Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|A police vehicle was involved in a horrific crash over the Easter holiday as the cops chased a fleeing taxi driver who refused to pay a bribe.
The incident happened near Wimpy Takeway outside the ancient city of Masvingo when police details manning a roadblock near the Craft Centre in the city stopped a taxi driver and allegedly asked for a bribe. Sources claimed during the ensuing melee the taxi driver fled from the scene, prompting the cops to pursue him at high speed.
The taxi driver then made a sudden U-turn and the police BMW vehicle crashed into a narrow stream near Wimpy takeaway. All the cops in the vehicle escaped with minor injuries while the taxi driver later stopped his motor vehicle to investigate what had transpired.
Acting Masvingo Police Spokesperson Kudakwashe Dehwa was not readily available for a comment while cops in the traffic section professed ignorance of the matter despite the publication of the pictures of the horrific crash in a local weekly paper.
Vendors at the craft centre said the scuffle started when the police asked for a kickback from the taxi driver. “We saw everything because such kind of things happen on a regular basis. The police demanded a bribe from the popular taxi driver but he fled from the Craft Centre and they gave chase,” said a vendor based at the Craft Centre,the busiest intersection in the city.
Members of the public blame overzealous police details for causing mishaps through mounting unnecessary roadblocks, ignoring other crimes nagging the society.
Magaya Fraud Trial LATEST UPDATE
THE fraud trial of four Harare men accused of allegedly defrauding Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries of $116 000 in a botched car import deal, failed to continue yesterday as the suspects’ lawyer is hospitalised.
Businessman Upenyu Mashangwa and his co-accused Cosmas Mushaninga, Kudakwashe Larry Mapfumo and Clifford Tinashe Gonde are facing an alternative charge of smuggling and failure to pay duty for a Land Rover Discovery 4 vehicle they imported from South Africa in 2014 on behalf of PHD Ministries.
Prosecutor Michael Reza told the court that Mashangwa’s lawyer Tafadzwa Hungwe was ill. The other suspects’ lawyers Dumisani Mthombeni, Sylvester Maruza and Anesu Bangidza were also not present in court.
Presiding magistrate Noel Mupeiwa remanded the matter to April 25.
This is the fourth time that the trial has been postponed since January.-Newsday
Man Kills Self Over Maintenance
Terrence Mawawa|A Bikita man committed suicide, by drinking a deadly chemical after being slapped with a maintenance fee above his monthly salary.
Artwell Murindi ,who was an employee of Bikita Rural District Council, Committed suicide on March 23 ,after the court there ordered him to pay $270 as a maintenance fee for a child he had with a local woman. A figure above his $ 240monthly salary.
Murindi’s relatives told ZimEye.com last week ,that he had initially considered fleeing to South Africa after the court ruling.
“We are still shocked by Murindi’s decision to take his life .He initially indicated he was crestfallen and he wanted to flee to South Africa after the court ruling.We tried to advise him to remain calm and get over it but to our surprise he drank some poisonous chemical and died instantly.” Further stating: “Murindi visited the woman he had a child with in a bid to resolve the issue but he later decided to kill himself,”said Murindi’s relative. Bikita Rural District Council Chief Executive Peter Chibi ,said the incident was deeply disturbing.He however did not disclose much information on the matter adding it was a delicate issue.
Murindi’s untimely death is still ridden with controversy in the local community with some of his relatives blaming the woman for causing the his death.
Foreign Company Closures: Zhuwao Performs U-turn
Zimbabwe’s Indigenisation Minister Patrick Zhuwao on Thursday backed off threats to take precipitous action and close foreign firms deemed to be non-compliant with the country’s local ownership law, but accused the central bank of misleading foreign banks over the regulations.
Last week, Zhuwao announced that President Robert Mugabe’s cabinet had given a March 31 ultimatum for the cancellation of licences for all foreign firms that have not complied with Zimbabwe’s empowerment law, which requires the transfer of majority control in all major businesses to local blacks.
Legal experts have, however, said the law does not empower government to cancel business licences over non-compliance with the law.
On deadline day Thursday, Zhuwao told reporters that non-compliant firms would be subjected to a process before their licences were cancelled. Even then, Zhuwao seemed to change tack, hinting at exerting pressure on foreign-listed firms on their respective bourses.
“That process is very exhaustive; it’s a fair and thorough process. It is a process which starts with a line minister satisfying himself or herself that there is no serious intention to comply. Then the line minister will notify the non-compliant business that they have not complied and that if they continue to defy, the minister has the intention of withdrawing the licence,” Zhuawo said.
“The minister will also give the non-compliant company an opportunity to show just cause, to explain why they are not complying with the law. If the non-compliant company doesn’t show just cause for not complying, then the minister will direct the non-compliant company to comply. Should the non-compliant company not comply; the line minister will notify relevant third parties.”
Zhuwao said one such third party would be the foreign stock exchange where the non-compliant business is listed.
“Here now it becomes very important and here I want to be able to communicate this to companies listed on foreign stock exchanges and they need to be very clear and very aware of the implications of the line minister notifying relevant third parties.
“One such relevant third party is the foreign stock exchange where that particular company is listed. The implications on the share price of those particular entities is going to be astronomical and catastrophic not only to their operations in Zimbabwe but also to their operations in other territories where they are operating. So companies that are listed on foreign stock exchanges need to be aware that if they don’t comply they are actually putting the value of their shareholders at significant risk. When the value falls, it will fall so significantly to a point where the cost of non-compliance will be so big that these companies will wish they had simply given away 100 percent of that share to indigenous Zimbabweans.”
Analysts have cast doubt on the government’s ability to carry out its threat to close firms it deems to be non-compliant with the indigenization act.
Legal expert Derek Matyszak of the Research and Advocacy Unit says the clause cited by Zhuwao only refers to firms which have undertaken corporate actions such as mergers, demergers or unbundling which do not produce a shareholding structure that is “acceptably indigenous.”
“Section 5(2) of the Act provides for the non-renewal or termination on six months notice of the licences of “non-compliant” companies. However, “non-compliant” companies are not, as Minister Zhuwao…suggests, all companies that have failed to indigenise. “Non-compliant” companies are specifically defined by section 5(1) of the Act,” Matyszak wrote in a comment on an article which appeared in the private Zimbabwe Independent last Thursday.
“They are ONLY those companies which have engaged in transactions referred to in sections 3(1)(b), (c), (d) or (e) of the Act. These subsections refer to companies which have undertaken restructuring, unbundling, de-mergers, relinquishment of a controlling share or new investments for which an Investment Licence is required – and have done so without an acceptably indigenous resultant shareholding. Any cancellation of a licence of a business falling outside of this group is a violation of the law. So much for Mr. Zhuwao’s claims about the rule of law and compliance with the legislation.”
On Thursday, Zhuwao said there would be there would be consultation with the firms involved, before any licence cancellation.
“The legal processes themselves actually require at least two formal engagements with the institutions. We will follow the letter of the law,” Zhuwao said.
The pugnacious indigenization minister, who is Mugabe’s nephew, also expressed frustration with some line ministers and licencing authorities, whom he said would answer to the president if they chose not to implement the cabinet decision to cancel licences of non-compliant firms.
Zhuwao accused Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya, in particular, of misunderstanding the indigenisation act and misleading banks, which the minister said had chosen to ignore the local ownership law.
On Thursday, the state-controlled Herald newspaper quoted Mangudya saying the financial sector had largely complied with the indigenization law.
“Banks are complying and we are satisfied with the level of compliance,” Mangudya was quoted saying in the Herald.
In response, Zhuwao said he had written “an extensive letter” to the central bank head, who, along with finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, has frequently clashed with the indigenization minister over implementation of the local ownership policy.
“Had the governor of the RBZ written to me and I would have wanted to have kept this as internal communication between the governor and myself, but unfortunately the reserve bank then sought to have this in the media and this is why you see that in the Herald of today there is communication that foreign financial institutions are compliant. I have indicated to my colleagues, and that includes the governor, that they must be careful of making pronouncements that are incorrect around indigenisation because I will correct those pronouncements publicly,” Zhuwao said.
“Because the governor has made a public pronouncement I have been forced to have to correct the governor and say the governor has misunderstood the legislation. Those companies are not compliant and those companies have not shown any intention to comply. I indicated this as soon as I was appointed that look, should anybody make a public pronouncement around issues of indigenisation, they must be clear that they are saying the truth and that what they are saying is correct otherwise I will be forced to make a correction in public.”- The Source
Tsvangirai Beats Hlalo
HLALO CASE AGAINST MORGAN TSVANGIRAI DISMISSED WITH COSTS
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has won the lawsuit filed against him by suspended senator, Matson Hlalo.
Hlalo sued Tsvangirai contesting against his ouster.
But the case was dismissed with costs.
MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora announced in celebratory mode as he walked out of the High Court, “people wanted Courts to decide MDCT matters. Now the courts have decided”
Drama in kombi as Biti and Mapfumo take Mugabe to the cleaners on radio
A free for all fist fight between suspected ZANU PF supporters and opposition supporters nearly broke out inside a commuter omnibus traveling from Bulawayo to Johannesburg on Thursday evening over comments on Voice of America’s Studio 7 on President Robert Mugabe’s age and continued stay in power.
The driver of the South African registered Toyota Quantum with about 18 passengers and 3 crew members on board switched off the music in the Kombi and tuned the radio into the controversial pirate radio station broadcasting into Zimbabwe on Short Wave and AM metre bands from Washington DC in the United States.
For much of the time there was silence in the vehicle as everyone listened attentively to the no holds barred news broadcast from the radio.
Drama started when People’s Democratic Party leader Tendai Biti was being interviewed on President Mugabe’s statement that Zimbabweans are to blame for his long stay in power.
The PDP leader went to lengths describing President Mugabe as an old man who is no longer capable to run the country and no longer wanted by the citizens of Zimbabwe.
In his description of Mugabe he continuously used a Shona word “harahwa” which means a very old man in reference to the President. One visibly drunk passenger who expressed his poor diction of Shona asked for a translation into Ndebele of the word.
A member of the crew burst out laughing and explained that “harahwa” refers to a sleepy and forgetful very old man who can no longer control his urinary system.
While the majority of the passengers who were mostly South Africa bound burst out laughing at the description, the same did not go down well with about four of the passengers who were going to Beitbridge. The four tried to remove the forgetfulness and self urinating aspect in the description on the translation wanting the translation to just be an old man, “ixhegu” in Ndebele.
An exchange of harsh words ensued between the passengers with the four strongly blaming both Tendai Biti and the crew member for derogatively using the word in description of Mugabe.
While the exchange was still going on, exiled Chimurenga music singer Thomas Mapfumo also came on air being interviewed by Studio Seven’s Gibbs Dube where the musician further took swipe at Mugabe equally describing him as ‘an old useless man who must be removed from power immediately”.
Mapfumo’s comments brought massive cheering from the passengers and more ridiculing of the four passengers who were trying hard to defend Mugabe.
The exchange of harsh words became too hot turning into massive tribal and political slurs amongst the passengers until one of the crew members demanded the driver to stop and refund the four men their money and get them out of the vehicle in the middle of nowhere some 140 km before Beitbridge.
The four passengers refused to leave the vehicle demanding instead to be dropped off at a police station or road block as they “had an issue for the police.”
Their refusal to disembark from the vehicle led to the other passengers demanding for the driver to stop and let them “deal” with the four who they described as “Mugabe’s Shona puppies” deserving to be beaten.
The driver who had also joined in the fracas pulled off the vehicle and took out a huge shambok from under his seat and ordered the four out of the vehicle before throwing a $20 note at them and driving away much to the delight of the rest of the passengers.
Driving away, one of the crew members accused the driver of being too lenient to the four who he described as “stupid CIO agents” suggesting that they should instead have driven into a bushy area and whipped them thoroughly and left them tied on a tree “to give them a taste of their own medicine.”
The kombi successfully crossed the border into South Africa with no Police report against them.
21 Zimbabweans Rescued from Kuwait
GOVERNMENT has so far managed to assist 21 women return from Kuwait and an equal number is being looked after at a shelter for run-away maids in the Arab country awaiting repatriation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development yesterday.
But as Government is helping the Zimbabweans return home, it is feared 90 more could be on their way to Kuwait after being duped by unscrupulous agents to secure visas.
“The ministry has established that 165 visas were processed by unscrupulous Zimbabwean agents working in cahoots with registered Kuwait agencies. The Kuwait authorities have also stated that 90 of these 165 visa recipients have not yet entered Kuwait,” it said.
“It therefore entails that so far about 75 Zimbabwean citizens were lured into Kuwait under false pretext when it comes to remuneration and conditions of service although they were fully aware that they were going to work in the domestic service industry. These people were also misled by the agencies that it would be possible for them to transfer jobs after a few months of arrival in the Gulf emirate.”
The ministry said 26 more women held in homes in Kuwait indicated to the Zimbabwean Embassy in that country that they wanted assistance to return home. “The ministry further updates that 21 of our citizens are back in the country and a further 21 are being sheltered at a Kuwaiti shelter for run-away maids.
“Our embassy in Kuwait has further pointed out that 26 of our nationals have called for assistance as they are still being held in Kuwaiti homes,” it said.
The ministry said with the help of the Zimbabwean Embassy in Kuwait, it continues to help Zimbabweans in distress in that country as and when they come forward.
It thanked the Kuwaiti government and its embassy in Harare for “the good co-operation extended to us and our citizens in resolving this matter”.
“Zimbabwe and the State of Kuwait enjoy excellent bilateral relations. Since independence, Zimbabwe has benefited from soft loans and grants from the State of Kuwait. The funds were used to support various programmes in the transport, energy, agriculture and infrastructure development sectors.”
It has since emerged that the Kuwait government issued 180 “Article 20 visas” meant for domestic service industry.
Article 20 visas are exclusively for the domestic service industry and are not transferable.
This means that a person who enters Kuwait under such a visa cannot be employed in another industry.-State Media
Mugabe Winning 2018 Elections: Kasukuwere
ZANU-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere has warned ambitious party leaders bent on turfing aside President Robert Mugabe from power before his term is out that their actions will be resisted.
Kasukuwere said President Mugabe remained the best leader for both party and country, insisting Zanu-PF would win the 2018 elections with him at the helm.
“President Mugabe’s term of office runs until 2018 and any talk or discussion questioning his legitimacy borders on treason,” said Kasukuwere, who was addressing party supporters in Dotito, Mashonaland Central Province, on Wednesday.
“Let’s continue supporting the founder of our nation until his job is done. With our President, Zimbabwe will succeed, black Africans will succeed and Zanu-PF will succeed.”
In his birthday interview with the state media aired early last month, President Mugabe said any discussion about his succession was misplaced considering that he was given the mandate by the majority of Zimbabweans to rule until 2018.
He said he could have not accepted the mandate if he knew he would not be able to complete his term.
“When we went to Congress in 2014, and the people said you’re the candidate in 2018, I didn’t say I was a candidate to retire, only to retire mid-way,” he said. I was a candidate for the term, the term is a five-year term.”
On Tuesday, President Mugabe told journalists in Japan, where he is on a State visit, that challenging his constitutional mandate was tantamount to rejecting the wishes of Zimbabweans. With health permitting, he would stand for another term in 2018, he said.
Kasukuwere said Zanu-PF had confidence in their leader and the party was optimistic he would be able to stand for another term in 2018 and win.
He told party supporters not to be moved by opposition parties, particularly Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First.
“Who can beat him [Mugabe]? Nobody! President Mugabe will win the election in 2018 come what may. He’s an icon, he has worked very hard for the country and defending the gains of the liberation.
“We’ve heard some people saying let’s ‘BUILD’ [Mujuru’s ‘Blueprint to Unlock Investment and Leverage for Development’]. Build what? What have you built before? Show us your previous works,” said Kasukuwere.
ZRP Cop Steals 49Cellphones
A 25-YEAR-OLD police officer who is based at Mzilikazi Police Station Bulawayo, appeared at the Marondera Magistrates Court on Tuesday facing allegations of stealing 49 cellphones from his former schoolmate.
Lyson Nyamande, who was travelling from Bulawayo to Rusape, allegedly stopped over in Marondera and was offered a place to sleep by the complainant, Kudakwashe Mutete.
Nyamande pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing 49 cellphones, a laptop and cash when he appeared before Marondera magistrate Josephine Sande and was remanded in custody for sentencing today.
The court heard on March 2 at around 8pm, Nyamande visited Mutete and asked to be accommodated for the night before proceeding on his journey the next morning. Mutete, the court heard, agreed and the two slept in the same room, but the cop woke up in the middle of the night and stole a satchel containing 49 cellphones of different makes.
All the cellphones had no batteries at the time. Nyamande also stole a laptop and $75 before disappearing into the night.
The next day at around 4am, Mutete woke up and discovered his property had been stolen and Nyamande was nowhere to be seen and he reported the matter to the police, leading to the cop’s arrest in Rusape, but he had already sold some of the cellphones.
The stolen property was valued at $1 540 and only property worth $865 was recovered.Babra Mabika appeared for the State.
Meanwhile, a police officer attached to Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Katemo Tembo, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday facing charges of criminal abuse of office after allegedly demanding $200 from a Harare man.
Tembo was not asked to plead when he appeared before provincial magistrate, Elijah Makomo and was remanded in custody to today for his bail application.
It is the State’s case that Tembo allegedly acted as a debt collector for McLeod Mahachi, who was trying to cancel a consultancy agreement that he had entered into and paid Godknows Yakiti to have his mining company registered.
Mahachi, according to State papers, had paid Yakiti $750 of the $900 registration processing fees before he had a change of mind about the deal.
Mahachi, the State alleges, then approached Tembo to force Yakiti to repay the money and the former called the latter and ordered him to come to CID offices, where he ordered him to pay back.
The State alleges, Yakiti in turn called the police internal investigations department and reported the matter resulting in a trap being set and Tembo was arrested in the city centre, while receiving $200 in marked notes from Yakiti.
Sebastian Mutizirwa is prosecuting for the State.
Thomas Mapfumo tells Zimbabweans to go back to war to remove Mugabe
Staff Reporter| Exiled Chimurenga music guru Thomas Mapfumo says that young Zimbabweans should go to war to remove ZANU PF from power once and for all.
Speaking in an interview on Voice Of America’s Studio 7 on Thursday evening, Mapfumo said that the onus to change the future of Zimbabwe lies in the hands of young Zimbabweans who must stand up and fight ZANU PF.
The renowned musician says that President Mugabe has failed to run the country and is no longer a hero.
“Mugabe is no longer a hero but a dictator and thief, he must be removed,” said Mapfumo.
According to him the only solution to Zimbabwe’s ills is to completely remove ZANU PF, Mugabe and all those who once belonged to ZANU PF from ever running the country.
“We don’t want to hear anything called ZANU PF anymore including those that call themselves People First, they must also go because they were part of ZANU PF,” he said
Mapfumo has been living in self imposed exile in the USA for over a decade. In the early years into independence, he was one of the most faithful ZANU PF musicians composing several ZANU PF and Robert Mugabe praise songs. During the liberation struggle he was arrested several times for his Chimurenga revolutionary music.
Bonus Cash for Doctors “Disappears”
Doctors and nurses woke up today, Thursday, to be told their long awaited bonus payments were not effected at all.
Contrary to government promises, the money which should have been paid in November last year and shifted several times and now to four months later, is not available.
At a time when junior doctors are paid less than $900 and nurses much less than that per month, the government has continued to purchase luxury vehicles and squandering millions of dollars in foreign travel while blowing hundreds of thousands for Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s lavish hotel daily expenses.
A letter released today by the Ministry of Health revealed the government is nowhere near to making the remuneration payments. A ministry letter reads: “As you might be aware bonus payments for Health Workers had been scheduled for today 31st March 2016. Please be advised that there has been a delay in the honouring of this commitment and we await details from the Treasury.”
A comment from the Finance Ministry could not be obtained at the time of writing. ZimEye.com is reliably informed the government does not have the money at all.
Kasukuwere Slapped With Lawsuit
The Combined Harare Residents Association has approached the high court seeking for the nullification of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s directive to “fire” the newly appointed Harare Town Clerk James Mushore.
Mushore was last week fired on the same day he was appointed by Harare city council as the local authority’s chief executive.
The directive to fire Mushore was given by Kasukuwere using Section 132 of the Urban Councils Act which empowers him to reverse any decision made by local councils.
In their application CHRA the section which Kasukuwere used was unconstitutional.
“This is an application brought under Section 85(1) of the constitution of Zimbabwe for declaration of constitutional invalidity of sections 132,133,135 and 314 of the Urban Councils Act as well as the conduct of 1st respondent (Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing) in rescinding the decision of the 2nd respondent (City of Harare) to appoint a town clerk on 24th March 2016,” reads part of the application.
CHRA said it was concerned with perpetual political and administrative inconsistencies being championed by Kasukuwere.
“We are worried about the continued suffocation of chapter 14 of the constitution which clearly spells out devolution and local authorities autonomy”, said CHRA.
CARTOON: Zuma Gamatoxed by Court
South African Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said on Thursday early estimates of the cost of non-security upgrades to President Jacob Zuma’s personal residence were around 10 million rand.
However, Madonsela cautioned that this would probably not be the final figure that Zuma has to repay as it was arrived at early in the investigation into the renovations that overall cost 240 million rand ($16.3 million).
This comes after Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng ruled that Public Protector’s remedial actions are binding and President Jacob Zuma was supposed to comply whether he agreed or not and that he must personally pay back some of the money spent for security on his Nkandla homestead that are not security features.
“The remedial action taken against the president has a binding effect,” said Mogoeng. Adding that the ampitheatre, swimming pool, visitor’s centre, chicken run and the kraal were identified by the public protector as non-security features.
“When remedial action is binding, compliance is not optional. Whatever reservations the affected party might have about its fairness, appropriateness or fairness,” said Mogoeng. – Reuters/Sowetan LIVE
Zuma Breached Constitution – Court Verdict
South Africa’s highest court has ruled that President Jacob Zuma violated the constitution when he failed to repay some of the government money used to upgrade his private home.
The treasury had 60 days to determine how much he should repay, it added. The ruling is a victory for the opposition, which said it would push for Mr Zuma’s impeachment.
It accused him of using “ill-gotten wealth” to upgrade his home with a swimming pool and amphitheatre. Mr Zuma denied any wrongdoing. He has not yet commented on the ruling.
An anti-corruption body, known as the public protector, ruled in 2014 that $23m (£15m) had been spent on his rural home in Nkandla in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
Mr Zuma had “unduly benefited”, and should repay a portion of the money, the public protector said.
In a unanimous judgement, the Constitutional Court said Mr Zuma’s failure to heed the directive was “inconsistent” with the constitution.
“The president failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution of the Republic,” it added.
The case was brought by two opposition parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Mr Zuma’s conduct constituted “grounds for impeachment”, the DA said in its reaction to the judgement.
Mujuru Actually Boosted Econet’s Strive Masiyiwa | OPINION
Mujuru, setting the record straight on Econet licence saga
By Jealousy Mawarire
Following my instalment last week in which I addressed the allegations of looting the war victims compensation fund, the Chiadzwa diamonds and the alleged complicity to political violence by Dr Joice Mujuru during her stint in Zanu-PF, I got several requests by readers that I address the alleged role that Dr Mujuru played in ‘denying’ businessman Strive Masiyiwa a licence to operate a cellular phone network.
The allegations against Dr Mujuru are that she, somehow, influenced government decision to award the licence to Telecel Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd because the person who fronted the Telecel bid, James Makamba, comes from the same province as her.
This allegation is based on pure ignorance on how the saga around the tender for Zimbabwe’s second cellular phone network punned out in as much as it has a limited appreciation of the relationship between Makamba, Mujuru and Masiyiwa.
It is trite to point out here that the three, Mujuru, Makamba and Masiyiwa all hail from Mashonaland Central Province therefore the allegation that Mujuru awarded Makamba the licence because he is a ‘homeboy’ does not hold water since both Makamba and Masiyiwa are Mujuru’s ‘homeboys’.
The second issue that comes out seems to suggest that there was bad blood between Mujuru and Masiyiwa and for this reason Mujuru remained intransigent and insisted that Masiyiwa would not get the licence.
Very few people know that it is, in fact, Mujuru who provided Masiyiwa with his first government contract when she awarded his company called Retrofit the contract to electrify Nembudziya Post Office in Gokwe.
It is also a fact that the decision that Zimbabwe was supposed to only have two mobile cellular networks was not a Mujuru decision but a cabinet resolution based on a technical report which Mujuru alleges did not give plausible reasons as to why the country was to have two cellular phone operators not three.
In just the same way, the decision to award the tender for running Zimbabwe’s second cellular network to Telecel was not reached by Mujuru unilaterally but by a government tender board housed in the Ministry of Finance not Information, Posts and Telecommunications where she was minister.
Those who followed the saga would agree with me that Mujuru actually concurred with Masiyiwa that there were irregularities in the way the tender was handled by the Tender Board but differed with the businessman on how the irregularities could be rectified.
Mujuru insisted that the process could be rectified by instructing the Ministry of Finance to constitute a new tender board to re-adjudicate the bids while Masiyiwa insisted that because there were irregularities in the way the tender board handled the bids, the court, on that basis, was supposed to award his company, Enhanced Communications Network (Pvt) Ltd, the tender to run the second cellular network.
The Herald of 5 June 1997, under a headline “I won’t contest order over cellphone tender” reported that the then Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Joice Mujuru, was not going to “contest a court order setting aside the award of the tender for Zimbabwe’s second cellular phone network to Telecel Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd” but “she wants the proposed new Government Tender Board to re-adjudicate the tenders”.
Mujuru conceded that true to Masiyiwa’s observations, “the Supreme Court laid down procedures for the tender” were not adhered to and therefore the “tender process had been deficient” and that this was “the fault of the Tender Board” hence “the tenders should be re-evaluated by a new Tender Board” that the Ministry of Finance was then putting in place.
It was Mujuru’s argument then that “the High Court should not consider awarding a licence to Econet without referring the whole matter to trial so that the ‘many serious disputes’ in Econet’s statements could be put to test.” Mujuru wanted an adherence to the rule of law and due legal processes to be followed before the court could award Masiyiwa the tender.
Her preference to have the bids subjected to re-adjudication was on the understanding that this was a quicker way of resolving the saga. She, however, insisted that the option of going to court remained open for Econet arguing that “If the court thought the new board was unsatisfactory, then it could make its own order, after hearing the evidence (and determine) who should have the licence.”
Never at any point, during the tender process, did Mujuru make deliberate efforts to determine the outcome of the process. She, rather, insisted that the laid down tender processes were supposed to be followed as demanded by the Supreme Court which had come up with the procedures.
When Econet successfully challenged the tender process she concurred with the company’s observations and recommended that the bids be re-adjudicated by a new tender board.
Apart from the Econet licence saga, Mujuru is alleged to have been in the habit of soliciting 10 per cent bribes from companies. This allegation was popularised by First Lady Grace Mugabe with the help of seven hired Zanu-PF provincial youth leaders who recently confessed in an interview with a South African based television station ANN7, that this was a lie concocted and shoved upon them by President Robert Mugabe after he had bought them slim fitting suits and paid them $3000 dollars each.
However, like the Chiadzwa diamond allegations, the Dr 10 per cent allegation had a genesis totally divorced from any criminal intentions. Mujuru, after making a very splendid presentation on the potential business that Zimbabwe could do with Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven Emirates that make the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Sheik of Ras Al Khaimah, at a banquet held for the former Vice President, announced that he had “given Joice 10 per cent of our GDP to finance imports from her country.”
The deal involved the identification of around 300 hundred local farmers that the government, through a loan from Ras Al Khaimah, would buy irrigation equipment and tractors so that they could grow horticulture products for export to the Emirate.
The cost of such exports would be around $400 million which was 10 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Ras Al Khaimah. This was the 10 per cent that was given to Mujuru, a 10 per cent that was supposed to benefit more than 300 hundred farmers with irrigation equipment and tractors. A 10 per cent that was going to earn the country $400 million annually in foreign exchange, yes a 10 per cent that was never going to get into her pocket but was meant to change the lives of 300 hundred farmers and their families.
But when Mugabe felt he was “under siege from Mujuru” as Godfrey Tsenengamu puts it in the ANN7 interview, he chose to bastardise an otherwise clean deal that Mujuru had gotten for the country in order to malign his former deputy’s character and dent her chances of challenging him at the elective congress that was slated for December 2014.
So many untrue things have been said about Mujuru and they are not limited to allegations of economic crimes. Her detractors have mastered even the art of voyeurism. They have designed very huge, but opaque, binoculars through which they peep into her domestic life in the hope of finding material to use for attacking Mujuru the “Mother of Zimbabwe” through denigrating “Mujuru, General Solomon Mujuru’s wife”.
Of late, whenever, Dr Mujuru’s party hogs the limelight, whether through well attended constituency rallies or a policy pronouncement, some sections of the state media rush to recycle untrue stories about her alleged hardheartedness in dealing with contrived children of Gen Mujuru and his ‘second wife’.
What is interesting is that the state media unashamedly chides Dr Mujuru for being inconsiderate to the so-called ‘second wife’ of General Mujuru when Joice Teurai Ropa Mugari and Rex Nhongo (General Mujuru) on 02 April 1982, under Marriage Act (Chapter 37) certificate Number 148 of 1982, solemnised their union under a monogamous marriage Act which criminalises marrying a second wife.
Rather than chide the so-called second wife as a home-wrecker, a concubine and adulterer, they elevate her to the level of a second wife with ‘a right’ to the late General’s estate.
Instead of applauding Dr Mujuru for not being litigious and quick to sue the woman for adultery, the state media accuse her of not feeling for a woman, who, if she was really in love with General Mujuru, is nothing but a shameless adulterer, gold-digger and a social pervert not qualified to earn even a penny for her shameless hobnobbing with married men.
Mujuru the mother is also being unfairly attacked for not caring for the so-called 20 children that General Mujuru is alleged to have sired out of wedlock even if some of them, at 20 years of age, only got birth certificates in 2014 without the assistance of any relative of their supposed father and in the absence of their father’s dearth certificate. It is a scandal, but a scandal with state players that is aimed at getting at Mujuru the mother of the country.
The accusations and negative media spins around Mujuru will never recede as long as her political star continues to shine brighter and brighter. As we move towards the elections in 2018 and with Zanu-PF as old and fragile as its 92 year-old centre of power, the attempts at soiling Mujuru’s reputation are going to grow louder and even more desperate and silly.
Next week, I will address the allegations that Mujuru did nothing for women as minister of government and as Vice President.
Dead On the Spot, Drunk Driver Kills Pedestrian
Mvuma – A suspected drunk driver last night killed a pedestrian in a horrific incident that left several human remains strewn all over the scene.
Police and paramedics were called to at Fairfields Business Center on the way to Masvingo from Harare, shortly before 8pm.
A man was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation has found that the driver was drunk at the time of the accident.
Injuries to his body were such that it split into two.
Police have identified the dead man as Patrick Hofisi Huchu, with formal identification and a post-mortem examination happening later.
A police spokesman told ZimEye.com, “the driver of the car violently smashed into the passing pedestrian killing him on the spot. Police are not releasing further details of this vehicle at present.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information is urged to call their local police station.
Zumbathon at Westgate on Saturday
Harare – A Zumbathon is being conducted at Westgate Shopping Mall on Saturday. Below was the official announcement by Harare West MP Jessie Majome:
Dear Harare Westerners and friends,
This Saturday please come to a Zumbathon at Westgate Shopping Mall from 6am-9am (registration starts 5.30am). It’s a fundraising event for the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe.
Harare Westerners and friends please continue supporting Westgate Shopping Mall, which provides you with a one stop shopping experience for your groceries, business and entertainment. Also support other shopping centres in Harare West ie Mabelreign, Marlborough Civic Centre, Greencroft, Ashbrittle, Ashdown Park, Meyrick Park etc.
See your there!
Your MP
Critical Staff Shortage Hits Masvingo Hospital
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Masvingo Provincial Hospital has been hard hit by a glaring shortage of key staff members, triggering a high mortality rate at the government run health institution.
Authorities at the government hospital said the critical dearth of specialist surgeons had resulted in a sharp increase in the number of deaths recorded on a daily basis because of congestion and backlog at the theatre.
In addition, the hospital can no longer cope with the number of patients admitted on a daily basis due to congestion.
There are calls to construct a bigger referral hospital in order to accommodate more patients and enable the recruitment of more specialist health personnel.
Health Minister David Parirenyatwa last week visited Masvingo Provincial Hospital and conceded there was need for urgent action to rectify the situation.
“There is need to urgently address the situation at Masvingo Provincial Hospital. I have assessed the situation on the ground and there is need for immediate action. The hospital currently has a perilous shortage of key staff members. In addition, the hospital is struggling to cope with the high number of patients being admitted on a daily basis,” said Parirenyatwa.
It remains to be seen whether the broke government, struggling to pay its workers, has the capacity to address the dire situation at Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
Although Parirenyatwa skirted the issue of the high mortality rate sources said some patients with minor ailments are dying due to incessant pressure at the theatre where only one specialist surgeon is operating.
Mujuru Rally Flops In Vic Falls
Staff Reporter
Former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First party got a rude awakening in Victoria Falls on Sunday when just about 100 people turned up for the party’s rally in Chinotimba Township.
The rally originally meant for Chinotimba Stadium was moved from the stadium to the township’s open space football pitch after the party failed to raise $100 required by council to hire the stadium.
The few people who attended the rally most of whom were party members from Bulawayo followed proceedings from their houses and under trees a distance away from the podium.
The few who braved the scorching sun
complained about being misled especially after the party organisers failed to stick to time set and failed to even give them
water to drink. Some dismissed the party as being broke judging
from a “tattered” tent at the venue.
The rally was addressed by Cougan Matanhire who is part of the party’s secretariat in Harare.
Victoria Falls war veteran and businessman Christopher Ndiweni, who is the party’s member of the national security, Maxwell Makhosini Mkandla, the coordinator for Matabeleland North
Province and his counterpart for Bulawayo province Esnath Bulayani, also addressed the gathering.
Speaking to media after the rally, Mkandla said that he was happy with the number of people who attended the rally as it was only the first public meeting for the party in the resort town.
Residents around Chinotimba township however blamed the party for poor publicity as most were not aware that there was a Zimbabwe People First rally taking place in the area. The residents claim that they would have attended the rally to hear more about the party had the message about the rally been sent throughout the township.
School Bombing, An Insider Job
PRIMARY and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora suspects the bombing of Manunure High School in Kwekwe on Monday could be an inside job. The criminals targeted the school’s administration block housing important information like financial records.
The bombing incident happened at a time when most schools have made headlines for misappropriation of levies forcing Government to dispatch auditors. In an interview with the state media yesterday, Dr Dokora said although police were investigating the matter it was clear this could be an inside job.
“On the use of levies, we have those that are regularly trying to siphon in one way or another. They are the ones who are most sensitive when there is talk of reform in the levy regime.
“Now you hear Kwekwe school petrol-bombed, yet we have been to Kwekwe ourselves and my last engagement was during this outreach at that site of Kwekwe High School and the head of that school where the bombing took place actually engaged us in dialogue and it was about money.
“So in a back-handed way, I was not surprised. We need to look at every piece of evidence and we hope the police will come up with the culprit,” he said. Dr Dokora said there was need for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“Who was this masked person? And arriving at a site of crime in a mask virtually suggesting you were aware that there is CCTV within the premises.
“It cannot be a total stranger. It is somebody familiar and the bombing just focuses on the receiption area where receipts are generally associated with the bursar’s offices or the accounts clerk and so on.
“So we raise our red flag to say that no, this cannot be a way of managing our resources,” he said.
The school was petrol-bombed on Monday after unknown people lobbed a petrol bomb through a window of the administration block where the administration and financial records, enrolment figures, details of nearly 3 000 pupils and receipt books were kept.
Government has alleged culprits dipping into the $1,2 billion largesse include school development committee officials. It is also suspected that some school authorities are allegedly duplicating receipt books as cover to lay their hands on development funds.
“We are aware of the reported story in one of the provinces where a school bursar simply disappeared from a school with the keys to the relevant sections where the documents were kept, but this is an aberration not the consistent message,” said Dr Dokora.
Cops Steal Gold From Illegal Panners
Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Nine cops based at Zvishavane Police Station are under investigation after they stole gold ore they impounded from illegal miners.
According to reports from Zvishavane, the said cops raided a group of illegal miners near the mining town last week and stole gold ore after arresting them.
National police spokesperson Charity Charamba confirmed she was aware of the case but said finer details were yet to reach her desk.
“I am aware of the case in which some officers are being accused of stealing gold ore that was supposed to be produced in court as exhibit. However I do not have their names because I am still to get a formal report,” said Charamba.
After being sent to arrest the illegal miners, the nine police officers allegedly connived to steal the gold ore, intending to sell it at an inflated price. Police sources in Zvishavane also confirmed the development.
“A group of illegal miners was raided by the police but the gold ore they possessed vanished. There are nine officers who are being investigated for stealing the gold ore. Nothing much has transpired so far but investigations are underway. The officers have a case to answer because they took the gold ore from the scene of the crime. The gold ore they stole was supposed to be used as exhibit in court,” said a Zvishavane based cop.
The incident has yet again reflected the ineptitude within the police force. The police have also been accused of working in syndicates with the illegal miners, thereby promoting corruption.
Mutasa Performs U-turn on Joining ZANU PF
Joice Mujuru’s senior aides Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, have developed cold feet pulling away their High Court application in which they were contesting their expulsion from the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Mutasa and Gumbo, who were last year expelled from Zanu-PF for allegedly trying to topple President Mugabe, will now pay legal costs incurred by President Mugabe and Zanu-PF in defending the now aborted court application.
The duo was seeking to nullify the ruling party’s 2014 congress and the amendments made to the revolutionary party’s constitution.
They argued that the December 2014 congress was a nullity and that it was held in breach of the party’s constitution.
The pair also sought nullification of the constitutional amendments made and adopted at the congress.
The notice of withdrawal was filed yesterday morning at the High Court by the duo’s lawyers Mbidzo Muchadehama and Makoni.
The notice reads:
“Take notice that the applicants hereby withdraw their application against the respondents. The primary reason for the withdrawal is that, the matter has been overtaken by events.
“Further, take notice that the applicants hereby tender the respondents’ wasted costs on an ordinary scale.”
The two argued that the removal of some party members from the Central Committee and any refusal of others from contesting for the same positions in 2014 was in breach of both the party’s constitution and the supreme law of the country. It was the pair’s argument that failure by the party to hold elections for the positions of Vice President, second secretaries and the national chairperson was unlawful and in violation of Zanu-PF’s constitution.
Mutasa and Gumbo argued that the congress was not free and fair. The duo also argued that all votes of no confidence passed against various party structures and individuals between October and December 2014 are inconsistent with Section 68 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
The withdrawal of the application followed a recent report that the two were still fighting to be accepted back into the ruling party despite being founding members of a new political outfit, led by Dr Joice Mujuru.
Despite the fact that ZPF had notified the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of its existence ahead of the 2018 elections, the two politicians’ lawyers asked the court to set the matter down for hearing.
The request for a hearing date in the matter was filed at the High Court last month after all the parties had filed heads of argument.
In the heads of argument filed last month by Zanu-PF and President Mugabe’s lawyer in the matter, Mr Terrence Hussein of Hussein Ranchhod and Company, the issue of the two forming ZPF was raised with the ruling party seeking the dismissal of the application.
Part of the heads read:
“In any event, as pointed out earlier, of their own volition they have decided to formally disassociate themselves from Zanu-PF and voluntarily associate themselves with another political organisation known as the “People First”.
“As seasoned political actors, they are clearly aware within their field of expertise, that it is implausible to be a member of two political parties at the same time,” read the heads.
Mr Hussein added that if the duo is serious about Zimbabwe People First, then the meaningful reason for pursuing the case would be to undermine Zanu-PF to their political advantage and that the courts cannot be used to play a part in political parties’ fights.
Mr Hussein argued that since the two were no longer Zanu-PF members, they had lost their right to be heard in a case to do with Zanu-PF’s internal decisions.
Man Rapes Own Daughter (13)
A Harare man allegedly raped and impregnated his 13-year-old daughter, the court heard yesterday. The 44-year-old man (name withheld to protect the identity of the victim) is said to have raped the girl on two occasions while his wife was away.
It is alleged that he would sneak into her blankets during the night before raping her.
The man yesterday appeared before magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo charged with two counts of rape.
He was not asked to plead to the charges. Mr Makomo granted him bail with the State’s consent and his trial date has been set for April 11. He is being represented by Ms Purity Chikangaise.
Prosecuting, Mr Peter Kachirika alleged that sometime in October last year, the teenage girl was sleeping in her room when she felt that there was someone sleeping behind her.
It is said that the girl then turned around in an attempt to see who was behind her, but the person disappeared in the darkness.
According to the State, the 13-year-old felt that it was her father, but she did not tell anyone when she woke up the following day.
On January 4 this year, at around midnight, the girl, the court heard, was surprised to see her father walking out of the kitchen where she was sleeping in. Her mother had gone to Chipinge when the incident occurred.
She later noticed that her skirt was wet but she did not report the sexual abuse to anyone.
The matter came to light when the girl’s school mates revealed to the authorities that she was pregnant.
She was referred to hospital for medical examinations and it was proved that she was already five months pregnant. She then revealed that her father was responsible.
The matter was reported to the police leading to her father’s arrest. State Media
HORROR ACCIDENT: Man Feared Dead | WARNING- DISTURBING PICTURES
Dear Editor,
This evening at Fairfields Business Center on the way to Masvingo from Harare just after Mvuma, a local guy was hit by that car. The owner of the car is also a local man. The details are not clear but the guy is presumed dead. It is believed it’s a case of drunken driving.
You see that blood stained object besides the body; it’s a piece of flesh.
It is claimed his name is Patty, but not sure the last name, and they say he is from a place called Huchu.
“Kasukuwere” Youths Kick-Out Ambassador From His Farm | BREAKING NEWS
Scores of youths today stormed the former Zimbabwe ambassador to Mozambique, Aggrippa Mutambara’s Bindura Sengeri farm, forcing him out of the farm during the raid.
Mutambara told ZimEye.com on Wednesday that the violent youths told him to leave the farm “with immediate effect”.
Mutambara recently crossed the floor and joined the former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s People First Project.
“There are at least 50 youths who are saying that they have been sent by Kasukuwere to drive me off because I am no longer with Zanu PF, that is what they are saying ,” said Mutambara.
Mutambara said he reported the invasion to Bindura police station, and was waiting for their action.
ZimEye.com efforts to get a comment from Kasukuwere were fruitless as his mobile phone was not reachable.
Zanu PF is said to be intensifying its witch hunt where it is identifying members who are working with the former President Robert Mugabe’s former deputy.
Last week President Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao told Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial leadership to scout for pro-Mujuru Zanu PF members.
Mugabe Falls Asleep on Stage In Japan| VIDEO
President Robert Mugabe had several moments of lapses during the officiating of an inter governmental speech in Japan. Mugabe had to be awoken at the end of the function and gracefully motioned out of the building so he could finish his rest.
Mnangagwa Youths Team Up with Mliswa
Four former Zanu PF provincial youth leaders aligned to vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe have joined forces with the ex-governing party’s Mashonaland West chairperson, Temba Mliswa.
In a statement yesterday Mliswa who is the founder and national coordinator for Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard), announced that former Team Lacoste-aligned regional chairpersons Godfrey Tsenengamu (Mashonaland Central), Vengai Musengi (Mashonaland West), Godwin Gomwe ( Harare) and Tonderai Bosha (Mashonaland East) had been co-opted into his organisation.
“Yard is pleased to welcome and announce the appointments as provincial committee members for recruitment and mobilisation of Godwin Gomwe, Godfrey Tsenengamu, Vengai Musengi and Tonderai Bosha,” Mliswa said.
The former Hurungwe West legislator who was also a victim of the relentless Zanu PF purges which gained pace in 2014 after Mliswa and other party bigwigs were expelled for backing former vice president Joice Mujuru’s presidential ambitions, said the latest recruitment has ensured that Yard now had complete structures throughout the country’s 10 provinces.
Mliswa, who has not joined Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First party along with his other former comrades opting instead to mobilise youths to participate in national electoral programmes ahead of the much anticipated 2018 elections, also denounced political violence that has been the hallmark of the country’s elections since 2000.
“Yard continues to denounce police brutality and violence and encourages everyone to ensure that their voice is heard through the ballot box by ensuring the understanding and
appreciation of the electoral processes of voter education, registration, inspection and participation,” Mliswa added.
Following their expulsion, the four youths who operated under the Save Zanu PF Campaign banner tore into Mugabe accusing him of personalising both the former liberation movement and the party.
They also accused the nonagenarian, in a 12-page dossier, of using them to hound Mujuru out of the party on untested allegations of plotting to assassinate him.
The youths also claimed that the 92 year-old Zimbabwean strongman had attempted to use them to do a Mujuru on Mnangagwa. Daily News
It’s Time for Local Devaluation of the US Dollar
By Suitable Kajau|Zimbabwe should consider effecting fiscal and internal devaluation of the US dollar to promote competiveness of exports in the absence of its ability to effect nominal exchange rate adjustments.
The inception of the multicurrency regime since 2009 created some economic challenges which continue to bedevil the economy as monetary authorities are grappling over the loss of their ability to manage the exchange rate for export competitiveness purposes.
Recently, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, Dr John Mangudya sounded that fiscal and internal devaluation were viable options after the loss of monetary autonomy and lack of exchange rate flexibility to enhance export competitiveness in the region and beyond.
Devaluation has numerous benefits which can be enjoyed in the local economy. A devaluation of the exchange rate will make Zimbabwean exports more competitive and cheaper to foreigners.
This will increase demand for local exports. Meanwhile, local products are more expensive as compared to imports due to the skewed cost of production owing to the current value of the US dollar on the local market. In principle, the local consumers would automatically go for substitute products which are affordable and cheaper.
In the same vein, devaluation means imports will become more expensive and this has a direct effect of reducing the
demand for imports which at the moment are flooding the local market enjoying a monopoly.
Devalued currency makes an economy’s exports more favourable. This is because their currency has become cheaper than other countries, increasing the demand from exporters. As well as reducing the purchasing power of citizens abroad, for instance, it would be more expensive to go on holiday abroad and/or purchase goods in neighbouring countries like South Africa and Zambia.
Reduced imports leads to an increase in the demand for domestic goods. This increases the domestic supply of goods in an economy, and which in turn increases economic activities that require manpower; leading to increased employment rate and reducing unemployment rates.
In reality, devaluation could cause higher economic growth as higher exports and lower imports should lead to higher rates of economic growth. Therefore, this provides a boost for domestic demand, and could lead to job creation in the export sector and the down-stream industries.
Higher level of exports should lead to an improvement in the current account deficit. This is important if the country has a large current account deficit due to a lack of competitiveness.
Devalued currency makes an economy’s exports more favourable. This is because their currency has becomes cheaper than other countries, increasing the demand from exporters.
Zimbabwe should take a leaf from the recent Chinese devaluation of the Yuan against the US dollar. The move made Chinese goods cheaper after 8, 3% fall in exports in July 2015.
RBZ Governor, Dr Mangudya says a country which cannot devalue its nominal exchange rate, can gain competitiveness and promote export performance through streamlining domestic costs of production. He further asserts that measures to enhance competitiveness through reduction in production costs amounted to depreciation in the real exchange rate in a manner that was promotive of exports.
This is particularly important as Zimbabwe’s implied real effective exchange rate is currently over-valued by an estimated 45%. This largely reflects the progressive appreciation in the US$ underpinned by strong economic recovery in the US and accommodative monetary policy measures adopted in most Euro zone countries.
Dr Mangudya claims that the nominal appreciation of the US$ against major currencies has had concomitant effects on the real effective exchange rate, a development that has continued to undermine the country’s export competitiveness. He said under the fiscal devaluation, value added tax could be imposed on selected imports that had close local substitutes. As well as application of other than fiscal devaluation, complementary “internal devaluation” measures targeted at reducing the cost of doing business, boosting competitiveness, increasing productivity and fostering confidence in the economy could also be pursued.
At the moment the major cost drivers identified in Zimbabwe include labour, power, water, finance, transport and logistics, tariffs and trade taxes, taxation and information technology costs. In tandem with the prime aim to increase competitiveness of local goods, it is imperative to have the working combination of lower unit labour costs and higher consumption tax decreases the price of exported goods and increases the after-tax relative price of the imported good.
PICTURES: Police Cops Fondle Women’s Private Parts
– As thousands of fans lined up to enter Uganda’s National stadium in Nambole to watch a football match between Uganda Cranes and Burkina Faso, cops left nothing to chance as they search for any weapons that would be sneaked into the stadium
– With the threat of terrorism looming large globally, it remains debatable whether police officer are allowed to go as far as touching people private areas in their search
– Well, while some female fans remained indifferent to this rather bizzare form of frisking, others could not help but laugh as they were touched in unusual areas of their body
A series of photos have gone viral in which a female police officer apparently not leaving nothing to chance in this era of numerous terror attacks.
The photos have gone viral with social media user wondering whether the fear of terrorism is license to abuse some basic human rights.
The seemingly overzealous female cop searches everywhere, quite literally, including the privates of every female entrant into Nambole National Stadium where Uganda Cranes was to play Burkina Faso.
While in another world, it would be expected that metal detectors or scanners would be used to detect and stop any weapon from being sneaked into the stadium, in Uganda it appears the hands it much better.
The same female cop can bee seen frisking a lady fan (right behind the man in white top) and where else? She goes straight for the private area.
The repeated sequence of events only serves to prove that cops were under very strict instruction to frisk entrants to the stadium very well, and all over their bodies.
It is not clear how men were frisked but if ladies could be searched in such an awkward manner, then it could only be worse for their male counterparts who pose more danger in terms of violence.
Uganda suffered a serious terror attack during the 2010 world cup as terrorist targeted an entertainment zone where soccer fans had thronged to watch a crucial football match on television. – Tuco.ke/Agencies
Blame Zimbabweans, Not Me – Mugabe
After being in power for nearly the longest time in the world, aged Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says that anyone who has a problem with the time he has led the country should blame Zimbabweans not him.
Talking to Japanese media from Japan yesterday, Mugabe said that he has never forced himself to lead the country but has always been elected by Zimbabweans who believe in his empowerment agenda.
“If they have a problem with my stay in power they should go and ask Zimbabwean people. I don’t vote myself in, they do,” said Mugabe.
Mugabe added that Zimbabweans will not take lightly anyone who says that he must step down.
“You go to Zimbabwe now and ask them if I must step down. They will be very angry with you,” he said.
Asked if he will still consider contesting the 2018 elections at 94, Mugabe said that he has already been given the mandate to contest the elections by his party and he will contest.
Probed on his health and capability to lead the country now, in 2018 and beyond, Mugabe that as far as he feels he is still fit to continue as President.
“As you can see me here as President it means I am still very strong and will certainly see another two years to 2018.”
“What is two years? I will still be there and ready to lead another five years God willing.”
Harare Intensifies Water Disconnections
CITY of Harare is intensifying water disconnections and issuance of summons to all residents and corporates whose bills are in arrears.
In a statement on Wednesday, City of Harare acting corporate communications manager, Michael Chideme, said residents in debt must approach the local authority to negotiate payment plans.
“All debtors are urged to make payment arrangements with council to offset their debts,” he said.
“Residents and ratepayers should pay their current monthly bills while they make payment arrangements to offset their debts to avoid inconveniences such as water disconnections and property attachments.”
He said council revenue officers around the city have been instructed to accept all payments.
“People intending to make payments will not be turned away.Council needs all residents to be rate compliant for it to be able to discharge its service delivery mandate,” said Chideme.
The Local authority is owed over US$400 million, a development that is impacting negatively on capacity to provide the desired services.-State Media
Doctors’ Salary Gross $895
JUNIOR doctors at public hospitals have threatened to continue with their strike until the Health Services Board (HSB) clarifies some vague clauses on their new employment contracts availed yesterday.
The doctors said the revised contract was vague on conditions of service and remuneration.
“Our collective position is that we are willing to go to work as soon as possible for the benefit of the patients. They (HSB) should go through proper channels and communicate with our representative body,” the junior doctors said.
“The figure ($895 gross salary) is vague on what deductions will be effected and it’s all-inclusive of allowances.”
The doctors, who are also protesting against being engaged as contract workers, are demanding clarity on matters like repeating college classes and the period a female doctor should be on maternity leave.
“Previously, we signed an assumption of duty contract which automatically meant that one was now employed permanently,” they said.
Last week, Mpilo Central Hospital was forced to shut down its outpatient department following the strike by junior doctors, which led to a serious shortage of personnel.
Currently, the situation is dire at most public hospitals as the strike by the junior doctors has created a huge gap in service delivery.
“Medical and surgical wards are the worst affected because they are covered by interns,” another student said. newsday
But HSB spokesperson Nyasha p optimistic the doctors would sign the new contracts.
“We expect them to sign the contract so that they can start their housemanship. At the moment, I cannot confirm whether they have signed or not,” he said.
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals chief executive officer Thomas Zigora said the doctors had just received the contracts and were still going through them.
ex-MP Madzore Falls on Hard Times
FORMER MDC-T Glen View South legislator Paul Madzore has hit hard times and is failing to cater for his two children. Madzore told magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe that ever since he lost his parliamentary seat, his life has never been the same as he has no other source of income.
Madzore (46) who is in arrears of $1 040, was taken to court by his former wife Philda Kanengoni for failing to pay maintenance.
He pleaded guilty to the charge.
Madzore, however, escaped jail by a whisker after Mr Mahwe slapped him with a three-month jail term which was wholly suspended on condition he pays the money on or before April 29.
Madzore pleaded for the court’s leniency and asked for time to pay on the basis that his financial position has substantially changed.
“Your Worship, I am admitting to the charge but the problem is that I am not employed at the moment. I am no longer a Member of Parliament,” he said.
“If the court can grant me at least two months to clear the arrears, I can run around and look for the money.”
He told the court that he had $100 in his pockets which he was ordered to pay forthwith towards the maintenance.
On October 30, 2013, Madzore was ordered by the Civil Court to pay a monthly maintenance fee of $300 for the upkeep of his two children.
He started defaulting payment in December last year.
Ms Francesca Mukumbiri prosecuted.
Zhuwao ‘Vomits’ Again:Foreign Companies Shutting Down in 2 Days
Zimbabwe’s Indigenization Minister Patrick Zhuwao has reiterated that Harare will from April 1st cancel licenses of foreign-owned firms that have not complied with the black empowerment law that compels them to sell a 51% stake of their shares to locals.
President Robert Mugabe signed the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Bill into law in 2008 after it passed through parliament in September 2007 despite stiff resistance from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Under Zimbabwean law, foreign and white-owned companies with assets of more than $500,000 must cede or sell a controlling stake to black nationals.
Zanu-PF insiders say the cash-strapped government took the hard line stance after foreign-owned companies spurned government’s offer to contribute 10 percent of their annual earnings to the empowerment levy set up by Zhuwao.
The move by Harare to cancel licenses is likely to torpedo plans by the country to re-engage the Bretton Woods institutions, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Locally, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has petitioned Zhuwao complaining about the threat to seize companies’ licenses. Chairman of the Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association, Chris Mutsvangwa, has also joined the chorus of those condemning the government move.
Mutsvangwa told the daily newspaper, NewsDay, that the former fighters would oppose government’s move to “nationalize” companies. Said Mutsvangwa: “It is a plan to loot the country’s resources and we will not fold our hands. War veterans want a country that is open to business, that is attractive to investment from anyone and there is no need for us to slam doors in the faces of those who want to bring in new money,” But Zhuwao, in an exclusive interview with VOA Studio 7’s Blessing Zulu, said that Harare is not backing down from local and international pressure.
BLESSING ZULU (B.Z): First honorable Zhuwao are companies complying with what you said is a cabinet directive to give your ministry their indigenization proposal plans?
PATRICK ZHUWAO (P.Z) Companies go to their line ministries in terms of their proposals. So, I have not even bothered to check with line ministries what the progress is. But however what then has been transpiring is that there have been a number of companies that have been seeking clarity on a lot of issues some of which are downright lies in terms of what they have been told about the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act Chapter 14:33. Some of those lies have actually come from institutions such as yours which are the media that have been misleading companies. So what I have resolved to … I was requested by one of the companies to conduct an indigenization compliance clinic where companies that feel they are affected come in to get just a few pointers directly from me the minister responsible for administering that act to say look this is what the act says and these are the options available to each and every company in terms of the legislation.
B.Z: So when is this proposed indigenization clinic taking place?
P.Z: We will begin tomorrow (Wednesday) at 8.00 (am) o’ clock at the Jacaranda room, Rainbow Towers Hotel.
B.Z: How many companies have registered so far (to attend the clinic?)
P.Z: No it’s like a walk in clinic my brother, you know just, you know if you have a tooth ache, you go to the clinic and say I have a tooth ache and the doctor says you need aspirin or whatever it is that you need and if your ailment is of a bigger nature then the doctor says look I can’t really assist you need to go to a specialist. So there are some companies that really do not fall within the threshold of indigenization in terms of capital requirements, and those companies it’s just a matter of letting them understand that this is what the law says those companies that they don’t fall within the threshold and then they can go home and relax and have a good night sleep for tomorrow and those that fall within the threshold we say, look you fall within the threshold these are the various options that are available to you. If you are still confused as to how you will be able to put together an indigenization plan. It is quite possible that they can then go to some of the advisory companies that are dotted around Zimbabwe. We have quite a number of fairly good advisors. But we also observed that there are some legal practitioners that instead of explaining to their clients the provisions of the law are busy telling their clients that government is not serious about implementing the law and those people are lying to whoever it is that they are giving advice to. And you know if I was a manager of any business, I would simply make sure that I go on my own to understand what the law requires and I make sure that I am compliant.
B.Z: You said there are certain companies that fall within the threshold, if you can give us some examples?
P.Z: My brother, you have got General Notice 114 of 2011, General Notice 459 0f 2011 and the General Notice 280 of 2012. Those set the threshold sector by sector.
B.Z: And talking about tomorrow (Wednesday’s) compliance clinic, is there a likelihood that you will extend the deadline or timeline to submit compliance plans?
P.Z: No. No the timeline by which companies should have complied is the 1stof March 2015. So companies that have not complied are already one year and one month beyond the time they should have complied. However, I need to point out that the processes of the revocation of the licenses involves the line minister notifying the non-compliant company of line ministers’ intention to order the licensing authority to revoke the license. Thereafter the line minister also requires the non-compliant company to show just cause as to why they have not complied and the minister then looks at it if there is just cause.
B.Z: We have had serious concern being raised first by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions that has already petitioned you and the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans led by Chris Mutsvangwa saying the government has veered off the road and is headed for the ditch.
P.Z : (Laughs) Sorry with all due respect to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. It is not them that I am laughing at … eeh … the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, I have just heard an interview with a journalist who showed me the letter that was written by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. I will engage the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union. But I do not want to engage with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions in the media.
B.Z: Turning to Mr. Mutsvangwa?
P.Z: Mr. Mutsvangwa … Honorable Mutsvangwa let’s use his title appropriately. Honorable Mutsvangwa was a member of the cabinet and having been a member of the cabinet he knows the processes of cabinet. And over and above knowing the processes of cabinet I am struggling to understand where he is coming from because I have not received any letter from the war veterans. I am struggling to believe that Honorable Mutsvangwa is going against a resolution that was passed by a cabinet that is chaired by his patron. (President Robert Mugabe is the chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association). A cabinet that consists of members of his association who are also the two vice presidents of the country (vice presidents Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa) … A cabinet that has got the secretary responsible for war veterans in the Zanu-PF party as a member (Defense Minister Sydney Sekeramai) … A cabinet that has got the minister responsible for war veterans in that cabinet as a member (Tshinga Dube) in that cabinet and a cabinet that has no less than four other ministers who are war veterans. So I have not seen any letter from Honorable Mutsvangwa. So I do not believe what is in the media because it is impossible to contemplate that . .. eeh … (laughs) … Honorable Mutsvangwa could be saying that his patron is wrong. What it would mean is that he is now actually going against the campaign manifesto (ruling Zanu-PF) that he also used to become a Member of Parliament for Norton because Zanu-PF went on a campaign of indigenize, empower and develop and create employment. So I don’t believe it. It is impossible. No sane person would actually turn around and say I was voted on this platform, now I do not believe in it. If he no longer believes in it, he should resign as a member of parliament.
B.Z: Capital is a coward Hon. Zhuwao, don’t you think that this law is causing problems for Zimbabwe when it comes to investment.
P.Z: It’s not a matter of whether I think indigenization is scaring away investors. I know it is not indigenization, if there is anything called indigenization, because there are territories that have similar pieces of legislation where investment goes in. So the evidence is there that it is not around issues of indigenization or whichever way you want to label such a piece of indigenization. There are other political considerations which include sanctions and certain narratives that are then propagated that then talk to this. But more importantly, my view is that there is need to put finality to this issue. So that people know that when the government of Zimbabwe puts in place a law, it will abide by that law. Now if we do not abide by the indigenization law, then how can any other investor believe that we are serious about abiding by any other law? And this is really my perspective and I give this perspective from the perspective of a person that has actually started business. You see I did not start off my professional life as a minister of government or as a politician. I had my professional life as a business person. I have started businesses. I have run businesses and I still have some shares in some businesses. So I know what it takes to make a business decision and I know it very, very well. So you know, izvi zvekunzi munhu atanga kupinda mu Mercedes Benz apinda muhurumende aiwa ini yangu ndakatanga kupinda hangu iri 123 series in 1994. (I did not start driving a Mercdese Benz when I was appointed a cabinet minister, I bought the first one for myself in 1994, a 123 series.)
B.Z: There are serious concerns minister that the indigenization programs benefit only a few elites and for the majority of Zimbabweans, independence remains flag and anthem independence.
P.Z: Unfortunately some of these concerns are misplaced. These are the very same concerns that came around the issue of the land reform programme and these very same concerns then got some Zimbabweans that ought to have benefitted from the land reform programme taking very, very drastic and unfortunate hardline positions saying I am not going to be party to that and they have failed to benefit from that. But you know paranoia is a disease. There is nothing you can do when something is mentally afflicted like that.
B.Z: But even with that land reform programme you are alluding to, there are multiple farm owners who happen to be the elite and the majority of Zimbabweans are bitter they have been left out.
P.Z. I do not know of any multiple farm owners. Can you tell me of some and if there are any I think you should raise your concerns with the minister of lands. There is a minister of lands who you are supposed to raise those issues with.
B.Z : But successive government land reform audits have concluded that there are multiple land owners.
P.Z: Well let the minister of lands respond to that. I am the minister for Youth, Indigenization and Economic Empowerment. You know division of labor my brother. Division of labor.- VOA
Kasukuwere Caught In Chiredzi Scam
By Terrence Mawawa|Public Works and Local Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has been caught in the Chiredzi Town Council residential stands scam in which he clandestinely authorised the distribution of the stands, thereby igniting corruption.
Sources in Chiredzi last week said Kasukuwere authorised the distribution of 50 residential stands through a bogus housing cooperative, bypassing the town council in the process.
In a bid to gag the town council management, Kasukuwere has threatened to deploy a team of investigators, ostensibly to analyse cases of mismanagement at the local authority.
Analysts say the move by Kasukuwere is a desperate bid to cover up for the mess he created by as said ‘fraudulently’ authorising the distribution of the residential stands.
Chiredzi Town Council chairman Francis Moyo confirmed Kasukuwere would soon dispatch a team to probe the city council.
“I can confirm that there is a team that is coming here to carry out some investigations but the truth of the matter is we do not even know how the stands in question ended up in the hands of a housing cooperative,” said Moyo.
Sources in Chiredzi said Kasukuwere’s efforts to pile pressure on the town council indicate the Minister is eager to blame it for his own blunders.
The stands worth thousands of dollars, were distributed secretly such that it is widely believed Kasukuwere is a direct beneficiary of the scam.
VIDEO:Jestina Mukoko Wins Courage Award-REVIEW
Zimbabwe Peace Project executive director, Jestina Mukoko this week attended the prestigious 2016 International Women of Courage Award, on Tuesday, at the U.S. State Department, in Washington.
Mukoko was honored in 2010 after her abduction. Other Zimbabwean recipients are lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa and activist Jenni Williams – VOA
Explosion Fear Hits Zimbabwe as China Sets up Mystery Bomb Project
Zimbabwe is under a red alert warning after a Chinese company, Hunan Nanling Industry Explosive Material Co Ltd, announced plans to set up a bomb materials production project in the country.
A mysterious unnamed local company is hosting the dodgy Chinese deal that comes as safety analysts warned that human life is at risk. The US based Richard G Little, warned saying “once again, the world has a front-row seat to observe what happens when those responsible for public safety ignore risks in favor of short-term economic gain. In the case of the Tianjin explosion in China, cozy relationships between businesses and public officials led to reduced scrutiny and no doubt contributed significantly to the scale and outcome of the disaster.
“The lesson of past disasters such as the New Orleans levees, Deepwater Horizon and Fukushima Daiichi is that the root cause of these failures usually lies in perverse incentive structures and institutional conflicts that actually de-emphasize safety.
“China needs to show its people and the world that it cares about industrial safety by empowering competent, committed and incorruptible officials to act in the public interest. Economic growth and public safety need not be mutually exclusive.”
Meanwhile the state media reported that first phase of the project will see the company together with its unnamed local partner construct a 12 000 tonne emulsion explosives fixed production line. The expected construction period of the first phase is 12 months.
The total investment is 1,06 billion yuan ($245 million).
Hunan Nanling Industrial Explosive Materials said the Hong Kong JV New World (Hong Kong) International Development Limited) had been set up specifically in line with the Chinese Government’s external investment policy.
Hunan Nanling Industrial Explosive Materials is principally engaged in research, development, manufacture and sale of civil explosive materials, military products and civil explosive professional equipment, as well as blasting and logistics business.
The firm’s products and services can be divided into industrial explosives,
industrial detonating cords, industrial detonators, engineering blasting operations, and transportation and distribution services.
The Zimbabwe project’s line of business will include: production of emulsion explosives and ANFO; non-electric blasting assembly detonator; distribution and sale of civilian blasting equipment; civilian blasting equipment to provide technical advice, blasting services and mining services.
According to Hunan Nanling Industrial Explosive Materials the setting up of the joint venture in Hong Kong, and the investment into the Zimbabwe project have been approved by the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce.
Chinese investment into Zimbabwe has maintained an upward trajectory, especially after President Robert Mugabe’s State visit to China in December last year where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed 10 investment deals. – BH24/Reuters.
Mugabe Talks On Stepping Down
State Media- President Robert Mugabe yesterday said anyone unhappy with his constitutional stay in power should condemn the people of Zimbabwe as they are the ones who gave him the mandate to govern the country since 1980, adding that his successor should be people-oriented and someone ready to defend the country from latter-day neo-colonialism being propelled by the West.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Japanese journalists here yesterday, President Mugabe said health permitting, he would stand as the Zanu-PF presidential candidate in 2018 if the people decided so.
“He (successor) must be a good leader all the time, a leader who is people oriented,” said President Mugabe, “a leader who listens to the voices of the people, who takes care of the people, who thinks of the people before he thinks of himself. He should be a leader who is really directed and governed by the wishes of the people. This is what I have tried to be. This is what our Government has tried to be.”
President Mugabe added: “When we waged the struggle it was a people struggle for the freedom of our people and that should remain the objective of the leaders in the future. (He needs) to be people oriented to push that the people remain as free as possible and defend and protect them against any outsider.”
To lead the country for the past 36 years, President Mugabe said, was because of Zimbabweans who successively elected him to drive their empowerment agenda.
President Mugabe said anyone with a problem with the decision of the majority was free to criticise them “if they don’t like my long stay in power they should criticise my people, I do not vote for myself into power,” he said.
“You just go to Zimbabwe now and ask the people whether I should stand down. They will be angry with you.”
Asked if he was fit for the Presidency at the moment and in 2018, President Mugabe said: “At the moment I am the President that’s why (I am here). Do you see me as not fit? Why not contest two years later?
“Two years later is no time but only God knows what will happen in two years’ time, 2018, I don’t know, it will depend. If I am fit enough, yes, but If I am not fit enough I will not. My people will want me to be a candidate and they have already nominated me as a candidate for 2018.”
President Mugabe said Zimbabwe abounded with ivory and Government would ensure it benefits everyone.
“We have got elephants and they carry ivory and I want that ivory to benefit Zimbabwe. So I will comply with the rules set for us to trade in ivory,” he said.
He said the forthcoming sixth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) IV to be held in Kenya in August should unite Africa and Japan as they pushed for their development.
“With TICAD, you don’t just get socio-economic friends, you build also social business as indeed you build allies in development, in humanitarian endeavour and the creation of the world of peace and harmony. If we can begin with Africa as a peaceful continent that will be a stepping stone to possible world peace in the future although world peace, as we see now, will take us a long time to establish with so much terrorism taking place especially on the European continent.”
He said the strained relationship between China and Japan would not affect Zimbabwe’s relationship with the two countries.
“We are friends of China,” he said. “During the liberation struggle they supported us and we owe them that support but that does not mean our friendship with China excludes friendship with Japan. No! I know you are not good friends because of the past history of fighting but that is your row. As far as we are concerned we want to be a good friend with you as far as we are with everyone else.”
Asked on relations with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, President Mugabe said: “We have lost connection with North Korea. If North Korea would want to re-establish connections, I suppose we reciprocate. We do not hate any country or distaste any people. We make friends with those who want to be friends with us but it doesn’t mean that we should follow all their ways. Friendship is friendship on terms that are reciprocal.”
Asked about his perception of Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the United States elections this year, President Mugabe said many thought he would be the joke of the year but he was pulling surprises.
Some of his utterances though, the President said, were a “bit off guard”.
“I notice he is winning in some cases,” he said. “He had a difficult time in Chicago but elsewhere he should guard his speeches more but I am not the one to teach Americans how to behave.” -State Media
Mugabe Must Die on duty – ZANU PF
Zanu PF youths say President Mugabe (92) must rule until he dies.
The youths aligned to G40 are planning a million-man march to show support for President Mugabe. They are vowing to stand by Mr. Mugabe despite his advanced age.
The youths, who gathered in Mutare today to make the necessary arrangements for the proposed march, said they are geared for the public event to prove they are fully behind the 92-year old leader, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
Their representative, Zanu PF Youth League political commissar, Innocent Hamandishe, said they want Mr. Mugabe to rule until he dies.
“Our main aim on the One Million Men March is to show the President that we are fully behind him. We want him to be our president for life and those that do not agree are free to go to ZEC and remove their name there or vote otherwise.”
Hamandishe further noted that they are being used as political tools by some Cabinet ministers. He said this can only stop if they are economically empowered.
“Our youths have suffered enough and we will ensure that ministers that are not doing their work are named and shamed, come that day. We will meet the president on the Million Men March.”
The youths that were in the city are planning to hold a rally on Sunday in the eastern border city ahead of the march in May. Each province is expected to provide at least 100,000 young people for the event.
Acting Zanu PF Manicaland provincial Youth League chairperson, Mubuso Chinguno, said they have been let down by ministers in the province as most youths do not have land, stands in urban areas and are left out of state projects.
They said they have not yet benefited from the diamond-rich Manicaland province. President Mugabe recently claimed that Zimbabwe could have lost about $15 billion in potential diamond revenue due to lack of transparency in the mining of the gems.
Chinnguno said this is unacceptable as part of the proceeds were meant to benefit local youth.
“As chairperson for the province we have youths that are being marginalized in terms of accessing land, residential stands and businesses. We want them to benefit after being left out in the past in many projects.”
The youth are expected to raise funds for the transportation of Zanu PF activists to the so-called million-man march in Harare. voa
VIDEO-LIVE CHURCH DANCE as Thousands Desert Wutaunashe
Showbiz Reporter|Thousands danced and ululated on Easter weekend having deserted sex-scandal ridden preacher and church leader Andrew Wutaunashe.
The meeting was held at Belvedere Teachers’ college while several were held in other parts of the world. SEE MAP –
CIO, Army Bosses to Be Hit with fresh Round of Sanctions
The European Union — led by Britain — wants to re-activate sanctions against Zimbabwe’s security sector as part of its strategy to floor the ruling Zanu-PF Government in the 2018 general election.
Last month, the British government pushed through the EU Council an article that kept five security chiefs on the bloc’s “suspended list” of sanctions and removed 78 individuals and eight institutions.
On the list are Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, Zimbabwe National Army Commader Lieutenant-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda, Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri, Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Happyton Bonyongwe and Airforce of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshall Perence Shiri.
Although the EU continues to publicly state that only President Mugabe, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and Zimbabwe Defence Industries are on “restrictive measures”, it has emerged that the grouping placed service chiefs on “suspended sanctions” so as to reactivate them come election time.
Previous British Parliament reports show that Britain is among the few EU members openly opposed to scrapping the sanctions on Zimbabwe, and at one point, British Minister of State (Foreign Office) Mr David Lidington admitted as much, even revealing that his government was fighting a lone battle.
A recent British House of Commons committee report states that the government there acknowledges Zimbabwe’s “relatively stable human rights situation” and Zanu-PF’s “reformist policies”.
It then plays in its mantra of “assisting the people of Zimbabwe to exercise their democratic right”, and this primarily involves an attempt to weaken the security establishment.
Part of the report tabled to the EU Scrutiny Committee reads, “Since the 2013 elections, our assessment of the political situation in Zimbabwe remains broadly the same, with 2015 signalling some positive developments.
“Within the Zimbabwe African National Union administration, there are signs of reformist policies beginning to emerge, especially on the economy. The human rights situation has remained relatively stable and reported violations continue to fall.”
It goes on to state: “However, the situation continues to be fragile and we remain concerned about human rights abuses, especially during election periods. Ahead of the 2018 elections, it is critical that electoral reforms are implemented, and that the international community supports the people of Zimbabwe in exercising their democratic right to build a free, peaceful and prosperous future.
“Based on the above, we have focussed our efforts on a more targeted list of those individuals most closely linked to the security forces: Augustine Chihuri (Police Commissioner-General), Constantine Chiwenga (Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces), Happyton Mabhuya Bonyongwe (Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation), Perence Samson Chikerema Shiri (Air Marshall) and Phillip Valerio Sibanda (Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army). Retaining these individuals on the suspended list makes it easier to reactivate the restrictive measures should it be necessary.” – State Media
Mnangagwa Halted by Gukurahundi Ghosts
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s attempts to disown statements attributed to him during the Gukurahundi massacres have opened a new frontier for critics of one of President Robert Mugabe’s likely successors.
Mnangagwa has over the years avoided responding directly to allegations that he was one of the key architects of the killings of civilians by Five Brigade in Midlands and Matabeleland soon after independence.
But Mnangagwa last week came out guns blazing after former Education minister David Coltart used statements attributed to him by State-controlled media in the 1980s, in his recently released book, The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa was quoted in the 1980s apparently justifying the killings by the army. The Midlands strongman last week threatened to sue over the alleged “fabricated” statements.
However, the move has backfired, with Coltart getting support from even unlikely sources such as Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, who retorted that: “denialism is not the best way to deal with things done or said during Gukurahundi, period: Their record is public”.
Former war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda said it would be a “massive error” if Mnangagwa took the matter to court since the information was in the public domain.
“I have not read Coltart’s book,” Sibanda said. “What I know for certain is that Coltart was, during the period of Gukurahundi, a human rights lawyer representing Zapu leaders, including Sidney Malunga.
“But I must say it will be ill-advised for Vice-President Mnangagwa to take this matter to court.
“It will set a bad precedence that could see a lot of people being taken to court.
“It will be a massive error for him to take the issue of defending the Fifth Brigade to court.”
Sibanda, a former Zipra combatant, said a court case would open a can of worms because the book only revealed what was already in the public domain.
“That issue represents a danger to the unity of our country. It will hurt Mugabe and will hurt [Defence minister Sydney] Sekeramayi,” he said. “Mnangagwa I know was an activist in Mugabe’s government as minister responsible for intelligence.
“We are aware of the things that were said at that time. We are aware of what was said at Maboleni, at the very first meeting. “We know who addressed it. We have affidavits because some people have come forward to tell us what happened as well, they regret it,” Sibanda added.
“Without arrogating myself the position of Mugabe’s legal practitioner or representing Mnangagwa, I think it will be a mistake for them to take this matter to court. It will be a big mistake.”
Mugabe says he deployed the Fifth Brigade in the Midlands and Matabeleland to fight a handful of dissidents but critics say the real reason the North Korean trained soldiers were sent to the region was to crush Joshua Nkomo’s Zapu.
Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) is one of the few organisations that conducted research into the killings and concluded that at least 20 000, mainly Zapu supporters, were massacred.
Coltart in his book cited statements contained in a 1983 Chronicle newspaper article where Mnangagwa is alleged to have uttered statements likening dissidents to “cockroaches and bugs.”
Mnangagwa was in The Chronicle report quoted defending Gukurahundi, saying the “government had to bring DDT [a deadly pesticide] to get rid of bandits”.
Human rights groups said the fact that Mnangagwa who was linked to the Gukurahundi disturbances, doubles as Justice minister that oversees the mandate of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), was enough for him to step aside to allow the commission to do its work unhindered, and in a fair manner.
“The noble thing for him is to resign. Coltart’s book and Mnangagwa’s denials buttress our concern that he is not credible to serve as minister of Justice that also drafts laws, including the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill, that dictates the operations of the peace and reconciliation commission,” said pastor Anglistone Sibanda, executive director of faith-based Shalom Trust.
“He must resign to pave way for justice…. With him and other ‘Gukurahundists’, there can never be justice. “The president and Zanu PF should act to bring closure to the issue by removing him from the Justice ministry.”
Sibanda is also the chairperson for the peace building and security committee at Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition.
Dumisani Nkomo, the executive director of Habbakuk Trust, weighed in, saying Mnangagwa’s denials were hypocritical as “he should have sued then when the report was first published in 1983”.
“There is a conflict of interest here since Mnangagwa will be judge and jury in a case where he is being investigated for his involvement,” Nkomo said.
“As long as he is there, it will be difficult to investigate such issues, it will be difficult to summon the perpetrators. “Mnangagwa and others implicated should step aside to allow due processes to take place. That is one way of dealing with the issue of conflict of interest.”
The NPRC Bill sections 10(1) and 11(1) gives the minister power to assign current serving civil servants to work as secretariat for the NPRC. The Bill compels the commission to be accountable to the minister, yet Section 235 of the Constitution is clear that the commission is accountable to Parliament.
The NPRC is one of the five independent commissions established by Chapter 12 of the Constitution, but is the only one with a time frame of 10 years from the date that the Constitution was adopted in 2013.
Mbuso Fuzwayo, the co-ordinator of Ibhetshu Likazulu, said Mnangagwa should either clear his name or resign.
“There are two things we expect him to do, go to court and clear his name, or take responsibility and resign because as the justice minister, it will be difficult for the victims to get justice because of his dual positions that are very strategic to national healing,” he said.
“As long as he does not dispute what Coltart is saying, and does not go to court, he is not fit to be a vice-president
“He must resign for the truth and justice commission to perform its duty properly.”
Mugabe has never apologised for the Gukurahundi massacres, save for describing the period as a “moment of madness.” standard
Coltart:My Book Is Accurate
Politician David Coltart, who is also a veteran lawyer, maintains that he stands by remarks contained in his book regarding what Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa is reported to have said in 1983, when government deployed the North Korean-trained Five Brigade in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
According to human rights activists, the Zimbabwe army allegedly killed at least 20 000 innocent civilians.
The massacres — commonly referred to as Gukurahundi or “washing away dirt” — have reportedly unsettled the vice-president, who is believed to be harbouring presidential ambitions.
Coltart told Studio 7 that he had carried out thorough research for his autobiography titled The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyrany in Zimbabwe saying he stands by what he wrote.
Coltart has become embroiled in a row with Mnangagwa after it emerged that his recently-published book contains claims that sometime in 1983, Mnangagwa — then Security minister —made statements which encouraged violence against civilians, marking the beginning of what came to be known as Gukurahundi.
Coltart said he had relied on some reports in the state-controlled Chronicle newspaper, which he had believed to be true as Mnangagwa never sued the paper for those remarks.
He said, “The specific comments in the book regarding Vice- President Mnangagwa actually came from The Chronicle reports in 1983, which we had access to. And the assumption has always been that The Chronicle then reported accurately.
“Vice-President Mnangagwa never complained about the Chronicle reports of what he said then, and he never sued them in the past 33 years, so one has to assume that he was correctly reported on. And to that extent, yes, I stand by what is written in the book.”
In a statement, Mnangagwa said he was concerned by remarks in Coltart’s book and that the statements attributed to him were false. He has threatened to sue the senator.
But Coltart has remained steadfast. Asked if he believed that the ordinary majority could still forgive the perpetrators of Gukurahundi given the apparent state intransigence, Coltart — who has in the past urged offenders to apologise for the atrocities — said he believed that the massacres could not be taken in isolation as Zimbabwe has gone through a number of traumatic experiences in the past.
Coltart said he would not be the right person to demand any apology from Gukurahundi perpetrators, but said he believed there was need for truth-telling.
“This is not something that I can say. I was not a victim of Gukurahundi and to that extent, I have no right to demand any apology from Vice-President Mnangagwa. All I have done is represent people; victims of that era. And from my representation of those people, I know that they do want an acknowledgment that what happened in fact happened, and yes, they would like an apology and they would like some form of communal reparation.”
Human rights activist, Mbuso Fuzwayo, said Mnangagwa could have used this opportunity to take responsibility and come clean on his involvement in Gukurahundi atrocities.
Programmes director Tineyi Mukwewa of the Abammeli Human Rights Lawyers said as the issue of Gukurahundi had rarely been discussed openly, Zimbabweans could salvage something positive from the row between Coltart and Mnangagwa to help bring closure to the issue.
“Clearly, Zimbabwe has had no conversation around Gukurahundi, so this is an opportune time where Zimbabwe can, in a structured manner, have a truth telling mechanism where the victims themselves can tell their story and where the accused can also say their side of the story. Zimbabwe needs the National Peace and Reconciliation Bill to come into effect, but the Bill has to speak about truth-telling, so that we find closure in Zimbabwe.”
Participants at a recent meeting on transitional justice said there could only be closure on the thorny Gukurahundi issue if there was telling of the truth and acknowledgment of the atrocities.
The Five Brigade was deployed in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces to quell what the government called a dissident menace caused by some disgruntled former Zipra members, who were unhappy over the way they were left out of the Zimbabwe National Army and other political issues.
A local newspaper posted photographs of articles published in the newspaper in 1983, in which Mnangagwa reportedly compared dissidents to “cockroaches and bugs”.-Standard
IN PICTURES – Toky, JahPrayzah, Selmor, Summer Festival UK Shows
Below is the picture coverage from the Summer Festival UK shows, by E & N Designs LTD
Economy Crashes
The Zimbabwean economy is at a Tipping Point and will be crashing down in a few days’ time following the new indigenization demands by president Robert Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao that any company that fails his Indigenisation Compliance should not open for business on April 1st.
The phenomenon has since been labelled the indigenization Fools Day demand.
As companies were by the state media said to be in a frenzy of activity working around the clock to submit indigenisation and empowerment proposals before the Thursday deadline, it turned out many are in fact waiting to close down in protest.
As the law has been twisted and shifted over several years, investors have reacted negatively against the economy and the recent development analysts say we will see the worst in the decline.
The Indigenisation and Empowerment Act – enacted in 2008 and operationalised on March 1, 2010 – requires foreign-owned companies valued at more than US$500 000 to be at least 51 percent owned by indigenous Zimbabweans.
Last year, Government directed all foreign firms to submit their indigenisation proposals by December 31, 2015, but the deadline was extended to March 31, 2016. Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Patrick Zhuwao last week said any company that failed to submit a proposal would not open for business on April 1.
He indicated that Statutory Instrument 21 of 2010 in fact specified that companies should have submitted their plans by March 1, 2015. Government feels that some companies have been dragging their feet, opting instead to pay the Indigenisation Compliance and Empowerment Levy in the hope that the law would be reviewed.
The government in an apologetic news article claimed that the Empowerment Levy, designed as a disincentive to firms that failed to submit proposals by the deadline, was scrapped last week.
But MDC Spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi said “it is a tragedy that those superintending over this country think it is alright to play Russian roulette with the country and its citizens’ economic welfare by chasing away foreign investors instead of embracing them, at a time the country is in desperate need for foreign direct investment in order to get it back to its feet.
“It makes for tragic reading seeing that this matter is cause for divisions even within ZANU PF itself.
We are not fooled, we are aware that President Mugabe and Zhuwao have run out of ideas on how to loot funds for self -enrichment after exhausting diamond and other public revenue for decades, and now are after fleecing foreign firms through the shoddy implementation of the Indigenisation law. The people of Zimbabwe must not for one moment believe the lie that this is being done with their best interests at heart, in our view it is just a retirement package plan for ZANU PF big chefs who can sense inevitable defeat come 2018, who as usual are not bothered by the catastrophic effects on the ordinary suffering Zimbabweans.”
Meanwhile Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Mr Davison Norupiri was quoted by the state media saying that that most foreign companies were preparing their proposals before the deadline.
“Quite a number of foreign-owned companies are actually preparing to make their submissions; they are prepared to comply before the deadline. There is no resistance as such but you find that there are some processes; each and every company has its own policies and consultations which have to be made with head offices. So they are consulting. Quite a number of our members had already complied. Remember, deadlines were set before, during Minister Kasukuwere’s time, and our members had already complied. It is only a few who are now working with their foreign offices in order to regularise. So there is no resistance whatsoever, we have not yet received any records of resisting compliance but we have received records of seeking clarification,” said Mr Norupiri.
Similarly, Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe CEO Mr Isaac Kwesu said mining firms would submit proposals as the first stage of complying with Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Regulations.
He noted that the Thursday deadline was not for full compliance but rather for submission of proposals.
“When submitting the proposals, it does not mean the proposals must be accepted. I think there is some misconception around those issues. One can even submit the proposal and say I am not indigenising; it’s a proposal.
I am just quoting the minister’s statement (when he announced the framework); you would have complied with the first stage, so I don’t think this would be a big issue because in the past, most miners submitted their proposals, only that these proposals were being declined or rejected. All they have to do is resubmit because what they submitted in the past expired. . . but I think it’s something that can take a few minutes to come up with a proposal and submit something to say ‘this is what we want to do’. We agree or disagree,” said Mr Kwesu.
Govt Millions in School Levies Looted
More than US$1,2 billion in development levies is circulating in Government and mission schools and a chunk of it is being abused by heads and bursars, an audit has revealed.
Other alleged culprits dipping into the US$1,2 billion largesse include school development association officials.
Audit reports gleaned by The Sunday Mail show that some school authorities have been duplicating receipt books as cover to lay their hands on development funds.
A school in Chitungwiza, for instance, claimed to have sunk a borehole for US$19 000 – an amount sufficient to drill five boreholes.
Another inflated the cost of refurbishing one of its buses to US$27 000.
A learning institution in Harare allegedly falsified its yearly wage bill, pegging it at US$261 709 and officials pocketed the difference, and gave its annual administrative and tea budgets as US$67 000 and US$5 000 respectively. The SDA “purchased” a bus for US$1800 when the actual cost was no more than US$100 000.
This was also despite a standing Government directive for all schools to buy buses from State Procurement Board- approved dealers.
Yet another school splurged US$44 000 on general repairs, a figure authorities query.
Most culprits have been flouting tender regulations, inflating invoices and quotations, and under receipting and banking.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora told this paper that such flagrant fraud had informed Government’s decision to consider removing cash control from SDAs.
“We know for a fact that more than US$1,2 billion is collected through levies, and if only half of that was used to develop the schools we will be talking of something else.
“We have a backlog of 2 000 schools and are collecting a lot of money. How then do we explain the backlog in infrastructure development? Some schools are overstaffed and these employees earn far more than teachers and heads on civil service salaries. This has become a conduit for corruption.
“There is a disconnect between the levies collected and their use. Most of these schools’ levy collection systems are robust, but when it comes to use, (it’s a different story altogether). What the auditors observed was shocking. It’s clear the situation cannot remain like that.”
Zimbabwe Schools Development Associations secretary-general Mr Everisto Jongwe said it was “an open secret” that some school heads were corrupt.
“It is not a secret that levies are abused. Audits have shown that heads and bursars are implicated. In some cases, we have received reports of headmasters who call for the dissolution of committees that question the way the would have used money, or if they refuse to cooperate with them.
“On that same note, we are not against the dissolution of SDAs, but we need to be consulted so that we can make an input. Parents are important stakeholders in the development of schools and children and should be involved.”
In 2015, Government commissioned an audit into schools’ operations following indications of fraud and abuse of funds.
Comptroller and Auditor-General Ms Mildred Chiri has previously reported on such activities in some Government departments and parastatals, including the education sector.
One case before the courts involves a bursar in Epworth who allegedly connived with the school’s ex-headmistress to steal more than US$8 000.
Another bursar in Westlea, Harare is accused of converting US$30 000 to personal use, while another in Karoi allegedly helped himself to US$39 000.
SDAs are primarily responsible for school development and hiring additional staff were the need arises, and are funded from levies. sunday mail
Mujuru Orders China to Probe Anjin
Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) leader Joice Mujuru has called for a thorough investigation by the Chinese Communist Party’s graft-busting organ, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, into claims of widespread looting of Marange diamond revenue by Anjin Investments.
Mujuru’s aide, Bright Matonga, told the Daily News yesterday that ZPF would engage the Chinese Embassy in Harare about the issue after President Robert Mugabe recently made the stunning claim that $15 billion had been looted from Chiadzwa under his government’s watch.
Anjin, which is run by Chinese nationals, is a joint venture between the government’s Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and China’s State-owned Anhui Foreign and Economic Construction Company.
Matonga said Mujuru’s quest to get Chinese President Xi Jinping to look into Anjin’s operations was necessitated by the knowledge that the company was co-owned by the Zimbabwe National Army and the Chinese military, as well as the fact that “corruption is not tolerated in the Asian country”.
Xi has in the past few years gone after both high-ranking “tigers” as well as lowly “flies” in his anti-corruption drive in China.
Among the senior Communist Party officials who have fallen following Xi’s campaign include former security chief Zhou Yongkang, one of China’s most powerful politicians of the past decade, who was accused of accepting bribes and leaking State secrets.
“We want to know from the Chinese side if they are going to take action on the company and their nationals who are said to be engaging in corrupt activities this side,” he said.
Matonga also questioned the “mega deals” that were signed by the government and China, saying that ZPF suspected that they were not meant to benefit the country, but a few individuals.
Speaking in a televised interview last month, Mugabe said $15 billion worth of diamonds had been looted over several years by mining companies operating in Marange, one of which is Anjin.
“We have not received much from the diamond industry at all. I don’t think we have exceeded $2 billion, yet we think more than $15 billion has been earned. So, where have our carats been going?” the nonagenarian asked.
However, industry experts doubt the veracity of Mugabe’s figures, with the global diamond industry trading about $13 billion a year, and Zimbabwe not among the biggest producers of uncut diamonds.
They argue that Mugabe could have once again been misled about the real state of affairs in the industry as two years ago, the nonagenarian also publicly accused former ZMDC chairman, Godwills Masimirembwa, of receiving $6 million from Ghanaian investors, but was later forced to make an embarrassing U-turn — admitting that he had been fed wrong information by his aides.
According to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), global rough diamond sales have averaged $12,6 billion a year in the last decade, with Zimbabwe’s declared rough diamond output averaging a miserly $266 million per year.
It remains to be seen how the already brooding Chinese will react to Mujuru’s move, as they have since warned Zimbabwe to beware after the government ill-advisedly moved to seize all the diamond mining claims in Chiadzwa, including those in which Chinese companies have interests.
The Asian powerhouse, which has been one of the few major economies that have kept their relations with Harare warm over the past 16 years of political and economic turmoil here, told the Daily News after the government’s controversial decision was announced that Zimbabwe must respect property rights.
“We hope that the Zimbabwean side would earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights of the Chinese companies and employees, according to the local laws and the ‘Agreement on the encouragement and reciprocal protection of investments between China and Zimbabwe,” Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping said in a terse email response to questions.
“The Chinese side is willing to enhance communication and negotiation with the Zimbabwean side, and together create a conducive environment for companies from both sides to conduct mutually-beneficial cooperation,” Ping added. Daily News
Dr Rutendo Wutaunashe Easter Message
Legendary preacher Dr Rutendo Wutaunashe has released a special easter message to Zimbabweans worldwide. Dr Wutaunashe, a medical doctor by profession told ZimEye easter is a time to reflect and be grateful of many things. Below was her brief message:
Zim Man Rots In Botswana Prison
Acting Justice Jennifer Dube has denied a Zimbabwean man bail in a case in which he, together with two others, are charged with robbery and murder of a 17-year-old Nigerian and University of Botswana student in 2014 in Gaborone.
The trio, Tawanda Makufara (33) of White City, Augustine Tembo (31) of Kuwadzana, Harare, Zimbabwe and Trevour Vandirayi (36) of Masvingo village in Zimabwe, are alleged to have on August 5, 2014 stabbed Elisha Eyitato with a sharp object before charging at his father at Village (Gaborone) in a violent robbery that took place at the deceased’s house. Vandarayi was granted P40,000 bail two weeks ago.
Arguing his bail application, Makufara told the court that he had stayed long in prison. Makufara further said he had nothing to do with the incident.
“I have stayed long in prison and it is now 14 months and I plead with the court to grant me bail. I have Batswana sureties who can sign for my bail. I have only been included in this case because my simcard was found in the first accused person’s phone which I borrowed from him. He has agreed that the phone is his.
I plead with the court to grant me bail since I don’t know anything about the alleged offence and when we look at the charge sheet, there are only three people involved but five people are in prison,” Makufara said. Gorata Mokgacha of Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) opposed the applicant’s bail bid arguing that the accused may abscond due to the nature of the offence and the evidence attached. Mokgacha further said the applicant was found in possession of the deceased’s phone seven hours and 58 minutes after the offence was committed.
“We are opposed to this bail application because the applicant is not a suitable candidate for
bail. He poses a flight risk and he has no legal travel documents. At the time of his arrest, the investigating officer realised that the particulars of the applicant were attached to the passport using an adhesive which purports that the passport has been forged.
“The accused entered Botswana on March 2, 2013 using an emergency travelling document. A man of reasonable thinking will abscond looking at the nature of the offence and evidence attached. When the offence was committed, the accused person was an illegal immigrant. The applicant was found in possession of the deceased phone seven hours 58 minutes after the offence was committed but he failed to give reasons as to how he came into possession of such,” Mokgacha said.
Makufara however contested fabricating his passport. He further said he has a Motswana girlfriend who will take care of him if given bail.
“That passport wholly belongs to me. I don’t have assets in Botswana but the people who take care of me have them and will take care of me. I also have a girlfriend, the mother of my children who is a Motswana and the owner of the house we are renting. I was denied bail since the judge told me investigations are underway now they are over and I plead with the court to grant me bail.
“One of the accused person was given bail by the same court on 14th March this year. I pray that the conditions be the same as those of the other accused person,” Makufara said. Dube denied the accused person bail. Mmegi
War Veterans Release Full Grace Mugabe Mox
By Terrence Mawawa|War veterans here have issued their first Grace Mugabe mox.
The ex fighters blast into the open their sudden statement fully throwing their weight behind First Lady Grace Mugabe and the First Family.
The same Masvingo chapter war vets some who were seen spreading CIO documented rumours of the First Lady’s alleged immoral acts, this week made a major ideological climbdown and released a full statement heaping praises on the first family.
The turnaround reflects the G40 faction’s secret manoeuvres to take firm control of political affairs in the volatile province, analysts said.
It is understood Mrs Mugabe is now firmly in control of party structures and her blue-eyed apologist Saviour Kasukuwere will be in Masvingo next week-ostensibly to finish off perceived G40 foes.
In the statement released last week the war veterans said:” As War veterans of Masvingo we distance ourselves from what Black Jesus said in respect of the First Family. We disassociate ourselves from the meeting by Chinooneka(a Team Lacoste member), his executive and suspended Zanu PF Provincial chairperson(Ezra) Chadzamira. We the war veterans of Masvingo Province rally behind His Excellency and the First Family. Other war veterans regret that Chinooneka organised some of the former freedom fighters to demonstrate against His Excellency and the First Lady.”
The statement was endorsed by war veterans Kudakwashe Dzoro, Junior Mazvihwa, Benjamin Mazarire, Isaiah Muzenda,Mersias Nhubu, B Kubvoruno and P Mugari respectively.
Google planned to help Syrian rebels bring down Assad regime, leaked Clinton emails claim
Independent(UK)|One of Google’s interactive tools was reportedly meant to encourage defections from the Assad government, emails leaked by WikiLeaks have alleged.
An interactive tool created by Google was designed to encourage Syrian rebels and help bring down the Assad regime, Hillary Clinton’s leaked emails have reportedly revealed.
By tracking and mapping defections within the Syrian leadership, it was reportedly designed to encourage more people to defect and ‘give confidence’ to the rebel opposition.
It was allegedly described as a “pretty cool idea” by senior Clinton adviser Jake Sullivan, and Google said it had enlisted the help of Al Jazeera to broadcast the tool in Syria.
Thousands of Clinton’s personal emails have been published and indexed by WikiLeaks, and some reveal interesting details about the relationship between the State Department and major corporations.
The email detailing Google’s defection tracker purportedly came from Jared Cohen, a Clinton advisor until 2010 and now-President of Jigsaw, formerly known as Google Ideas, the company’s New York-based policy think tank.
In a July 2012 email to members of Clinton’s team, which the WikiLeaks release alleges was later forwarded to the Secretary of State herself, Cohen reportedly said: “My team is planning to launch a tool on Sunday that will publicly track and map the defections in Syria and which parts of the government they are coming from.”
“Our logic behind this is that while many people are tracking the atrocities, nobody is visually representing and mapping the defections, which we believe are important in encouraging more to defect and giving confidence to the opposition.”
The email said Google would be “partnering with Al Jazeera” who would take “primary ownership” of the tool, maintaining it and publicising it in Syria.
Cohen asked the Clinton team to tell him if there was anything the company needed to think about before launching the tool, before adding: “We believe this can have an important impact.”
The visualisation was eventually published by Al Jazeera in English and Arabic, and Jigsaw’s website claims it became one of the site’s most-viewed visualisations.
A post about the tool on the site claims it successfully showed “patterns and trends” in support for the regime, but makes no mention of encouraging defectors or helping the opposition.
WikiLeaks has previously been responsible for publicising links between Google and high-ranking State Department officials, and founder Julian Assange’s 2014 book When Google Met WikiLeaks accused the company of helping to further the US government’s foreign policy agenda.
As the Daily Mail points out, the news comes as Google reveals its plans to expand internet access in Cuba, in an announcement timed to coincide with Barack Obama’s historic visit to the island.
Clinton’s thoughts on Google’s plan were not revealed in the WikiLeaks release, but she reportedly instructed an aide to print out Cohen’s email for later reference.
Google did not provide a comment. – Independent
Man Rapes 16Yr Old Daughter
A RUSAPE man Marevasei Marume (38) raped and impregnated his 16-year-old step daughter.
Marume Mahere Village, Mayo will now spend 15 years behind bars after Rusape regional magistrate, Mr Livingstone Chipadza suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.
Marume was denying the offence, saying the girl’s biological father had influenced her to cook up the allegations since he was bitter that he had married his former wife.
Rusape Area prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that Marume raped the girl in full view of her three siblings. He added that when the girl’s mother confronted him over the rape he thrashed her leading to her losing two teeth.
“On an unknown date, but during the month of July 2015 at around 7pm, the complainant was sent by her mother to sleep at the accused’s homestead as they were attending a funeral in the same village.
“Around midnight, Marume returned to his homestead and entered into the sitting room where the complainant was sleeping with her three siblings aged five, nine and 13.
“Marume entered into the blankets where the four were sleeping. When the complainant asked him what he was doing in their blankets, he said he was covering her young sister with a blanket. Marume then proceeded to rape the complainant. He told her that he had the right to do so because he bought had bought her some panties.
“The 13-year-old son asked what Marume was doing, but he did not respond. He threatened the complainant with unspecified actions if she ever revealed the abuse to anyone.
“The following morning, the complainant’s mother returned from the funeral and the girl told her what had happened. The complainant’s mother asked the accused about the case and he became violent. He assaulted her, resulting in her losing her two front teeth,” said Mr Mutyasira.
The matter was only reported to the police in November after the complainant’s employer noticed that she was pregnant.
When she asked her, she was told that she was raped by her step-father.
A report was made to the police leading to Marume’s arrest.-ManicaPost
IN PICTURES: “Flying Horses” in Clouds Seen in Gweru
EDITORIAL MODERATOR’S NOTE: Readers are advised that the below report has not been factually corroborated and at the time of printing there were several varying accounts on the same event.
Dear Editor.
Yesterday afternoon we had a strange happening- clouds above Ascot stadium in Gweru, Zimbabwe. This can only be a sign of the times, heavenly horses with their riders!
In Christ,
Hleko Vuma.
Tsvangirai rel’ Beds 15 Schoolgirls
By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo|A Tsvangirai relative, Rayson Tsvangirai, a teacher charged for allegedly sleeping with 15 schoolgirls in Beitbridge, has been released from custody because the Constitutional Court ruling that outlaws child marriages has not yet been gazetted.
Rayson Tsvangirai is a teacher at Vhembe Secondary School in Beitbridge.
After Mr. Tsvangirai’s release from custody, local parents whose children he allegedly slept with, impregnating some of them, approached the Beitbridge courts seeking to have him charged under the new law.
It is alleged Tsvangirai used his niece from the same school as a conduit to lure the unsuspecting schoolgirls. He would allegedly give them intoxicating drugs before sexually feasting on the hapless girls.
It is further alleged he exhibited ruthless and unusual sexual appetite throughout the night on his victims on separate occasions.
A prosecutor at Beitbridge court said:”We had to refer the matter back to the police because the new law is yet to be gazetted. As such, we have no statutory instrument provision for the issue.”
Local parents are now pushing for the prosecution and subsequent dismissal of Tsvangirai from the school.
The local community has also castigated the teacher’s alleged paedophilic behaviour calling for a stiff sentence to be passed on him.
LATEST ON: 62 Pupils Escape Deadly Fire
The below is the latest update from the raging inferno which torched Mukaro Girls College last week:
By Terrence Mawawa, Gutu| At least 62 form two pupils at Roman Catholic owned Mukaro Girls’ High School, 20 km from Mupandawana town, escaped death by a whisker when a raging inferno torched down their hostels.
The pupils were in St Joseph 1 and 2 hostels when the inferno razed the complex, destroying all their belongings in the process.Two upper six students in an adjacent room also lost their belongings. The incident happened last Monday around midnight.
The school head Acquainos Mazhunga confirmed the unfortunate incident saying the school immediately assisted the affected pupils by buying them uniforms. He told ZimEye.com the pupils lost everything except the night dresses they were wearing.
Mazhunga said the fire was caused by a candle that was left burning by a pupil who did not blow it off before before retiring to bed.He added the fire was eventually extinguished by a Fire Brigade team from Mupandawana.
“It is a huge catastrophe for the pupils and the school. The children were left with nothing, “said Mazhunga.
Gutu District Education Officer Christian Chirikure said: “Everything belonging to the pupils was gutted by the fire.”
The development has seen the school being questioned on its preparedness for fires as it allegedly does not have basic fire extinguishing equipment. Parents are fuming demanding answers charging that the head at the boarding school is neither qualified nor trained for the job.
60 Zimbabweans to Meet Obama
SIXTY Zimbabwean youth leaders are set to visit the United states of America this June for a for a six-week leadership training course sponsored by the White House.
The course also covers academic coursework and mentoring. In the US, the group will be among 1 000 youths invited to participate in President Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme for Young African Leaders.
The participants, according to the United States embassy in Harare, were chosen through a highly competitive application process with more than 1 600 candidates who submitted applications for selection for the programme.
The final list has 31 males and 29 females. Of the group, 19 participants are resident outside Harare, and three are young leaders with disabilities.
“President Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative is a part of the commitment of the United States to invest in the future of Africa,” said the US embassy in a statement on Thursday.
“The White House created this initiative out of the recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans play in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security on the continent.”
The Zimbabwean contingent will be among a group travelling from across Africa for a program designed to hone the skills they need to serve their communities.
Each fellow will be placed at a US university to concentrate in one of three tracks: business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management. Fellows will also have opportunities to meet with US government, civic, and business leaders.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders started in 2014. Since then, 60 Zimbabwean young leaders from diverse sectors, including business, civil society and the media, have participated in the programme.
Upon returning to Zimbabwe, the fellows continue to build the skills they developed during their time in the United States through support from the Embassy; the Regional Leadership Center in South Africa, and the YALI Network.
Through these experiences, Mandela Washington Fellows have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, mentoring, networking and training, and competitive seed funding to support their ideas, businesses, and organisations. RADIOVOP
Nurse Sodomises Hospital Patient
A MIDDLE aged nurse at Mutare Provincial Hospital allegedly offered accommodation in a hospital ward to a man who had escorted a patient before he joined the latter in bed in a nasty case of aggravated indecent assault that occurred recently.
The incident, which has sent tongues wagging at the provincial referral medical institution, saw a male nurse, Norest Makanga, offering accommodation to a middle aged man who had accompanied a patient to the hospital for treatment.
Apparently, the patient’s escort had travelled a relatively long distance to Mutare Provincial Hospital and could not find transport back home in time, hence the need to seek accommodation for the night at the hospital.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Tavhiringwa Kakohwa, confirmed that a report was made to the police post at the hospital and investigations were in progress.
“Yes, a report was made to the police post at the hospital and investigations are still in progress. We are hoping to have the matter finalised soon,” said Insp Kakohwa.
However, reliable sources at the provincial referral health institution said that investigations were carried out soon after the incident, revealing substantial evidence that Makanga had a case to answer.
Makanga is understood to have since been moved from the casualty ward to the CSSD department where he would not be dealing with patients anymore.
When contacted for comment recently, Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Patron Mafaune, referred this reporter to the public relations department.
“I cannot comment on that case. I think you just have to contact the public relations guys. They will be in a position to give you a detailed comment,” she said before refuting to entertain any more questions.
Sources said that this was not the first time that the nurse had been linked to cases of a similar nature.
“As we speak there is a board of inquiry sitting over the issue. Apparently this is not the first time that Norest Makanga has been linked to cases of similar nature.
“He had been lucky that there was not much evidence in the past, but it appears there is overwhelming evidence this time around,” said a Mutare Provincial Hospital senior staffer who cannot be named for professional reasons.
Efforts to get a comment from Makanga were fruitless. Manica Post
Maid Caught Raping Blind Toddler Boy (4)
A Chiredzi maid who raped her employer’s four-year-old son has escaped jail.
The 17-year-old girl was found guilty and sentenced to a wholly suspended five-year imprisonment term. The teenage girl who was a maid in Tshovani Township in Chiredzi appeared before Regional Magistrate Judith Zuyu last week facing charges of raping a minor, taking advantage of his visual impairment.
The girl is said to have worked for the complainant’s mother for five years until the day she was found on top of the minor by his mother.
It is the State case that on an unknown date but in the month of September 2015, the mother of the minor decided to go home early. It was upon her arrival that she found her maid right on top of the minor.
The accused, however, told Magistrate Zuyu that she did not commit the crime. She said her employer arrived at the house when she was changing the boy’s pants and had already put the pants outside the room.
She claimed that the story was framed because she was demanding her wages from her boss. However, evidence was produced to show that there was indeed penetration. The accused was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison wholly suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar crime in the next three years. Mirror
WARNING DISTURBING PICTURES: Mukaro Girls College Torched Down
Dear Editor-
We are still waiting for an explanation of the fire incident at Mukaro Girls college (Gutu) last week.
On 15 March 2015 we woke up with horror pictures of a burnt girls dormitory circulating.
We have waited for an official explanation through the week but the silence is deafening. Neither the Ministry of Education nor the Roman Catholic church as the responsible authority have said anything.
Has there been any police investigation? Rumour has it that the fire started from under the bed of one of the students.
When I went to the school I established that there are no electrical sockets in the said hostel. Is it possible that a Form 2 girl could have been using a candle to read at 12 midnight?
If so does the school allow or at least check the pupils’ bags upon entry? Were the pupils who first saw the fire interviewed by the police or school authorities? What is their story? As a parent I got the impression that the pupils are overcrowded.
Is there a standard carrying capacity of dormitories prescribed by the responsible ministry? Does the school have any fire fighting equipment? Are the children aware of how to react to such a disaster? The concern even goes to the qualifications of the boarding mistress. Is she trained?
Does she know how to handle a fire outbreak? Does the school have any insurance against such eventualities? While we thank God that there were no casualties (if that’s the truth), this incident cannot just be forgotten without addressing the above concerns. In normal set-up a Commission of Inquiry would have been set up and its findings made public. Least we forget this is the same school from where pupils marched 25 km to the DEO to protest against the water situation and other problems not so long ago.
LIVE UPDATE – Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland
Swaziland takes on South Africa’s neigbours Zimbabwe at the Somhlolo stadium.
– full time: Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland
– 90′ 4 minutes of added time will be played
– 88′ Mkuruva makes a top class save to deny Sibanze
– 83′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 81′ Mkuruva spills the ball but manages to recover quickly
– 80′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 78′ disappointing free kick from Swaziland
– 77′ free kick to Swaziland outside the penalty box, Phiri is booked for committing the foul
– 72′ Billiat’s free kick shot is straight at Gwebu
– 71′ free kick to Zimbabwe outside the penalty box
– 70′ Zimbabwe knocking the ball around looking for an opening
– 66′ Mkuruva clashes with a striker and needs medical treatment
– 64′ Mkuruva beats Mkhontfo to the ball
– 61′ offside call goes against Zimbabwe
– 59′ wild shot from Malajila goes over the goal posts
– 57′ Swaziland lose the ball in the middle of the field
– 56′ Zimbabwe gives the ball away in the final third as Rusike fails to anticipate Billat’s run
52′ Nhaimoinesu receives medical treatment
– 50′ comfortable save from Mkuruva
– 47′ goal-line clearance from Swaziland
– 46′ Musona’s curling shot forces a great save out of Gwebu, corner
– second half is underway
– half time. Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland
– 45′ 2 minutes of added time will be played
– 44′ Swaziland scores an own goal as they try to clear Musona’s corner kick cross. Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland
– 43′ free kick to Zimbabwe in the middle of the field
– 41′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 38′ Swaziland on the attack, they give away possession in the final third
– 36′ Gwebu makes a save from Bhasera’s strike
– 35′ Musona gets a free kick on the edge of the penalty box
– 32′ Yril Lukhele wins a free kick for Swaziland in the middle of the field
– 29′ keeper Bongani Gwebu needs medical treatment after clashing with Nhaimoinesu
– 28′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– WATER BREAK
– 25′ Musona’s free kick shot goes over the goal posts
– 24′ offside call goes against Swaziland
– 23′ Mkuruva spills the ball but recovers quickly
– 21′ Swaziland in search of a goal as Zimbabwe’s Chipeta clears in the box
– 17′ goal kick to Zimbabwe after Swaziland turned over possession
– 16′ Musona’s shot at goal is blocked
– 15′ Zimbabwe on an all out attack at the moment, corner to them
– 13′ Musona gets a corner for Zimbabwe, ball goes out for a second corner
– 12′ goal kick to Zimbabwe
– 9′ both teams fighting for the ball in midfield
– 6′ Mkuruva sents the ball out
– 4′ Mathew Rusike put the ball over the goal posts
– 3′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 2′ Swaziland scores. Zimbabwe 0-1 Swaziland
– 1′ early corner for Swaziland as Katsande clears the ball
– kickoff! The game is underway
Both teams have collected four points in Group L with Swaziland in first place and Zimbabwe in second respectively.
Starting XI
Zimbabwe: Tatenda Mkuruva, Onismo Bhasera, Mathew Rusike, Willard Katsande, Khama Billiat, Cuthbert Malajila, Eric Chipeta, Knowledge Musona, Costa Nhaimoinesu, Danny Phiri
Swaziland: Bongani Gwebu, Cyril Lukhele, Njabulo Ndlovu, Siyabonga Mdluli
– 88′ Mkuruva makes a top class save to deny Sibanze
– 83′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 81′ Mkuruva spills the ball but manages to recover quickly
– 80′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 78′ disappointing free kick from Swaziland
– 77′ free kick to Swaziland outside the penalty box, Phiri is booked for committing the foul
– 72′ Billiat’s free kick shot is straight at Gwebu
– 71′ free kick to Zimbabwe outside the penalty box
– 70′ Zimbabwe knocking the ball around looking for an opening
– 66′ Mkuruva clashes with a striker and needs medical treatment
– 64′ Mkuruva beats Mkhontfo to the ball
– 61′ offside call goes against Zimbabwe
– 59′ wild shot from Malajila goes over the goal posts
– 57′ Swaziland lose the ball in the middle of the field
– 56′ Zimbabwe gives the ball away in the final third as Rusike fails to anticipate Billat’s run
52′ Nhaimoinesu receives medical treatment
– 50′ comfortable save from Mkuruva
– 47′ goal-line clearance from Swaziland
– 46′ Musona’s curling shot forces a great save out of Gwebu, corner
– second half is underway
– half time. Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland
– 45′ 2 minutes of added time will be played
– 44′ Swaziland scores an own goal as they try to clear Musona’s corner kick cross. Zimbabwe 1-1 Swaziland
– 43′ free kick to Zimbabwe in the middle of the field
– 41′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 38′ Swaziland on the attack, they give away possession in the final third
– 36′ Gwebu makes a save from Bhasera’s strike
– 35′ Musona gets a free kick on the edge of the penalty box
– 32′ Yril Lukhele wins a free kick for Swaziland in the middle of the field
– 29′ keeper Bongani Gwebu needs medical treatment after clashing with Nhaimoinesu
– 28′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– WATER BREAK
– 25′ Musona’s free kick shot goes over the goal posts
– 24′ offside call goes against Swaziland
– 23′ Mkuruva spills the ball but recovers quickly
– 21′ Swaziland in search of a goal as Zimbabwe’s Chipeta clears in the box
– 17′ goal kick to Zimbabwe after Swaziland turned over possession
– 16′ Musona’s shot at goal is blocked
– 15′ Zimbabwe on an all out attack at the moment, corner to them
– 13′ Musona gets a corner for Zimbabwe, ball goes out for a second corner
– 12′ goal kick to Zimbabwe
– 9′ both teams fighting for the ball in midfield
– 6′ Mkuruva sents the ball out
– 4′ Mathew Rusike put the ball over the goal posts
– 3′ throw in for Zimbabwe
– 2′ Swaziland scores. Zimbabwe 0-1 Swaziland
– 1′ early corner for Swaziland as Katsande clears the ball
– kickoff! The game is underway
Both teams have collected four points in Group L with Swaziland in first place and Zimbabwe in second respectively.
Starting XI
Zimbabwe: Tatenda Mkuruva, Onismo Bhasera, Mathew Rusike, Willard Katsande, Khama Billiat, Cuthbert Malajila, Eric Chipeta, Knowledge Musona, Costa Nhaimoinesu, Danny Phiri
Swaziland: Bongani Gwebu, Cyril Lukhele, Njabulo Ndlovu, Siyabonga Mdluli
– citizen.co.za
G-40 To Die In April-War Vets
Former liberation war fighters say they are going to challenge President Robert Mugabe to destroy his wife Grace’s G-40 faction on their meeting with the aging leader early next month.
Newsday reports that Victor Matemadanda, the National Liberation War Veterans’ Association secretary-general told war veterans in Kwekwe that G-40 which he said was working with some senior police officer will be a thing of the past, come 7 April when they are meeting Mugabe.
Matemadanda accused G-40 of using the police to attack them his members.
“Those who served in the Smith regime (mapuruveya), who are now bosses in the ZRP, are now causing us problems. They are the ones who were behind the attack on war veterans in Harare and have been trying to block party meetings,” he charged.
He also said the current wave of confusion in the party was being caused by people feigning love for Mugabe, while clandestinely campaigning for former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s Zimbabwe People First opposition project.
The Kwekwe meeting was held in defiance of a directive by Zanu PF national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere barring all party meetings until restoration of normalcy in the province.
Kasukuwere acknowledged imposing the ban, saying: “The meeting (yesterday’s), I do not know about it. Thank you for letting me know.”
Matemadanda singled out provincial secretary for administration Tapiwa Matangaidze, youth representative Anastancia Ndlovu and provincial commissar Makhosini Hlongwane for allegedly sowing divisions in the party.
Midlands spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri said yesterday’s meeting was not a rally, but a consultative gathering which was on the calendar of the provincial commissariat.
Yesterday, party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said he was not sure if the Midlands provincial leadership had defied Kasukuwere or had been given permission to proceed with their meeting.
“From what I read in the papers, the Midlands leadership said it has been having a series of meetings and the Kwekwe meeting was the last one. They could have got permission from the commissariat to do the last meeting. I, therefore, cannot call it defiance,” Khaya Moyo said.
Mnangagwa’s China Trip Angers Mugabe
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is reportedly angry with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa over his trip to China last year in which his deputy came out of high-level meetings acting like someone who has embraced Beijing’s push for leadership renewal in Harare and trying to sound like renowned reformist Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.
At the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Mnangagwa visited Beijing from July 6 to 10 2015. During his five-day visit, he met business leaders as well as a number of senior ruling party and government officials, including Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao.
Mnangagwa and Yuanchao held closed-door meetings together with CPC officials. The visit, which followed Mugabe’s trip to Beijing in August 2014, was officially said to be designed to “promote political trust and pragmatic co-operation”.
However, diplomatic sources say it ended up generating further political distrust for Mnangagwa from Mugabe who was not happy with what transpired and his deputy’s Deng-like posture afterwards. The late Deng, who took over after Mao Zedong in 1978 until his retirement in 1992, is the architect of China’s far-reaching market economy reforms and prosperity.
Straight-talking Chinese leaders reportedly gave Mnangagwa a sobering reality check when he From Page 1
was in Beijing by raising several critical issues that Mugabe and his government usually feel uncomfortable dealing with.
While moving to ring-fence their growing investment portfolios and future prospects by inviting and engaging the establishment’s preferred successor to Mugabe — Mnangagwa — the Chinese raised a number of concerns on Zimbabwe.
Some of the issues were later expressed by the vice-president in an interview with China’s CCTV.
In the interview with CCTV, Mnangawga said Zimbabwe had fallen far behind other countries in development. He said the government needed to swallow its pride and literally “bite the bullet” by reviewing some controversial economic policies to attract foreign investment.
He also said there was need for reforms “to bring Zimbabwe back to the table of nations”.
“We have to see how we can create an investment environment which will attract the flow of capital. These are the tasks we face and we have to look at even legislation and our social systems need to be reformed in order to catch up with current global trends,” Mnangagwa said.
“So we are looking at the reform measures that China has gone through to help us move forward…
“You cannot say there are areas of our economy which we are happy with, infrastructure we are behind by 15-16 years, agricultural development the same, manufacturing; in fact capacity utilisation in some areas of our industry is down to 20%, so again, we have to retool by acquiring new machinery, technology and machinery so that we are competitive.”
While Mnangagwa’s assertions were viewed as progressive by many Zimbabweans, diplomats and government officials say Mugabe and his close courtiers, especially Zanu PF leaders grouped around his wife Grace, saw them as an attempt to push for leadership renewal using the Chinese while also projecting himself as a viable successor in the Deng mould.
Mugabe, government officials say, also saw Mnangagwa’s remarks as an attack on his leadership and policies, particularly the Look East policy.
“The President was not happy with what Mnangagwa said while he was in China last year,” a senior government official said. “This was also clear during the visit to Harare by (Chinese leader Xi) Jinping last December. So many things were discussed during Xi’s visit. That is why the President said what he said in Bindura last Friday.”
Addressing a rally in Bindura last Friday, Mugabe said some Zanu PF leaders were trying to influence the Chinese to help them in their succession bids, in remarks widely seen as targeted at Mnangagwa.
“Saka ndipo patava kusiyana navamwe ipapa vanobva vaenda mberi mberi nekumaChina kuti takuda president mutsva (That is the main cause of our differences, as some are pushing further to the extent of approaching the Chinese telling them they now want a new leader),” he said.
Mugabe said such plots and agendas were being driven by ambitious party bigwigs who were eyeing senior positions, including the presidency — adding that he was willing to step down if voted out procedurally at congress.
Mugabe made the remarks after Mashonaland Central chairman Dickson Mafios had complained the Chinese were meddling in Zanu PF succession politics in the province.
“Tichavadzvanya mukaona vakuchema chema (We are going to deal with them),” he said.
A top government official said Mugabe exchanged notes with Xi over Mnangagwa’s succession manoeuvres last December, fuelling his long-standing suspicions and hostility towards his ambitious deputy.
The official said Xi, who prefers the Chinese-speaking Grace, is sympathetic to Mugabe, although he believes in leadership renewal and the need for change in Zimbabwe, while Mnangagwa was associated with Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao. Xi succeeded Hu in 2012.
Hu’s good relationship with Mnangagwa was partly because the VP received military training in China in the 1960s and also as a result of the role played Zimbabwe’s former ambassador to China between 2002 and 2006, Christopher Mutsvangwa. Mutsvangwa is a close Mnangagwa ally.
Sources say the Chinese no longer want Mnangagwa, but whoever Mugabe prefers.
High-ranking Zimbabwean officials, from Mnangagwa to Zanu PF provincial leaders, have been to China on various exchange programmes during which they were openly advised to embrace leadership renewal and change.
In 2012, Zanu PF provincial chairpersons visited China for ideological orientation and mass mobilisation training from the CPC ahead of the 2013 general elections.
Chinese officials told them Zanu PF should embrace change or die, something Mnangagwa seems amenable to while Mugabe is hostile to it.
In an interview to mark his 92nd birthday, Mugabe angrily took a swipe at those plotting to succeed him.
“In a democratic party you don’t want leaders appointed that way to lead the party. Saka vaye vanoti pinda iwe ndogozopindawo, kuzvinyepera (those — apparently Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga) who say rule then I will rule after you are misleading each other). It doesn’t matter who.” independent
$15Billion TRAIL: Zhuwao Money Chest
President Robert Mugabe’s nephew who is the Minister of Indigenisation Patrick Zhuwao, is the first port in the trail leading to the missing $15billion.
MDC National Spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi writes fingering both Zhuwao and his uncle who have since turned their alleged looting hands to foreign companies, threatened with closure on April 1st next week.
Writes Chihwai:
Evidently for President Mugabe and his niece Patrick Zhuwao, it is not enough that tens of thousands of workers lost their jobs during the government sponsored job termination tsunami last year, hence thousands more must lose their jobs through the forced closure of foreign owned companies which fail to comply with indigenisation laws by the 31st of March, before they are satisfied. We are witnessing sadism at its best.
It is a tragedy that those superintending over this country think it is alright to play Russian roulette with the country and its citizens’ economic welfare by chasing away foreign investors instead of embracing them, at a time the country is in desperate need for foreign direct investment in order to get it back to its feet. It makes for tragic reading seeing that this matter is cause for divisions even within ZANU PF itself.
We are not fooled, we are aware that President Mugabe and Zhuwao have run out of ideas on how to loot funds for self -enrichment after exhausting diamond and other public revenue for decades, and now are after fleecing foreign firms through the shoddy implementation of the Indigenisation law. The people of Zimbabwe must not for one moment believe the lie that this is being done with their best interests at heart, in our view it is just a retirement package plan for ZANU PF big chefs who can sense inevitable defeat come 2018, who as usual are not bothered by the catastrophic effects on the ordinary suffering Zimbabweans.
Kurauone Chihwayi
MDC National Spokesperson
Mnangagwa Aides Defy Kasukuwere Ban
Suspended Emmerson Mnangagwa faithfuls, Zanu-PF Midlands deputy provincial chairperson Daniel McKenzie Ncube yesterday convened a meeting in Kwekwe, defying an order by the party to halt all provincial meetings and party programmes.
On Wednesday, the party’s national Political Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, suspended all party meetings and programmes in the Midlands Province citing unprecedented levels of indiscipline by party members.
Kasukuwere gave a stern warning to alleged divisive elements creating parallel structures saying those found in the wrong would be dealt with accordingly.
In a letter addressed to Zanu-PF secretary for education in the Politburo, Jorum Gumbo, and copied to secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo and the acting Midlands provincial chairperson, Tapiwanashe Mashingaidze dated March 22, Kasukuwere said meetings would only commence after order had been restored in the province.
However, Ncube called a meeting that was held at Kwekwe Sports Club and attended by party members who were said to be representing the Main Wing, Youth Wing and Women’s league.
The guest of honour at the meeting was the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Liberation War Veterans Association, Victor Matemadanda who used the platform to attack the police whom he accused of failing to protect the interests of the people.
“We’ve sell-outs that were integrated into the police force and now they’re not discharging their duty well,” he said.
Matemadanda also attacked Kasukuwere for suspending party meetings in the province and alleged that the ban was the work of people with an agenda to destroy Zanu-PF from within.
He said war veterans and the Midlands Province were fully behind President Robert Mugabe and his family. “One can’t love the President and despise his family. We’re fully behind him since he’s the centre of power. It’s unfortunate that we’ve people who have access to the First Family and lie about us and say we don’t want him and Grace Mugabe. Even in a family, one can’t love his father and despise his mother. It doesn’t work like that,” Matemadanda said.
He said President Mugabe was going to rule the country as long as he was alive.
Last week, Matemadanda was accused by a Gokwe war veteran Stephen Moyo of assaulting him.
Moyo alleged that he was attacked for allegedly rallying behind the First Lady.
Midlands provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri said they were not defying any order since they only learnt about the suspension of party meetings and programmes in the press.
He said they were only doing out-reach programmes to increase the number of supporters in the province.
“We learnt about the suspension from the press. This means that we are not going to hold any more meetings as we wait for the party to give us a direction to take. We are fully behind the party and won’t go sideways,” he said.
Kasukuwere was not immediately reachable last night.-State Media
Mpilo Hospital Hit By Shortage Of Doctors
Bulawayo’s largest referral hospital Mpilo, has closed its outpatients department due shortage of staff as the wrangle between junior doctors and the Ministry of Health and Child Care continues.
The Health Service Board wanted the junior doctors to be hired as contract workers but they have refused to sign the agreement. The doctors have petitioned the Health Service Board (HSB) to reverse the decision and stood their ground that they will not to go to work until the issue is resolved.
Due to the shortage, Mpilo Central hospital is forced to attend only to “critical cases”. The hospital caters mainly for the southern region which covers Bulawayo, Midlands, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and South provinces.
In a memo dated March 22 signed by the head of medicine, Dr M Ngwenya titled “Non Resumption of Duty by JRMO”, the department notified other departments of the closure of the outpatients department.
JRMOs are junior resident medical officers who are first year doctors covering medicine and surgery.
“I believe you’re aware of the ongoing impasse between the Health Services Board and the new crop of JRMOs over their contracts. The new doctors are supposed to have resumed their duties by now. The department of medicine has been affected by this and is left with no JRMOs since the current crop graduated to be SRMOs (second year doctors).
“This development has affected service delivery in the department. I’ve communicated this to the chief executive officer and clinical director who then sent communication that the HSB is working to resolve this issue as soon as they possibly can.”
Wrote Dr Ngwenya: “While this is happening we’ve taken the following measures as a department, MOPD (Medical outpatient department) will remain closed with immediate effect until the situation is resolved.
“Only critical and dire emergencies will be attended to and admitted by our HMOs who have been working flat out during this time”.
Sources at the hospital said the closure of the outpatients department could affect particularly patients with chronic ailments and referrals from other provinces.
“Outpatients are not really sick people but those with minor ailments that are treated and go back home but those with chronic ailments such as diabetes will be coming to refill their tablets and there will be no one to attend to them,” said the sources.
“A patient who is referred from Tsholotsho or Hwange and isn’t deemed critical has to return home because the hospital will only be treating critical patients. That’s a crisis on its own, sometimes these people will be needing care but they will not be treated.”
Mpilo Hospital Clinical Director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya confirmed the development but played down the effects of the strike.
“We had one doctor in the outpatients department and he said he was overwhelmed and we had to close the department but all other departments are working.
“It’s not a very big crisis, those with minor ailments can go to casualty and go home afterwards. Those that are very sick will be taken to the wards,” he said.
Dr Ngwenya said the crisis is countrywide as the junior doctors have refused to sign contracts.
“They just need to sign the contracts, government is waiting for them to sign and start working,” he said. – state media
Khupe Replaces Tsvangirai – AUDIO Hlalo
By Chrispen Tabvura| MDC-T Deputy President Thokozani Khupe has effectively taken over from leader Morgan Tsvangirai, the suspended Bulawayo Senator Matson Hlalo has said.
Hlalo saying Khupe daily replaces Tsvangirai in all the day to day running of the party, castigated the leadership for allegedly destroying the once strongest of all opposition parties.
In an interview with ZimEye.com this week, Hlalo pointed his guns at Khupe and those he labeled the Mafikizolos, meaning the chancers (Opportunists), who he said have caused the mess.
Hlalo said Tsvangirai has been replaced by Khupe. He told ZimEye.com “…it’s now in the open that the person who runs the party is Thokozani Khupe.”
Hlalo also said he will abide by the court ruling, to remain in the Senatorial position.
FULL AUDIO BELOW
Senator Matson Hlalo interview by Chrispen Tabvura
Editing by Simbarashe Chikanza
Mahofa Bounces Back Praising Grace Mugabe
By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| Following a lengthy absence from public activities,Masvingo State Minister Shuvai Ben Mafoha has finally resurfaced.
Minister Mahofa stunned party members when she praised First Lady Grace Mugabe during a Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting held at Victoria Primary School on Sunday. Mahofa, who before falling ill last year, openly attacked Mrs Mugabe saying she would never replace her nonagenarian husband, President Robert Mugabe, stunned all and sundry when she spoke glowingly about the controversial First Lady.
Many view Mahofa’s climbdown as a result of the trauma she experienced following a suspected case of food poisoning at the December Zanu PF conference.
The visibly ill Mahofa, who had to address the meeting while seated, said Mrs Mugabe was a hard working woman who cared for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe-including Masvingo Province. “I am glad because I am now back at work. I want to thank President Robert Mugabe and the First Lady for helping me during difficult times. I wish to thank the First Lady for donating food to the drought prone Chivi district,” said Mahofa.
Mahofa also said she hoped Mrs Mugabe would continue to bail out the needy in the community.
The Minister who once boldly declared Grace was day-dreaming about her presidential aspirations, has made a complete about turn. Political analysts say Mahofa’s shift indicates the demise of the Team Lacoste (Mnangagwa faction) in the province.
Botswana to Shoot Dead All Zimbabwean Cattle
THE Botswana government has imposed a shoot to kill order on Zimbabwean cattle that stray across the border as a way of tightening disease control, especially Food and Mouth Disease, which frequently breaks out along the border.
Mmegi quoted Agriculture Minister, Patrick Ralotsia, Wednesday confirming the latest developments, saying the new policy would go into effect in the next three months.
He said communication of the policy was ongoing to the Botswana Defence Force, police, wildlife officers and others involved in enforcement.
“In fact, had it not been their (Zimbabwe) request for a three month grace period, we would have already started this policy,” Ralotsia said.
“They asked for three months within which to go and inform their farmers and we agreed. I’ve interaction with the ministries in Zimbabwe and I can tell you that they agree that this is necessary and not just for Zimbabwe, but all the countries that we share borders with, that have FMD problems. Disease does not know borders.”
The “shoot to kill” policy replaces the practice of returning stray Zimbabwean cattle across the border and comes as Botswana tightens its animal disease controls in order to protect the beef industry.
Through the years, frequent FMD outbreaks in the north have been caused by Zimbabwean cattle straying over the largely porous 813km border and mingling with local livestock.
Critically, several of the country’s veterinary zones for beef exports lie adjacent to the border, meaning cross border infections directly affect local exports and revenues.
Ralotsia said the new policy has been communicated with Zimbabwean agriculture authorities through meetings, which included the Joint Permanent Commission.
“This is one way in which we are trying to totally annihilate FMD across the borders,” he said.
“We’ve agreed with the Zimbabwean authorities that this is for the good of our people. Once the policy starts, people will take greater care of their livestock and will not allow them to cross the border. They will see that the FMD control has been toughened.”
Ralotsia added that Botswana was continuing its bilateral efforts to support Zimbabwe’s FMD control initiatives, which in the past have included provision of technical and material support to fight the animal disease.— Mmegi.
GRACE MUGABE TRACTORS:Brazil Demands Audit
THE Brazilian government has demanded an audit of the US$38 million agricultural equipment it supplied last year to establish if the farming implements were not distributed on partisan political lines and whether they reached the intended target.
Brazil supplied Zimbabwe with equipment, which includes 320 tractors, 450 disc harrows and 310 planters valued at US$38,6 million under the first phase of a US$98 million facility commissioned by President Robert Mugabe in May last year.
However, his wife Grace took centre-stage in handing over the equipment at her political rallies, a development which, according to government sources, has not gone down well with the Brazilians.
Brazil, according to government sources, wants an audit before new equipment is released under the second phase of the programme valued at US$30 million.
“The Brazilians are not happy with the distribution of the equipment at partisan political rallies by the First Lady who is not even a government official. They have requested the audit ahead of the release of the second tranche of agricultural equipment just to ensure that there was no abuse and misappropriation of the equipment,” said one source.
Grace attracted criticism from various stakeholders including civil society organisations and opposition political parties for purporting to donate the agricultural equipment at her rallies despite the equipment being sourced under a publicly underwritten US$98 million loan facility.
She, however, remained defiant in the face of criticism remarking, “They said I am giving people the goods as a way of buying votes”, during her rally in Rushinga last October, adding, “Hazvina basa kana ndikakutenga ukandivhotera (It does not matter if I pay you to vote for me), it’s okay. It’s better to vote for someone who gives you something than someone who does not.”
While confirming the impending audit, Brazilian ambassador Marcia Maro da Silva (pictured), however, denied that Brazil is unhappy with Grace’s involvement in the distribution of the equipment. She said the audit is “merely being conducted to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the programme to alleviate hunger so that the lessons derived will inform the second phase of the loan facility”.
“We have no issues with the First Lady at all and this has nothing to do with her,” Da Silva said of the audit. “In the first place it should be called an assessment and not an audit. It is necessary to have an assessment of the first phase of the facility before undertaking the second phase so that we can appreciate the positives and the shortcomings. We want to make sure that our programme benefits Zimbabweans and helps to improve food security and we don’t want to be handing over equipment that will end up just piling instead of being used.”
Da Silva said her country does not interfere in the internal political dynamics in Zimbabwe and is satisfied with the fact that the equipment got to the intended beneficiaries.
“They are 176 projects being carried out across the country to benefit 22 000 families and we are extending to Zimbabwe a project that benefitted Brazilians,” Da Silva said. The US$98 million facility is repayable over 15 years, attracting an interest rate of 2% per year. – Independent
Zanu PF Presses for Evidence From Coltart
After David Coltart, former Bulawayo South MDC Member of Parliament, released some information about Tsvangirai training bandits in South Africa, Zanu PF was quick to react and challenged Coltart to provide the police and the state security services with full details of his claims. This is because if true, these activities were aimed at overtaking the legitimately voted in Zanu PF President Robert Mugabe in 2006.
The party’s comments were brought up by Mr Coltart revelations in his book released recently that opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai in 2006 trained bandits in South Africa in preparation for a violent takeover of power in Zimbabwe.
In an interview, Zanu-PF national spokesperson Mr Simon Khaya Moyo said the matter was not a party issue, but security issue.
“Obviously, the security authorities would want that information,” said Mr Khaya Moyo adding that the security would want to know more about Mr Coltart’s revelations.
“I am not aware of this. Coltart knows better because he was a member of the MDC and a former Rhodesian military man.”
MDC-T spokesman Mr Obert Gutu said he was yet to read the book by Mr Coltart before commenting on the matter.
“I am yet to read his book,” said Mr Gutu.
“As a lawyer and researcher myself, it will be inappropriate for me to comment on his book before I have had an opportunity to read it.” Mr Gutu, however, said MDC-T was not a bandit organisation.
“It is a lawful democratic political party that believes in non-violent and constitutional takeover of state power. We remain the largest and most popular political party in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba refused to comment yesterday.
In his memoirs, “The Struggle Continues: 50 Years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe”, Mr Coltart — a founding secretary for legal affairs in the MDC — revealed how the split in the original party came about because of Mr Tsvangirai’s knack for violence.
According to Mr Coltart, Mr Tsvangirai not only engaged in intra-party violence where he used “agents provocateurs” such as one Tonderai Ndira, but sought to escalate violence into a nationwide confrontation with the ruling Zanu-PF.
He said at party level, Mr Tsvangirai had become paranoid as he thought that there were efforts to muscle him out of leadership, especially when the party had proposed during constitutional amendments presented to Parliament that a national president needed to have at least a university degree.
Mr Coltart said Mr Tsvangirai also felt that the only way he could wrestle power from Zanu-PF was through violence.
It was on this basis that Mr Tsvangirai refused to participate in the re-introduced senatorial elections, causing the split in October 2005.
Mr Coltart said the use of violence, which was meted against officials such as Peter Guhu and Trudy Stevenson resulted in the split of the party.
But, it was the training of bandits that shocked Mr Coltart and which led him to cut ties with Mr Tsvangirai and opted to join the other faction that was then being led by Arthur Mutambara.
The training camp for MDC operatives in South Africa, he said, was being conducted “by ex-South African policemen under the supervision of an ex-Rhodesian soldier”.
“There was confusion as to whether the training was ‘offensive’ or ‘defensive’, but weapons were clearly involved,” said Mr Coltart.
“The South African National Defence Force had been bribed to allow these trained men back across the border,” he said.
Mr Coltart says he had learnt about the development from two journalists who had filmed the training operation. He concluded that the operation “appeared to be chronically amateurish” and would also play into the hands of the ruling party. – state media