Farai Dziva|Government has literally banned machetes in Zimbabwe.
This was revealed by Minister Kazembe Kazembe.
He made the remarks in Mazowe Central at a rally in Ward 10.
“If you have a machete, go and bury it underground because the police will leave no stone unturned to make sure that machetes have disappeared from the people.”
“People should be organised and carry out their mining activities with respect of the law. Where is this butchering coming from? So, I say if there are those here with machetes be warned that the long arm of the law will catch up with you soon,” said Kazembe.
Farai Dziva|Government has literally banned machetes in Zimbabwe.
This was revealed by Minister Kazembe Kazembe.
He made the remarks in Mazowe Central at a rally in Ward 10.
“If you have a machete, go and bury it underground because the police will leave no stone unturned to make sure that machetes have disappeared from the people.”
“People should be organised and carry out their mining activities with respect of the law. Where is this butchering coming from? So, I say if there are those here with machetes be warned that the long arm of the law will catch up with you soon,” said Kazembe.
Farai Dziva|A member of the notorious machete wielding gang thought to be part of ” MaShurugwi” team was shot and later passed on in hospital, police have revealed.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner, Paul Nyathi, quoted by The Herald condemned acts of public violence and attacks on cops.
“This follows an incident in Mphoengs on 3 January 2020 where a machete-wielding gang teamed up with some unruly elements to free, unlawful entry and theft suspect, Nkosana Moyo from police custody during indications,” he said.
“The gang went on to attack police officers and injured one in the process. During the scuffle, police fired some shots resulting in one suspect aged 35 being shot and passing on in hospital.
The released suspect, Nkosana Moyo only handed himself to the police on Saturday morning while still in police handcuffs.”
By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officer stationed at Rushinga police station in Mashonaland Central is on the run after stealing ZWL$1620 state funds on Christmas day.
According to police sources Constable Budala Yonnah allegedly stole the money meant for banking at Mount Darwin magistrates courts but decided to steal the money and leave police books at the court.
“The cop has gone awol after allegedly stealing the money he was sent to bank at the magistrate court, he went at the court and left the books before banking the money,”said the source.
“The matter was discovered on 2 January after the bank noticed that no amount was banked and surprisingly the cop reported for work after committing the crime there by raising eye brows on wether the officer in charge is not involved.”
Meanwhile, the Budala is being charged with theft of trust property and if caught a discplinary docket is also being prepared for the cop.
By A Correspondent- A Midlands State University (MSU) student was raped by a pirate taxi driver who had earlier mistaken her for a commercial sex worker.
The suspect who was driving a black Honda fit raped the woman (name withheld) on New Year’s Eve at around 7 PM in Pelandaba suburb.
On the date in question, the unknown suspect approached the complainant in the central business district whilst she was walking along George Silundika Street towards 11th Avenue- a popular hot spot for commercial sex work.
The accused person offered the complainant a lift to her place of residence before asking her for sex in exchange for US$5. The complainant refused and told him that she was not a commercial sex worker.
The pirate taxi driver allegedly drove along Khami Road to Pelandaba suburb where he stopped at a bushy area near Sizane turn off. The complainant was then ordered to remove her clothes at knifepoint before she was raped.
On 31 December 2019, the complainant was walking along George Silundika Street in the central business district towards 11th Avenue when she was approached by the accused person who was driving a black Honda Fit registration number AFB 6688.
The accused offered the complainant a lift to her place of residence.
The accused person went on to have protected sexual intercourse with the complainant once without her consent.
The man allegedly forced the complainant to disembark from his vehicle and drove away.
Asst Insp Msebele said the woman was helped by a stranger who took her to the police station. The complainant was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for medical examination.
By A Correspondent- The government has embarked on a programme to remove all illegal dumpsites across the country in a bid to keep the environment clean and prevent the outbreak of diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
This was revealed by Environment, Climate and Tourism Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu during a national clean-up campaign spearheaded by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Kuwadzana, Harare on Friday.
He said:
Your Excellency, we want you to know that as a ministry we have embarked on a national programme to eradicate all illegal dumpsites in the country so that our nation becomes clean.
The programme will see all illegal dumpsites cleared and bins put at designated points so that we keep our towns and cities clean.
Ndlovu added that the clean-up campaigns will soon be devolved to all provinces.
On 5 December 2018, President Mnangagwa declared the first Friday of each calendar month, the National Environment Cleaning Day.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- “Here we go!” I sighed! The minute I saw the name Eddie Cross as the author of the article in Zimeye. I expected nonsense from him and nonsense I got!
“Mr. Mnangagwa could then claim, for the first time, to be the legitimate leader of Government, even though his victory was with a tiny majority. It was only at that moment that we saw a new dispensation of sorts emerge in the form of the first really Mnangagwa controlled Cabinet,” stated Eddie Cross.
How can Mnangagwa ever be “the legitimate leader of government” when the whole election process was flawed and illegal? The regime denied 3 million Zimbabweans in the diaspora a vote. ZEC failed to produce a verified voters’ roll, etc.
Mr Cross was a senior member of the MDC that had the golden opportunity to implement the democratic reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU which would ended Zanu PF’s carte blanche powers to rig elections. MDC leaders were warned not to take part in 2013 and then 2018 elections without first implementing the reforms. They would not listen out of greed, as one MDC leader, David Coltart, confessed.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” confessed Coltart in his book.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
The EU, Americans, the Commonwealth and everyone else with any democratic credential worth talking about who observed the July 2018 Zimbabwe elections dismissed them as a farce.
“The electoral commission lacked full independence and appeared to not always act in an impartial manner. The final results as announced by the Electoral Commission contained numerous errors and lacked adequate traceability, transparency and verifiability,” stated the EU Election Observer Mission final report.
“As such, many aspects of the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet international standards.”
Mnangagwa was able to count this by pointing out that all Zimbabwe’s opposition parties had participated in the July 2018 elections regardless of the 3 million in the diaspora denied the vote, no verified voters roll, etc., etc. And, crown it all, all those who did participate have all endorsed the process as having been free, fair and credible.
Chamisa has challenged the presidential race result but that was on one very specific aspect, the vote counting by ZEC. The Constitutional Court has since ruled in favour of Mnangagwa. Having accepted ZEC’s authority and conduct in the elections process it is nonsensical for Chamisa to reject the authority and judgement of ZEC’s sister judiciary institution, the Constitutional Court.
It is worth noting here that Mr Eddie Cross, is a senior MDC leader and colleague of Chamisa, and he has endorsed Mnangagwa’s elections as legitimate and legal.
Chamisa and the other MDC leaders have agreed to endorse Mnangagwa as legitimate if he agreed to share out the spoils of power with MDC.
“Holocaust denial, the denial of the systematic genocidal killing of approximately six million Jews in Europe by Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, is illegal in 16 European countries and Israel. Many countries also have broader laws that criminalize genocide denial,” explained Wikipedia
“Of the countries that ban Holocaust denial, some, such as Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Romania, were among the perpetrators of the Holocaust, and many of these also ban other elements associated with Nazism, such as the expression of Nazi symbols.”
One can understand why these nation passed such laws; the genocides took place, these are historic facts and the individual nations were sick and tired of being dragged back over the same issues by the few who refused to accept the truth for whatever reasons!
Zimbabwe is stuck in this political and economic mess because the country has failed to remove this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF regime from office these last 40 years. The party has rigged elections denying the people a meaningful say in the governance of the country.
So to get out of this mess, the country needs to hold free, fair and credible elections and for that to happen we need to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging elections.
It is therefore very frustrating Zanu PF blatantly rigs elections and the country’s opposition politicians are the ones, for selfish reasons, are the once siding with Zanu PF in falsely claiming the elections were free, fair and credible. It was bad enough that Eddie Cross and company sold-out in failing to implement the reforms during the GNU it is intolerable that they are now propping up this illegitimate Zanu PF dictatorship by participating in flawed and illegal elections.
The people of Zimbabwe must have stop supporting MDC and the rest of the Zimbabwe opposition party who participate in elections with no reforms implemented. These politicians are no longer fighting for free and fair elections with us, ordinary people; they are now content with rigged elections as long as they get some of the spoils of power.
The international community must add Zimbabwe’s opposition candidate on the sanctions’ list because they are now as guilty of the rigged elections as the Zanu PF politicians themselves.
We can agree to differ on many things but not on truth, reality and facts. After 40 years of rigged elections and with the nation is serious economic and political trouble as a consequence, we cannot afford to be wasting another minute arguing on what constitutes free, fair and credible elections!
So those who continue to deny Zanu PF rigged July 2018 elections must be chastised, period! They must be slapped with targeted sanctions regardless which side of the political divide the come from.
Zimbabwe is the only African country that voted against the protection of Rohingya Muslims from the Myanmar atrocities.
The other countries that voted with Zimbabwe includes its usually allies Belarus, Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia and Vietnam.
Only nine governments voted against a UN General Assembly resolution to protect Rohingya Muslims from the Myanmar army's atrocities: Belarus, Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/xvE3q6q3no
By Nomusa Garikai- In a circular to local hospitals, Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Agnes Mahomva announced that Ante-natal ward per day will now cost $200 at Parirenyatwa Hospital, $160 at central hospitals such as Mpilo and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), $120 at provincial hospitals and $80 at district hospitals with the same amounts being charged for post-natal care.
Caesarean birth will now cost $2 500 at Parirenyatwa Hospital, $2 500 at Central hospitals and $1 500 at provincial hospitals and $1 000 at district hospitals.
In a country where unemployment has soared to 90% plus where are the poor expected to get the money from?
Only the other day Mnangagwa was saying he was going to stop schools hiking school fees. So, it is ok to increase hospital fees but not school fees!
The 600% hike will only fuel inflation as everything else will go up in price. This is just a rat race; you cannot pull out or slow down or you will be trampled by the stampeding herd and yet know you are just going round and round in circles. It just a matter of time before you collapse of exhaustion!
Zimbabwe is caught up in a rat race and as long as Zanu PF remains in power; the nightmare will continue.
It is now clear that Mnangagwa has no clue how to revive the country’s comatose economy, just like Mugabe before him. And, also just like Mugabe, the worsening economic situation has not in anyway dampen Mnangagwa’s determination to remain in office!
“Danotiziva kati van voKuwadzana vasingadhi kuti mvura inyaye. Taingoti Army kombayi tirove!” (If we knew it was people from Kuwadzana who are causing the drought. We would just tell the Army, to round and beat them!) said Mnangagwa, addressing a rally in Kuwadzana.
The same crowd he had just told he will stop the school fees going up. The people know the promise to stop fees going up will never be honour but they all know the threat to use the Army was not an empty threat.
Zimbabweans know the Freudian slip to use the Army and other state security institution to silence dissent and criticism was the number one issue on Mnangagwa’s mind! Violence is his bread and butter speciality and would issue the shoot to kill order at the drop of a hat as he did in August 2018 and again in January 2019.
The Kuwadzana crowd was stunned and subdued by the Mnangagwa’s casual and jocular demeanour with which he said this. The nation knows, Zanu PF’s response to the country’s worsening economic situation will be to use brute force to silence dissent and criticism. We are all expected to suffer and die is silence like sheep!
Zanu PF regime have no clue what to do to revive the Zimbabwe’s economy.
When Mnangagwa launched “Zimbabwe is open for business!” mantra in 2017; he was cocksure it going to open the flood gate to new investors and investment. Two years down the line, it is clear investors have continued, as in the Mugabe years, to shy away and the mantra is dead in the water.
Still, Mnangagwa’s failure to revive the economy, the truth must have sunk in by now, has not dampened his determination to stay in power. Indeed, his failure, it seems, has only hardened his resolve to stay in power no matter what!
“If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first, and pity him afterwards.” Boswell: Life of Johnson
This is the underlying self-preservation principle governing our lives.
Well, in Zimbabwe, the madman is in State House and he has more than a stick in his hand; he has all the state security machinery behind him and, as we know, has no qualms using it to silence dissent and criticism.
Zimbabwe is being torn apart the poor are dying, literally, for change of government; as long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state ruled by corrupt and vote rigging thugs the economic meltdown is set to get worse. The ruling elite are using brute force to silence dissent and criticism in defence of the pariah state.
The tragedy here is the ruling elite are deluding themselves in believing they are stopping change. Change is nature. The best Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF thugs can do is delay change but they are now running the risk of closing the door to peaceful change in favour of violent and revolutionary change.
Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF thugs rigged the July 2018 elections, they have no mandate to govern the country and they must step down now, spare the nation more human suffering and deaths and, more significantly, spare the nation the agony of violent and chaotic change!
By Herbert Gomba| When I took office I promised to rein in on costs ,unnecessarily causing council to loose money through doing personal business, I have caught so many employees who are doing this and this time will be hard on management ,which seem unable and unwilling to manage abuse in council according to me.
I know as schools open council fuel and cars will be used to ferry kids to various schools without permission,let me warn those intentionally planning this that your time in council will be up soon ,this abuse will be stopped by me and the councilors ,we must give value of money to our residents who toil each day to pay council through hard work.
I also want to be clear that in terms of section 274 (2) of the Zimbabwe constitution this council is managed by elected officials,whose mandate is delegates to management to do it according to policy ,all those doubting us will see through time that they are lost .
Lastly please be good workers one who respects residents under the banner of “Residents first mantra “ ..come to work on time ,no to abuse of council facilities,no to abuse of sick letters from fake doctors,no to corruption in council markets ,be available to help our masters who are our residents,if you cannot please leave ,resign or retire ,it’s time we do good to our “promissory note we call contracts of employment “ ,stop doing private work in municipal properties or using municipal properties,this is our commitment to doing good to our city .
We must deliver a better ,habitable city to which all are happy to live in and attracts investors,this is meant to support our country’s and city’s transformation agenda ,we are in offices to work and nothing more ,we are also residents and face the same challenges as them ,no one must abdicate responsibilities on the basis of greed ,and deliberate ignorance to policy
Wishing you all a prosperous,productive,committed to council year
Lowveld sugar cane farmers have donated sugar and food hampers to Angel of Hope Foundation for onward distribution to vulnerable families across Masvingo by the organisation’s patron, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.
The First Lady is scheduled to visit Chivi this week where she will meet vulnerable families.
Commercial Sugar Cane Farmers Association of Zimbabwe (CSFAZ) chair Mr Admore Hwarare last Friday handed over one tonne of sugar and food hampers to Minister of State for Masvingo Ezra Chadzamira ahead of Amai Mnangagwa’s visit.
Mr Hwarare said sugar cane farmers were charmed by the First Lady’s charity work through her Angel of Hope Foundation.
The cane farmers pledged to support the Zanu PF Government which gave Zimbabweans land under the land redistribution programme.
“As sugar cane farmers who were empowered by the Zanu PF Government, we have mobilised sugar for our First Lady’s charity work through her Angel of Hope Foundation and the sugar is enough to make sure 500 people get 2kg each,” said Mr Hwarare.
“We have also mobilised food hampers (containing soap, washing powder, kapenta fish, cooking oil and salt) that will be handed over to the First Lady for onward distribution to the most vulnerable families.
“We stand ready any day and any time to do anything for the Zanu PF Government because they gave us land.
“Today we stand tall because we are empowered and the national leadership should not hesitate to call on us for anything in future.”
In response, Minister Chadzamira was full of praise for the gesture by Mr Hwarare and his association, urging more companies to follow suit.
He said Masvingo had many people from different spheres who had been empowered by Government and should lend a hand for the cause of charity.
“We want to thank sugar cane farmers for this donation which complements the First Lady’s charity work through her Angel of Hope Foundation targeting mainly to uplift the lives of the vulnerable,” said Minister Chadzamira.
“It is our hope that many other organisations across the province will follow suit and also donate towards the cause of charity ahead of the First Lady’s visit to the province this week.”
Miners do not need to carry machetes and police will ensure the weapons are not carried in public, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has said.
Addressing hundreds of Zanu PF supporters in Mazowe Central at 2018 election victory celebrations for Ward 10 councillor Cde Chakabvepi Chinhema, Minister Kazembe said mining activities should be carried within the confines of the law.
“If you have a machete, go and bury it underground because the police will leave no stone unturned to make sure that machetes have disappeared from the people,” he said.
“People should be organised and carry out their mining activities with respect of the law. Where is this butchering coming from? So, I say if there are those here with machetes be warned that the long arm of the law will catch up with you soon.”
Cde Kazembe condemned attacks on the police by machete gangs.
“There is no way you can run and hide from the law here in Zimbabwe, it could be just for a short while, but you will be definitely caught,” he said.
“As I speak, those who killed the police officer, five of them have since been arrested and we are only left with a few and they are going to be caught.
“When the police are on duty, let them perform their mandate. Do not harass them.”
Meanwhile, two Guruve artisanal miners drowned in Dande River while running away from security guards chasing them at Eureka Gold Mine.
Mashonaland Central provincial police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the incident which claimed the lives of Learnmore Muroiwa and Moses Thomas.
“We urge our citizens to respect the rule of law and we discourage artisanal miners to go to other premises for mining,” he said.
“They should prospect their own mines and gain necessary paperwork from the ministry.
“As police, will not tolerate cases of theft or violence by artisanal miners and we will make sure that the law has been applied successfully.”
Top fan- Ish Manyere- If he is still fighting for teachers cause let him stay again if he was elected that is democracy
Dennis Tariro Zishiri- Well it’s a typical African thing. We all want to die in office. It’s sad though.
Below is the original article which drew the above reactions:
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe’s (PTUZ) Raymond Majongwe has been re-elected as the Union’s secretary general, after holding on to the same position for the last 22 years.
His “partner in crime” incumbent president Takavafira Zhou was also re-elected unopposed at the teachers’ union national congress held in Harare at the weekend.
The two were once fierce critics of the late Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe who they continually accused of over staying in his position as President of the country.
The burly Majongwe who is also a protest music chanter, was once Dynamos Football Club secretary general.
Interviewed in 2017, when Mugabe returned from his annual holiday with everyone expecting the long serving leader to resign, Majongwe criticised Mugabe for refusing to step down.
“I would simply say: President Mugabe, welcome,” said Raymond Majongwe. “You did a lot for this country. But I think for now, the time to go is now.”
The same words however do not appear to be part of his own position. Mugabe would always refuse to step down claiming that Zimbabweans still wanted him in power an assertion that Majongwe would say as he, like Mugabe would do in his party, was elected unopposed.
Other members of the new PTUZ executive are; Deputy President Nokuthula Hlabangana; national treasurer, Ladistous Zunde; Connie Mavugara, secretary for culture; secretary for international relations Eberth Mashakada; secretary for women empowerment, Nyaradzo Munjodzi; secretary for health, Numeri Gwazeni; Peter Machenjera secretary for information and publicity, as well as Lovejoy Sibanda who is secretary for young workers.
In resolutions passed at the congress, the PTUZ leadership was mandated to ally the organisation with “other teacher trade unions, which subscribe to the solution of the trials and tribulations of the suffering Zimbabwean teachers.”
“The PTUZ will take all appropriate steps to establish an Ideological College with a view of instilling the core values and principles of the union in its members. Congress resolved to invest in coming up with a union medical and bereavement scheme.
“Discipline in schools must be enhanced. There is need to create discourse. Union must venture into projects for the empowerment of the union as an organisation and members,” the resolutions read.
President Robert Mugabe granted value added tax (VAT) exemptions to his wife Grace which deprived the state of about US$200 000 ($4 million).
Nine applications for exemptions were sent to Mugabe between 2012 and 2014 by Stanley Nhari, general manager of Grace’s Gushungo Holdings, and managers of Mwenewazvo Farm, Grace Mugabe Orphanage and Amai Mugabe High School.
Gushungo administrator Farai Jemwa also wrote to Mugabe in 2015 asking that Grace be exempt from paying tolls at Eskbank on her daily commute along the A11 between Mazowe and Harare.
Letters addressed to Mugabe indicate that Grace did not pay VAT on goods that cost US$350 000 ($7 million) on 19 March 2012.
She then applied for another exemption for furniture valued at US$150 000 ($3 million).
The same request was made for office stationery worth US$50 000 ($1 million) on September 6 2012.
In the same year, the former first lady sought exemptions on cement valued at US$122 939 ($2.5 million) for the Gushungo dairy farm and other materials that cost US$119 560 ($2.4 million).
For Blue Roof, the Borrowdale mansion where the Mugabes lived, she asked her husband for a VAT exemption on exterior paint costing US$118 585 (R2.4 million).
She also avoided VAT on centre pivots for irrigation on Mwenewazvo Farm that cost US$18 000 ($360 000).
In June 2013, she sought VAT exemption for goods with an estimated cost of US$260 000 ($5.2 million), and in 2014 for building materials worth US$123 120 ($2.5 million).
In total, Grace avoided paying VAT of US$196 830 ($3.9 million) after buying goods worth US$1 312 204 ($26.2 million).
Jemwa’s letter to Mugabe about the Eskbank toll said: “May I therefore request for your assistance in the completion of the relevant procedures culminating in the issuance of the relevant exemption.”
Mugabe died in September and Blue Roof and the Gushungo dairy farm were listed as part of his estate.
According to the Tax Act, a president does not pay income tax but there is no exemption from VAT on his business interests.
Tax expert Sydwell Nsingo said there were protocols for all tax issues, none of which had anything to do with the office of the president.
“For any tax matters, one should apply to the commissioner-general of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. Depending on the matter, he will then liaise with the finance ministry or in some cases he will communicate with the relevant line ministries,” he said.
However, in Grace’s case, the applications for exemptions were approved in directives from the President’s office to ZIMRA.
Colls Ndlovu, an economist formerly with the Reserve Bank of SA, said: “There’s a list of goods that are exempt from VAT and normally they are listed in the minister of finance’s budget statement. Others can be added through statutory instruments.
“That list makes it clear, and so there’s no need to apply for exemption otherwise it will amount to favouritism.”
None of the goods for which Grace applied for exemption were on the VAT free list, said Ndlovu.
Analysts said the VAT exemptions were just the latest example of abuse of power by the ruling elite.
“Zimbabwe has institutionalised corruption to an extent that it is becoming normal,” said political commentator Nigel Nyamutumbu.
“It is unfortunate that for all these years Mugabe was president, critical decisions such as tax exemptions were not subjected to due process but were a bedroom affair.”
Nyamutumbu said the same could be said of the case in which Marry Chiwenga, wife of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, is accused of illegally sending US$1m ($20 million) to South Africa and China.
“Citizens fail to get their hard-earned foreign currency while those in the corridors of power not only have easy access but they abuse funds that do not even belong to them,” he said.
“This thuggish daylight robbery is actually the root of the problem bedevilling the country.”
Grace Mugabe’s office did not respond to numerous requests for comment.
Mnangagwa eating Mazondo on fight but telling people to eat vegetables
Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC has expressed anger at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s statements that Zimbabweans must eat vegetables instead of the expensively priced meat.
MDC Deputy Spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, said Mnangagwa had no moral high ground to tell the people what to eat.
“When you have a leader who starts to impose vegetables, a leader and a president who gets into other people’s kitchens determining family diets, it shows you just how much we have sunk as a country,” he said.
Party Vice President Tendai Biti linked the President’s statement to France’s Marie Antoinette, who, during the French Revolution’s bread riots in the late 1700s, said citizens should instead eat cake.
“At the height of the French Revolution, France’s Marie Antoinette, in response to bread protests by citizens retorted ‘let them eat cake’. In Kuwadzana yesterday (Friday), Zimbabwe’s illegitimate leader in response to cries of high cost of meat retorted, ‘let them eat vegetables,” said Biti.
Kuwadzana MP and MDC secretary general, Chalton Hwende said Mnangagwa’s utterances were an insult to the suffering population.
“What an insult from the Junta installed President telling our people in Kuwadzana to eat vegetables when they complained of soaring meat prices. I am not surprised because he was not voted but grabbed the Presidency. In Kuwadzana, his rigging only gave him 2 000 votes,” said Hwende.
The opposition party’s Secretary for Education, Fadzayi Mahere said people should have freedom to choose their diet.
“People must have the freedom to choose their dietary regime for themselves. People must choose to eat vegetables not to be forced to eat them out of poverty. Command nutrition because the government has driven the masses to poverty is hardly anything to celebrate,” she said.
By A Correspondent- Pregnant commercial sex workers have flooded the market at Machipisa shopping centre in Highfield, it has emerged.
The commercial sex workers who have since become a hit due to their warm body temperatures are reportedly up in arms with their colleagues who allege the pregnant once are collecting all the clients.
“We are now in serious trouble with these pregnant hookers are who are now taking all the clients to themselves due to their warm body temperatures during sex,” lamented a hooker identified as Hazvi.
“It I also disturbing to note that these pregnant women contribute a huge share than us hence we are contemplating to relocate because we are nolonger working here.”
One of the pregnant sex worker said she got pregnant in the trade and could not go for maternity leave because that is her only source of living. “Our collegues are complaining yes but we got pregnant here and that is our only source of living it is true that we are a hit but we are not forcing men to come after us they allege we are warm so there is nothing we can do we need their money for service,” said Chiedza Garwe.
Meanwhile, the number of sex workers at Machipisa has decreased due to poor market as many are failing to pay $20 for a quick hence sex workers are moving out of the country to South Africa , Mozambique and Botswana looking for greener pastures.
By A Correspondent- Police in Gweru have arrested six more members of a machete-wielding gang following a bloody shootout, for allegedly killing an on-duty police officer at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields near Kadoma.
The mostly young suspects include a 14-year-old boy.
The latest arrests bring to nine the arrests made following that of three suspects, Munyaradzi Chari (43), Lyton Tshuma (18) and Obvious Mawire (21) on January 2.
Constable Wonder Hokoyo was killed on December 28 while his colleague Constable Kamhuka is fighting for life at Kadoma General Hospital after gold panners attacked them at Good Hope Mine.
In a statement on Saturday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi identified the six as Tonderai Musasa (18), Richwell Tshuma (26), Bornlight Mukute (20), Paul Demo (27), Taurai Munetsi (31) and the minor whose identity has been withheld for ethical reasons.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the gang surrendered the weapons used in the fatal assault to the police.
He said Demo and Munetsi are, however, admitted to Kadoma General Hospital under police guard after they sustained injuries during a shootout with the police as they tried to resist arrest. “Demo and Munetsi were arrested while hiding at house number 2637 Ascot Extension and 3526 Ascot Extension in Gweru during a police raid. The duo initially resisted arrest resulting in an exchange of fire, Demo sustained injuries on the left knee and right ankle while Munetsi got injuries on the left knee,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Meanwhile, Asst Comm Nyathi condemned attacks on police officers performing their constitutional duties following an incident which occurred in Mphoengs on Friday when a machete wielding gang attacked police officers and injured one in an effort to free a robbery, unlawful entry and theft suspect Nkosana Moyo from police custody during indications.
“During the scuffle police fired some shots resulting in one suspect aged 35 being shot and passing on at a local hospital. The released suspect, Nkosana Moyo later handed himself to the police still in police handcuffs. The ZRP reiterates that acts of violence and attacks on law enforcement agents will be dealt with in terms of the country’s laws,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Cops have arrested more than 100 illegal gold panners and vendors in separate raids at Good Hope Mine in Kadoma and Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, areas which have been synonymous with violence over gold.
Police also impounded three vehicles that were loaded with gold ore.
Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga has issued a stern warning to the machete terror gangs that the law will catch up with them. He said police will soon issue orders to prohibit carrying of dangerous weapons in the gold mining sites
Own Correspondent|President Donald Trump didn’t know who the powerful, longstanding Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was when the real estate magnate was running for president in late 2015.
But just over four years later, Trump ordered the US military to assassinate Soleimani in a drone strike that has significantly escalated tensions between the US and Iran.
“Are you familiar with General Soleimani?” conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Trump in a September 2015 interview.
Trump said he was familiar, but added that Hewitt should “go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me.”
“He runs the Quds Forces,” Hewitt responded, naming the elite Iranian military fighting force Soleimani had long commanded.
“Yes, ok, right,” Trump said, adding, “The Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated.”
Hewitt then interrupted to say he wasn’t talking about the Kurds – the Middle Eastern ethnic group – and explained the Quds were part of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
Trump insisted he had misheard Hewitt and then launched into an attack on the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration.
But the radio host looped back around to his original question: Would Soleimani change his behaviour as a result of the deal?
“Is he the gentleman that was going back and forth with Russia and meeting with Putin?” Trump asked. “I read something, and that seems to be also where he’s at.”
Hewitt replied, “That’s the guy.”
“Not good,” Trump said.
Later in the interview, Hewitt listed the names of other prominent Islamist militant leaders – Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah, Al Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Nusra Front’s Abu Muhammad al-Julani, and the Islamic State’s Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – and asked Trump if he knew who they were.
The Republican candidate argued that leaders like Soleimani will be dead, and therefore irrelevant, by the time he becomes president. And he suggested it wasn’t important for him to know the difference between Islamic militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas before he becomes president.
“As far as the individual players, of course I don’t know them. I’ve never met them,” Trump said. “If they’re still there, which is unlikely in many cases, but if they’re still there, I will know them better than I know you.”
Trump then accused Hewitt, who repeatedly praised Trump throughout the interview, of asking “ridiculous” “gotcha questions.”
“That is a gotcha question, though. I mean, you know, when you’re asking me about who’s running this, this this, that’s not, that is not, I will be so good at the military, your head will spin,” Trump said.
By A Correspondent- The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has called for the banning of disposable diapers (pampers) as they are considered a serious hazard to the environment.
EMA Bulawayo provincial manager, Decent Ndlovu, revealed that the authority has been assessing the impact of disposable diapers since they were introduced and believes it’s now high time they are banned. He said:
We are advocating they be banned because of the environmental hazards they post. If the people who produce and sell them are really concerned, they should recover and recycle them.
The disposable diapers create toxic trash that takes 500 years to decompose in landfills while their improper disposal allows excrement to be washed into rivers.
Nursing mothers are, however, against the banning of pampers since traditional nappies require a lot of water for washing, which is simply not available in most areas.
By A Correspondent- Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has warned machete gangs to throw away their machetes as the long arm of the law will catch up with them.
Kazembe made the remarks while addressing Zanu-PF supporters in Mazowe Central at the 2018 election victory celebrations for Ward 10 councillor Chakabvepi Chinhema.
He said:
If you have a machete, go and bury it underground because the police will leave no stone unturned to make sure that machetes have disappeared from the people.
People should be organised and carry out their mining activities with respect to the law. Where is this butchering coming from? So, I say if there are those here with machetes be warned that the long arm of the law will catch up with you soon.
Kazembe also condemned attacks on law enforcement agents by “MaShurugwi” following the hacking to death of a police constable in Kadoma recently.
Police have so far arrested nine suspects in connection with the police officer’s murder
State Media|Zimbabwe’s Government is now funded for operations this year, with each Ministry allocated a budget for each item, and with changes to the tax structure in place so that there is revenue for these budgets.
This comes after President Mnangagwa approved this year’s $59,04 billion Budget passed by Parliament last month.
The twin Acts giving effect to the Budget comprise the Finance Act, which provides for changes in the rates of taxes, duties and exemptions, and the Appropriation Act that sets out allocations to all ministries and statutory bodies were published in an Extraordinary Government Gazette on the last day of 2019.
The Budget was passed under the theme: “Gearing for Higher Productivity, Growth and Job Creation.”
The budget comprises $57 052 700 000 charged to the Consolidated Revenue Fund until December 31 and $1 993 822 000 in Retention Funds.
According to the Appropriation Act, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement has the highest allocation of $11 334 459 000 followed by that of Primary and Secondary Education with $8 526 223 000 and Health and Child Care with $6 567 317 000.
The ministry of Finance and Economic Development was allocated $3 987 047 000, that of Defence and War Veterans $3 112 708 000, while the ministries of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Office of the President and Cabinet got $2 370 969 000 and $2 353 887 000, respectively.
The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development was allocated $ 2 890 889 000, while that of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage got $2 818 169 000.
The Finance Act also brings into force a number of issues concerning taxes and other revenue collection mechanisms announced by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube when he presented the Budget.
This includes the reduction of corporate tax, by 1 percent to 24 percent and Value Added Tax (VAT), from 15 to 14,5 percent.
On tourism, Treasury extended rebates for imports of capital equipment and safari vehicles, suspended tax on car hire, tour operators and extended tax on luxury coach imports.
The Act sets out the new excise duty on the importation of second hand vehicles ranging from $500 depending on date of manufacture and engine capacity.
The Act brings in permanent law temporary amendments to the Reserve Bank Act banning the use of any currency for pricing local goods and services, except the Zimbabwe dollar and allowing civil penalties for those who breach this.
It amends the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Act by providing for the establishment of the Monetary Policy Committee.
The MPC was appointed in September and is chaired by RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya.
The committee’s functions include among others, to determine the monetary policy of the country, ensure price stability as defined by Government, inflation targets and determine the interest rates in line with the country’s economic policies and targets for growth and employment.
Other measures that are contained in the Act include the fiscal incentive to support employers who create jobs for young people where an additional job created will attract a percentage tax rebate to the employer, linked to the employee’s salary.
Some of the fake whisky being sold in the streets of Harare.
Daily News|The police have made a breakthrough in discovering some of the sources of the illegal whiskeys, gins, vodkas and other spirits which have flooded the country. According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the fake spirits have two major sources: some are smuggled from Mocambique and Zambia while others are ‘distilled’ locally in backyard breweries and packaged as if they are the real thing. iHarare has confirmed that the police have since arrested one such local blend master who was distilling the alcohol at his home brewery in Ardbennie and repackaging it in the bottles of the original products.
Speaking to the Daily News, ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the development. Said Nyathi,
“A Harare man was busted by the CID (Criminal Investigations Department Drugs And Narcotics) in Ardbennie manufacturing the whiskey and was in posession of drums of fake whiskey. We have noted that it is made from harmful substances such as ethanol.”
Nyathi went on to warn imbibers to only purchase alcoholic products from reputable dealers and to not be attracted by the low prices of the fake products.
The fake whiskeys and alcoholic products have been selling at a discount on the informal market and their discounted prices have been attracting merrymakers. The fake products are packed in replica bottles and in some cases, in actual bottles such that it is almost impossible for a layperson to discern between them and the original.
However, some of the imbibers iHarare spoke too, claimed that they always woke up with splitting headaches whenever they consumed the fake products. Experts have also warned that consuming the fake alcoholic products can result in infertility and damage to the brain and liver. At least three people have died after they reportedly consumed fake Jameson Whiskey
Some of the brands which have targetted for producing fake spirits include popular brands such as Johnnie Walker’s Red Label, Jameson, Grants, Best, Bols and Two Keys. A bottle of Jameson normally retails for US$30 but suspected bottles of the fake whiskey are going for as little as US$20 on the informal market.
Own Correspondent|Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe’s (PTUZ) Raymond Majongwe has been re-elected as the Union’s secretary general, after holding on to the same position for the last 22 years.
Raymond Majongwe
His “partner in crime” incumbent president Takavafira Zhou was also re-elected unopposed at the teachers’ union national congress held in Harare at the weekend.
The two were once fierce critics of the late Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe who they continually accused of over staying in his position as President of the country.
The burly Majongwe who is also a protest music chanter, was once Dynamos Football Club secretary general.
Interviewed in 2017, when Mugabe returned from his annual holiday with everyone expecting the long serving leader to resign, Majongwe criticised Mugabe for refusing to step down.
“I would simply say: President Mugabe, welcome,” said Raymond Majongwe. “You did a lot for this country. But I think for now, the time to go is now.”
The same words however do not appear to be part of his own position. Mugabe would always refuse to step down claiming that Zimbabweans still wanted him in power an assertion that Majongwe would say as he, like Mugabe would do in his party, was elected unopposed.
Other members of the new PTUZ executive are; Deputy President Nokuthula Hlabangana; national treasurer, Ladistous Zunde; Connie Mavugara, secretary for culture; secretary for international relations Eberth Mashakada; secretary for women empowerment, Nyaradzo Munjodzi; secretary for health, Numeri Gwazeni; Peter Machenjera secretary for information and publicity, as well as Lovejoy Sibanda who is secretary for young workers.
In resolutions passed at the congress, the PTUZ leadership was mandated to ally the organisation with “other teacher trade unions, which subscribe to the solution of the trials and tribulations of the suffering Zimbabwean teachers.”
“The PTUZ will take all appropriate steps to establish an Ideological College with a view of instilling the core values and principles of the union in its members. Congress resolved to invest in coming up with a union medical and bereavement scheme.
“Discipline in schools must be enhanced. There is need to create discourse. Union must venture into projects for the empowerment of the union as an organisation and members,” the resolutions read.
Mnangagwa chairing the inaugural PAC meeting in March last year
Own Correspondent|President Mnangagwa last January established a 26-member Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) to advise and assist him in formulating key economic policies and strategies supposedly to advance Vision 2030.
Vision 2030 is a government programme which entails making Zimbabwe an upper middle-income country with gross national income (GNI) per capita of between $3,896 and $12,055 by 2030, according to the World Bank’s technical calculations, implying high standards of living for citizens.
The advisory council comprised experts and leaders drawn from diverse sectors like business, health and social protection, agriculture, governance and human rights, faith-based organisations, tourism, education, minorities, ICT, civic society, communication and media management.
Revealing the committee, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said the council would act as the President’s “sounding board” on key economic reforms, issues and initiatives.
This, he said, was in line with the “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra and the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (STP).
“His Excellency the President and his Government will need well-canvassed ideas, proposals and strategies to realise the vision,” he said
The PAC, which was to work on a voluntary and serve at the pleasure of the President, had 17 terms of reference set up for it some of which are listed below for you to judge of it has really been effective in advising Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa has throughout the year been under a heavy barrage of criticism for failing to execute his mandate with critics claiming that he possibly has been lacking sound advice.
The terms of reference for the PAC were as follows:
The advisory council should:
proffer ideas and suggestions on key reforms and measures needed to improve the investment and business climate in the country for economic recovery and growth.
contribute towards policies and measures, short medium and long term, for the growth of the economy. On the strength of the country’s resources, to suggest best strategies for leveraging them to best national advantage; to advise and develop strategies for making Zimbabwe a modern, industrialised and food-secure, higher middle income by 2030; to input into policies and strategies for inclusive and balanced growth in line with the policy on decentralisation and devolution and to advise on the integration of science, technology, research and innovation in the economy.
help with a comprehensive situational analysis on the state of the economy and investment climate in the country.
provide infrastructural strategies and investments meant to transform the country into a land-linked regional logistical and trading hub.
advise on developing sector by sector strategic value-chains for the economy which are linked to international markets.
advise on national energy development strategy which makes Zimbabwe competitive; to suggest blue prints for regulatory frameworks and institutions for a modern, market-driven, business-friendly economy; to advise on strategies for building strong and gainful global partnerships as well as maximising on Zimbabwe’s bilateral and multilateral relations and to proffer ideas of building a Sovereign Wealth Fund and to ensure that national growth and development strategies are built on environmental safeguards for future generations.
organise interactions between the President, local and international businesses.
have quarterly brainstorming or feedback meetings with the President and ad hoc meetings as and when necessary.
be non-partisan, must proffer honest and sincere advise, declaring own interests whenever necessary.
respect rules of confidentiality and trust and refrain from abusing proximity for unlawful and unethical ends. Members should ensure that all advisory content generated and produced by PAC are a property of His Excellency the President who assumes automatic copy right.
Mnangagwa would chair PAC meetings which are also attended by his Vice Presidents and by any other invitees, including ministers and officials.
Government would fund operations of the advisory council with members drawing some honorarium.
In its initial set up, the PAC members included Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries immediate past president Mr Busisa Moyo, former Delta chief executive Mr Joe Mutizwa, Sakunda Holdings chief executive owner Mr Kudakwashe Tagwirei and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) president Divine Ndhlukula (business); economist and banker Zondo Sakala, Agribank chief executive Mr Somkhosi Malaba and Africa Next chief executive Mr Lewis Musasike (financial services); Dr Norbert Mugwagwa and physician Dr Godfrey Sikipa (health and social protection); Remigius Makumbe, Simbarashe Mangwende (infrastructure).
Other members were Dr Lindiwe Sibanda (agriculture); Natalie Jabangwe (ICT); Mr Aenias Chuma, Ms Elisa Ravengai, seasoned lawyer Mr Edwin Manikai (governance and human rights); Professors Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo and Robson Mafoti (education).
The tourism sector was represented by renowned businessman Mr Herbert Nkala while the communication and media management will be represented by AMH owner Trevor Ncube.
The civic society represented by Janah Ncube while Dr Shingi Munyeza and Zimbabwe Council of Churches secretary general Dr Kenneth Mtata will stand for faith based organisations.
The minorities will represented by CABS managing director Mr Simon Hammond and CBZ Holdings chairman Mr Richard Wilde.
PAC coordination done Mr Mfaro Moyo, who brought in experience from Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC standing committee Secretary for Education and Culture Fadzai Mahere has called on Zimbabweans to get into action on wild fires that are threatening to burn up much of Australia’s bushes and towns.
Mahere made the call in her Twitter post on Sunday afternoon.
Australia’s devastating fires reached unprecedented peak in the first few days of January, according to multiple reports.
The devastating bushfires in Australia that have drawn military deployments and millions of dollars of aid meant to address “unprecedented” amounts of damage, authorities said in a Saturday press conference.
Photos from Australia’s New South Wales state taken Sunday, just before Mahere’s call, show shocking red skies blanketing communities with thick fog.
Pictures showing skies in parts of the country’s New South Wales state show the shocking effects of months of fires that have devastated nearby areas. Blood-red skies hung over the state, which currently has 150 active fires, 64 of which are uncontrolled, according to The Associated Press.
The scenes from New South Wales appeared almost post-apocalyptic as a heavy, glowing blanket of smoke hung above areas like Canberra.
Reuters reports that officials in Canberra asked for 100,000 extra breathing masks as Sunday saw the world’s worst-ever recorded air quality. The masks are expected to arrive for residents on Monday.
More than 5.25 million hectares (13 million acres) of land have been burnt so far in this fire season across Australia and nearly 1,500 homes have been destroyed in New South Wales alone.
Last week, Zimbabweans watch helplessly a building burn to a shell in the Harare Central Business. The local fire team battled helplessly with very little water supply to control the fire.
A Binga teenager who allegedly fatally attacked an elderly man with a machete was arrested four days later still carrying the blood-stained weapon.
Sikalube Mudenda (18) of Phukuma 24 village under Chief Sinamagonde in Lusulu was reportedly still wearing the same clothes he wore when he fatally attacked Johnson Nkomo (71).
The incident occurred on October 31 and he was arrested on November 3.
Nkomo’s five-year-old grandson Langelihle was the first to see his dead grandfather in a pool of blood after he arrived home from school. Mudenda had fled from the scene.
Nkomo of Phukuma 18 village sustained two deep cuts on the head, one cut on each palm and broken wrists on both hands.
Mudenda, who has pending cases of unlawful entry at the Binga magistrate’s court, was charged with murder when he appeared at the Hwange magistrates’ court recently.
He was remanded in custody waiting for a trial date which is likely to be in March when the 2020 Hwange High Court circuit opens.
“On 31 October 2019, a juvenile Langelihle Nkomo found his grandfather lying in a pool of blood at home when he came back from school. The little boy ran and informed Margaret Ngwenya,” read the court documents.
Mudenda was arrested after villagers ambushed him at his homestead.
A villager had spotted him carrying a bloodstained machete and wearing bloodstained clothes.
TWO elderly women from Bulawayo have been arrested for allegedly stealing US$17 160, R4 800 and RTGS$14 000 from their burial society.
Dorcas Machengo (72) and Evelyn Chapepa (78) from Magwegwe suburb allegedly betrayed the trust bestowed on them by Thandanani Burial Society.
Machengo was the secretary while Chapepa was the chairlady and treasurer.
They pleaded not guilty to theft of trust property before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube.
The duo was remanded out of custody on free bail to today for continuation of trial.
Machengo, however, said: “Ukuthatha sibili ngiyavuma kodwa angithathanga yonke, ngathatha i$1 400 kuphela,’’ (I admit that I took some money but I didn’t take all of it, I just took $1 400).
The State represented by Mr Tapiwa Solani said the matter came to light in December 2018 when some bereaved members of the group approached the grannies seeking money for funeral expenses.
“Society members contributed money in foreign currency which was kept by the accused persons. The members’ contribution increased from US$3 to US$5.
“During that same month members needed money for funeral expenses but Machengo and Chapepa failed to produce the money,” he said.
Mr Solani said an audit was carried out and it was discovered that part of the money was missing from the coffers.
He said Machengo and Chapepa had promised to return the money but failed and members reported the matter to the police leading to their arrest.
Ms Joyce Gumangei, a member of the burial society, said: “After discovering that our burial money was missing, I asked the accused persons and they confessed that they took it and said they will pay back.
“One of the accused persons said she wanted to help her son who was in South Africa and would double the money when they pay back. Up until now we haven’t got our money and we decided to report them to police.”
An illegal dump site full of the disposable diapers.
State Media|Disposable diapers could soon be banned for posing a serious hazard to the environment as they create enormous amounts of toxic trash that takes 500 years to decompose in landfills while their improper disposal allows excrement to be washed into rivers.
While many Zimbabweans who have stopped using traditional washable cloth nappies are against the proposed ban, as they say disposables provide convenience and save on time, soap and water, the Environment Management Agency (EMA) is already lobbying Government to ban them.
EMA argues that disposable diapers have far-reaching negative ecological effects that outweigh their convenience.
One problem highlighted by mothers facing a switch to cloth diapers is that these are no longer readily available and require a lot of water for washing, which is simply not available in most areas.
The whole set of supporting products — such as nappy liners, plastic pants, nappy pins and special detergents for soaking nappies — has disappeared and a lot would have to be done to reintroduce the old-fashioned alternative before a ban could even be considered.
The dispute over disposable diapers is worldwide, with environmentalists generally against their use because of the landfill problems.
According to greenmatters.com, a convectional disposable diaper cannot be recycled, takes at least 500 years to decompose and an average baby uses about 3 000 disposable diapers during its first year of life.
In an interview with our Bureau, EMA Bulawayo provincial manager Mr Decent Ndlovu said the environmental watchdog has been patiently assessing the impact of disposable diapers since they were introduced and believes the time has come to ban them.
Mr Ndlovu said the disposable diapers will be a hazard in the environment for centuries.
“We are advocating they be banned because of the environmental hazards they are posing,” he said. “If the people who produce and sell them are really concerned, they should recover and recycle them.”
Mr Ndlovu said producers of diapers should be made liable for their disposal, but most producers were foreign-owned and EMA did not have jurisdiction over their operations.
He said banning of disposable diapers could revive local industries that shut down or scaled down operations in the country after washable nappies became unpopular.
One such company is Bulawayo-based textile giant, Merlin, which was established in the 1950s and used to employ over 1 000 workers when operating at full capacity.
It manufactured cloth diapers and its top brand had a high international reputation.
In 2018, Merlin re-opened following the implementation of a business rescue strategy and announced that the company would not only focus on producing napkins, but a range of high quality and high demand products such as diapers and women’s sanitary wear.
Bulawayo residents yesterday said instead of banning disposable diapers, EMA and the local authority should educate the public on how to properly dispose them.
“They want to ban them when there is not enough water in the city,” said Mrs Sithandazile Kwaripo.
“Does that make sense? Have they done any awareness campaigns on how to dispose of them?
“I feel they should educate the public on ways to dispose them instead of banning them. Plus, those general nappies might seem cheaper, but they are expensive as you have to constantly wash them with a lot of water and using a lot of washing soap.”
Another resident Mr Brian Bangwa concurred, saying disposable nappies were convenient, but what was needed was education on their disposal.
Mrs Nancy Kanyangarara lamented the failure to properly dispose of disposable diapers by the present generation of mothers, but said banning them would not be a solution.
“All my children are now grown up, but I think the problem is with the new generation of mothers who are abusing the diapers and are too lazy to wash traditional nappies,” she said.
“People need to be taught how to dispose of the disposable nappies because even refuse collectors do not want to see them. Where are they supposed to be taken to?”
Own Correspondent|Controversial Kwekwe businessman and “conman” Shepherd Tundiya who appears to always have his away out of the legal system has left a senior Criminal Investigating Officer in Gweru in trouble over a vehicle stolen in South Africa.
Gweru officer-in-charge Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Detective Inspector Leonard Gwandu, was last Friday arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office after he released to Tundiya a vehicle suspected to have been stolen in South Africa.
Det Insp Gwandu appeared before Gweru magistrate Tavengwa Sangster on Saturday facing charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
He was remanded on $1 000 bail to January 17.
The State alleged that Gwandu released a Toyota Hilux Raider to Tundiya without following due process.
The court heard that Tundiya was arrested in October after being suspected of driving a stolen vehicle which did not have registration number plates.
The vehicle was taken to CID Gweru where Gwandu is the officer-in-charge.
It is alleged that Gwandu and other junior police officers checked the vehicle on the Interpol database which is installed in his office.
The database showed that the vehicle might have been stolen from Mr Thomas Blom in South Africa.
Tundiya was subsequently charged with theft of a motor vehicle, and was acquitted on December 13 last year, but no order was made as to the disposal of the vehicle.
It was heard that the police had not handed over the vehicle documents to the clerk of court to enable the court to issue an order of disposition.
On December 14, the court heard, Gwandu released the vehicle which South African Police Service officers were coming to identify.
Tundiya told the court that he bought the vehicle from a car dealer, Patrick Mutodi, in Harare.
He said he was also a victim in the event that the car was stolen.
In an another incident recently, the parliamentary privileges committee set up to investigate allegations that Norton MP, Temba Mliswa and three other legislators, solicited for a $400 000 bribe from a businessman revealed how the controversial Tundiya was the main architect of the scam.
Tundiya was accused of trying to extract a bribe of US$400 000 from Bulawayo businessman, James Goddard ostensibly on behalf of the four MPs.
The other MPs, who were implicated were Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda (MDC), Magwegwe MP Anele Ndebele (MDC), and Gokwe Kabuyuni MP Leonard Chikomba (Zanu PF), but were all cleared by Parliament but dismissed from the parliamentary committee on mines.
The MPs were then members of the mines portfolio committee, and it was alleged that they had promised to award Goddard lucrative contracts with Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) on condition he parted with $400 000.
Parliament’s privileges committee chairperson Fortune Charumbira who presented the report on investigations into the issue in the National Assembly said during the probe Tundiya was described as a ‘conman’.
Tundiya was also implicated in a forensic audit report on HCCL carried out by Reynolds Tendai Muza.
He was accused of extorting HCCL of 1003 tonnes of coal worth US$17 000, which he was supposed to deliver to the Zimbabwe Power Company but he converted it to personal use.
Tundiya also allegedly masqueraded as an official in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) who was sent by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to sort out the mess at the coal mine.
His company Avim Investments owed HCCL of US$481 225, 20 as at September 30 2018.
To escape the case, Tundiya, allegedly coerced the director of JR Goddard Contracting (Pvt) Ltd to withdraw a criminal abuse of office report he made against four members of the National Assembly.
Tundiya was yet again discharged at the close of the State case. Harare magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube said there was no evidence to prove the charges against him.
He said it was clear that Tundiya never demanded or instructed the complainant to withdraw the matter.
The State closed its case after calling Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya, to testify.
State Media|Congestion is reigning supreme at Beitbridge Border Post, with travellers rushing to get back to their bases in South Africa.
The Herald understands that over 500 000 people and nearly 100 000 vehicles used the country and SADC’s busiest port of entry in December 2019.
Long queues of vehicles stretching for over 4km into Beitbridge town have been the order of the day over the past four days.
Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Defence Forces and Beitbridge municipal police have been deployed on major roads leading to the border post.
Traffic has been categorised into light vehicles, buses, commercial and pedestrians to avoid congestion.
Heavy vehicles and buses are using a bypass which goes through Vhembe View suburb, while light vehicles are using the main road leading to Bulawayo to access the border.
Though the assistant regional immigration officer-in-charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube, could not be reached for comment yesterday, he said on Saturday that they were working with the South Africans to expeditiously clear the traffic.
He said they were using border efficiency management systems which they employed in December.
“We have added more manpower and opened more service points to clear people and vehicles as fast as possible,” said Mr Ncube.
“Further, we are constantly liaising with South Africa in addressing challenges as and when they arise.”
Mr Ncube said limited parking space for light vehicles and buses was the main challenge on the South African component of the border.
He said the majority of the motorists had been cleared for passage into South Africa where vehicles were being cleared in batches.
“We have harmonised operations between 3 December, 2019 to 13 January, 2020 and are rolling out a number of compliance measures to curb movement by undocumented persons across borders and the smuggling of minors,” said Mr Ncube.
A source at the border said the slow movement of people into South Africa was also necessitated by the many security checks on travellers, considering that there were a number with fake or fraudulently acquired documents.
“You will realise that the South Africans are thorough on security checks considering that there are a lot of people who want to play hide and seek with the law during major holidays,” said the source.
The South African Home Affairs Department said recently it deployed 400 more staff to major border posts, including Beitbridge, to address manpower challenges.
Some travellers have been opting to use less busy ports from South Africa, which go through Plumtree, Mpoengs, Maitengwe and Mlambaphele via Botswana, in a bid to avoid congestion at Beitbridge.
Gweru officer-in-charge Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Detective Inspector Leonard Gwandu, was last Friday arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office after he released a vehicle suspected to have been stolen in South Africa.
Det Insp Gwandu appeared before Gweru magistrate Tavengwa Sangster on Saturday facing charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
He was remanded on $1 000 bail to January 17.
The State alleged that Gwandu released a Toyota Hilux Raider to businessman Shepherd Tundiya without following due process.
The court heard that Tundiya was arrested in October after being suspected of driving a stolen vehicle which did not have registration number plates.
The vehicle was taken to CID Gweru where Gwandu is the officer-in-charge.
It is alleged that Gwandu and other junior police officers checked the vehicle on the Interpol database which is installed in his office.
The database showed that the vehicle might have been stolen from Mr Thomas Blom in South Africa.
Tundiya was subsequently charged with theft of a motor vehicle, and was acquitted on December 13 last year, but no order was made as to the disposal of the vehicle.
It was heard that the police had not handed over the vehicle documents to the clerk of court to enable the court to issue an order of disposition.
On December 14, the court heard, Gwandu released the vehicle which South African Police Service officers were coming to identify.
Tundiya told the court that he bought the vehicle from a car dealer, Patrick Mutodi, in Harare.
He said he was also a victim in the event that the car was stolen.
A 14-year-old boy is among nine suspects who have been arrested in connection with the hacking to death of a policeman by a machete gang at Good Hope Mine in Battlefields recently.
Some of the suspects were arrested in Gweru after the exchange of gunfire with the police.
The suspects have since surrendered to police weapons used to commit public violence crimes, including the murder of Constable Wonder Hokoyo.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests and said the teenager will be interviewed in the presence of his parents or guardian, a probation officer and a lawyer.
Legal expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku said a minor above the age of seven was considered as capable of committing an offence and could be arrested and tried, not in a public court, but in camera.
“At an age of 14, minors are capable of committing an offence,” he said. “Even from the age of eight, minors are capable of committing a crime and maybe tried in court, but it will also depend on the manner they will be tried.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said police will follow the due processes in terms of the law when dealing with the minor.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police has arrested Tonderai Musasa (18), Richwell Tshuma (26), Bornlight Mukute (20), Paul Demo (27), Taurai Munetsi (31) and a minor aged 14 in connection with the murder of Cst Hokoyo by machete wielding gangs in Battlefields, Kadoma recently,” he said.
“The latest arrest brings the total arrests to nine following that of Munyaradzi Chari (43), Lyton Panashe Tshuma (18) and Obvious Mawire (21).”
Asst Comm Nyathi said Demo and Munetsi were arrested while hiding at house number 2637 Ascot Extension and 3526 Ascot Extension in Gweru, respectively.
“The duo initially resisted arrest, resulting in an exchange of fire, Demo sustained injuries on the left knee and right ankle, while Munetsi got injuries on the left knee,” he said. “They are currently admitted at Kadoma General Hospital under police guard.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said police condemned acts of public violence and attacks on police officers who will be performing their constitutional duties.
“This follows an incident in Mphoengs on 3 January 2020 where a machete-wielding gang teamed up with some unruly elements to free, unlawful entry and theft suspect, Nkosana Moyo from police custody during indications,” he said.
“The gang went on to attack police officers and injured one in the process. During the scuffle, police fired some shots resulting in one suspect aged 35 being shot and passing on at a local hospital. The released suspect, Nkosana Moyo only handed himself to the police on Saturday morning while still in police handcuffs.”
Meanwhile, Asst Comm Nyathi said Reuben Zvitiki (53), who was recently arrested and taken to court in Kadoma in connection with robbery and use of machetes at Thames 5 Mine, Blue
Grass, Luwana in Kadoma is on bail after appearing in court on Monday last week and Friday.
“Members of the public are urged to report any suspicious movements by Rueben Zvitiki,” he said. “His accomplice George Chikwature is currently remanded in custody.”
Asst Comm Nyathi applauded members of the public who are continuing to give valuable information to the police on the activities and movements of machete wielding gangs.
“Police will continue to monitor all mining sites in the country and ensure that law and order is maintained,” he said.
Meanwhile, police in Mvuma have launched a manhunt for a gang of three machete attackers which waylaid and chopped to death a local miner before stealing US$700 cash and a cellphone on New Year’s Day.
Asst Comm Nyathi yesterday confirmed that investigations were still in progress.
The machete attack occurred as the victim, Mr Marko Dube, was on his way to his mine in Mvuma and police said the matter was being treated as a case of robbery.
Mr Dube, who operated a gold mill at Mek Syndicate Mine, received a call on New Year’s Day that there were some clients who wanted to process gold.
Circumstances are that on the fateful day, an informant Loius Seremwe (35) was at plot number 109 peri-urban in Mvuma where he resides when he heard a voice screaming for help in a nearby bush approximately 150 metres away from his homestead.
He went to investigate and saw Mr Dube running towards his house at a distance of about 100 metres being pursued by the three suspects, with one of them wearing a red T-shirt while the other one was wearing black clothes.
The third suspect was wearing dark clothing.
The three then caught up with Mr Dube and struck him several times all over the body with machetes before they searched him.
They made off with US$700 and a cellphone.
Seremwe went to the scene and discovered that Mr Dube was still alive.
Mr Dube told him to telephone his uncle who was in Kadoma and inform him that he had been robbed of USD$700 and that he was struck by machetes.
When the police arrived at the scene, Mr Dube had died.- state media
Highlanders are reportedly targeting a number of players including three from Bulawayo Chiefs and Chicken Inn striker Obadia Tarumbwa who once had two spells at the Bulawayo giants before.
According to Sunday News, Chiefs trio of goalkeeper David Bizabani, defender Marlvin Mkolo and hard running striker Farau Matare is on Bosso radar.
The players are said to be joining the club anytime soon.
Tarumbwa, 34, who spent the last campaign on loan at Division One side Telen Vision could be used to strengthen the attack as Prince Dube is likely to depart.
Dube has been linked with a move to China, and has been on trials at an unnamed club for the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, Highlanders could lose more stars including MacClive Phiri and midfielder Denzel Khumalo who are both out of contract.Soccer 24
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane has broken silence regarding reports that the defending ABSA Premiership champions are interested in signing usettled Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona.
The 29-year-old Musona, who is no stranger to South African football after succesful years at Kaizer Chiefs previously, is reportedly going to be shown the exit door at his current team, Belgian side Anderlecht, where he has struggled for game time.
There were reports this week that Sundowns are one of the many teams to have shown interest in capturing the ‘Smilling Assasin’ and even though Mosimane could neither confirm nor deny if that is true, he did confirm he would love to have Musona in his squad.
“Yes of course why not if he (Musona) is available, Mosimane told South African publication Far Post.
“He is the kind of player that I would take because I know he scores goals and he’s a fighter, you know he is like Khama Billiat – he’s strong, his attitude is right, he’s a good player so if we can get him yes why not I would like to have him,” he added.
SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo has explained his decision, which was regarded by some as a ‘tactical masterplan’ in yesterday’s 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs at the Mbombela Stadium.
With his side leading 1-0 at the interval, the Zimbabwean coach took off goal Sipho Mbule and replaced him with Thamsanqa Gabuza, who went on to score the winner.
Speaking to SuperSport TV after the game, Tembo explained his decision.
“Today wasn’t a Sipho Mbule kind of game. We wanted to play high up, that is why we had to sacrifice him because he is not that kind of a player.”
“It was a tactical decision, we had to bring in Gabuza, we knew we would always have him in the back pocket so that he can change the dimension of our attack,” explained Tembo.Soccer 24
By A Correspondent|Government is working round the clock to maintain increased fuel supplies as witnessed over the festive period, Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi has said.
“We want motorists to access fuel easily without spending hours in queues,” he said.
“We have been working since Christmas to achieve this goal.”
However, Adv Chasi could not reveal the quantity of fuel which is being imported daily.
The fuel situation has steadily stabilised in the past week as queues have become shorter with most service stations dispensing both petrol and diesel.
It understood that the situation prevailed after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe issued letters of credit to fuel companies to access foreign currency.
FC Barcelona played out a 2-2 draw with Espanyol in LaLiga on Saturday night.
The Catalan giants were looking to respond to fellow-title chasers Real Madrid’s comprehensive 3-0 win away to Getafe in the early kick off but found themselves a goal behind in the first half, when David Lopez headed in from a set piece.
The two sides went into the break seperated by that 23rd minute goal.
Luis Suarez equalized for Ernesto Valverde’s men five minutes after the restart and then four minutes later, Arturo Vidal thrust them ahead.
Frankie De Jong’s 75th minute dismissal would prove costly for Barcelona as Espanyol’s numerical advantage counted when they restored parity with two minutes of regulation time left of play through Wu Lei.
The result sees the defending champions ahead of Los Blancos at the summit of the Spanish top division only on goal difference, with the two giants on 40 points apiece from 19 games.Soccer 24
By A Correspondent| Residents of Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Bulawayo, are going for up to four days without water coming out of their taps as some supply dams have dried up due to a prolonged drought.
Since late November last year, the City Fathers imposed 96-hour dry periods for residential water customers, though industrial and business users have continued to receive service.
Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, attributed the drought to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
He said:
We are still recovering from a devastating drought that occurred (in 2018) due to El Nino. Under normal circumstances during this time of the year, the country would have recorded significant amounts of rainfall with impact on our dams.
Bulawayo City Council has so far decommissioned two of its six major supply dams due to extremely low water levels.
Council has been using trucks to supply water to some suburbs such as Nketa. However, a shortage of diesel has affected water truck deliveries in some areas.
The police officer investigating the case involving Vice President Constantino Chiwenga ’s estranged wife,
Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa), had his WhatsApp account allegedly hacked resulting in his profile picture showing p_rnographic material.
Detective Assistant Inspector Luxon Saurowe’s WhatsApp account is alleged to have been hacked on Wednesday, and on Thursday he issued an apology to his contacts on his Facebook timeline. He wrote:
An apology to all my Econet WhatsApp contacts and family members and friends.
My account is hacked and is displaying pornographic material on the profile picture. I am unable to access the account such that I may delete the account.
National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that indeed Saurowe’s account had been hacked but said the hacking has nothing to do with the Marry Chiwenga case.
Marry Chiwenga is accused of attempting to kill her husband, fraud, money laundering and externalisation of foreign currency and has been in custody since she was arrested in mid-December last year.The Standard
By A Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has revealed the thing he views as the most challenging thing about being the president.
He said that trying being humble is the most difficult thing.
His remarks come when the country is experiencing socioeconomic and political issues including a huge deficit in food, electricity, fuel, cash and foreign currency.
The country is also polarised as a result of divisive politics in the country which started during the era of former president Robert Mugabe.
The Prosecutor General (PG)’s office has issued a directive to all prosecutors to oppose bail in all violent cases involving machetes. The directive follows an upsurge in machete attacks against law enforcement agencies. National Director of Public Prosecutions, Justin Uladi wrote: We have noted with concern the upsurge in the number of cases of violence involving the use of machetes, especially by illegal artisanal miners.
In a bid to stamp out the scourge, you are hereby directed to oppose bail and to request custodial sentences in the event of any convictions in all such cases.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister
Kazembe Kazembe said that police are on high alert ready to deal with machete gangs.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the “ MaShurugwi ” menace can be dealt with if police officers are authorised to shoot on sight gangs wielding machetes and banning the possession of the weapons.
The Standard
The Prosecutor General (PG)’s office has issued a directive to all prosecutors to oppose bail in all violent cases involving machetes. The directive follows an upsurge in machete attacks against law enforcement agencies. National Director of Public Prosecutions, Justin Uladi wrote: We have noted with concern the upsurge in the number of cases of violence involving the use of machetes, especially by illegal artisanal miners.
In a bid to stamp out the scourge, you are hereby directed to oppose bail and to request custodial sentences in the event of any convictions in all such cases.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister
Kazembe Kazembe said that police are on high alert ready to deal with machete gangs.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the “ MaShurugwi ” menace can be dealt with if police officers are authorised to shoot on sight gangs wielding machetes and banning the possession of the weapons.
The Standard
By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has said that it is applying the law impartially without fear or favour.
This was revealed by ZACC deputy, Kuziva Murapa:
Below are excerpts of the interview.
Q: Another perception that has emerged is that Zacc is being used to fight political battles, what is your response to this? A: The commission does not discriminate according to gender, political affiliation and one’s status in society. Our mandate is very clear, we are independent and we are executing our mandate in line with the dictates of the Constitution.
If a politician is a thief or if a wife of a politician is a thief for us we do not look at gender or status. If there is sufficient evidence, we don’t then look at their gender, political affiliation or marital status, all we see is an allegation of corruption and that is what we go after.
We don’t go after people’s wives neither do we go after people because they belong to certain political parties, we go after criminals.
If you are a person’s wife and you think you are of such high standing then don’t engage in criminal activities. That way your path won’t cross with that of Zacc.
Let me also clarify another perception which is that Zacc is into catch-and-release. In the value chain, we only have the power to investigate and arrest.
At this point we hand over to the prosecutors who then prosecute and determine if there is sufficient evidence to send someone to jail or release them.
In our value chain we have been able to investigate and arrest effectively, but from there on we lose control and we are not able to influence or determine the outcome of the case.
We are also angry about this release because we sweat ourselves out and put our lives at risk to arrest those people and then they are released. This means that our hard work is for nothing and this is quite discouraging.
These remarks are made when some believe that Vice President Chiwenga is using ZACC to force his estranged wife, Marry Chiwenga nee Mubaiwa out of marriage.
Facing catastrophic hunger, Zimbabwe will import corn from Mexico, Ukraine and neighboring South Africa to help feed as many as eight million of its citizens — over half the population — after drought withered crops last year and threatens do do the same in 2020.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the imports today, while cleaning litter in the streets of Kuwadzana, an impoverished township on Harare’s western city limits.
“With the difficulty of things now, the industry ministry is looking at adding cooking oil, salt, bread and soap to the list of subsidized items for consumers,” Mnangagwa said.
The government would withdraw trading licenses from retailers over-charging for cornmeal, the country’s staple food, he said.
Zimbabwe consumes about 2.2 million metric tons of corn a year for humans and farm animals.
The World Food Programme said on 31 December that it plans to feed at least four million of Zimbabwe’s estimated eight million hungry this year, but said the international community needs to step up with cash donations because it hasn’t raised the money yet.
Typically, aid agencies in Zimbabwe provide cash to consumers so they can buy food, because it’s logistically easier and more cost effective.
The USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Network System, known as Fewsnet, said in December the drought that scorched Zimbabwe’s crops last year looks set to continue into 2020.
If that happens, it’ll leave poor Zimbabweans scratching for food until at least March 2021 — and with about 90% of adults outside formal work, most people face poverty.- Bloomberg
Own Correspondent|While President Emmerson Mnangagwa was going to the mountain telling Zimbabweans to forget about meat and eat vegetables on Friday, his pictures feasting on zondo on air speaks a different story.
Sometimes last year, Mnangagwa grabbed headlines when his pictures eating mazondo aboard a private jet were posted on Twitter by his aide George Charamba.
According to Charamba, the dish was from Mnangagwa to his staffers.
“On our way from Lyons (sic), France, President ED treated all of us his senior staff members to a surprise: sadza nemazondo!! Having spent a few days without that staple, and least expecting it in mid-air, above the land of Gauls, we hungrily made sure there was no dry season!!”
The remarks also comes on the back of reports that a military boss was nabbed after stealing meat.
According to a report by Zim Morning Post, his driver was nabbed in possession of the loot.
The Zimbabwe Military Police detained the driver who revealed that the meat belonged to his superior who had instructed him to deliver it to a yet to be ascertained location.
The army boss in question is report to be having a generally bad record of abusing army property.
“His driver was nabbed after a stop and search.
“The military police acted on a tip-off and the driver said he was sent by his superior who is well known of abusing army property,” revealed a source to the media house.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has predicted that the current dry spell will persist until the 10th of January when moderate precipitation is expected.
Speaking to ZBC News on Friday, MSD Deputy Director Weather Forecasting, Linia Gopo said that the current dry spell and scorching temperatures will continue. She said:
Where we are now as the season progresses the southern part has been dry. From today we are not expecting much rainfall in the coming week but as from the 10th of this month that’s when we are expecting a slight improvement in terms of rainfall but it’s not normal.
Those who have access to irrigation we encourage them to supplement their crops. To those without facilities can opt for short-season varieties or small grains that do not need a lot of rains.
Meanwhile, a weather forecast issued by the SADC Climate Services Centre (CSC) indicates that from January 1-6, the greater part of the region will receive heavy rainfall.
However, the whole of Zimbabwe and central Mozambique were expected to experience a dry spell during the period.
SIX people died while 12 others were injured when a commuter omnibus they were travelling in burst its rear tyre and veered off the road before rolling twice and landing on its side at Marula along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road yesterday.
Although efforts to get an official comment from the national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi and Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele of Matabeleland South were fruitless last night, police who attended the scene confirmed that six people had died.
“Six people have died while 12 others were injured and rushed to Plumtree District Hospital where some were transferred to Bulawayo for further medical assistance,” said a police officer at the scene who declined to be named.
The vehicle was going to Mphoengs from Bulawayo.
When Sunday News visited the scene the owner of the vehicle who also refused to be named said he was at a loss for words.
He said he could not say much on the accident as he was still to be furnished with details of what transpired.
However, the driver of the omnibus Mr Thabani Ncube who escaped with an injured arm could hardly contain himself when the news crew caught up with him at Plumtree District Hospital.
“I was driving when suddenly the rear tyre burst. I then lost control of the vehicle and it rolled twice before landing on the other side of the road. People have died and some injured,” he said before leaving the hospital to look for public transport to Bulawayo for medical care as the only ambulance that was available was already full with the injured people.
Witnesses to the accident said despite the tyre burst, the driver was speeding which could have contributed to the fatal accident.
“The driver was speeding. He wanted to go to Mphoengs and return today. But unfortunately, that was not to be as it has resulted in the death of so many people,” said the witness.
Officials at Plumtree District Hospital said they rendered primary care to the injured who they quickly transferred to Bulawayo for further treatment as some had visible serious head injuries.
SAPS officers conducting a search between two baggage conveyor belts at OR Tambo International Airport during the festive season.
Times Live| ground handling company employee caught with a Dutch football club shirt hidden in his jacket was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport last week.
The man was stopped when he tried to leave the access-controlled area the day after Christmas.
“He placed his jacket into a scanner and the screener determined that there was another garment wrapped in the jacket. Security staff then found a new soccer shirt of Dutch football team Feyenoord had been wrapped in the jacket,” the airport said in a security update on Friday.
“The employee could not account for the shirt and was taken to the SAPS station at the airport and arrested.”
The bust was part of the airport’s peak holiday season security checks that have seen 3,500 people and 560 vehicles working on the airside of the national key point being subjected to stop-and-search operations.
Airport spokesperson Samukelo Khambule said the aim of the blitz went beyond intercepting criminal activity but created uncertainty in the minds of criminals, which in turn helped in crime prevention.
SAPS and security officers conducting a stop-and-search operation in one of the baggage handling areas.
She said additional staff had been roped in to assist with monitoring CCTV cameras.
“We appreciate that the greater numbers of travellers at this time of year can also attract criminals. Additional physical monitoring of the terminals is therefore essential. We have also secured additional qualified staff to assist with real-time monitoring in the CCTV control room,” she said.
The airport said its precinct was monitored by nearly 3,000 CCTV cameras with more than 200 of them watching baggage-handling areas.
The man’s arrest follows that of Kunde Kwini who was convicted of touting last month.
Khambule hailed both the arrests.
“Securing convictions for arrests of this nature has been a challenge in the past. We are therefore pleased that a touter has been convicted,” she said.
“On the baggage side, we have noticed instances on some international routes where heavy, over-filled and tightly packed bags have split when rolling down baggage chutes.
“This causes delays in loading of baggage wagons which in turn could affect departure times. We appeal to passengers to use an extra bag rather than cramming everything into one case,” said Khambule.
Our case for world Class EDUCATION in our lifetime!
OUR Vision is to set Zimbabwe as the hub of education in the world starting with the establishing our country as the giant in the region and on the continent.
The IRONY is that Zimbabweans are running the world but seem to be struggling to run our own country.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHERS
Teachers are the custodians of the greatest resource.
Teachers are pillars and citadels nation building
Teachers are opinion leaders and opinion makers
Teachers have the respect of community
Teachers are role models of society
THE UTILITY OF EDUCATION
▪Education is critical foundation upon which nations are built. we will have to rebuild the nation through education. Education defines the character and civilization of a nation.
▪Neglecting education is jeopardizing the future of the nation. Education remains a key component of national development, transformation and must be prioritized as such.We are in the National transformation Revolution, a struggle to revolutionize our economies.
▪Without an earnest look at what and how we are teaching our children we run the risk of squandering the future.
▪The education crisis cannot be divorced from the national crisis
▪Bad governance and the state of the economy have led us to a place where teacher remuneration is low yet school fees are high. The system is not working for the teachers who cannot afford to live on their meagre wages not for parents who mostly cannot access education at the current fee levels.
▪The starting point is to deal with the root cause of the crisis ie bad governance and the broken economy
▪Thereafter, there needs to increase funding to the education sector
▪There needs to be more capital investment in school infrastructure including the refurbishment of buildings, providing adequate learning materials and textbooks to ensure that quality education is being provided
▪The restoration of the DIGNITY, Glitter and Glamour of the Teaching profession and education practitioners. There needs to be a restoration of the Govt and society’s respect for the teaching profession and improved teacher remuneration.Teaching should be a noble profession and honorable profession.OUR Teachers must be proud after retirement.
▪There needs to be a review of the new curriculum to evaluate whether it is achieving the objectives that were set out for it, whether it is well-funded and whether it is meeting the needs of industry and the 4th industrial revolution
In this regard, the MDC government, being a People’s government, pledges the following:
1. Provision of free primary school education.
2. The construction of new schools to reduce walking distances of travelling students.
3. Construction of new classrooms to reduce teacher to pupil ratio.
4. Ensuring adequate textbooks to all students at a ratio of 1:1
5. Ensuring e learning and the total transformation of Zimbabwe’s education system to
ICT based system. Ensuring that every child has an access to a computer.COMPUTER PER SCHOOL PER CHILD
6. Ensuring the modernisation of schools with up to date libraries, laboratories and
facilities for modern education.
7. Abandoning the out of context curriculum and adopting a new modern curriculum that prepares the country and make it competitive for the Information Age, the digital 21st century and beyond with an emphasis on machine Learning, the internet of things, Artificial Intelligence, nanotechnology and fourth Industrial Revolution.A new curriculum with a bias towards entrepreneurship, leadership
8. Ensuring that, teachers are adequately remunerated and that they have access to housing loans and decent housing facilities to teachers particularly in rural areas.
9. Encourage the twinning up of rural schools with international schools or urban schools.
10. Re-Introduction of loans and grants at tertiary institutions.
11. Introduction of Centres of excellence.
12. Emphasizing in the curriculum to make it multi-dimensional and more vocational.
13. Encouraging learning of sciences and technological sciences.
14. Encouraging the teaching of sports, arts and culture in schools.
15. Promote and support centres of vocational training in specialised foods and agriculture such as Gweru, Black Forby, and Chivero.
16. Transform Zimbabwean Universities into world class institutions leveraging on the talent and academic prowess of Zimbabweans.
17. Produce excess specialised skills in the field of medicine, sciences with a deliberate aim of exporting such skills.
18. Establish a framework for a modern democratic, functional model for early childhood development.
19. Roll out vocational skills and entrepreneurial training for youth empowerment.
20. Promote a reading culture in Zimbabwe.
21. Provision of adequate learning and teaching materials.
22. Filling of critical vacancies to improve the teacher to pupil ratio.
23. Rehabilitating and expanding education facilities.
24. Strengthening school supervision.
25. Merit-based promotions
26. Teachers’ rights shall be fully recognized.
Own Correspondent|Dangote Cement has fired it’s Quality Manager after the company’s product failed the Zambia Compulsory Standard Agency tests.
Dangote is one of the major manufacturers of Cement in the country with a countrywide influence on the price of the commodity as it has outlets in all corners of the country despite the plant being based in Ndola.
An official within the Zambia Compulsory Standard Agency said that in Mid December 2019, Zambia Compulsory Standard Agency conducted some compressive strength tests for 2 and 7 days respectively but that the results for the two tests where what he called “zero”.
He explained that the results have led to the dismissal of Raavi Venkataswamy who was the Deputy Quality Manager.
“Zambia Compulsory Standard Agency as the institution charged with the responsibility of ensuring the public does not get substandard goods regularly carries out tests to ensure that goods on the market are of the recommended standard and in mid December we did our test on Dangote Cement.
“We did two tests and the results on 2 and 7 days of the quality of cement Dangote is producing is not up to standard. The results on the tests we did were zero. Usually the results at 2 days are 16/18mpa and at 7 days 28/32mpa that is for 42.5 type of cement. The manager was fired immediately.
“We were told to keep this as a secret so that Dangote can normalise the situation but I thought I could help somebody out there who is building.”
Meanwhile in a separate chat a source from Dangote explained that the cement company has started recalling some products suspected to be compromised.
The sources mentioned that two truck each of 600/bags were returned on Thursday because of quality issues.
He said there is wide spread panic within the company management fears that the company might lose the good reputation it has built with its clients which will lead to loss of business for the company.
The President/Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has become the 96th richest person in the world while retaining his status as Africa’s wealthiest man.
According to the latest ranking of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote “became $4.3 billion richer in 2019 as his fortune continued to grow on the back of investments in cement, flour and sugar.”
Bloomberg, in the report, noted that the 62-year-old Nigerian businessman and Africa’s most prominent industrialist ended the decade with a net worth of $14.8 billion.
His conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), includes the biggest cement company on the African continent, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)-listed Dangote Cement Plc. “That’s one of four publicly traded companies under the Dangote umbrella that account for more than a fifth of the value of the Nigerian stock exchange,” the report stated.
According to Bloomberg, the year 2020 could be a significant one for the billionaire, who is close to completing one of the world’s largest oil refineries in Nigeria.
The Dangote Cement Plc, in a recent statement to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, said it has expressed its interest to take over PPC Zimbabwe to the PPC board. This communication is still at the preliminary stage”, the cement maker said.
In response PPC in a statement confirmed the approach by Dangote to buy PPC.
“The independent board of PPC is considering the indicative proposal and will make a further announcement in due course,” the South African company said.
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane has broken silence regarding reports that the defending ABSA Premiership champions are interested in signing usettled Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona.
The 29-year-old Musona, who is no stranger to South African football after succesful years at Kaizer Chiefs previously, is reportedly going to be shown the exit door at his current team, Belgian side Anderlecht, where he has struggled for game time.
There were reports this week that Sundowns are one of the many teams to have shown interest in capturing the ‘Smilling Assasin’ and even though Mosimane could neither confirm nor deny if that is true, he did confirm he would love to have Musona in his squad.
“Yes of course why not if he (Musona) is available, Mosimane told South African publication Far Post.
“He is the kind of player that I would take because I know he scores goals and he’s a fighter, you know he is like Khama Billiat – he’s strong, his attitude is right, he’s a good player so if we can get him yes why not I would like to have him,” he added.
Highlanders are reportedly targeting a number of players including three from Bulawayo Chiefs and Chicken Inn striker Obadia Tarumbwa who once had two spells at the Bulawayo giants before.
According to Sunday News, Chiefs trio of goalkeeper David Bizabani, defender Marlvin Mkolo and hard running striker Farau Matare is on Bosso radar.
The players are said to be joining the club anytime soon.
Tarumbwa, 34, who spent the last campaign on loan at Division One side Telen Vision could be used to strengthen the attack as Prince Dube is likely to depart.
Dube has been linked with a move to China, and has been on trials at an unnamed club for the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, Highlanders could lose more stars including MacClive Phiri and midfielder Denzel Khumalo who are both out of contract.Soccer 24
SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo has explained his decision, which was regarded by some as a ‘tactical masterplan’ in yesterday’s 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs at the Mbombela Stadium.
With his side leading 1-0 at the interval, the Zimbabwean coach took off goal Sipho Mbule and replaced him with Thamsanqa Gabuza, who went on to score the winner.
Speaking to SuperSport TV after the game, Tembo explained his decision.
“Today wasn’t a Sipho Mbule kind of game. We wanted to play high up, that is why we had to sacrifice him because he is not that kind of a player.”
“It was a tactical decision, we had to bring in Gabuza, we knew we would always have him in the back pocket so that he can change the dimension of our attack,” explained Tembo.Soccer 24
FC Barcelona played out a 2-2 draw with Espanyol in LaLiga on Saturday night.
The Catalan giants were looking to respond to fellow-title chasers Real Madrid’s comprehensive 3-0 win away to Getafe in the early kick off but found themselves a goal behind in the first half, when David Lopez headed in from a set piece.
The two sides went into the break seperated by that 23rd minute goal.
Luis Suarez equalized for Ernesto Valverde’s men five minutes after the restart and then four minutes later, Arturo Vidal thrust them ahead.
Frankie De Jong’s 75th minute dismissal would prove costly for Barcelona as Espanyol’s numerical advantage counted when they restored parity with two minutes of regulation time left of play through Wu Lei.
The result sees the defending champions ahead of Los Blancos at the summit of the Spanish top division only on goal difference, with the two giants on 40 points apiece from 19 games.Soccer 24
The United States Africa Command (Africom) has confirmed that an attack was carried out on its Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya, with Islamist militant organisation Al-Shabaab claiming responsibility.
In a statement on Twitter, Africom did not provide details on the attack but promised to do so “as facts and details emerge”.
The post read:
U.S. Africa Command acknowledges there was an attack at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya and is monitoring the situation. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the incident. As facts and details emerge, we will provide an update.
On Friday, a US airstrike killed the Iranian Quds Force commander, General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. He was the head of Iran’s Middle East operations as head of the elite Quds Force.
Meanwhile, there are fears that Iran will avenge Soleiman’s death by attacking US targets in Africa with some reports suggesting that the elite Quds Force has active cells in Sudan, Chad, Ghana, Niger, The Gambia and the Central African Republic. @USAfricaCommand
The police officer investigating the case involving Vice President Constantino Chiwenga ’s estranged wife,
Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa), had his WhatsApp account allegedly hacked resulting in his profile picture showing p_rnographic material.
Detective Assistant Inspector Luxon Saurowe’s WhatsApp account is alleged to have been hacked on Wednesday, and on Thursday he issued an apology to his contacts on his Facebook timeline. He wrote:
An apology to all my Econet WhatsApp contacts and family members and friends.
My account is hacked and is displaying pornographic material on the profile picture. I am unable to access the account such that I may delete the account.
National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that indeed Saurowe’s account had been hacked but said the hacking has nothing to do with the Marry Chiwenga case.
Marry Chiwenga is accused of attempting to kill her husband, fraud, money laundering and externalisation of foreign currency and has been in custody since she was arrested in mid-December last year.The Standard
The Prosecutor General (PG)’s office has issued a directive to all prosecutors to oppose bail in all violent cases involving machetes. The directive follows an upsurge in machete attacks against law enforcement agencies. National Director of Public Prosecutions, Justin Uladi wrote: We have noted with concern the upsurge in the number of cases of violence involving the use of machetes, especially by illegal artisanal miners.
In a bid to stamp out the scourge, you are hereby directed to oppose bail and to request custodial sentences in the event of any convictions in all such cases.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister
Kazembe Kazembe said that police are on high alert ready to deal with machete gangs.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the “ MaShurugwi ” menace can be dealt with if police officers are authorised to shoot on sight gangs wielding machetes and banning the possession of the weapons.
The Standard
Youthful politician and entrepreneur William Gerald Mutumanje popularly known as Acie Lumumba has hit out at Vice President Constantino Chiwenga accusing him of ill-treating his wife Marry who has been condemned to prison since the 13th of December 2019.
Lumumba said Marry did not deserve to be ill-treated by her yet to be ex-husband over a domestic feud.
“Today I choose to pray for Marry. I don’t know much, jokes I do. But I don’t (believe) any woman must be treated this way by munhu wake (her husband),” he wrote on his Twitter.
“Spare a thought (and) prayer for her (and) her children. No matter how much you may not like her, zvikuita General hazvina kunaka (What the General is doing is unpleasant). We all get the point!” he tweeted.
Lumumba was previously pictured at Chiwenga’s farm and was one of the boys who were running around during the infamous November 17 coup that displaced Mugabe.
Only 150 votes were needed for the draft resolution to be approved.
Iraqi parliament
The session came two days after a US drone strike on a convoy at Baghdad airport which killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
“There is no need for the presence of American forces after defeating Daesh,” said Ammar al-Shibli, a lawmaker and member of the parliamentary legal committee, Reuters reported.
“We have our own armed forces which are capable of protecting the country,” he said.
Around 5,000 US troops remain in Iraq, most of them in an advisory capacity.
In the face of the Iraqi people’s will, the Iraqi parliament is facing a historic test about voting to expel US troops from Iraq.
Expelling Iraqi troops has turned into a “national demand”.
During the funeral procession for General Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC Quds Force, and al-Muhandis in Baghdad, al- Kadhimiya, Karbala and Najaf, hundreds of thousands of angry Iraqi mourners carried placards demanding an immediate withdrawal of “US terrorists” from their country.
Following the terrorist attack by the US, Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi asked the parliament to take a formal position based on Article 58 of the Iraqi constitution about the “illegal action” of the US army.
The prime minister said the US move was a violation of the Iraqi sovereignty and an affront to national pride.
The prime minister called the US act a dangerous move which will trigger another devastating war in Iraq and the region.
Since the US terrorist attack, rival political leaders have called for US troops to be expelled from Iraq in an unusual show of unity among factions that have squabbled for months.
Hadi al-Amiri, the top candidate to succeed al-Muhandis, repeated his call for US troops to leave Iraq on Saturday during an elaborate funeral procession for those killed in the attack.
Mnangagwa's girlfriend Mabel Chinomona flew into UK with 2 of her sons, their wives, and kids (10 people) for Christmas/New year holiday. Chinomona is behind a string of atrocities in Zimbabwe. She is seen is also Senate President.
Mabel Chinomona is in Bristol. She is renting a holiday home just outside the city. Questions are how she can afford a holiday in UK during these trying times obviously she's busy chopping RBZ money. More ….
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has told hard-pressed Zimbabweans to brace for more power cuts as the Kariba Hydro Power Station, where the country gets most of its electricity supplies, was producing only 90 megawatts (MW) per day.
Addressing residents while clearing garbage in the streets of Kuwadzana, an impoverished suburb in Harare, Mnangagwa said the Kariba power station had the capacity of producing 1 000MW per day, but was only managing to produce 90MW amid indications the situation would worsen due to poor rains.
“Look at the sun, there are no rains. As you can see, we are staring at poverty. We need electricity in our homes and industries,” he said.
“I am sure you have heard that Lake Kariba, which was giving us 1 000 MW before is now only managing between 100 and 90MW because of the extremely low water levels.”
The Kariba power plant is Zimbabwe’s mainAdvertisementsource of electricity, but poor rains over the past two farming seasons have significantly lowered the water levels at the dam that Zimbabwe shares with Zambia.
Currently, consumers are facing daily load-shedding of 18 hours, forcing companies to close businesses and retrench workers.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe, facing catastrophic hunger, was now importing maize from Ukraine, Mexico and South Africa to avert a food crisis and feed over eight million people in need of food aid.
“If rains fail us for the third season in a row, then we will definitely experience a serious drought.
“Money that was meant be used for development is now being used to import grain from Mexico, Ukraine and South Africa. With the difficulty of things now, the industry is looking at adding cooking oil, salt, bread and soap to the list of subsidised items for consumers,” said Mnangagwa.
The Standard| While government remains adamant on the use of the local currency, signals on the ground show the Zimbabwe dollar is not popular among traders, including those in rural areas.
In June last year, government made a surprise announcement of the return of the Zimbabwe dollar as the sole legal tender, albeit, with inadequate foreign currency, market confidence and mineral backing causing the currency to lose value within a short period of its introduction.
Standardbusiness visited Chipinge over the just-ended holidays and observed that most shops owners and individuals in this part of the country as is generally the case everywhere else around the country, prefer trading in the South African rand or the United States dollar.
Shop owners in Manzvire and Chisumbanje located in Chipinge district told this paper that apart from the Zimbabwe dollar’s continuous loss of value, they were taking advantage of the fact that most residents in the district have relatives based in neighbouring South Africa who remit the rand to sustain their families.
“Look, these guys bring rand when purchasing goods here. So basically we sell our goods in that currency which they get from South Africa. So we have decided to price our goods in rand,” a shop owner at Manzvire shopping centre said.
A two-litre bottle of cooking oil was trading at R40 while a packet of 2kg sugar was going for R36.
Individuals were selling chicken at R100 and a goat was being sold for R500.
However, despite the fact that all products were priced in the rand, shoppers could be given their change in local currency.
“We don’t have an option here. We get rand from our customers and we give them change in Zimbabwe dollar. Ecocash or mobile money transactions are not popular here,” said another trader in Chisumbanje.
Zimbabwe has an estimated 3 million citizens based in South Africa.
In major towns and cities around the country, the US dollar is the most popular trading currency.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu said the appetite to trade in forex was high in the market and this was a vote of no confidence in the local currency.
“The appetite to trade in forex is high in the informal sector. With the informal sector occupying almost 70% of the economy, sustainability of the local currency is threatened until we fix the structure of the economy. As a country, we have not done enough to restore banking sector confidence which was obliterated in 2008,” Mutashu said.
Economist Persistence Gwanyanya said the authorities must allow the market forces to drive the economy.
“The economy will naturally dedollarise instead of redollarising. However, from the look of things, this can only happen after 2020. But the key advice to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya is for him to let the market speak. Respect market forces and don’t overregulate and change goalposts in the middle of the game. It saps away the confidence in the economy. In fact, we need to respect the belief that in their imperfections, the principles of free market economy and good governance are the best drivers of modern-day successful economies,” Gwanyanya said.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube last November told a post-budget meeting that authorities were enduring de-dollarising headaches.
‘It’s very difficult to de-dollarise. Very few countries have managed to do that, but I think we will manage to do that. How many countries have de-dollarised in the past 30 years? None,” Ncube said then.
EXILED former cabinet minister Patrick Zhuwao’s ambitions to become a member of Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has been dealt a blow by a new South African law that forbids any engagement in political activities by refugees.
Zhuwao, who was forced to skip the country when the military seized power from his maternal uncle and late President Robert Mugabe November 2017, revealed last month he was applying to join the radical South African opposition as an ordinary card-carrying member in a branch within Gauteng province.
But his ambitions are sure to hit a brick wall after South Africa’s Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi has gazetted tough new regulations to control the movements and activities of refugees and asylum seekers.
These include a ban on political activity and immediate detention on grounds of national security.
The regulations under the Refugees Act, which took effect from January 1, stipulate that “no refugee or asylum seeker may participate in any political activity or campaign in furtherance of any political party or political interests in the Republic”.
According to the law, the refugee status of any person who engages in such activity can be withdrawn by the standing committee for refugee affairs, and they will be dealt with as an illegal foreigner in terms of the Immigration Act.
Under the law, a refugee or asylum seeker can be deported for posing a threat to national security in South Africa.
The regulations allow for their immediate detention under these circumstances.
When Zhuwao announced plans to join EFF, he said the move was going to help him and other Zimbabweans based outside the country to dislodge President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.
“I do not seek elected office; as a refugee I am not eligible,” Zhuwao said then.
By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has been described as a “fundamentally smart” person who is, unfortunately, working in a wrong environment.
This was said by the director of the Harare-based Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI), Pedzisai Ruhanya who posted on Twitter saying:
I insist that FM @MthuliNcube is fundamentally smart despite the contradictions he faces coz his of workmates, their cartels, parasitic, predatory networks and the military complex. He advised that we dollarize until we get orderly, they refused but where are we; full throttle.
Ncube is one of the technocrats who were appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he instituted his first cabinet.
There was general consensus that “objective” technocrats would be essential for the transformation of Zimbabwe.
Ncube has however become unpopular for policies, particularly, austerity measures, which emanated from the treasury which have caused great pain to the general populace.
Mnangagwa: "But once we know it is the people of Kuwadzana who do not wish it to rain, we will deploy the army to surround them to beat them up" Video- ZBC pic.twitter.com/apQ05pc4jn
Mnangagwa's girlfriend Mabel Chinomona flew into UK with 2 of her sons, their wives, and kids (10 people) for Christmas/New year holiday. Chinomona is behind a string of atrocities in Zimbabwe. She is seen is also Senate President.
Mabel Chinomona is in Bristol. She is renting a holiday home just outside the city. Questions are how she can afford a holiday in UK during these trying times obviously she's busy chopping RBZ money. More ….
Mnangagwa's girlfriend Mabel Chinomona flew into UK with 2 of her sons, their wives, and kids (10 people) for Christmas/New year holiday. Chinomona is behind a string of atrocities in Zimbabwe. She is seen is also Senate President.
By Own Correspondent| United States of America President Donald Trump has warned the Islamic Republic of Iran that he will “HIT VERY FAST AND HARD” on Iranian targets if it dares attack America.
President Trump said the US has identified 52 Iranian sites, some “at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture” that will be targeted for attack.
Trump issued the threats through microblogging site Twitter, at a time when there is simmering tension between the two rivals.
On Saturday, a huge funeral procession for General Soleimani was held in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, where he was killed in a targeted drone strike on Friday as he left the airport in a convoy.
Mourners waved Iraqi and militia flags and chanted “death to America”.
The US killed the 62-year-old Soleimani because he was the head of Iran’s Middle East operations as head of the elite Quds Force.
The US had branded the commander and the Quds Force terrorists, holding them responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US personnel.
At the time of his death, General Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran, behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The United States Africa Command (Africom) has confirmed that an attack was carried out on its Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya, with Islamist militant organisation Al-Shabaab claiming responsibility.
In a statement on Twitter, Africom did not provide details on the attack but promised to do so “as facts and details emerge”.
The post read:
U.S. Africa Command acknowledges there was an attack at Manda Bay Airfield, Kenya and is monitoring the situation. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the incident. As facts and details emerge, we will provide an update.
On Friday, a US airstrike killed the Iranian Quds Force commander, General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. He was the head of Iran’s Middle East operations as head of the elite Quds Force.
Meanwhile, there are fears that Iran will avenge Soleiman’s death by attacking US targets in Africa with some reports suggesting that the elite Quds Force has active cells in Sudan, Chad, Ghana, Niger, The Gambia and the Central African Republic. @USAfricaCommand
By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwean traders are reportedly trading using the banned foreign currency citing the rapid rate at which the local currency is shedding value against other currencies.
A local pubpication reported that most businesses in Manicaland were trading in the South African Rand although saying most of the residents had the Rand from their beloved ones in South Africa.
The publication further reports that businesses, however, give their customers the local currency as change.
One trader in Chisumbanje who spoke to the Standard said:
We don’t have an option here. We get rand from our customers and we give them change in Zimbabwe dollar. Ecocash or mobile money transactions are not popular here.
In June last year, the government introduced Statutory Instrument 142 which banned the use of all foreign currencies for domestic transactions.
Through the same SI, the Zimbabwe dollar was reintroduced and was made the sole legal tender. The move was castigated by several analysts who observed that authorities had not created a conducive environment first.
Correspondent|Kwekwe ZANU PF losing candidate for Mbizo Constituency, in the 2018 elections, Vongaishe Mupereri has in the video below threatened to unleash “the famous boys” if residents snub a ZANU PF meeting.
It is believed that Mupereri referred to Mashurugwi and or Al Shabab, who are notorious machete gangs operating mostly in the area.
There have been rumors suggesting that these machete gangs have strong links with prominent people hence their arrogance and impunity.
News of The South|The high number of plant breakdowns at South Africa’s power utility Eskom are likely going to result in load-shedding by mid-January, energy commentator Chris Yelland has forecasted.
With demand at about 4 000MW lower than normal, Eskom has got by without the need to drop customers from the grid since mid-December.
However, unplanned breakdowns have been far higher than Eskom’s desirable threshold of 9 500MW, with the result that when demand rises, there will be little power.
“The risk of load-shedding remains high as the level of plant breakdowns has been trending above the low-risk level of below 10 500MW,” read a statement from Eskom.
Over the holiday period, unplanned breakdowns ranged between 12 500MW and 14 500MW. On Friday, unplanned breakdowns were at 14 096MW.
“The short and tall of it is that from the low demand at the end of December 2019, one can expect an increase in demand of about 4 000 MW in week three and four of January,” said Yelland.
On most days over the holiday period, Eskom had less than 30 000MW of dispatchable energy at its disposal.
We are calling upon democracy-loving and freedom believing Zimbabweans to assist generously towards the January 27 to 30, 2020 trial which requires an immense amount of logistical and legal fees for both the advocacy and defence programs. A number of lawyers will be assisting in this historical trial and myriads of supporters will be converging in Masvingo in solidarity. Transport, food and a massive media campaign will be needed. In the spirit of freedom, justice, and solidarity lets show the authorities that the constitution of Zimbabwe is sacrosanct and defend our fundamental human rights enshrined therein.
Posterity will remain forever indebted to those who will donate in defence of fundamental rights and end this abuse of the constitution by those controlling the levers of state power. Honorable Job Sikhala will continue to speak for the voiceless and confront injustice in Zimbabwe within the legislature and outside that august house.
GWANDA-BASED mining concern, Blanket Mine, has introduced monthly and quarterly bonuses for its employees to keep them motivated during the prevailing harsh economic conditions.
Zimbabwe is reeling under economic hardships characterised by hyperinflation, low salaries, excessive power cuts, dire shortage of maize meal and low production of virtually everything among a plethora of other economic problems that have condemned citizens to abject poverty.
However, in a bid to boost employee morale and improve production, Blanket Mine — a subsidiary of the Caledonia Mining Corporation (Caledonia)— has come up with a new bonus structure for its production teams.
“Employee morale has improved following the introduction of a new bonus structure at Blanket: production teams now receive a monthly or quarterly bonus (depending on the worker’s grade) which reflects the specific performance of their team and keeps the productive teams motivated during difficult periods,” the company said in its management discussion and analysis of the consolidated operating and financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.
Previously, production bonuses were awarded annually based on the performance of the entire mine.
“The improved morale has contributed to improved daily production tonnage in the later part of the quarter (third quarter of 2019); this improvement has continued into October and November (2019),” the report reads.
Gold production in the period under review stood at 13 646 ounces, an increase of 7.3% on gold produced in the second quarter of the year taking production for the first nine months of 2019 to 38 306 ounces.
Blanket continued to deliver strong cash generation with after-tax operating cash flow for the third quarter of $4.9 million and net cash on hand at the end of the quarter of $8 million.
Revenue in the quarter was 20% higher than in the third quarter of 2018 due to a 23% increase in the average realised price of gold and a 2% reduction in the quantity of gold sold.
The company said the high incidence of lost shifts due to unauthorised employee absences and employee desertions which adversely affected production in previous quarters had reduced after management adjusted Zimbabwe-dollar denominated wages and salaries to reflect the devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar against the US dollar.
The Zimbabwe dollar weakened from parity with the US dollar in February 2019 to a rate of $15.09: US$1 at the end of the third quarter last year and has contributed to high inflation in Zimbabwe dollar terms.
Currently, it is hovering at around $16,8 to the greenback.
“By adjusting wages and salaries to reflect the devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar, Blanket has shielded its workforce from most of the effects of inflation and reduced the loss of key personnel whilst maintaining the cost of labour stable in US dollar terms,” the company said.
Caledonia is an exploration, development and mining corporation focused on Zimbabwe.
Following the implementation of indigenisation at Blanket Mine in September 2012, its primary asset is a 49% legal ownership in Blanket, an operating gold mine in Zimbabwe.
Pursuant to the signing of an agreement announced on November 6, 2018, Caledonia intends to purchase a further 15% of Blanket from one of the mine’s indigenous shareholders.
The transaction remains subject to approvals from various Zimbabwean regulatory authorities.
Standard|While government remains adamant on the use of the local currency, signals on the ground show the Zimbabwe dollar is not popular among traders, including those in rural areas.
In June last year, government made a surprise announcement of the return of the Zimbabwe dollar as the sole legal tender, albeit, with inadequate foreign currency, market confidence and mineral backing causing the currency to lose value within a short period of its introduction.
Standardbusiness visited Chipinge over the just-ended holidays and observed that most shops owners and individuals in this part of the country as is generally the case everywhere else around the country, prefer trading in the South African rand or the United States dollar.
Shop owners in Manzvire and Chisumbanje located in Chipinge district told this paper that apart from the Zimbabwe dollar’s continuous loss of value, they were taking advantage of the fact that most residents in the district have relatives based in neighbouring South Africa who remit the rand to sustain their families.
“Look, these guys bring rand when purchasing goods here. So basically we sell our goods in that currency which they get from South Africa. So we have decided to price our goods in rand,” a shop owner at Manzvire shopping centre said.
A two-litre bottle of cooking oil was trading at R40 while a packet of 2kg sugar was going for R36.
Individuals were selling chicken at R100 and a goat was being sold for R500.
However, despite the fact that all products were priced in the rand, shoppers could be given their change in local currency.
“We don’t have an option here. We get rand from our customers and we give them change in Zimbabwe dollar. Ecocash or mobile money transactions are not popular here,” said another trader in Chisumbanje.
Zimbabwe has an estimated 3 million citizens based in South Africa.
In major towns and cities around the country, the US dollar is the most popular trading currency.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers president Denford Mutashu said the appetite to trade in forex was high in the market and this was a vote of no confidence in the local currency.
“The appetite to trade in forex is high in the informal sector. With the informal sector occupying almost 70% of the economy, sustainability of the local currency is threatened until we fix the structure of the economy. As a country, we have not done enough to restore banking sector confidence which was obliterated in 2008,” Mutashu said.
Economist Persistence Gwanyanya said the authorities must allow the market forces to drive the economy.
“The economy will naturally dedollarise instead of redollarising. However, from the look of things, this can only happen after 2020. But the key advice to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya is for him to let the market speak. Respect market forces and don’t overregulate and change goalposts in the middle of the game. It saps away the confidence in the economy. In fact, we need to respect the belief that in their imperfections, the principles of free market economy and good governance are the best drivers of modern-day successful economies,” Gwanyanya said.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube last November told a post-budget meeting that authorities were enduring de-dollarising headaches.
‘It’s very difficult to de-dollarise. Very few countries have managed to do that, but I think we will manage to do that. How many countries have de-dollarised in the past 30 years? None,” Ncube said then.
Mvuma residents have lost confidence with police at Mvuma Police Station after the police is covering up and protecting one of their surbodinates who committed Robbery Case despite having recieved a formal report. On one occasion which has been described by many as high level of corruption by police bosses, On December 27.
2019 at 10am Cst Musikiri who is well known for abusing the his office taking advantage of unprotected civilians, forced himself in one of the shops at Mvuma locations and looted grocery amounting to $3500 on a broad day light. A formal report was then made bt the police failed to make an arrest and recover the lost goods or even to send the docket to court.
However both the complaint and the witnesses were then threatened with unspecified action if they continues to push for Musikiri’s arrest. According to over 20 eye witness Musikiri, unlawfully stormed looted goods in to the shop and even declared that , “ini ndiri gaffa mashefu todya nawo and hatina chatinoona.”
It has become a habit that residents in Mvuma are harrassed or even victimized by those with authority if they ever attempt to take action against them. Until today Musikiri is walking scort free and *NO Action* has been taken.
Pindula|The police officer investigating the case involving Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Marry Chiwenga (nee Mubaiwa), had his WhatsApp account allegedly hacked resulting in his profile picture showing p_rnographic material.
Detective Assistant Inspector Luxon Saurowe’s WhatsApp account is alleged to have been hacked on Wednesday, and on Thursday he issued an apology to his contacts on his Facebook timeline. He wrote:
An apology to all my Econet WhatsApp contacts and family members and friends. My account is hacked and is displaying pornographic material on the profile picture. I am unable to access the account such that I may delete the account.
National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that indeed Saurowe’s account had been hacked but said the hacking has nothing to do with the Marry Chiwenga case.
Marry Chiwenga is accused of attempting to kill her husband, fraud, money laundering and externalisation of foreign currency and has been in custody since she was arrested in mid-December last year.
The constitution is sacrosanct, particularly one approved in a referendum by at least 3 million people representing93% of those who voted.Emmerson has no right to emasculate the constitution in favor of an acerbic power retention agenda This is the #BigFight of 2020.#LetsDefendIthttps://t.co/lsbZB8oDvB
By Eddie Cross|How much more can we take? I was talking to a Zimbabwean of Asian extraction over the break and he told me that his father came here from India in 1958.
Former BULAWAYO South MDC-T legislator, Eddie Cross
I remarked to him that we were doing pretty well then – we had peace, a rapidly growing economy, we were part of the wider world and it seemed that our politics was going in the right direction.
Then the Federation broke up, the white population rejected change and the first shots with live ammunition were fired after more than 60 years of no violence.
The Nationalists launched their armed struggle for change and from 1965 onwards we were increasingly isolated from the world around us.
What followed was 15 years of mandatory UN backed sanctions and an armed conflict that drew in all our neighbours and in which we killed each other with enthusiasm.
The Rhodesians won all the battles and lost the war leading to 37 years of dominance by Robert Mugabe and his liberation war colleagues.
They never really settled down and by 2000 we were again locked into a toxic mix of international isolation, stagnant or declining economic output and domestic conflict and violence.
International and regional intervention hardly helped but did change the course of our history at key moments – the break-up of the Federation, the intervention of the Americans in 1976, then Lancaster House and finally the Mbeki managed South African initiative that brought us 4 years of recovery and compromise from 2009 to 2013. But for the most part we mismanaged our political, economic and social situation ourselves and as a result we brought down on ourselves political instability and increasing poverty and disparity.
During the 90 years of white settler control and government the whole country worked for the welfare and interests of a small white community. After 1980 the whole country worked for a tiny minority of politically connected individuals who supported the systems that kept the Mugabe Government in power and control. All other concerns were secondary. Whatever the system, the effect was the same – the majority suffered and experienced marginalisation and poverty.
Then came November 2017, the first time we took action as a people to rid ourselves of a regime that had run out of time and space. Like the decision in 1923 when we decided to stay out of the new Union of South Africa, this event was not in any way sponsored or engineered by outside forces and for the first time found almost universal support among all Zimbabweans.
It was assisted by the Military who overnight became heroes of the people. However, it did not change the centre of real power which had become the small group of people who ran the Joint Operations Command under the leadership of Mr. Mnangagwa and General Chiwenga.
The first post November Government was drawn from this group and was dominated by elements linked to the Military. Then the elections in 2018 when Zanu PF engineered a convincing victory with three quarters of all Council seats and two thirds of the Parliament.
Mr. Mnangagwa could then claim, for the first time, to be the legitimate leader of Government, even though his victory was with a tiny majority. It was only at that moment that we saw a new dispensation of sorts emerge in the form of the first really Mnangagwa controlled Cabinet.
The President broke with the past at two crucial moments – after the MAT in November and then after the elections. In both cases he clearly committed himself and his new Government to fundamental changes and to re-establishing a working relationship with the international Community after decades of isolation and hostility.
The response to these clear indications of intent was immediate, and the international Community responded saying that if we followed through on these undertakings, they would support our economic recovery and re-engagement efforts. It seemed at last that the world was at our feet again.
But it was not to be. We quickly appreciated that the President did not have the unfettered power that Mugabe had exercised over the country for 37 years. The first Cabinet was a divided house and little was achieved in respect to the reform agenda in the first 7 months.
This changed significantly with the elections but again there was evidence of conflict in the corridors of power where key decisions are made and executed. Then towards the end of 2019, the President restructured his Cabinet and made a number of key appointments.
And so we came to the end of a disastrous year in many respects. The Transitional Stabilisation Program had required savage cuts in Government expenditure, a controlled devaluation of unmanageable domestic debt accumulated in the past five years and a restructuring of costs in the economy to bring them more into line with regional realities.
It has been a tough year for everyone, except a few individuals who seem to thrive no matter what happens to the rest of us. One young Zimbabwean, drives around Harare in a Bugatti – perhaps the most expensive car in the world. His friends all boast luxury cars with brand names that put them in a similar bracket. Wealth with no visible means of support.
But we must look beyond these disparities and problems and recognise that our pain as a Nation has borne significant fruit: our domestic debt is now a tiny fraction of what it was and is manageable, our international debt has only increased marginally and is now being serviced to some extent.
Our civil service was costing us 100 percent of all our taxes a year ago, it now consumes 35 per cent, our fiscal deficit was massive and equal to 40 per cent of the entire budget of Government, is now positive and we ended 2019 with nearly Z$2 billion in the bank.
We have liberalised our foreign exchange market and restored the viability of our export industries which are now expanding rapidly with the result that we now have nearly US$1 billion in our bank accounts and Government has a small surplus in the Treasury in hard currency.
These are not small achievements and what annoys me is that so little recognition has been given to the Government and the President for their stance on these issues which have been very tough on the entire nation.
I am pleased that at least the International Monetary Fund found sufficient reason at the year end to give us a cautious thumb up for what we achieved last year despite some serious deviations.
So where are we going in the next decade? Is it more of the same? We just cannot handle that plus the changes now being inflicted on us by climate change. Everyone, and I mean everyone, not just those in power, must accept and acknowledge this – we have to start doing things differently.
For me 2019 has set the stage – now we must move on and decisively. I hear that the MDC is planning a series of large scale demonstrations in early 2020. Is that really the answer? Will it really bring change or simply lead to more street violence.
I agree with S B Moyo when he called for the Police to escort demonstrations through the streets of our towns and make sure they do not spill over into looting and violence. But we all know that these events can only be managed so far.
Rather I think we need to work together to get things right in our country. Is that so difficult to understand and accept? But it will only happen if we put the country first in all that we do – and not the pursuit of power or wealth.
Eddie Cross is a former opposition MDC MP for Bulawayo South and a respected economist. You can follow his blog African Herd
US based Zimbabwean music legend Thomas Mapfumo had a disastrous festive season after Eugene (Oregon, USA) based Tracktown Studios claimed they lost his entire 15 track album.
Chimurenga music legend Thomas Mapfumo
Tracktown Studios owned by Fernando Bispo told the Chimurenga music legend that their computer hard drive had ‘burnt’ and they were only able to recover 2 tracks.
Speaking to Nehanda Radio, Mapfumo said he was meant to have released the album before Christmas but now there was no way of recovering the album which was lost.
“The studio is saying we have to re-record the album but this comes with added expenses. We have to raise over USD$1600 to rehire the session musicians we used,” Mapfumo told Nehanda Radio.
The outspoken musician relocated to the United States in 2004 alleging intimidation and persecution by the regime of the late President Robert Mugabe.
He eventually went back to perform in Zimbabwe after the 2017 military coup that toppled Mugabe and which saw his former Vice President and long time enforcer Emmerson Mnangagwa take over.
Mapfumo was all smiles when he landed at the Robert Mugabe International Airport in April 2018. Crowds waited for more than an hour to see their hero coming back after a 14 year absence.
He performed on several shows across the country much to delight of his fans.
On his return to the US, Mukanya as he is affectionately known, was scathing of Mnangagwa’s government saying it missed a chance to form a unity government with the opposition that could have built political and economic confidence in the country after the coup that toppled Mugabe.
Mapfumo also bemoaned the deteriorating living standards in the country.
Free agent Emmanuel Adebayor has offered himself to injury-hit Aston Villa.
The former Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal star is seen as a shock option to fire the club to safety.
Villa boss Dean Smith has been left short of choices after seeing striker Wesley and keeper Tom Heaton ruled out for the season with knee injuries.
It means the club now have to spread their shoestring transfer budget across two key positions — and consider free transfers or loans to bolster their squad, says The Sun.
Adebayor’s camp know this — and have spotted what they believe is an unlikely opportunity for him to return to the Premier League at a late stage in his career.
The Togolese frontman, 36 next month, is a free agent after leaving Turkish side Kayserispor last month, meaning he would be available to come in immediately without a fee.
His advisers hope that fact — and his Premier League experience — might be enough for Villa to take a gamble on him as a cheap option, allowing them to also target another forward in a loan or small cash deal in the transfer window.
A drunken man who allegedly fell asleep on a railway line on New Year’s Day was crushed to death by a train coming from Bulawayo in Figtree. The now deceased was identified as Thembani Sibanda of Irene Farm in Westgate area.
It is alleged that Sibanda had been drinking beer all day and he later fell asleep on the railway line.
National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) Public Relations Manager Mr Nyasha Maravanyika confirmed the incident.
“There was a train accident involving our train 813 which was coming from Bulawayo. It hit and killed a male adult of Irene Farm Village 5 Westgate on January 1, 2020, at around 9PM at the 30km peg between Figtree and West acre.
“The deceased was lying across the track and he ignored the sound of the train’s horn which resulted in him being crushed. Police officers from Figtree attended the scene and the deceased’s next of kin was advised,” he said. Sibanda’s body was taken to the United Bulawayo
Hospitals (UBH) mortuary. Mr Maravanyika urged members of the public to desist from loitering around the railway line.
“We continue to advise the public that it is very dangerous to loiter around the track. We are also appealing to communities and families to be very much aware of the whereabouts of their relatives especially those who have impairments especially hearing impairments or if they are blind,” he said.
A source who preferred anonymity said: “On the day he died, Sibanda had told his friends that they were seeing him for the last time.” Recently, a man was found dead at a railway line in Sauerstown suburb in another suspected suicide. The reasons for his death could not be established. Sources said it was not the first time Sibanda had fallen asleep on the track and he often talked about killing himself.
By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe Republic Police have reported that they arrested two men in connection with the murder of a 32-year-old man who was stabbed to death in Chiredzi
Below is the police’s twitter thread which reveals how everything transpired.
A 32-year-old man died after he was stabbed on the right thigh with a knife by his girlfriend’s ex-husband at Nodi Compound, Mkwasine, Chiredzi on 29/12/19 at about 2200 hrs.
The accused who was accompanied by a friend found the victim inside his ex-wife’s bedroom and broke the door where he confronted the victim for having a relationship with her.
The accused drew a knife from his accomplice’s satchel and stabbed the victim, who tried to flee but collapsed and died a few metres from the scene.
Police attended the scene and recovered the murder weapon, both suspects were arr4ested on 02/01/20 in Triangle and they will appear in court soon. No to murder cases.
Correspondent|Media, social groups and opinion leaders have been called upon to desist from labelling criminal gangs in a way that creates tribal tensions like calling all machete wielding criminals Mashurugwi.
The call was made by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe.
Zimbabweans have adopted a belief that all machete thugs in the mining sector are from Shurugwi following the formation of a the MaShurugwi gang in the Midlands informal mining sector.
As the thugs get arrested, information on the arrested culprits suggests that they come from different parts of the country and none of them were from Shurugwi.
Minister Kazembe says the repeated labelling has the potential to create tension, not only among artisanal miners but Zimbabweans at large.
“People must stop the use of the word Mashurugwi referring to criminals. These are criminals and have nothing to do with Shurugwi. This practice promotes unnecessary divisions. Let us be responsible citizens. We are a peace-loving nation,” Minister Kazembe urged.
Artisanal miners say such criminal elements have tarnished their image and called on the government to take the necessary measures.
“They come to terrorise us and what we are asking for is for the authorities to arrest these criminals. We are genuine people and we do not want criminals to soil our operations. I was attacked last week,” one of the miners said.
Meanwhile, Minister Kazembe assured citizens that all the criminals will be brought to book.
“We are still pursuing these criminals and we will not tire until we arrest all of them. Small Scale miners are important in the growth of the economy and we will protect them,” Minister Kazembe assured.
Last week some machete-wielding criminals killed a police officer in Kadoma. The police have managed to arrest some of the culprits and none among them is from Shurugwi.
Shurugwi is a beautiful town located about 40 kilometres outside Gweru. The town is home to the scenic Boterekwa Mountains, one of the most beautiful places in Zimbabwe and a potential tourist attraction.
