By A Correspondent- Home Affairs, Cultural and Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe says there is need to raise passport charges in line with the inter-bank rate to enable the registrar general’s office import consumables required in the production of the travel documents.

He made the remarks after a familiarization tour of the passport office today. Currently an ordinary passport costs $53 while an emergency passport fetches $253. The registrar-general’s office, which has a capacity of producing 4600 passports a day is making only 2000 daily.

-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has resumed work today.

The VP has been away for four months receiving treatment in China. Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba confirmed this saying the VP actively participated in all the discussions held this morning during their briefing.

“He arrived at the Office at 8:45AM and we had our long Monday briefing,” said Mr Charamba.

“He was chatty and actively participated in all the discussions that we have.”

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest details

By A Correspondent- The Zanu PF national secretary for security and deputy labour minister Lovemore Matuke has taken a defensive position protecting his boss President Emmerson Mnangagwa saying he is not to blame for the current economic crisis but threw the blame on Zimbabweans whom he said are lazy and wait on the President to do everything for them.

Matuke said President Mnangagwa also needs help and support from Zimbabweans rather than for people to just wait to be hand fed when they should take the initiative to move the country forward.

Matuke made the remarks during an interface meeting with tertiary education graduates and students at Mutare Polytechnic College last week.

“This country cannot move forward with the efforts of one person. We all need to play our part. If you say you are waiting for President Mnangagwa to deliver alone then you need to wake up and smell the coffee.

“President Mnangagwa is only there to give us direction but he needs our help and support. We do not want people who just cry and yet they are doing nothing to better their situation,” said Matuke.

Matuke said that the power to economic prosperity of Zimbabwe lies within the hands of Zimbabweans.

“Instead of putting the blame on government, we should blame ourselves for not taking part in the development of our economy because President Mnangagwa cannot develop this economy alone.

“There is no one who was specifically meant to open up a business that creates employment. All of us have potential to establish our own businesses so that our economy improves,” said Matuke.

The meeting sought to create a database of graduates in Manicaland as Zanu PF is working on a programme to address the issue of unemployment in the country.

“The idea is that we want to classify graduates with regard to their area of specialties and government will chip in with funding for them to start up their own businesses.

“The government is going to create a special fund through budget. Through joint ventures or as individuals, you can start your own businesses that can contribute to the development of our economy,” said Matuke.

He said said that there are some youths with initiatives to do projects but they lack capacity.

“We want to create capacity by disbursing adequate funds to ensure that graduates start up their own projects. Each province is going to have a budget that will cater for youths.

“We had problems in the past where funds meant for the youths did not work. We want to make sure that if funds are disbursed, they reach the intended people not relatives of administrators,” said Matuke.

Zanu PF secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa said they are going to negotiate for policies which gives tax incentives to corporates to facilitate the ease of doing business.

“We want corporates to be given tax incentives and subsidies from government so that they are encouraged to employ graduates from tertiary institutions.

“We also urge the government to put up a law which provides that any tender must require the tenderer to employ a certain number of graduates so as to increase their skills levels,” said Chinamasa.

-TellZim

By A Correspondent- A 78-year-old Bikita granny is battling for her life at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo after she was gored by a raging ox which was later confirmed to have been infected by rabies.

Most people associate rabies only with snarling mad dogs, foaming at the mouth but livestock are also susceptible to the maddening virus.

The rabies virus can infect all warm-blooded animals and is always fatal. Caused by a virus that affects the nervous system, it is transmitted by saliva of an infected animal – usually via a bite, by saliva coming in contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose or mouth) or an opening in the skin.

On the fateful day, Angeline Zendere was at her home alone when her neighbour’s ox got into her yard to feed on the dry maize stalks.

Zendere, who is said to have been in her kitchen hut, got out to chase the cattle away but one of the cattle charged and viciously attacked her.

“She was in her kitchen when a herd of cattle entered her yard to feed on the dry maize stalks. The maize stalks are reserved for her own livestock so she got out to drive the other cattle away.

“Just a few steps from her kitchen hut, an ox charged at her and started attacking her, injuring her badly. The ox hooked her with its horns and threw her into the air and picked her up again numerous times. She was trampled on until she lost consciousness. The ox belonged to her neighbour,” said a source privy to the developments.

Zendere’s daughter-in-law is said to have rushed to the rescue with a wooden log but the cattle is said to have charged at her as well.

“The daughter in law was visiting and she saw the whole incident and rushed to the rescue with a wooden log. The log could not do her any good as she was also attacked by the mad ox. She was fortunate enough to fall onto the ground on the first attack and the ox failed to pick her up with its horns.

“As the ox attacked the daughter in law, she screamed for help from neighbours who alerted other people,” said the source.

The source told TellZim News that the ox charged at the group of villagers who were armed with axes and they fought back until they killed it.

Zendere and her daughter-in-law were taken to a clinic at Nyika growth point where the in-law was treated and discharged while Zendere was immediately transferred to Masvingo Provincial Hospital.

Zendere was later transferred to Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo where she is said to be admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Staff from the district Veterinary Services Department arrived at the scene when the villagers had already killed the ox.

Masvingo provincial veterinary head, Ernest Dzimwasha, as was expected, professed ignorance on the matter saying he had not received a report.

“You are telling me for the first time. I have not received a report on that,” said Dzimwasha, who was recently criticised for sleeping on duty at a time the province was losing hundreds of cattle to tick-borne diseases

-TellZim

By A Correspondent- Political analyst Alexander Rusero has dismissed VP Constantino Chiwenga’s return as a non event adding that the misinformed VP remains Zanu Pf to the core who cannot perform any better than his counterparts.

Rusero said this following the VP’s statements attacking opposition MDC run council and the striking health care workers.

He said:

“General Chiwenga’s return pauses a lot of paradoxes vis-a-vis the practical challenges that Zimbabwe is currently facing. His first shot was to dismiss the justification of striking at workplace, something coming as a blow, especially to the health sector whose grievances remain genuine, but with no urgency to settle from government.

“Yet he is coming from treatment in China which, without proper remuneration of doctors attending him, he could have died. That being said, a lot of hype on Chiwenga’s return and expectations as whispered in corridors of power will soon be demystified with time because he remains simply a Zanu PF functionary who cannot be better.”

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A police constable based at Beitbridge Border Post has been taken to court for extortion after he allegedly held on to an importer’s car to demand a R40 000 bribe.

Obvious Senior Moyo of Dulivhadzimo in Beitbridge went further to hide the car in Harare to press his demand, it is alleged.

On Saturday, Moyo who faces a charge of criminal abuse of office or alternatively extortion, was granted $1 000 bail by Beitbridge provincial magistrate Perseverance Makhala.

He was not asked to plead.

The State, led by prosecutor Ronald Mugwagwa is alleging that early this month, Taurai Zhou met Bright Moyana and Anyway Kawara at the Beitbridge Border Post seeking their assistance to smuggle his car from South Africa — a Mercedes Benz, with chassis number WDD21034B150056 and registration number ND 78791 into Zimbabwe.

Zhou was to pay Moyana and Kawara R15 000 for the job and a deal was sealed.

Later on, Moyo handcuffed Moyana and Kawara and took them in his car to Zhou.

Moyo allegedly told Zhou that he had arrested the two for attempting to smuggle the latter’s car which was now in his possession.

He produced the keys as proof and then demanded R40 000 bribe to release the two and the car without pressing charges against them.

Zhou allegedly agreed and said he would make arrangements to withdraw the cash from Musina in South Africa the following day.

The next day, Zhou who had since alerted the police, invited Moyo to pick up 50% of the bribe money at a local lodge.

Moyo drove into a trap by his employer and was arrested upon arrival at the lodge, leading to the recovery of the car keys. He then led his police colleagues to Park Lane in Harare, where he had hidden the car.

He is expected in court for routine remand in a fortnight.

Beitbridge lawyer Reason Mutimba appeared for Moyo.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A Chimanimani man brutally assaulted his father with an iron bar, accusing him of being responsible for his misfortunes.

Hardlife Sokisi (26) of Ngorima village under Chief Ngorima appeared before Chipinge magistrate Joshua Nembaware last Friday facing charges of physical abuse as defined by section 4(1) as read with section (3)(1) of the Domestic Violence Act.

He was convicted and remanded in custody to tomorrow for sentence.

Hardlife told the court that he assaulted his father, Tobias Sokisi because he had refused to take him to traditional healers for exorcism

“I wanted to force him to go with me to traditional healers to consult because my children were always dying. I was told to bring my father and aunt. My father was refusing to go to the traditional healers, that’s why I beat him up. He was abusing me,” Hardlife said.

Prosecutor Sesekedzai Mayera told the court that on November 10 at around midnight, Hardlife went to his father’s homestead accompanied by his sibling, Munyaradzi, who is still at large.

They found him asleep and started accusing him of being a wizard who was responsible for their misfortunes.

His father did not respond and remained holed up in his bedroom.

Hardlife then forced open the door and grabbed his father by the collar and pulled him out.

Munyaradzi started assaulting Sokisi all over the body with an iron bar. Sokisi was saved by neighbours who heard his cries for help, leading to the pair running away from the scene.

Neighbours rushed Sokisi to hospital and it was discovered that he had suffered a broken rib which led to his stomach swelling and had a big gush on the forehead.

A police report was made, leading to Hardlife’s arrest.

By A Correspondent- Mnene Mission Hospital, the only referral Hospital in Mberengwa, Midlands Province, is one of the mission hospitals in the country that are now overwhelmed by patients as public health institutions are not operational due to a number of issues including doctors’ industrial action.

This was revealed by Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) Hospitals advocate, Pastor Patricia Shirichena who told the Herald that Mnene was now overstretched.

She said:

We only have one doctor here, Dr Nyasha Makura, and he is being overwhelmed by patients some of whom are coming from as far as Gokwe and Gwanda in Matabeleland South.

Inadequacy of medicines, equipment and health caregivers, as well as high charges for services by private medical institutions, has compelled patients to seek medical attention at mission hospitals whose charges are modest because they are non-profit organisations.

The state media reports that Karanda Hospital in Mt Darwin is now attending to about 500 patients daily over the past three months, up from between 150 and 200 patients per day since August.

Howard in Chiweshe, All Souls Mission in Mutoko and St Alberts Mission in Centenary have also recorded a significant rise in the number of patients since September.

Correspondent|Home Affairs, Cultural and Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe says there is need to raise passport charges in line with the inter-bank rate to enable the registrar general’s office import consumables required in the production of the travel documents.

He made the remarks after a familiarization tour of the passport office today. Currently an ordinary passport costs $53 while an emergency passport fetches $253. The registrar-general’s office, which has a capacity of producing 4600 passports a day is making only 2000 daily.

Paul Nyathi|A certain section of ZANU PF member is praying for General Constantino Chiwenga to implement a coup against the embattled President Emmerson Mnangagwa Presidential Advisor Trevor Ncube has said.

Ncube’s assertion comes hot on the heels of reports that Chiwenga is plotting coup against President Mnangagwa with the help of the Chinese government.

The family of suspended Ntabazinduna traditional leader, Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, has come to the defence of the underfire chief saying he was selected by his own people as per tradition.

The outspoken traditional leader was last week suspended as Ntabazinduna chief at a Matabeleland North traditional leaders’ provincial assembly held in Bulawayo with the meeting suggesting that his selection violated tradition since his elder brother was still alive.

Head of the Xhosa Royal Council in Zimbabwe, Prince MacLeod Tshawe Nonxoloba, however, backed Ndiweni saying that he was chosen by the people and that the government should not interfere. He said:

Chief Ndiweni is a chief because he was chosen by the people of Ndiweni and to us in the Xhosa community ithole lenkuzi likhethwa ngabazali balo lapha ekhaya (the bull is chosen from the calves by their owners) not an outsider. If the chief has been chosen by other people who are not in the family, that is unacceptable in our community.

Meanwhile, the president of Zimbabwe is empowered by Constitution to appoint, remove and suspend chiefs on the recommendation of the provincial assembly of chiefs through the National Council of Chiefs and the minister of local government and in accordance with the traditional practices and traditions of the communities concerned.

Ndiweni has been very critical of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Pindula

Exiled Professor Jonathan Moyo wanted to be ZANU PF Secretary for Administration in 2014 after the removal of Joice Mujuru National Patriotic Front Spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire has alleged.

Said Mawarire, “Zanu-PF collapsed because  of Professor Jonathan Moyo through his unbridled quest for kingmaking. He hounded out JTR Mujuru out of the party hoping to be rewarded with Sec for Admin post. When he didn’t, he waged war with ED, thru G40 resulting in the birth of Junta-PF, goodluck and MDC where he is now.”

Mawarire was commenting after media proprietor Brighton Musonza had accused Mawarire of destroying the #TysonWabantu project which is centred on getting Saviour Kasukuwere to come back and lead ZANU PF.

I am not part of it, it is a people’s movement hence the “wabantu” suffix. My difference with @ProfJNMoyo & @PatrickZhuwao is that am not fighting it or ridiculing it caz am not central to its operationalization. Vanhu ngavabvumidzwe kuita zvavanoda no one owns anyone, simple!

“Is the G40 project collapsing before it sees the day? The likes of Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao are distancing themselves from it because they are enjoying the temporary sanctuary of the MDC. What now for Saviour and Walter Mzembi? Anything that Mawarire touches collapses.”

Mawarire further distanced himself from the Kasukuwere project and said it is a peoples project.

I am not part of it, it is a people’s movement hence the “wabantu” suffix. My difference with

Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao is that am not fighting it or ridiculing it because am not central to its operationalization. Vanhu ngavabvumidzwe kuita zvavanoda no one owns anyone, simple!”

Moyo has not yet responded to the allegation.

Paul Nyathi|Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has resumed work today.

The VP has been away for four months receiving treatment in China. Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba confirmed this saying the VP actively participated in all the discussions held this morning during their briefing.

“He arrived at the Office at 8:45AM and we had our long Monday briefing,” said Mr Charamba.

“He was chatty and actively participated in all the discussions that we have.”

A clique of Zanu PF members was reportedly plotting to oust the ailing Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga on grounds of incapacitation.

Chiwenga had been receiving medical treatment in China after being airlifted from a South African hospital in June, amid frenzied jostling by senior party officials angling to take over his influential positions.

The former commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces was unable to eat when he was airlifted, resulting in him becoming emaciated due to illness and lack of food.

The G40 cabal is slowly turning into a pale shadow of its former self, as founding leaders break ranks, while engaging in public political bickering.

Fresh revelations show sharp divisions in the faction aligned to the late former President Robert Mugabe, which are now evident to have existed from during his time.

Responding to reports that Professor Jonathan Moyo and Patrick Zhuwao are running with MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa and not supporting their long time ally Saviour Kasukuwere, Jelousy Mawarire arrogantly says, “He doesn’t need the two, they have joined MDC-alliance. There is no need of taking them away from another pro-democracy movement. @Hon_Kasukuwere got into party politics years before the two, he can be his own man, simple!”

Washing more dirty linen in the public, Mawarire takes a swipe at “Toxic” Moyo and Zhuwao, “ I was never in G40 so have never touched G40. Your obsession with my person is colossal. I am NPF, Jonathan & Zhuwao were told by RGM never to spoil NPF by their toxicity.” He writes while responding to social media inquiries about his G40 links or association.

Mawarire, the National Patriotic Front spokesman, is running Kasukuwere’s campaign to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the next election under the hashtag #SaviorWabantu#.

Responding to local media about his imminent return home Kasukuwere said,“Am I not Zimbabwean? I have a democratic right to participate in politics if people want me to represent them.”

To add oil to the fire, in the noticeable ructions, the late former Mugabe’s nephew Zhuwao has under unclear circumstances distanced himself from the G40 cabal he is famed to have been a key player in, prompting South African based businessman, Mutumwa Mawere to further probe the divisions on social media.

“Patrick Zhuwao distances himself from the so-called G40 self-serving political project,” writes Mawere quoting from a letter recently penned by Zhuwao.

He quotes from the letter written to South Africa’s opposition leader, Julius Malema last October by Zhuwao, in which he apparently sought to pacify Malema after his ‘maligning’ and ‘abuse’ by Mngangagwa’s administration, in his bid to honour the late Mugabe’s legacy.

In the letter to Malema, Zhuwao concludes by writing, betraying the divisions in his group, “It is also unfortunate that some individuals have also given hostage to fortune by injudiciously seeking to publicise the so-called Zimbabwe Generation 40 political party as being associated with some of us who are labelled as G40 stalwarts.”

“ Whilst I acknowledge that individuals have a right to harbouring and furthering their own personal political ambitions, I also have a right to dissociate myself from such ambitions as I hereby do. Apart from which, I am still mourning and grieving for my uncle, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, to engage myself in such political shenanigans.”

Mawere also links Zhuwao’s denial to recent reports in the state controlled media, quoting Zanu PF officials who claimed that the G40 party linked to the late Mugabe is a security threat.

Furthermore, Mnangagwa has not hidden his disdain to this grouping as he recently fired warning shots to his party members suspected of interacting with members of the G40 faction, whose top leaders are now based in exile after the 2017 coup that removed Mugabe from power.

Mnangagwa is reported to have made the warning during the party’s politburo meeting.

Party spokesperson Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo is reported to have also made the announcement adding that G40 members are a National security threat.

A suspected robber who was on the run after a robbing spree was, over the weekend, dragged to court for murdering a policeman who wanted to arrest him at his house.

Godfrey Mututu (30) was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo facing murder charges.

Allegations are that Mututu attempted to disarm Detective Sergeant Hove resulting in the firearm discharging a bullet that went on to hit the now deceased Detective Constable Munyaradzi Mudenda just above the eye.

He was remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
The matter was remanded to November 8.

Prosecutor Tinashe Makiya alleged that on Thursday last week around 10pm a team of Detectives from Marondera raided Mututu’s residence who was wanted for a spate of robberies in Mrondera.

Upon arrival at Mututu’s residence, the Detectives knocked the door and identified themselves as Police Officers.H-Metro

Farai Dziva|The formation of a Gweru based political party by the name MDC Zimbabwe could be a political ploy meant to confuse the electorate, political analysts have said.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has written a letter acknowledging the existence of the party.

However, political observers believe the move is calculated to dilute the impact of the Nelson Chamisa led MDC.

See below the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission letter of acknowledgement:

RE: NOTIFICATION OF EXISTENCE OF MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) ZIMBABWE

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acknowledges receipt of your party profile documents, the contents of which have been noted.

Your organisation has been included on ZEC’s stakeholder data base and mailing list for notification when appropriate meetings that require your input arise.

Farai Dziva|Another church leader has declared “divine favour” on Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Reverend Lucy Natasha, the founder and overseer of Prophetic Latter Glory Ministries International declared “divine favour” on Mnangagwa after a meeting with him him at State House on Saturday.

“Great moments with His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe in State House earlier today(Saturday).

I prophesy that God will usher you into a new realm of favour, dominion and influence.

God will raise and lift you up. You will dine with Kings and Queens.
OracleInZimbabwe
OracleWithThePresident,” tweeted Reverend Natasha.

This comes after controversial ZCC leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi declared last month that Mnangagwa was chosen by God to lead Zimbabwe.

Farai Dziva| Leading South African Retailer PEP is set to close its shops in Zimbabwe due to the unstable economic environment.

Pep has indicated it is pulling out of Zimbabwe due to losses it has been recording in the country.

The company has recorded a shocking loss of 70 million rand (US $4.8 million) this year.

“The decision to exit Zimbabwe was based on the continued adverse macroeconomic conditions affecting trading and the weakening currency,” said Pep in a statement.

Staff Reporter| MDC Alliance Treasurer General, Senator David Coltart’s son Doug, was over the weekend assaulted by the police, while he was on duty representing trade union leader, Obert Masaraure, at the Harare Central Police Station.

The young Coltart a leading human rights advocate, was brutally assaulted with bloody images of him being shared on social media, as his client Masaraure, President of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), commented on social media, “My heart bleeds for @DougColtart who was brutally assaulted when he brought me food yesterday (Saturday).”

Coltart’s bruised pictures have since gone viral on social media, with Zimbabweans reacting with utmost disgust to the level of impunity that law enforcement agents carry out their duties, violating fundamental human rights and freedoms.

This is against a background of continued police brutality, latest roundly condemned incident being last Wednesday, when scores were injured, in a security crackdown, during opposition leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa’s Hope of the Nation Address (HONA) at the party headquarters Harvest House. Many of those injured are still recovering in hospital.

Coltart indicated to Africa Legal News that he was recovering after receiving some medical attention.
“Got some cuts and bruises, but I have received medical attention,” said the human rights lawyer.
Coltart is not the first lawyer to be attacked in the line of duty, others include, incidents in 2007, when police beat up past President of the Law Society of Zimbabwe, Beatrice Mtetwa and other lawyers during a protest against harassment of lawyers and the arrest of fellow human rights lawyers Andrew Makoni and Alec Muchadehama.

Earlier this year in January lawyers in the country hit the streets in protest against being harassed while on duty.

TimesLIVE quoted Mtetwa at the time, who said that she was “excited” by the march by the country’s lawyers as she led an entourage of senior, middle and junior lawyers to hand their grievances to the court’s officials for the attention of chief justice Luke Malaba.
“We want respect for the constitution, human rights and the conduct of trials to be done in a fair manner,” Mtetwa told journalists after she handed over the lawyers’ grievances to court officials.

Staff Reporter| Zimbabwe’s notorious war vets of the 70s liberation struggle, are it again, this time with fresh demands that the cash strapped government, provides them with their own bank and hospital.

Weekend publication, The Standard quotes, War Veterans Ministry secretary Mark Marongwe, who last week told Parliament that, “Women have their own bank, which was established for them, but if you look at the war heroes that fought in the liberation struggle they are not well funded in terms of self-help projects and there is need for financing to be availed so that there can be a war veterans bank where they can borrow money for self-help projects.”

He further said, “Even 39 years after independence our remaining liberation fighters are still suffering from different effects of the war and just like in other countries like the United States of America there is need for a specialised hospital to cater for our war veterans, and the hospital can raise money through charging fees to non-veteran clients.”

The demands by the veterans of the 70s liberation struggle, often leave a bad taste in the mouths of Zimbabweans, given their history in contributing to the drastic fall of the country’s economy, after they pressured the former President Robert Mugabe in 1997 to pay them each Z$500 000 in gratuities. The Zimbabwe dollar lost its value by 70 percent in one day.

Reports The Standard over the weekend, Marongwe’s suggestions were supported by the parliamentary committee whose report also recommended that the former fighters be given more land and be exempted from taxes.

The committee’s chairperson Levi Mayihlome from Zanu PF said the government should adopt a policy to ensure that once land has been allocated to war veterans, it must not be repossessed.
“The government should establish a war veterans bank which allows members to access loans at low interest rates,” he said.
“Beginning year 2020, government should also exempt war veterans from the following taxes; land, vehicles, industrial machinery, agricultural equipment levies, tollgates and parking fees.
“Widows and surviving children of war veterans must not be dispossessed of agricultural land.
“The Ministry of Defence and War Veterans should allow grass roots war veterans to elect their representatives to the board.
“The government should establish vocational training centres, which offer practical short courses in welding, plumbing, pig farming and poultry to be introduced at the beginning of year 2020.”
The committee report also said that war veterans were being ignored during government events.

Staff Reporter| Independent Member of Parliament for the Norton Constituency, Temba Mliswa, has cautioned the MDC Alliance led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa, over its continued stance of refusing to recognise President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s legitimacy, as shooting itself in the foot.

Taking to his microblogging platform on Twitter, Mliswa said, “I’ve been attacked left, right and centre for saying this but the truth of the matter is constitutionally @edmnangagwa is President for at least the next five years; it’s a ConCourt ruling. Whilst one may debate this point in bars etc, it’s a legally binding position; that’s it.”

ZimEye can report that as Mliswa made these comments early Monday morning, there is bound to be more chaos in opposition circles, as another MDC Zimbabwe party was clandestinely registered in Gweru, just when Zimbabweans are also eagerly awaiting a Supreme Court verdict over the authentic leadership of the MDC.

Mliswa cautioned that the resulting impasse in the Parliament between MDC Alliance and Zanu PF MPs, with the latter having in turn responded by refusing to recognise MDC Alliance committee chairs, means the MDC Alliance has lost some crucial spaces of influence, citing the important Public Accounts Committee, (PAC) chaired by Tendai Biti.

Biti was set to preside over a crucial hearing from the controversial Sakunda Holdings, which had to be aborted twice after Zanu PF Member of Parliament, Dexter Nduna, apparently raised a point of order as to why the PAC should be chaired by someone who does not recognise Mnangagwa’s Presidency.

Wrote Mliswa, “The position taken by @MDCAllianceZW is indeed unfortunate as @BitiTendai is a brilliant Chair who’s astute leadership is now being suppressed unnecessarily @nelsonchamisa.”

The outspoken legislator also noted that whilst MDC Alliance MPs had taken this stance their councillors have not.

“Let me try and play by hand at being a peace broker to at least justify tax payers monies which are being wasted by this stance. The Speaker has the final say however and there are processes and procedures to be followed,” said Mliswa.

Harare City Council has refused to take full responsibility for poor service delivery in the capital, saying ratepayers, who are not fulfilling their obligations, are also to blame.

Speaking at council and labour unions debriefing held in Harare last Thursday, MDC secretary for elections, who is also a Harare councillor, Jacob Mafume described the issue of service delivery as a chicken and egg situation.

“We have to pay for the services in order for the service to come. Which starts first is a debate which everyone is engaged in, but people must understand that in these days for the telephone you must pay first before using the airtime, for data you pay first before using the airtime,” Mafume said.

“The council is the only one where people get service first and pay later. We use an arrears payment process and many residents do not understand that.

“They believe they are paying for what they are getting upfront. We give you a service first and you pay for it. That system is very difficult to sustain.”

Mafume also claimed that poor service delivery could not be totally pinned down on disgruntled workers, but someone had messed up.

“We are all aware of the inflationary environment and the harsh economic times as a result of austerity measures introduced at central government level. We have been trying to catch up and find ways to alleviate the welfare of employees.” he said

“The shortcomings of the council are not really caused by disgruntled workers, someone messed up and it’s not us. We are trying to do the best we can with the lemonade we are being served.”

Mafume said issues to do with inflation, shortage of cash and liquidity should be addressed to Finance minister Mthuli Ncube.

“Concerns being raised regarding inflation, cash shortage and issues of liquidation must be addressed to Mthuli. We are hoping our colleagues will persuade minister Mthuli to delay the effort of going to space or the moon so that we can use that money to deal with people here on earth. I am sure the moon can wait for us,” Mafume said.

-Newsday

Local analysts have, however, raised eyebrows over the concessions made by the government to the United Arab Emirates, saying top government officials could have taken the Dubai route for personal gain.

Reports are that government intends to fast track some of the deals with UAE while extending visas of investors at the point of entry.

Mnangagwa’s government has already dispatched an ambassador to the UAE to strengthen bilateral relations at a time the Zanu PF leader, who came into office two years ago, has been globe-trotting on a private jet ostensibly “donated” to him from the enclave.

Acting Information minister Nqobizithat Mangaliso Ndlovu confirmed last week that government had approved appointment of Zimbabwe’s first ambassador to the oil-rich nation.

Ndlovu, who is the country’s Tourism minister, said there was a plan to build hotel infrastructure in Zimbabwe to specifically cater for UAE nationals.

“We are planning on hotel infrastructure to cater for their religion and that is under serious consideration,” he said.

Finance minister Mthuli Ncube yesterday defended preferential treatment extended to UAE investors, saying the oil-rich country was Zimbabwe’s second largest export destination after South Africa, and deserved such concessions.

“There is walking the talk with the promises and agreements we had with the United Arab Emirates. When Cyclone Idai struck, remember we were in the UAE and they came in to assist us. They follow up the processes and, as we speak, someone from the UAE is already in the country as part of the advance team. Whether we like it or not, they are the second largest exporter after South Africa. It is a large trading partner we cannot ignore,” Ncube said.

Cabinet on Thursday was briefed on Mnangagwa’s visit to the UAE, where he met the country’s leaders, including the Prime Minister and Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Mnangagwa took with him a delegation that included 25 businesspeople.

Relations between Mnangagwa and the UAE have been subject to scrutiny, especially after reports that the President was using a private jet he allegedly was hiring at huge cost from Dubai.
Mnangagwa earlier this year sought to explain the story behind the jet, saying: “I was invited by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed. He hosted us well. You hear people saying I flew with a luxury jet. Those are lies, they sent us a plane.

“We did not pay anything for that plane. The crown prince sent the aeroplane to pick us up and we went and it dropped us. I told him we had a problem with availability of planes, and he said whenever I want to travel, all I need to do is call.”

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Sifelani Jabangwe said he was hopeful that such deals would benefit the nation and not the foreigners and a few local elites.

“What is more important is how these deals will be structured. They must be structured in a manner that benefits Zimbabweans,” he said.

“Local content in such deals is key because it will leave benefits to Zimbabweans. In whatever way they are coming to invest, we hope they will not be like the Chinese who bring in their labourers and their equipment.”

Analyst Rashweat Mukundu said there was need for government to be clear and transparent in such deals, adding that without such, there was reason to suspect dodgy deals.

“Some of the Middle East countries are not known for doing business in a transparent manner and these are countries that tend to manage business deals using underhand methods, moreso, bribing the top leadership and benefiting in whatever manner,” he said.

“So, my fear is that the coming in of the Arab investors outside the legal framework of investment in Zimbabwe, outside the publicity of what is it that they will be doing, the logical conclusion is those deals are shady and will not necessarily benefit Zimbabwe, but a few of our political leaders who are in talks with the investors from the United Arab Emirates.

“It is in the interest of the Zimbabwean government that any business deals be done in the open so that they build confidence in other potential investors.

“To me, it is a clear indication that our political leaders are either being corrupted, being naïve or are benefiting at a personal level and not necessarily looking at investment as a national benefit.”

Additional reporting Newsday

By A Correspondent| An article in The Herald contains some Zupco statistics.

Here are some of the stats:

• The state owned company now has 500 conventional buses and 383 kombis on the road. These constitute its own and the franchise ones.
• The company moves 100, 000 passengers per day on one-way trips between cities.

Zupco started operating at a wider and visible scale following the January 2019 fuel riots.

-StateMedia

“It was the president’s briefing. Anything to do with the president contact Mr Charamba.”

By Own Correspondent| Following a report that heads of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces on Saturday night met and chose to brief their Commander in Chief Emmerson Mnangagwa saying that there is a security crisis requiring urgent attention, ZimEye sought to obtain direct comments from both Mnangagwa and the military (continue reading).

The ZDF Commander Valerio Sibanda told his boss “the security situation haina kumira mushe, there’s suddenly too much chatter of a coup and suggested to put the country on high alert or even State Emergency. He also said a lot of commanders are suddenly showing defiance to him, ” the report says.

The briefing also came amid rumors that a junior soldier in the Presidential guard fired a full round of bullets into the air protesting the biting economic situation in the country. Government has so far dismissed the rumor as untrue.

There are fears that if the government goes ahead to declare a state of emergency, the military will be used to attack civilians as Mnangagwa works to per chance suppress the simmering public anger. Already, controversial agents like one Tinashe Jonas, linked to the Team Ferret terror gang, had gone ahead to throw emotion triggers in the way seen to serve to justify the looming crimes against humanity.

The military spokesman Col Everson Mugwisi made the following responses in an interview with ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza (SC) late Sunday.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

SC: Col Mugwisi I just wanted to ask about the state of emergency briefing made to his excellency today and to hear if the ZDF and the government are going to proceed in declaring a state of emergency tomorrow(Monday).

Mugwisi: What state of emergency are you talking about? 

https://youtu.be/POHngVgMuw0

SC: Well there was a briefing today wasn’t there… there was a briefing by the generals to the president about the crisis in the country that there is a state of alarm in the community and much talk about a coup.

Mugwisi: Err I am a defence spokesperson. I don’t speak on behalf of the president I think you need to talk to Mr Charamba. It was the president’s briefing. Anything to do with the president contact Mr Charamba.

SC: But the briefing was done to the president isn’t it?

Mugwisi: I think I have made myself very clear that those issues are dealt with by the presidential office; you speak to the presidential spokesperson Mr Charamba. Is that clear enough?

SC: Lastly sir, we saw in January, a spate of violence amid allegations of the military being part of the unleashing of violence. Would the ZDF be there to ensure that there is no repeat of such this time?

Mugwisi: Are you saying the ZDF embarked on violence?

SC: Well, there were uniforms there were military uniforms and the evidence showed that they were soldiers and even the president spoke about soldiers being out of line when he came back from Russia.

Mugwisi: Oh well, I think to be fair you need to send your questions through my email address and I will respond to you formally because you are saying there are people who were involved in violence and you are not sure if they are ZDF.

SC: No I said the president spoke about it, the president in a statement when he returned.

Mugwisi: What did he say?

SC: When he returned.

SC: He said there was insubordination among the security forces; he mentioned it in a statement so, what I am saying is, will the ZDF be there to ensure that there is no repeat of insubordination?

Mugwisi: Err, security forces what’s your interpretation of security forces is it just the zdf?

SC: In this case the area of security forces involved the use of ammunition so I believe this will clearly involve the ZDF.

Mugwisi: But is it only the ZDF that uses ammunition?

SC: No but obviously it is the ZDF that was involved even in clearing and assisting the police in January.

Mugwisi: Ok thank you very much Mr journalist can you send me your questions via email so that I can respond to you formally.

Efforts to get a comment from Mnangagwa were fruitless as his spokesman George Charamba’s phone went unanswered.  His other cellphone line kept bouncing into voicemail.

By Correspondent| As the Zanu PF December annual conference nears, Mashonaland East has endorsed Emmerson Mnangagwa as the party’s candidate for the 2023 elections.

The province reaffirmed him at a provincial conference at Goromonzi High School at the weekend.

Said provincial chairperson and Joel Biggie Matiza:

As we move towards the annual people’s conference, the province endorsed our leader, Comrade Emmerson Mnangagwa, as the sole candidate for the 2023 elections. This was one of the major resolutions passed during the provincial conference.

The party’s annual conference will be held from 10 to 15 December 2019.

-Newsday

Own Correspondent| On Saturday morning, Zimbabweans were shocked to learn that vice President Constantino Chiwenga who was away for more than four months seeking medical attention in China had landed at the Robert Mugabe International airport.

Present at the airport were only his two brothers and Deputy Ambassador to China and none from the government or Zanu PF party.

Conspicuously absent was his wife Marry who has not been seen with the retired general since reports of conflict between the two began surfacing.

While there has not been an explanation on why Marry was not present to meet her husband, various sources who spoke to ZimEye have given conflicting statements on the issues surrounding the powerful couple.

The first source alleged that Marry and Chiwenga were no longer in talking terms amid claims that the former model was suspected of leaking sensitive information to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction.

The source added that Marry was sent back home from China with the retired army general not interested in seeing her again.

But another source gave a different story, suggesting that she was in the same plane only to come out later.

They told ZimEye: “a few days ago she had traveled I guess to pick him up. Also, she doesn’t have to come out of the plane the same time with him.”

Footage at the airport Saturday morning however has no Marry, and her absence became more conspicuous hours later when Emmerson Mnangagwa visited Chiwenga at his house.

Another source told ZimEye that soldiers from 1 Commando cordoned off the airport with ministers afraid to go see Chiwenga so they cannot be seen as his backers.

The source added that there was mood of suspense at state house due to the fact that Chiwenga was infuriated when he heard that Mnangagwa had approached Joice Mujuru to replace him while he was still in China.

“But as far as the army is concerned Mnangagwa has done his homework by appointing his own relative Valerio Sibanda the Commander Of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It is thus highly unlikely that the military will remove Mnangagwa.

Own Correspondent|A new political party known as MDC Zimbabwe has been added into the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission data based.

The New political party notified ZEC of its existence in a letter on Friday.

To whom it may concern

This serves to notify ZEC of the Movement for Democratic change Zimbabwe political party’s (MDC ZIMBABWE) existence.
Here is the leadership for the MDC Zimbabwe party:
President : Thulani Ndebele
Vice President : Lwazi Mbowa
National Chair : Dick Kamuchivende
Secretary General : Victor Mpofu
Treasure General : Yasini Chiwisa
Youth Chair : Revonia Zinzile Moyo Ndlovu.
Please find attached our signed notification letter, copy of the constitution and logo .

Thank you for your consideration.

Thulani Ndebele

ZEC has since accepted the notification from the new party without questioning the similarity of the name to the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa and the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe.

“It was the president’s briefing. Anything to do with the president contact Mr Charamba.”

By Own Correspondent| Following a report that heads of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces on Saturday night met and chose to brief their Commander in Chief Emmerson Mnangagwa saying that there is a security crisis requiring urgent attention, ZimEye sought to obtain direct comments from both Mnangagwa and the military (continue reading).

The ZDF Commander Valerio Sibanda told his boss “the security situation haina kumira mushe, there’s suddenly too much chatter of a coup and suggested to put the country on high alert or even State Emergency. He also said a lot of commanders are suddenly showing defiance to him, ” the report says.

The briefing also came amid rumors that a junior soldier in the Presidential guard fired a full round of bullets into the air protesting the biting economic situation in the country. Government has so far dismissed the rumor as untrue.

There are fears that if the government goes ahead to declare a state of emergency, the military will be used to attack civilians as Mnangagwa works to per chance suppress the simmering public anger. Already, controversial agents like one Tinashe Jonas, linked to the Team Ferret terror gang, had gone ahead to throw emotion triggers in the way seen to serve to justify the looming crimes against humanity.

The military spokesman Col Everson Mugwisi made the following responses in an interview with ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza (SC) late Sunday.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

SC: Col Mugwisi I just wanted to ask about the state of emergency briefing made to his excellency today and to hear if the ZDF and the government are going to proceed in declaring a state of emergency tomorrow(Monday).

Mugwisi: What state of emergency are you talking about? 

https://youtu.be/POHngVgMuw0

SC: Well there was a briefing today wasn’t there… there was a briefing by the generals to the president about the crisis in the country that there is a state of alarm in the community and much talk about a coup.

Mugwisi: Err I am a defence spokesperson. I don’t speak on behalf of the president I think you need to talk to Mr Charamba. It was the president’s briefing. Anything to do with the president contact Mr Charamba.

SC: But the briefing was done to the president isn’t it?

Mugwisi: I think I have made myself very clear that those issues are dealt with by the presidential office; you speak to the presidential spokesperson Mr Charamba. Is that clear enough?

SC: Lastly sir, we saw in January, a spate of violence amid allegations of the military being part of the unleashing of violence. Would the ZDF be there to ensure that there is no repeat of such this time?

Mugwisi: Are you saying the ZDF embarked on violence?

SC: Well, there were uniforms there were military uniforms and the evidence showed that they were soldiers and even the president spoke about soldiers being out of line when he came back from Russia.

Mugwisi: Oh well, I think to be fair you need to send your questions through my email address and I will respond to you formally because you are saying there are people who were involved in violence and you are not sure if they are ZDF.

SC: No I said the president spoke about it, the president in a statement when he returned.

Mugwisi: What did he say?

SC: When he returned.

SC: He said there was insubordination among the security forces; he mentioned it in a statement so, what I am saying is, will the ZDF be there to ensure that there is no repeat of insubordination?

Mugwisi: Err, security forces what’s your interpretation of security forces is it just the zdf?

SC: In this case the area of security forces involved the use of ammunition so I believe this will clearly involve the ZDF.

Mugwisi: But is it only the ZDF that uses ammunition?

SC: No but obviously it is the ZDF that was involved even in clearing and assisting the police in January.

Mugwisi: Ok thank you very much Mr journalist can you send me your questions via email so that I can respond to you formally.

Efforts to get a comment from Mnangagwa were fruitless as his spokesman George Charamba’s phone went unanswered.  His other cellphone line kept bouncing into voicemail.

Own Correspondent |Two years ago, there was the promise of a bright new dawn in Zimbabwe as the country’s army forced long-time dictator President Robert Mugabe from office.

His deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has not only disappointed those who had faith in him to chart a new course, but he has increasingly become a caricature of a despotic African ruler.

He crushes any dissent ruthlessly – as he did a few days ago when his cops beat defenceless civilians in Harare, for the simple crime of wanting to listen to an opposition leader.

His presidential motorcade stretches for as many as 42 vehicles.

His stretch Mercedes-Benz limo – equalled only in opulence by the vehicles favoured by the region’s other tin-pot dictator, eSwatini King Mswati – roars through the streets while his people starve.

Now, he has renamed at least 10 streets after himself and other “heroes of the revolution”, including Congo’s Patrice Lumumba, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, as well as Cuba’s Fidel Castro and China’s Mao Zedong.

Mnangagwa lives in his own egotistical ’60s socialist bubble while Zimbabweans flee for a chance at a better life.

It would be funny were it not so tragic.

Correspondent|Police have been notified of a demonstration planned by bank workers this Thursday.

Zimbabwe Banks and Allied Workers Union (Zibawu) said the demonstration is intended to protest against Finance minister Mthuli Ncube’s “unfavourable policies”.

At least 300 union members will demonstrate at Ncube’s offices at New Government Complex in Harare.

In a notice received by the officer commanding Harare Central police station on Friday, Zibawu said the demonstration would draw Ncube’s attention to the plight of workers in the financial services sector.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Ncube said Government had not banned calculations of annual inflation rate but the actualities would be determined using the monthly inflation figures.

He said accounting rules allowed the use of such a methodology and said the previous methodology was inconsistent owing to variances of currencies that applied in the previous year.

Prof Ncube said this while fielding questions from journalists during a media briefing that was held in Harare last Friday. “I did not ban inflation figures. We said the year on year on inflation, the methodology we were using was inconsistent because the current regimes were different. We were comparing a US dollar regime which is pre-February 2019 to a Zimbabwean dollar post that date. We have done that before, we are probably the leaders in it in the world, we did it in 2009, there is nothing new, just wait for two months you will get the year on year inflation in February,” said Prof Ncube.

“There is month on month inflation and the accounting rules allow for the use of month on month inflation indices and accountancy knows this, there is no problem, there is no challenge at all. We expect them (Zimstart) to do their inflation adjusting accounting on the back of the month on month inflation.”

Prof Ncube said Government was determined to fulfil everything that it promised including payment of bonuses for civil servants this month instead of staggering it up to next month.

Turning to industry, Prof Ncube said Government would allow industry to borrow money on the back of guarantee from the State.

“We are proposing something new in industry to support that micro-aspect of industry as a driver of the economy. We are proposing a guarantee scheme for industry to access credit from financial system on the back of a Government guarantee. So we are working on the modalities. This is targeted at retooling and trade financing. Industry is a low hanging fruit, we want industry that is driven by research from our universities and innovation hubs. We will also make sure that industry comes closer to our universities for the research driven industrialisation opportunities.”

State Media|Stakeholders in the informal sector say the 2020 National Budget does not adequately address the sector’s concerns, despite its immense contribution to economic development.

Key among these concerns are the formalisation of the sector as well as provision of decent work
space that should enhance production output, job creation as well as overall contribution to the economy.

At a Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt Development (ZIMCODD) post budget seminar with members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance held on Friday in the capital, stakeholders concurred the sector had been overlooked in the 2020 National Budget, although it has anchored the economy in the past two decades following an economic downturn that saw bigger corporations downsizing operations while others eventually closed.

Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation executive director Samuel Wadzai pointed out that one of the major concerns for the sector was lack of decent working space which he said the 2020 National Budget failed to address.

“Without being pessimistic, there were efforts by the Minister to contribute to the development of the sector, such as the $90 million for development purposes, but much could have been done especially on ensuring there is creation for adequate operating space for the informal sectors, with adequate facilities like running water, toilets, sheds so that traders are able to operate from spaces that are conducive for business,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the seminar.

“On the issue of formalisation of the sector, it’s important that the Government speedily moves to ensure there is conformity and what the International Labour Organisation call recommendation 204, which calls for the formalisation of the informal sector is actualised in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mr Wadzai also bemoaned the lack of training for the sector, yet this could help improve
production and profitability for the sector that employs an estimated 80 percent of Zimbabwe’s population.

“We need to see Government inject money to support these processes for the informal sector. We also want to benefit from any tax holidays that may be available for businesses while also contributing to economic growth,” he said.

On November 14, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube presented the 2020 National Business themed “Gearing for higher productivity, growth and job creation”.

Minister Ncube said Government will continue to play a key role in capitalising various institutions which support women, youth and medium and small-scale enterprises (MSMEs) besides facilitating access to markets, workspace, trade promotion and capacity building, among other functions.

In light of this, Treasury allocated $90 million to capitalise the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) as part of initiatives to support budding enterprises.

Other institutions supporting MSMEs projects such as Women Development Fund, Community Development Fund, Zimbabwe Women Micro-finance Bank and Empower Bank were also allocated $20 million, $15 million, $100 million and $50 million in that order.

The Treasury boss also highlighted the importance of creating linkages between MSMEs and large enterprises which he said played a critical role in
the development of industry and creation of employment.

State Media|The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) will remain committed to undertaking training needed to meet threats from hostile elements using violence to disturb peace in the nation, ZNA Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo has said.

Officiating during the wings parade at Parachute Regiment at Inkomo Barracks last week to confer parachute insignia on 30 soldiers of the special forces units who completed the parachute course, Lt-Genl Chimonyo said the ZNA will not be deterred from perfoming its constitutional mandate of providing security to Zimbabwe.

“Your graduation comes at a time when the organisation is facing a number of resources challenges but in spite of that, your successful completion of this training today represents the ZNA’s awesome determination of ensuring that its members are prepared to defend the country against all forms of threats through meaningful training,” said Lt-Gen Chimonyo.

“These continuous attacks are meant to scare us and hence force us to dance according to their tune. As a nation we are, however, not scared, more so when we have warriors who are determined to give their lives in defence of our country,” the ZNA Commander said.

Lt-Gen Chimonyo applauded the special forces for their dedication to duty by training with limited resources.

“Today in conferring wings to you graduands, we are not only celebrating your achievements but also your commitment to the total and selfless defence of the country. As members of Zimbabwe’s elite troops, you are among the first to deploy on the ground in all our operations and it is therefore important for you to clearly understand your unique and prestigious role,” he said.

Lt-Gen Chimonyo also applauded the people for defending the nation through uniting and speaking with one voice during the recently held anti-sanctions campaign.

“The people of Zimbabwe supported the Southern African Development Community (SADC), reminiscent to the days of the liberation struggle, rose up to call for the lifting of the illegal sanctions that were unfairly imposed on our Motherland.”

“The stance taken by our people against sanctions as seen during the anti-sanctions march on October 25, 2019 complements the purpose for our existence as members of the ZNA and specifically your existence as members of our elite forces.

Meanwhile, the ZNA says it will continue to deploy personnel to Chimanamani to speed up the reconstruction of bridges, infrastructure and foster development in the Cyclone Idai-affected areas.

Speaking during a combined graduation at the Zimbabwe School of Military Engineering (ZSME) in Harare last week, Brigadier-General Staff, Brigadier-General Steven Gwekwerere said the ZNA will train more engineers to be deployed in cyclone-hit areas to expedite development.

“The engineers who have graduated will go to Chimanimani to increase the number of engineers who are working with the South Africans in order to repair infrastructure that was destroyed during Cyclone Idai which hit the area. ZNA has been doing this for long as part of military aid to civil authority,” he said.

Reconstruction of the destroyed areas remains a top priority for the ZNA and Government, hence the army will continue to train more engineers to boost the required strength of manpower that can effectively quicken the exercise,

He said the engineering courses remained at the core of training for the ZNA

Brig-Gen Gwekwerere said the ZNA would continue to help civil communities in times of disaster as part of its constitutional mandate.

The ZNA played a critical role in the evacuation of pupils at St Charles Lwanga School in Chimanimani when Cyclone Idai which hit the area in March.

As a gesture of regional military cooperation, the South African government donated two Baily bridges which the SANDF engineers, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel D Ncjoko, to work with their ZNA counterparts to lay over Rusitu and Nyahode rivers in Chimanimani district, which upon completion would assist in improving accessibility to the areas.

In a separate development, 42 soldiers graduated at Kaguvi Barracks last week after completing a four-month basic stores course.

Presiding over the graduation, ZNA Clothing Factory manager Lieutenant-Colonel Caroline Hunidzarira urged the graduates to put to good use the knowledge obtained during training.

“You need to practise so that you gain more experience from what you learnt during the course,” she said.

FORMER First Lady Grace Mugabe’s language was foul, vulgar and stinking to the heavens, a sign of immaturity in politics, veteran freedom fighter and former Cabinet Minister Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube has said.

In his autobiography titled “Quiet Flows The Zambezi”, launched at the Bulawayo National Art Gallery on Friday evening, Retired Colonel Dube, a Zanu-PF Politburo member, wrote that Mrs Mugabe was crude and was the reason behind the subsequent fall of the late former president Robert Mugabe.

Rtd Col Dube said Mrs Mugabe’s immaturity in politics started showing when she used unorthodox means to push former Vice-President Joice Mujuru from her post and Zanu-PF in 2014.

“She was extremely crude and vulgar. Her language was obscene and uncouth, to say the least,” writes Rtd Col Dube.

He said Mrs Mugabe, in her typical crude tirades, made accusations against former VP Mujuru some which bordered on witchcraft and prostitution.

“Some of us knew VP Mujuru to be a respectable person. All the denigration and insults she received were calculated to bring her down so that the First Lady would rise,” he said.

“Her language was foul, vulgar and stinking to the heavens. She solicited support from some party heavy weights,” he said.

Rtd Col Dube said Mrs Mugabe, teamed with some G40 elements such as former Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Jonathan Moyo to try to use the same tactic to push out President Emmerson Mnangagwa (then VP) in 2017.State media

Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga says timely intervention by President Mnangagwa to engage his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, to facilitate his airlift to Beijing for specialist care and treatment prevented his “imminent death” and saved his life.

In July, the President made the decision when VP Chiwenga was battling for life in the intensive care unit of a South African hospital.

At the time, the VP suffered memory lapses, speech impairment and excruciating pain.

However, in what has been an extraordinary recovery story, VP Chiwenga — who arrived home in the early hours of Saturday after a four-month absence — yesterday looked fit and agile when he received President Mnangagwa at his home.

The duo shared a hearty embrace before an hour-and-half private engagement.

Emerging from the meeting, a visibly elated President Mnangagwa, who was accompanied by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, explained the VP’s path to recovery.

“When he left he was unwell, which was giving us sleepless nights because our comrade was unwell,” said the President.

“So we arranged for him to go to South Africa and while he was there, we spoke to our Chinese friends, we spoke to President Xi Jinping, who is our dear friend, who offered to assist with his treatment.

“We saw it fit for the VP to go to China. We flew him there and he stayed there for a number of months. Now you can see for yourselves that he has regained his fitness and he is clear-minded.
“When he initially left he was having memory lapses, and he was in so much pain that everyone could tell the agony he was in.”

VP Chiwenga, he said, is now “raring to go”.
“I am confident that now the whole of Zimbabwe knows that the Vice President is back and fit, and he is very clear and raring to go. That is why I said God is there because my colleague is back and we can now put our heads together to uplift the country.”

When The Sunday Mail asked him when the VP was expected back in office, President Mnangagwa responded: “You can see the way he looks now, but on my part, I am not too concerned about him returning back to work, I am more concerned about his welfare and that he is back to full fitness. But as someone who is coming from being ill, I only wish for him to start his duties slowly and move progressively to take up more work. You can see for yourselves that the man is glowing.”

The President also revealed that the VP’s ill-health had “affected him personally”, adding that his return had brought him immense relief.

He said he also sent a special message of thanks to President Xi Jinping for facilitating VP Chiwenga’s treatment.

“I am also very grateful to my brother, the President of the People’s Republic of China whom I talked to and he said he will do his best and instruct his system to do their best to look after your Vice President, and that has been done.

“And I have sent a letter to President Xi Jinping thanking him for the role he played in looking after my VP.

Besides that, I have also asked General Chiwenga on how was the care in the hospital and he says, ‘Mukoma, ndakabatwa zvakanaka, I can’t think of anything else or wish for anything else . . .’”

With a voice full of life, VP Chiwenga thanked the President for his judicious decision to send him to China for treatment.

“And I want to thank personally my President, His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, if he had not intervened the time I was in the intensive care in South Africa, I could have been history by now, and when he communicated with his counterpart President Xi Jinping, I was then taken to China . . . he did not act as the President but acted as my brother to make sure that I survive . . .
“And I would also want, before I go far, to thank the people of Zimbabwe for their prayers; those prayers from across the country helped my recovery.”
He also explained his hospital stint and recovery.

“Up to yesterday, from the time I left, I had spent 123 days in hospital. When I got there it was the 21st of July and got my discharge certificate later on after 123 days.

“I feel strong and I am raring to go for work . . . everything possible was done; they left no stone unturned . . . so I am very fit and happy.”
He said he had already resumed his duties.

It is now incumbent upon us to work to achieve the vision our President has set for 2030”.
“Let us work with him tirelessly to ensure everything is achieved.”
— SundayMail

Watch the video loading below. ..

Farai Dziva| As the economic problems continue unabated, The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has announced new fuel prices with effect from November 25.

“The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has pegged new fuel prices with effect from Monday, 25 November 2019.

The maximum pump price for a litre of diesel is now ZWL$17.90 while Blend E20 (Petrol) is now selling at ZWL$17.44,” an official said.

By A Correspondent- Veterans of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle want the government to establish a bank exclusively for them where they can borrow money for self-help projects.

This was revealed by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Mark Marongwe when he appeared before the parliamentary portfolio committee on defence to speak on the 2020 budget last week.

He said:

Women have their own bank, which was established for them, but if you look at the war heroes that fought in the liberation struggle they are not well funded in terms of self-help projects and there is need for financing to be availed so that there can be a war veterans bank where they can borrow money for self-help project.

War veterans have been making endless demands over the years, ranging from gratuities in cash, farms, posts in the ruling ZANU PF party, free passes at toll gates, among other demands.

However, in this instance, their demand was supported by the parliamentary committee whose report also recommended that the ex-combatants be given more land and be exempted from taxes.

-Standard

By A Correspondent- A purported Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) document was allegedly leaked to media houses and journalists.

Prominent journalist and award-winning filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono castigated the government’s propensity to waste resources on “fiction” rather than focusing on developmental projects.

Using microblogging site Twitter, Chin’ono wrote:

Pastor @ShingiMunyeza, as @Zimpapers board member &Presidential advisor, these are the things pulling us backwards.

The amount of energy, time & resources spent by the regime on non-essential activities is disappointing.

Instead of developmental work, it is concentrating on fiction.

Below is the document allegedly leaked by the Intelligence:

TO: DG

FROM: Honourable Minister Alle

DATE: 21 November 2019

SUBJECT: UNITED STATES EMBASSY INTERFERENCE IN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS

Reference is made to the Counter Intelligence Branch DIA of 20 November 2019 regarding plans by the US Embassy to fund a workshop for a subversive organisation called Frontline Defenders, at its Chancery from 02 to 10 December 2019. Part of the purpose of the workshop is to train subversive civil society organisations on ways of sustaining demonstrations.

It is my view that our Operational Branches can pre-empt the US agenda through various media platforms, including The Herald and The Sunday Mail. The possible exposure, coming on the backdrop of the United Nations Human Rights Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Hilal ELVER, will help to expose the American hand in political problems affecting Zimbabwe. We will not achieve much by allowing them to conduct the workshop which is aimed at undermining the country.

Forwarded for your actioning.

CC: DIRECTOR COUNTER INTELLIGENCE
DIRECTOR INTERNA

Said MDC National Executive member, Anthony Taruvinga:

“Political affiliation will never be a basis for exclusion in an MDC led government.

The picture shows MDC MP Memory Mbondiah dishing out pads to perceived Zanu pf supporters in Shurugwi.

Opposition members are not sub citizens but equal citizens with equal rights, benefits and privileges. The Constitution is clear. Our people have always been excluded from tax payers’ funded and international donor programs such as distribution of agriculture equipments and seeds, food for work, allocation of land etc.

Political plularity and competition build up communities and improve service delivery as opposed to monopolies and dictatorships.

A New Zimbabwe will only come with the complete exodus of Zanu pf. Forget their fake promises, they are all a crippled group of thieves and murderers..”

By A Correspondent- A political analyst has opined that President Emmerson Mnangagwa should be worried by the palpable anger harboured by the general citizenry over the state of the economy, as the disgruntlement could have spilt to the security sector.

Eldred Masunungure, a University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer, was speaking to the Daily News on the incident of a soldier who is alleged to have repeatedly fired his rifle into the air while on guard duty at State House. Said Masunungure:

Anger and disillusionment have been boiling over since November 2017, because many in the lower ranks of the military appear to feel that they were used then.

It is neither here nor there that the soldier in question is said to be deranged … this was an expression of broad anger. It is not an isolated case.

You cannot be guarded by people who are hungry … as it is the elite who are enjoying the fruits of the November coup.

Reports indicate that the soldier emptied his magazine and was apprehended by his colleagues while trying to reload at State House on Tuesday last week.

The soldier is thought to have had shown signs of mental problems in the past, with authorities sending him for psychiatric examination following the shooting incident.

-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Some police officers stationed at Charandura police station in Chirumanzu risk dismissal from the force following reports that they are working with cattle-rustling syndicates in the area.

Zimbabwe Republic Police’s officer commanding Midlands, Assistant Commissioner Peter Sibanda revealed that investigations into the matter are underway.

He said:

As police officers, we are dealing with that issue where our members were accused of dipping in cattle rustling cases.

I sent my Dispol to that area and we are doing something. Very soon some officers may be reshuffled or fired.

The Standard has established that since 2016, there has been a sharp rise in stock theft cases in the area but surprisingly, not even a single arrest has been made.

Police officers in the area have been selling beef to villagers, with a police officer, who owns a butchery at Chaka growth point, reportedly summoned over allegations that he was working in cahoots with cattle rustlers.

Said President Emmerson Mnangagwa:

“Inspecting the Maize in Kwekwe this morning. As we continue to reform and invest in our blessed lands, may we once again look forward to times of growth and prosperity. I wish all my fellow Zimbabweans a wonderful Sunday.”

By Own Correspondent| Following a report that Heads of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces last night met and chose to brief their Commander in Chief Emmerson Mnangagwa saying that there is a security crisis requiring urgent attention, ZimEye sought to obtain direct comments from both Mnangagwa and the military (continue reading).

The ZDF Commander Valerio Sibanda told his boss “the security situation haina kumira mushe, there’s suddenly too much chatter of a coup and suggested to put the country on high alert or even State Emergency. He also said a lot of commanders are suddenly showing defiance to him, ” the report says.

The briefing also came amid rumors that a junior soldier in the Presidential guard fired a full round of bullets into the air protesting the biting economic situation in the country. Government has so far dismissed the rumor as untrue.

There are fears that if the government goes ahead to declare a state of emergency, the military will be used to commit crimes against humanity as Mnangagwa works to per chance suppress the simmering public anger. Already controversial agents like one Tinashe Jonas, linked to the Team Ferret terror gang, had gone ahead to throw emotion triggers in the way so to serve to justify the looming crimes against humanity.

The military spokesman Col Everson Mugwisi made the following responses in an interview with ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza (SC).

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

SC: Col Mugwisi I just wanted to ask about the state of emergency briefing made to his excellency today and to hear if the zdf and the government are going to proceed in declaring a state of emergency tomorrow.

Mugwisi: What state of emergency are you talking about? 

https://youtu.be/POHngVgMuw0

SC: Well there was a briefing today wasn’t there… there was a briefing by the generals to the president about the crisis in the country that there is a state of alarm in the community and much talk about a coup.

Mugwisi: Err I am a defence spokesperson. I don’t speak on behalf of the president I think you need to talk to Mr Charamba. It was the president briefing. Anything to do with the president contact Mr Charamba.

SC: But the briefing was done to the president isn’t it?

Mugwisi: I think I have made myself very clear that those issues are dealt with by the presidential office; you speak to the presidential spokesperson Mr Charamba. Is that clear enough?

SC: Lastly sir, we saw in January, a spate of violence amid allegations of the military being part of the unleashing of violence. Would the ZDF be there to ensure that there is no repeat of such this time?

Mugwisi: Are you saying the ZDF embarked on violence?

SC: Well, there were uniforms they were military uniforms and the evidence showed that they were soldiers and even the president spoke about soldiers being out of line when he came back from Russia.

Mugwisi: Oh well, I think to be fair you need to send your questions through my email address and I will respond to you formally because you are saying there are people who were involved in violence and you are not sure if they are ZDF.

SC: No I said the president spoke about it, the president in a statement when he returned.

Mugwisi: What did he say?

SC: When he returned.

SC: He said there was insubordination among the security forces; he mentioned it in a statement so, what I am saying is, will the ZDF be there to ensure that there is no repeat of insubordination?

Mugwisi: Err, security forces what’s your interpretation of security forces is it just the zdf?

SC: In this case the area of security forces involved the use of ammunition so I believe this will clearly involve the ZDF.

Mugwisi: But is it only the ZDF that uses ammunition?

SC: No but obviously it is the ZDF that was involved even in clearing and assisting the police in January.

Mugwisi: Ok thank you very much Mr journalist can you send me your questions via email so that I can respond to you formally.

Efforts to get a comment from Mnangagwa were fruitless as his spokesman George Charamba’s phone went unanswered.  His other cellphone line kept bouncing into voicemail.

FARMERS in the drought hit Matabeleland region are now swarming maputi making firms in Bulawayo to get chuff, a by-product of the snack which they use to feed their cattle as people apply desperate measures to save their livestock.

The situation has been compounded by the continued increase in stock feed which has seen most farmers failing to buy the product.

Poverty deaths have also continued to rise in the region, with estimates now pointing to more than 6 000 cattle having succumbed to the drought. 

Sunday Business on Friday last week discovered that farmers were swarming maputi production factories where they are buying the chuff from the plants to feed cattle.

In Kelvin North in Bulawayo, farmers told this publication that the product was cheap and was nutritious feed.

A 20-litre bucket of the chuff costs $5 compared to between $260 and $280 for a 50 kilogramme of stock feed in most shops in Bulawayo.

“We are feeding cattle with this maputi, it has a lot of energy and the price is also cheap. We sometimes add salt and other ingredients but when push comes to shove you just feed the livestock as it is,” said Mr Boas Ncube, who said he has a farm in Marula, Matabeleland South.

“You only need to make sure that after feeding the cattle, there is enough water for them because the feed is full of roughage.”

Another farmer from Kezi said as farmers they have pooled resources and are hiring trucks to carry the feed.

“We are even trying to negotiate with the owners of these factories to reserve the chuff for us but if it was up to us, we even want to buy the maputi to feed our cattle. It is a sorry state back home, cattle are dying and farmers are stranded,” he said.

The situation was also the same at another processing plant at Shasha at the Renkini Long Distance Bus Terminus as farmers were buying the products.

A worker at one of the maputi processing plants at Man Precast Walling in Kelvin, Mr Trust Ngwenya said hundreds of farmers were flocking to the area to buy the chuff.

“We can sell as many as 300kgs of this chuff per day and the demand has been huge,” he said.

Farmers are also banking on the rains that have started falling in most parts of the country.

However, a livestock expert, Mr Mhlupeki Dube has warned that the transition from a drought to a wet season is usually the time when most people lose their animals.

“Remember when it rains firstly it becomes a little bit cold and that type of weather itself, causes animals to draw down on their energy just for thermo-regulation using energy reserves but because they are already very thin animals which do not have any energy reserves are drawing from empty reserves and they can succumb just on the basis of that cold spell that follows after some showers,” he said.

Mr Dube said the other issue is to do with the fact that the rain has some nostalgic effects on animals and they tend to think that there is green grass somewhere so as a result they wander off looking for green grass.

“Some get lost and even die in the bush because they are thin and they are busy looking for non-existent green grass on the basis of the rain that has fallen so once there is rain you need to look at your animals closely so that they do not stray. Above all you need to give them an energy supplementary diet, that means even if it is hay you need to mix it with molasses which is a carbohydrate which provides energy so that is an energy supplement if you do not have the commercial stock feeds.”

He added that farmers also need to give the animals a jab of vitamins.

“The most important part is that farmers have to be patient for about two to three weeks when the grass starts growing so that the animals can gain some condition because the tendency is that just after it has rained people rush to the field and use their animals for draught power regardless of the status of the animals or the condition of the animals. What happens is that soon after the ploughing day as you take them out of the jock the animals may just collapse and die because of the strain.”

-State Media

Below is a document on civil society meeting allegedly leaked by the Intelligence:

TO: DG

FROM: Honourable Minister Alle

DATE: 21 November 2019

SUBJECT: UNITED STATES EMBASSY INTERFERENCE IN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS

Reference is made to the Counter Intelligence Branch DIA of 20 November 2019 regarding plans by the US Embassy to fund a workshop for a subversive organisation called Frontline Defenders, at its Chancery from 02 to 10 December 2019. Part of the purpose of the workshop is to train subversive civil society organisations on ways of sustaining demonstrations.

It is my view that our Operational Branches can pre-empt the US agenda through various media platforms, including The Herald and The Sunday Mail. The possible exposure, coming on the backdrop of the United Nations Human Rights Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Hilal ELVER, will help to expose the American hand in political problems affecting Zimbabwe. We will not achieve much by allowing them to conduct the workshop which is aimed at undermining the country.

Forwarded for your actioning.

CC: DIRECTOR COUNTER INTELLIGENCE
DIRECTOR INTERNAL

CONTROVERSY continues to follow former President Robert Mugabe to his grave, with his neighbours now being forced to relocate their cattle kraals to pave way for the construction of a protective precast wall at his rural Zvimba home.

Mugabe died and was buried at his rural Zvimba home in September.

When NewsDay Weekender visited the Mugabes’ homestead at Kutama a few days ago, about 200 workers were busy on site building the brick protective wall around the homestead where Mugabe’s remains are interred.

The controversial protective wall came at a cost for some villagers as they were forced to relocate their cattle kraals to pave way for construction of the wall by Chinese contractors.

A villager, Gibson Mareya, said they were summoned to the site by former First Lady Grace Mugabe early this month and told that their cattle kraals would be relocated to near Kutama Police Base.

They were allegedly told that there was no room for negotiations, but should simply follow instructions.

Mareya said no one objected save for Mugabe’s relative, Josphine Jarijari, who gave a brief history of the cattle relocation history.

“There was no room for negotiations. We were told what to do and everyone agreed. Grace told us that she would pay the cost of relocation. But a Mugabe relative, Ambuya Jarijari, initially refused, briefing the meeting that this is the second relocation after the first was done during the expansion of Mugabe’s rural home,” Mareya said.

Efforts to get a comment from Grace were fruitless. But Mugabe’s nephew, Dominic Matibiri, said the wall was meant to prevent intruders who might want to tamper with Mugabe’s remains.

“Since we buried our father there, a precast wall is a security measure to prevent his enemies from tampering around with his remains, considering that he was no longer a Zanu PF member,” Matibiri said without elaborating.

He said besides the security wall, they would also install CCTVs.

— NewsDay

Former president Robert Mugabe’s loyalists, including those that were forced into exile after the 2017 coup, are regrouping amid indications that they are rallying around former Zanu PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.

Kasukuwere, who was forced into exile after his Harare home was sprayed with bullets by soldiers during the coup, was a key member of a Zanu PF faction known as G40.

The faction that also included former first lady Grace Mugabe was involved in a bruising battle with another one known as Lacoste, which was associated with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was Mugabe’s deputy at the time.

After Mnangagwa was fired by Mugabe and forced into brief exile in South Africa, the army intervened.

The then doddering ruler was forced to resign and his loyalists were scattered into different parts of Africa where they are in exile.

Zanu PF insiders said Kasukuwere was tapping into discontent among some of the ruling party’s key constituencies such as graduates of the Border Gezi National Youth Service, who feel excluded from the current set up.

His supporters have already started distributing campaign material.

Videos circulating as part of the campaign have people, mainly the youths, speaking on the current economic and political crisis and how Mnangagwa has allegedly failed.

“We have suffered as Zimbabweans. “Nothing is happening in the hospitals.

“There are no doctors, no nurses and women are resorting to desperate measures to give birth.

“There is a crisis in schools and I think in Zimbabwe we are lacking leadership,” says a man in one of the campaign videos posted online.

“As youths, the future is in our hands and we must find a leader, who has the youths at heart. Let us support Kasukuwere to take us forward.”

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday refused to comment on the developments, saying G40 members were a security threat.

“We do not discuss national security issues with the press,” he said.

A close Kasukuwere ally, who spoke on condition he is not named, confirmed that something was brewing but could not get into details.

Zanu PF national political commissar, Victor Matemadanda last week claimed there was a plot by G40 to overthrow the government and that millions of dollars had been injected into the scheme.

Matemadanda claimed that more than US$5 million had been given to the former Zanu PF members for a social media campaign.

— The Standard

As the government celebrates the transition from the multi-currency regime to a mono-currency system as one of its successes towards currency reforms, it is a different situation altogether in rural Matabeleland where there is a thriving rand economy.

The government in June promulgated Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 which ended the multi-currency system that had been in place since 2009, but in most of Matabeleland’s rural areas, the rand is the trading currency of choice for many shops and individual traders.

SI142 was promulgated after claims by government that foreign currency is not an available commodity of exchange in the money market.

However, for communities in the periphery of Zimbabwe’s borders with South Africa and Botswana, foreign currency remains the sole medium of exchange in business transactions.

Access to foreign currency enables local traders to import goods from neighbouring countries and selling them in rand.

Pricing is lower in foreign currency in these shops compared to prices in urban areas.

Rand remittances from the diaspora are usually on the increase towards the festive season, contributing to a boom in businesses.

According to the World Bank, diaspora remittances to Zimbabwe amounted to about US$1,9 billion or 9.6% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2018.

Local industry and bankers have been lobbying, with little success, for the use of the South African rand as a transacting currency and the United States dollar as a reserve currency.

At Tsholotsho business centre in Matabeleland North, one cannot miss the big number of South African registered vehicles, some of which are cross-border transporters commonly referred to as Omalayitsha ferrying groceries sent by many Zimbabweans based in South Africa.

A significant population from rural Matabeleland such as Tsholotsho, Bulilima, Mangwe, Matobo, Tsholotsho and Gwanda receives monthly remittances from family members living in South Africa or Botswana, thus sustaining the trading in foreign currency.

Many traders import their goods from South Africa for re-sale locally, in that country’s currency.

A recent visit to Tsholotsho showed that while some traders still accepted the Zimbabwe dollar, the pricing forces consumers to transact in rands.

“Basic commodities are ridiculously expensive in local currency, but quite affordable in rands,” Nkosikhona Ncube, a villager, observed.

A 2kg packet of sugar is 45 rand or $40 cash — which is scarce — and $60 using the mobile money transfer facility while some commodities like mealie meal are sold in forex only.

While the use of the rand has brought relative stability and affordability and a steady supply of goods and services to rural Matabeleland, the situation has impacted negatively particularly on civil servants’, who get their salaries in local currency.

Villagers, who have no relatives in the diaspora have been the hardest hit.

“Some civil servants have even resorted to selling airtime using South African currency so that they can be able to buy basic commodities, which are cheaper in rand,” Betty Sibanda said.

A teacher at Tsholotsho High School said he changes his salary into rand as soon as he gets paid to preserve value.

“I have no option but to change my salary, which is in Zimbabwe dollars to the South African rand every month,” he said.

“This is the only way to ensure I can buy some grocery here in Tsholotsho instead of travelling all the way to Bulawayo over 100km away to buy my groceries in local currency.”

In Bulilima, Matabeleland South, most commodities are now pegged in foreign currency even though traders accept local currency.

However, they do not accept mobile money payments as there is limited or no access to mobile networks.

Communities there rely mainly on Botswana mobile phone networks due to lack of enabling telecommunications infrastructure.

Some parts of rural Matabeleland still suffer from poor network connectivity, with villagers forced to climb trees and mountains just to make telephone calls, making it impossible to transact using mobile money transfers such as Ecocash.

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority through the Universal Services Fund (USF) has, however, been on a drive to construct base stations, a development that is envisaged to see people living in some parts of rural Matabeleland being connected to local mobile network operators.

The USF was established to, among other things, finance the extension of communication services to underserviced areas.

In some parts of Plumtree, villagers especially those living far from the border town, still do not have access to local radio and television, 39 years after independence.

Many people in the area, especially those living in Mphoengs and Maitengwe border areas, listen to radio and television from neighbouring Botswana because there is no local broadcasting signal.

Effie Ncube, the executive director of the National Consumer Rights Association, a local consumer watchdog, said it was unfortunate that the country’s economic situation has created pockets of different economies, which he said while benefiting some, left those vulnerable worse off.

“The economic crisis led to the scattering of people into the diaspora, who are now remitting different currencies and those currencies are forming their own currencies on the ground and those without access are left a lot poorer,” Ncube argued.

“The crisis we face as a country has created pockets of different economies; for the poor and for the rich; for the rural and urban people; for those who have access to the rand and those who don’t… that the chaos that was introduced by the economic collapse of Zimbabwe.

“Government policies like the one outlawing the use of foreign currencies must be in tune with social and economic realities on the ground.

“In Matabeleland, the rand has always been the preferred currency of choice.

“The economic situation on the ground was self-regulating and it worked for the people.”

Gwanda based commentator Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo weighed in, saying the situation in Matabeleland South was difficult, particularly in the districts bordering Botswana and South Africa.

He said businesses in the areas were not accepting the local currency -which is in very short supply – compared to the South African rand and Botswana pula.

“The small businesses are also getting goods for the shops from across the borders and so cannot deal in local currency,” Fuzwayo said.

“It’s even particularly worse that most of the areas do not have mobile phone coverage and so mobile money cannot be used.

“In as much as government allowed the tourism sector to use foreign currency, I think special consideration should be given to the province, particularly border districts to use foreign currency.”

The Standard.