with the same. Sadly there can never be reform without reformers,” tweeted Biti.

Biti said the budget deficit that is at the center of the meltdown requires boldness to deal with it which he says can never be without reforms.

Jane Mlambo| THE Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has established a cholera and typhoid response fund to deal with the outbreak of the twin waterborne diseases that have claimed 28 lives in Harare and affected thousands others.

The outbreak has spread to other cities, with Bulawayo recording its first cholera case on Friday.

This is the first time in over a decade for Bulawayo to record a cholera or typhoid outbreak despite erratic water supplies in the country’s second largest city.

The ZCC said it was seized with the matter and was establishing a cholera and typhoid response fund to deal with the outbreak and prevent its further spread.

“Throughout the state of emergency on cholera and typhoid, the ZCC will rally its member churches in efforts to prevent deaths, ameliorate the suffering and contribute towards lasting solutions to address the root cause of recurrent outbreaks,” the ZCC said in a statement yesterday.

“In particular, the ZCC will participate in stakeholder consultations in order to contribute to a collective way forward, provide pastoral resources to help pastors to be relevant as they minister in affected areas, medical institutions and bereaved families, establish a cholera reporting centre to collect and share information from churches in affected areas, establish a cholera/typhoid response fund to assist the affected families and communities.”

Government last week declared a state of emergency following the cholera outbreak and on Thursday released $1 million to fight cholera, while also launching an international appeal for funding towards the pandemic.

There have been counter accusations on who was to blame for the latest cholera outbreak.
The opposition – that runs several councils and municipalities across the country – blames central government for frustrating efforts to ensure resources are channelled to addressing sewer and reticulation challenges – a major source of the outbreak.

Others, however, blame the opposition for incapacity, thus resulting in recurrent cholera and typhoid cases.

“The church would wish to state that this is not a time for finger-pointing or political point-scoring; it is a time to unite. It is a time to do our utmost to meet the needs of families and communities who have been affected or are at risk of the outbreak. What affected families and communities need now is a united and well-coordinated national effort to decisively address this national emergency,” ZCC added.

-Newsday

Jane Mlambo| The ruling Zanu PF has castigated MDC President Nelson Chamisa over his refusal to accept the 2018 election result saying the 40-year old is not a “custodian of legitimacy”.

Mnangagwa appointed his cabinet last week with Chamisa calling for a dialogue amid economic turmoil that has raised fears of return to the 2008 hyper-inflationary situation.

In a telephone interview with 263Chat on the back of Chamisa’s call for a dialogue, Zanu PF Secretary for Legal Affairs, Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana was adamant that legitimacy to rule the country lies with the citizens of Zimbabwe through an electoral process.

“Legitimacy comes from the people of Zimbabwe through an electoral process. It does not come from Chamisa. Mnangagwa’s legitimacy came from the Constitutional Court,” he said.

“You don’t go to an election to rule with an opposition. You go to an election so that people make a choice as to who do they want to lead the country. The people of Zimbabwe gave President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF that mandate.

“Zanu PF has more than two thirds majority, so it does not need anyone else to rule the country because it got the mandate from the people”

Mangwana added that Chamisa was not the referee in the July 30 elections and should abide by the declarations made by the referee charging that he should not give himself more significance than he deserves.

“Chamisa was not the referee in the election, there is a referee called ZEC and Chamisa being a lawyer need to understand that and should abide with its declarations.

“We don’t need Chamisa to move the country forward. We need to implement President Mnangagwa’s economic policies together with his cabinet.”

Chamisa tried in vain to challenge Mnangagwa victory in the constitutional court last month with the highest legal institution in the country ruling in favor of Mnangagwa saying the applicant failed to provide primary evidence to back his claims.

The electoral process was marred by irregularities with the electoral mother body being caught offside as it changed presidential results more than twice leaving the electorate with many questions than answers.

Protest broke out in Harare central business district claiming at least six lives after the military used live ammunition to disperse civilians a development that left Mnangagwa with many questions at the international stage.

However, posting on his micro blog twitter today, Chamisa’s spokesperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda urged President Mnangagwa to address legitimacy issues in order for the country’s economy to return to its feet.

“The one thing that anyone who is interested in the Zimbabwe economy must address is the illegitimacy of the current government. Illegitimate President Mr @edmnangagwa must address the shame of his ZEC and ConCourt appointed leadership,” he said.

The opposition party insists the election was stolen thereby throwing Mnangagwa’s legitimacy under the bus something that the 75 year old leader aggressively sought in order to lure foreign direct investment.

Over the weekend, the city fathers in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) resumed their cat mouse fight with the vendors’ with the latter having their wares being confiscated.
-263Chat

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed delight at presiding over the first cabinet meeting saying he is gettin to work to overcome the cholera outbreak.

In a Twitter post soon after his first cabinet meeting since assuming a new mandate following the June 30 harmonised elections, Mnangagwa said he is getting straight to work and fighting the cholera outbreak.

Delighted to preside over the 1st meeting of our new cabinet this morning. We are getting straight to work in addressing the challenges we face, including overcoming the cholera outbreak. Let’s all have an effective & productive week building our new Zimbabwe, one brick at a time

— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) September 17, 2018

Jane Mlambo| President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent cabinet and party appointments featured curious inclusions and exclusions.

After taking over power late last year following a military backed intervention Mnangagwa retained most of the individuals who formed former President Robert Mugabe’s administration for the past 37 years.

And in what was interpreted as rewarding loyalty, Mnangagwa dished top government posts to cronies regardless of competency.
One of the most curious such appointments was the elevation of Gokwe-Kana legislator Owen Ncube to Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister.

Mudha, as Ncube is widely known in his Kwekwe home town, replaced then provincial affairs minister Jason Machaya who is currently answering abuse of public office charges in the courts.

At every opportunity Ncube always indicated his appointment was down to loyalty to the Mnangagwa family.

“I was appointed to the position of Minister by President Mnangagwa and you cannot be appointed if you are not loyal,” Ncube said in April.

However, when Mnangagwa appointed his new ministerial after the disputed July 30 elections, Ncube found himself being axed from government.

Some of the big names to miss out on cabinet were accommodated at the Zanu PF headquarters but not Ncube.

Mnangagwa appointed Larry Mavhima – another key ally – as the new Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister.

“I appointed a diverse, dynamic, youthful and streamlined cabinet, with the skills and experience required for achieving our goals.
“Now it is time to get to work,” Mnangagwa said of his appointments.

There is speculation however that Ncube may be considered for an ambassadorial role.
-Newzimbabwe.com