Own Correspondent

The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA)said on Thursday it is concerned by increased falsehoods being published against the organisation, highlighting these were meant to incite mass uprisings.

The ZNA cited recent reports which claimed that disaffected members had descended on Bulawayo and beat up innocent civilians in apparent protest against a purported salary cut.

In a statement, ZNA deputy director public relations Major Alex Zuva said the army was a professional organisation which conducted its operations in line with its Constitutional mandate.

He said most of the misinformation was being peddled mainly by online news agencies.

“There has been an increase of negative stories of late in which the media has tried to be subversive and capitalise on the hardships that have been caused by the Coronavirus induced lockdown to raise public emotions and anger against the army and the government,” he said.

“On Tuesday 16 June 2020, the Bulawayo24.com ran a series of stories to the effect that the army had taken over the city of Bulawayo. This is a blatant lie as the army was and is still assisting the police to enforce lockdown regulations in order to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The same publication went on to proffer possible scenarios that could have led to the so called takeover by theorising that the soldiers were angry because of the pay cut. Note that there was no salary cuts to the soldiers or civil servants. The back pay was communicated when it commenced and it has always been public knowledge that it was going to end in May 2020.”

Major Zuva said the army stood guided by its Constitutional mandate to safeguard the territorial integrity of Zimbabwe.

“The army knows that there has always been an agenda to link members of the defence forces with negative issues as part of the calculated regime change agenda. All operations that the army carries out are sanctioned and in line with its constitutional mandate which is to ensure the safety of the public and their property. In no circumstances does the army go about beating innocent civilians as purported in the series of false stories on the so called Bulawayo takeover,” he said.

Correspondent

Zimbabweans in South Africa are set to have a demonstration against Mnangagwa regime on Friday 19 June 2020.

The demonstration set to take place outside Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria will see Zimbabweans residents in South Africa coming together to demonstrate against the corruption, looting and hunger in their country.

One of the organisers from Chapter 2 Movement who spoke to this publication Elvis Mugari said Zimbabweans are invited to participate in their numbers and send a strong message to the Mnangagwa regime that their time is up. ” We have seem massive looting and corruption under Mnangagwa. Our people are in pain, it time for us as Zimbabweans to act.We invite all Zimbabweans who can get to Pretoria Embassy on Friday 19 June to please come in your numbers. This is a non partisan demonstration, we need every voice. Don’t forget your mask and we will maintain all social distancing regulations.” He said.

The Pretoria demonstration follows a wave of demonstrations by doctors and nurses in Harare and Bulawayo the past two days. All massive demo of all civil servants is set for the 22nd of June 2020.

John Bredenkamp, a controversial millionaire businessman who captained the national rugby side before independence has died, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) announced on Thursday.

He was 79.

“It is with a heavy and sad heart that the president of the ZRU announces the sad passing of our former Sables player and captain John Bredenkamp this morning,” the ZRU said in a statement.

One of Zimbabwe’s richest people, Bredenkamp was reputed to have amassed a personal fortune of US$870 million from activities such as sanctions busting on behalf of the Rhodesian regime, tobacco trading, arms sales and diamond mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Born in Kimberley, South Africa, in 1940, Bredenkamp moved to Zimbabwe with his parents as a child, and worked in the tobacco industry after finishing high school at Prince Edward in Harare.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, in the interest of time, I am going to get straight to the point.

Over the last few weeks, we have seen a blatant attempt by the State and its proxies to keep us distracted by side-shows masquerading as national issues.

However, on behalf of the 2.6 million Zimbabweans who put their faith in the MDCAlliance we are putting the state and all its operators on notice. We will not be distracted from the real issues bedevilling our nation.

The real issue is that Corruption is killing us.

Let’s start with the numbers:

In 2017, US$2.7 billion disappeared under Command Agriculture. Of that US$2.7 billion, US$1.5 billion was withdrawn on a single day, the 27th of December 2017.

In 2018, US$3.5 billion dollars was unaccounted for under Command Agriculture.

We await the next Auditor General’s report but anticipate this pattern of state looting
will continue.

7.7 million Zimbabweans face food insecurity in a nation of approximately 15.6 million people.

This means that an estimated 5.5 million people in rural Zimbabwe and a further 2.2
million people in urban Zimbabwe are facing food insecurity over the next year.
When the MDC trio demonstrated against this hunger, they were abducted, tortured
and sexually assaulted. They were persecuted for speaking out on behalf 7.7
million Zimbabweans. Corruption is literally starving us.

63% of Zimbabweans live below the poverty line. Despite the over US$6billion that has been poured into Command Agriculture, Zimbabwe faces, what the UN has described as, its worst hunger crisis in a decade.

The UN went a step further to classify this crisis as “man-made”.

According to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, women and children
are “bearing the brunt of the crisis” with 90% of children aged six months to two
years not consuming enough food.
29.9% of urban households are cereal insecure.

Corruption is killing us.

Mr Mnangagwa signed the Zimbabwe Domestic and Humanitarian Appeal for
Assistance in April 2020 appealing for a total of US$2,2 billion worth of
humanitarian aid over the next 12 months.
Of that money only US$955,67 million is required for the food insecurity response.
This is far less than the US$3.5 billion looted under Command Agriculture in 2018.

In fact, the entire amount requested in aid for 2020 is less than what has been spent
propping up those who benefit from looting money under the Command

Agriculture scheme.
This has not only left us unproductive but extremely vulnerable.
In Mr Mnangagwa’s appeal for US$2,2 billion I have referred to, US$37 million6
was requested for health yet we have seen the attempted looting of contracts up to
the value of US$60 million due to dubious procurement processes and the
insatiable appetite of those right at the very top.
Prisca Mupfumira is alleged to have looted funds from NSSA in excess of US$95
million. The amounts looted through these corrupt acts would have been enough to
fund health assistance over two times over; yet Mrs Mupfumira walks free. No
accountability. No political will to bring her or her accomplices to book.
In the past few weeks, Covidgate has implicated senior government officials
including those at the very, very top yet all we see are theatrics, weak
investigations and the arrest of the smallest, weakest, least powerful fish.
o Why is Obadaiah Moyo walking free?
o Why is George Guvamatanga walking free?
o Why is Mthuli Ncube walking free?
o Why is Collins Mnangagwa walking free?
Corruption is killing us.
In 2019 we saw allegations of 17 000 tonnes of maize being imported from Tanzania
at US$600 a tonne while world prices were at US$240 a tonne. There was no
investigation into this allegation and the public is still left wondering who
organised this contract and who benefits from it?
According to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) itself, quoting
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), Zimbabwe loses at least US$1.8
billion a year to corruption. This figure is conservative.
Corruption is killing us.
Quite simply, the State has employed all manner of distractions disguised as foiled coup plots, army backed takeovers of private property, RTGS payments dressed as USD allowances, and many other theatrics. However, we say unequivocally: we will not be distracted. Corruption is killing us!

Way forward

We want decisive and tangible action.
We demand a public, televised inquiry into the Covidgate Scandal
We are sick and tired of corruption being swept under the carpet and the perpetrators
of corruption being exonerated behind closed doors to the detriment of the citizens.
It is the citizens that the pay the price for the looting, so we demand answers. It is the
citizens who bear the brunt of the bad governance, so we demand accountability.
Corruption is killing us.
If ZACC cannot act independently and transparently it should be disbanded. We are
tired of the catch and release strategy being employed when dealing with the most
damning corruption scandals. The true independence of ZACC must be part of a
raft of wider political reforms.
If corruption is everywhere, but ZACC is mute, the inescapable conclusion that the
public will reach is that this important institution in the fight against corruption has
become captured. We want ACTION because corruption is killing us. Arrest the
big fish. Investigate the cases thoroughly.
o Where is Prisca Mupfumira?
o Where is the NSSA investigation?
o What is being done to investigate corruption at ZINARA? At ZIMSEC and
at all the parastatals that were named in the Auditor General’s report?
The Auditor General does all the work, but her reports gather dust and are not
followed up by any meaningful investigation, prosecution or conviction.
Corruption is killing us.
In terms of s255 of the Constitution, ZACC has a duty to not only investigate
corruption but to expose it as well. We have not had a single exposé of corruption
from ZACC. Not one. Yet we know, from the Auditor General, from our
journalists, from reports from the IMF, the UN Special Rapporteur on Hunger and
our own lived daily experiences that Corruption is killing us.
Billions are being lost each year and there has not been a single call from ZACC for
the looters to pay back the money. We make that demand now. They must pay
back the money because corruption is killing us.
We demand the strengthening of the National Prosecution Authority. It should not be
an arm of the president’s office. In terms of section 260 of the Constitution, the
Prosecutor General (PG) must exercise his or her functions impartially and without
fear, favour, prejudice or bias. The PG is accountable to the public. In terms of
section 260(2), the PG must formulate and “publicly disclose” the general
principles by which he or she decides whether and how to institute and conduct
criminal proceedings. We demand an explanation as to why top govt officials have
not been arrested. What principles are protecting those at the top? Why are they
allowed to steal with impunity? Yet, MDC Alliance members who protest hunger
are arrested, abducted, tortured, sexually assaulted then re-arrested? The citizens
have to know, in fact, we demand to know, what principles, are guiding the
functions of the NPA as it carries out what are meant to be its constitutional
functions? Corruption is killing us.
In parliament we are going to push for amendments to the Public Finance
Management Act so that there are consequences for those who do not comply with
the requirement to timeously report and account to Parliament on government
spending. There has to be a personal cost and personal liability to these leakages
caused by corruption and maladministration.
We demand that every public officer must declare their assets as was promised in
January 2018 and this disclosure must be made available to public scrutiny and
where necessary lifestyle audits conducted by ZIMRA.
Conclusion

At the beginning of 2020, President Advocate Nelson Chamisa outlined the MDC Alliance’s 5 Big
Fights. We take the fight against corruption seriously and we will not be deterred
from pursuing it on all fronts including in parliament, through protest, and even on
social media. We refuse to accept any distraction that is not in the public interest.
Right now, corruption is killing us. The architects and perpetrators of this
corruption must be brought to book.
The MDC Alliancehas set out a comprehensive programme for the resolution of the
national crisis in its Road to Economic Recovery, Legitimacy, Openness And
Democracy (RELOAD) is the MDC’s comprehensive agenda to end Zimbabwe’s
current economic crisis
Economies are not resuscitated by fasting and prayer. They are resuscitated by good
governance, transparency and accountability. The only demon binding our
economy is that of corruption.

Watch video downloading below. Please be patient as the video downloads.

Reports just received indicate that Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission.

Moyo’s arrest was imminent after he snubbed a summon to appear before the Commission on Tuesday.

Moyo was summoned by the commission over a multi million dollar deal by his Ministry which was corruply awarded to Drax Sagl, a company that was allegedly not ‘fit and proper’ for the deal, and accused of inflating prices.

Zacc regarded Moyo as a person of interest following his alleged involvement in the murky deal. ZACC summoned Moyo with a possibility of an immediate arrest after completing evaluation of the statement he submitted last week.

“He was asked to report at 12 midday but he requested postponement to 4pm citing that he was attending cabinet meeting which were reasonable grounds.

“He however failed to turn up and did not explain his absence,” Sources said.

Moyo’s arrest follows that of Natpharm chief executive Florah Sifeku and other officials who were also asked to submit similar reports to ZACC last week.

Moyo is alleged to have given a greenlight to the award the contract to Drax International with full knowledge that it had failed security checks twice.

It is further alleged that he recommended Drax’s capacity and untainted record to Natpharm chief executive Florah Sifeku.

ZIMRA and veterinary services have been condemned for subjecting nearly 20 000 chicks smuggled from South Africa to inhumane treatment.

The Herald on Thursday reported that police intercepted two men smuggling a consignment of 19 600 day-old chicks across the Limpopo River from South Africa into Zimbabwe.

The chicks were taken to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials where they were all burnt alive with guidance from veterinarians.

Commenting on the development, United Kingdom-based law lecturer Alex Magaisa said the “casual” manner in which the issue was reported is “unsettling”. Said Magaisa:

The image of chicks being burnt alive, some desperately scurrying for cover is disturbing. That a national paper publishes it and the Secretary for Information tweets it so casually is unsettling. Whatever the health considerations, birds and animals deserve humane treatment.

But it’s probably an appropriate metaphor of this regime and its enablers. If they don’t care about and can abuse abduction and torture victims; if they can shoot unarmed civilians in the back and claim they were shooting at a 45-degree angle; day-old chicks are a minor job.

Pindula

263chat

MUTARE residents yesterday rejected proposed amendments to the Constitution saying they entrench power in individuals contrary to the principles of separation of power, transparency and accountability.
Speaking during a public hearing on the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 2, residents, Community Based Organisations (CBO), Civic Society Organisations (CSO) and academia, dismissed proposed amendments to the 2013 Constitution.

Citizens turned out in their numbers, resulting in the chair of the Parliament team, Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga creating two separate groups, one inside Queens Hall, while other sat outside the hall in observance of social distance.

Health teams were on hand to check people’s temperatures, sanitize hands and enforce social distance, as people initially jostled for entrance into the venue forcing a brief adjournment of proceedings.

In oral submissions, there was a resonating message in most submissions made by residents, who demanded that government should make tangible steps to align laws to the Constitution and fully implement it before effecting retrogressive amendments.

Residents also questioned the prudence of amending the Constitution through a Bill of parliament, when it was a byproduct of an extensive outreach program (COPAC) and voted for by the people through a referendum.

Centre for Research and Development, James Mupfumi said the amendments should not see the light of day as they are a drawback on the principles of good governance and violate founding principles of the constitution.

Mupfumi said the amendments would allow the executive unfettered powers to borrow, enter into agreements that place financial obligations on the fiscus without being accountable to the Parliament.

He said the executive should not be allowed to augment its powers, but should be pushed to fulfill some of the promises made by the new dispensation that it would accelerate reforms to strengthen founding principles and values of the constitution.

“We have a progressive constitution that protects the rights of the people so we have a keen interest in it, particularly those that may want to amend it in violation of the founding principles of transparency, citizen participation and accountability.

“Three quarters of the proposed amendments remove or violates the fundamental values of the constitution, so we are totally against this.

“We actually wish that government comes up with bills that cement realization of the protection of human rights and strengthen citizen participation, transparency and accountability in governance,” said Mupfumi.

He added, “The only amendment that we wish is carried forward is the one relating to provincial councils because it ensure the principle of separation of powers is realised and that devolution is effectively implemented.”

Youths also spoke against the amendments, under the banner of the National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO) rejecting proposals which it said would limit public participation and judicial accountability.

It rejected several amendments, in extensive position paper, which it said were contradictory to constitutional provisions and would result in power excesses by the executive in violation of principles of transparency and oversight.

NAYO said the amendment on youth quota ‘directly impacts on the constitutional objective for youth representation and participation in political, social, economic and other spheres of life considering that the youth demographic makes up 60% of Zimbabwe’s total population.’

“…Amendment impacts on the democratic rights of the youths as an important social group and also the democratic space afforded the young people of Zimbabwe in governance issues.”

On the amendment on parliamentary oversight on fiscal obligations, NAYO said “…exclusion of Parliament in approving the validity of such agreements does go against the spirit and purport of the Constitution as well as against principles of transparency and oversight.

“It goes against transparency, good governance, accountability, fiscal probity, principles of good administration and other foundational values and principles of the Constitution.”

Some of the proposed amendments to the Constitution include the abolishing of the Presidential running mate, appointment of Judges of Superior Courts instead of public interviews- where the President would be able to promote judges without interviews.

Amendments would also give the President given power to appoint 7 Ministers who are not MPs instead of the current 5, extension of the women’s quota Proportional Representation for 10 more years from 2023, despite the constitution affirming gender parity of 50/50.

CITE

Hundreds of Bulawayo residents turned up at a parliamentary public hearing to reject the proposed Constitutional Amendment No.2 Bill, which seeks to introduce at least 27 amendments to the 2013 constitution.

The proposals are being pushed by the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government and three teams of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs have been sent to hold meetings across the country.

In Bulawayo, the meeting was held on Wednesday afternoon at a local hotel and was presided over by Makoni South MP Misheck Mataranyika.

Before the meeting started residents had already formed a long winding queue waiting their turn to gain access to the meeting room due to Covid-19 regulation which only allows a maximum of 50 people at a public gathering.

Seeing the numbers that were present, the parliamentary portfolio resolved to allow them into the meeting in batches in line with COVID -19 regulations.

Speaker after speaker argued why the government was in a rush to amend the 2013 constitution when it had not been implemented fully and said the government had failed to consult people on whether it should be amended.

The general sentiment was the proposed Bill would compromise the principle of separation of power, as it seeks to give President Emmerson Mnangagwa excessive power.

Contentious issues that residents rejected involved extension of women seats in parliament saying they wanted 50-50 representation, the additional number of unelected ministers and mostly, the retirement age of judges where the amendment seeks to increase it to 75 years from the mandatory 70 years.

Currently, Section 186 of the Constitution (Tenure of office for Judges) states the mandatory retirement age for judges is 70 years where judges of the Constitutional Court are appointed for a non-renewable term of not more than fifteen years.

A resident, Charles Dube said the amendments were an excuse for political expediency.

“Instead of giving token seats to women and youth, the constitution should focus on structural issues that prevent these groups from participating in elections. Addressing symptoms will not work because it’s the nature of politics that drives people away. Even the age of when one can be eligible to become a judge is 40 years what happens to capable young legal minds out there who want to be judges,” he asked.

Another resident, Themba Maphosa said the quota system given to youth and women should be scrapped as awarding them numbers in government did not mean their voices would be heard.

“Why patch a new dress before it is worn? Who came up with these amendments and why should a president appoint own judges, as that compromises the judiciary,” he said.

A youth activist and artist, Desire Moyo said the 10 seats that were supposed to be allocated to the youth should be scrapped off.

“Youths are capable to be elected on own merit, besides the 10 seats are few to hold real power,” he said.

Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo from argued that amending the seven-year-old constitution was already violating it.

“Where is devolution? It has not been fully implemented but now the government want to change what we the people sat down and voted yes for,” she noted.

An overwhelming 94.49 percent voted for the 2013 Constitution at a referendum.

Last week civil society organisations and trade unions called on the Parliament to suspend the public hearings on the proposed Constitutional Amendment No. 2 Bill saying the discussions may not bring the desired outcome as only a few people would be allowed, and that would not reflect the view of the populace.

NewsDay

Civil servants through their supreme representative body, the Apex council, on Thursday rejected a 50 percent pay hike announced by the government as well as the US$75 Covid-19 allowance saying the two packages were not a product of inclusive negotiations.

On Wednesday Finance minister Mthuli Ncube announced that civil servants would start receiving pay hikes of 50 percent starting this month and an untaxed US$75 allowance for the next three months.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba also immediately announced on micro blogging site Twitter that the forex payments would not be received in cash form but on electronic cards to avoid feeding the black market in a development that started dampening spirits of the public workers.

In a statement on Thursday, the Apex council chairperson Cecilia Alexander effectively derailed government’s plans to please its restive workers by rejecting the offers on the basis the body was not consulted prior to the adjustments.

“Matters to do with conditions of service have to be a product of consultations between social partners at forums provided for at law. No party should unilaterally decide for others as is the case here,” said Alexander.

“Apex  council stands by its position paper that it presented to the NJNC (National Joint Negotiating Council) demanding that salaries be paid in USD and that the figure be a product of negotiations.”

The Apex leader also pointed out that the US$75 allowance is “thumb-suck and not with our input” further urging government to call an emergency meeting to resolve the impasse.

She said Apex council was happy that it had finally dawned on the government which previously insisted on the sole use of the moribund Zimbabwean dollar currency, that the economy had actually dollarised.

“… the civil service Apex council appreciates the government’s efforts to address the plight of its workers, and the acknowledgement though belated, that the economy has dollarised and so should salaries. This, therefore, buttresses our call for an urgent NJNC to deliberate on salaries and conditions of workers in order to co-own the outcomes as demanded for at the law,” said Alexander.

Teachers also reiterated that they reject the Government offer.

In an interview with NewsDay, Takavafira Zhou, the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president said: “The real challenge is the callous reduction of salaries from US dollar to local currency. Teachers who were earning US$550 have been reduced to US$34 and even the 50% salary increase is a drop of water in an ocean and will fundamentally keep teachers in poverty and penury.”

Civil servants and the government have often bickered over salaries, with solutions often being said to be piecemeal.

Nurses said they were incapacitated and were withdrawing their services, as the fallout over eroded wages deepened.

Own Correspondent

Health practitioners at Bulawayo’s United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) this morning (Thursday) staged a demonstration demanding improved salaries.

They also rejected the government’s US$75.00 COVID-19 offer which was announced by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on Wednesday.

The government has clarified that the allowance will not be paid in cash but public sector workers will be given purchasing electronic cards which they will then use to pay for goods and services.

Doctors and nurses have rejected the “rebased-RTGS dollar” with one of the placards written, “I work with my hands, I want my US$ Nostro in my hands”.

Watch video downloading below and pictures, courtesy of CITE.

Own Correspondent

Health Workers (nurses, doctors, pharmacy technicians, midwives, etc) have withdrawn their services with effect from today due to low wages. A letter to their employer said they were incapacitated and cited their reasons.

Read the full statement below:

Further to our 23 of May 2020 communication to the employer citing harsh macro economic conditions characterized by hyperinflation exchange rate volatility, and three tier pricing system. The Health Apex position suggested a need for a Cost of Living Adjustment in the second quarter of 2020, Sadly up to now, no formal communication has been received from the employer by was of writing or convening of the HSBNP

Since that date up to now the social-economic situation has continued to deteriorate with the inflation  rate reaching 780% and the and exchange rate reaching over ZWL $90 to 1 USD. The bread basket for a family of 6 as measured by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe is now pegged at ZWL 8500. The current ZWL $3000 salaries can’t sustainably take care of the families of health care workers under the prevailing socio-economic situation,

Again the Health Sector Specific Allowances which were awarded backdated to 1 January 2020 were not paid according to the CBA 2 of 2020. But back pay has been eroded by inflation. To that end the Healthcare workers arc economically incapacitated to continue reporting for duty until the renumeration  package is reviewed to their satisfaction.

We haee noted with great concern the circular on various media platforms that the government has offered USD75 as Covid19 allowance across board and this is applaudable as this is a global trend during this pandemic. However, we as health care workers await for a communique based on CBA on our allowances pegged in United States Dollars, our members have rejected the current offer of USD 75 with the contempt it deserves.

The Healthcare worker, demands that salaries revert back to the 1st of October digits that were pessed in USD Which is a stable currency that can store value of that salary. In that way, pensions, savings, medical aid, funeral policies will not continue to be eroded.

This letter serves to inform you that the health care workers as you might have witnessed have already taken matters into their hands and have withdrawn their services.

Therefore we would like to officially communicate as the Health Apex that health workers have withdrawn their services with immediate effect until our demands have been met.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) expresses its full solidarity support to the healthcare workers strike who are demanding dignified working conditions and better remuneration. We are therefore calling on the employer, the government of Zimbabwe to expedite negotiations with the workers, who are on strike and accede to their reasonable demands.

The Coalition is fully supportive of the healthcare workers withdrawal of their labour because they have, in the past held prolonged negotiations with the stubborn government in demanding decent remuneration and an improvement in working conditions. The demonstrations also came after the government slashed their June salaries by $2 000 per worker. We are disappointed that the healthcare workers have not been getting decent wages and their income is not in tandem with the soaring inflation and high cost of living.

In this light, we take note of the intervention by the government of Zimbabwe on Wednesday afternoon by introducing a US$75 Covid-19 allowance for all civil servants while their monthly salaries have been increased by 50%.

We also support the decision by the healthcare workers in rejecting the Covid-19 allowances and demanding that the salaries revert back to the 1st of October 2018 digits that were quoted in USD which is a stable currency that cab store value on that salary.

We therefore urge, the Health Services Board to immediately act to avert this unnecessary strike by presenting a new serious offer to the healthcare workers.

Thus, we are calling on society and all the progressive forces to support this strike and calling on the Health Services Board to go back to the negotiating table with a settlement offer.

As CiZC, we have noted in the past with concern that the government of Zimbabwe government is unwilling to accede to these demands without waging a savage anti-worker campaign of intimidation, arrests and without unleashing the barbarism of police violence on workers.

We value human life and would not want the strike to lead to unnecessary loss of lives hence the need to resolve the underlying issues urgently.

More importantly, we take this opportunity to call on the government of Zimbabwe to seriously address the rampant corruption that has caused devastating effects on the country’s economy. The government of Zimbabwe should, therefore, urgently call for an all stakeholders dialogue as a way of unlocking the multi-faceted socio-economic and political crisis facing Zimbabwe.

The national dialogue the process should seek to safeguard citizens’ interests through the restoration of the social contract between citizens and the government.

This national dialogue process must not be restricted to political parties but should rather bring on board a cross-section of stakeholders including civic society, labour, religious groups, business among other critical stakeholders. Its main focus should be premised on a set of agreed reforms to the economy, social and political governance.

Issued by:
Marvellous Kumalo
Spokesperson

By Own Correspondent| In a bid to comply with the provisions of the High Court Order on the provision of water during the lockdown period, the Harare Water Department has increased it water coverage to areas that has been not receiving water for more than 10 years.

The development has been welcomed by Mabvuku and Tafara residents who have consistently received water for two days in three consecutive weeks.

Supply of municipal piped water has managed to decongest most community boreholes and people accessing water from mobile water bowsers which are potential areas of the spread of COVID 19 virus.

“At least there is some change now some parts of Mabvuku are now receiving water two days from Sunday to Monday but we also expect Council to make extra efforts to make sure that water reaches Mushandike and Kugarika Kushinga area”, said Ms Hanyani a Ward 19 Resident.

Another Tafara Resident stated “at least now we have a reason to pay our rates this is better”

Speaking on the matter the Harare Water Distribution Manager, Engineer Chinyanya said, “As Harare Water we are sticking to water rationing plan of late we have been trying it but there are some take off which were happening as some areas have been receiving water consistently at the expense of others but currently we are managing it to make sure some dry areas received water too.”

The Combined Harare Residents Association applauds the City’s efforts of equitably sharing the water being produced by the local authority as it goes a long way in ensuring house hold hygiene especially during the COVID era.

However, CHRA is calling on the local authority to improve its water supply coverage to other remaining areas of Harare and work on its billing on water as it has serious potential of soiling these positive developments.

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa on Wednesday visited the late Kelvin Choto’s family.

Choto was shot dead by State security agents during the Jan 2019 disturbances.

“Today(Wednesday), I made a surprise visit and joined the Choto family to celebrate the 2yr old Janel Choto’s birthday.

Janel is daughter to the late Kelvin Choto (21) who was shot dead by the state during the Jan 2019 disturbances.

Accountability, Restorative and Rehabilitate Justice, citizen participation and compensation key to durable peace, sustainable stability and true national healing!

A different Zimbabwe is possible,” wrote Advocate Chamisa on Twitter.

Watch the live video loading below….

Watch the live video loading below….

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere says corruption is the country’s main problem.

Speaking during a news conference in the capital Harare on the Thursday Mahere said the MDC Alliance was ready to defend the views of 2,6 million people who voted for the opposition party in 2018.

According to Mahere, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is a captured institution.Watch video below :

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

• USD to ZWL$: 25.00
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.6898

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates

• OMIR $114.32
• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com  $00.00
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com $00.00
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info $00.00
• USD to BOND: zimrates.com $00.00

In a statement to clarify the unusual development, bluemari.info said:

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has dealt what could be considered a death blow to the black market. Traders have gone to ground as of this morning.

To reflect the situation on ground bluemari will not reference any rates until we are able to re-establish the rates from sources.

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has scoffed at the MDC T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe and her team for claiming MDC Alliance legislators arguing that the MPs drew their mandate from the electorate and the people of Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists at the Media Centre Thursday, Mahere said:

“You cannot say I own these MPs, they are mine and i am going to keep on recalling them you cannot say you represent people in parliament when those people are saying we do not want to be represented by you.

The MDC Alliance is a seperate distinct political party from the MDC T. These are seperate distinct political parties. the two cannot be conflated. The 2.6 million people that voted for the MDC Alliance they knew exactly who they were voting for…they were not confused.

They had the choice to vote for the MDC T or the MDC Alliance… they knew who exactly they were voting for and they chose decisively the MDC Alliance.”

Watch the live video loading below….

The MDC Alliance has said the party will not be distracted from challenging corruption and calling for the arrest of all the elites implicated in the COVIDGATE scandal.

Addressing the media at a press conference at the Media Centre in Harare, Fadzayi Mahere, the MDC Alliance spokesperson said her party will not be distracted from uprooting and bringing to book those responsible for the root cause of the country’s economic woes.

“Stop the threats and bring to justice those responsible for COVIDGATE,” said Mahere.

Watch the live video loading below…..

“There is no way youths aligned to the MDC Alliance took the law into their own hands…. our party youths were not involved in any form of violence during the takeover of Harvest House”: Fadzayi Mahere

Watch the live video loading below………

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has scoffed at the MDC T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe and her team for claiming ownership of the MDC Alliance legislators arguing that the MPs drew their mandate from the electorate and the people of Zimbabwe.

Addressing journalists at the Media Centre Thursday, Mahere said:

“You cannot say I own these MPs, they are mine and i am going to keep on recalling them you cannot say you represent people in parliament when those people are saying we do not want to be represented by you.

The MDC Alliance is a seperate distinct political party from the MDC T. These are seperate distinct political parties. the two cannot be conflated. The 2.6 million people that voted for the MDC Alliance they knew exactly who they were voting for…they were not confused.

They had the choice to vote for the MDC T or the MDC Alliance… they knew who exactly they were voting for and they chose decisively the MDC Alliance.”

Watch the live video loading below….

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By A Correspondent- Some tuckshops and general dealer shops in Chitungwiza and parts of Harare suburbs are refusing to accept Zimbabwean money written bond notes starting Thursday 18 June 2020.

Said one source from Westlea in Harare:

“Woke up this morning in Westlea almost all tuckshops are refusing bond notes especially the $2 note which is specifically written bond note. Zimbabwe is messy.”

Confirmed another shocked Chitungwiza citizen:

“Yes, it is true. They are not accepting the bond notes anymore but yesterday, we were transacting with it as legal tender. Imagine just waking with a valueless paper yet when you slept the previous night you thought you had money. This is not fair at all.”

Confirmed a tuckshop owner in Unit K Seke:

“We are refusing that money because the customers are also refusing to accept it becuase they argue that it does not have value. Our fear is that we may collect it and then fail to use it because of the ever skyrocketing rates. We are preferring the US dollars.”

Watch the live video loading below….

By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance officials who were arrested and taken to Harare Central earlier on Friday have been charged with criminal nuisance.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), police said the MDC Alliance officials sang, moved and blocked the road around Harvest House in central Harare.

Criminal Nuisance and Disorderly Conduct are vague offences that have been arbitrarily used by police over the years, ZLHR said.

The officials are co-deputy presidents Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi Kore, secretary for international relations Gladys Hlatshwayo, and her deputy Lovemore Chinoputsa, Manicaland provincial chair, David Chimhini and Vimbai Tome.

They are being represented by Beatrice Mtetwa and Alec Muchadehama.

According to Mtetwa, the officials were to be locked up for the night after the Provincial Commander gave that order and they will be taken to court on Saturday for something that ordinarily requires a fine.

They were arrested at the party headquarters, Harvest House, now known as Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House where they intended to gain entrance and address a press conference.

The building was seized by soldiers on Thursday night and handed over to the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

MDC Alliance youth assembly deputy spokesperson Womberai Nhende was reportedly assaulted by police at Harvest House, the party’s headquarters in central Harare on Friday.

According to MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, Nhende is in a critical condition as he cannot breathe and urgently requires medical attention but police are refusing to let him go to be seen by doctors.

Said Mahere:

Womberai Nhende, our Deputy Spokesperson for the Youth Assembly, was badly beaten by police outside Harvest House today for no reason.

He can’t breathe and urgently requires medical attention. Police refused to release him to be seen by his doctors.

Watch the video below [Womberai Nhende lying on the floor BATTERED & BRUISED and having trouble breathing after having been ruthlessly beaten by police]

For the past few days, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions(ZCTU) has noted with concern the harassment of workers and other citizens on their way to work by members of the security forces in the name of stopping the spread of COVID-19 despite having genuine papers allowing them to go to work.

We have seen workers being made to walk long distances after being forced to disembark from lawful public and private transport for no apparent reason. People are just told that noone is allowed to go into town. What makes it worse is that the government is not communicating anything at all resulting in citizens being inconvenienced.

The way people are made to wait at various checkpoints and returned home is dehumanizing of the highest order. Why should it take workers *a cumulative* six hours to go to work and return home? The country has no fuel and getting transport has become a nightmare. In any case, salaries have become inadequate thereby putting more stress on workers.

It is either there is no standard checklist of what is needed at the numerous checkpoints and security forces work on their whims or this is turning to be deliberate intimidation of citizens.

There is no guarantee of workers’ safety to and from the workplace as the state without notice or justification just cordons off cities and humiliate the traveling workers, with some having to endure long distances walking back home.

The ZCTU would want to know from the state if the country has suspended the Constitution and has resorted to rule by decrees issued without due regard to people’s freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution.

The ZCTU urges and advise workers to stay home until it is safe to travel.

Japhet Moyo
SECRETARY GENERAL

(Video and pictures in this article are courtsey of CITEZW)

Newly-formed political group, the Poverty Liberation Movement (PLM), says civil servants should reject the US$75.00 COVID-19 allowance “nonsense”, saying it is government’s attempt to hoodwink workers.

In a statement issued this Thursday, PLM demanded that the government restores workers’ October 2018 salaries. The statement read:

A fortnight ago, on 4 June 2020, the Poverty Liberation Movement (PLM) announced at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield, Machipisa that workers should be paid in US$.

Having mobilised the entire spectrum of the working class, we knew that only a collective struggle would deliver on this demand.

Our reason was informed by the fact that it is now self-evident that the Zimbabwe dollar has become moribund and thus the market has rejected it.

Subsequently, with the economy and labour reaching a boiling point, the elites in government are panicking.

Firstly, they chased rumours of a coup after failing to pay the military adequately then secondly, attempted to pacify the government workers with a token US$ 75.00 after the outbreak of industrial action.

The challenge for Mnangagwa and his cabal is that none of this will hold, it is akin to beating tom-toms when the house is burning.

When the moribund currency was introduced, it was apparent that it would fail, bad money chases away good money, this is a basic principle of economics.

Further, the workers were earning an average of US$512.00 before Mnangagwa and his cartels robbed them, a US$75.00 allowance is, therefore, an elaborate insult.

With the nurses having started off a wave of fresh industrial action yesterday, 17 June 2020, and teachers joining next week, it has become clear that the end is nigh for the failed regime. The attempt at paltry US$ salaries is but mere desperation by panicky elites.

While some may have thought our amplification of the struggle for US$ salaries to be nothing but a pipe dream, it is clear that this now a reality. Let us press once more for a living wage, freedom and democracy in our lifetime.

The National Assembly will summon Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube to update the nation on the seemingly deteriorating state of the economy now plagued by a rising cost of living and shortages of some basic commodities amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, an official said on Wednesday.

Issues around the instability of the local currency, refusal of some notes by retailers, increases in prices dominated debate during Wednesday’s questions and answer session.

Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda told the house finance minister will have to address the nation on what is being done to improve the economy after a proposal from independent legislator, Temba Mliswa that the legislature suspends debate on other issues that are not related to the economy.

“The economy is the real cornerstone of any country. The Bills (we debate here) do not mean anything unless the economy is intact. I would therefore implore your good office to at least adjourn every debate until we talk about the economy of the country from pricing to the currency itself because that is what keeps us going,” Mliswa said to applause.
“The economy is what sustains us as a nation. We should talk about the economy so that we get the full answers.”

The Norton legislator said all ministers that have portfolios directly linked to the performance of the economy must get the legislature to understand what they were doing to improve the situation.

But in response, Mudenda said, “The issue of the addressing the economy rests primarily with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and we may have to ask the Honourable Minister (Ncube) to come and make a ministerial statement on the state of the economy and then we will debate accordingly.”

Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Zimbabweans have to endure a spike in the cost of living at a time when incomes have been reduced due to a lockdown aimed at curtailing spread of the disease.

An appeal by government to businesses to exercise restraint on price increases fell on deaf ears, with businesses arguing they were hedging against the increase in the cost of doing business.

While inflation, now almost at 800 percent, has been on a upward trend from the beginning of the year, the cost of living, has also increased by over 100 percent to over $7 420 for a family of five as at the end of April.

The country has also been plagued by intensified fuel shortages that are threatening to grind business to a halt.

New Ziana

THE trial of businessman Genius Kadungure, popularly known as Ginimbi, for allegedly failing to declare income returns to the Commissioner of Taxes kicked off yesterday, with the court hearing that he failed to account for his lavish lifestyle between 2010 and 2012 when the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) undertook a lifestyle audit on him.

His company, Piko Trading, also failed to declare income returns to Zimra from gas sales during the same period.

Piko Trading is facing accusations of smuggling 5 289kg of gas into the country.

Kadungure and his company, the court heard, were also not forthcoming with information regarding income and expenditure patterns when Zimra officials asked him to declare such for tax calculation purposes.

State witness Mr Adrian Maudzeni told the court that although Kadungure paid $30 000 in January this year and $5 000 yesterday into the Zimra account towards repaying the amount he allegedly prejudiced Zimra, he was still liable to answer to charges of failing to make the declaration.

“We conducted a lifestyle audit and source of income for the client from 2010 to 2013,” he said. “The client was requested to give proof of source of income and client failed to give proof of source of income between 2010 and 2012.

“The client later provided proof for 2013 to 2015, so he was left with a liability to declare for that period. Zimra was prejudiced $119 815,93 which was undeclared. The total prejudice was $30 864,19 including interest and penalties. To date, $30 000 was recovered on January 15, 2020.” Mr Maudzeni said the amount was due when they conducted the audit.

He said there was still an outstanding amount inclusive of penalties and interest.

“Although he is saying he made a payment of $5 000 today (yesterday),” Mr Maudzeni said. “The charge is not on the amount or dispute on the figure with Zimra, but the charge is on non-submission of returns. The claims have not been submitted.”

Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority acting chief executive Mr Eddington Tapera Mazambani told the court that records showed that the gas in question was imported by Piko Trading, which was trading as Pioneer Gas.

Another witness, Paul Chimungosho, was ordered to verify documents with transactions that Kadungure and his company claim were extracted from Zimra.

Kadungure and his company denied the charges when they appeared before magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere. They told the court that he complied with the law and paid all duties.

“The accused will state that it has always complied with the law and paid all duties that were requested by Zimra,” he said in his defence.

Piko Trading has since admitted and been convicted on two other counts of failing to declare tax returns to the Commissioner of Taxes.

Mr Andrew Kumire and Mr Loveit Masuku prosecuted.

The trial continues tomorrow.

Media Statement

FACTS ON THE ALLEGED “SECURITY SITUATION IN BULAWAYO AS ARMY, POLICE TAKEOVER” AS REPORTED BY BULAWAYO24.COM

1. The Army has noted with grave concern the levels and rate of misinformation that continues to be peddled mostly by online news agencies. On Tuesday 16 June 2020, the Bulawayo24.com ran a series of stories to the effect that the Army had taken over the city of Bulawayo. This is a blatant lie as the Army was and is still assisting the police to enforce lockdown regulations in order to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. The same publication went on to proffer possible scenarios that could have led to the so-called takeover by theorizing that the soldiers were angry because of the pay cut. Note that there were no salary cuts to the soldiers or civil servants. The back pay was communicated when it commenced and it has always been public knowledge that it was going to end in May 2020.

3. The Army knows that there has always been an agenda to link members of the defence forces with negative issues as part of the calculated regime change agenda. All operations that the Army carries out are sanctioned and in line with its Constitutional mandate which is to ensure the safety of the public and their property. In no circumstance does the Army go about beating innocent civilians as purported in the series of false stories on the so-called Bulawayo takeover.

4. There has been an increase of negative stories of late in which the media has tried to be subversive and capitalise on the hardships that have been caused by the Corona Virus-induced lockdown to raise public emotions and anger against the Army and the Government. As a professional Organisation, the Army will always deliver on its constitutional mandate to safeguard the territorial integrity of Zimbabwe.

5. All media organisations are free to ask for the correct information from the Army and report objectively all the times.

ALEX ZUVA
Major
Deputy Director Army Public Relations

Own Correspondent

Goverment says that the US$75.00 and US$30.00 COVID-19 allowances awarded to civil servants and government pensioners, respectively, will not be in notes form but will be in the form of a purchasing electronic card.

George Charamba, the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), said the arrangement allows money to circulate within the formal monetary system.

He posted on Twitter:

The USD75 allowance if flat across all grades. The USD75 will not come in notes form; it will be a purchasing electronic card to ensure this enhanced buying power does not feed the white market and allows money to circulate within the formal monetary system!! So do not expect cash disbursements.

Imagine what upward of USD25m monthly cash disbursement would do to the white market!

I should have added that the three months-COVID-19 related income adjustment takes us to the next major Financial Pronouncement by Govt, in which case there will not be a hiatus or discontinuity in income.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said that the US dollar allowances would be paid into US dollar-denominated Nostro bank accounts, which all civil servants and Government pensioners had to open.

GOVERNMENT on Tuesday paid nurses their June salaries minus $2 000 from around $6 000 in May while other civil servants received salaries with a difference ranging from about $490 going upwards.

Military, police and other government personnel were also affected.

The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) president Enock Dongo said the June salary has incapacitated nurses from going to work at a time when the country is fighting the coronavirus.

The nurses at the country’s biggest referral hospital, Parirenyatwa the following morning went on a rampage downing their tools and demonstrating against their employer.

Watch video downloading below as we followed the damaging strike…Please be patient while the video downloads.

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NURSES COME OUT OF MEETING https://t.co/NS0Df2LBEv

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 17, 2020

…….

GOVERNMENT has announced a flat non-taxable Covid-19 allowance of US$75 for civil servants and increased their salaries by 50 percent while pensioners who retired from the civil service will also get a flat non-taxable Covid-19 allowance of US$30 per month.

The lowest paid Government worker earns about $3 000 before deductions. However, nurses this month received their June salaries minus $2 000 from around $6 000 in May while other civil servants received salaries less $490 or more.

According to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), the monthly low-income urban family budget for a family of six rose to $8 725 last month, up from $4 378 in January.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has rejected the salary review and the new USD allowance.

Using their official Twitter handle, ZCTU said the government’s offer came a little too late and dismissed it as “Mazepe” which metaphorically likens the government’s offer to baby food which adults cant eat to satiety.

ZCTU tweeted:

Too late, too little We need an inclusive economic reform agenda that addresses economic fundamentals. Workers deserve decent salaries MAZEPE aya

Own Correspondent

Ten people tested positive for the coronavirus today increasing the number of cases in Zimbabwe to 401. All the people were returning residents from South Africa.

One person from Mashonaland Central recovered raising the number of those who have overcome the virus to 63.

The country now has 334 active cases and has tested 60 585 people.

State Media

A warrant of arrest has been issued against former Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge, as the State seeks to have him imprisoned for 30 months for abuse of office.

The warrant of arrest issued on June 11 stems from the recent rejection of Undenge’s appeal by the High Court, which found that the sentence was not excessive and did not induce any sense of shock and outrage.

Undenge’s lawyers, Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni have approached the High Court seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against the latest decision.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) yesterday confirmed that a warrant for Undenge’s arrest was issued two days after the court ruling when the ex-minister failed to surrender himself to court.

JSC head of communications and corporate affairs Rumbidzayi Takawira said: “Following former Minister Undenge’s appeal being thrown out of the High Court, he should have taken the onus to hand himself in.

“This prompted magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya to issue a warrant of arrest which was received by police at Rotten Row on the 11th of June. It is now entirely in the hands of the police to bring him forward.”

Police could not execute the arrest on Undenge, arguing that the ex-minister’s case was not in their records as the matter was handled by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).

“I checked with the Criminal Investigation Department and that case is not ours,” said chief police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi. “Remember, ZACC has arresting powers. It is their case to deal with.”

When contacted for comment, Undenge’s lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama said he did not know the whereabouts of his client, but said he had since filed a notice for leave to appeal at the High Court.

“We are taking the matter up to the Supreme Court.

“We filed a notice for leave to appeal at the High Court recently challenging the decision. It is ZACC’s case. Remember, ZACC now has arresting powers. They are the ones handling that case. You can talk to them.”

Undenge was convicted for abuse of office after he hand-picked a public relations company for the Zimbabwe Power Company without going to tender.

The rejection of the appeal against both conviction and sentence in the High Court means Undenge will now serve the full sentence after his argument in his appeal hearing that it was excessive and induced a sense of shock and outrage, was thrown out.

The High Court found no merit in the appeal. He had also wanted the court to consider community service or a fine as appropriate sentences.

But Justice Joseph Musakwa, sitting with Justice Phildah Muzofa, upheld both conviction and the sentence imposed on Undenge.

Undenge was slapped with an effective two-and-half-year term for corruption after prejudicing Zimbabwe Power Company of US$12 000.

State Media

POLICE here have intercepted two men smuggling a consignment of 19 600 day-old chicks across the Limpopo River from South Africa into Zimbabwe.

The pair was arrested on Tuesday evening near Panda Mine soon after entering the country.

The value of the chicks is yet to be established. Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident yesterday saying: “Our team on patrol intercepted some suspects after smuggling chicks into the country.

“The matter has since been referred to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) for further management. We understand that the chicks were destroyed by fire as per standard customs regulations.”

The two men, Admire Ndlovu of Mwenezi and Prince Gumbo of Dulivhadzimu suburb in Beitbridge, have since been charged with smuggling.

A source close to the case said Ndlovu was found with 8 820 chicks, while Gumbo was transporting 10 780 chicks.

“Following their arrest, they were taken to Zimra officials where the chicks were destroyed with guidance from veterinarians,” said the source. The smuggling of humans and goods along the Limpopo River has heightened following the closure of the only formal land border between Zimbabwe and South Africa at Beitbridge, as part of minimising the spread of Covid-19.

Groceries, baby diapers, electrical gadgets and cigarettes are some of the major items being smuggled across borders.

Government has also beefed up border security to minimise criminal activities. Since the start of the lockdown, the police have arrested over 30 people, recovering goods worth millions of rand from illegal crossing points.

State Media

Auctions of foreign currency will be used from Tuesday next week to set the official exchange rate, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announced last night, with approved importers bidding every Tuesday through their banks for the foreign currency earned by exporters or through offshore facilities arranged by the RBZ.

The system is expected to “bring transparency and efficiency in the trading of foreign currency”.

The foreign exchange will come from three sources:

Offshore facilities arranged by the RBZ;

Retained export earnings liquidated at the new prevailing market rate when exporters do not spend or sell these retained funds at the end of 30 days;

Foreign currency sold by exporters and holders of free funds through the banking system at the prevailing market rate.

The weekly auction will set the official ruling market exchange rate for the next seven days, this rate being the weighted average of the prices paid for the allotted currency at the end of each auction.

In order to enhance efficient pricing in the economy, businesses will be obliged to display prices for goods and services in both local currency and foreign currency, the foreign currency prices to be at the ruling market rate.

Giving details of the operation of the Foreign Currency Auction System, the RBZ said bidders have to submit one bid per auction, with all their bids rejected if they submit more.

Bidders can be individuals, firms and public enterprises, with bids submitted through authorised dealers, defined as banks.

Bids have to be for a minimum of US$50 000 and a maximum of US$500 000 per auction. The bidding platform is the Reuters Foreign Currency Auction System and this will be linked to the Computerised Export Payments Exchange Control System and the Computerised Exchange Control Batch Application System.

Allotments for winning bidders will be based on the import priority list. Successful bidders will buy the currency at the rate they bid, starting from the highest bidder and working down until all currency on offer is allotted.

Successful bids will be allotted in full, but if funds are not enough then there will pro-rata allotments.

Banks will serve all importers and users of foreign currency at the ruling rate between auctions. The crawling exchange rate will only be used for Government and debt service.

Bids have to include a number of details including the name of the bidder, bank, type of transaction and sector category, the amount in US dollars being sought, the rate being offered, the Zimbabwe dollar equivalent, a declaration of any FCA balance and critically to ensure the money is used for imports, the relevant import invoice.

Bids can be submitted up to 9am on the day of the auction and results released by 4.30pm.

Those with positive balances in their nostro accounts will be disqualified unless they can justify their need for more forex and exporters can only participate if they have brought in proceeds of their exports as legally required.

Those with overdue and unacquitted bills of entry are also disqualified. Anyone participating in an auction for the sake of currency manipulation will be disqualified from the system. The RBZ has listed the detailed data that will be released at the end of each auction.

For almost 11 weeks, Zimbabwe has been using $25:US$1 as the official rate, with ever declining sums being sold on their interbank market as a result. This has seen even highly respectable businesses resorting to the black-market for import requirements, pushing that rate up sharply and in turn driving up local currency prices.

The new transparent system is likely to produce a ruling rate below the black-market rate, since buyers wanting funds to manipulate exchange rates or for capital transactions are barred, and businesses must have a need for the currency, showing the invoice and inadequate nostro funds, before they can buy. Stocking up on currency for the future is not permitted.

State Media

THREE top NatPharm bosses yesterday appeared in court facing allegations of approving DRAX International LLC to supply and deliver medicines and surgical sundries to the Government without following procurement procedures.

Florah Nancy Sifeku (67), Charles Mwaramba (78) and Rolland Mlalazi (55) appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with criminal abuse of office.

Sifeku is the NatPharm managing director, Mlalazi is employed as finance manager, while Mwaramba is the pharmaceutical company’s operations manager.

They were all not asked to plead to the charges when they separately appeared before magistrate Ms Vongai Guriro, who remanded them to July 3 on $10 000 bail each.

Sifeku and Mwaramba are jointly charged on one of the offences where the State alleges that sometime in December 2019, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care gave a directive to NatPharm to perform a tender.

DRAX Consult SAGL had written a letter of interest to supply Zimbabwe with medicine and surgical sundries under a US$20 million facility.

Allegations are that Sifeku and Mwaramba allegedly disregarded the Permanent Secretary’s directive and went on to award a direct purchase to Drax Consult SAGL, saying there was extreme emergency.

Sifeku and Mwaramba are alleged to have fast-tracked the awarding of a tender to Drax Consult SAGL to supply the medicines and surgical sundries.

The duo allegedly withheld the tender documents for a month, while they were processing another tender for the same company under a loan facility.

Sifeku and Mwaramba are alleged to have used the two tenders to award and sign a contract for Drax Consult SAGL under the loan facility of US$20 million to supply medicines and surgical sundries.

Drax Consult SAGL is said to have supplied US$2.7 million of which US$2 million out of the total amount was for performance guarantee after it failed to secure one from European banks.

After realising that Drax Consult SAGL had failed to supply the medicine and sundries within three months as per the agreed contract, Sifeku and Mwaramba allegedly deliberately failed to cancel the contract for non-performance.

On another matter in which Sifeku and Mlalazi are jointly charged, the State alleges that sometime early this year, Health Minister Obadiah Moyo was approached by Delish Nguwaya and ILir Dedja, who introduced themselves to him as Drax International LLC’s country representative and legal representative, respectively.

Nguwaya and Dedja are said to have tendered an expression of interest, saying their company had a capacity to supply medicines to Zimbabwe through a US$40 million loan facility.

Minister Moyo is said to have asked the then permanent secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva to process the offer.

Dr Mahomva is said to have advised Sifeku and Mlalazi to procure the medicines according to the procurement procedures.

The State alleges that knowing that Drax International LLC had changed its name to Drax Consult SAGL and previously known as Papi Pharma and had also failed the vetting, Sifeku and Mlalazi went on to offer it another tender to supply US$13 351 071 worth of medicines.

On April 9, 2020, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance Mr George Guvamatanga wrote a letter to Dr Mahomva after noting that Sifeku and Mlalazi had entered into an agreement with Drax International LLC.

Dr Mahomva, on the following day, responded to the letter saying they had not given NatPharm the green light to sign the contract.

Acting on the contract, Drax International LLC is said to have supplied 3 740 pieces of coverall protection, CatIII type 6B worth US$336 600, 5 040 N95 masks worth US$141 120 and 15 000 pieces of SARS COV2 test kits for US$510 000.

In another case where Sifeku is appearing on her own, the State had it that sometime in March 2019, Minister Moyo was approached by Nguwaya with a letter of interest to supply the country with medicines through a US$15 million loan facility.

Minister Moyo is said to have referred the letter to the former permanent secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji.

On April 11, 2019, Dr Gwinji is said to have written to Sifeku recommending NatPharm to work with 65 product lines of medicines worth US$9.4 million and negotiate the prices downwards.

In the same letter, NatPharm was directed to come up with comparative international prices for the products and apply for necessary waiver from the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.

Sifeku, without drawing the comparative international price schedule and waiting for due vetting process for PAPI Pharma, allegedly went on to sign the agreement to supply medicines worth US$6 306 115.

Mr Charles Muchemwa represented the State.

MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende said there was nothing unusual about MDC Vanguard leader Shakespeare Mukoyi’s defection to the Thokozani Khupe camp saying it is his right to join any political party of his choice.

Hwende made the remarks after Mukoyi was paraded by Khupe as the MDC-T interim youth assembly leader when the party held its inaugural national standing committee meeting at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House in Harare on Monday.

Said Hwende:
The MDC is a democratic movement.

People leave and people join the party on a daily basis. People are always free to go out and seek political fortunes elsewhere.

However, those who want to continue fighting for a free and democratic Zimbabwe are with Advocate Chamisa.

We also understand that a few of our former colleagues have elected to join the Zanu PF and they are associating with Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora, so we wish him well in his political endeavours.

Mukoyi rose to prominence in the original MDC as a foot soldier when it was being led by the late Morgan Tsvangirai and also had been campaigning for Chamisa since 2003 in Kuwadzana constituency after the death of the then party’s spokesperson Learnmore Jongwe who was the constituency’s MP.

He reportedly became disillusioned with Chamisa after he was “betrayed” by the latter ahead of the 2018 general elections when he was promised that he would run for MP in Kuwadzana where he grew up.

However, Mukoyi was forced out of the race, with Hwende, a close Chamisa ally, nominated to represent the MDC Alliance in the elections-Chronicle

The Zimbabwe Europe Network (ZEN) is deeply concerned about the closing of democratic space in Zimbabwe, especially against the background of the deteriorating and multi-layered Zimbabwean crisis.

ZEN is particularly worried the Zimbabwean government is taking advantage of the COVID-19 lockdown to further limit space for opposition members, journalists and human rights defenders, who have been victims of increased harassment and criminalisation in recent weeks.

The abduction, torture and subsequent prosecution of three female opposition members, is the latest of a growing number of human rights violations and an increasingly politicized conduct of the security forces and the judiciary.

ZEN continues to amplify the concerns of Zimbabwean civil society with regards to the recently proposed constitutional amendments, which include the centralisation of power and the weakening of independent oversight institutions.
In this context, the absence of dialogue is cause for concern, as genuine inclusive dialogue is needed to find national solutions.

The lockdown has worsened the pre-existing food insecurity and vulnerability of Zimbabwean citizens, who are mostly unable to access clean water, food and medical attention.

ZEN, therefore, welcomes international humanitarian assistance, although the serious allegations of corruption and continued politicization of aid contribute to the shrinking of space.

The recent events need to be understood as a continuation of a long trend of sustained pressure on democratic space in Zimbabwe, especially since the 2018 elections.

Therefore:
ZEN welcomes recent statements by the European Delegation, European Embassies, and individual diplomats, and urges them to continue to speak out on human rights and democracy issues.

ZEN calls upon the European Parliament to adopt a resolution condemning recent human rights violations in Zimbabwe.

ZEN calls upon the European Union (EU) institutions to use the upcoming planning of their multiannual funding framework to rethink its strategies of engagement and support.

The EU needs to increase its support to Zimbabwean pro-democracy actors and initiatives to defend and strengthen Zimbabwe’s democratic pillars and enable Zimbabweans to hold their government to account.

ZEN urges EU Institutions and European countries to continue to actively engage regional actors, in particular, South Africa and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), to jointly push the Government of Zimbabwe to implement the recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission.

ZEN urges EU institutions to actively follow up on the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission of the 2018 elections.

By staying actively engaged and continue its value-driven and inclusive support, the EU and its member states can and should contribute to a better future for Zimbabwe.

By A Correspondent- A Bindura man allegedly killed his neighbour with a log as he intervened to settle a fight.

The matter came to light at Bindura magistrates courts where Ranganai Rangwani appeared before Maria Msika facing murder charges.

Prosecutor Edward Katsvairo alleged on June 6 at Nyanhewe village, Bindura, the now deceased Eliot Dauzi (30) had a misunderstanding with Moreblessing Rangwani which resulted in a fight.

Rangwani called for help after being over powered by Dauzi and his uncle (the accused) picked a log which he used to strike the now deceased once on the head and he collapsed.

Dauzi was rushed to Bindura hospital where he died upon admission.

He will be back in court on June 22.

Villagers in Chilonga, Chiredzi in Masvingo Province have threatened to drag the government to court over the planned eviction meant to allow Dendairy to embark on a lucerne grass project.

Through lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the villagers wrote a letter a fortnight ago to Local Government minister July Moyo challenging the planned ejection.

Reads the letter in part:
We have been instructed to request your office to furnish us with information in your custody and control, which our clients are entitled to in terms of Section 62 of the Constitution within 14 days of your receipt of this letter, which relates to the following: confirmation of whether or not villagers in Chilonga Communal Area will be displaced to pave way for a lucerne production project, government relocation plan for the Chilonga community and issues of compensation in case of displacements, how the government is going to engage the local community over the ancestral land (and) copies of all documents relating to the transaction between the ministry of Local Government and the Lucerne investor.

The villagers said that they were not consulted, they were not informed of where they will be relocated and how they will benefit from the project adding that the move ejects them from their ancestral lands.

They are also worried that the government will leave them stranded as was the case with victims of Tokwe-Mukorsi floods- Daily News

COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe have passed the 400 mark as Zimbabwe recorded 401 cases up to date. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s update for today:

Ten (10) cases tested positive for COVID-19 today These are all returnees from South Africa and are all isolated.

Today 364 ROT screening tests and 427 PCR diagnostic tests were done The cumulative number of tests done to date is 60 585 (35 294 ROT and 25 291 PcRl

Mashonaland Central Province reported 1 recovery.

To date the total number of confirmed cases is 401 recovered 63, active cases 334 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.

By Dr. Maji-Marefu Tapiwa Mashakada

In recent days, there has been a barrage of attacks on my person after I came out in the open differing with my fellow colleagues in the MDC Alliance. Because I expressed my views which differed from others, my detractors were quick to throw missiles at me, condemning and labelling me as Zanu PF or CIO.

This game is very familiar. I would not be a politician if I am moved by such political antics. As a politician, my skin is rough and I have strong shock absorbers.  It’s refreshing to know that such maligning games are normally played by Students.

I remember, during SRC elections at the UZ, a competing student would just wake up splashed on the notice board. Pinned on the notice board would be a fake letter on a letterhead from the President’s Office addressed to that particular student. This would finish you straight away. Everyone would say “wasviba” meaning you are dirty.

Pedzisayi Ruhanya was good in those games. It took him quite a while to outgrow that stupid character. He still has got remnants of such student behaviour. In 2002 I had some differences with Learnmore Jongwe and Ruhanya and his former student colleagues who  I shall not name generated a CIO letter addressed to me and splashed it all over in the MDC.

Fortunately, no one bought into that cheap trick. That is the nature of student politics. Ruhanya went to Harare Polytechnic where he started his student activism. But unlike his colleagues who  participated in the formation of MDC, Ruhanya was a coward.

In his figment of imagination, Ruhanya tweeted that I was a Chairman of Zanu PF UZ branch at some stage.  Of course, I am not Zanu PF and have never been a member of Zanu PF. Not that it is a crime to join Zanu PF. It is a choice. In fact, Zanu PF brought independence after a protracted liberation struggle. It is a revolutionary party that has regrettably failed to transform from a guerilla movement to a modern democratic party, in my view, but I have great respect for some of my friends who belong to that party and it is their right to do so.

If I wish to join Zanu PF today, it will be my personal choice.  Zanu PF and Zipra produced luminaries like Herbert Chitepo, Josiah Tongogara, Leopold Takawira, Samuel Parirenyatwa, Jason Moyo, Nikita Mangena, Joshua Nkomo,  Justin Chauke, Mayor Urimbo, Ernest Kadungure, Josiah Tungamirai, Dhauramanzi, Sheba Tavarirwa, Rex Nhongo, the Chinhoyi 7 just to mention a few. 

Having said that, I now lay bare my political history in brief.

1. I joined the ZCTU as a junior Economic Advisor in 1991. My boss was Dr. Godfrey Kanyenze. I later took over as Chief Economist while Dr. Kanyenze was on study leave doing his doctorate at the Institute of Development Studies, the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. I also followed in his footsteps and did my Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Stellenbosch, Western Cape in South Africa.

 At ZCTU Economics Dept, our evidence-based economic research and macroeconomic analysis helped unravel the political economy of the day. Our flagship project was the “Beyond Esap Book Project” of 1996. It is now a reference book for policymakers, academics, development practitioners, and University students alike. Being close to Morgan Tsvangirai, the then ZCTU Secretary-General, we started maneuvers to form the MDC as way back in 1995.

2. In 1998, we commissioned a study to map out the views of the people regarding the future political direction of the country which was reeling from the effects of the economic structural adjustment program (ESAP). The survey was done by Timothy Kondo, Nomore Sibanda, Denis Murira, Ghandi Mudzingwa, David Muzhuzhu, James Makore, Zvavamwe Shambare and others. The views gathered we called “raw data”. 

3. In February  1999, ZCTU organized the National Working  People’s Convention, held at the Women’s Bureau in Hillside, Harare where we invited students, academics, churches, rural women led by Orapo, NCA, and other organizations. I presented a concept paper on ” labour and the economy.”

One of the resolutions from the Convention was that the “ZCTU  must facilitate the formation of a broad-based movement for democratic change”. But as the ZCTU, we could not just form a political party without getting a green light from our General Council so we organized a ZCTU extra-ordinary Congress at the Zesa Training Centre in Belvedere in Harare in Sept 1998. The motion to allow the ZCTU to form a political party was moved by one Mlambo from Gweru. 

Armed with a Congress Resolution we started to form the party in earnest. That is when we invited students like Nelson Chamisa, Job Sikhaka, Learnmore Jongwe, and others to join us form the MDC party. Job Sikhala was vocal and fearless. The slogan, “chinja maitiro” was coined by one Ernest Mudavanhu from Bikita who was asked by the Masvingo outreach team on what was to be done to which he replied ” kana zvakadaro hatichinje maitiro” 

4. We then divided the rest of the country into political zones following the ZCTU structures and divided people to go out and establish party structures. Pioneers of this program included Thokozani Khupe, Tendai Biti, Gift Chimanikire, Wellington Chibhebhe, Nicholas Mudzengerere, Remus Makuvaza, Paurina Mpariwa, Morgan Komichi, Mhlambeni, Grace Kwinje, Sekai Holland, Nelson Chamisa, Jon Sikhala and many others. You may notice that Charlton Hwende was not involved in this process. He only emerged at the Inaugural Congress where he lost to Chamisa as Youth Chair. After that loss, Hwende went to Namibia and we never saw him in the MDC until 2014 when he came back loaded and bought Mashonaland West party structures to become Deputy  Treasurer General. Ruhanya was not even an MDC member and still, he is not.

Back to the formation,  We tasked Professor Welshman Ncube, David Coltart, Douglas Mwonzora, and others to draft the first MDC Constitution. I was tasked to work with the Harare team to set up MDC structures in Norton, Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa. My team was composed of Morgan Femai, Jairos Karimatsenga, Cephas Makuyana, Villika, Mbuya Mazani, Tichaona Chiminya, Last Maengehama, Gombera, Kwilinje, Muguti, Mutambu, Nyika, and a few others I may not remember. Our assembly point was the old Mashonaland Turf Club along Rezende Street.  Our code name was “pamabhiza”. This process of structure formation was in preparation for the inaugural launch of the party.

5. In September 1999 we launched the MDC at Rufaro Stadium with Cephas Makuyana as the Master of Ceremony. Makuyana hosted us as the Chairman of the ZCTU Harare region. He was a shop floor steward at the United Bottlers together with mudhara Kaondera Shava.

The launch was very successful5. In January 2000 we held our inaugural Congress at the aquatic center in Chitungwiza. Just before the Congress, Makuyana fell sick and could not show up at the congress. I took it upon myself to drive to his house in Zengeza to pick him up. He was wearing sleepers because his feet were swollen.  After our Congress we then campaigned for the NO vote in the February 2000 Constitutional Referendum.  

6. Positions held in MDC:
6.1. Vice-Chairman Harare Province (2001-2005); 6.2-. MP for Hatfield (2000-) and Shadow Minister for Finance (2000 to 2008) 6.3. 2006, Deputy Secretary-General and member of the National Standing Committee(2006 to 2014)
6.4. Member of the National Executive and Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs (2015 to 2018)5.5. Secretary for Policy and Research and Member of the National Standing Committee (2019 to 2020)5.6. Appointed Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, 2010 to 2013).

ARRESTS
1. Arrested and detained in 2001 for political violence in Epworth 2. 2002, Arrested and detained with Alex Musundure for allegedly bombing radio VOP in Milton Park ( I think this was instigated by Pedzisayi Ruhanya and others)3. 2006, Arrested and detained at Mubaira Growth point in Mhondoro for violating POSA.4. 2018, arrested for an alleged campaign offence. 

Achievements
1. Wrote MDC Economic Blueprints such as The Bridge; Restart; Art; Juice and all campaign Manifestos2. Outclassed David Chapfika of Zanu PF in a televised debate hosted on a program called “Face The Nation” run my Mutumwa Mawere and Kindness Paradza. The program was immediately banned by Jonathan Moyo, the then Minister of Information and Publicity3. Led the first campaign to wrestle Hatfield and Epworth from Zanu PF. Epworth was a no go area in 2000.

Some Highlights

1. Released my motor-vehicle  to Nelson Chamisa for him to go to the UZ for a courtship of his current wife Thoko.

2. Saved Morgan Tsvangirai from  arrest after he had called for South Africa to cut fuel and electricity supplies to Zimbabwe. We then arranged that Morgan Tsvangirai should avoid Harare International Airport. Instead him and Roy Bennet hired a private jet via Buffalo Range Airport and finally landed at the Airstrip at Crest Breeders, Harare South. That way he escaped arrest at the Harare International Airport.

Conclusion

This is just a very abridged version of my political history in the MDC. Iam writing a book on the formation of the MDC in which my role will be fully revealed. Because of my composed character, most people do not know the critical role I have played in the MDC. Some do not even know that I was a jailbird as far back as 2001. Of course being arrested is not a sign of heroism. I had  committed alleged offences otherwise, a law abiding person escapes arrests and detention. Most of the arrests of MDC activists are  politically motivated and  are of course not backed by evidence hence most MDC leaders have been acquitted on Treason Trial Charges. Being arrested is a brush with law and not necessarily a sign of political  contribution. 

While delivering today’s speech the South African president said he is further allowing businesses to open and he said the following must open for business:

1. Restaurants (for sit down purposes)
2. Casinos
3. Temporary lodging facilities like hotels and lodges
4. Business meetings and conferences
5. Cinemas
6. Personal care providers, Hairdressers, masseuses etc
7. Non-contact sports like cricket, golf, tennis (contact sports opened for training purposes only.)

Watch the full video below: