By A Correspondent- Police have arrested 4 560 people since the launch of an anti-machete blitz in mining communities in January, in an effort to end violent crimes perpetrated by machete gangs and bring sanity to the mining areas.

In a statement yesterday, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the latest arrests were in Kwekwe, Zvishavane and Gokwe.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested 4 560 people to date since the inception of the of the operation, which is focused on curbing illegal mining activities at mining sites all over the country,” he said.

“The latest arrests were made in Kwekwe, Zvishavane and Gokwe on March 3, 2020, where 457 people who were engaging in prospecting for gold without a licence, trespassing and illegal vending were nabbed.”

Nyathi said the operation would continue until all mining activities are conducted in accordance with the law.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Ousted Zanu-PF youth deputy president, Lewis Matutu has swallowed a humble pie and is currently attending Zanu-PF’s Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology after being suspended from the party for failing to respect Politburo decisions, it has emerged.

Matutu and the former national political commissa Godfrey Tsenengamu were suspended from the party after addressing the press and named and shamed individuals they said were corrupt.

Addressing the media at the 337th Politburo Session at the party’s headquarters in the capital, Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu revealed that Matutu is currently attending the school of Ideology as per instructions by the Politburo as this is a mandatory course for him to be reinstated in the party.

“A decision was taken in our last meeting directing Tsenengamu and the other suspended party members to do certain things before their readmission after a year and the others have followed the terms of the decision and they have not been saying anything in defiance against the decision by the politburo, as we speak right now, Matutu is attending the Chitepo Ideology sessions as directed by the Politburo.”

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is moving across the country mobilising for a national shutdown to pressure President Emmerson Mnangagwa to address the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

ZCTU president Peter Mutasa disclosed this at the fifth labour forum meeting held in Gweru on Monday.

Mutasa, accompanied by his secretary-general Japhet Moyo and members of the ZCTU’s general council, has been on a whirlwind tour of the country’s provinces, meeting their membership to mobilise for the national shutdown.

They have visited Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare, Bulawayo and Chinhoyi and hope to reach out to the remaining five provinces in the charm offensive.

In his address to restive workers at Mkoba Hall in Gweru, Mutasa said he was prepared to die or be severely persecuted by State security agents who will try to put down the protests.

He highlighted that workers in the country had been reduced to paupers by Mnangagwa’s government to an extent that they no longer had esteem and dignity in society.

“People who started with the issue of shutdowns had understood that when you fail to get food in the house, there is someone who has caused that. If you fail to get an adequate salary, there is someone taking part of it, if you fail to have enough money for rentals and school fees, there is someone who will have taken it,” he said.

“We must ask ourselves to say what are we going to do when we sleep without eating and our kids go to school without shoes? Should we continue to be passive just hoping things will wake up normal just like that?

“Now the government wants to have 2,5% stolen from salaries of workers on top of 2% mobile transactions tax, 14%  VAT [value-added tax], 35% payee, on top of rates at councils and tollgate fees. The likes of (the late MDC leader) Morgan Tsvangirai rejected such scenarios and shut down the country.”

MDC national secretary for labour, Gideon Shoko said the ZCTU was right to organise a national shutdown.

“The ZCTU is very right to follow that route. As the MDC, we certainly sympathise with the stance that the ZCTU wants to take … We, as a party, believe the populace in general understands why the ZCTU has resorted to wanting to protest,” he said.

ZCTU’s organised anti-fuel price hike protests in January last year, however, degenerated into violence and death after government responded by deploying the military in a crackdown that resulted in the death of 17 people, injuring hundreds while thousands were arrested.

Since then, government has used brute force to thwart protests.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Ousted Zanu-PF youth deputy president, Lewis Matutu is currently attending Zanu-PF’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology after being suspended from the party for failing to respect Politburo decisions.

Matutu and former youth national commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu last month addressed the media naming and shaming individuals they said were corrupt.

Addressing the media at the 337th Politburo Session at the party’s headquarters in the capital, Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu revealed that Matutu is currently attending the school of Ideology as per instructions by the Politburo as this is a mandatory course for him to be reinstated in the party.

“A decision was taken in our last meeting directing Tsenengamu and the other suspended party members to do certain things before their readmission after a year and the others have followed the terms of the decision and they have not been saying anything in defiance against the decision by the politburo, as we speak right now, Matutu is attending the Chitepo Ideology sessions as directed by the Politburo.”-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- The former First Lady of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe and her son Russel Goreraza have asked the High Court to dismiss a US$2 million defamation lawsuit filed against them by a Lebanese businessman, Jamal Ahmed whose houses she grabbed over a diamond ring dispute.

Ahmed, claims that a statement that Grace and Goreraza caused to be published between October 2016 and December 2017 in connection with the diamond ring saga, claiming that he had breached the terms and conditions of the deal depicted him as a criminal, tarnished his image both locally and internationally.

Grace and Goreraza, in their plea filed on February 25, 2020, urged the court to dismiss the claims saying that it is correct that the Ahmed breached the contract and pursuant to the breach, offered to compensate Grace although he has not yet done so.

Grace added that Jamal had lost rights to make the claim because of the time that has lapsed if the publication took place in 2017.

She also said that the statements in question, if they were made in court proceedings, were made lawfully and in their context hence they were not defamatory or unlawful.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Ntabazinduna man was hauled to court for stock theft after sneaking into his neighbors’ kraal and slaughtering a sheep.

The accused person (known as Vusumuzi) from Bhekeni village under Chief Khayisa jurisdiction appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate and pleaded guilty to stock theft charges.

In his defense, the accused person told the court that he had succumbed to pressure from his family who complained to him that they were tired of eating vegetables.

The pressure led him to commit the crime since he is the sole breadwinner in the family.

The state told the court that the accused person sneaked into one Mr Siboniso Sibanda’s kraal during daylight, slaughtered the sheep and put it on a wheelbarrow before heading home. He was arrested after Sibanda’s herdboy reported the matter to the police.

He was sentenced to perform  350 hours of community service at Nhlambabaloyi primary school.

Community members from Bhekeni village are said to be complaining that the magistrate was lenient towards the accused person and they now fear they will lose more livestock to stock theft. -statemedia

Legislators yesterday fought over former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s ownership of multiple farms following a question from Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa who wanted to know when government would repossess the 11 farms she allegedly owns.

The incident occurred in the National Assembly during the weekly question-and-answer session.

Mliswa said it was on record that the former First Lady had multiple farms and asked Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, as leader of Government business in Parliament, when Government would start repossessing some of them.

President Mnangagwa is on record as saying the former First Family owned more than 10 farms.

“Government embarked on a land audit to see who was utilising land and who was not and for what reason and the multiple farm owners,” said Mr Mliswa.

“It is on record that the former First Lady owns more than four farms and the Government has done absolutely nothing when the policy is one-man one-farm, one-woman one-farm. The question is; what have they done with the land audit and why have they not repossessed land from the former First Lady.”

MDC-Alliance legislators interjected, with St Mary’s legislator Mr Job Sikhala shouting: “Mugabe akafa kare siyanai naye (referring to Mrs Mugabe) and “why do you want to abuse the widow.”

MDC-Alliance legislators briefly brought business to a halt, while Mr Mliswa accused them of supporting Mrs Mugabe because she funded their campaigns in 2018 harmonised elections.

“Makapihwa mari naGrace muchi campaigner (you were funded by Grace during the elections campaign),” Mr Mliswa said.

Mrs Mugabe was the face of the G40 faction that was expelled from Zanu PF during army coup (Operation Restore Legacy) in 2017.

The group has found a home in MDC-Alliance, with former Zanu PF Politburo members — Professor Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao — openly throwing their weight behind the opposition party’s president Mr Nelson Chamisa and admitting that they fundraised for MDC Alliance campaign.

Other former G4O members, including Shadreck Mashayamombe and Kudakwashe Bhasikiti have been coopted into the structures of the opposition party.

Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda eventually restored order in the House.

Minister Ziyambi said the Government remained committed and would not change its stance on the one-man, one-farm policy.

“Government indeed embarked on a land audit and our President is very clear on the policy of one-man one-farm and one woman one farm,” Minister Ziyambi said.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers’ Union (Zidamwu) has written to government seeking to be allowed to bargain for salaries in line with the forex retention threshold.

In a letter to Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, Zidamwu general secretary Justice Chinhema said employers in the mining industry were retaining 55% forex after selling their minerals through Fidelity Printers and Refiners, but in return, paying workers 100% in local currency without indexing them to the interbank rates.

“Workers have been trying to engage individual employers as well as the Chamber of Mines through the National Employment Council to consider paying them salaries or wages in line with what they retain after selling what they mine without success citing that the law prohibits such bargaining because monetary authorities have directed them not to consider such arrangements,” the letter read in part.

“Workers are aware of the Finance Act and all its meaning, intention and objectives. It is from this background that workers seek to be exempted and be allowed to demand salaries or wages in line with what the employers are retaining.”

In the letter, Chinhema said besides it being unfair to the workers for employers to benefit alone, workers believe most of the money that the employers were retaining in United States dollars and cash in local currency was being channelled to the black market, where they get high premiums for Real Time Gross Settlement they then use to pay workers. -Newsday

Kaizer Chiefs have issued a worrying update on Willard Katsande who was injured over the weekend.

The 34-year old could miss the majority of the remaining games after he tore the ligament in the inner part of his knee during the 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates on Saturday. He was stretchered off in the 75th minute.

Katsande’s expected date of return is still unknown and an appointment with a specialist has been set.

Physiotherapist Dave Milner confirmed the news on the club’s official website.

“Katsande is currently in a brace. He had a scan and will see the specialist this week to determine the extent of the injury.”

Meanwhile, the development comes as a blow to title-chasing Kaizer Chiefs if the midfielder is sidelined for a long time.

Former Zanu-PF youth deputy secretary, Lewis Matutu is currently attending Zanu-PF’s Hebert Chitepo School of Ideology after being suspended from the party for failing to respect Politburo decisions after they, he and Tsenengamu addressed members of the media naming and shaming individuals they said were corrupt.

Addressing members of the media at the 337th Politburo Session at the party’s headquarters in the capital, Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu revealed that Matutu is currently attending the school of Ideology as per instructions by the Politburo as this is a mandatory course for him to be reinstated in the party.

“A decision was taken in our last meeting directing Tsenengamu and the other suspended party members to do certain things before their readmission after a year and the others have followed the terms of the decision and they have not been saying anything in defiance against the decision by the politburo, as we speak right now, Matutu is attending the Chitepo Ideology sessions as directed by the Politburo.”

-State Media

THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) is auctioning Municipality of Gwanda service vehicles which include ambulances, fire tenders and official cars over a $17 million water supplies debt.

Gwanda mayor, Jastone Mazhale recently confirmed the attachment of the vehicles and said the council and Zinwa were engaged in talks that appear to have failed as the Deputy Sheriff has advertised the auctioning of the vehicles.

“Yes I can confirm that our vehicles were attached by Zinwa over a $17 million debt and we are currently running the town without ambulances, fire tenders and normal vehicles as Zinwa attached them. They only left refuse collection vehicles,” Mazhale confirmed.

Zinwa Gwanda catchment manager, Farai Manzira also confirmed the attachment.

The impasse has angered ratepayers who said this has left them in a precarious situation.

Gwanda Residents Association secretary-general Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo expressed concern over the unending feud between Gwanda Town Council and Zinwa which has escalated to alarming levels.

“We are concerned as Gwanda residents over this issue as it is seriously affecting us. We go for a month without running water as Zinwa would have disabled its service, and as residents we have always lobbied for Zinwa to allow the Gwanda Town Council to run the water source, and avoid such unnecessary feuds,”Fuzwayo said.

“Right now as we speak we do not have any ambulances and no fire fighting vehicles. What would happen if a fire erupts?”

By A Correspondent- South African Police Services spokesperson for Limpopo province Motlafela Mojapelo has identified seven Zimbabweans who died in the Musina, South Africa accident.

The horrific accident which occurred on the South African side of Beitbridge involved a Toyota Fortuner and a truck.

Mojapelo identified the victims as follows:

1. Gilbert Mahonolwa (50),
2. the driver, Sunday Winston (28),
3. Morris Tanyanago (62),
4. Sharon Nyathi (25),
5. Kudzai Chirengende (24), and
6. babies Shelther Muzwidziwa (3), and
7. one-year-old Tanyanago Ngaakudzwe.

A local publication reported that the deceased who were from Chiredzi in the Lowveld were aboard the Toyota Fortuner which on Sunday night rammed into the side of a truck on the N1 between Musina and Beitbridge.

The publication adds that the relatives of the deceased were yet to be located to ascertain repatriation of remains and funeral arrangements.

By A Correspondent- Exiled former Zimbabwe Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Jonathan Moyo has dismissed reports that he has joined the opposition MDC led by advocate Nelson Chamisa.

Posting on microblogging site, Twitter this Thursday, Moyo said that he would announce it himself if he joins any party.

He said:

I’m flattered that Mnangagwa’s clansmen & varakashi claim I’m an advisor to @nelsonchamisa & a member of @mdczimbabwe. Neither is true. I was violently removed from #ZanuPF by the military in November 2017 into the opposition. If I join any party, I’ll proudly announce it myself!

Moyo previously claimed that he, together with other exiled former ZANU PF members including Patrick Zhuwao the nephew of former president Mugabe, supported and sponsored the MDC 2018 elections campaign.

The professor has also since the demise of president Mugabe in 2017 been publicly pushing and supporting the MDC agendas prompting some to think that he was planning to join the party.

Own Correspondent|US President Donald Trump has extended sanctions against Zimbabwe by a year, saying that the new government’s policies continue to pose an “unusual and extraordinary” threat to the American foreign policy.

The renewal on Monday comes despite calls by African leaders, including South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, for the sanctions to be lifted to give the country a chance to recover from its economic crisis.

“The actions and policies of these persons continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States,” Trump said in a notice announcing the extension.

“I am continuing for [one] year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13288.”

Trump administration officials had said the sanctions will remain until the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa changes Zimbabwe’s laws restricting media freedom and allowing protests.

According to US officials, there are 141 entities and individuals in Zimbabwe currently under US sanctions, including Mnangagwa and former president Robert Mugabe.

Mnangagwa has called for the sanctions to be lifted against the ZANU-PF ruling party, top military figures and some government-owned firms, which were imposed during Mugabe’s rule over what the US said were human rights violations and undermining of the democratic process.

Zimbabwe is going through its worst economic crisis in a decade. Low on cash reserves, the southern African nation is battling severe fuel shortages.

The government announced in January a 150 percent increase in fuel prices which led to widespread discontent and violent demonstrations.

Source: Al Jazeera

Mpilo Central Hospital has received dialysis equipment donated by an International organisation that was being held by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) which was demanding 3 000 pounds duty.

On Tuesday, Zimra released the equipment that includes portable ultra sound machine, peritoneal dialysis catheters, renal biopsy, needles, sutures, suturing tray and sterile packs after Government issued a duty-free certificate.

The equipment which was donated by the United Kingdom’s International Society of Nephrology (ISN) will be used to interpret kidney biopsies as well as perform peritoneal dialysis for kidney patients.

ISN educational ambassador Dr Nitin Kolhe together with two senior nurses, Sisters Carol Rhodes and Claire Mcguire have since started training doctors and nurses at the hospital on how to use the equipment. The training ends tomorrow.

In an interview yesterday, Mpilo CEO Mr Leonard Mabhandi confirmed that Zimra released the equipment on Tuesday.

“A duty-free certificate was finally issued for the equipment to be released on Tuesday. A team from Mpilo went to the airport to collect the equipment and the training of doctors has started,” he said.

The hospital’s head of the renal unit Dr Shepperd Kajowa said the release of the equipment comes as a relief to kidney patients and doctors who now have the required equipment.

He said after the training that will equip doctors and nurses with the requisite skills, the health institution will be able to offer, for the first-time, peritoneal dialysis for kidney patients in Matabeleland region and beyond.

Dr Kajowa said after the training, doctors will be able to conduct kidney biopsies, a development that is essential for diagnosis of kidney diseases.

“Now that we have the peritoneal dialysis, patients need not come to hospital to be put on the dialysis machine but can be put on dialysis at home. Under this alternative dialysis system, fluid is put into the patient’s stomach and is drained after about four hours. The patient can do this at home,” he said.

Dr Kajowa said the peritoneal dialysis is a positive development in the face of constant power cuts that the health institution is sometimes subjected to as it does not require the use of the dialysis machine.

“ Biopsy which involves taking a very tiny piece of the kidney and examining it under a microscope so that we are able to get the exact diagnosis, will greatly improve our services,” said Dr Kajowa.

Own Correspondent|NORTON MP Temba Mliswa and MDC MP for Zengeza West Job Sikhala were Wednesday involved in short exchanges after the latter had interjected in defence of former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s multiple farms.

The bust-up started when Mliswa, through a question to leader of the house, Ziyambi Ziyambi demanded the seizure of 11 out of 12 farms which were in the hands of late former President Robert Mugabe’s wife.

Mliswa wanted government to enforce its one-man-one-farm policy on the once powerful former First Lady.

“Government embarked on a land audit to see who was utilising land and who was not and for what reason and the multiple farm owners,” said Mr Mliswa.

“It is on record that the former First Lady owns more than four farms and the Government has done absolutely nothing when the policy is one-man one-farm, one-woman one-farm. The question is; what have they done with the land audit and why have they not repossessed land from the former First Lady.”

But this did not go down well with Sikhala who interjected in defence of Grace.

“Mugabe akafa kare siyanai naye (referring to Mrs Mugabe) and “why do you want to abuse the widow.”

“Leave Grace Mugabe alone. Leave the wife of the former President alone. Mugabe died and why do you want to torment his wife? I do not want to see anyone harassing or abusing a widow,” said the MDC deputy national chair.

Not to be outdone, Mliswa shot back, accusing Sikhala of being a “sell-out” in his defence of the controversial former First Lady.

“You were given money as MDC party by Grace Mugabe. Sikhala sold-out but MDC party gave him a vice-chairperson position. We will say it as it is,” Mliswa said.

“Makapihwa mari naGrace muchi campaigner (you were funded by Grace during the elections campaign),” Mliswa went on.

He was referring to claims the MDC received funding from late President Mugabe and some politicians from Zanu PF’s G40 faction during its 2018 election campaign.

Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda eventually restored order in the House.

Minister Ziyambi said the Government remained committed and would not change its stance on the one-man, one-farm policy.

“Government indeed embarked on a land audit and our President is very clear on the policy of one-man one-farm and one woman one farm,” Minister Ziyambi said.

Since Mugabe was ousted as state leader in a November 2017 military coup, MDC, a target of Mugabe’s brutal rule since formation, has been seen as softening its stance towards the late ruler.

With just under a week after The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) announced a fuel price decrease effected on Monday, the regulator has announced an immediate increase in the price of fuels.

Diesel which had gone down to ZWL17.28 has now gone up by ZWL$1.38 to ZWL$18.66 per litre. However, this price is still lower than the ZWL$19.55 per litre which was obtaining before last week’s review.

Blended Petrol has gone up to ZWL$18.70 per litre. This is ZWL$0.30 (30 cents) up from the previous ZWL$18.40 per litre.

The new prices of fuel translate to US$1.03 ( per litre of diesel and US$1.04 using the government’s official interbank forex rate.

Below is the full statement from ZERA

PRESS STATEMENT

Fuel price review

In accordance with the provisions of SI 270 of 2019, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has reviewed the fuel prices to ZWL $ 18.66 for diesel and ZWL $ 18.70 for blend with effect from 5 March 2020.

The SI 270/19 requires that fuel prices be determined using the previous month’s international market prices and announcement done with effect from 5th of every month.

This review is in line with the Petroleum Act and SI 270 of 2019.

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwean authorities on Wednesday 4 March 2020 accused a human rights lawyer and some trade unionists of plotting to foment civil disobedience in the country after they were allegedly caught in possession of a book entitled “Pedagogy of the Oppressed”.

Human rights lawyer Douglas Coltart, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe Secretary-General Robson Chere, Jessica Drury, Munyaradzi Ndawana and Precious Ndlovu appeared at Rotten Row Magistrates Court before Magistrate Usheunesu Matova for commencement of their trial on charges of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public breaches of peace or bigotry as defined in section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Prosecutors claimed that Coltart aged 28, Chere aged 35 years old, Drury aged 33 years old, Ndawana aged 32 years old and Ndlovu aged 32 years old, plotted a rebellion by gathering unlawfully at Zambezi Roots Lodge in Harare’s Greystone Park suburb on 27 April 2019, where they held a training workshop to strategise on ways of “spearheading a host of civil disobedience in Zimbabwe.”

The state charged that some Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers who arrested Coltart, Chere, Drury, Ndawana and Ndlovu recovered some material which were being used during the alleged training and which included a book written “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” written by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, five paper sheets with various messages, some crayons, assorted pens, a cup, point markers and sticky notes among other materials.

However, their trial could not commence after their lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, protested against the state’s failure to furnish her clients with some relevant state papers and some exhibits relevant to their case.

Mtetwa also told Magistrate Matova that some of her clients were tortured by some state security agents who apprehended and detained them while the network at her law firm, Mtetwa and Nyambirai Legal Practitioners, where Coltart works was tempered with after police officers confiscated a laptop belonging to the budding human rights lawyer.

Magistrate Matova ordered the state to carry out a probe into complaints filed by Mtetwa and postponed the matter to 6 April 2020 for commencement of trial.

THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has suspended the Belmont depot manager in Bulawayo together with his four subordinates for allegedly diverting subsidised mealie-meal and other Silo Foods Industries products to the black market.

Sources said the depot manager, Mr Stanley Chimakira, was allegedly working with his sidekicks in the sales department, Mr Buhle Dube and Mr Vincent Gwariro, in channelling the Government-subsided roller meal to the black market.

Mr Chimakira was also allegedly working with two others employees, Mr Tashin Kamangira and Ms Samkeliso Nyathi, who are both counter sales clerks.

The underhand dealings within the parastatal were recently unearthed following an internal audit, which was preceded by an investigation into operations at Silo Foods Industries in the city by a roller meal taskforce chaired by Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Raj Modi, who confirmed the suspensions of the five GMB employees.

The taskforce reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).

The recently constituted roller meal task force’s mandate is to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of the product throughout the entire supply chain.

Sources told The Chronicle that Mr Chimakira and Mr Dube were the ring leaders of the syndicate, which also includes some unscrupulous illegal traders who sell the roller-meal in United States dollars.

“The depot manager and people in the sales department operated as a syndicate to feed the black market with the subsidised mealie-meal. In some cases, you would see a 30-ton truck transporting mealie-meal to these pseudo shops and starving registered traders and other big supermarkets,” said the source.

The Chronicle established that soon after the maize taskforce unearthed the underhand dealings, an internal audit revealed that about 90 percent of the business transactions were not above board.

“The manager and his four subordinates at GMB Belmont depot have since been suspended indefinitely without pay and benefits pending hearings. The main reason behind their suspensions is that they were fuelling the black market by providing subsidised mealie-meal to unregistered traders in return for kickbacks,” said the source, who also revealed that a new team from Harare has been deployed to the Belmont depot.

“There is a guy from Harare who is now running the depot and he is being assisted by another one who came from the Gweru depot.”

Deputy Minister Modi said the suspensions follow investigations by his task force, which has since managed to identify syndicates causing artificial mealie-meal shortages.

“My taskforce team recently unearthed serious irregularities at the GMB depot in Belmont and the manager and his team were involved in diverting subsidised roller meal to the black market. As I speak, they have been suspended pending hearings,” he said.

“In fact, from the Government position, we are quite disturbed by what we have discovered and some of the culprits responsible for creating supply and distribution anomalies have been identified.”

Deputy Minister Modi said there are cases of Silo roller-meal in Bulawayo being sold on the black-market right in front of the Silo Shop.

“It is partly through these illegal vendors that we are conducting investigations and tracing it back to the source of the crime,” he said.

Investigations by the maize taskforce following their surprise visit to the Silo Foods Industries’ factory at the Belmont industrial area indicated that GMB employees were allegedly diverting the subsidised roller meal meant for retailers to the black market.

The taskforce also allegedly discovered an invoice book that was being used by the perpetrators of the scam.

Deputy Minister Modi said the task force is making follow-ups with major suppliers and retailers of mealie-meal. This follows critical shortages of the commodity on the market after Government re-introduced a subsidy programme to ensure that roller meal in particular, is available at an affordable price to consumers.

Zimbabwe’s annual maize consumption stands at 1,8 million tonnes.

Contacted for comment yesterday, GMB general manager Mr Rockie Mutenha feigned ignorance over the suspensions.

“I am not aware of the suspensions that you are talking about. As far as I know, those people who are purported to have been suspended are actually at work as we speak and you can even go there and check for yourself,” he said.

Last month, our sister paper, The Sunday News reported that Zacc discovered that some employees were allegedly channelling as much as 10 000 bags of 20kg roller meal to the black market. Consumers have been battling to access roller meal, which is presently being subsidised by Government.

The paper also reported that there was a cartel of retailers and vendors who were hoarding mealie-meal in Victoria Falls and selling it in hard currency to Zambian cross-border vendors on the black market.

Zambian media reports indicate that mealie-meal brands from Zimbabwe have flooded the Livingstone market.

The Zimbabwean products are sold at relatively lower prices when compared to the Zambian products due to the subsidy programme.

Deputy Minster Modi said they have extended their investigations to the country’s borders where subsidised mealie meal is smuggled out of the country.

“Our routine involves checking what the suppliers get and from who, names of retailers that received the product and the customers that bought the mealie-meal,” he said.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube recently revealed through the Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) that smuggling of mealie-meal had become rampant. Besides mealie-meal, a variety of other products such as sugar, rice and juices are smuggled out of the country using both legal and illegal exit points.

According to investigations, some Government officials are said to be heavily involved in the scam.

Last month, Parliament heard that GMB senior executives were allegedly allocating subsidised maize to millers who are allegedly diverting it to the black market and countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The High Court has expressed concern over the manner in which the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Forensic Science Laboratory handled the death of CMED board chair Leslie John Denn.

He was found dead at his Borrowdale, Harare, home four years ago.

Denn, who was board chairman of CMED (Pvt) Ltd and managing director of Nemchen (Pvt) Ltd, was found dead with a bullet wound at his house in Borrowdale in May 2016.

The three departments were slammed for a shoddy job in their corresponding capacities, compromising justice in the murder case.

The High Court felt this could have led to a serious miscarriage of justice.

A judgment delivered by Justice Erica Ndewere in the case in which Denn’s live-in girlfriend, Ashton Pillay, was acquitted of murder, has no kind words for the police’s failure to follow rules of standard police investigation procedure and protocol when attending scenes of crime in cases of suspected murder or suicide.

“Before I conclude, the court wishes to express its discomfort with the manner in which the investigations of this unnatural violent death was handled by the investigative departments of the State,” said Justice Ndewere.

She said the court made an effort during the trial to have the gunshot residue samples examined, but the forensic department spurned that request.

The samples would have confirmed whether Denn committed suicide or was murdered.

Justice Ndewere queried why a shooting case could remain inconclusive when there was a State department with samples uplifted in 2016.

The samples have not been examined by the responsible department, even when the court ordered their assessment.

Justice Ndewere said it was improper for the police to finalise investigations before the samples were tested to determine if it was a murder case or suicide.

The High Court also found the NPA wanting in indicting Ms Pillay for murder before ascertaining if the case was indeed a murder or a suicide.

Justice Ndewere also castigated the forensic science department for “operating like a mortuary, with its officers attending crime scenes to collect samples which they put in a storage fridge since 2004 from the evidence tendered in court”.

“In this regard, the court feels that there is need for an urgent competence assessments of the forensic science laboratory department before there is further miscarriage of justice in criminal matters in the country,” said Justice Ndewere.

“In the present case if the deceased did not commit suicide, the department’s failure to test the samples they collected on time has led to a serious miscarriage of justice in relation to his death,” said Justice Ndewere.

Police, she added, were guilty of several omissions. The judge said it was sad that officers entrusted with the duty of investigating unnatural deaths of citizens take their duties so casually and neglect to observe all the rules of police investigations.

Parliament’s Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) wants Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda to force ministers to table audit reports of parastatals they oversee, and to investigate MPs who have not yet declared their assets.

Many ministers have failed to submit forensic audit reports of parastatals they oversee to Parliament as required by law.

The audits were carried out by Auditor- General Ms Mildred Chiri as far back as 2016.

On Tuesday, chairperson of the PAC Mr Tendai Biti raised a point of privilege in the National Assembly saying many letters written to the concerned ministries had been ignored.

He said failure to submit the reports was against the Constitution and the law, and urged Adv Mudenda to take action against the defaulting ministers.

Some of the parastatals involved are Zesa Holdings, NetOne, People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB), the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra, which has two outstanding reports), Allied Timbers, Cold Storage Company (CSC), Grain Marketing Board (GMB), AU Region 5 Youth Games and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in respect of Augur Investments’ improvement of the Harare Airport Road.

Said Mr Biti: “We, as a committee, have written several letters to the ministers in the previous Parliament but they have not responded. We pray for a ruling placing on notice the concerned ministers vis-a-vis the tabling of these reports.”

Adv Mudenda said he would consult Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda to check records on whether the reports had been submitted.

“If indeed these reports have not been tabled before the House, it would be a violation of the Constitution and a violation of the Audit Act. We will ensure that these reports are tabled before the august House during this Second Session of the Ninth Parliament,” he said.

African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption member Mrs Priscila Misihairabwi-Mushonga called on Parliament to investigate MPs who have not declared their assets.

MPs are required by Parliament’s Code of Conduct and Ethics to declare assets within 30 days of being sworn-in.

Mrs Misihairabwi-Mushonga raised a point of privilege with the Speaker calling for the establishment of a Privileges Committee to investigate the MPs.

MPs have a duty to lead by example by leading transparent lives in light of the fight against corruption.

“We are concerned that up to now we have MPs who have not declared their assets and some of those are now ministers. We are therefore resolving and recommending that a Privileges Committee be established to look into this matter and recommend appropriate penalties,” she said.

Adv Mudenda promised to look into the matter and check the statistics of those that had submitted their declarations.

He added that a Privileges Committee would be set up to come up with appropriate penalties for those found on the wrong side of the law.

THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has started recruiting 291 prosecutors who will assist in the effective and expeditious prosecution of corruption cases.

In February, Treasury unfroze recruitment and allowed NPA to recruit up to 291 prosecutors.

The NPA recently advertised the prosecution vacancies, inviting qualified lawyers to submit their applications.

“Career opportunities have arisen in the National Prosecuting Authority. The NPA invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill vacancies that have arisen in the NPA.

“The duties and responsibilities of the public prosecutors shall include, prosecution of criminal cases in the provincial and regional magistrates’ courts, providing legal advice to the police and other law enforcement agents in the investigation of criminal cases,” reads the advertisement.

NPA spokesperson Ms Angela Munyeriwa said the recruitment was a major boost to the fight against corruption.

“The 291 new prosecutors, if recruited, will enhance prosecution of corruption and other criminal cases,” she said.

This comes at a time prosecutors seconded to the NPA by the uniformed forces were returning to their work stations in fulfilment of last year’s Constitutional Court ruling.

According to the judgment in question, seconding uniformed forces to the prosecution department is unconstitutional.

Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi was given up to 24 months to disengage all serving members of the security forces.

State Media|Supreme Court judge, Justice Francis Bere, who faces a tribunal for allegedly interfering with a pending court case, has been automatically suspended from duty pending the outcome of the tribunal’s investigation.

Justice Bere is accused of meddling in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration and his relatives.

After President Mnangagwa set up a three-member tribunal chaired by retired judge Justice Simbi Mubako to enquire into the judge’s fitness to continue holding judicial office, Justice Bere was automatically suspended in terms of constitutional provisions.

Judicial Service Commission spokesperson Mr Brian Nkiwane confirmed Justice Bere’s suspension.

“The suspension will only end after the President revokes it, following recommendations by the tribunal,” he said.

Justice Bere allegedly telephoned Zinara lawyer Mr Itai Ndudzo of Mutamangira and Associates, asking him to consider settling a civil dispute pitting Zinara and Fremus Enterprises.

Complaints against him were raised before Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza during a court hearing and Mr Ndudzo was asked to make the complaint in writing.

Justice Bere denied the allegations.

In a response to the Judicial Service Commission, he said he only contacted Mr Ndudzo in the context of their personal relationship dating back to the days when they were both members of the Zimbabwe Football Association Ethics Committee.

Justice Bere described the complaint as a falsehood meant to taint his clean record.

State Media|The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) will investigate reports of fuel hoarding by oil companies that allegedly received, in the past week, 20 million litres of diesel and almost 9 million litres of petrol, but reportedly withheld much of the fuel in the hope of forcing authorities to increase their permitted mark-ups.

Sources said the oil firms withheld fuel received between February 24 and March 1 because they wanted higher mark-ups in the formulas used by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to set the retail prices.

Speculation that the companies hoped for licences for forex service stations is less likely since such stations have to procure fuel outside the general allocation system using their own free funds with steps being taken to ensure ordinary allocations were not sold in forex service stations.

The withholding of supplies worsened shortages.

Documents seen last night showed that for diesel, Redan got almost 2,4 million litres, Billheights (Trek) 857 503 litres, Engen 1,8 million litres, Zuva 272 498 litres, Total 2,2 million litres, Petrotrade 1,1 million litres, and Pickglow (Glow) 886 646 litres.

For petrol, Redan got 1,6 million litres, Trek 34 526 litres; Engen 29 038 litres, Zuva 531 288 litres, Total 2,5 million litres, Petrotrade 546 291 litres and Glow 605 001 litres.

Much of this fuel was reportedly not sold.

The National Oil Infrastructure Company (NOIC), which distributes fuel in the general system to oil companies, confirmed allocating fuel to the oil companies.

NOIC board chairman Engineer Daniel Mackenzie Ncube said: “Yes, they were getting fuel. I can confirm that they were withholding fuel and they were claiming that the price from Zera (the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority) was sub-economic for them.

“They were just giving a number of reasons. But going forward, we will be putting in place a tracking system that shows us where a truck leaving NOIC delivers the fuel.”

Asked what evidence they had to demonstrate that oil companies withheld the fuel, Eng Mackenzie Ncube said the endless queues and complaints from consumers were enough evidence.

Zacc chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo confirmed receiving reports of hoarding by oil companies and said: “Zacc is launching investigations into the matter.”

Asked when the investigations will start, Justice Matanda-Moyo said no date had been allocated since she got the case last night.

Head of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit Mr Thabani Mpofu said they also got information pertaining to the possible hoarding in the fuel sector.

“The allegations of fuel hoarding and the illicit trading of fuel have been brought to our attention,” he said. “We have referred these to the State institutions that are charged with corruption investigations. You may want to get a comment from those.”

It is understood that yesterday there was a meeting between the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Zera and the oil marketers to try and find a solution to the challenges.

Last night, Zera announced that fuel prices are going up from today, with diesel retailing at a maximum of $18,66 and petrol $18,70.

Zera’s maximum retail prices are based on the actual landed price of the fuel in US dollars, the interbank exchange rate at the time of the import, and the handling charges, taxes and mark-ups based on the landed Zimbabwe dollar price.

FORMER Zanu PF Youth League secretary for the commissariat Godfrey Tsenengamu has been expelled from the party for the second time in less than five years.

Tsenengamu, who becomes the first member to be expelled under the New Dispensation, was once shown the exit door during the late former President Robert Mugabe’s reign in 2015 for attacking the party leadership on social media, and abusing party resources.

His sacking follows last month’s suspension of the secretary for Youth League Pupurai Togarepi, his deputy, Lewis Matutu, as well as the former youth commissar for indiscipline.

In its first meeting of the year, the Politburo decided that Togarepi will remain a Central Committee member, while Matutu and Tsenengamu remain card-carrying members.

Matutu and Tsenengamu were suspended for 12 months and were directed to undergo rigorous training at Chitepo School of Ideology for three months before they were allowed to contest for any position in the party.

Tsenengamu defied the Politburo and continued with his rantings, while Matutu has started the ideology lectures.

Briefing journalists after the 337th session of the Politburo in Harare yesterday, Zanu PF national secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu, said Mr Tsenengamu had been expelled for indiscipline.

“A unanimous resolution was passed by the Politburo that the former youth secretary for commissariat be expelled due to his intransigence and continued disparaging of senior party members,” he said.

Earlier on, President Mnangagwa had called on party members not toallow personal interests to threaten the unity in the party.

While addressing the 337th Ordinary Session of the Politburo, the President and First Secretary of the party, said Zanu PF cannot afford to be preoccupied with sideshows and negative noises meant to cause despondency among members.-State media

MDC-Alliance legislators yesterday defended former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s ownership of multiple farms and quashed calls by Norton legislator Temba Mliswa to repossess them.

The incident occurred in the National Assembly during the weekly question-and-answer session.

Mliswa claimed it was on record that the former First Lady had multiple farms and asked Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, as leader of Government business in Parliament, when Government would start repossessing some of them.

President Mnangagwa is on record as saying the former First Family owned more than 10 farms.

“Government embarked on a land audit to see who was utilising land and who was not and for what reason and the multiple farm owners,” said Mliswa.

“It is on record that the former First Lady owns more than four farms and the Government has done absolutely nothing when the policy is one-man one-farm, one-woman one-farm.

The question is; what have they done with the land audit and why have they not repossessed land from the former First Lady.”

MDC-Alliance legislators interjected, with St Mary’s legislator Mr Job Sikhala shouting: “Mugabe akafa kare siyanai naye (referring to Mrs Mugabe) and “why do you want to abuse the widow.”

MDC-Alliance legislators briefly brought business to a halt, while Mliswa accused them of supporting Mrs Mugabe because she funded their campaigns in 2018 harmonised elections.

“Makapihwa mari naGrace muchi campaigner (you were funded by Grace during the elections campaign),” Mr Mliswa said.

Mrs Mugabe was the face of the G40 faction that was expelled from Zanu PF during Operation Restore Legacy in 2017.

The group has found a home in MDC-Alliance, with former Zanu PF Politburo members — Professor Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao — openly throwing their weight behind the opposition party’s president Mr Nelson Chamisa and admitting that they fundraised for MDC Alliance campaign.-State media

MDC-Alliance legislators yesterday defended former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s ownership of multiple farms and quashed calls by Norton legislator Temba Mliswa to repossess them.

The incident occurred in the National Assembly during the weekly question-and-answer session.

Mliswa claimed it was on record that the former First Lady had multiple farms and asked Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, as leader of Government business in Parliament, when Government would start repossessing some of them.

President Mnangagwa is on record as saying the former First Family owned more than 10 farms.

“Government embarked on a land audit to see who was utilising land and who was not and for what reason and the multiple farm owners,” said Mliswa.

“It is on record that the former First Lady owns more than four farms and the Government has done absolutely nothing when the policy is one-man one-farm, one-woman one-farm.

The question is; what have they done with the land audit and why have they not repossessed land from the former First Lady.”

MDC-Alliance legislators interjected, with St Mary’s legislator Mr Job Sikhala shouting: “Mugabe akafa kare siyanai naye (referring to Mrs Mugabe) and “why do you want to abuse the widow.”

MDC-Alliance legislators briefly brought business to a halt, while Mliswa accused them of supporting Mrs Mugabe because she funded their campaigns in 2018 harmonised elections.

“Makapihwa mari naGrace muchi campaigner (you were funded by Grace during the elections campaign),” Mr Mliswa said.

Mrs Mugabe was the face of the G40 faction that was expelled from Zanu PF during Operation Restore Legacy in 2017.

The group has found a home in MDC-Alliance, with former Zanu PF Politburo members — Professor Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao — openly throwing their weight behind the opposition party’s president Mr Nelson Chamisa and admitting that they fundraised for MDC Alliance campaign.-State media

The ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial disciplinary committee has recommended the suspension of Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna for five years over a number of allegations, including dishonesty and fanning divisions in the party.

Nduna is also the party’s provincial vice chairman.

The legislator is alleged to have defied the party directive to hold primary elections for Ward 2 Chegutu urban, inciting and instigating violence during the primary elections by organising mobs to disturb the smooth running of elections and deliberately submitting a wrong name as a sole candidate for the party in the ward.

Nduna was also charged with dividing the party by misrepresenting facts of the rightful candidates to the first 2020 executive meeting, disloyalty, dishonesty and bringing the name of the party into disrepute.

Provincial youth vice chairman Joseph Nyariri confirmed the recommendation.

“We sat as the provincial disciplinary committee today (yesterday) and we deliberated on the allegations which were levelled against our vice chairman, Dexter Nduna,” he said.

“We made a quorum and the committee recommended that Nduna be given a five-year suspension upon which he will not hold any leadership position and remain a card-carrying member.”

Nduna was seen at the meeting venue, but did not attend the hearing.

Contacted for comment last night, Mashonaland West chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi said the provincial executive will sit and deliberate on the recommendations from the disciplinary committee.-state media

Farai Dziva|MDC Youth Assembly leader Tererai Obey Sithole has dismissed as baseless claims that party youths smashed windscreens of ZUPCO Buses.

Said Sithole:

“We have always raised concern on the wild behavior often exhibited by police officers under the pretext of traffic control.

They hit screens of vehicles with their button sticks and many vehicles haven’t been spared.This

I urge all the men and women in uniform to reform and abstain from their common destructive behavior.”

Farai Dziva|Controversial politician Linda Masarira has challenged Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa to prove that he is a new dispensation leader.

The LEAD president also accused Mnangagwa of protectingprotecting corrupt individuals.

See Masarira’s statement below:

Dear @edmnangagwa When you got into office, a lot of people had high expectations that you would clean up the mess left by Mugabe. We expected a corrupt-free cabinet & fiscal discipline to ensure that government lives within its means.

Many corruption cases are still hanging
I hate to say this but the truth has to be said, @MthuliNcube is doing more harm than good to Zimbabwe’s economy.

The inconsistencies in his monetary policies are causing immense suffering to the people of Zimbabwe. It is either we re-dollarize or de-dollarize, we can’t do both
There is a need for political will to stop the issuing of treasury bills and to find a lasting solution to the cash crisis in Zimbabwe.

Corruption is now the order of the day yet little is being done to curb corruption
@ReserveBankZIM

We inherited a racist white supremacy corruption system from the colonial masters, were only a few individuals accumulate wealth at the expense of the generality of the masses, thereby further entrenching poverty at the same time reversing the gains of the liberation struggle.

Having been in Mugabe’s cabinet, we thought you would get rid of nepotism and create a new culture of politics and governance that was going to eradicate corruption of ‘connections.’ Only those with political connections are surviving.
#TeamZimbabwe
Tender Corruption needs to be dealt with by ensuring that all involved in tender scams face the full wrath of the law.

We realized that there is a group of corrupt tenderpreneurs who corruptly get tenders from the Government and Parastatals.

#StopCorruption
A popular example is that of Wicknell Chivhayo and the Gwanda Solar Project.

There is an urgent need to implement an open tender system which is fair and transparent. Government officials are abusing their power to steal state resources eg Prisca Mupfumira of NSSA funds.
As long as corrupt public officials remain protected by your party, there will be no efforts by willing development partners to help Zimbabwe get out of this economic quagmire we are facing. If you take the lead in ensuring stiff penalties for any corrupt activity in the whole country will follow suit.

Speaking against corruption is not enough, we want to see action, real arrests, prosecution, conviction &restitution.

Failure to do so, you might leave office without any legacy to talk of. Ideally, every president wants to leave a legacy
I suggest that you start prioritizing local investment and open Zimbabwe for business fir Zimbabweans. It is time to introduce beneficiation tax to force companies to beneficiate raw materials locally & to remove all ghost workers in civil service.

All civil servants above retirement should be retired. As citizens, we deserve to know your cabinet ministers plans and accomplishments thus far.

Most public hospitals are in a sorry state yet government prioritizes buying luxury cars for chiefs, MPs & other elected officials.

It is imperative that your government seriously considers depoliticizing state institutions, ensure media reforms and economic reforms. Local beneficiation of diamonds and other minerals should be considered if we want to get Zimbabwe out of this economic crisis.

Developing Zimbabwe should be agenda number 1 on your list of priorities.

What legacy do you want to live Mr President? You are the man in charge, show the world that you are indeed the leader of the new dispensation.

Well done for the road rehabilitation program.

The ZANU PF Mashonaland West provincial disciplinary committee has recommended the suspension of Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna for five years over a number of allegations, including dishonesty and fanning divisions in the party.

Nduna is also the party’s provincial vice chairman.

The legislator is alleged to have defied the party directive to hold primary elections for Ward 2 Chegutu urban, inciting and instigating violence during the primary elections by organising mobs to disturb the smooth running of elections and deliberately submitting a wrong name as a sole candidate for the party in the ward.

Nduna was also charged with dividing the party by misrepresenting facts of the rightful candidates to the first 2020 executive meeting, disloyalty, dishonesty and bringing the name of the party into disrepute.

Provincial youth vice chairman Joseph Nyariri confirmed the recommendation.

“We sat as the provincial disciplinary committee today (yesterday) and we deliberated on the allegations which were levelled against our vice chairman, Dexter Nduna,” he said.

“We made a quorum and the committee recommended that Nduna be given a five-year suspension upon which he will not hold any leadership position and remain a card-carrying member.”
Cde Nduna was seen at the meeting venue, but did not attend the hearing.

Contacted for comment last night, Mashonaland West chairman Ziyambi Ziyambi said the provincial executive will sit and deliberate on the recommendations from the disciplinary committee.-state media

A 44-year-old Harare man was arrested after he dressed up as a soldier and went to State House, demanding to have an audience with president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Tichaona Kanengoni suited up in army regalia and masqueraded as a member of the Zimbabwe National Army before going to the state house.

Upon arrival, Kanengoni said he wanted to have a serious talk with the Head of State about the current economic situation plaguing the country.

However, Kanengoni pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court and then the presiding magistrate advised the State to allow Kanengoni to be mentally examined by medical practitioners.

He was being charged with unlawful possession of camouflage uniform, contravening the Road Traffic Act and Criminal trespass.

The facts of the case are as follows:

Kanengoni is said to have parked his Ford Ranger motor vehicle at corner Chancellor Drive and Tongogara Avenue wearing a ZNA camouflage trousers, infantry belt and combat jacket as a way of deceiving the presidential guards to gain entry in the State House.

He was then asked to produce his ZNA identity card but he failed.

As a result, Kanengoni was denied entry at the State House by soldiers who barred him but he insisted on wanting to see the President as he wanted to talk to him.

He was also asked to produce his driver’s licence but failed as he is not a holder of any licence.

Kanengoni was immediately arrested and charges were laid against him.

I-Harare

Correspondent|Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa today banned government officials from traveling outside Africa because of the risk of coronavirus.

According to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation the ban includes travel by Mnangagwa himself.

“I have now restricted travelling outside the country in particular outside the continent,” Mnangagwa was quoted as saying.

“We will continue to urge our people to minimise the risk of exposure. For those in government, I have banned foreign travelling. I also appeal to Zimbabweans to minimise travelling outside the country,” he said.

The flue-like coronavirus has claimed more than 3 000 lives mostly in China but has largely spared Africa.

Scores of Kadoma City Council workers have downed tools demonstrating against management’s decision to connive and peg its education allowances at $13 000 while the general employees are getting $380.

Further, the workers are demanding the immediate ouster of the town clerk Malvern Dondo whom they also accuse of pocketing a hefty salary of about $30 000 while the least paid worker is getting $779.

Armed police and those from the canine section had to be called to disperse the angry workers who were just loitering around the Town House. The Herald understands that there was a workers’ committee meeting held on Monday where management proposed to give workers a $300 cushion allowance, but the offer was turned down.

CHIVHU – Four members of the police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) here have found themselves in trouble after a man from whom they extorted US$400 after accusing him of engaging in illegal activities, wrote to the police boss demanding his money back.

Tafirei Mark Mandizha alleges that sometime in January this year, police detectives approached his place of residence Northwood looking for him but he was away in Harare.

Mandizha’s maid informed the detectives that her boss was not home and would return the following day.

The four detectives only identified as Mazhambe, Dondo, Mupazviripo and Nezanyuta returned the following morning and found Mandizha back and allegedly searched his premises without a search warrant accusing him of engaging in illicit deals.

Mandizha alleges that the search was characterized by threats and harassments and was called outside his house by Mazhambe and Dondo who demanded US$1 000 cash for them to stop investigating him.

Mandizha alleges that he told the detectives that he only had US$100 but that offer was rejected before the detectives settled for US$400.

In a complaint letter dated February 04, 2020, and addressed to the Officer in Charge Chivhu Police, Mandizha claims that after paying the money, he was threatened with unspecified actions if the matter ever came to light.

“My wife and I were harassed in front of our maid and kids as one of the detectives was holding a gun. They searched everywhere even in my cars saying that I was partaking in deals that give me a lot of money and that their bosses had instructed them to launch the raid.  

“Dondo and Mazhambe, on behalf of others, demanded US$1 000 so they could leave me alone but I told them I did not have that money. After more threats, I was terrified and told them that I only had US$100 but they rejected it and pushed the figure to US$400. We had to go to town to my nephew where I borrowed another US$300,” alleges Mandizha.

Contacted for comment, Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza said he had not received the letter but will make inquiries.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has announced that for the month of March 2020, the fuel facilities administered by local banks with the support of the central Bank amount to US$120 million.

Of this amount, US$18.47 million worth of letters of credit have been confirmed for the immediate drawing of fuel by Oil Marketing Companies from NOIC depot in Msasa, Harare as follows:

• Trafigura – $7.50 million
• Total – $2.50 million
• Zuva – $3.00 million
• Puma – $1.50 million
• IMIG – $1.52 million
• Petrotrade – $1.25 million
• Engen – $0.70 million
• Raven Energy – $0.50 million

See the full statement below.

BULAWAYO councillors have proposed “exorbitant fees” to discourage burials in the city while incentivising cremations as the local authority is running out of land.

The Bulawayo City Council has been advocating for cremations to save land but this has not found many takers as it is alien to African cultural values.

The council has even proposed double burials in the same grave for relatives but residents have flatly rejected the proposal.

Last year the council closed down the city’s biggest cemetery, West Park, after it ran out of burial space, forcing BCC to create an extension at Athlone cemetery while still utilising Luveve cemetery.

In the latest council report, the city fathers expressed concerns over the dwindling burial space in the city.

Ward 1’s Councillor Mlandu Ncube said the local authority should make it expensive for residents to bury their relatives in the city to save land.

Already council has hiked rates by up to 700 percent in the past five months,

“Burial costs in the city should be reviewed to discourage burials in the city. This would save the fast running out space for burial. More information should be given to residents regarding cremations,” said Cllr Ncube.

Alderman Clayton Zana of Ward 19 concurred with Cllr Ncube that more needs to be done to educate residents about the city’s fast running out land.

He said council should conduct campaigns to educate residents about the need to encourage cremations.

Ward 5 Cllr Felix Mhaka even proposed that council should conduct free cremations to encourage usage of the facility.

His suggestion was however shot down by Ward 4 councillor Silas Chigora.

“The service has overhead costs which should be charged accordingly. Only an incentive should be introduced. Residents should be encouraged to consider cremation. This would save land. The current statistics on cremation are very low,” said Cllr Chigora.

Ward 24’s Cllr Arnold Batirai said council should find alternative land for burials as cremation was unAfrican while Cllr Donald Mabutho of Ward 9 said the prevailing economic hardships make it difficult to bury deceased relatives in rural areas.

Ward 12 Cllr Lilian Mlilo said: “It was not prudent for council to increase burial fees. Grave service delivery should be affordable to everyone.”

Correspondent|FORMER Cabinet Minister Prisca Mupfumira and ex-Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Ngoni Masoka yesterday had their request to have their hearing set for May turned down.

Harare magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya turned down Mupfumira and Masuku’s request and ordered them to return to court on March 24.

Mupfumira and Masoka had applied for a review of Mr Mujaya’s decision to dismiss their application for exception to the corruption charges they are facing.

The High Court reserved judgment in the matter.

“Two High Court judges manning the special anti-corruption bench have reserved judgment in the matter.

“They have to look into the matter and give a ruling, which means they need time to look into these complex matters. We all seem not to know when they will make a determination. To avoid burdening the court with this matter without knowing when it will be determined at the High Court, we apply that the matter be set for May 5,” said Mupfumira through her lawyer.

She also argued that there will be no prejudice on her part and that of the State if the matter was given a longer remand date.

Masoka, through his lawyer Farai Mushoriwa, concurred with Mupfumira saying it will also reduce costs on their part.

He told the court that giving the matter a longer remand period would be fair to both parties.

The State led by Mr Loveit Masuku argued that in light of the specialised courts’ determination to expedite corruption cases, it was likely that the High Court will not take long before making a determination.

“In light of the specialised courts’ view of expediting corruption cases, this case will not take long. What if the judgment is handed down tomorrow, what will be the reason of giving it a long remand,” said Mr Masuku.

Meanwhile, the State has indicated that it intends to merge the docket of the current case and another in which Mupfumira is appearing on separate corruption charges with former NSSA general manager Elizabeth Chitiga.

The case involves a housing tender scam for $31 million. Allegations facing Chitiga are that she misrepresented to the NSSA board’s investments committee that the parastatal required money to invest in five projects.

She reportedly lied that the NSSA board had approved the projects. It is the State case that NSSA and the National Building Society (NBS) convened a strategic meeting in September 2016.

In their resolutions, they mandated NBS to ensure the provision of 10 000 low-cost houses countrywide.

The court heard that NBS conducted road shows headed by Engineer Silas Mukono with a view to identifying willing partners.

HIGHLANDER’s Under-16 and 18 coach Sizabantu Khoza has parted ways with the Bulawayo giants to join ambitious Zifa Bulawayo province Division Two side Nabals as its technical manager.

His departure comes a few days after the junior coaches staged an industrial action over unpaid salaries for the past two months and the club’s failure to renew the coaches’ contracts that expired at the end of December 2019.

Khoza, a lively winger during his heydays at Highlanders, says while the club’s failure to engage them in contract renewals had a bearing on his eventual departure, it was also the zeal to grow as a coach that made him leave.

“I hold no hard feelings as one day I might return and I hope they (Highlanders management) are not cross with this decision.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has banned his cabinet members and government officials from travelling outside the continent to minimize exposure to coronavirus.

Mnangagwa has also stopped his globetrotting escapades due to the deadly disease.

Addressing his party Politburo meeting in Harare this morning, Mnangagwa said the Ministry of Health and Child Care, together with associated departments are adequately prepared to handle any possible cases of COVID-19.

“I have now restricted travelling outside the country in particular outside the continent. We will continue to urge our people to minimise the risk of exposure. For those in Government, I have banned foreign travelling. I also appeal to Zimbabweans to minimise travelling outside the country,” he said.

President Mnangagwa’s sentiments come when Zimbabwe has announced that people visiting the country from areas affected by coronavirus (Covid-19) without valid medical certificates showing they are negative will be sent back at the port of entry.

More than 3 000 people have succumbed to coronavirus following the first outbreak recorded in the Chinese City of Wuhan in Hubei Province. Over 6 000 people have been screened of the virus at ports of entry, mainly Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Victoria Falls international airports.

President Mnangagwa also ordered the government and the party’s departments to ensure implementation of programs promised in the party’s manifesto during the 2018 election campaigns.

He said that he expects the various departments to produce results on the progress made and highlighting where projects lag behind for intervention strategies to be proffered.

“Each department of the party must ensure our progress in the implementation of programmes laid therein. We expect reports highlighting concrete milestones achieved to date. Those targets, within the Manifesto, that are lagging behind must be highlighted and intervention strategies proffered. The party must deliver its promises.” he said.

President Mnangagwa also assured the public that the government is ensuring adequate grain imports to guarantee food security. He said a coupon system is soon to be rolled out. He also appealed to stakeholders to desist from corruption in distributing and selling mealie meal.

The Zanu PF Politiburo has expelled former Youth League Commissar Godfrey Tsenengamu following his refusal to attend classes at the Chitepo College of Ideology.

More to follow…

Farai Dziva|MDC Youth Assembly leader Tererai Obey Sithole has dismissed as baseless claims that party youths smashed windscreens of ZUPCO Buses.

Said Sithole:

“We have always raised concern on the wild behavior often exhibited by police officers under the pretext of traffic control.

They hit screens of vehicles with their button sticks and many vehicles haven’t been spared from such madness.

I urge all the men and women in uniform to reform and abstain from their common destructive behavior.”

Farai Dziva|Controversial politician Linda Masarira has challenged Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa to prove that he is a new dispensation leader.

The LEAD president also accused Mnangagwa of protectingprotecting corrupt individuals.

See Masarira’s statement below:

Dear @edmnangagwa When you got into office, a lot of people had high expectations that you would clean up the mess left by Mugabe. We expected a corrupt-free cabinet & fiscal discipline to ensure that government lives within its means.

Many corruption cases are still hanging
I hate to say this but the truth has to be said, @MthuliNcube is doing more harm than good to Zimbabwe’s economy.

The inconsistencies in his monetary policies are causing immense suffering to the people of Zimbabwe. It is either we re-dollarize or de-dollarize, we can’t do both
There is a need for political will to stop the issuing of treasury bills and to find a lasting solution to the cash crisis in Zimbabwe.

Corruption is now the order of the day yet little is being done to curb corruption
@ReserveBankZIM

We inherited a racist white supremacy corruption system from the colonial masters, were only a few individuals accumulate wealth at the expense of the generality of the masses, thereby further entrenching poverty at the same time reversing the gains of the liberation struggle.

Having been in Mugabe’s cabinet, we thought you would get rid of nepotism and create a new culture of politics and governance that was going to eradicate corruption of ‘connections.’ Only those with political connections are surviving.
#TeamZimbabwe
Tender Corruption needs to be dealt with by ensuring that all involved in tender scams face the full wrath of the law.

We realized that there is a group of corrupt tenderpreneurs who corruptly get tenders from the Government and Parastatals.

#StopCorruption
A popular example is that of Wicknell Chivhayo and the Gwanda Solar Project.

There is an urgent need to implement an open tender system which is fair and transparent. Government officials are abusing their power to steal state resources eg Prisca Mupfumira of NSSA funds.
As long as corrupt public officials remain protected by your party, there will be no efforts by willing development partners to help Zimbabwe get out of this economic quagmire we are facing. If you take the lead in ensuring stiff penalties for any corrupt activity in the whole country will follow suit.

Speaking against corruption is not enough, we want to see action, real arrests, prosecution, conviction &restitution.

Failure to do so, you might leave office without any legacy to talk of. Ideally, every president wants to leave a legacy
I suggest that you start prioritizing local investment and open Zimbabwe for business fir Zimbabweans. It is time to introduce beneficiation tax to force companies to beneficiate raw materials locally & to remove all ghost workers in civil service.

All civil servants above retirement should be retired. As citizens, we deserve to know your cabinet ministers plans and accomplishments thus far.

Most public hospitals are in a sorry state yet government prioritizes buying luxury cars for chiefs, MPs & other elected officials.

It is imperative that your government seriously considers depoliticizing state institutions, ensure media reforms and economic reforms. Local beneficiation of diamonds and other minerals should be considered if we want to get Zimbabwe out of this economic crisis.

Developing Zimbabwe should be agenda number 1 on your list of priorities.

What legacy do you want to live Mr President? You are the man in charge, show the world that you are indeed the leader of the new dispensation.

Well done for the road rehabilitation program.

Jane Mlambo| Self-exiled former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has denied claims by State security minister Owen Mudha Ncube that he is now the opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s advisor.

Posting on Twitter today, Moyo dismissed Mudha’s claims as fake news adding that Zanu PF had deployed its Moles to push the narrative on social media.

“Today I woke up to the fake news that the CIO’s murderous mashurugwi minister, Owen Mudha Ncube, has appointed me Presidential Advisor to @nelsonchamisa. This is not being done for the first or last time. The #CIO has tasked its varakashi on @Twitter to announce the appointment,” said Moyo.

Recently, Moyo revealed that they helped the opposition MDC in the run-up to the July 2018 harmonised elections.

Letter to the Editor

AGRIBANK RUSHINGA MUST BE INVESTIGATED.

I write to inform the would be authorities to investigate the rot at the BANK.

We know of the shoddy deals happening between the manager (name supplied) and one member of parliament for the area.

The manager is fueling cash shortages in the bank by supplying the legislator with cash which is latter sold on the black market at between 35 and 40 %.

Rescue us please !

Concerned Resident

Banks and money transfer agencies traded accusations in Parliament on Monday over an uneven playing field.

Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) accused money transfer agencies such as EcoCash, One Money and Telecash of enjoying an unfair advantage over financial institutions.

This came out during a meeting convened by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance chaired by Chikomba Central MP Cde Felex Mhona (Zanu PF), who had invited banks, money transfer agencies, business and industry to hear their views on how the economy could be improved.

During the meeting, BAZ chief economist Dephine Mazambani said money transfer agencies were regulated by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, while banks were regulated by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), but yet both provided similar services of collecting and dispensing money.

“Money transfer agencies and banks are not regulated the same way,” she said. “We are regulated by the RBZ while they are regulated through Potraz.

“Our regulation terrain is different, but one of the key challenges is that while we are regulated differently, sometimes you see that we offer similar or the same products or services which creates an uneven playing field and sometimes pose a risk to the financial sector, seismic risks. It is the regulatory environment that we are hoping that can be levelled.”

Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe chief executive Mr Eddie Chibi, which owns EcoCash, said Mrs Mazambani’s views were misdirected.

“EcoCash is under the direct oversight of RBZ,” he said.

“We are regulated under the National Payment System Act and we make as frequent returns and engagement with the central bank as any other financial services sector in Zimbabwe, including banks.

“For certain services, we are also regulated by the RBZ Financial Intelligence Unit where we submit all our suspicious transactions reports and other general issues which we pick. We have invested in a robust system which tracks transaction in terms of any suspicions of fraud and money laundering which we share with the RBZ on a regular basis.

“In terms of our remittances services, we also get regulated by the Exchange Control division of the RBZ, including the licence which we have for the EcoCash Bureau de Change.”

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce representative, Mr Archie Dongo called on Government to narrow the gap between cost of subsidised products and the price on the market to avoid arbitrage.

He said while subsidies were meant to address affordability of products and services, there was need to rationalise the cost of the end product and how much the market was charging.

“We fully understand the thrust of subsidising certain products for the benefit of the general populace, particularly in an era of austerity,” said Mr Dongo.

“The demand that has been created by lowering of prices is quite high, but the supply has been reduced or is inadequate, for example, when you use Zupco, the queue will tell a story that not everybody who wants to use Zupco will be able to use it.

“The gap between subsidised price and market price is rather wide. The gap is creating very lucrative arbitrage opportunities for some people.”

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Outspoken suspended Zanu-PF youth leader Godfrey Tsenengamu’s life in the party hangs in the balance as Zanu-PF meets.

This comes amid reports that Zanu-PF’s highest decision making body in between congresses, the politburo is meeting to discuss the proposal to expel Tsenangamu.

Last week Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central province endorsed the expulsion of Tsenengamu.

This week Tsenengamu defied the ruling party directive to go to the Chitepo School of Ideology.

Writing on his Facebook wall on Monday, Tsenengamu reacted to the invitation to attend the Chitepo school of ideology: “Instructed to attend 5 day Basic Course at Chitepo Ideological College from today till Friday before the 3 month course in April. My response – HANDIDI.”

The directive comes as a recommendation by ZANU-PF’s Politburo after Tsenengamu and former deputy Youth Affairs Secretary Lewis Matutu held a press conference accusing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s close allies of corruption

On his micro blogging Facebook handle, Tsenengamu rejected the invitation to a one week orientation programme.

“Ideologically I am up there, which is why I was elevated to the position I had. We cannot use Cde Chitepo’s name to protect corrupt elements. I am not going there. Those that made the recommendation should be the ones going to the school of ideology.”

Tsenengamu said he does not see where he and Matutu wronged the party.

“I do not see where we wronged the party. They said we flouted procedure yet they are the ones who tampered with the party constitution by failing to serve us with formal communication and give us an opportunity to defend our position before a disciplinary committee,”-ZimMorningPost

By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo has said Zimbabwean students stranded in China after the coronavirus outbreak should stay in the Asian country because their return might be “dangerous”, inadvertently confirming the government’s lack of preparedness to handle the fast-spreading deadly virus.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial meeting held in Harare to map the way forward on containing the virus, Moyo said the fight to stop the coronavirus entering into Zimbabwe was giving government sleepless nights.

“We have our students in China and this meeting has agreed and feels they are better off in China at this stage,” he said.

“We have had conversations with the students and they have indicated they prefer to be in China at this moment because if they were to fall sick, there is already some treatment which has been applied which is successful. They are better off rather than coming here. We haven’t even tried any treatment at all, so they are better off in China at this very stage.”

Government, however, is reluctant to institute travel bans to people coming from China and areas affected by the virus.

“We realise that the incidence of the disease is increasing everywhere around the world. We called this meeting particularly realising it’s no longer confined to China. We also needed to highlight the fact that our airlines, Kenyan Airways and Emirates, are not flying from China, but it is the Ethiopian Airlines which is flying into Zimbabwe from China,” Moyo said.

He said as government, they were working on containing the virus at all costs.

“We do not want it to come, but sometimes when you see the trend, you just can’t go to sleep, you wake up and be prepared. If it was to arrive in your home, how will you deal with it? That is what we are doing,” Moyo said.

To date, only two suspected cases of the virus have been recorded in the country, with Moyo expressing confidence on their current testing mechanism.

He said a new testing regime was on the cards to do away with delayed release of results.

Parents of students in China yesterday met Chinese embassy officials to get an appreciation of the state of affairs regarding their children’s safety in the wake of the deadly virus. About 2 000 Zimbabwean students are studying in China.

Speaking to the parents, Chinese deputy ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhao Baogang said his country was prepared to assist those who wanted to evacuate their children should they choose to do so.

He, however, said it was not advisable to evacuate foreign nationals from China, saying it may further complicate the situation.

India, Germany and Iran have reported new cases of the coronavirus, while the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the world was in “uncharted territory”.

WHO said more than 90 000 cases had been confirmed globally, with deaths reaching 3 110 yesterday.

Meanwhile, local financial institution, Ecobank has responded to the current efforts to curb and control the transmission of coronavirus by donating test kits to the Health ministry.

The donation of US$30 000 will go towards the procurement of rapid testing kits that will be deployed at all ports of entry including airports and border posts to strengthen efforts to break the virus’ transmission chain after the disease was discovered in China and now has been spreading to other parts of the world.

In handing over the donation, Ecobank managing director Moses Kurenjekwa said the financial institution was alive to the potential business and human threat posed by the virus globally.

“We are taking these steps at a local level as a show of our commitment to this country,” he said.

“It is our hope that we can come together as a nation and deal collectively with this serious threat to social and economic progress.”

Cabinet yesterday resolved that all visitors from countries that had reported coronavirus should hold valid medical clearance certificates issued by a government health institution.

Speaking during yesterday’s Cabinet briefing, Moyo said visitors without the certificate would be immediately deported at the port of entry.

“You don’t have a certificate, we have no choice, but send you back to where you are coming from,” he said.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa urged all government emergency agencies, including the Department of Civil Protection, to be prepared in the event of the virus spreading to Zimbabwe.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- High Court judge Jacob Manzunzu has removed from the roll an application filed by the widow of the late chief justice and national hero Godfrey Chidyausiku.

The widow is seeking an order compelling the pension master to process and transfer into her bank account, all the pension and terminal benefits from the Judiciary.

Manzunzu ruled yesterday that Farai Chidyausiku (nee Kunaka)’s court papers were not in order.

Chidyausiku died in May 2017, barely two months after retiring from his position and was buried at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare.

Kunaka who was not mentioned in Chidyausiku’s inheritance claimed she was customarily married to the late judge and that her brother received US$1 000 as bride price.

She further told the court after the pride price was paid in Bhora, Murewa, she even changed her surname and started using the Chidyausiku family name, adding that she was the only surviving spouse and as such was entitled to all pension and terminal benefits.

Kunaka further told the court that Musunga & Associates Legal Practitioners assisted in changing her name on the basis of her marriage to the late Chidyausiku.

She wanted the court to direct the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) and the pension master to speedily process and pay her the amounts due, in an application in which she also cited Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi as a respondent.

Kunaka said during Chidyausiku’s tenure, she used to enjoy the benefits of a married woman, adding that she was even issued with a diplomatic passport. -DailyNews

By A Correspondent- The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) yesterday said government had availed $13 million towards the refurbishment of Barbourfields Stadium.

The country’s football stadia were banned from hosting Confederation of African Football (Caf) matches and BCC and the government are battling to spruce up Barbourfields and the National Sports Stadium in Harare to try and persuade Caf to allow Zimbabwe to host international matches.

Zimbabwe is scheduled to host Algeria on March 29 in an Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier and the government is working to avert a threat of that match being played outside the country

Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni confirmed that the local authority had received communication from government on the funding.

“I am pleased to say that the Ministry of Local Government has confirmed the release of a $13 million grant which we had requested for short to remedial works at Barbourfields. The ministry has identified a contractor who will work at Barbourfields and the National Sports Stadium.

The contractor will start as soon as possible in preparation for the next Caf inspection and the next international match. I am advised that the contractor should be in Bulawayo this afternoon,” Mguni said.

Council housing and community services director Dictor Khumalo said they were working flat out to fulfil Caf’s demands.

He said the lighting and installation of bucket seats will be done at a later stage.

“We are working flat out and have done the necessary quotations. As far as the Algeria match is concerned, I am sure Zifa will deal with this issue depending on how we progress with the renovations that we are currently seized with,” Khumalo said.

He said the budget for the renovations was $58 million and the council was working on capacitating its architects to align with the architecture of modern-day stadia to meet the required standards.

The council also received 100 bags of cement and a refrigerator from former Premier Soccer League fixtures secretary Beadle Musa Gwasira, who was represented by Eddie Chivero, while Herentals also pledged to upgrade the dressing rooms as well as the installation of an air conditioner.

Gwasira’s donation was said to be worth $45 000.

At the National Sports Stadium, work continued on the facility with groundsmen working on the grass which Caf said should be trimmed to a much lower level than what the authorities had preferred over the years.

The authorities have also been working on the lighting which was deemed poor. The government is working on a crash programme to rectify the anomalies at the stadium in the hope that the Caf ban is lifted ahead of the next match.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Councillor Felix Mhaka of Bulawayo’s Ward 5, had to dig deep and summon his athletic abilities to survive a run-in with his enraged mistress after she accosted him while he was with his new flame at a shopping complex in the city.

The incident which entertained shoppers and vendors happened on Tuesday at around 7.30 pm and lasted for about 20 minutes just in front of the shopping complex which is situated at corner Jason Moyo and Fourth Avenue. 

Cllr Mhaka’s close friend who requested not to be named  revealed that Mhaka — who is married to Memory Ngwenya — was busy pampering his new lover Sithatshisiwe (Sitha) Hlabangana, who runs a boutique which is situated  along Jason Moyo Street between 14th and 15th Avenue when his other lover, Sane, pitched up unexpectedly.  

“While Mhaka was busy spoiling Sitha with groceries and other nice things Sane arrived at the complex. Mhaka panicked  when he saw her and  tried to slink back into  the shop. He was at the entrance pushing a trolley to his car when he saw her. 

She asked who  the lady (Sitha) was but Mhaka who looked jittery mumbled and uttered something incoherent,” said Mhaka’s close friend.

The friend  added: “ It happened  so fast as we saw Sane slapping Mhaka on his cheek. He tried to block it but  she caused a scene as she shouted accusing him of being in the habit of cheating on her.”

Mhaka failed to put his foot down to control the fuming Sane, who it is said has been in love with him for a couple of months and is bulging with his seed.

The source said:

“After several failed attempts to escape from her tight grip, eventually Mhaka managed to free himself and showed a clean pair of heels much to the entertainment of the crowd that had gathered to watch the free ‘movie’.”

Onlookers had to thank their gods after they picked groceries which the fuming Sane threw on the ground.

“There was no way I could leave beef when everyone who had a chance was picking a share,” said a vendor who requested not to be named. The drama went a gear up as the two ladies  in question exchanged  blows while hurling insults at each other much to the excitement of the crowd.

It took the intervention of a security guard who works at the supermarket to stop the fierce fight. Sane drove off in Mhaka’s car.

The source said Mhaka later on bounced back accompanied by two police officers claiming that his car had been stolen.

“He tried to lie to the police saying his car had been stolen but the intelligent police officers soon summoned their investigative skills and gathered that his girlfriend Sane was with the car and that the Cllr was trying to cover up for the love triangle drama,” said his close friend.

Contacted for a comment the cagey Cllr Mhaka said: “On the day in question I was out of town. I’m shocked at what you are talking about and I don’t know the ladies you are talking about.”

Sane said: “Who told you that? Yes, we fought and what do you want to do with it? Were you sent by Mhaka to torment me, please go away, you are disturbing me?”

Sitha said, “ I can’t comment on that. Leave me alone.”

She then hung up.

Government has repossessed for public service minister and late former president Robert Mugabe’s nephew Patrick Zhuwao’s farm in what had been described as an act of bitterness on the part of the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration.

Below is the letter written to Zhuwao.

By A Correspondent- Government is set to extend the schools feeding scheme to secondary schools in line with the country’s education policy to improve school attendance and completion rates.

The feeding scheme is meant to keep learners in class while improving nutrition.

Government introduced the feeding scheme in 2016 starting with infants but it was later extended up to Grade Seven.

The introduction of the schools feeding programme is in line with the African Union resolution to promote inclusive education by providing meals at school.  

During the 26th AU Summit in January 2016, the Heads of States decided to adopt homegrown school feeding programmes as a continental strategy to enhance retention and performance of children in schools and to boost income-generation and entrepreneurship in local communities.

The decision saw March 1 being declared “Africa Day for School Feeding”. Yesterday, Bulawayo province commemorated four years since Government launched the feeding scheme.  

During the commemorations, held at Josiah Chinamano Primary School in Emakhandeni suburb, there were performances by pupils showing the effects of attending lessons while hungry that include sleeping in class and failure to concentrate.

Addressing parents, teachers and pupils during the event, Bulawayo acting provincial education director Mrs Ollicah Kaira said modalities were underway to introduce the schools feeding programme up to high school.

“The Ministry (of Primary and Secondary Education) is now working towards the third phase (of schools feeding) where it will be introduced in the secondary school level. Why the schools feeding programme? Is it really necessary? One would ask. The home-grown schools feeding programme has been adopted by the Government of Zimbabwe as a strategy to ensure optimal enrolment, improve school attendance, retention and completion rates. It is envisaged that it will enhance learning outcomes and achieve positive nutrition and health outcomes for all,” said Mrs Kaira.

She said the programme is anchored on home-grown solutions meaning schools have to depend on what they can easily produce or provide at cheaper costs.  

The Government supports the initiative through providing grain and parents chip in with the relish.

Parents and guardians cook for the children ensuring the successful implementation of the programme. At Josiah Chinamano Primary School children are fed porridge, amahewu, as well as isitshwala with beans, vegetables or meat. Mrs Kaira said communities should take ownership of the feeding programme as it can also benefit them.

“It is anticipated that communities will assume ownership of the programme. We appreciate the community gardens that have taken root in almost all the suburbs in the city and we see these as potential sources of relish. There are small scale farmers situated on the outskirts of Bulawayo who could be a source of maize meal and vegetables too,” said Mrs Mrs Kaira.

“This, therefore, promotes the socio-economic growth which is part of the Government thrust towards a middle-income economy by 2030. Schools have gardens and we have seen them feeding their learners with beans, vegetables, butternut to name but a few from the gardens.  

“Some have even established poultry and rabbit keeping projects.”

Mrs Kaira warned school authorities against using pupils for labour in their nutritional gardens saying learners should only go there when conducting practical lessons for Agriculture.

She urged parents and guardians to play a leading role in protecting schools’ infrastructure and theft as some of it is being stolen by community members.

Josiah Chinamano Primary School’s head Ms Jean Sibanda said some thieves were stealing vegetables they were growing.

Ms Sibanda said the school was also selling some of its surplus produce to the nearby community.  She said the school is planning to introduce a poultry project to boost children’s nutrition.

The Chronicle news crew observed learners being provided with isitshwala and beans. Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) chief executive officer, Dr Sifiso Ndlovu said the feeding programme was a noble initiative that should be supported.  He said Government, parents and guardians should work hand in hand to ensure that the programme does not suffer sustainability challenges as a result of donor dependency.

“For starters, the feeding scheme ensures that children are in schools. A child would not be motivated to go to school on empty stomachs especially those in rural areas who are always hard hit by drought.  With school feeding programme their attendance increases and that also improves their concentration levels. So, Government should ensure there is sustainability in the programme,” he said.

Dr Ndlovu said Government should also ensure that the food is secured in schools as cases have been reported that some school staff were looting the foods to feed their families.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Social media users have expressed outrage over reports suggesting that Parirenyatwa’s radiotherapy was impounded by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority over unpaid duty.

This came after Solomon Harudzibwi, the Chief Executive Officer at the iPark had posted on Twitter suggesting that the equipment has spent months in a warehouse at the airport. He said:

The radiotherapy at Parirenyatwa hospital has been down for the past 8 months. Government ordered the spares & they arrived on the 26th of December 2019. 2 months down they are lying in a warehouse by the airport due to unpaid duties. @Zimra_11@MoHCCZim What’s going on?

Members of the public said that institutions importing equipment or anything meant to promote the public good should be awarded tax holidays.

Others expressed disappointment over the reports observing that vehicles belonging to political elites in the country were being imported duty-free but life-saving equipment was being impounded.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has invited more fuel companies to sell fuel in foreign currency in yet another clear sign that the economy was fast redollarising.

Last month, authorities came under fire for giving Zuva Petroleum the greenlight to sell fuel in foreign currency despite government having banned last year the use of US dollar in the market.

“Petroleum companies are requested to submit proposed sites to sell in foreign currency procured through free funds based on the following criteria: A maximum of two sites in Harare and Bulawayo per petroleum company and a maximum of one site in all other town and cities,” Zera said in a statement.

“Please note that selected sites will be expected to do 100 direct fuel imports. For companies that do not hold procurement licences, the submissions should include the name of the supplier of the fuel to be traded in foreign currency. Petroleum companies are advised to make submissions before end of day on Tuesday 3 march 2020.”

Questions have already been raised as to why Zuva Petroleum has more than two sites in Harare selling in forex while other dealers have been restricted to only two sites.

Zera was not available for comment as its acting chief executive Eddington Mazambani did not respond to questions sent via email and WhatsApp.-Newsday