How We Lose Our Country’s Cash Reserves’
Welshman Ncube|I regularly drive myself between four Zimbabwean cities – Harare, Gweru, Mutare and Bulawayo. Such errands are not just about my legal practice. If you are a serious leader of a national political party, you need to maintain a vigil of physical contact as often as possible in the area bound by the country’s foremost industrial, commercial, mining, agricultural and rural settlements. Flying around at high altitude in a white helicopter will of course give you a surrealistic panoramic view, but keeps you detached from realities on the ground. Moreover, zooming past bemused citizens in a twenty-car Mercedes Benz convoy flanked by five BMW motorcycle outriders does create some sort of dramatic impression but would hardly afford one the intimacy needed to appreciate challenges that bedevil citizens in their day-to-day lives.
It is during my road trips that I encounter serious traffic accidents and thanks to our dysfunctional emergency public health delivery service, victims spend several hours in distress before receiving crucial first aid. I always notice when, eventually a medical team arrives, they try and talk to as many victims as possible. Those who respond and point to broken limbs receive less attention than those afflicted with life-threatening injuries. In fact, when there is a case of muscular injury that exhibits serious arterial rapture and incessant blood loss, even the medical team gets into a state of panic to try and arrest the haemorrhage. In other words, it is crucial to get such a patient to hospital as soon as possible for blood transfusion, but whilst they are lying in painful helplessness on the tarmac or grass, what becomes urgent is to stop blood loss. Unchecked, this loss can result not only in brain damage, but fatal cardiac arrest. Such is my country Zimbabwe’s state of economy.
When ZANU PF ‘allegedly won’ the 2013 presidential and parliamentary elections, they rode on a myriad of dazzling false promises of economic growth, employment creation and empowerment. As it stands now, the country is experiencing its worst economic and social crisis since 2000. Our national monetary and fiscal system has been bled dry. We have passed the stage of cardiac arrest-induced shock and fast approaching brain-dead comatose. One of the most vital ‘fluids’ that drives economic well -being and survival – money – has dissipated. A country with no savings, no national reserves, no import cover; a country that cannot pay its civil servants, service domestic and foreign debt or even pay rentals for its ambassadors is a failed state. President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF ministers, Legislators, Governors, Chiefs and Headmen must hang their heads in shame. If Zimbabwe was a truly democratic country with men and women of honour and integrity in government, President Mugabe and his team would have resigned yesterday.
There is no country, economy, community, institution or even family unit that operates effectively without money. Zimbabwe boasts some of the best national endowments – natural and human – so how have we found ourselves with empty national coffers, empty bank accounts and empty pockets? How is it that a country that exports the best of everything in the region; human capital, tobacco, gold, coal, diamonds and tourism – has no money? This is the billion dollar question I want to attempt to answer this week – at least without indulging in juvenile soon-to-graduate-PhD-economics-student-type rhetoric.
The first problem we have is that as a country we are not generating enough money internally. This has nothing to do with importing more US dollars or printing Zimbabwean ‘bond’ notes. It has everything to do with a strong vibrant industrial, commercial, agricultural industry. When a country is operating at full capacity – like Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa – locally made goods and services are exchanged for money locally, and cash circulates abundantly. Zimbabwe has literally stopped producing anything and all the little money that is around is used to import onions, oranges, potatoes, cooking oil and cabbages. Between 2000 and now, ZANU PF’s political and economic policies have been so destructive to local industry that all citizens do is import cars from Japan, clothes from China and groceries from South Africa. Billions of dollars cross our borders every quarter to quench our thirst for consumer, not capital goods. Thousands of Zimbabweans – including President Mugabe, his family, ministers and of late, Morgan Tsvangirai – pay millions of dollars to hospitals in Singapore, Mumbai. Dubai, Cairo and Johannesburg to access ‘proper’ medical care. Thousands of young people – our children – pay millions of dollars to universities in Australia, Cape Town, Germany, United States and United Kingdom to access ‘proper’higher education.
Then comes President Mugabe’s foreign trips. This year alone President Mugabe has had no less than twenty foreign trips overseas, taking with him a large entourage each time. I have no doubt that he can easily be a contender in the Guinness world records as the most travelled Head of State. As a nation, we find ourselves asking, what have we benefitted from all these trips which gobble up millions of dollars? We are yet to see the fruits of these costly travels.
At the business front, we all know that large multinational corporations in Zimbabwe source raw materials and machinery from abroad. However, some of them – because of years of a weak and corrupt central banking system – either do not remit resultant export proceeds back to Zimbabwe, or simply inflate the cost of imports in order to ‘transfer’ the excess price to the external supplier. In the past fifteen or so years, the ZANU PF government has violated civil and political rights to the extent that international financiers have minimised if not cut off business relations with Zimbabwe. In desperation, President Mugabe invited Chinese and Russians to ‘invest’ in Zimbabwe. This is fictitious foreign investment because all they do is bring in finished goods and labour then take out millions of US dollars out. There is no transfer of technology, sustainable use of local labour or value addition. Imagine the millions in tons of raw tobacco exported to China at cost and how many trillions of cigarettes Chinese tobacco companies then manufacture in Beijing on our account. What a loss for us in hard currency!
Finally, since we are under a corrupt government, ZANU PF political and capitalist cronies who make millions of dollars in tenders do not keep their contraband in the country. Like most wealthy citizens in government and private sector, they have no confidence in the future of the country, thus would rather keep their money in offshore accounts. Therefore, it is shocking that almost ten years after diamonds were discovered in Marange, it is only now that President Mugabe ‘notices’ that fifteen billion dollars is missing. Here are the facts: all diamond companies in Chiadzwa were run by individuals with direct military, civilian and business relations with ZANU PF. So when these gems were being ‘exported’ without equivalent remittances, where were the officials in the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and the Minerals Marketing Corporation looking? Where was ZIMRA and the air force as small planes flew into, out and across the eastern borders? Hundreds of high-level government officers who travel outside the country, including presidential delegates to numerous international conferences: who monitored how much money they took out? It will therefore take a government elected on the basis of popular credibility to eliminate this monetary and fiscal haemorrhage – the type of government I have in mind had I to be afforded that opportunity in 2018.
Mujuru, Khupe, Misihairabwi In Secret Coalition Talks
Power women in Zimbabwe’s opposition politics are reported to have recently met in South-Africa, in an effort to plot a coalition strategy that will kick President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party out of power in the 2018 elections.
The three MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe, People First President Joice Mujuru, as well as MDC proportional representative MP for Matabeleland South Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga are likely to form a formidable challenge to other parties in the make or break elections.
ZimEye.com exclusively reported, last May, when the politicians first met in Dubai ( also read- Click Here) where Mujuru received a special international award for courage and bravery.
It is reported the three politicians met in South Africa last week to discuss plans to form a coalition ahead of the 2018 general elections.
This comes as it emerged MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is still struggling with continued illness despite being discharged from a South African hospital last month.
According to sources, Mujuru, Khupe, Mwonzora and Misihairabwi-Mushonga had a meeting in Polokwane to discuss various issues affecting opposition parties in Zimbabwe, although the major subject was the need to form an alliance to dislodge President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF from power.
The meeting was held on Tuesday and the quartet returned to Zimbabwe the following day.
The sources said the parties agreed there was need for the opposition parties to contest the 2018 elections as a united front, although the modalities of the grand coalition were yet to be thrashed out.
The meeting was before Mujuru addressed during her maiden rally as a member of the opposition at Stanley Square in Makokoba, Bulawayo, on Saturday.
Mujuru lost the Zanu PF and State vice-presidency at the ruling party’s 2014 congress before being expelled from the party in 2015.
ZimPF spokesperson Jealous Mawarire confirmed the former vice-president was in South Africa last week, but said he was not aware of the meeting.
“She was on a private business which was ambushed by our coordinators in South Africa. Those are the people she met. I am not aware of the meeting you are talking about,” he said.
Mwonzora also confirmed he was in South Africa with Khupe, but denied attending the meeting.
“It is not true that we had a meeting with People First. We (him and Khupe) were in South Africa for a completely different business, that is our internal party business,” he said.
Mushonga also denied having a meeting with the trio, but said she met her opposition counterparts on the plane.
“I absolutely have no idea of such a meeting. I met Khupe, Mujuru and Mwonzora in the plane where I greeted them. Besides in what capacity would I be meeting them?”
Sources in the opposition, however, insisted the officials had met to lay the groundwork for a coalition.
In May, five opposition parties signed a Coalition of Democrats (Code) agreement to guide them towards forming a coalition ahead of the 2018 polls.
The agreement, seen by the Zimbabwe Independent, was signed by Simba Makoni’s Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn (MKD), Professor Welshman Ncube’s Movement for Democratic Change, Elton Mangoma’s Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe as well as the little known Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment led by Gilbert Dzikiti and Zimbabweans United for Democracy.
MDC-T, ZimPF and the Tendai Biti-led People’s Democratic Party and Zapu led by Dumiso Dabengwa did not sign the document.
Following the signing, analysts, however, said an opposition alliance without Mujuru and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai was likely to be ineffective.
According to the Code agreement, the mission of the coalition is to be a “democratic platform, where likeminded political parties, bound by common values and objectives, collectively take responsibility for providing leadership and opportunities which address the multiple and complex challenges facing our nation”.
While it is still not clear who will lead the coalition or how they will work together, the political parties said they shall be guided by principles of working and cooperating with others in an equal, open and respectful manner, respect and observance of collective decision-making, equality, diversity, tolerance, and respect for all and each other, non-violence, tolerance and the peaceful resolution of issues and conflicts among many other principles.
The coalition said its objective was to engage in joint programmes, activities, actions and programmes that facilitate the objectives of achieving a peaceful prosperous and democratic and socially just Zimbabwean state and to work for the economic development and upliftment of every Zimbabwean through various programmes and activities, including the production and presentation of documents and blueprints that will assist the objectives.
The agreement states that a Governing Council, comprising all the presidents or principals of the party, will design a framework for candidate selection and nomination in fielding one presidential candidate.
The parties agreed that the coalition will have its own distinct symbols and logos separate from those of the parties that are its members, for the purposes of participating in elections and sponsoring candidates or doing any other programmes.- Independent
Police Burn ‘Rapist’s’ Genitals
Terrence Mawawa, Gutu | Three members of the ZRP constabulary section torched a rape suspect’s genitals with a burning log to punish him for raping a four year old girl.
The Neighbourhood Watch Committee members pounced on the rape suspect in Village 5, Mushaviri area and burnt him with a log as punishment for the way he ‘raped’ the four year old girl.
The trio nabbed the suspect on June 7 and decided to burn his private parts so that he would not commit another crime. They later took him to Gutu Police Station.
William Maromo, Charles Muzenda and Blantyre Bonzo Phillip,who are members of the police constabulary section, pleaded not guilty when they appeared before Gutu Resident Magistrate Edwin Marecha.
The three are facing assault charges as defined in Section 89(1)(a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
The three were arrested when the suspect Washington Togo(19) disclosed during his initial trial that he was severely tortured by the trio.
A medical examination also revealed Togo suffered extensive burns on his genitals and had bruises all over his body following the incident.
The trio assaulted Togo all over his body and under his feet using a wooden stick. They also proceeded to burn his genitals using a log after being horrified by the alleged sight of the abused child. The case was postponed to June 30.
Togo is being accused of raping the minor and leaving semen and blood on the child’s body.
TB Joshua Claims Prophetic Glory for Brexit Referendum
By Sukoluhle Sibanda|Controversial Nigerian preacher TB Joshua has come out to credit himself for the UK’s Brexit referendum which ended Thursday night.
Joshua who early this year claimed that all of the Southern African region’s problems will vanish in August this year 2016, says he predicted the UK referendum’s outcome.
Joshua’s staffers announced at 5pm Friday publicly writing claiming, “in a video dated 25th December, 2011, Joshua is seen stating: “We pray for this European community because I see the Euro which holds them together will be affected and many countries will.”
Religious emotion around Joshua has continued despite a long history of several failed predictions by the same preacher who falsely claimed the missing Malaysian aircraft would be found within days (more than a year ago), and also in September 2014 failed to forsee his own church building collapsing which had clear health and safety warnings, and killed 116 people at his own premises. He is being tried next week over the deaths. The man has also been factually proven to be a miracle faker after several of his “prophetic” proclamations were shown to have been simply stitched up through video editing techniques. SEE VIDEO:
Joshua’s “African President” death prediction in 2012 of former Malawian President Bingu Mutharika which brought him much fame has also opened a can of worms after it emerged the man back then simply utilised empirical knowledge from the leader’s medical records.
CIO Bosses Order Mnangagwa Aide Out Of Invaded Farm
Terrence Mawawa
Central Intelligence Organisation bosses here have ordered former Zanu PF chairman,Ezra Chadzamira to vacate Crest Ibeka farm with immediate effect, it has emerged.
Chadzamira,who is a declared Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s disciple is also the MP for Masvingo West Constituency. He invaded the farm previously owned by Yvonne Goddard, as one of the sponsors of the controversial Third Chimurenga land grab exercise.
Chadzamira grabbed the farm in February this year ahead of senior army and intelligence bosses who were also eyeing the same property.
ZimEye.com is reliaby informed senior intelligence officers have given the embattled legislator an ultimatum to vacate the farm with immediate effect.
Chadzamira is also under pressure from former farm workers and local villagers who are not happy with his occupation of the property. “I can tell you that Chadzamira has been ordered to vacate the farm by senior intelligence guys.
The CIO bosses have also instructed us not to process any paper work for Chadzamira .Members of the local community are also not happy with his occupation of the farm,”said an official with the Lands Ministry.
Chadzamira was unceremoniously kicked out of the Zanu PF Provincial Coordinating Committee he headed as the provincial chairman by the party’s National Political Commissar,Saviour Kasukuwere.Kasukuwere ,who is said to be one of the First Lady ,Grace Mugabe’s close associates.
Mugabe Dumps Mphoko Blocks US$300 Million Deal
VICE-PRESIDENT Phelekezela Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela, was directly involved in structuring and negotiating a usurious US$300 million Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) loan which the VP was facilitating on behalf of Botswana’s Capital Management Africa (CMA), the Zimbabwe Independent can reveal.
Mphoko’s son has an interest in CMA as a shareholder.
President Robert Mugabe blocked the deal, which would have seen Zimbabwe paying an extortionate US$70 million in interest on the loan. This comes as it emerged that last week Mphoko attempted to get cabinet to approve the loan.
Minutes of a Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and CMA meeting held at the ZPC boardroom in Harare on October 13 2015 show that Siqokoqela, who holds a 5% stake in CMA, represented CMA alongside a T Marsland and V Utedzi.
The minutes show that in return for the US$300 million loan extended to Zesa for the refurbishment of the Hwange Thermal Power Station, ZPC was going to pay back the sum at an interest rate of between 18% and 20% per annum. ZPC was also going to export 100 megawatts of electricity from the national grid to Botswana in return for payment. The minutes further reveal that ZPC was not happy with the applicable high interest rate, but Siqokoqela and his team refused to budge.
“Following calculations by KPMG, the interest rate had come to 18-20% of the capital cost. ZPC asked CMA whether it would be possible to scale down the interest, as it was of the opinion that the interest was too high,” read the minutes.
“CMA pointed out to ZPC that they were investing their own funds in the transaction and given the funding cost, risk and the complexities of the deal the interest could not be scaled down.”
The deal was, however, blocked by Mugabe who also protested that the interest rate was too high and smacked of corruption. Zesa is seeking US$350 million in order to secure a US$1,2 billion loan facility offered by China Exim Bank to refurbish the Hwange Thermal Power Station.
The power utility is in a serious financial crisis as it is owed close to US$1 billion. It is also struggling due to mismanagement and corruption.
In January, China offered Zesa a loan of US$1,2 billion to refurbish the Hwange Thermal Power Station. The Chinese loan requires that government raises a substantial guarantee, of at least 15%, before accessing the facility, hence efforts to raise the US$350 million.
The minutes show that ZPC was required to supply power to Botswana Power Company which would pay on a monthly basis.
“CMA stated that they would prefer a situation wherein the power being sold in terms of the Power Purchase Agreement is coming from the grid and not from a particular power station,” the minutes say.
Siqokoqela worked as the head of business development at CMA from January 2008 to August 2013, starting when his father was still Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Botswana.
Questions remain over whether Mphoko abused his position as ambassador in Botswana when he cut deals for himself and his family to emerge as a partner in that country’s biggest supermarket chain, Choppies.
According to his LinkedIn account, Siqokoqela’s duties included, among many others, “establishing investment opportunities for our group in the form of development projects, infrastructural projects, and finance financial institutions such as banks”.
“CMA had Pula 2,6 billion (US$240 million) assets under its management and it was my job to find good investments for our group. I became a 5% shareholder of the company. CMA was the number one leading asset management company in Botswana and the only company that had the skills and expertise to manage annuity portfolios in the whole of Botswana,” Siqokoqela states on his account.
Mphoko’s deal comes at a time when the power company is rocked by tender scams.
As reported by the Zimbabwe Independent recently, Zesa is reeling from a series of scandals, including the US$194 million-a-year Dema diesel power plant deal (now US$83 million) which would leave the struggling ZPC and Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, another Zesa subsidiary, in deeper dire straits.
The corrupt deal, given to Mugabe’s in-law Derrick Chikore, elder brother to Simba who is married to the president’s daughter Bona, and Sakunda Energy boss Kuda Tagwirei, was later revised down by about 50% to US$83 million due to pressure.
Energy experts say ZPC could have saved approximately US$200 million over three years had it explored cheaper alternatives.
Zesa tender costs have been escalated by over US$500 million, raising corruption concerns.- Independent
UK Exists EU Officially – THE FUTURE FACTS | DISCUSSION |
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE – UK residents can reverse the just ended EU referendum results -An official petition already swelling with over 135,000 voters by 3pm has been opened. Within seconds, people can force the government to hold another referendum. It can be accessed here…
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By Simba Chikanza|It is Friday morning and the UK’s EU has voted to leave the EU.
Waking up to a Thursday morning quick peruse of British newspapers yesterday, one could just but wonder the level of political intoxication in British papers, the type that would be intolerable in African societies….Two contesting views in a very close election scream for attention! Stay or Exit! “Independence Day”, read the Sun paper with a catchy graphic at the top, somewhat reminding everyone of the mood in Rhodesia a day before Zimbabwe was spit out of the British Empire. “Vote. Leave Today”, read the Daily Express. But you would also get to see a few papers that chose the middle of the road position. “Your Country Needs Your Vote,” read the Daily Star.
Many people are now apprehensive on the future especially after the British pound fell down to an all time (pre-1985) low.
ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza caught up with Labour party councilor for Ashford Council, Nicolle Ndiweni, and she tore into far right leader, Nigel Farage who within minutes of the poll results has backtracked on his lies to British voters on a per week £300million cash-leak to the EU. The following was the discussion:
Mphoko Hides as ZRP Clashes with Protesters
By Mandulo Pasichigare| PEACEFULL DEMONSTRATION AT RAINBOW TOWERS QUASHED BY THE POLICE.
Scores of human rights activists under the banners of ROHR Zimbabwe, NAVUZ and TAJAMUKA held a peaceful demonstration today at the Rainbow Towers, the Harare 5 star hotel, where one of Zimbabwe’s two Vice Presidents, Phelekezela Mphoko has stayed since December 2014.
The demonstrators were waving placards some of which read “Mphoko stop wasting taxpayers’ money…”, “Mari yehotera ngaipiwe kanzuro igadzire musika nemaroads” and chanting messages demanding that Mphoko and his family move out of hotel accommodation as soon as possible.
In no time, Riot Police arrived at the scene and attacked the demonstrators with baton sticks before violently bundling some of them, including their leader, Mr Stendrick Zvorwadza into Police trucks. The arrested demonstrators have been taken to a yet to be confirmed destination.
Phelekezela Mphoko’s continued stay at the Rainbow Towers has cost the Zimbabwean Taxpayers in excess of $250 000.00 as at today. This has riled the Zimbabwean people and has been condemned by civic society and opposition politicians. This is especially considering that he has turned down offers to be accommodated in 3 high value properties sponsored by the Zimbabwean Government so far.
One of the houses Phelekezela Mphoko refused to move into is the one left by the late vice president Joseph Msika in Harare’s leafy suburb of Mandara. The second one is a mansion worth $3m in Ballantyne Park, an affluent suburb of Harare. The third one is a $3.5m acquired in December last year by the Government of Zimbabwe in The Grange, another leafy suburb of Harare.
In all the three known instances where the Mphokos have rejected the offers of accommodation, Mphoko’s wife, Laurinda, is said to have condemned the properties as substandard relative to the Vice President’s stature.
Live Bullets and Guns Intercepted At Beitbridge Border Post
Shamiso Mtandwa|A consignment of ammunition and guns has been intercepted by police and state security agents at the Beitbridge border post while making it’s way into the country.
ZimEye.com sources at the border claim that a cross border transporter popularly known as Malaisha and his assistant have been arrested by the police and are helping them with investigations on the matter.
Both police and customs officials at the border have refused to talk to media on the matter. ZimEye.com awaits for the story to develop and details will be made available as it unravels.
Security has been tightened at the border post since last week’s disturbances with central intelligence officers now allegedly in charge of the border control.
Thousands of people rioted at the border post last week forcing police and officials to run for cover after being overwhelmed by the striking mob.
Several people made their way through the border unchecked amidst the chaos and goods and property expected to run into hundreds of thousands of dollars were smuggled through in the commotion.
Civil Servants Mull Massive Strike
A crippling strike by government workers is in the offing after President Robert Mugabe’s broke administration reiterated to stressed civil servants earlier this week that it would not be able to pay most of its employees their June salaries, the Daily News has learnt.
A lengthy meeting on Wednesday involving government ministers, civil servants’ representatives and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya failed to resolve the salaries crisis, prompting union leaders to plan the mooted mass action.
Labour minister Prisca Mupfumira confirmed to journalists after the meeting that the government could only pay some of the salaries for civil servants in July, a development that public sector workers’ representatives said was insensitive to their welfare, and considering their recurring obligations such as rentals.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily News yesterday, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said teachers would not allow the government to take advantage of them anymore.
“Teachers are demanding that the traditional pay dates should not shift and spill over into another month. If they do not pay us by June 28, we will not go to work,” Majongwe warned.
Zimbabwe Democratic Teachers’ Union president George Mushipe said his union would map a concrete way forward soon, after consulting with its members.
“There is no apology to make if that money is not there on the dates that they promised. All we want to know is how they will ensure that teachers report for duty without being paid. Our actions stand guided by the Apex council,” he said
Apex council president Cecelia Alexander said they were insisting that workers salaries should be paid as previously advised.
“The workers we represent have continued to demand that salaries be paid on the traditional dates. As workers, we still hold on to that position,” Alexander said.
Despite its recent propaganda to the contrary, the Zanu PF government admitted last week that it was so broke that it could not manage to pay all civil servants their June salaries.
The embarrassing admission was contained in a Treasury circular that announced that the government would once again stagger the pay of civil servants this month, with most of them to receive their salaries only in mid-July.
According to the communiqué, the Zimbabwe National Army and Air Force of Zimbabwe will get their salaries on June 27, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services on June 30 and teachers only on July 7.
The health sector and the rest of the civil service will only get their June salaries deep into next month, on July 14 — while pensioners will have to wait as far as July 19 for their June pensions.
Earlier last week, the hard-working but much-harassed Mangudya, said the government was taking a number of measures to mitigate the country’s escalating cash and liquidity crisis.
In the meantime, and with the country teetering on the brink of another ginormous economic meltdown, akin to the horror experienced in 2008, there are growing fears that ordinary Zimbabweans are becoming increasingly restless and that this could soon blow up into deadly riots.
Concerned analysts who have spoken to the Daily News said the ongoing cash shortages and long bank queues, looming food shortages, the threatened ban on the importation of basic commodities, an inevitable rise in basic food prices and the broke government’s failure to pay angry civil servants their June salaries did not bode well for continuing peace and stability in the country.
They said it was telling that normally pliant and peace-loving Zimbabweans had rioted against the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in Beitbridge at the weekend, after President Robert Mugabe’s cash-strapped government suddenly banned the importation of basic commodities — threatening the livelihood of tens of thousands of people and their families who live off street vending.
Economist Witness Chinyama said unless the government introduced measures to boost local industry — currently operating at a lowly 30 percent capacity — Zimbabweans should brace themselves for food shortages and massive hikes in the prices of basic commodities.
“A total embargo on the importation of basic goods will be painful to consumers who would be forced to buy local products at higher prices,” he said emphatically.
This was after Industry minister Mike Bimha invoked Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 last Friday, banning the importation of coffee creamers, Camphor creams, white petroleum jellies, body creams, baked beans, potato crisps, cereals, bottled water, mayonnaise, salad cream, peanut butter, jam, maheu, canned fruits and vegetables, pizza bases, yoghurts, flavoured milk, dairy juice blends, ice-creams, cultured milk and cheese, among other products.
Chinyama said while the measures could breathe a new lease of life into local producers who were struggling to stay afloat due to stiff competition from imports, “in the absence of competition, chances are very high for local companies to effect price increases to match their high production costs”.
This was more so given that the recent import duty increase on cooking oil products had seen local retailers hiking their product prices from $2,99 per two litres, to an average of $3,60 as producers failed to meet demand.
Other economists have also previously warned that food prices were set to rise substantially due to looming shortages and the severe drought that has left more than 5,5 million people in need of food aid.
Veteran economist John Robertson was among those who said yesterday that the latest government intervention to ban the importation of some commodities would result in the acute shortage of basic goods, reminiscent of the 2008 era, as local companies had no capacity to fill the gap that was being filled by imports.
“Scarcity generates high prices and this often leads to a rise in black market, which will make life very difficult for ordinary citizens,” he said.
Robertson said the government should have put basic market fundamentals in place, to ensure that local industries were operating at full capacity before banning some imports.
“If we had enough time, perhaps industry could be revived, but that would all be dependent on fresh capital for retooling.
“Considering the fact that our government is broke and failing to meet its own wage bill, this capital can only come from foreign investors who, at this stage, would not want to hear about the indigenisation policy, government interference and lack of respect for property rights,” he said.
Other observers say Zanu PF’s seemingly unstoppable factional and succession wars have not helped matters, throwing spanners into the government’s half-baked programmes and thereby dealing a hammer blow to efforts to rescue the country’s dying economy.
Previously seen as a regional breadbasket, Zimbabwe’s fortunes have plummeted precipitously over the past two decades, to the extent that today the country is viewed as a much-derided basket case.
In 2008, some soldiers looted shops in Harare when their pay was delayed, at the height of Zimbabwe’s hyper-inflation crisis that was triggered by the government’s much-criticised fast track land reforms.
During that horror-laced period, inflation accelerated to more than 500 billion percent according to the International Monetary Fund. -Daily News
David Cameron resigns
David Cameron has resigned as Prime Minister after Britain voted to leave the European Union.
With the Leave campaign securing 52 per cent of the vote, Mr Cameron addressed the nation in an emotional speech outside 10 Downing Street to announce that he would be stepping down.
Cameron’s voice breaks during emotional resignation speechPlay! 04:42
While England voted overwhelmingly for Brexit, Scotland and Northern Ireland backed Remain. Statements are expected to be made by Sinn Fein and the SNP later today calling for a breakaway from the Union. London backed Remain but the turnout was lower than expected because of bad weather.
Meanwhile on the market, the FTSE 250 index has plunged a whopping 11.7pc. The index of so-called mid-cap companies had dropped an astonishing 2,017 points to 15,309 in the first few minutes of trading. Telegraph
Shocking Corruption Exposed In Harare City Council, Millions Fleeced
Shocking revelations have emerged that Harare City Council could have been fleeced of millions of dollars following an expose that two anonymous computers were being used to bill customers each month amid the likelihood that more funds were looted through the fraudulent issuance of receipts.
According to Auditor-General Ms Mildred Chiri’s report on local authorities for 2015 which exposed corruption in most councils, the city’s IT department failed to detect the computers that were being used to generate the bills.
“Therefore, there is room for the employees to create fake receipts that can be used to receipt customers when they settle their monthly bills,” reads the report.
The same report shows that Gweru City Council failed to account for a more than $1 million loan balance and the city’s mayor and town clerk had no fuel limit while council’s senior employees were being paid holiday and education allowances outside the payroll.
The audit showed that Mutare City Council had a bank overdraft facility with FBC Bank of $4 162 154 as at December 31, 2013 for which the city paid $1 215 349 as interest and service charges.
The audit also revealed that most councils were not up-to-date with their audited financial statements and a majority of councils maintains multiple bank accounts whose reconciliations were not up to date.
In some cases, the bank balances did not reconcile to the cash book balances resulting in unexplained variances.
“Harare City Council did not reconcile its cashbook overdrawn balance of $208 430 777 as per financial statements to the bank overdraft balances of $7 590 828 giving a significant variance of $200 839 949.
“Harare City Council had weaknesses in internal controls which resulted in significant variances between the system and financial statements. Cash and bank balances, receivables and property, plant and equipment had variances of $317 254 823, $114 237 875, and $486 701 941 respectively,” reads the report.
The Auditor-General also found out several council-owned properties which were being leased but were not recorded and accounted for.
In Kwekwe among other irregularities, the audit found out that the councils’ bank reconciliation statement had an unexplained reconciling figure of $2 569 043 which could not be traced to any underlying transactions and there was a risk that the unreconciled balances may have been used to conceal irregular activities.
In Kariba, the AG was unable to confirm the accuracy, completeness and validity of receivables written off totalling $1 103 543 as council could not provide documentation that supports the write-off of debts.
In Redcliff an analysis of residential stand files showed that most of the agreements of sale were not signed and they seemed to have been prepared post allocation and terms of agreement varied depending on the initial deposits made, some of which were as low as $5.
The audit also revealed that the councils’ CBZ Bank account was in overdraft with an amount of $400 000 and municipality was unable to service it as the loan interest continued to rise.
In Norton the audit showed that the council had total employment costs of $3 108 321 out of expenditure of $5 022 069 indicating that employment costs constituted 62 percent in violation of the ministerial directive prescribing a ratio of 30:70 in favour of service delivery.
The AG said the audit findings warrant the attention of management and those charged with governance.
“The audit revealed that most of the weaknesses emanated from governance issues, revenue collection and debt recovery, employment cost and procurement of goods and services,” Ms Chiri said. State Media
Mugabe Must Resign – Khupe
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe must step down from power because he has failed the country, opposition MDC-T vice-president Thokozani Khupe has told thousands of party supporters.
Khupe was addressing MDC-T party supporters, who yesterday brought business in Mutare to a standstill as the opposition party’s demonstrations against alleged misrule by Mugabe’s government.
She read the speech on behalf of MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who failed to attend yesterday’s event reportedly because he was scheduled to undergo “a routine medical review”.
“We all witnessed Zanu PF’s grand political corruption in their lootings of $15 billion from Chiadzwa here in Manicaland. Mutare city is supposed to be like Sandton in Gauteng, South Africa, and you, the team of Manicaland, should be richest because of diamonds,’’ Khupe said in the short speech.
Early this year, Mugabe claimed at least $15 billion of the country’s diamond revenue had been looted, but could not provide details.
Khupe added Mugabe should hand over power because “he is leading an illegitimate government”.
“The Zanu PF regime is essentially an illegitimate regime after notorious rigging of the 2013 elections. It is a regime that has neither the political nor the moral authority to remain in power a day longer,” she said.
“The hour has come for Zimbabweans to stand up and fight to the last drop of their blood.”
Other top party leaders who took part in the demonstration included secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, national spokesperson Obert Gutu and shadow home affairs minister Giles Mutsekwa.
The demonstration started mid-morning, with some vendors at Sakubva flea market — normally perceived to be Zanu PF supporters — joining the snaking crowd that stretched for at least five kilometres from Sakubva Beit Hall to Meikles Park in the city centre.
Khupe chronicled the collapse of industries in Manicaland and said Zimbabweans must demand of Mugabe’s administration “re-industrialisation and job creation”.
The demonstration was a follow up to those that were successfully held in Harare, Bulawayo and Bindura respectively.
The MDC-T is planning to move a motion to impeach Mugabe in the national assembly despite the fact that it is a minority in the legislature.
ZIFA Dissolution Saga Far From Over
Staff Reporter
The ZIFA dissolution saga appears far from over following yet another challenge this time from the former employees of the association.
The former employees have lodged an urgent application with the High Court blocking the dissolution of the association claiming that the association was unconstitutionally dissolved and demanding huge amounts owed to them.
The employees are the second set of people to appeal to the courts against the dissolution of the association in as many days.
Two days ago a group of ZIFA stakeholders and creditors also filed a High Court application challenging the dissolution of the association which still owes them huge amounts of money.
Included in the group were hotels, car hire companies and security firms that were not paid for providing services to the national football governing body.
Philip Chiyangwa the former ZIFA boss moved his executive to dissolve ZIFA and establish a new football governing body called National Football Association of Zimbabwe (NFAZ). The coming of NFAZ was specifically to clear the national football body from debts of the former association which owes huge amounts of money to several creditors.
The Sports and Recreation Commission and FIFA have not sanctioned the formation of the new association and dissolution of ZIFA citing several constitutional challenges in the process.
Chiyangwa has meanwhile remained adamant that ZIFA is no more and NFAZ owes nothing to any of ZIFA’s previous creditors.
Addressing the Parliamentary Committee on Sports yesterday, Chiyangwa remained adamant that there is no going back to ZIFA and it’s creditors.
Ndebeles Offer 4 Cattle as Apology to Tshaka for Mzilikazi’s Notoriety
The Ndebele people of Zimbabwe have offered four cows to the Zulus of South Africa as an apology for founding Ndebele king Mzilikazi’s insurgency against then Zulu king Tshaka some 160 years ago.
Prominent activist Nqabutho Mabhena broke the news in a social media platform this week claiming that he was witness at a church service when people claiming to be representatives of the Ndebele people offered the cattle to Prophet Mkhuseli Hadebe of the Revelation Church in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The offer was said to be a plea for peace and forgiveness from the Zulu by the Ndebele for Mzilikazi’s “misdeed” through the prophet in his capacity as a “man of God.”
The offer has however raised a major mayhem amongst the Ndebele people who have distanced themselves from it all.
In reaction, the Ndebele people in the country discredited the group claiming that it was never sanctioned by the people as they believe that Mzilikazi was justified in his move against Tshaka.
Three centuries ago, Mzilikazi, then a subject under Tshaka the Zulu king, was sent to raid a neighbouring tribe and bring it under the kingdom of the Zulus. After the victory, Mzilikazi took all the cattle and women from the defeated tribe and fled from Tshaka with the loot resulting in him settling and setting up the Ndebele kingdom in present day Zimbabwe.
As the country’s economic and political conditions take a turn, Zimbabweans, particularly the Ndebele have been finding their way down to South Africa as economic and political refugees.
As they return to South Africa, the Ndebeles have been struggling to get the South African government to give them citizenship on the grounds that they were originally from South Africa through Mzilikazi’s migration.
In follow up on the matter, ZimEye.com tried to get a comment from Prophet Hadebe but failed as his PA would not let the media to access the prophet.
The PA also refused to comment on the offering of the four cows claiming that offerings were a secret between the church and the persons making the offering.
It was not clear how and to who the prophet will remit the Ndebeles’ offering for peace with the Zulus.
Lover’s Semen on Towel Earns Naked Wife a Beating
A BULAWAYO man who found his towel wet from what he suspected to be another man’s semen bashed his wife over infidelity allegations.
A court heard that the couple last had sex three months ago.
Richard Sithole (46) yesterday pleaded guilty to a physical abuse charge before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Steven Ndlovu.
The magistrate fined Sithole $100 or six months in jail.
Sithole said his wife, Martha Mutandaguta (38), told him that she no longer had feelings for him and wanted to find a boyfriend.
He said when he arrived home from work on Tuesday, his wife was on the phone calling the person at the other end “sweetie.”
“She was startled when she saw me. She threw my body towel that she was holding on the floor. I picked it up but realised that it was wet. I looked closely at it and saw that it contained some slimy white substance that was evidently semen” said Sithole.
He said he fought hard to remain calm.
“She went to take a bath. I instructed our maid to go and lock the gate. Immediately she rushed out of the bathroom and sent the maid to buy airtime. This was when I confronted her about my suspicions. She gave me vague answers. I lost my temper and hit her hard.”
Prosecuting, Mrs Sibekithemba Dube said on Tuesday, Sithole hit his naked wife who was coming from taking a bath causing her to sustain a swollen forehead and bruises on her back.
In passing judgment, Mr Ndlovu said violence is never a solution to problems.
“You should have tried engaging a third party to solve your problem. Anger should not be used as an excuse to commit an offence. You are lucky she wasn’t hurt badly otherwise you could have landed yourself in prison,” said Mr Ndlovu.-state media
CHIHURI NOW A PASTOR: Shock Details Emerge
Fresh details have emerged that Police boss Augustine Chihuri is now a pastor. This follows a cluster of exclusive ZimEye expose’s which revealed the man has been forcing junior police officers into his church meetings.
While the police spokesperson, Charity Charamba, attempted damage control saying the church meetings are state chaplaincy programs, fresh official documentation has leaked revealing they are indeed church meetings and fully labelled so.
At a time officers are meant to be on the streets fighting crime, they are being “ordered” to attend the church services for stretches of time up to (5) five hours each day. PICTURES BELOW- STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Cops have since reacted in anger over the new “church” saying they are forced to attend the services adding that Chihuri is the very pastor thereof.
“We are being forced to join the church where the commissioner General Chihuri is the pastor. From Friday to Sunday all police officers are forced to be part of a church service at Ross camp. Where are we going with this human rights abuse?,” a source told ZimEye.
Does not practice what he teaches
But Gen. Chihuri who professes Christianity is attacked for claiming to be a spiritual man when he on the other side allegedly abuses officers. “He is the sole preacher in the service but surprisingly during day to day policing, he does not practice what he teaches in the service,” they said.
They continued, “every now and again members are forced to part with their hard earned cash to contribute towards Kuyedza club, a club headed by his wife. Kuyedza club proceeds are believed to be benefiting a clique of few senior officers. Members are again forced to buy stationary used on day to day duties. This is the reason why most of the officers are bitter about being forced to attend the service.”
It has also emerged with documentary evidence that police officers are being forced into “police spot fine” cash collection target figures for fund raising purposes.
The above documents serve to confirm that police officers are being given arrest targets to raise retention money, hence the rise of the Tajamuka Group which is lobbying for a stop on the abuse by force.
MORE FOLLOWS as this is a developing story…
Chiyangwa Hauled Before Parliament
NATIONAL Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz) president Philip Chiyangwa was yesterday grilled by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport over his decision to dissolve the debt-ridden Zifa, but maintained that what they had done was necessary and above board.
The old local football governing body Zifa was dissolved on June 4, which led to the formation of a new outfit Nafaz, which is, however, yet to be registered by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).
Chiyangwa, who now leads Nafaz, approached the High Court seeking to have Zifa placed under trustee management.
Yesterday, the Harare businessman was accompanied by his deputy Omega Sibanda, legal advisor Itai Ndudzo and Nafaz chief excecutive officer Kenny Ndebele.
Chiyangwa apprised Parliament on his successes since taking over, which include the Warriors qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations finals to be held in Gabon next year, while also highlighting the association’s financial problems, which led to the decision to dissolve Zifa.
During the question-and-answer session, Chiyangwa responded to some of the questions before asking to be excused since he had to travel to South Africa for medical treatment.
Education, Arts, Sports and Culture Parliamentary Portfolio Committee chairman Never Khanye quizzed Chiyangwa if they had consulted with all stakeholders before dissolving Zifa.
Chiyangwa, however, argued they had followed due process before making the decision.
“The association of Zifa is a conglomerate of various players who are throughout the country, from the area, regional and provincial zones. These are the persons who are elected from the controlling body of Zifa, thus those persons in their own right are the only and absolute authority in Zimbabwe answerable to Fifa and we are sanctioned by our own statutes which are the constitution and electoral court,” he said.
“Full consultations were made from the moment we started talking about it as early as January when we discovered that we were insolvent. That’s when we decided to dissolve Zifa. And those persons who were in that congress are the same persons who made the decision,” he said.
Emakhandeni-Entumbane MP Dingilizwe Tshuma questioned if it was ethical for the Chiyangwa-led association to accept financial support from controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who was convicted of money-laundering 2005.
Chiyangwa defended the decision, saying the Warriors’ qualification to the Afcon finals owed so much to Chivayo’s financial support.
“I didn’t look at the personality or character of the person, but I needed money to help football in Zimbabwe. The beneficiaries are there, the results are there. (Qualification for) Afcon is Wicknell Chivayo’s achievement from his money. We don’t rate ethics when we are receiving donations. It’s a nullity. If it’s something within our legalities, then direct me. I won’t check, I need money,” Chiyangwa said before asking to be excused.
His bid to leave his deputy Omega Sibanda in charge after asking to be excused was turned down, with the committee saying the hearing would be adjourned to a later date when he would be available.
Earlier, former Premier Soccer League chief excecutive Chris Sambo also appeared before the same committee where he accused the acting SRC director-general Joseph Muchechetere of lying to the world football governing body, Fifa, that Zifa’s sequestration process had been completed.
“On June 11, Mr Joseph Muchechetere, who is the acting SRC director-general, co-authored the document, where they wrote to Fifa advising that the sequestration process of Nafaz had been completed,” said Sambo, who is also the secretary-general of the Life Long Footballers’ Trust of Zimbabwe.
“Mr Chairman, this was a complete fabrication of the truth. That document was falsified. The SRC is supposed to be the mother. They are supposed to superintend and help bring sanity to football in this country, but we are now faced with a situation whereby they have not been helpful as far as the current crisis is concerned. We believe that football has got to be saved. We have a crisis. Creditors have been shortchanged, employees have been thrown onto the streets and normalcy has to be restored back to our football,” he said.
Meanwhile, some creditors, who include Daisy Lodge, also told the committee how Zifa initially promised to honour their obligations before suddenly deciding to dissolve the association in a bid to avoid its responsibilities.-Newsday
Minister:Hospital Fees are Illegal
HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has condemned public health institutions for charging the elderly, children under five and pregnant women hospital fees, saying it is illegal.
Dr Parirenyatwa was responding to Parliamentarians who expressed concerned over exorbitant fees that are being paid by patients at hospitals.
“As the Ministry of Health and Child Care, it is our hope that all people access affordable health care. We have policies that entitle children who are below five years to free medical aid. Women that are pregnant during ante and post natal care, up until they get to six weeks, should not pay for such services and senior citizens who are older than 65 years old should also not pay.
“However, I have observed that in some of the hospitals and clinics, they have what we call a card fee, which is illegal. Our policy is that these groups of people that I have mentioned are entitled to free medical aid. At times, this can’t be done because they require money for drugs,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
He said his ministry also assists patients through the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
“The public service ministry has an assistance scheme where the vulnerable persons can be given a voucher which they can use to access medical care.
“Payment is difficult. We would want to ensure that the Ministry of Health receives a large chunk of the budget so as to enable us to meet our running costs,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
Member of House of Assembly for St Mary’s constituency Mr Martin Tarusenga asked Dr Parirenyatwa what the ministry was doing to cater for thousands of unemployed people in the country.
“You have talked about children that are below five years and those who are above 65 years that they are entitled to free medical care. The issue is in line with the age groups that you have left out.
“This is the working class and our unemployment rate is above 80 percent. So, my question is that the unemployed people have no money to access medical care. As the Government, what are we doing to ensure that they have reasonable medical care?” said Mr Tarusenga.
Dr Parirenyatwa said those that are unemployed are the ones who should be helped by the Department of Social Welfare if they are in dire-straits.
“The department is housed in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. You can be referred at each and every hospital to the department of social welfare,” said the minister.
He added that it was important for the ministry to receive adequate funding to enable hospitals to have drugs in stock so that patients are not stranded.
“Some basic medication should be readily available once a prescription has been made by a doctor. We are having challenges in that regard. It is our plea that this August House should be constantly clamouring for the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s budget to be bigger,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.-state media
ZRP Cop Abducted, Bashed By Kombi Gang
A POLICE officer is battling for life at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) after he was abducted and heavily assaulted by a kombi crew on Saturday. The driver and the conductor, who are still at large, allegedly bashed the cop with a wheel spanner leaving him for dead.
The officer had stopped a commuter omnibus that had no registration plates and was picking up passengers at an illegal point along Fort Street in the city centre.
Sources said he got into the vehicle, ordered passengers to disembark and told the crew to drive to Bulawayo Central Police Station.
The police officer whose identity was not revealed incurred serious head injuries, which national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said could result in brain damage.
“I can confirm receiving a report on the kidnap and assault of a police officer and investigations are underway,” he said.
Police are appealing to members of the public who had information that could lead to the arrest of the driver and the conductor to notify their nearest police station.
“Two police officers who were conducting their duties in the city centre along Leopold Takawira and Fort Street identified an unregistered white Toyota Hiace which was picking up passengers at the undesignated point.
“The two officers approached the kombi driver and conductor who have committed several offences including the fact that the vehicle was not registered,” he said.
The police officers arrested the driver and the conductor, instructing them to go to Bulawayo Central Police Station.
“The police officer got into their vehicle and instead of them going to Bulawayo Central Police, they kidnapped the officer and headed to Stanbic Bank in Belmont where they then heavily assaulted him with a wheel spanner,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.
He said the suspects then threw the unconscious cop out of the vehicle and sped off.
“The names of the two men who assaulted the police officer were not established. We’re appealing to anyone with information that may lead to their arrest to contact the nearest police station.
“We’re warning the public not to board unregistered vehicles at any time and any point. We also warn them not to board vehicles at undesignated points as most of these drivers cause trouble on the roads,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.
“Police will not stand by and allow anyone to disturb police officers in carrying out their duties.
“That is a serious offence. People should follow the law and avoid being caught on the wrong side.-state media
HORROR DEATH:Sons Behead Own Father
Terrence Mawawa
Chiredzi/ In a tragic incident that has left the Chilonga villagers terrified,two brothers beheaded their father following a misunderstanding over donkeys.
According to details released by Chiredzi police,the two brothers from Chirove village murdered their father, Zavhu Mungwambami last week after a dispute over donkeys.
Shepherd Chirove a nephew to the deceased said the dispute erupted after Mugwambami asked his son Ketai to sell one of his cattles in order to buy donkeys that they would use to pull their scotch-cart.
Ketai rejected his father’s advice after which there was a heated argument over the issue. It is understood Mugwambami and his two sons then went to the fields to harvest sorghum and the argument erupted again.
Mugwambami’s two sons later returned home and instructed their mother to spend the night at their uncle’s place.
When their mother left,the two returned to fields where they beat up their father and chopped off his head.
When the deceased’s uncle realised that Mugwambami had not returned home,he went out to investigate-only to discover the lifeless body with the chopped off head covered by a cap.
The two brothers have since been arrested and they are assisting the police with investigations. Masvingo Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said she was yet to receive the story on her desk.
EU Referendum – 1st RESULTS: UK Votes
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. Refresh this page for live updates…
London – As counting was underway in the EU referendum that will decide whether the UK remains a member of the European Union, the Remain side was at midnight leading by a fair margin.
Isles Of Scilly
LEAVE – 171,270
REMAIN – 191,404
Sunderland
LEAVE -161,744
REMAIN -158,537
Gibralta
LEAVE -823
REMAIN -19322
Newscastle
LEAVE -64,421
REMAIN -84,726
The counting is taking place at centres around the UK in a vote widely seen as too close to call. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. Refresh this page for live updates…
CHIYANGWA: We’ll Never Pay ZIFA Debts
The National Football Association of Zimbabwe, NFAZ President, Philip Chiyangwa, told lawmakers Thursday his board took a decision to dissolve the Zimbabwe Football Association or ZIFA because it was insolvent and could not pay its workers and creditors as well as carry its mandate.
Chiyangwa said they filed for bankruptcy and will not pay creditors or anyone owed by ZIFA adding they were taking the necessary legal steps to move away from ZIFA affairs.
Giving evidence during an enquiry by parliamentary sports and arts committee, into the dissolution of ZIFA and formation of NFAZ, Chiyangwa said his board had to take a brutal decision to dissolve ZIFA because it was insolvent and could not operate owing to creditors knocking at the association’s door, property being attached and funds being garnished at the bank.
He said ZIFA was unable to pay and won’t pay and NFAZ won’t pay either. NFAZ legal advisor, Itayi Ndudzo, weighed in saying ZIFA’s insolvency was qualified by ZIFA’s accountants at that time, Barker Tilly and Gwatidzo.
He said it did not make sense to proceed with ZIFA with the full knowledge that it could not pay its creditors and services providers.
Ndudzo said it was in that context that a decision to dissolve ZIFA was taken at its extraordinary congress on 4 June and form NFAZ.
He said meeting NFAZ resolved not to simply wake away from the ZIFA debts but to properly manage the debtor and creditors in a legal manner.
According to Ndudzo, this why an application for the sequestration of ZIFA was made. The High Court is yet to make a decision on the matter.
ZIFA’s debt to former coaches, players, workers, and other service provider such as the national airline and Air Zimbabwe amounts to more than $6 million dollars.
Zimbabwe was kicked out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup for failing to pay former national team coach, Jose Claudinei Georgini of Brazil.
Chiyangwa told lawmakers the transition from ZIFA to NFAZ was good and it was yielding results as the national football team and the women’s team have qualified for the African Nations Cup and Rio Olympics respectively.
He also claimed NFAZ had secured a multimillion dollar sponsorship from state owned telecommunications company, Netone, individual businesspeople and FIFA.
But lawmakers asked him why the NFAZ was getting funding from businessmen like
Wicknell Chivhayo an ex-convict who has also been implicated in fraudulent deals at another state enterprise, ZESA.
But Chiyangwa said he did not care who gave the association money as long as it was meant for promoting football.
Earlier on stakeholders including creditors, former football administrators and had expressed concern to the lawmakers at the manner the ZIFA dissolution was handled and failure to pay workers and service providers.
Former ZIFA administrator, Lazarus Mhurushomana said the problems bedeviling football and other sports was due to government’s lack of seriousness in financing sports in the country.
The enquiry adjourned after a visibly sick Chiyangwa asked to be excused as he had to fly to South Africa for an appointment with a doctor.
The lawmakers obliged and the enquiry will continue at a date to be advised.
Mandiwanzira Gets $200K Car Loan from Own Parastatal
ICT Minister Supa Mandiwanzira broke the rules and got a $194,000 loan from a parastatal under his Ministry for the purchase of a vehicle, a report by the Auditor general reveals.
The Auditor General’s department, in its new report on government ministries, also revealed how the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) loaned $10 million to the ministry for its acquisition of a controlling interest in Telecel Zimbabwe. The loan was extended with no Treasury approval.
“The Ministry (of ICT, Postal and Courier Services) got loans amounting to $10 million, $194 564 and $95 000 from POTRAZ for the acquisition of government’s shareholding in Telecel Zimbabwe and purchasing of the Minister and Deputy Minister’s (Win Mlambo) vehicle respectively, without Treasury concurrence. These amounts were still outstanding as at the time the audit was concluded,” the report says.
The Ministry also borrowed an additional $58 888 from POTRAZ and state owned mobile operator NetOne.
Says the Auditor General: “The ministry did not provide documentary evidence to show that they were given treasury authority to borrow from state owned enterprises. Since the amount of $58 888 relates to appropriation expenses by the ministry, the expenditure should be accounted for in the 2015 financial year.”
“In addition, the ministry did not provide documentary evidence on how it intends to account for the $10 289 564 for the purchase of shareholding in Telecel Zimbabwe and the purchase of the Minister and Deputy Minister’s vehicles.”
Telecel is the country’s smallest mobile telecoms firm with 2,4 million subscribers. Earlier this year, Mandiwanzira said the $40 million purchase of Telecel had been done through ZARNet, a struggling Internet Service Provider wholly owned by the government through the ICT Ministry.
In April, pension fund NSSA announced it had put up $30 million to buy the Telecel stake, a deal it described as “too compelling” to pass over. Until the Auditor General’s report, it had been unclear how government had raised the other $10 million.
NSSA chairman Robin Vera said then that the $30 million advanced to ZARnet was not a loan but quasi-equity participation funding, which would give NSSA equity control of Telecel Zimbabwe until certain conditions are met by ZARNet.
“In all circumstances, NSSA will emerge as a significant equity holder in Telecel Zimbabwe Limited”.
On February 25, the Amsterdam-headquartered telecoms giant VimpelCom said the deal was yet to be completed. Mandiwanzira told Parliament that the money for the stake was yet to be transferred to Vimpelcom due to cash shortages in Zimbabwe.
Telecel’s remaining 40 percent is owned by Empowerment Corporation, a consortium of local shareholders. The group has opposed the sale of Vimpelcom’s 60 percent shares, although Mandiwanzira has claimed that they too had approached NSSA to buy their shareholding.
POTRAZ’s part in the purchase of a stake in a company it is supposed to supervise, and its loan to Mandiwanzira, may raise fresh questions about its role as a regulator. The authority already faces criticism of being unfair in how it treats the licensing of operators.-TheSource
EU Referendum Results
The UK’s EU Referendum results will be posted here early morning Friday morning.
Waking up to a Thursday morning quick peruse of British newspapers, one could just but wonder the level of political intoxication in British papers, the type that would be intolerable in African societies….Two contesting views in a very close election scream for attention! Stay or Exit!
“Independence Day”, reads the Sun paper with a catchy graphic at the top, somewhat reminding everyone of the mood in Rhodesia a day before Zimbabwe was spit out of the British Empire.
“Vote. Leave Today”, reads the Daily Express.
But you also get to see a few papers that chose the middle of the road position. “Your Country Needs Your Vote,” reads the Daily Star.
Many Africans and Zimbabweans in particular are apprehensive on the poll outcome.
We ask you our valued readers to express your views as the voting continues. Where are we heading?
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Guardian/Telegraph|With no exit polls, if you are desperate to know whether Britain will leave the EU you’ll need to be up and alert from 2am.
Are you stockpiling gummy sweets and black coffee for the night of the referendum, but concerned you don’t know when to take the breaks for power naps?
Here’s how we expect the night to play out, from the leave heartlands of the northern counties and the east coast, to the remain cities of London, Edinburgh and Bristol.
Although voting will close at 10pm tonight will close at 10pm tonight, the future of Britain’s relationship with the European Union will not be known until at least nine hours later, at 7am on Friday.
The tension will be greater than normal general election nights because the major broadcasters have not commissioned any exit polls over concerns about accuracy.
There were also no exit polls at the Scottish referendum in September 2014 which meant that the result was only known when the No campaign had won more than 50 per cent of the votes cast.
The results themselves will come in during a frantic three-hour period on Friday, between 4am and 7am; by breakfast time, the result of the EU referendum should be known.
Will there be an exit poll?
Technically, no. An exit poll is conducted on a large scale outside polling stations but broadcasters have no way of knowing how accurate an exit poll would be as the last result they have to compare it to is the 1974 referendum. However, pollsters YouGov will be running an on-the-day poll on June 23, the results of which will be announced at 10pm, once voting has closed.
This will be our last indication of which way the vote has swung until results are announced – although, due to inconsistencies in individual polls, no one poll can by wholly trusted.
How will the count take place?
Polling stations are open today from 7am to 10pm. The best advice is to vote early as the Electoral Commission is forecasting that turnout could be as high as 80 per cent (significantly more than the 66 per cent who voted at last year’s general election).
There are already fears that there might be queues if because the Government curtailed the amount of time that staff have to get ready after it extended the online registration deadline.
A change in the law after chaos at polling stations in 2010 – when some people were denied a vote because of long queues – means that people queuing at 10pm will be allowed to vote.
At the close of the poll, thousands of sealed ballot boxes are collected from schools and church halls which have been doubling up as polling stations and transported to one of 382 counting venues across the UK.
Why are the results so late?
For the count, the UK has been divided into 382 counting areas which will first verify each ballot, allowing each area to announce the turn-out. The counting will then begin.
These results will then be collated and fed by local counting officers to regional counting officers in 12 electoral regions, who will only announce their results when all the areas have concluded their counts.
Unlike at a general election, when MPs only needs to win a majority in their constituency to win the seat, every vote counts – which means that the final results for Leave and Remain will creep up slowly as regions make their declarations.
The result will be declared by Jenny Watson, the chairman of the Electoral Commission and the referendum’s chief counting officer at Manchester Town Hall, although no physical counting of ballot papers is taking place there.
How can I watch the results on television?
The BBC, ITV and Sky are all covering the election, bringing you the results as and when they come in.
David Dimbleby fronts BBC1’s EU Referendum – The Result programme, which begins at 9.55pm. He will be joined by Jeremy Vine, Emily Maitlis, Laura Kuennsberg, Kamal Ahmed and a host of BBC reporters from around the country.
Tom Bradbury hosts Referendum Result Live: ITV News Special, which begins at 10pm. He will be joined by Robert Peston, Allegra Stratton, James Mates and the ITV News team reporting from around the country.
Sky News will be bringing live coverage all night with Adam Boulton, Jeremy Thompson, Kay Burley and the Sky team.
Which are the most important declarations?
Not much will happen before 5am. But the turnout – which could come at 3am – will be important: a high turnout – with more young people voting – is likely to mean a good night for Remain.
Remain is likely to take a healthy lead once the early declarations are made with the results for pro-EU regions – Wales, Scotland and London – making their results known by 5am.
But the first indication of whether Leave has done enough will come at 5am when the result for the Labour dominated north east of England is known.
This result will demonstrate whether Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has succeeded in persuading Labour supporters to vote in their droves for Remain.
A strong vote for In for Labour is seen as vital in ensuring that a Brexit is averted.
The results night will now get interesting with the declarations showing whether the forecast swing to Leave across swathes of Middle England has come to pass.
Between 6am and 7am the main English results will be known – which in turn will finally decide the result of the EU in/out referendum.
Counting officers for the west Midlands declare at 6am, followed by the East Midlands, and South West at 6.30am, and finally at 7am Eastern, North West and South East.
Not much will happen before 5am. But the turnout – which could come at 3am – will be important: a high turnout – with more young people voting – is likely to mean a good night for Remain.
Remain is likely to take a healthy lead once the early declarations are made with the results for pro-EU regions – Wales, Scotland and London – making their results known by 5am.
But the first indication of whether Leave has done enough will come at 5am when the result for the Labour dominated north east of England is known.
This result will demonstrate whether Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has succeeded in persuading Labour supporters to vote in their droves for Remain.
A strong vote for In for Labour is seen as vital in ensuring that a Brexit is averted.
The results night will now get interesting with the declarations showing whether the forecast swing to Leave across swathes of Middle England has come to pass.
Between 6am and 7am the main English results will be known – which in turn will finally decide the result of the EU in/out referendum.
Counting officers for the west Midlands declare at 6am, followed by the East Midlands, and South West at 6.30am, and finally at 7am Eastern, North West and South East.
Mugabe Confronts Mahofa Over Tongaat Land Invasion
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | President Robert Mugabe has summoned Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mahofa and Psychomotor Minister Josaya Hungwe over the chaotic invasion of Tongaat Hulett land, government sources have revealed.
According to intelligence sources at Benjamin Burombo building, Mugabe has been angered by Mahofa and Hungwe’s role in the invasion of Tangaat Hulett sugarcane fields .
In what could be a dramatic turn of events after Mahofa openly defied Mugabe on the AU cattle donations,the 92 year old President is expected to visit Chiredzi on Saturday to reverse the taking over of the land.
It is understood Mugabe had a six hour meeting with 15 Zanu PF legislators from Masvingo Province and he told the MPs the process was unconstitutional.
Mugabe is said to be furious with Mahofa and Hungwe following their active role in the invasion of the sugarcane fields. Ironically Mahofa and Hungwe are key members of the Team Lacoste camp said to be backing Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is widely believed to be angling himself to eventually succeed Mugabe.
“The President will be in Chiredzi on Saturday following the marathon meeting he held with 15 MPs in Harare last week. The President has vowed to confront Mahofa and Hungwe over their role in the chaotic invasion of Tongaat Hulett land. The issue will be addressed during a closed door meeting. We told the President that Hungwe and Mahofa are igniting factionalism in the province so heads will roll on Saturday,” said a government official in the Lands Ministry -who is also a prolific Zanu PF activist.
It is understood Mahofa and Hungwe played a leading role in the land grab programme that has resulted in a massive loss of jobs.
Khupe Pulls Thousands in Mutare
The MDC held a march in Mutare this morning attended by thousands of party supporters and led by party Vice-President, Thokozani Khupe, who was flanked by other National Executive members who include, Douglas Mwonzora and Obert Gutu. The MDC is demanding the return of the missing $15 billion among other urgent issues the government has to pay attention to.
NetOne Corruption,Mandiwanzira Faces Jail For Contempt Of Parly
Information Communication Technology and Courier Services Minister, Supa Mandiwanzira, is facing contempt of Parliament charges, for trying to block the House of Assembly from hearing more oral evidence pertaining to the NetOne corruption scandal.
Mandiwanzira has been implicated in NetOne corruption where he is said to have forced the parastatal to award a $44 million tender to a South African company in which he has interests.
The Zanu PF MP for Nyanga South, on Monday threatened to sue NetOne boss Reward Kangai, whom he suspended recently after the he had told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology, that Mandiwanzira was corrupt.
The former ZBC journalist-cum politician went on to issue a statement denouncing Parliament for discussing the NetOne corruption saga saying that the August house was interfering with a forensic audit the parastatal is instituting.
“I am aware that the Parliament hearing and other activities that I have ignored are meant to pre-empt the audit report and intimidate the auditor. These cheap efforts shall not succeed,” said Mandiwanzira.
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology, Nelson Chamisa said Mandiwanzira’s utterances might constitute contempt of Parliament.
“The minister (Mandiwanzira) is the one who came to Parliament and raised these issues about Megawatt and Bopela (Group of Companies) and that is why we invited Kangai. In fact, the minister’s conduct is now bordering on contempt of Parliament because he cannot veto committee hearings and cannot supervise Parliament. It is Parliament that supervises the minister because he has to account to the public. The minister will have his day and, for now, he must not try to intimidate the committee.”
Mabvuku-Tafara MP, James Maridadi (MDC-T) yesterday raised Mandiwanzira’s statement in the National Assembly, saying it constituted contempt of Parliament, but Deputy Speaker Mabel Chinomona ignored the point of order.
FULL AUDIO – Dokora Hides Behind ZANU PF Pastors
VP Mphoko Refuses New Mansion Says Not “His Stature”
VICE-PRESIDENT Phelekezela Mphoko is not happy with renovations made to his new home and will not move into the new mansion the State-acquired for him in Harare’s leafy Grange suburb vowing to continue staying in an upmarket city hotel at taxpayers’ expense.
According to government insiders, Mphoko was reportedly demanding more changes to the house to ensure it meets “his stature”, but the State was struggling to fund the required improvements due to a depleted revenue base, Newsday reports.
The Vice-President’s house was bought by government at a cost of $3,5 million, but the renovation costs were not readily available yesterday.
“The house is ready for occupation, but the VP wants more improvements done. We really don’t understand what he wants the Ministry of Public Works and National Housing to do, but we have done our best to it. We don’t know what more needs to be done,” a senior government official, who requested not to be named, said.
Mphoko has clocked over 550 days in a five-star Harare hotel, where he checked in soon after his appointment as Vice-President in December 2014 — gobbling huge sums of taxpayers’ money in accommodation and meal costs.
Local Government permanent secretary, George Mlilo, yesterday said his ministry was no longer involved in the issue, as the matter had been handed over to the Presidency.
“That issue is being handled by the VP’s Office and the Office of the President. We no longer have any business with it,” he said.
Director of State residences in President Robert Mugabe’s Office, Innocent Tizora, refused to comment on the matter.
“Who is this? Yes, how can I help you,” a cordial Tizora said.
But when the NewsDay reporter identified himself, Tizora angrily said: “What do you want, nxa,” before terminating the call.
Several attempts to get a comment from Mphoko himself were fruitless as his phone was busy, while Minister of State in his Office, Thabetha Kanengoni-Malinga was not picking her calls.
Mphoko, a career diplomat who served in various countries, landed the Vice-Presidency in December 2014 following the ouster of then Vice-President Joice Mujuru from both government and Zanu PF.
He was appointed co-Vice-President together with Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is staying in his government-issued house.
Since Mphoko had no government accommodation in the capital, he was booked into the presidential suite at Rainbow Towers Hotel where he has now clocked 18 months.
The presidential suite, located on the 17th Floor, costs $403 inclusive of bed and breakfast for two per day, while lunch and dinner cost $15 each.
Mphoko is reportedly staying with his grandchild in the suite, which significantly increases the cost.
The hotel charges an additional $130 for an extra bedroom in the same suite for two children and Mphoko’s aides.
Early last year, Mphoko’s wife, Laurinda, reportedly rejected three houses, among them a mansion in Ballantyne Park worth $3 million, claiming it was too small for a person of the VP’s stature.
The Mphokos also refused to move into the house once occupied by the late Vice-President Joseph Msika in Mandara, saying they wanted a house of their own.
Mphoko’s demand for an upmarket house is in direct contrast with his predecessor, the late Vice-President John Nkomo, who lived in a modest double-storey government house in Milton Park. Government is, according to the Constitution, obliged to provide State accommodation to Vice-Presidents, who are also entitled to buy the properties at market value when they leave office.
Dokora Tells Schools to Sue Parents
SCHOOLS can take parents to the small claims court over unpaid fees of up to $5,000 per child, a Cabinet Minister said yesterday.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Dr Lazarus Dokora told about 1,500 secondary school heads that the small claims court would soon be empowered to handle claims from schools amounting up $5,000. He told the school heads that rural schools can also utilise traditional and community courts presided over by chiefs.
The Constitution, the minister said, prohibits the exclusion of pupils from school for non-payment of fees. He said this while responding to questions by school heads attending the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) annual conference, who sought clarity on how schools can recoup money owed by parents in unpaid fees.
Dr Dokora said Cabinet was deliberating on the issue and the small claims court would soon be able to handle cases with debts of up to $5,000. “The issue of exclusion of children from school is a Constitutional issue and it makes it illegal to exclude a pupil from school because of fees. Talk to parents instead,” said Dr Dokora.
“Small caims court can be the answer. You can go there and claim your money. We have made provision in Cabinet so that it can handle amounts of up to $5,000.”
Dr Dokora said previously the small claims court dealt with small amounts that made it not feasible for schools to approach them to recover their money. He urged schools to make comprehensive lists of their debtors and approach the courts.
The Minister said parents would then be invited to “swear on how they will pay up the money in court.’’
Some school heads were reluctant to drag parents to court for fear of meeting the wrath of the community, he said, but assured them they would be merely executing their duties as heads of institutions.
Parents have in the past been encouraged to pay fees for their children as schools were hamstrung by lack of finances.
In May, Dr Dokora said only boarding schools are allowed to send children home for not paying fees while others are not allowed to do so.
The Nash conference started on Tuesday and ends today. It is being held under the theme: “The new curriculum: Opportunities and challenges.”
Sick Tsvangirai Skips Mutare March
MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai will today miss the opposition party’s Mutare protest march against President Robert Mugabe’s alleged misrule, as he is scheduled to undergo a routine medical review,
NewsDay reports saying.
This comes as the party was optimistic of pulling a bumper crowd to demand Mugabe’s immediate resignation over the poor economic performance and maladministration.
In April, Tsvangirai led thousands to a peaceful demonstration in Harare, but missed a similar march in Bulawayo, as he was recuperating in South Africa from an undisclosed medical procedure.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka said his boss’ absence would not affect the much-hyped Manicaland protest march.
“President Tsvangirai will not be part of the marching thousands in Manicaland, as initially planned, as the new date for the demonstration, now brought to Thursday, coincides with his scheduled medical review following a medical procedure done on him,” he said.
“President Tsvangirai is in high spirits and was looking forward to attending the Manicaland protest march on Saturday were it not for the incestuous relationship between Zanu PF and the police, who conspired to create a competing event by Zanu PF on the same day.
“But the event is going ahead because it is a provincial event and, in any case, the absence of the president does not affect party programmes.”
MDC-T was forced to bring forward its march after police said Zanu PF had a function on the same day.
Tamborinyoka described Manicaland as the “scene of the crime”, where $15 billion worth of diamonds were stolen to “fatten the pockets of the chefs and to pay Nikuv [an Israeli company] to steal July 2013 harmonised elections”.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said the party was hopeful of pulling 10 000 people to demonstrate against Mugabe and Zanu PF.
“On Thursday, the MDC mother of all demonstrations takes place in the beautiful and serene Eastern Highlands city of Mutare. We expect a bumper crowd of no less than 10 000 people to take part in this demo,” he said.
“The people of Manicaland are particularly irked by the looting of diamonds that has taken place in their own hinterland of Marange and Chiadzwa. They would like to know, among other things, what happened to the $15 billion worth of diamonds that President Mugabe recently publicly admitted was looted.”
The opposition party will also be demanding to know what happened to the so-called community share ownership trusts in Zimunya and Marange area, as well as those who benefited from the programme.
MDC-T Manicaland chairman, David Chimhini said they were geared up for the demonstration, which starts at Sakubva Beit Hall at 9am and ends at Meikles Park in the afternoon.
“The only difficulty we are facing is the police. They keep calling us and they are demanding to know how people are going to demonstrate and the number of marshals. We are not concerned about the numbers, but the message, to be conveyed,” he said.
“The demonstration comes at the right time for the civil servants. They are employed, but are not getting their salaries on time. We also have people who were affected when industries closed.”
The Mutare demonstration is a follow to those held in the Harare, Bulawayo and Bindura. The demonstration becomes the first one to be cleared by police, as the other three were okayed by the High Court, after the cops attempted to block them.-Newsday
Cabinet Pushes In Diaspora Policy
Zimbabwe’s efforts to effectively engage its Diaspora community are taking shape after Cabinet yesterday approved the National Diaspora Policy. Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the document will give direction to the strategies the country will adopt in engaging Zimbabweans living in foreign countries.“We met as Cabinet yesterday and approved the Diaspora Policy, which is being pushed by the Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion,” he said.
Last year, the Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion submitted a draft of the policy document to Cabinet for modifying.
Government is of the opinion that the Disapora community can be leveraged to boost financial investment into the country, as well as increase trade and technology and skills transfer.
Diaspora remittances to the country dropped last year from the 2014 figure of around $1,8 billion.
“Last year, as a country we got around $900 million in Diaspora remittances, but more can be achieved through a greater level of engagement.
“The document will show what strategies we are going to implement, and some of these strategies relate to harnessing the skills that the Diasporans have acquired in the respective countries where they are based,” said Minister Chinamasa.
He said the idea was at least to emulate Ethiopia, which has made significant economic progress with the co-operation of its Diaspora community.
The minister was speaking during a validation workshop for the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP).
The I-PRSP is aimed at enhancing Government efforts in fighting poverty in Zimbabwe and ensure inclusive growth, guided by the country’s national development plan Zim-Asset
He said the I-PRSP would be used as a significant component of the ongoing efforts to re-engage international financiers.
“The strategy (I-PRSP) is also a means to facilitate the ongoing re-engagement process with the international financial institutions, which is critical in mobilising financial resources for the country’s development process.
“The strategy will thus focus on practical and well-targeted measures that can be implemented in the short-to-medium term with long-lasting impacts that guarantee improvement in the welfare of our people.”
Typically, Poverty Reduction Strategies Papers (PRSPs) provide lending organisations, like the World Bank and the IMF, assurance that countries receiving aid would utilise the assistance to pursue development outcomes that have been elaborated in the PRSPs and approved by lenders.
According to the minister, the I-PRSP will be brought before Cabinet by the end of next month.
“It is our hope that the strategy will provide focus to increased funding. I stand ready to steer the final document to Cabinet by end of July this year,” said Minister Chinamasa.-state media
Girl Kills Self, Used Condoms Found
Terrence Mawawa
In a bizarre incident, in Chivi, that has triggered widespread speculation,a 22 year old lady was found with used condoms under her pillow after killing herself.
Rosina Jere of Mabwe village who was a shop attendant,hanged herself inside her bedroom last Tuesday under mysterious circumstances.
Villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com said Jere was last seen with her boyfriend who works in Harare before she took her life. It is widely believed Jere committed suicide after her boyfriend disappeared with cash collected from the shop on the fateful day.
“Many people believe her boyfriend disappeared with the money she collected from the shop on the same day.It seems she could not account for the money and she decided to kill herself.Jere was also found with used condoms under her pillow,”said a local villager. Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident. Jere’s sister who declined to be named said the incident was shocking and mind boggling. “We are still in shock over the death of Rosina and we all wonder what could have been the reason for committing suicide.She did not communicate with anyone so we are totally confused,”said her sister. It is also understood Jere was involved in an argument with her boyfriend a few days before her death.
85 Year Old White Farmer Loses Farm To Zanu PF MP
Zanu-PF Mberengwa North legislator, Tafanana Zhou, has just gained a farm under the Government’s land resettlement programme, resulting in the eviction of the 85-year-old farmer who has lived there.
Stamatoula Raft, who owned Clifton Farm in Mberengwa district, appeared before Gweru provincial magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa on Friday facing one count of refusing to vacate a gazetted piece of land. Raft according to a court ruling has seven days to vacate the farm.
Raft, who used to own three farms in Kwekwe, Gweru and Mberengwa before losing them all under the land reform programme, was also handed a three month suspended sentence and fined $150 for refusing to vacate the farm to pave way for MP Zhou.
Mrs Msipa said the State had managed to prove to the court that the farm in question was gazetted and or acquired by the Government.
“The farm was compulsorily acquired in terms of the Constitution and the accused had no lawful right to continue occupying the land since she had no offer letter, permit or lease of agreement from government.
“The accused is fined $150. If she fails to pay she will serve 30 days in jail. In addition she is sentenced to three months which are wholly suspended and should vacate the farm by June 24 at 4PM,” said Mrs Msipa.
She called on the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement to have mechanisms that curb abuse of the systems which resulted in some officers in the Mberengwa office unlawfully giving Raft an offer letter.
State witness and former Midlands provincial lands officer Joseph Shoko told the court that last year Raft was served with an eviction notice from 208 hectares at Clifton Farm and ordered to wind up her operations by February 17 this year.
Raft, Shoko said, however stayed put on the farm alleging that she had got assurance from the district lands office in Mberengwa and former Midlands Governor Cephas Msipa that she could stay on the piece of the land since it was unproductive.
Raft told the court that she had voluntarily given the rest of the farm measuring more than 2,000 hectares to Government where new A1 farmers were resettled.
She said the State had also acquired two of her farms, one in Kwekwe and the other in Gweru adding that she was only left with the 208 hectares she occupied at Clifton Farm.
Prosecutor, Mr Fred Kadodo told the court that MP Zhou was issued with an offer letter entitling him to use Clifton Farm measuring 208,4 hectares, which was occupied by Raft.
“Raft continued to occupy the farm without lawful authority as she did not possess the necessary documents to occupy the piece of land,” he said.
Zim ‘Robbed’ Of $1billion Annually – ZIMRA
Goods smugglers in retail and the business community are suspected of robbing the country of $1 billion annually, thus draining the fiscus, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has said.
The revenue loss, more than a quarter of the 2016 National Budget, came as government has been battling to meet its monthly commitments such as paying salaries to civil servants and service providers on time.
Responding to media inquiries, Zimra board chairperson Willia Bonyongwe said the increased levels of smuggling explained why some products were being sold at low prices.
“What this tells us about smuggling is that people are able to sell goods at very low prices, almost close to the prices obtained in source markets such as China. Legitimate players, who are law abiding, end up being crowded out.
These people also are truant with their VAT [value added tax], Paye [pay as you earn] and other statutory obligations. The extent can be gauged by the impact on legitimate business in tyre trading, electrical goods, fuel and foodstuffs. I would agree that on the whole, loss to the fiscus could be up to a billion annually,” she said.
“Those who smuggle say it is because duties are high. I say tax is high because of the evaders. If everyone paid their taxes, government could actually find leeway to reduce duty.”
In the past months, revenue heads have been under performing after government failed to plug loopholes leading to smuggling.
Recently, government identified transit truck vehicles as fuelling smuggling by claiming the goods were headed for other destinations other than Zimbabwe.
Apart from transit truckers, individuals are said to be moving goods by faking documentation at borders and reducing the amount on purchased goods to pay lower duties.
In his monetary policy statement, central bank governor, John Mangudya, early this year, said individuals and corporates externalised $1,8 billion in 2015 fuelling the cash shortages.
“Those who smuggle have low margins and can sell for half the price, hence, there will be demand. While the smuggler is breaking the law and ought to be punished, the responsibility to curb smuggling goes beyond Zimra and beyond the smuggler, it is something that needs to be tackled holistically,” Bonyongwe said.
Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha recently told NewsDay’s sister paper, The Standard that government was working on a new tracking system to deal with smuggling.
Pay Crisis – No Deal Reached in Government, Workers Talks
The indaba held yesterday between Government and workers representatives, yielded no results as both parties stuck to their positions, with another attempt aimed at finding a middle ground slated for Monday.
The employer is maintaining that June salary payments will spill into next month owing to poor revenue inflows, the workers have remained adamant saying their June salaries should be paid within this month as they had obligations like bank loans and rentals to meet.
The parties agreed to convene again on Monday to map the way forward after “consulting their relevant constituencies.”
This emerged from a meeting the civil servants’ representatives had with three Cabinet ministers, Civil Service Commission officials and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya.
The three ministers who attended the meeting were Patrick Chinamasa (Finance and Economic Development), Prisca Mupfumira (Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare) and Dr David Parirenyatwa (Health and Child Care).
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Minister Mupfumira said the parties had been “frank and sincere” with their positions.
“We had a good meeting and consultations,” she said.
“We have come up with certain decisions, which we are going to consult our various constituencies. The unions are going to consult their constituencies and we will also be consulting. As such, we have resolved to meet on Monday at 4:30pm to map the way forward together.”
Minister Mupfumira added: “People have been sincere and frank with their positions, but what we have resolved is that we are going to have regular consultations in future, on a quarterly basis, just to discuss pertinent issues. We have discussed and agreed that there is need for a workshop with the RBZ governor so that we know what is happening as far as monetary issues are concerned.
“We agreed that we need transparency, honesty and trust in all our deliberations. We also resolved that we need to involve and engage the Apex Council in the budgetary process and this will be done,” said Minister Mupfumira.
According to the new pay dates proposed by Government last week, teachers and nurses will be paid on July 7 and 14, respectively.
Members of the uniformed forces will get their salaries between June 27 and June 30.
Apex Council team leader Mrs Cecelia Alexander, said they were not turning back on their position.
She said Government had taken them through the challenges they were facing in mobilising resources, but shifting pay dates was “unacceptable”.
“They have promised to rectify this postponement of salaries in July, which means that they are committing to pay July salaries within that month but for this month they said they are not able to change the dates,” Mrs Alexander said.
“As workers, we have remained with the position that we have been sent with our members and we say that salaries should be paid on the due traditional dates. We still hold on to that position, and we are going back to consult, and after consulting we are going to sit again with Government on Monday.”
She added: “Our reasons for making this demand are there are penalties that we will incur as a result of late payment of salaries, which penalties will be our liability as workers. By the end of the month, our transport allowance will be spent and we will not be able to travel to and from work. We also face the prospect of being evicted from our rented accommodation.”
On releasing the new pay dates, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development cited cash flow challenges as the reasons for not paying salaries on time.
Government is paying nearly $200 million every month towards salaries which is more than 80 percent of revenue collected.
To rectify the anomaly, Government has embarked on a rationalisation exercise in the civil service to cut the costs, in a move that will see $400 million being saved annually. state media
Why African Migrants Must Vote to Leave the EU:
My name is Dotun Oyeniyi, I am an expert in Immigration Law and I intend to look at the upcoming IN/OUT referendum of the U.K, mainly from its potential effects on immigrants from outside the EU, beyond the current ‘scaremongering’ going on among the party leaders.
Many years ago, the U.K. was a place to easily get jobs by non-EU immigrants. The expansion of the EU has changed all that. Most employers are likely to prefer EU applicants to non-EU ones, the latter possibly with the shackles of visa renewals and extensions.
Did you ever hear about the HSMP (The highly skilled migrant programme) and the Tier 1 (General) visa routes? These enabled so many skilled African immigrants to emigrate to the UK, legally and thereafter ‘settle’ with relative ease. Both routes are now closed. Why would the UK need them when so many immigrants workers from the EU have entered the UK, freely.
Talking of ‘unskilled jobs’ like cleaning, security and such – have you noticed that non-EU immigrants are gradually being replaced by EU immigrants, especially the Eastern Europe Immigrants?
Remaining in the EU implies that the UK employers have to ‘technically’ give priority to 500 million members of the EU before considering say African immigrants. What chance do you stand in such?
Have you heard of the IHS? The health surcharge that is paid for immigration applications by non-EEA related applications. It is charged because the NHS is under pressure. The pressure on the NHS is caused mostly by the EU immigrants but it is the non-EU immigrants that bear the brunt.
Leaving the EU will create a level playing field for all to compete for jobs and accommodation. If the UK remains in the EU, with Albania, Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro waiting in the wings to join, the non- EU immigrants may end up being completely ’emasculated’.
PLEASE VOTE TO LEAVE ON 23rd JUNE.
Dokora Hides Behind Pastors
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora, currently under fire for launching attacks on the Christian religion, on Wednesday crept behind a select group of sympathising church pastors in Harare.
The move comes as Dokora is faced with a national protest over his controversial and militant vow he has forced on school children.
The consortium of churches under the banner of the so called “National Elders Church Forum” conjoined Dokora for almost three hours in an intimate presser in which Dokora ducked behind the men of the cloth.
“We said to avert and prevent a culture of conflict and a culture of social turbulences there should be engagement with citizens,” National Elders of the Church spokesperson Alexander Chisango told journalists after the meeting.
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“We also resolved that we want to promote a culture of consultation prior to the announcement of major national policies and we have offered ourselves to be a free resource of wisdom, knowledge and a resource of experience across the board.
“We also agreed that the church will take precautions to help the whole country to shield our schools from unorthodox and immoral social practices that hide under the banner of religion.
“This was more like a damage control and damage healing meeting which was happening and which came already in the midst of lots of suspicion, disagreements and desertions that people were exchanging predominantly through the media,” he said.
Dokora this year became unpopular for introducing controversial ministerial directives in the education sector.
The Education Minister tactfully refused to respond questions to the media claiming that he was not the event organiser.
Rape Accused Indians released On Bail
Justice Garainesu Mawadze has granted Krishna Satyanarayana Grandlur and Ravi Kumar Krishnan $1000 bail each after the prosecution admitted that the State’s case against the two was weak.
The High Court has gone further to order the release of the two Indian businessmen accused of raping a Harare woman at a city hotel. They were represented by Dumisani Mthombeni.
Prosecutor Peter Kachirika alleged that on June 16 Gandlur and Krishnan were booked in rooms 968 and 951, respectively, while the victim was in 969. The court heard that around midnight Gandlur invited the woman into his room for a drink and introduced her to Krishnan.
The two accused persons then ordered red wine and forced the complainant to drink some.
It was alleged that Gandlur attempted to kiss the woman but she resisted. The court heard that when she was drunk, Gandlur took advantage and forcibly had anal sexual intercourse with her.
When the woman woke up the following morning in her room she found herself wearing only a bra and her pants were on the floor. According to court papers, the woman’s sheets were blood-stained and she also found cigarettes on the side table.
The woman then narrated the ordeal to the hotel’s management before reporting the case to police officers who were at the scene. Gandlur was positively identified by the woman and immediately arrested. Krishnan was arrested later.
Wife Hacking Ex-MP Mubhawu To Face Justice
Attempts by the wife of former MDC-T legislator Timothy Mubhawu to have domestic violence charges against him dropped were unsuccessful, with the court suggesting instead she seeks professional counselling.
This came as video footage emerged showing Mubhawu apparently absolving his wife of having an adulterous affair with Pastor Manson Mpofu.
Mubhawu (52) is alleged to have struck his wife with a machete on the knee and hands following a domestic dispute at their Donnybrook home on May 15.
It is alleged that Mubhawu accused his wife of cheating with Pastor Mpofu.
The prosecutor Ms Patience Chimusaru opposed the withdrawal of the matter saying she suspected that Molleen Mubhawu had been coerced to drop the charges by the former Mabvuku-Tafara Member of Parliament.
The court ordered that Molleen be sent for professional counselling at Musasa Project within two weeks.
Ms Chimusaru said the matter could not be withdrawn as the charge indicated that a dangerous weapon had been used to commit the offence, adding that a medical affidavit obtained at Parirenyatwa Hospital where the victim was treated would be produced in court as exhibit.
Mubhawu’s lawyer Mr Stephen Chikotora told the court that he was not ready to proceed because he was standing in for lawyer Mr Everson Chatambudza who was off sick.
The magistrate Ms Nomsa Sabarauta, adjourned the matter to July 4 for trial.
Molleen sustained a cut on her right palm while trying to block the machete and later reported the matter to police leading to Mubhawu’s arrest.
Meanwhile, video footage has been released showing Mubhawu absolving his wife of infidelity.
In the video clip, Mubhawu is heard apologising to Pastor Mpofu for falsely accusing him of cheating with his wife.
Mubhawu asks the pastor for forgiveness saying he was influenced by Satan.
“Join Us!,” ZANU PF Tells MDC Harare Mayor
Zanu PF says acting Harare Mayor Chris Mbanga should join the party if the MDC-T continues to harass him.
The party’s Harare provincial political commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe said the ruling party was following closely developments at Town House and worried by the suspension of Mbanga by the MDC-T for allegedly defying party orders and working closely with Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.
“l want to differ with the MDC-T on suspending Mbanga. He is doing his duties as enshrined in the constitution. For them to say he has done A, B, C and must be suspended from the MDC-T l think they are not respecting the office of the acting Mayor,” Mashayamombe said.
“As Zanu PF if they reject those guys, we are calling them to come and join Zanu PF because we want people. We are a people’s party. Tough luck MDC, they were expecting to do what they want but the minister is empowered not to allow the chaos to continue. Our minister is spot on and should keep an eye on city of Harare. We want it to perform,” he said.
He said the Town Clerk, James Mushore was not wanted at Town House and must leave.
Cross told journalists in Harare that Mbanga must face the music.
“What is happening is one individual here who has gone rogue. Let me tell you how sad it is, he is an old friend of mine, he was chief of staff for the PM during the inclusive government…”
He said Mbanga had committed “gross violations of party instructions.”
Mbanga told ZiFM Stereo News that he was doing his job and there was no way councillors can operate without the
Local Government Minister.
“If my party can’t associate with minister, we can as well go operate from Harvest House,” Mbanga said while insisting that those baying for his blood did not understand issues.
Chaos has been the order of the day at Town House over the appointment of Mushore to the position of Town Clerk, replacing Tendai Mahachi who was retired last November.
Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni was suspended for the second time and has since taken Minister Kasukuwere to court.
Youths Plot Anti-Mugabe Protests
Youths from 14 opposition political parties and 45 civil society organisations have joined hands in their quest to force President Robert Mugabe to fulfil his 2013 poll pledge — through nationwide demonstrations.
In an interview with the Daily News last week , MDC youth chairperson Happpison Chidziva said the 14 opposition parties and 45 civic organisations under the Hashtag #Tajamuka/Sesjikile Campaign will move around the country urging people to take action against Mugabe’s misrule.
“The Occupy Africa Unity Square is now part of #Tajamuka/Sesjikile Campaign and we are going to occupy the Square till Mugabe resigns,” Chidziva, who is in the #Tajamuka/Sesjikile mobilisation committee said.
According to #Tajamuka/Sesjikile spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi some of the opposition parties which are part of the group include, Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), MDC-led by Welshman Ncube, Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe (RDZ), Zunde, Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn, Transform Zimbabwe, Free Zim, Dare, Zanu Ndonga and NCA.
Some of the organisations include Youth alliance for Democracy, Zinasu, Youth Agenda Trust, Bulawayo Youth in Action, Harare Residents Alliance, Student Solidarity Trust, various vendors’ associations, the Rural Teachers Association and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions among other movements.
“This is a campaign for all youths in Zimbabwe, they are arresting activists but we don’t fear them, we are going on with our protests.
“We are going to continue with the Occupy Africa Unity Square campaign, look the vice president (Phelekezela Mphoko) is living in a five-star hotel while the majority of Zimbabweans are struggling to make a living.
“We are going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) offices and we are going to tell them that they must not re-engage Zimbabwe. There are thieves in Zanu PF and if the IMF gives them money, they will use it for their personal gains.”
Zinasu president Alistar Pfunye also added his voice and called for Mugabe and his entire Cabinet to resign.
“As Zinasu, we are going to join all progressive political parties and civic organisations who are demonstrating against Mugabe’s misrule. As students, we are worried with the current state of the economy, our parents are failing to pay us fees.”
Meanwhile, the MDC national youth assembly has resolved to support the Africa Unity Square activists.
“(MDC national) executive noted the continued harassment and intimidation of occupants of the Africa Unity Square through arbitrary and illegal arrests as happened at the Square. Executive resolved to support the initiative of occupation of the Africa Unity Square henceforth,” MDC youths secretary-general Lovemore Chinoputsa said. Daily News
AUDIO-Makarau Says “Election Fairness is Impossible!”
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson and SADC elections boss, Justice Rita Makarau, has said that fairness in election is impossible.
As she set the tone for the nature of elections in the rest of Southern Africa, Makarau said her organisation is struggling to balance between transparency and protecting vote during elections.
Addressing a group of new election commissioners from Botswana, Lesotho, Zambia and Malawi in Harare, on Wednesday, at a three day training workshop, Makarau who is also the Electoral Commissions Forum-SADC President, said balancing the two has always been what she termed a difficult task.
“I have always marveled at how elections demand that we be transparent and secret at the same time. You know what I am talking about? Our processes have got to be very, very transparent but we have got to protect the secrecy of the vote,” she said.
“So it is a skill that you have got to learn and balance, when do I stop being transparent and protect the secrecy of the vote”.
“We may laugh but we need to understand at each and every stage the guiding principle, the underlying principle why we do certain things in a particular way, why do we have to be transparent at one stage and have to be secretive at some other stages,” she said. –
Click PLAY above to listen…
Boy Beats Up Mother and her Lover
A 17-YEAR-OLD boy from Mvuma was yesterday handed a two-year wholly suspended sentence for assaulting his mother and her lover.
A court heard how the teenager went haywire when his mother started co-habiting with her lover after his father went to prison.
He pelted his mother with stones, accusing her of being a “heartless witch” before beating up his mother’s lover when he tried to intervene.
The teenager pleaded guilty to assault before Mvuma Magistrate Ms Vimbai Makora.
He was handed a two-year wholly suspended sentence for the next four years on condition of good behaviour.
The teenager told the court that he was very angry about what his mother did during the period his father was in jail.
“Your Worship I want to apologise to my mother for what I did. I was angry because she left me alone at home, going to another man after my father was sent to prison for theft,” said the boy.
Prosecuting, Mr Michael Kazomba told the court that on June 8 this year, the teen visited his mother at her lodgings in Mvuma.
Mr Kazomba said without greeting her, the teenager started shouting at her accusing her of witchcraft and being heartless.
“The complainant denied the accusations of witchcraft and as the accused was leaving, he picked two stones and struck the complainant on the right side rib and on the left elbow.
“The complainant’s boyfriend heard the noise and rushed to the scene. The accused turned on him and battered him with a log. The two sustained injuries and reported the matter to the police,” said Mr Kazomba.
He said the boy handed himself over to Mvuma police on the same day.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT: BMW Smashes Into Govt Vehicle
Another accident has just occurred in Masvingo city. A BMW driver smashed into a government vehicle at 1.30pm on Wednesday.
The BMW vehicle’s entire frontal was marred beyond recognition (PICTURES BELOW). ZimEye.com has been told that the driver is unlicensed.
ZRP cops swarmed into the area at Edgars traffic lights along Robert Mugabe Rd.
“The red BMW was totally wrong because it was supposed to give way to the Civil Aviation vehicle,” a ZimEye source said.
No one was injured in the accident.
More to follow…
Govt Blows $35million on Girlfriend PhoneCalls
Zimbabwe government top officials in 2015 blew $35 million on phone calls, a chunk of which were mere girlfriend expenses..
Zimbabwe’s profligate government officials blew a whopping $35 million on phone calls in 2015 alone, calling into serious question the commitment of President Robert Mugabe’s under-pressure administration to a judicious management of its dwindling revenues.
The scandalous news comes at a time that many government functions and critical social services are grinding to a halt due to a lack of funds, while Zimbabweans are being called upon to be patient with the State and to tighten their belts as the local economy continues on its precipitous decline.
“In order to avoid the continued accumulation of arrears, alignment of consumption with budgeted capacity becomes inescapable,” the circular said further.
Another source said so rife was the abuse of telephones at government departments that hundreds of millions of dollars had allegedly been lost to the scourge since 2009.
“This is why government line ministries have now been ordered to procure and install Private Branch Exchange (PABX) systems which have in-built functionalities that control usage through call monitoring and call restriction levels, the deadline for which is 30 June 2016,” the source said.
Apart from that, and working on recommendations from the Auditor General Mildred Chiri, Manungo’s circular also commendably expressed concern with the rampant abuse of public vehicles by staff “during public holidays, weekends, and after working hours”.
“In tandem with such usage levels, the maintenance and fuel bills have been progressively increasing and has equally resulted in a build-up of outstanding payment arrears to service providers.
“Accordingly, with immediate effect, accounting officers must ensure that all government pool/project vehicles are parked at the work stations or the nearest police station after designated hours, during weekends and public holidays,” the circular reads.
Another well-placed source, while commending Treasury for moving to deal with the abuse of resources within the public sector, claimed that one of “the biggest abusers of resources” was the Office of the President, where he said there was “zero transparency”.
“While Treasury is trying its very best, there are continuing inconsistencies in the setting of fuel allocation levels to different ministers, with one of the biggest abusers of the system being the Office of the President.
“To its credit, Treasury has attempted to set limits. For example, 500 litres of fuel per month is now the cap that has been set for permanent secretaries, while a principal director will get 400 litres. While this is still way too high, it is a move in the right direction,” the source said.
Documents in the possession of the Daily News reveal that the government also blew millions of dollars more in fuel allowances and other wasteful allocations, an unhealthy state of affairs that the State is only now moving to mitigate.
An angry senior government official described the stunning wastages yesterday as “disgraceful”, adding that the money could have been used to support the public health sector which had run out of drugs and was “grinding to a halt” due to lack of funding.
“I’m appalled by this disgraceful mismanagement. To think that so many sick children and pregnant mothers, for example, are dying because there is supposedly no money for hospitals breaks my heart. And then you see that millions (of dollars) are being wasted all over, it’s a disgrace.
“What is painful is that this fraud and corruption, because that is really what it is, runs from top to bottom, including ministers, which makes it difficult to deal with it. In fact, many of us who try to stop this madness are branded saboteurs or opposition players,” the official said.
Another whistle-blower claimed that the money spent on phone calls by bureaucrats was “a pittance compared to what we see being wasted by ministers, permanent secretaries, directors and their deputies on so-called fuel allowances and other perks”.
“The thieving ways of this government’s selfish stewards defies logic and human comprehension. And mind you, all this is happening despite the fact that the State cannot currently pay salaries on time or service its debt which is ballooning by the day,” he said.
In a letter dated April 8, that was sent to government departmental heads by the secretary to the Treasury, Willard Manungo — and which the Daily News has seen — permanent secretaries’ mobile phone allocations have since been revised down to $150 a month, while those of directors are now pegged at $100 per month: figures that many feel are still way too high considering the dire state of the economy.
According to the same circular, fixed telephone services exceeded budget by wide margins, forcing the broke government to seek a rationalisation of non-priority expenditure.
“Consumption of fixed telephone services continues to exceed budgeted expenditures. This is evidenced by an annual bill of $34,9 million in 2015 against an appropriation of $13,1 million.
Margaret Dongo’s Son Killed In Mystery Accident|LATEST DETAILS EMERGE
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Margaret Dongo speaks on shocking accident that claimed son.
People First Women’s League Chair, Margaret Dongo’s son, Elton, died following a mysterious accident which occurred at their Mhondoro farm property on Saturday.
Elton, a former IT student in the UK, was 31 years old, married with two children, and perished in a shocking accident involving a scotch-cart in which he was injured on the spine and later died on Monday morning.
His mother, the decorated war veteran, Margaret Dongo, exclusively told ZimEye.com she is still to come to terms with details of the accident. She questioned facts on how the accident occurred.
“What shocks me is how can a person who does not like scotch-carts all of a sudden jump into one?,” she questioned. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW. TO DONATE TO THE DONGO FAMILY, SEND TRANSFERS TO ECOCASH 0773049798 Kelvin Dongo.
She added saying the cart was being pulled by a restless cow at the time which when his friends noticed it was increasingly becoming agitated, decided to jump out.
“But he remained in there possibly hoping the situation would improve. It was at that point that he was thrown out of the cart as it collapsed and injured him at the spine,” she told ZimEye.
He was rushed to Parirenyatwa hospital and the mother telephoned while she was in 450km away in Bulawayo.
But the hospital did nothing on him for nearly 6 hours, ZimEye.com is told. Mrs Dongo said she is shocked that Parirenyatwa Hospital delayed attending to her son for over 5 hours.
“I was in Bulawayo when I received the telephone call and drove to Harare. By the time I got to Parirenyatwa, he was still in the casualty department,” the grieving mother said adding that he was still alive and talking at the time.
Indicating that she is being victimised by President Robert Mugabe’s political network, Mrs Dongo said this is not the first time something sinister has happened to her sons.
“I have three sons, all of them graduates, and the older one was recently looking for a job and as soon as they read out his name as Dongo, they asked him if his mother is me “Margaret”. It was at that point that he was told he is not suitable for the job,” said Mrs Dongo.
Mourners are at present gathered at the Dongo family home in Ridgeview, Harare.
Dongo is now the chairperson of the Zimbabwe People First party women’s wing.
She is a decorated war icon who is also a veteran of the democratic movements having pioneered Zimbabwe’s first bitter challenge to Robert Mugabe who later also became the first woman to form a party in 1998 after breaking away from Zanu PF. TO DONATE TO THE DONGO FAMILY, SEND ECOCASH TRANSFERS TO 0773049798 Kelvin Dongo.
BREAKING NEWS-Zifa is Back and NFAZ Disbanded
EFFORTS by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa), to be placed under trustee management and avoid settling sky-rocketing debts of more than $6 million, have been dealt a major blow, after the Master of the High Court filed a report urging the court to dismiss the application, arguing the national soccer governing body has no legal capacity to file such a petition.
In a report filed at the High Court in response to Zifa’s request, Additional Master-Insolvency, Reuben Mukavi, said Zifa does not have a legal personality separate from its members allowing it to sue or be sued in its own name before suggesting that all members of the organisation should have also applied for voluntary sequestration.
Mukavi said: “the net effect of these facts on the present application is that Zifa has no legal capacity to bring this petition in its own name, and for that reason the petition is a nullity”.
The application is set to be heard today.
Early this month, Zifa filed an application seeking to be placed under trustee management on the basis that it had failed to pay its creditors and was failing to abide by court orders since it had nothing to offer and was left with assets worth only $30 000.
But, the Master of the High Court accused Zifa of acting fraudulently against its creditors by coining a new outfit — the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (Nafaz) — in a bid to avoid its responsibilities.
“That new outfit is composed of the same members and office bearers as Zifa had. In fact, it would appear that all that was changed was the name of the association, the membership and the objects remained the same,” Mukavi said.
“It then is an escapable conclusion that the said dissolution of Zifa and the simultaneous constitution of Nafaz were simply a method by the members of evading paying creditors. . . the court might also want to know that the Zifa constitution, in Article 77(2) provides that upon Zifa being disbanded, its assets shall be transferred to the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), which shall hold those assets in trust until Zifa is re-established.
“It follows, therefore, that Zifa could not dissolve itself without transferring its assets and liabilities to its successor, Nafaz. By dissolving their Zifa, and then purporting to have the estate of Zifa sequestrated, the members are not only breaching article 77(2) of the Zifa constitution by failing to transfer Zifa’s assets and liabilities to Nafaz, but also roping in the court in the breach.”
Zifa (Pvt) Ltd, which claims to be a separate entity from the football association, owns four properties — Zifa House at Number 53 Livingstone Avenue in Harare, Zifa Village in Mt Hampden, a house along McLaughlin Road in Kensington, and another house in Bulawayo.
In its application, Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa said his association’s financial position had crippled the smooth running of the country’s football mother body.
“By and large, the key reasons for the predicament of the applicants are that they are unable to meet their obligations, pay for services they receive(d) and pay their debts on the basis that it has no capacity to do as and has no source(s) of income to meet such obligations,” he said.
“The applicant has been exposed to litigation on numerous occasions and, in the process, has lost money, goodwill, reputation and any assets of value and is now left with a depleted asset register, which virtually has nothing, such that its liabilities, debts and obligations now far outweigh its assets.”
Among the notable creditors is CBZ Bank Limited, which is owed $1 795 000. Other individuals and firms are owed more than $6 million, while Buymore Investments, which is owned by former Zifa president Cuthbert Dube is also owed $438 222.
Other notable creditors include the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority ($504 998, 62), Pandhari Lodges and Conference Centre ($268 436), the Asiagate investigating committee ($650 000), international match agents, Kentaro ($600 000), NSSA ($149 517,14), SRC ($180 386,40) and Led Travel &Tours ($244 527).
Former coaches, who are yet to get their dues include Norman Mapeza ($245 000), Rahman Gumbo ($78 000), Sunday Chidzambwa ($68 000), Charles Mhlauri ($17 270) and Nelson Matongorere ($113 463).-
Mugabe Says Grace Will Not Be President | ANALYSIS
President Robert Mugabe has indicated that his second wife, Grace, will not succeed him.
Speaking while addressing youths attending celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child, Mugabe pointed to a male takeover.
The new ZANU PF constitution, copied from opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s, gives Mugabe the exclusive powers to appoint his successor.
” I am on my way out,” Mugabe said.
Speaking during the first time the man revealed his after-life wishes, the President talked of a male takeover by those he termed “courageous men”.
“Once upon a time, I was like you. But I am not like you anymore. I am on my way out,” he said.
He continued, “but when I look over my shoulder, I would want to see bold and courageous men. I want to look behind and say those coming will be better than me.”
“That is what we always fight to do. To be better than our parents, initially be like them but strive to be better,” he said.
Mugabe has in recent days also spoken ill of his wife saying she torments him at home. “This is how she troubles me at home, so I just play a listener”, Mugabe said 6 months ago.
Beitbridge Chaos, ZRP Arrests 33 People After Clashes
The aftermath of the chaos at Beitbridge this week saw at least 33 people being arrested in Gweru.
Confederation of Traders Associations (COTA) – a Zimbabwe grouping of informal traders’ organisations – on Tuesday condemned the cash strapped government’s move to confiscate SA imported goods from vendors.
COTA said taking away vendor’s wares was in contravention of the country’s constitution.
Addressing a press conference at the Roadport cross border bus terminus in Harare, COTA Secretary General, Stan Manyenga, said the Statutory Instrument 64 0f 2016 that was being used by the government should have been discussed with stakeholders before it was passed into law.
“It is quite inhumane, cruel and inconsiderate that a lot of our members lost their wares at various entry points at the country’s borders. We estimate that goods worth $571 000 (R8 410 287) were lost through this ad-hoc exercise as of last night,” Manyenga said.
Zimbabwe has a very high rate of unemployment and many citizens earn a living by importing goods from South Africa for resale.
Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate has been estimated between 60% and as high as 95%. In its 2013 election manifesto, President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party put unemployment at 60%. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai estimates unemployment is above 85%
Manyenga called for the immediate repeal of the law allowing for confiscation of imported goods from vendors.
“The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority must immediately stop the confiscation of people’s goods at the borders and at roadblocks,” said Manyenga.
He added that the “Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 should be repealed as a matter of urgency as it is unconstitutional and a total violation of people’s fundamental rights”.
Manyenga said government “must compensate” all the traders whose goods were taken from them by state officials or lost during the fiasco at the Beitbridge border post and other points of entry.
Manyenga said all traders organisations under the COTA banner would meet next Monday to discuss the way forward.
National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) Board Chairperson Stan Zvorwadza warned members would get confrontational and defy the government if it continued to seize their wares.
“Section 57 of the Constitution prohibits the confiscation of private citizens’ goods and what is happening now only shows that our government is defiant of the fact that it should respect the tenets of the Constitution of the country,” said Zvorwadza.
The NAVUZ board chairperson said Zimbabwe’s economy was “comatose” and instead of the government assisting those who were enterprising it was taking away their livelihood.
“On the backdrop of this failing economy, the government must be the last institution or organisation to harass citizens who are fighting against poverty and many other challenges,” said Zvorwadza, whose name in the shona language means “it is painful”.
Zvorwadza added: “We are clear at this point that if the government does not stop its behaviour of confiscation of people’s goods at borders, we are going to declare that people must resist.
“If government takes harassment as a norm, we will take resistance as a norm, so at this point I am sure there should be clarity. This is a very sensitive issue and we must not compromise for less, we must not allow people to continue abusing Zimbabweans under these circumstances.”
According to Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016, which was gazetted last week, anyone importing listed basic commodities into Zimbabwe must have a permit to do so.
When immigration officials tried to effect the new law at the weekend, there was chaos as traders resisted the move.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha said the import ban on some basic commodities was a temporary measure aimed at protecting local manufacturers who were facing stiff competition from imported goods, especially those from South Africa.
He noted that the ban would be effective next month, adding that current imports should not be affected by the regulations. Banned imports include hair extensions and peanut butter.
“The regulation comes into effect next month, when the importation of some commodities in the statutory instrument will now require the granting of permits. We expect the local industry to capitalise on this and increase production. It is high time that the industry should focus on increasing availability of goods,” said Bimha. – ANA
Mujuru Fears Harare Star Rally Sabotage
After a successful inaugural rally held in Bulawayo last weekend, the former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) fears the ruling Zanu PF may try to either stop its next rally planned for Harare or disrupt it.
ZimPF spokesperson, Jealous Mawarire yesterday said, while the party had notified the police as required by law and received communication from authorities that the gathering could proceed, there were indications that there were efforts to disrupt it.
“Following the undisputed and resounding success of our rally in Bulawayo, as well as the unsuccessful bid by Zanu PF to disrupt it, we feel Zanu PF thugs could still be trying to find ways of creating havoc in Harare this coming weekend,” he said.
“They tried it in Bulawayo with a handful of hired 14-year-olds, who had been rewarded with stands by Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, but they failed. However, that will not stop them from trying the same trick in Harare. We will be monitoring the situation closely.”
Mawarire claimed Zanu PF was not amused by the “huge turnout” in Bulawayo.
ZimPF made similar claims ahead of its rally in Bulawayo, although it proceeded without incident and they risk being accused of crying wolf ahead of their rallies.
In a letter to the opposition party, officer commanding police Harare district, Newbert Saunyama “noted” ZimPF’s notification to hold the public gathering with strict regulations, including control of rogue supporters’ behaviour and co-operation with authorities.
Early this week, police forced the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC-T to bring forward its anti-government demonstration initially scheduled for June 25 to tomorrow, after Zanu PF claimed it would be holding an event in Mutare on the same day.
This was despite the fact that police had given the party greenlight to hold the demonstration.
Mawarire said his party would not be shocked if the same were to happen to them.
“We hope it does not come to that. We are watching developments and so far everything is okay. But you all know that such moves by Zanu PF are only meant to disrupt other political parties’ programmes and not necessarily because it has anything to do with their party activities,” he claimed.
“If they are going to try and play the same trick on us, they would not do it mid-week. Normally such announcements that other parties move or suspend their programmes come hours before the event.”
Mujuru was in Bulawayo last weekend were she addressed thousands of supporters in her first appearance at a political rally since being forced out of Zanu PF last year over allegations she was behind a plot to remove Mugabe from power by foul means.
Police Hunt Down Oil Directors using Interpol
Police are working with Interpol to assist them in locating two First Oil Company (Private) Limited directors believed to have fled allegations of obstructing the course of justice after they reportedly connived with CMED (Pvt) Ltd managing director Davison Mhaka to cook up papers showing how $2,7 million in a botched fuel deal was spent.
The pair, Alex Kudakwashe Mahuni and Lynon Gilbert Katunga, are believed to have manufactured fake documents together with Mhaka through an IT expert in South Africa to conceal the case.
According to police, Mahuni and Katunga fled to South Africa to evade arrest and being questioned over the case.
A senior police officer yesterday said they were aware that the pair was still in South Africa and were still gathering more intelligence with the help of Interpol.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi recently said the manhunt for the two was still on.
“Alex Kudakwashe Mahuni and Lynon Gilbert Katunga are wanted persons in a suspected case of money laundering, which is contravening Section 8 (2) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act Chapter 9:24,” he said.
Another Man Rapes Own 4yr Old Daughter
Terrence Mawawa, Chivhu| In yet another incident of child sexual abuse, a 69 year old Chivhu man raped his four year old daughter in a suspected ritual act.
Aaron Mafika was not asked to plead when he appeared before Chivhu Magistrate Denis Mangota on Monday facing rape charges.
Sometime in May 2016, Mafika called his child to the bedroom while her mother was away.
The child went into the bedroom and sat on Mafika’s thighs and he proceeded to give her sour milk to drink. Mafika then placed her down and raped the minor. He ordered the minor not to tell anyone about the matter and threatened her with unspecified action.
When the minor’s mother returned she took her to hospital because she had developed wounds on her private parts.
At the clinic the minor disclosed the matter to a nurse in her mother’s presence. The matter was reported to the police leading to Mafika’s arrest.
Cases of child sexual abuse have been on the increase in the past few months.
Children’s rights organisations have strongly condemned paedophilic behaviour, calling for stern measures against perpetrators of such crime.
“We are deeply worried about the increase in the cases of child sexual abuse. Some people consult traditional healers who instruct them to perform bizarre acts-including the abuse of minors. We strongly condemn paedophilic behaviour,” said Edmore Muchechetere, a social commentator and Sociology graduate.
Police Shoot, Nab Notorious Gang Leader
The leader of a notorious gang that has raped and committed over 200 crimes across the country, has been shot and captured by police.
Sibangilize Nyathi was shot at an inyanga’s homestead as he attempted to flee from the police on Sunday in Ntabazinduna. The inyanga, sources said, had allegedly been giving the gang muti to evade arrest during their reign of terror.
Detectives recovered a pistol and a Toyota Hilux pick-up which was allegedly bought using proceeds from armed robberies.
Nyathi is said to be at a Bulawayo Hospital where his condition is not known. He allegedly led Ntandoyenkosi Sidumbu (23) and Bongeni Tshuma (28) both of Msilahobe Village, Chief Malisa, Silobela, Kelvin Masuku (18) and Lameck Busiso Masuku Moyo (30) of Somabhula Wida Farm Plot 8, in committing gang rapes and armed robberies across the country.
Midlands Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Joel Goko yesterday said the suspected gang leader was holed up at the inyanga’s home. “Yes Nyathi, the alleged mastermind of the group of criminals, four of whom were arrested last week, was shot and injured before he was arrested over the weekend in Ntabazinduna. He is said to have been hiding at his alleged inyanga’s homestead. Police investigations are continuing,” said Insp Goko.
21 Zimbabweans Robbed as Bus Is Burnt Down
TWENTY-ONE Zimbabweans travelling to Johannesburg, South Africa, escaped death by a whisker after they were attacked and robbed of their valuables by violent protesters 40km outside Pretoria along the N1 Highway yesterday morning.
Some criminal elements that could have hijacked the protests, also burnt to a shell an Eagle Liner bus the Zimbabweans were travelling in after stripping the hapless passengers of their valuables.
One of the passengers sustained injuries when he was hit with a stone as the bus made a U-turn in front of the charging protesters.
Deputy South African President Mr Cyril Ramaphosa cautioned against tribalism attacks that erupted in the Tshwane metro. The Zimbabweans were attacked around 3:30am. The bus was travelling from Bulawayo to Johannesburg in Gauteng Province.
The protesters, unhappy about the ruling ANC’s nomination of former minister Thoko Didiza as mayoral candidate, set fire to buildings and overturned vehicles belonging to both South Africans and foreigners in and around Tshwane since Monday.
Didiza, born in KwaZulu-Natal, was nominated to replace the incumbent and protesters’ favourite candidate Kgosietso Sipulta Ramakgopa.
Eagle Liner proprietor Mr Dhalib Ishemeal, said the victims had taken refuge at Hammanskraal police station since the situation was still volatile. “All the 21 passengers are now safe and we are waiting for the police to calm the situation. We also heard that there was another bus from another company, which was also burnt down as well. This is very unfortunate,” said Mr Ishemeal.
Sources in Pretoria said haulage trucks and other vehicles, which use the same route were burnt near Zebediela.
It is understood that residents of Tshwane took to the streets protesting a decision by the ruling ANC to name Thoko Didiza as the party’s mayoral candidate in the forthcoming local government elections.- state media
Unshaken Occupy Africa Unity Square Protesters Back In The Park
Anti-President Robert Mugabe protesters, who were released from prison last Friday, are back in the Africa Unity Square where they are continuing with their protest.
The success of their initial protest was compromised by internal bickering a result of power struggles and competition for resources, further compounded by police action in arresting key activists. It is still to be seen whether this time round the activists most of whom earn a living this way, will set their differences aside and attract more numbers and public approval to their cause.
The activists who include Itai Dzamara’s brother, Patson, said they will continue with the protest until President Robert Mugabe resigns.
The group’s spokesperson Linda Masarira, said they will be assembling in the park from between 5 pm to 6 pm daily.
“In undertaking our struggle, the #5to6 sessions will continue to be our flagship campaign and we will be rolling it out in the coming weeks across the country,” said Musarira.
“The #5to6 programme is an action by young people and the oppressed members of our society both politically and economically, to reclaim their future by occupying the public spaces, be it parks, streets or squares in their areas, and utilising it for constructive dialogue on political and socio-economic issues”.
The group which was staging a 16 day protest against government in the early hours of 9 June 2016 was raided by the police who accused five of them of robbing some two women who were passing by the park.
The authorities arrested all of them (15) and charged them with robbery and obstruction of justice.
They were arraigned before the courts where they were granted $1000 bail each.
Pay Crisis – Civil Servants’ Unions Dig In
Civil servants’ unions under the Apex Council yesterday, continued to dig in with their demand that they be paid on time rejecting Governments proposal to shift their pay dates.
The deadlock between government and the civil servants has continued with a meeting to be held today by the parties under threat. The meeting is to be attended by three Cabinet ministers and Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya to discuss circumstances surrounding the deferment of June 2016 pay dates.
“We have now been formally invited to that meeting tomorrow (today) in the afternoon,” said Apex Council team leader, Mrs Cecelia Alexander.
“The agenda of the meeting, according to the invitation, centres on the issue of pay dates. We will hear what they say before making our own interventions, but our stance is that we are not going to accept this move of making our salaries come mid-next month.
“We are also going to tell them that we will not be responsible for any action the workers will take if they fail to get their money this month.”
Government last Friday shifted pay dates for civil servants in a move that will see teachers and nurses being paid on July 7 and 14, respectively.
Members of the uniformed forces will get their salaries between June 27 and 30.
Government invited its workers to an indaba on Monday, but the employees rejected saying they could not attend an indaba where they had been summoned “telephonically”.
Dr Mangudya, Ministers Patrick Chinamasa (Finance and Economic Development), Prisca Mupfumira (Public Labour and Social Welfare), Dr David Parirenyatwa (Health and Child Care) and CSC officials waited for the workers, but to no avail.
Minister Mupfumira said Government revenue flows were limited because production in industry was low.
“Government is not producing much for export. Industry is not moving according to plan and this means low revenue.
“Government has been trying to borrow money to pay people without productivity. Government is trying at least to pay workers, it might be delayed but it will be paid.” Herald
Broke Govt starts Retrenching
worries…Patrick Chinamasa
The government has buckled under pressure and started to retrench civil servants to cut its wage bill as it struggles to pay its 350 000-strong workforce.
Reduction of the public wage bill was part of a plan agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Staff Monitored Programme to help reduce the country’s debt which is estimated at more than $10 billion.
The Civil Service Commission announced last week it had abolished 100 posts in the Women’s Affairs ministry and also retrenched diplomats in Zimbabwe’s 42 foreign missions.
The retrenchments are set to pile on the ranks of the unemployed in a country where more than 80 percent are already jobless.
The civil service will be further culled in the coming months, officials said.
Already, the broke government was this month forced to postpone its pay date to July due to the shortage of funds.
The delay has raised questions over the state of government finances. Latest data shows the government grossly missed its revenue target.
The country’s economy is struggling due to a lack of investment and closure of companies which complain of high wage and other costs as well as shortages of water and electricity.
Cutting wages would allow Harare to free money to develop its failing infrastructure, including roads and power-generating plants, as well as social services like health and education.
In his 2016 budget statement, Chinamasa said the government wage bill was consuming an unsustainable 80 percent of revenue. He conceded that this needed to be reduced to 30 percent by 2018, but insisted that this would be done by growing the economy and generating more revenues instead of retrenchment. Daily News
Indian Had Anal Sex with Zim Woman, Raped Her, COURT HEARS
An Indian national who does consultancy for a company that is sponsoring the ongoing India-Zimbabwe ODI series and a fan who reportedly raped a local woman while booked at Meikles Hotel in Harare appeared in court yesterday.
Krishna Satyanarayana Gandlur, 33, and Ravi Krishnan, 40, appeared before Harare magistrate Elijah Makomo charged with rape. They were represented by Dumisani Mthombeni.
Prosecutor Peter Kachirika alleged that on June 16 Gandlur and Krishnan were booked in rooms 968 and 951, respectively, while the victim was in 969. The court heard that around midnight Gandlur invited the woman into his room for a drink and introduced her to Krishnan.
The two accused persons then ordered red wine and forced the complainant to drink some.
It was alleged that Gandlur attempted to kiss the woman but she resisted. The court heard that when she was drunk, Gandlur took advantage and forcibly had anal sexual intercourse with her.
When the woman woke up the following morning in her room she found herself wearing only a bra and her pants were on the floor. According to court papers, the woman’s sheets were blood-stained and she also found cigarettes on the side table.
The woman then narrated the ordeal to the hotel’s management before reporting the case to police officers who were at the scene. Gandlur was positively identified by the woman and immediately arrested. Krishnan was arrested later. Daily News
Police “Ban” MDC-T Mutare Demo,Slot In Zanu PF March
Staff Writer
In an apparent attempt to frustrate the opposition MDC –T’s planned demonstration in Mutare scheduled for Saturday 25th June , police have ordered the Morgan Tsvangirai led movement to stage the protest instead on Thursday 23 June.
Party sources say such demos are more effective if held during the weekend when the majority of supporters are not at work.
MDC-T spokesperson for Manicaland, Trevor Saruwaka, said the police told them that Zanu PF had taken their intended Saturday slot.
“The reason proffered was that they had cleared a Zanu PF march on the 25th and ours on the earlier date. The police did not show us proof that indeed Zanu PF had applied, they simply refused to cooperate. This is because of the evil nexus between police and Zanu PF; it is extremely difficult to separate the two in the majority of cases,” said Saruwaka.
The MDC-T Mutasa Central MP however, said they were not going to be affected by the shifting of their demonstration date to mid week by the police.
“This is a clear machination to throw spanners into the people’s project but it is not going to stop us from challenging the regime,” he said.
“To us any time is tea time and we are saying the time for freedom is! The time for action is now! , even if they had given us a Monday the people of Manicaland are ready. We cannot wait any longer to express our frustrations and distaste of the prevailing conditions imposed on the people of Zimbabwe by the Zanu PF government”.
He said:“Because of the high unemployment levels created by the Zanu PF government there is now no difference between a week day and a weekend In Zimbabwe. A Monday or Thursday is as good as a Saturday or Sunday. In fact people are freer during weekdays because most go to church either on Saturday or Sunday. Monday to Friday they are at home or loitering in the streets because of the prevailing joblessness”.
“Let’s shame Zanu PF and its police by coming out in our thousands on Thursday the 23rd of June for our Freedom March”.
NetOne Corruption, Mandiwanzira Threatens Kangai
Staff Writer
In an apparent open breach of Parliament procedures and legislation, Information Communication Technology (ICT) minister, Supa Mandiwanzira, has sensationally on his twitter account made a public threat against suspended NetOne chief executive officer Reward Kangai.
The furious Mandiwanzira said Kangai would be “legal mince meat”, if he repeated his claims outside of Parliament.
Mandiwanzira has been implicated in a Netone corruption case in which he is reported to have tried to extert his authority to get the parastatal to pay $4 million to Megawatt Energy to investigate Huawei.
According to Kangai in the continuing saga Megawatt is owned by a Chinese businessman, Li Xiaodong, who is Mandiwanzira’s friend.
The sensational allegations were made by Kangai, who gave oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on ICT, on Monday.
On his twitter account Tuesday, Mandiwanzira said Kangai risks to be sued if he continues accusing the Zanu PF minister of being corrupt.
“Only a corrupt mind can fabricate such lies! He must repeat such trash outside Parly and he is legal mince meat,” writes Mandiwanzira.
The former NetOne boss who was ousted from the parastatal by Mandiwanzira, early this year alleges that he was sacked for resisting the ICT minister’s corruption orders.
In response Mandiwanzira is apparently threatening to sue Kangai over the allegations.
Zimbabwe Fashion Showcase Returns this July
Zimbabwe Fashion Showcase is ready to celebrate the country’s fashion scene with a runway show that’s open to all, networking events and entertainment provided by Zimbabwean artists.
17th June 2016 – Zimbabwe Fashion Showcase returns to the UK one year after its iconic debut.
The event will run from July 28-30, 2016 and will feature the work of Rahima Mohamed and TapiwaKanhemba, two emerging designers from Zimbabwe, whose striking creations are sure to impress renowned buyers, the press and the public.
The showcase begins with an invite only event on Thursday 28th July in a private location in Shoreditch, London. The showcase then travels to Birmingham on Friday 29th July for a two day extravaganza open to the public at Mac Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park.
Whilst in Birmingham, emerging and leading designers from Zimbabwe will hit the runway with their designs. During the night entertainment will be provided by Zimbabwean artists and visitors will also have the opportunity to attend networking events, a fashion careers panel and a blogger and vlogger panel.
Chiedza Dawn Ziyambe, Founder of Zimbabwe Fashion Showcase said: “We are thrilled to announce that Zimbabwe Fashion Showcase is back for a second year. It is a great opportunity for leading and emerging Zimbabwean fashion designers to showcase their designs to buyers, press and the public.”
“We received a lot of support at our debut events last year and we have some really great evenings lined up for next month. Giving these designers a platform to shine is a fantastic event to be a part of and I know lots of people will come and support emerging Zimbabwean talent.”
Sponsors participating in the event include World Remit, Integrar, Shyzarsue, Reminisce T-shirts, Radiant Glow Botanical, Black African Women Rock and Bespoke Gifts. Media partners include BBC, New Zimbabwe and BenTV.
VIP tickets are priced at £55.00 and standard tickets are only £22.50.
Tickets are available from the Zimbabwe Fashion Showcase website here.
-ENDS
Dog Eats Dumped Newborn Baby
A NEWBORN baby has been found eaten by dogs after being dumped in a bush in Malawi, Nyasa Times reported.
According to police, the grizzly discovery was made by a man who had come into contact with a feeding dog on Sunday morning.
“A man, who has been identified as Steven Lanken, was going through his business when he chanced upon a dog eating something that looked like human flesh. Upon close inspection, it was discovered that it was a newly born baby,” Mayawo was quoted as saying by Malawi24.
Although the remains of the child have been delivered to a health centre in the area, officials had not been able to identify whether the deceased was male or female.
A manhunt has since ensued, with police working hard to locate the mother of the abandoned baby.
The development occurred among renewed calls for the legalisation of abortion in the southern African country, with the church fighting vehemently to prevent relevant legislation from being passed. – NyasaTimes
Another Driver Intercepts President Mugabe’s Motorcade
Another driver has intercepted president Robert Mugabe’s motorcade.
A 28-year Harare truck driver appeared in court yesterday charged with intercepting President Robert Mugabe’s motorcade in Borrowdale at the weekend before speeding off in his tipper truck.
Joseph Chakanetsa was later arrested in Kambuzuma and charged with negligent driving.
Chakanetsa pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta and was remanded to today for ruling.
According to the State, the incident occurred on June 18 this year around 4pm. The court heard the President was going to his Borrowdale home.
Chakanetsa was driving an ERF tipper vehicle turning into Borrowdale Road.
The State alleged that Chakanetsa did not stop, but proceeded into the intersection while Mugabe’s motorcade was passing.
Sergeant Mazowe, who was in the backup police vehicle ordered Chakanetsa to pull off the road and Chakanetsa complied.
Mazowe then ordered Chakanetsa to drive to Borrowdale Police Station to be formally charged for contravening road traffic regulations. However, Chakanetsa took the opposite direction and sped off with Mazowe in hot pursuit and sounding the siren. He allegedly continued driving, passing through red traffic lights and was only apprehended in Rugare on his way to Kambuzuma.
The court heard that the particulars of negligence driving include failure to stop at intersections and robots, driving on the wrong side of the road at high speed.
The incident came shortly after two police officers appeared in court on similar charges after they allegedly intercepted Mugabe’s motorcade along Samora Machel Avenue as the Head of State was travelling to his rural home in Zvimba. The matter is also still pending at the court.- Newsday
RBZ BOOB: Chinamasa Admits Bond Note Brisk
FINANCE Minister Patrick Chinamasa says the government made a “mistake” when it prematurely pronounced the introduction of bond notes.
The latest embarrassment comes after president Robert Mugabe two weeks ago as featured on ZimEye.com, revealed that the sole motive for the bond notes is Zimbabwe obtaining its own currency, in what economists voice will be the eventual crashing down of the country’s economy.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) unveiled the $200 million bond note strategy, a critical economic initiative meant to ease cash shortages, buttress the multiple-currency system and boost domestic production through exports, in May this year. They were to be introduced in July but the date was later moved to October.
Critics have queried why it was taking long to circulate the proposed notes while some still question the merit of the approach. The debate spilled to the Upper House where Senators last Thursday asked Minister Chinamasa to explain the delay in issuing the new notes given the persistent cash shortage.
“Yes, it’s correct that we should expect issuance of bond notes towards end of September-beginning of October. This is so because, to get bond notes printed, it goes through various stages, which include designing, origination and then printing. The firm authorised or contracted to produce the bond notes advised us that it would take that long,” he responded.
“My apology of course is that I’ve admitted on other forums and I think it’s a mistake. The mistake was that we made a pronouncement on the issuance of bond notes prematurely. I would have much preferred, with the benefit of the hindsight that we had done so almost about the time we were issuing.”
The senators challenged the Ministry of Finance and the RBZ to increase awareness campaigns and educational programmes on bond notes to clear negative perceptions about the initiative and ensure every Zimbabwean supported it.
While the central bank has allayed fears insisting that the multiple currency system was there to stay and that a local currency could not be hurriedly introduced without supporting economic fundamentals, president Robert Mugabe has categorically announced that Zimbabwe is going to have its own currency, calling it “the only cure” for the crisis.
Similar to bond coins that were introduced last year, the RBZ has said bond notes would be indexed at par with the US$ in terms of value to facilitate local transactions. Minister Chinamasa also assured the banking and transacting public that bond notes will not lose their value when they are introduced.
“So, the value will not change, when the bond notes are issued, they are only issued as an incentive to exports. When we issue the bond notes, they’re only going to be relative to the volume of exports that are being generated,” said the minister.
“The reality is that the bond notes are interchangeable to the US$, which is why they are backed by a $200 million facility from Afrexim Bank. So, in value they are interchangeable.”
The move is also expected to curb externalisation of funds given that circulation of bond notes will be limited to Zimbabwe. Minister Chinamasa stressed the need for all Zimbabweans to use plastic money and ease demand for hard cash.
“As I speak, over the past four or five weeks, we’ve seen a quantum leap in the usage of plastic money – an increase of more than 400 percent,” he said. “We’re encouraging Senators here to resort to the use of plastic money because this will reduce the demand on the US dollar, which as you all know, we do not print.”- state media
Mugabe Rubbished for his Western Blurt
POLITICAL analysts and opposition parties yesterday roundly criticised President Robert Mugabe’s tough stance against re-engagement with the international community, saying the move was likely to derail all efforts to revive the economy.
Mugabe told mourners at the burial of the Retired Brigadier-General Felix Muchemwa on Sunday that he would rather stick to government policies which scared foreign investors than be a recipient of conditional aid from Western countries, particularly Britain and America.
This came as pictures of Mugabe sitting while Muchemwa’s body was being lowered into the grave caused a stir on social media with some people questioning his ability to continue in office.
Analyst Pedzisayi Ruhanya described Mugabe’s remarks as retrogressive.
“It’s not pragmatic for the President to be that blunt in his quest to re-engage the international community. It’s very unhelpful particularly in a situation where we have liquidity crisis and when the government cannot pay civil servants in time and when people are suffering,” he said.
MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said: “Because of Zanu PF regime’s ruinous economic policies coupled with unprecedented corruption, Zimbabwe’s economy has been trashed and vandalised. Mugabe should be advised that up until such a time that his moribund regime repeals draconian pieces of legislation such as the Indigenisation Act, the economy shall remain in the cooler.”
People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Mugabe should urgently change his management style and stop giving out multi-million tenders to non-performers.
MDC spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said Zimbabwe now needed an honest leadership that could stir it out of the current problems.
“These are sentiments of a shameless scoundrel that has failed to deliver on promises. Zimbabwe needs foreign direct investment and that can only happen if Mugabe scraps investment laws that are frustrating investors,” he added.
Coalition of Democrats chairperson Gilbert Dzikiti urged Mugabe to swallow his pride and engage the international community.
“Mugabe is living in his own wonderland, he is in isolation from the stark reality facing common Zimbabweans. He is obviously speaking for his band of looters and mafia oligarchy devoid of human empathy,” Dzikiti said.
Pay Crisis- “Enough is Enough” Says ZIMTA, Threatens Action
Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe could be headed for some turbulent times ahead, with the ZIMBABWE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (ZIMTA), calling for a strike action starting tomorrow Wednesday until government pays them on time.
According to a recently released government schedule the teachers pay day has been moved to July 7, angering the union which says in a call to action released this morning; “As an association we find this strange and an insult to the educators. As such the association has resolved that all its members should down their tools as from 22 June if the employer does not change the pay date to a date in June.”
ZIMTA further says, “As an association we have been patient enough with the employer. Comrades lets all stop delivering service as from wednesday 22 June 2016. Enough is enough. Please forward this messages to every teacher you care about.”
Chief ‘Steals’ Clinic Cash
Terrence Mawawa, Bikita | Chief Marozva, Joseph Mudhe personally appointed by President Robert Mugabe, is under fire for allegedly squandering $30 000 cash meant for the construction of a local clinic.
Villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com yesterday claimed Mudhe collected the money for the construction of Domboshava clinic between the period of 2012 to 2015 .
It is understood Mudhe had instructed villagers in his area to donate towards the construction of the clinic, while other donations were also sourced from Bikita Minerals.
Since villagers have to walk for more than 15km to Nyika Growth Point to seek medical services,the construction of the clinic is expected to ease the perennial health problems faced by the local community.
“It is true that people have been funding the project to construct the clinic in Ward 11 so that they can access medical services from a nearby health centre but the chief has failed to account for the money he collected. The construction of Domboshava clinic is a collective effort but everything has been stalled by Chief Marozva who has failed to explain where the money has gone,”said a local villager.
In response to questions from ZimEye.com, Chief Marozva dismissed claims made by the villagers saying they were unfounded and baseless. “Where do you think the people will get money to fund the clinic project ?These are pure lies being peddled by my detractors.”
“There are people who want to soil my good reputation but I will not allow that to happen.I am currently facilitating the project so whoever is saying I am stealing is misinformed,”said a furious Chief Marozva.
No police report had been made at the time of going to press.
Munyeza Scoffs At Mugabe Again
Pastor and businessman Shingi Munyeza, has once again scoffed at President Robert Mugabe for failing to turn around the economy.
The clergyman who was recently summoned by the police after publishing a document, urging Zimbabweans to brace for harder times, at the weekend warned that government was unable to mend the economy which continues to deteriorate. He makes the warning in a new document he published ‘We are Already in the Turbulence’.
“A little while ago, I warned of a severe turbulence, we have now entered into a severe turbulence,” he said.
The defiant pastor cited the recent refusal by doctors to accept medical aid cards, deferment of civil servants salaries by government, arrest of Occupy Africa Unity Square activists, winding bank queues, and continued harassment of citizens by government officials, among a host of challenges that require the population to fasten their safety belts.
Munyeza joins several other citizens, who have taken to social media platforms to vent their anger against government misrule and further deterioration of the economy.
The campaigns are aimed at pressing the government to urgently attend to the crisis before it triggers mass uprisings.
Mzila To Launch Kalanga Party From Jo’burg
Staff Reporter
Ousted MDC Secretary General Moses Mzila Ndlovu will this weekend launch his proposed regional party from Johannesburg South Africa.
Sources very close to the former Welshman Ncube led MDC strong man, told Zimeye.com that Mzila will be officially meeting with people of his Kalanga ethnic group in the South African capital to announce the establishment of his political party.
The new political party is yet to be named but sources hinted it will be called the Bukalanga People’s Party which will only concentrate its efforts in 7 out of 210 constituencies in the country.
The party will only be focused on the Kalanga dominated areas West of Matabeleland South province.
According to the sources the party will seek to unite the Kalanga people who have refused to be incorporated under the proposed Mthwakazi kingdom which they claim is a Ndebele speaking people project they do not subscribe to.
“The party will only concentrate in our Kalanga constituencies of Tsholotsho North and South, Bulilima East and West, Mangwe, Matobo North and South
Irate Civil Servants Raise ‘Middle Finger’ At Ministers
Attempts by Government to damage control and mitigate the anger from civil servants over shifted pay dates, came to nought yesterday after unions snubbed an indaba it had convened.
Subsequently, after rebuffing the meeting, the unions held a Press conference saying they could not attend a meeting where they were “telephonically invited.”
According to new pay dates announced last Friday, members of the Zimbabwe National Army will be paid on June 27 followed by police and prison officers on June 30.
The education sector will be paid on July 7 followed by health workers and the rest of the civil service on July 14. Pensioners will get their dues on 19 July.
On releasing the new pay dates, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development cited cash flow challenges as the reasons for not paying salaries on time.
The indaba, which the unions ignored, was attended by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya, Ministers Patrick Chinamasa (Finance and Economic Development), Prisca Mupfumira (Public Service,Labour and Social Welfare), Dr David Parirenyatwa (Health and Child Care Minister) and CSC officials.
The team sought to explain circumstances surrounding the shifting of the pay dates as well as map the way forward.
Minister Mupfumira yesterday said Government would grant the workers another chance tomorrow.
“It was a first for such a team to be together and engage them,” she said.
“They agreed not to attend which is a disservice to themselves because this was an opportunity to hear from the horse’s mouth the way forward. We are all affected, but we needed to understand if this is going to be a normal thing or it will change. They missed that opportunity but anyway we are saying they should come on Wednesday and the same team will be ready to talk to them. The team that was present today (yesterday) agreed on improving communication between ministries and that we should also meet regularly with the workers.
“If they want to come and talk to us they should come, everyone is willing and the door is open.”
Minister Mupfumira added: “Government is not producing much for export. Industry is not moving according to plan and this means low revenue. Government has been trying to borrow money to pay people without productivity. Government is trying at least to pay workers, it might be delayed but it will be paid.”
Apex Council team leader Mrs Cecelia Alexander, told journalists that Government was negotiating in bad faith.
“This follows its failure to disclose pay dates to the meeting with them on June 15, 2016 only to leak the same information to the media,” she said.
“Barely 48 hours after the meeting, the Minister telephonically summons the Apex Council to a meeting whose agenda is a closely guided secret and we have resolved that Government should formally invite workers to a meeting to discuss the urgent issue of the unilateral declaration of pay dates released to the media. We advise Government that the Apex Council will not be responsible for the workers reaction to this attack on their on their livelihoods of all government workers do not receive their salaries by the traditional due dates.”
Minister Mupfumira responded: “When they met (on June 15) the discussions only centered on conditions of service and welfare. The issue of dates only came to us on Friday from Treasury and we viewed this is as an emergency and I instructed my officers to call for an indaba.
“We wanted them to know the future and they agreed to attend. I think the problem is with Mrs Alexander because when she was phoned she should have said they were not able to come. Blame games will not solve anything and we expect to meet them on Wednesday.”
herald
Six Cabinet Ministers Face Prison For Parliament Contempt
At least six Cabinet ministers could be imprisoned after an audit report found them guilty of not responding to motions and reports raised by backbenchers, placing them in contempt of Parliament.
The ministers who are in violation of the Constitution and Standing Orders are reported in an audit report to have not responded to motions, committee reports and were not tabling financial reports of State entities; Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said.
In terms of Priviledges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act, Parliament has powers to impose penalties like fines and recommend to a competent authority for imprisonment should the need arise.
Adv Mudenda said Parliament had since written to the ministers who are not named in a state media report.
Some ministers have not submitted regular financial reports to Parliament in terms of Public Finance Management Act and the law provides for both criminal and disciplinary proceedings to be preferred on permanent secretaries who are accounting officers for ministries.
Adv Mudenda told the National Assembly on Wednesday he had also dispatched a letter to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, to ensure that permanent secretaries liaised with their ministers to respond to reports and motions as well table financial reports.
Adv Mudenda said this while making a ruling on a point of order raised by Kuwadzana East MP Mr Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T), who said legislators had observed a tendency by ministers to ignore reports and motions by Parliament in violation of the law.
Mr Chamisa said the rules of Parliament required that ministers respond to reports within 10 sitting days of the chamber.
“I want to say to Honourable Chamisa, his observations are very appropriate and correct in terms of our Constitution and our Standing Orders. I must also say that he raised the point of privilege like a prophet and he did not know that he was a prophet.
“This is because as administration of Parliament, we have started an audit of honourable ministers who were due or are due to respond to not only reports but also motions raised by the honourable members before the mover can wind up the motion. This has not been happening,” said Adv Mudenda.
He said they wanted to carry out the audit expeditiously.
“The audit that we have started has already indicated that there are half a dozen ministers whom we have written to personally, to say they must come before Parliament, particularly here in the National Assembly to comply with the provisions stated by Honourale Chamisa.
“We have also gone further as to write to the Chief Secretary asking the permanent secretary to work very closely with honourable ministers to assist them so that they can respond to their obligations. We do so, not only in terms of what Honourable Chamisa has stated or quoted in so far as the Standing Orders are concerned but also in terms of what the Constitution states,” he said.
He said in terms of Section 119 of the Constitution, Parliament must protect the Constitution without fear or favour and the State and all its agencies must respond to its provisions without fail.
Responding to another matter, Adv Mudenda said chairpersons of portfolio committees were due to get diplomatic passports after the Executive acceded to their request to have red passports be extended to legislators.
He said this was a culmination of several meetings and representations to have all MPs get the document so as to avoid embarrassment and humiliation of being searched when legislators travel abroad as their counterparts in other countries had diplomatic passports.
Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu-PF) had complained on what criteria some MPs were selected to qualify to get the document.
Chinotimba rapped Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi saying the minister had sought to smear Adv Mudenda by saying it was the Speaker of the National Assembly who was responsible for handpicking MPs when he sought clarification from him recently.
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he accompanied Adv Mudenda to a meeting with President Mugabe on the need for every legislator to have diplomatic passports.
Harare Gardens Patch To Be Turned Into Hotel
The iconic Harare Gardens inherited from the former Rhodesian government, is set to have its precinct transformed into an extension of the Crowne Plaza Hotel business.
The move if it goes ahead will see the large Les Brown swimming pool being swallowed up by the business.
Harare City Council, which is struggling to pay salaries and provide basic services to its residents, is at present dragging its feet lucrative deal, which has the potential to bring $1,76 million into the city’s coffers, the state media reports saying.
Councillors are delaying plans by hospitality group African Sun (Pvt) Ltd to expand Crowne Plaza Hotel to include a state-of-the-art conference centre and an international themed open-air restaurant and a bar among other facilities.
The hotel group wants to buy two hectares stretching north into Harare Gardens covering the portion encumbered by Les Brown Swimming Pool as well as the portion measuring 2 050 square metres currently being used as a car park at an estimated cost of $1,76 million.
Although council recently invited the officials to make a presentation to its finance and development committee, they chose only to note the presentation with councillors divided over the issue at a full council meeting last week.
Acting Mayor Christopher Mbanga told councillors that the deal would benefit the city but some councillors feared they might ending up selling Harare Gardens to the group. The councillors shot down the proposal and it was referred back to committee for the second time.
In September last year, African Sun Limited signed an agreement with Legacy Group of Hotels (Legacy) under which the South African company will manage five African Sun Limited hotels including the flagship Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Council minutes showed that in 2010, African Sun signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a founder for the joint venture agreement for development of a shopping mall and expansion of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
In terms of the envisaged joint venture, three floors of parking, commercial shopping facilities, commercial offices, executive residential apartments and the expansion of the hotel were going to be built.
According to the recent minutes of the finance and development committee, Legacy Hotels advised that their intended development required at most five acres of the 54 acres of Harare Gardens.
“During the presentation, it was also emphasised that the proposed project would jell well with the City of Harare’s vision to achieve a world class city status by the year 2025. It was further highlighted that the project would be a catalysts for development and investment in the Central Business District,” reads the minutes.
African Sun Limited plans for the hotel expansion will include construction of a 1 200 to 1 500- seater conference facility, an internationally-themed 200 seater open-air restaurant and bar, 200 parking bays for use by the hotel and upgrading and maintenance of the public facilities in the vicinity.
It also include the construction of health and racquet sports facilities and incorporating Les Brown Pools. The hotel will also support and assist with the upgrading and maintenance of the whole of Harare Gardens and ablution facilities.
Woman Murders Minor For Bed-Wetting
Terrence Mawawa, Zaka| In a shocking incident that has rocked the Zaka community, a local woman brutally killed her four year old niece for bed-wetting.
Greater Zvevhu of Taruvinga Village murdered the minor,Shuvai Zvevhu on January 6 2016 by striking her all over her body with a stick for bed-wetting. Greater appeared before Masvingo High Court Judge Justice Joseph Musakwa last week facing murder charges.The charges were later changed to culpable homicide. Greater began staying with the minor after taking her from her mother ,Brenda Mabika in 2014.On the fateful day she assaulted the minor for wetting her pants and bed.
Mabika then visited Greater’s homestead to take the child from Zaka to Bondolfi Mission in Masvingo, where she stays. On their way back from Zaka the minor told her mother she was not feeling well.She showed her mother visible marks on her head and back which indicated she had been brutally assaulted.
The minor died on the way to Nyajena Clinic.
In her warned and cautioned statement to the police,Greater had earlier admitted she used a stick to assault the minor.She also claimed she had no intention to inflict harm on the child. Greater was sentenced to five years in prison after the charges were changed to culpable homicide.
Zimra Crushed By Povo, Scraps Customs Duty
The government’s Revenue Authority, Zimra has been crushed by civilians in Beitbridge – a historic development that has led to the customs authority temporarily scrapping duty on domestic necessities.
Zimra has suspended the implementation of Statutory Instrument Number 64 of 2016 which sought to tighten screws on imports of basic commodities following protests by travellers at Beitbridge Border Post on Saturday.
Zimra had started implementing the new regulations, which made the importation of food items, building material, furniture, toiletries and cooking oil among other things virtually impossible without prior notice to travellers.
There was chaos at Beitbridge Border Post on Saturday afternoon, with travellers resisting the seizure of the imported goods, which now require people to have permits.
The listed goods include salad cream, milk, shoe polish, cooking oil, bottled water, door and window frames, wheelbarrows, baked beans, fertiliser, beds, office furniture, second-hand tyres, vegetables, canned fruits, cereals, cheese and ice creams among others.
Sources said travellers teamed up and started singing revolutionary songs denouncing Zimra.
Normalcy only returned after anti-riot police had been called in.
Zimra regional manager for Beitbridge Mr Batsirai Chadzingwa later calmed the travellers.
“The regional manager later told the travellers that they could revert to the normal situation where they paid 40 percent duty for their items rather than the provisions of the new Statutory Instrument.
“As of now, the implementation of the new regulations is suspended pending consultations between Zimra, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and other stakeholders,” said a Zimra official.
Mr Chadzingwa could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The organisations’ communication department could not respond to e-mailed questions by last night.
By end of day yesterday, the border post was almost empty amid reports that travellers were adopting a wait-and-see attitude.- Additional reporting state media
Stunner in Shock Accident
Popular hip hop star Stunner, real name Desmond Chideme, was today involved in a freak accident at the intersection of Third Street and Jason Moyo Avenue after ramming his Lexus into four parked vehicles and injuring one pedestrian.
When the state media arrived at the scene of the accident Stunner had sought refuge at a nearby surgery.
“It is amazing that I am alive and escaping from a scene like this is just a miracle. I was not speeding at all. I was just coming from Fourth Street traffic lights, I believe I lost control of my car when my front tyre burst.
Play the video below:
A pedestrian was injured when the accident occured
A pedestrian was injured when the accident occured
“I swerved and hit four cars that were parked along Jason Moyo before my car stopped facing the opposite direction. I heard some people are saying that I was driving in the wrong direction but that is not true.
“I am very fit and strong as you can see. What pains me the most is that I was still paying for this vehicle. It is so sad that before I could even finish paying the balance, it is badly damaged. I am yet to get the correct information about injuries at the scene but I pray that there are no serious injuries, “said Stunner.-state media
Rands Disappear from Banks
Zimbabwe is experiencing serious shortages of the South African rand and Chinese yuan as the country attempted Monday to shift to these currencies to address the current critical shortages of cash, especially the United States dollar.
Bank queues are now the order of the day in a nation with a fast declining economy due to subdued industrial production, low exports, lack of foreign direct investment and other issues.
Several banks started dispensing the South African and Chinese currencies in banking halls and automated teller machines or ATMs but the banking public complained that accessing the money was not easy.
One of the depositors, Simon Mugwagwa said he spent the better of the day in a queue trying to withdraw cash but to no avail.
This was echoed by Tecla Zinyowera, who noted that she could not get either the South African rands or the Chinese yuan, in the banking hall and ATMs. She said that the Botswana Pula and the British Pounds were also not accessible, adding that those currencies would be difficult to use in her daily errands.
Another depositor, Garikai Murendo, said he managed to withdraw some rands and yuans but most retailers were not accepting those currencies, preferring the US dollar.
Some banking staff said they failed to dispense the rand, yuan and other currencies because they were in short supply at their branches. Some other bankers, who had accessed the rand and yuan, said they could also not transact because they had not been advised of the exchange rates by the central bank.
However, the central bank chief told the state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper that the dispensing of multiple currencies would help in easing the ongoing shortages that started when the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced its plans to introduce bond notes.
The RBZ’s proposal is being rejected by many Zimbabweans who say that authorities are planning to re-introduce the Zimbabwean currency through the back door. Voa
ZRP Cops Banned from Driving Impounded Cars
THE Government has said it is illegal for traffic police officers to confiscate keys and drive vehicles that they would have impounded at roadblocks.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cde Obedingwa Mguni told MPs on Wednesday that although the police can impound vehicles with defects, it was illegal for them to drive the cars.
“But if the car has to be detained in a safe place like a police station, it has to be driven by the owner to the police station, park it and be satisfied that it’s safe. That is according to government policy,” said Cde Mguni. He was responding to MDC-T Chikanga- Dangamvura legislator Ms Joyce Makonya who had asked the legality of police conduct in impounding vehicles.
Ms Makonya expressed concern that officers often take away car keys and drive impounded cars to police stations without producing their driver’s licences.
“Deputy Minister, is it Government policy that when I get to a roadblock with a faulty car, I am directed to go to the nearest police station, the arresting police officer drives my car and refuses to show me his licence considering the fact that he is not covered by my insurance. Is it Government policy that a police officer drives my car because my car has a problem or there is a problem on me?” asked Ms Makonya.
Cde Mguni said: “The police have the right to detain a vehicle for not more than 24 hours if the vehicle is found to be faulty. If there is a fine that the driver has to pay and it is less than $20 then the driver can pay a spot fine.”
Family Demands Lobola from Suicide Woman
A BULILIMA family has demanded lobola from the husband of their 47-year-old daughter who burnt herself to death in a hut last week. The family alleges Mr Benson Malipa Moyo had lived with their daughter, Sikhona Dube, for the past eight years without their knowledge. Dube of Madlambuzi area set her bedroom hut on fire on Tuesday June 7 at around 5AM in a suspected case of suicide following a long illness.
She was only buried on Monday last week after her family demanded that Mr Moyo – a teacher at Gampu Primary School in Bulilima – pays a cow upfront. A village head from Madlambuzi area, Mr Simon Ndebele said the Dube family first demanded four head of cattle from Mr Moyo and later ordered him to hand over two.
“The burial had been scheduled for Thursday but it was later moved because there was a lot of tension between the families. The Dube family was disgruntled because Moyo had lived for eight years with their daughter but had not paid a cent towards lobola.
“They ordered him to hand over four beasts if he wanted to bury his wife at his homestead in Madlambuzi area. Moyo failed to make the payment and then his in laws decided that their daughter would be buried at their homestead in Gampu area on condition that he pays two cattle,” he said. Mr Ndebele said the Dube family refused to conduct the burial and pointed out they wanted the payment upfront.
He said the Dube family only agreed to have the burial conducted after Mr Moyo paid $300 which his in-laws regarded as half payment for one beast. Mr Moyo, Mr Ndebele said, had been given a grace period of one week after the burial to pay the remaining $900.
Chief Madlambuzi’s secretary, Grey Ndlovu who accompanied the Moyos to the Dube homestead said: “We arrived at the Dube homestead around 7PM with their daughter’s remains but they denied us entry. We spent the night outside with the body of the deceased and they only granted us permission to enter on the following day around 9AM. This was after Moyo had paid $300,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said the Dube family also ordered Mr Moyo to pay $150 to cater for the costs which they had incurred in gathering for their daughter’s funeral. Mr Ndlovu said the Dube family blamed Mr Moyo for their daughter’s death.
Her brother, Mr Morris Dube said: “Our family was not aware that Sikhona had been staying with Moyo for the past eight years. My sister’s death has pained the family,” he said while describing Mr Moyo as disrespectful. On the day she died, Dube sent her sons to the business centre at around 5AM and went on to set her bedroom hut on fire.- state media
Masvingo Post Office Gutted By Fire| BREAKING NEWS-
Masvingo Post Office building Monday morning went into flames.
ZimEye.com can reveal (FULL PICTURES BELOW) the building was gutted by a mysterious inferno following what staff claimed was an explosion.
The fire erupted in the first floor and computers, furniture and office documents were destroyed.
While company officials told ZimEye.com “the explosion was caused by an electric fault,” Masvingo area manager David Charirwe revealed to ZimEye saying “an employee forgot to switch off an electric gadget resulting in the fire that totally destroyed the office situated in the first floor”.
Police were at the time of writing still carrying out further investigations. More to follow…
Beitbridge Border Post Falls To Civil Unrest
Staff Reporter| Frustrated and angry Zimbabweans Friday to early hours of Saturday morning lost their patience with the massive new regulations and corruption at the Beitbridge border temporarily closing the busy port of entry in a civil demonstration.
Sources at the border indicate that over three thousand people who were at the border entering into Zimbabwe couldn’t take kindly to Zimbabwe Revenue Authorities who were confiscating wares brought in mostly by cross border traders under new regulations that the goods were barred from being imported into the country.
The demonstrators forced border control authorities and police officers to flea into the offices for cover leaving the border a free for all entry.
Cross border traders and transporters some who had been at the border for over twenty four hours took advantage of the chaos to get through the border without clearances.
Several vehicles and hundreds of people made their way through the border post bringing down the perimeter fencing around the border post.
The government this week introduced several new regulations banning a range of goods from being imported into the country under regulations set up in 1974 in a bid to promote local industries.
The restricted goods are the range of goods that most informal traders bring in from South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia.
The situation at the border post is reported to be still tense with police and state security details reinforcements deployed to restore order at the country’s busiest port of entry.
Unconfirmed reports claim that the South African Home Affairs authorities have also temporarily closed their side of the border until the Zimbabwean side of the border is under control.
Zimeye.com has meantime despatched a team of correspondents to gather facts on the on goings at the border and will update as soon as more information is available.
Calls to the Department of Customs and Exercise at the border post are meanwhile not being answered as of this morning.
DIAMOND THEFT: Govt Secretary Humiliated in Parliament
There was drama in Parliament when the Mines Permanent Secretary, Professor Francis Gudyanga displayed an embarrassing ignorance about the contentious diamond issues.
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) CEO, Dr Ridge Nyashanu also failed to furnish the Mines and Energy Parliamentary Portfolio Committee with information regarding diamond production statistics and how much treasury has received to date.
First to appear before the portfolio committee was Dr Nyashanu, who put up an embarrassing display of ignorance to the point of even failing to define a company structure while confessing he did not even know the act of parliament guiding the operations of the parastatal he is leading.
Then, Professor Gudyanga almost outdid the ignorance displayed by Dr Nyashanu when he could not even furnish the committee with information on how much the country has derived from diamond revenues to date, leaving the Daniel Shumba led committee further infuriated.
Parliamentarians were even more infuriated when Professor Gudyanga was fingered in gross violation of corporate governance by chairing three parastatal boards.
There was more ducking of questions to a point where the portfolio committee members could not hide their emotions.-state media
AirZim Woman Pilot Breaks Heroic “Mission Impossible” Landing
By Mashudu Netsianda | A young female pilot flying a Victoria Falls-bound Air Zimbabwe passenger plane turned super heroine when she battled for about an hour to land the aircraft in bad weather.
A number of passengers told The Chronicle they feared for their lives when they were told the plane, coming from Harare enroute to Victoria Falls could not land in Bulawayo. They said they waited with bated breath as the plane aborted two landings and circled the airport in close to zero visibility.
The plane had flown into Bulawayo at 7.30AM but only touched the ground at 8.15AM after two futile attempts. Passengers, among them Rural Development, Preservation of Culture and Heritage Minister Abedinico Ncube and Zimpapers board chairperson Mr Delma Lupepe commended Captain Petros for displaying calm in the midst of “a storm.”
Said Mr Lupepe: “We arrived in Bulawayo at about 7.30AM and the plane had to circle in the air for about 45 minutes as landing was difficult due to bad weather. The pilot tried to land twice but it was a tricky situation and we only landed on the third attempt at about 8.15AM. It was a soft and good landing.”
He said soon after landing, Minister Ncube and other passengers gave Captain Petros a pat on the back as they were impressed with the manner in which she handled the flight.
A tourist who was on the plane also paid tribute to Captain Petros. “I don’t mean to sound sexist but she handled the plane better than most men. I’d said my last prayers up there,” said the tourist who declined to be named.
Captain Petros together with co-pilot Captain Chipo Matimba last year made history when they became the first women in Zimbabwe to captain an all-female flight crew and made high in the skies over Harare to Victoria Falls.
Air Zimbabwe’s assistant general manager responsible for passengers and cargo, Christopher Kwenda, was yesterday unreachable on his mobile for comment. This is the third time that an Air Zimbabwe plane from Harare to Bulawayo has failed to land at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
In January, an aircraft from Harare failed to land at the airport after it allegedly lost its navigator signal due to bad weather. It only managed to land safely after midday, leaving its passengers on connecting flights stranded while others cancelled their trips.
At one time the plane was forced to fly back to Harare because of the technical fault. In September last year, an Air Zimbabwe Boeing 737 developed a mechanical fault just after takeoff from Harare.
Air Zimbabwe is facing a cocktail of problems, some of them a result of mismanagement and corruption which saw the company losing more than $11 million in an insurance scam but has an outstanding safety record.-state media
War Veterans Killed In Mysterious Accident
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo | Two(2) war veterans perished in a mysterious road accident as they returned from an explosive meeting last week.
One of the two war veterans died on the spot as the vehicle they were travelling in was mysteriously involved in an accident near Gutu turn-off, along the Masvingo-Mutare highway. The exact circumstances have been left undeclared in police files.
The other war veteran died on arrival at Ndanga Hospital while several others and war collaborators were seriously injured. The names of the deceased are Panganai Banda(58) and Sarah Muchipi(50).
Although the agenda of the meeting was not clear, sources told ZimEye.com the war veterans were not happy with the G-40’s relentless efforts to demean the former freedom fighters.
The internecine war between the war veterans and the G-40 is intensifying with each passing day and Zanu PF insiders have warned of bloody clashes in the race to replace Robert Mugabe.
“The tension between the G-40 and the war veterans is intensifying with each passing day. The vehicle ferrying the war veterans and war collaborators from meeting in Gutu was involved in a fatal accident. There is no satisfactory explanation for the cause of the crash. It seems people are deeply reluctant to disclose what actually transpired,” said a Zanu PF official.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula confirmed the incident but would not disclose further details on the accident.
She said drivers must desist from speeding to avoid loss of life on the roads.
“I wish to warn drivers to exercise extreme caution on the roads,” she said without disclosing further details.
Mugabe says: Doctors Are Greedy Cash Lovers
President Robert Mugabe who has gobbled $80 million on unnecessary foreign travels this year to date, says Zimbabwe’s doctors are pleasure and money lovers.
Mugabe said doctors should stop valuing money at the expense of the need to serve people, saying the medical practitioners should understand the economic environment the country is operating in.
Addressing thousands of mourners at the National Heroes Acre in Harare for the burial of Retired Brigadier General Felix Muchemwa, President Mugabe urged the doctors to take a cue from the late national hero, whom he said always put the needs of the people first.
“We appreciate the work of doctors, they deserve to be rewarded accordingly. However, they must also understand the limitations the government is facing. We are still fighting for our liberation, there are sanctions that are affecting our capacity to honour our obligations to workers.”
“Dr Muchemwa, as one of the first doctors who gave medical services to the liberation war fighters, had that understanding and we need his peers to understand also, he never put money first, but the people first and made great sacrifices. Right now as I speak there is a stand-off between our medical staff and us the government on remuneration,” said President Mugabe.
The remarks come at a time some doctors have decided to stop accepting medical aid and demand cash upfront from the 1st of July, a situation that could put more burden to the people of Zimbabwe.
Mugabe also said in Muchemwa, the nation has lost a humble intellect with an amazingly charming personality.
” Muchemwa was a dedicated cadre, who despite his abilities, remained humble. Always humble, always smiling, that is what Muchemwa was. Different from other people who always boast of their educational success,” said President Mugabe.
He also said for the success of the liberation war, “we needed medical doctors like Dr Muchemwa. Of course he was not alone, we also had Dr Herbert Ushewokunze, Dr Muvhuti and Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, among others.”
On a lighter note, President Mugabe revealed that he only knew it recently that Dr Dr Sekeramayi’s daughter is married to the late Dr Muchemwa’s son.
Earlier in his address, Mugabe chronicled how the white colonial regime resorted to the poisoning of food and clothes during the liberation war, adding that Retired Brigadier General Muchemwa died from an ailment caused by poisoning during the war.
The late national hero died on Sunday last week in Egypt where he had gone to seek medical attention.
Chiyangwa Youths Beat Up Residents
Zanu PF youths in Southlea Park have brutalised leaders of the Southlea Park Home Owners Association who they are accusing of forcing residents to refuse to pay compensation to Zanu PF central committee member and President Robert Mugabe’s nephew, Philip Chiyangwa, for staying at the state owned Ordar farm.
Chiyangwa is demanding $42 million from over 8,000 residents who were allocated stands at the farm which was seized from white Zimbabweans in 2006 by the government.
On Saturday the leaders of the residents association had called for a community meeting where they intended to report back to their constituency on the pending court application they filed with the High Court against Chiyangwa.
But the meeting failed to materialize after over 10 Zanu PF youths blocked the gate of Southlea Park Primary School, the venue of the meeting.
The youths who ZimEye.com identified as Nhakiwa, Chigwida, Kismore and Ranga, used bricks to bash three Southlea Park Home Owners Association executives , Brian Chuma, Wisdom Chitsvete and Maxwell Tundu who had organised the meeting.
The injured reported the incident to the police before they were quickly rushed to a local clinic for medical attention.
Early this year Chiyangwa blocked the residents from conducting a similar meeting.
Man Inserts Manhood Into Friend’s 11yr Old Daughter
Terrence Mawawa, Chiredzi|As the rate of the violation of minors increases, in his quest to satisfy his insatiable sexual desire, a 39 year old Chiredzi man forced himself on his daughter’s 11 year old friend in an incident that has stunned the local community.
James Chilangwe of Triangle, sexually pleasured himself on the minor twice without the girl’s consent.
Chilangwe appeared before Chiredzi Magistrate Judith Zuyu last week facing two counts of rape.
On January 26 ,2016 around 6pm, the minor went to Chilangwe’s place to play with his daughter. When the juvenile was about to go home Chilangwe emerged out of the house and dragged her into his bedroom and raped her.
On February 2, 2016 at around 4pm, the minor went to Chilangwe’s again house to play with his daughter.
Chilangwe dragged the minor into his hut and raped her as his daughter watched.It is understood his daughter peeped through the window and watched Chilangwe having sex with her friend.
Chilangwe’s daughter advised her friend’s mother who reported the matter to the police.
Magistrate Zuyu sentenced Chilangwe to 28 years in prison and five years were suspended on condition of good behaviour. In passing the sentence Zuyu sent a strong message to would be child abusers to desist from the habit. Prosecutor Liberty Hove presented the facts of the state case.
Zambian Politician Forges Fake ZIMSEC Certificate
The United Party for National Development (UPND) presidential candidate in the upcoming Zambia elections, Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, who is deputy and running mate to UPND leader Mr Hakainde Hichilema, claimed he sat for O-Level examinations in Zimbabwe at a date that could not be ascertained.
His party is contesting against incumbent President Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front.
Zimsec spokesperson Ms Nicky Dlamini confirmed to the Chronicle that the country’s examination body indeed wrote to ECZ but claimed that was procedural.
However, part of the examining body’s response seen by the Chronicle stated the Zambian’s certificate was forged.
“Yes, we are aware of it and all they wanted was to know if he really had some certificates from here. If a person studied at one of our colleges or schools and sat for Cambridge or Zimsec public examinations that’s the procedure . . . they would check,” said Ms Dlamini.
She couldn’t, however, be drawn into confirming whether Mr Mwamba really learnt in the country.
“That confirmation can be obtained from Zambia because they are our client and not Mr Mwamba,” said Ms Dlamini.
The probe into the validity of Mr Mwamba’s credentials allegedly came after he included documents from Zimbabwe when he submitted qualifications for vetting into elections. Mwanajiti and Associates, who oversee elections together with the Electoral Commission of Zambia, raised the issue.
“The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council has written to the Examination Council of Zambia to report UPND presidential running mate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba to law enforcement agencies for suspected forgery.”
Mr Mwamba challenged the PF government to “arrest” him if it felt he forged certificates and denied submitting academic papers from Zimbabwe.
Harare Owed $1/2Billion
Harare City Council is owed half a billion dollars in unpaid bills by residents, Government and business, a situation which has seen the local authority failing to provide basic services and pay salaries.
Acting finance director Mr Tendai Kwenda, attributed the situation to the prevailing economic challenges which are affecting most residents.
According to the recent minutes of the Finance and Development Committee, Mr Kwenda reported on the various sector accounts and the position on council debtors and creditors variances.
“Aggregated income and expenditure summary for January to April 30, 2016 indicated a surplus of $33,2 million. Debtors were reported at $477,7 million while creditors stood at $398,2 million. A total of $26,2 was owed to CABS and BanABC as at April 30, 2016.
“A loan of $144,4 million was owed to Exim Bank of China of which $72,2 million had been committed and repayment would commence in 2017 and short, medium and long term amounting to $98,4 million owed by council to both local and international financiers as at April 30,2016,” reads the minutes.
Harare City Council recently said it is setting aside $275 000 daily towards the payment of salaries in a bid to reduce salary arrears which stand at six months.
Acting Town Clerk Mrs Josephine Ncube said management had put in place strategies to accelerate revenue collection in order to close on the salary gap.
Mrs Ncube said that emphasis was being put on revenue collection and heads of departments were putting together various strategies to ensure success in this regard.
Harare City Council workers have since urged Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to intervene, accusing the city of infringing upon their rights.
Harare Municipality Workers’ Union executive chairman Mr Cosmas Bungu said council workers have turned into perpetual beggars who are surviving on handouts from well-wishers.
“We want to reiterate that the City of Harare is not above the law as their behaviour seems to suggest. In terms of the International Labour Organisation Convention Against Forced Labour, the City Fathers are in flagrant contravention of the law by deliberately failing to pay council employees their outstanding salaries for the past six months and bonuses for 2015 in contravention of Statutory Instrument 135/12,” he said.
Harare City Council last year served about 20 000 defaulters with summons to attach properties, as it moved to recover money owed in unpaid bills by residents.
The city served summons in Borrowdale, Mabvuku, Mt Pleasant, Highlands, Mabelreign, Marlborough and other suburbs with summons to attach properties.- state media
Girl Raped as Mum Watches
Two suspected armed robbers raided a house in Epworth and took turns to rape a 16-year-old girl while her mother watched.
The two robbers have since been arrested in connection with the case after they went back to the house the following morning to look for $5 change.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident. She said the two armed robbers went to the girl’s house where they forcibly opened the door with an iron bar.
“They threatened the girl and her mother who is aged 33 with a knife before stealing a stove, plates, pots, shoes and $10 cash. They put them outside and returned inside the house where they took turns to rape the girl,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.
After committing the crime, the two disappeared but returned the following day looking for $5 change and they were identified by the girl, leading to their arrest. Investigations on the case are still continuing.
Meanwhile, police are investigating two cases of armed robbery that occurred in Marondera and Mahusekwa where armed robbers pounced on an abattoir and stole $12 000 cash and property.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said on June 13 at around 1am four armed robbers attacked a security guard who was manning Surrey Abattoir premises and handcuffed him.
They ransacked the premises and stole $12 000 cash.
On the same date at around 3am, six armed robbers attacked another security guard at Profeeds Wholesale in Mahusekwa and stole $82 cash and 20 x 1 000g ESB3 chemicals, all valued at $378.-state media
APOLOGY – Rufaro Mubvuta
An article on the ZimEye website on 18th May 2014 titled “UK: Zim Nurse ‘Fodged Corpses as Live HumanBeings 3 Weeks After Death” referred to Miss Rufaro Mubvuta, a UK based nurse.
We have since established that the UK Daily Mail published false and misleading information that led to Miss Mubvuta’s name being printed in the article and words ascribed against her conduct. The Nursing and Midwivery Council has communicated that there is neither charge nor case against Miss Mubvuta.
We apologise to Miss Mubvuta for any embarrassment caused. We wish to extend to Miss Mubvuta our sincerest regrets.
ZRP Top Cops Detention Powers Outlawed
Senior police officers no longer have powers to sign warrants of further detention for suspects to remain in custody following the alignment of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act with the new Constitution.
In the past, justices of peace (senior police officers of the rank of Superintendent and above) would authorise the detention of suspects in police cells for up to 96 hours without taking the suspect to court.
The recently published Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Act now compels the police to release the suspect forthwith if they fail to take him to court within 48 hours of his arrest.
If the police sees it necessary to extend the stay of the suspect in custody, a formal application has to be made before a magistrate, who assesses the circumstances and either grants or throws away the request.
The old law was open to abuse by some spiteful investigators.
Some vindictive police officers would arrest people towards the weekend, to make sure that the suspects will not be released until Monday, as weekends were not included as court days in terms of the parent piece of legislation.
But the new law now considers Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the counting of the permissible 48 hours detention period.
In terms of the new law, police officers are compelled to release the suspects as soon as the 48 hours lapse.
The amended Section 32 (3) of the Act now reads:
“Any person who is arrested or detained –
a) For the purpose of bringing him or her before a court, or
b) For an alleged offence; and who is not released must be brought before a court as soon as possible and in any event not later than forty-eight hours after the arrest took place or the detention began, as the case may be, whether or not the period ends on Sunday or a public holiday.”
Amendment to Section 33 of the Act now excludes police officers from authorising further detention of a suspect in police custody.
An application has to be made before a judge or magistrate for the extension of the detention period.
An additional Section 41 to the principal Act compels an arresting officer to inform the suspect of his or her reason for arrest, right to remain silent, consequences of remaining silent and those of not remaining silent.
The arrested person must also be allowed to contact their spouses or to be visited by their relatives. They are also entitled to religious counsellors of choice, legal practitioners and medical practitioners of choice if need arises.
Section 121 of the Act, which allowed the State to suspend the decision of a magistrate or judge to grant bail, was also amended.
It now gives a magistrate or judge discretionary power to suspend or confirm his bail decision.
The amended Section 121 (3) reads:
“Where a judge or magistrate has admitted a person to bail, and an appeal is noted by the Prosecutor-General or public prosecutor under subsection (1), the decision to admit to bail remains in force unless, on the application of the Prosecutor-General or public prosecutor, the judge or magistrate is satisfied that there is reasonable possibility that the interests of justice may be defeated by the release of the accused on bail before the decision on appeal, in which event the judge or magistrate may suspend his or her decision to admit the person to bail and order the continued detention of the person for a specified period or until the appeal is determined, whichever is the shorter period.”
Several minor amendments were also made to the Act. -state media
RBZ Boss Mangudya Resigns Rumour Torches Storm
Reserve Bank Govenor John Mangudya was rumoured to have resigned at the weekend.
ZimEye however hereby assures our valued readers that Dr.John Mangudya has not resigned at all.
The central bank governor told ZimEye at 1pm Sunday, he is still firmly in his job. “These are social media stories, I haven’t resigned at all,” he said.
The floating reports torched storm on Saturday night after Mangudya fresh from a public humiliation in Harare(CLICK HERE TO READ), had descended on Bulawayo for a press briefing.. More to follow as events unfold
“I Quit” – President Mugabe
” I am on my way out,” President Robert Mugabe yesterday told thousands of children attending celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child.
This is the first time that the President has publicly, clearly spoken about quitting politics instantly inflaming succession fires within his party, as the two main rival factions tear into each other. The factions are led by Mugabe’s wife, Grace who is behind the G-40 grouping fighting VP Emmerson Mnangagwa’s so called Lacoste Team.
Speaking at the celebrations held in Harare, Mugabe said he is on his way out and wants his successors to do a better job.
“Once upon a time, I was like you. But I am not like you anymore. I am on my way out,” he said.
“But when I look over my shoulder, I would want to see bold and courageous men. I want to look behind and say those coming will be better than me,” he was quoted by a local weekly newspaper.
Mugabe — the only leader Zimbabwe has known since independence 36 years ago — has used all manner of tactics to cling to power, including alleged violence against political opponents and electoral fraud.
A few weeks ago, Mugabe (92), declared he wanted to stay on while First Lady Grace Mugabe told the recent Zanu PF million-man-march that “he will rule from the National Heroes Acre”.
Constitutionally, Mugabe can run for one more term, which will end in 2022. But officially opening the 24th Children’s Parliament yesterday, the veteran ruler admitted his days were numbered.
“That is what we always fight to do. To be better than our parents, initially be like them but strive to be better.”
Meanwhile, children who spoke at the occasion painted horrifying images of what they go through in their daily lives, especially their rural counterparts.
This was after Youth minister Patrick Zhuwao had told Mugabe that his government’s policies showed a deep commitment to addressing the needs of young people.
“The policies of our government are addressing the various needs of our children,” he said.
“Our youth must be given space to fight for Zimbabwe’s economic independence.”
The government was called upon to take the Child Parliament seriously and not treat it like “a Christmas Day”.
“The government should do something to help children in the rural areas,” he said.
“Some of them walk for as long as two hours to go to school. Children as young as Grade Zeros. They go to school without shoes in this cold,” lamented a child parliamentarian.
A representative of children living with disabilities weighed in.
“The government has to do something to minimise the subjects of those children with disabilities. Focus should be put on practical subjects that can enable children who are disabled to become innovative because nobody is willing to employ them,” he said.
Mugabe admitted that the scourge of rape was getting out of hand, threatening “inhuman treatment” to perpetrators.
“If it does not stop, we will be forced to use inhuman treatment to men who rape. It must stop and stop now,” Mugabe said.
Another child lawmaker said grinding poverty was forcing children into early marriages.
Mangudya Speaks On Resignation Rumour | BREAKING NEWS
RBZ Governor Dr. John Mangudya has spoken for the first time concerning a fiery rumour that he on Saturday handed in his resignation letter to President Robert Mugabe.
Dr. Mangudya told ZimEye.com in an exclusive interview at 1pm Sunday, there is no truth to the report. He attributed the report to social media mongering. “These are social media stories, I haven’t resigned at all,” he said.
The floating reports torched storm on Saturday night after Mangudya fresh from a public humiliation in Harare(CLICK HERE TO READ), had descended on Bulawayo for a press briefing.
Indian Cricketer Raped Me – Zim Woman
There was drama in Harare on Friday when an Indian cricket player on tour with the country’s national team was arrested by ZRP cops for allegedly raping a local woman at Meikles Hotel.
“I can confirm that there are allegations of rape against an Indian national by a Zimbabwe woman,” Police Spokesperson Charity Charamba said on Saturday.
She continued, “We are bound as police by the law when such serious matters arise and we investigate. We have investigated and forwarded the case to the courts for determination and we wait the outcome. He appeared in court today,” she said.
CID and CIO officers stormed into the hotel late Friday as the Indian cricket team’s coaching staff and the country’s envoys battled to save face.
The man’s identity was kept a secret at the time of going to press.
“It is tricky issue because it could turn into a diplomatic feud between the two countries.
The Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe was spotted at the hotel attempting to stop the player’s arrest, sources told ZimEye.
“The woman claims to have awoken later with bloodied underwear which implies she did not know how she ended up in the player’s room,” another source said.
India was beaten by Zimbabwe in the one-day Saturday sessioner by two runs.
BLOODY GUN ATTACK:Mugabe Ally Guns Down Villager Over Sugarcane-REPORT
President Robert Mugabe’s business partner and Green Fuel Investments proprietor Billy Rautenbach, has allegedly gunned down four villagers in Chisumbanje.
One of the four (Itai Chikwasha) died on the spot leaving three seriously injured and are battling for their lives at St Peters Mission hospital at Checheche.
According to Chinyamukwakwa villagers the incident happened Wednesday night when guards employed by the Ethanol producing company accused the four villagers of stealing sugar cane.
The security guards are said to be retired soldiers and war veterans who have been rewarded by Green fuel for their loyalty to the ruling Zanu PF party government.
“It is very difficult to justify the killing of unarmed villagers for allegedly stealing sugarcane. Green Fuel is currently harvesting their sugarcane and villagers follow harvesters to pick left-overs, and it’s not news that the villagers can pick and eat sugar cane which they would have found on the roads while walking to their homes as they pass by the controversial plantation and even if they had stolen the sugar cane, we do not think that warrants the killing and we now wonder whether this Ethanol project was a curse to the people of Chipinge,” said one of the villagers.
The villagers said the number of people picking sugar cane residues had increased this year owing to the droughtea.
“Women and children constitute the bulk of those who pick the sugarcane and the number has increased this year due to the Elnino induced drought that has ravaged families,” they added.
The relationship between Green fuel investment and the local community has been sour since the inception of the project in 2008 when the former occupied the latter’s land without full community engagement.
The villagers feel that the company should have compensated them for occupying their traditional land.
They (villagers) are further complaining that the company continues to push them away by encroaching on the boundary while failing to fulfil promises of corporate social responsibility.
The villagers are accusing the company of using superiority tactics and avoid dialogue platforms because of its strong ties with the ruling Zanu PF government. More to follow…
TB Joshua Uses Sticks to Construct Giant Building, Nearly Kills Tsvangirai | SHOCK PICTURES, VIDEO
Nigerian Spiritist and Necromancer, TB Joshua, utilised (with an array of cheap materials- see court report), wobbly sticks as scaffolding material for the 5 storey giant building which collapsed killing 116 people including (2) two Zimbabweans. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai slept in that building before it crashed onto 116 people one of whom was Tsvangirai’s trusted aide, Greenwich Ndanga.
The court verdict that ruled that Joshua is criminally liable lists the following as what exactly made the building fall down:
- Inadequate beams of 750mm by 225mm (should have been 900mm by 300mm)
- Inadequately reinforced columns (should have been reinforced with 12 x Y25 bars or 20 x Y20mm bars. Instead they used 10 x Y20 bars (as seen in the video released by SCOAN).
- Inadequate bearing pressure for the central column due to the 2m x 2m x 0.9m foundations.
- Failure to introduce rigid zones for bracing the structure and did not design the frames as an unbraced structure.
- Failure to provide movement joints that could have absorbed any movement due to creep, contraction, expansion and differential settlement etc..
- 8 out of the 12 main beams of the structure failed because they were undersized, under-reinforced (both in tension and shear), the tension bars were poorly anchored to the column supports and 8 x Y20 was used instead of 14 x Y20.
- The ground floor columns were slender and readily gave in to buckling.
Shocking pictures and video footage released by the multi-millionaire TB Joshua ( who also claims that Zimbabwe’s economy is going to boom in 2016), show the massive building mould supported at the side by thistles minutes before it crashed down on September 12th 2014. Joshua then began claiming it collapsed due to bombing by terrorist organisation, Boko Haram. [ ALSO READ – Expert Comment: No Connection Whatsoever Between Flying Plane and Collapsing Building.]
He soon changed blaming the Nigerian army saying an aeroplane flying at a distance nearby sent forth supersonic waves to destroy it.
Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a professional temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings. Scaffolding is also used in adapted forms for formwork and shoring, grandstand seating, concert stages, access/viewing towers, exhibition stands, ski ramps, and half pipes.
Since the court procedures opened soon after the building collapse in 2014, the preacher has been using a team of cunning lawyers to divert and delay the prosecution.
To make matters worse, while victims remained buried in the dangerous rubble shortly after the collapse, his staff members delayed the rescue process as they beat up rescuers and journalists. The preacher soon exposed himself a few hours later when he was caught on camera personally dishing out thousands of dollars to the journalists while apologizing.
Police Identify Children in Shock Nude Pictures
THE police have identified two children in unsettling pictures belonging to a bogus Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officer who is suspected to have indecently assaulted the children. The pictures are said to have leaked after the “soldier” took his mobile phone for repairs and the technician stumbled upon them and made a police report. It is, however, not yet clear how the pictures went viral on social networks. The pictures showed the half naked children sitting on what looked like a bed. In one of the pictures, one of the children is holding the man’s manhood.
National police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident.
“We have managed to identify two of the children in the pictures but we cannot divulge their identity as they are protected by law. We also are not in a position to give any information about their location or age at the moment. A key informant gave us all this information, the informant managed to give us good leads,” she said.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said the media played a vital role in leading to the identification of the children as the issue was publicised on the national broadcaster, ZBC. She further said police were hunting for the culprit.
“We are now hunting for the culprit and we have stakeholders and other people who are assisting in identifying him and soon we will have him in hopefully,” she said. Snr Asst Comm Charamba said parents and guardians of minors should monitor their children closely.
“I am appealing to parents and guardians to monitor minor children closely all the time. They have to observe any suspicious behaviour that they may exhibit because that is when they can hear of cases of abuse. Again parents must make an effort to be close to their children so that if any abuse is happening the child may confide in them, they open up more if you have a close relationship with them,” she said.
She stressed the need for parents to accompany their young children to and from school as that is where some of the abuse is taking place.Snr Asst Comm Charamba urged parents to ensure their children are safe all the time. The police said the long arm of the law will catch up with would-be perpetrators and said people must respect children and each other.
“As a parent I must say I am horrified by this incident, it is shocking that someone can do such a thing. I urge all people who may have information about this particular case to report to the nearest police station and the culprit be brought to book as soon as possible,” she said.
The disturbing images surfaced during the week and the suspect was alleged to be a ZNA officer but the army said it was a bogus officer as the uniform he was wearing was said to be mixed. Any information which may prove useful should be supplied to ZRP complaints desk on 04-703631 and Harare operations on 04-748836 or any nearest police station.- Sundaynews