On Wednesday, Econet released their new tariffs for bundles and data. Yesterday NetOne made their move after announcing that they will be reviewing their tariff structure.
This is what will now be paid for the Netone charges.
The three MDC activists arriving at the Harare magistrates court.
Harare West MP, Joanna Mamombe and two female MDC Alliance activists, Netsai Marova and Cecilia Chimbiri have approached the High Court seeking bail.
The trio is facing allegations of communicating false statements prejudicial to the State after alleging abduction and torture by suspected security agents last month.
They have been languishing in prison since they were denied bail Monday by Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande on the basis that they were a flight risk.
At the High Court, the activists’ lawyer Alec Muchadehama argued the magistrate erred in denying his clients bail.
THE US$75 Covid-19 relief allowance for civil servants, which was announced by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development is really nothing to write home about but just a temporary measure to cushion workers against ongoing price increases, a top official has said.
Secretary for the Public, Defence, Police and Prisons and Recreational Service Commissions Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said yesterday the Government introduced the US$75 allowance for civil servants and US$35 for pensioners as a provisional measure to ease the anguish on its employees who are confronted with exorbitant prices in shops.
“The rationale of that Covid-19 allowance is the anguish that has been reported by civil servants; it is the challenge that people are facing at the point of sale. So supporting livelihoods at the point of sale is the purpose of that cushion of US$75. However, the US$75 is not going to be in my hand, it is going to be in a nostro account. It will be issued with a card that one can swipe at the point of sale,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
This will be done to ensure that the money remained in the formal system and does not leak onto the black market.
Ambassador Wutawunashe said the Government, through relevant authorities, is in discussion with banks to ensure that the opening of nostro accounts that requires a deposit of between US$10 and US$20 does not chew into the cushioning allowance.
“Every civil servant is requested to open a nostro account and arrangements will be made, and I am sure proper communication will be made to the banks to facilitate opening of the nostro accounts. We are going to workout the details with all stakeholders to ensure that there is soft landing to ensure the intention of the allowance is not lost because it is a cushion, it is a relief measure that is supposed to address the livelihood requirements of civil servants and their families,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
Allying fears of some sceptics, including civil servants in the Apex Council, Ambassador Wutawunashe said the Government decided to swiftly intervene to bring relief to its workers who were suffering from constant price hikes.
“I am not sure that when the Government recognises a problem that has to be addressed immediately, that impacts on livelihoods, that the Government’s move to bring relief should be subject to debate and criticism. I am not so sure that a beneficiary of relief will be distressed that they are getting relief. What the Government has done, does not in any manner shape or form or cancel the engagements that Government will definitely have with the Apex Council.
“That is why the US$75 measure is clearly an interim measure that is tied to the Covid-19 challenge right now. It does not in any way make a statement about the National Joint Negotiating Council, which is still the valid forum for engagement between Government and representatives of workers. There is no government that would say just because there is a mechanism that can be activated tomorrow, the pain of today cannot be addressed,” he said.
Apart from rolling out the Covid-19 cushion allowance, that will be reviewed in three months’ time, the Government also announced a 50 percent salary hike for its workers and also pledged to introduce non-monetary benefits that will be announced in due course.
With the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announcing that from Tuesday next week auctions of foreign currency will be used to set the exchange rate — the volatile black market rate that has been used by some shops to benchmark their prices is likely to be reined in, meaning the cushion allowances will come with real value for the Government employees.
Twenty new Covid-19 patients infected within Zimbabwe are among the record 62 confirmed cases registered yesterday.
The other 42 were among returning citizens and residents in official quarantine centres, where most of Zimbabwe’s cases are caught, justifying the official policy of using centres to quarantine all returning residents for at least eight days, although most people testing negative on two tests are allowed to finish their 21-day quarantine at home.
Infections within the centres can be quickly isolated and so do not spread into the community.
According to the latest daily update from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, of the 524 antigen-based (PCR) tests done yesterday, 24 returnees from South Africa tested positive while others were from the United States (5), Zambia (4), Lesotho (4), Botswana (3) and Namibia (2).
But the other 20 infected within Zimbabwe are the ones who require immediate follow-ups and which are of greater concern to health authorities. Already these authorities know that nine of the 20 are contacts of known patients, but investigations are now in progress to find the source of infection in the other 11.
Zimbabwe now has 463 cases with 171 of these in Harare, 58 in Bulawayo, 50 in Masvingo, 46 in Matebeleland South, 40 in the Midlands, 36 in Mashonaland East, 24 in Mashonaland West, 18 in Manicaland, 11 in Matebeleland North and nine in Mashonaland Central.
There are 396 active cases with the bulk being in Harare which has 143, followed by Bulawayo with 47, Matebeleland South 46, Midlands and Masvingo with 37 each, Mashonaland East 30, Mashonaland West 22, Manicaland 18 and Mashonaland Central, and Matebeleland North with eight each.
Among the 63 who have recovered so far, 26 are from Harare, 13 from Masvingo, 10 from Bulawayo, six from Mashonaland East, three each from the Midlands and Matebeleland North, and one each from Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West.
Four people have so far died, two from Harare and one each from Bulawayo and Mashonaland West.
Zimbabwe’s inflation rose to 785.55% year-on-year in May from 765.57% the previous month, Zimstat said on Tuesday, as citizens grapple with rising prices of basic goods and a weakening currency.
On a month-on-month basis inflation slowed to 15.13% from 17.64% during the same period, said Zimstat.
Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada who recently dumped the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa for Thokozani Khupe’s Supreme Court assembled MDC-T of 2014, has called on his former colleagues in the MDC Alliance including Chamisa to move over to the Khupe party.
In a statement on social media, Mashakada urges for the reunification of the MDC left behind by founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai claiming that all those who are urging Chamisa to stay away from the group are misinforming him.
Reads the statement:
Clarion call to All MDC Party Structures and the 2014 National Council: “Munhu wese mugango/Umuntu wonke embizeni”
The MDC party does not have a substantive leader until the Extra Ordinary Congress chooses a new Leader. The shenanigans that happened after Tsvangirai’s death were all nullified by the Supreme Court. These were: (1) Chamisa’s takeover and his Congress (2) Khupe’s Congress
True Democrats must accept the ruling of our courts and comply with the Supreme court ruling. All accusations about some people being sell-outs or bought by Zanu PF are immaterial. It is cheap policking. Let MDC leaders walk the talk on democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism. The MDC family must unite, go to Congress and choose a new leader to replace Morgan Tsvangirai and reaffirm the original position that MDC is a labour backed party, a social democratic party and not a neo-liberal party. The Congress must reposition the new MDC as a Pan-Africanist party with known national values and footprints in Africa. But most importantly, a party that is non tribal, non racial, non sexist. A party with a rural support base. The cabal that is ill-advising my young brother Advocate Nelson Chamisa are making his political Waterloo and spoiling his chances of ever becoming the President of Zimbabwe.
Below is part of the claim and a warning by US preacher Nathan Hambyrd on how ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa could die.
Speaking earlier in the week, Hambyrd said Mnangagwa will be caught by hot bullet.
Said Hambyrd, “”Mr Mnangagwa, your thievery, your ungodly life, your murders, your abductions, your rapes, your pillaging, your immorality, your promiscuity, your devil worshipping, God is going to take your breath from you, a hot bullet will find you.
“It will go through your flesh, and blood will spill out everywhere, I’m not going to do it, but it will come from your own people, and that is the will of God, for you to bleed and die.”
“Mnangagwa believes in spiritualism from vapositori and witch doctors, so if he hears anything from the spiritualists, he becomes worked up.
Mr Mnangagwa… your thievery, your ungodly life, your murders, your abductions, your rapes, your pillaging…immorality…God is going to take your breath from you…" – @nathanhambyrd pic.twitter.com/VcjDrPuvlC
One of Hambyrd’s predictions of Mnangagwa’s sudden end. “Mr Mnangagwa, your thievery, your ungodly life, your murders, your abductions, your rapes, your pillaging, your immorality, your promiscuity, your devil worshipping, God is going to take your breath from you, a hot bullet will find you. It will go through your flesh, and blood will spill out everywhere, I’m not going to do it, but it will come from your own people, and that is the will of God, for you to bleed and die.”
Thousands of Zimbabweans who were stranded in China, the United States and in neighbouring countries such as South Africa due to Covid-19 lockdowns have registered with the Government to be repatriated as quickly as possible, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.
Vice President Mohadi, who is the chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19, told the Midlands province Covid-19 provincial taskforce at the Zanu PF Winery Conference Centre in Gweru yesterday that Government will assist in repatriating Zimbabweans that want to come back home.
“Some are stranded in China, United States and want to come back. In South Africa we have received over 2 200 who have registered with our embassy to come back home and yes they are coming home,” said Vice President Mohadi.
“The greatest challenge we have is that of returning residents, those coming from South Africa, Botswana and all over the world. On Tuesday, we received about 281 Zimbabweans who were in cruise ships in Miami in the United States and we have been receiving such kinds of people from all over the world.”
Vice President Mohadi said the country was putting in place mechanisms to receive all returnees without them passing on the virus to other people in the country as they were coming from Covid-19 epicentres.
“Our people are coming from epicentres of Covid-19, America is hard hit, UK is hard hit, China is hard hit,” he said.
“So, we had initially converted our schools and colleges into quarantines and isolation centres and with them opening now, we have a problem of where to house them.
“We are even receiving convicts by the way, and they are unruly, so I am told. Some of the schools they were quarantined have complained of vandalism.”
Vice President Mohadi said to date, 171 returning residents had escaped from quarantine centres across the country.
“I think 171 have absconded and only 30 accounted for,” he said.
“When they abscond, they go and mingle with other people in communities and if they are positive, there is higher risk of them infecting others.
“The PMD (Dr Reginald Mhene) said they are sending samples to either Harare or Bulawayo and that takes time. If it takes time like that, people start to abscond, people know that they are supposed to be there for 21 days and when time expires, obviously they are tempted to abscond.
“I am not saying they must do that. People need to know that if they abscond, they are killing other people. So, this is one of the greatest challenges we have.
“Our brothers and sisters in Botswana and South Africa haven’t been assisting us because sometimes we find buses with 200 people at the same time at the border and we have to look for transport, accommodation.
“So, we need alternative accommodation for these people.”
Vice President Mohadi said Government adopted classifying the returning residents according to provinces and putting them into buses to their respective provinces.
He said the Government had to rope in medical personnel from the uniformed forces after it became clear that the Ministry of Health and Child Care was getting overwhelmed.
Vice President Mohadi toured Gweru Provincial Hospital, the Infectious Disease Hospital in Ascot and Midlands State University Incubation Hub.
Reinstated MDC-T Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora’s daughter Bertha Mwonzora has come out gun blazing to defend her troubled father who is experiencing a bombardment of verbal attacks on social media for turning his back against MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.
Bertha recorded a video clip in which she said her father is not working for Zanu Pf and urged opposition leaders to come together and find a way to move forward.
Watch Bertha’s video below downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.
Former Herald reporter Cornelius Nduna (49) collapsed and died at his house in Gletwyn, Harare, yesterday morning in what has been described as a case of sudden death.
The journalist collapsed while working on his laptop computer and was rushed to St Joseph Clinic in Shawasha Hills, where he was pronounced dead.
Family spokesperson and Harare City Council director of health services, Dr Prosper Chonzi, confirmed Nduna’s death, saying he had no previously known health complications.
“It was what may be called a sudden death. We are deeply shocked because he was working normally at the family home he had just finished building with his wife when he collapsed. His body has been taken to Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour and we are awaiting the post mortem results,” said Dr Chonzi.
Born on November 19, 1970, Nduna worked for various local newspapers, including The Herald and The Standard, where he distinguished himself as an investigative reporter.
He later worked in South Africa as a media trainer and for international news organisations such as Associated Press and Sky News, mainly as a freelance journalist. Nduna is survived by his wife and fellow journalist Vongai Makamure. The couple had two children.
Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) secretary-general Foster Dongozi described Nduna’s death as a very sad day for Zimbabwean journalism and a great loss to the industry.
“We have lost a pillar. Journalism is poorer following the loss of our comrade.
He was a gentleman and a professional journalist who moved seamlessly through the public and private media and became an international correspondent. “Rest in peace the Bull Eland,” said Dongozi- The Herald
Twenty new Covid-19 patients infected within Zimbabwe are among the record 62 confirmed cases registered yesterday, bringing the national total to 463.
The other 42 were among returning citizens and residents in official quarantine centres, where most of Zimbabwe’s cases are caught, justifying the official policy of using centres to quarantine all returning residents for at least eight days, although most people testing negative on two tests are allowed to finish their 21-day quarantine at home.
Infections within the centres can be quickly isolated and so do not spread into the community.
According to the latest daily update from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, of the 524 antigen-based (PCR) tests done yesterday, 24 returnees from South Africa tested positive while others were from the United States (5), Zambia (4), Lesotho (4), Botswana (3) and Namibia (2).
But the other 20 infected within Zimbabwe are the ones who require immediate follow-ups and which are of greater concern to health authorities.
Already these authorities know that nine of the 20 are contacts of known patients, but investigations are now in progress to find the source of infection in the other 11.
Of the new cases, Bulawayo reported 32, Harare (15), Mashonaland Central (1), Mashonaland West (2), Midlands (8) and Matabeleland North (4).
Testing has established that another patient is fully recovered, bringing the total of confirmed recoveries to 63. The country’s death toll stands at 4.
By yesterday the global death toll from Covid-19 reached 449 898 from 8 397 036 confirmed cases.
It is generally accepted that because of undertesting, far more people have been infected although because all deaths from all causes in all countries now have to be certified, the Covid-19 death toll statistics are accurate- The Herald
Zanu PF Harare Province has issued a prohibition order against its District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairman Godwin Gomwe for indiscipline pending a determination by the ruling party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).
The ruling party’s interim chairperson for Harare Metropolitan Province Oliver Chidawu said the province wanted the party to suspend Gomwe because of various acts of indiscipline.
“We have submitted our recommendations to the National Disciplinary Committee to suspend Gomwe from carrying any party activities until he is cleared of charges levelled against him,” Chidawu said.
Chidawu signed the prohibition letter accusing Gomwe of posting statements on social media that “tarnish and or defame the characters of some senior party officials namely Chidawu, Kazembe Kazembe — provincial chairman for Mashonaland Central, Biggie Matiza, provincial chairman Mashonaland East and Mike Madiro, provincial chairman Manicaland.”
“You posted several social media messages that went viral accusing the above of not defending His Excellency the President when he was under attack in the old dispensation,” said Chidawu.
According to the letter, a meeting of the provincial co-ordinating committee that was held on May 28, 2020 resolved to have Gomwe suspended.
“The meeting resolved to recommend to institute disciplinary proceedings against you by the National Disciplinary Committee, said Chidawu.
Contacted for comment, Gomwe dismissed the suspension letter saying as acting chairperson Chidawu did not have authority to institute disciplinary proceedings against him.
“Yes, I received a prohibition order from the acting provincial chairman Chidawu, he said.
Unfortunately he does not have the right to give me a prohibition order since he is not a substantive chairman. I will carry on with my duties as the DCC 2 chairperson.”- The Herald
Zanu PF Harare Province has issued a prohibition order against its District Coordinating Committee (DCC) chairman Godwin Gomwe for indiscipline pending a determination by the ruling party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).
The ruling party’s interim chairperson for Harare Metropolitan Province Oliver Chidawu said the province wanted the party to suspend Gomwe because of various acts of indiscipline.
“We have submitted our recommendations to the National Disciplinary Committee to suspend Gomwe from carrying any party activities until he is cleared of charges levelled against him,” Chidawu said.
Chidawu signed the prohibition letter accusing Gomwe of posting statements on social media that “tarnish and or defame the characters of some senior party officials namely Chidawu, Kazembe Kazembe — provincial chairman for Mashonaland Central, Biggie Matiza, provincial chairman Mashonaland East and Mike Madiro, provincial chairman Manicaland.”
“You posted several social media messages that went viral accusing the above of not defending His Excellency the President when he was under attack in the old dispensation,” said Chidawu.
According to the letter, a meeting of the provincial co-ordinating committee that was held on May 28, 2020 resolved to have Gomwe suspended.
“The meeting resolved to recommend to institute disciplinary proceedings against you by the National Disciplinary Committee, said Chidawu.
Contacted for comment, Gomwe dismissed the suspension letter saying as acting chairperson Chidawu did not have authority to institute disciplinary proceedings against him.
“Yes, I received a prohibition order from the acting provincial chairman Chidawu, he said.
Unfortunately he does not have the right to give me a prohibition order since he is not a substantive chairman. I will carry on with my duties as the DCC 2 chairperson.”- The Herald
ZIMBABWE SUGAR ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON THE SUPPLY OF SUGAR….
The Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA) has received numerous enquiries on the availability of sugar in the local market and has also noted, with serious concern, that some retailers and wholesalers are trading sugar at prices way beyond the recommended levels and in some cases with consumers being made to pay in foreign currency notwithstanding the fact that the industry sells and delivers sugar in Zimbabwe dollars.
It has, therefore, become necessary for the ZSA to advise our valuable customers and interested stakeholders as follows:
Sugar packing and distribution operations were indeed briefly disrupted during the third week of March 2020 and the first week of April 2020 as the Millers and Refiners were implementing, at short notice, robust measures to protect the more than 20 000 employees from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This resulted in some delivery backlogs to key wholesalers and retailers right across the country.
We are pleased, however, to inform all our valued customers that the sugar industry successfully recalibrated its operations and that all the necessary interventions are in place in order to mitigate Consequently, all backlogs have virtually been cleared and normal deliveries are being scaled up to ensure that all areas across the country are fully serviced with immediate effect.
We are also pleased to advise that the 2020/21 sugar milling season started successfully and on schedule and that the Sugar Mills are currently operating at full capacity, with no major bottlenecks. The sugar industry expects to produce around 455 000 tons of sugar this season, compared to 441 000 tons in the prior season.
We, therefore, call upon all stakeholders to desist from speculative buying activities and implore wholesalers and retailers to continue selling sugar at the recommended prices.
The sugar industry has resolved to monitor the situation on an on-going basis in order to encourage orderly behaviour in the trade.
The sugar industry will suspend supplies to all those wholesalers and retailers identified as being involved in hoarding and/or speculative activities involving our products.
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 :
A Chipinge man was sentenced to an effective two years in prison after he broke into the home of a schoolteacher and stole the Holy Bible.
Dingani Mucheto (21) and Simon Gwenzi Chibhoso (19) of Musimbo village under Chief Mapungwana were sentenced for unlawful entry and theft by Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware.
Prosecutor Timothy Katsande told the court that the duo broke into the home of Edith Kaziboni, a teacher at Mundanda Primary School and stole property worth $3 400 on 13 April.
Mucheto and Chibhoso were arrested following a tip-off from members of the public.
Investigations led to the recovery of some of the property and it was later revealed that Mucheto only stole the Bible.
Asked by Nembaware why he had stolen only the Bible, Mucheto said:
I stole the Bible because I just liked it. I fell in love with it, that is why I took it.
However, on convicting the pair, Nembaware noted that they were acting in common purpose.
He sentenced each of them to 36 months of which six were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The magistrate also suspended a further six months on condition they restitute the complainant jointly or severally, $2 600 through the Chipinge clerk of court on or before August 28 this year- NewsDay
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 Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA) has received numerous enquiries on the availability of sugar in the local market and has also noted, with serious concern, that some retailers and wholesalers are trading sugar at prices way beyond the recommended levels and in some cases with consumers being made to pay in foreign currency notwithstanding the fact that the industry sells and delivers sugar in Zimbabwe dollars.
It has, therefore, become necessary for the ZSA to advise our valuable customers and interested stakeholders as follows:
Sugar packing and distribution operations were indeed briefly disrupted during the third week of March 2020 and the first week of April 2020 as the Millers and Refiners were implementing, at short notice, robust measures to protect the more than 20 000 employees from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This resulted in some delivery backlogs to key wholesalers and retailers right across the country.
We are pleased, however, to inform all our valued customers that the sugar industry successfully recalibrated its operations and that all the necessary interventions are in place in order to mitigate Consequently, all backlogs have virtually been cleared and normal deliveries are being scaled up to ensure that all areas across the country are fully serviced with immediate effect.
We are also pleased to advise that the 2020/21 sugar milling season started successfully and on schedule and that the Sugar Mills are currently operating at full capacity, with no major bottlenecks. The sugar industry expects to produce around 455 000 tons of sugar this season, compared to 441 000 tons in the prior season.
We, therefore, call upon all stakeholders to desist from speculative buying activities and implore wholesalers and retailers to continue selling sugar at the recommended prices.
The sugar industry has resolved to monitor the situation on an on-going basis in order to encourage orderly behaviour in the trade.
The sugar industry will suspend supplies to all those wholesalers and retailers identified as being involved in hoarding and/or speculative activities involving our products.
ZIMBABWE SUGAR ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON THE SUPPLY OF SUGAR….
The Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA) has received numerous enquiries on the availability of sugar in the local market and has also noted, with serious concern, that some retailers and wholesalers are trading sugar at prices way beyond the recommended levels and in some cases with consumers being made to pay in foreign currency notwithstanding the fact that the industry sells and delivers sugar in Zimbabwe dollars.
It has, therefore, become necessary for the ZSA to advise our valuable customers and interested stakeholders as follows:
Sugar packing and distribution operations were indeed briefly disrupted during the third week of March 2020 and the first week of April 2020 as the Millers and Refiners were implementing, at short notice, robust measures to protect the more than 20 000 employees from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This resulted in some delivery backlogs to key wholesalers and retailers right across the country.
We are pleased, however, to inform all our valued customers that the sugar industry successfully recalibrated its operations and that all the necessary interventions are in place in order to mitigate Consequently, all backlogs have virtually been cleared and normal deliveries are being scaled up to ensure that all areas across the country are fully serviced with immediate effect.
We are also pleased to advise that the 2020/21 sugar milling season started successfully and on schedule and that the Sugar Mills are currently operating at full capacity, with no major bottlenecks. The sugar industry expects to produce around 455 000 tons of sugar this season, compared to 441 000 tons in the prior season.
We, therefore, call upon all stakeholders to desist from speculative buying activities and implore wholesalers and retailers to continue selling sugar at the recommended prices.
The sugar industry has resolved to monitor the situation on an on-going basis in order to encourage orderly behaviour in the trade.
The sugar industry will suspend supplies to all those wholesalers and retailers identified as being involved in hoarding and/or speculative activities involving our products.
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.
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.
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
A MAN from Inyathi in Matabeleland North who fatally struck his ex-wife several times with an axe on Christmas Eve in 2018 after she had ended their marriage has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder.
Vincent Ndlovu (39) of Plot Number 9, Diglis Park, Famona in Inyathi, was customarily married to Hlengiwe Moyo and the couple was on separation at the time she was killed. Moyo, then 26, had moved out of her matrimonial home to live with her parents in a nearby village.
Ndlovu armed himself with an axe and followed her to her parents’ homestead where he struck her several times in the presence of minor children aged 14, six and two years.
Ndlovu was convicted of murder with actual intent when he appeared before Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Maxwell Takuva who is on circuit in Hwange.
The judge said Ndlovu killed a defenceless woman because he could not accept that she had left him.
He sentenced him to an effective 30 years in jail.
Prosecuting, Mr Bheki Tshabalala said Ndlovu sneaked into a kitchen hut where his ex-wife was sleeping at night and was positively identified by the deceased’s 14-year-old younger sister.
Three other minors were in the same hut. The deceased’s parents were not at home at the time-Chronicle
Government is impressed by the progress made by most private schools in preparing to re-open under Covid-19, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema has said.
Minister Mathema said this in an interview after a closed door meeting with the Zimbabwe Independent Private Schools Association. He said the meeting was part of wider consultations that were being carried out by his ministry.
“The private and independent schools initiated the meeting and l was very happy. They came to present how ready they are, their state of preparedness when schools re-open. Some of the schools are even manufacturing face masks and sanitisers,” he said.
The meeting was conducted in the presence of Health and Child Care Ministry officials.
Zimbabwe Independent Private Schools Association chairperson Mrs Salome Mutsinze said the meeting was necessitated by the general consensus on adverse effects on the prolonged closure of schools due to Covid-19.
“The agenda was to appraise the ministry on the degree of preparedness of safe reopening of our member schools in a phased approach starting with examination classes.
“In line with the WHO guidelines on the fight against Covid-19 pandemic some of the highlights on safety procedures and precautions to be enforced include all staff and learners should undergo rapid testing,” she said.
Other measures that schools are supposed to implement are regular fumigation of facilities, temperature tests thrice a day and ensuring there is a response team and isolation facilities in case of suspected cases.
Mrs Mutsinze said the effects of the schools’ closure on pupils are child abuse, child labour, unwanted pregnancies and marriages. Maranatha Group of Schools founder and chief executive Dr Samuel Mudavanhu said as an institution they are more than ready to have their exam classes in place.
“We are more than ready to have our students on campus. We have put all measures in place as recommended by the World Health Organisation and in line with our line Ministry as well as that of Health and Child Care,” he said.
Harvard Junior School Head Loice Magweba said as a day school when it comes to transportation of their learners they will sanitise their buses twice a day.
“We will also have the opportunity to check temperatures when learners and staff are boarding the bus,” she said.
“We are also very conscious to look at the staff and we sourced the PPE’s for them. All staff members are going to be tested of Covid-19 and will undergo training through the Health and Child Care Ministry about how they are supposed to handle suspected cases.”
Knostics Academy head Mr William Mukuwapasi said they will operate according to President Mnangagwa’s proclaimed guidelines.
“I want to reassure every learner and parents that as an academy we are now ready for reopening. We make our own sanitisers, face masks which we can use to allocate to our learners and staff,” he said.
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.
Manchester City thrashed Arsenal 3-0 behind closed doors on the first night of the Premier League’s return at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Goals from Raheem Sterling, Kevin DeBruyne, and second-half substitute Phil Foden gave the Cityzens all three points against the Gunners.
Despite the win, Manchester City ended the game on a bad note as they were dealt with a huge blow as there were fears about the condition of Eric Garcia who needed some minutes of medical attention after a dangerous collision with goalkeeper Ederson and was carried off on a stretcher.
The young defender started the game alongside Aymeric Laporte in the defensive line but was unable to finish the game due to injury as Pep Guardiola’s side finished the game with 10 men.
City are yet to reveal the extent of his injury but the former Barcelona defender will be out for a while to regain his full fitness.
After the game, Guardiola spoke about the Spaniard’s injury claiming they will have to wait for further test to be done.
“We are really concerned [about Eric Garcia]. He responded quite well but we have to wait. He is conscious which is a good sign. We will make another test,” he said.
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.
Health minister Obadiah Moyo reportedly arrested a day after the ZimEye interview yesterday. We are still waiting for ZACC, ZRP, Govt to comment on the reports.
He is a notorious figure in the world of international clandestine deals. A known smuggler, tobacco and arms trafficker, sanctions-buster and occasional businessman, Bredenkamp made a fortune across various industries despite being at the centre of numerous criminal allegations throughout his career.
The soft glow of nostalgia is already evident on social media posts that recall Bredenkamp’s rugby playing days in Rhodesia and support until recently for his Zimbabwean alma mater Prince Edward School. But the facts are glaringly contrary – Bredenkamp’s fingerprints were to be found over decades on the scene of economic crimes that resulted in human rights violations. This is his legacy.
Bredenkamp is alleged to have assisted numerous pariah states to bust sanctions. Zimbabwean-born, Bredenkamp managed to find favour in the inner circle of both the Ian Smith and Robert Mugabe regimes. He has admitted to having assisted Smith, the prime minister of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in the 1970s, to break international sanctions in order to ensure that the colonial regime remained armed. Despite this history, Bredenkamp was able to form a relationship with Mugabe as the new head of state, which allegedly included the provision of financial and logistical support to Mugabe’s regime. This included a role in the illegal exploitation and plundering of the natural resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo between 1998 and 2003.
The relationship resulted in Bredenkamp being added to the United States sanctions list, a decision which the European Union and Switzerland shortly followed. Bredenkamp’s legal team eventually had his name and companies removed from the European lists, but he remains on the US Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list.
In addition to his support of Mugabe, he also allegedly supplied arms to both sides during the Iran-Iraq war. Perhaps most important for present purposes, he also sought to bust sanctions with the South African apartheid government. Declassified South African military documents show that Armscor agents approached Bredenkamp in 1982 in an attempt to procure 20,000 flamethrowers. He agreed to take part and provided fraudulent end-user certificates in order to bypass the arms embargo. Thankfully, the deal fell through when Belgian authorities unknowingly intervened and halted the transport process. Nonetheless, it remains horrifying to imagine the suffering that could have been caused if flamethrowers had found their way into the hands of a regime which did not value black lives and deployed troops readily to townships during this time.
These connections with the South African military establishment mean it is little surprise that Bredenkamp is implicated in the post-apartheid arms deal scandal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mpilo Hospitals nurses picketing with a loud message
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.
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.
Dynamos have received digital training equipment from their Belgian partners as part of the efforts to help the club in its digitalisation.
The kit, which includes computers, projectors and Ipads, will assist the Glamour Boys in implementing scientific training and coaching methods in regards to the modern game.
The assortment was unveiled at the club’s offices at the National Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, executive chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa said: “Football has become very scientific and this equipment will go a long way in addressing that.
“Training methods and coaching styles used in modern football require a lot of analysis from one individual player to another.
“There is no way such scientific methods can be implemented without the use of this stuff. We thank our partners for this gesture.”
The donated material comes from the same partners who arranged coach Tonderai Ndiraya’s trip to Belgium in March-Soccer 24
Hawkeye, the company in charge of Premier League technology has issued an apology saying Sheffield United’s goal against Aston Villa at Villa Park, which was ruled out, should have been given.
In the 41st minute of the clash, which ushered-in the return of the Premier League, Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland appeared to drag the ball over the goal line but goal-line technology ruled no goal, despite the ball appearing to have clearly crossed the line.
Referee Michael Oliver did not get the signal to indicate a goal and the company has admitted there was an error and the ball did cross the line.
“Hawkeye unreservedly apologises to the Premier League, Sheffield United and everyone affected by this incident,” reads the statement.
The explanation given is that that all seven of its cameras monitoring the goal line were obscured by either the Aston Villa goalkeeper, a defender or the goalpost-Soccer 24
Aston Villa and Sheffield United played out a goalless draw on the day the English Premier League finally returned after exactly 100 days.
The clash at Villa Park marked the return of the English top-flight from the Covid-19 enforced break.
Villa coach Dean Smith made some changes to his side, with Pepe Reina, Mbwana Samatta, and Marvellous Nakamba starting on the bench while John McGinn made his first appearance since sustaining an ankle injury in December.
The Claret and Blue had a couple of early chances with Conor Hourihane’s short saved by Sheffield goalkeeper Dean Henderson while Keinan Davis headed just over.
Kotney Hause also had a decent chance on the hour mark but couldn’t direct his effort on target.
Perhaps the biggest talking point in the first half came in the 41st minute when Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland appeared to drag the ball over the goal line but goal-line technology ruled no goal, despite the ball appearing to have clearly crossed the line.
It was all square at the half time interval.
The second stanza produced some half chances as Smith’ men pushed for the opener, with Davies coming inches close to connecting Anwar El Ghazi’s low cross.
On the hour mark, Davies was denied by a brilliant Henderson save as the English goalkeeper kept his side in the game.
Smith took advantage of the drinks break in the 69th minute to make a double change, bringing in Samatta and Trezequet for Davis and El Ghazi respectively.
He would also bring in Nakamba and Elmohamady for McGinn and Konsa as his side searched for the winner.
The two teams would eventually settle for a share of the spoils-Soccer 24
David Luiz has blamed himself for Arsenal’s 3-0 at Manchester City on Wednesday.
The centre-back made a defensive blunder that led to Raheem Sterling’s opener on the stroke of half-time before he was sent off for hauling down Riyad Mahrez inside the penalty area four minutes into the second half.
“It’s not the team’s fault, it was my fault,” he said after the game. “Today I think the team did well, especially with 10 men, the coach is amazing, the players did amazing, it’s just my fault.”
The 33-year-old’s contract at London-based club is also set to expire in the coming weeks and the player insists he wants to extend his stay.
“I took the decision to play, I should have taken another decision in the last two months, but I didn’t. It was all about my contract, whether I stay or not. I have 14 days to be here, and that’s it. Today was my fault.
“I don’t want to use it as an alibi or an excuse, but it’s my fault and that’s it.
“I love to be here, that’s why I continue to train hard, that’s why I came here today, that’s why I’ve tried to do everything, that’s why I’m here putting my face up, that’s why I said to the players no one had to speak, I’m happy to show my face and be here.
“I want to stay, the coach knows, he wants me to stay, and we are just waiting for the decisions,” he added-Soccer 24
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 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.
By Fanuel Chinowaita| The captured judiciary and the unconstitutional attack on MDC Alliance is a clear declaration of armed struggle.
Zanu pf led government has clearly shows that it is not ready to follow the Constitution of the people. It has continued to persecute a people’s but yet the economic situation of Zimbabwe is suffering.
Soldiers and police leading the exercise of taking an Opposition Head Quarters, giving it to another opposition is the best exhibit to show that Thokozani Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora, Morgan Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and others of the so called MDC T are real agents of Zanu pf.
The Opposition has splitted but we have never seen this before. Those who went away never involved the army to fight on their side.
To those who thought Khupe and Mwonzora’s fight were to liberate Zimbabwe, the truth has come out. It’s now clear that they are working with Zanu pf to destroy MDC.
Zanu pf led government has totally lost in what to prioritize. It is majority on minor things which will lead to its death.
If Zanu pf wanted to destroy MDC, it was supposed to work for the betterment of the Country. It was supposed to do the opposite of wgat it is doing right now. It was supposed to show people that Mnangagwa administration is different to Mugabe administration. It was supposed to genuinely show that it is sorry for Gukurahundi and compensate the Ndebele people. It was supposed to ask for forgiveness for the killing of Opposition members in the year 2000, 2001 and 2008. It was supposed to say sorry and do something for Murambatsvina. It was supposed to bring forward the abductors arrest them and end abduction. It was supposed to say good by to Indiginisation, poverty, unemployment.
It was supposed to stop persecuting MDC Leaders, arresting them, torturing them.
Well, the evidence is now there, to those who said give ED chance, ED failed to utilize the chance. He is majoring on minor things which will not Zimbabwe an inch ahead. ED is a failure therefore he has to go now.
MDC Alliance and other progressive citizens must be bold enough to remove a failed government. We did hushtags, demonstrations, statements, courts but all have failed. We tried to be nice but the government gripped us with an iron hand.
It’s either suffer continues or we take up arms against the dictator. Zanu pf government draw the first blood. The war has been declared. It has to be shown.
WHO is a global organization, but we are also proud and active members of the cities and communities we live in.
Since the 20 th of March, Geneva’s famous Jet d’Eau fountain has been switched off while the city was in lockdown.
Yesterday I had the enormous honour of re-starting the Jet d’Eau, as a symbol of the city reopening now that the number of cases has declined.
I’m deeply grateful to the city and canton of Geneva for their hospitality and support for WHO, and for illuminating the Jet d’Eau in blue in honour of WHO and the United Nations.
But although new cases here in Geneva are now in the single digits, we are continuing to see an escalating pandemic globally.
As the pandemic accelerates in low- and middle-income countries, WHO is especially concerned about its impact on people who already struggle to access health services – often women, children and adolescents.
The indirect effects of COVID-19 on these groups may be greater than the number of deaths due to the virus itself.
Because the pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in many places, women may have a heightened risk of dying from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
WHO has developed guidance for health facilities and community activities on maintaining essential services, including for women, newborns, children and adolescents.
This includes ensuring women and children can use services with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, and respectful maternal and newborn care.
WHO has also carefully investigated the risks of women transmitting COVID-19 to their babies during breastfeeding.
We know that children are at relatively low-risk of COVID-19, but are at high risk of numerous other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents.
Based on the available evidence, WHO’s advice is that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of COVID-19.
Mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants, unless the mother is too unwell.
WHO has detailed information in our clinical guidance about how to breastfeed safely.
WHO is also concerned about the impact of the pandemic on adolescents and young people.
Early evidence suggests people in their teens and 20s are at greater risk of depression and anxiety, online harassment, physical and sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, while their ability to seek the services they need is reduced.
School and university closures can also have a dramatic impact on the ability of adolescents to access preventive services.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
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 :
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.
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 :
WHO is a global organization, but we are also proud and active members of the cities and communities we live in.
Since the 20 th of March, Geneva’s famous Jet d’Eau fountain has been switched off while the city was in lockdown.
Yesterday I had the enormous honour of re-starting the Jet d’Eau, as a symbol of the city reopening now that the number of cases has declined.
I’m deeply grateful to the city and canton of Geneva for their hospitality and support for WHO, and for illuminating the Jet d’Eau in blue in honour of WHO and the United Nations.
But although new cases here in Geneva are now in the single digits, we are continuing to see an escalating pandemic globally.
As the pandemic accelerates in low- and middle-income countries, WHO is especially concerned about its impact on people who already struggle to access health services – often women, children and adolescents.
The indirect effects of COVID-19 on these groups may be greater than the number of deaths due to the virus itself.
Because the pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in many places, women may have a heightened risk of dying from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
WHO has developed guidance for health facilities and community activities on maintaining essential services, including for women, newborns, children and adolescents.
This includes ensuring women and children can use services with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, and respectful maternal and newborn care.
WHO has also carefully investigated the risks of women transmitting COVID-19 to their babies during breastfeeding.
We know that children are at relatively low-risk of COVID-19, but are at high risk of numerous other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents.
Based on the available evidence, WHO’s advice is that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of COVID-19.
Mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants, unless the mother is too unwell.
WHO has detailed information in our clinical guidance about how to breastfeed safely.
WHO is also concerned about the impact of the pandemic on adolescents and young people.
Early evidence suggests people in their teens and 20s are at greater risk of depression and anxiety, online harassment, physical and sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, while their ability to seek the services they need is reduced.
School and university closures can also have a dramatic impact on the ability of adolescents to access preventive services.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
A Chipinge man was sentenced to an effective two years in prison after he broke into the home of a schoolteacher and stole the Holy Bible.
Dingani Mucheto (21) and Simon Gwenzi Chibhoso (19) of Musimbo village under Chief Mapungwana were sentenced for unlawful entry and theft by Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware.
Prosecutor Timothy Katsande told the court that the duo broke into the home of Edith Kaziboni, a teacher at Mundanda Primary School and stole property worth $3 400 on 13 April.
Mucheto and Chibhoso were arrested following a tip-off from members of the public.
Investigations led to the recovery of some of the property and it was later revealed that Mucheto only stole the Bible.
Asked by Nembaware why he had stolen only the Bible, Mucheto said:
I stole the Bible because I just liked it. I fell in love with it, that is why I took it.
However, on convicting the pair, Nembaware noted that they were acting in common purpose.
He sentenced each of them to 36 months of which six were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The magistrate also suspended a further six months on condition they restitute the complainant jointly or severally, $2 600 through the Chipinge clerk of court on or before August 28 this year- NewsDay
It's better to accept that amount and continue protesting for a better wage than to reject it musati maipihwa. Kunongonzi vairamba so we will meet again for negotiations… time ichingofamba mateacher achidya nhoko dzezvironda. Wise up.
Its also wiser not to speak when you dont know how the gvt operates. That money was not negotiated, it's a promise from gvt that cannot be withdrawn because they saw a comment from you on Twitter
Mr Ncube don't say covid 19 allowance because you will remove it any time.make it a salary. No more to rtgs and zim dollar. For you to turn around the economy fit in Biti shoes.Give us US dollar simple. # no to rtgs and zim dollar #
ZIMBABWE SUGAR ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON THE SUPPLY OF SUGAR….
The Zimbabwe Sugar Association (ZSA) has received numerous enquiries on the availability of sugar in the local market and has also noted, with serious concern, that some retailers and wholesalers are trading sugar at prices way beyond the recommended levels and in some cases with consumers being made to pay in foreign currency notwithstanding the fact that the industry sells and delivers sugar in Zimbabwe dollars.
It has, therefore, become necessary for the ZSA to advise our valuable customers and interested stakeholders as follows:
Sugar packing and distribution operations were indeed briefly disrupted during the third week of March 2020 and the first week of April 2020 as the Millers and Refiners were implementing, at short notice, robust measures to protect the more than 20 000 employees from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This resulted in some delivery backlogs to key wholesalers and retailers right across the country.
We are pleased, however, to inform all our valued customers that the sugar industry successfully recalibrated its operations and that all the necessary interventions are in place in order to mitigate Consequently, all backlogs have virtually been cleared and normal deliveries are being scaled up to ensure that all areas across the country are fully serviced with immediate effect.
We are also pleased to advise that the 2020/21 sugar milling season started successfully and on schedule and that the Sugar Mills are currently operating at full capacity, with no major bottlenecks. The sugar industry expects to produce around 455 000 tons of sugar this season, compared to 441 000 tons in the prior season.
We, therefore, call upon all stakeholders to desist from speculative buying activities and implore wholesalers and retailers to continue selling sugar at the recommended prices.
The sugar industry has resolved to monitor the situation on an on-going basis in order to encourage orderly behaviour in the trade.
The sugar industry will suspend supplies to all those wholesalers and retailers identified as being involved in hoarding and/or speculative activities involving our products.
The Press Conference started promptly at 12 noon. If you were not in the Media Centre promptly at that time, the doors were closed. We had a full house. We gain nothing from shutting you out. The full statement is available now on https://t.co/LUKYCxFQDz. https://t.co/nueDkMGvmh
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 :
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has scoffed at the MDC T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe arguing that when the faction led by Khupe goes low, the MDC Alliance goes high.
Mahere blasted 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:
“…. when they go low, we go high…. 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.”
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.”
Parliament is an expression of the will of the people…political power comes from the people…so you can’t say I own these MPs they’re mine, and I’m going to keep on calling them…Douglas Mwonzora is not law…
@advocatemahere on @DMwonzora "Parliament is an expression of the will of the people…political power comes from the people…so you can't say I own these MPs they're mine, and I'm going to keep on calling them…Douglas Mwonzora is not law." pic.twitter.com/gPXuKj0AJk
Parliament is an expression of the will of the people…political power comes from the people…so you can’t say I own these MPs they’re mine, and I’m going to keep on calling them…Douglas Mwonzora is not law…
@advocatemahere on @DMwonzora "Parliament is an expression of the will of the people…political power comes from the people…so you can't say I own these MPs they're mine, and I'm going to keep on calling them…Douglas Mwonzora is not law." pic.twitter.com/gPXuKj0AJk
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.
“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
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.”
“We refuse to accept any disruption in the corruption fight” said Fadzayi Mahere, the MDC Alliance Spokesperson at a press conference held at the Media Centre in Harare.
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.”
By Kennedy Kaitano- If denials by the Zimbabwe National Army and the Zimbabwe Republic Police are to be taken for truth, Zimbabwe has certainly become a dangerous place to live and invest in, where marauding bogus army and police officers can do things at will, cause suffering to the people even in broad daylight and get away with it.
The latest incident is the shutdown of Bulawayo by the army and police , with video evidence of police officers dragging a handcuffed man in the courtyard of a petrol station widely shared.
According to media reports, Standard Chartered bank was forced to close its only branch in town. The bank sent a message to its customers saying it had closed its doors due to “circumstances beyond our control.”
However, as is now expected when Government wants to spruce up its image, the Zimbabwe National Army has refuted reports that members of the armed forces moved in to take charge of Bulawayo Central Business. Who then are those people causing such mayhem and getting away with it, while members of the army, as claimed the Zimbabwe National Army Deputy Director of public relations Alex Zuva, are in the vicinity watching these things happen as their presence was only “assisting the Zimbabwe Republic Police in enforcing Coronavirus lockdown regulations”.
The same thing happened when the army and police officers assisted the Dr. Khupe lead faction of the MDC-T 2014 structures take over Harvest House from the MDC Alliance at night.
Seriously, how could the army and police have been enforcing Coronavirus regulations at Harvest House at 10.00pm? How many people would be travelling in town at that time of the night?
Then of cause there is the denial of the arrest of MDC Alliance Parliamentarian Joana Mamombe and her colleagues in the MDC Alliance Youth League Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, in which Zanu PF officials, Government officials and the Zimbabwe Republic Police have all denied involvement.
The truth about the situation in Zimbabwe is that Zanu PF and Government has for too long used the police force, the army, the central intelligence services to brutalise suspected members of the opposition and ordinary citizens who express concern on the way Government is managing the country.
Very often corroborated accounts have been given of how Zanu PF youths have been dressed in police or army attire and given guns to brutalise the opposition voices, and the army and police officials will deny involvement, sometimes because they have not been involved, but they simply turn a blind eye when they see these atrocities committed.
But the army and police officials may not be the only ones to publicly deny involvement in unethical practice as I hear the first family has also publicly denied involvement in the last Zimbabwean scam involving Drax International even where there are reported links between the President and the firm, and when the President’s wife and children have been seen hanging around the suspects.
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]
Watch Video- Arrested MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson brutally assaulted by police, denied medical attention despite visibly struggling to breathe pic.twitter.com/Fo2xOAgvnL
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.
To me the loot, reflects racing against time. There is something fishy around this kind of looting. It looks like there is a deadline, or there are fixed targets which must be met, and the whole drama shows that there were no criminals around Robert Mugabe, it was simply a fight to have a turn to loot national coffers !!!
I’m so surprised to see the whole State President, posing for images with criminals who have looted the state coffers. What does this entail on your legacy as a Head of State ?
All those people around you, and the praise singers will be spectators when you are in trouble.
The nature of people is that those around you will be laughing at you when you get into trouble. Where is George Charamba, the spokesman to former President Robert Mugabe? Today he is in your Government. Where is Opah Muchinguri?
Where is the politburo which endorsed your dismissal? The same politburo which endorsed your dismissal, is the same politburo which endorsed your Presidency. The same 10 provinces which called for your ouster, is the same 10 provinces which reinstated you. Your departure will be sad, it is unfortunate that those around you are after crumbs falling from the master’s table, and they are comfortable with what is happening in our country.
I have few questions, why are you holding on to Obidiah Moyo, the failed Minister of Health? Why is your cabinet full of questionable characters? After all the exposed loot of Covid – 19, why are you holding onto to Obidiah Moyo who is responsible for all this mess?
President Mnangagwa President Mnangagwa President Mnangagwa !!!
I’m tempted to believe that the Drax International saga has a lot of finger prints around it, given the context that the Minister of Health is still around and you are still holding onto to him. There could more to it than what we are reading from social media and other platforms.
Money that was meant to feed the whole nation during the pandemic was looted by own members of the family, through hoax companies linked to the first family, and do you care about your own legacy?
I was looking at images circulating on social media, which you were posing with those questionable characters, where on this earth would you see a whole some President posing with criminals of that nature? From Drax International, to all the Natpharm deals, it clears shows that these deals have a lot of finger prints around them, and my simple question is why posing for images with such criminals?
Today Muthuli Ncube is running from one corridor to another, with many papers with Government letterhead, cooking all the measures, it’s too late Mr President, the centre can’t hold anymore, people are fed up with lies, propaganda, cooked information, fake receipts, fake vouchers, fake statements, failed promises, torture and alleged abductions, it’s time to give an ear or reflect, or else your own people will soon surrender you to the public.
It is important to listen, when you are offered advice. It is not necessary to attack those who open your eyes. I’m surprised that whole some 60 Million USD is transferred from Government coffers without your knowledge? The honest truth is that all these are games, and the money was looted by your own members of the family and close people around you, we the majority have nothing to benefit.
The rate at which press conferences are held being held from one corridor to another clearly shows that the pivot holding all the pillars of the system will soon crumble and all pieces will be scattered alover. It will be very difficult to gather spilled milk.
Today, we are witnessing nurses and other civil servants, going on strike, and this clearly shows you have failed as a leader. Previously you have tried to heap blame on sanctions, yet your own people loot the Government leaving the purse empty. My simple question, why is the first lady Mrs Mnangagwa involved in Ministry of Health ? You honestly tell me, Zimbabwe has run out of Ambassadors for Health Ministry? What a joke !!!
Where is the 18 Billion stimulus package which you announced during the lockdown? Where is the 500 Million which Muthuli Ncube announced, which was meant for cushioning people? Do you realise how the masses are suffering?
No accountability to platinum deals
No accountability to Gold deals
No accountability to Jumbo & Fredda Rebbeca mine
No accountability to all mining activities in Chiadzwa, and how much worthy of diamonds were extracted during the lockdown ?
No accountability on Natpharm deals
It is high time you must open your eyes and listen to people’s grievances.
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is a Policy Advisor and Researcher, He is also the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking ( ZIST), he can be contacted at zimstrategicthinking@gmail.com
Aston Villa kick start the English Premier League matches.
Aston Villa and Sheffield United play to a goalless draw. As the action resumed behind closed doors at a largely deserted Villa Park, the players of both sides and officials took a knee for 10 seconds immediately before kick-off in support of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.
Aston Villa and Sheffield United played out a low-key goalless draw as the Premier League made its return after a 100-day absence in a match memorable for powerful statements before kick-off – and a major technology controversy.
This was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of those who have died as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
When the game got underway in this new environment, Sheffield United were the victims of serious first-half injustice when Villa keeper Orjan Nyland fell behind his goal-line clutching Oliver Norwood’s free-kick in the 41st minute only for referee Michael Oliver’s watch to fail to signal a goal.
It was the pivotal moment of an affair high on endeavour but low on the quality that at least represented the success of ‘Project Restart’ after the season was halted because of the global coronavirus crisis, bringing a result that was arguably more satisfactory for The Blades than Villa.
Villa – who were thwarted by some fine saves from Sheffield United keeper Dean Henderson – will feel an opportunity has been missed, while a point for The Blades leaves them four points from Chelsea in fourth place.
There was, at least, a sense of relief that domestic football was finally up and running once more.
By Farai D Hove| Another George Floyd outrage has erupted in Plumtree where Zimbabwe Republic Police officers assaulted a motorist at Kuda Tagwirei’s Sakunda Petrol Station.
Mr Archfofrd Zhanje was attacked after complaining over exemptions given certain motorists there.
Zhanje was assaulted to the point of sustaining a dislocated bone joint. Speaking on video, he narrates it as follows:
Fellow Zimbabweans, my name is Archford Zhanje, i am based in Plumtree, Plumtree border post.
Yesterday we were at Sakunda garage in the line for fuel, while waiting; it was now at 4.30pm, when the manager came to announce they have shut the garage.
“At that time two cars arrived, one of them was for a chief, and the other for another chief. For sure, I know that both are chiefs.
“They all pumped out fuel, then came two cars belonging to immigration officers, they also pumped out.
“Then there was another third group which arrived. It was way after 4.30pm, all garages were now shut, all these people were said to have been exempted.
“What I want to know, is when people are exempted, are they exempted to the point of jumping the queue?
“The crime I’m accused of which got me injured…
“I dislocated an arm, here, and I have some chest pains.
“I have my medical report here. This is my medical report, written by the doctor, they are saying I was injured. The police put a metal on me.
“I had complained saying how are you putting fuel after you have shut the garage? How come?
“The manager at Sakunda then told this garage is not for your family.
“He then ordered the police officer to arrest me.”
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.
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.
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
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has announced a new forex auction system, saying it will bring “transparency and efficiency” to currency trade.
The auction system is the latest in a series of attempts by central bank over the past two years to settle on a working forex trading system.
An auction platform is not new; Zimbabwe introduced a Managed Foreign Exchange Auction System in January 2004. It was abandoned within a year, after the market realised RBZ was keen to control the rate, which resulted in losses for exporters. At the time, sellers complained that they could not withdraw their offers from the auction even if unhappy with bids.
Will the new auction system be any different?
Here is what we know so far about the new platform:
Is the rate still fixed?
The system replaces the fixed rate of 25:1, which was introduced as a temporary measure in March and has been criticised by exporters, including miners. From June 23, the rate will no longer be fixed.
How will this new system work?
According to RBZ, there will be an auction every Tuesday. A company or individual who wants forex, makes a bid for hard currency by 9AM on the day. They can make only one bid per day. If they bid twice, all their bids are rejected.
The winning bidder gets the money sent to their foreign currency bank account once the Zimdollar equivalent has been paid.
Importers on the priority list – essential supplies – get to be first in line for allotment.
At the end of each auction day, an average of the highest and lowest bids allotted is worked out. This becomes the prevailing exchange rate of the day. At close of each sale day, a report will be published on how much was auctioned, the bids on offer, and the weighted average rate.
The bidding platform uses the Reuters Foreign Currency Auction System, linked to the export payments and exchange control platforms. The central banks of Ghana and Uganda started using the Reuters Eikon auction app in 2016.
How much can one bid for?
To bid, you must have deep pockets. You cannot bid for less than US$50 000 per auction. This means the auction system is really for major players, shutting out individuals that may also need forex.
One can bid for a maximum of US$500 000 per auction. A factor to watch will be how much of the allotted bids is actually available. A bidder also needs to show an import invoice.
Where will the forex for auction come from?
The RBZ says the money to be auctioned will come from several sources. First are offshore facilities arranged by central bank. The bank doesn’t say if there are any new such facilities ready.
Another source is the forex brought in by exporters. When an exporter has been paid for goods they sell abroad, they are required to sell their forex onto the official market within 30 days. The bank also anticipates that holders of free funds will also use the auction to sell their forex on the market.
Does this happen in other countries?
Angola, Egypt and Ghana are among economies that use variations of the auction system. Angola, in 2018, stopped controlling the exchange rate and started auctions. This allowed the Kwanza to depreciate. The auctions began once weekly, then three times a week. They are now held daily.
Ghana also has an auction system. However, what is notable is transparency, which RBZ woefully lacks. The Bank of Ghana has already released a calendar telling the market how much it intends to sell in its forward auctions for 2020; a total of US$715 million is planned for its auctions this year.
This contrasts sharply with RBZ, where key data is released either late, or hardly at all.
What about prices?
Shops are now required to display prices of goods and services in both USD and in Zimdollars at the ruling auction rate for the week.
If you think you’ve heard this before, you’re right. This is a throwback to September 2008, when shops were licensed to sell in foreign currency alongside the Zimdollar.
Then, just as now, inflation was raging out of control. RBZ introduced Foreign Exchange Licenced Warehouses and Retail Shops (Foliwars), Foreign Exchange Licenced Oil Companies (Felocs) and Foreign Exchange Licenced Outlets for Petrol and Diesel (Felopads).
These big, clumsy names simply described shops allowed to sell in forex and Zimbabwe dollars. However, shops quickly stopped accepting local dollars, preferring USD, as is likely to happen now.
Months later in January 2009, Zimbabwe formally announced the adoption of the multicurrency system when acting Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa presented a USD denominated budget.
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.
RT -With immediate, ALL Civil servants salaries will be adjusted upwards by 50% -Additionally; all Civil Servants to be paid a flat non-taxable Covid19 Allowance US$75 per month -All Government Pensioners to to be paid a Covid19 Allowance US$30 – @nickmangwanapic.twitter.com/JfDXsqfIrp
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.
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
Too late, too little
We need an inclusive economic reform agenda that addresses economic fundamentals. Workers deserve decent salaries
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.
Bulawayo City Council’s Health Services Department has embarked on a door to door campaign to identify diarrhoea patients following the death of five people in Luveve suburb.
The door to door campaign started on Monday and 441 people were attended to in the first two days of the campaign.
The department said 14 patients were treated from home, 15 others who were critical were referred to Mpilo Central Hospital and the rest were treated at Luveve Clinic during the two days.
The council embarked on the door to door exercise after authourities observed that those who succumbed to diarrhoea had delayed to seek treatment. Five people, four children and an adult died after being hospitalised at Mpilo Central Hospital. Residents have linked the diarrhoea outbreak to the city’s water and council has responded by taking water samples for testing and is awaiting the results.
Addressing stakeholders during a Bulawayo Water Crisis meeting yesterday, acting Town Clerk Mrs Sikhangele Zhou said council was working to minimise contamination of water through exempting Luveve suburb from water shedding.
She said the local authority which was providing free treatment to diarrhoea patients, had embarked on a door to door exercise to identify patients after learning that most residents were not seeking treatment early due to lack of money.
“On Monday we conducted a door to door exercise to identify people with diarrhoea symptoms and on the day we attended to 223 patients. The following day we attended to 218 and 14 of them were treated at home. Nurses referred 15 patients to Mpilo Central Hospital because of their critical condition,” she said.
Mrs Zhou said while the diarrhoea outbreak is largely concentrated in Luveve, cases were being recorded in other suburbs.
She said anyone with diarrhoea symptoms will be treated for free at municipal clinics.
“Doctors who attended to the patients at Mpilo are saying most of the complications were due to delays in seeking treatment. Some of the concerns were that people didn’t have money while others were a result of people thinking that they can deal with running tummies on their own. Since this is now an outbreak, Government policy compels us to exempt those patients from paying for treatment,” she said.
Mrs Zhou said Luveve suburb was now exempt from water shedding but the situation will be reviewed from time to time depending on water supplies. “In order to minimise the contamination of water, the city has exempted Luveve from water shedding but this depends on the water supplies situation at any given time,” said Mrs Zhou.
She said council has started covering up wells that residents dug as alternative water sources.
A BULAWAYO man who ganged up with two accomplices and choked a security guard to death at a flea market in the city centre in 2013, was yesterday sentenced to 25 years in jail.
Ignatius Mehluli Mhlanga (26) of Old Pumula killed Mr Vengai Murisi (34) in the company of two other accused persons.
Mr Murisi was on duty manning Mutize and Sons Flea Market in the city centre when he was killed.
Mhlanga killed Murisi with Timothy Mathema (30) and Isaac Nyakurerwa (35) who were sentenced to life in prison for the same murder in 2018. The two implicated Mhlanga who had fled to South Africa.
They brutally attacked the security guard at his work place by tying his hands, legs and neck using a wire coat hanger before strangling him to death using a jacket draw-string.
Mhlanga was on the run for six years but came back to the country and was arrested and jailed for nine months for another robbery he committed. However, police continued to search for him for killing the security guard while he was in fact in prison serving time for the robbery charge.
He was arrested last year in October at Bulawayo Prison moments before being released from jail after serving nine months for the robbery.
Mhlanga was convicted of murder with actual intent by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda.
In passing the sentence, Justice Dube-Banda said Mhlanga committed a grave and serious offence warranting a lengthy prison term.
“The deceased was deprived of his right to life and the rule of law requires that such people who commit violent crimes should get harsh sentences. The murder was committed in aggravating circumstances as the deceased’s head was tied with a wire, which was then tied to a steel table until he died and what a horrible way of ending one’s life,” he said.
The judge condemned Mhlanga’s conduct, saying the courts have a duty to protect the sanctity of life.
Prosecuting, Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu said on February 10 in 2013 at about 7PM, Murisi reported for duty at Mutize and Sons Flea Market situated along Lobengula Street between 8th Avenue Extension and Leopold Takawira Avenue.
During the course of the night, Mhlanga in the company of Mathema and Nyakurerwa, arrived at the flea market and found the deceased asleep.
“They assaulted Murisi on the head with a plank and further strangled him using a jacket string until he died. His body was discovered the following morning by his colleague, the late Mr George Gwachari who called the police. The three men stole clothing items and fled from the scene,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Mathema and Nyakurerwa were later arrested and it was discovered that they had sold some of the clothing items to people who live as far as Plumtree.
Police also recovered the deceased’s phone during indications.
A post mortem report showed that Murisi had died due to strangulation, asphyxia and homicide. In his defence through his lawyer, Mr Lament Ngwenya of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chamber, Mhlanga said he acted in self-defence to avert an attack from the deceased who was trying to apprehend him after they had strayed into the flea market.
