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.

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.

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.

Why is the world not panicking about #AustralianWildFires?

What can we do to help? pic.twitter.com/OQ2T0JTJ3N

— Fadzayi Mahere?? (@advocatemahere) January 5, 2020

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.

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.

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.

-StateMedia

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.

-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.

Watch the video loading below. ..

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.

-DailyNews

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.

More: ZBC News

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.

Belvedere Teachers’ college
4 January 2020

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.

Watch the video loading below. ..

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.

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.

-Online

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

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.

-Online

Does Zimbabwe have a coherent foreign policy?

Or is it just bungling, confusion and #toraimariunited? pic.twitter.com/PbQkQUZv2j

— Fadzayi Mahere?? (@advocatemahere) January 5, 2020

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.

Watch Video- The dry spell which Mnangagwa says he will unleash army on ravages urban crops in Chitungwiza pic.twitter.com/Pi4G6a1YxX

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 5, 2020

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

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 4, 2020

Dear Editor.

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.

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 5, 2020

settings at Beitbridge yesterday pic.twitter.com/iCBHuMMqZL

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 5, 2020

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. 

Pindula

Dear @edmnangagwa

Kana vana vakachema kuti vanezhara, sababa munovavimbisa kuti muchavatsvakira nyama tapedza nhomba. Manje mukavatsvinyira kuti vadye murimo chete zvinobuda here? Kana nyama yodhura vapei mhuka dzesango vadye panekuindisa kuChina.

Ngativakeyi Dzimbahwe neRudo pic.twitter.com/zHY6oK9VRp

— Linda Tsungirirai Masarira (@lilomatic) January 4, 2020

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.

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.#LetsDefendIt https://t.co/lsbZB8oDvB

— TENDAI BITI (@BitiTendai) January 5, 2020

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.

THE LIE OF A NEW DISPENSATION IN ZIMBABWE EXPOSED: #Zimbabwe did not vote at the @UN with its @SADC_News neighbours, not with its @African_Union comrades and not with the @commonwealthsec, it is so desperate to rejoin. It voted with enemies of #HumanRights. Shame @MinisterSBMoyo! https://t.co/Hardlz4qxo pic.twitter.com/SFHetQqZs1

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) January 5, 2020

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.

By Jane Mlambo| A member of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) and National Constitutional Aseembly (NCA) leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku has insisted that they will use the dialogue platform to push electoral reforms that will ensure President Emmerson Mnangagwa does not continue to appoint the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) commissioners.

Madhuku torched storm last year when he said POLAD will ensure ZEC Chairperson Priscilla Chigumba is removed and replaced by someone agreed by all political parties.

In an interview with ZimEye yesterday, Madhuku said they would want amendment relating to how ZEC commissioners are appointed.

“For example why would we have an amendment in regarding those things that have been tabled when we would want a situation where we amend the provisions relating to the appointment of members of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

“We don’t want a situation which is there at the moment where the president appoints the chairperson of ZEC and other commissioners ….we would want those provisions amended by the time we reach 2023, in fact as soon as possible so that we have a new Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

“That has been ignored so the provisions that are being amended, are provisions that ZANU PF wants to amend. The provisions that anyone else wants to amend they are not even on the table that is something that will make clear that it is wrong so even when we are in Polad we will say that, outside Polad we will say it again, so we are going to expand the framework within which we will be contributing to this,” said Madhuku.

Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has condemned the POLAD platform saying it cannot derail constitutional amendments to heap more power on President Emmerson Mnangagwa as government moves the scrap the running mate clause in the constitution.

Speaking to Studio 7 yesterday, Ziyambi said POLAD is a bunch of people without the people’s mandate hence cannot demand to be given the power to determine what the ruling government decides to do.

Ziyambi was responding to NCA leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku who said he was worried about cabinet disregarding his request to allow POLAD to have its take on the proposed amendments.

“I am surprised that they want a constitutional process so that they cannot be consulted. They have the privilege to participate through writing to Clerk of Parliament or during public consultations so I dont see where they have been left out,” said Ziyambi.

He added that Zanu PF has the mandate of the people which POLAD does not have.

“As government we cannot be running to them to say we want to do our budget or change this law, we would have failed to follow the constitution,” added Ziyambi.

A Harare-based woman has approached the civil court claiming a monthly maintenance of $11 000 from her ex-husband who is a cell phone dealer.

The 28-year-old woman defended the claim arguing that she needed to take care of their three children.

Appearing before magistrate Nyasha Marufu, the estrangedAbigail Mutetwa said her former husband, Louis Machira, had the capacity to pay $11 000 per month.

“Your Worship I have three children with this man (Machira) and now l cannot afford to look after them,” she said.

“I am claiming this amount because my ex-husband has a table full of phones; so l know he can afford it.

“I want Machira to pay $11 000 as maintenance because school fees and school uniforms are now expensive.

“Our first born child is now 14 years old and is enrolling for his secondary education and I cannot afford to pay school fees.”

Mutetwa told the Harare civil court that she was earning a meagre income from her vending business.

In response, Machira pleaded with the court that he could not afford the $11 000 monthly maintenance fee.

“I cannot afford what she is asking for Your Worship. It is way above my monthly income,” he said.

“I do not sell phones; l fit shatter-proof glasses on cellphones which give me about $25 per day.

“I also use the money to meet my other needs. In her ruling, Marufu ordered Machira to pay $300 per month to cater for his three children.

Own Correspondent|Zimbabwe’s state run media will always go out of the ordinary to attack and seek to tarnish the image of opposition parties and civil society leaders who they perceive to be against the ruling ZANU PF party.

In a shocking article in The Sunday Mail of today, the ZANU PF mouthpiece claims that opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa at one time went to the United States of America and invited the superpower to deploy its army to run over Zimbabwe and remove ZANU PF from power.

The full story which certainly will never be believed by any level headed person reads as follows:

BETWEEN July 2004 and 2007 Nelson Chamisa, the now president of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC-A) is reported to have begged the US government to invade Zimbabwe with special forces and topple the Zanu-PF-led Government.

Chamisa also pleaded with the US government to impose sanctions on Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe so as to heighten the MDC’s chances of taking power.

He further asked for certain key Government officials to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which in turn was established to prosecute persons accused of committing serious crimes such as crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes.

Chamisa’s pleas were in response to the then US Ambassador to Harare, Christopher Dell, asking him what he needed the US to do to secure his ascendency to power.

Chamisa was at the relevant time the MDC youth leader and Kuwadzana legislator.

WikiLeaks cables sent from Harare (via the US Embassy) to Washington’s State Department suggest that Chamisa told Dell that the “Mugabe must go” campaign was counter-productive to the opposition party’s agenda as it strengthened Zanu-PF’s resolve to fight the MDC which was then led by Morgan Tsvangirai.

Chamisa is further reported to have canvassed the Eastern European countries, during his trip there to impose more sanctions on Zimbabwe. 

State Media|SOME entertainment joints and liquor outlets are allegedly selling counterfeit distilled beverages — mainly whisky, brandy, gin and vodka — exposing imbibers to serious health risks, even death, The Sunday Mail can reveal.

Until recently, counterfeit distilled beverages were only available on the streets, but investigations show that popular nightclubs, bottles stores, pubs and even supermarkets are dispensing the same.

It has been further gathered that a well-knit cartel including staff at some ports of entry, business people, transporters and “runners” are behind this seemingly lucrative business.

The prices of the counterfeits range between US$5 and US$40.

Among some of the premium alcoholic beverages that are being counterfeited are Jameson, Johnnie Walker Red Label, Best and Grant’s.

Some business people running entertainment joints are also alleged to be engaging middlemen to smuggle the counterfeits into Zimbabwe from Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia.

Locals are also distilling the alcohol which is packaged as Best, Two Keys, Russian Bear and Viceroy among other brands popular in the country.

Social media was recently awash with allegations that some of the people that unknowingly consumed the counterfeits had died of suspected alcohol poisoning.

This came after a patron is alleged to have died of alcohol poisoning outside the premises of an upmarket nightclub in Borrowdale during the Christmas holiday.

Officials from the upmarket joint, however, distanced themselves from the unfortunate incident.

When The Sunday Mail  visited the nightclub, officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care were collecting samples of the suspected counterfeit beverages for analysis.

Who supplies the fake booze?

Sources told The Sunday Mail that the counterfeits that are finding their way into Zimbabwe are mostly manufactured in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, United States and Brazil.

Apart from restaurants and nightclubs, the fake beverages have become popular outside bottles stores, street corners and open-air entertainment joints, where they are sold from vehicles boots.

As part of the investigations, The Sunday Mail witnessed some of the fakes being packaged in Mbare.

The bottles were then carefully sealed to make them appear genuine.

A man who introduced himself only as Isaac said he has been in “this business” for two years.

“I get the alcohol in bulk from my source who is based in Mutare and I then repackage it for a profit. I only deal with those that buy from me in bulk,” Isaac said.

According to Isaac, some prominent businesspeople are also actively involved in this kind of business.

Isaac said he is supplied with alcoholic concentrates which are then mixed with methanol, an alcoholic chemical far more toxic than ethanol, before flavouring and colouring

Empty bottles from which genuine whisky has been consumed are collected from rubbish dumps, cleaned and packaged before fake seals are pasted on them.

According to Brian Maregedza, a whisky connoisseur, genuine whisky should have a “charcoal flavour” and it should not be hard on the throat.

Maregedza gave tips on how the general public could differentiate a fake from genuine whisky.

“Consumers should buy their whiskies from established liquor centres. They should also look out for the shape of the bottle and the branding. High-end whiskies can also be authenticated using smartphones by scanning bar codes,” Maregedza said.

Health effects

Gibson Kawa said he collapsed and nearly died after consuming what he now suspects was fake whisky.

“It was not my first time to drink this particular brand of whisky. However, on that particularly day, I became dizzy and the next thing I woke up to see myself sleeping on the pavement,” Kawa said.

“In my eight years of drinking, I never came across something like that. I actually drank myself into a stupor, which is unusual. Something was wrong with that whisky.” Dr Admore Muringisi, a drugs and narcotics consultant, said commonly used substitutes for ethanol included chemicals used in cleaning fluids, nail polish removers and automobile screen wash.

Methanol and isopropanol, which are used in anti-freeze and some fuels, are some of the substitutes.

“These other types of alcohol can produce similar effects to ethanol in terms of making you feel tipsy. But they are also potentially very dangerous,” said Dr Muringisi.

He said drinking alcohol containing such chemicals could cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness and can also lead to permanent kidney or liver damage.

Methanol, which, according to Dr Muringisi, can be used to produce fake vodka, may also cause permanent blindness.

Consumer activist and executive director of the Consumer Council of

Zimbabwe (CCZ) Ms Rosemary Siyachitema urged consumers to desist from buying products from unregistered businesses.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police were embarking on an operation to flush out those behind the counterfeit beverages.

“Recently, a man was arrested in Ardbennie, Harare, after he was caught illegally adding potent ethanol into alcohol. Anybody found on the wrong side of the law will be punished,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi urged drinkers to buy liquor from registered and established retail outlets.

Efforts to get a comment from Dr Eve Gadzikwa, the Standards Association of Zimbabwe director-general, were fruitless as she was not picking up her phone.

Basing on our investigations, it is clear that there is a thriving market for counterfeit distilled beverages.

State Media|Zimbabweans will enjoy expanded social protection in 2020 with one million students receiving free education under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) while food aid, health assistance and cash transfers to vulnerable families will also be enhanced.

The improved assistance, to the low-income end members of society, comes as the country is reeling from the ravaging effects of last year’s drought, the worst in 40 years.

So severe was the impact of the 2018-2019 drought that the World Food Programme (WFP) has listed Zimbabwe as one of the 15 hotspots in the world in need of food aid, to rally donor funding for the vulnerable groups.

In a special report last week, the WFP rallied for donor support to Zimbabwe to mitigate the crisis caused by last year’s drought.

“Sub-Saharan Africa dominates WFP’s analysis, with Zimbabwe, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central Sahel region all needing immediate attention, given the urgent needs of children, women and men,” announced the WPF.

WFP said the country was facing a humanitarian emergency owing to the climate change-driven drought, and general economic challenges.

While international donors are ratcheting up support to Zimbabwe, Government has taken a proactive stance to expand assistance programmes on its own.

In a document availed to The Sunday Mail, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare said it will expand social protection measures in 2020 to assist vulnerable groups.

Education

The BEAM programme, which provides fees assistance to orphans and other vulnerable children will increase beneficiaries to one million from 415 000 who benefited last year.

BEAM covers primary, second and tertiary education.

“A total 415 000 orphans and other vulnerable children countrywide benefited from the BEAM programme through the payment of school fees and examination fees for those that wrote examinations in 2019.

“For 2020 financial year, a total $450 million has been budgeted for and it is expected to cover school fees for more beneficiaries hence a scale-up of beneficiaries from 415 000 to one million is expected,”said the ministry.

Currently, Government has no overdue amounts under BEAM as it disbursed $140 million in 2019 to clear all arrears which had accumulated since 2014.

To further capacitate pupils, BEAM will closely monitor selection committees at district and provincial levels to ensure that the programme is implemented according to set procedures.

Grain Distribution

As a result of the 2018-19 drought, the Government noted that most parts of the country and communities were in dire need of food aid, including those that had never received the food handouts before.

The situation will see the Food Assistance Programme extend 50kg of maize to vulnerable households monthly.

Unlike previous years, food distribution is being conducted in both rural and urban areas.

Last week, the Ministry of Finance released $10 million for the transportation of grain to vulnerable families around the country.

The ministry said part of the food being distributed currently includes a consignment of rice donated by China to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has directed it to benefit all rural constituencies.

“Pursuant to this His Excellency, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa has made a donation of 15 tonnes of Chinese rice for each rural constituency to be given to the rural populace during the festive season,” reads part of the Government action plan document.

“The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare will ensure that the donated rice is distributed during the festive season.

“This rice supplements the already existing food deficit mitigation strategy being implemented in all rural provinces; and Harare and Bulawayo urban areas. The programme caters for the food poor and labour constrained households who include the destitute elderly, the chronically ill, people with disabilities and child- headed households.”

Health and child protection

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare said it was working with counterparts in the Ministry of Health and Child Care to facilitate waivers for low-end members of society at public health institutions.

“This is a health fee waiver for vulnerable people who seek treatment at Government district and provincial hospitals, mission and major referral hospitals and are unable to meet the health costs,” the plan document reveals.

“In 2019, a total 25 000 beneficiaries and arrears of over $8 million were cleared during the year and the budget for 2020 is $40 million.”

In addition, $150 million had been set aside for child protection this year.

The amount will see $20 million being targeted to assist children living on the streets.

Cash transfers and public assistance

In 2019, at least 65 000 vulnerable households in 23 districts benefited from cash assistance by Government with families being paid $20 monthly. However, the beneficiaries will this month get a windfall after the amount was increased to $100 a month, backdated to January 2019.

“In 2020, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare intends to scale up Harmonised Social Cash Transfer to 33 districts while the remaining districts will be covered under the Public Assistance Programme.

“A total $500 million has been allocated towards payment of beneficiary households under Public Assistance and Harmonized Social Cash Transfers in the whole country.”

Disabled persons

This year, Government plans to offer assistive devices to 600 people compared to 194 that benefited last year.

In addition, 3 700 persons with disabilities will be placed under institutional care.

There are also 6 500 disabled students expected to benefit from BEAM.

It is anticipated that by year end, the National Disability Policy and the Disabled Persons Act, which will fully address concerns of persons with disabilities, will be in place.

Own Correspondent|Government recently gazetted 27 proposed amendments to the Constitution, so what happens next?

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the Bill will now be tabled for debate in the National Assembly early April, at least 90 days after its gazetting.

“During this period, public consultations will commence with written submissions to the Clerk of Parliament, while relevant committees will conduct public hearings across the country and produce a report after the consultations,”said Minister Ziyambi.

“After that, the Bill is introduced in the House and given its first reading after which a committee report is presented and the parliamentarians debate it.

“After that second reading and winding up of debates, if issues arise after consultations we then go into the committee stage where if there is need, relevant amendments and changes are made.

The Bill will then go through the third House before the vote. A two thirds majority of the vote is required for the bill to pass. It is then ent to the Senate where similar procedures are done before it is sent to the President for assent.

“So the 90 day period will likely come around the end of March so we expect to introduce it in the House early April.”

Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda said Parliament would commence sittings on February 11.

“Committees resume earlier to deal with petitions and public hearings on Bills.

“Yes, we have to do public hearings on all Bills (including the Constitution Amendment Bill).”

Source: State Media

Own Correspondent|Government recently gazetted 27 proposed amendments to the Constitution which will bring about a nearly completely new looking constitution.

We give you below a summary of the closes that the ZANU PF government is pushing through.

Currently, the Constitution allows for the President to appoint only five Cabinet ministers from outside Parliament, but once the amendment Bill is passed, the President will be empowered to appoint two more.

Reads the Bill in part: “Section 104 (“Appointment of Ministers and Deputy Ministers”) (3) of the Constitution is amended by the deletion of “up to five” and the substitution of “up to seven”.

The composition of the National Assembly will also be changed to include 10 more parliamentarians elected through proportional representation.

In a development to facilitate implementation of one of the resolutions from the Zanu-PF National People’s Conference held last month, the women’s quota clause will also be extended.

In addition, Section 161 of the Constitution is also being amended to allow for the decoupling of the drawing of constituency boundaries and the national census.

Currently, the Constitution obligates the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to draw up new electoral boundaries every 10 years, immediately after a national population census. The next one is due in 2022.

On devolution, the Bill proposes to “remove Members of Parliament from membership of provincial councils, merge the provisions relating to provincial and metropolitan councils by removing the special provision relating to the latter (they will no longer be chaired by mayors, but be elected in terms of Section 272 like provincial councils), and provide for the election of 10 members of Metropolitan Councils by a system of party list proportional representation.”

Other proposed changes include the establishment of the Public Protector’s Office, the establishment of the Office of the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet and renaming of the Civil Service Commission back to the Public Service Commission.

Also, the Bill proposes that the Prosecutor-General be appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission without public interviews.

The tenures of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court judges will also be extended after reaching the age of 70, for up to five years subject to a favourable medical report.

The amendments also include clauses permitting the President to appoint at least two more non-constituency Cabinet ministers and also extending the women’s quota in Parliament by another two terms.

The women’s quota was set to expire during the current Parliament.

In addition, the amendments will include a provision for the introduction of 10 extra seats in the National Assembly reserved for youths — one from each province.

Furthermore, the Bill seeks to terminate the joint election of the President and his deputies through removal of the “running mate” clause.

Joint election of the country’s top leadership was set to commence in 2023.

Government has assured parents and students in higher learning institutions that it will not approve massive fee increases during a review process scheduled for this month.

While the academic institutions have made proposals ranging from $9 000 to $16 000 for various levels of degrees per semester, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira maintained the fees would be pegged at “sensible” levels.

The Midlands State University (MSU) has since advised some of its returning students of proposed new fees-structure for the semester beginning February.

Fees for undergraduate degrees are ranging from $9 000 to $12 500 while master students have been advised that they might pay amounts between $12 750 and $16 500 per semester.

Some doctoral students at the institution might have to fork out a massive $51 000 per semester.

Last month, a proposal for Great Zimbabwe University undergraduate fees circulated with fees pegged at $12 600.

But Professor Murwira said Government would not allow a situation where universities hike fees to ‘ridiculous rates beyond the reach of many’.

Speaking to The Sunday Mail, the minister said: “None of what is being circulated on social media is true. As we promised, I said there will be no fees review in 2019, but in 2020.

“The review has not yet been done, but it will be this January. Fees will be reviewed to a sensible rate.”

Minister Murwira said Treasury had poured funds to the pool of Government student loans to ensure Zimbabweans had access to tertiary education.

“We are offering loans for those students who cannot afford.

We were given an extra $25 million from the fiscus to fund Government loans,” he said.State media

https://youtu.be/4Wxg6HceEjY

The government has gone ahead to gazette the Constitution Amendment Bill which paves way for restructuring of the supreme law.

ALSO READ THE PROFESSOR LOVEMORE MADHUKU 25 MIN INTERVIEW ON SATURDAY.

The amendments include repealing the running mate clause meaning the Vice President will no longer have powers of succeeding or taking over from the President.

Also, the Bill proposes that the Prosecutor-General be appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission without public interviews.

The tenures of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court judges will also be extended after reaching the age of 70, for up to five years subject to a favourable medical report.

The changes also include clauses permitting the President to appoint at least two more non-constituency Cabinet ministers and also extending the women’s quota in Parliament by another two terms. The women’s quota was set to expire during the current Parliament.

In addition, the amendments will include a provision for the introduction of 10 extra seats in the National Assembly reserved for youths — one from each province.

Furthermore, the Bill seeks to terminate the joint election of the President and his deputies through removal of the “running mate” clause.

Joint election of the country’s top leadership was set to commence in 2023.

Parliament will soon initiate nationwide public hearings into the Bill to ensure inclusivity in the law-making process.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the Bill will now be tabled for debate in the National Assembly early April, at least 90 days after its gazetting.

“During this period, public consultations will commence with written submissions to the Clerk of Parliament, while relevant committees will conduct public hearings across the country and produce a report after the consultations,”said Minister Ziyambi.

“After that, the Bill is introduced in the House and given its first reading after which a committee report is presented and the parliamentarians debate it.

“After that second reading and winding up of debates, if issues arise after consultations we then go into the committee stage where if there is need, relevant amendments and changes are made.

https://youtu.be/4Wxg6HceEjY

The Bill will then go through the third House before the vote. A two thirds majority of the vote is required for the bill to pass. It is then ent to the Senate where similar procedures are done before it is sent to the President for assent.

“So the 90 day period will likely come around the end of March so we expect to introduce it in the House early April.”

Clerk of Parliament Mr Kennedy Chokuda said Parliament would commence sittings on February 11.

“Committees resume earlier to deal with petitions and public hearings on Bills.

“Yes, we have to do public hearings on all Bills (including the Constitution Amendment Bill).”

Currently, the Constitution allows for the President to appoint only five Cabinet ministers from outside Parliament, but once the amendment Bill is passed, the President will be empowered to appoint two more.

Reads the Bill in part: “Section 104 (“Appointment of Ministers and Deputy Ministers”) (3) of the Constitution is amended by the deletion of “up to five” and the substitution of “up to seven”.

The composition of the National Assembly will also be changed to include 10 more parliamentarians elected through proportional representation.

In a development to facilitate implementation of one of the resolutions from the Zanu-PF National People’s Conference held last month, the women’s quota clause will also be extended.

In addition, Section 161 of the Constitution is also being amended to allow for the decoupling of the drawing of constituency boundaries and the national census.

Currently, the Constitution obligates the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to draw up new electoral boundaries every 10 years, immediately after a national population census. The next one is due in 2022.

On devolution, the Bill proposes to “remove Members of Parliament from membership of provincial councils, merge the provisions relating to provincial and metropolitan councils by removing the special provision relating to the latter (they will no longer be chaired by mayors, but be elected in terms of Section 272 like provincial councils), and provide for the election of 10 members of Metropolitan Councils by a system of party list proportional representation.”

Other proposed changes include the establishment of the Public Protector’s Office, the establishment of the Office of the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet and renaming of the Civil Service Commission back to the Public Service Commission.

Lydia Banda-Ndethi has reportedly been demoted for not attending an event that the VP Chiwenga officiated, the Southern Eye established.

Banda, who was the Binga DDC and is now deputy director local governance in the provincial development co-ordinator’s office, Matabeleland North, allegedly violated the Public Service Regulations act when she chose to attend an event facilitated by an NGO over an event the VP was officiating.
According to Newsday, Banda was told in writing:

You allegedly prematurely left the function that the Vice-President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Chiwenga was officiating in July 2018 at the Manjolo Business Centre opting to attend to a NGO programme. You had lopsided priorities to the extent that the activities of NGOs were taking precedence ahead of government business.NewsDay

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa stunned all and sundry when he announced that meat is not good for people’s health.

Addressing citizens in Kuwadzana Harare soon after his monthly clean up campaign, Mnangagwa said he had no power to regulate the prices of meat promising to ensure that school fees was affordable to the majority of citizens.

Said Mnangagwa:

“I know that in government school, fees have not been hiked. That is what I have been told. I have heard your two grievances, on meat and school. Alleluyah.

We will go and look into the two. But on meat, I do not have much power. But on school fees, there i can fix. Yes.

On council rates, the local authorities have been pleading with me to increase them, but i will refuse to have them effect the raise on rates.

It is well. Let us now go back to our homes. My final words which i am giving you is on unity, respect. we want peace, peace and peace.”