MDC-T leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday chided Bulawayo residents who recently protested against the election of Shona-speaking councillors, saying the country had moved away from the era of tribal politics.

In an interview, Chamisa said his executive would soon look into the matter critically and confront it head-on.

“The people of Bulawayo voted for the council and when they voted for their councillors they didn’t vote for a tribe, they didn’t vote for a class, race but voted for representatives in council,” he said.

“It is a pity that people want to introduce tribe on account of trying to cure their inadequacies or their incompleteness,u fees but their people have spoken. The people didn’t vote for a tribe, but for representatives who are Zimbabweans, who are residents of Bulawayo to represent them.”

Chamisa added: “This is one ghost that we must be able to exorcise as a nation to say we must deal with all the evils, racism, tribalism and build a national consensus around the national question of who accesses positions of leadership on the basis of merit, but also on the basis of competency without looking on the colour of one tribe, but that of one’s character, integrity and dignity. That is where we must go.”

He said those protesting in this regard represented the past.

“We can’t represent the past where tribalism was used as a card to either pull others down or push others forward. We know there are challenges in Bulawayo, but we are going to confront them head-on because obviously at the end of the day we represent the alternative,” Chamisa said.

He said the alliance was not going to brook any corruption within their councils.

Chamisa said they have told the mayors and the councillors that being in a position of leadership was not a ticket to amass wealth illegally.

“We told them that if you are going to go there, we are not going to have their hands in the cookie jar or people who are going there for themselves. You are not representing your stomach, but your people and residents,” he said.

“The citizens charter is something that we are going to take seriously and you will see that there is going to be zero tolerance to corruption.”

Chamisa also deplored the recurrence of cholera and typhoid in Harare and other parts of the country.

NewsDay

By Paul Nyathi|An ardent follower of Johanne Marange, Teedzai Percy Muchimwe drew attention in the august house when he was being sworn as Member of Parliament for Mutare West for being the only MP who had no tie according to the rules of Parliament.

The new parliamentarian vowed that he was never going to put on a tie due to his religious beliefs and will do everything possible to get parliament to accept him without the accessory.

“I am going to seek permission to be in Parliament without a tie,” said Hon Muchimwe.

Parliament demands that all male members were a neck tie when attending sessions in the August house.

OPPOSITION MDC Alliance Nelson Chamisa has vowed to cause sleepless nights to his political nemesis President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration after his party nearly made a clean sweep of all urban local authorities, where it now controls 81% of them.

In a memo recently sent to various party structures, Chamisa bragged that they now had sway in all key local authorities after winning 26 of the country’s 32 urban councils in the July 30 polls where the party also increased its presence in Parliament.

“From this election, we control over 26 urban councils out of 32 (81%) and we must be proud of that. We won 536 council seats. We control all the metropolitan cities and towns, including Harare and Bulawayo. Our support bases are the majority of active people and taxpayers who contribute about 80% of the taxes collected in the country,” he said.

The MDC Alliance also recorded a massive increase in Parliament, increasing its seats from 41 in 2013 to 88 inclusive of 24 women legislators elected on the proportional representative ticket which runs out in 2023.

Chamisa also clawed more votes than his now later predecessor, Morgan Tsvangirai who had 33,94%, translating to 1 172 349 votes against former President Robert Mugabe’s 61,09%, or 2 110 434 votes in 2013. The party lost control of urban councils in Kwekwe and Redcliff with both electing Zanu PF mayors, and councillors.

But, political analysts said Chamisa’s control of urban centres was insignificant as Zanu PF still had firm control of central governance where key decisions affecting councils were made.

“You need to know that Zimbabwe is a unitary State and those who control central government call the shots. So it may well be true that they control local government authorities which contribute a large chunk to the national fiscus, but that goes to the Treasury and the Treasury is controlled by central government which in turn is controlled by Zanu PF,” analyst Eldred Masunungure said.

“It depends on the circumstances, especially the relationship that the MDC Alliance happens to have with the central government,” he added.

Zanu PF has in the past been accused of frustrating opposition-led councils by suspending them or meddling in their affairs just to make it difficult for them to deliver.

Masunungure said the scenario was likely to continue unless government quickly devolves and give local authorities autonomy to run their own affairs.

Zanu PF legal affairs secretary, Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said it was wrong for Chamisa to claim to be in control of government’s economic hubs – urban councils.

“The economy of this country is not in towns. The economy of this country is land and land is the economy,” Mangwana said.

“But we have not done any analysis of these figures, because it does not help anyone because Zanu PF is controlling two-thirds majority in Parliament. This is where you make your laws. It also controls the Presidency; urban councils simply serve the people who stay in town.”

NewsDay

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UNDERLYING tensions between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and one of his deputies, retired General Constantino Chiwenga, over power struggles, risks distracting the new administration from tackling a plethora of structural challenges besetting Zimbabwe’s frail economy.

Mnangagwa, whose poll victory was upheld by the Constitutional Court, has an uneasy relationship with Chiwenga whose political manoeuvres since last year’s military coup that toppled Zimbabwe’s long-time leader Robert Mugabe suggest he harbours presidential ambitions.

Commentators say the differences between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga may render government dysfunctional. It comes at a time Zimbabwe is battling an acute liquidity crisis, massive company closures, widening trade and budget deficit and a ballooning foreign debt overhang, which has shot up to US$1,2 billion, among other deep-seated economic challenges.

The southern African country is also reeling from the effects of dwindling investment in the aftermath of a disputed poll.

Key among Mnangagwa’s priorities would be tackling the debilitating liquidity crisis, which escalated when Mugabe introduced a surrogate currency supposedly trading at par with the US dollar. Now, barely two years after the central bank introduced bond notes, the fiat currency has lost more than half its value, heightening speculation and fears among the populace that Mnangagwa’s administration, riven by discord, could be sleep-walking the economy into hyperinflation last experienced in 2008.

The foreign currency shortages have resulted in massive arbitrage and rent-seeking behaviour as the US dollar now has multiple exchange rates in Zimbabwe.

Coupled to that, Mnangagwa will have to pull up his sleeves to deal with an external debt overhang of US$1,2 billion which is nearly 25% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). During Mugabe’s tenure, Zimbabwe abandoned the Lima Plan, which was crafted to help the southern African country extinguish its debt stock while paving way for fresh lines of credit.

International finance institutions have proposed a raft of structural reforms which Harare has to adopt to unlock fresh lines of credit critical towards stabilising the country’s fragile economy.

Mnangagwa — who was hoping to win a clean mandate in the July 30 elections but whose disputed victory has complicated matters — also faces the daunting task of arresting a widening budget deficit which stood at US$225 million during this year’s first quarter, triggered by government’s profligacy. According to a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe 2018 first quarter report, government had cumulative revenue collections of about US$1,2 billion, against total expenditure outlays of US$1,4 billion, resulting in the yawning budget deficit.

The issuance of Treasury Bills (TBs), which government has largely relied upon to service an unsustainable budget deficit, has been cited by investment analysts as central to Zimbabwe’s economic problems. This has driven the demand for scarce foreign currency, as well as creation of excess money supply, which is largely in the form of Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and mobile balances.

Mnangagwa, widely regarded as a pro-business leader unlike his predecessor also has to plug the widening trade deficit, which peaked to nearly US$1 billion in the first four months of 2018, which is far higher than the same period last year when it stood at US$603,1 million. This means that the deficit has widened by 65,61% compared to the same period last year.

The central bank noted that the external sector position has remained considerably under pressure on account of deep-seated structural challenges of fiscal constraints, current account deficit, limited access to foreign finance, debt overhang, limited supply of ethanol for blending and, more recently, the jump in international fuel prices.

The galloping deficit provides ample evidence that Mnangagwa’s administration is yet to find the right medicine for the trade malady.

The grim statistics are a far cry from government’s repeated mantra that the economy is on the mend since Mnangagwa was first inaugurated in November last year following the millitary coup.

His administration, which has adopted the slogan “Zimbabwe is open for business”, has been at pains to report progress, but the characteristics of the economic crisis that permeated Mugabe’s catastrophic rule persist.

Commentators say Mnangagwa’s government, which is bound to gravitate towards factional lines characterising Mugabe’s ruinous 37-year rule, also faces the stern test of crafting a raft of measures to deal with socio-economic problems ranging from spiralling unemployment, deteriorating health and educational facilities and rising commodities prices on the domestic market among other challenges.

“Mnangagwa has a tough balancing act of competing political and economic priorities. On one hand, he has to ensure that he is solidly in power in spite of his deputy’s (Chiwenga) glaring ambition and mending the economy,” a government source said.

“We will see whether Mnangagwa will prioritise politics or address the structural problems haemorrhaging the economy.”

Financial analyst Persistence Gwanyanya, contends that Mnangagwa faces the unenviable task of implementing austerity measures if he has to revitalise the economy.

“Economic diagnosis has it that Zimbabwe today is faced with an unbalanced economy typified by low levels of production and exports, against disproportionately high levels of consumption, which has resulted in bloated import levels. This economic imbalance is largely seen as the source of all other economic problems, thus calling for concerted efforts to rebalance the economy through increase in production and exports, and a downward adjustment in consumption and imports. This adjustment process is not as simple as it appears and that is where the idea of reforms is necessary,”

Independent

MDC Alliance principals have called for a probe into how the seven-party coalition’s “anti-rigging” mechanisms failed when it mattered the most, allowing Zanu PF to “steal” the July 30 vote.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Welshman Ncube told the Zimbabwe Independent this week that the opposition outfit would investigate the electoral loss and how Zanu PF ran away with a disputed victory.

“In every organisation, whether you have won or lost, you have to do a post mortem. We will do a post-mortem on the things we did well and those things we didn’t do well,” Ncube said.

In the run-up to the elections, Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer, Thabani Mpofu, announced that the coalition had a “secret” weapon to defend millions of MDC Alliance votes. The anti-rigging mechanisms, which included a tight monitoring of counting and tabulation of results at polling stations, became the basis of Chamisa’s Constitutional Court (ConCourt) challenge where he claimed to have “overwhelming” evidence.

This comes a week after the Alliance’s presidential candidate, Chamisa reportedly shot down propositions by MDC-T deputy treasurer-general Chalton Hwende for a post mortem during the party’s national executive meeting last week. Chamisa maintains he won the July 30 polls.

Ncube said no one in the Alliance should resist a post mortem. “We need to look into how we allowed them (Zanu PF) to steal the election. We also set up anti-rigging mechanisms — how did they fail?” asked Ncube.

“No one can possibly resist a post mortem. Anybody who has common sense will do a post-mortem,” Ncube added.

Chamisa maintains he won the July 30 polls even after his election petition seeking to overturn President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s win was dismissed by the ConCourt a fortnight ago.

Chief Justice Luke Malaba argued that the MDC Alliance lacked primary evidence in the form of V11 and V23 forms.

Ncube said a thorough examination of how the election was lost would help strengthen the coalition, which is currently in the process of forming a single party and consolidate its structures. He said the MDC Alliance would soon convene a congress where the findings of the election post-mortem would be presented. He added that the exercise would not be a witch hunt but a mechanism to strengthen the coalition.

The MDC Alliance will soon transform into a political party with the seven principals expected to hold key positions after congress. Ncube admitted that problems associated with merging the parties were likely to arise, but the principals were already working on countering any eventualities. “We are working together; we campaigned together as an alliance so all we have to do is to integrate. We know there will be challenges but all we need are resolutions from the highest organs of the alliance partners. We are all democrats and we hope that we go to congress soon,” Ncube said.

Chamisa rejected the ConCourt ruling, insisting he won the presidential election with 2,6 million votes. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), however, announced that Mnangagwa won the election after garnering 50,8%, while Chamisa got 44,3%. Zec later reduced Mnangagwa’s margin to 50,67%.

The MDC Alliance also failed to garner a majority in parliament, only managing 63 out of the 210 electable National Assembly seats.

Independent

GOVERNMENT could abandon the controversial US$2,7 billion deal with Chinese firm Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group Limited (Afecc) for the dualisation of the Chirundu-Beitbridge highway after the company expressed concern over how it would recoup its investment, the Zimbabwe Independent can exclusively reveal.

Afecc, the second highest bidder when the tender was first publicised in 2016, was later awarded the contract after government in April this year terminated its earlier agreement with Austrian company Geiger International (Geiger) at Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga’s behest.

Government had expressed frustration at the endless delays in project implementation by Geiger, although it later emerged that the move was aimed at pacifying the Chinese government and Afecc after it was controversially stopped from mining diamonds in Chiadzwa two years ago.

The deal has, however, gone off the rails after Afecc financiers insisted they were not comfortable with the build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement, which they deemed to be unfeasible. Government, on its part, failed to convince the company on how it would realise the full benefits of the investment.

As such, the Independent has learnt, Afecc told government that it could only do the 133km stretch from Harare to Chivhu under the BOT plan.

Former Transport minister Joram Gumbo, who has been spearheading negotiations on behalf of government, confirmed the deal had run into problems.

“It may be that they are having difficulties with their financiers. Remember, it has been two years since they lost the tender and they could have put their money to other use. I think that is the major problem they are facing, but as government we had prepared a framework of agreement to guide us on the way forward,” Gumbo said.

He also said the document was ready to be presented to cabinet.

“If I get the chance to present it to cabinet, I will do so but, if not, someone else will do it,” Gumbo said.

Insiders said government is now considering raising funds through the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) to allow local companies to take over the project.

Government is also considering re-tendering the project.

This comes as it emerged that Afecc president Jiang Zhaoyao last week flew into Zimbabwe from his base in Hefei city, the capital of Anhui province of China, to try and salvage the deal, but there has been no headway.

Highly placed government and diplomatic sources told the Independent this week that the deal with Afecc had virtually collapsed after the Chinese firm indicated that it was only able to dualise the 133km stretch from Harare to Chivhu.

Government sources said meetings held between government and Afecc in the past two weeks could not produce results.

This is despite the fact that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development had already drafted a framework of agreement which was to be signed between the two parties.

However, Afecc could not commit itself to the agreement as it demanded full disclosure of how it would recoup its investment amid concerns government was not providing clear information. An official close to Afecc said the company had access to adequate funding. He said the decision of whether to award the tender to Afecc or not lies with the government.

“The Afecc boss was here now in Zimbabwe having discussions with the government but, so far, there is no deal. No decision has been made up to now,” the official said.

Zimbabwe Independent

President Emmerson Mnangagwa|September is the first month of spring in Zimbabwe. The jacaranda trees that line Harare’s avenues will soon flower into a sea of purple. Last November their blossom formed the backdrop to the people taking to the streets and demanding change. This year, following our democratic election in July, it shall welcome a new era in Zimbabwe.

Winter’s end marked the culmination of months of vigorous campaigning. Candidates were able to cross the country without fear of intimidation to pledge their vision for Zimbabwe like never before.

However, the blossom that signifies the changing seasons does not guarantee the jacaranda trees’ survival.

In fact, they are vulnerable species; they must be protected. This election — the freest and fairest in our history — similarly signifies change. But the democracy it heralds must be defended, for it too is fragile.

Sadly, the collective achievement of the election became a prelude to tragedy. Instead of waiting for the vote to be counted, the opposition leadership declared victory in the presidential race. Some of their supporters took to the streets in protest at the yet-to-be-announced result.

The situation turned violent. Six lives were lost.

People, rightly, want justice to be served — as do I. However, it is not within the president’s power to impulsively blame or punish those who might appear guilty. What is within my power is the establishment of an independent investigation to ascertain who bears responsibility.

The former president of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, will chair the seven-member team comprising both Zimbabwean nationals and international experts. They will be sworn in upon my return from China to begin their three months of work.

I shall fully implement the recommendations of this commission. This may not serve political expediency on either side of the divide, but in underpinning justice it serves the people of Zimbabwe’s interests.

This is the right action to take in line with the democratic journey we set out on last November. Along this route, I am certain that I have gained false friends whose interests favour the status quo. Yet we cannot let this minority hinder the nation’s progress, nor squander the opportunity that lies before us. Rather we must protect this free and fair election. We must cherish what the people of Zimbabwe have achieved.

I do not say this because it suits my favour. Though the opposition leader fell short of the presidency, through this democratic vote he too has been granted an important mandate: to lead scrutiny of the government’s work in parliament.

We must remember that elections are about more than who returns the most votes. For the free and fair Zimbabwe that this election augurs cannot succeed without the opposition holding those in power to account — launching criticism in parliament, not stones in the streets.

This is not to make less of what occurred following the protests.

However, for justice to function properly, it must be applied equally to all.

The opposition here too have a vital role: they must scrutinise the commission’s work at each step.

Although experts drawn from a range of opinion and backgrounds shall sit on the independent commission, we — both —government and opposition – must ensure there is no bias through observation and inquiry.

Indeed, the role of opposition leader is critical to democracy’s function. The incoming administration will be weaker if not held to the checks and balances that parliament provides. Were he to renege on this role, it will only sap the nascent democratic culture taking root.

Alleging fraud without substantiating it has a similar effect. In the absence of readily available evidence, it served only to polarise voters. Those who had believed the opposition leader’s claims had to do so in blind faith.

Without such faith, it is difficult to see where this fraud came from. The opposition, however, were fully within their rights to bring their case to court. In fact, it is encouraging to see that the democratic and judicial tools available to them were exercised. In full view of the evidence submitted, the courts found against their claim. Now we must come together to realise what the people of Zimbabwe call out for: prosperity, opportunity and accountability rooted in peace.

So when the jacaranda trees begin to bud, I hope to see the opposition leader criticising the government openly and transparently in parliament — as the people of Zimbabwe deserve. For then the purple blossom that signifies change will also represent health.

Source – The Guardian UK

A 49-year-old Gwanda driver has been fined $200 after he knocked down a four-year-old child at a pedestrian crossing leaving him injured.

Hlalani Tshabangu of Freda Mine was convicted on his own plea of guilty to charges of negligent driving by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Nomagugu Ncube. He was ordered to pay a $200 fine or 30 days imprisonment in case of default. In addition he was ordered to surrender his licence for endorsement.

A licence endorsement is a record of one’s conviction for a motoring offence and is marked “endorsed” by the courts and repeat offenders maybe banned from driving.

Prosecuting, Mr Takudzwa Mafudze said Tshabangu knocked down the boy who is an ECD A pupil at Mt Cazalet Primary School on March 23 while he was on his way from school with his friends.

“On 23 March at around 12 noon, Tshabangu was driving a Mazda B2500 along the Bulawayo- Gwanda Road with one passenger on board. Upon reaching the 128 kilometre peg, he came across a group of children that were crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing coming from school.

“Tshabangu failed to stop and hit one of the children. As a result, the child sustained some bruises and was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where he was treated and discharged. Tshabangu was arrested for the offence,” he said.

Mr Mafudze said Tshabangu failed to observe a zebra crossing, failed to stop or act reasonably when an accident seemed imminent and failed to keep a proper lookout. – state media

President Mnangagwa yesterday proclaimed September 25 as the day for the official opening of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe.

The President is expected to set the legislative agenda for the new session. The announcement was contained in a supplement to the Extraordinary Government Gazette dated August 29, 2018.

President Mnangagwa proclaimed the date in terms of Section 145 of the Constitution, which states that the first sitting of Parliament after a general election must take place at a time and date no later than 30 days after the President-elect assumes office.

“His Excellency, the Honourable Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, G.C.Z.M, President of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of Zimbabwe.

Whereas, it is provided by Section 145 of the Constitution that the first sitting of Parliament after a general election must take place at a time and date determined by the President, being a date no later than 30 days after the President-elect assumes office,” read the proclamation.

President Mnangagwa said the first sitting of the Ninth Parliament will be held at twelve o’clock.

“And whereas, the President-elect assumed office on the 26th day of August, 2018: Now therefore, under and by virtue of the powers vested in the President as aforesaid, I do, by this proclamation fix (a) Parliament Building, Harare, as the place at which the First Sitting of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe shall be held and (b) twelve o’clock on

Tuesday, the 25th of September, 2018 as the time and date on which the First Sitting of the Ninth Parliament of Zimbabwe must take place,” he said.

The proclamation comes after at least 341 out of the 350 parliamentarians elected in the July 30 harmonised elections took their oaths of office at Parliament Building on Wednesday.
Zanu-PF retained its two thirds majority in the National Assembly after winning 145 out of the 210 contested constituencies.

The seven-party MDC Alliance managed only 63 seats, with the National Patriotic Front (NPF) winning just one seat.

Independent candidate Mr Temba Mliswa retained his Norton seat. In 2013, the ruling Zanu-PF won 160 seats to the then MDC-T’s 49, with one seat going to the MDC, then led by Professor Welshman Ncube, who is now an MDC Alliance principal. Following the swearing-in, the two Houses of Parliament will choose their presiding officers next Tuesday.

The National Assembly will elect the Speaker and his or her deputy, while the Senate will elect its president and his or her deputy. – state media

A maid who was traced through a fake Facebook account after disappearing with her employer’s property worth around $700 was yesterday fined $100.

Petronella Matsimbi (19) was employed at Ms Immaculate Gono (26)’s house at Emganwini suburb when she fled with a laptop, kitchenware and some clothes all amounting to $771.

Matsimbi was yesterday fined $100 or 90 days in jail. She told the court she stole from her employer because she had not been paid her salary.

In passing sentence, Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube considered that Ms Gono had recovered all her property.

The magistrate said Matsimbi’s behaviour was uncalled for and she should have confronted her employer about the money instead of stealing.

Mr Kenneth Shava prosecuted. He said Ms Gono created a fake Facebook account under the name Charles Todd and proposed love to the maid.

Matsimbi had stopped answering calls from Ms Gono. Under cross-examination in court on Thursday, Matsimbi claimed that she had not been paid and only took the property as compensation.

The court heard that on August 11, Ms Gono woke up to notice her bedroom windows open and decided to check if all the windows were closed.

“She noticed her maid was not around and thought she had sneaked out to her boyfriend,” said Mr Shava. In the morning, she checked on her maid again and realised that all her clothes were not there and she tried contacting her.”

Ms Gono later realised her kitchenware, a laptop and some clothes were missing.

On trying to contact her, Matsimbi would not answer her phone.

Ms Gono managed to locate Matsimbi through a fake Facebook account after luring her to meet in the Bulawayo city centre.

“Ms Gono arranged with the police to meet Matsimbi in town on September 3 and they apprehended her,” said Mr Shava.-state media

Staff Correspondent|The residents of Masvingo town urged the Masvingo City Council to resolve the water woes in the city to avert a looming health hazard.

The residents who spoke to Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) expressed dismay at the incessant shortage of water in the ancient city.

Local residents have gone for about three weeks without running water in the taps. Residents fear that there might be an outbreak of diseases such as cholera and typhoid as people are fetching water from boreholes and other unprotected sources.

Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) Action for Accountability Groups (AAGs) met with Masvingo City Council Commission chairperson Mr. Goddard Dunira who said the water crisis is caused by the malfunctioning of pumps at Bushmead Waterworks.”

“There are three pumps at the main water works and at any given time two pumps will be running while the other one will be on standby. Right now two pumps are down and we are pumping with one at below 50 percent capacity,” said Dunira. Local residents have wholly blamed the city council for dismally failing to prioritize water supply maintenance machinery.

COTRAD has also urged Masvingo City Council to resolve the water crisis as soon as possible. COTRAD will continue to engage the city council until the water crisis is rectified. Access to clean and safe water is a constitutional right as enshrined in section 77 that, every person has the right to clean and safe water.

COTRAD

A 15 year old form three student from Chinhoyi High School made history for her school after she obtained 7 ‘A’s during the June 2018 Zimsec examinations.

It’s yet another celebration scored by a girl child proving beyond reasonable doubt that gender does not define capacities.

Sifiso Ukaka obtained ‘A’ grades in 7 of the 8 subjects she wrote in June while she is still in form three and automatically skipped form four to Advanced Level.

Most of the subjects were arts and commercials plus mathematics and the 8th subject was Biology were she obtained a ‘C’ grade.

She has since been given the privilege by Zimsec to sit for the remaining science subjects like Chemistry and Physics this November as she had not initially registered for them in June because she was still in form three and needed more time for practicals.

Chinhoyi High School head Dr Sevious Mutopa said the achievement is a first for the school.

Sifiso’s mother Blantina Ukaka, a teacher at Chinhoyi High said her daughter has always displayed sheer determination to achieve set goals eversince she was young.

Just like her name Sifiso meaning of ‘wish or desire’, it is the 15 year old’s desire to rise beyond expectations and prove girls can do it better.

The wiz kid said she is yet to make a final decision on which career path to pursue subject to the outcome of the science subjects for which she will seat for this November.

Sifiso is currently undertaking commercial subjects at Advanced Level which she enrolled for this term.

ZBC News online

Staff Correspondent|Chegutu West Member of Parliament, Dexter Nduna whose victory was reported as having been overturned was on Thursday 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.

Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic champion swimmer and a current member of the IOC’s executive board, has been appointed Minister of Sport in by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The 34-year-old Coventry was vice president of the Zimbabwe Olympic committee. She also chairs the IOC’s athletes’ commission.

She was appointed to Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s cabinet as minister of youth, sports, art and recreation in a surprise move. Mnangagwa won elections in July after replacing longtime ruler Robert Mugabe last year when Mugabe stepped down.

Coventry won gold medals in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and also has four silvers and a bronze, the most Olympic medals by an African athlete. She shares the record of most individual medals by a female swimmer at the Olympics with Krisztina Egerszegi of Hungary.

Coventry retired after the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, her fifth Olympics, having won seven of Zimbabwe’s eight all-time medals. The other was gold by the women’s field hockey team at the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games.

She faces challenges in her new role with the governing bodies of Zimbabwe’s two most high-profile sports, soccer and cricket, in financial ruin after years of mismanagement and alleged corruption by politically connected administrators under Mugabe.

“She is a sportsperson and knows about sport, being a person who has been there and done it,” former Zimbabwe cricket captain Tatenda Taibu said. “I know her personally and I know that her heart is in the right place.”

Coventry is known as the country’s “golden girl” for her Olympic success and was given $100,000 by then-president Mugabe after winning four medals at the 2008 Beijing Games, a huge prize for a Zimbabwean athlete. She gave much of the money to charity.

MailOnLine

By Paul Nyathi|A brave President Emmerson Mnangagwa has dropped his fiery Vice President Constantino Chiwenga from holding a ministerial position.

Chiwenga is alleged to have bulldozed himself into being the Minister of Defence, Security and War Veterans after the November 17 coup which ousted former President Robert Mugabe.

Chiwenga held on to the Ministry despite calls by political analysts for him to drop off the Ministry as it was against the provisions of the Constitution.

Highly placed sources revealed last week that Chiwenga had presented a proposed cabinet list where he had retained himself as the Defence Minister. Mnangagwa has since declared that going forward the Ministry will be reserved for a woman.

Several other ZANU PF heavyweights who have been perennial faces in cabinet have also been shockingly excluded from the cabinet as Mnangagwa seeks to bring a new dimension into the governance of the country.

Here is a list of former ministers and deputy ministers who have been chopped from Mnangagwa’s Government

Patrick Chinamasa (Minister of Finance and Economic Development)

Constantino Chiwenga (Minister of Defence, Security and War Veterans)

David Parirenyatwa (Minister of Health and Child Care)

Terence Mukupe – (Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Development)

Pupurayi Togarepi – (Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs)

Mike Bimha- (Minister of Industry and Commerce)

Simon Khaya Moyo- (Minister of Energy and Power Development) he also acting
Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services

Supa Mandiwanzira- (Minister of Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security)

Obert Mpofu- (Minister of Home Affairs and Culture)

Petronella Kagonye- (Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare)

Kembo Mohadi- (Minister of National Reconciliation)

Simbarashe Mumbengegwi- (Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring of Government Programmes)

Christopher Mushohwe- (Minister of State in the Presidents’ Office Responsible for National Scholarships)

Angeline Masuku- (Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province)

Miriam Chikukwa- (Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province)

David Musabayana- (Minister of State for Mashonaland East Province)

Webster Shamu- (Minister of State for Mashonaland West Province)

Owen Ncube- (Minister of State for Midlands Province)

Josiah Hungwe- (Minister of State for Masvingo Province)

THREE LOSERS standout from Mnangagwa's newly appointed Cabinet:

1. DEVOLUTION has lost out; appointment of 10 provincial ministers violates s268 of the Constitution.

2. CHIWENGA sidelined; with his picks left out.

3. TRIBAL BALANCE compromised; as Mnangagwa's cronies dominate! pic.twitter.com/YDqnexG919

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) September 7, 2018

By Paul Nyathi|That which the people of Bulawayo in particular Mthwakazi Republic Party activists did not want has happened, Councillor Tinashe Kambarami has won the Deputy Mayor election post.

Kambarami polled 16 votes against councillor Happy Ncube’s 13 in the 29 councillors council.

Councillor Solomon Madlala Mguni became the City’s Mayor polling 17 votes out of 12 against Norman Hlabano.

Kambarami’s victory is a defiance by the councillors of the MDC Alliance directive that they elect Ncube as the Deputy Mayor.

Residents of Bulawayo led by Mthwakazi activists have been high on social media calling on the council not to elect a Shona speaking person as Mayor or Deputy Mayor of the City.

On Wednesday, the residents thronged the Bulawayo City Hall in large numbers carrying placards denouncing the Shona speaking councillors demanding that they go and hold influencial positions in their home areas and not Bulawayo.

There are 17 councillors of Shona orientation in the council against 12 Ndebele ones.

By Paul Nyathi|The Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, flanked by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, has announced the new cabinet at State House this afternoon.

The 20 cabinet Ministers are as follows:

1. Finance – Professor Mthuli Ncube

2. Defence – Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri

3. Local Government – July Moyo

4. Foreign Affairs – SB Moyo

5. Public Service – Sekesai Nzenza

6. Industry – Mangaliso Ndlovu

7. Home Affairs – Cain Mathema

8. Higher Education – Amon Murwira

9. Primary and Secondary Education – Paul Mavima

10. Lands, Agriculture – Perrance Shiri

11. Mines – Winston Chitando

12. Energy and Power Development – Joram Gumbo

13. Transport – Joel Biggie Matiza

14. Information – Monica Mutsvangwa

15. ICT – Kazembe Kazembe

16. Tourism – Prisca Mupfumira

17. Sport, Arts and Recreation – Kirsty Coventry

18. Health – Obadiah Moyo

19. Justice – Ziyambi Ziyambi

20. Women Affairs – Sithembiso Nyoni

Deputy Ministers:

1. Defence and War Veterans – Victor Matemadanda

2. Local Government, Public Works and National Housing – Jennifer Mhlanga

3. Public Service , Labour and Social Welfare – Lovemore Matuke

4. Industry and Commerce – Rajeshakumart Modi

5. Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage – Michael Madiro

6. Primary and Secondary Education – Edgar Moyo

7. Lands, Agriculture , Water, Culture and Rural Resettlement

Douglass Karoro
Vangelis Haritatos

8. Mines and Mining Development – Polite Kambamura

9. Energy and Power Development – Magna Mudyiwa

10. Transport and Infrastructural Development – Fortune Chasi

11. Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services – Energy Mutodi

12. ICT and Courier Services – Jerifan Muswere

13. Sport, Arts and Recreation – Yeukai Simbanegavi

Ministers of state in Vice President’s Office:

Hon. Vice President Rtd general C.G.D.N Chiwenga’s office –Hon Evelyn Ndlovu.

Hon. Vice President K.C.D Mohadi’s office – Hon Davis Marapira

Ministers of State for Provinces:

Harare……
Bulawayo – Hon Judith Ncube
Mashonaland West – Hon Mary Mliswa
Mashonaland East – Hon Apollonia Munzverengi
Mashonaland Central – Hon Monica Mavhunga
Manicaland –Hon Ellen Gwaradzimba
Midlands – Hon Larry Mavhima
Masvingo – Hon Ezra Chadzamira
Matabeleland South – Hon Abednico Ncube
Matabeleland North – Hon Richard Moyo

Meanwhile, the new cabinet ministers will be sworn-in on Monday 10 September at State House at 9am.

Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has described the late Vice President Dr Joshua Nkomo as a top liberator and a peacemaker whose ways must be honoured and emulated if the country is to be successful.

In giving his keynote address during a dinner organised to celebrate the formation of the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Foundation which coincided with the unveiling of the Joshua Nkomo Tourism Heritage Trail on the sidelines of the ongoing Sanganai/Hlanganani Tourism Expo, Vice President Chiwenga, spoke of the need to maintain peace in the country while noting that the example of the late Father Zimbabwe was the best to emulate.

“We have never stopped thinking on how to play a part to honour our great leader, Dr Nkomo. Therefore, we set out a path to participate and contribute to his legacy restoration programme. As you may recall, I delivered the Joshua Nkomo lecture at the UZ in June this year. There is still a vast untold story of Father Zimbabwe. As leadership, we have cautioned that peace will not come until together as people we recognize fully and acknowledge the role played by Father Zimbabwe and other heroes and heroines in liberating and developing this country,” said Vice President Chiwenga.

Vice President Chiwenga also said Dr Nkomo’s legacy was ever towards creating a better life for all and went on to call for the setting up of more sites to honour the country’s late liberation icon.

“We are committed to facilitating the growth of these celebrations and we would like to see a bigger historic site – perhaps the Joshua Nkomo Square to inspire the youth of our country. This would remand those of us who walked the road with Dr Nkomo for the deep footprints made on the African soil by this great man. We are committed to the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Restoration Programme starting with the erection of statues here in Bulawayo, Harare and many other significant sites. However, erection of the statues is just the beginning. We must always make sure their maintenance is top priority to facilitate enjoyment by both local and international tourists,” he added.

The Dr Joshua Nkomo Tourism Heritage Trail will see different sites such as his Matsheumhlope and Phelandaba homes, including the family homestead in Kezi being tourist centres where visitors can learn more about the life and works of Dr Joshua Nkomo.

ZBC news

THE People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has reprimanded its councillor who attended the swearing in ceremony of Bulawayo councillors in a suspected drunken stupor and engaged in a brawl with Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) activists.

The PDP fielded the councillor under the MDC Alliance ticket and he caused a stir following his behaviour after he attended the swearing in ceremony 45 minutes late and diverted from the norm by taking his oath of office in Shona.
Ward 24 councillor Arnold Batirai’s actions led to a backlash particularly from activists linked to MRP who charged towards him resulting in a nasty confrontational brawl.

In an interview, PDP deputy president Mr Kucaca Phulu described last Friday’s incident as unfortunate.
He said the party had cautioned Clr Batirai for his behaviour.
Mr Phulu, however, said the councillor should not shoulder the blame for the fracas on his own.

“If you take a closer look at that situation, there were people who had their political parties but no one seems to be paying attention if they conducted themselves properly,” said Mr Phulu.
“They wanted to hit that young man with a chair. He was badly insulted. But we have spoken to him and he understands how he should behave when being provoked.

Because clearly that was a case of provocation.”
He said the MDC Alliance partners have engaged Clr Batirai over allegations that he was drunk.

“We could not establish that he was drunk, it seems it was a case of provocation,” Mr Phulu said.
He said PDP and the MDC Alliance have listened to the concerns raised by Bulawayo residents.

“We have listened to what is being said by members of the public. He is a young man and we’re still nurturing his political career. We will reprimand and counsel him wherever necessary,” said Mr Phulu.

“Some of the issues will be dealt with internally but if we try to fix it across different political parties and pressure groups it will be difficult.”

State Media

By Paul Nyathi|The ten winning Municipality of Gwanda councillors have been sworn into office by the Town Clerk of Mrs Priscilla Nkala.

The council shifted hands from ZANU PF dominance to opposition MDC Alliance at the elections held in July. The Nelson Chamisa led party garnered six of the ten wards while ZANU PF got four.

Councillor Jastone Mazhale of ward 7 is expected to be elected as the Mayor of the town when the councillors meet on Monday to conduct their elections.

Nappy Moyo of ward 2 who is the only female councillor in the town is expected to be elected as the Deputy Mayor for gender balance as directed by the MDC Alliance head office in Harare.

Rumours from within the party however indicate that there is likely going to be a huge furore within the council as some of the MDC Alliance councillors are said to be vouching for councillor Phumulo Maphala a returning councillor to be the Deputy Mayor.

If the party proceeds to thw Monday election without resolving the matter, the council stands a huge risk of seeing a ZANU PF councillor landing the Deputy Mayor position through a split vote.

Former Mayor Knowledge Ndlovu of ZANU PF who retained his council seat as ward 3 councillor is set not to retain his mayoral office and will have to face the difficulty of accepting to be an ordinary councillor against his previous subordinates.

Former President Robert Mugabe yesterday implored the nation to rally behind President Mnangagwa, saying his election victory in the July 30 harmonised elections legitimised his leadership.

The remarks by the ex-president were buttressed by his wife, Grace, who said they would pray for President Mnangagwa as his leadership was God-given.

Mugabe and his wife said this last night while addressing mourners gathered at their Blue Roof mansion to pay their condolences following the death of Mbuya Idah Marufu, mother to the former First Lady.

Mugabe said it was time to put behind events of November last year in which he resigned just before the conclusion of his impeachment proceedings by Parliament.

He said people should work together for the good of the country.

“There was an election, Zanu-PF was represented by Emmerson Mnangagwa and (Nelson) Chamisa represented MDC-Alliance and results came out saying the person who won was Emmerson Mnangagwa and I said zvava mugwara zvino,” said Mugabe.

“Hazvicharambika. Tavapachokwadi. Zvanezuro zvakanga zvakanganiswa zvakapfuudzwa neelection results.

“We have accepted the result and we hope that we will continue respecting the will of the people. The gun does not and should not lead politics,” he said.

“All of us are now duty-bound to rally behind the Government. But we say those who want to contest should be allowed to do so and after every five years, but we say for now the person who won is Mnangagwa.”

Mugabe said it was never his intention to install his wife as President. He reiterated that he wanted former Cabinet Minister, Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, to take over from him at the 2017 Zanu-PF congress subject to endorsement by the party.

He said President Mnangagwa’s Government had returned to constitutionalism after the election.

Mugabe said he preferred Dr Sekeramayi because he had entered into politics ahead of President Mnangagwa.

He said his wife was not qualified to be Head of State and Government since she had never assumed any Government office either as a Cabinet Minister or Member of Parliament and never wanted her to assume the presidency.

“Ambition yekuti aaa ndoda kuzova President aaa vakomana,” he said. “KohuPresident hwacho usina kumboita huMinister zvako, unenge waujambira sei, zvinotoda gwara, wanga uri Minister kanaMember of Parliament. Zvino mudzimai wangu haanakumboita zvese…hazvaitika, wandakanga ndaita recommend ndiSekeramayi, takange tatombotaura naThabo Mbeki ndichiti apinde.”

Mugabe hailed President Mnangagwa for Government support at the funeral wake for his mother-in-law.

Mrs Mugabe commended President Mnangagwa for his leadership, saying it was God-given and pledged to pray for him.

She said President Mnangagwa had chartered a new aircraft to fly her back to Harare from Singapore where she was receiving medical treatment to mourn her mother.

Mrs Mugabe said this demonstrated President Mnangagwa’s kindness.

“We used to travel using commercial flights during our tenure as the First Family. That has changed,” she said. “President Mnangagwa charters a flight. It just takes us a phone call. It was a beautiful plane, a brand new Gulfstream 650 from Qatar.

“If I get rich I will buy such an aircraft. I have never boarded such a plane. The crew told me that I was the first person to board it. It is my dream plane. I felt comforted. VaMnangagwa comforted me. If it takes my mother’s death for us to restore our old friendship, then let it be.

“VaMnangagwa loves us. He knows we love him too. We pray for him because it is God’s will that he is President of the country. We pray that he be given the wisdom to lead the country.”

Mrs Mugabe said before leaving for Beijing, China last week, President Mnangagwa left a message assuring them that Government, through Vice President Constantine Chiwenga, would take care of their funeral expenses.

She dismissed media reports that they were placed under house arrest when Parliament instituted impeachment proceedings against Mr Mugabe in November last year.

State Media

Villagers from Murewa and Uzumba burst into laughter as a Cabinet minister told them that government anticipated the use of latest digital technology in herding cattle and doing some household chores as the country fast catches up with the latest trends.

It sounded almost comical to all those that attended this year’s edition of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day at Murewa Centre as ICT and Cyber Security minister Supa Mandiwanzira spoke highly of the country’s plans to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“There is nothing like that. I have never heard that a mobile phone can be used to track cattle in the plains,” said one villager in disbelief.

Artificial Intelligence refers to the use of machines including computers to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence such as visual perception and decision making, among others.

Manual herding of cattle could soon be a thing of the past with Artificial Intelligence
According to Mandiwanzira, it was high time the country adopted the latest technologies that will see rural farmers having devices that track their domestic livestock as well as doing household chores.

“Today, however, robots are increasingly used across all sectors and for a wide range of tasks, from precision agriculture to nursing. Rapid progress in robotics will soon make collaboration between humans and machines an everyday reality. Moreover, because of other technological advances, robots are becoming more adaptive and flexible.

“Advances in sensor technologies are enabling robots to understand and respond better to their environment and to engage in a broader variety of tasks such as household chores. When the next generation of robots emerges, they will likely reflect an increasing emphasis on human-machine collaboration,” he said.

The world is moving at a faster pace, with Zimbabwe slowly introducing ICTs in rural areas through distribution of computers and other electronic gadgets in schools.

However, some rural areas are still to get connected due to unavailability of ICT infrastructure.

China recently disbursed $71 million to government for the development of ICT infrastructure that will see the establishment of more boosters in the rural areas in a move meant to improve connectivity.

Speaking in Murewa, Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) director-general Gift Machengete said it was now time for farmers to engage AI-based applications in their daily activities.

“An area like Murewa has a lot of farmers who are into both crop farming and animal husbandry. Why not introduce ICT and AI-based applications to help this category of farmers improve their turnover and at the same time creating traffic and a value-generating base?

“In the case of animal husbandry, the farmers surely all have an inert demand for technology that can help them in monitoring animal health, physiological cycles, location, security, among other data, so as to shorten the time between breeding and thereby increase breeding efficiency and farm productivity in general. Livestock theft and animal loss will be dramatically reduced and even looking for cattle would be transformed as the farmer will be connected to his animals on real time basis,” he said.

United States-based ICT expert Samuel Chindaro said Zimbabwe needed to address basic ICT requirements first before setting eyes on AI.

“Zimbabwe needs to address the basic ICT requirements, which include access to mainstream media and basic ICT facilities before implementing high-level artificial intelligence. It is a good thing to aspire for it and teach kids about it

“For example, ICT policy in education should be developed as a separate policy to promote ICT in schools — as a priority. Use of ICT in schools will open up the world to the youths and provide information and resources which will reduce the need for textbooks for every school subject; equipping teachers with multiple-teaching resources,” said Chindaro.

Recently, former ICT minister and MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa during his election campaigns bemoaned how the country was lagging behind as far as ICTs were concerned.

AI is the latest technology that is sweeping across the continent, with experts predicting that up to 30% of the global workforce could be displaced by 2030 because of advances in AI, robotics, digitisation and big data.

Although the government is moving in the right direction, there is need to introduce basic ICT requirements in rural areas who, up to date, cannot believe that a mobile phone can track their herd in the grazing areas.

For now, the young boys, will continue to look for the cattle in the plains, while the young girls do household chores. Perhaps, in the next decade, a robot will be cleaning the hut in Magunje village, in the heart of Uzumba.

NewsDay

Jane Mlambo|Former ZIFA president Henrietta Rushwaya Thursday survived a bid to remove her as Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president after the High Court dismissed an application lodged by some rivals who were challenging her legitimacy as the organisation’s leader.

A group of miners under the banner of Zvishavane-Mberengwa Miners Association (ZMMA) had applied for a High Court interdict to stop her from “masquerading” as ZMF president.

The ZMF represents small-scale miners and accounts for half the country’s gold deliveries.

In its court challenge, ZMMA led by Thembinkosi Sibanda accused Rushwaya of attempting to take over the leadership of ZMF through unorthodox means.

The court challenge was filed last Friday.
ZMMA lawyers cited the controversial former Zimbabwe football boss as first respondent.
Also cited as respondents were Wellington Takavarasha, the ZMF CEO, the organisation itself and the Rushwaya led executive.

“The 1st respondent (Ms Rushwaya) and 2nd respondent (Takavarasha) are seemingly masquerading to the public as the duly elected officials of third respondent (ZMF) in direct contempt of the provisional order granted on 14 June 2018.

“(Ms Rushwaya) is misleading the public by stating and behaving as if she is an elected president of ZMF,” Sibanda said in his founding affidavit.

In its Thursday ruling, the High Court threw the matter out, allowing Rushwaya to continue in her job.

ZMF announced the development in a Thursday statement.

“The court refused to hear and grant application where Zvishavane-Mberengwa were seeking to have Henrietta Rushwaya stopped from being president of ZMF and Takavarasha and the Executive,” ZMF said in a statement.

“If their interim relief is to be very effective and effected, Zvishavane-Mberengwa must serve all the members of ZMF regardless of where they are in order for the interim relief to be effective.

“The Application was thrown out. As of now, we can continue working in our capacities.”
In June, the High Court, under case number 1652/18, blocked the ZMF from holding its elections for a new leadership in which Rushwaya intended to contest as a presidential candidate.

The ruling was made by Justice Nicholas Matonsi following an urgent chamber application filed at the Bulawayo High Court by ZMMA citing ZMF as the respondent.
ZMF conducted elections in June this year in Gweru after the term of the previous executive had come to an end.

Rushwaya was unanimously elected to the post of president by ZMF affiliates, taking over from Ishmael Kaguru, whose executive’s term of office expired on April 26.

But those challenging her legitimacy insist the election was done outside procedure while accusing her of buying votes, among some electoral malpractices that saw her land the job.
-NewZimbabwe.com

FORMER Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco) plant operator, Clayton Masiyatsva (MDC Alliance), has been elected Redcliff mayor, taking over from Zanu PF’s Freddy Kapuya who has dumped the Midlands town and now represents Mhondoro-Mubaira constituency in Parliament.

Masiyatsva (pictured) is being deputised by ward 4 councillor Vincent Masiiwa.

The new mayor worked for Zisco as a plant operator before quitting the ailing company to join active opposition politics, culminating in his election as Redcliff’s ward 3 councillor in the July 30 polls.

Masiyatsva joins former council undertaker Lloyd Mapiko who also contested the election on an MDC Alliance ticket and landed the post of Redcliff MP after beating hot favourite, Local Government minister July Moyo.

“I give thanks to my party which endorsed me to be seconded for the post of mayor. I also thank my fellow councillors for showing confidence in me. Real work has now begun,” Masiyatsva said.

He was quick to highlight that his biggest priority would be to fix the perennial water crisis in Redcliff caused by intermittent supplies of the precious liquid that is pumped from neighbouring City of Kwekwe.

“We are sitting on a time bomb with diseases such as typhoid because there is no smooth supply of water here for years now. Residents are now using water from unprotected sources. It’s a challenge that I need to immediately start working on as the new mayor,” he said.

Redcliff is not a water authority and has to rely on supplies from Kwekwe, which it owes close to $5 million for unpaid water supplies.

The debt has been a source of tension between the two local authorities, resulting in Kwekwe cutting supplies to Redcliff over the past five years.

Struggling Ziscosteel also owes Kwekwe in excess of $16 million for water supplies, thus crippling capital projects related to pump upgrades at Sebakwe water works.

NewsDay

ONE of the country’s leading Christian bodies, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), has written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, urging him to restore economic and political stability following the July 30 disputed polls by implementing a raft of reforms, among them a comprehensive overhaul of the security sector to avoid civil unrest.

The army is at the centre of what Mnangagwa called at his inauguration a “regrettable and unacceptable” crackdown following the vote, in which seven people were shot dead. Mnangagwa, who has the sole mandate to deploy the army by virtue of being the Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in consultation with Parliament, has denied ordering the army onto the streets.

He has since appointed a seven-member commission led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, to investigate the episode.

In a letter addressed to Mnangagwa, the 27-member ZCC, which boasts of a combined following of over three million congregants, also called on Mnangagwa to make his government more transparent and cut down on expenditure, among other reforms.

“Since November 2017, there have been rumours suggesting that there is fragmentation within the security forces and that the head of State is not necessarily in charge of some sectors of the security forces,” ZCC said in a letter signed by secretary-general, Reverend Kenneth Mtata.

“Some people believe that the apparent division in the security forces is designed to deceive so that it is not clear who is accountable for what actions. The scriptures say: ‘Let what you say be simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’; anything more than this comes from the evil one’ (Matthew 5:37).”

He added: “To give citizens a proper sense of security, we suggest that you take up comprehensive security services reforms to delineate the roles of the different forces as well as confirming each sector’s constitutional mandate.”

ZCC urged Mnangagwa to create a new political culture, saying “We hope you will exorcise our politics of all forms of violence.”

Mtata said Zimbabweans under Mnangagwa’s leadership will need to sit together and agree where they are hurting and where they need healing so that they can walk together.

“Zimbabwe inherited its statehood of fragmented society from colonialism. This fragmentation has continued and deepened with time. There is ethnic division, political division, inter-generational division, rural-urban divide, class divisions, racial divisions, among others. With such deep divisions, Zimbabweans are not able to walk together as the scriptures ask rhetorically,” he said.

The grouping of churches also urged Mnangagwa to be thorough in his appointment of Cabinet ministers, saying the “first test of your intention to build bridges will be won or lost in the character of your Cabinet”.

“We persuade you to be bold Mr President and put the right people in the right positions. We are saying no more jobs for the boys! Give hope to the nation by having qualified people in the right positions in spite of your own popularity. We, as the church, will support you if you choose to be right than to be popular,” he said.

Mnangagwa is expected to appoint his Cabinet any time now following his return from China yesterday, with the swearing-in of the members of the National Assembly already done on Wednesday.

Mtata also implored Mnangagwa to reduce government spending as well as come up with coherent policies to ensure that he transforms the economy. This should also include dealing with the scourge of corruption that has hit the country.
“Just like the State of Jerusalem of Nehemiah’s day, we also say: ‘You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem (Zimbabwe) lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (Zimbabwe), so that we will no longer be in disgrace (Nehemiah 2:17),” Rev Mtata said.

“The nation has been and is in paralysis through fragmentation, inertia of mutually self-destructing political culture, corruption, policy incoherence and inconsistency, economic decline and international isolation. Further, the announced results show that the electorate is deeply divided. These are the areas we believe, by God’s help and the support of the church, you may want to immediately address.”

Mnangagwa was also advised to focus on sustainable development without mortgaging the country’s resources.

“While invitation to investors is important, existing trade relationships with EU, Asia, and Latin America can allow for quick gains. If we focus on 10 special agricultural products of great quality (flowers, tea, beef, fruit, among others) that will be grown only for EU consumption, we can, in a short space of time, bring in the much-needed foreign currency without losing our natural resources cheaply,” ZCC said.

WATCH BELOW…

Jane Mlambo|Zanu PF United Kingdom representative Nick Mangwana has dashed to the defence of the new dispensation saying the home affairs minister, Obert Mpofu was not aware of the Registar General decision to reject freelance journalist, Violet Gonda application for a passport.

Mangwana took a swipe at the Registar General should act in sync with the value system of the new dispensation.

Had a meeting with Party Secretary for Admin & outgoing Minister of Home Affairs Dr Obert Mpofu. He expressed shock over the alleged refusal to issue @violetgonda with a passport. Every1 is expected to be in tune with the value system of the New Dispensation & act in tandem pic.twitter.com/cBf4x7wydw

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) September 6, 2018

Jane Mlambo|Former Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco) plant operator, Clayton Masiyatsva (MDC Alliance), has been elected Redcliff mayor, taking over from Zanu PF’s Freddy Kapuya who has dumped the Midlands town and now represents Mhondoro-Mubaira constituency in Parliament.

Masiyatsva is being deputised by ward 4 councillor Vincent Masiiwa.

The new mayor worked for Zisco as a plant operator before quitting the ailing company to join active opposition politics, culminating in his election as Redcliff’s ward 3 councillor in the July 30 polls.

Masiyatsva joins former council undertaker Lloyd Mapiko who also contested the election on an MDC Alliance ticket and landed the post of Redcliff MP after beating hot favourite, Local Government minister July Moyo.

“I give thanks to my party which endorsed me to be seconded for the post of mayor. I also thank my fellow councillors for showing confidence in me. Real work has now begun,” Masiyatsva said.

He was quick to highlight that his biggest priority would be to fix the perennial water crisis in Redcliff caused by intermittent supplies of the precious liquid that is pumped from neighbouring City of Kwekwe.
-Newsday

INTRATREK Zimbabwe, founded by businessman Wicknell Chivayo, has filed a lawsuit at the High Court demanding $25 million from Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) in damages for alleged repudiation of a multi-million dollar contract for the construction of a solar plant.

According to the application case number HC8159 /2018 filed yesterday by Intratrek lawyers advocates Lewis Uriri and Thabani Mpofu, $15 million is for loss of profit, $5 million for costs of syndicating partnership with a Chinese partner (CHiNT) and sourcing project finance from China Eximbank and another $5 million for reputational damage.

Intratrek said it was not averse to giving up the project given frustrations it suffered at the hands of ZPC, but that compensation amounting to $25 million would suffice for contract breaches by ZPC, as supported by evidence it submitted.

The claim follows a dispute that erupted between Intratrek and ZPC arising from an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract signed between the parties for the construction of the Gwanda solar plant. In or around 2013, the State Procurement Board (SPB), now Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), flighted a tender for construction of the 100MW photovoltaic solar power plant in Zimbabwe, which Intratrek submitted.

It was awarded the contract after a competitive bidding process in which a total of six companies participated.

The contract for the Gwanda solar project was awarded to the lowest bidder to specification. The parties signed a $172 million EPC agreement for the construction of a 100 megawatts solar power station in Gwanda.

Intratrek Zimbabwe, which engaged billion dollar asset firm and Shanghai Stock Exchange listed ChINT Electric as technical partner, claims the actions of ZPC were unlawful and without merit.

CHiNT is a $30 billion asset company with $12 billion annual revenue. It has developed over 5000MW solar plants.

ZPC claimed that Intratrek failed to satisfy the conditions precedent in time as contractually agreed by the parties.

The State power utility then took the decision to cancel the multi-million dollar contract. “Notwithstanding the open agreement between the parties, the applicant unjustly and prejudicially frustrated the respondent in satisfying the conditions precedent, thus rendering the applicant to have fictionally satisfied the suspensive conditions,” Intratrek averred in its application to the High Court.

“The applicant (Intratrek) considers the EPC contract as still extant and enforceable and view the respondent’s position as an excuse not to pay damages, which have become due and payable under the EPC contract,” Intratrek stated in court papers.

It premised his claims for damages and contract validity on the assertion that ZPC’s claims that the contract had expired at law because of the contractor’s failure to fulfil its conditions precedent were wrong since it was the one that frustrated execution of works.

Commencement of the contract was subject to certain suspensive conditions (or conditions precedent) being satisfied within 24 months from the day of signing of the contract, which is October 23, 2015.

The conditions precedent included signing of financing agreements (loan agreements coming into force and financial closure being reached), receipt of an advance payment guarantee, completion of bankable feasibility studies and production of an environmental impact assessment certificate, among others.

Intratrek claims ZPC was responsible for causing delays to the implementation of the contract through its failure to obtain an environmental impact assessment certificate and legal charges it instituted against Chivayo alleging fraud and corruption in the execution of the Gwanda solar plant project, which stalled progress in the implementation of the project.

Intratrek also said it was surprising ZPC filed for fraud charges relating to a contract it had voluntarily entered into with a contractor.

This was after ZPC had paid an initial $5 million for pre-commencement works without getting a bank guarantee.

Notably, when the contract time for fulfillment of conditions precedent lapsed, ZPC reportedly purported to extend the period until April 2018 through a letter, which Intratrek claims was a legal nullity, as the agreement only allowed for contract variation through an addendum or amendment by both parties.

Intratrek challenged ZPC to provide documented evidence to prove that it had officially communicated the position regarding the expiry or lapse of the contract or time if it ever raised the matter.

Nonetheless, Intratrek argued that there also was no provision in the contract that stated or insinuated that expiry of the contract was the competent method for each part to acquit of its obligations.

Further, Intratrek asserts that ZPC tacitly elected to waive its rights to terminate the EPC contract on October 23, 2017, being the performance stated in the original contract signed by parties, which meaning to this date the contract agreement remained open to each part until formally and correctly amended.

“For all material considerations therefore, the date for the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the EPC commencement remains to be mutually agreed to by both parties through an amendment to the EPC Contract,” Chivayo said.

Intratrek also claims that it had agreed to an amendment to the contract, two months before ZPC filed charges claiming fraud and corruption, providing for direct payment of sub-contractors engaged to speed up completion of works under conditions precedent following the initial delays to the project execution. ZPC later allegedly declined to pay the sub-contractors, which Intratrek claims breached a payment clause.

“The objective of entering into an addendum was to address the delays mostly caused by the respondent in ensuring that pre-commencement works are completed within the earliest possible time.”

Intratrek said the “fictitious, malicious, and unsubstantiated” charges of fraud against the company and its founder Chivayo filed on December 12 2017 stalled implementation of the contract, as per amended agreement, barely a couple of months after the parties signed the addendum to the EPC contract.

Intratrek said how ZPC perceived the agreement it voluntarily signed as amounting to fraud remained shrouded in controversy, but was evident of the fact it that they were meant to frustrate its ability to perform its obligations.

This, Intratrek said, the criminal charges were indicative that the contractor will not perform on due date.

“It is palpably clear the respondent itself is in breach of the payment clause, which is a material clause under the addendum. Having amended the terms of the EPC contract, the respondent had no legal ground for alleging failure by the claimant to carry out contractual obligation,” Intratrek submitted.

“The totality of the fore going submissions is a clear testimony of the respondent’s disregard of the sacrosanct terms of the EPC contract.

The applicant therefore fictitiously fulfilled its obligations in relation to the conditions precedent to the commencement of the contract,” Intratrek further submitted.

Intratrek claimed ZPC would not play ball, either negating or rejecting, implementation of an alternative funding model it had proposed to minimise the impact of delays to the project even after Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa had directed so.

State Media

Harare City Council encourages residents with headaches, stomach aches and fevers to present themselves at the nearest council health institution. Council has set up an emergency response centre at Glen View Polyclinic.

— City of Harare (@cohsunshinecity) September 6, 2018

A Harare magistrate yesterday threw out an application by suspended University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor Levi Nyagura for referral of his matter to the Constitutional Court (Concourt), saying it was frivolous and vexatious.

Nyagura is accused of illegally awarding former First Lady Grace Mugabe a PhD.
Through his lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, Nyagura made an application for referral of the matter to the Concourt citing infringement of constitutional rights to a fair trial.

In his application, Adv Uriri argued that Messrs Tapiwa Godzi and Michael Chakandida from the President’s Special Anti-Corruption Unit, who are representing the State, had no authority to prosecute.

He said the Acting Prosecutor-General, by granting the pair authority to prosecute when they are not employees of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), was in breach of Nyagura’s right to the equal protection and benefit of the law, as well as right to a fair trial.

Adv Uriri made reference to Section 259 (10) of the Constitution, saying people who can assist the PG are employed by a board provided by an Act of Parliament.

In response, Mr Godzi argued that Section 5 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act gives the PG powers acting independently to issue authority to prosecute to a certain category of people that included any legal practitioner.

After hearing submissions from both parties, Mr Ncube ruled that Nyagura’s application lacked merit.

“According to the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, a public prosecutor is anyone who has the prosecutor general’s authority to prosecute,” he said. “The PG can authorise anyone who has the qualification. The bottom line is what has been issued to the pair (Godzi and Chakandida) is authority to prosecute.

“Section 5 (2) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act gives the PG powers to issue authority to prosecute on his behalf to any legal practitioner and the two are legal practitioners and are qualified to be issued with such authority.

“The unit (President’s Special Anti-Corruption Unit) might be housed in the President’s Office, how does it infringe upon accused’s rights to a fair trial?” Mr Ncube said the appointment of Messrs Godzi and Chakandida was within the confines of the law.

“There are no merits to refer the matter to Concourt, there are no grounds,” he said. “The application is vexatious.”

Mr Ncube directed that the matter proceeds to trial, but Adv Uriri made another application to approach the Concourt directly in terms of section 85(1) of the Constitution.
The prosecution is expected to respond to the application today.- state media

Intratek Zimbabwe, founded by businessman Wicknell Chivayo, has filed a lawsuit at the High Court demanding $25 million from Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) in damages for alleged repudiation of a multi-million dollar contract for the construction of a solar plant.

According to the application case number HC8159 /2018 filed yesterday by Intratrek lawyers advocates Lewis Uriri and Thabani Mpofu, $15 million is for loss of profit, $5 million for costs of syndicating partnership with a Chinese partner (CHINT) and sourcing project finance from China Eximbank and another $5 million for reputational damage.

Intratrek said it was not averse to giving up the project given frustrations it suffered at the hands of ZPC, but that compensation amounting to $25 million would suffice for contract breaches by ZPC, as supported by evidence it submitted.

The claim follows a dispute that erupted between Intratrek and ZPC arising from an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract signed between the parties for the construction of the Gwanda solar plant. In or around 2013, the State Procurement Board (SPB), now Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), flighted a tender for construction of the 100MW photovoltaic solar power plant in Zimbabwe, which Intratrek submitted.

It was awarded the contract after a competitive bidding process in which a total of six companies participated.

The contract for the Gwanda solar project was awarded to the lowest bidder to specification. The parties signed a $172 million EPC agreement for the construction of a 100 megawatts solar power station in Gwanda.

Intratrek Zimbabwe, which engaged billion dollar asset firm and Shanghai Stock Exchange listed ChINT Electric as technical partner, claims the actions of ZPC were unlawful and without merit.

CHiNT is a $30 billion asset company with $12 billion annual revenue. It has developed over 5000MW solar plants.

ZPC claimed that Intratrek failed to satisfy the conditions precedent in time as contractually agreed by the parties.

The State power utility then took the decision to cancel the multi-million dollar contract. “Notwithstanding the open agreement between the parties, the applicant unjustly and prejudicially frustrated the respondent in satisfying the conditions precedent, thus rendering the applicant to have fictionally satisfied the suspensive conditions,” Intratrek averred in its application to the High Court.

“The applicant (Intratrek) considers the EPC contract as still extant and enforceable and view the respondent’s position as an excuse not to pay damages, which have become due and payable under the EPC contract,” Intratrek stated in court papers.

It premised his claims for damages and contract validity on the assertion that ZPC’s claims that the contract had expired at law because of the contractor’s failure to fulfil its conditions precedent were wrong since it was the one that frustrated execution of works.
Commencement of the contract was subject to certain suspensive conditions (or conditions precedent) being satisfied within 24 months from the day of signing of the contract, which is October 23, 2015.

The conditions precedent included signing of financing agreements (loan agreements coming into force and financial closure being reached), receipt of an advance payment guarantee, completion of bankable feasibility studies and production of an environmental impact assessment certificate, among others.

Intratrek claims ZPC was responsible for causing delays to the implementation of the contract through its failure to obtain an environmental impact assessment certificate and legal charges it instituted against Chivayo alleging fraud and corruption in the execution of the Gwanda solar plant project, which stalled progress in the implementation of the project.
Intratrek also said it was surprising ZPC filed for fraud charges relating to a contract it had voluntarily entered into with a contractor.

This was after ZPC had paid an initial $5 million for pre-commencement works without getting a bank guarantee.

Notably, when the contract time for fulfillment of conditions precedent lapsed, ZPC reportedly purported to extend the period until April 2018 through a letter, which Intratrek claims was a legal nullity, as the agreement only allowed for contract variation through an addendum or amendment by both parties.

Intratrek challenged ZPC to provide documented evidence to prove that it had officially communicated the position regarding the expiry or lapse of the contract or time if it ever raised the matter.

Nonetheless, Intratrek argued that there also was no provision in the contract that stated or insinuated that expiry of the contract was the competent method for each part to acquit of its obligations.

Further, Intratrek asserts that ZPC tacitly elected to waive its rights to terminate the EPC contract on October 23, 2017, being the performance stated in the original contract signed by parties, which meaning to this date the contract agreement remained open to each part until formally and correctly amended.

“For all material considerations therefore, the date for the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the EPC commencement remains to be mutually agreed to by both parties through an amendment to the EPC Contract,” Chivayo said.

Intratrek also claims that it had agreed to an amendment to the contract, two months before ZPC filed charges claiming fraud and corruption, providing for direct payment of sub-contractors engaged to speed up completion of works under conditions precedent following the initial delays to the project execution. ZPC later allegedly declined to pay the sub-contractors, which Intratrek claims breached a payment clause.

“The objective of entering into an addendum was to address the delays mostly caused by the respondent in ensuring that pre-commencement works are completed within the earliest possible time.”

Intratrek said the “fictitious, malicious, and unsubstantiated” charges of fraud against the company and its founder Chivayo filed on December 12 2017 stalled implementation of the contract, as per amended agreement, barely a couple of months after the parties signed the addendum to the EPC contract.

Intratrek said how ZPC perceived the agreement it voluntarily signed as amounting to fraud remained shrouded in controversy, but was evident of the fact it that they were meant to frustrate its ability to perform its obligations.

This, Intratrek said, the criminal charges were indicative that the contractor will not perform on due date.

“It is palpably clear the respondent itself is in breach of the payment clause, which is a material clause under the addendum. Having amended the terms of the EPC contract, the respondent had no legal ground for alleging failure by the claimant to carry out contractual obligation,” Intratrek submitted.

“The totality of the fore going submissions is a clear testimony of the respondent’s disregard of the sacrosanct terms of the EPC contract.

The applicant therefore fictitiously fulfilled its obligations in relation to the conditions precedent to the commencement of the contract,” Intratrek further submitted.

Intratrek claimed ZPC would not play ball, either negating or rejecting, implementation of an alternative funding model it had proposed to minimise the impact of delays to the project even after Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa had directed so. – state media

Said Grace Mugabe, “we used to travel using commercial flights during our tenure as the First Family. That has changed. President Mnangagwa charters a flight. It just takes us a phone call. It was a beautiful plane, a brand new Gulfstream 650 from Qatar.

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“If I get rich I will buy such an aircraft. I have never boarded such a plane. The crew told me that I was the first person to board it. It is my dream plane. I felt comforted. VaMnangagwa comforted me.

“If it takes my mother’s death for us to restore our old friendship, then let it be. VaMnangagwa loves us. He knows we love him too. We pray for him because it is God’s will that he is President of the country. We pray that he be given the wisdom to lead the country.”