By Paul Nyathi|Commercial banks in Zimbabwe have stopped processing payments to South African based satellite television service provider DSTV because of the uncertainty on the Zimbabwean currency.
Clients have been receiving three following message in their attempts to make their usual payments to the service provider.
“Dear Customer, please note that we are no longer facilitating DSTV payments due to the prevailing economic environment.”
By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwean journalist, Violet Gonda has dragged Register General Tobaiwa Mudede to court for denying her a passport on the grounds that she is blacklisted.
Gonda, applied for her passport like everyone else only to be told that she is on the “Stop List” hence could not be issued with a passport.
Said the ZLHR:
RG Tobaiwa Mudede's blacklisting of citizens by placing them on a so-called STOP LIST&refusing to issue them with a passport is a violation of the Constitution&hence @ZLHRLawyers has petitioned the High Court to compel Mudede to issue journalist @violetgonda with a passport.
— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) September 6, 2018
CHAOS reigned supreme during voting for the next Victoria Falls mayor and deputy as residents protested imposition of a candidate by the MDC Alliance.
While the swearing in process went on peacefully, Hwange District Administrator Mr Simon Muleya who was presiding over the election of mayor and deputy deferred the process indefinitely for security reasons owing to the chaos.
The Nelson Chamisa-led coalition which won all the 11 council seats in Victoria Falls, had sent its director for mobilisation and party building Mr Farai Chinobva to direct councillors to vote for the party’s preferred candidates.
Mr Chinobva met councillors yesterday afternoon, following another meeting in Hwange on Monday where sources said councillors from the district were directed to vote for the candidates imposed on them by the party.
Yesterday, the councillors were visibly shaken with some of them even stammering while making oaths.
During the process of nomination, Mr Chinobva could be seen making some non-verbal gestures giving directives for councillors to follow.
Chaos started when Ward 9 Councillor Somvelo Dlamini who is the residents’ choice declined the mayor’s post for which he had been nominated against Ward 1 Clr Margaret Valley.
The DA asked Clr Dlamini who had also been nominated for deputy mayor to choose between the two and he opted for the deputy mayor post, much to the chagrin of residents in the gallery.
In the deputy mayor’s position, Clr Dlamini was to square off with Ward 4 Clr Patricia Mwale and Clr Ephias Mambume of Ward 6.
There was a brief stand-off as Clr Mambume and Mr Muleya argued as the former requested to pull out of the race while the latter said it was too late for him to do so.
When the DA asked councillors to cast their votes for the mayor, councillors protested saying it was pointless since Clr Valley was unopposed hence she should be declared winner.
Councillors requested for a 10 minute break saying they wanted to caucus after Mr Muleya turned down their proposal, and told them they would have nullified the process by going out.
Residents started shouting saying they did not want Clr Valley as mayor and the DA called off the process.
“We are then calling it off to another day because we can’t continue like this. We can’t have candidates requesting to stop in the middle of the process,” he said.
Mr Chinobva left the council boardroom in haste as residents who were joined by a crowd that had been following proceedings from outside the boardroom, bayed for his blood.
As he left, Mr Chinobva threatened to take legal action accusing the DA and Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube of illegally stopping the process.
Party sources said Clr Dlamini had been directed by Mr Chinobva to stand for deputy mayor so Clr Valley could be mayor.
Residents want Clr Dlamini as mayor and Clr Mwale as deputy.
Residents said they were disappointed by the party’s attempt to impose candidates.
“Residents have made a statement to say they are people enough to make a decision. They voted for councillors to go and make decisions for them and that includes choosing a mayor. Suddenly we see someone from Harare giving orders in the boardroom and intimidating councillors which sends a clear message that he was sent by the party. Going forward we urge all political parties never to interfere in residents’ issues,” said Victoria Falls Residents’ Association chairman Mr Morgen Dube.
Mr Lovemore Moyo, a resident said residents will not tolerate dictatorship and Ms Gladys De Souza concurred saying residents have their choice.
Town Clerk, Mr Dube, said the development was sad for Victoria Falls as it delays development. He said the council will seek direction from the parent Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on how to proceed.
State Media
Jane Mlambo|Chaos reigned in Masvingo yesterday as MDC Alliance supporters besieged town hall, protesting the election of a Zanu PF councillor as the city’s deputy mayor.
The country’s main opposition party controls the local authority, having won 7 seats out of 10 in the July 30 elections.
Prominent city lawyer Collins Maboke, from the MDC Alliance, was elected the new mayor after he got the majority votes when the newly sworn in councillors voted for the top post.
However, the surprise election of ward 6’s Zanu PF councillor and local property mogul Wellington Mahwende as deputy mayor infuriated MDC Alliance supporters.
Angry supporters accused MDC Alliance councillors of betrayal and receiving bribes from the land baron to support his bid to become deputy mayor.
Mahwende pulled 7 votes against the MDC Alliance’s Serina Maridza, the only female councillor, who got three votes.
“These councillors have let us down,” charged one supporter.
“How could a Zanu PF councillor be the deputy mayor when our party has the majority of the seats?
“We need a proper explanation even to take this issue to President Chamisa for him to come and sort out this mess.
“These people received money from Zanu PF for them to act this way.”
Municipal police had a torrid time in controlling the baying crowd.
They had to lock the entrance to the council chambers as angry supporters threatened to storm the building and assault their party councillors.
Efforts to get a comment from MDC Alliance provincial Chairman James Gumbi were fruitless as his phone went unanswered.
-Newzimbabwe
By Own Correspondent| President elect Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned to Zimbabwe following his trip to China where he attended the 2018 Beijing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Mnangagwa who was accompanied by First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa and other government officials signed three more bilateral agreements with the Chinese Government.
The agreements were signed after a string of high-powered bilaterals with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping.
During the course of the five-day visit, the President also attended the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
President Mnangagwa also met a with a number of Chinese companies that want to invest in Zimbabwe, as well as some Zimbabweans living in China.- StateMedia
Opinion By Dumisani Nkomo|The results of the elections and the outcome of the Constitutional Court did not go in favour of the youthful M.D.C Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and his party but there remain numerous avenues and options for both Chamisa and his party in the next five years. It is important for the M.D.C to position itself as an effective opposition party whilst proffering itself as a viable alternative to the status quo. Failure to do so will result in the demise of both Chamisa and the M.D.C brand.
Electoral Performance
First of all, it must be said that the youthful Chamisa did extremely well in a heavily uneven playing field. To have amassed over 2 million votes barely a year after he had taken over the reins of the party was indeed a commendable achievement. This was also achieved with a shoestring budget and against an opponent with the glaring advantages of incumbency. Having said this, it is not enough for the M.D.C Alliance to merely condemn the elections and outcomes of the elections as illegitimate but they have to move on and reposition themselves if they are to stand a reasonable chance in the 2023 elections. Chamisa actually stands an incredibly good chance of winning the 2023 elections if he keeps his eyes on the ball and rids himself of all vestiges of hoodlum politics and overconfidence. He is just 40 years old but has exhibited great resilience and capacity traits by harnessing over 2 million votes against a man who has been in government for over 38 years. He however, he has to make sure that he manages his political weaknesses which may result in him being a political casualty both within and beyond his party. The following will be crucial in this regard.
Restructuring Grassroots Base
The M.D.C Alliance has to first of all metamorphose into a singular political party with structures at the most basic village and township level in the whole country. They have to ensure that they have a solid membership base of at least one million in the 1200 wards of the country. This membership base must form the “fulcrum “or foundation of their core funding so as to reduce reliance on external funding. A million members paying a dollar each per year is a million dollars and this complemented by funding from the Political Parties Act should be enough for basic core funding.
Critically the strength of ZANU PF is in its structures and to ignore this strength will be an act of cardinal self-destruction and mass political suicide. Chamisa and his party must therefore have a presence in every single village in the country and this means they will be able to field candidates in every single council and house of assembly seat that is contested for. This also means that there will be sufficient election agents at every single polling station. The starting point for them will be an audit of all their structures and a four-year plan to strengthen these structures. If they are to stand any chance in the elections they must also have strongholds in resettlement areas as these are serious ZANU P.F strongholds .
Alternative Governance Model
The M.D.AC Alliance or whatever it will be called after it reconstitutes itself must demonstrate that the Provincial and Metropolitan Councils as well as rural and urban councils it runs are a model of good governance, good resource stewardship and sound service delivery. If they fail to do so, this will surely be a sign that as a government in power, they will fail. Chamisa and his leadership has to thus ensure that his party has a robust local governance framework focussing on deliverables and development.
Parliamentary Presence and Influence
The M.D.C must also maximize its presence in parliament and not be reduced to an extension of parliament fittings and furniture. They must make their presence felt in the August house in the same manner that the likes of Sidney Malunga, Lazarus Nzarayebani, Micah Bhebhe, Steven Nkomo, Ruth Chinamano and Byron Hove did in the eighties. Later on David Coltart, Priscila Misihairabwi, Blessing Chebundo, Tendai Biti, JeSSE Majome and Tabitha Khumalo. Failure to register their presence in parliament to articulate the hopes of millions of Zimbabweans who are already grovelling in grinding poverty would be tantamount to betrayal. Lessons can be learnt from the D.A and E.F.F in South Africa. Although Zanu P.F enjoys a comfortable majority, the M.D.C must make use of its presence in parliament as an alternative front.
Democratic Credentials
Chamisa must invest the next few years in reaching out to those that were hurt in his ascendancy to power including Thoko Khuphe. This will demonstrate true statesmanship and maturity which are both qualities he desperately needs. Violent behaviour and quasi militia groups within the M.D.C must be dismantled and the primary election process cleaned up.
Alternative Policies and Leadership
It is imperative for Chamisa to be an effective opposition leader and to also prove that if given the chance he can govern well by proffering alternatives to the status quo and not just lambasting ZANU P.F and the government as people will soon get tired of that. They must embrace the concept of developmental politics which focusses on how people’s lives can be improved. This will greatly improve political prospects in 2023.
Mayibuye
Dumisani Nkomo writes here in his personal capacity
spiked.co.zw
From Hardlife Mudzingwa, Community Water Alliance Coordinator|Serious sewer outbursts in Ward 30, Glen View North. Most affected houses are in 71 and 72 Crescent.
Picture below is at House No. 5395-72 Crescent. Councilor Charles Chidagu, play oversight role over the local district offices of council.
NO TO ROOT CAUSES OF TYPHOID. HATIDI ZVINHU ZVINOKONZERESA TYPHOID.
By Own Correspondent| A residents association here has petitioned recently sworn in Bulawayo councillors to declare their assets arguing that such a move will reduce corruption.
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA) said if councillors declare their assets, they would have set the trend in curbing the scourge which was rampant in most urban authorities.
The previous council was accused of high levels of corruption.
Read part of the petition written by BPRA acting co-ordinator Emmanuel Ndlovu:
“Once such a declaration is made, registers of interest should then be kept and these should be made publicly accessible.
The registers of interest should then be updated annually as and when changes in your assets occur and these shall be publicly accessible.
BPRA believes such a step shall be a game-changer in the fight against corruption and that you can be Bulawayo’s number one anti-corruption champion…
BPRA is willing to second its expertise to help the council develop and maintain such a register.”
MDC Alliance’s Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Gift Banda, said that the initiative was a welcome one although he said the party would need to advise on how to proceed.-Newsday
Statement on Devolution of Governmental Powers and Responsibilities
– via Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) & Harare Residents Trust (HRT)
The Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) and the Harare Residents Trust (HRT) call upon President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to implement devolution and expedite the establishment of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils as provided for in Chapter 14 of the Constitution. We welcome the recent pronouncement by the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Ministry that it has started working on a legal framework and attendant regulations for seamless devolution of governmental power and responsibilities to local authorities. The process of crafting a legal framework for devolution must be participatory, time-bound and in conformity with the Constitution.
Further delay in the promulgation of devolution laws will delay the establishment of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils. The citizens who voted for Provincial Councillors are expecting these institutions to be established and operationalized so that they can start to spearhead local economic development in the provinces and districts as spelled out in the Constitution. The Provincial and Metropolitan Councils must be adequately resourced by central government so that they can play an effective role in local economic development as well as monitor the performance of local councils.
Further, the devolution laws or policies being formulated by government must do away with the Local Government Amendment Act of 2016 which was imposed by the former Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Saviour Kasukuwere despite protestations from civil society and other key stakeholders. The Local Government Amendment Act and other local government laws such as Rural District Councils Act and Urban Councils Act must be repealed in line with the principle of devolution.
The new administration must send a clear signal on its readiness to implement the constitutional provisions on devolution. A repeat of the 2013 scenario where elected Provincial and Metropolitan Councillors were denied the opportunity to take their oaths of office and assume their responsibilities should never be tolerated in 2018, given the encouraging statements by Central Government on devolution before and after the 30 July 2018 Harmonised Elections.
The devolution of governmental power and responsibilities to local and provincial councils helps to achieve fair and balanced development through Provincial and Metropolitan Councils, which are allowed by the Constitution to set local development priorities. Governmental powers have to be devolved to the local people so that there is increased transparency and accountability in the decision making, governance and management of public affairs by local authorities. Provincial governments must be fully in control of their local authorities and central government must only give policy direction and play an oversight role to ensure that public resources are not abused.
Source: Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) & Harare Residents Trust (HRT)
ZANU PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri yesterday vowed that she would doorstep President Emmerson Mnangagwa on his return from China this week to protest the politburo’s decision to deny national hero status to the late nationalist Kiliyon Sonke Bhebhe.
Bhebhe succumbed to renal failure at his Nyakarange Farm near Chinhoyi last Tuesday and was buried on Tuesday. He was 90.
Speaking to NewsDay after visiting the family farm to pay her condolences yesterday, Muchinguri said she would demand that the decision be revisited, saying it was an insult to just provide a State-assisted funeral to such an eminent nationalist.
“I’m not happy with the decision taken by the politburo. There are young people who do not know the contribution of some of the members like Bhebhe. They are too young to appreciate them,” she said.
Muchinguri said she would force Bhebhe’s issue to be deliberated again when Mnangagwa returns, insisting that a national hero status was the only befitting honour given his contribution to the liberation struggle.
“President Mnangagwa, who knows Bhebhe more than most of us here, will have other ideas on his status. Bhebhe’s hero status was not conclusively dealt with,” she said.
Muchinguri, however, tried to play down the rift among senior and junior Zanu PF top officials.
Chiefs’ Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira also expressed disappointment at government’s failure to declare Bhebhe a national hero.
Addressing mourners in Chinhoyi on Tuesday, Charumbira said: “It is unfortunate that some of these young people don’t know the contribution of people like Bhebhe. These are true heroes.”
A family member, Kizito Bhebhe, expressed disappointment by the way his uncle was treated in death.
“Surely this man fought in the liberation struggle more than some who are buried at the national shrine,” Kizito fumed.
Bhebhe was born at Hogo in Lower Gwelo district on May 1, 1928 and engaged in political activism at a tender age.
He joined African National Congress (ANC) in 1957 and later joined National Democratic Party when ANC was banned in January 1960.
Bhebhe was arrested in 1964 and restricted to Gonakudzingwa before being moved to Gwelo Prison in 1966, but finally joined the liberation struggle in 1977 in Zambia, where he was roped into Zapu’s War Council, a post he held until independence in 1980.
He is survived by his wife Alice, 12 children, 40 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.
In a related matter, war veterans in Bulawayo have called on Mnangagwa to accord national hero status to the late Slayi Masuku who died last week after a short illness.
Bulawayo war veterans’ provincial chairperson Cephas Ncube said Masuku was one of the pioneers of the liberation struggle and an outstanding Zipra cadre.
“We have considered him and we are requesting from our superiors that he should be considered for the national hero status. Masuku can be declared or given the status no matter where he is buried,” he said.
Zanu PF provincial chairperson Christopher Sibanda described Masuku as an unwavering and loyal party member befitting national hero status.
“I was with him and he was a devoted and determined man. He came to the front in 1968 and from that time till 1980, he was at Khami Prison. Masuku managed to study and he was a retired teacher. He fell ill and we did not know about it. He died in his late 70s and we are preparing for his hero status,” he said.
NewsDay
By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) commissioner in charge of investigations Goodson Nguni has revealed that the net is closing in on Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) ‘s commissioner responsible for investigations for demanding a bribe from a whistleblower.
Charles Jaure is alleged to have demanded money from a whistleblower in order to facilitate payment of his reward.
The whistleblower is entitled to $1.8 million (10 per cent of the amount recovered) after his information resulted in Zimra recovering $18 million from NetOne which had been evading taxes.
By Own Correspondent| War veterans here have accused opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa of causing shortages and price hikes in order to push citizens to rise up against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimate government.
Spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA), Douglas Mahiya said the shortages and price hikes was testimony that Zanu-PF is not getting co-operation and support of the business community.
Said Mahiya:
“It is an economic battle between the oppressors and the oppressed. Price hikes and shortage of basic commodities is a battle for the people to be caused to turn against their vote and disapproval themselves from being a justifiable population to have a government which determines its destiny.
That is where the antagonism is and that is why I am citing the MDC in the disappearance of these things in order to force society to rebel a legitimate elected government of the people.
They failed at the ballot box and now they want to make people suffer and make people listen to them. However, we will not be able to take that.”-Newsday.
By Ndaba Nhuku| When Prof Welshman Ncube took over the leadership of MDC from Mutambara during that 2008 GNU, for some still unknown reasons the then Zanu leader Mugabe and MDC T leader Tsvangirai would lock him out of the meetings he was also meant to attend as one of the principals. The issue became tribalised.
I warned several times that Mugabe and Zanu should not push Matabeleland’s moderate leaders like Prof Ncube out of politics. I emphasised that doing so was tribalism that would bring forth radicals who feel frustrated that their own Ndebele leaders are not recognised. When radicals are forced to come out they will silence the voice of nation builders like Prof Ncube.
I again said that South Africa has many such frustrated young Ndebeles who are aghast with the way Prof Ncube was being treated. Once they got fed up they will listen to no other leader but their own frustrations and anger. They will not care about elections results. I warned that those young Ndebeles in SA who are still fuming about Gukurahundi will one day lend support to the marginalised and discriminated against folks in Matabeleland.
Yesterday, Bulawayo did what l warned against. Was l surprised? No! Was l angry? No. Do l support those young fellas? I very much relate to their frustrations because l saw it coming years ago and noone cared. You can not push people around for too long and expect them to stay silent. I warned Mugabe years ago. When the issue of shouting down Ndebele speaking MPs in parliament was raised, noone supported them.
Instead they were being told that they are a minority with Chinotimba allegedly saying “handinzve Ndevere ini” Really? One of the main official languages in Zimbabwe? We criticised that conduct. We warned it will cause problems. Batirai may as well not speak Shona in the Bulawayo chambers because ‘abazwa isiShona!!” Nomatter how few people are, never push them to a corner until they say enough is enough.
Soon before and after the coup l warned about the “Chinhu Chedu” nonsense. Uncaringly, Mnangagwa went on to set up a Karanga Admin that excluded Zezurus. And when l raised the issue it was defended and justified by others “you didn’t complain when Mugabe ran a Zezuru govt!” I did when he ill-treated Ndebele leaders!! And l am warning again before ED makes public his new cabinet. If it’s a Karanga dominated one, one day the Zezurus and others will do what you saw in Bulawayo yesterday.
Note this.
1. Earlier this year, Shona speaking MDC Alliance supporters in Johannesburg refused to listen to Prof Ncube when he addressed them in Ndebele.
2. Obert Mpofu and Priscilla Misihairabwi have been stopped from talking in Ndebele inside Parliament.
3. During the 2018 Presidential Elections, there are many who twitted about Thoko Khuphe saying “ndichivhotera muNdevere kuti ndaakupenga here?”
Every one with an identity want it recognised and respected. At least Mugabe tried his tribal balancing hence the likes of Mnangagwa were in powerful positions under the artificial Shona tag. We now know the tag is no longer as strong, because we are seeing Karanga dominance pushing the Shona tag away. Bulawayo is an example of what lies ahead if the tribalism in Zim is not dealt with. Yes, Batirai will go down in history as the fool who stoked the flame and raised the Matabeleland identity crisis to the fore.
Personally, at this point, l say Bulawayo voted for Alliance councillors and they must let them choose their own Mayor. Imposing a Shona mayor by any means for any reasons may spell the death of both Zanu and the Alliance in Matabeleland and completely silence moderate politicians whilst giving radicals an upper hand. Let reason and common sense prevail. Let the Councillors choose the man they want to be their mayor. Bulawayo needs a strong unifying leader like ZIMBABWE does today. The Karanga hegemony must cease. The Shona lie must be confronted and stopped. Both serve noone. History has a way of repeating itself.
Chaos reigned in Masvingo Wednesday as MDC Alliance supporters besieged town hall, protesting the election of a Zanu PF councillor as the city’s deputy mayor.
The country’s main opposition party controls the local authority, having won 7 seats out of 10 in the July 30 elections.
Prominent city lawyer Collins Maboke, from the MDC Alliance, was elected the new mayor after he got the majority votes when the newly sworn in councillors voted for the top post.
However, the surprise election of ward 6’s Zanu PF councillor and local property mogul Wellington Mahwende as deputy mayor infuriated MDC Alliance supporters.
Angry supporters accused MDC Alliance councillors of betrayal and receiving bribes from the land baron to support his bid to become deputy mayor.
Mahwende pulled 7 votes against the MDC Alliance’s Serina Maridza, the only female councillor, who got three votes.
“These councillors have let us down,” charged one supporter.
“How could a Zanu PF councillor be the deputy mayor when our party has the majority of the seats?
“We need a proper explanation even to take this issue to President Chamisa for him to come and sort out this mess.
“These people received money from Zanu PF for them to act this way.”
Municipal police had a torrid time in controlling the baying crowd.
They had to lock the entrance to the council chambers as angry supporters threatened to storm the building and assault their party councillors.
Efforts to get a comment from MDC Alliance provincial Chairman James Gumbi were fruitless as his phone went unanswered.
AP
Jane Mlambo|Power struggles in MDC-Alliance between its leader Mr Nelson Chamisa and Mr Tendai Biti have escalated and are now playing out in the ongoing mayoral elections, it has emerged. Mr Biti, who is Harare East National Assembly Member, appears to be losing the battle as Mr Chamisa’s blue-eyed boys are excelling in the polls.
The former Finance Minister is priming himself to grab the opposition leadership from Mr Chamisa and sees himself as the natural leader of the opposition in Parliament by virtue of winning the Harare East parliamentary seat.
It is also understood that Mr Biti has the backing of some Western capitals to lead the opposition, principally Washington, while Mr Chamisa is trying to win the support of London.
Investigations by The Herald showed that the ongoing mayoral elections have become the latest turf for power struggles between the two opposition protagonists.
In Harare, Mr Chamisa outfoxed Mr Biti who was backing his protégé, Mr Jacob Mafume, after he (Chamisa) successfully lobbied for the election of Mr Herbert Gomba.
In the Chitungwiza mayoral polls, Mr Chamisa also prevailed against Mr Biti and Mr Douglas Mwonzora (MDC-T secretary general) who were backing a rival candidate.
Mr Chamisa’s choice, councillor Gift Tsverere, eventually won the polls although some opposition councillors reportedly voted for a Zanu-PF candidate in protest.
Messrs Biti and Mwonzora were backing councillor Goodwill Mushangwe, who was the deputy mayor in the last local authority.
In Gweru, another Chamisa loyalist councillor Josiah Makombe was elected as the new mayor after councillor Doubt Ncube, believed to be sympathetic to Mr Biti, chickened out of the race at the last minute.
Bulawayo is also another hotly contested turf between Messrs Chamisa and Biti as the two fight to field their preferred candidates.
The Bulawayo elections failed to take place on Tuesday after confusion reigned supreme over the issue of the venue.
It is understood that Mr Chamisa is pushing for councillor Solomon Mguni to take the mayoral post but his machinations are being resisted by other councillors.
The Bulawayo mayoral elections are now slated for tomorrow.
Impeccable MDC-Alliance sources confided to The Herald that power struggles between Messrs Chamisa and Biti had reached critical levels especially in local authorities where the former wants to assert his dominance after losing the presidential race.
“Remember (Mr) Chamisa is not in Parliament and Biti wants to exploit that absence to advance his ambitions as the natural leader of the opposition,” said the source.
“(Mr) Chamisa realised that and now wants to re-assert his authority as the alliance leader through local authorities where he is sponsoring candidates loyal to him. He is however facing serious resistance from Mr Biti who is also checkmating him by sponsoring rival candidates. It is yet to be seen who will emerge as the winner but at the moment Mr Chamisa appears to be winning the battle because in most towns his loyalists have so far prevailed.”
Mr Chamisa’s spokerperson Dr Nkululeko Sibanda denied that there was bad blood between Messrs Chamisa and Biti.
He said such information was being peddled by a few Zanu-PF sympathisers at Harvest House.
“We have a few Zanu-PF people at Harvest House who will be lying to you,” he said.
“The MDC constitution is very clear on roles and responsibilities. Such things cannot happen under the current leadership. What happened in Bulawayo (where elections failed to take place) has nothing to do with the party.”
-Herald
Jane Mlambo|The Ninth Parliament should focus on legislation that makes the country an attractive investment destination to achieve its vision of attaining a middle-income economy by 2030, legislators who took their oaths of office yesterday said.
Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda presided over the swearing-in of Parliamentarians from the National Assembly and Senate.
Zanu-PF secretary for Information and Publicity and Senator for Matabeleland South Simon Khaya Moyo said: “The Government is a product of the party and it is the party which lays down the roadmap on how we should perform vis-a-vis the people’s expectations. That also originates from the manifesto that embodies all that the people said and we believe those who are serious about the mandate of the people must fulfil it.”
Sen Khaya Moyo said time to sleep was over. It was time for delivery.
“It is time for less talking, less politicking and for serious delivery. It is time for people to be seen to be working to fulfil people’s expectations in terms of economic emancipation.
“We must avoid sleeping in Parliament because this is not a place to sleep. They must go somewhere else if they want to sleep.
“Those who come to snore in Parliament must know that snoring is never on the Order Paper.
“They must know they are here to fulfil the aspirations of the people. They must not be ‘missing persons’ but members of Parliament,” he said.
Zvimba West legislator and Zanu-PF Mashonaland West chairman Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi said he expected debate to centre on the economy.
“The expectation that we have coming into the ninth Parliament is for a shift towards legislation that will enhance the ease of doing business and the economic development of our country,” he said.
“You can notice from the policy pronouncements by His Excellency that he is looking at moving Zimbabwe towards a middle-income country by 2030.
“That can only be done by having a Parliament that enacts legislation and an enabling environment that allows business to thrive.
“So going into the Ninth Parliament, my hope and wish is that we have robust debate that will focus on changing those laws that deal with the ease of doing business and ensure that the economic environment is turned around.”
-Herald
Jane Mlambo|Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya has assured the nation that there is no fuel crisis, as the central bank allocated enough foreign currency to suppliers.
Dr Mangudya, who is in China on State business, told Chronicle in an interview that queues that characterised filling stations in most parts of the country yesterday could have been a result of logistical challenges.
“There cannot be a crisis because we allocated enough fuel for the week,” he said.
“Since I am not around, I can only assume that suppliers may have had logistical challenges collecting fuel from Msasa Depot (in Harare) for them to distribute countrywide.”
Dr Mangudya promised to check on the situation.
He said RBZ allocates $20 million foreign currency for fuel per week on Mondays or Tuesdays.
Government doubled foreign currency allocation to fuel suppliers from $10 million to $20 million per week in May this year, to ensure constant supplies.
However, yesterday morning motorists in some parts of the country woke up to long winding queues at fuel garages, while some outlets had no supplies at all.
A survey by our Bulawayo Bureau showed that only diesel was available at some outlets, while unscrupulous black market dealers had hiked prices, taking advantage of shortages at the pump.
In Binga, diesel was delivered to some garages on Sunday, while fuel attendants said they were expecting petrol on Thursday.
In Victoria Falls, motorists were caught unawares and queued at CMED garage in the morning as other outlets were yet to receive supplies.
Total garage was only selling to those with their pre-paid cards and cash, resulting in motorists flocking to the CMED garage.
At Petrotrade, motorists were being told to check by end of day yesterday.
Parallel market dealers who sell fuel in containers at street corners were selling 5-litres for as high as $10, about $3 more than the pump price.
“I’m left with less than a quarter tank of fuel and I can’t continue carrying clients,” said a taxi driver Mr Oliver Mungezi in Victoria Falls.
“I will have to join the queue until I get some fuel because I might get stuck with clients. What it means is that we have lost business this morning.”
In Hwange, some of the garages were also without fuel, while in Bulawayo long queues were also witnessed in the morning.
-Herald
Jane Mlambo|President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s lawyer in the just-concluded presidential election challenge, Advocate Lewis Uriri, yesterday challenged the Zanu PF leader’s authority to appoint a special anti-corruption investigative unit, saying it was illegal for him to just wake up and appoint a government crack unit without an Act of Parliament, arguing such action was clear abuse of his duty.
Uriri recently successfully represented Mnangagwa at the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) against a petition filed by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, who was seeking to overturn the Zanu PF leader’s victory in the July 30 election.
Addressing Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube, where he was representing suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) vice-chancellor Levi Nyagura in a criminal abuse of office charge, Uriri also said the prosecutors seconded by the Office of the President to handle the matter were before the court illegally.
The National Prosecution Authority had seconded Tapiwa Godzi and Mikel Chakandida, who are in private practice and were recently incorporated into the anti-corruption special unit housed in the Office of the President.
While challenging their presence in court, Uriri said it was a clear violation of the Constitution to have the prosecutors who directly report to the President, saying this compromises the administration of justice.
“These prosecutors take instruction from the State President. They do not report to Prosecutor-General. The President woke up one morning and said I am putting a commission or a special unit, that is fundamentally a breach of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” Uriri said.
“It is an abuse of power for other purposes not known to us. If there is going to be a conferment of prosecutors who are not from the Prosecution Authority, such power must be by Act of Parliament.”
“These learned colleagues are subject to control by the Office of the President. The role of public prosecutor lies at the centre of the constitutional right to a fair trial. If they are employed by the Office of the President, are they going to be fair? Obviously they are going to please their appointing authority, who is the President.”
Uriri asked the court for referral of the matter to the ConCourt to determine whether the granting of certificates to private lawyers by the National Prosecuting Authority did not violate the constitutional rights of the accused person’s right to equal protection under the law.
“Prosecutorial independence lies at the heart to constitutional right to a fair trial. The public prosecutor is intended by the Constitution to be independent, impartial and not subject to the direct or control of someone,” he said.
-Newsday
Jane Mlambo|THE Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) have subtly admitted to opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa’s power to sabotage or make the economy tick, saying he is conniving with his “imperialist handlers” to cause the worsening economic situation in the country.
Since the declaration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the July 30 harmonised elections victor, the situation has drastically deteriorated, evoking memories of the hyper-inflationary period of 2007-2009 era.
The war veterans admitted the situation was hurting ordinary citizens, but said the shortages were being engineered to incite public protests against Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF government.
“What is happening is that the capitalists are fighting against Zanu PF victory politically and economically, so it shows that the ruling party is not getting the co-operation of the business community,” ZNLWVA spokesperson Douglas Mahiya said.
“It is an economic battle between the oppressors and the oppressed. Price hikes and shortage of basic commodities is a battle for the people to be caused to turn against their vote and disapproval themselves from being a justifiable population to have a government which determines its destiny.”
He said the force that controlled the industries was responsible for shortages of basic commodities in a bid to maintain the capitalistic status quo.
Mahiya said the MDC-T must fulfil its promises to bring multiple connections that would avail loads of cash to ease the situation during the campaigns.
He said the opposition must avert the crisis by approaching those same people as per their own threat to bring the promised cash and help alleviate the situation as opposed to folding hands while people suffered.
Mahiya described the MDC as a legitimate political organisation which is helpful for the country’s political development, but said their contradiction must not undermine or retard the development of Zanu PF in order to justify that they are better.
“That is where the antagonism is and that is why I am citing the MDC in the disappearance of these things in order to force society to rebel a legitimate elected government of the people,” he said.
-Newsday
By Simba Chikanza| Norton MP Temba Mliswa has spoken for the first time over Twitter based allegations that claim that he slept with and infected a school girl.
Speaking to ZimEye in France Thursday morning, Mliswa said he is prepared to resign should that be proven.
A woman running by the name Mai Tindo (@TindoMai) made the allegations last week.
But Mliswa told ZimEye, “I represent people, it is important that the people I represent feel safe around me. I have a daughter who is 27 and others who are teenagers, and from a point of principle I have vowed never to date any person that age or below, and that I have guarded jealously.”
He continued saying, “this must be dispelled once and for all. Me being a legislator, I am prepared to resign as a member of parliament because it is not fitting for any member of parliament to behave like that.
“Anyone who carries such an allegation must quickly name that school-child they allege I slept with and also infected with an STI.
“I am currently out of the country, but once I am back in the next few days, I will next Tuesday at 10am in Harare do an open or public HIV test at the Media Centre in conjunction with the AIDS council.
“I would also like to say that this person attacking me is also furthermore attacking victims of HIV, promoting a misleading stigma.”
Mliswa added saying the person making the allegations must also come to the Media Centre with the alleged girl friend and get tested together with him.
“I also ask the person making these allegations to come with the victim and get tested also, ” he said.
Meanwhile, Mliswa will be LIVE on ZimEye Friday morning at the Brussels Press Club.
By Paul Nyathi|MDC Alliance President Nelson has hinted that he is the process of coming up with tough decisions as he shapes the way forward after the election loss in the July 30 elections.
In a brief social media update on Thursday, Chamisa said that the party is currently involved in nationwide consultations with the party members to get into an agreement on how to proceed after the elections.
“Our NEXT move is very crucial for Zimbabwe’s future. Things must change. We’re currently engaging Zimbabweans countrywide on the steps ahead. We’re ready to serve YOU.Tough decisions are about to be made. You decide we abide.Your wish is our command. What are your thoughts & ideas ??”
Chamisa is reliably rumoured to be involved in talks with winning presidential candidate Emmerson Mnangagwa on a possibility of being incorporated into government.
Though both parties have publicly denied existence of the talks, highly placed sources within the two parties have confirmed the talks.
The Norton MP, HON Temba Mliswa will go LIVE at the Brussels Press Club tomorrow as he addresses international media.
The program will be streamed LIVE by ZimEye.com
It will start at 11am (Harare time).
Mliswa, who alone predicted and promoted president Emmerson Mnangagwa during the days when it was very risky and dangerous, returns to Belgium exactly 2 years later after his first visit during the Robert Mugabe days when he was head-to-head against the G40 faction and Grace Mugabe.
What will his prophecy be this time? – Tune in tomorrow to watch LIVE on ZimEye.com
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s lawyer in the just-concluded presidential election challenge, Advocate Lewis Uriri, yesterday challenged the Zanu PF leader’s authority to appoint a special anti-corruption investigative unit, saying it was illegal for him to just wake up and appoint a government crack unit without an Act of Parliament, arguing such action was clear abuse of his duty.
Uriri recently successfully represented Mnangagwa at the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) against a petition filed by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, who was seeking to overturn the Zanu PF leader’s victory in the July 30 election.
Addressing Harare magistrate Lazini Ncube, where he was representing suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) vice-chancellor Levi Nyagura in a criminal abuse of office charge, Uriri also said the prosecutors seconded by the Office of the President to handle the matter were before the court illegally.
The National Prosecution Authority had seconded Tapiwa Godzi and Mikel Chakandida, who are in private practice and were recently incorporated into the anti-corruption special unit housed in the Office of the President.
While challenging their presence in court, Uriri said it was a clear violation of the Constitution to have the prosecutors who directly report to the President, saying this compromises the administration of justice.
“These prosecutors take instruction from the State President. They do not report to Prosecutor-General. The President woke up one morning and said I am putting a commission or a special unit, that is fundamentally a breach of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” Uriri said.
“It is an abuse of power for other purposes not known to us. If there is going to be a conferment of prosecutors who are not from the Prosecution Authority, such power must be by Act of Parliament.”
“These learned colleagues are subject to control by the Office of the President. The role of public prosecutor lies at the centre of the constitutional right to a fair trial. If they are employed by the Office of the President, are they going to be fair? Obviously they are going to please their appointing authority, who is the President.”
Uriri asked the court for referral of the matter to the ConCourt to determine whether the granting of certificates to private lawyers by the National Prosecuting Authority did not violate the constitutional rights of the accused person’s right to equal protection under the law.
“Prosecutorial independence lies at the heart to constitutional right to a fair trial. The public prosecutor is intended by the Constitution to be independent, impartial and not subject to the direct or control of someone,” he said.
Uriri further told the court that acting Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi had no authority to issue prosecuting certificates, as it amounted to wilful violation of the Constitution.
But Godzi said Uriri should have challenged the special prosecutor’s presence during the remand period.
“Uriri should have challenged our presence during the remand time. We even issued him with all court documents to prepare his client’s defence. All witnesses have been given their papers. Your worship, it is just a ploy to delay the proceedings,” Godzi told the court.
Ncube postponed the matter to today for ruling.
Allegations are that sometime in 2011, Nyagura singlehandedly accepted and approved Ntombizodwa Grace Marufu’s (Grace’s maiden name) application to study for a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Sociology without the knowledge and recommendations of the departmental board and Faculty of Higher Degrees Committee in violation of UZ quality assurance, guidelines and benchmark.
Nyagura allegedly abused his position after showing favour to Grace, who did not meet the minimum requirements to study for the degree. It is alleged Nyagura’s action had the capacity to discredit Zimbabwe’s education system, thereby affecting its international rankings.
NewsDay
By Paul Nyathi|Arrested MDC Alliance national youth chairperson Happymore Chidziva’s lawyer Brian Dube say they would on the next remand date challenge the charges levied against his client and make an application for refusal of remand, citing political persecution.
Chidziva is on remand having been arrested for inciting public violence after he allegedly threatened President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) with unspecified action at a campaign rally held in Mkoba Gweru ahead of the July 30 harmonised elections.
It is the State’s case that on July 22, the MDC Alliance held a rally at Mkoba stadium in Gweru which had been authorised by the police.
On the same date at around 12PM, Chidziva was given the chance to address party supporters.
The accused was using Shona and he unlawfully uttered some words saying: “Kana pakauya result isingafadzi isu vechidiki kana tati chatsva, chatsva. Mnangagwa hokoyo. Hokoyo Zec hokoyo (If the election result is not favourable to our party if we say we are taking action, we would do so. Be warned Mnangagwa. Be warned Zec),” he allegedly said.
There is a video, according to the State, showing Chidziva making the utterances.
“The accused had no right to utter such words that have an effect of influencing public disorder,” said Mr Andrew Marimo who appeared for the State.
Chidziva handed himself at Harare Central Police Station on Monday morning and was transferred to Gweru.
Controversial preacher Emmanuel Makandiwa has fired an open threat at the US government for being anti ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Makandiwa said any government that put sanctions on Mnangagwa and his office, will soon go down.
In what clearly sounded like a curse against the US government, the preacher who has watched Mnangagwa openly likened to the God Almighty, claimed that this is because “there is no country world-over with the word of God such as this one – Zimbabwe.”
Although Makandiwa did not mention the US by name, it was clear he meant the US since there is no other country worldwide which has put sanctions on Mnangagwa and his ZANU PF party.
He made these proclamations while preaching at his United Family International Church’s Chitungwiza Basilica on Sunday. He said Zimbabwe will prosper soon despite the sanctions.
Makandiwa said those countries which fail to handle Zimbabwe’s matters will go down. He said: “Sanctions is not an economic term, it’s witchcraft. It means whatever power you have it will not work for you.
“We know how sanctions can destroy any nation regardless of who is in charge. But I believe that God has this country at heart and it is this God who is returning the country to prosperity. Zimbabwe will prosper very soon. There is no country with the word of God such as this one.
“God is about to do something. Kune dzimwe nyika dzichasara nemakey muhomwe asi chain dzakadonha kare. Zimbabwe has now become a very sensitive nation.
“It will cause other nations to go down if these nations are not careful. There are fortified nations that never had problems in the past, but they have to be very careful now in the way they handle Zimbabwe’s matters.”
Meanwhile, Makandiwa has been exposed for making false predictions, performing fake miracles and also stealing from worshippers using manipulations of Biblical scriptures he uses to threaten people that they will be cursed by God if they do not give him money in the form of tithes, offerings and seed money.
A MULTITUDE yesterday flooded the streets of Bulawayo, bringing much activity to the usually serene city, as residents joined an organised procession along historic sites in memory and honour of the late icon and founding nationalist, Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo.
Wild excitement, mixed with emotion, punctuated the peaceful march, which began at the Blue Lagoon — the late Nkomo family’s business situated at Renkini Bus Terminus in Thorngrove — and proceeded to Stanley Square in one of the city’s oldest suburbs, Makokoba, JM Nkomo statue at the city centre and ended at the City Hall grounds.
The police had a torrid time controlling traffic as the large procession moved at a snail’s pace as others joined in admiration along the way. Traditional music and cultural groups, artistes and poets, drum majorettes from different schools and music bands from the uniformed forces kept the large crowd entertained. These further drew the attention of passersby who, out of curiosity, could not resist rushing to the fences, some climbed on walls as others peeped through their home and office windows to catch a glimpse.
Among the artistes were youthful Madlela Sikhobokhobo, Hwabarathi, Thandanani Women’s Ensemble, Sekunjalo maAfrica and Umkhathi. The crowd was indeed united in spirit as both young and old, including students, buyers and dignitaries walked together in memory of the late VP. Retired journalist and historian, Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu, was also there.
“Anything that connects us to Nkomo helps us to ask what happened to us? Where is that verve, which used to characterise Bulawayo. We are no longer vibrant and have missed this for years,” said one Gogo MaDube who was part of the procession.
“This reminds people of who they are, it’s like a wake up call.”
Another man, who identified himself as Mr Sibanda, said: “This event reminds us of the day we marched to bid Nkomo farewell after he died in 1999. We will never forget him.”
The momentous event was a major highlight of the ongoing 11th edition of the specialised Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo organised by the Government through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
The late Nkomo family, led by his son Sibangilizwe and daughter Mrs Thandiwe Ibrahim, marched along together with the ZTA team led by chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke as well as representatives from the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Foundation.
Mrs Ibrahim said her father was a nationalist by calling and never made it a secret to them that the liberation struggle came first to the extent that he sacrificed the bulk of his time with family. He said the late national hero desired a free and prosperous Zimbabwe and his ideals of peace and unity appealed to everyone across Zimbabwe.
ZTA vice board chair, Mrs Precious Sibiya stresses a point to the CEO Mr Karikoga Kaseke while the advisory board international travel Bourse Berlin Mr Bruno Walters listen as they led a march to comemorate the late VP Joshua Nkomo legacy in Bulawayo yesterday.
“We are happy his contribution is being recognised. He was a person who was above all these things like tribalism, racism. He was truly a man of the people, someone who wanted to embrace the whole country and this is what people would like to see,” she said.
Mrs Ibrahim said while some of the things the country experienced after independence were not in line with Nkomo’s dreams, the language and direction of the new dispensation under President Mnangagwa was showing signs of hope and a return to the development path that her father desired.
Yesterday’s event precedes the official launch today of the late “Dr Joshua Nkomo Tourism Heritage Trails”, a unique package of historical tourism that is set to increase Bulawayo attractiveness and enhance domestic and international arrivals. Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga would preside over the launch programme.
Mr Kaseke said the commemoration of the late Dr Nkomo’s life through Tourism Heritage Trails was crucial in promoting heritage tourism in Zimbabwe.
State Media
Suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura who is facing charges of abuse of office has made an application for referral of his matter to the Constitutional Court citing violation of his rights to a fair trial.
Mr Tapiwa Godzi and Mr Michael Chakandida from the Presidential Special Anticorruption Unit are representing the prosecution and in his arguments, Prof Nyagura said the appointment of the pair to prosecute was in violation of the Constitution which stipulates that a public prosecutor is intended to be independent, impartial and not subject to the direction and control of anyone.
Through his lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri, he said the two were controlled by the office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) as they were employed under that office. He said the State was in willful violation of the Constitution thereby infringing upon his rights and equal protection and benefit of the law under section 56 (1) of the Constitution.
Prof Nyagura argued that the pair’s authority to prosecute had been issued on violation of the law and that such conduct breachedthe right to a fair trial. He made reference to section 259(10) of the Constitution which provides for who may assist the Prosecutor General (PG) in prosecuting.
He said according to the section, the people who may assist the PG were employed by a board provided for by an Act of Parliament adding that the pair did not fall into that category as their loyalty lay with the OPC.
Developing story
State Media
By Dorrothy Moyo| The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya has made claims that the wheat supply situation in the country is under control.
This was despite evidence showing that six millers have suspended operations due to shortages.
The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has warned that the country faces an imminent shortage of bread due to low levels of wheat in the country.
But Mangudya, quoted by the state media said the situation was “under control” as the central bank has put in place measures to ensure uninterrupted supplies of “essential imports.
The RBZ owes suppliers $12 million for grain supplied in 2016. But the wheat problem goes back to 2005. Since 2005, the national stocks have severely deteriorated, an impeccable memo reveals.
However in a memo from the GMAZ General manager to the group’s chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara, the GMAZ warned that the wheat levels had fallen to their lowest since 2005 owing to failure by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to allocate foreign currency for the payment of the wheat.
Most of the wheat is imported from British company Holbud Limited which is already owed $12.5 million.
Reads part of the memo: “the national wheat supply situation has severely deteriorated to low levels since 2005…the available stocks are 28028.116 against a required minimum national three-month stock level of 114,000 metric tonnes. The current monthly national requirement is 38,000 metric tonnes.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is yet to remit the USD 12,450,000.00 to the wheat supplier, Holbud Limited (UK), and the GMAI’s Ecobank Wheat account is adequately funded.
No remittance has been made despite the commitment made by RBZ Governor on 28 August 2018. Holbud Limited has grown impatient and threatens to divert stocks currently at Beira to Mozambique and Malawi Millers.
With respect, wheat and fuel are both in category 1 of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe foreign payment remittance priority list. Regrettably, fuel gets USD 21.000.000 00 per week religiously but wheat is not getting a paltry USD 12.450,000.00 per month for the entire national monthly requirements.
Self-raising flour has disappeared in many shops nationwide. Small bread bakers are stocked out. I strongly recommend that you alert the powers that be of this predicament as the country is fast plunging into severe flour and bread stock-outs in the next few days.”
D. M. Gammon (Mike Gammon) March 2008
Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the land (William Jennings Bryan, 9 July 1896).
How prophetic these words are proving to be for Zimbabwe. In making this statement, however, Bryan could never have dreamt of a government purposefully destroying its own farms. The Zimbabwe Government’s campaign to obliterate commercial agriculture, under the guise of agrarian reform, but in reality in the interest of retaining power through illegal and violent means, has been largely effective. A major part of this campaign has been incessant propaganda, based on distortions and lies, designed to give it respectability. Further deceptions have sought to give the impression that the pretence of agrarian reform has been successful. It can be expected, also, that there will be attempts to mask the past achievements of the commercial farmers. It would be a tragedy if these truly remarkable achievements, and the tragic sufferings of these farmers, were not fully documented, lest distortions become accepted history.
Virgin land
The first white hunters, traders and missionaries who, in the 19th century came to the region that was to become Rhodesia and subsequently Zimbabwe, found a land devoid of infrastructure. The wheel was not yet in use; there were no roads. Early travellers record travelling often for days without seeing any human habitation. With a population of about a quarter of a million people at the time, indeed most of the land was not occupied. Commercial farming started in the 1890s on what was, for the most part, virgin land. There were no roads or railways, there was no electricity or telephone; there were no fences, boreholes, pumps, windmills, dams, irrigation schemes; there were no cattle dips, barns or any other farm buildings.
These first farmers had to discover how to contend with predators that killed their livestock and other animals that consumed their crops; how to control diseases, pests and parasites of livestock and crops that were foreign to them. While some guidance could be drawn from South Africa, knowledge and experience built up over generations in the developed world had limited application, since the local climate, soil and vegetation were vastly different.
Breadbasket
From this starting point, fraught with difficulties, agriculture developed faster than it had anywhere else in the world. The agricultural infrastructure was rapidly developed and soon the country became self-sufficient in most agricultural products. In many cases production levels and quality equalled or bettered those in the developed world. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Year Book of 1975 ranked the then Rhodesia second in the world in terms of yields of maize, wheat, soya beans and groundnuts, and third for cotton. In the combined ranking for all these crops Rhodesia ranked first in the world. Some of these rankings were, in fact, reached long before 1975. Rhodesia’s Virginia tobacco was rated the best in the world in yield and quality, while maize entries in world championships were consistently placed in the first three places. The world’s largest single citrus producer was developed early in the country’s history. The highest quality breeding stock of numerous breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry were imported. At the same time the indigenous cattle were developed through breeding and selection to highly productive and respected breeds. The Tuli, for example, has been imported into a number of other countries. Zimbabwe beef was favourably regarded on the most discerning European markets. Wildlife was incorporated into farming systems to develop a highly successful eco-tourism industry and endangered species found their most secure havens on farm conservancies.
Zimbabwe was the world’s second largest exporter of flue-cured tobacco. This, together with exports of maize, soyabeans, cotton, sugar, coffee, tea, fruit, vegetables, flowers and beef, made agriculture the major source of foreign currency. Agriculture contributed more to the gross domestic product than any other industry. It was the largest employer of labour, providing employment for about a third of the total labour force. Zimbabwe, due to its technologically advanced commercial agriculture, earned the reputation of being the breadbasket of central Africa.
To-day foreign aid is considered indispensable for development in the developing world. In Rhodesia agriculture, like other industries, developed with no such aid. Commercial farmers also did not benefit from the free seed, fertilizer, tillage and other inputs currently being dispensed in an effort to induce production from the resettled farms. However, agricultural departments and training colleges set up by the colonial government to service all farming sectors regardless of colour, played a crucial part in the development of agriculture. Without the outstanding contributions of the Department of Veterinary Services the livestock industry could not have developed and exports of animal products could not have been established. The Department of Research and Specialist Services and the Tobacco Research Board developed improved crop varieties for local and regional use and researched optimum crop and livestock nutrition and management techniques. The Department of Conservation and Extension was established to ensure that the land was farmed in accordance with its potential for sustainable production. It provided a sophisticated farm planning service, agricultural extension and specialist advisory services. These departments, employing highly qualified and dedicated staff, were rated among the best in the world and the agricultural colleges turned out farmers of the highest calibre.
Outposts of civilization
The benefits accruing to the country from the commercial farming sector extended far beyond the value of agricultural products and employment. The farmers contributed to the leadership, fabric and welfare of society out of all proportion to their numbers. It was largely this fact that was to make them the prime target of a government desperately clinging to power. Each farm was, to a greater or lesser extent, an outpost of civilization. Many farms established schools for the children of their workers. Every farm was a clinic and dispensary and ambulance service for the surrounding areas. The relationship between farmer and worker was more intimate and benevolent than in any other industry. Commercial farmers tended to be exemplary neighbours to the communal area peasant farmers, providing unpaid help in many ways. It was from the agricultural shows organized by farmers that the Central African Trade Fair grew.
All these contributions to the growth of the economy and the welfare of the country emanated from fewer than five thousand farmers, on less than half the land.
Terrorist targets
After the Rhodesian Government’s unilateral declaration of independence in 1965, the tenacity and initiative of the farmers in diversification significantly helped the country to survive the comprehensive sanctions that were imposed upon it. The few agricultural products that had hitherto been imported were quickly brought into production locally. And it was the farmers who bore the brunt of the terrorist attacks during the ensuing Rhodesian war. They were under continuous threat of armed attacks on their homes, ambushes, and land mines. Many farmers and their family members and workers were murdered. And yet they continued production. Independence in 1980 brought relief to most of the country but not to Matabeleland. Here attacks by “dissidents” resulted in even more farmers being murdered than had been the case during the war.
From the mid 1980s there followed little more than a decade of comparative normality, during which farmers had to contend only with drastic shortages of many inputs. It is worth noting that during the first two decades of the post independence period the government was encouraging the continuance of commercial agriculture. The government claimed first option rights on all land sales but nearly half of the farmers on the land in 2000 had purchased their farms during that period with government approval.
The worst nightmare for the farmers was to come from 2000 onwards. In 2000 an unrigged referendum was held on the Zimbabwe Government’s proposed alterations to the constitution. It came as an unbearable shock to Mugabe and his ruling ZANU (PF) party when the result showed that they did not have majority support. It was unthinkable that they would ever relinquish power. From this time on the Mugabe government made the retention of power at any cost its prime focus. The farmers, although making up only a minute fraction of the population, were seen as key supporters of the opposition who could influence their large labour force and hence other rural people, potentially the government’s main support base. The farmers were, therefore, first to be punished by vindictive and brutal attacks; then driven from their farms by government-sponsored agents so that they could no longer make a meaningful contribution to the opposition. At the same time, those incited by the government to invade the farms, and those to whom dispossessed land was given, could be expected to be loyal government party supporters. There had previously been ample opportunity for genuine, orderly land reform, with offers of international donor funding, but the land was to be used as a political tool. Now, 20 years after independence, this violent campaign was suddenly instituted to retain the ruling party’s grip on power. Disguising this under such emotive rhetoric as “agrarian reform”, “land redistribution to the landless” and “recovery of stolen land” has deceived and earned the support of many naïve observers. It has provided an excuse for other knowing, but equally malevolent leaders, to support these actions.
This “land reform” took the form of state-sponsored terrorism conducted by rabid bands of so-called war veterans or, as political analyst John Makumbe has put it, “ZANU (PF) hoodlums and hired hands”. The findings of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Forum Report were that this was a government-planned seizure of land, not a spontaneous seizure by landless blacks, as claimed by the government. In this government-sponsored frenzy farmers and their workers were violently attacked and many were murdered, their property was wantonly destroyed or stolen, their farm animals and pets were cruelly maimed and killed, and wild life on the farms was decimated. Farmers and their families lived for extended periods in states of siege, surrounded by threatening armed thugs. Adding insult to injury, these people would often demand favours and assistance from the farmers. Many farmers were illegally detained. Ultimately the unbearable pressure, or the direct threat to their lives, has forced more than 90% of the farmers off their farms. According to the Human Rights Forum Report, more than 10 000 farm workers are believed to have died after their expulsion from farms, as a consequence of loss of employment, housing, nutrition and access to health care on the farms.
Total loss
It is difficult for city dwellers to fully comprehend the enormity of what has happened to these farmers. In addition to the abuse, violent attacks and cold-blooded murders, farmers in one sweep lost their homes, their land, their crops, their animals and their equipment; they have had their businesses, built up often over more than a generation, closed down, their livelihood terminated; all this with, as yet, no compensation or insurance coverage. Farm workers too have been left homeless and unemployed. Through all of this there was no one to whom the farmers could turn for help; there was no public protest on their behalf. There was no recourse to law since the law was no longer applied. Court rulings were ignored. The police were usually fully aware of what was happening; often they supported or participated in the violence. There was even a case where a police roadblock knowingly allowed free passage to cars carrying armed assassins, both on their way to murder a farmer and on their return after the deed had been done.
Starvation
Most of the farms now lie largely derelict and unproductive. Many are occupied, not by the peasants the campaign was proclaimed to provide for but by ruling party cronies, army, police and church leaders, favoured in order to win their political allegiance. Although the farms were taken over as fully functioning concerns, production immediately fell to such low levels that the country now faces widespread starvation and is dependent on food aid. Dr. J. L. Grant, former Deputy Director of the Commercial Farmers Union, estimates that the production of maize and soyabeans has fallen by more than 50%, while tobacco and coffee production has declined by more than 75%. The commercial beef herd has declined by more than 80%. This, together with lack of control of stock movements and consequent outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, means that beef can no longer be exported.
In a recent radio interview the Zimbabwe Minister of Lands and Resettlement was asked why it was that Zimbabwe, formerly referred to as the breadbasket of central Africa, was now suffering perpetual severe food shortages? Drought has been the usual excuse offered for this, even in seasons of adequate rainfall. On this occasion the excuse given was that it took time for new farmers to get into production. This was in spite of the fact that they took over established farms, often with standing crops. Ironically, within days of this interview it was reported that, as a result of dispossessed Zimbabwe farmers settling in Zambia, within one season that country already had an exportable surplus of maize.
What has happened to the economy of Zimbabwe, mainly as a result of the destruction of its farms, is now evident to all.
So much was owed by so many to the initiative, enterprise, energy and courage of so few; yet, when the farmers were being persecuted, no one intervened on their behalf. It is to be hoped that the amazing story of the farmers of Zimbabwe will be recorded more fully and published, that the perpetrators of the crimes committed against them will be brought to justice and that the farmers will receive fair compensation for their persecution and losses.
By: Mike Gammon: [email protected] March 2008
Author Details
Mike Gammon was Chief of Veld and Pastures Zimbabwe Department of Agricultural Technical Services (1978 and 1983); Animal and Pasture Specialist Department of Conservation and Extension, Rhodesia (1965 – 1978) and Conservation and Extension Officer Department of Conservation and Extension, Rhodesia (1958 – 1965)
Articles by DM Gammon include:
I never saw China sending pandas to Zimbabwe, but Mnangagwa keeps sending our last remaining rhinos to China. WHY?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 6, 2018
The convicted fraudster who is now heading the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC), Goodson Nguni says they are now fully-equipped and financially sound to fight and investigate corruption throughout the country.
Addressing a media briefing at the ZACC head office, Head Commissioner Goodson Nguni said the corruption watchdog is now fully capacitated and mandated to make intensive follow-ups on all outstanding corruption cases.
The ZBC report continues stating that: some of the targeted persons and institutions include former finance minister Tendai Biti who is alleged to have authorised an illegal transfer of $30 million to Renaissance Bank during his tenure as finance minister while banks such as Kingdom Bank, Royal Bank and Interfin are investigated for illegal money laundering.
Nguni has an arrest warrant on his head in South Africa where he is wanted for defrauding his former employer, the South African Post Office (Sapo), in the Eastern Cape region of over R523 836. South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Port Elizabeth reveals that Nguni has been been on the wanted list for fraud since 1999.
But the man continues to boast.
“The new dispensation has allowed us to recruit and set up special investigating team comprised of experts from outside our commission such as lawyers and economists and we are ready to look into major issues sabotaging our economy. We are going to look into companies balance sheets, investigate those which are not paying tax,” Nguni said.
Commissioner Nguni further told journalists that ZACC is also digging deep on the issue regarding cash shortages accusing commercial banks of illegally channelling cash into the streets while retailers and fast foods outlets will be quizzed for not depositing monies into banks.
He also said the commission is also investigating misuse of public funds at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) saying some of the funds invested by the institution were not legally issued.
“We are going to investigate everyone and if evidence is brought forward we will arrest. We want to investigate fast foods outlets who do not deposit money into banks yet they transact cash on a daily basis. We want to know how and why fresh notes are in the streets,” said Nguni.
Nguni added saying that the new dispensation has opened up space for them to pursue any corruption leads and added that the commission is working hand in glove with other government organs to put an end to all illegal activities.
Terrence Mawawa| A Zanu PF legislator has described President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a true saint whose desire is to save and serve the people of Zimbabwe.
Zanu PF MP for Hwedza South Constituency Tino Machakaire has urged the nation to appreciate and complement Mnangagwa’ s tireless efforts to transform the country’ s economy.
Speaking during the swearing ceremony for Parliamentarians in Harare today, Machakaire said: “President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a humble and likeable fellow.The man is a true servant of the people and we will definitely support his great vision for the nation.”
In an interview, Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) Director, Mr Johannes Pedzapasi, said the shortage had been caused by a delay in shipment of the plate-making material from Germany where the country sources the material which is then stamped with the numbers locally.
“There was also a delay at Forbes Border Post leading to the short supply of plates at various centres countrywide,” he said.
Mr Pedzapasi also attributed the delay to high sea levels in the Indian Ocean, leading to the delay in the shipment’s arrival in the country.
He said the vehicle registration plates had since arrived in the country and were yet to be distributed to respective provinces.
“We had run out of the short plates and only had longer number plates in supply. However, we managed to source both short and long versions of the number pates. The situation is expected to return to normal soon,” said Mr Pedzapasi.
Stranded motorists who spoke to The Chronicle in Bulawayo said they had waited for over two weeks to get vehicle registration plates.
They said they were facing problems with the police over lack of number plates.
A motorist from Southwold suburb who identified himself as Mr Byron Mpofu said he had to negotiate with police officers and produce proof that he had applied for plates for him not to get into trouble with the law.
“I was lucky to find understanding police officers. I showed them all the documentation after I was told I had to pay a fine. After they saw all the forms I had in the car, they realised it wasn’t my fault that I wasn’t displaying any number plates on my recently imported car,” said Mr Mpofu.
Some motorists called on Government to consider producing everything locally.
“We must be able to manufacture this in the country. We cannot be using scarce foreign currency to import metal plates that can be produced in the country. Industry should be revived and empowered. We hope that the new Government will rectify this as it does not make any sense. Zimbabwe has the capacity to produce its own number plates,” said Mr Tapiwa Majoni from Mahatshula South suburb. – state media
A Bulawayo family is up in arms with Moonlight Funeral Services after the body of their grandmother decomposed before burial due to the service provider’s delays in rendering services.
Moonlight Funeral Services, however, shifted the blame to the family saying it supplied inaccurate information which resulted in payments being done for a wrong package that does not cover those aged above 80 years like the deceased.
The Ncube family said the company dragged its feet to assist them to bury their grandmother and the body ended up decomposing at home.
The woman died on Wednesday last week in Lupane and was only buried last Sunday after Moonlight Funeral Services assisted.
“They were delaying to assist us when we went to ask for their services for our grandmother who was their client. They first refused to provide their services for her saying she was above 80 years old and the package we had been paying for her was inaccurate. They blatantly said that even though we had been paying for her. Her body was already decomposing in our home,” said Mrs Nothando Ncube, a relative to the deceased.
Mrs Ncube said they had also paid for a package which included groceries but they never got them.
“The package we paid for included groceries. After all the hustle and delay, they gave us everything except the food allowance,” said Mrs Ncube.
The Chronicle managed to talk to the funeral service provider and challenges that the family encountered were attributed to failure to provide the correct information.
“As a reputable service provider, we offer different packages to incorporate all our clients and from these services we advise our customers to bring their identity documents and those of their dependents so that we highlight to them which package is best suited for their age. This family added their grandmother as a dependent on their package a few months ago. However, they did not bring us her identification document. They said they were going to bring it, but did not until her time of death,” said Moonlight public relations director Mr Abel Chimutanda.
“We asked them if their relative was below 80 years when they added her and they said yes she was indeed below 80 – only to find out that the dependent was above 80, meaning the package that they had registered under was an incorrect package as its limit is 65 years old. We had to go out of our way to make something available for them, but no matter how hard we tried to assist, the funds they had contributed if transferred to the correct package could not cater for food allowance but everything else.”
He said delays in assisting the family were as a result of the need to get in touch with their top management who are the only ones who can solve such cases.
“Our top management had to be alerted on what had transpired. According to the package that Ncube had registered, it states that anyone who is above 80 year of age is not catered for on it, hence our delay,” added Mr Chimutanda.
Moonlight Services urged its customers to be truthful with information they provide so that such cases are avoided.- state media
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) has increased its minimum EcoCash prepaid electricity token to $10 from $2.
Consumers have in recent weeks been struggling to buy electricity via the mobile platform.
Econet Wireless posted a statement yesterday on social media notifying the public of the development which was with immediate effect.
“The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company electricity token system on EcoCash is now working. Customers are now able to buy Zesa tokens via EcoCash. The minimum value you can buy your Zesa token on EcoCash has been increased to $10 to improve on efficiency,” read the statement.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and we will keep you informed of any further developments.”
Responding to questions from The Chronicle in a telephone interview, Zesa Holdings public relations manager Mr Fullard Gwasira said the increase was due to the system challenges that they faced due to a lot of transactions.
“We have not increased from $2 to $10 for the rest of the transactions, it is only for EcoCash. We had long queues as a result of system challenges due to congestion. We are currently installing new servers and we hope to return the situation to normalcy in due course,” said Mr Gwasira.
A Bulawayo resident, Mr Winos Dube slammed Econet and Zesa, saying they should have consulted consumers.
“We are just shocked and it shows us that these corporates do not care much about people. As professionals, Zesa should have made it a point that consumers are consulted before just imposing such on us. People are already struggling to make ends meet and I am well informed that around 60 percent of people using the prepaid electricity facility recharge with less than $10 at a time,” said Mr Dube.
He said many people who are not formally employed relied on EcoCash for transactions as they did not have bank accounts.
“EcoCash has become a medium of transaction for the greater number of Zimbabweans and because most people are not formally employed, few have bank accounts that they can use for electricity purchasing. We hope that this will be solved amicably as we are planning to petition the authorities and ensure that our plight is heard.
“This is not what we are looking forward to in the new dispensation and it goes against what the President has been preaching all along,” said Mr Dube who is also Bulawayo United Residents’ Association chairperson.
More angry Bulawayo residents took to Twitter yesterday afternoon and slammed the statement issued by Econet. Some Twitter users called for Government intervention.
Econet Wireless spokesperson, Mr Fungai Mandiveyi, could not be reached for comment yesterday as his phone continuously rang unanswered.-state media
A MAN from Tsholotsho has been arrested for allegedly killing a colleague during a misunderstanding over ownership of a puppy.
Villagers apprehended Bhekimpilo Ncube (25) of Malilahunda village, under Chief Gampu, soon after he committed the crime.
Ncube allegedly struck Emmanuel Moyo (23) twice on the head with a log for claiming that the puppy belonged to him.
He fell to the ground and died on the spot. The incident occurred at around 5PM on Tuesday.
Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm the arrest of a suspect who allegedly committed murder at around 5PM on Tuesday in Tsholotsho. Villagers apprehended him and surrendered him to the police and he is in custody,” said Chief Insp Makonese.
She said investigations into the matter were underway and the body of the deceased was conveyed to Tsholotsho District Hospital mortuary, awaiting postmortem in Bulawayo.
“We continue to appeal to the public to desist from violence which has resulted in endless cases of murder and serious injuries. 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. Actually nothing is worth killing anyone for.
“As police, our biggest mandate is to safeguard human lives and surely, for us to record lives lost over such small issues is unworkable. People need to change their behaviour and value human life,” said Chief Insp Makonese.
Ward 11 councillor Mr Jonathan Ndlovu said the rate of murder in his ward was becoming worrisome.
“It is becoming worrying for us to record murder cases on a weekly basis by our own children, the youths, whom younger ones should be looking upon to.
“I blame all this on drug and alcohol abuse which has become a form of entertainment for the dozens of unemployed youths. These two were, however, coming from work at one villager’s homestead where they had been doing brick moulding.
“A misunderstanding ensured while they were at work, and the two continued to argue as they walked home. The saddest part is that they argued over ownership of a puppy and unfortunately, it ended tragically,” he said.
“In partnership with other community leaders, we are yet to meet and address the community over the increased cases of murder and assaults.”
In June, Givemore Gumbo of Thula village, within the same ward in Tsholotsho, fatally struck his mother, Senzeni Moyo (60), during a misunderstanding over sadza and she died on the spot.
He struck her several times all over her body attack, with a log until she collapsed and died.
The suspect was said to have allegedly threatened to kill at least one family member upon his arrival from a beer drink at a local bar.
In July, a Form Three pupil also from Tsholotsho was arrested for attempted murder over bath soap.
He struck his cousin twice in the head with a spade before further thumping her with a knobkerrie all over the body. -state media
2 Centres Of Power In ZANU PF: Chiwenga And Mnangagwa | WHICH ONE IS MORE POWERFUL?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 5, 2018
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
(ZBC) news producer and presenter, Mrs Patience Mahuku Hondo,
has died.
She was aged 39.Mahuku-Hondo, passed on yesterday in Harare,
after a short illness. She graduated with an Honours Degree in English and Communication Studies from the Midlands State University in 2004, before joining the ZBC News
department on 01 December 2005, as a producer for television news.
In 2009 she became a producer/presenter within the national languages news desk,
presenting Shona news on Radio Zimbabwe.
Mourners are gathered at house number 13-24th Crescent, Warren Park 2 in Harare.
Mahuku-Hondo’s body will be taken to Maumbe Village in Hurungwe
tomorrow ahead of her burial on Friday afternoon.
She is survived by her husband Lucious Hondo 
and three children- ZBC News
Suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura who is facing charges of abuse of office has made an application for referral of his matter to the Constitutional Court citing violation of his rights to a fair trial.
Mr Tapiwa Godzi and Mr Michael Chakandida from the Presidential Special Anticorruption Unit are representing the prosecution and in his arguments, Prof Nyagura said the appointment of the pair to prosecute was in violation of the Constitution which stipulates that a public prosecutor is intended to be independent, impartial and not subject to the direction and control of anyone.
Through his lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri, he said the two were controlled by the office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) as they were employed under that office. He said the State was in willful violation of the Constitution thereby infringing upon his rights and equal protection and benefit of the law under section 56 (1) of the Constitution.
Prof Nyagura argued that the pair’s authority to prosecute had been issued on violation of the law and that such conduct breachedthe right to a fair trial. He made reference to section 259(10) of the Constitution which provides for who may assist the Prosecutor General (PG) in prosecuting.
He said according to the section, the people who may assist the PG were employed by a board provided for by an Act of Parliament adding that the pair did not fall into that category as their loyalty lay with the OPC. – state media
The Speaker of the National Assembly said it is unfortunate that the opposition political parties were sleeping in Parliament and enjoying their privileges only to start raising electoral reforms issues just before the elections.
He said as the speaker responsible for receiving motions he has always been ready to get any proposal on electoral reforms but the only attempt that was ever made towards electoral reforms came from the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) which sadly had no concrete clauses on what needed to be changed and how the changed clauses should read.
The Joint Zimbabwe International Electoral Observation Mission led by Ambassador Johnny Carson and former Liberian president Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirlieaf, is in the country to finalise their report on the elections where they are meeting different stakeholders to clear what they referred to as grey areas.
They have already met the MDC Alliance and they went on to meet the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Advocate Mudenda expressed hope that the 9th new parliament will seize the opportunity for electoral law amendments to ‘ginger’ up electoral processes saying civil society also missed the opportunity.
He said under section 149 of the Constitution any citizen has a right to petition Parliament to consider any matter for amendment of any provision.
He also said he will continue to raise awareness among citizens on this provision during his outreach programmes and paid tribute to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for opening up the democratic space as evidenced in the just ended elections
Turning to the challenges faced in the last electoral process, Advocate Mudenda sarcastically said Zimbabwe was pleasantly surprised and disappointed by the renewal of ZIDERA at a time when the new dispensation is opening up the democratic and business space.
He said the renewal of ZIDERA even before the elections were concluded and at a time when Zimbabwe was desperate for lines of credit to resuscitate the economy.
He said the move painted a picture of Zimbabwe as a pariah state which it is not.
He said the link of ZIDERA to the issue of human rights is another distortion of the country’s image as Zimbabwe is a member of the global village and is doing everything to observe human rights especially under President Mnangagwa’s new dispensation that has pledged to uphold the rule of law and human rights under the UN Charter.
The Speaker of the National Assembly also disputed the observer team’s allegations of a highly contested elections saying the idea of bringing in the ConCourt to rule on the winner is not peculiar to Zimbabwe alone but the same also happened in the United States between George Bush and Al Gore and several other countries. – state media
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Provincial Officer for Midlands, Mr Syprian Chipere suddenly died in a suspicious car accident days before the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s con-court case against Emmerson Mnangagwa. Is there a link between his purported assassination and Chamisa’s court case? VIDEO LOADING BELOW:
Was The Suspicious Death Of ZEC Officer Chipere A Warning Shot By Mnangagwa, Chiwenga?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 5, 2018
A warning to others with the court case coming up
— Wild African Boy (@WildAfricanBoy) August 17, 2018
Terrence Mawawa|There is chaos at the city council offices as hundreds of MDC Alliance are protesting at the election of a Zanu PF councillor as the deputy mayor of Masvingo.
Angry party supporters are besieging the council offices demanding a reelection following the election of Zanu PF Councillor Mahwende as deputy mayor of the city of Masvingo.
Mahwende will deputise MDC councillor Advocate Collin Maboke who has won the mayoral post.
Angry MDC Alliance are claiming Maboke has connived with Zanu PF councillors in what they have described as a vote buying gimmick.
MDC Alliance’ s Godfrey Kurauone had been tipped to land the mayoral post while Selina Maridza was expected to deputise him.
As the country continues under post-election violence, the prices of basic goods has continued rising. In the latest development, a small packet of grapes is now costing over $10.50 at the OK supermaket … PICTURE
Ed Pfee.. Makadzungara ma pferorists pic.twitter.com/nC7IsMHiaD
— Paul Zechariah (@PaulZechariah3) September 5, 2018
Mnangagwa 're-appointing notorious rhino smuggler Oppah Muchinguri tomorrow, what will happen to the economy?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 5, 2018
Terrence Mawawa|Former league champions Chicken Inn FC in collaboration with their sponsors yesterday rewarded outstanding players for the month of August.
Obriel Chirinda was named the Player of the month for August and walked away with $300 prize money. The 21-year-old won the man of the match awards three times in games against, Ngezi Platinum Stars, Nichrut and Highlanders.
Midfielders Innocent Mucheneka and George Majika, striker Obadiah Tarumbwa as well as defenders Passmore Bernard and Moses Jackson were also honoured on the day.
Speaking after receiving the accolades, Chirinda was excited, saying he would continue to work hard.
“I am happy to win these awards, and it pushes me to keep on working hard. I want to thank my coaches, teammates, the club management and sponsors,” he said.
By Own Correspondent| The High Court has slammed the police over the arrest of Intratrek (Private) Limited director Wicknell Chivayo arguing that the state’s case that the businessman allegedly swindled Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) of over $5 million among other charges was weak.
Chivayo, who is also accussed of money laundering and violating Exchange Control Regulations was ambushed at Robert Mugabe International airport on his way to South Africa.
In his full judgment for granting Chivayo $2 000 bail made available (Tuesday), Justice Benjamin Chikowero said police unjustifiably ambushed Chivayo at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and arrested him.
Justice Chikowero slammed the investigating officer, Assistant Inspector Benjamin Nyahema, who testified during the bail application in the lower court, for being unhelpful to the case.
“He either did not know or did not dispute crucial pieces of evidence put to him by the applicant’s counsel in cross-examination,” said Justice Chikowero.
“The effect of that testimony was to show that the State case was extremely weak and the defence very strong. For example, he could not dispute that there was no dirty money in regard to the money laundering charge. The source of money was known. It was the State itself.”
Justice Chikowero noted that Assistant Inspector Nyahema was unable to dispute that Chivayo’s assertion that neither him nor his company took money outside Zimbabwe in breach of the Exchange Control Act.
On fraud charges, the higher court said Assistant Inspector Nyahema was also unable to show the misrepresentation claimed by the State.
“He was not able to refute applicant’s assertion that the facts of the matter reflected a civil rather than a criminal matter,” said Justice Chikowero. “The civil matter involved Intratreck Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd as one of the contractual parties and not the applicant.”
Justice Chikowero further noted that the docket was assigned to Assistant Inspector Nyahema on the day Chivayo was arrested by other police officers at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
He said Chivayo was ambushed at the airport when he was about to leave the country for South Africa.
“It seems to me that the police not only unjustifiably ambushed the applicant, but clearly played to the gallery given the public profile of the applicant,” he said.
“It was for these reasons that I found that the learned magistrate misdirected himself in finding that there existed factors with the cumulative effect, which constituted compelling reasons to deny applicant bail.”
Justice Chikowero noted in his judgment that there was nothing on record to show that the prosecution had a strong case against Chivayo.
He said the magistrate was wrong in factoring in the strength of the case for prosecution in deciding whether Chivayo was a flight risk or not.
Most important of all, Justice Chikowero said there was clearly no evidence that Chivayo was a flight risk.
He said despite having been aware of the allegations since September last year, Chivhayo had flown to virtually every corner of the world and returned to Zimbabwe.
“That is positive evidence negating a finding of applicant as a flight risk. There was, therefore, no justification for finding that the strength of the State’s case was likely to induce the applicant to flee to avoid possible conviction and long incarceration.”-Herald
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Dear Editor.
It’s been four days since we last had electricity in Budiriro. We are now left with no option but to empty our fridges as the meat inside is stale and stinking.
Nemudhurire wave kuita nyama unenge wativo utenge yemwedzi wose kamwe, zvadigwa mavhu.
Chegutu West Member of Parliament, Dexter Nduna whose victory was reported as having been overturned was today sworn in despite the matter pending in the courts.
Nduna of Zanu PF had initially announced as the winner with 10932 votes to MDC Alliance Gift Konjana’s 10828 but the latter was able to provide evidence of counting anomalies.
According to an announcement purportedly from ZEC, the discrepancy occurred due to transcription error from V23A to V23B at the constituency during data capturing.
The communication added that, “the transcription error resulted in Konjana Gift getting ten thousand eight hundred and twenty eight votes against Nduna’s ten thousand nine hundred and thirt two.
“if the error is corrected Konjana Gift’s result would be ten thousand nine hundred and forty eight (10948) votes against Nduna Dexter’s ten thousand nine hundred and thirty two (10932). This makes Konjana Goft the winner instead of Nduna.”
However Nduna has since taken oath of office and this will make it difficult for Konjana to find his way in parliament unless the court rules in his favor.
Konjana has since approached the court seeking nullification of the ZEC declaration of Nduna as the winner of Chegutu West constituency.
Terrence Mawawa|Vastly experienced National team coach Sunday Chidzambwa is not worried about a spate of injuries in his camp.
The Warriors have a date with Congo in the 2019 AFCON Qualifier on Sunday.
Midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, defender Costa Nhamoinesu, Ovidy Karuru and Tinotenda Chibharo have been ruled out of the game. Khama Billiat is also nursing an injury and will have to pass a fitness test to travel to Brazzaville.
However the squad has been boosted by the availability of Nyasha Mushekwi. ZIFA had announced last week that the Chinese based striker was not available for the encounter after picking a knock.
“I think we have some replacements for those who are injured and they are going to cope,” said Chidzambwa.
“They (Congo) are one of the strongest sides in Africa, so we expect a tough encounter. We only hope to work hard and bring home a good result.”
Zimbabwe currently lead Group G with three points while Congo are in third position.
Leader of the opposition, MDC Alliance is under pressure from his colleagues and senior party members to negotiate for a better arrangement with Zanu PF amid indications that President Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to slot him among ministers as he cannot temper with the Presidium.
Chamisa who garnered 44.3% against Mnangagwa’s 50.8% is believed to be in talks with Zanu PF with a view to forming an inclusive arrangement, however sources close to the 40 year old politician said they will not allow him to accept a ministerial post which they believe is not worthy of his political value.
This is confirmed by earlier reports which indicated that Chamisa had demanded that Mnangagwa disregard his earlier appointments of Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi as his two deputies.
“His colleagues and other MDC Alliance leaders told him not to accept a ministerial post as that would be unfair considering that he won elections though they were rigged,
“He has also been warned against being a weak partner in any arrangement because that is how Tsvangirai lost the plot in 2008,” said the source.
Tsvangirai accepted the position of Prime Minister while former President maintained his presidium and this seemed to have backfired as he went on to lose the 2013 elections.
According to the current constitution, there is no place for a Prime Minister meaning if Mnangagwa maintains his two vice Presidents, there will not be a place for Chamisa in the Presidium.
Should they agree for a Prime Minister position as is the 2008 arrangement, this would require a constitutional amendment which according to constitutional law experts would set a bad precedence for the country.
-263Chat
Terrence Mawawa| The suspected cases of typhoid in Kadoma have
risen to 11 from three last week, according to state media reports.
The city’s health director Dr Daniel Chirundu told state media on
Monday residents should not panic as the situation was under control.
“We are investigating 11 diarrhoea cases and we have taken samples to our laboratories,” he said.
“We are doing separate tests from this side, while other samples have been taken to Harare.
“Preliminary tests have, however, come out negative. We are reviewing the test results as there are chances of our laboratories making false
readings. We have, however, remained proactive 
while waiting for the final results by putting in place
adequate control measures to deal with typhoid,” said Dr Chirundu.
Government is looking to borrow up to $2.5 billion from China to fund the entirety of the productive sectors, tourism, mining, industry, agriculture and manufacturing among others, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.
Chinamasa who is part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa delegation to the Forum for China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) in Beijing was quoted in Chronicle saying they have engaged a number of financial institutions including Afreximbank to secure the money they say will kick start the economy.
”We are looking for lines of credit and we have been having those discussions on the sidelines of the 2018 FOCAC but there is nothing we can tell until they have to fruition.
”we are looking at $2.5 billion lines of credit to support the entirety of the productive sectors, tourism, mining, industry, agriculture and manufacturing among others,” Chinamasa told the Chronicle.
As MPs & Senators take their oath of office today, l thought l should pull a piece l wrote on 12 May 2018;
Our electoral system is designed in such a way that , the losing Presidential candidate will not make it into our National Assembly. This means that, the country loses out on the best brains as the losing candidate will be forced to early political retirement.
While am not a fan of Adv Nelson Chamisa, it will be a huge lose to our country not to have him in the National Assembly beyond August 2018. His fans might attack me claiming that, post August 2018, he will be at State House. While this is ideal, the reality is that , this will not happen. The British, as they have done over the years in the rest of Africa, they have chosen their man for the next five years to be the Head of State in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe remains a neo colonial state.
For us to continue to tap on the brains of the losing candidate, we must agree that, a party that wins seats in parliament must be given a non constituency seat for its losing Presidential candidate. Am not a lawyer but am sure my lawyer comrades can make a strong constitutional argument on this. Since 2000 , we had opposition MPs who were not led by their leader in parliament as the late Morgan Tsvangirai could not make it following his lose first in his constituency and in the 2002 Presidential election.
During the Inclusive government, the country benefited from Morgan Tsvangirai when he was Prime Minister but we again lost out when he lost in the 2013 elections. If one looks in the South African parliament, opposition leaders have done well in representing their constituencies in parliament. Of course their electoral system is different from ours but l do not think its a bad idea to amend our constitution to create a seat for a party leader whose party have won seats in parliament.
Let’s engage on this comrades!
Written by;
Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena.
Terrence Mawawa|Controversial and outspoken Buhera South Constituency MP Joseph Chinotimba has pleaded with his political foes to spare his life and allow him to complete his five year mandate.
Speaking in riddles Chinotimba hinted that his haters were plotting to eliminate him.
“Vasandiuyara ngavarengere ndipedze basa rangu(I hope they will not kill me so that 
I can complete my term,” said Chinotimba.
Chinotimba made the remarks during the swearing in ceremony for MPs in Harare today.
Youth Against Corruption (YAC) has petitioned President Emmerson Mnangagwa demanding him to act on corruption at the country’s power utility ZESA.
In a letter to Mnangagwa, YAC accused ZESA senior management of firing nine of its workers for exposing corruption.
“We write to you, after realisation of the dismissal of Zesa employees on April 4, 2018.
“Upon our interaction with the employees and the board that represented them herewith Energy Sector Workers Union of Zimbabwe (Eswuz), we realised that the employees were exposing corruption and irregular financial transactions among other issues.
“As a result of their actions, a disciplinary committee was convened and the workers were dismissed.
“It is our request that your respected office consider to look into the issues of corruption raised by the Zesa employees, which resulted in a number of employees being dismissed, assist the workers whose rights might have been violated to be afforded a fair and reasonable outcome given their braveness to question issues of corruption at Zesa.
“The case stands as a good example in which citizens of Zimbabwe will get courage to expose corruption or whistle blow without fear of dismissal, intimidation or threat and doing that within the confines of our laws.”
“I therefore, exhort Zesa, together with their partners and other local businesses that will participate in this project to be financially accountable, prudent and transparent during the course of the implementation of this project,” said Mnangagwa.
“I also urge all employees to exercise a good work ethic grounded on diligence, honesty, hard work, teamwork, unity and harmony. “I challenge you all to make concerted efforts to complete this project on time or before time. The days of never ending projects are over.”
-Zimetro
Terrence Mawawa| Zanu PF MP for Mazowe South Fortune Chasi has urged opposition legislators to desist from making unnecessary noise in Parliament without articulating the real issues affecting the people in their respective constituencies.
In a thinly veiled attack on opposition MPs Chasi emphasised the need to focus on fulfilling preelection promises.
“There is no room for heckling and uncessary whimpering.Our focus is on delivery.
The days of politicking and jockeying are over.I would like to urge opposition members to reflect maturity and desist from displaying uncouth behaviour, ” said Chasi.
Suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura who is facing charges of abuse of office has made an application for referral of his matter to the Constitutional Court citing violation of his rights to a fair trial.
Mr Tapiwa Godzi and Mr Michael Chakandida from the Presidential Special Anticorruption Unit are representing the prosecution and in his arguments, Prof Nyagura said the appointment of the pair to prosecute was in violation of the Constitution which stipulates that a public prosecutor is intended to be independent, impartial and not subject to the direction and control of anyone.
Through his lawyer, Advocate Lewis Uriri, he said the two were controlled by the office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) as they were employed under that office.
He said the State was in willful violation of the Constitution thereby infringing upon his rights and equal protection and benefit of the law under section 56 (1) of the Constitution.
Prof Nyagura argued that the pair’s authority to prosecute had been issued on violation of the law and that such conduct breachedthe right to a fair trial. He made reference to section 259(10) of the Constitution which provides for who may assist the Prosecutor General (PG) in prosecuting.
He said according to the section, the people who may assist the PG were employed by a board provided for by an Act of Parliament adding that the pair did not fall into that category as their loyalty lay with the OPC.
-Zimetro
Terrence Mawawa|Although the Lowveld is generally regarded as a stronghold for the ruling party, Zanu PF MP Ray Bhila stunned all and sundry when he polled 36 000 in Chiredzi North Constituency.
The man has finally broken the silence and he attributes his victory to hard work and commitment.
Speaking during the swearing in ceremony for Members of Parliament in Harare today Bhila said:”We will fight for the rights of our sugarcane farmers.Their concerns must be addressed. We will not remain idle and watch while they are being exploited by millers.
Why are people blaming the farmers yet they are not being compensated?” argued Bhila.
Bhila registered a resounding – yet controversial victory in the July 30 polls.
Terrence Mawawa| A Zanu PF legislator has described President Emmerson Mnangagwa as a true saint whose desire is to save and serve the people of Zimbabwe.
Zanu PF MP for Hwedza South Constituency Tino Machakaire has urged the nation to appreciate and complement Mnangagwa’ s tireless efforts to transform the country’ s economy.
Speaking during the swearing ceremony for Parliamentarians in Harare today, Machakaire said: “President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a humble and likeable fellow.The man is a true servant of the people and we will definitely support his great vision for the nation.”
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Head of Investigations Unit, Goodson Nguni has blamed former President Robert Mugabe’s administration for playing politics by constantly interfering in their work which he said stalled progress.
Nguni blamed the old dispensation for not supporting the commission while showering praises on President Emmerson Mnangagwa for buying cars for the commission.
Without mentioning names, Nguni said political interference crippled his commission as “some people within the levers of power” called shots from outside
“The way we are being supported now is different from what was happening in the old era. Those that were in power before barred us from arresting or investigating some people who were deemed powerful. We were victimised and everyone could see that we were being victimised.
“However, that has changed now as this new dispensation has been supporting us. They have bought us computers, cars and they have provided a couple of millions of dollars for us to do our investigations and we have hired qualified auditors,” said Nguni.
Sometime in 2017, former first lady, Grace Mugabe, publicly declared that former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo was innocent and should not be investigated for alleged misappropriation of funds.
This is despite the fact that ZACC had already started investigations into the matter.
In another case, former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko stormed into a police cell and demanding the release of ‘his boys’ who had been taken for questioning at Avondale police station.
Nguni said such incidences rendered his commission useless as it was left without any authority to investigate.
However, Nguni hailed the political will from Mnangagwa and his government to arrest and prosecute corrupt individuals.
-263Chat
Terrence Mawawa| The Meteorological Services Department has predicted severe drought due to El Nino effects.
In a statement the Meteorological Services Department warned that the country would experience drought due to the effects of El Nino.
The department also urged farmers to brace themselves for a dry spell and an inconsistent rainfall pattern in the 2018- 2019 farming season.
However Lands and Agriculture Minister, Perrance Shiri told state television the government had already set up mitigatory measures to alleviate drought.
“We have already put in place drought mitigation measures to avert starvation.
We urge farmers to grow drought resistant crops like sorghum and millet,” said Shiri.
Staff Correspondent|WARRIORS goalkeeper George Chigova has promised to win the AFCON qualifier against Congo Brazzaville this Sunday as a way to honour President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chigova was charmed when the President twitted praising him after his heroic saves at the year’s COSAFA edition in June which the Warriors were triumphant.
“It feels good to know that even the President has got so much confidence in you, I felt honoured when I realised that even the President is a fan of the national team.
“It is my promise to make sure that I guard the goal posts with caution and make sure that no goal is conceded.
“I will do this to honour my President, in fact winning this game and qualifying for AFCON is a present that I want to give to my President for the support he shows to us,” Chigova said.
He is not under pressure ahead of Sunday.
“I believe in everyone who is in camp, I know this combination will give the best results.
“If we manage to do it when we played Liberia, we can still do it against Congo Brazzaville.
“I understand they (Congo) have a very strong squad and that is not shaking me in any way because I believe our squad is strong as well,” Chigova said.
By Own Correspondent| The Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) has warned that the country faces an imminent shortage of bread due to low levels of wheat in the country.
In a memo from the GMAZ General manager to the group’s chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara, the GMAZ warned that the wheat levels had fallen to their lowest since 2005 owing to failure by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to allocate foreign currency for the payment of the wheat.
Most of the wheat is imported from British company Holbud Limited which is already owed $12.5 million.
Read part of the memo:
“The national wheat supply situation has severely deteriorated to low levels since 2005…the available stocks are 28028.116 against a required minimum national three-month stock level of 114,000 metric tonnes. The current monthly national requirement is 38,000 metric tonnes.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is yet to remit the USD 12,450,000.00 to the wheat supplier, Holbud Limited (UK), and the GMAI’s Ecobank Wheat account is adequately funded.
No remittance has been made despite the commitment made by RBZ Governor on 28 August 2018. Holbud Limited has grown impatient and threatens to divert stocks currently at Beira to Mozambique and Malawi Millers.
With respect, wheat and fuel are both in category 1 of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe foreign payment remittance priority list. Regrettably, fuel gets USD 21.000.000 00 per week religiously but wheat is not getting a paltry USD 12.450,000.00 per month for the entire national monthly requirements.
Self-raising flour has disappeared in many shops nationwide. Small bread bakers are stocked out. I strongly recommend that you alert the powers that be of this predicament as the country is fast plunging into severe flour and bread stock-outs in the next few days.”
By Own Correspondent| Passengers travelling from Harare to Buhera South were left stranded after the bus that they were travelling in got stuck in the sand on a dusty road leading to Mutiusinazita area.
Buhera South, where MP elect Joseph Chinotimba emerged winner in the just ended harmonised polls, has seen a few buses servicing the area because of poor roads.
Said one of the passengers:
“We have pinned our hopes on the new dispensation, maybe things will change for the better but so far, it looks like the suffering continues,” said one of the disgruntled passengers.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is on record directing the police to descend heavily on reckless drivers who cause accidents on the country’s roads.
Mnangagwa said this while mourning the death of 13 people who perished along the Harare Bulawayo highway when a Chawasarira bus was involved in a head on collision with a commuter omnibus last week. At least 23 people were injured in the crash.
THE Zimbabwe darts team dethroned South Africa to claim the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Darts Championships in Mangoche, Malawi, last week.
Eight countries from the southern African region took part in the biennial championship whose next edition will be held in Eswatini in 2020.
“It was a tough competition; very high standards which shows that countries now have a lot of players taking the game seriously and as Zimbabwe we have also tried to make the game popular hence our victory in Malawi,” said the National Darts Association of Zimbabwe president, Meynard Moyo.
The Harare-based banker was hopeful that their win will help darts to grow and attract sound corporate partnerships.
“This was our last major tournament of the year, but this victory gives us the impetus to even go for more lucrative tournaments on the world stage,” said Moyo.
The Sports and Recreation Commission challenged Ndaz to ensure its members eye continental and international tournaments.
“Well done National Darts Association of Zimbabwe for winning the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Darts Championships held recently in Mangoche, Malawi.
“You have an impeccable history in the tournament and our hope is that you will scale it up to the continental level as you have proved to be an invincible champion and it’s about time you scale up your prowess,” said the SRC.
Zimbabwe was represented by an 18-member team at the championship.
Dethroned champions South Africa came second, Botswana settled for third position, while hosts Malawi were fourth.
State Media
By A Correspondent| Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa has dared MDC Alliance winning parliamentarians to resign enmasse in solidarity with their Presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa saying their decision to accept being sworn in is an act of betrayal on their leader.
Posting on his Twitter account, Mliswa questioned why MDC Alliance MPs and Councillors are being sworn in when their President won. Below was the FULL TEXT –
Why are the MDC MPs & Councillors being sworn in when their President won? Are they betraying their Pres or admitting that he lost? To show solidarity with their Pres I’d have thought they’d resign en masse ??♂️ @nelsonchamisa @edmnangagwa
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) September 5, 2018
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Zanu PF United Kingdom representative, Nick Mangwana has branded Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation ZBCTV a national embarrassment which would not attract viewership from non-Zimbabweans due to its poor quality.
https://twitter.com/nickmangwana/status/1037252674713018368
New Mayor of Harare, Councillor Hebert Gomba yesterday visited a Mabelreign family whose house was gutted by fire.
Gomba who visited the family home in the company of area Councillor Denford Ngadziore and Member of Parliament, Joanna Mamombe pledged to assist with both financial and moral support.
Read message below from the area Councillor, Denford Ngadziore:
“In the early hours of today the 4th of september a fire broke out at numbr 8 5th street Mabelreign.The fire completely destroyed the house and property worth thousands of dollars.Preliminary investigations have shown that an electrical fault could have been the cause of the fire. On behalf of the entire ward 16 family and the City of Haare Municipality l wish to express our deepest sympathy to the Zenda and Chifamba families for the loss of property and greatful to God for the lives saved.
A delegation from Harare City Council led by His Worship the Mayor of Harare Clr Hebert Gomba and Harare West Member of Parliament Ms Joana Mamombe has today this afternoon paid visit to the Zenda and Chifamba families. The delegation also comprised of Harare City Area Manager for the area Mrs Mverechena, Malborough and Mabelreign District officer Mrs Kanoengera.We have made assessments and pledged to assist the Zenda family with both financial and moral assistance during this moment of difficulties.
The fire has robbed Mr and Mrs Zenda together with their four Children (Secondary School Boy and a Girl and tweens aged 3yrs). We are appelling to those who can further assist Mr and Mrs Zenda recover from this accident.They can be contacted on number 0774352335:
Our assessment and from the conversation we had with the family we have summarised that the following are part of the Zenda family’s urgent needs and donations can be made AT MABELREIGN HARARE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT OFFICER MR KANOJERERA OFFICE
-Blankets
-Clothes
-School Uniforms (Secondary School Girl and Boy)
-Food
-Alternative(free) Accommodation
Below are long term priorities for House Owner Mr Chifamba:
Building materials
Volunteers in the following areas
-Plumbers
-Electricians
-Builder’s
General hand volunteers.
*WE ARE A PEOPLE KNOWN FOR STRETCHING OUR HANDS TO THE NEED. LET’S HELP THEM*
The incident is one of disasters that struck unexpectedly. Planning is important. As your Councilor l feel it is very important for those who can afford to insure their houses and household property to do so and avoid total loss of property or livelihoods.
After a quick research this evening i noticed that insurance companies are charging the following:
-0.1% plus 5% stamp duty (levied on the 0.1%). Which means if ones’ property is worth 100 000 he/she pays $105 per annum. A house is insured at a reasonable price which guarantee security of investment as well as the human right to shelter.
-Avoid or try to prevent fires.
*HERE ARE SOME CHECKS/TIPS TO AVOID FIRES*
-Check the electrical cords and replace all frayed wires
-Do not pitch or cover electrical cords with interns such as rugs.
-Do not overload circuits.
-Any questions about your home electrical fault system, consult a licences electrician.
-Keep fire extinguisher readily available and know how to use it.
Read about more tips to help prevent cooking fires. Some tips are as follows:
-Do not place a space heater near furniture, curtains or other objects that could easily catch fire.
For emergencies contact the following:
-Fire Bridgade 04 720 206
-ZRP 04 777 777
-Ambulance 04 795051
-Zesa 04 310 377
Your Councilor
Denford Ngadziore
Ward 16
+263 773 010 371
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Harare Central hospital is currently battling to contain swelling numbers of pregnant mothers at the back of a free maternal health initiative government embarked on early this year which has seen most expecting women sleeping on the floors.
During a tour of Harare hospital maternity wards on the side-lines of the handover ceremony of the refurbished maternity wards by the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, not less than five women of different age groups were sleeping on the floors much to the shock of the first lady.
Acting permanent secretary in the ministry of health and child care, Dr Gibson Mhlanga said Harare hospital maternity ward has a carrying capacity of 100 women per any given time but was currently serving between 150 and 200 a number far above its limits.
“The government’s policy on free maternal health has seen women a lot of women seeking help at one of the country’s major referral centres, Harare Central Hospital and the influx and the influx is being driven by some council clinics that are still charging maternal fees,” said Mhlanga.
Harare central hospital maternity ward recently got a facelift from the First lady’s charity organisation, Angel of Hope in partnership with Splash Paints.
However, there could still be need to expand the maternity wards space so as to accommodate the ever growing numbers of pregnant women, with indications that some women are traveling as far as Murehwa and other nearby communal areas to deliver at the institution.
Government early this year also scrapped blood user fees for pregnant women and the move according to experts has also seen a spike in the number of women seeking services at the public institutions.
-Health Times
Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda is tipped to retain his position as it emerged that both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, have expressed confidence in him after he smoothly presided over former President Robert Mugabe’s resignation last November.
According to Zanu PF sources, Mudenda, who did not contest the July 30 elections, was guaranteed to continue as head of the legislative arm of government.
“He is going to retain the seat, hence he did not participate in either the party’s primary election or the general elections because his post had been assured.
“After the swearing-in of MPs tomorrow (today), a caucus will be called to officially announce to all MPs who would have been sworn-in on who should be elected the Speaker of Parliament and the president of the Senate. After that, next week Tuesday September 11, 2018, we shall then have the first sitting of the National Assembly, upon which the two shall be elected. But on the issue of the Speaker, it is as clear to us that Mudenda is the man who is going to be the Speaker again,” a senior party official said.
Last week, Mnangagwa held meetings with Mudenda over the issue of convening Parliament for the purposes of swearing-in so that he could appoint his Cabinet.
Mudenda confirmed that he held meetings and discussions with the President over the issue of swearing-in of elected MPs.
“The President has confidence in him, so on the first sitting of the National Assembly, we shall vote for Mudenda again. Tomorrow (today), it is just a day for swearing-in, then wait for next week to elect the presiding officers,” a source said.
Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda confirmed that today, no election of the Speaker or the president of Senate would take place, as these had been set for next Tuesday.
Mudenda will today meet with the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute that have been in the country to observe the July 30 elections.
NewsDay
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MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said President Emmerson Mnangagwa was doomed and will not be able to resolve the country’s worsening economic meltdown because his government suffers a serious legitimacy crisis.
The opposition leader, who still insists that Mnangagwa rigged the July 30 polls, said until the legitimacy crisis stalking the Zanu PF administration was resolved, the economic crisis would continue on a downward spiral.
Chamisa said had he been declared winner, confidence would have increased with Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora already trooping back home.
“There would be an economic hara-kiri right now if there was no political rape on July 30. Rape has consequences and this failing economy is what we are now suffering from,” he said.
“But as both a leader and citizen, I am deeply concerned by the level of suffering of Zimbabweans. There is violence in the minds of people due to the painful challenges they are facing everyday under Mnangagwa’s controversial leadership. The situation tells a lot about the previous elections. The elections, instead of being a source of joy, have brought about a lot of uncertainties.
“The economy is freezing and even fuel is in short supply. What is more in short supply is market confidence. Business is not settled because elections were tampered with. You can change statistics of elections, but you cannot tamper with figures in economics.”
“Mnangagwa did not win the elections, but he was declared winner. This has to be resolved first,” Chamisa told NewsDay in an exclusive interview.
“This problem will not go away because we inaugurated a lie. There is dispute on who should lead the country. Disputed mandates will always cause a dispute of failed economy.”
Chamisa’s remarks came after the country experienced a wave of price hikes of basic commodities since the elections, with foreign currency shortages worsening and some critical commodities such as cement disappearing from shops. Many companies were also scaling down operations and giving notice to retrench.
Mnangagwa was last month confirmed winner of the presidential polls by the Constitutional Court after Chamisa challenged the poll outcome as announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
However, the opposition leader rubbished the court ruling, insisting he won the presidential race against the Zanu PF leader.
Chamisa insisted there were no talks between him and Mnangagwa to form an inclusive government, saying instead the Zanu PF leader should be grateful to him for cooling down tempers and restraining his supporters to avoid an implosion following the July 30 disputed polls. Chamisa said the country was facing a serious deficit of leadership and unless Zimbabweans’ votes and voices were respected, the situation was going to get worse.
“How do we move forward when we don’t respect what people have voted for?” he quipped. “Mnangagwa should actually thank me. I calmed down the people, but there is a limit to that goodwill. People are becoming impatient because they know that they voted and they were cheated on. It’s a political tinderbox. Why do you [Mnangagwa] want to lead people by fear and force?”
But Zanu PF dismissed Chamisa’s claims, saying there was no legitimacy crisis in the country because Mnangagwa was declared winner by the court.
“I don’t waste my time dwelling on what has already passed. President Mnangagwa was declared winner by the court and we are now focussing on the 2023 elections and we will trounce them again,” Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said, adding his party would address the economic challenges.
Soldiers on August 1 killed seven people when they opened fire in the crowded streets in a bid to quell post-election protests. Mnangagwa last week appointed a seven-member commission to probe the shootings, although analysts have dismissed its composition and terms of reference as a mere international public relations stunt.
Chamisa dismissed claims that he had been engaged by the European Union and the British government to goad him into a coalition government with Mnangagwa. “For the record, no one has approached me with an indication of progressive engagement on nation building. Not that I want, but to move the country forward there should be genuine engagement, not about power, but people,” Chamisa said.
“I engaged the various embassies on behalf of the MDC Alliance and to discuss what we think are the issues going forward. As you know, we have been given a window period to consult our people and we are alive to the fact that the people are determined to resolve their own issues.”
Chamisa said there was need for fundamental reforms in politics, judiciary, and economy and electoral fields to deal with the scourge of repeated electoral disputes which have the potential of plunging the country into permanent instability.
Key institutions, Chamisa said, should be reformed to arrest the polarisation that is affecting the country. He also underscored the need for proper and inclusive international re-engagement to unlock funding from multilateral institutions.
Meanwhile, Chamisa’s deputy Elias Mudzuri yesterday called for tolerance between his party and Zanu PF to allow each other space to perform, failure of which the country would be doomed.
Mudzuri also said Mnangagwa has to deal decisively with issues of human rights violations that have dogged the country in the past, causing investor flight and instability that has worsened the Zimbabwean situation.
He said Zanu PF will be controlling the central government while on the other hand the opposition controls most of the local authorities, hence the need to create an atmosphere that allows people to carry out their constitutional mandates.
“There is not much on working together or not because what has happened is that we are in control of the local authorities and the central government is under Zanu PF,” Mudzuri said.
“We need to tolerate each other. We don’t need a repeat of what happened in the past where our leadership in local authorities was always under attack. There must be some form of co-operation and not for the ministers to be out to frustrate the local authorities just to get loopholes to suspend.
“The bottom line is to make sure that the ordinary person on the street benefits, a common man is not a politician and doesn’t deserve all that.”
NewsDay
By Paul Nyathi|The Tendai Biti led People’s Democratic Party has strongly defended its Bulawayo councillor elected under the MDC Alliance who is under heavy attack for attending a swearing in ceremony allegedly drunk.
In a statement issued on behalf of the party by the national youth wing, the opposition party warned the radical Matabeleland regional grouping Mthwakazi Republic Party against abusing their councillor Arnold Batirai of ward 24 in Bulawayo.
The highly tribal MRP has openly challenged Batirai for demanding to conduct his swearing in oath in Shona instead of English. The party which is mobilising for the cessation of Matabeleland region from the country has since demanded that Batirai be recalled from council allegedly for disrespecting the people of Bulawayo by insisting on swearing in using Shona and for being drunk at the swearing in ceremony.
In the statement issued by the PDP Youth Deputy President for Bulawayo Province Wellington Nare, the party disputes that Batirai was in any way under the influence of alcohol when he made his demands to be sworn in using Shona.
The party insists it is well within his right to use any of the sixteen official languages in the country.
The statement issued by the youth wing appears to be contradicting an earlier ascertion by the party Deputy President Kucaca Phulu who condemned Batirai’s behaviour and warned that stern measures will be taken against the young councillor. ZimEye.com could not immediately get a comment from Phulu on the development.
Batirai is also the party Youth Wing President. The full statement from his collegues reads as follows:
“We the youth assembly of PDP which is part of MDC Alliance would like to warn the unruly elements of MRP who continue to abuse and violate the rights of our youth assembly president and thousands of the people of Bulawayo who rejected MRP in Nketa and Bulawayo.
We are a peace loving youth assembly and we believe in engagement but the level which these misguided elements continue to spew their tribal propaganda to the person of our leader is reaching to another level.
The people of Bulawayo chose what they want and the same persons who were rejected outrightly in Bulawayo must simply allow the elected officials execute their mandate.
Bulawayo is a metropolitan province which houses almost every one including people of different regions and nationalities, any politics that seeks to reduce Bulawayo to a village in Buhera or Nkayi is unrevolutionary.
We call upon the people of Bulawayo to unite and foster development and engage the elected councillors to ensure Bulawayo lives to it’s vision.
By Wellington Nare
PDP Youth Assembly Deputy President.
Journalists have lashed out at the people of Bulawayo for ignoring the competency of councilors saying their decision to vote on party lines is the reason why people like Arnold Batirai who attended the swearing in ceremony drunk.
Yesterday Bulawayo residents protested against Batirai saying he must go back to Masvingo amid indications that he was handpicked and imposed on Ward 24 by MDC Alliance partner People’s Democratic Party led by Tendai Biti.
Posting on Twitter, Nqaba Matshazi and Zenzele Ndebele said the people of Bulawayo had a chance to do the right thing but chose to go with people of questionable behaviors.
Dear people of Bulawayo, I’m not going to pretend I care about the Arnold Batirai incident, you had a chance to do what’s right by you by registering to vote, but you didn’t register and chose to be indifferent. You made your beds, in them you must lie
— Nqaba Matshazi (@nqabamatshazi) September 4, 2018
Dear Bulawayo residents .You decided to vote for a party and not individuals so sit down and enjoy your 5 years with councilors who came to work https://t.co/HghZQCjAjO's a good lesson. In 2023 you will be wiser. #Asakhe
— Zenzele (@zenzele) September 4, 2018
Arnold Batirai caused a stir when he attended the Bulawayo City Council swearing in ceremony visibly drunk.
The ceremony was never short of drama as another Councillor took used Shona langauge when he took oath of office resulting in chaotic scenes.
By Nomusa Garikai| According to a New Zimbabwe report, President Emmerson Mnangagwa was “moved” to facilitated the return home from Singapore of former first lady Grace Mugabe whose mother died last week.
“The president decided to spare the former first lady the inconvenience of scheduled flights at this difficult moment so a chartered plane was arranged for so she could return home as quickly as possible,” said a senior Zanu-PF official.
But was a chartered plane really necessary? Zimbabwe is the poorest nation in Africa and yet the country’s ruling elite have continued to enjoy lifestyles of unparalleled leisure and luxury.
President Mnangagwa has bought new cars for the Chiefs, all Zanu PF parliamentary and senate candidates in the elections, party leaders, rogue war veterans. The election has costed $900 million by some people’s reckoning but some believe $4 billion will be closer to the mark.
Mnangagwa gave the late MDC leader the $4 million Highlands mansion and paid his R2 million hospital bill.
To Mugabe and his family Mnangagwa has gave the tyrant a generous golden hand shake and allowed him to keep all the millions of dollars of looted wealth. Now this, a chartered plane from Singapore!
This is all happened at a time the country is running out of medicine and cash and most commodity prices are soaring because of shortages.
British MP, Kate Hoey, has called Mnangagwa “mark 2 Mugabe” when the two are big spenders for one thing. Whilst Mugabe had the advantage of inheriting seven fat cows from Ian Smith Mnangagwa has inherited one miserably thin cow from Mugabe.
It took Mugabe 30 years to take down the Zimbabwe economy from one of the top five richest in Africa to the poorest in Africa. By the time the tyrant was forced to retire in last November’s military coup unemployment was a nauseating 90%; the country’s health services had all but collapsed hence the need for the dictator and his family’s need to fly to Singapore for all their health needs; ¾ of our people lived on US$1.00 or less a day; etc.
How much worse off can someone already living on US$1.00 or less a day be? How long is a piece of string? Give Mnangagwa 30 months, not years months, and many will know how much more miserable life is living on US$1.00 or less a week, having no medicine, etc. Hell is a bottomless pit and it seems Zimbabweans, by keeping Zanu PF thugs in power, are determined to explore its deepest and darkest recesses!
“The Province’s leading referral centre, Masvingo Provincial Hospital is facing a severe shortage of essential drugs, triggering a high mortality rate at the government run health centre,” reported Zimeye on the critical shortage of drugs in Zimbabwe.
“The worst affected departments include casualty, chronic illness and children’s wards respectively. Asthmatic patients have not been receiving treatment for the past few months because the nebuliser machine developed a fault and had since not been maintained . Sources at the hospital told ZimEye.com yesterday there was a sharp increase in the mortality rate among infants and patients referred to the casualty section due to the critical shortage of essential medicine.”
So President Mnangagwa was “moved” to charter plane for Grace Mugabe just to save her “the inconvenience of scheduled flights”. At a cost of $1 million or so; money that would have bought enough life-saving medicine for 10 000 plus who now dying unnecessarily. It is sickening! – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.co.uk
A MAID has been arrested for allegedly stealing R3 000 and $160 from her employer in Bulawayo’s Emganwini suburb.
Lindokuhle Ndebele (20), who was employed at house number 6335 Emganwini suburb by Ms Jane Ndebele, appeared in court yesterday for allegedly stealing from her employer last month.
She pleaded not guilty to theft charges before Western Commonage Magistrate, Ms Tancy Ncube.
Ms Ncube remanded Lindokuhle in custody to September 12 for trial.
The court heard that trouble for the maid started last month after she left home to send some groceries to her family which is in the rural areas.
Prosecuting, Mr Tapiwa Zolani said Lindokuhle came back home late on August 27 and found the house locked.
“She knocked but did not get any response and she slept outside,” he said.
In the morning, the maid was let into the house and Ms Ndebele asked her where she had been the previous night.
The court heard she did not respond but took her bags and left the house.
Later, her employer discovered that her money was missing.
“Ms Ndebele looked for her maid but could not find her.
“She later realised that some money and a tablet phone were missing from her handbag,” said Mr Zolani.
“She proceeded to Mahatshula where Ndebele resides and found her there.
“Ms Ndebele asked about her money and phone but Lindokuhle denied having taken the money.”
Ms Ndebele reported the matter to the police and the maid was arrested.
State Media
COMEDIENNE Mai Titi has challenged Bulawayo artistes to make use of social media to create their own opportunities and extend visibility rather than just complain and move around with a begging bowl.
Addressing artistes at a well-attended meeting at Red Café in Bulawayo yesterday, Mai Titi said Bulawayo artistes should learn to leverage their artistic gifts.
“I have been listening to some of you saying you need funding. You need funding from who? Look at me here, I am not bragging, I am telling it as it is. I have managed to use social media to reach out to my fans and also to get paid. I have a following of 150 000 on social media. That’s where I make my money,” she said.
She added that artistes should move away from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and seek alternative ways of publicising their work.
“You were talking about how to get on radio and TV. Look, there is no more ZBC TV and don’t wait for these radio stations. Be your own broadcaster. People from these radio stations come to me and say I should advertise for them on my social media because they know where the taste is now.”
Mai Titi said artistes should start utilising the current trends to boost up their products.
Meanwhile, facilitator of the meeting, DJ Dewa who is based in the United Kingdom said Bulawayo artistes need to come up with an umbrella organisation to represent their interests.
DJ Dewa said most DJs played music from people they knew, which made it difficult for upcoming artistes.
-Newsday
By Paul Nyathi|The City Of Harare has promised that it will design a working relationship with the huge number of street vendors occupying the capital, newly elected Harare mayor has said.
Mayor Hebert Gomba said this in an interview soon after being sworn in at Town House this week.
“City of Harare will not take any action without consulting the vendors on the possible way forward and work with them for the benefit of everyone.
“We are prepared to work with them and agree on the easing of the problem emanating from visibility of vendors in the CBD.
“We have a long term solution to this and we have finished constructing a vending market along Simon Mazorodze Road some of them will be accommodated there.
“We are going to proceed to construct vending holding bays on the out skirts of the city and introduce buses to ferry people into the city centre.
“As for now we are going to find a possible solution to make our city look tidy by engaging them,” said Mayor Gomba.
In her speech, provincial administrator Cathrine Kampila said the mayor had come at a time when the generality of the people felt or believed that they were not getting adequate service delivery that includes water, refuse collection and trafficable roads among others.
“You are expected to put in place strong and viable turnaround programs for your local authority to be self-sustainable in the long run,” said Kampila.
“Council business is like a relay, you have taken over programs and resolutions from the previous council; it is your duty to ensure the fulfilment of those programs and resolutions.
“While I urge you to be very futuristic in your thinking in resolution making, I also urge you to set achievable targets based on your financial capacity.
“People are tired of fake promises, promise things that you can achieve, promise projects that can be funded.
“As policy makers, it is imperative that you always maintain high levels of discipline and professionalism in your conduct,” said Kampila.
Paul Nyathi|A FORM Three pupil at Nketa High School in Bulawayo died after he was allegedly hit on the head with a stone by his friend as they fought a rival teenage gang.
Michael Dube (15) from Nkulumane 11 died on Sunday morning, a day after he was struck with a stone on the head during an alleged turf war with unknown juveniles near Sunmarket Supermarket in the suburb.
The identity of the killer friend has been withheld as he is a minor.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident which happened on Saturday and said investigations were under way.
“I can confirm that we received a report of sudden death after some boys got involved in a fight in Nkulumane suburb. The deceased and his friend were approached by two juveniles who are still at large and a fight ensued. During the scuffle, the unknown juveniles began to assault Michael’s friend and he got overpowered. The friend, in an attempt to protect Michael, picked a stone and threw it at the attackers, who however dodged the missile.
“The stone hit Michael on the head and he sustained head injuries. He was admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital on Saturday and died on the following day,” said Chief Insp Simango.
Family spokesperson Ms Knowledge Sibanda said the family was saddened by the death of Michael, whom she described as a polite and obedient child.
“We just cannot fathom this. We never faced any problems with this child at home and it’s very painful for him to be taken away from us in such a manner. We do not know what transpired and we cannot point fingers, however, only God knows what happened and we hope that justice will be served,” she said.
Ms Sibanda, an aunt to the deceased, described Michael as an intelligent child who loved his books.
“Michael was doing Form 3 at Nketa High School. He was the second born in a family of three children. His siblings are sorrowful as they have lost a brother. He was very intelligent at school and was dedicated to his studies. We never encountered any problems associated with discipline when it came to his behaviour,” said Ms Sibanda.
Michael was buried yesterday in a touching send-off at Luveve cemetery.
Chief Inspector Simango warned parents to be wary of the company that their children keep.
“We urge parents to know their children and to know the kind of friends they play and spend time with. We are having a lot of cases where teenagers are involved in gangsterism and are injuring each other in turf wars. As schools open, we urge school authorities and parents to work together to raise responsible and disciplined boys and girls. Some lives get wasted when teenagers die during their school days. Once one strays, it is often difficult to recover a misspent youth,” said Chief Insp Simango.
By Robman Mads| Probably only if you can listen to Chiwenga’s advise for the first time ever, you could succeed. Get rid of all the deadwood ministers who helped mugabe to destroy our once Africa’s bread basket, and replace them with new blood who understand Morden socio-economic and political environment science in conjunction with the constitution and the rule of law. Otherwise, you will not survive Mr president. Remember, in your cabinet, it’s not all ministers who really love and support you whole heartedly. Some they are desperate and really wish you to die, but you are not aware of that. Believe me Mr president, if the opposition parties can institute a motion of no confidence against you, some of your so called ministers will definitely vote against you. So, watch out Mr Ngwena. 
CBZ Holdings, Zimbabwe’s largest diversified financial services group, believes the economy has reached a point where a change in the direction is required and has called on government to take a number of measures to rebuild “public and investor confidence”.
The chairperson’s statement by Noah Matimba called on government to strengthen the governance of public institutions, normalise international relations and ensure that consistence on fiscal and monetary policies is achieved.
According to Matimba, the three reform areas would stabilise the macroeconomic environment and boost public and investor confidence, seen as the prime driver of public and private investments.
He pointed out the “productive and social sectors of the economy” as the key targets for investment.
Matimba also asserted that the post-election economic outlook to the end of the year would depend on social and political developments in the country.
“During the second half of the year, the direction of the economy will largely depend on the status of the socio-political environment.”
“Nevertheless, CBZ holdings remains well geared to leverage its sizeable balance sheet, strong market presence, diversified business portfolio, strong credit ratings and investment in research and development to pursue emerging opportunities and manage attendant threats from the operating environment.”
-Newsday
By Paul Nyathi|The Gweru Magistrates court has set free opposition legislator who had been arrested for allegedly inciting his MDC Alliance party supporters to commit public violence ahead of the harmonised elections held in July.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers arrested Happymore Chidziva, the MDC Alliance party Youth Assembly leader, who is the Highfield West constituency MP-Elect, on Monday and charged him with incitement as defined in section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors alleged that Chidziva, who is represented by Jeremiah Bamu and Brian Dube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), encouraged his MDC Alliance party supporters during a political rally held in July 2018 in Gweru in Midlands province to protest against an unfavourable election outcome and to defend their vote if Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) rigs the election in favour of ZANU PF party.
But Chidziva was set free by Gweru Provincial Magistrate Charity Maphosa after she granted him a very relaxed $100 bail and ordered him to report once a fortnight at Machipisa Police Station in Harare’s Highfield suburb.
In Harare, another MDC Alliance party youth leader, Chamunorwa Madya, the Deputy Secretary-General for the MDC Alliance party Youth Assembly and Mafaiti Mubaiwa, who is employed as a security personnel at the opposition party headquarters were on Tuesday granted $50 bail each by a Harare Magistrate after they were arrested for allegedly contravening section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
ZRP officers, who arrested Madya and Mubaiwa accused the duo of committing public violence after they allegedly participated in a demonstration held in Harare early in August to protest ZEC’s management of the July 30 harmonised elections.
Madya and Mubaiwa were represented by Nontokozo Dube-Tachiona and Gugulethu Mahlangu-Simango of ZLHR.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa could have won back former first lady Grace Mugabe after facilitating her trip back home from Singapore where she had gone for treatment over an undisclosed health problem.
Grace’s mother (83), died in Harare last Thursday.
Sources close to President Mnangagwa confirmed to NewZimbabwe.com that the Zanu PF leader directed government to facilitate the former first lady’s return home for her mother’s funeral.
“The president decided to spare the former first lady the inconvenience of scheduled flights at this difficult moment so a chartered plane was arranged for so she could return home as quickly as possible,” said a senior Zanu PF official.
Relations between Mnangagwa and the former first family appear to be on the mend after hitting a deadly low as the fight for former president Mugabe’s succession came to head.
After being publicly humiliated at rallies by Grace, Mnangagwa was dramatically fired from government and Zanu PF by Mugabe in November last year.
He escaped to South Africa through Mozambique, claiming assassins were on his trail.
Two weeks later the former vice president returned to take over leadership of the country and party after Mugabe was toppled by a coup.
But the Mugabe’s did not give up, reportedly helping form the opposition National Patriotic Front (NPP) in the lead up to the July 30 elections.
And on the eve of the vote, Mugabe called a press conference where he announced that he would not be voting for Mnangagwa and backed MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa instead.
Even so, after the elections Mnangagwa invited the Mugabes but they could not attend due to poor health with Grace said to be in Singapore for treatment while the former president, now 94, was poorly at home.
Instead, daughter Bona attended the inauguration on behalf of her parents.
And, in a sign relations are continuing to improve between Mugabe and his former protégé Mnangagwa sent a condolence message on the passing of Grace’s mother and then facilitated the daughter’s return home.
NPF spokesman Jealousy Mawarire commended Mnangagwa for the gesture.
“I want to thank President Mnangagwa and his Presidium for facilitating for the travel of former First Lady Dr Mugabe back home for the funeral of Ambuya Marufu,” Mawarire said on Twitter.
“Such a gesture is very much invaluable and much appreciated. May the lord keep you, lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
-NewZimbabwe.com
BULAWAYO town clerk Christopher Dube was heckled by residents after cancelling mayoral polls yesterday, arguing that it was unprocedural and illegal to conduct the election at the Large City Hall.
Bulawayo residents demonstrating against the postponement of mayoral polls at Large City Hall yesterday
The election and swearing-in of the mayor and his deputy had been moved to Large City Hall upon the request of ratepayers who wanted to witness the event.
Residents gathered at the hall from around 3pm since the elections were scheduled to begin at 4pm.
Dube only arrived at around 5pm to advise that the election had been called off on legal grounds.
This sparked uproar from the crowd that started booing him.
The angry residents did not give Dube the chance to explain until he left the hall to address journalists in the council chambers.
Following the cancellation of the election, angry residents started demonstrating outside the hall and riot police with water cannons were deployed to monitor the situation.
Dube told journalists that the local authority had been advised that holding the elections at a public hall was improper at law.
“There are two reasons for postponing the elections. The movement of the first meeting of council from the chambers to the Large City Hall was illegal and also for security reasons. In the first place, we had agreed that it was the best thing as on Friday, they were a lot of people who were here and wanted to witness the swearing-in ceremony,” he said.
Dube said the residents had written a petition to Bulawayo City Council, seeking to be involved and to have the meeting moved to the hall.
“So in the spirit of transparency, we thought it was the best idea, but unfortunately we were advised that what we had done was illegal. We are also law-abiding citizens and officials of council (so) we had to listen to the legal advice,” he said.
Dube said the meeting will be held in council chambers on Friday at 4pm.
“It is only dependent on the person who is legally mandated to chair that meeting who is the provincial administrator. It will be an open council meeting, but though obviously the numbers are going to be reduced. We are going to engage all those stakeholders and we will engage all the leaders of the groups who wanted to come,” he said.
Residents have been calling on the councillors to elect a mayor who hails from the province who can relate with their problems.
-Newsday
MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said President Emmerson Mnangagwa was doomed and will not be able to resolve the country’s worsening economic meltdown because his government suffers a serious legitimacy crisis.
The opposition leader, who still insists that Mnangagwa rigged the July 30 polls, said until the legitimacy crisis stalking the Zanu PF administration was resolved, the economic crisis would continue on a downward spiral.
Chamisa said had he been declared winner, confidence would have increased with Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora already trooping back home.
“There would be an economic hara-kiri right now if there was no political rape on July 30. Rape has consequences and this failing economy is what we are now suffering from,” he said.
“But as both a leader and citizen, I am deeply concerned by the level of suffering of Zimbabweans. There is violence in the minds of people due to the painful challenges they are facing everyday under Mnangagwa’s controversial leadership. The situation tells a lot about the previous elections. The elections, instead of being a source of joy, have brought about a lot of uncertainties.
“The economy is freezing and even fuel is in short supply. What is more in short supply is market confidence. Business is not settled because elections were tampered with. You can change statistics of elections, but you cannot tamper with figures in economics.”
“Mnangagwa did not win the elections, but he was declared winner. This has to be resolved first,” Chamisa told NewsDay in an exclusive interview.
“This problem will not go away because we inaugurated a lie. There is dispute on who should lead the country. Disputed mandates will always cause a dispute of failed economy.”
-Newsday
Malawi’s Parliament’s budget and finance committee has strongly criticised both the long delay in the procurement of anti-corruption software and the sudden engagement of Twenty Third Century Systems.
Top Malawian officials have declined to explain why the government has engaged a Zimbabwean firm to provide anti-corruption software worth ten billion kwacha (R180-million) – three years after the tender process.
A Treasury source said Zimbabwean-owned Twenty Third Century Systems – a “gold partner” of German-based multinational SAP – has been sent a letter accepting its bid, even though it was third-ranked bidder in 2015 and its bid is understood to have expired a year later.
The software solution for the state’s new Integrated Financial Management Information System (Ifmis) is intended as a response to the 2013 Cashgate scandal, which exposed the weakness of the Malawi government’s financial controls.
Parliament’s budget and finance committee has strongly criticised both the long delay in the procurement and the sudden engagement of Twenty Third Century.
Rhino Chipoko, the committee’s chairperson, said the committee did not normally intervene in procurement issues, but “we are really concerned about this one because it looks like a misprocurement”.
Chipoko went on to suggest that the procurement delay might have been driven by corrupt motives.
“The committee strongly believes that the delays are to make it possible to siphon off money, because the current Ifmis is so porous,” he said.
Parliamentary public accounts committee chairperson Alekeni Menyani described the procurement as “worrisome”.
“If the system that is aimed at dealing with fraud is being (improperly) procured, then we really are damned,” Menyani said.
Accountant General Chrighton Chimombo said he could not comment “beyond saying that the Ministry will come with a clarification on the procurement and implementation of the new Ifmis in due course”.
Chimombo referred the matter to finance ministry spokesperson Davis Sado, who also declined to comment, saying questions could only be answered by the Accountant General’s office.
Malawi’s accountant-general oversees all government agencies responsible for systems administration, accounts reconciliation and financial reporting.
Twenty Third Century declined to comment. The firm’s operations manager for Malawi, Kondwani Mbewe, said the managing director, Gilford Kapyola, was the right person to shed more light on the deal. However, Kapylola said: “You’d better take these questions to government, as they are the ones managing the procurement process.”
A call to South African tech service provider EOH, which has a substantial stake in Twenty Third Century, also failed to shed light on the tender.
A spokesperson for the company’s media desk who would only identify herself as “Elissa” said EOH was not qualified to comment because it is a minority shareholder.
“If anything, it is Twenty Third Century that should comment,” she said.
The secretary to the Treasury, Ben Botolo, indicated that the Treasury is unhappy with the procedure followed in the procurement and believes the tender process should be restarted.
But he also said that the final decision lay with the Accountant-General.
Botolo remarked that much may have changed since bids were submitted in 2015, when he was not in office.
He was particularly worried that the price of the job would have to rise, saying he would be “surprised if the vendor maintains the same price. I’m saying the best way is to redo the whole process; put it out to tender and come up with fresh price quotations”.
“That is the advice I gave Chimombo, but their position is that we need to go ahead with the current process.”
Botolo also contradicted Chimombo’s recent statement that government has set aside MK5-billion (R96-million) to train staff in managing the new system, saying this allocation would be used for the procurement of Ifmis.
He also said that once the new service provider was identified, it might take time for it to gear up because the new Ifmis would run concurrently with the current system for up to two years.
“There are issues of software and hardware that have to be resolved in line with compatibility with the servers. We also want the new Ifmis to interface with the Human Resource Management Information System,” he said.
Botolo revealed that the new Ifmis was initially conceived as a joint project of the World Bank and the Malawi government. The bank, whose contribution was a “negligible” $2-million of a total $13-million earmarked for the project, had later withdrawn.
The World Bank’s country manager, Greg Toulmin, confirmed the IMF’s withdrawal after it was agreed that “government could procure the system through its own resources and procurement system”.
However, Toulmin also indicated that the bank was unhappy with the Malawi government’s overall approach to public sector corruption.
He said that although it was an important tool in reducing the abuse of public funds, “technology on its own cannot address human elements that affect effective administration. These include … behavioural attitudes, incentives for managerial accountability and staff performance at all levels.”
Toulmin said Cashgate had exposed the “pervasiveness of corruption in Malawi and rightfully increased stakeholder demand for much greater scrutiny in the management of public resources”.
“Corruption continues to be one of the major obstacles blocking Malawi’s road to prosperity.
However, real and substantial progress towards eliminating corruption requires more resolute political and civil will to build on current efforts.”
A full list of the 2015 bidders and their bid prices shows that the bids all expired in early 2016.
It is understood that the government’s preferred bidder at the time was British-based TBL Systems, whose price on the job was US$6.6-million.
Botolo agreed that Twenty Third Century’s price – $13.8-million – was significantly higher.
He said he understood that the Accountant-General’s office had been discussing this with the Zimbabwean company.
The list of bids shows a very wide spread of prices, with the highest being KPMG’s at $47.9-million.
Grace Thipa, spokesperson for Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA), said the government’s approach was based on the recommendations and approvals of evaluation teams and internal procurement and disposal committees.
She said the PPDA only checks that the procurement is transparent and fair.
In its 2014 report on Cashgate, Malawi’s public accounts committee found that the government’s existing financial control system was manipulated by criminals, leading to the massive theft of public resources.
The government launched a “business process review” by a task force that proposed the complete replacement of the system.
The committee noted that this was supposed to have happened by July 2014 “due to procurement processes in line with World Bank procedures”.
Source: Gregory Gondwe, Daily Maverick
Vitus-Gregory Gondwe is a Malawian freelancer who works closely with the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism
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– LIVE COMMENTS –
Reason Wafawarova: “I am a bit lost on what kind of reporting this is.”
Simba Chikanza: ” Reuben Barwe playing the oppressive “Kutonga Kwaro” song to 1 August victims blasting it into their ears as they mourn. What type of reporting is that?”
Reason Wafawarova: ” Simba Chikanza since I have ever known Reuben, I have never imagined anyone worth the decence of journalism would count him as a role model, let alone emulate him.”
Simba Chikanza: “…the same Barwe caught on camera grinning from cheek to cheek as people were left lying in a pool of blood dying from the White City bomb, and would rush to suggest that a whole province Matebeleland was responsible for the bomb attack on ED… great!”
By Paul Nyathi|State broadcaster the ZBC has published the following opinion by a citizen Patson Gumbo.
The piece blames parents for alleged “poor parenting” on the influx of begging street kids in the capital. But are parents really to blame? Who is really to blame for the scourge?
Patson Gumbo wrote:
As one drives along Samora Machel Avenue from Eastlea right up to the Showgrounds in the capital, it has become a daily trend that at traffic lights he/she will be greeted by young children asking for help. As if it’s not enough, driving towards the Western suburbs as you reach Marimba robots in Belvedere again the situation is synonymous with that of the central business district, young boys, street children perhaps, asking for as little as 10 cents, one wonders if it is to buy food.
Over the past few months Zimbabwe has seen a rise of street children whose dressing is evidence that they are coming from home. These children beggars have become a major highlight of Samora Machel Avenue and one can’t help but wonder what has led to this rise in children in the streets asking for money from motorists.
We rule out that these young children would actually be living in the streets as earlier indicated that their dress code really tells a different story. These children from my observation are coming from their homes to beg for money.
Growing up back in the day, the city centre was a place that I wasn’t used entering often, being a student at a local primary school and it was only when I was in secondary going to a school in town that I was getting used to being there every weekday but never had time to really wander around as I would be punished for roaming aimlessly in the CBD after leaving school.
Where has that respect for school uniform gone to as we see these children begging at robots clad in their uniforms? Where are their parents when this is happening? Are these children going to focus on their schoolwork when they are now used to getting money easily through begging? Do they even have time for that schoolwork or their homework when after school they go to the streets to look for money?
Walking past the intersection of Samora Machel and Leopold Takawira one of these fine days early in the morning my heart really bled as I saw a mother, probably in her 20s tying a child barely a year old to another young child, I would say she might be between 10 and 12 years old and sending her to the middle of the road to ask for money from passing motorists. As I watched this unfold, trying to understand what was happening so I could talk to this mother, she disappeared leaving the young girl with a baby on her back on the middle of the road.
Question would be does this mother really deserve to be taking care of these children when she endangers their lives in that way? Yes the economy is harsh but really is it enough to endanger the lives of one’s children? With so many bad drivers on the roads these days and one really has the nerve to leave their young children at the mercy of these motorists? What is our government’s stance on this? Surely this trend should not be allowed to continue.
Is this how we have become as a people, parents sending their young children to look for money from the streets? I don’t think it is right for children to be in the streets approaching every car that stops at a robot asking for a few cents. It is the duty of any parent to be able to provide for their family, not having to send a 10 year old to the streets to find ways of making money. What culture are we planting in that child at such a tender age? Aren’t we creating a generation that is lazy to work, that relies on handouts? I would say that generation is doomed and we are in a way grooming criminals. As they grow older used to getting money from the streets, what will happen in an instance that they fail to get that money? Won’t they move on to smash and grab when a motorist has nothing to give them? Won’t we see a rise in prostitution and criminal activities?
Being a parent is more than just giving birth to a child; it requires a lot more than that. It involves among others being able to take care of your children, providing for them, working hard for the family. It is therefore of utmost importance for us to make families that we are able to take care of. Starting a family is not achievement especially when we fail to give our children the basic things, like their right to a home, right to a meal and right to education. Sending them to beg is a serious violation of their rights and not something that any child should be subjected to.
In all this another question that pops up is where has the extended family gone to? Are they content seeing their nephews and nieces going through that awful ordeal of endangering their lives by standing between the roads? In Shona they say “Kuzvara kwemumwe kuzvara kwakowo”, bringing out the need to look out for each other.
Where is the church in all this? When will we see the church rising to this occasion and help the less-privileged in society? Where is the corporate world with their social responsibility? What is the position of the government with regards to this matter? For how long are we going to sit and fold our hands as these young children are being led astray? The time has come now for us as Zimbabweans to address this issue and rescue these children before a time comes when we cannot control them.
These children need to be in school or at home as they are the future leaders and once they get lost at this age, it will be impossible to show them the right track. As the Chinese would put it, “Never give a man a fish but rather teach him how to catch fish”; let us also be able to give these children a future.
Japan has been hit by its strongest typhoon in 25 years, causing at least seven deaths and 200 injuries.
Typhoon Jebi made landfall in western areas, bringing heavy rain and reports of winds up to 172km/h (107mph).
In Osaka Bay it swept a tanker into a bridge and in Kyoto parts of a railway station roof came down.
Officials ordered more than a million people in affected areas to evacuate their homes amid warnings of high waves, flooding and mudslides.
It has already left tens of thousands without power and authorities have urged people to move to safety.
The storm made landfall on Shikoku island around noon on Tuesday local time and then moved across Japan’s largest main island of Honshu.
It is expected to weaken as it moves north.
Jebi is the first typhoon classed as “very strong” by the country’s weather agency to make landfall on Japan’s main islands since a typhoon left 48 people dead or missing in 1993, Kyodo reports.
Hundreds of flights, trains and ferries have had to be cancelled.
Flooding covered the runways at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, which is built on a man-made island in a bay. Universal Studios Japan, a popular amusement park near Osaka, was closed.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an emergency meeting and called on people “to take action to protect your lives, including preparing and evacuating early”.
Footage from the storm making landfall showed giant waves crashing against the coastline, and flying debris.
Japan’s weather agency has warned of possible landslides, flooding and violent winds, as well as high tides, lightning and tornadoes in the areas affected.
The country is regularly struck by major storms and this summer has been one of extreme weather. In July landslides and massive floods – the worst in decades – killed more than 200 people. That was followed by a record deadly heatwave.
BBC news
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Imagine Ruvheneko joining Diaspora Job Seekers because of Chiwenga&Mnangagwa, can these gun crazy soldiers be trusted with a single dollar of our money?
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) September 5, 2018
WARD 10 Councillor, Angeline Kasipo, yesterday became the first female Mayor of Kwekwe.
She was elected unopposed while Shadreck Tobaiwa was unanimously elected deputy mayor after the swearing in of councillors at Kwekwe Civic Centre.
A total of 14 councillors were sworn in yesterday.
In her acceptance speech, the mayoress promised to be a servant of the Kwekwe rate payers.
“I feel humbled by the gesture and the confidence that people of Kwekwe have shown in me. I promise to repay them through servant leadership. I will be there for the people,” she vowed.
Clr Kasipo said water reticulation was on top of her list.
“I feel people in Kwekwe should have uninterrupted water supply. I promise to ensure that the water supply system is working right round the clock,” said the mayoress.
On vendors, Clr Kasipo said she would not force them off the streets before an alternative site is created for them.
“I feel it is a bit unfair for us to say vendors should be removed from the streets when we have no alternative for them. I think it is prudent to create space for them then we move them there,” she said.
Clr Kasipo said she did not feel any pressure on becoming the first female mayor for the town.
“I respect my predecessor (Clr Matenda Madzoke), a hardworking man, a man of integrity. But that should not exert any pressure on me as the first female mayor of the town,” she said.
Clr Kasipo takes over from C lr Madzoke who caused a stir for rejecting an official council vehicle and riding a bicycle to work.
Cllr Kasipo said she was not under pressure to force council to purchase a vehicle for her.
“I will have to liaise with the council first. I am not saying a vehicle is not important but if necessary and if it makes service delivery easy, then a vehicle should be purchased,” she said.
State Media
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ZimEye brings our valued readers and viewers the latest updates on the Lomagundi road (off Harare) Mercedes benz accident. [ THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY]
ZimEye is reliably told the accident 6.7 km from Westgate Shopping Centre, Harare. (SEE THE SATELLITE MAP BELOW)
The culprit at the centre of the accident is a garden boy working for a BluffHill family who stole the vehicle while the owner had travelled to Victoria Falls. LIVE SATELLITE MAP:
The suspect has worked for the Harare family for over 3 years.
On Sunday morning at around 4 am, the suspect, Zviito Katsveya (42) seized the vehicle after noticing that the owner (name withheld) had travelled to Victoria Falls on Friday.
Impeccable sources described Mr Katsveya as an on the face of it, usually reliable worker who they did not at all expect to do such a thing.
“He was a hard worker, who you would not think can do such a thing,” said one source.
In the wee hours of the morning, Katsveya allegedly stole the car keys, and drove the car out of his boss’s property – drove it over to the nearby Tom Farm, and took with him two unidentified passengers. He then drove the car away towards Chinhoyi. It is believed that he went to a place called Stapleford. Luck however ran out on him when while driving back to Harare, he lost control of the vehicle.
Evidence at the scene which ZimEye reveals suggests that Katsveya rammed into three trees before crashing onto the last one severely ripping the car’s bonnet off. Due to the impact, the petrol instantly crept out leading to also the fuel spreading all over the grass. As a result a fire broke out.
One of the passengers died at the spot while Mr Katsveya was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital. ZimEye could not at the time of publishing establish the whereabouts of the other passenger who is believed to be at large.
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