CABINET on Tuesday approved the revised implementation plan for the 100 megawatt (MW) Gwanda solar project that commits to deliver the first 10MW within six months after signing of financial closure agreements and fulfilment of all outstanding conditions precedent.
Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi quickly pointed out that he will demand to see “the colour of the money”, being proof of project funding, before any of the parties in the multi-million dollar project puts pen to paper on the restated contract being drawn.
Minister Chasi confirmed in an interview, Cabinet’s approval of the new implementation plan that is tied to a new contract, involvement of renowned power project experts and a US$14 million “ready-made” loan funding commitment for delivery of the first 10MW under the new phased project plan.
The Energy Minister, while positive that the new pragmatic implementation plan he wants implemented without further delays will bear the desired results, stressed the requirement for the financier to prove funding capacity first.
The project will be done in two phases, 10MW first and then 90MW by 2022.
The Gwanda solar project has courted controversy after the contractor, Intratrek Zimbabwe, failed to deliver within agreed time-lines citing failure by Zesa to fulfil certain of its obligations as well as funding hurdles arising from Zimbabwe’s historical debts to China, the source of funding.
“The parties are currently talking; they are negotiating to ensure compliance with an earlier High Court order on a standing contractual dispute. But yes, Cabinet gave approval for the project to go ahead after consideration of the circumstances and facts on the ground,” Minister Chasi said.
The project stalled following contractual dispute arising from delays in implementation of preliminary works of the project after the contracting part, State power utility Zesa Holdings had paid in advance for the initial works, but did not fulfil all its obligations for the project to move smoothly.
“The contract was signed in 2015, but to date little has happened on the ground because of litigation, which is still ongoing yet the country is in a precarious power situation.
“Also, the fact that disengaging the current contractor will take an inordinate time will not be consistent with our current (dire power) situation,” the Energy Minister said.
Minister Chasi is also on record saying he was in agreement with High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi’s ruling that the parties should not waste precious time “merry dancing in boardrooms and courts” while the whole country faced a crippling power crisis.
Justice Chitapi, while ruling on a contractual dispute between Zesa and Intratrek over delays to the project, which Zesa lost, pointed out that electricity was not generated in courts and board rooms, but at power stations and urged the feuding parties to dialogue and stop being “dilatory” in their approach.
Zimbabwe is facing a crippling power crisis that sees the country endure up to 18 hours of outages and spends millions of US dollars to ameliorate the impact of shortages. The country requires up to 2 200MW during peak demand, especially winter, while it is able to generate below 800MW.
The drought has resulted in water levels at the country’s largest power plant, Kariba South hydro-power station, dropping to critically low levels that prompted the Zimbabwe River Authority (ZRA), which administers Kariba Dam, to cut water rations for power generation purposes.
“We have taken a robust and pragmatic stance on the project, it needs to move in earnest upon financial closure to make sure that the first 10MW are delivered within six months of financial closure; that is in 2021 and the remainder by 2022. But I want to see the colour of money first; not mere promises,” Minister Chasi told The Herald Finance & Business.
Notably, the contractor has since reportedly completed more than 95 percent of the pre-commencement works for the Gwanda solar project, which sparked the contractual dispute between Zesa and Intratrek and saw the latter cancel the contract for the project. However, the High Court later ruled the contract was still valid and enforceable.
The contractor, Intratrek Zimbabwe, has committed to deliver 10MW within six months of signing of a power purchase agreement, security of payment has been established, project funding secured and all regulatory and Government undertakings being in place, envisaged by September 2020.
The conditions precedent, African Transmission Corporation said should be signed as a single suite of documents and conditions that must be in place and be met by September 2020 to allow construction to commence and be completed within the targeted six months.
The new transaction advisor, ATC has been roped into the project and has mobilised US$14 million for the first 10MW phase of the 100MW Gwanda solar project.
ATC has a solid track record after it successfully commissioned a 5MW centragrid photovoltaic solar plant in Nyabira, which is already feeding the Zesa power grid.
Further, ATC mobilised US$6 million for its Nyabira solar plant, which holds a licence for 25MW and has firm funding commitments for this power initiative to complete the licensed capacity soon, once all outstanding arrangements are secured.
Inclusion of ATC’s follows its successful record on similar work for Zesa regarding the power utility’s US$550 million 300MW Kariba South extension and the ongoing US$1,4 billion Hwange Power Station 7 and 8 expansion programme.
Mr Victor Utedzi, founder of ATC, the new project consultant for Gwanda, also carried out work in Mozambique, managing the restructuring of the US$3 billion debt owed by power utility HCB to the Government of Mozambique.
Additionally, he was at the centre of negotiations in discussions for the 1 500MW cross-border power agreement between Mozambique and South Africa, being only a fraction of several other multi-billion power deals he brokered in Southern African where ATC has unmistakable footprint.
“The bridge funding for the 10MW is in place and would be available for draw down in a short period of time. The construction period is only six months; a very short period compared to other sources of power,” said Mr Utedzi.
The engineering, design and technical execution of the project will be steered by CHiNT Electric Co. Limited, a US$12 billion revenue Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed blue-chip company founded by Chinese billionaire, Nan Cunhui, a member of the central committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
The contract for the Gwanda project was signed in 2012 after an award of the tender by then State Procurement Board, renamed Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ). The tender was awarded to the lowest bidder to specification with a total of six firms submitting bids.
Along with winning bid for Intratrek, awarded by PRAZ on the basis of compliance with all specifications, were two other tenders for 100MW projects won by ZTE Corporation and Number 17 Metallurgical China for solar power plants in Bulawayo and Munyati, respectively, but have since been cancelled over lack of progress.
GUTU – A Zanu PF candidate who lost in the 2018 elections in Gutu Ward 34, Susan Samatanga is carrying out all council duties in the ward except attending full council meetings.
Samatanga made a coup on the elected MDC T councilor Wickliff Matindike and is responsible for all Social Welfare food and agricultural inputs distribution.
She meets all Government officials who come into the ward and has access to the District Development Co-ordinator at anytime which the MDC T councillor doesn’t have.
Samatanga confirmed the position and insisted to The Mirror that she is the legitimate councillor in the area because she was allegedly appointed by the Minister of State and Devolution for Masvingo, Ezra Chadzamira.
She told The Mirror that she has the backing of the District Development Co-ordinator (DDC) Chiedza Tafirei.
Matindike said he was barred from carrying out his duties as an elected councillor by the Social Welfare Department and the DDC.
Tafirei declined to comment and referred all questions to the Department of Social Welfare.
Gutu acting Welfare officer, Finish Zimbizi referred all questions to the Provincial Welfare Officer Stanislaus Sanyangowe.
Sanyangowe told The Mirror that Zimbizi personally oversaw the distribution of food in Ward 34 and there were no Zanu-PF officials involved.
Villagers who called The Mirror on condition of anonymity said Samatanga is tormenting people in the wards by favoring her supporters in the distribution of social welfare food.
Food rations for disabled people were being reduced by half in particular the 50kg of maize that each person gets per month and the difference is shared among Zanu PF supporters.
Efforts to get a comment from Chadzamira were futile as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Matindike confirmed the matter to The Mirror and said that he was barred from Social Welfare food aid distribution by Samatanga. He said social welfare food distribution always started with a Zanu PF meeting where opposition supporters are condemned.
Zanu PF provincial youth Chairman Brian Munyoro said his party regarded Samatanga as the legitimate councillor for Ward 34.
THE Registrar-General’s Office has managed to reduce the passport backlog by 20 percent, taking advantage of a lull in new applications due to Covid-19 restrictions that have limited travel to the offices.
Before the lockdown, production of passports had been seriously affected by increasing applications and foreign currency shortages.
But the office managed to produce 83 379 passports during the first two months of the lockdown period.
When President Mnangagwa announced the first lockdown in March this year, the number of overdue passports stood at 400 961, but is now at 317 582.
The department has not been taking new applications, which has given it ample time to reduce the passport backlog.
“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, we have managed to produce 83 379 passports,” the RG’s Office said. “Even though the department is focusing on the production of passports, Covid-19 has negatively impacted on the process.
“As a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19, the department is currently operating with one third of its staff complement and so it is unable to utilise its full capacity.”
The backlog was a result of challenges in the importation of the special paper needed to produce passports, as only a handful of companies in the world produced it, with Zimbabwe yet to find a viable local alternative.
“Procurement of consumables is underway by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance,” said the RG’s office. “The availability of consumables will facilitate the clearing of the backlog.”
Section 66 of the Zimbabwean Constitution says every citizen has the right to enter Zimbabwe, the right not to be expelled from the country and the right to a passport or other travel document.
A few months back, Zimbabwe started the remote issuance of passports to citizens in the Diaspora.
A Grade 11 pupil at Hoërskool Montana in Pretoria, Gauteng, died when the light aircraft she was flying in crashed after take-off at Wonderboom Airport on Tuesday.
Anika de Beer dreamt of completing her pilot’s licence and had completed her first solo flight a few days before the fatal crash.
The school wrote in a tribute on its Facebook page: “Our deepest condolences to Anika’s parents, family, friends and all who loved her. We think of you in our prayers. May you experience the Lord’s nearness and comfort at this time.”
Kabelo Ledwaba, spokesperson of the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), said the Accident and Incident Investigation Division has started investigating the accident.
“The light aircraft, a type called Piper Cherokee 28A-180, was undertaking a training flight when the accident happened,” Ledwaba said.
The aircraft had taken-off from Wonderboom Airport and was intending to land back at the same airport.
“The evidence collection phase has begun, and this phase will define the size and scope of the investigation as well as the anticipated time-frame for the completion of a final report.
“It is vital to point out that investigations can vary in complexity and may at times take longer to complete,” Ledwaba emphasised.
“However, should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the investigating team will then immediately notify relevant parties so that appropriate action can be taken.”
He said a preliminary report would be issued within 30 days of the day of this accident.
More than 100 tributes from friends and well-wishers had poured in by Wednesday.
Varun Beverages the company that manufactures Pepsi in Zimbabwe will not renew contracts of several of its employees who organised a protest over meagre salaries and poor working conditions.
The employees on Monday and Wednesday protested demanding improved working conditions and end of racism at the Indian owned company.
The company’s workers earn an average ZWL$2,000 (US$20) a month.
Riot police later arrived at the company to quell tempers.
Varun Beverages recently set up a US$40 million beverages plant that produces a range of products that include Pepsi, Mirinda, Mountain Dew and 7Up.
The plant was opened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa who commended Varun Beverages for giving back to the community and partnering with Zimbabwe in business.
ZIMBABWE has this Wednesday recorded 13 new local COVID-19 cases and one imported case bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 605.
The imported case is a returnee from South Africa.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said of the 13 local cases, two are contacts to known cases, while investigations are still underway to establish the source of infection for the other eleven cases.
All the cases have since been isolated.
A total of 3 new recoveries were recorded all from Mashonaland East bringing the total number of recoveries to 166.
This leaves the number of active cases at 432.
Zimbabwe has recorded a total of seven deaths since the onset of the outbreak on the 20th of March this year.
To date, Zimbabwe has conducted 68 400 COVID-19 tests.
The bulk of Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 cases have been returnees from the region and abroad and the government is on high alert to ensure all returnees are quarantined upon return until they have satisfied all testing measures as outlined by the WHO.
hundreds of people stampede to buy prepaid electricity on first day of the month
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has once again warned customers that electricity tokens can be bought on any day of the month following reports that people are once again complaining over failure to buy the tokens at the beginning of the month.
On Wednesday, most people like what happened during last month, complained that they were failing to buy the tokens while some banks were reportedly failing to process the purchases online.
“The customer perception that power is cheaper at the beginning of the month is not correct and was leading to very high transaction volumes at the beginning of each month, resulting in the significant slowing down of the vending system,” said ZETDC in a statement.
Some customers alleged that there was a deliberate move to jam platforms such as mobile money platforms when purchasing the tokens at the beginning of the month.
“We buy tokens at the beginning of the month so that we get our 200units and most of the time we cannot do that because Ecocash and banks will be down when you try to purchase.
We are forced to come to town to purchase the tokens at the Zesa offices and the few agents that will be selling, ” said Mr Moses Mhlanga who was queued at a Zesa banking hall in Bulawayo.
The banking halls are charactarised by long queues on the first day of the month as people will be trying to purchase tokens directly from Zesa.
The problem has been exacerbated as most households have instead of buying on any other day of the month have timed that they buy the tokens on the first day of the month.
Some banks also reportedly sent messages informing their clients on their failure to purchase tokens as the system was down.
“We spend a lot of time in these queues trying to purchase tokens putting our lives at risk of the coronavirus as there is no social distancing that is being practiced. If only mobile platforms could be up, it would make our lives easier and also ensure our safety,” said Miss Talent Makaza who was trying to purchase tokens via ecocash.
ZETDC also announced that it was adding another low cost band to their tariffs.
“ZETDC is please to announce the introduction of a lower priced tariff band in order to improve the customer experience with the new tariff and being a positive response to customer requests for lower priced units beneath the premium band effective 12th June 2020,” the company said.
The new tariff band consists of 100kWh which stretches from 2001to 300kWh will therefore cost $312.
THE government has this Wednesday enacted the Freedom of Information Bill into law.
In a statement, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said, “the promulgation of the Freedom of Information Act by President Emmerson Mnangagwa has effectively repealed the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).”
Senator Mutsvangwa said this is an important development for the government and all stakeholders involved in the media industry.
“The enactment of the Freedom of Information Act is indeed a momentous occasion, not only for Government but for the media fraternity and the citizens. AIPPA had aroused a lot of animosity over the years.”
The Minister added that the enactment of the bill into law guarantees access to information as provided for in the constitution.
“The Freedom of Information Act provides citizens and media practitioners with the right to access information as espoused by Sections 61 1(a) and 62 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe through providing the legal frameworks and mechanisms for accessing information from public and private bodies.”
“One such mechanism is the mandatory designation of Information Officers in all public and private entities that shall be responsible for handling information requests and disclosure of information to the public.”
She noted that the law caters for Zimbabweans from all walks of life. “I am happy that the 2nd Republic Government has enacted a law that Zimbabweans will undoubtedly take pride in as it caters for all citizens regardless of their race, colour, creed, religion, cultural beliefs, and political persuasions.”
“As Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, I extend my sincere gratitude to the President, Parliament, the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the public and in particular stakeholders in the media fraternity.”
She also encouraged Zimbabweans to work together in order to achieve more for their country.
The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act was enacted into law in 2002
Acting party spokesperson Khalipani Phugeni said the MDC-T national council had passed a resolution to recall all senators and proportional representation (PR) legislators still supporting MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa, but were sponsored by the MDC-T.
“The national council of May 9 2020 resolved to recall all the PR and senators because those are low-hanging fruits, that is what I understand to mean strategically, you recall those quickly and you deploy party cadres who are able to carry out the values, principles and objectives of the MDC-T as I have alluded to, that’s what it said.
To the extent that it’s not done I can’t defend that. I think the members of the MDC-T will have to judge us as leadership and say what do we have to do with such leadership, but the resolution is clear,” he said.
The Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T has been methodically plucking out its perceived enemies from Parliament starting with MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende, chairperson Tabitha Khumalo and Lilian Timveos, accusing them of representing a different political party.
Phugeni said he was not aware why legislators, including Lynette Karenyi-Kore, Job Sikhala and others who declared allegiance to Chamisa were being left out.
“I must be honest with you, I think the issue of recalls has the potential to undermine our platform. You have already accused us of being biased; you have already asked me about certain people who are holding higher positions than people who we have already recalled. So it offends one’s sense of fairness and consistency and in this case I can bow my head in shame, I have no defence for this,” he said.
Insiders have accused Mwonzora of using recalls to his favour ahead of party’s July 31 extraordinary congress.
At a recent standing committee meeting, Mwonzora said the recalls had become a divisive issue among the party leadership
Police have arrested 102 businesspeople for allegedly refusing to accept the Zimdollar.
In a Press statement, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said 28 cases were set to appear in court and cautioned traders against rejecting the volatile currency.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that traders and business entities who continue to refuse to accept Zimbabwe currency, bond notes and coins as legal tender in business transactions risk being arrested and taken to court for the law to take its course,” he said.
Nyathi urged members of the public to continue reporting businesses that refuse to accept bond notes which are a legal tender.
Some traders and businesses are not accepting bond coins, $2 and $5 notes.
ZANU PF Secretary for Commissariat Victor Matemadanda has disowned a Twitter account in his name, which he claims was engineered by his enemies bent on tarnishing his image.
This follows a message circulating on social media purportedly posted by Matemadanda where he is threatening to deal with those who try to create two centres of power within the ruling party.
According to the twitter handle, he said a leader is elected by the congress not those who are power hungry trying to dethrone the President unconstitutionally.
Matemadanda said he did not have a Twitter account.
“I do not have a twitter account.
Let it be known that Matemadanda does not have a twitter account.
The twitter account is a creation of my enemies who are trying to destabilise the party and soil my name,” he said.
He said those behind the fake Twitter handle were shameless impostors bent on soiling his image for cheap political gain.
He added that no amount of smearing will break Zanu PF party-The Herald
Warriors striker Tinotenda Kadewere scored four goals for Olympique Lyonnais popularly known as Lyon during the club’s friendly match against Swiss side US Port-Valais.
The match was Lyon’s first in four months and Tino’s first for the club he joined this season from French Ligue 2 side Le Havre where he was the top goal scorer.
Kadewere scored the second goal for the club after former Manchester United striker, Memphis who also scored a quadruple, had converted a penalty in the 7th minute.
The 24-year-old striker later scored the cub’s 5th, 6th and 7th goals. His goals came in the 14th, 22nd, 27th, 33rd. The match ended 12-0- leprogress
Journalist and former Public Affairs Officer at the British Embassy Grace Mutandwa has died.
Mutandwa died today at her home in Harare after battling cancer. She was 57.
Her brother Andrew Mutandwa confirmed her death to The Herald in an interview today and said she succumbed to cancer which was diagnosed last year.
“She was born in Bulawayo on July 26, 1963 and was having ongoing treatment for cancer which was diagnosed in June 2019,” he said.
“She worked in the media for more than 30 years, starting off at the Sunday Mail.
“Later she held other positions in various media houses including at ZIANA and the Financial Gazette as Arts Editor, as well as Public Affairs Officer at the British Embassy in Harare,” he said. She is survived by her three children; Tawanda, Tanaka and Tendai.
Burial arrangements will be announced in due course-The Herald
A leading mining conglomerate and a construction products supplier have approached the High Court seeking to set aside the sale of its equipment by the Zifa executive committee member Phillimon Machana who must also deliver back to the companies the same items failure of which he must pay US$164 000.
In a notice, RioZim Base Metals (Pvt) Ltd and Metex (Pvt) Ltd who are listed as the first and second plaintiffs respectively want Machana who is the first defendant and the assistant Sheriff of the High Court, Gweru, who is listed as the second defendant to return to the two plaintiffs nine items and if the said items have since been sold the plaintiffs want replacement in monetary terms.
The first plaintiff valued their goods at US$69 000 while the second put a figure of US$95 000.
If Machana wants to oppose the plaintiffs’ claims he must enter an appearance to defend by making an appropriate entry in the appearance book kept at the office of the registrar of High Court of Zimbabwe in Harare within 30 days and notify the plaintiffs or their legal representative in writing at the given addresses.
If no notice to defend is entered, the claims will be heard and dealt with by the High Court without any further notice to Machana.
Referenced, notice of institution of proceedings in the High Court of Zimbabwe, the summons read, “The plaintiffs herein have instituted proceedings against you in the High Court for the following, the setting aside of the sale in execution conducted on October 27, 2017 under case number HC7716/15.
Delivery of the following property to plaintiff by the first defendant, 110KW Motor, switch gear, primary jaw crusher starter box, VF Frame, 45KW/60 HP Motor, 2×4 aluminium ladder, pulley on vertical fiberiser.
Alternatively a payment of US$69 000 being replacement cost of the property listed,” reads the notice.
He also must deliver to Metex, four stacker conveyors with 13M long belts, telsmith 18x 32 inch jaw crusher or alternatively pay US$95 000 being replacement costs of the said property-The Herald
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance vice president, Honourable Tendai Biti has said Emmerson Mnangagwa and his “coterie of looters” must resign with immediate effect- to avoid a total implosion of the economy.
“The parallel market rate is now 1:105 .The weighted average of today s auction was 1:63 with US$16m having been sold . Controlled auction is a joke . Only complete dollarisarion will work . Without productivity anything else is scratching the surface and the crisis will exarcabate.
Challenges can never be resolved at the same level they were created,” argued Biti.
” Emmerson and the RBZ officials are authors of the present crisis .In 2008 an auction did not work , nor did closure of Stock market and electronic transfers . The 2008 copy book is a disaster. Economics is not kick and hope.
Mthuli and company have reached a dead end . In a normal country one apologizes and resigns .The economy has tanked .Its on a free fall. An uninterrupted auto cruise to a full blown depression . We can’t await the inevitable implosion . We must manage and control the transition,” added Biti.
To cover up for the shambolic management of June Exams and MoPSE and Zimsec unpreparedness, Zimsec has with effect from today instituted the signing of Official Secrets Act.
It’s sad that Zimsec which in essence has no contract with teachers as a parastatal is trying to enforce a conspiracy of misinformation with impunity.
We remind teachers who have thrown their health, safety and welfare to the wind by salivating at the poisoned invigilation carrot, to demand an invigilation contract.
That contract must not only ensure that Zimsec pays them for invigilation of June exams but also make Zimsec liable for prosecution and payment of compensation for any effects during and after the invigilation of exams.
We also urge teachers to consider their health, safety and welfare first rather than allow Zimsec and MoPSE to trample over these key issues of life and death.
The MDC Alliance Ccc branch Secretary for Ruzengwe in Mberengwa North, Trynos Chinyoka, popularly known as Fetu is no more.
Fetu met his untimely death when he fell in an unprotected shaft/pit at the Chabudapasi gold mine near Yorkes business centre at night 4 days ago and was only found after three days search.
Fetu was a committed and fearless cadre ready to be an agent in any hostile environmentnent. The MDC Alliance has been robbed of a committed and dedicated cadre. He will be buried in the Chinyoka village after Mawerewere village under Chief Mposi tomorrow. We urge all MDC Alliance supporters to turn up in large numbers for the burial to pay our last respect for him.
Our heartfelt condolences to the Chinyoka family and MDC Alliance for such a loss.
We urge the Chabudapasi gold mine to carry out responsible mining that resonate with environmental impact assessment and in particular to fill up disused mine shafts and protect existing mining shafts. We have lost many people and animals at this mine in a similar fashion and such irresponsible mining can never be tolerated in the 21st century. We hold the mine totally responsible for Fetu’s death and hope the mine would pay compensation for the loss of life due to irresponsible and callous mining activity devoid of all regulatory mechanisms that could have abated the loss of life had they been followed.
Go well Fetu, you fought a good battle in your lifetime. Your spirit will continue to water our spirit of liberty until we complete the change.
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou ( Midlands Province Spokesperson)
One in three children are chronically malnourished in Zimbabwe and the situation may worsen amid Covid-19 which has forced the country to channel most of its resources towards preventing the viral infection.
Malnutrition refers to any condition in which the body does not receive enough nutrients for proper function.
With Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, many families have lost their sources of livelihood which left them with no means to buy food and other necessities.
The World Health Organisation in Zimbabwe says countries will need to balance the demands of responding directly to Covid-19, while simultaneously engaging in strategic planning and coordinated action to maintain delivery of essential health and nutrition services.
Mr Innocent Mazarura, a nutritionist in the Ministry of Health and Child Care said it was important for resources to be availed towards nutrition as the country was already battling to address iron deficiency in women and children.
“According to the Zimbabwe 2018 Nutrition Survey report, the national rate of child stunting, a manifestation of chronic malnutrition, is 26.2 per cent in Zimbabwe, which means nearly one in every three children are chronically malnourished. We have outstanding issues related to malnutrition that we have been dealing with as a country from years ago which explains why there is great need that we continue channeling resources towards nutrition even in the wake of Covid-19,” he said.
Mr Mazarura added that any nutritional deficiencies increased the risk of members of the public to diseases like Covid-19 which affects those with weaker immune systems. “When nutrition is ignored during emergencies like Covid-19, cases of malnutrition may shoot especially in children and thereby compromise their immune systems. There is also an issue of micro nutrient deficiency experienced even in adults which tend to compromise their well-being,” he said.
According to WHO, deteriorating infant and young child feeding practices due to reduced household food access will be a likely result.
“There is need to identify essential supplies for core nutrition services and include them in the Covid-19 response plans. Policy makers should also ensure there is supplementation of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) for pregnant mothers and also consider multiple micronutrient supplementation in food insecure areas and promote Vitamin A supplementation for children using health facilities,” said WHO in a statement. – Chronicle
Farai Dziva|Popular Masvingo based preacher, Isaac Makomichi has described MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa as a “meek and gentle leader who inherited the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s noble heart.”
Makomichi, the leader of Calvary Prayer Group, wrote a statement on the late Father Zimbabwe’s legacy.
Read Makomichi’s statement below: You cannot separate politics from spiritual matters.
In the bible the Kings of Israel sought advice from prophets.The same is still happening today.
Joshua Nkomo was a man with a noble heart and we remember the day he passed on – although he is gone, nobody can extinguish is legacy.
We shall forever cherish his remarkable achievements.
However, we thank God because we have another gentle leader of this generation.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa has inherited Joshua Nkomo’s noble heart.While it looks like Mwonzora inherited Judas Iscariot’s heart.
The young man has the grace to lead, I will rename him Nelson Joshua Chamisa.
Farai Dziva|Popular Masvingo based preacher, Isaac Makomichi has described MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa as a “meek and gentle leader who inherited the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s noble heart.”
Makomichi, the leader of Calvary Prayer Group, wrote a statement on the late Father Zimbabwe’s legacy.
Read Makomichi’s statement below: You cannot separate politics from spiritual matters.
In the bible the Kings of Israel sought advice from prophets.The same is still happening today.
Joshua Nkomo was a man with a noble heart and we remember the day he passed on – although he is gone, nobody can extinguish is legacy.
We shall forever cherish his remarkable achievements.
However, we thank God because we have another gentle leader of this generation.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa has inherited Joshua Nkomo’s noble heart.While it looks like Mwonzora inherited Judas Iscariot’s heart.
The young man has the grace to lead, I will rename him Nelson Joshua Chamisa.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) has urged a its members to withdraw all the services they have been rendering to the government saying they are incapacitated.
The association accused the government of lacking the will to address the issues affecting health caregivers in the country. In a memo to its members, Zina said:
“Having discussed this with the association’s executive, we hereby call upon every nurse in Zimbabwe, from those working at a rural clinic in the most remote parts of the country all the way up to those working at the central hospitals to immediately do the following:
For those who have not been going to work, continue withholding your labour. To those who have been subsidising our employer by going to work, mostly because you may have an alternative source of income, we call upon you to reconsider this and withdraw your labour as well.”
The memo added that the new auction system introduced by the Reserverve Bank of Zimbabwe suggests that for every US$100, a person would legally get $5 730 but in reality, the majority of workers are being far less than that.
Workers have been engaging the government to have the value of their salaries restored to what they were earning in 2018 before the introduction of the real-time gross settlement (rtgs) dollar-NewsDay
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) has urged a its members to withdraw all the services they have been rendering to the government saying they are incapacitated.
The association accused the government of lacking the will to address the issues affecting health caregivers in the country. In a memo to its members, Zina said:
“Having discussed this with the association’s executive, we hereby call upon every nurse in Zimbabwe, from those working at a rural clinic in the most remote parts of the country all the way up to those working at the central hospitals to immediately do the following:
For those who have not been going to work, continue withholding your labour. To those who have been subsidising our employer by going to work, mostly because you may have an alternative source of income, we call upon you to reconsider this and withdraw your labour as well.”
The memo added that the new auction system introduced by the Reserverve Bank of Zimbabwe suggests that for every US$100, a person would legally get $5 730 but in reality, the majority of workers are being far less than that.
Workers have been engaging the government to have the value of their salaries restored to what they were earning in 2018 before the introduction of the real-time gross settlement (rtgs) dollar-NewsDay
The Ministry of Health and Child Care announced in a statement published on the 30th of June that one of the local cases is a contact to a known confirmed case adding that investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the other two cases.
Eleven (11) new recoveries were reported by the following provinces: Mashonaland East (3) Mashonaland Central (2), Bulawayo (2), Matabeleland North (2), Mashonaland West (1) and Manicaland (1) bringing the total to 162.
Today 310 RDT screening tests and 340 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 67 755 (37 044 RDT and 30 711 RCN.
To date the total number of confirmed cases is 591; recovered 162, active cases 422 and 7 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020-Ministry Of Health and Child Care
The Ministry of Health and Child Care announced in a statement published on the 30th of June that one of the local cases is a contact to a known confirmed case adding that investigations are underway to establish the source of infection for the other two cases.
Eleven (11) new recoveries were reported by the following provinces: Mashonaland East (3) Mashonaland Central (2), Bulawayo (2), Matabeleland North (2), Mashonaland West (1) and Manicaland (1) bringing the total to 162.
Today 310 RDT screening tests and 340 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 67 755 (37 044 RDT and 30 711 RCN.
To date the total number of confirmed cases is 591; recovered 162, active cases 422 and 7 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020-Ministry Of Health and Child Care
ZANU PF Secretary for Commissariat Victor Matemadanda has disowned a Twitter account in his name, which he claims was engineered by his enemies bent on tarnishing his emerge.
This follows a message circulating on social media purportedly posted by Matemadanda where he is threatening to deal with those who try to create two centres of power within the ruling party.
According to the twitter handle, he said a leader is elected by the congress not those who are power hungry trying to dethrone the President unconstitutionally.
We won't hesitate to deal with those who try to create two centres of power within the ruling party. I stand firm with President Cde Emmerson D Mnangagwa. A leader is elected by the congress not those who are power hungry trying to dethrone our president unconstitutionally .
— Senator Mabel .M Chinomona (@Cde_MMChinomona) June 30, 2020
Matemadanda said he did not have a Twitter account.
“I do not have a twitter account. Let it be known that Matemadanda does not have a twitter account. The twitter account is a creation of my enemies who are trying to destabilise the party and soil my name,” he said.
He said those behind the fake Twitter handle were shameless impostors bent on soiling his image for cheap political gain.
He added that no amount of smearing will break Zanu PF party.
EPWORTH Councillors who campaigned under the MDC Alliance have abandoned the party and moved to join MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe, Zim Morning Post can report.
Musa Mabika a leader in the MDC Alliance Epworth Branch said the three councillors Batanai Masunda, Gift July and Joshua Chinonyengerwa had abandoned the Chamisa led camp.
“Masunda, July and Joshua abandoned the party and as Epworth district we are pushing to have them recalled then we field our own loyal councillors who understand the people’s project and are willing to stand with our party leader,” Mabika said.
Masunda is the current Chairperson of Epworth Local Board and is a former spokesperson of the party’s Youth Assembly in Harare Province.
MDC Alliance has been controlling the Epworth Local Board after five of its councillors won the 2018 local authority elections.
The development, however, contradicts a statement issued earlier by Masunda in which he had openly vowed to stand with Chamisa.
“Epworth MDC Alliance councillors are fully behind President Advocate Nelson Chamisa despite the Supreme Court ruling,” reads the statement.
“MDC Alliance had its Congress in Gweru 2019 and Nelson Chamisa was unanimously elected President of the party. We are not even moved by the ruling as it has been overtaken by events. We contested 2018 polls under MDC Alliance and held MDC Alliance Congress in 2019 and no-one challenged the outcome of our Congress,” said Masunda in a press statement in April.
Jacob Mafume, MDC Alliance Deputy Secretary for Local Government claimed ignorance of the move when reached for comment.
Mafume said his office is yet to get confirmation letter by the said councillors.
“I have not received formal communication on that,” Mafume said.
He further said the Thokozani Khupe faction has been promising some councillors and MPs with positions whilst threatening to fire some those who do not deflect.
There have been reports that the MDC-T will this month recall councillors that have not endorsed the Supreme Court ruling.
Breaking News: MDC-T has approached the court demanding that the 2.6 million votes MDC Alliance @nelsonchamisa got in 2018 be declared Khupe's. They argue that the people thought they were voting for MDC-T so the votes are institutional. ZANU PF has supported the application!
— Pedzisai Ruhanya (@PedzisaiRuhanya) July 1, 2020
Air Zimbabwe has finally issued a statement on the jet that developed a fault midair from Thailand.
The National Carrier says the aircraft which declared emergency shortly after take off from Bangkok, Thailand, developed left engine fault. 17 crew and 2 passengers landed back safely at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The plane was running a special repatriation service for SA and Zim citizens.
Thokozani Khupe continues to destroy the MDC Alliance representation in parliament recalling eight Senators this Wednesday.
Announcing the dismissal of the eight Senators this Wednesday; President of the Senate, Mabel Chinomona said once a member has been recalled by the mother party, he or she ceases to do business in the August House.
Parliamentarians who were shown the exit door are Cresencia Chabuka, Spiwe Ncube, Phyllis Ndlovu, Hebert Sinamupande, Gideon Shoko, Mellina Pfuti, Helen Zivira and Tapfumaneyi Wunganai.
Last month, MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora recalled 13 MDC Alliance legislators from Parliament.
Speaker of National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, announced the recalling of the MDC legislators who included Amos Chibaya Mkoba, Gweru, Happymore Chidziva Highfield, Harare, Basilia Majaya, Mutarairwa Mugido, Virginia Muradzikwa, Anna Muyambo, Francesica Ncube, Nomathemba Ndlovu and Murisi Zvidzai, Harare Central.
Announcing the dismissal of the nine MDC Alliance legislators from parliament, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda said they were recalled by their party after MDC-T Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora wrote to him.
The legislators and senators are being recalled by the MDC-T after a landmark Supreme Court ruling on Nelson Chamisa’s illegitimacy as the leader of the opposition party.
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum and the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe Joint Statement on the assault on media freedoms and termination of the Forum’s radio show on ending torture and impunity in Zimbabwe on 25 June 2020 1 July 2020.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) and the Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) are concerned with media reports to the effect that the station manager for Capitalk FM Radio has been suspended on allegations of approving an ‘unbalanced’ radio programme that the Forum sponsored at the station on the 25th of June.
Capitalk FM is owned by Zimbabwe Newspapers Limited (Zimpapers), a state controlled mass media company.
The Forum hosted a radio programme to discuss the state of affairs in respect of torture in the country as part of commemorations of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, a day marked worldwide on 26 June annually.
Among the strategic objectives of the commemorations, the Forum intended to utilize the radio program to zero in on the prevalent cases of torture in Zimbabwe, and to call for the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Ms. Jestina Mukoko, the current Chairperson of the Forum, Mr. Wellington Nkau the National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) thematic leader on survivors and the Directors of the Forum’s members Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) and Counselling Services Unit, Mr. Dzikamai Bere and Dr. Frances Lovemore, respectively, were the panellists.
The panellists were in various locations and were live on-air via telephone. The program was however disrupted in unclear circumstances.
Being a sponsored program, we anticipated an immediate explanation from the station on the reasons for the termination of broadcasting services midway the program, but this did not happen.
The only other development pertaining this matter has been the media reports of the suspension of the station manager Mrs Nyaradzo Makombe-Hazangwi on account of the aborted show.
In the same reports, Zimpapers CEO Mr. Pikirayi Deketeke is reported to have explained the suspension on the basis that the program lacked balance and that “allegations were being made without the other side being given an opportunity to defend themselves”.
The Forum places on record that this was a sponsored show, in which the Forum decided on the panellists.
The show was discussing a topical human rights issue whose prevalence is a matter of public record.
Torture is a crime in terms of both national and international law, there is no debate to that. In the case of Jestina Mukoko, a torture survivor, the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe made a finding that the State violated her rights through its agents responsible for abducting and torturing her for weeks, and she was awarded damages.
That account has long ceased to be allegations. Other panellists spoke of the policy aspects of torture, and the psychological impact of torture.
Nothing unlawful or defamatory was said against anyone during the show. If such was said, the aggrieved reserves the right to either use media self-regulatory mechanisms or to approach the courts for appropriate relief.
It is against this background that The Forum and MAZ are disturbed by this reported suspension of the station manager. MAZ and The Forum view this as an attack on media freedoms and editorial independence, in violation of section 61 of the Constitution.
The Constitution guarantees the right to information, journalistic freedoms and free expression.
The worrisome trend of the purging of journalists and media practitioners has become a threat to the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media.
The Forum and MAZ take note of similar events in 2018 leading to the purging of the then station manager of the same station, over a programme whose content the controllers of the station were reportedly uncomfortable with.
The Forum and MAZ believe that the suspension of Mrs. Makombe-Hazangwi is an ill-conceived tool to instil fear among media practitioners serving at State-controlled media organisations to the detriment of objective journalism.
This conduct towards media practitioners is a danger to our democracy, as it has the potential to silence both citizens and media practitioners from engaging on issues affecting the country. MAZ and the Forum thus reminds the government of its responsibilities to protect journalists from persecution and reiterates its calls for media freedoms and an end to media censorship.
Media houses and government alike, are duty-bound to abide by constitutional dictates. There must be room for professionalism, tolerance and respect for divergent views.
The Zimbabwean government should bear in mind the importance of media in a democratic society based on openness, justice, human dignity, equality and freedom.
MAZ and the Forum further call for the immediate uplifting of the suspension of Mrs. Makombe-Hazangwi.
Joshua Nkomo, perhaps like many great men and women before him saw a dream for Zimbabwe, one that would have seen the country cross over from colonialism to the proverbial Jordan. Born in 1917 he dedicated his whole life to the freeing of our country, suffering greatly for a vision meant to benefit all.
Not only did Zimbabwe despise the vision that Joshua Nkomo espoused, but those who took over from the colonial meted out the most horrendous persecution on him. The ill-treatment he received from the new black rulers even exceeding than he had experienced under the white minority rule. This extended to the numerous attempts on Nkomo’s life with the overt government instigated “hunt down and kill” order that was put out in the period 1982 to 1987 that led to his fleeing to exile in fear for his life.
Unable to catch and decapitate the “cobra” the Zanu government went on a most murderous orgy of a genocide intended to eliminate all perceived Nkomo supporters. The barbarity of the murders matched or possibly surpassed any that had been witnessed in history and since. It is hard to listen to accounts of how the people met their ends without one feeling extremely emotional or breaking down!
Many opportunities were missed and lost to our collective blindness to what was good for our country. People followed the politics of greed and became blind to and forgot to search for what was right and good for the country. Zimbabwe indeed sowed a wind and is now reaping a whirlwind!
We missed out on nation building which was supposed to be the first port of call in 1980. Instead, and against what Nkomo believed and taught, the country went on a slippery and toxic tribal road that grew worse to the intolerable levels that exist today. The trauma of the scourge will be with us for a long time; our country is polarised and has no hope of an immediate closing of the divide. Every passing day the gap between tribes expands as we continue to give power to national and African struggle delinquents who use tribalism and racism as political capital, alienating people and sowing divisions among the people who should be one. In the process, the masses, who today wallow in abject poverty, are denied basic rights and social services, with such crumbs as are to be had being doled out mainly using tribe and political allegiance.
We missed out on an orderly land reform as espoused in Joshua Nkomos broad manifesto in the plan for orderly conflict resolution and peaceful coexistence. Instead, land was used as a tool of political expediency in 2000 by pretenders whose popularity and influence on the political stage was waning. In the process, only faces and colour and political connectedness became the criteria for redistribution of looted land. Landlessness of the peasant was indeed greatly exacerbated. Fertile land has been turned barren by incompetent users who did not have the skills to properly utilise their loot.
A lot of indigenous people, especially in the southern half of the country, were displaced by the new land looters and are living either outside the country or in crowded communal areas with infertile and unproductive soils and no pastures. This is not the land reform Joshua Nkomo envisaged. His was an agenda to build communities even where they did not exist, inculcating the spirit of coexistence and interdependence between commercial farm holders and the majority landless citizens, and an encouragement of skills transfer and sharing between the original commercial farmers and their new neighbours. According to the late ZAPU President, no Zimbabwean would be dispossessed but a formula would be worked out for equitable redistribution of the land to benefit all.
The country missed out on a sustainable economic development agenda by Nkomo, which could have seen the Southern African country competing with developed economies around the globe and able to adequately cater for its entire people. He taught us all about sustainable economic production as well as sound economic policies. The teachings we thrown out of the window as sound economic sense took second position to political dogma and allegiance by a party of individuals with no clear ideology but hell-bent only on amassing personal wealth and holding onto political and state power at whatever cost.
The disdain and despising of anything Nkomo stood for continues today. There have been some lately attempts to downplay Nkomo’s stature by attempting to minimise some of his efforts and ascribe his achievements to Zanu, something so easy to see through as it is not in the ruling party’s character to do anything that benefits the country but themselves. This has been seen in all that Zanu has done since inception in 1963. The marks are all over that Zanu midgets have forever felt dwarfed and shadowed by Nkomos huge legacy before and after his death.
The pretenders are now incentivising attacks on the legacy of the giant after they have successfully sabotaged all his programs and national initiatives, from the canning factory in Collen Bawn, Nuanetsi Ranching project, Agricultural mechanisation initiative in Matebeleland North to the Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo. This is over and above the decimation of his party in an operation that spanned five years from 1983 to 1987, which in result became a genocide crime against predominantly Ndebele speaking people of Midlands and Matebeleland.
As we commemorate the departure of the great man who, like every other, was despised by his own, we take solace in the fact that what he stood for makes the ideology of Zimbabwe African Peoples Union, which eventually, at his instruction to Joseph Msika, Themjiwe Lesabe, Dumiso Dabengwa, ZPRA leadership and many others, pulled out of the failed and now defunct 1987 Unity Accord in a process that started in December 2008 and ended by the inaugural congress after revival in 2010. It is a process Joshua Nkomo could have loved to have participated in as his heart had visibly been broken when he signed the forced Unity Accord which he knew would yield nothing for Zimbabwe.
With the structures, programs and ideology of ZAPU now revived and progressing as was envisioned by its founding leader, we rest assured that Joshua Nkomo’s dream, which was deferred will finally be realised. His dream was and will never be lost, but parked for a while as the terrain for such vision became increasingly more hostile. We who follow in his footsteps will retrace to his principles and ideas, remember his teachings and finish the job he started. against it until Zimbabwe becomes the nation our father envisaged when he led a long struggle against racial inequality that prevailed from 1890 to 1980. On the foundation he laid, we will use bricks of his instructions, vision, mission and broad ideological concept to build a nation where all are equal, free and are treated with fairness in utmost justice.
Today as we commemorate the day the nations father left the stage, let us all revisit all his teachings, instructions and advice and build our country as according to his statutes, for he is the light that should shine our path to a prosperous country. Let us undertake to put aside our pride and suppress our empty egos, do what is right for the generality of our people and good for the future generations. Let us build a nation out of this country by fighting and eliminating tribalism, inequality, corruption, looting, often practiced by a small circle of criminals disguised as government.
In a move set to shake Speaker Of parliament Jacob Mudenda, MDC Alliance has appointed a new leader of the opposition and chief whip in Parliament after the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe recently recalled the MDC Alliance legislators.
In a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, the party said:
RE: Opposition Leadership in Parliament
Please be advised that our party, the MDC Alliance has appointed the following members as the party, Leadership in Parliament
1. Hon Lynette Karenyi
Acting leader of opposition in Parliament
2. Hon Erick Murai
Acting Chief Whip; Lower House
3. Hon Jasmine Toffa
Acting Deputy Chief Whip: Lower house
May you kindly facilitate their assumption of duty in terms of the rules.
THE trial of former cabinet minister Prisca Mupfumira has kicked off at the Harare Magistrates court this Wednesday with both Mupfumira and her then Permanent Secretary, Ngoni Masoka pleading not guilty to all three counts. The duo is being charged for two counts of criminal abuse of office as public officers and one of concealing a transaction.
Mupfumira becomes the second of former President Robert Mugabe’s ministers to be tried in recent days. Former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge was last week sent to prison for two years on similar charges. Will Mupfumira join her former cabinet colleague in prison at the end of the trial?
I really understand what it means to be a mother,especially during difficult times like we are experiencing under this Covid-19 pandemic.
A lot of livelihoods have been lost and our living standards as women are heavily inclined towards small businesses such as vending, hence the most affected.
This project of fish farming are non-partisan and all these projects I have set up countrywide are meant to benefit everyone.
All women are special regardless of colour,race, religion,political affiliation,social or marital status.
We need one another ,especially now ,more than any other time.I believe that once we empower women, like we did yesterday, the empowered women will go on to empower other women and the empowerment train continues non-stop until all women are empowered regardless of their social standing in society.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. But teach a man to catch fish and you feed him for a lifetime
File picture of the aged Air Zimbabwe flight UM462
Information just received indicates that Air Zimbabwe flight UM462 was Wednesday morning involved in a mid-air scare on its way from Bangkok, Thailand carrying a yet to be established number of repatriated Zimbabweans who were affected by the COVID-19.
According to the reports, the flight made a distress call and declared an emergency an hour and 26 minutes after flying from the Thailand capital.
The plane later safely landed back at the airport after making a roundabout turn.
The old aircraft was flying the Bangkok-Islamabad-Johannesburg route.
The airline is yet to make an official statement on the incident.
The plane is being used to carry stranded Zimbabweans dotted around the world back home in light of the COVID-19.
The same plane made a major scare last year when it experienced a malfunction in one of its engines that resulted in a tailpipe fire over OR Tambo airport in South Africa On departure to Harare.
The incident occurred just minutes after the Boeing 767-200ER aircraft took-off from the OR Tambo International Airport at Kempton Park. The aeroplane eventually landed safely at the Harare International Airport in Zimbabwe.
“The flight crew informed air traffic control that the technical malfunction related to a left engine surge, however after completing the emergency checklist, the flight crew subsequently reported the fault had cleared and they had normal operation and indicated their intention to continue with the flight to Harare. They did so successfully and the aircraft landed safely in Harare at approximately 20:30,” the South African Civil Aviation Authority reported after the scare.
Despite the successful landing of the plane, the AIID team had started engaging the airline as well as their counterparts at the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe in an effort to gather additional information.
Air Zimbabwe officials based at the R.G Mugabe International Airport in Harare later issued a brief statement relating to the incident.
“The malfunction did not threaten the continuation of the flight and the safety of crew and passengers on board and it landed safely in Harare at 20:35 hours. Our engineers have commenced the requisite investigations and a report will be issued in due course,” Air Zimbabwe said in a statement attributed to “management”.
Epraim Mutombeni, the Director of Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development
A ZIMBABWEAN court on Tuesday 30 June 2020 condemned Epraim Mutombeni, the Director of Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRD), a local non-governmental organisation, to prison after he was arrested Sunday 28 June 2020 and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mutombeni aged 28 years was denied bail by Magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu, who ruled that the MACRAD leader is a flight risk and could escape from standing trial.
Mutombeni, who is represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) had applied for his release on bail after he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members on Sunday 28 June 2020 and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa as defined in section 33(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors alleged that Mutombeni faulted President Mnangagwa during an address to some commuters, who were queuing and waiting to board a ZUPCO bus, for presiding over Zimbabwe’s agonising economic crisis and demanding that the ZANU PF party leader resigns.
Mutombeni is alleged to have uttered the words; “Murikuona kumira kwamakaita pa queue imhosva ya President E.D Mnangagwa arikukwidza ma prices e fuel achiba mari nevana vake. E.D must go,” which if loosely translated means; “You are suffering as a result of President Mnangagwa’s poor leadership and corruption committed by himself and his children and his failure to stem fuel price hikes and he should resign.”
ZRP members also arrested freelance journalist Godfrey Mtimba and charged him with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa before releasing him into the custody of his lawyer Phillip Shumba of Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zimbabwe Chapter. ZRP members said they will summon Mtimba to appear in court this week.
Mutombeni and Mtimba are the latest persons to be arrested and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa.
In Harare, Magistrate Barbra Mateko on Tuesday set free pro-democracy campaigner Makomborero Haruzivishe on RTGS$1 000 bail after he was arrested on Monday 29 June 2020 by ZRP members and charged with committing public violence for allegedly participating in an anti-government protest against hunger and abuse of financial resources by President Mnangagwa’s administration.
Haruzivishe, who was represented by Gift Mtisi of ZLHR, was charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and for contravening section 5(3) (a) as read with section 5(1) of Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 of Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020.
Prosecutors charged that Haruzivishe participated in an illegal demonstration held on 13 May in Warren Park 1 suburb in which opposition MDC-Alliance party supporters allegedly staged a flash protest against abuse of financial resources and the extension of a government enforced national lockdown by President Mnangagwa.
During the demonstration, prosecutors argued, that Haruzivishe and some protestors reportedly carried a placard inscribed “Unlock Us Before We Revolt”. Haruzivishe becomes the latest person to be arrested and charged for allegedly participating in the flash protest, which has already seen the prosecution of Harare West legislator Hon. Joanah Mamombe and several MDC-Alliance party youth leaders including Obey Tererai Sithole, Cecelia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova, Lovejoy Chitengu and Stanley Manyenga.
Earlier on, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe leader Obert Masaraure was on Saturday set free on RTGS$500 bail after he was arrested by ZRP members on Friday and charged with participating in an anti-government protest held on Monday last week in which teachers allegedly demonstrated against poor salaries working conditions.
Masaraure, who was represented by Mureri and Tonderai Bhatasara of ZLHR, was charged with contravening section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and accused of leading an unlawful protest together with 48 other people in which teachers demanded to be paid US$520 in monthly salaries.
The leader of the opposition MDC-T has recalled more MDC Alliance senators in a move viewed as a strategy to instil loyalty from legislators.
The recalled Senators are:
Gideon Shoko,
Helen Zviviri,
Sphiwe Ncube,
Tapfumanei Muzoda,
Meliwe Phuti,
Phylis Ndlovu,
Herbert Sinampande,
Kerencia Chabuka.
The MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa accused Khupe of being used by the ruling ZANU PF to continue the “onslaught” on the party.
Meanwhile, some of the recalled legislators and councillors have remained defiant and continued to support Chamisa while some have defected to the Khupe faction.
Khupe is recalling the MDC Alliance legislators and councillors arguing that they have defected from the MDC-T the “party they were representing in the 2018 elections,” therefore, they have to be recalled.
Meanwhile, MDC Alliance says it a standalone party that contested in the 2018 elections, therefore, Khupe’s actions are illegal and uncalled for.
The courts are seized with the matter to determine whether the MDC Alliance is a party or not with two rulings on the matter so far contradicting.
It is also important to note that MDC Alliance, an amalgamation of 7 opposition parties, was formed as an electoral coalition in 2017 to dislodge the ruling ZANU PF from power.
Energy sector regulator, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) said on Wednesday fuel prices remain unchanged this week despite the local currency depreciating by 11 percent against the United States dollar.
Fuel prices shot up by a massive 150 percent last week after the Zimbabwe dollar, previously pegged at $25 per greenback, plunged to $53.36 after it was allowed to freely float.
And with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announcing it would hold weekly auctions during which the rate of the local currency would be determined, Zera in response said fuel prices would also be reviewed every week, a practise the energy regulator had dumped after an outcry on the instability it caused in the market.
On Tuesday, the Zimbabwe dollar depreciated by a further 11 percent to $63.74 to the US dollar, leading the market to anticipate an adjustment in fuel prices.
But Zera said last week’s prices would be maintained.
“Please be advised that fuel prices effective Wednesday 1 July, 2020 have not changed and remain as follows until further notice,” the regulator said.
Diesel remains at US$1.09 or alternatively $62.77 per litre while petrol costs US$1.28 or $71.62 per litre.
“Operators may however sell at prices below the cap depending on their trading advantages,” Zera said.
Last week’s price review resulted in a slight improvement in fuel availability as long winding queues that characterised service stations, became a bit shorter.
The commodity, however, largely remains in short supply.
The nation has experienced biting fuel shortages over the last few years blamed on unavailability of foreign currency for imports, and at times unviable pricing resulting in the commodity largely being sold on the more lucrative black market.
Under-fire Barcelona coach Quique Setien oversaw yet another draw in LaLiga which handed table toppers Real Madrid a huge advantage in the title race, a scenario which evidently puts more pressure on him.
The defending champions were held 2-2 by Atletico Madrid in a drama-filled clash at Camp Nou, which saw Diego Costa netting an own goal to open the scoring, then the awarding of three penalties thereafter, one of them scored by Lionel Messi- his 700th career goal.
Barca now trail Real Madrid by one point, meaning Zinedine Zidane’s men can go four points clear at the top if they beat Getafe tomorrow.
Setien did however put on a brave face after the game and insisted he does not feel the heat, though he admitted his team is struggling.
“I don’t feel at all under threat,”’he said, as cited by Marca.
”It’s a shame, we’re having more and more difficulties. Leaving these points behind means we’re moving further away from the title. But we have to keep working,” he added-Soccer 24
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the 2020 Awards will not be held due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The awards ceremony, which was expected to take place in January, would have honoured outstanding African players in the year 2020.
But following the disruption of the season and postponement of international games, the football body’s Executive Committee agreed to cancel this year’s edition. The decision was made at a meeting, held via video conference on Tuesday.
CAF has allocated an additional US$ 16.2 Million to assist Member Associations to mitigate challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Member Associations will be entitled to USD 300,000- Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|Legendary former Warriors coach Sunday ‘Mhofu’ Chidzambwa believes the postponement of the African Cup of Nations finals will not in any way affect the national team’s performance.
CAF announced yesterday that AFCON 2021 has been moved to January 2022 due to the effects of the Covid-19 crisis but Chidzambwa, the first ever coach to take the Warriors to AFCON and the only one to do so twice, insists this won’t be a setback.
“The advantage is that the team has been together for quite some time, it must be three years now, and they really understand each other well,’’ said Chidzambwa. Age is still on the side for many of our players,” Chidzambwa told The Herald.
“If you look at the majority of the players, now, their average age is 25.The captain (Knowledge Musona), turned 30 last month so he will turning 32 that year (2022).”
“I believe that even if the team regroups, more than a year after their last match, which was the qualifier against Zambia, the players will be able to do well,” said Chidzambwa.
“Every national team has been affected by the lockdown and that means no one has an advantage over the other. So, there is no need to panic or to think that, maybe, we will fail to qualify for the next AFCON.’’ added the retired coach.
To cover up for the shambolic management of June Exams and MoPSE and Zimsec unpreparedness, Zimsec has with effect from today instituted the signing of Official Secrets Act.
It’s sad that Zimsec which in essence has no contract with teachers as a parastatal is trying to enforce a conspiracy of misinformation with impunity.
We remind teachers who have thrown their health, safety and welfare to the wind by salivating at the poisoned invigilation carrot, to demand an invigilation contract.
That contract must not only ensure that Zimsec pays them for invigilation of June exams but also make Zimsec liable for prosecution and payment of compensation for any effects during and after the invigilation of exams.
We also urge teachers to consider their health, safety and welfare first rather than allow Zimsec and MoPSE to trample over these key issues of life and death.
The Confederation of African Football has moved the biennial tournament to January 2022, while cancelling the African Women’s Cup of Nations.
The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) has been postponed by 12 months, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) confirmed in their Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday.
The 33rd edition of the biennial tournament was due to begin in Cameroon on January 9, 2021, but has now been pushed back to January 2022 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic across the continent.
“After consultation with stakeholders and taking into consideration the current global situation, the tournament has been rescheduled for January 2022,” Caf confirmed in a statement .
“The date for the final tournament and the remaining matches of the qualifiers will be communicated in due course.”-Goal
By Hon Job Wiwa Sikhala: MDC Alliance National Vice Chairman.
Dear Zimbabweans,
If we all remember some days ago the ZANU PF regime through Kazembe Kazembe, issued lies packaged as security and intelligence alert to the nation about the spread of a coup rumour. In those lies, he specifically mentioned myself, Talent Chiwenga, ZimEye, Saviour Kasukuwere, civic society organizations and some Prophet in the United States of America whose name I don’t remember, as culprits. A few days ago Oppah Muchinguri, told Parliament of Zimbabwe that the government is going to arrest all those persons who were mentioned in the lies. Let me set the record straight from the onset, to Oppah Muchinguri, please bring it on. I am not afraid of the threats because this country cannot be governed on the basis of lies and manufacturing of falsehoods against those who are standing against the evils of your government because this country does not belong to anyone’s mother.
I am briefed that the threat by Oppah Muchinguri is targeting at arresting me and Apostle Talent Chiwenga as soon as possible. The brief I received which is quite detailed, says, sooner rather than later after our arrest, journalist Hopewell Chin’ono will also be immediately nabbed. Among the institutions and individuals they targeted during their Press Conference, it is only myself and Apostle Talent Chiwenga who are in Zimbabwe. As a clampdown operation all those whom they target for persecution will be nabbed and thrown into jail, thus including silencing Hopewell Chin’ono. I gather that they are all aware that Saviour Kasukuwere is exiled somewhere, the operator of ZimEye operates from UK, hence the only ones in Zimbabwe is Job Sikhala and Apostle Talent Chiwenga. So all that noise and threats is all about the appetite by the regime to come and have their hands on me and Apostle Chiwenga.
Let me be unequivocal. I will not tolerate any persecution on my person anymore. Don’t dare again. Like their threat to come and invade my home on the 29th of February 2020 which turned into a nightmare, I have mobilised the entire population to trigger a revolution in the event of carrying out their threat. I am a practical man. I will never be persecuted because of my resolute stance against this evil regime. My Masvingo Treason trial will be a pick nick. This time the wave will be unstoppable. I don’t make empty threats. I am not that character. I also urge Apostle Chiwenga to activate his constituency. It’s a do or die situation. We deserve our piece and happiness. These idiots can not just create a lie to justify their evil intentions against certain persons. This is my country. I have every right like any other citizen to express myself on the deficit on how our public affairs are conducted. Inga you have deployed 24 hours surveillance on me and you have noticed I have never been intimidated to the dot.
Idiots governing our country should take responsibility for their failures. Trying to use other people as scapegoats is dangerous to its very survival. I have obtained detailed information about all your intentions Oppah Muchinguri. Bring it on.
Baseless allegations by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mouthpiece, George Charamba that MDC Alliance is the root cause of the current economic woes stalking our country must never go unchallenged.
Like the proverbial bad carpenter, Charamba blames the opposition for the country’s economic misfortunes while at the same time absolving Mnangagwa and the looting cabal.
In a blanket of mind boggling rants making rounds in the media, Charamba exhibits pathological lies typical of ZANU PF supporters.
Contrary to what he terms ‘implosive MDC politics’, there is no implosion in the MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa.
The only political party implosions we are witnessing at the moment are happening in Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF.
It is in ZANU PF where manifestations of implosion have led to the expulsion and suspension of Killer Zivhu and Energy Mutodi respectively.
Is it not common sense that a party whose health minister is in courts over corruption scandals signifies implosion of greatest magnitude.
When a whole Minister of Defence hold a presser just to dismiss coup rumours then it speaks volumes of the trouble in paradise!
It is in ZANU PF where the centre no longer hold and that has ripple effects on the economic.
The stinking levels of corruption by ZANU PF officials and wanton disregard of basic human rights breeds lack of confidence from investors.
Charamba must stop behaving like a village drunkard who after imbibing in kachasu would go around blaming everyone in the neighborhood for his family troubles.
Is it not a public secret that corruption and all the socio-economic ills we are facing are just symptoms of illegitimacy and leadership failure by Charamba’s boss?
It is very unfortunate that direct beneficiaries of a corrupt system like Charamba will never tell Mnangagwa the truth that he has failed and must resign.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Farai Dziva|Popular Masvingo based preacher, Isaac Makomichi has described MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa as a “meek and gentle leader who inherited the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s noble heart.”
Makomichi, the leader of Calvary Prayer Group, wrote a statement on the late Father Zimbabwe’s legacy.
Read Makomichi’s statement below: You cannot separate politics from spiritual matters.
In the bible the Kings of Israel sought advice from prophets.The same is still happening today.
Joshua Nkomo was a man with a noble heart and we remember the day he passed on – although he is gone, nobody can extinguish is legacy.
We shall forever cherish his remarkable achievements.
However, we thank God because we have another gentle leader of this generation.
Advocate Nelson Chamisa has inherited Joshua Nkomo’s noble heart.While it looks like Mwonzora inherited Judas Iscariot’s heart.
The young man has the grace to lead, I will rename him Nelson Joshua Chamisa.
Farai Dziva|Pressure groups in Masvingo have called for the immediate release of detained human rights activist, Ephraim Mutombeni.
Mutombeni was remanded in custody to July 13.He is accused of undermining the authority of the President.
Below is a joint statement written by pressure groups in Masvingo :
MACRAD director Epraim Mutombeni was arrested on Sunday(28/05/50) this after subsequent days of being trailed by suspected state security agents driving a Toyota Fortuner without number plates
Mr Epraim Mutombeni was yesterday (30/06/20) remanded by Masvingo Magistrate’s court in custody to 13 July 2020 after being denied bail .
He is being accused of contravening Section 33 (2) (a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act clearly these are trumped up charges.
An appeal to the Masvingo High court has been filed this morning to secure Ephraim Mutombeni’s release and he is being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights .
As MACRAD’s director Mutombeni has been a vocal critic around indigenous people’s land rights in Masvingo Zimbabwe and most recently has been campaigning against the impending forced evictions of the Shangaan people in Chilonga and Masivamele under Chiredzi District to pave way for grass farming under an investor with strong political links identified as Dendiary Pvt Ltd . MACRAD recently produced an inquiry report in to the happeningsaround these evictions which has generated interest from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission of note is the fact that our director was arrested under frivolous charges on the eve of a crucial meeting with a powerful delegation from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission led by the Commission’s Chairperson Commissioner E Mugwadi.
Moreover we are convinced that this arrest is not isolated and has everything to do with our work with the Shangaan people of Chiredzi in campaigning for the stop in their pending evictions which have also caught the eyes of the government of Zimbabwe putting prominent individuals from within our institution under surveillance from the state these arrests are meant to cripple our campaigns but we are convinced even more to continue because the fight for land rights and socio-economic justice is the hall-mark of our work as an institution and we shall continue keeping the state in check.
Mr Mutombeni Just after being detained at Masvingo Central on Sunday 28 June 2020
We hereby demand the immediate release of Mr . Mutombeni and call on the government of Zimbabwe to protect land rights of the Shangaan People in Chiredzi whilst desisting from stifling civil society actors.
Farai Dziva|Popular MDC Alliance activist Trynos Chinyoka is no more.
According to MDC Alliance, Chinyoka was a dedicated party cadre.
See full statement below:
The MDC Alliance Ccc branch Secretary for Ruzengwe in Mberengwa North, Trynos Chinyoka, popularly known as Fetu is no more.
Fetu met his untimely death when he fell in an unprotected shaft/pit at the Chabudapasi gold mine near Yorkes business centre at night 4 days ago and was only found after three days search.
Fetu was a committed and fearless cadre ready to be an agent in any hostile environmentnent. The MDC Alliance has been robbed of a committed and dedicated cadre. He will be buried in the Chinyoka village after Mawerewere village under Chief Mposi tomorrow. We urge all MDC Alliance supporters to turn up in large numbers for the burial to pay our last respect for him.
Our heartfelt condolences to the Chinyoka family and MDC Alliance for such a loss.
We urge the Chabudapasi gold mine to carry out responsible mining that resonate with environmental impact assessment and in particular to fill up disused mine shafts and protect existing mining shafts. We have lost many people and animals at this mine in a similar fashion and such irresponsible mining can never be tolerated in the 21st century. We hold the mine totally responsible for Fetu’s death and hope the mine would pay compensation for the loss of life due to irresponsible and callous mining activity devoid of all regulatory mechanisms that could have abated the loss of life had they been followed.
Go well Fetu, you fought a good battle in your lifetime. Your spirit will continue to water our spirit of liberty until we complete the change.
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou ( Midlands Province Spokesperson)
By A Correspondent- A school principal whose wife attempted to commit suicide because of Covid-19 depression plans to embark on community education campaigns aimed at de-stigmatising people infected by the virus.
Speaking to Sowetan from his Benoni home in Ekurhuleni on Tuesday, the 51-year-old whose name is being withheld to protect their children, battled to save his 48-year-old wife from the flames engulfing her isolation room at their house.
“It was day 11 (June 6) of her being in quarantine at home. After all the support and medication we had given her, we did not realise she was losing it.”
He said his wife woke up that morning at around 4am and went to the kitchen while everybody in the house was still asleep. He and their 17-year-old son woke up to check if she was fine before they went back to bed.
“After a while we realised there was something burning. I ran to her isolation room. It was locked. I broke the door open and found her in flames.
“I immediately took a blanket and tried to put out the fire until my brave eight-year-old child ran to fetch a bucket of water which she emptied on her mum in an attempt to rescue her.”
While waiting for paramedics, the principal said he tried to calm his wife down.
“She was painfully sobbing. She got up and took a heater and held it tight. I ran again and removed it from her. She was hallucinating, my heart broke and I felt so helpless.
“I held her and watched her till the paramedic arrived and rushed her to hospital.”
He said his wife tested positive for the virus two weeks ago after coming back from a meeting at a school in Daveyton where she is a teacher.
“It was on May 26 when she came back sick from work and we thought it was flu. She went to the doctors before she tested positive the next day.”
The principal said the wife did not display any further symptoms of the virus while in isolation.
“She would go for walks in the morning with her mask on around the yard while we cleaned and disinfected her room and sanitised everything in it. She appeared very well although she was panicking about her status.
“I assured her but I was not aware that she was being depressed from receiving messages on social media from friends and colleagues.”
He said she complained about being sent messages that made her feel like she was dying. She also complained about gossip that came from colleagues and friends.
“I am a school principal. I felt the pain seeing the lack of education in our people on the pandemic. It made me realise that there was a great need to address the stigma in our society and for people to understand that words have power to destroy a person,” he said.
He also said he took his wife’s phone and blocked all her social media applications.
“I have a strong character and I can stay positive when faced with difficulties but after looking at her cry, I had to ask myself, ‘how would I react if I tested positive for the virus?’”
He said his wife did not take the news well.
On Monday, doctors confirmed his wife was now negative. “Now we focus on her journey to recovery on her burn wounds,” he said.
A family friend said the principal also went into quarantine and has — together with his children — twice tested negative.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance vice president, Honourable Tendai Biti has said Emmerson Mnangagwa and his “coterie of looters” must resign with immediate effect- to avoid a total implosion of the economy.
“The parallel market rate is now 1:105 .The weighted average of today s auction was 1:63 with US$16m having been sold . Controlled auction is a joke . Only complete dollarisarion will work . Without productivity anything else is scratching the surface and the crisis will exarcabate.
Challenges can never be resolved at the same level they were created,” argued Biti.
” Emmerson and the RBZ officials are authors of the present crisis .In 2008 an auction did not work , nor did closure of Stock market and electronic transfers . The 2008 copy book is a disaster. Economics is not kick and hope.
Mthuli and company have reached a dead end . In a normal country one apologizes and resigns .The economy has tanked .Its on a free fall. An uninterrupted auto cruise to a full blown depression . We can’t await the inevitable implosion . We must manage and control the transition,” added Biti.
Baseless allegations by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mouthpiece, George Charamba that MDC Alliance is the root cause of the current economic woes stalking our country must never go unchallenged.
Like the proverbial bad carpenter, Charamba blames the opposition for the country’s economic misfortunes while at the same time absolving Mnangagwa and the looting cabal.
In a blanket of mind boggling rants making rounds in the media, Charamba exhibits pathological lies typical of ZANU PF supporters.
Contrary to what he terms ‘implosive MDC politics’, there is no implosion in the MDC Alliance led by President Nelson Chamisa.
The only political party implosions we are witnessing at the moment are happening in Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF.
It is in ZANU PF where manifestations of implosion have led to the expulsion and suspension of Killer Zivhu and Energy Mutodi respectively.
Is it not common sense that a party whose health minister is in courts over corruption scandals signifies implosion of greatest magnitude.
When a whole Minister of Defence hold a presser just to dismiss coup rumours then it speaks volumes of the trouble in paradise!
It is in ZANU PF where the centre no longer hold and that has ripple effects on the economic.
The stinking levels of corruption by ZANU PF officials and wanton disregard of basic human rights breeds lack of confidence from investors.
Charamba must stop behaving like a village drunkard who after imbibing in kachasu would go around blaming everyone in the neighborhood for his family troubles.
Is it not a public secret that corruption and all the socio-economic ills we are facing are just symptoms of illegitimacy and leadership failure by Charamba’s boss?
It is very unfortunate that direct beneficiaries of a corrupt system like Charamba will never tell Mnangagwa the truth that he has failed and must resign.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
A self proclaimed prophet from Cowdray Park suburb reportedly persuaded a 14-year-old girl to play with his manhood before sexually attacking her.
A family insider revealed that the unsuspecting minor who suffered abnormal menstrual periods approached the prophet, Phuthumani Moyo (35).
“She was suffering from an STI and experiencing abnormal periods then she approached a prophet for healing,” said a family insider.
The family source went on to say the prophet allegedly hoodwinked the minor to touch his privates while he caressed her breasts.
“Out of desperation the teenager had to play with his manhood and sucked it after she was pressured to. Soon after that the prophet raped her twice without protection,” said a relative.
After that the minor went home and narrated to her cousin what she went through at the prophet’s shrine.
Her cousin was jolted by the strange account prompting her to dash to a police station where she reported the matter.
“I can confirm that we arrested a prophet who raped a 14-year-old girl. We would like to urge members of the public to go in pairs when seeking services of prophets.
We would also like to urge victims of rape to seek medical attention within 72 hours so as to get post-exposure prophylaxis.”
The MDC Alliance Ccc branch Secretary for Ruzengwe in Mberengwa North, Trynos Chinyoka, popularly known as Fetu is no more.
Fetu met his untimely death when he fell in an unprotected shaft/pit at the Chabudapasi gold mine near Yorkes business centre at night 4 days ago and was only found after three days search.
Fetu was a committed and fearless cadre ready to be an agent in any hostile environmentnent. The MDC Alliance has been robbed of a committed and dedicated cadre. He will be buried in the Chinyoka village after Mawerewere village under Chief Mposi tomorrow. We urge all MDC Alliance supporters to turn up in large numbers for the burial to pay our last respect for him.
Our heartfelt condolences to the Chinyoka family and MDC Alliance for such a loss.
We urge the Chabudapasi gold mine to carry out responsible mining that resonate with environmental impact assessment and in particular to fill up disused mine shafts and protect existing mining shafts. We have lost many people and animals at this mine in a similar fashion and such irresponsible mining can never be tolerated in the 21st century. We hold the mine totally responsible for Fetu’s death and hope the mine would pay compensation for the loss of life due to irresponsible and callous mining activity devoid of all regulatory mechanisms that could have abated the loss of life had they been followed.
Go well Fetu, you fought a good battle in your lifetime. Your spirit will continue to water our spirit of liberty until we complete the change.
Dr Takavafira M. Zhou ( Midlands Province Spokesperson)
A Chivhu man was assaulted by police detectives after he was caught video recording them taking turns to beat up two suspected thieves.
Lovemore Munyoro, a shopkeeper at one of the shops in Chivhu town, was taking the video on WhatsApp, which he shared immediately upon realising the police had discovered that he was filming them and were charging towards him.
In the 37-second video clip, one of the detectives discharged a firearm on the ground at the Chivhu location shops to threaten the suspects who were refusing to disclose where they had allegedly stolen a refrigerator.
Munyoro, who refused to comment on the matter, heard commotion and rushed to the scene, where four detectives stationed at Chivhu CID were interrogating the suspects.
He started shooting a video of the police officers assaulting the suspects, but trouble began when the police detectives realised he was recording them.
The police allegedly interrogated, assaulted and briefly detained Munyoro for shooting the video and sharing it on social media platforms.
Mashonaland East police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza said he was yet to watch the video clip. In February this year, a detective stationed at Chivhu CID was accidentally shot by a colleague while arresting an armed robber.
The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) has urged a its members to withdraw all the services they have been rendering to the government saying they are incapacitated.
The association accused the government of lacking the will to address the issues affecting health caregivers in the country. In a memo to its members, Zina said:
“Having discussed this with the association’s executive, we hereby call upon every nurse in Zimbabwe, from those working at a rural clinic in the most remote parts of the country all the way up to those working at the central hospitals to immediately do the following:
For those who have not been going to work, continue withholding your labour. To those who have been subsidising our employer by going to work, mostly because you may have an alternative source of income, we call upon you to reconsider this and withdraw your labour as well.”
The memo added that the new auction system introduced by the Reserverve Bank of Zimbabwe suggests that for every US$100, a person would legally get $5 730 but in reality, the majority of workers are being far less than that.
Workers have been engaging the government to have the value of their salaries restored to what they were earning in 2018 before the introduction of the real-time gross settlement (rtgs) dollar-NewsDay
By A Correspondent- Broadcaster Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa has posted a social media post expressing disappointment on Zimpapers which has suspended the station manager of its talk radio station, CapiTalk FM Nyaradzo Makombe-Hazangwi for airing a programme called Ending Torture and Impunity in Zimbabwe.
The manager was suspended for airing a programme that the senior management said lacked balance.
“One day we won’t get suspended or fired for doing our jobs. One day we will get hired for our abilities & promoted for our brilliance. One day we won’t offend older men & women who feel threatened by excellence. Mediocrity & fear are the enemies of growth. One day, is one day.” Parirenyatwa posted.
The said programme was funded by Zimrights and included panelists: abduction and torture survivors Jestina Mukoko, one Wellington Nkawu as well as ZimRights director Dzikamai Bere and Frances Lovemore, director of the Counselling Services Unit
By A Correspondent- Government has revealed that malaria cases have declined with the health ministry recording drops in weekly cases and deaths.
In a statement on twitter, the ministry of Health and Child Care said:
“Malaria cases decline.
In general, we are seeing the weekly cases and deaths start to drop as we go into winter. This decline can be attributed in large part to the following response activities implemented in the outbreak affected areas:
active testinga nd treatment of cases by village health workers
mass net distribution in six districts of Matabeleland South and Matatbeleland North
targeted spraying of affected wards in Mutoko, Mutasa and Chiredzi districts
capacitation of health workers and village health workers with COVID-19 PPEs.”
active testing and treatment of cases by village health workers, mass net distribution in six districts of Mat South & Mat North, targeted spraying of affected wards in Mutoko, Mutasa & Chiredzi districts and capacitation of HWs & VHWs with Covid-19 PPE https://t.co/PqTsFCYXVs
By A Correspondent- The trial of former cabinet minister Prisca Mupfumira has kicked off with both Mupfumira and her then Permanent Secretary Mr Ngoni Masoka pleading not guilty to all charges laid against them.
Mupfumira who is facing multiple charges of corruption involving US$ 95 million, is on record pleading with the court for a postponment of her trial on the basis that she is mentally unfit to face trial.
The former minister who was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in July last year is facing corruption charges involving US$95 million.
High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga later handed Mupfumira a lifeline after granting her $5 000 bail after denying her bail for close to two months. Justice Tsanga also ordered Mupfumira to surrender her passport and any other travel documents and report twice a week to her nearest police station.
She was also ordered to surrender the title deeds of her residence at 51 Fairway Mount Pleasant Harare as well as to continue residing at the same address.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
By A Correspondent- The trial of former cabinet minister Prisca Mupfumira has kicked off with both Mupfumira and her then Permanent Secretary Mr Ngoni Masoka pleading not guilty to all charges laid against them.
Mupfumira who is facing multiple charges of corruption involving US$ 95 million, is on record pleading with the court for a postponment of her trial on the basis that she is mentally unfit to face trial.
The former minister who was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in July last year is facing corruption charges involving US$95 million.
High Court judge Justice Amy Tsanga later handed Mupfumira a lifeline after granting her $5 000 bail after denying her bail for close to two months. Justice Tsanga also ordered Mupfumira to surrender her passport and any other travel documents and report twice a week to her nearest police station.
She was also ordered to surrender the title deeds of her residence at 51 Fairway Mount Pleasant Harare as well as to continue residing at the same address.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
ZESA has disconnected over 1500 Stoneridge Harare households from the national power grid after it emerged that a former employee of an approved contractor made the connections without following the normal procedures.
According to the state media, a contractor Luckstone Concrete.was hired by the residents to connect electricity in the area but some residents felt the charges were too high and hired one of Luckstone Concrete’s former employees Peni Jaison who connected them using leftover material from his employer.
Yesterday people from ZESA loss control and ZRP officers spoke to Stoneridge residents and explained why they were disconnecting them.
Stoneridge residents’ chairperson for Cluster R, Mr Alfred spoke to the publication about the illegal connections and said:
Before we paid the money, some of the residents later felt that the company had breached our contract and that is when we engaged Peni Jaison. We didn’t know that he had been fired by the company.
Meanwhile, Jaison’s former employer, Luckstone Concrete’s MD Mr Melvin Gwishiri said residents were aware that Jaison was fired in July last year before they engaged him to connect them:
They were aware that he (Jaison) had been fired from our company and maybe the reason they contracted him was that he could have lured them by charging them less for his services. This could be the reason they took a shortcut probably for their own benefit but now they realise that the shortcut they took is more expensive than what they thought it could be.
The illegal connections were discovered by Luckstone which alerted the police. Meanwhile, Jaison is in hiding after his misconduct was discovered.
By A Correspondent- Chaos rocked the start of the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) June “O” and “A” Level examinations which started yesterday, with teachers’ unions claiming government hired “villagers and ancillary staff ” to invigilate the public examinations after most of their members boycotted over poor working conditions.
The unions said in addition to having to contend with poor salaries, government failed to put in place measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 during the exams.
On Monday, the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) accused government of failing to set up logistics to transport teachers to the new examination centres.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou yesterday told NewsDay that
schools in rural areas had resorted to hiring villagers to supervise the examinations, raising questions about the integrity of the examinations.
At Vhembe Secondary School in Matabeleland South province, district officials invigilated the examinations, while in other areas including Zvishavane, Mberengwa, Karoi, Mutare, Uzumba, Maramba and-PFungwe, parents were hired to invigilate the examinations after teachers failed to turn up.
School development committee members were reportedly invited to scout for people with at least five “O” Level passes, who were hurriedly interviewed to take up posts as invigilators.
“It was a mess, and it is terrible,” Zhou said.
“Other headmasters have told pupils to pay US$1 every day they are writing so that the schools can have money to pay the hired invigilators.”
He added: “There are reports from the rural areas of schools that enticed some villagers to come and invigilate under the supervision of at least a teacher in every class and some heads have sent an SOS through Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) for villagers with 5 ‘O’ Levels to report to schools for consideration as invigilators.
“We are also aware that some individuals are being called in with the promise of jobs and schools have also called ancillary staff to invigilate. Teachers in administration and some heads of departments have reported to schools because they receive money for managing exams.”
Many “O” Level candidates, Zhou said, who also registered for November failed to turn up, opting to write at the end of the year when possibly COVID-19 would be under control.
“About a third of those who registered in November failed to turn up. Another sad development was recorded in schools in border areas, where some candidates just sneaked in from other countries and went straight into examination rooms with others. It is terrible,” he said.
“In other areas like Matabeleland South, there were no sanitisers and infrared thermometers were not available. One school approached the nearest health centre, which demanded five litres of fuel every morning to go and take candidates’ temperatures before they get into the examination room.”
Most candidates, who failed to come, were afraid of contracting the coronavirus due to lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Most of them also cited high transport costs and non-availability of transport to examination centres as well as exorbitant daily boarding charges.
Candidates are reportedly being made to pay US$5 a day boarding fees to cover running costs.
Teachers last week urged the government to ensure that coronavirus is totally brought under control before the opening of schools as they cannot afford to experiment with their lives.
“The government has gone ahead with the June examinations without (meeting) the requisite standards of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and this is going to be disastrous for the nation. As teachers, we have been very clear and we are not going to turn up for invigilation until our concerns are met.”
But Zimta chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu said:
“Teachers have not boycotted the invigilation, they agreed to it with the promise that they are going to get personal protective equipment (PPE). However, the equipment is not available in other schools.
“Several schools have started the examinations without masks or sanitisers, with some having 500ml for the whole school, which is not enough.”
Government on Monday assured the nation that necessary measures would be put in place to ensure the safety of candidates and invigilators.
These included provision of thermometers, disinfectants, face masks, washing facilities and sanitisers to all examination centres to protect against COVID-19.
Zimsec spokesperson Nicky Dhlamini, however, said the examinations went on well and the turnout of teachers was “impressive”.
“The turnout of teachers was very good,” she said.
She denied allegations by teacher unions that there was chaos and challenged the groups to bring evidence to support the allegations.
“Examinations are run by Zimsec, if we found that there were no invigilators, we could have shut down the examinations. But we did not because our monitors did not give us such a report. The allegations are false,” she said.
Primary and Secondary Education minister Cain Matema was not picking calls, but Cabinet last night claimed that the standard operating procedures for the prevention and management of COVID-19 had been established as public examinations commenced.
It also approved partial opening of restaurants and local hunting operations.
However, a teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government was risking their lives and was not being honest with them.
“There are no sanitisers and disinfectants in schools contrary to what the minister said,” the teacher said.
“Our minister lied on the news. How are we going to be helped if they continue lying like this?
“PPEs are not there and thermometers for screening are not available as well, so how should we be safe in these conditions? To make matters worse, they are even telling parents to ensure the safety of their children undertaking June examinations,” he said.
By A Correspondent- Police details this morning dispersed striking Pepsi workers.
The workers, totalling about 500 are reportedly earning a paltry ZW$700 monthly.
However, ZimEye is in possession of the salary schedule for Indians at the firm whose salaries are in United States dollars.
Below is a schedule:
Pepsi salaries for Indians in #~US dollars
Said one worker:
“….we have been asking for a pay rise since time immemorial to no avail….from our salaries, one can only buy 5kgs of mealie meal and some tomatoes and that money is finished. The money is equivalent to US$8.”
One of the worker revealed that the company is owned by Indians and one of them is named Rajiv Jaipuriya.
Watch the live video loading below…..
ZimEye is currently contacting management and shareholders at the company for a comment.
We publish below a notice of intention to strike by the workers.
Pepsi workers
TO: Cc: Varun Beverages Zimbabwe Limited Management DATE: 25 June 2020 RE: STATE OF AFFAIRS OF LOCAL HUMAN RESOURCES AT VARUN BEVERAGES ZIMBABWE LIMITED
INTRODUCTION
It is with great discontent and exasperation that we as the human resources at Varun Beverages Zimbabwe Limited (VBZL), highlight the misfortunes under which the company is operating.
This informative letter seeks to clearly and plainly expose the umbrella of economic, social and political brutality which the “investor” is under. This issues highlighted in this report are of deep concern, as signified by emerging trends of abuse, racism, economic and social victimization of local Zimbabweans at foreign owned companies in particular VBZL.
Our country leadership has opened up both the democratic and economic space to allow for mutual beneficiation of stakeholder countries through creating shared value.
It is surprising to note that VBZL has unfortunately mistaken this initiative to go on a rampage looting spree, simultaneously leaving behind a trail of malcontention and destruction through the following:
Victimization/Racial Discrimination/Human Rights Violation It is apparently clear that the 2 races (Zimbabweans & Indians) are failing to cohabitate and co-exist under the current scenario. This is because the Indians view themselves as “warlords,” using intimidative techniques & extremely abusive language at plant workers and employing autocratic/military style tactics to run a beverage manufacturing company. At this rate, if let to go scot-free, a tragic case (similar to the one involving a purported Chinese investor and 2 Zimbabwean workers) can be experienced at the company. On the 21st of June, Zhang Xuelin shot dead 2 natives over a salary dispute in Gweru. Earlier on this year, the executive chairman of ZESA, Sydney Gata, recommended a remedy of repatriating Chinese managers who are abusing workers at Sino Hydro Corporation. The Indians at VBZL are exercising gross human rights violation. Several workers are prepared to come forward and testify against a bucket-load of on-going incidents especially from managers which include Suresh Paul (Engineering Manager), Vikas Chandra (Production Manager) and Sunil Bhatt (Factory Manager).These 3 men are causing unrest and havoc and workers are immediately and unanimously calling upon their repatriation. Racism and human rights violation is a strong moral issue among Zimbabweans.
Extremely Low Remuneration It’s disheartening to realize that VBZL has become an architect of economic slavery in Zimbabwe. Though our forefathers went to war to resist colonial power, little did they know that the imperialist would return under the guise of “investing.” We as workers at VBZL are suffering from humiliating and embarrassing salaries. As if it’s not enough, those who ask for salary adjustments are seen as rebels and are immediately ear-marked for contract termination. Yet, in every street corner a case of VBZL drinks are being sold for amounts between 4.60 USD to 5 USD and the factory is producing between 42000 to 49000 cases on a daily basis even during the winter period. The employees themselves cannot even dare to buy these drinks as this amount will considerably consume a large percentage of their disproportionate salaries. The surprising fact is that the company enjoys recruiting skilled technocrats whom they term to be desperate and have nowhere else to go. The majority of workers have volunteered to bring forth their payslips and prove the figures. Soon after earning the humiliating salaries (which are credited at the pleasure of management ) ,the workers scatter in different directions to secure foreign currency to pay for standard living costs such as rentals ,food and childrens’ tuition fees. The company enjoys hiding behind the NEC stipulated figures which obviously do not work and are a mere joke for a serious business. In as much as price controls and interbank rate controls have proved to be fruitless in Zimbabwe, so does salary control through NEC. When it comes to NON-NEC workers, salaries are equally pathetic because they are decided upon by Indian managers against unknown benchmarks. It is impossible to sustain a family whilst working at VBZL under these circumstances .The amounts cannot simply add up. That is the reason why VBZL has got a very high labour turnover rate. With management, hiring and firing is like a game of cards to them. Quantitative analysis will show that the total labour force at VBZL is not out of norms such that if we were to calculate productivity per capita (production contribution per person), the ratio will be so favorable to the company. Why does company want to pretend as if the product is not being sold in USD? After every 30 days, we are severely worn out through chasing parallel market rates which are endlessly rising. We as workers will even be very happy to receive our salary in the form of product. We can easily form our own consortium, sell the product, and pay ourselves in USD. Most companies have developed both an RTGS and USD component for salaries because they understand the local scenario very well and they value their human resources .Is this the case with VBZL? Why does the product price increase 3 times before salary is increased 1 time? If management values its human resources, why is this problem persisting?
Selective payment of USDs to Indians It is then baffling and bewildering to realize that Indian managers and Indian machine operators are allocating themselves hefty dual USD and RTGS salaries. There is no secret to this because the workers have seen many of their salaries which are in their thousands. Indians live comfortable lives in Zimbabwe, with lucrative allowances for food, transport and accommodation. They have so much surplus to the extent that the biggest percentage of the money is repatriated back to New Dehli, Bombay, Mumbai, Chennai and their different home provinces. What costs do the Indians incur which are not incurred by Zimbabweans? If Indians are getting hefty salaries in both USD and RTGS, Zimbabwean workers can also handle salaries in USD and RTGS.
Managerial & Technical Roles Zimbabweans are occupying non-managerial, non-technical and non-rewarding roles in VBZL.To a large extent there is no skills development in the company and competency is not required at all. Indians are in charge of everything and have instilled a belief that the Zimbabweans are not able to run the company alone. Management wants to retain milky and lucrative positions for the Indians whilst Zimbabweans are given general roles which they assume deserve very little rewards. The Finance head : Indian ,COO : Indian ,Factory Manager : Indian ,Engineering Manager : Indian ,Quality Manager : Indian ,Production Manager : Indian ,Dispatch Manager : Indian ,Stores Manager : Indian and all key technical positions are occupied by Indians. Where are the Zimbabweans? Yet on the contrary, notable companies which have been producing beverages in Zimbabwe for some time now which include Schweppes, Delta Beverages, Dairiboard, Afdis and Probottlers. There is no process nor equipment which VBZL brought to Zimbabwe which is new in the country. What is the game at play here? The answer to this is that qualified and competent Zimbabwean technocrats are not wanted at all by the company. Management wants to create an Indian dynasty which feeds on hefty salaries.
Duration of Contracts, employment termination, Improper grading, working Hours How does a company which has employed individuals for more than a year, then start to develop short term contracts which are pegged at 3 months? Which local labour law are they using? At the same time, there are no employment termination procedures practiced at VBZL.The rights are said to be with the Indians who usually fabricate issues to try and get rid of the intelligent ones. These poor workers have been working every single day, being given no breathing space, and are labelled as criminals when they decide to give themselves off-days. A company the size of VBZL strives to run along with a non-flexible 3 -shift system, where it is essential to have a 4-shift system. As they work, most of them don’t even know their grades. They are told that they are not machine operators yet they are actually operating the machines. Why are they not given acting allowance in this regard? The whole human resources management system needs an overhaul. Indian managers have no idea of how Human Resources procedures are structurally executed and they do not bother to consult the Human Resources Department on local matters .In fact, the Human Resources Manager (a Zimbabwean by default) got so frustrated and left the organization due to incapacitation and being rendered irrelevant.
Creating Shared Value (CSV) It is apparently clear that there is a major difference in business principles and ethics between the franchisor (PepsiCo.) and the franchisee (VBZL).Recently, PepsiCo acquired Pioneer Foods in South Africa through a R26 bn deal. Of particular importance to note, are the terms and conditions which are packaged in the deal .Due to functional Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies in South Africa, workers will greatly benefit from the strategic alliance. Workers will get shares worth R1.6 bn through a locally held workers trust, which will pay dividends to workers. Programmes such as supplier development funds, entrepreneurship development funds and scholarship are all benefiting locals through the deal. Instead of Indians bragging about the organization and claiming that they are politically connected, they should take corporate notes from PepsiCo and learn how to formulate and apply business policies in foreign markets. One thing for sure is that the Indians have great respect for PepsiCo and would never want to mess up the franchisor in any way. Workers have no benefits to talk about through association with VBZL and the company shows no interest at all in creating shared value.
CONCLUSION The highlighted issues have forced workers to come together and directly confront VBZL. There are no established dialogue channels in the company and management is vividly keen to quickly suppress any worker complaints issues. All issues highlighted in this report are factual and precise.
In fact, our brothers and sisters in Zambia had already seen the traits of the same company and in July of 2017 they protested with anger and bitterness against oppression. We here at VBZL are also tired of the company mistreatment and mismanagement.
We are highly civilized and do not believe in violence as a tool of expression. We are prepared to meet with management at the table and strongly believe that our government and PepsiCo are ready to engage and act in a professional manner. Regards VBZL Workers.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates..
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) public examinations started yesterday with candidates expressing satisfaction with the level of Covid-19 preparedness at examination centres.
Ordinary level candidates sat for English Paper 1 in the morning and Combined Science Paper 1 in the afternoon.
Advanced Level candidates wrote Literature in English Paper 1 in the morning and Chemistry Paper 1 in the afternoon.
A majority of the candidates were supplementing previously failed subjects.
The candidates said the schools had adequately prepared following Covid-19 prevention measures while teachers’ unions said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had not done enough to get schools ready for the public examinations.
Miss Grace Moyo, who was writing Combined Science at Mpopoma High School, said the school told them to arrive 45 minutes before the actual sitting.
“This was to allow for sanitisation of hands, among other issues that relate to Covid-19. When we arrived at the school, they recorded our personal details, where we stay, cellphone numbers among other things,” said Miss Moyo, who aspires to study Accounting at Bulawayo Polytechnic.
She said she initially wrote her O-Levels in 2018 before relocating to South Africa.
Miss Moyo said it was difficult to prepare for the examination due to Covid-19 as she could not study with other candidates.
“After that we were sanitised and face masks were given to those who did not have them. I think they did everything that is required to ensure that no one is exposed to Covid-19. Soon after writing the examination, we were told to leave the premises,” said Miss Ncube.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of Covid-19 adherence at school.
In Gweru, examinations commenced as scheduled amid concerns from Zimta that not all schools had adhered to Covid-19 prevention measures.
While most urban schools have been producing PPEs, rural schools across the Midlands province were found wanting as pupils were forced to bring their own face masks.
Transport was another challenge as there were no Zupco buses or commuter omnibuses designated for pupils going to schools such as Fletcher, Chaplin and Thornhill high schools from suburbs such as Mkoba and Senga in Gweru.
“Learners didn’t have transport and we hope tomorrow it will be there. We asked for a thermometer from the local clinic because we can’t afford one but we are glad the examinations went on well,” said a headmaster from a school in Mkoba suburb, on condition of anonymity.
In Matabeleland South, Provincial Education Director, Mr Bernard Mazambani said the province had 81 examination centres with public tests being conducted without incident.
“As a province we ensured that we were prepared for the opening of schools for examination writing. We have teams moving around schools monitoring the process and we haven’t received reports of problems. Social distancing is being observed at our examination centres. We have set up a number of points where candidates can sanitise their hands to avoid delays and invigilators were adequately trained,” said Mr Mazambani.
“Temperatures are being checked at all centres. We got 40 more thermometers in addition to those which were bought by institutions and those provided by the Ministry of Health and Child Care which has enabled us to use more than one thermometer at centres with many candidates.”
In Matabeleland North, examinations started well in Hwange District. Zimsec had to settle for Chamabondo Primary School as an alternative centre as Mosi-oa-Tunya High School is being used as a quarantine centre for returning residents.
A news crew visited Chamabondo Primary School and observed conventional and private candidates queued at the gate for temperature check and hand washing. They were all wearing masks while teachers were helping them to maintain social distancing as they filed towards the seven examination rooms set for the exercise.
The candidates had their hands sanitised again in the examination rooms where sitting arrangement was two metres apart.
Mosi-oa-Tunya High School head Mr Roland Sibanda said 208 Ordinary and Advanced level candidates registered with the school for the June examinations.
“We had a challenge notifying all candidates but the majority have come. We’ve some coming from as far as Robins Camp who had a challenge with network as they were locked there but we finally managed to reach them. We’ve tried to enforce all recommended regulations and we are thankful to the municipality because they disinfected the centres yesterday. For the practical examinations, we have been informed that we can use ours at Mosi-oa-Tunya which is a relief because we were wondering how we were going to manage here,” said Mr Sibanda.
His counterpart at Mkhosana Seventh Day Adventist Mr Ndabezinhle Masuku said they addressed the candidates about safety issues before the examination.
Covid-19 education material was distributed and pasted at entrance points at both schools.
Zimta president, Mr Richard Gundani, said the exams went on against their will.
He said no teachers had been tested for Covid-19 yet they went on and conducted the examinations putting the lives of learners at risk.
“Some schools didn’t have PPEs and so in a nutshell, the first phase of reopening of schools was marked with gaps. But we will tag along in spite of all this. As Zimta and other unions we issued a cautionary statement saying this has happened against our advice because not all the schools have totally complied with Covid-19 prevention measures,” said Mr Gundani.
Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Patrick Zumbo said the ministry was satisfied with the first day of public examinations.
“The examination started well and we haven’t heard any concerns from candidates. We are very happy with how the examinations have commenced,” said Mr Zumbo.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Wedza parliamentary aspirant, Enock Mutonho, has been dragged to court over adultery damages after allegedly confessing that he had an intimate relationship with a soldier’s wife for almost a year.
The complainant, Pedzai Nhachi has approached the High Court claiming $800 000 for loss of consortium and contumelia, plus cost of suit. According to court papers, Nhachi’s wife, Ever Nhachi (nee) Mukutuzi, is a deputy head at a school in Wedza, where she apparently met Mutonho when he visited the school intending to launch a development project in April 2019.
In the summons issued on June 25, 2020 at the High Court in Harare, Nhachi said he confronted Mutonho after intercepting text messages between the two lovebirds and Mutonho allegedly admitted to being involved in the adulterous affair.
“When the plaintiff (Nhachi) caught (discovered) the messages in his wife’s cellphone, he confronted defendant (Mutonho), who admitted having that affair. The plaintiff recorded audio messages where both defendant and plaintiff ‘s wife narrated what they had been doing and how they started their relationship,” Nhachi said in his declaration.
“Despite the fact that defendant was informed about our marriage, he continued having that relationship up to date and that has deprived plaintiff of consortium. The plaintiff was deprived for the whole year and defendant is continuing having that affair.”
Nhachi also said following the confrontation, Mutonho allegedly offered to settle the matter out of court by paying US$6 000.
Part of the acknowledgment of debt, signed by three witnesses and filed alongside the summons, read: “I Enock Mutonho … I promise and undertake to pay the above quoted debt in instalments of the equivalent of US$500 per month without fail until I finish off the US$6 000. First payment will be on April 30, 2020.”
Mutonho is yet to enter appearance to defend and the matter is pending.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean veteran journalist Grace Mutandwa has died.
An international journalist, columnist, editor and mentor, Mutandwa was battling cancer.
Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Grace worked as a journalist for more than 18 years and is a former Arts Editor of the weekly Financial Gazette.
A renowned journalist who was also recognized by the U.S. Embassy in Harare and the Humanitarian Information Centre for exemplary conduct and dedication in promoting gender equality in the media, Mutandwa is survived by two sons and a daughter.
We publish below a video of the late journalist at the launch of one of her memoirs called The Power and The Glory on March 29 2012……
By Own Correspondent| Masvingo Magistrates court on Tuesday 30 June 2020 condemned Ephraim Mutombeni, the Director of Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Community Development (MACRD), a local non-governmental organisation, to prison after he was arrested Sunday 28 June 2020 and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mutombeni aged 28 years was denied bail by Magistrate Mbonisi Ndlovu, who ruled that the MACRAD leader is a flight risk and could escape from standing trial.
Mutombeni, who is represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) had applied for his release on bail after he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members on Sunday 28 June 2020 and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa as defined in section 33(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors alleged that Mutombeni faulted President Mnangagwa during an address to some commuters, who were queuing and waiting to board a ZUPCO bus, for presiding over Zimbabwe’s agonising economic crisis and demanding that the ZANU PF party leader resigns. Mutombeni is alleged to have uttered the words; “Murikuona kumira kwamakaita pa queue imhosva ya President E.D Mnangagwa arikukwidza ma prices e fuel achiba mari nevana vake. E.D must go,” which if loosely translated means; “You are suffering as a result of President Mnangagwa’s poor leadership and corruption committed by himself and his children and his failure to stem fuel price hikes and he should resign.”
ZRP members also arrested freelance journalist Godfrey Mtimba and charged him with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa before releasing him into the custody of his lawyer Phillip Shumba of Media Institute of Southern Africa-Zimbabwe Chapter. ZRP members said they will summon Mtimba to appear in court this week. Mutombeni and Mtimba are the latest persons to be arrested and charged with undermining authority of or insulting President Mnangagwa.
In Harare, Magistrate Barbra Mateko on Tuesday 30 June 2020 set free pro-democracy campaigner Makomborero Haruzivishe on RTGS$1 000 bail after he was arrested on Monday 29 June 2020 by ZRP members and charged with committing public violence for allegedly participating in an anti-government protest against hunger and abuse of financial resources by President Mnangagwa’s administration.
Haruzivishe, who was represented by Gift Mtisi of ZLHR, was charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry as defined in section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and for contravening section 5(3) (a) as read with section 5(1) of Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 of Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020.
Prosecutors charged that Haruzivishe participated in an illegal demonstration held on 13 May 2020 in Warren Park 1 suburb in which opposition MDC-Alliance party supporters allegedly staged a flash protest against abuse of financial resources and the extension of a government enforced national lockdown by President Mnangagwa. During the demonstration, prosecutors argued, that Haruzivishe and some protestors reportedly carried a placard inscribed “Unlock Us Before We Revolt”.
Haruzivishe becomes the latest person to be arrested and charged for allegedly participating in the flash protest, which has already seen the prosecution of Harare West legislator Hon. Joanah Mamombe and several MDC-Alliance party youth leaders including Obey Tererai Sithole, Cecelia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova, Lovejoy Chitengu and Stanley Manyenga.
Earlier on, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe leader Obert Masaraure was on Saturday 27 June 2020 set free on RTGS$500 bail after he was arrested by ZRP members on Friday 26 June 2020 and charged with participating in an anti-government protest held on Monday 22 June 2020 in which teachers allegedly demonstrated against poor salaries working conditions.
Masaraure, who was represented by Mureri and Tonderai Bhatasara of ZLHR, was charged with contravening section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and accused of leading an unlawful protest together with 48 other people in which teachers demanded to be paid US$520 in monthly salaries.
By A Correspondent- Fifteen COVID-19 patients at St Francis of Assisi High School in Chivhu went on a hunger strike on Sunday to force the government to release them, arguing that conditions at the centre were deplorable and would hinder recovery.
The 15 patients – two Chivhu police officers and 13 returnees – were confirmed positive early June and have not been eating since Sunday night.
Chikomba district development co-ordinator Michael Mariga, who is chairperson of the COVID-19 taskforce, said he was not authorised to comment on the issue and referred questions to the provincial development co-ordinator Tavabarira Kutamahufa.
Kutamahufa said he was yet to receive a report on the matter.
“I will get back to you when I get the correct facts,” he said.
However, an official at the school said: “They refused to take food until authorities were summoned to talk to them. It worked and they are taking their meals normally.”
The returnees were placed in quarantine in May before being isolated.
Returnees around the country have raised concern over crowding and lack of basis amenities in most quarantine centres.
By A Correspondent- Muzarabani South legislator Tapera Saizi and Muzarabani council chairperson Ashton Chiweshe are reportedly embroiled in a power wrangle emanating from the maize distribution program
Saizi reportedly filed a police report in May to the effect that Chiweshe stole five bags of maize meant for social welfare and he was arrested.
Chiweshe’s case failed to kick and Saizi teamed up with other Zanu pf big wigs and stormed at police officer commanding Guruve district Superitendant Robert Torevasei expressing their reservations.
Torevasei confirmed the case saying their complaints were date back to 2018.
“The delegation came to my office but they were complaining that Chiweshe dubiously allocated inputs in 2018 l then instructed Mvurwi Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate,” said Torevasei.
Saizi is being accused of conducting night meetings with exiled G40 kingpin Saviour Kasukuwere’s members in a bid to further weaken Zanu pf from within through fighting Zanu PF councillors who are loyal to president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Saizi dismissed the claims saying Muzarabani is a peaceful place and there are no fights.
“Muzarabani is a peaceful area there are no fights last week l had a meeting with all councillors and it went on well even our provincial leadership is aware that we are at peace, ” he said.
Quizzed on his fight with Chiweshe and his visit to Guruve police boss, Saizi said it is only Chiweshe who is fighting him and he has issues pending before the courts.
“I only have one councillor who is fighting me and he has issues pending before the courts as for Torevasei’s visit was for me to make a courtesy call since l did not know him we discussed mining issues l was accompanied by Edward Raradza,” he said.
Chiweshe distanced himself from the fight saying he is just a councillor and not eying Saizi’s post.
“I am not fighting anyone because l am just a Councillor and do not have ambitions of being a Member of Parliament,” Chiweshe said.
Meanwhile, Saizi dismissed Kasukuwere’s links as mere lies.
Kasukuwere who hails from Mount Darwin together with his brother Dickson Mafios are still strong in Mashonaland Central province with Zanu PF supporters calling for restructuring exercise in their camp to weed out G40 cabals.
A VICTORIA FALLS man will forever rue the day he trusted his girlfriend and told her how he was stealing from his employer after she reported her thieving lover to his bosses.
Godfrey Murehwa (51) of Chinotimba suburb, who is a divorcee, was employed as a tailor at Eder Enterprises, a safari business in the resort town.
On 28 May this year, Murehwa stole two canvas folding chairs and one folding table which he intended to sell and recover what his employer owed him in unpaid salaries. He left the loot with a neighbour for safekeeping while he looked for a buyer.
With three minor children, Murehwa also has a love relationship with Donayana Chuma who, however, on 25 June, sold him out and informed his bosses that he had stolen company possessions.
He was arrested the same day and charged with theft. The stolen property was recovered.
Appearing for the State, Sithabile Daka said Murehwa committed the theft at night on 28 May.
“Between 28 and 29 May, Murehwa unlawfully took two folding chairs with canvas and one folding table and went away unnoticed. The matter came to light on 25 June when the company received a tip-off from Murehwa’s girlfriend Donayana Chuma who informed the company’s administrator Emmerson Luwaca that the missing items were stolen by Murehwa,” she said.
The stolen property, valued at $27 075 was recovered from Lora Sibanda’s house where Murehwa had left it for safekeeping.
Victoria Falls magistrate Linda Dzene sentenced Murehwa to eight months in jail before suspending three months on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining five months were suspended on condition Murehwa completes 175 hours community service.
In mitigation, Murehwa told court that he stole the goods because of hunger as he had not been paid his salary.
“They had not paid me my salary as had been agreed and so I wanted to sell the chairs and table so that I get money for my upkeep. I am divorced and am taking care of my three minor children and my sick parents,” he told the court.
Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have slowly started turning into street vendors across the major cities in Zimbabwe as the economic hardships keep on biting them.
Pictures have started trending online of police officers selling fruits and vegetables across the capital city of Zimbabwe as they try to find a little income to supplement the paltry salary they receive from the state.
This is a sign of the tough times the working class of Zimbabwe is experiencing. Years ago, becoming a policeman was once an occupation many cherished but now they are reduced to vending!
One social media analyst said “It was never supposed to get to this tragic and deplorable point for officers in uniform. But they too have families to feed!”
This all steams from the effects of the looting of public funds. Top government officials in Zimbabwe do not get punished whenever the loot and corruption is rife in the country.
A GWANDA police officer has been arrested for allegedly demanding a US$270 bribe from a local miner to stop any police raids.
Blessing Zenya (32) who resides at the ZRP New Camp in Gwanda was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mr Ndumiso Khumalo facing two counts of extortion.
He was remanded to July 10 on $500 bail.
Zenya was granted bail on condition that he resides at the given address, reports twice a week at Gwanda Urban Police Station and does not interfere with State witnesses. The State was not opposed to bail.
Zenya was represented by Mr McAllister Ncube of T J Mabhikwa and Partners.
Prosecuting, Miss Faith Mutukwa said Zenya approached Mr Noah Chiruka who is a contractor at Flag Mine Block in Esigodini and demanded a bribe in exchange for undisrupted mining operations.
“On a date unknown to the prosecutor but in May at around 6AM Zenya who was in the company of an unknown person went to Flag Mine Block in Esigodini and the two introduced themselves to Mr Chiruka as detectives from the Minerals Unit in Gwanda. Zenya and his accomplice then persuaded Mr Chiruka to give them US$120 in exchange for undisrupted mining operations and he complied,” she said.
“On 25 June Zenya went to Flag Mine Block and demanded US$300 from Mr Chiruka and said it was for the protection of his mine operations as there was an ongoing operation which was targeting hammer mills.
Mr Chiruka handed over US$100 to Zenya who insisted that he wanted US$300.”
Miss Mutukwa said Mr Chiruka gave Zenya an additional US$50 and he left. She said Mr Chiruka alerted his other two counterparts who intercepted Zenya at Quicks Garage in Esigodini and they recovered the US$150.
She said Mr Chiruka reported the matter to the police resulting in Zenya’s arrest.
Another Khupe supporter was blocked from entering Harvest House yesterday, and assaulted. Mr Desmond Shambare tells ZimEye, he was pulled by the collar by one Benard and another named as Phyllis (self professing-Mwonzora aides) and told he cannot enter due to @DrThoko_Khupe
Over the moon reinstated MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora has blasted President Nelson Chamisa of the MDC Alliance claiming the youthful leader does not have the capacity to turn the country around.
Mwonzora was speaking in an interview with South African television ENCA.
“Adv Chamisa talks about a revolution, we are not so sure whether he is very serious about that and whether he has got the capacity to sustain that, or to start that in the first place, he has been talking about this for ages.
Watch interview in the video downloading below.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that Nelson Chamisa is not the legitimate leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, many followers still regard him as their leader. For an update, @janedutton spoke to MDC-T’s General Secretary, Douglas Mwonzora. #DStv403pic.twitter.com/2J2PA0leRx
Former Zimbabwe Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri has spoken for the first time about the failed attempt to arrest then Zimbabwe Army General Constantino Chiwenga at Robert Mugabe International Airport.
The ex police boss made the claim in his affidavit to defend the forfeiture of his assets by the state.
He accused police commissioner Godwin Matanga of linking him to the airport story to discredit him from the coup plotters.
It is reported that two weeks from the coup, police officers in plain clothing failed to arrest Chiwenga at the airport. The police were outsmarted by military intelligence officers who had been briefed about the attempt to arrest their boss for plotting a coup. Military officers disguised and dressed as National Handling Services workers made their way into the runway entrance and escorted Chiwenga before arresting the police officers who had been sent by Chihuri. So dramatic were the scenes that the police officers found themselves surrounded by the military and were forced to disarm before being bundled into a van.
The incident is believed to be the reason Chiwenga and Mnangagwa changed their focus from ousting Mugabe at the Zanu PF Congress to plotting a coup. Chiwenga is reported to have called Mugabe as soon as he reached his KG6 office questioning the reasons behind the attempted arrest. Soon after the incident, Chiwenga and his generals addressed a press conference demanding that the President fire criminals in the Zanu PF party among other demands.
Chihuri said Matanga lied to then Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander and now Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga that he (Chihuri) wanted to arrest him upon his return from his China trip at Robert Mugabe International Airport just before the coup.
Chihuri claims Matanga rode on the story to win the loyalty of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces and Army General Chiwenga and consequently be considered for the top police office after the coup.
“This was not so, but a blatant lie to sow the seeds of division and hate between me and the then CDF. Godwin Matanga did all this to secure his position,” he said.
TO: Cc: Varun Beverages Zimbabwe Limited Management DATE: 25 June 2020 RE: STATE OF AFFAIRS OF LOCAL HUMAN REOSURCES AT VARUN BEVERAGES ZIMBABWE LIMITED
INTRODUCTION
It is with great discontent and exasperation that we as the human resources at Varun Beverages Zimbabwe Limited (VBZL), highlight the misfortunes under which the company is operating. This informative letter seeks to clearly and plainly expose the umbrella of economic, social and political brutality which the “investor” is under. This issues highlighted in this report are of deep concern, as signified by emerging trends of abuse, racism, economic and social victimization of local Zimbabweans at foreign owned companies in particular VBZL. Our country leadership has opened up both the democratic and economic space to allow for mutual beneficiation of stakeholder countries through creating shared value. It is surprising to note that VBZL has unfortunately mistaken this initiative to go on a rampage looting spree, simultaneously leaving behind a trail of malcontention and destruction through the following:
Victimization/Racial Discrimination/Human Rights Violation It is apparently clear that the 2 races (Zimbabweans & Indians) are failing to cohabitate and co-exist under the current scenario. This is because the Indians view themselves as “warlords,” using intimidative techniques & extremely abusive language at plant workers and employing autocratic/military style tactics to run a beverage manufacturing company. At this rate, if let to go scot-free, a tragic case (similar to the one involving a purported Chinese investor and 2 Zimbabwean workers) can be experienced at the company. On the 21st of June, Zhang Xuelin shot dead 2 natives over a salary dispute in Gweru. Earlier on this year, the executive chairman of ZESA, Sydney Gata, recommended a remedy of repatriating Chinese managers who are abusing workers at Sino Hydro Corporation. The Indians at VBZL are exercising gross human rights violation. Several workers are prepared to come forward and testify against a bucket-load of on-going incidents especially from managers which include Suresh Paul (Engineering Manager), Vikas Chandra (Production Manager) and Sunil Bhatt (Factory Manager).These 3 men are causing unrest and havoc and workers are immediately and unanimously calling upon their repatriation. Racism and human rights violation is a strong moral issue among Zimbabweans.
Extremely Low Remuneration It’s disheartening to realize that VBZL has become an architect of economic slavery in Zimbabwe. Though our forefathers went to war to resist colonial power, little did they know that the imperialist would return under the guise of “investing.” We as workers at VBZL are suffering from humiliating and embarrassing salaries. As if it’s not enough, those who ask for salary adjustments are seen as rebels and are immediately ear-marked for contract termination. Yet, in every street corner a case of VBZL drinks are being sold for amounts between 4.60 USD to 5 USD and the factory is producing between 42000 to 49000 cases on a daily basis even during the winter period. The employees themselves cannot even dare to buy these drinks as this amount will considerably consume a large percentage of their disproportionate salaries. The surprising fact is that the company enjoys recruiting skilled technocrats whom they term to be desperate and have nowhere else to go. The majority of workers have volunteered to bring forth their payslips and prove the figures. Soon after earning the humiliating salaries (which are credited at the pleasure of management ) ,the workers scatter in different directions to secure foreign currency to pay for standard living costs such as rentals ,food and childrens’ tuition fees. The company enjoys hiding behind the NEC stipulated figures which obviously do not work and are a mere joke for a serious business. In as much as price controls and interbank rate controls have proved to be fruitless in Zimbabwe, so does salary control through NEC. When it comes to NON-NEC workers, salaries are equally pathetic because they are decided upon by Indian managers against unknown benchmarks. It is impossible to sustain a family whilst working at VBZL under these circumstances .The amounts cannot simply add up. That is the reason why VBZL has got a very high labour turnover rate. With management, hiring and firing is like a game of cards to them. Quantitative analysis will show that the total labour force at VBZL is not out of norms such that if we were to calculate productivity per capita (production contribution per person), the ratio will be so favorable to the company. Why does company want to pretend as if the product is not being sold in USD? After every 30 days, we are severely worn out through chasing parallel market rates which are endlessly rising. We as workers will even be very happy to receive our salary in the form of product. We can easily form our own consortium, sell the product, and pay ourselves in USD. Most companies have developed both an RTGS and USD component for salaries because they understand the local scenario very well and they value their human resources .Is this the case with VBZL? Why does the product price increase 3 times before salary is increased 1 time? If management values its human resources, why is this problem persisting?
Selective payment of USDs to Indians It is then baffling and bewildering to realize that Indian managers and Indian machine operators are allocating themselves hefty dual USD and RTGS salaries. There is no secret to this because the workers have seen many of their salaries which are in their thousands. Indians live comfortable lives in Zimbabwe, with lucrative allowances for food, transport and accommodation. They have so much surplus to the extent that the biggest percentage of the money is repatriated back to New Dehli, Bombay, Mumbai, Chennai and their different home provinces. What costs do the Indians incur which are not incurred by Zimbabweans? If Indians are getting hefty salaries in both USD and RTGS, Zimbabwean workers can also handle salaries in USD and RTGS.
Managerial & Technical Roles Zimbabweans are occupying non-managerial, non-technical and non-rewarding roles in VBZL.To a large extent there is no skills development in the company and competency is not required at all. Indians are in charge of everything and have instilled a belief that the Zimbabweans are not able to run the company alone. Management wants to retain milky and lucrative positions for the Indians whilst Zimbabweans are given general roles which they assume deserve very little rewards. The Finance head : Indian ,COO : Indian ,Factory Manager : Indian ,Engineering Manager : Indian ,Quality Manager : Indian ,Production Manager : Indian ,Dispatch Manager : Indian ,Stores Manager : Indian and all key technical positions are occupied by Indians. Where are the Zimbabweans? Yet on the contrary, notable companies which have been producing beverages in Zimbabwe for some time now which include Schweppes, Delta Beverages, Dairiboard, Afdis and Probottlers. There is no process nor equipment which VBZL brought to Zimbabwe which is new in the country. What is the game at play here? The answer to this is that qualified and competent Zimbabwean technocrats are not wanted at all by the company. Management wants to create an Indian dynasty which feeds on hefty salaries.
Duration of Contracts, employment termination, Improper grading, working Hours How does a company which has employed individuals for more than a year, then start to develop short term contracts which are pegged at 3 months? Which local labour law are they using? At the same time, there are no employment termination procedures practiced at VBZL.The rights are said to be with the Indians who usually fabricate issues to try and get rid of the intelligent ones. These poor workers have been working every single day, being given no breathing space, and are labelled as criminals when they decide to give themselves off-days. A company the size of VBZL strives to run along with a non-flexible 3 -shift system, where it is essential to have a 4-shift system. As they work, most of them don’t even know their grades. They are told that they are not machine operators yet they are actually operating the machines. Why are they not given acting allowance in this regard? The whole human resources management system needs an overhaul. Indian managers have no idea of how Human Resources procedures are structurally executed and they do not bother to consult the Human Resources Department on local matters .In fact, the Human Resources Manager (a Zimbabwean by default) got so frustrated and left the organization due to incapacitation and being rendered irrelevant.
Creating Shared Value (CSV) It is apparently clear that there is a major difference in business principles and ethics between the franchisor (PepsiCo.) and the franchisee (VBZL).Recently, PepsiCo acquired Pioneer Foods in South Africa through a R26 bn deal. Of particular importance to note, are the terms and conditions which are packaged in the deal .Due to functional Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies in South Africa, workers will greatly benefit from the strategic alliance. Workers will get shares worth R1.6 bn through a locally held workers trust, which will pay dividends to workers. Programmes such as supplier development funds, entrepreneurship development funds and scholarship are all benefiting locals through the deal. Instead of Indians bragging about the organization and claiming that they are politically connected, they should take corporate notes from PepsiCo and learn how to formulate and apply business policies in foreign markets. One thing for sure is that the Indians have great respect for PepsiCo and would never want to mess up the franchisor in any way. Workers have no benefits to talk about through association with VBZL and the company shows no interest at all in creating shared value.
CONCLUSION The highlighted issues have forced workers to come together and directly confront VBZL.There are no established dialogue channels in the company and management is vividly keen to quickly suppress any worker complaints issues. All issues highlighted in this report are factual and precise. In fact, our brothers and sisters in Zambia had already seen the traits of the same company and in July of 2017 they protested with anger and bitterness against oppression. We here at VBZL are also tired of the company mistreatment and mismanagement .We are highly civilized and do not believe in violence as a tool of expression. We are prepared to meet with management at the table and strongly believe that our government and PepsiCo are ready to engage and act in a professional manner. Regards VBZL Workers.
Scores of people have gathered around Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries offices in Cape Town demanding that the church’s leader, Walter Magaya pays back their money he took saying he would construct houses for them.
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File Picture of Thousands of people gathered at a campaign rally in Malawi
Malawi Ministry of Health says cases of Covid-19 cases continues to deteriorate following the registration of 40 new cases in the country with the highest number recorded in the northern region’s City of Mzuzu.
In a press release issued on Tuesday in the capital city, Lilongwe signed by the chairperson for the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19, Dr John Phuka clearly stated that there are no new recovery cases while two people have died in the past 24 hours.
Malawians went out in huge numbers last week to elect a new President where very little precaution was taken against Coronavirus.
And here below is the content of the press release as released by the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19;
“In the past 24 hours, Malawi has registered 41 new COVID-19 cases, no new recoveries, and two new deaths. The new deaths are 42-year-old male that died at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe and a 34-year-old male died at Mchinji District Hospital.
Let me convey my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May their souls rest in peace.
The new cases, 30 are contacts to the confirmed cases, two are imported and nine are under investigation. Of the locally transmitted infections, 20 are from Mzuzu (one is a health care worker), four from Lilongwe, two from Mchinji, two from Phalombe, and one each from Nsanje and Blantyre (health care worker).
The two imported cases recently returned from South Africa and are from Mangochi and Salima. For the nine cases still under investigation, four are from Mzuzu, two from Lilongwe, two from Blantyre and one from Mchinji.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 1265 cases including 16 deaths. Of these cases, 639 are imported infections and 581 are locally transmitted while 45 are still under investigation. Cumulatively, 260 cases have now recovered bringing the total number of active cases to 989.
The average age of the cases is 33.8 years, the youngest case is aged 1 month, the oldest is 78 years and 68% are male.
The country has so far conducted 14,173 COVID-19 tests in 37 COVID-19 testing sites.
As local transmission of COVID-19 is on the rise in our country, I would like to encourage everyone to wear a cloth mask whenever you are going into crowded places.
Those with positive COVID-19 result should self-isolate and put on a medical mask all the time. Medical masks must always be used when taking care of COVID-19 suspected people or COVID-19 patients both in health care setting and at home.
Heath care workers and other frontline workers are always reminded to strictly follow the Infection Prevention and Control measures.
The following is a guide on how to wear and remove a mask:
• Clean your hands before putting on the mask.
• Inspect the mask for tears or holes, do not use a mask that is damaged.
• Adjust the mask to cover your mouth, nose, and chin, leaving no gaps on the sides.
• Avoid touching the mask while wearing it.
• Change your mask if it gets dirty or wet.
• Clean your hands before Take off the mask by removing it from the ear loops, without touching the front of the mask.
• Medical masks are for single use only; discard the mask immediately, preferably into a closed bin. Do not liter
• Wash your hands with soap after removing the mask.
• If you are using a cloth mask, wash it in hot water using soap at least once a day.
Remember, a mask alone cannot protect you from COVID-19. It must be combined with other measures, including maintaining at least one-metre distance from each other, washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your face while wearing a mask.
Stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19!
Over 42 nurses and 26 student nurses from the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) have been quarantined following the death of a 79-year-old woman who succumbed to Covid-19 last week.
The placement of the UBH nurses and students under quarantine follows the isolation of nearly 200 Mpilo Central Hospital nurses two weeks ago after they came into contact with a positive colleague and three patients.
14 of the Mpilo nurses tested positive for Covid-19.
On Monday, one Covid-19 death was recorded in Bulawayo and it was among the seven new positive cases recorded in the city, the only such cases recorded in the country on that day.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care said the latest Bulawayo death is of a 49-year-old man with a history of travel from South Africa.
His case was among four local transmissions as well as two returnees from South Africa and one from Botswana to make up the seven new Covid-19 cases.
The death of the man brought to three Covid-19 related deaths in Bulawayo.
The first death in the city was recorded in April while the second one was recorded last week at UBH resulting in nurses and student nurses from the health institution being quarantined.
Acting chief executive officer Dr Narcacius Dzvanga confirmed that over 42 nurses had been quarantined following the death of a patient at the institution.
“We continue to sanitise and check temperatures of everyone who comes into the hospital including health workers. So far more than 42 nurses and 26 student nurses have been quarantined and the figures are likely to increase,” said Dr Dzvanga.
He said the hospital continues to take precautionary measures to ensure that health workers are protected as they render services to patients.
In an interview yesterday, acting Bulawayo provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo said all nurses at quarantine centres were asymptomatic. “Results of health care workers in self-quarantine are out and are being issued. These will be captured in the national update in the following days,” he said.
Dr Mlilo said the latest case of a man who died on Monday is one of the four local transmissions, with the deceased’s source of infection not known yet.
“The Covid-19 death is of one local transmission case that was diagnosed at a local hospital and so far, the source of infection remains unknown as investigations are underway. The other three local transmissions, the source of infection is known,” he said.
“Contact tracing starts immediately following a Covid-19 diagnosis being made. This was the case as well with this case. However, the positive result came out when client had already demised.”
Dr Mlilo encouraged Bulawayo residents to cooperate with Rapid Response Teams and to disclose vital information when health workers are conducting their work.
“The contact tracing process is going on well without any unique challenges. We encourage Bulawayo residents to be forthcoming with information and cooperate with Rapid Response Teams and all other frontline workers. It is our collective responsibility to stop the spread of Covid-19 in Bulawayo and the country at large,” said Dr Mlilo.
A UBH nurse who preferred anonymity said the Covid-19 death at the institution that had resulted in nurses being quarantined had shaken them.
“Our job gets riskier with each passing day and there is nothing much we can do as we know there are PPE and test kit shortages in the city,” she said.
A medical practitioner Dr Khayelitsha Dube recently said health workers were more at risk for Covid-19 due to the longer periods they spend with patients in their day to day duties.
“We are more at risk because of the concentration of sick people that we interact with in our duties. What makes it more dangerous is the fact that most people may have Covid-19 but they do not know as they have not yet tested,” said Dr Dube.
Former MDC ally and now Zanu PF Director of Information and Publicity, Tafadzwa ‘Two Boy’ Mugwadi has claimed that working for the ruling party was a ‘calling’ and not a self-enriching move.
Speaking in a social media live broadcast today, Mugwadi said working for Zanu pf was a calling contrary to former Zanu PF national youth political commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu’s allegations that the former student leader was blind to the corruption in government because he was enjoying good perks, which includes a ford ranger vehicle.
“I don’t drive a ford ranger for God’s sake, I don’t have perks that I enjoy and working for this political party (Zanu PF) is a calling unless you are telling that when you worked for the party you wanted to get rich,” said Mugwadi.
Mugwadi accused Tsenengamu of failing to prove with evidence corrupt officials within Zanu PF which led to his dismissal from the party early this year.
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In memory of the First Commander in Chief of ZAPU and ZIPRA Forces. In memory of the Father of the Nation.
Joshua Nkomo
POLITICAL REPORT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE PATRIOTIC FRONT (ZAPU) Sixth Congress, 12 – 15 October, 1984
Distinguished guests, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of the Central Committee and National Executive Committee, Comrade delegates,
I have today the honour and privilege to present to you the Political Report of the Central Committee of the Patriotic Front (ZAPU). In our report we shall present to you, delegates to this Congress, our assessment and analysis of events since our last Congress in 1975 and our proposals for current and future activities of the Party.
Comrades, we are holding our Congress in an independent Zimbabwe for the first time. This is a cause for great pride ‘and joy. We have realised the goal we set ourselves so many years ago. But the great joy we feel over this victory is marred by the deep sorrow and concern that we, and all Zimbabwean patriots, feel over the tragic events which are currently unfolding in our country. We must address ourselves to .these problems with the utmost honesty and frankness. In order to do so, we need to look back and analyse past developments with scientific precision, for the roots of present and future events are always to be found in past history.
One of Africa’s greatest sons, the patriot and revolutionary Amilcar Cabral, who led the people of Guinea-Bissau in their heroic struggle against Portuguese colonialism until his tragic murder in January 1972, left us with many invaluable lessons. One of these was his call to all revolutionaries to “tell no lies and claim no easy victories.” Comrades, we must “tell no lies” nor “claim easy victories”. We must at this Congress, be prepared to subject all the events of the past years to the most rigorous and honest: criticism, examination and evaluation. We must be prepared to criticise ourselves as well as others, in a constructive and revolutionary spirit. The terrible tragedy which is rapidly engulfing our country demands this from us.
THE LESSONS OF EARLY RESISTANCE
Dear Comrades, we wish to begin our report by looking back at same aspects of our past history because we believe in history as a great teacher. There are those who are presently attempting to rewrite a distorted history of Zimbabwe. They do this, we believe, precisely because they do not want the People to learn the lessons of this history. They want the people to repeat the mistakes of the past, because they can only survive and flourish in the chaos and division of these mistakes. When the British imperialists invaded our country nearly 100 years ago, our people first accepted them with the hospitality accorded to all visitors. However, when their intentions to seize our land became clear, the people rose against the invaders and attempted to drive them out. At first our people rose in scattered format ions, and their resistance was put down. The more far-sighted of the people’s leaders however, could see the weaknesses which disunity was causing. They saw that only a united front of the people could resist the colonial invasion; and so they established a united front and the people rose again. This time the united forces of the people almost overwhelmed the usurpers of our land. Only with massive reinforcements and by employing the modern weapons of the time in the most ruthless manner, could the colonial invaders smash the people’s resistance. Although the resistance was defeated at high cost, those who fell fighting colonialism left us a priceless lesson. They taught all future generations that the key to victory is unity.
Today, those who are attempting to write history describe these events in such a way as to avoid, the lesson of unity. Instead they claim the heritage of those historic days for only one section of our population, and in this way they betray the memory of the fallen heroes of those battles. Instead of honouring those heroes by promoting the unity which was achieved at that time, they disgrace the memory of those heroes by promoting division and disunity. Comrades, if we are to be true to the fallen heroes: Nehanda, Mkwati Ncube, Kagubi, Lobengula and others, we must be prepared to speak out and learn from the historic truth of their struggles. This same lesson of unity of the people against oppression and exploitation is to be found throughout the history of our struggle against colonialism. In the period leading up to the formation of the first national organisation of resistance to colonial rule, the workers of Zimbabwe led the way to unity in their struggle to form the first trade unions.
As colonialism developed its hold on our country, mines and factories were opened to enable the imperialists to extract the wealth of Zimbabwe. Our people were forced off the land and into these mines and factories. A class of workers who owned nothing but their own ability to provide labour, was created.
This development in Zimbabwe of a working class was an important foundation for the resurgence of the people’s resistance. Since that tine our workers have continued to provide the people with many outstanding leaders and fighters. The workers have fought many courageous battles and taught the people many useful lessons. One of these lessons was the value of unity. Their experiences in the factories and mines,, in the daily struggles they fought for better wages and living conditions, taught the workers that only by uniting together could they resist the merciless exploitation they suffered, and fight for a better life. Once again far-sighted and revolutionary heroes pointed the way forward. Men like Masotsha Ndlovu brought the message of workers’ unity from their experiences in the struggles in South Africa, and worked tirelessly to build a united trade union movement in Zimbabwe.
The first achievement was to establish the Industrial and Commercial Union’ (ICU) in Zimbabwe, which laid the basis for workers organisation. In so doing, they taught us once again the lesson that unity is the key to victory, and they laid the foundation for a united national resistance to colonialism. On another front, men like Benjamin Burombo sought to unite educated Zimbabweans through his efforts in the African People’s Voice Association. Later the early African. National Congress and the City Youth League also struggled to unite the people to fight against colonialism. The experience of all these early struggles created the conditions in which the people learned the vital need for unity. These lessons found their first national expression in the resuscitation of the African National Congress in 19.57.
The main strength of the ANC was in the towns. We soon realised that we needed the whole people to be united in the struggle. Because of our dispossession from the land, the peasants have always resisted colonial rule. Now they needed to be mobilised into organised struggle. The ANC set itself the task, of bringing all. The people together to fight colonial, oppression. All these lessons culminated in the formation of the National Democratic Party in 1960 which can be said to be the first truly united national organisation of the Zimbabwean people. In the NDP we recognised no tribe, race or creed. The NDP stood for true national unity and put these policies into practice. Against the people’s efforts to build unity, ‘we were faced with constant attempts by the colonial regime to create division and mistrust. The imperialist powers too, worried by the growing threat our unity ‘posed to their plunder of our country, began to make feverish efforts to disrupt and divide us. Comrades, history is a tough taskmaster. If we are to use history as a’ weapon for our struggles, we must tell the truth fearlessly whatever the consequences. It must be said therefore, that the decision of certain elements to split the movement in 1963, played right into the hands, of the colonial oppressors. Comrades, differences within the liberation movement are bound to occur. The question is how to resolve them. As we have always said, differences between the people must be solved by discussion and persuasion, not by conflict. By splitting the movement, the ZANU leaders threw the people into conflict – a tragic conflict for which we are still paying the ghastly price over 20 years later. Whatever is being said today, history has shown us only too clearly that a terrible and fearful mistake was made in l963.
THE TURN TO ARMED STRUGGLE
Dear Comrades, I should now like to turn to another aspect of our – history. And again I would like to recall Almicar Cabral’s call to us all to “tell no lies and claim no easy victories.” We need to report to you on the decision to take up arms and prosecution of the armed struggle. We do so because at our previous Congress we could .not discuss this question openly and frankly due to the prevailing colonial repression. We also wish to report on this matter because it has been a major victim of the campaign of distortion to which our history is being subjected. Comrades, at the outset, I should like to advise you that our ability to report fully on this matter is still, even today, restricted. This is the result of the confiscation of the Party’s records by government. The entire documented record of our prosecution of the struggle was seized by the government in March 1982, and up to today it has neither been returned to us nor made available to the people. This is another aspect of the campaign to distort history, and a most disgraceful and dishonest act.
In passing, I should also like to make another point about these records. It has been repeatedly alleged by certain elements in the leadership of ZANU that after independence we were preparing a coup or rebellion against the government. Why then did we bring back into Zimbabwe these archives, which contained all the military records of the Party, up to and including the copies of orders issued to ZIPRA for cease fire? More than that, they also contained the complete personnel records of ZIPRA and details of deployment of ZIPRA forces. If we were preparing any military action against the government, we would never have brought back into Zimbabwe our military records, because they would have been vulnerable to seizure and could have revealed our military secrets. But, we had nothing to hide and that is why we openly returned with our records. I should also like to add that in our desire to ensure that the true history of the struggle was told, we instructed two ZIPRA officers to begin compiling a factual history of ZIPRA activities soon after independence. In fact it had been agreed that ZIPRA, ZANLA and the Rhodesian army should co-operate in producing a complete and factual history of the war. Neither ZANLA nor the Rhodesians took any steps to implement this decision. ZIPRA did take action and the two officers instructed to carry out this project were doing so right up to the moment when the archives were seized. Even today, we are most anxious that the true history of our struggle for national liberation should be told to the nation. We believe this history belongs to the people, and not to a group of individuals. The people have a right to their history and are entitled to learn from it.
In this spirit we should like to deny most emphatically the current claim that the armed struggle began in 1966 at the “Battle of Chinhoyi.” Whilst we in no way wish to belittle the actions of the comrades who died in this battle, the true facts of the beginnings of the armed struggle must be placed on record. The decision to take up arms against the colonial regime was neither easy nor uncontroversial. – It was a decision taken after we bad realised that all other methods of struggle against colonial rule were leading nowhere. Among our Youth were those comrades who had already by 1960, decided that violence had to be employed against the colonial regime. They were untrained and more or less unarmed. So they turned’ to simple methods of sabotage which did not require sophisticated weapons or training. These comrades, including some of you present today, carried out a courageous campaign of simple sabotage, and although this campaign did not succeed in dislodging the regime, it was extremely important in reactivating the people’s tradition of armed resistance to the colonial settler regime. This sabotage campaign of 1960-61 marks the true beginning of the armed struggle in Zimbabwe. Many of us still remember the names General Chedu and General Hokoyo which marked many of these early attacks against the colonial regime. We sent the first comrades out of the country for training in 1961. The first groups including Sikwili Moyo, Zephania Sihwa, Mark Nziramasanga, Philemon Makonese and David Mpongo, returned to embark on operations in 1962. During this early period, we were mainly concerned with carrying out training missions and obtaining arms. By the time ZANU split the movement, we were already in the advanced stages of preparing to carry out armed attacks inside the country. In fact some unplanned incidents had already taken place. During this time Comrades Manyonga and Velaphi became the first to be arrested for carrying out attacks on the regime. It is now being said that ZANU split from ZAPU because they were the ones who wanted to start the armed struggle. This is a ridiculous distortion. We had already, well before the split by ZANU, started launching the aimed struggle. By 1964 the first full unit entered the country to carry out in depth reconnaissance, training and local preparations. This unit completed its mission and escaped undetected. Through 1964 and 1965 similar small units were infiltrated into the country to carry out preparations for the aimed struggle. During this period of preparation, sabotage and other armed actions were initiated by our cadres. We were still concerned at that time to build up our reserves of trained personnel before we launched any major aimed actions. Comrades, I hope we have set the record straight on this issue, and we hope that in the future, those elements of ZANU who have attempted to distort this period of our history will speak truthfully. Comrades, we must be the first to say to ourselves that in initiating the armed struggle in Zimbabwe we made many mistakes and suffered setbacks. -We had no experience in the matter of arms at all, as the ‘colonial regime had ensured that’ we had no access to arms. Learning how to use arms, acquiring military skills and embarking on a guerrilla war were complicated and difficult tasks. I am reminded of the experience of the Cuban revolutionaries.
On 1 December 1956, 83 Cuban comrades led by the outstanding revolutionary leader, Comrade Fidel Castro, landed in Cuba by boat to begin the armed struggle. Three days later they were attacked by the fascist forces and only 13 of the original group survived to carry out the armed struggle. But from this terrible setback emerged the Cuban Rebel Army which 3 years later seized power. Like our Cuban comrades, and indeed all those starting out on the road of revolution, we too suffered setbacks. But the important thing is that we started, and as we went along we learned. One of the most important experiences of the aimed struggle was contained in the Wankie and Sipolilo campaigns of 1967 and 1968. Using the experience of the early 1960’s, these became the first large scale operations ever launched in Zimbabwe, and they involved several hundred men. These campaigns were planned and led by the late Comrade J.D. Sotsha Ngwenya, Dumiso Dabengwa Akim Ndlovu and others. Their full history has yet to be told, like so much of our rich history of struggle. But we would like to mention two important aspects of these battles. In the first place, because of the scale of fighting and the outstanding courage of our fighters, these battles had a profound effect on the people of Zimbabwe. They showed that it was possible to tackle the enemy on our own soil with modern weapons, and inflict serious damage on the regime. They showed that the racists were not invincible as they claimed. In the second place, these military campaigns provided invaluable lessons for the future conduct of the armed struggle, and gave us concrete experience of battle conditions in our country. This experience was analysed by our military commanders and the political leadership and-provided the basis for the new strategies and tactics which we then adopted. It should be added that the lessons of these battles also benefited our colleagues in ZANU, who were able to assess the enemy’s military strengths and weaknesses without actually having to commit soldiers into the field at the time. Comrades, these early battles of the sixties deserve an honoured place in our history. The comrades who fought and fell during this period were the courageous trailblazers who actually paved the way to successful armed struggle. We wish to pay them tribute. We salute these heroic soldiers of the people who fought and gave their lives at a time when victory was still a far off dream. Let history record their outstanding contribution to our struggle. Today we can say that those campaigns were the major launching pad of the armed struggle. Comrades, before we turn to the later developments of our struggle which led to the Lancaster House Conference, we should like to touch on another important principle of political struggle. We understand the development of struggle as a process. We believe that during the actual process of struggle, the people acquire new experiences, mature and develop. Certainly our own experience bears this out. When we began the struggle against colonial rule, few of us had a clear idea of our final destination. During the early battles, we began to realise that our enemy – colonial oppression – was only the roost immediate and direct enemy. Behind the colonial regime itself, stood a whole international system of oppression and exploitation. This system was responsible not only for racist colonial rule in Zimbabwe, but also for war, poverty, hunger, disease and-suffering throughout our World. Not every comrade who embarked on the journey of struggle with us in the early days could understand and accept this. It was to be expected therefore, that this process of developing our political understanding should leave sane comrades behind. In 1970, same of our comrades outside the country did find themselves left behind. They could not keep pace with the development of ideas which the daily struggle was producing. As a result they fell by the wayside, and in this process they caused considerable damage to the Party. However, we would be dishonest if we then refused to acknowledge the considerable contribution these comrades made to the struggle before they deserted. We freely acknowledge and pay tribute to that contribution. But in the same spirit of honest criticism and self-criticism we also say that these comrades did set us back by their actions after they abandoned the struggle. All revolutions have to go through a process of cleansing themselves and ours is no exception, even today. Following the crisis of 1970-71, the Party emerged with a clearer and more decisive grasp of the nature of our struggle. The Politics of Pressure were abandoned and in their place emerged a more advanced concept of actually seizing power from the colonial regime.
This new approach was illustrated by the adoption of the slogan; “Power to the People.” This new understanding led us to restructure our organisation, both politically and militarily. It was not (and even now is not) an easy process. But it led us to strengthen our party and military machine, and this gave us greater capacity to hit our enemy. We should like to mention here that many of us spent this decade and a half in prisons and detention camps. Some of these experiences did pass us by. When we were released we had a duty to learn the new lessons of the struggle from those who had had the benefit of these experiences. Even today, we are called upon to open ourselves to new and bold ideas and not to fear new initiatives.
THE STRUGGLE FOR REVOLUTIONARY UNITY. Turning now comrades, to the period of our last Congress in 1975, you will recall that we met last at a time of considerable division and confusion. These problems were the fruits of the seeds of division planted over 10 years previously. The colonial regime and its allies took full advantage of these weaknesses and were able to slow down and at times even paralyse our struggle. All manner of opportunists were able to emerge in this period of confusion, and masquerading as champions of the people’s cause, they were able to confuse sections of our people. Following our Congress we took active steps to attempt to overcome these difficulties. Our approach was dictated by our sincere belief that as history had taught us, the key to victory is the unity of the people. At that time, and after the break-up of the African National Council, we sought to find methods for a framework for unity which could advance the struggle.
Despite our differences with elements of ZANU, we believed that the bulk of the cadres of ZANU shared with us a common understanding of the need to unite to fight the real enemy we faced. As the ZANU leadership was divided and in some disarray at that time, we agreed to proceed to find methods of co-operation with their active fighting forces. The result was the formation of ZIPA which created a joint military command of ZIPRA and ZANLA. This was not our first effort to co- operate. There had been the Joint Military Council (JMC) of 1972. The JMC was formed by comrades J.Z. Moyo, Herbert Chitepo, T. G. Silundkia and Henry Hamadziripi, with the participation of Nikita Mangena, Lookout Masuku, Akim Ndlovu and Dumiso Dabengwa and from ZANU, Josiah Tongogara, John Mataure and Robson Manyika. Although the JMC did not succeed in unifying the fighting forces, it laid the foundation for future unity. The experiences of the JMC made the formation of ZIPA easier. ZIPA was formed with the full backing of the ZAPU leadership abroad and in at home. We in ZAPU did all we could to consolidate and strengthen the unity of the fighting forces through ZIPA. Discussion between ZAPU and ZANU leaders including those ZANU leaders then being held in Zambian prisons, led to the agreement to form ZIPA. Comrades J.Z. Moyo and Simon Muzenda set about implementing this agreement. Comrades Nikita Mangena, J.D. Ngwenya, Jevah Maseko and Gordon Sibanda were among the ZAPU commanders who created ZIPA. From the ZANU side there were Comrades Rex Nhongo, Dzino Machingura, David Todhlana and Mudzingwa.
Unfortunately, certain regional and foreign powers attempted to interfere with this process of unity, and to a considerable extent, they had sane successes which ultimately led to the collapse of ZIPA. The external interference in ZIPA resulted in the tragic deaths of many” young and unarmed cadres, who were slaughtered in camps in Tanzania and Mozambique. Despite these tragedies and the weaknesses of ZIPA, we believe ZIPA played an important part in our struggle. Firstly, ZIPA enabled us to continue to escalate the armed struggle at a time when powerful forces were attempting to force us back into the peaceful protest – strategies of the past. Secondly, ZIPA provided a new experience to the young cadres – that of the value of Unity. This experience was to provide a valuable foundation which helped considerably in the formation of the Patriotic Front alliance. We salute the cadres of ZIPA, both those of ZIPRA and ZANLA, for their invaluable contribution to our struggle. We believe that a true and honest evaluation of the role of ZIPA will place these comrades in air- honoured position in the history of our struggle. We would like to take sane time at this point to explain what our approach was to the question of unity at that time, because we believe that many of the tragic and extraordinary events of recent times can be better understood through an evaluation of the events which led to the formation of the Patriotic Front alliance. What was the political basis of our approach?
I should like dear comrades to quote to you from a document issued in 1976 which I believe was tragically prophetic. It was a document issued by the Party which explained our approach to the question of unity. We said: “Brick by brick even if it should take many years, ZAPU’s political and ideological outlook guides the movement to an irreversible commitment to the unity of people of Zimbabwe and the total independence of Zimbabwe as a single entity. This is why the movement is in a constant struggle to build a broad front against colonialism and imperialism. And it has led the movement also never to mistake the people for the enemy. Differences among the people should not be handled as if they were differences between the people and the enemy. ZAPU upholds the principle that differences among the people should be solved by discussion and persuasion, whereas those between the people and the enemy can only be solved by armed struggle. In line with this principle, there will be no circumstances under which ZAPU will countenance any of its military cadres turning their guns upon the people, whether within the revolutionary army itself or among the Zimbabwe masses. In short, no fascist tactics can ever be a short cut to a revolutionary victory. Only the enemy practises such tactics of coercion and .murder because it has lost all support among the people. How could we behave like the enemy of the people and still claim to be the vanguard in the Zimbabwe people’s struggle for independence and socio-economic reconstruction? The principles which guide our movement are the very antithesis of what the enemy stands for. We must always seek to resolve the differences amongst the anti- colonial, anti-imperialist forces in a constructive way. We must strive to build unity among the people as we carry out our political and armed struggle against the enemy.”
Comrades, that is what we stood for in the Patriotic Front, and I believe that any true patriot looking back can see how correct we were in this approach. Whilst we sincerely and honestly strove to build a true unity of all the people fighting against colonial oppression, the subsequent events show clearly that elements on the ZANU side viewed the Patriotic Front alliance as a temporary measure. We suspected this even at the time, but our commitment to unity led us to overcome our suspicions and make every effort to fight for a united front. We believe that the achievements of the Patriotic Front alliance show that we were correct to spare no effort to consolidate unity. Comrades, we understood at that time that there were differences within the broad liberation movement. We could see concretely how these differences were being exploited by our enemies to sabotage the struggle. Increasingly the more far-sighted comrades in both ZAPU and ZANU understood that if we did not find methods to overcome these differences, we would be betraying the real interests of the people. Problems within ZANU at that time and in particular the purge of the most strongly pro- unity groupings, delayed the formation of the Patriotic Front. We regretted these developments but continued to patiently urge and counsel unity. For us the Patriotic Front was the only basis on which to consolidate the unity of the whole struggling people of Zimbabwe. As we said at the time: ZAPU initiated the formation of the Patriotic Front not only in order to be able to adopt a common position at such for a as the Geneva Conference, but also in order to consolidate the unity of the people of Zimbabwe. Through the Patriotic Front we shall be able to further our efforts in turning ZIPA into a genuinely single army. The Patriotic Front has therefore embarked on a programme beyond Geneva of consolidating unity at the military, social arid political levels.
And of course we must also emphasize that we did not regard the Patriotic Front as an alliance only for ZAPU and ZANU. We always saw the Patriotic Front as the framework for building a broad united front of all genuinely progressive forces in Zimbabwe. The achievements of the Patriotic Front in the 3 year period of its existence place it, we believe, as the most successful expression of the true long term interests of all our people. The Patriotic Front enabled us to begin to overcome the differences and disagreements within the liberation movement. It unquestionably consolidated national unity in a way not seen since the days of the NDP. The Patriotic Front created hope and courage among the people and greatly increased the people’s fighting spirit. It provided a vehicle for real unity in action. During the period of the Patriotic Front, our fighting capability was greatly strengthened and the struggle was intensified at all levels. On the international level the Patriotic Front raised the prestige of the Zimbabwean people to new heights, and brought us the respect and administration of the vast majority of the international community. The creation of the Patriotic Front by the Zimbabwean people was recognised as providing a new and unique, experience to the whole question of unity, of relevance to all peoples struggling against oppression. We regard these achievements as the most significant victory of our people during the whole course of the struggle. And we believe that by the end of 1979 the majority of the people of Zimbabwe shared our views on this matter.
How were we robbed of the fruits of our achievements in the Patriotic Front? The answer to this question is best found by asking ourselves whose interests were served by creating disunity. It was of course our oppressors and exploiters who stood most to gain by the people’s disunity. The Rhodesian settler regime and its supporters had throughout our struggle, worked ceaselessly to divide and confuse the people. As we stood poised for our final onslaught against colonialism in Zimbabwe some elements of the ZANU leadership once again unleashed division within the people. All that has happened since those ZANU elements destroyed the Patriotic Front is clear evidence that the Patriotic Front served the best interests of our people and its destruction served the interests of the enemies of a free and independent Zimbabwe. We are convinced that in time the people of Zimbabwe will came to realise the full extent of this crime committed against them, and they will certainly judge the perpetrators most severely.
ESCALATION OF THE ARMED STRUGGLE Comrades it is necessary here to briefly review the events which led finally to the- ceasefire and elections in 1980. In the first instance it is absolutely clear that it was the combination of the unity of the people and the escalation of the armed struggle which led the British and other Western backers of colonialism in Zimbabwe to abandon their attempts to prop up the crumbling colonial regime. , It is now being said by certain elements that it was not these factors, but rather the same efforts of ZANU which led us to independence. This is such a preposterous distortion that we are almost tempted to dismiss it without comment. But those who perpetrate this lie have obviously learned the” dictum of the German Nazi propagandist, Goebbels, who said “If you want to tell lies, tell outrageous lies and repeat them continuously, then the people will begin to “believe them”. For this reason we must answer the outrageous claim being constantly thrown at our people that ZAPU and ZIPRA never fought nor contributed to the liberation struggle. We do not’ claim to have been the sole contributors to the liberation struggle. Indeed in 1976. We explained our approach in this way:
The Zimbabwe Revolution is a collective endeavour. The struggle does not belong to any single individual. It is a collective effort in which everyone has a duty to do his best to defeat the enemy, and to carry out the difficult task of the reconstruction of our society. We should continue to organise our movement so that the loss of one, two or three members does not change the course of the revolution. We should be and are able to proclaim with great satisfaction that any one of us could die at any moment, without affecting the revolutionary process. We all can carry out our respective tasks knowing that beyond us the Revolution continues; that the work of the Zimbabwe Revolution is not in the hands of individuals but of the whole Zimbabwean people and their Movement. Individuals die, the Movement lives on; the Revolution must go on.”
