A BULAWAYO-based pressure group Ibhetshu LikaZulu has called on the government to go a step further in addressing the Gukurahundi issue and account for victims that were abducted and never seen again.

The government has offered to facilitate exhumations and reburials of Gukurahundi victims as part of measures to address the 1980’s mass killings.

This followed a meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa had with Matabeleland civic groups and clergy under the banner Matabeleland Collective held at the State House in Bulawayo early this year.

Ibhetshu LikaZulu coordinator Mbuso Fuzwayo said the pressure group is organising Unity Day activities to remember Gukurahundi victims, adding their main call is for the accounting for those that were kidnapped.

“We are busy preparing for the end of the Matabeleland Genocide, which we will hold on Unity Day,” Fuzwayo said.

The country commemorates Unity Day on December 22 to celebrate the signing of a Unity Accord between PF Zapu and Zanu that marked the end of Gukurahundi, resulting in the formation of Zanu PF.

“We will have a peace march from the city centre to Stanley Square in Makokoba where activities such as testimonials from victims will be held,” he said.

“While we appreciate what government has done to try and address the issue, however, there is silence on those that were abducted.

“No one is speaking to that; we want to amplify our voice on those who were abducted so that they are also accounted for.”

Police have recently not been sanctioning street marches, particularly those organised by the opposition MDC citing many excuses such as fears that the opposition and other anti-government groups will hijack the proceedings.

The government once initiated a probe into the Gukurahundi massacres but the findings of the investigation by the Chihambakwe Commission of Inquiry were never made public.

There have been calls for Mnangagwa to ensure the release of the report in the spirit of promoting national healing,and to commit himself to compensating the victims’ families and survivors.

Standard

FORMER Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo (pictured right) will this week launch a book that will allegedly demonstrate how last year’s elections were rigged in favour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Moyo, a former Zanu PF’s election strategist, reviewed a number of alleged irregularities before, during and after the polls and the findings form the basis of the book titled Excelgate.

He contends that opposition MDC Alliance candidate Nelson Chamisa beat Mnangagwa in the polls, but could not be declared the winner after the military allegedly intervened.

In the book set to be launched simultaneously in Harare, South Africa, Europe and the United States, Moyo claims the military played a key role in ensuring a Mnangagwa victory.

“All told, it is clear from the foregoing that the military had a rigging conspiracy or that it colluded with (the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) Zec through (chairperson Priscilla) Chigumba and the (Constitutional Court) ConCourt via (Chief Justice Luke) Malaba,” reads an extract from the book.

“Results for the presidential and the National Assembly elections were transmitted using different routes from the ward collation centre.

‘While the destination for the National Assembly election results was the constituency centre, the presidential results were forwarded to the district centre for onward transmission to the national command centre in Harare,” he added, quoting Zec allegedly making the admission.

Moyo said he got most of the information from Zec officials, among other sources.

“My special gratitude goes to 11 unnameable Zec staff members and three Zec commissioners whose direct and indirect assistance to me was invaluable beyond description,” he added.

“ It is unfortunate but understandable that none of them wishes to be acknowledged by name.”

Moyo also wrote that Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga led the 2017 coup as he was afraid of being charged for treason.

Prior to the coup Chiwenga issued a statement ordering then president Robert Mugabe to stop purge against war veterans in Zanu PF. Zanu PF described the statements as treasonous.

“Some have claimed that the coup was triggered by the dismissal of Mnangagwa from the position of Vice President on November 6, 2017,” Moyo wrote.

“Again, this is far-fetched notwithstanding Mnangagwa’s ‘I will be back’ press statement he released on November 3, 2017.

“Others have alleged Mugabe’s refusal to meet Chiwenga on November 13 was the trigger of the coup. There was no refusal.

“The issue was about finding a mutually convenient time, and the expectation was that the meeting would be on Wednesday November 12, which turned out to be the day of the military coup.”

Moyo also dismissed claims that the coup was necessitated by the G40 faction that hadcoalesced around then first lady Grace Mugabe and that it was to target “criminals around Mugabe”.

He also describes claims that former police commissioner general Augustine Chihuri had attempted to arrest Chiwenga upon arrival from China as false.

Moyo said there was no grain of truth in allegations that Mugabe wanted to make Grace his successor, claiming instead, the late veteran leader wanted former Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi to succeed him.

“But of course, it was convenient propaganda to claim that Grace was on the verge of taking over.

“On the other hand, the proposition that stopping Grace from succeeding her husband required a military coup was necessary and was a ludicrous excuse.”

Moyo claimed that in his book, there were points were he showed how the military used Zec to “steal the elections”.

“In this book, I show how the military used Zec to steal Zimbabwe’s presidential election from main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa who received 66% of the vote, to benefit Mnangagwa whose actual tally was 33%,” he said.

“The irrefutable evidence is overwhelming and beyond rational disputation. It is an open and shut case,” Moyo claimed.

Moyo claimed Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo, reporting to Chiwenga led the army manipulation of Zec systems.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya-Moyo said he would not comment on a book he had not read.

“l cannot comment on something that I have not seen,” he said.

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana rubbished the book and confirmed he had seen Moyo’s claims.

Standard

By Own Correspondent| The Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube last year promised to change govt policy on respecting property rights.

He gave the below responses to questions at London’s Chatham House institute on the 8th October 2018.

A year later we ask what has changed(?).

FULL TEXT –

Simba Chikanza: “Would you not agree that your commitment to the rule of law and to property rights is in question sir and I’m quoting here, legal experts from Veritas, who have raised for instance, two issues, the declaration of a military cantonment-area, on which there are mining claims, and the imposition of increased taxes, And electronic money transfers and they say this has raised questions about the government’s respect for property rights, and broadly the commitment to the rule of law.

And honorable Minister, Sir, it is not true that the only violent incident post-election is the one August there are numerous incidents of political violence that have continued even into this week and I’ve got a whole database here hereof people who either had their houses demolished, many have even been beaten on the streets we’re talking violence not by civilians; violence by either the military or members of the police force, and Sir, minister, do you not agree that your commitment to the rule of law and to property rights, your commitment to economic recovery is in question said since this is happening in your period?

Minister Mthuli Ncube replied saying, “…Simba on this issue about the commitment to the rule of law, I understand why you are saying it (sic) err, this incident, I don’t know what is true maybe you have better information than me which I suspect by the way, because I’ve only been in the country properly, not for one month but two weeks.”

Simba Chikanza: ” I’ve got full fact proof, checked, I’ve got a whole database that I can show you and the whole house; this is very very serious.

Mthuli Ncube: “I am hearing you but you see precedence is committed to abiding by the rule of law, you have said it on a full program, we are determined to do our best in this regard so but I’m not going to deny what you are saying as you have more information than me and I suspect, some so we are determined to make sure this stops and we abide by the rule of law, and expect property rights. I think what we are trying to do with the land issue as I was explaining and that it’s a simpler way we want to make sure…”

State Media|TEN schools from the Matabeleland region made it into the country’s top 100 schools, in this year’s Grade Seven results, while 32 others from the region got a zero percent pass rate with the ministry saying it is seized with the dismal performance of the schools.

Matabeleland North has 15 schools with zero percent pass rate while in Matabeleland South 10 recorded zero percent pass rate, seven schools with zero pass rate came from Bulawayo. This year’s national pass rate decreased by 5.18 percent from 52 percent last year to 46.9 percent.

In Matabeleland region, Coalfields Primary School, Oakleigh House, Portland Primary School, Wellton Primary School, Amazon Primary School, Fairview Adventist Primary School and Maranatha Adventist Primary School recorded a 100 percent pass rate, while ZRP Ross Camp recorded 98,90 percent, Fusi Primary School in Gwabalanda, Bulawayo recorded 98,69 percent and Dominican Convent 96,36 percent.

The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Cain Mathema, confirmed that this year’s Grade Seven results in Matabeleland dropped significantly compared to other years.

“Yes, some schools have performed dismally not only in Matabeleland but all over Zimbabwe. A number of schools recorded zero percent pass rate. As a ministry we will be working on finding out the reasons behind such performances. Of course, there may be issues to do with resource constraints. The fact that there are no proper classrooms, teachers have no houses because I know of one school in Matabeleland North where 10 teachers share one house and in some schools there is no water. Those are some of the things that bring about low pass rates,” he said.

Mathema said as a ministry they had to assist teachers to make the learning environment conducive for both the learner and the teacher.

“Teachers need to be helped to have proper classrooms, textbooks, proper cottages and piped water. Also, one of the important issues is we have to encourage close relationship between the parents and the school and their children that are at school. Parents have to know why they send children to school thus they should be equally involved in the learning process.

“As a ministry we are trying to train and educate our children from an early age so that they are able to manipulate the economic and social environment. We have to link the education system to the economy, as learners need to be prepared for the world,” said Mathema.

Midlands Province’s top school Cecil John Rhodes Primary School recorded 98,77 percent, Takawira Primary School 98,72, Senga Primary school 98,53, Stanley Primary 98,16, Matongo Primary 97,60, St Paul’s Mkoba Primary  96,99 and Budiriro Primary  96,91.

Nationally, schools that made it to top 10 are, Aspindale Park Primary, Divaris Makaharis Junior Primary, Dominican Convent Primary, Happy Primary, Lusitania Primary, Maranatha Primary (Harare), Pathway Private Primary, St Martins Convent and The Grange Christian School with 100 percent pass rate.

However, Minister Mathema said parents are flooding the e-map online application with boarding and private schools having the most preferences despite the anticipated fees increases. He said the sole purpose of the e-map online application platform was to cut transport costs for parents and avoid a situation where parents apply in more than three places and end up not knowing where the child was going to be accepted.

THE ruling Zanu PF and opposition MDC yesterday said they were unfazed by the launch of a political movement by self-exiled former ruling party stalwart, Saviour Kasukuwere.

Kasukuwere’s movement, known as “Tyson Wabantu”, was launched in Bulawayo on Thursday by a group of disgruntled former Zanu PF members known as G40.

The movement distributed flyers and T-shirts branded “ Tyson Wabantu” in many residential areas in the country’s second capital city.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo told NewsDay Weekender yesterday that the ruling party would not spend sleepless nights on Kasukuwere, whom he described as a nonentity.

“The launch of the movement is insignificant and meaningless to us. He is representing nothing. That movement has no bearing on Zanu PF. We are a mass party which has a vast support base. We don’t lose sleep on that nonentity. He is just but a dreamer,” Moyo said.

MDC president Nelson Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said Kasukuwere’s movement did not even affect an inch of their space as he was a Zanu PF creation.

“We don’t have to comment on that. Kasukuwere is former Zanu PF or Zanu PF, I think a comment from there would suffice. The MDC has had Kasukuwere as a political opponent. You know how we won elections when he was in politics. Why is that question even relevant?” Sibanda asked rhetorically.

Rose Phiri, former member of the ruling party women’s league, is the co-ordinator of Kasukuwere’s movement.

She said: “Tyson Wabantu movement is meant to unite all Zimbabweans and provide leadership towards a better Zimbabwe.”

Phiri said they were targeting one million people for the movement but admitted that the movement had no proper structures.

Kasukuwere has said he would issue a statement clarifying the position later on.

NewsDay

THE World Food Programme (WFP) is expanding its emergency operation in Zimbabwe with plans to assist more than four million people deemed food insecure by next month, amid revelations that drought has plunged more than seven million people into severe hunger.

The development comes at a time when the country is facing another poor rainfall season as the effects of climate change begin to manifest. The emergency operation seeks to complement Government’s efforts with WFP saying it will double the number of people it is helping to 4,1 million by providing life-saving rations of cereal, pulses and vegetable oil and a protective nutrition ration for children less than five years of age as it scales up efforts to avert further starvation in the country.

In a statement, WFP executive director Mr David Beasley said funds were required immediately, if the organisation was to meet the growing needs of the hardest-hit Zimbabweans.

“We are deep into a vicious cycle of sky-rocketing malnutrition that’s hitting women and children hardest and will be tough to break. With poor rain forecast yet again in the run-up to the main harvest in April, the scale of hunger in the country is going to get worse before it gets better,” said Mr Beasley.

He said Zimbabwe’s hunger crisis was the worst in more than a decade and was part of an unprecedented climate-driven disaster gripping Southern Africa.

“Temperatures in the region are rising at more than twice the average global rate and ever more erratic rainy seasons are hitting the country’s subsistence farmers hard. The crisis is being exacerbated by a dire shortage of foreign currency, runaway inflation, mounting unemployment, lack of fuel, prolonged power outages and large-scale livestock losses, afflicting urban residents and rural villagers alike,” said Mr Beasley.

He said WFP’s planned scale-up was a huge logistical undertaking, with the limited availability of Zimbabwean dollars and surging prices for basics presaging a near wholesale switch from cash assistance to food distributions.

“It envisages the sourcing, purchase and delivery to the land-locked country of more than 240 000 tonnes of commodities through June, a challenge all the more daunting because drought and flooding have eroded food supplies across much of Africa. An estimated US$293 million is required for WFP’s emergency response with less than 30 percent of that sum having been secured. We must not let our immediate focus on emergency aid distract us from investing in the resilience programmes that will help chronically hungry people cope with the ever-more severe impacts of erratic weather,” Mr Beasley said.

He added: “We urge the international community to step up funding to address the root causes of long-term hunger in Zimbabwe.”

Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Lovemore Matuke said Government had already deployed resources into affected areas and had also identified water bodies to grow maize. He confirmed the dire situation saying the Government was working hand in glove with its partners to make sure no one dies of hunger.

“The Government is working towards averting the drought situation. Efforts by NGOs and other organisations are well appreciated and also add to efforts by the Government to sustain our nation in so far as food security is concerned. We will be working closely with organisations that seek to assist our country.

“Furthermore, we have been importing a lot of maize from South Africa and we want to work towards growing our own. In that light the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement has managed to identify a significant number of water bodies, which will be used to grow maize, as a complementary measure to reduce imports,” said Matuke.

State Media|PARENTS with children going to boarding schools and private schools in and around Bulawayo are likely to have a bleak Christmas as they will be agonising over school fees for next year, with some schools proposing figures in the range of $60 000 for the first term, while others are charging $17 000.

Revelations are that Falcon College in Esigodini has proposed a $60 000 or an equivalent of US$3 000 while Christian Brothers College (CBC) in Bulawayo will be charging $17 300 per term for next year. 

Catholic-run Dominican Convent is also said to be charging in excess of $13 000 per term while Petra College is asking for $12 600 for secondary and $8 260 for primary with the possibility of a top up that will be determined by changes in the prices of goods mid-way through the first term.

Some private schools such as St Thomas Primary are charging $8 300. Cyrene Mission (boarding school) is charging $4 000 excluding grocery. Matopo High School and Gloag are said to have adopted a wait and see attitude as schools closed without  finalising the deliberations on the fees. 

“Meetings for the two schools will be held on 11 January to decide on the fees for the first term. But that is unfair to parents as there will be little time left before schools open on 14 January to run around and raise whatever will be required,” said a parent at Matopo, Mrs Miriam Ndlovu.

Parents with children at Government secondary schools in Bulawayo however, will pay between $400 and $600, according to sources. Meanwhile, in Harare reports that there is likely to be an exodus from private and mission schools to public schools due to sharp fees hikes with some schools. Most schools, both public and private, have already ominously signalled they would significantly hike their fees in tandem with galloping expenses needed to keep the institutions running. But some parents say the proposed new fees, as indicated by preliminary invoices handed out to parents last week, range from “shocking”, “ridiculous” to “outrageous”.

Although schools have been continuously adjusting their fees through out the year through top-ups, the latest round of proposed increases, especially at a time salaries have remained low, have created a “perfect storm” where parents and guardians — even with the aid of savings — simply cannot afford. The lowest-paid civil servant earns a little above $1 000 per month. 

Most of those affected are presently scouting for schools that meet their budget. 

“It is a shock! We had been anticipating an increase but not to this level,” said a parent whose child attends boarding school at Rusununguko High in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East, soon after picking up her son at Robert Gabriel Mugabe Square last week.

She refused to be identified for fear of victimisation.

“They say we have to pay $9 000 (next year), but where will we get the money? I am a mere nurse . . . so I may have to enrol him at a more affordable day school.”

The increases are being keenly felt in boarding schools. Pupils who will enrol for form one at Catholic-run St Dominic’s Chishawasha, located 24-kilometres from the capital, Harare, will have to part with $12 200. Similarly, Methodist-run Sandringham High School is proposing an $11 896 fee, including uniforms. Private schools are indexing their fees to the US-dollar exchange rate to insulate against soaring expenses, they say.

Fees at Highfield-based Regina Mundi Convent Primary School are currently pegged at US$280 per pupil per term, which translates to about $4 500 using the current interbank foreign exchange rate. A representative organisation of private schools, the Association of Schools (ATS), said schools will continue complying with the law, but they have to recover costs of delivering a specific service.

“As far as we understand, schools charge in Zimbabwe dollars. Each member school of ATS is independent: ATS is not required to approve or even know what fees that schools charge. ATS core values are: integrity, accountability, ethical governance and professionalism. One of the criteria of membership of ATS schools is that they are not for profit, but they do deliver a specific service whose costs have to be recovered,” said ATS chief executive officer Mr Tim Middleton.

However, there are fears that even Government schools would be applying for an adjustment, particularly in tuition, which is used to finance school projects and administrative expenses. Zimbabwe Schools Development Associations/Committees secretary-general Mr Everisto Jongwe said while schools had to review fees to remain viable, increases had to be borne out of an inclusive consultative process that guarantees a win-win for everyone.

“I would not want to blame the schools for wanting to hike the fees because the economic environment demands that they do that to remain viable. But we encourage schools to work with SDCs, parents and other stakeholders so as to come up with a solution which works for everyone.”

There are, however, fears the spate of fee hikes will trigger a wave of transfers between schools. Most worryingly, teachers believe that the present upheavals might result in rising drop-outs in rural schools. Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (ZIMTA) chief executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu said parents in rural areas might be worse off.

“We had a situation where parents in urban areas and formerly group A and B schools generally made an effort to pay school fees. It was in the rural areas where we had those problems, but with the current situation, we may begin to see even those in urban areas struggling.”

The solution, he added, lies in arresting inflation. 

“It is the shocker prices of everything that are causing this situation; we have shocker electricity bills, shocker fuel prices, shocker food prices. So as we try to come up with a solution, those are the factors that we have to consider.”

According to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) report, about 20 400 pupils in Zimbabwe dropped out of primary school in 2018. The main reasons cited for this phenomenon were financial constraints, expulsion, and absconding.

Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela said schools should follow procedure before increasing fees.

“Our position as the Government is that all schools, in consultation with the School Development Committees, should apply first before they increase school fees. This includes all schools, including boarding schools and trust schools, because they are registered with us.”

State Media|Title to the Mugabe family’s Borrowdale home commonly referred as the Blue Roof, and the Mount Pleasant property given to Bona Mugabe-Chikore — the late former president Robert Mugabe’s daughter — as a wedding gift in March 2014, will be transferred to the former First Family, Zanu-PF has reiterated.

Last week, Zanu-PF’s commercial division, M and S Syndicate (Private) Limited, contested the registration of the upmarket properties cited as part of the late former president’s estate. Through their lawyers Chihambakwe, Mutizwa & Associates, the company argued the properties, including a Waterfalls home, still belonged to them and cannot be registered under the estate of the late former president.

The Mugabe family had listed the properties as part of the late former president’s estate in a declaration filed at the Master of the High Court.

Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Legal Affairs, Paul Mangwana, said the position of the party remains that the properties will be transferred to the Mugabe family, adding the move is also in recognition of Mugabe’s contributions to the country.

“The leader of the party (President Mnangagwa) made it abundantly clear that the properties in question will be transferred to the family. That is the position of the party as communicated by the First Secretary,” said Mangwana.

“This also comes back to the issue of the relationship between the party and its former leader. He is the founding father of our beloved nation and that is one obvious reason why the President made that commitment.”

The route taken by M & S, Mangwana said, was legally correct in terms of corporate governance, but work was underway to finalise the issue with the shareholder (Zanu-PF).

“M & S Syndicate is legally correct that the properties in question belong to them. In terms of good corporate governance, their position is justified. However, the party is the shareholder and there will be communication between the shareholder and M & S Syndicate on how the properties will be transferred.

“I am not at liberty to share discussions between M & S Syndicate and the shareholder, which is Zanu-PF. That information will be shared at the appropriate time. The issue of the transfer is work in progress and the President made his commitment towards that issue very clear.”

The Mugabe family appointed the late former president’s daughter, Bona Mugabe-Chikore, as the executor of his estate. According to the family, Cde Mugabe, who died in Singapore on September 6 this year after a long battle with prostate cancer, did not leave a will for his vast wealth.

He left behind wife Mrs Grace Mugabe, daughter Bona and sons Robert and Chatunga, as well as Russel Goreraza (stepson).

Sources privy to the compilation of Mugabe’s estate told The Sunday Mail that at least three law firms — Uriri Attorneys-at-Law; DSL, a security services outfit; and Venturas and Samkange Legal Practitioners — are responsible for the onerous task.

Family lawyer Mr Terrence

Hussein of Hussein Ranchod is reportedly superintending over the process.

Some close family members, who elected to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the matter, recently told The Sunday Mail that some of Cde Mugabe’s wealth had already been divided up and might never be made public.

Family spokesperson Mr Walter Chidhakwa recently told this publication that the late revolutionary’s belongings were distributed in accordance with traditional custom at a memorial service held in Zvimba on October 19.

The Blue Roof mansion is valued around US$9 million.

Deliberations at the annual indaba of the ruling party scheduled for Goromonzi, Mashonaland East, this week will mainly focus on “challenges facing the country”, particularly prices of basic commodities and improving people’s standards of living, Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu has said.

About 5 000 party delegates from across the country are expected to attend the 18th Annual People’s Conference at Goromonzi High School.

Another 2 000 participants from private organisations, including other political parties, will also attend.

The five-day event kicks off with Politburo and Central Committee meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Delegates are expected to travel to the venue on Thursday, where proceedings will begin the next day.

However, discussions at the conference, which is running under the theme “Modernise, Mechanise and Grow the Economy”, would likely centre on policies to grow the economy and improve people’s livelihoods.
“We understand the challenges facing the country in terms of prices of basic commodities,” said Dr Mpofu.

“As you aware, the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) recently directed the return of subsidies. We are sensitive to the plight of our people that after this conference it will be all systems go, for the betterment of the life of our people.”

Cabinet ministers have been invited to give an outline of the progress made in the journey to achieve a moderately prosperous society in 11 years’ time.

Government’s Vision 2030 is premised on establishing an upper-middle income society, which implies growing the country’s economic output (Gross Domestic Product) from an estimated US$25 billion last year to US$65 billion in 2030.

Delegates, Dr Mpofu said, will break into select committees where resolutions will be drawn on the deliverables that people expect in the coming year.

Some of the key issues on the agenda include devolution, food security, social services, macro-economic stability, inclusive growth, infrastructure development, as well as value addition and beneficiation.
People will also know what to expect next year, added Dr Mpofu.

He said: “So there is going to be a takeaway for everyone. They will have a deeper understanding of how the economy is running and what they can also look forward to in the next year. That is why at the end of the conference, there will be resolutions that will aim to direct Government on what they need to do to better people’s lives.”

The conference comes after Zanu-PF recently remodelled itself by seconding senior officials to run the secretariat at the party’s headquarters.

Professionals have also been recruited to superintend over finances, research, policy formulation, as well as social media presence.

The ruling party now has a resource mobilisation unit, under which the party has its own income-generating projects, an investment committee, and a research and policy unit.State media

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa charmed guests during a tour of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo yesterday, when he showed his romantic side by purchasing earrings and some traditional beadwork for First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa.

The First Family was rounding off its tour of the National Gallery when the regional director, Mr Butholezwe Nyathi, showed them the Sabona Sales Gallery, where various artefacts from the Matabeleland region were on sale.

Delegates were left in awe after the First Lady showed her interest in some of the earrings on display, which the President gladly purchased for her, leaving her with an appreciative smile.

He used his personal bank card for the transaction.
It was a rare glimpse of the soft and romantic side to the country’s first citizen.

The President also purchased a painting by local artist Mr Davison V. Mlotshwa named “The Lion in the Wilderness” — which depicts a lion standing in between two lionesses — as well as maps of Zimbabwe from 1711.

The artist thanked President Mnangagwa for the honour and support.

During their tour, which preceded the official launch of the National Arts, Culture and Heritage policy document at a local hotel, the First Family were shown various paintings depicting hope and love.
They also took time to appreciate local art and sculpture.

The newly launched policy serves to remind present and future generations of the country’s values and aspirations, and how to foster cohesion. It also recognises the country’s cultural diversity.State media

By Own Correspondent| Policies to improve people’s livelihood and grow the economy are expected to be discussed at the imminent Zanu PF’s congress according to Obert Mpofu.

The publication quoted Dr Obert Mpofu who is part of the organisers and asked him about the main theme and aim for the congress Dr Mpofu said:

….We understand the challenges facing the country in terms of prices of basic commodities.

As you aware, the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) recently directed the return of subsidies.

We are sensitive to the plight of our people that after this conference it will be all systems go, for the betterment of the life of our people.

Dr Mpofu was speaking in reference to the party’s annual which kicks off this week. 7000 delegates are expected to attend and the 5-day event will start with a politburo meeting according to the publication.

-StateMedia

The EU has taken to task ED’s government over the continued human rights abuses and the slow pace of reforms, the Independent reports. The meeting was held a fortnight ago and the agenda was the continued human rights violations and the continuous harassment of opposition parties in Zimbabwe.

EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Tim Olkkonen spoke to the publication about the meeting and said:
We raised our concerns on the overall human rights situation, particularly in 2019. We had discussions on some of the issues which include the excessive use of force by the security forces.

We had differences in how we interpreted these events. We raised the slowness of reforms and what we hoped to have seen a faster pace both on the economic and political side. We also discussed the
transitional stabilisation programme (TSP ); I think the TSP envisages a faster pace of reforms.
It was a good discussion, very substantial. We had a very substantial agenda.

We discussed political issues, human rights which we needed to discuss at these meetings, governance and the progress on economic reforms.

It was a long meeting which lasted about five hours which tells you about the interest and the level of detail we went into. Of cause we couldn’t agree on everything. But all in all it was an in-depth discussion that we had.

We raised the Mothlanthe Commission report, the EU Electoral Observer Mission report where we have not seen a lot of movement in implementation.-The Independent

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu has hinted that Emmerson Mnangagwa can rule beyond 2028.

According to party insiders, Mpofu recently told his boss (Mnangagwa) that Parliament can amend the constitution for him to have more than two terms.

Mpofu said:
“Mr President, you can go beyond 2028 if you so wish because the issue of law can be taken care of in Parliament.”

PRESS STATEMENT 6 DECEMBER 2019
THE ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE’S STATEMENT ON THE 2019 FESTIVE PERIOD

The festive season is now upon us, the Zimbabwe Republic Police makes a passionate appeal to members of the public to observe the country’s laws as they conduct various activities during the period.

Firstly, we implore motorists to observe all traffic laws and regulations as they travel to different destinations.

Motorists are urged to plan their journeys and avoid travelling during the night. We also entreat public service operators to avoid over-burdening drivers by carrying out extra trips as fatigue will catch up with them leading to accidents.

Overloading and speeding are serious offences in terms of the law hence we implore drivers and operators to be exemplary by being responsible on the roads.

Drivers should avoid driving whilst drunk or driving under the influence of alcohol as this often leads to accidents.

Drivers should check the road-worthiness of their vehicles before embarking on journeys. Police will not hesitate to impound all defective and unroadworthy vehicles besides arresting all those who flout the rules of the road.

On the other hand, cases of unlawful entry and theft are likely to be on the increase during this period.

We urge members of the public to put in place measures to ensure that their homes and property are secured. If travelling, at least a trusted person should be left at home and the Police can be advised to put the house under supervision where possible.

Keeping of large sums of cash and other attractive items at home is discouraged as robbers may pounce on unsuspecting individuals.

As we are now in the rainy season, we discourage drivers from attempting to cross flooded rivers as they risk being swept away by heavy water tides.

Cases of drowning normally characterize this period hence parents and guardians should also monitor their children whenever they play near water bodies to avoid the imminent danger of drowning.

Even travelling whilst it raining is discouraged as lightning can strike at any time. The Zimbabwe Republic Police will deploy officers to enable a conducive environment before, during and after this period hence any suspicious activities should be reported promptly to the nearest Police Station or police officer on sight.

Anti-corruption teams will also be checking on illicit activities hence the public and the police officers are warned to desist from corrupt activities.

Report any suspicious activities on the following numbers, Harare -0242748836, Bulawayo – 0292 -885479, 273547, Midlands – 0542-228636, 230837, Mutare -02020-64288, Masvingo – 0392 -62627, Mashonaland West -0267-2129049, Matabeleland South – 08428- 22834 and
Matabeleland North – 0281 – 35013/12 We also take this opportunity to wish everyone a crime-free festive period and beyond.

[INYATHI P] Assistant Commissioner Senior
Staff Officer (Press, Public and International Relations]
To the Commissioner-General of Police
Police General Headquarters

By A Correspondent- The opposition MDC does not consider Saviour Kasukuwere a threat to its support base as he is a creation of the ruling ZANU PF party.

MDC president Nelson Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda refused to comment much on Kasukuwere’s “Tyson Wabantu” movement.

Speaking to a local publication on Friday, Sibanda said:

“We don’t have to comment on that. Kasukuwere is former Zanu PF or Zanu PF, I think a comment from there would suffice. The MDC has had Kasukuwere as a political opponent. You know how we won elections when he was in politics. Why is that question even relevant?

Kasukuwere is a former ZANU PF bigwig and has been living in self-imposed exile in South Africa since the November 2017 military coup.

His movement, consisting of disgruntled former ZANU PF supporters, distributed flyers and T-shirts branded “Tyson Wabantu” in Bulawayo’s suburbs on Thursday.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A 16 year old schoolboy was crushed to death when a big teak tree fell on him as he was walking past a vegetable market in Victoria Falls, police confirmed yesterday.

The incident occurred at 12 midday on Thursday.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police are investigating the unfortunate incident.

“We confirm receiving a report about an incident which occurred at 12PM involving a Form Three pupil who was on his way home from school. The incident happened when he passed through a vegetable market and in the process he was crushed to death by a big tree that fell on him,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He identified the deceased, who was a pupil at Dadane Vocational College, as Steven Sibanda of Chinotimba suburb.

Asst Comm Nyathi said the big tree suddenly fell on the unsuspecting boy and he died on the spot.

His body was trapped under the fallen tree.

Residents who witnessed the incident said they heard a thunderous and deafening sound as the tree fell unexpectedly.

They said Steven was in the company of two schoolmates when the incident occurred.

The two schoolmates left him outside the vegetable market and on their way out they found him waiting for them. He allegedly started walking ahead in the direction of his home when the two classmates heard people shouting urging him to run away as the tree was falling.

The tree however, fell on him before he could react.

“We just heard a loud sound and thought some cars had collided. As we checked, the whole area was dusty. People started trickling in and crowded the place when they heard that there was a boy trapped underneath,” said an eye witness.

The state media was told that the boy was carrying his school report in his hands as he had passed his end of year examinations and had been telling his friends that the first thing he would do upon arriving home was to show his mother.

Victoria Falls Municipal workers used an excavator to move the tree to remove his body.

When the state media arrived at the scene, the tree had been moved a few metres away.

Another one which had been closer to the one that fell on the boy had been cut down by municipal workers.

The body was taken to the mortuary.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday applied for his case to be referred to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) where he wants to argue that his rights are being trampled upon because he still has presidential immunity which protects him against prosecution.

Mphoko wants the highest court to rule on whether or not he was still entitled to presidential immunity as stipulated by section 98 of the Constitution.

Mphoko’s lawyer Advocate Tawanda Zhuwarara submitted that they wanted legal clarity so that the court could deal with facts.

“Whether presidential immunity as set out in section 98 of the Constitution extends to acts and or omissions by the Vice-President (and former Vice-President) who alleges and intends to prove that such acts or omissions during the discharge of his or her duties were actuated in accordance with section 99 of the Constitution,” Zhuwarara said.

However, the State, represented by Lovack Masuku, submitted that the court has to form an opinion as to whether the request is frivolous or not.

Masuku told the court that if the facts are not disputed, no issue would have arisen in the matter and the defence of good faith can be heard in the trial court not in the ConCourt.

The State argued that Mphoko’s request for referral does not raise an issue of fundamental human rights, therefore, the issue of immunity does not exist since he is now out of office.

But Zhuwarara insisted that his client was entitled to immunity.

“Whether the defence of good faith as enunciated in section 98 (4) of the Constitution is available to a Vice-President (and former Vice-President), who alleges and intends to prove that such acts and or omissions were actuated during the discharge of their duties in accordance of section 99 of the Constitution,” Zhuwarara said.

Harare regional magistrate Hosea Mujaya will make a ruling on December 16. 

-NewsDay

By A Correspondent- The ruling Zanu-PF party has dismissed social media reports on the alleged formation of a political outfit calling itself “Zanu-PF Original” as misleading and an insult to the values and ethos of the liberation struggle.

In a statement yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said the ruling party’s debarred members now operating from exile under the so-called “G40” banner, were behind the attempt to create instability and chaos in the country.

He said the alleged formation of the new political party by the G40 malcontents should be dismissed with contempt.

“The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the ‘Zanu-PF Original’ is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

“The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents,” he said.

Khaya Moyo urged the party’s leadership and membership to protect the party’s identity from misleading malcontents who wanted to foment instability in the country.

“The ruling revolutionary Zanu-PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s party from political wolves whose major preoccupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved nation.

“Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter. Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted and property destroyed,” he said.

Khaya Moyo added: “The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary Zanu-PF (Zanu Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then Zanu and Zapu parties with their armed liberation armies comprising ZANLA and ZIPRA respectively.

“All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front. The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of December 22, 1987.”

Former Zanu-PF National Political Commissar and ex-Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has been reported to be the brains behind the alleged formation of the party.

Kasukuwere is living in self-imposed exile in South Africa.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- A Zambian cross border vendor has been arrested for border jumping and stealing chairs and building material from a restaurant in Victoria Falls.

Morrison Lipila (26) of Libulu in Livingstone crossed into Victoria Falls on November 22 through an undesignated entry point and proceeded to Lookout Cafe near the gorges where he stole two chairs, six roofing sheets, five rolls of wire and five litres of used oil.

The property belonged to the restaurant where construction work was underway.

Lipila pleaded not guilty to theft and guilty to illegally entering the country when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje.

He told the court that he did not steal the property but found it in the bush when he went to relieve himself.

“I was having a running stomach and decided to go into the bush to relieve myself. That is when I saw some wire rolls which I didn’t take. I then saw two chairs and decided to take them. As I was carrying the chairs, I met some people who asked me to sell them the chairs,” said Lipila.

He said a spirit possessed him and ordered him to take the chairs.

Lipila was convicted and remanded in custody and will know his fate today when the magistrate sentences him.

For the State, Mr Onias Nyathi said the property belonged to Wild Horizons which runs the restaurant.

The court was told that Lipila was arrested after two Wild Horizons employees who saw him carrying the chairs tricked him into following them to their workplace after pretending they wanted to buy the property.

The two had identified the chairs as their employer’s which had been stolen.

A report was made to the police leading to Lipila’s arrest.

— StateMedia

PRESS RELEASE

The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the “ZANU PF Original” is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter.

Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted and property destroyed.

The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary ZANU PF (ZANU Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then ZANU and ZAPU parties with their armed liberation armies comprising of ZANLA and ZIPRA respectively.

All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front.

The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of 22 December 1987.

The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents.

The ruling revolutionary ZANU PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s Party from political wolves whose major pre-occupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved Nation.
The formation of this outfit must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
Vigilance is the watchword.

Ambassador S.K Moyo
ZANU PF SPOKESPERSON

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

Zimbabwe’s economy is on the right path and Government continues to craft policies that seek to protect investments while creating an environment for business to thrive, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.

He said this while officially opening the second phase of Varun Beverages’ manufacturing plant installed at a cost of US$20 million in Harare.

Varun Beverages is the world’s second largest franchise (outside the US) of carbonated soft drinks and non-carbonated beverages sold under trademarks owned by PepsiCo.

It produces many brands such as Pepsi, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Sting and Seven-Up among others.

President Mnangagwa said to demonstrate Government’s determination to improve the ease of doing business, Senate passed the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) Bill this week.

The ZIDA Bill seeks to streamline and simplify investment procedures in the country through the creation of a one-stop investment centre.

It is part of a raft of reforms being implemented to ease investment processes in the country.

President Mnangagwa said Government would continue opening up the economy for investors.

“We are moving in the right direction by opening up and allowing protection of investments in Zimbabwe and creating economic space for business to thrive and those who have talent among us should be allowed to exercise that talent.

“This investment feeds into our national Vision 2030 and complements milestones committed in the 2020 national budget, gearing for higher productivity, growth and job creation, especially for women and youth,” said President Mnangagwa.

He commended Varun Beverages for the confidence it had shown in the country through continued investments.

“In 2018, I commissioned a US$30 million bottling plant and today, I congratulate and applaud Varun Beverages, for establishing yet another state-of-the-art plant and additional production lines with a total (value) of US$20 million.
“This additional investment shows the continued trust and confidence Varun has in doing business in Zimbabwe.

My Government will continue to create an enabling environment to ease the convenience and cost of doing business and ensure that the country is a safe, attractive and competitive investment destination.

“This drive is already bearing fruits with the World Bank acknowledging Zimbabwe as one of the top global improvers in 2019.”State media

ZANU PF MIDLANDS Province yesterday laid to rest two liberation war heroes, days after another one was also buried at the provincial heroes’ acre in Gweru.

Those buried yesterday at the provincial shrine are Cdes Fredrick Kazunga Kugara (60) whose Chimurenga name was Gondo Resango or Richard Zanu Zanla and Tadios Dziva (61) who was known as Sarudzayi Tichatonga. The two freedom fighters from Redcliff were laid to rest three days after the province had buried Cde William Kudzedzereka (61) of Mbizo suburb in Kwekwe whose Chimurenga name was T42VDAI.

Cdes Kugara and Dziva died on December 2 and 3 after short illnesses.

Addressing family members, senior Government officials and Zanu-PF supporters during the burial of the two freedom fighters, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavima said this was a sad week for the province and the country at large. He said Government was looking at improving the livelihoods of freedom fighters and their families so that they live to enjoy the fruits of their sacrifices.

“We are saddened to be back in less than three days. We were here burying Cde Kudzedzereka from Mbizo in Kwekwe and today we are here paying our last respects to Cdes Kugara and Dziva. These two are part of the many freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the country and we must cherish them. Government is working on improving their livelihoods and there are programmes earmarked for them that are in the pipeline,” said Minister Mavima.

He said Cde Kugara was born on February 3 1958 in Magaranhewe Village in Rushinga.

Minister Mavima said Cde Kugara joined the liberation struggle in 1975 and went to Mozambique and stayed at Magundi Machazine area in Chibaware between 1975 and 1976. “He trained as a nurse at Tembwe Base Two before proceeding to Ethiopia to further his nursing trade at Tarteck Camp. He came back and fought in Manica before going to Mhondoro,” he said.

Minister Mavima said Cde Kugara was attested into the ZNA in 1981. “He went to 5 Brigade before he was transferred to Guinea Fowl in Gweru,” he said.

In 1986, Cde Kugara married Mrs Elizabeth Mangena and rose through the ranks to the position of Warrant Officer Class Two. He said Cde Kugara was deployed under the United Nations Mission in Angola.

Minister Mavima said Cde Kugara was deployed to DRC, Eastern Front in 2001 before he retired in 2004.

“Due to his dedication, he was awarded the following medals, independence medal, liberation medal, long and exemplary service medal and the DRC campaign medal,” he said.

Cde Kugara is survived by his wife and five children.

Cde Dziva was born in 1959 in Mberengwa under Chief Muketi. “He attended Sviba Primary School from Grade one to five before joining the liberation struggle in 1972 in Mozambique. He operated in Gaza Province Two Shikuna Matenda until Ceasefire,” Minister Mavima said.

Cde Dziva was attested into the ZNA and deployed to 2:4 Infantry Battalion in Mount Darwin. He was deployed in Nyanga when 5 Bole was established under 5:1 Infantry Battalion. “Due to his dedication, he was awarded the following medals, independence medal, liberation medal, 10 years’ service medal, long and exemplary service medal Mozambique Campaign Medal and the DRC campaign medal,” he said.

Cde Dziva is survived by Mrs Elisa Dziva and three children.

-State Media

The chair of parliament’s ad hoc committee tasked with the redrafting the property clause of the constitution has rubbished suggestions that SA’s drive to address skewed land ownership patterns echoes Zimbabwe’s land grabs of two decades ago.

The catastrophic land grabs in Zimbabwe resulted in an economic and social crisis from which it has struggled to recover. Under former president Robert Mugabe’s land reform programme between 2000 and 2001, thousands of white farmers were forced from their farms, often violently. However, earlier in the year, the Zimbabwean government said it will start paying compensation to many white farmers who lost land, as it ramps up efforts to mend ties with the West.

It set aside $17.5m in this year’s budget for the compensation drive.

There are growing fears that wholesale expropriation without compensation will discourage investment in SA, threaten food security and negatively affect economic activity and job creation. This at a time when the country is battling to tackle low growth and high unemployment.

“I went to Zimbabwe to talk to politicians and other people [and asked] whether they have been observing what we are doing and whether there are similarities on how they handled things and how we handle things, and they said no,” committee chair Mathole Motshekga said on Thursday.

“This is because in Zimbabwe we had Zanu-PF. It was not a multi-party [process] like ours. Here we can pride ourselves on not being a one party state; we are a multi-party democracy and we listen to all the voices. So there is no comparison between us and Zimbabwe,” he said.

The Banking Association SA (Basa), the industry body representing all registered banks in the country, has previously said that while it is essential for the country to deal with land reform‚ it has to be done without discouraging investment.

During public hearings in 2018, Basa warned that a policy of  expropriation without compensation would result in high levels of debt impairments and the value of property as security would be reduced‚ with many investors looking to divest from property to avoid future losses.

Section 25 of the constitution

In 2018, parliament agreed to establish a multi-party, ad hoc committee after it adopted a report of the constitutional review committee on the review of section 25. The report recommended that parliament amend section 25 of the constitution to make explicit that which is implicit regarding expropriation of land without compensation, as a legitimate option to tackle skewed land ownership patterns dating back to the apartheid and colonial eras.

The committee met on Thursday to consider the nuts and bolts of how the clause should be redrafted. This process will require further public participation and the final bill is likely to be published by the end of March 2020.

The draft bill suggests that national legislation must set out specific circumstances in which a court may determine that the amount of compensation be nil, which specific circumstances are yet to be outlined.

So there could be a situation in which payment for expropriated land is not made but this “must be just and equitable, reflecting an equitable balance between the public interest and the interests of those affected, having regard to all relevant circumstances”.

The DA and other opposition parties, including the ACDP, remain firmly opposed to expropriating land without compensation. ACDP MP Steve Swart said it is also crucial for the committee to consider an opinion by the department of trade and industry regarding the impact on the economy, particularly as SA is rapidly approaching a fiscal cliff.

In November, department officials warned against expropriating land owned by foreign nationals, saying it contravenes existing bilateral investment treaties, adding that doing so could also result in SA being denied access to key markets, such as the US.

-Source: Business Day (SA)

Zimbabwe’s economy is on the right path and Government continues to craft policies that seek to protect investments while creating an environment for business to thrive, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.

He said this while officially opening the second phase of Varun Beverages’ manufacturing plant installed at a cost of US$20 million in Harare.

Varun Beverages is the world’s second largest franchise (outside the US) of carbonated soft drinks and non-carbonated beverages sold under trademarks owned by PepsiCo.

It produces many brands such as Pepsi, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Sting and Seven-Up among others.

President Mnangagwa said to demonstrate Government’s determination to improve the ease of doing business, Senate passed the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) Bill this week.

The ZIDA Bill seeks to streamline and simplify investment procedures in the country through the creation of a one-stop investment centre.

It is part of a raft of reforms being implemented to ease investment processes in the country.

President Mnangagwa said Government would continue opening up the economy for investors.

“We are moving in the right direction by opening up and allowing protection of investments in Zimbabwe and creating economic space for business to thrive and those who have talent among us should be allowed to exercise that talent.

“This investment feeds into our national Vision 2030 and complements milestones committed in the 2020 national budget, gearing for higher productivity, growth and job creation, especially for women and youth,” said President Mnangagwa.

He commended Varun Beverages for the confidence it had shown in the country through continued investments.

“In 2018, I commissioned a US$30 million bottling plant and today, I congratulate and applaud Varun Beverages, for establishing yet another state-of-the-art plant and additional production lines with a total (value) of US$20 million.
“This additional investment shows the continued trust and confidence Varun has in doing business in Zimbabwe.

My Government will continue to create an enabling environment to ease the convenience and cost of doing business and ensure that the country is a safe, attractive and competitive investment destination.

“This drive is already bearing fruits with the World Bank acknowledging Zimbabwe as one of the top global improvers in 2019.”State media

MYSTERY surrounds the death of a boy (13) from Bulawayo who allegedly finished an undiluted 750ml bottle of brandy in less than an hour.

The brandy has an alcohol percentage of 43 percent compared to ordinary beer that has between three and seven percent alcohol content. 

Sources alleged that Clayton Mhlanga of Entumbane suburb was forced to drink the alcohol by his older friends, but a statement given to the police suggests that he guzzled the liquor alone in their car while his friends were watching soccer at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.

He died on Sunday from suspected alcohol poisoning. 

The group had gone to watch the Chibuku Cup final pitting Highlanders and Ngezi Platinum Stars.

Family members said Clayton’s hands and tongue turned black as he lay comatose at home.

He was expected to be buried at Athlone Extension Cemetery on Thursday.

Clayton’s older friends Mthunzi Malaba (22), Thobani Ncube and Likhwa Dube — all from the same suburb — have allegedly disappeared.

They told police that they had left the boy in their car while they watched the Chibuku Cup final which Highlanders won 1-0. 

They also claimed that when they returned, they found the boy had downed the brandy and was in a semi-conscious state.

 Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident.

“On November 30 at around 2PM, the deceased went to Barbourfields Stadium to watch the match with his friends. The now deceased was left guarding the car. After the match, the three friends returned and realised that the now deceased had consumed undiluted alcohol which they had left in the car,” she said.

Chief Insp Simango said the friends took Clayton to his parents’ house at around 10PM and handed him over to his stepfather Mr Emmanuel Sibanda.

 “Sibanda tried to talk to the now deceased and he was not responding. He sprinkled some water on him but he did not respond and he later laid him on his bed,” she said.

On December 1, the boy’s health had seriously deteriorated.

“His father gave him some porridge and water. After consumption he vomited everything and his condition seriously deteriorated. At around 3PM he showed no signs of life,” said Chief Insp Simango.

Clayton’s grandmother, who declined to be named, said the family did not know what happened to him.

“We cannot tell you anything pertaining to the death of our son. We are being told that he drank ‘hot stuff’,” she said.

The granny said what remains mysterious is that his tongue and hands had turned black.

“The post-mortem results said his kidneys were swollen, his tummy was full of water and some drops of alcohol were also found in the tummy. So, if it is alcohol that caused his death then why has his tongue and hands turned black. We suspect that there might be foul play by his friends,” she said.

-State Media

MYSTERY surrounds the death of a boy (13) from Bulawayo who allegedly finished an undiluted 750ml bottle of brandy in less than an hour.

The brandy has an alcohol percentage of 43 percent compared to ordinary beer that has between three and seven percent alcohol content.

Sources alleged that Clayton Mhlanga of Entumbane suburb was forced to drink the alcohol by his older friends, but a statement given to the police suggests that he guzzled the liquor alone in their car while his friends were watching soccer at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.

He died on Sunday from suspected alcohol poisoning.

The group had gone to watch the Chibuku Cup final pitting Highlanders and Ngezi Platinum Stars.

Family members said Clayton’s hands and tongue turned black as he lay comatose at home.State media

The Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services portfolio committee said soldiers and police officers are being poorly fed, a situation that compromises their discipline and poses a grave danger to national security.

Committee chair, Levi Mayihlome, said that whereas rations are a mandatory requirement, each soldier is feeding on nine rations instead of the ideal 15 rations items per day. He added:

“The nine ration items per soldier per day translate to $54,98 per soldier per day. A paltry $103,17 million was allocated for this item, it is far below the minimum requirement.

“It means that each soldier will survive on 39 cents per day, yet each meal is currently selling at an average price of $30.

“This implies that the soldiers are exposed to intolerable hunger which affects training and skills development programmes. It compromises the soldiers’ discipline.”

In his 2020 national budget presentation last month, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube allocated $3,11 billion and $2,8 billion to the Defence and Home Affairs ministries respectively.

However, according to the Committee, the funds are not adequate to meet the requirements of the security services.

– DailyNews

VICE-President General (Rtd) Constantino Chiwenga is on the brink of divorcing his wife, ex model Marry Chiwenga, after the pair had a nasty fallout when he was seriously ill and hospitalised in South Africa.

Family members and government officials say the fallout revolved around personal matters related to Marry’s behaviour and her attempt to have Chiwenga write a will, in which she would have been the largest beneficiary of the couple’s vast estate in the event that he dies.

At the time, most members of Chiwenga’s family, as well as government officials, had ruled out the general’s hopes of recovery. Senior Zanu PF officials had also begun jostling for his post, while others pushed for him to be dropped from government on the grounds that he was incapacitated.

Chiwenga and Marry have been living separately after the Vice-President moved into another house on arrival from China, where he was hospitalised for four months, before staging a remarkable recovery.

Chiwenga has instructed his lawyer Wilson Manase to handle divorce proceedings and the Zimbabwe Independent understands the matter will be heard soon, possibly by Judge President George Chiweshe who has since received the papers.

Chiweshe is a former Judge Advocate-General in the Zimbabwe National Army. Sources told the Independent he received the divorce papers directly instead of through the Registrar of the High Court to ensure they do not leak.

“The general was livid when the proposal (to write a will) was made. He was weak and emacipated, but summoned all the energy he had to let Marry know his feelings. He accused her of wanting him dead and even suggested that she could be working with his political rivals to poison or bewitch him,” a government official said.

“He then barred her from seeing him. When arrangements were made for the VP to be flown to China, she was kept in the dark. The general also made it clear that he did not want to see her while in China and that is the reason why she never visited him in Beijing when he was hospitalised there for four months.”

Officials said Chiwenga has not tried to hide his disdain for his wife even in public.“That is the reason why Marry was not part of the welcoming party at the Robert Mugabe International Airport when the general returned. It was not a coincidence. It was by design,” the official said.

“Marry was also not at the Chiwenga homestead last weekend when the general held a welcome home party. He did not mention her when he was mentioning people who stood by him when he was ill.”

In his remarks at the party, Chiwenga paid glowing gratitude to Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro who accompanied him to South Africa, India and China as he sought treatment for an ailment his loyalists link to poisoning.

He also mentioned the aides who stuck by his side during his four-month stay in Beijing as he convalesced. Chiwenga jetted into the country on November 23 and was received at the airport by Chinese embassy officials, his son Richard and other relatives.

Officials revealed Chiwenga did not return to his Borrowdale Brooke home, but chose to stay at one of his nearby properties, which was furnished a few weeks before his arrival.

With the matter set to spill into the courts, sources said, lawyers representing Chiwenga have been instructed to push for a court order barring the media from reporting on the divorce proceedings.

In 2012, Chiwenga, then Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, also sought and was granted a court order to gag the media when he was in the process of divorcing Jocelyn, before he married Marry.

A weak and emacipated Chiwenga was airlifted to China in July after President Emmerson Mnangagwa engaged Chinese leader Xi Xinping on his behalf.

He underwent two operations to clear his oesophagus which was blocked resulting in him failing to eat food.

Marry confirmed that she indeed never visited him in China during the time the vice-president was hospitalised, but referred questions to Chiwenga, whom she said was the best person to confirm whether the couple was still staying together.

“You have his number. The VP’s number. If you find it you can ask him those questions. He is the best person who can answer that question. Inini handina chekupindura (I have nothing to say). Remember, it is the vice-president who came back. So it is him whom you must ask. “I was here, it was him who was not around. I am sure he will tell you. You know I cannot speak on his behalf. I was not in China, I was here. That is why I said the best person to ask is him. I have nothing to say.”

Marry said on the vice-president’s recovery “journey”, a “lot of things” happened and suggested that she had done her part to assist.“A lot of things happened while he was in China, but our journey did not start in China. China was only the last part of the journey. You have to ask him how he got to India, you must ask him. There is someone who initiated all this.

“This also applies to you. If you fall sick who is going to initiate that you are taken to the hospital? Isn’t it the person that you stay with? So that is why I am saying it is only fair that you get to speak to him. As I said, I am not the one who was in China. It is the VP who was in China. You should say to him zvanzi nambuya venyu imi ndimi manga muri kuChina vanokupindurayi. (Say to him Marry says you were in China, he should be able to answer you.”

Efforts to get a comment from Chiwenga’s lawyer, Manase were futile as our calls went unanswered. Sources said Marry tried to mend the relationship several times while Chiwenga was in China, but to no avail. She also tried to visit, but was denied a visa.

Officials say she also tried to mend bridges through emissaries, but her efforts failed.Marry was not at Chiwenga’s home when Mnangagwa visited his deputy after his arrival from China.

But, sources said, Marry, together with her four children with the general, was later invited to visit the vice-president.“Even though she was not invited when Mnangagwa met with the general, Marry was later summoned to bring the kids to the house so that they could see their father.

“During their visit, which was not characterised by any air of animosity, the couple agreed that they would proceed with their divorce plans. The children were very excited to see their father for the first time in four months,” a government official told this newspaper this week.

The Independent understands Chiwenga wants to keep the couple’s matrimonial home, which he said was of “sentimental value to him” when he was divorcing Jocylene.

In the face of the looming divorce, sources said Marry has maintained her innocence, distancing herself from allegations that she could have given a hand around reports that the former general was poisoned.

In the aftermath of the November 2017 millitary coup, Marry and Chiwenga developed a rare skin ailment which affected their hands and skin complexion.

Chiwenga’s close associates believe he was poisoned by political rivals. The vice-president led the coup, which toppled former president Robert Mugabe and catapulted Mnangagwa to power.

The two’s relationship was, however, strained soon after the coup over transitional arrangements, government appointments as well as Chiwenga’s presidential ambitions.

When Chiwenga was in the process of divorcing Jocelyn, the veil was lifted on his vast wealth empire consisting of prime land, several residential and industrial stands, expensive jewellery, homes and vehicles among other material possessions.

Before marrying the former general in 2012, Marry was wife to former football star Shingayi Kawondera.In July, Kawondera sued Marry for US$700 000, claiming that she fraudulently obtained a divorce order against him to facilitate her marriage to the then army commander.

— Zimbabwe Independent

Farai Dziva|Zanu PF Secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu has hinted that Emmerson Mnangagwa can rule beyond 2028.

According to party insiders, Mpofu recently told his boss (Mnangagwa) that Parliament can amend the constitution for him to have more than two terms.

Mpofu said:
“Mr President, you can go beyond 2028 if you so wish because the issue of law can be taken care of in Parliament.”

The ruling Zanu-PF party has dismissed social media reports on the alleged formation of a political outfit calling itself “Zanu-PF Original” as misleading and an insult to the values and ethos of the liberation struggle.

In a statement yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said the ruling party’s debarred members now operating from exile under the so-called “G40” banner, were behind the attempt to create instability and chaos in the country.

He said the alleged formation of the new political party by the G40 malcontents should be dismissed with contempt.

“The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the ‘Zanu-PF Original’ is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

“The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents,” he said.

Cde Khaya Moyo urged the party’s leadership and membership to protect the party’s identity from misleading malcontents who wanted to foment instability in the country.

“The ruling revolutionary Zanu-PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s party from political wolves whose major preoccupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved nation.

“Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter. Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted and property destroyed,” he said.

Cde Khaya Moyo added: “The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary Zanu-PF (Zanu Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then Zanu and Zapu parties with their armed liberation armies comprising ZANLA and ZIPRA respectively.

“All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front. The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of December 22, 1987.”

Former Zanu-PF National Political Commissar and ex-Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has been reported to be the brains behind the alleged formation of the party.

Kasukuwere is living in self-imposed exile in South Africa.

— State Media

PRESS RELEASE

The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the “ZANU PF Original” is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter.

Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted and property destroyed.

The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary ZANU PF (ZANU Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then ZANU and ZAPU parties with their armed liberation armies comprising of ZANLA and ZIPRA respectively.

All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front.

The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of 22 December 1987.

The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents.

The ruling revolutionary ZANU PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s Party from political wolves whose major pre-occupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved Nation.
The formation of this outfit must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
Vigilance is the watchword.

Ambassador S.K Moyo
ZANU PF SPOKESPERSON

By A Correspondent- A group of doctors here intend to build a hospital in Zimbabwe specialising in Chinese medicine and a feasibility study for the project will be done at the beginning of next year, renowned Chinese medical practitioner Dr Pan Guanghua revealed yesterday.

The cost of the project could not be immediately established but it is expected to create hundreds of jobs and serve citizens, some of whom were seeking specialised treatment abroad.

This comes as Zimbabwe has struck a deal with a company called Guangzhou Yanhao Trading to buy oxygen generators at a low price, almost half of the market price.

The machines purify air to make oxygen for medical use.

Oxygen is one of the major cost drivers in the health sector and Zimbabwe consumes over 120 tonnes of oxygen worth over $4 million per month.

“The acquisition of such a plant for every hospital will help in reducing Government expenditure. Hospitals are facing varied logistical challenges in bringing gas to their institutions.

“There is also one supplier of medical oxygen. The availability of such specialised equipment will help save the country’s foreign currency,” said Dr Bernard Madzima, a health expert who is part of the Zimbabwe delegation here.

The announcement of the hospital project is a major success for First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who has taken it upon herself to improve people’s access to good healthcare and medicines.

The First Lady is Zimbabwe’s health ambassador.

Addressing Zimbabwe’s delegation here on Thursday, Dr Guanghua said a Chinese team will be dispatched to Harare soon and implored Government to make land available for the project.

“All over the world, Chinese medicine is the best above the rest. So I have friends and partners who want us to assist Zimbabwe’s health sector and we want to establish a hospital there dealing with Chinese medicine.

“We are ready to go and beginning of next year, we will send a team to conduct a feasibility study. It will be up to the Government of Zimbabwe to allocate us land for the hospital. We also want to create employment as the hospital will train and employ locals.”

Representing the Ministry of Health, Dr Madzima was awestruck by their readiness to help Zimbabwe improve efficiency and service delivery in the health sector.

“Our Chinese counterparts are willing to support the Ministry of Health and Child Care in rejuvenating our Traditional Medicine Programme.

“The ministry has for years been trying to have vibrant traditional medicine programmes to complement our usual Western medicine and our local medicine but have not really succeeded,” he said.

Dr Madzima said there were possibilities of having people trained as the Chinese had indicated that not only were they ready to bring medicines to Zimbabwe but to actually build a hospital.

“So we are ready to engage them. We want to thank the country’s health ambassador, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is working hard day and night sourcing resources for the health sector.”

Another potential investor, Mr Shaoyou Ji from Chaoshan University, paid tribute to the friendship between China and Zimbabwe, which he said has a long history, and continues to develop in light of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“The relationship between the two countries lies in people’s mutual affinity,  in heart to heart and heart to heart lies in language.

“Language communication is the foundation of national exchanges and cooperation between two countries.

“I believe that in the near future the friends from Zimbabwe will start learning Chinese language. In order to better support foreign friends who want to learn Chinese, Xin Tong Education will fully support those who want to study Chinese through Internet technology.

“The International Youth base project will provide employment and entrepreneurship training in incubation services for young people with entrepreneurial intentions in all the countries along the Belt and Road to enhance the competitiveness and success rate of youth employment in all countries along the way,” he said.

He said it was his hope that Xin Tong Education and the Belt and Road Initiative international youth base project will join hands with the Angel of Hope Foundation.

Mr Shaoyou described the First Lady as an “angel of hope” who has given wings to the hopeless, adding that she was a model of charity.

Mrs Vicky Ruan, the foreign department manager for Guangzhou Tengen Solar Technology said her solar firm also had plans to open a branch in Zimbabwe.

Solar has become a viable alternative for Zimbabwe which is facing electricity generation problems. The country also does not have enough foreign currency to import electricity from its neighbours.

The adoption of solar energy will also reduce the country’s power import bill.

Amai Mnangagwa, at whose invitation the Zimbabwean delegation is here, praised China for standing by Zimbabwe in its time of need.

“I would like to thank the President of China and the entire nation for standing with Zimbabwe in times of need. China and Zimbabwe have a history. Since it’s we are in the new dispensation, Zimbabwe is rebuilding and on its way to recovery.

“We really need partners in the solar business for our industries, hospitals, irrigation and rural communities, to mention just a few. We need your support as we are reviving our manufacturing industry. Your help is needed for the transformation of Zimbabwe.

“I want to emphasise that we need to train our youths in different areas, hence it is important to identify areas where they can be trained in. Those who would have been trained will go back home and impart knowledge to others.”

The First Lady said Zimbabwe needed investment and invited those keen on helping Zimbabwe to do so freely. The Angel of Hope patron is in China at the invitation of Mrs Juliana Elhawary, the director of ChinaBrand International Exposition.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- In a statement, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo accused those behind the formation of Zanu Pf Original of fomenting chaos and discord in the country adding that his party will not tolerate the formation of another political outfit using the name Zanu Pf.

Khaya Moyo said the ruling party’s debarred members now operating from exile under the so-called “G40” banner, were behind the attempt to create instability and chaos in the country under the guise of Zanu Pf Original.

He said the alleged formation of the new political party by the G40 malcontents should be dismissed with contempt.

“The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the ‘Zanu-PF Original’ is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

“The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents,” he  said.

Khaya Moyo urged the party’s leadership and membership to protect the party’s identity from misleading malcontents who wanted to foment instability in the country.

“The ruling revolutionary Zanu-PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s party from political wolves whose major preoccupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved nation.

“Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter. Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted and property destroyed,” he said.

Khaya Moyo added: “The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary Zanu-PF (Zanu Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then Zanu and Zapu parties with their armed liberation armies comprising ZANLA and ZIPRA respectively.

“All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front. The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of December 22, 1987.”

Former Zanu-PF National Political Commissar and ex-Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has been reported to be the brains behind the alleged formation of the party.

Kasukuwere is living in self-imposed exile in South Africa.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent-VICE President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday officially commissioned two Bailey bridges constructed by the South African National Defence Forces (SANDF) and the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) at Kopa, Chimanimani, a development expected to bring an economic boom to a district that produces fruits, tea and timber.

The two bridges were donated to Zimbabwe by the South African government after Cyclone Idai ravaged Chimanimani killing hundreds and destroying infrastructure worth US$1 billion.

VP Chiwenga said construction of the bridges bores testimony to South Africa’s “pure love” for Zimbabwe.

“The commissioning of the two Bailey bridges marks the official handover of vital infrastructure constructed in a joint operation between the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the South African Defence Forces. Hence today we witness the fruition of that special promise by a sisterly neighbour, who quickly heeded the call to rescue us during the time of need,” he said.

VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe was humbled by the commitment shown by South Africa in restoring the livelihoods of the affected communities through the donation and construction of the Bailey bridges.

“This gesture demonstrates pure love by our friends from the Republic of South Africa. The construction of the two Bailey bridges marks a new era in the restoration of livelihoods to the communities in Chimanimani by investing in resilient infrastructure which will revive one of the economic hubs of our nation. The bridges have reopened the convenient lines of communication which Cyclone Idai had destroyed,” he added.

The VP challenged local companies contracted by Government to repair roads and bridges in Chimanimani and Chipinge to emulate the joint operation by the ZNA and the SANDF at Kopa, which completed their work on time.

-StateMedia

Zimbabwe’s central bank has asked the International Monetary Fund to overlook the country’s shortcomings in achieving fiscal targets and allow a programme to help restore the economy to run its course.

Eddie Cross, a member of the monetary policy committee who attended the meetings held with the Washington-based lender’s delegation yesterday, said policy makers expected a “tough report” from the IMF team, which is in the country until 11 December to review progress under a Staff Monitored Programme.

“We asked them to recognize the achievements we have made in such a short space of time,” Cross said in an interview in the capital, Harare. “We urged them to recognize that our fundamentals are now sound.”

Cross said some of the achievements include a reduction in the budget deficit, the establishment of an interbank market and reducing state employee costs.

An electronic interbank system will go live later this month as the central bank tries to bring transparency into the trading system. So far, 15 lenders have confirmed their participation.

However, the gains have been overshadowed by the worst economic crisis in a decade.

Monthly inflation surged to 38% in October and while the statistics agency has stopped publishing an annual price-growth rate, Cross puts it at 400%.

According to Bloomberg calculations, based on the statistics office’s consumer price index data, the rate was 440% in October.

A drought has also left nearly half the population of 14 million people food-insecure.

Rising food costs forced the government to make an about-turn on scrapping grain subsidies.

The government will shoulder this cost and it’s likely to attract scrutiny from the IMF after it called for tighter monetary measures and curbs on government spending in its last review.

The Staff-Monitored Programme is seen as a precursor to getting debt relief that’s needed to restore the economy, and is due to end in March.

Cross said he’s sure the IMF would “grudgingly agree” to let the program run its course.- Bloomberg

LOCAL DStv subscribers will be getting a rare treat from their service provider when they renew their subscriptions this month as they will get a free upgrade to the next bouquet package.

This promotion is only open to subscribers, whether active or in-active of the DStv Access, Family, Compact and Compact Plus bouquets when they renew subscription and it cannot be activated if a subscriber downgrades from their current or previous package at time of renewal.

The offer means an Access viewer will be upgraded to Family, Family to Compact and Compact to Compact Plus, and Compact Plus to Premium. 

Liz Dziva, MultiChoice Zimbabwe publicity and public relations manager said this promotion will run up to December 24 with the free upgrade valid for one month.

“It’s a way of thanking customers of these packages for their support and a means of adding value to their DStv experience before, during and after the festive season,” Dziva said.

She said those who have already taken advantage of this promotion which was launched last month are happy with the offer as they are getting quality festive season content.

“People who’ve already taken advantage of this Christmas bonus are reporting great satisfaction at their access to a greater number of channels and programming which includes a large amount of festive season content of course.”

Added Dziva: “This treat is all about giving exposure to a greater amount of the rich offering available on DStv. It also acknowledges the difficulties Zimbabwean subscribers face in the current economic climate. 

“The DStv experience is greatly enhanced during the festive season with additional entertainment and a whole range of holiday fun on offer to all viewers.”

DStv Premium customers, Dziva said, had not been left out as they have ongoing offers that have been created especially for them and are usually communicated directly to them.

“This time, the focus falls on the many Access, Family, Compact and Compact Plus viewers and we know they’ll enjoy this festive offer,” said Dziva. 

By A Correspondent- The ruling Zanu-PF party has dismissed social media reports on the alleged formation of a political outfit calling itself “Zanu-PF Original” as misleading and an insult to the values and ethos of the liberation struggle.

In a statement yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said the ruling party’s debarred members now operating from exile under the so-called “G40” banner, were behind the attempt to create instability and chaos in the country.

He said the alleged formation of the new political party by the G40 malcontents should be dismissed with contempt.

“The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the ‘Zanu-PF Original’ is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

“The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents,” he  said.

Khaya Moyo urged the party’s leadership and membership to protect the party’s identity from misleading malcontents who wanted to foment instability in the country.

“The ruling revolutionary Zanu-PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s party from political wolves whose major preoccupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved nation.

“Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter. Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted and property destroyed,” he said.

Khaya Moyo added: “The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary Zanu-PF (Zanu Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then Zanu and Zapu parties with their armed liberation armies comprising ZANLA and ZIPRA respectively.

“All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front. The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of December 22, 1987.”

Former Zanu-PF National Political Commissar and ex-Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has been reported to be the brains behind the alleged formation of the party.

Kasukuwere is living in self-imposed exile in South Africa.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- 2 Harare residents have approached the High Court seeking damages in excess of 1 Million from the government after they were evicted from Allington farm in 2016 and their homes destroyed.

The duo, Samson Chiwakata and Marlon Chiwakata, approached the court on 2 separate occasions are demanding  US$58 661,63 and US$37 596,72, respectively and an additional $500 000 each for pain and suffering.

According to the publication, one of the plaintiffs, Samson said:

The demolition of the plaintiff’s property was done without a court order to that effect and no notice was given to the plaintiff as required by law. As a result of this illegal act by the defendants, the plaintiff suffered loss in the sum of US$58 661,63 being the cost of constructing the house.

-DailyNews

Correspondent|The Zimbabwean government has failed to guarantee citizens of adequate fuel supplies in the festive season in a development set to dampen the festive mood already affected by the country’s failing economy.

Deputy energy minister Magna Mudyiwa said while there was improvement in the fuel supply, the country was not yet out of the woods.

While petrol has been relatively available, the country has experienced erratic supply of diesel.

“Particularly now that we are towards the festive season when people would want to travel to their rural homes, holiday resorts and so forth. As a Ministry, we are very much aware that our fuel has been constrained as of late and efforts are under way to ensure that we have enough fuel during the festive season,” said Mudyiwa.

“The challenge that we have is about the rollover of the lines of credit, the credit letters that have been issued for the payment of fuel. Now that process is over, I think we have seen that there is a slight improvement in our service stations. I am not saying there is total sanity there but there is some improvement and we are still working on that.

“We have been discussing with the RBZ which issues the letters of credit that they expedite the process and ensure that the fuel we need is made available and well in time before the Christmas holiday.”

By A Correspondent- The EU has taken to task ED’s government over the continued human rights abuses and the slow pace of reforms, the Independent reports.

The meeting was held a fortnight ago and the agenda was the continued human right violation and the continuous harassment of opposition parties in Zimbabwe.

EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Tim Olkkonen spoke to the publication about the meeting and said:

“We raised our concerns on the overall human rights situation, particularly in 2019. We had discussions on some of the issues which include the excessive use of force by the security forces.

We had differences in how we interpreted these events. We raised the slowness of reforms and what we hoped to have seen a faster pace both on the economic and political side.

We also discussed the transitional stabilisation programme (TSP); I think the TSP envisages a faster pace of reforms.”

It was a good discussion, very substantial. We had a very substantial agenda. We discussed political issues, human rights which we needed to discuss at these meetings, governance and the progress on economic reforms.

It was a long meeting which lasted about five hours which tells you about the interest and the level of detail we went into. Of cause we couldn’t agree on everything.

But all in all it was an in-depth discussion that we had. We raised the Mothlanthe Commission report, the EU Electoral Observer Mission report where we have not seen a lot of movement in implementation.”

-TheIndependent

State Media|The ruling Zanu-PF party has dismissed social media reports on the alleged formation of a political outfit calling itself “Zanu-PF Original” as misleading and an insult to the values and ethos of the liberation struggle.

In a statement yesterday, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Simon Khaya Moyo said the ruling party’s debarred members now operating from exile under the so-called “G40” banner, were behind the attempt to create instability and chaos in the country.

He said the alleged formation of the new political party by the G40 malcontents should be dismissed with contempt.

“The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the ‘Zanu-PF Original’ is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

“The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents,” he  said.

Khaya Moyo urged the party’s leadership and membership to protect the party’s identity from misleading malcontents who wanted to foment instability in the country.

“The ruling revolutionary Zanu-PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s party from political wolves whose major preoccupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved nation.

“Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter. Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted and property destroyed,” he said.

Khaya Moyo added: “The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary Zanu-PF (Zanu Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then Zanu and Zapu parties with their armed liberation armies comprising ZANLA and ZIPRA respectively.

“All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front. The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of December 22, 1987.”

Former Zanu-PF National Political Commissar and ex-Cabinet Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has been reported to be the brains behind the alleged formation of the party.

Kasukuwere is living in self-imposed exile in South Africa.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested 10 Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officers and agents stationed at Beitbridge Border Post on allegations of smuggling vehicles into the country.

This is just a tip of what is suspected to be a very large syndicate involving 102 of the suspected 2 400 smuggled vehicles in the investigation.

In addition to the 10 arrested, four Zimra supervisors are suspected of being implicated in the smuggling scam, and one of them has since been suspended from work to pave the way for investigations.

Reports also suggest that managers of three companies that were contracted by Zimra to clear the vehicles and goods implicated in the scam and their clearing agents, have also been arrested or face arrest.

ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure yesterday confirmed the arrests.

“Yes, we have arrested 10 Zimra officials who were allegedly involved in the smuggling of vehicles and they will soon appear in court,” he said.

“The operation targeting to recover smuggled vehicles is an ongoing exercise and we will not rest until all who are involved are brought to book.

“ZACC and Zimra have since started to recover some of the vehicles which entered in the country illegally. We expect to recover more. The nation has lost thousands (of dollars) in revenue in this scam and we need to recover that money.”

The arrests come after ZACC and Zimra launched a blitz targeting suspected smuggled vehicles which were usually sold at car sales across the country.

About 102 vehicles have so far been recovered.

Vehicles netted under the blitz were recovered from Washnet, Emri and Prince Edward Car Sales and from a dealer based at the intersection of Mazowe Street and Josiah Tongogara Avenue in Harare.

Mr Makamure said the operation was continuing and more arrests were likely once investigations were completed.

The joint operation by the ZACC and Zimra is targeting 2 400 vehicles suspected to have been smuggled in recent months.

Mr Makamure warned car importers and Zimra officials that ZACC will not hesitate to arrest those found on the wrong side of the law, whatever their status in society.

He said the country should have earned foreign currency through duty payments, but corrupt officials are blocking revenue collection.

“We recently signed an MoU with Zimra to collaborate in the fight against graft and these are some of the fruits. There will be several arrests and this will include high-profile figures linked to these criminal activities,” said Comm Makamure.

Recently, Zimra identified 433 vehicles suspected to have been smuggled into Zimbabwe and has invited their owners to the revenue collecting body’s offices for verification.

Top-of-the range models that include Toyota Landcruisers, BMWs, Jeep Grand Cherokees, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Toyota Fortuners, Range Rovers, Isuzus, Land Rover Discoveries, Ford Rangers and Audis, are dominating the targeted list.

The introduction of new notes by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) last month has failed to end the cash crisis that has been bedevilling the country for several years.

Long winding queues are still the order of the day at various banks in Harare, with depositors allowed to withdraw a maximum of $100.00 which has already been decimated by runaway inflation.

An independent economist, Kudakwashe Machere told Zim Morning Post that the government should simply dollarise. He said:

Introducing new currency when people do not have faith in the banking sector is trying to plant tobacco in a desert, you will not get any result.

The persistent cash shortages at banks continue at a time when cash barons sell crisp new notes in the streets without any hindrance.

Cash has been extremely scarce for many years with the RBZ governor John Panonetsa Mangudya introducing the bond notes in 2016 and the surrogate currency has now morphed into the new currency.

More: Zim Morning Post

Sowatan|The ANC’s efforts to take full control of Johannesburg hit a snag yesterday after a motion of no confidence against speaker Vasco da Gama failed.

The motion was tabled just a day after the ANC received majority votes in council to have Geoff Makhubo, pictured, installed as mayor.

Chair of chairs Alex Christians stepped up to oversee the proceedings.

Unlike the election of the new mayor which was done on a secret vote, the motion of no confidence was decided on by a show of hands. This meant, the few DA members who had helped the ANC and its partners win the mayor’s seat could not do the same on the day.

Voting was conducted and the motion received 135 votes, 99 votes against it while the 30 EFF councillors abstained from the process. A total of 264 councillors were in chambers.

Christians officially announced the motion to had succeeded, but the DA raised an objection to the outcome, arguing that the rules of council require a 50% plus one for the motion to win.

“This is 50% plus one of the councilors that make up the municipality, not those who are present. The rules are very clear,” Da Gama objected.

A short adjournment was allowed and Christians changed his tune on his return. He reversed his earlier decision and announced that the motion of no confidence had failed.

He told councillors that the principle of 50% plus one meant that half of the 270 seats in council plus one should vote in favour of the motion, meaning the motion should have had 136 votes to win. This angered ANC councillors.

“We don’t mind losing. but as it stands we have 169 councillors. There is vacancy in council,” Makhubo pleaded with Christians.

Christians was not moved and he called Da Gama back to his seat, further agitating an already angry ANC caucus.

Some of the ANC councillors rushed to him aggressively, but were restrained by their leaders. The meeting degenerated to chaos and had to be adjourned.

This leaves the City of Johannesburg with an ANC mayor and a DA speaker, an unworkable situation in local government.

Makhubo told journalists afterwards that Da Gama was history.

“In our view, the City of Johannesburg does not have a speaker. The speaker was voted out. We have proof and precedence that there has been motions that have been carried with 127,122 [votes] and these motions have been acted on. What it means is that most of the decisions that have been taken in this council are illegal. That is not the intention of the rules. They [DA] are hanging on to power,” he said.

“We are consulting with the MEC of Cogta and the city manager.”

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

NOTICE TO MBCHB PART V AND MMeD STUDENTS

1. The Situation in hospitals currently does not allow for the completion of teaching, clinical rotations and mounting of MBChB Part V and MMed examinations.

2. The University has resolved that MBChB Part V and MMed Students be sent away until the University, working with other relevant stakeholders addresses the issues and problems raised by students to enable the continuation of teaching and the conduct of examinations.

3. The Dean of Students has been directed to ensure that all students in University accommodation vacate by end of day Friday 6th December 2019.

PRESS RELEASE

The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the “ZANU PF Original” is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter. Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted and property destroyed.

The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary ZANU PF (ZANU Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then ZANU and ZAPU parties with their armed liberation armies comprising of ZANLA and ZIPRA respectively.

All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front. The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of 22 December 1987.

The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents.

The ruling revolutionary ZANU PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s Party from political wolves whose major pre-occupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved Nation.

The formation of this outfit must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.

Vigilance is the watchword.
Ambassador S.K Moyo
ZANU PF SPOKESPERSON

State Media|Diesel and petrol prices are likely to be more stable from now on after the Government reverted to specific excise duties on these two fuels and on paraffin.

This comes after several months of applying a percentage duty to ensure tax collections rose in line with inflation.

The switch implies that the Government is now reasonably certain that the high level of stability seen in the exchange rate over the last two months is likely to continue and that the Zimbabwean consumer can be given modest protection against fluctuations in world oil prices and a simpler tax structure applied to fuel prices.

In a statutory instrument gazetted on Wednesday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube set the duty on petrol at $4,44 a litre and diesel and paraffin at $4,26 a litre.

Since the beginning of August the duty on petrol has been 45 percent and 40 percent on diesel and paraffin.

The percentages were applied to the landed cost of the fuels, that is the Zimbabwe dollar equivalent, at the interbank rate, of the cost of getting them into the country.

The new fixed charges are slightly under the duty figures used by the energy regulator, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), in its last price formula table and, so long as the exchange rate and world oil prices do not change, the prices of the three fuels could drop by a few cents per litre.

But the change will be tiny as the minister set his new specific taxes at very close to what his percentage duties were last producing.

Fuel imported under the permitted schemes to be legally sold retail in US dollars have attracted much higher taxes since the beginning of August, US$0,45 a litre for petrol and US$0,40 a litre for diesel and paraffin.

At present exchange rates those

duties translate to more than $7,24 for petrol and $6,44 for diesel and paraffin although the actual duties have to paid in US dollars under these schemes.

But this differential taxation is the main reason why fuel sold legally in US dollars is about 30 percent more expensive at current exchange rates than fuel sold in Zimbabwe dollars.

Despite high duties on petrol, the pump price is lower than that of diesel because it is blended with up to 20 percent anhydrous ethanol distilled in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld which brings down the landed price.

Otherwise the landed price is a combination of the crude oil price, refining charges, shipping charges to Beira, Beira port charges and the cost of using the Beira-Feruka pipeline. All these charges are in foreign currency.

The latest Zera table shows the landed cost of diesel at just under US$0,59 a litre and the petrol-ethanol blend price at just under US$0,55 a litre. These reflect the present low international oil prices.

Besides the landed cost converted at the interbank exchange rate, and the taxes, the Zera formula tables show the mark-ups allowed to the oil company, of around 10 percent, and to the service station that sells the fuel to motorists of around 12,5 percent.

For several years, Zimbabwe had specific duties on fuel.

In January these were raised significantly to cope with the serious cheating and illegal re-export of fuel.

They were reduced moderately a little later as the currency allocated to fuel switched from special allocations at 1-1 to interbank rate allocations from late May.

But in his mid-year fiscal review and supplementary budget, Minister Ncube switched to the percentage ad valorem taxes, explaining that he needed to follow inflation.

At that stage he was charging duties of $1,15 on petrol and $0,90 on diesel and paraffin and the switch to percentage taxes saw a jump in fuel prices.

Further jumps were recorded as the interbank exchange rate fell, sometimes sharply, before reaching a high level of stability in the last week of September this year with only marginal monthly falls since then.

The development comes as Government is working flat out to improve the fuel supply situation that worsened last week, resulting in winding queues at most service stations countrywide.

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi on Tuesday attributed fuel supply bottlenecks to the rolling over of Letters of Credit (LCs).

LCs help reduce the payment risks on international trade transactions and allows a buyer’s bank to guarantee payment to a seller if certain criteria are met.

In view of the prevailing foreign currency shortages, the majority of companies depend on LCs for critical imports such as fuel, raw materials and equipment.

Said Minister Chasi: “There was an interruption last week regarding fuel because it coincided with a situation where there were efforts to roll-over the Letters of Credit, so that caused the queues that we began to see but the National Oil and Infrastructure Company (NOIC) has increased the pace at which it has been collecting fuel from Msasa and we asked them to work round the clock until the situation has been regularised.”

He said efforts were being made to ensure motorists did not spend long hours in queues.

By A Correspondent- Four Zimbabwean women have been effectively slapped with a 20-year jail term each after being intercepted in Mauritius with drugs (heroin) worth millions.

According to reports, the women had a combined 1,487 kg of heroin in their bellies, police sources in the Mauritian capital said on Thursday According to reports filtering in through social media, the four ladies were recruited and told to swallow the drugs for delivery in Mauritius. However, sharp-eyed customs officials at the Mauritius border post managed to notice something strange and a frisk search was conducted and ultimately revealed the internal drug bust.

It was also noted that the operation to recruit Zimbabweans for drug trafficking has become rampant and many people are now in the trade to try and escape the harsh conditions in Zimbabwe.

A Facebook post doing the rounds suggests that one of the arrested ladies has a 9 months old baby back in Zimbabwe. Allegedly, the four ladies did not have any legal representation or external help from their families who are oblivious of the happenings.

The lengthy Facebook post also mentioned the ladies had gone to Mauritius under the guise of going to a church conference and were all wearing the same T-shirt.”

These ladies were recruited by B******* T****** the woman I mentioned earlier. She is the one who organized these T-Shirts they are wearing and told them to lie to the custom that they were going to a Roman Catholic church function”, read the statement.

It was also further alleged that they swallowed the heroin but some of it was put in their bags. The poster made a plea with fellow Zimbabweans to see if anyone can recognize the girls and also how the Minister of Foreign Affairs had been approached to try and help

By A Correspondent| The man who announced Emmerson Mnangagwa’s firing from government 2 years ago, Simon Khaya Moyo, has complained saying the recently formed original ZANU PF party seeks to cause chaos in the country.

His comments came as the #TysonWabantu movement gathered steam with the announcement of a party labelled the original “ZANU PF.”

The Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity called on ZANU PF party members not to be swayed by the machinations of the so called “G40 cabal” meant to cause chaos in the country.

“The nauseating and misleading media reports that there is a party calling itself the ‘Zanu-PF Original’ is an insult to the values and ethos of our liberation struggle which ushered in our freedom and independence in 1980.

Our sovereignty did not come on a silver platter. Thousands perished, hundreds were maimed, livestock was looted, and property destroyed. The armed liberation struggle was led by the revolutionary Zanu-PF (Zanu Patriotic Front) party whose composition was the then Zanu and Zapu parties with their armed liberation armies, comprising Zanla and Zipra respectively. All negotiations were held under the banner of the Patriotic Front.

“The facts are clearly captured in the Unity Accord Agreement of 22 December 1987,” said Khaya Moyo.

He also condemned the reported formation of the “Zanu-PF Original.”

He said:
“The so-called Zimbabwe African National Unity PF (Original) never existed and the announcement of its existence and the announcement of its formation is a malignant dream driven by the G40 malcontents.

“The ruling revolutionary Zanu-PF party warns its leadership and membership to remain vigilant and protect the people’s party from political wolves whose major pre-occupation is to create chaos, alarm, despondency and instability in our beloved nation. The formation of this outfit must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. Vigilance is the watchword.”