State Media|Zesa will rotate staff, axe those underperforming and fingered in shoddy deals, and rebundle the utility back into a single company as part of measures to weed out corruption, favouritism for selected consumers, and wasteful management structures.

The newly appointed Zesa board wants to curb entrenched corruption and bad management, which some consumers say has resulted in unfair load-shedding schedules, failure to refurbish power stations and delays in implementing agreed power generation projects.

Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi yesterday met members of the new board chaired by Dr Sydney Zukuzo Gata.

Minister Chasi said there was need to transform Zesa into a vibrant entity capable of delivering electricity to citizens and companies without interruption.

“Government and the public wants a complete overhaul of Zesa. Transfers are imminent. People need to be transferred. Power was now being supplied on political grounds; everyone should have access to power.

“Zimbabweans are tired of load shedding regardless of the explanations,” he said.

Minister Chasi said there would be no sacred cows as efforts to revolutionise Zesa gather pace.

“Part of the electricity challenges stem from corruption, especially in the procurement system. We need a tight procurement system. The transformation should be current in terms of the world trends.

“We want to reach to a point where we export electricity. Re-bundling of Zesa and restructuring it is urgent; there is no room for divided loyalty,” he said.

Turning to the rebundling, Minister Chasi said it was critical as the status quo of “too many companies” results in everyone wanting “to do their own things”.

The unbundling created five companies — Powertel Communications, the Zimbabwe Electricity and Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), Zesa Enterprises (Zent) and Zesa Holdings.

Government also set up the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (Zera), which regulates the energy sector.

The rebundling of Zesa is seen as central to reducing inefficiencies at the State-owned enterprise as all the subsidiaries have managing director posts and other top management positions, adding to staff costs as the bosses earn top dollar, over and above the perks such as top-of-the-range vehicles and holiday allowances.

A Zesa forensic audit will be made public soon, while a new electricity model for powering farmers is being structured. Adoption of new energy sources like solar is one of the key focus areas that the new board will tap into, to find lasting solutions to power outages.

Mr Gata expressed gratitude on behalf of the board, for being entrusted with turning around Zesa’s fortunes.

A 75-YEAR-OLD Bulilima village head has been arrested for allegedly striking his wife with an axe in an infidelity row before burying the body in a shallow grave.

Foreman Sibanda of Village 13 in Vulindlela Ward allegedly struck his wife with an axe on November 11 after accusing her of having an extra marital affair.

He carried the body in a wheelbarrow and then dug a shallow grave in the fields about a kilometre from his homestead where he buried her. The village head of Village 12, Mr Moses Moyo said the offence came to light after Sibanda decided to reveal what he had done to his relatives and showed them where he had buried his wife.

He said the woman’s body was exhumed on Tuesday after a report was made to the police by the deceased’s relatives.

“It appears that Sibanda and his wife Petty Sibanda had a misunderstanding after he accused her of having an extra marital affair. The two were now sleeping in separate bedrooms because of the misunderstanding.

“Then on 11 November Sibanda took an axe and went to his wife’s bedroom hut and confronted her over the matter.

They had a misunderstanding and Sibanda struck her with the axe on the head and she died on the spot.

After realising what he had done, Sibanda carried the body in a wheelbarrow and buried it in a shallow grave in his fields,” said Mr Moyo.State media

Farai Dziva|MDC presidential spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda says Emmerson Mnangagwa must swallow his pride and negotiate with the opposition party.

Speaking to the Daily News, Sibanda urged Mnangagwa to “swallow his pride” to enable the country to move forward.

“They must know that Edgar Whitehead’s banning of the National Democratic Party in 1961 led to a more radical Zapu and, later Zanu being formed.

Instead of beating, abducting, torturing and arresting MDC leaders, we implore Zanu PF to put the people of Zimbabwe ahead of its power obsession.

The MDC has been clear that … Mnangagwa must swallow his pride and embark on negotiations to extricate Zimbabwe from its current abyss,” said Sibanda.

Specialist senior doctors, who are helping keep public hospitals running during the two-month strike by junior doctors, have themselves decided to join in the stay away in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s public health centres are facing collapse after the specialist senior doctors said on Tuesday that they would stop attending to emergencies in solidarity with the 500 doctors who were sacked by the government for joining the strike.

The country is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a decade, with public-sector workers saying they cannot even afford transport to go to work.

Nurses are now working a three-day week, citing poor salaries.

The government said that in November it had doubled doctors’ salaries to about ZWL2,000 ($130), but the doctors want their pay  to be pegged to the US dollar to stop their earnings being eroded by inflation. At more than 300%, Zimbabwe’s inflation is the second highest in the world after Venezuela.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) said its members have agreed to stop going to work.

“We have noted with grave concern the wanton dismissal of more than 435 doctors, the continued summoning of doctors for disciplinary hearings, and the withholding of the paltry salaries for the doctors,” the union said.

The decision to fire doctors “had not capacitated either the hospitals themselves or the human resource base”, the SHDA said.

“We regret to inform you that the SHDA has agreed with its members, who had remained behind offering emergency services to the hospitals, that we are no longer able to offer any emergency services as from 2pm on November 26 2019, until all the fired doctors are reinstated and there is adequate redressal of their incapacities,” the SHDA said in a letter to the clinical director of the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals — the biggest referral group of hospitals in the country.

The doctors defied a court ruling in October saying that their action was illegal and they should return to work.

Zimbabweans are bearing the brunt of the worst economic downturn in a decade, with shortages of foreign currency, fuel, basic foodstuffs, electricity and medicines. 

The crisis has been worsened by a drought that has left more than half the population in need of food aid and forced the government to scramble for scarce dollars to import grain.Credit-Business Live

Watch the video loading below. ..

Watch the video loading below. ..

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe police officer, Daniel Arutura who is stationed at the Southern Region Transtech in Bulawayo has been arrested after he stabbed his children following a quarrel with his wife.

A local publication reported that the drunk Arutura visited his wife he has been living in separation with for almost a year now, in a bid to see his six-year-old kids on the 24th of this month and a dispute erupted between the duo.

The wife, Fungai Miringani, reportedly fled when Arutura grabbed a kitchen knife intending to stab her and left the kids with Arutura then stabbed them severally out of rage before handing himself to the police.

The incident was confirmed by police spokesperson, assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi who said that Miringani returned home and found the children unconscious and then took them to United Bulawayo Hospital for medical treatment.

-Newsday

By Own Correspondent| The government has temporarily closed four schools in Wedza for health reasons after the schools failed to provide water to students.

A local publication reported that Wedza area was hit by a hailstorm which vandalised electricity poles which in turn affected the pumping of water.

The development was confirmed by Mashonaland East Provincial Medical Director, Simukai Zizhou who told the publication that the affected schools would re-open once the water systems become functional.

He said:

I confirm that we closed four schools in Wedza over health-related issues. The schools will open once power is restored as well as ensuring that the water systems are running smoothly.

We only left exam classes that can be managed given the water crisis in the affected schools.

The report comes after violent winds destroyed properties and also killed a number of people over the past week.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological services department has warned that heavy rains were to fall in the country warning citizens to be very alert to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

-Newsday

His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa today ordered his security team not to harm or chase away a suspected mentally ill woman who stood in front of his motorcade as he was preparing to leave for a Kadoma rally; delaying the motorcade for some minutes. pic.twitter.com/u2SGecsMip

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) November 27, 2019

"Health care workers to get incentives including car loan schemes that have a duty free component including affordable meals and refreshments at subsidised prices at their workplaces" Says minister of Health Obediah Moyo pic.twitter.com/rIvSJltsti

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 27, 2019

"Doctors strike has crippled the health delivery system" says Health Minister #ObediahMoyo while presenting his ministerial statement to parliament (Wednesday) pic.twitter.com/IW4PBa67lA

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 27, 2019

By A Correspondent| Higherlife Foundation, an NGO founded by Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa has offered to contribute towards doctors’ salaries in a bid to end the current impasse between government and doctors.

The organisation has offered to pay an extra monthly amount of ZWL$5,000 (US$310), a smartphone, transport and some medical equipment.

The organisation said it was not doing this in consultation with government.

Said Higherlife in a statement:

In order for our healthcare system to continue having this continuous inflow of doctors, it is important for junior and senior resident officers to complete their training within the designated time period.

The scholarship covers those who are currently undergoing a junior or senior resident programme… (and) will last for the duration of six months, with funding contingent upon fellows remaining enrolled in their programme in that period and satisfying all requirements.”

By A Correspondent- MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s spokesperson,  Nkululeko Sibanda, said that the ruling ZANU PF party is copying the repressive tendencies of the Rhodesian regime in the late 1950s and early 1960s which led to the radicalisation of its opponents.

Speaking to a local publication on Monday, Sibanda urged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to “swallow his bride” and negotiate with the MDC.

He said:

They must know that Edgar Whitehead’s banning of the National Democratic Party in 1961 led to a more radical Zapu and, later Zanu being formed.

Instead of beating, abducting, torturing and arresting MDC leaders, we implore Zanu PF to put the people of Zimbabwe ahead of its power obsession.

The MDC has been clear that … Mnangagwa must swallow his pride and embark on negotiations to extricate Zimbabwe from its current abyss.

The MDC has been incensed by the police brutality against in supporters last week in central Harare.

The police have banned countless MDC rallies this year using the draconian Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and its successor, the Maintenance of Law and Order Act (MOPA).

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has pledged loyalty to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, attacking the opposition as “gangsters”.

The vice president reportedly told aides that he wishes to visit former president Robert Mugabe’s widow, Grace, to pay his condolences following his death on September 6.

Chiwenga was unable to attend the funeral as he was receiving treatment abroad.

He torched a storm after suggesting that government workers had no right to strike adding that they should continue serving the nation.

In his first interview after returning home from China where he underwent medical treatment for four months, Chiwenga said:

“I feel very good and I want to thank all the Zimbabweans for their prayers whilst I was away… I really appreciate it.”

The vice president flew home early Saturday in a Chinese government jet, appearing sprightly and healthier than when he was last publicly seen in May adding that the treatment had gone “extremely well” and he was “much, much better.”

He did not say what he was being treated for, although it has been reported that he was poisoned and underwent surgery on his oesophagus.

“I think everything that was possible was done, and I’m now raring to go and join the team to build our country,” Chiwenga said.

Many Zimbabweans despairing over the country’s economic collapse were waiting to hear from the man who, as army general, led the military coup that ousted the late former president Robert Mugabe in 2017.

Reports of sharp disagreements between Chiwenga and Mnangagwa have persisted for months, with the former army chief – touted as Mnangagwa’s successor – said to be insistent that the Zanu PF leader must serve one term and handover the leadership, if not earlier.

But Chiwenga betrayed no such conflict when he spoke to reporters.

“To our leadership, let’s all work together to achieve the vision which the president gave for 2030. Let’s make sure that that vision the president has got, and that wisdom the Almighty has given him, let’s work with him tirelessly to make sure that everything is achieved,” Chiwenga said, speaking from the VIP lounge of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport flanked by deputy Chinese ambassador, Zhao Baogang.

Referring to the opposition as “others”, Chiwenga said “it would not help to have that gangster mentality” – an apparent reference to MDC attempts to stage nationwide protests against the deteriorating economic situation.

Chiwenga claimed the MDC was not a superior alternative to Zanu PF, saying they have been controlling urban municipalities for many years, but service delivery had not improved.

“Why haven’t we seen an improvement, if they’re so good? They’re not doing this for the good of our people, but to destroy our people. So, let’s leave that mentality. That mentality should leave their minds as quickly as possible,” he said.

He also maintained his hard-line stance on industrial action by government workers.

“It will not help to every now and again go on strike. Strike against what? Let’s work, and let’s build our economy,” he said.

The government recently fired over 400 doctors who have been on strike demanding better pay since September. Other government workers like nurses and teachers now work two days per week.

When government workers attempted to hand over a petition to the government early this month, police blocked their march.

Chiwenga was driven to his Chisipite home from the airport, avoiding the Borrowdale home he shares with his wife, Mary, who was not at the airport to welcome him.

On Saturday afternoon, the vice president was visited by Mnangagwa and his wife, Auxillia. The two men shared a bear hug and appeared delighted to see each other.

Chiwenga then flew by helicopter to his rural home in Wedza, where his extended family was expected to conduct some traditional rituals “thanking the ancestors for his healing”, a source said.

-Wires

– ZimEye will go LIVE shortly covering this success story – follow this page for more. – 

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Goods stolen from Sheffield in the United Kingdom have finally been recovered in Chitungwiza following the below (excerpt) ZimEye investigative program.

The recovery comes after less than a month of ZimEye exposing the criminal who was demanding £4,500 upfront claiming that the goods have incurred storage costs while in customs. The deceitful businessman at the centre of this extreme fraud, took advantage of the victim while she was in hospital to smuggle the goods onto a huge shipment across the oceans from the UK. 

For more than 11 years to date ZimEye.com continues the mission to support struggling members of the Zimbabwe and British community with some of the greatest achievements in the history of investigative journalism.

ZimEye will go LIVE shortly covering this success story – follow this page for more. Meanwhile, below was the man as he produced a flood of hot sweat during the interview. 

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Paul Nyathi|ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa had to personally intervene to save a woman who had blocked his motorcade from his security team.

The woman who Mutodi described as mentally disturbed sat down in front of Mnangagwa’s Motorcade and appeared to be praying.

Her screaming words were: “May Emmerson be protected, may Chiwenga be protected, show your mighty hand Almighty God!”

Mnangagwa’s top right hand man Energy Mutodi made the revelation on his Twitter account:

https://youtu.be/D5USQDRsuXI

His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa today ordered his security team not to harm or chase away a suspected mentally ill woman who stood in front of his motorcade as he was preparing to leave for a Kadoma rally; delaying the motorcade for some minutes. pic.twitter.com/u2SGecsMip

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) November 27, 2019

By Farai D Hove| The minister of health Obadiah Moyo announcing in parliament On Wednesday afternoon promised doctors free ZUPCO transport.

Minister Moyo was reading out his crisis management statement when he said he has availed incentices including, ZUPCO buses, transport to and from work…” WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW

Minister lures doctors with free ZUPCO bus transport. "ZUPCO buses, transport to and from work has been put in place," health minister Obadiah Moyo says pic.twitter.com/M4zIv2npKv

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 27, 2019

The move is set to worsen an already critical health situation in the country, where even basic foodstuffs are in short supply

Specialist senior doctors, who are helping keep public hospitals running during the two-month strike by junior doctors, have themselves decided to join in the stay away in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s public health centres are facing collapse after the specialist senior doctors said on Tuesday that they would stop attending to emergencies in solidarity with the 500 doctors who were sacked by the government for joining the strike.

The country is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a decade, with public-sector workers saying they cannot even afford transport to go to work. Nurses are now working a three-day week, citing poor salaries.

The government said that in November it had doubled doctors’ salaries to about ZWL2,000 ($130), but the doctors want their pay  to be pegged to the US dollar to stop their earnings being eroded by inflation. At more than 300%, Zimbabwe’s inflation is the second highest in the world after Venezuela.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) said its members have agreed to stop going to work. “We have noted with grave concern the wanton dismissal of more than 435 doctors, the continued summoning of doctors for disciplinary hearings, and the withholding of the paltry salaries for the doctors,” the union said.

The decision to fire doctors “had not capacitated either the hospitals themselves or the human resource base”, the SHDA said.

“We regret to inform you that the SHDA has agreed with its members, who had remained behind offering emergency services to the hospitals, that we are no longer able to offer any emergency services as from 2pm on November 26 2019, until all the fired doctors are reinstated and there is adequate redressal of their incapacities,” the SHDA said in a letter to the clinical director of the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals — the biggest referral group of hospitals in the country.

The doctors defied a court ruling in October saying that their action was illegal and they should return to work.

Zimbabweans are bearing the brunt of the worst economic downturn in a decade, with shortages of foreign currency, fuel, basic foodstuffs, electricity and medicines. The crisis has been worsened by a drought that has left more than half the population in need of food aid and forced the government to scramble for scarce dollars to import grain.

Paul Nyathi|Vice President Constantine Chiwenga will this week throw a huge bash for members of his family at his rural Hwedza home.

The bash is tagged to be his homecoming celebration.

Chiwenga has allegedly hired private buses not the state run ZUPCO buses from Harare to Hwedza for people from Harare wishing to party with him and his family.

It is not clear at the moment if his estranged wife Marry and controversial relative Prophet Talent Chiwenga will attend the gathering. There were neither indications if President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been invited.

Specialist senior doctors, who are helping keep public hospitals running during the two-month strike by junior doctors, have themselves decided to join in the stay away in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s public health centres are facing collapse after the specialist senior doctors said on Tuesday that they would stop attending to emergencies in solidarity with the 500 doctors who were sacked by the government for joining the strike.

The country is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a decade, with public-sector workers saying they cannot even afford transport to go to work.

Nurses are now working a three-day week, citing poor salaries.

The government said that in November it had doubled doctors’ salaries to about ZWL2,000 ($130), but the doctors want their pay  to be pegged to the US dollar to stop their earnings being eroded by inflation. At more than 300%, Zimbabwe’s inflation is the second highest in the world after Venezuela.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) said its members have agreed to stop going to work.

“We have noted with grave concern the wanton dismissal of more than 435 doctors, the continued summoning of doctors for disciplinary hearings, and the withholding of the paltry salaries for the doctors,” the union said.

The decision to fire doctors “had not capacitated either the hospitals themselves or the human resource base”, the SHDA said.

“We regret to inform you that the SHDA has agreed with its members, who had remained behind offering emergency services to the hospitals, that we are no longer able to offer any emergency services as from 2pm on November 26 2019, until all the fired doctors are reinstated and there is adequate redressal of their incapacities,” the SHDA said in a letter to the clinical director of the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals — the biggest referral group of hospitals in the country.

The doctors defied a court ruling in October saying that their action was illegal and they should return to work.

Zimbabweans are bearing the brunt of the worst economic downturn in a decade, with shortages of foreign currency, fuel, basic foodstuffs, electricity and medicines. 

The crisis has been worsened by a drought that has left more than half the population in need of food aid and forced the government to scramble for scarce dollars to import grain.Credit-Business Live

By Wilbert Mukori| Ten years ago, SADC leaders condemned the 2008 Zimbabwe elections because Mugabe and his Zanu PF thugs had blatantly cheated in the March vote count and used wanton violence in the run-off. Mugabe was told in no uncertain terms that SADC will not recognise his government as a product of the democratic wishes of the people of Zimbabwe and thus legitimate. 

In other words Zimbabwe’s 2008 elections were so flawed and illegal the process failed to produce a legitimate government. 

As a way forward, SADC leaders proposed the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in which the core requirement of a government elected by people was to be suspended. Zimbabwe would be ruled by a Government of National Unity (GNU) whose principle task was to implement a raft of democratic reforms and write a new democratic constitution so ensure the debacle of the 2008 elections will never ever be repeated. 

Sadly not even one reform was ever implemented in the five years of the GNU. Not one.

Mugabe bribed Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends, who were entrusted to implement the reforms, with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms. 

“MDC leaders were busy enjoying themselves during the GNU, they forgot what they were there for!” complained one SADC diplomat after Zanu PF, once again, blatantly rigged the 2013 elections.

Mnangagwa promised to hold free, fair and credible elections after the 2017 military coup. Sadly, he was conning the naive and gullible because he did not implement even one reform. Zanu PF blatantly rigged last year’s elections as the facts on the ground proved.

He denied 3 million Zimbabwean in the diaspora the vote; a very significant number since he was declared the winner with 2.4 million votes. The regime failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll, for Pete’s sake!

It therefore beggared belief why SADC leaders endorse Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF as the legitimate government regardless of all the flaws and illegalities in last year’s election process. But worse still, having endorsed this Zanu PF regime as legitimate SADC cannot force Mnangagwa to agree to anything near the 2008 GPA. 

Unlike in 2008, SADC leaders have no political leverage to force Zanu PF to agree to the need for democratic reforms much less force the party to get the reforms implemented. SADC leaders shot themselves in the foot by endorse last year’s elections as legitimate. 

Those asking SA’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and SADC to play a role in ending the Zimbabwe crisis have no clue what they are talking about; they are just dogs howling at the full moon! By endorsing Zimbabwe’s rigged elections President Ramaphosa shot himself in the head; not in the foot, head! 

Like it or not, if President Ramaphosa is play any meaningful role in Zimbabwe’s crisis; he must tell Mnangagwa that he rigged last year’s elections and is illegitimate, a spectacular volte face in itself. It is almost certain that Mnangagwa will pretend there is a teaspoon full of wax in his ears and thus refuse to hear.   

What Zimbabwe needs to move forward, is to implement the democratic reforms; nothing, absolutely nothing of substance will ever be accomplished until we cure ourselves of this curse of rigged elections, the mother of bad governance. 

SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com

Own Correspondent | Democracy is under siege as the stalemate over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy continues, with new Standing Order Rules which will rein in and force the MDC Alliance MPs to recognise and “respect the president” being proposed.

The new rules if adopted are likely to force the MDC Alliance which is slowly being rendered ineffective to consider altogether pulling out of Parliament or accept Mnangagwa’s legitimacy.

The MDC Alliance has in the past argued that its continued presence in Parliament is to defend its democratic space, citing its oversight role on the government through hearings and inquiries.

The new rules also mean the MPs will no longer chant slogans or sing revolutionary songs, only the national anthem will be sung in the August House.

This continued bickering between the MDC Alliance and their Zanu PF counterparts in the Parliament over Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, is leading to a stalemate, that is slowly rendering the August House useless.

MDC Alliance chief whip Senator Lilian Timveos, raised alarm, “we are in hot soup”, as she published the New Standing Order 86 “Respect of the President.”

The Standing Order states that, Members shall observe utmost dignity and decorum during the President’s address and also that a Member shall not disrupt or interrupt the President’s address through disorderly conduct.

Standing Order 76 “Members in the House” meaning Parliament’ It is proposed that an amendment be made to standing Order 76(1) by the insertion of a new paragraph (e) which shall read― (e) not sing except when required to sing the National Anthem.

A bewildered Timveos asks on social media, “Sing national anthem only ?”

New Standing Order 86 “Respect of the President”

We are in hot Soup, Parliament of Zimbabwe

(1) Members shall observe utmost dignity and decorum during the President’s address.
(2) A Member shall not disrupt or interrupt the President’s address through disorderly conduct.

— Lilian Timveos. (@lilimikoro) November 27, 2019

Self exiled former cabinet minister Savior Kasukuwere has moved a gear up in his Presidential campaign with a picture of branded vehicle with his image making rounds on social media.

It has not been ascertained if the vehicle is in Zimbabwe.

View picture below….

Watch the video loading below. ..

Watch video loading below. ..

https://youtu.be/D5USQDRsuXI

Own Correspondent | MDC Alliance Secretary General has been called out over a meeting he held with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s envoys in Germany.

Hwende is a delegate in the Internet Governance Forum a multi-stakeholder platform, which brings together various stakeholder groups as equals, in discussions on public policy issues relating to the Internet.

Hwende suffered backlash from angry Zimbabweans who challenged him on his meeting with Ambassador Paul Chikawa, whose appointing authority Mnangagwa the MDC Alliance does not recognise.

Wrote Hwende, “Yesterday I passed through our Zimbabwe Embassy in Germany and was well received by Ambassador Paul Chikawa and his team very fruitful engagement. Many Zimbabweans are based in Germany studying and working.”

Yesterday I passed through our Zimbabwe Embassy in Germany ?? and was well received by Ambasador Paul Chikawa and his team very fruitful engagement. Many Zimbabweans are based in Germany studying and working. During the GNU our very own MDC Ambasador Makuvise was based here ✅ pic.twitter.com/jqvNACqiPm

— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) November 27, 2019

In a bid to mitigate his visit, the senior MDC official wrote, “During the GNU our very own MDC Ambassador Makuvise was based here.”

MDC Alliance MPs have refused to recognise Mnangagwa walking out of Parliament, whenever he is present for national events, leading to an impasse that has crippled business in the August House.

Among the Zimbabweans who called Hwende out is politician Setfree Mafukidze, “ An Ambassador appointed by an illegitimate President is illegitimate too. He would have been appointed by a person who is not confirmed to make such appointments. VaHwende you guys either need to accept that @edmnangagwa is legitimate or just remain consistent on your case.”

An Ambassador appointed by an illegitimate President is illegitimate too,he would have been appointed by a person who is not confirmed to make such appointments.
VaHwende you guys either need to accept that @edmnangagwa is legitimate or just remain consistent on your case. https://t.co/masWBIuzXG

— Setfree Nherera Mafukidze ?? (@cdesetfree) November 27, 2019

Zanu PF politician Farai Muvuti challenged Hwende too, “Needless to point out the obvious. If you can see the legitimacy of the good Ambassador then you may want to acknowledge the legitimacy of his appointing authority. Your unexpected excursion appears to have betrayed your party narrative. Food for thought.”

Vakomana ava havanawo kana idea busy kutamba nepfungwa dzedu haa yaas! Help me identify a new political party to support

— te'Humba (@TeteHumba) November 27, 2019

Watch video loading below. ..

https://youtu.be/D5USQDRsuXI

His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa today ordered his security team not to harm or chase away a suspected mentally ill woman who stood in front of his motorcade as he was preparing to leave for a Kadoma rally; delaying the motorcade for some minutes. pic.twitter.com/u2SGecsMip

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) November 27, 2019

His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa today ordered his security team not to harm or chase away a suspected mentally ill woman who stood in front of his motorcade as he was preparing to leave for a Kadoma rally; delaying the motorcade for some minutes. pic.twitter.com/u2SGecsMip

— Dr Energy Mutodi (@energymutodi) November 27, 2019

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has hit the ground running, joining President Emmerson Mnangagwa and vice President Kembo Mohadi on a tour of the new parliament building in Mt Hampden.

Chiwenga who spend 123 days in a Chinese hospital and only returned back home on Saturday morning fully fit and raring to go.

When Mnangagwa visited the powerful former army general, he urged him to take time before resuming work but on Monday he was back at work.

On Tuesday, he attended the cabinet meeting and proceeded to Mt Hampden today.

He is likely to join Mnangagwa in Kadoma for a youth interface rally today.

A Guard Alert security detail who was manning an Econet Wireless Shop along Harare’s First Street in the CBD late Tuesday afternoon shot and killed himself with police saying the unidentified keeper committed the act after he had been exposed for stealing cell phones from the same shop.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident to NewZimbabwe Tuesday evening.

“Yes, a security guard shot himself at a cell phone shop (Econet Shop),” said Nyathi.

According to Nyathi, “the security guard reported for work Tuesday morning and stole some cell phones and hid them.

“Upon realising many of the workers were not yet at work, he took advantage of their absence and committed the crime.

“At the end of the day, the workers checked the CCTV as per routine and it showed the guard had stolen some cell phones.

“After being shown the videos, he requested to go to the toilet and he shot himself.”

Nyathi warned members of the public to desist from committing crimes which he said had consequences.

“It is really unfortunate, but people should also realise that such a crime does not pay. Crime has some consequences,” he said.

He added, “The name of the deceased will not be released until his next of keen are advised. I want to caution the media against publicising his name until his relatives are advised.”

Some vendors who spoke to NewZimbabwe outside the Econet Shop said they knew the guard to be a good man.

“He was such a good person but temptations (to steal) are there. People are struggling to make ends meet at home. It is so sad we have lost a family man,” said one of the vendors who refused to be identified.

A junior police officer who was among the team that attended the scene was overheard saying of the dead security, “Anga aguta kufema (he had had enough of life).”

— NewZimbabwe

By Alice Majola| In this piece, I will try to channel the speech made by His Majesty Emperor Selassie of Ethiopia to the League of Nations many moons ago in 1936. The following is the iconic segment of Emperor Selassie’s speech:

“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war. And until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained… now everywhere is war.”

The speech was so iconic in its honesty about the struggles of dark skinned peoples of the world that it inspired Bob Marley to turn it into a song which he called ‘War’. Here is my version of it  which I have edited to address the problems in Zimbabwe:

“Until the philosophy which holds that Zanu leadership and their friends are superior and above the law while the rest of us are inferior and subjected to intentional misinterpretations of the same law, is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, there will be resentment towards Zanu pf. And until there is no longer vote rigging, corruption, and state violence against political opposition and the general public, until the political affiliation of a person has no significance in their chances of living a decent life in Zimbabwe. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to every Zimbabwean regardless of wealth, war veteran credentials, presence of disability, tribe or location, there will be resentment towards Zanu pf. And until that day, the dream of democracy, prosperity  and being the bread basket of Africa will remain but a fleeting illusion to be that will never be attained, which is why there is resentment towards Zanu”

Personally, I will always measure the success and fairness of a Zimbabwean government on the basis of what it will do to help the many women who have to carry their little babies on their backs everyday, walking long distances while hoisting large weights on their heads so they can try to sell a bit of fruit and vegetables in the hot and sometimes cold and dusty streets of Zimbabwe. These women sometimes sit for 15 hours a day waiting hopefully for the next customer, who on some days will not emerge because of the dire economic situation in the country which has resulted in many Zimbabweans ‘living without’.  Sometimes these women make as little as 5RTGs in one day which can’t afford to pay for the baby’s milk. They are part of the most marginalised people in Zimbabwean society.  The morality and uprightness of a government is measured by how it treats the most vulnerable members of society.  

Like I said, the needs of these women and their babies is the yard stick by which I judge the robustness and success of a Zimbabwean government. So here is my yardstick in which I will use elements of Selassie’s League of Nations speech:

 “Until these women and their babies do not have to go through this suffering and humiliation, I will always resent this corrupt Zanu pf government. Until these mothers are given help by the state in the welfare of their children, I will always resent Zanu pf. Until these mothers are able to earn enough money to live a decent life from the difficult jobs they do, I will always resent Zanu pf. Until these mothers and their babies do not have to pay money to receive hospital treatment and don’t have to pay school fees for their children up to A level, I will always resent Zanu pf.  Until they have a viable option to earn a living, I will continue to resent Zanu pf”

FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe and her son, Russell Goreraza, have both been ordered to pay US$278 304 to a local law firm which represented them in several court cases, one of which involved a botched $1,4 million diamond ring deal.

The order by the High Court, issued on November 15, 2019, followed an application for rescission of a default judgment that was filed by Mugabe and her son in April this year seeking to overturn the judgment on the basis that it had been issued in error.

According to court papers, the legal firm, Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners is said to have acted for Grace in her cases against a Lebanese national Jamal Ahmed, who she accused of duping her.

In a bid to recover her money, Mugabe is alleged to have “grabbed” three properties namely stand number 409 Harare Drive, Pomona; 18 Cambridge Road, Avondale and 75 King George, Avondale, all owned by Ahmed, but the latter later approached the courts and successfully retained his properties.

On January 15, 2019 High Court judge Justice Felistus Chatukuta ruled in favour of the law firm and ordered Grace and her son to pay the legal fees, before the duo filed for rescission which was recently determined by High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore.

The order by Justice Mushore simply said: “Application is dismissed with costs”.

Prior to Justice Mushore’s order, Justice Alpheus Chitakunye had ordered the duo to pay the law firm’s legal fees with costs as well.

According to Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners, Grace and her son approached them in December 2016 seeking legal services in respect of a number of cases linked to the diamond ring saga.

The firm said the pair also wanted to be legally represented in an urgent chamber application that was before the High Court under case number HC 12497/16. The legal services rendered included attending to all litigation procedures and hearings, the drafting of court processes, consultations, round table meetings over a two-year period.

-Newsday

In September, Mitchell Matarause delivered her baby boy by candlelight at a clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital.

It was after sunset and the electricity supply had been cut.

“Midwives were using candles and torches for lighting,” said the 26-year-old, holding her second-born. “I delivered in the evening, there was no electricity.

“There was a candle on the table. I heard the midwives say that they could not see properly, so they had to use torches as additional light sources. As one midwife assisted me, the others held the torches.

“I was just praying I deliver well, without complications. I feared the worst and sighed with relief when it was over.”

High-quality maternal healthcare is difficult to access and provide in Zimbabwe, a country struggling with regular power outages — sophisticated equipment relies on electricity.

Women across the country have reported similar experiences to Matarause, relying on a small flame or a cellphone to provide enough light to give birth safely during power blackouts.

Earlier this year, the State-owned Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) introduced 18-hour load-shedding after reducing electricity generation due to low water levels in Lake Kariba, its main source of power.

While the power is not switched off at large referral hospitals in Harare, such as Harare Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, it is cut at most facilities in residential suburbs and rural areas.

A midwife at Mufakose Polyclinic, where Matarause welcomed her child, said the team usually asks pregnant mothers to provide their own lighting.

“(We) ask them to bring bulbs with batteries as it is difficult to see when using candle lights,” she told Al Jazeera.

Most women in Zimbabwe deliver at State-run hospitals, which charge a small fee, about $200, that goes towards basic equipment.

The cost of giving birth at private hospitals is about $5 000, a sum that is out of reach for most — civil servants earn just $500 on average each month.

Zimbabwe turns to solar energy to reduce maternal mortality rate
Because of power outages, some hospitals purchase fuel at cost price from service stations for generators.

Power blackouts threaten to worsen maternal mortality rates, which the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey estimates at 651 deaths per 100 000 live births.

According to Unicef, two regions, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, account for 86% of maternal deaths worldwide.

The United Nations Population Fund describes Zimbabwe’s rate as “unacceptably high”, even as the last five to 10 years show a decline.

Some hospitals and clinics, including private facilities, use fuel generators, but this option is out of reach for many — diesel and petrol are expensive with a 300% inflation rate as of August 2019, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The fuel price is determined by the Zimbabwean dollar and US dollar interbank exchange rate.

At the time of writing, petrol was trading at around $16,6 a litre, while diesel was up at $17,43.
At Chiredzi Hospital, a government-run facility almost 500km southeast of Harare, when authorities fail to purchase fuel for generators, midwives do whatever it takes to save lives.

“Hospitals need to provide comprehensive obstetric (and newborn care), among other things such as responding to emergencies and doing surgery.

“That’s where the power issues come in. With the current cost of diesel to run generators, the situation is dire,” Chiredzi district acting medical officer, David Tarumbwa, said.

“We buy fuel straight from service stations at cost price, no subsidies. It’s not sustainable. You can’t run a generator for 12 hours daily. The next thing is, it breaks down.”

When they do not have generators, the doctors and nurses “explore whatever options will be available”.

Emmanuel Mahlangu, president of the Zimbabwe Confederation of Midwives, explained: “It is important to differentiate between normal pregnancy and childbirth with complicated pregnancy and childbirth. Eighty-seven percent of pregnancies and childbirths are normal.

“A normal childbirth occurring during the day may actually go through without much use of electricity. However, if it were to occur in the night, the priority is lighting.

“A complicated delivery may require electricity for resuscitation of the baby, warmth from radiant heaters, lights and operative delivery.”

Against this backdrop, new technology that does not rely on fuel is being tried out.

Zimbabwe turns to solar energy to reduce maternal mortality rate
Solar panels have been installed at several health facilities across the country in an attempt to overcome the negative impact of power shortages.

We Care Solar, a California-based NGO, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are working with the government to install solar power systems in clinics and hospitals nationwide.

We Care Solar has struck a partnership with local NGO ZimEnergy Eco Foundation, providing compact rugged solar electric systems called solar suitcases.

Designed in 2010, these “suitcases” provide bright lights and foetal heart monitoring.

More than 4 000 health centres in Africa and Asia have been equipped with this technology.

Since 2016, We Care Solar has supported 136 maternal health facilities with reliable lighting and electricity in Zimbabwe, in the provinces of Matabeleland South, Mashonaland East and Masvingo and aims to extend its project to other clinics across the country.

“Before year-end, we aim to officially launch the Light Every Birth campaign in collaboration with the Health ministry,” We Care Solar Zimbabwe programme manager Shamiso Moyo said. “We aim to install the solar system at a total of 1 000 clinics.”

UNDP also partnered with the Health ministry on a Solar For Health Project and installed solar systems at 405 institutions across the country to ensure uninterrupted power, including at maternity wards.

“They are now primarily running on solar and only using the mains electricity grid as backup. The systems vary in capacity, depending on the size of the medical facility. Smaller clinics are now running on 5kW or 7kW, while larger clinics and district hospitals run on 10kW, 15kW or even 40kW systems,” said UNDP Zimbabwe resident representative Georges van Montfort.

He hoped that eventually, no woman would ever have to deliver by candlelight again.

As the rest of the country waits, however, Mahlangu said that while the use of candle and cellphone lights during delivery is not recommended, midwives will continue to use whatever means they have to offer women support during their critical hours in labour.

“Midwives cannot leave a woman unattended because of lack of electricity,” he said, “And childbirth will not stop because there is no electricity.”

— Al Jazeera News

Cabinet received an update on the industrial action by Public Hospital Doctors and City of Harare Nurses. The Minister of Health and Child Care reported that the Doctors’ strike has now gone beyond 84 days, with the doctors continuing to cite incapacitation. As such, health service provision at most Central hospitals remains constrained.

On the situation at Harare City Council clinics, the Minister indicated that 99 out of the expected 179 nurses turned up for duty as of 25th November, 2019. The recent opening of the Edith Opperman Clinic in Mbare has since eased the challenge of home-based deliveries.

Pertaining to disciplinary hearings for striking doctors, the Minister informed Cabinet that 508 disciplinary cases on doctors that have not been coming to work have so far been heard, out of which 498 doctors were found guilty. It will be recalled that from the previous report, 435 doctors had been discharged, and since then an additional 13 doctors have been found guilty and discharged, bringing the cumulative total of doctors discharged to 448. In addition to the 508 disciplinary cases heard by the 25th November 2019, an additional 43 doctors from the Provinces are awaiting hearing. Serving of charge letters for 57 Senior Doctors at Central Hospitals commenced on the 25th November, 2019.

Regarding the recruitment of Doctors, the Ministry of Health and Child Care will publish before the end of this week an advert in the press for all posts that have become vacant as a result of the disciplinary process.

Processes on the recruitment of 700 nurses, 150 Cuban medical staff as well as the training of 6000 Clinical Officers are being expedited.

Once again, Cabinet wishes to assure the nation that all avenues to ensure that the situation in the health sector returns to normalcy are being explored for immediate implementation.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

"Anyone who has got the suitable qualifications is welcome to apply to come and work as a doctor, in our system. I thank you," says @MoHCCZim Obadiah Moyo@ZHDAofficial @DMagombeyi @ZadhrDoctors pic.twitter.com/JrmGihPabQ

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) November 26, 2019

MAGISTRATES in Bulawayo have resorted to going to prisons to handle some cases as the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has been failing to bring inmates to court after its truck broke down two weeks ago.

Since November 11, magistrates at Tredgold and Western Commonage courts have been going to prisons or further remanding prisoners on remand in absentia. At court, magistrates have only been dealing with matters of suspects who are out of custody.

A prosecutor told a Western Commonage magistrate that an accused person Chelesani Sibanda (34) who is facing attempted murder charges had failed to attend court as the ZPCS truck has been grounded.

Prosecutor Stewart Madzore told magistrate Stephen Ndlovu that Sibanda who is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly poisoned his three children had failed to get transport.

The magistrate moved the matter to December 5.

Three magistrates told The Chronicle that in some cases they are going to prisons to remand some inmates out of custody in deserving cases.

Questions were sent to the ZPCS national public relations officer, Ms Meya Kanyeze on Tuesday last week over the matter but she had not responded by last night.This is not the first time that ZPCS has faced transport problems compromising the delivery of justice.

Last year in May, inmates were not taken to court for days after the truck broke down. In November 2014, ZPCS failed to bring prisoners to Bulawayo courts for three consecutive days due to a shortage of fuel, forcing courts to indefinitely postpone some trials.

Correspondent|Zimbabwean engineer. Martin Manuhwa has won the World Federation of Engineering Organizations and Service to Engineering award at the just ended World Engineering Convention held in Melbourne.

Eng. Martin Manuhwa is President of the Federations of Africa Engineering Organisations (FAEO), former President of SADC Engineering Organizations, past President of ZIE and former Chairman of the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe.

The World Engineering Convention is the Engineering Olympics that takes place every 4 years. The last two editions were held in Japan and Switzerland respectively!

Also called the ‘Olympics of Engineering’ this international convention is held every four years and this year attracted 1300+ global participants from over 70 countries.
The overarching theme for WEC 2019 was “Engineering a Sustainable World: The Next 100 Years”.

The focus was not only on engineering innovation, but how this can have a positive impact on lives by creating sustainable engineering solutions.

Sustainability is used in the broadest sense – encompassing the management of precious natural resources such as water, renewable energy technologies, frugal innovation, management of natural resources etc., and incorporates values of ethics and social responsibility.

This was a unique opportunity to take an integrated approach to solve many of the problems that the world is facing – all of them requiring engineering. With Engineers Australia celebrating its Centenary in 2019, this convention highlighted Australian engineering on a global scale and exploration of the distinctive and sustaining mindset of our profession; the notion that ‘anything is possible’.

News Of The South

NewsDay|FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe and her son, Russell Goreraza, have both been ordered to pay US$278 304 to a local law firm which represented them in several court cases, one of which involved a botched $1,4 million diamond ring deal.

The order by the High Court, issued on November 15, 2019, followed an application for rescission of a default judgment that was filed by Mugabe and her son in April this year seeking to overturn the judgment on the basis that it had been issued in error.

According to court papers, the legal firm, Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners is said to have acted for Grace in her cases against a Lebanese national Jamal Ahmed, who she accused of duping her.

In a bid to recover her money, Mugabe is alleged to have “grabbed” three properties namely stand number 409 Harare Drive, Pomona; 18 Cambridge Road, Avondale and 75 King George, Avondale, all owned by Ahmed, but the latter later approached the courts and successfully retained his properties.

On January 15, 2019 High Court judge Justice Felistus Chatukuta ruled in favour of the law firm and ordered Grace and her son to pay the legal fees, before the duo filed for rescission which was recently determined by High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore.

The order by Justice Mushore simply said: “Application is dismissed with costs”.

Prior to Justice Mushore’s order, Justice Alpheus Chitakunye had ordered the duo to pay the law firm’s legal fees with costs as well.

According to Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners, Grace and her son approached them in December 2016 seeking legal services in respect of a number of cases linked to the diamond ring saga.

The firm said the pair also wanted to be legally represented in an urgent chamber application that was before the High Court under case number HC 12497/16. The legal services rendered included attending to all litigation procedures and hearings, the drafting of court processes, consultations, round table meetings over a two-year period.

Correspondent|A Chinese man was found dead in his hotel room in Harare on Tuesday morning.

A hotel cleaner stumbled on the lifeless body of 39-year-old Song Yuan at around 10AM, according to police sources.

Yuan was pronounced dead by an ambulance crew from MARS that was called to the hotel in the Msasa area.

“The ambulance crew estimated that he had been dead for about two hours, which means he died sometime between 7AM and 8AM,” a source said.

Yuan’s body was taken to a local hospital for postmortem procedures.

“He was found sitting on a sofa and had no visible injuries. Only a proper examination of his body by a pathologist will determine how he died,” the source added.

Police spokesman Paul Nyathi was not immediately available for comment.

ZimLive understands a Zimbabwean ID was found on Yuan, indicating that it was issued to him on March 30, 2006. He was a regular at the hotel, although his occupation is unknown.

Zimbabwe issues IDs to foreign nationals on long-term residence permits or who are married to locals. Each card contains a number, the last two digits of which indicate the district of origin. If these digits are “00”, as in the ID found on Yuan, it means that a person has “alien” status and is a non-citizen.

Zimbabwe is hosting thousands of Chinese nationals, most of them in the mining and construction industries.

State Media|A UNITED Arab Emirates-based company, Albwardy Investment, is finalising a purchase of one of Zimbabwe’s prestigious hotels, the Meikles Hotel in Harare, for US$20 million.

Meikles has over the past few years struggled with low occupancy levels and has lacked foreign exchange to refurbish the property, which is situated in the capital’s Central Business District.

Albwardy said the investment has been approved by the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and the Competition and Tariff Commission, while the shareholders would vote on the transaction next month, Reuters reported.

“The Meikles Hotel provides a unique opportunity to invest in Zimbabwe’s leisure and business markets as a first mover,” Albwardy director of hospitality, Laurie Ward said, in a statement.

The hotel was established in 1915 and has 312 rooms. In a circular to shareholders last week, Meikles Limited said the board assessed and is satisfied with ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe’s capacity to fulfil the terms of the proposed transactions. ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe is a special purpose vehicle of Albwardy Investments, which was recently incorporated in Zimbabwe.

“The board assessed and is satisfied with ASB Hospitality Zimbabwe’s capacity to fulfil the terms of the proposed transactions, including the US$20 million combined purchase price.

“It should also be noted that the previous carrying value of Meikles Hotel (US$26,7 million as at March 31, 2018) was higher than the subsequent independent property valuations undertaken in April 2019 and August 2019,” said Meikles Limited.

It said the principal rationale for the proposed transaction was that the group does not want foreign currency exposure related borrowings to fund the required refurbishment of the hotel to bring it to a five-star property by international standards.

Initial estimates indicate that up to US$30 million is required for the substantial modernisation of guest facilities as well as electro mechanical and plumbing to restore the hotel to international standards.

“Accordingly, the board believes that it is best for the future development of the hotel to be placed in the hands of skilled international hotel operators with the capacity to undertake the requisite refurbishment of the hotel,” said Meikles.

Proceeds from the disposal of the hotel will be ringfenced and earmarked for investments that enhance foreign currency generation capabilities of the group, in particular further investments in hospitality and agriculture sectors.

State Media|Cabinet has ordered the retendering of the National Railways of Zimbabwe recapitalisation project following the cancellation of the US$400 million deal last month.

The deal, involving the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG) and Transnet was cancelled after DIDG failed to provide proof of funding for almost two years.

Already as Zimbabwe moves ahead, a firm deal with a Russian company to provide wagons and locomotives has been signed, with the first 100 wagons expected to arrive in January.

The DIDG-Transnet deal with NRZ was cancelled after the consortium failed to meet contractual timelines two years after winning the tender, principally failing to provide proof of funding despite repeated enquiries from Government.

DIDG was given a six-month grace period to provide the proof of funding which again lapsed, leaving Government with no option except to cancel the tender.

It also emerged that DIDG had won the tender using the financial books of Transnet but they later presented a funding structure based on funds sourced internationally, which excluded Transnet. The exclusion of Transnet complicated the deal, raising legal issues to the initial contract.

Several foreign investors are already expressing interest in Zimbabwe’s rail sector.

Last month NRZ signed the new deal with Union Wagons of Russia for the supply of wagons and locomotives while Indonesia had also expressed strong interest to invest in the same sector.

Under the Russian deal, NRZ is expecting to boost its capacity utilisation through the supply of 5 000 wagons.

The first 100 wagons are expected in January next year at a cost of US$10 million.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said that the recapitalisation tender would be flighted soon.

He said recapitalisation of NRZ was key to the revival of the industry as it would facilitate bulk movement of goods and people.

“We are going to retender the project as directed by Cabinet. Processes are already underway to ensure that we flight another tender. By next week, I will have full details on how much ground has been covered in this regard.

“Recapitalisation of our national railway is key to the revival of our industry. It is also in line with the attainment of the targets that we have set for ourselves in line with Vision 2030,” said Minister Matiza.

He said a vibrant railway system was key in the transportation of minerals from the mines and agricultural produce to ports such as Beira.

Information gathered showed that DIDG was trying to circumvent Government processes in implementation of its deal with NRZ.

It is reliably understood that DIDG by-passed the parent Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and Government financial advisors Deloitte and Touche to validate its funding structure with Treasury.

The funding structure that DIDG wanted Treasury to validate excluded Transnet and had no input from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Government financial advisors.

State Media|All is set for President Mnangagwa’s Youth Interface Rally at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma today.

A target of 25 000 youths has been set to attend the rally.

The meeting is expected to tackle a range of issues impacting on the youths including employment opportunities and price increases.

Further, the indaba is expected to endorse President Mnangagwa as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 harmonised elections.

Kadoma has been a hive activity in the last few days as youths, provincial and national party leaders worked around the clock to ensure a flawless event.

It was also brisk business for most guest houses in Kadoma and Chegutu, as they were fully booked last night, for the first time in a long time.

Mashonaland West youths yesterday had a car rally where about 30 vehicles went around Rimuka, Ngezi, Patchway, Rio Tinto, Westview and Mornington mobilising people for the event.

Zanu-PF national youth secretary for external relations Sibongile Sibanda, who was part of an advance team, said.

“In terms of mobilisation countrywide, all provinces are ready to come in numbers including all the affiliates; that is ZICOSU (Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union), NYS (National Youth Service), Ziliwaco, and children of war veterans, among others, are all coming to Kadoma for the youth convention.

“One of the critical issues that the young people want to see addressed is the issue of machetes and criminal activities related to machetes,” said Sibanda.

Many youth groups including youths in mining, youth entrepreneurs, youths in business, environmental youth groups, and youths in tourism, have confirmed attendance.

Machete-wielding artisanal miners are terrorising music shows, demanding free entry and torching violence, making artistes think seriously about going to smaller towns.

They get the name MaShurugwi from the small Midlands town located on a mineral-rich greenstone belt, known in this area as the Selukwe Schist Belt and the centre of a chromite, gold and nickel mining area.

Some of the artisanal miners became aggressive and now have given their name to all groups, usually armed with machetes, who force others off their panning claims or who just cause trouble. And Midlands is just one affected province.

MaShurugwi do not only give musicians laborious tasks of deciding on whether to hold shows in certain areas or not, they have also threatened musicians’ potential income by unleashing violence at shows or forcing their way into gigs without paying.

ZORA musician Leonard Zhakata recalls when he was forced to let people enjoy his show for free after violence sparked by MaShurugwi broke-out at the midst of his show in Chipinge, Manicaland Province.
Zhakata said they rely on spying on these ‘gangs’ and at times engage their leaders in their programmes, as a way of buying safety.

“We sometimes encounter their clashes here and there. We make sure at every show there is police presence, especially in areas associated with artisanal mining gangs.
“There is huge cost involved in trying to deal with issues of security and sometimes in those areas where the situation is very tense, we spy to know the purported gang leaders and try to involve them in some way.

“I remember when there was gold rush in Chipinge some time back and MaShurugwi came there, police officers were out-numbered. We saw police officers taking off their hats running for dear life.

“The situation only normalised after the arrival of military police.

The show became free for all,” he said.State media

Farai Dziva|SHDA has said dismissed medical doctors must be reinstated by mutual agreement.

See full statement :

SHDA Extraordinary Meeting Summary 25/11/19 UPDATES

1. There has been no feedback from the ministry since our meeting on the 15th of November.

The lack of urgency is of great concern.

435 doctors have been dismissed so far by the government including senior registrars who happen to be members of SHDA. These colleagues had not been upgraded from JRMO ship.

1. The government has said doctors who were dismissed must reapply. Our position is they must be reinstated in a mutual agreement.
2. Concerning exams; no exams are being written in the medical schools (UZCHS and NUST) as it will mar the Zimbabwe medical degrees. Members of SHDA are going to ensure this world-renowned quality of our degree quality is not compromised.
3. A consortium of local donors met SHDA, ZHDA and AMSITZ representatives and offered a package which if agreed upon, the doctors are supposed to receive provided they are going to work. The package includes a monthly allowance, WIFI at hospitals, daily three trips by VAYA. A Save-Our-Hospitals foundation would also be set up to address hospital infrastructure issues. We are not sure if this has cabinet authority yet but was presented to the associations for buy-in first.

DISCUSSION

1. The offer from the donors is appreciated and will come in useful, especially for juniors. However, it leaves the hospitals still incapacitated. It won’t change Flexi hours or the drug and equipment situation or reinstatement of colleagues. It is a good gesture which members will accept once we have resolved outstanding issues with the government, who must do something reasonable too. There is a need to continue seeing the bigger picture. The current state of hospitals and all the responses observed so far show a coordinated attack on the medical profession and the profession must stand to uphold itself and keep its integrity. We remain incapacitated.
2. The Min of HCC is continuing to push for PPPs in government hospitals. We maintain this will endanger the vulnerable members of society who are the beneficiaries of services in government hospitals. This system must be rejected.
3. The SHDA will join with its sister organisations and organise for a march to parliament to submit a petition on the state of the health care system in the nation.
4. Retiree members of the profession need to be discussed with to see how best they can help in this situation since they may be having direct access to different offices of authority in government without red tapes.
5. A number of poor outcomes were reported as having been recorded during the ’emergency mode’ that some colleagues had embarked on. This is all because the hospitals remain unsafe for safe delivery of services.
6. It was resolved that we need to actively engage colleagues in the private sector because we are facing a threat to the entire profession, both public and private. Doctors in private practice are to be discussed with so that they can withdraw their service in protest against government decision to leave public hospitals to lie to waste. This will, unfortunately, lead to a complete shutdown of services which is regrettable. More details will be availed on the logistics as we engage our colleagues
7. Members are advised to keep a social media presence to stand and uphold the profession against social media attacks that have been seen. They are to comment platforms to support the profession and help educate the general public on the current situation.
8. Members agreed not to reapply as suggested because they were never on strike, just incapacitated. The members agreed not to worry since they are just not on a salary like their counterparts.
9. The SHDA members who were present have agreed for a total withdrawal of services in government until the 435 doctors who have been fired are reinstated and their incapacitation is addressed.

President Dr Nyaguse-Chiurunge, Vice President Mr Makota, Secretary General Mr Musara
Treasurer Mr Wazara, Committee Members Dr Dube,Dr Gutu, Dr Gidiri, Dr Jira.

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