By A Correspondent- Government is finalising a new law to bar politicians without tertiary education qualifications from running for local authority seats in a development meant to restore competency and improve service delivery.

The Attorney-General (AG)’s office is currently drafting amendments to the Rural Districts Council Act, which seeks, among other things, to fix qualifications for those running for council office.

Among other provisions, the amendments will provide regulations for suspension and removal of councillors from office and procedures for the appointment and operations of independent tribunals.

In addition, the amendment Bill will also set guidelines for the incorporation of junior councillors into development programmes under the local authorities.

Cabinet adopted principles to the Bill in March last year.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said: “We sent the principles to the AG’s office and once a draft Bill is completed, it will be sent to Cabinet.

“In terms of councillors’ qualifications, the main aim was to ensure that councillors have minimum qualifications, for example, having a tertiary education qualification.

“So, once the draft Bill is done, it will spell out exactly what the minimum qualification will be.

“We have counterparts who think the process of selecting a councillor is a popularity contest.

“However, we view it is a governance issue, one which affects a lot of issues — ranging from the provision of sanitation, creating an attractive business environment to attracting international investment.

“So, we believe that individuals running a city, town or even a rural district must be capable and have requisite skills and knowledge.”

Minister Moyo said the new regulations will, however, not be ready for the harmonised elections, scheduled for later this year.

“Given the limited time that we have before the harmonised elections, I cannot guarantee that these provisions will be used during this year’s elections,” he added.

“We want to appeal to political parties, as we go into the elections, and say these councils are critical institutions and some of them have budgets that are bigger than those appropriated to ministries.

“Running these councils is like running a ‘country’, therefore, they need to be run by people of higher intellectual calibre than what we have now.”

He said Harare was an example of how unqualified councillors can easily run down a metropolis.

“We have been witnessing some businesses relocating from Harare’s central business district (CBD) because of the prevalence of illegal activities in the CBD.

“This is actually breaking down the CBD, which will be costly to revive.”

Presently, statutes governing the election of councillors do not fix education qualifications for aspiring office holders.

Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba said the development will enhance service delivery when councils are run by competent people.

“It is important that, as a country, we apply the same template used by most employers when they recruit their personnel,” said Mr Shumba.

“The idea is to enhance the performance and quality of institutions through recruitment of the right personnel.

“Local authorities in Zimbabwe operate under the committee system, where councillors sit and consider important policy and strategy matters.

“Essentially, all policy formulation requires the input of all stakeholders.

“Competent personnel, especially councillors, have to be literate enough to interpret and critically analyse data and make the best decisions.

Councillors, he said, must play an oversight role over council bureaucrats and “this is only possible when they have the right knowledge and experience to scrutinise documentation and even do their own counter-checking of issues.

“They also play representative and policy making roles, which are by no means trivial pursuits.”

In 2020, former Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni said the current crop of city fathers lack basic education qualifications and relevant skills to run the city.

By A Correspondent- Lion Of Praise Progressive Party (LOPP), an ambitious political outfit held its inaugural  primary elections  last weekend in Bulawayo, which also doubled as a congress for party structures and election of leaders.

LOPP was launched a year ago after its founder Washington Dhuva Chibhebhe said he was shown in a dream that he will one day lead Zimbabwe.

“The same way it happened to Noah in the Bible and people used to think he is mentally unstable. But he was receiving instructions and measurements of the ark.

“When any Christian says Jesus came into my heart, the devil doesn’t see them as a person anymore, but as a lion. So when you  keep hearing different people and prophets telling you the same thing then it’s time to start. The first time I dreamt of this was 15 years ago,” Chibhebhe said while speaking on the sidelines of the primaries.

Chibhebhe, who is also a pastor, said one does not require formal education to lead or govern a country.

“We have seen many people  with degrees and some even have Phds, but the country has collapsed into nothing. It now needs wisdom from God,” he said.

Acting party chairperson Noah Banda echoed similar sentiments.

“We are clocking 43 years of independence, but it was just political independence. The ordinary man out there is not economically independent and is unable to enjoy the actual freedom.

“So we want to bring inclusivity in terms of our national resources, job creation and housing. Things are going downhill. You can’t just give a person land simply because he is black but you need someone who can produce or at least train them and equip them with skills,” Banda said.

-Newsday

16 April 2023 

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our colleague and fellow journalist Idah Mhetu who was working for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC) as a photographer. She passed away after a short illness.

Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this difficult time. We know that words cannot express the pain and sorrow that they feel right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

As the National Association of Freelance Journalists (NAFJ), we are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own. She was a shining star in the world of journalism and her contribution to the field will never be forgotten.

To her colleagues and friends at ZBC, we offer our condolences and support. Losing a member of your team is never easy, but we know that you will carry her spirit with you always.

May she rest in peace and her memory continue to inspire us all.

Famba Zvakanaka Idah

Issued by NAFJ Secretariat

By A Correspondent- A Harare man has been arraigned before magistrate Dennis Mangosi on charges of blackmail after he and some accomplices pretended to be traditional healers or n’angas/sangomas to extort money and property from a bereaving widow.

Donewell Kufandirori (18) was remanded in custody and will be back in court on Monday for bail application.

His father from Chinzanga in Mutoko is a co-accused in the matter.

Allegations are that the accused and his six accomplices (still on the run) extorted the complainant (whose name was not disclosed in court) after misrepresenting themselves as n’angas.

The seven accused person allegedly threatened the complainant and her family with death if she failed to surrender all the property and cash left behind by her late husband who passed on in January 2023.

The accused persons alleged that her late husband’s wealth was accrued through the goblins they gave him before his death.

The accused persons demanded US$ 10 000 cash and two vehicles, being the property left by her late husband, failure which the complainant and family were going to die within 24 hours.

The complainant gave in to the accused persons’ demands and surrendered US$3 800 and the accused persons escorted the complainant to their base at Chinzanga in Mutoko for cleansing.

While in Mutoko, further threats were made that the complainant must not disclose the matter to anyone and that the following morning she was supposed to sign an agreement of sale for the two vehicles.

A police report was made leading to the arrest of the accused.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies were once again left licking their wounds after suffering a second humiliating defeat in the ruling Zanu-PF party primary election re-runs.

Mnangagwa had reportedly sought to breathe new life to some of his alleged allies by ordering re-runs after they had suffered defeats.

Zanu-PF held five re-runs in Zvimba West, Gokwe Nembudziya, Churu, Mbare and Insiza South after Mnangagwa called for re-runs, citing alleged violence and reports of vote rigging, resulting in several losing candidates lodging complaints.

All eyes were on Zvimba West and Gokwe Nembudziya where Mnangagwa threw in a lifeline to the political careers of his fallen allies Ziyambi Ziyambi and Justice Mayor Wadyajena who lost the initial polls.

The plan has since backfired after the duo suffered emphatic defeats with a larger margin compared to the first round.

Unconfirmed results seen by NewsDay show that Ziyambi lost to Mercy Dinha again.

Dinha reportedly garnered 6 022 votes against Ziyambi’s 2 331.

Ziyambi, who is Justice minister, this time around suffered by a massive defeat margin of 3 691 compared to less than 100 votes during the first round that was called off due to suspected violence.

This was despite the withdrawal from the re-run by another Ziyambi rival Gifford Gomwe, a few days before the poll.

Speaking after the results were announced Dinha said the electorate has the final say in politics.

“Politics, like leadership, is not for the faint-hearted. The road has been rocky, however, it has ultimately led me to a beautiful destination where l can finally serve the people of Zvimba West. The electorate has spoken loud and clear on who they want to represent them in parliament,” Dinha said.

“After all, politics is about the people, nothing but the people. I will reside among the people and address all the needs of the community at large. I shall ensure that certain urgent desires of the people are fulfilled such as water, infrastructure development which borders on the modernisation of the whole constituency, women empowerment, income-generating projects for families in Zvimba. I will also help in the renovation of schools and clinics in Zvimba West, among other things. It is my promise to the nation at large that all this and more shall be achieved in Zvimba West,” she added.

In Gokwe-Nembudziya, Wadyajena was defeated by former Cabinet minister Flora Buka.

Buka reportedly polled 5 052 votes, while Wadyajena got 3 822 votes and Buka’s comeback was reportedly backed by Zanu-PF women’s league commissar Maybe Mbowa.

“He wanted to come so that he could continue with his corrupt tendencies, but people are not fools. Mayor (Wadyajena) wanted a comeback so that he could have another chance to loot again. People of Gokwe have opened their eyes. They refuse to be oppressed by one person,” Mbowa said.

In Mbare constituency, there was speculation that Emmanuel Mahachi lost against Martin Matinyanya.  Election results for the Mbare seat were not readily available by the time of going to print.

Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said he was not in a position to comment and would only do so when given the greenlight by the party’s national political commissar Mike Bimha.

“Talk to the national political commissar, l cannot comment on that matter, unless he has grant me permission to do so”

Bimha was not picking up calls by the time of going to print.

In a related incident, Zanu-PF Makoni West aspiring candidate Moses Ruwona has since been locked up on allegations of fraud and money laundering.

Ruwona, who defeated Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services minister Jenfan Muswere in the recently held Zanu-PF primary elections before he was disqualified, has been in custody since last week.

Earlier on, Mnangagwa reportedly ignored recommendations by a Zanu-PF special ad-hoc committee that was established to deal with disputes emanating from the party’s primary elections to allegedly save his allies.

The whole Zanu-PF primary election was marred by controversies whereby various factions purportedly used dirty tactics to outwit each other as the battle to represent the party in the 2023 polls heated up.

Robert Nyemudzo, a Zanu-PF member who was aspiring to be the party’s Chipinge South candidate was disqualified after he was allegedly found to be a drug lord.

Nyemudzo was replaced by Enoch Porusingazi, the incumbent who had come second in the primaries.

-Newsday

 By A Correspondent- Mabvuku man was last week arraigned before magistrate Dennis Mangosi facing allegations of deliberately supplying false information to the police.

Muchazepi Samunderu (31), who was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing, allegedly told the police that he had picked up an abandoned baby, yet the baby belonged to him.

Allegations are that sometime at the end of February 2020, the accused’s wife was deployed to work in Zvishavane.

She left their one-year-and eight-months-old baby girl in the custody of the accused who neglected and ill-treated the child by taking the baby from one relative to another.

The accused also took the child to his friends, but the arrangement failed and during the same month, the accused decided to abandon the child.

He packed the child’s bags and took the child to Zimbabwe Republic Police Ruwa where he made a false reportthat he had picked an abandoned baby.

He then handed over the child and her bag of clothes to the police.  In April 2020, the mother returned and asked the accused about the whereabouts of the child.

The accused indicated that the child was with relatives.

The mother continued to ask questions, but the child could not be located.

The matter was reported to the police who unearthed what had transpired, leading to the accused’s arrest.

By A Correspondent- Council for Churches in Africa (CCA) president Rocky Moyo says the country’s ruling party Zanu-PF will only win the forthcoming general elections through the help of the country’s churches.

Moyo’s congregation is among some of the most influential churches in Bulawayo.

Speaking on Saturday in Bulawayo at the ordination ceremony of Apostle Pesly Jeremiah of Joshua Generation Ministries held in Mpopoma, Moyo said: “A country will not succeed without spiritual people. For instance, when you go to England the next person to the king is the archbishop, a spiritual person and then comes the Prime Minister.

“Right now in this country we are proposing that we have a minister of religion. As long as the President continues to visit churches, this is going to happen,” Moyo said.

He said even the colonisers made use of the Bible to advance the colonialism agenda.

“And I also said if he keeps going around churches he is definitely going to get my vote because it means he recognises us as people from the religious sector.

 “I am saying this because a church is an important place and it’s unfortunate you don’t see this. When we look back into our historical background, the first person to bring a Bible was [missionary John] Moffat who was working together with Cecil John Rhodes,” Moyo said.

“The fact that we ran away from politics is the reason why churches have continued to suffer together with the people.”

He said Zanu-PF must work together with churches to guarantee being voted back into power

“I promise them that if they recognise us then we will also assist them,” Moyo said.

Joshua Generation Ministries Apostle Pesly Jeremiah said he was grateful that the CCA president came to ordain him.

“We are thankful that you are a church that does not discriminate, you came all the way to my church which is still being hosted in another person’s house. We appreciate you coming all the way here,” Jeremiah said.

By A Correspondent- Principals under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) have claimed that they rescued the country from total economic collapse after the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe implemented recommendations made by the platform.

Polad members said after the 2018 elections, the country was heading for an economic mess and the grouping proposed a cocktail of measures to rescue Mnangagwa out of the quagmire.

Polad head of the economic thematic committee, Trust Chikohora said the economic summit in 2020 proffered solutions for the turning around of Zimbabwe’s suffocating economy.

“The economic summit unearthed real issues that were affecting our economy from stakeholders and the market. The market and stakeholders came up with their recommendations and we compiled a report and handed it to Mnangagwa for his consideration and we are glad the report was implemented,” he said.

Chikohora said Polad’s Currency Indaba held in 2022 also helped stabilise the currency.

The main thrust of the Currency Indaba was to come up with strategies to deal with issues of the currency market and tame inflation in order to achieve economic growth as spelt out in the country’s Vision 2030.

“One of the major issues raised was the government’s contracts. We realised that contractors were pushing inflation and the government revisited its agreements and inflation started to slow down. Even the issues of gold coins and interest rates were also our idea,” Chikohora said.

Another Polad member, Welcome Shumba said the grouping also helped the government by strongly advocating against sanctions.

“We are part of the people who took part in the protests against sanctions and our common position is that sanctions must go and we have been lobbying for that,” he said.

Mnangagwa gave Polad principals — a grouping of fringe political parties that lost during the 2018 general elections — an unfettered access to him, pampering them with top of the range vehicles and allowing them to conduct their meetings at some of the country’s most exclusive resorts.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Two people died and others were seriously injured when a bus they were travelling in overturned after the driver lost control along the Manyanda-Kariyangwe road in Binga last Friday.

The bus, which was heading towards Kariyangwe overturned and landed on its side killing two people on spot and seriously injuring a yet to be confirmed number of other people.

The driver reportedly disappeared from the scene.

Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North province Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the accident saying: “I can confirm that a road traffic accident involving a bus claimed two lives in Kariyangwe on Friday at around 1pm and soon after the accident which saw the bus overturning and landing on its side, the driver out of shock, fled the scene.

“We would like to appeal to motorists that they should exercise caution and always consider that they are carrying living souls. They have to value the sanctity of life and abide by relevant road traffic regulations and also when drivers are fatigued, it’s necessary to rest,” Banda said.

The injured were rushed to Binga District and Kariyangwe mission hospitals.

Passengers Association of Zimbabwe president Tafadzwa Goliath yesterday said they were concerned by the rising road accidents on the country’s roads.

“We are concerned by the rate at which people are losing lives due to road traffic accidents and we urge drivers to value lives. We are with the families of those who perished in Kariyangwe. May their departed souls rest in peace. To those who were injured, we wish them a quick recovery,” Goliath said.

A HARARE man has been arrested on charges of insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa after he allegedly said the Zanu PF leader was a failure and would lose the elections expected in August this year.

Dumisani Dangirwa (43) appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi on Thursday and was remanded in custody pending bail application.

Prosecutors said on April 7, Dangirwa was at corner Bank Street and Cameroon Street and was heard by the complainant, a police officer, shouting that Mnangagwa was failing to run the country. He went on to say Mnangagwa would lose the elections.

The complainant identified himself as a police officer and ordered the accused to stop insulting the President.

It is alleged that Dangirwa became violent and slapped him. The court heard that Dangirwa continued pursuing the police officer saying: “wakajaidzwa munhu waMnangagwa (you are too spoiled you Mnangagwa supporter)” while shouting other 0bscenities.

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa has revealed that he has exempted Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka from distractions of constituency politics to solely focus on agriculture transformation as the country moves towards food security status.

Dr Masuka will be a non-constituency legislator.

In March, the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development ministry came out as the biggest winner in the 2022 performance evaluation results for Cabinet Ministers and senior Government officials, as both the Minister, Dr Masuka, and Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera were named best performers in their respective designations.

Writing in his weekly column for The Sunday Mail and Sunday News, President Mnangagwa said Dr Masuka’s “sole focus” will be on transforming agriculture.

“As your President, my covenant with you has been to banish hunger from our land. That goal is now well in sight, what with the massive investments we continue to commit towards weather-proofed agriculture, and, of course, the sheer hard work of all our farmers, big and small,” said the President

He said this year the country will congregate for the main independence celebrations in Mt Pfura which was renamed Mt Darwin as a food-secure Nation.

“I have released Minister Anxious Masuka from distractions of constituency politics so his sole focus and sole politics relate to this one goal of transforming our agriculture for a food-secure Nation for all times. He will be a non-constituency Member of Parliament, so he has enough time to live, think and dream agriculture only,” he added.

Transforming agriculture is at the epicentre of Government’s Vision 2030, which is aimed at ensuring a prosperous upper middle-income society by 2030.

The vision embraces viability of the agriculture sector, as enshrined in the ambitious Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy (2020-2025), which President Mnangagwa launched in 2020.

The strategy seeks to ensure that by 2025, Zimbabwe is food secure, with limited food imports, a country that has deepened and broadened exports of agricultural products, and created employment of up to one million jobs in the agriculture sector.

On rural industrialisation, President Mnangagwa said the drive should become the next greatest miracle Zimbabwe showcases and shares with the rest of the continent.

“This thrust must strengthen as we move into the future. Rural industrialisation should become the next greatest miracle Zimbabwe shows to, and shares with our African brethren. China did no less, and lifted millions out of poverty.

“Again, I expect more involvement of our tertiary institutions, which must engage in purposeful, community- and local resource-based research for rural industrialisation.”

Rural industrialisation, which is part of the Second Republic’s devolution agenda, involves nurturing agro-processing start-up enterprises in rural areas through financial and technological support via venture capital funding and Government agencies.

Through rural industrialisation, the Government hopes to stem rural-urban migration which saps growth from the countryside.

President Mnangagwa added that the country’s rural industrialisation drive should be a shining beacon to the rest of Africa.

Last week, the Cabinet revealed that Zimbabwe and Ethiopia are the only two African countries to achieve wheat self-sufficiency with the Government having increased the 2023 winter wheat production target to 85 000 hectares from 80 388 planted in 2022 to further solidify gains from the previous year.

Most farming activities are in the rural areas.

“Cabinet is pleased to inform the nation that during the 2022 winter cereal production season, Zimbabwe together with Ethiopia were the only countries in Africa that attained self-sufficiency in wheat, with 375 131 metric tonnes being produced, against a national requirement of 360 000 metric tonnes,” Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Two Harare teenagers allegedly fatally stabbed their colleague in a misunderstanding over an undisclosed matter.

The two 15-year-olds from Lowdale Farm Compound appeared before Harare Magistrate Dennis Mangosi on Tuesday facing murder charge.

They were told to apply for bail at the High Court and return to court on June 27.

Prosecutors said the deceased, who is also 15, and the two accused persons knew each other as they resided in the same compound.cfii

On April 6 2021, the accused went to tuckshops located at Sas Mine Compound where they clashed with fellow age mates they met there.

The deceased tried to intervene, but was stabbed.

He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on admission.

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) soldier has been accused by his estranged wife of presenting fake payslips to court to avoid paying maintenance.

Sydwell Mutuda appeared before Harare magistrate Sharon Mashavira on Wednesday and claimed he could not afford what his ex-wife, Chido Chiwakata, was demanding.

Chiwakata wanted a court order directing Mutuda to pay US$120 up from $45 000.

However, Mutuda said he was taking home only $89 000 after deductions from his $310 000 salary.

Chiwakata pleaded with the court to grant her an opportunity to visit ZNA headquarters to obtain his true payslip.

“He is always bringing fake payslips to court,” she submitted.

“I am pleading with the court to allow me to go to his workplace to obtain an original copy of his payslip.

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF Politburo member and Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has set his Cowdray Park Development Agenda in motion with the drilling of 24 boreholes. The boreholes are part of a number of development projects that are meant to transform the lives of the people in Cowdray Park.

The boreholes are located in strategic areas around Cowdray Park and will address the issue of water shortages in the area. The water shortages are caused by the city council’s water-shedding schedule.

In addition to the boreholes, Professor Ncube has also promised to install 32 electricity transformers in Cowdray Park. The transformers will address the issue of power outages in the area.

Professor Ncube is representing ZANU-PF in the forthcoming elections in Cowdray Park constituency. He went in unchallenged in the just ended party primary elections in the newly established constituency.

The development projects that Professor Ncube is spearheading are a sign of his commitment to improving the lives of the people in Cowdray Park. The projects are also a sign of his confidence in the people of Cowdray Park.

By A Correspondent- CCC member of Parliament Joana Mamombe, who is on bail facing allegations of faking abduction with her two accomplices, wants a temporary return of her passport to travel to Kenya.

Mamombe on Friday made the application before Harare magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje through her lawyer Mr Jeremiah Bhamu. Mr Mambanje is expected to rule today on this adjustment to her bail conditions.

Mamombe said she needed the passport to travel to Nairobi, Kenya for a training conference.

Mr Bhamu told the court that his client was not seeking to travel for leisure, but the training was important for her personal growth as a legislator.

However, deputy Prosecutor-General Mr Micheal Reza opposed the application saying Mamombe was going for leisure and therefore she was not fit to get temporary release of her passport.

Mr Reza said Mamombe was not part of the training management, therefore her absence at the conference would not affect anything.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators for Mutare Central and Mutasa Central, Innocent Gonese and Trevor Saruwaka have stepped down from contesting in this year’s polls despite being nominated.

CCC opted for a citizens-centric process to produce the party’s candidates as opposed to the traditional model of primary elections.

The process is being conducted by an independent body, Citizens’ Independent Candidate Selection Panel (CISP), which will produce the party’s contestants in the general election through four stages namely candidate nomination, candidate vetting, candidates’ caucuses and declaration of successful candidates.

In a statement, Gonese, who is one of the opposition bigwigs, said he decided to decline the nomination, and has chosen to back another nomination candidate Brian James to contest for the seat. Gonese’s decisions also come shortly after Saruwaka stepped down from contesting, a move CCC described as meaning to prove to President Emmerson Mnangagwa that power can be transferred peacefully.

“I would like to thank the people of Mutare Central for giving me the opportunity to represent them as their representative in Parliament and also for nominating me as a Candidate in the forthcoming elections,” Gonese said.

“I am also happy that the former Mutare Mayor was also nominated as a candidate and while all the names are being vetted pending further processes, such as consultations and consensus in terms of the new candidate selection procedures, I have decided to decline the nomination.”

He said there was need for new leadership and he was available to offer support for the new leaders.

“I had a fruitful discussion with James yesterday as I consider him a very worthy and deserving person to take over from me and I am pleased to advise that we are going to work together to ensure that Mutare Central remains yellow and plays its part in ensuring that we deliver maximum votes for President Chamisa and all candidates in other positions.

“There is a need for leadership renewal and passing of the baton. I will remain available to render my full support as I am a fully committed champion for change. Brian will have my full support and cooperation and let’s continue to encourage people to register to vote so that we can win big and deliver change,” added the veteran Member of Parliament (MP) who has been quite vocal in Parliament ever since he was elected into the august House in 2008 under the MDC ticket.

Speaking during a Press conference in Harare last week, CCC’s CISP spokesperson Shepard Ngandu said the candidate selection process had now entered the vetting process thus scanning candidates’ credentials and digging into candidates’ history to see if they meet the party’s democratic requirements.

By A Correspondent- Principals under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) have claimed that they rescued the country from total economic collapse after the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe implemented recommendations made by the platform.

Polad members said after the 2018 elections, the country was heading for an economic mess and the grouping proposed a cocktail of measures to rescue Mnangagwa out of the quagmire.

Polad head of the economic thematic committee, Trust Chikohora said the economic summit in 2020 proffered solutions for the turning around of Zimbabwe’s suffocating economy.

“The economic summit unearthed real issues that were affecting our economy from stakeholders and the market. The market and stakeholders came up with their recommendations and we compiled a report and handed it to Mnangagwa for his consideration and we are glad the report was implemented,” he said.

Chikohora said Polad’s Currency Indaba held in 2022 also helped stabilise the currency.

The main thrust of the Currency Indaba was to come up with strategies to deal with issues of the currency market and tame inflation in order to achieve economic growth as spelt out in the country’s Vision 2030.

“One of the major issues raised was the government’s contracts. We realised that contractors were pushing inflation and the government revisited its agreements and inflation started to slow down. Even the issues of gold coins and interest rates were also our idea,” Chikohora said.

Another Polad member, Welcome Shumba said the grouping also helped the government by strongly advocating against sanctions.

“We are part of the people who took part in the protests against sanctions and our common position is that sanctions must go and we have been lobbying for that,” he said.

Mnangagwa gave Polad principals — a grouping of fringe political parties that lost during the 2018 general elections — an unfettered access to him, pampering them with top of the range vehicles and allowing them to conduct their meetings at some of the country’s most exclusive resorts.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- The Mbudzi Interchange project is running behind schedule as the contractor is still to access the area occupied by property owners who are awaiting compensation from the government.

This was said by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Amos Marawa, during a recent tour of the project by the media.

NewZimbabwe.com quoted Marawa as saying the Government is yet to reach an agreement with only one property owner and this had slowed down progress. He said:

We are behind schedule. The government is committed to paying property holders.

Negotiations came too late and thus delayed the compensation to the property holders.

So far, agreements have been made with the affected people except for one that is still outstanding.

We have signed settlement agreements with 51 property holders except for one.
Marawa said of the US$34 million needed to compensate the affected people, the government had paid US$12 million to 19 property holders.
Moreover, 95 other leaseholders within the project space will be relocated. The Government committed to service the land and build three-roomed chore houses for each. Said Marawa:
Government will compensate affected property owners in the next two months. It will reconsider and reconstruct the programming consolidated dates after June.
So far, the government is happy with the quality of the work which is being undertaken by a private contractor (Fossils Mines) at a cost of US$88 million.
The project started on 18 September 2022 and was scheduled to be completed by 17 March 2023.
Marawa said a new expected completion date will be set in June.
The project has 13 interchange bridges as well as 15km of interchange roads and service roads. Four bridges are above 90% complete.

By A Correspondent- Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi lost to Maruva Mercy Dinha again in the ZANU PF Primary elections rerun in Zvimba West yesterday.

This time Dinha beat Ziyambi by a bigger margin.

Reports indicate that almost 2 000 ZANU PF members who voted for Ziyambi in the initial election abandoned him in the rerun.

Ziyambi reportedly garnered 2 331 votes while Dinha won 6 022 votes in the rerun.

In elections held on 25 March, Dinha garnered 4 104. Ziyambi came out second, with 4 074 votes.

By-ZBC News photojournalist Idah Mhetu has died. Details about her passing away are, however, still sketchy.

Mhetu’s death was confirmed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, on Sunday morning.
He tweeted:
So sad to learn of the passing of (Idah Mhetu) photojournalist @ZBCNewsonline. What a tragic loss. Condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. May Her Soul Rest In Peace.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Mhetu was a Midlands State University (MSU) alumna.

By A Correspondent- The Election Resource Centre (ERC) has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of violating the Constitution by failing to publish the voters’ roll ostensibly to protect voters’ data in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

This comes after High Court judge Justice Never Katiyo rejected an application by Harare North MP, Allan Markham, who sought the court to compel ZEC to release the voters’ roll.

He said the release of the electronic voters’ roll would expose the document to manipulation.

But in a statement issued on Wednesday, ERC said ZEC’s reasons for withholding the Voters’ Roll were unconstitutional and will affect the credibility of the elections. Reads the statement:

The ERC notes the statement made by the ZEC Chairperson Honourable Chigumba in Parliament on 5 April 2023.

The Chairperson is quoted stating that the Electoral Commission is unable to publish the voters’ roll as it has the responsibility to protect the data of voters in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

While the Data Protection Act is there to provide for data protection with due regard to the Declaration of Rights under the Constitution, the act also addresses the protection of data in terms of public and national interest.

Section 11 (5) (h) of the Data Protection Act states that the data controller (ZEC in this instance) shall process sensitive data if, “the processing of data is authorised by a law or any regulation for any other reason constituting substantial public interest.”

Section 21 (3) of the Electoral Act legally authorises the Commission to within a reasonable period of time provide any person who requests it, and who pays the prescribed fee a copy of any voters’ roll either in printed or in electronic form as the person may request.

Therefore, ZEC is legally obligated by the Electoral Act read in line with the Data Protection Act to avail the voters’ roll data, especially as it constitutes substantial public interest as the roll is necessary for electoral participation and the realisation of political rights as envisaged by the Constitution.

The continued denial of the voters’ roll especially, to persons with a legitimate interest in the voters’ roll and free and fair elections, such as political parties, candidates and CSOs under the guise of data protection is unlawful and detrimental to the credibility of the 2023 Harmonised Elections.

The ERC repeats its calls, that the voters’ roll should be made public, as the credibility and validity of the delimitation process and the 2023 Harmonised Elections are dependent on it.

By A Correspondent- Award winning photojournalist Idah Mhetu has died.

Mhetu, was now working at ZBC.

Details about her death are however still sketchy although sources have confirmed that she was hospitalised at a local health institution and passed away early Sunday morning.

Mhetu’s death was confirmed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana.

He tweeted:

So sad to learn of the passing on of (Idah Mhetu) photojournalist @ZBCNewsonline. What a tragic loss. Condolences to her family, friends and colleagues. May Her Soul Rest In Peace.

Journalists took to social media to express their shock at the passing on of Mhetu.

This is a developing story.

 By A Correspondent- A 23 year-old Zimbabwean man who was allegedly shot dead by a South African soldier at Limpopo River was buried in Bulawayo on Friday.

Mduduzi Mbulelo Mlilo was reportedly assisting border jumpers and smugglers at an illegal crossing point on 02 April when the soldier shot him once in the breast, killing him instantly.

Mlilo was among a group of 16 smugglers who were intercepted by South African soldiers at an illegal crossing point.

His body was taken to Tshilidzini Mortuary in Limpopo Province where it was kept pending police investigations.

The soldier who shot him has since been arrested and charged with murder and is set to stand trial at the Musina Regional Court on 15 May.

Mduduzi’s father, Dubayi Mlilo, told the Chronicle that his son was buried at Luveve cemetery. He said:

This is devastating; my son was killed just like that. If they were really implementing the law, they could have arrested him and taken him to court.

We have had an update from the police and we will follow the case with interest

Mlilo said according to witnesses, Mduduzi was shot while assisting people to smuggle an assortment of goods, mainly onions.

He said he was told that the soldier jumped from a vehicle and opened fire at Mduduzi while standing on the river bank.

He then fell into the water and his body was later retrieved and taken to the mortuary around 8 PM after lying on the riverbed for almost six hours.

On 15 February this year, a member of the South African Border Guard shot and killed a Zimbabwean man at Beitbridge Border Post.

The man was allegedly shot for reprimanding the Border Guards for assaulting an old woman who was picking up empty cans and plastic containers for recycling.

The incident occurred at the foot of the New Limpopo Bridge (NLB) on the South African side of the border at around 4 AM.

By James Gwati | A Zimbabwean academic, Jephias Mundawaro’s life is in danger after Vice President Constantino Chiwenga launched a search on him over his association with a local company that he (Chiwenga) hijacked a government tender from.

Chiwenga hijacked a dam construction tender from Tawana Power Corporation.

The company was managed by a Harare businessman and Mundawaro’s business partner, George Mushambi.

Mushambi died of suspected poisoning by Chiwenga early this year.

Sources within the security sector told ZimEye that Chiwanga is now going for Mundawaro, who has since fled to the Netherlands for his safety.

” A team of hitmen has since been assembled to find and disappear Mr Mundawaro because he is in possession of the company papers. We are also told that he wants to expose how the Boss (Chiwenga) blocked the tender and how Mushambi was assassinated,” said the source.

ZimEye contacted Mr Mundawaro, who confirmed his life was in danger.

” I am in hidding and that is all ai can tell you”, he said.

Mushambi’s death followed wrangles with Chiwenga over a multi-million dam construction government tender the late won, which the vice President blocked and later hijacked.

Tawana Power Corporation was awarded a tender to construct the Kondo-Chitowe dam in Manicaland in 2018.

The water project was going to be the most significant inland dam to generate Electricity and feed into the national grid. It would also benefit local communities with irrigation and other farming activities.

The company working with the government had also signed bilateral agreements with the governments of South Africa (Limpopo province) and Mozambique, whose two countries the project was also going to supply both water and power generation.

Chiwenga blocked the tender and grabbed the project after realising the intensity of the project.

Mushambi had taken Chiwenga to the courts challenging these two developments.

Tinashe Sambiri

CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has pinpointed Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa as the king of the gold mafia.

This follows the release of the powerful Al Jazeera documentary on gold looting in Zimbabwe.

In a strong statement, President Chamisa condemned the rampant looting of gold by the Zanu PF regime.

“LEADERS SET THE TONE & EXAMPLE and all others follow. Having just finished watching #GoldMafia4, now the world knows who the King of the #GoldMafia is. Zimbabwe is very rich but presided over by greedy, plunder, looting, and stinking corruption. Heads must roll.

It can’t be as usual in government. Leaders must not be lovers of gold. This we must end,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

Tinashe Sambiri

CCC leader President Nelson Chamisa has pinpointed Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa as the king of the gold mafia.

This follows the release of the powerful Al Jazeera documentary on gold looting in Zimbabwe.

In a strong statement, President Chamisa condemned the rampant looting of gold by the Zanu PF regime.

“LEADERS SET THE TONE & EXAMPLE and all others follow. Having just finished watching #GoldMafia4, now the world knows who the King of the #GoldMafia is. Zimbabwe is very rich but presided over by greedy, plunder, looting, and stinking corruption. Heads must roll.

It can’t be as usual in government. Leaders must not be lovers of gold. This we must end,” President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page.

Today, unto me a mother to the family was born, an intelligent wife & partner was delivered. This special day is her birthday. She is a pillar of strength-a source of sanity, support and inspiration. Praying for more years of blessings, grace and health. Help me wish her a happy… pic.twitter.com/8WcxTT09Cd

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) April 15, 2023

By-A full bench in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has reserved its judgement in the case brought by the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Holders (ZEPHA) and other civil society organisations against the state.

ZEPHA is seeking permanent residence in South Africa for Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders.
ZEPHA had previously asked for ZEP holders to be given permanent residence but this was then changed to ask the court to allow them to apply for permanent residence, as required by the Immigration Act.
ZEPHA had also asked for the Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi’s decision to terminate the ZEP scheme to be set aside as unlawful and invalid.
Arguing for the state, advocate Myron Dewrance said the ZEP permit specifically prohibited the holder from applying for permanent residence.
However, Advocate Simba Chitando, representing ZEPHA, argued that the Immigration Act makes provision for those residing in South Africa under a variety of visa programmes to apply for permanent residence and that this right should be granted to ZEP holders.

Presiding Officer Justice Colleen Collis as said:
We have concluded during our brief adjournment that in order to do justice to the merits of this application as well as the importance of the application to the parties concerned and the urgency of this application that it would be prudent rather reserve our ruling.
We are aware that the litigants before the court would want to have finalisation of their pending application before the 30th of June 2023 so we will have that in mind.
The exemption permit system was introduced in 2009 under the Dispensation of Zimbabweans Project (DZP).
It allowed some 250 000 Zimbabweans unlawfully in South Africa to regularise their status, allowing them to live, work and study in South Africa.
In 2014, the DZP was renamed the Zimbabwe Special Permit (ZSP). The name changed again three years later to Zimbabwe Exemption Permit or ZEP.
In September 2022, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs extended the permit which was due to expire on December 31, for a further six months to June 30, 2023.

-GroundUp/SABC

By A Correspondent- WestProp Holdings top management lived up to their billing on Thursday night scooping diamond awards in the Megafest Business Leadership awards held at the sparkling Cresta Lodge.

Westprop Holdings Chief executive Mr Ken Sharpe was adjudged the 2022 top businessman of the year and walked home with a floating trophy, certificate and a glass plaque.

The award was received on his behalf by the company’s public relations manager Mr Michael Chideme.

Company chief operating officer Mrs Tatiana Ellis walked home the Diamond winner- Female Executive of the year.

The accolades confirm WestProp Holdings Pvt Ltd leadership role in the real estate business.

In an interview after the awards Mr Sharpe reaffirmed his commitment to help build Zimbabwe and ensure that Harare’s landscape compares with the beauty and splendor of Dubai.

“Our strategic vision to put one billion bricks in the ground by 2050 will see us effectively changing Harare’s landscape and grow the local economy through employment creation whilst at the same time creating live, work, shop and play lifestyle communities that respond to the needs of our customers,” he said.

Mrs Ellis was upbeat and dedicated the ward to all women and the girl child.

“It’s a proud moment for me as a woman. I dedicate this award to all women. Women can also do it. The award has instilled in me the power to continue working hard and inspire other women to also work hard and get recognition,” she said.

Top executives at WestProp Holdings are not new to winning. Over the years they have literally dominated awards ceremonies.