Terrence Mawawa|Professor Jonathan Moyo has described the Emmerson  Mnangagwa administration as the worst ever government setup in Zimbabwe.

Moyo accused the current government of plundering $ 5 billion in less than a year.”People are not as stupid as that. It’s a public secret revealed by @MthuliNcube that your Pfee administration added more than $5bn to the public debt in only 11 months since it violently grabbed power in the Nov 2017 military coup. Imagine:  $5bn squandered in less than a year!”

“Information is power. Find better pfee-nonsense to justify the marginalisation of communities.

The midnight statement on the continuing labour action by doctors, issued by Chiwenga when he heard Mnangagwa was cutting short the leave that he should not have taken in the first place, says “Government does not print United States dollars”. Ok. What CURRENCY does Govt print?” Queried Moyo.

 

Terrence Mawawa| Respected political commentator Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has castigated Strive Masiyiwa for reflecting cyber arrogance as the Econet boss besmirched Dewa Mavhinga.

” Pathetic for Strive Masiyiwa to attempt to influence the firing of Dewa Mavhinga over false allegations of cyber bullying his wife
Tsitsi.

This is a public sphere in the pure
Habermasian sense; no censor using financial power and connections to power!

Its oxymoronic that Masiyiwa complains about bogus bullying of his wife Tsitsi by Dewa while
he is actually and in reality bullying
@dewamavhinga by real and actual threats to make him lose his job, silence him and many others who dare challenge their ideas online
using POWER!”Dr Ruhanya tweeted.

 

Terrence Mawawa|Respected political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has said Zanu PF deputy president Constantino Chiwenga’s remarks on the state of the economy indicate ruling party honchos are behind sinister black market deals.

Said Dr Ruhanya:”VP Chiwenga’s statement on striking medical
doctors suggests that the Government prints some currency other than the US$.Does this explain the black market

trade in bond notes!!!!”

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabweans could soon find it hard to get drunk following the move by Delta Beverages to price their products in United States dollars.

Delta says the move to dollarize their products is out of their need to raise foreign currency needed to keep their business afloat at a time most businesses are failing to adequately stock due to forex shortages.

Below are the new prices for beer and soft drinks;

As foreign currency crisis escalates in Zimbabwe, leading beer and soft drinks manufacturer has gazetted prices for its products in United States dollars and below is the list of items and new prices @ProfJNMoyo @MthuliNcube @sofiamapuranga pic.twitter.com/51YRFYKtBL

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 2, 2019

 

Terrence Mawawa|Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa Mawere is sceptical of the sustainability of the current currency regime.

Mawere urged the government to create conducive conditions that raise investor confidence by upholding constitutionalism and democratic tenets.

“Why should the expression by the so-called junior doctors merit the description of “stubborn” in so far as such expression was meant to signal rejection of proposals made by the government in relation to the negotiations to find a solution2the dispute?”

“Do you think the current currency regime in Zimbabwe will last throughout 2019? I am battling with the logic in the statement.

Are you suggesting that if one holds 100% in a subsidiary, the subsidiary must lose its identity is prescribed by law? Does the law recognize
the implied loss of independence if a certain threshold of shareholding is reached.

What would be the glue for social cohesion when no values are shared by the actors concerned? What would national dialogue be on? Who would be part of the process?”

Mawere tweeted.

The dry spell experienced countrywide over the past months is expected to end today as the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) predicts a wet spell over the country.

After a prolonged dry spell which hit the country, the farmers can now breathe a sigh of relief as the MSD predicts rains to start falling today.

A Meteorologist James Ngoma said precipitation is moving from South Africa and Botswana entering country via Masvingo and Matabeleland where the rains are expected to start falling today before spreading to Mashonaland Provinces.

“Localized heavier rainfall in access of 50 mm in 24 hours cannot be ruled out, so we advise the people to keep indoors when the rains start to fall, he stated.

Ngoma added that more rainfall is expected from the Zambian side entering the country through the southern parts of the side starting from next week.

“More rainfall is expected starting next week, this will prolong a bit especially in Mashonaland Provinces and this should be good for farmers,” he said.

While normal to below rains are expected in other parts of country, chances of El nino induced drought cannot be ruled out.

-State Media

Head-on accident between a commuter mini bus and small car along Greendale Avenue. Victims have been send to West end Hospital and Parirenyatwa Hospital. The ambulance and fire brigade where quick to respond.

Following a series of meetings involving striking Health Workers and their employer, the Health Services Board, Government is gravely concerned that the situation in our country continues to deteriorate to the detriment of patients who need and deserve medical attention as a human right in line with our constitution.

In particular, Government is disturbed by the fact that in spite of many concessions it made to the striking doctors, and the broad agreement reached on all but two issues, the striking Health Personnel continue to withhold their labour and negotiate in bad faith even though they are designated as an essential service under the Labour Act, and even though Government has bent over backwards to accommodate them.

Equally, Government notes with concern the political overtones which the labour issue has now assumed, including attempts by striking doctors to appeal to constituencies which have nothing to do with health delivery or their employment contracts.

Mindful of the recent Labour Court judgment which ruled the industrial action unlawful, and in the interest of the patients who stand affected by this unlawful action by striking doctors, Government has now decided on the following steps:
1. To urgently explore other ways of ensuring that this essential health service is stabilized in the interim while more lasting measures are put in place to normalise the situation. Government will be making further announcements in the coming days.

2. To continue to import essential medicines and accessories vital to health service delivery to ensure effective health services to our people.

3. To fulfil all the commitments Government has made to all Health Workers who continue to serve our Nation, with an undertaking to review the conditions for all workers in the Public Sector within the second quarter of this year, consistent with the budget cycle.

4. In line with the Court Order, to request Health Services Board to take appropriate action against the striking doctors whose conduct has been declared unlawful by our courts, and is contrary to the Hippocratic Oath, ethics and international best practices which enjoin medical doctors and interns to “always treat other persons as having individual moral worth and dignity and never treat them merely as means to one`s own ends.”

International best practices which govern doctors and interns, provide that doctors should not abandon patients and posts; and that instead they should bring forward their grievances while making sure loss of life or unnecessary pain and suffering is avoided.
By going against the Hippocratic Oath, the striking doctors have shown their callous insensitivity to human life, pain and suffering.

In the meantime, Government will not allow any demonstrations at medical facilities whose purpose is to treat patients and ensure their full recovery.

For the avoidance of doubt, Government will not remunerate any of its work-force in United States dollars.

The hard-earned foreign currency will be committed to, among other area, importing essential medicines for hospitals and clinics, as well as to facilitate the recovery of the economy, in line with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme.

Government wishes to acknowledge and thank senior doctors who have kept their services going, doctors in private practice, in private health institutions, retirees, expatriates, foreign based and trained Zimbabwean nationals for offering their services in the interest of patients.

General (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N Chiwenga
Acting President

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is in a catch-22 situation over whether to implement recommendations of the commission of inquiry into the August 1 post-election violence, which urged him to engage opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to move the country forward.

But going against his Zanu PF party, which has no interest of engaging in the talks seen as crucial to reviving the country’s faltering economy, is an elephant in the room.

Highly-placed sources in both government and Zanu PF told NewsDay that Mnangagwa was now in a fix after promising to implement recommendations of the commission, which was chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, which the Zimbabwean leader set up after members of the military and police killed six civilians during the protests, according to the commission’s report.

Zimbabwe held elections on July 30 last year to replace long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, seen as crucial to reopening the country to international re-engagement.

The poll, however, exposed deep polarisation that culminated in the post-election protests.
With the economy on a downward spiral characterised by shortages of cash, fuel, frequent price increases and rising inflation, the commission and the international community urged dialogue between Mnangagwa and his main rival, Chamisa.

A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were a number of sticky recommendations that Mnangagwa would find difficult to implement, chief among them bringing to book soldiers who shot and killed the six civilians and sitting down for talks with Chamisa.

“During the December Zanu PF annual conference in Esigodini, it was made clear that the ruling party would not sit down with Chamisa for any talks because he had disrespected Vice-President Constatino Chiwenga,” the source said.

“Hardliners in the party want the President to respect that position. But remember, Mnangagwa promised to implement the Motlanthe commission recommendations and the international community will be watching.”

Part of the commission’s recommendations read: “The commission recommends the establishment of a multi-party reconciliation initiative, including youth representatives, with national and international mediation to address the root causes of the post-election violence and to identify and implement strategies for reducing tensions, promoting common understandings of political campaigning, combating criminality, and uplifting communities.”

-Newsday

The desire to restore the dignity of teachers will once again guide us in 2019. We have done the ground work in 2018, the foundation has been laid, the movement is now intact, and it is now time to reclaim our dignity from the employer.

Our noble profession has become a source of ridicule in our society, in 2019 we will boldly restore the dignity of teaching to the levels last realized under the leadership of Rev Abel Muzorewa. Teaching will once again become beautiful and indeed our education system will be restored to its former glory.

Our optimism is inspired by the revolutionary mood which has engulfed the teacher community and the working class in general. The working class is now ready to fight for better working and living conditions and as Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, ARTUZ we have short listed the following as areas demanding our immediate attention;
*A living wage to be paid in United States Dollars until the country has its own real currency
Immediate disbursement of the outstanding 2018 annual bonus
Adequate learning and teaching material for the implementation of the new curriculum
Scrapping of the punitive 2% tax on electronic transactions.
ARTUZ is alive to a plethora of other grievances blighting our sector but we have resolved to tackle the above as they are urgent and threatening our capacity to go back to work when schools open.

We have notified the employer of our intention to withdraw labour beginning on the 7th of January 2019 if the above issues are not addressed. The teachers and members of the working class will camp at Finance Ministry on 7 January 2019 demanding either an end to austerity or Mthuli’s resignation from the position of Finance Minister.

Our Union is open to dialogue before schools open to avoid unnecessary loss of learning time. We have done everything possible over the holiday to table our issues before the employer. The intransigence of the employer is threatening our education sector. The teachers regret that they will be forced to withdraw their Labour and fail to attend to their noble duty of educating our nation.

It should also be noted that the learning calendar is already under threat of failing to take off due to the biting economic crisis. Parents and guardians are failing to secure school uniforms, learning material and school fees for the new learning season. Phone calls from irate Parents are inundating our Head offices as they encourage us to withdraw our labor so that we get United States dollar salaries. The parents are aware that salaries in United States dollars for teachers will benefit the whole spectrum of our society. All civil servants will receive US$ salaries, private companies will take a leaf from government policy and pay salaries in US$ and the business community will also trade in US$.

It is therefore imperative for the government to resolve the currency crisis by paying for all goods and services in United States dollars. The bond notes and Real Time Gross Settlement charade should be halted with immediate effect.

ARTUZ implores government to climb down from the tower of arrogance and engage in an all-inclusive National Economic Dialogue with citizens. It is both naïve and futile to attempt to surprise citizens with economic growth and development, growth is a product of patriotic popular citizen participation. The citizens can only participate when there is a shared economic blue print. No technocrat has the ability/capacity to manufacture growth for the majority, growth is a product of popular citizen participation. Let’s put our heads together as a people and reconstruct our country.

The austerity for the prosperity of the ruling elites should be stopped forthwith. The austerity agenda is crowding the citizens away from the feeding table and preserving the national cake for the ruling elite. Todakudyawo!

If indeed the government is for the people by the people, (Lincoln’s definition of democracy), they will urgently address the people’s concerns before our country slides into a catastrophe.

We call upon the working class, peasants, students, vendors and the broad citizenry to come together and boldly declare that enough is enough. On 7 January 2019 let’s converge the Finance Ministry offices and send a clear message to the face of austerity, Professor Mthuli Ncube.

ARTUZ INFORMATION DEPARTMENT.

Following a series of meetings involving striking health workers and their employer, the health services board, government is gravely concerned that the situation in our hospitals continues to deteriorate to the detriment of patients who need and deserve medical attention
as a human right, in line with our constitution.

In particular, government is disturbed by the fact that in spite of the many
concessions it made to the striking doctors, and the broad agreement reached on all but two issues, the striking health personnel continue to withhold their labour and negotiate in bad faith even though they are designated as an essential service under the labour act, and even though government has bent over backwards to accommodate them.

Equally, government notes with concern the political overtones which the labour issue has now assumed, including attempts by the striking doctors to appeal to constituencies which have nothing to do with health delivery or their employment contracts.

Mindful of the recent labour court judgement which ruled the industrial action unlawful, and in the interest of the patients who stand affected by this unlawful action by striking doctors, government has now decided on the following steps:

1- To urgently explore other ways to ensure that this essential health service is stabilized in the interim while more lasting measures are put in place to normalize the situation.

Government will be making further announcements in the coming days.

2- To continue to import essential medicines and accessories vital to health delivery to ensure effective health services to our people.

3- To fulfil all the commitments government has made to all health workers who continue to serve our nation, with an undertaking to review the conditions for all workers in the public sector within the second quarter of this year, consistent with the
national budget cycle.

4- In line with the court order, to request the health services board to take appropriate action against the striking doctors whose conduct has been declared unlawful by the courts, and is
contrary to the hippocratic oath, ethics, and international best practices which enjoin medical doctors and interns to “always treat other persons as having individual morals worth and dignity and never treat them merely as means to one’s own ends”.

Further, the oath warns that without it, “the doctor is a skilled technician or labourer whose knowledge fits him for an occupation but not a profession”. International best practices which govern doctors and interns, provide that doctors should not abandon patients and posts; and that, instead they should bring forward their grievances while making sure loss of life or unnecessary pain and suffering is avoided.

By going against the Hippocratic oath, the striking doctors have shown their callous insensitivity to human life, pain and suffering. In the meantime, government will not allow any demonstrations, at medical facilities whose purpose is to treat patients and ensure their full recovery. For the avoidance of doubt, government will not
remunerate any of its work- force in united states dollars, a position it made very clear to the striking doctors.

The government does not print United States dollars.

The hard earned foreign currency will be committed to, among other areas importing essentialmedicines for use in hospitals and clinics, as well as to facilitate the recovery of economy, in line with the Transitional Stabilization Programme.

Government wishes to acknowledge and thank senior doctors who have kept services going, doctors in private practice, in private health institutions, retirees, expatriates, foreign- based and trained Zimbabwean nationals for offering their services in the interest of patients.

General (Rtd) Dr. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga
Acting President

Own Correspondent|A member of the Zimbabwe National Army attached to the Presidential Guard has been acquitted in court on allegations of stealing 119 laptops that belonged to former President Robert Mugabe.

Pepukai Zvakavapano was freed by Harare magistrate Josephine Sande after The State failed to prove how the soldier stole the computers.

“The is no evidence directly linking the accused to the offence of theft despite that he was caught in possession of some of the stolen property,” said the magistrate.

“The court is of the view that the state failed to prove its case and the accused is hereby found not guilty and acquitted on the theft charge,” ruled the magistrate.

Zvakavapano was also cleared on another charge of unlawful entry. He was however, fined $200 for possessing stolen property.

The soldier was acquitted after a full trial which saw Mugabe giving testimony from his private Blue Roof mansion.

The veteran leader testified after Zvakavapano had claimed Mugabe gave him the laptops as a token of appreciation for good service, a claim denied by former strongman.

The theft occurred after Mugabe’s property was moved to Harare’s Polo grounds as his house was being renovated.

ZIMBABWE Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) says it is carrying out investigations in collaboration with the police on fuel dealers accused of pushing the product to the black market, where it is then sold at exorbitant prices.

While government continues to insist that fuel is available, evident scarcity of the product has resulted in the parallel market thriving.

“We are investigating these issues, and we have increased our surveillance on suspected, corrupt fuel dealers. Those who are found disregarding the law will have their licences revoked immediately, and we will also not renew their trading licences for 2019,” Zera acting chief executive Eddington Mazambani said.

“We have our inspectors on the ground, but what we have resorted to doing now is to ensure that we increase our presence to weed out these unscrupulous activities. I am meeting the police today (yesterday), and we are going to create a committee comprising the police and our inspectors, which will be stationed in every province across the country.”

The practice, which has been reported in Harare, is also rampant in other parts of the country such as Chipinge district.

NewsDay gathered that fuel dealers operating in Kondo, Checheche and Chisumbanje were now switching off their pumps to motorists and feeding the black market, especially during the night.

The fuel is then sold by black market dealers at $6 per litre against the recommended prices of $1,38 per litre for petrol and $1,34 for diesel.

A motorist, Tapiwa Simango, who was stuck in the fuel queue, told this paper that fuel operators were only selling the commodity at stipulated prices to a few connected buyers before switching off their pumps.

“These operators are creating artificial shortages so that they pump the commodity to the black market. We were told that there was no fuel when, in actual fact, it was there. They just fill let’s say, 10 cars and from there, they shut down,” he said.

Public transport operators have doubled fares as a result of the scarcity of fuel.

According to the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, John Mangudya, fuel gobbles 45% of total foreign currency receipts annually.

Mangudya blamed the spike in demand for fuel to the growing vehicle population in the country, which has jumped 50% to 1,8 million from last year.

Zimbabwe requires two million litres of petrol and three million litres diesel per day.

NewsDay

 

Errant and negligent motorists who
flagrantly disregard road rules will have to contend with hefty traffic penalties when the new standard scale of fines, which prescribe
a maximum penalty of $700 and
imprisonment, becomes operational on Tuesday.

Road traffic offences are currently classified under levels 1 to 3 of the standard scale of fines and attract a maximum fine of $30.However, under new revenue measures announced in the 2019 National Budget, most
of which become operational this week, the fines are now placed in levels eight to 10. Parliament approved the Finance Bill on 20
December. It now awaits approval by Senate when it resumes sitting next year.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said last week although the Budget has not been approved by the Upper House, the measures contained
therein will become operational on the prescribed dates since the Finance Bill was unique. Sunday News

Own Correspondent|GOVERNMENT is targeting to generate foreign currency through human capital exportation and has renewed negotiations with South Sudan over exporting unemployed graduates.

In an interview yesterday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Minister Professor Amon Murwira said Government in 2019 wants to finalise the exportation of labour programme with South Sudan.

“During innovation Africa, I had the privilege of meeting my counterpart, Minister of Higher Education from South Sudan in order to learn at which stage we were (in regards to exportation of labour).

“But I then learnt that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was not finalised. And we are going to finalise the MoU as we enter 2019,” said Prof Murwira.

He said Zimbabwe prides itself about being an educated nation and this should be reflected through earning foreign currency from education.

Prof Murwira said the country could earn more Diaspora remittances through exportation of graduates.

“We always say you kick with your best leg. If Zimbabwe’s best leg is education it means our export should be education. Australia’s fourth largest export is education. In Zimbabwe we pride ourselves of being very literate. We discovered that we have to up our skills but we know that we are better off in this area. It must be seen through foreign currency inflows using education,” he said.

“What that means is that we are going to work very hard to make sure agreements with South Sudan for example among others is finalised so that we can begin the exportation of our graduates.”

Prof Murwira said his Ministry is also aiming at mopping up foreign currency through attracting foreign students to learn at the country’s universities

He said to attract foreign students Government has standardised the qualification framework at higher and tertiary institutions while in the process of upgrading universities’ infrastructure.

Prof Murwira said his Ministry will embark on an aggressive marketing drive to promote local universities.

“We are compiling what we call our flagship programmes for every university. This flagship programme is the one that we advertise outside to attract people into Zimbabwe and it is also helping with the exportation of our expertise,” said Prof Murwira.

Own Correspondent|Former Mozambique finance minister Manuel Chang has appeared at the Kempton Park magistrates court on Monday.

Police say the 63-year-old was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport while en route to Dubai.

Chang is facing fraud charges after signing off secret loans worth $2 billion during his tenure as finance minister between 2005 and 2015.

Police spokesperson Vish Naidoo tell Eyewitness News that Chang made his first appearance in court on Monday but cannot confirm the outcome of proceedings.

“We arrested him on a warrant issued by the US authorities. He was flagged by a red notice on Interpol. The details on why he was actually arrested, only the US authorities can comment on that.”

Chang has been remanded in custody pending extradition to the US.

According to AFP, towards the end of his tenure in 2015 loans to the value of $2 billion were secretly negotiated and signed.

The hidden debt plunged Mozambique into its worst financial crisis since independence in 1975.

Mama ??????????Soko Rest In Peace . Bye Mum .

— Saviour Kasukuwere (@Hon_Kasukuwere) December 31, 2018

Government is embarking on the implementation of Space Science programmes under the 100 days priority projects approved by Cabinet for immediate implementation.

Speaking to journalists at the last the post-Cabinet briefing of the year Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said government is commencing implementation of Space Science programmes through the Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development ministry to foster scientific research the in the country.

“Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development ministry will embark on implementation of Geospatial Aeronautical and Space Science Capacity Programmes.

“The Zimbabwe National Geospatial Space Agency board is currently being established while associated research programmes are already in progress,” Mutsvangwa said.

Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency was established to contribute to areas including agriculture, disease surveillance and infrastructure management among others.

The programmes are said to rope in universities through innovation hubs and teachers will be capacitated to run science laboratories in the country.

Mutsvangwa also said both “A” and “O” Level students are set to be included in apprenticeship programmes which commence this month to reduce unemployment in the country.

“Conducting the cattle reproductive Technologies Research programme will see the production of 4 000 straws of semen per hour using the automated process at the Chinhoyi University of Technology.

“Teachers will also be capacitated in the teaching of science with the objective of starting with at least 1 000 science graduates and equipping of 10 science laboratories” she added.

Zoom zim

Own Correspondent|Fears of electoral fraud are rising in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after officials said a total block on internet connections and SMS services imposed after the chaotic presidential poll on Sunday could last for several weeks.

Both the opposition and ruling coalition have claimed victory in the elections – the third poll since 2002 and the end of a civil war in which millions died.

The election, which some observers hope may bring a measure of political stability to the vast central African country, was marred by widespread logistics problems, insecurity and an outbreak of Ebola. Millions were left unable to vote.

Barnabé Kikaya Bin Karubi, a senior adviser to the outgoing president, Joseph Kabila, said internet and SMS services were cut on Monday to preserve public order after “fictitious results” began circulating on social media. “That could lead us straight toward chaos,” Kikaya told Reuters, adding that the connections would remain cut until the publication of preliminary results on 6 January.

The signal to Radio France Internationale (RFI), one of the most popular news sources in the DRC, was also down, and the government withdrew the accreditation of RFI’s main DRC correspondent late on Monday for having aired unofficial results from the opposition.

Opposition activists said they believed the internet had been cut off to prevent people circulating information that could allow the official count to be challenged when it is announced.

“It is very straightforward. They don’t want us to compile our own totals of votes,” said one Kinshasa resident who requested anonymity.

Olivier Kamitatu, a spokesperson for opposition candidates, said the media crackdown was part of a “plan to obscure the truth of the ballot box”.

The measures drew a sharp response from several western powers. In a statement supported by the UK and France, the EU and the US called on authorities to restore the internet and to allow the country’s two main election monitors – the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and Symocel, an alliance of citizens’ observer missions – access to the count.

The election, which passed off mostly peacefully, could bring about the central African country’s first ostensibly democratic transition of power in its troubled history and chart a road to a better future. Others fear renewed instability if the opposition rejects the results and calls for protests.

Already delayed by two years, the poll was postponed by a further week to allow more time to overcome logistical challenges in a country of 80 million inhabitants spread over an area the size of western Europe with almost no metalled roads.

Kabila’s second electoral mandate expired in 2016 and he only reluctantly called new elections under pressure from regional powers. The constitution forbade him from standing again and critics claim he hopes now to rule through the handpicked government candidate, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

The president congratulated “the Congolese people” for having “accomplished their civic duty in peace and dignity” in a new year address broadcast on national television on Tuesday. “There can be no doubt. The DRC is not only a republic but … a democracy too,” he said.

But analysts have long said the period after the elections would be more dangerous to the long-term stability of the DRC than the polls themselves. Opposition parties have pledged to oppose any result they see as fraudulent, promising to paralyse the country with a campaign of protests.

“If the results during the publication of the presidential results don’t reflect the truth … trouble will break out across the city,” said Fabrice Shweka, a resident of the eastern city of Goma.

In the poll on Sunday, Shadary, a hardline interior minister under EU sanctions for his role in a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists last year, faced off against two main opposition challengers, Félix Tshisekedi and Martin Fayulu.

A survey shortly before the vote put Fayulu, a former business executive, ahead by more than 20 points. Shadary came in third on 19%. In a statement late on Monday, Fayulu complained about irregularities but said he was encouraged by the determination of Congolese people to vote despite long queues and voting machines that broke down.

“I call for vigilance across the board and the general mobilisation of all Congolese so that the truth of the ballot box, the sole witness to the will of the Congolese people, can reward their efforts and sacrifices,” he said.

Congolese election rivals deploy musical powers of persuasion

Members of Fayulu’s campaign team have accused the government of ordering the shutdown to avoid broadcasting his “overwhelming victory”.

The DRC refused international offers of help to conduct the elections, claiming it would compromise its sovereignty.

Hundreds of polling places opened hours late because they did not have the needed lists of registered voters. Many voters could not find their names on the lists and there were problems with more than 500 of the electronic voting machines.

Many polls stayed open into the night to allow those waiting in line to cast ballots. At least one Kinshasa polling station did not open until after the official closing time.

The government’s last-minute decision to bar an estimated 1 million people in two opposition-stronghold cities from voting on Sunday, citing the deadly Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the country, prompted protests.

The DRC suffers from widespread corruption, continuing conflict, endemic disease, and some of the world’s highest levels of sexual violence and malnutrition. It is also rich in minerals, including those crucial to the world’s smartphones and electric cars.

The country has not known a peaceful transfer of power since winning independence from Belgium in 1960.

Correspondent|In a very sad turn of events, two people died on the spot while 37 others were injured when a Blue Horizon bus they were travelling in lost control and veered off the road before it overturned near Cement Siding on the outskirts of Bulawayo yesterday afternoon.

It was all doom and gloom on the scene as the police and Fire Brigade crews removed trapped bodies of the two women who died on the spot after sustaining head injuries.

Bulawayo acting Chief Fire Officer Mr Linos Phiri confirmed the death of two people on the spot.

“Thirty seven people were injured while two died on the spot. The injured were rushed to UBH and Mpilo Central Hospital by ambulances and private cars.

There are two little girls whose parents are unknown who are in the custody of the police and we suspect they are children of the two dead women or one of them,” said Mr Phiri..

Meanwhile, the Chronicle reports that a young boy aged about nine years is said to have witnessed his mother breathe her last.

Still in shock and confusion, the young boy had to look around for his mother’s belongings and only managed to take her wallet from the scores of bags that had been put together by police for collection by the survivors.

He was later rushed to hospital in an ambulance with other injured passengers.

Correspondent|So a guy called Rutendo Matinyarare who resides in South Africa has been making a lot of videos on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube talking about many different things. Sounds like an average thing on social media right? Econet decided to respond though when Matinyarare accused them and their founder of a number serious things.

This is one of those stories that we were probably not going to pick up. Rants on social media happen every time and we can’t be chasing after those. However, Econet responded through their lawyers and suddenly the rant is more than a rant. Here’s the letter from Econet lawyers in full:

Note: We have linked to old articles related to some of the the names and references made

To: Mr Rutendo Benson Matinyarare

And to: Mr Jackson Muzivi

And to: Mr Mutumwa Mawere

And to: Mr Pardon Gambakwe

And to: Gambakwe Media

Dear Sirs

IN RE: ECONET GROUP OF COMPANIES & OTHERS // MATINYARARE AND OTHERS

1. We act on behalf of the Econet Group of Companies (“Econet”) which include, inter alia, Econet Wireless Zirnbabwe, Econet Wireless (Pty) Ltd, Econet Global (Mauritius) which are collectively “our clients- We are instructed as follows:

2 Econet is a diversified telecommunications group with operations and investments in Africa, Europe, South America, North America and the East Asia Pacific Rim, offering products and services in the core areas of mobile and fixed telephony services, broadband, internet, satellite and fibre optic networks. Econet also has investments beyond the traditional telecoms sector, which include financial services, insurance, e-commerce, renewable energy, education, Coca-Cola bottling, hospitality and payment gateway solutions.

3. Our clients have invested substantial amounts of money in building their branding and good reputation in the market. Our clients have a legally recognised right to protect both their brand and their reputations.

4. It has recently come to our clients attention that:

4.1 On 7 November 2018, a video, entitled “Did Strive Masiyiwa’s ECONET kill Whistle Blower Edward Matambanadzo?” was published and narated by Rutendo Benson Matinyarare, on www.YouTube.com (“the First YouTube video” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMCiXiHGFpU ).

4.2 Also on 7 November 2018 a video interview. entitled “Why Chiyangwa wanted Strive Masiyiwa Arrested” was published by Jackson Muzivi on YouTube (“the Second YouTube video” – https://ysetc.be/52a2Lo3SJncA).

5. Reference to “Strive” and/or “Masiyiwa” is to an Econet Group director and/or executive.

6. Our clients take the contents of the Youtube videos in serious light especially considering that the Videos have been intentionally published by you with the intent to harm our clients. Our clients deny the allegations contained in the YouTube videos and it is contended that the Videos are intentionally designed to defame and cause damage to our clients.

7. In addition, it has become clear that you are part of a group of persons engaged in a deliberate smear campaign using, inter alia, the publication of defamatory statements via YouTube, Twitter, the Internet and by way of the distribution and publication of audio recordings. The universal theme of these actions are directed at defaming our clients and causing them both reputational and financial harm.

8. The YouTube videos are intentionally false, defamatory and injurious. The content and/or innuendo of which includes, inter alia, allegations that:

8.1 Econet, and its executives are responsible for Edward Matambanadzo‘s death and was involved in causing his fatal motor collision by hacking into his vehicle’s “computer box”,

8.2 Econet and its executives are part of a “mafia”, thereby implying that they are a structured secret organization allegedly engaged in illegal and criminal conduct;

8.3 Econet and its executives have not only killed Edward Matambanadzo, but also other people. In addition, that people fear that they will also be killed by Econet and those involved therewith;

8.4 Econet is involved in massive and elaborate evasion of duties and taxes in Zimbabwe;

8.5 Econet, per implication, unlawfully avoids paying taxes or at least improperly sought to reduce the taxes that Econet has to pay;

8.6 Econet made fraudulent misrepresentations and are involved in major fraud and corruption;

8.7 Econet, its directors, its employees and its executives are inherent dishonest and criminal;

8.8 It is implied that Econet Owes $350 million from 2009-2013; and

8.9 The Zimbabwean Minister of Finance improperly intervened, based upon his relationship with one or more of our clients, to suppress a criminal investigation against them.

9. The defamatory statements appear to have been intentionally published to several thousands of persons in Zimbabwe, South Africa and internationally. The publication of the defamatory statements are wrongful and actionable. As a result of your conduct our clients have suffered considerable damages and continue to suffer damages as long as you continue to allow the publication of the defamatory statements, inter alia, by keeping the YouTube videos active.

10. In so far as our clients include trading companies, it is trite in South African Law that such entities are entitled to claim for both general and actual damages suffered caused by defamatory statements injuring their reputation as a business.

11. You reside in South Africa and the defamatory publications were also made in South Africa (as the publication could and have been viewed in South Africa) and therefore the South African Courts have jurisdiction to entertain the anticipated legal action against you Your conduct also adversely affects our clients business activities in South Africa.

12. We have been instructed to demand from you, as we hereby do, that provide on or before 7 January 2019:

12.1 An unqualified and complete retracting of the defamatory statements and the removal of all YouTube Videos or other publications making reference to any of our clients;

12.2 An apology, in writing, for the defamatory and false statements and innuendo published of and concerning our clients ,

12.3 An undertaking that you will cease and desist from:

12.3.1 making any further defamatory statements in relation to or in respect of our clients: and

12.3.2 publishing any further defamatory matter (including innuendo) and/or injurious falsehoods of and concerning our clients.

13. Should you fail to take the steps set out above our clients have instructed us to proceed with a damages claim against you for the amount of R20 000 000,00. In addition, you are called upon, under those circumstances, to provide the following undertaking by no later than 7 January 2019, namely that pending the finalisation of an action to be instituted by our clients before the end of January 2019 that:

13.1 you will remove all YouTube videos and any other publications making reference to any of our clients:

13.2 you will not make any defamatory and/or untrue statements in respect of our clients.

14 This letter is also not exhaustive. Failure to comply with the above requests will regrettably result in our clients taking such further steps against you as they may be advised and which will include an urgent application seeking to interdict your wrongful conduct. You are also advised that an appropriate punitive cost order will be sought against you.

Correspondent|Movement for Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa today said 2019 is the year to put our differences aside to move forward as a great people.

2019 A NEW DIRECTION FOR ZIMBABWE-A new year is time for a new you, a new all.2019 is the year we dare put our differences aside to move forward victoriously as a great people.There’s so much to cover,discover & recover.Something great is coming!God bless you this 2019.#Godisinit

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) January 1, 2019

Chamisa who lost to Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front leader Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 30 July elections has disputed the result and insists Mnangagwa’s presidency is illegitimate.

He has, however, been calling for dialogue with Mnangagwa saying this is the only way to get the country out of its current economic crisis.

But one of his close subordinates, Chalton Hwende, has been arguing that 2019 is the year for the MDC to reclaim Chamisa’s presidency.

“2019 is the year of rolling mass action against the illegal regime of ED Mnangagwa. We voted for Nelson Chamisa and we must be prepared like the thousands of gallant Liberation struggle heroes to die defending our right to chose the President of our Choice #2019ChamisamuOffice,” he tweeted yesterday.

After some negative comments he tweeted: “Ma Zanu-PF trolls kwanai my job is make sure that you give @nelsonchamisa his presidency that you stole with @edmnangagwa. I am not here to please you but to dismantle that terrorist organization called Zanu PF.”

Chamisa today tweeted: “2019 A NEW DIRECTION FOR ZIMBABWE-A new year is time for a new you, a new all.2019 is the year we dare put our differences aside to move forward victoriously as a great people.There’s so much to cover, discover & recover. Something great is coming! God bless you this 2019.#Godisinit.”

It is not clear who will get the ball rolling because ZANU-PF insists Mnangagwa cannot talk to Chamisa until the opposition leader has recognised him as the country’s legitimate President.

On the other hand Chamisa’s persistence that Mnangagwa’s presidency is illegitimate, despite a ruling by the country’s highest court that he was the winner of the presidential elections, is putting off those who supported Chamisa before because they cannot be seen to be backing someone who has no respect for the law, especially since Chamisa is a lawyer.

Chamisa’s New Year tweet could, however, have been aimed at his own party and his lieutenants and not ZANU-PF because the party is facing a crucial congress this year at which it is expected to elect a new leader.

He is reportedly facing resistance from some of his colleagues in the former MDC-T such as Elias Mudzuri and Douglas Mwonzora who are reportedly planning to oppose his candidacy.

There is also disagreement over the congress date with some saying it must be held in February as Chamisa was given only a year’s tenure to steer the party through the elections while others say it should be held in October since the last congress was held in October 2014.

When the MDC celebrated its 19th anniversary at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare last year, Chamisa implored his colleagues not to challenge him claiming he had been left the mantle by founding president Morgan Tsvangirai and therefore has a mandate to fulfill before passing on the mantle.

Media Statement|The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to apply a holistic approach in dealing with the ongoing impasse with medical doctors. The strike, which started with junior doctors downing their tools resulted in General Medical Doctors, District Medical Officers and Provincial Medical Officers also joining the job action.

As a coalition, we are worried that the impasse, if not dealt with, will likely trigger similar job actions by other health professionals such as nurses who work closely with doctors.

We believe that a holistic approach will address major concerns in the health sector which is currently faced with a major industrial action by doctors and also struggling to cope with the health demands of the citizens due to shortages in essential drugs and equipment.

We note that, a functional healthcare system that caters for the needs of all citizens is the cornerstone of a prosperous country. The impasse in the social services sector is therefore of great concern and has potentially grave consequences given the centrality of the services offered by medical sector employees and leaves the country and citizens vulnerable to diseases and medical conditions that can be averted.

The government should note that the right to health is protected by the Zimbabwean constitution, which states in Section 76 (1) that “Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to have access to basic health-care services, including reproductive health-care services”.

Provision of adequate resources to improve the working conditions of all health personnel to boost morale and bring back empathy and caring to the healthcare profession must be a priority. The rights of health workers must be respected including the right to collective bargaining and the freedom of association.

We therefore, implore the government to desist from employing commandist tactics in dealing with employee demands.

The state must invest in upgrading the country’s health infrastructure including the expansion of health facilities such as clinics and hospitals. This must also include the installation of state of the art health equipment and provision of essential drugs and medicines and an accelerated programme for training and retaining health personnel.

Health training facilities including university teaching hospitals must also be upgraded while grants should be provided for students undergoing training in critical health professions. The referral system needs to be vastly revamped by ensuring that district and provincial hospitals are adequately funded so that they are able to respond to most health cases.

A rights-based approach to healthcare financing has to be adopted to ensure that government allocates a minimum per capita budget to healthcare in line with international best practice, which will be equitably distributed across the country.

As a coalition, we continue to stand in solidarity with members of the health profession as we believe that their demands, if addressed, will ensure that Zimbabwe’s health delivery will improve.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is in a catch-22 situation over whether to implement recommendations of the commission of inquiry into the August 1 post-election violence, which urged him to engage opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to move the country forward.

But going against his Zanu PF party, which has no interest of engaging in the talks seen as crucial to reviving the country’s faltering economy, is an elephant in the room.

Highly-placed sources in both government and Zanu PF told NewsDay that Mnangagwa was now in a fix after promising to implement recommendations of the commission, which was chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, which the Zimbabwean leader set up after members of the military and police killed six civilians during the protests, according to the commission’s report.

Zimbabwe held elections on July 30 last year to replace long-time ruler Robert Mugabe, seen as crucial to reopening the country to international re-engagement.

The poll, however, exposed deep polarisation that culminated in the post-election protests.

With the economy on a downward spiral characterised by shortages of cash, fuel, frequent price increases and rising inflation, the commission and the international community urged dialogue between Mnangagwa and his main rival, Chamisa.

A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there were a number of sticky recommendations that Mnangagwa would find difficult to implement, chief among them
bringing to book soldiers who shot and killed the six civilians and sitting down for talks with Chamisa.

“During the December Zanu PF annual conference in Esigodini, it was made clear that the ruling party would not sit down with Chamisa for any talks because he had disrespected Vice-President Constatino Chiwenga,” the source said.

“Hardliners in the party want the President to respect that position. But remember, Mnangagwa promised to implement the Motlanthe commission recommendations and the international community will be watching.”

Part of the commission’s recommendations read: “The commission recommends the establishment of a multi-party reconciliation initiative, including youth representatives, with national and international mediation to address the root causes of the post-election violence and to identify and implement strategies for reducing tensions, promoting common understandings of political campaigning, combating criminality, and uplifting communities.”

Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs, Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana said his party was open for talks with the MDC, but would only do so if Chamisa came knocking.

“The big brother will not go to the younger brother. It’s the other way round. We have always been open. We will talk to Zimbabweans who think they have something to offer. We are open, but we will not accost them to talk,” Mangwana said.

Chamisa said he was also waiting on Mnangagwa after tabling five issues his MDC party wanted discussed, including his legitimacy as President.

“It’s a pity that my comrade and compatriot ED Mnangagwa is talking about international engagement,” Chamisa told NewsDay.

“But you can’t build a roof without a foundation. A foundation is the national engagement, the roof is international engagement. You can’t speak to the world and talk about re-engagement when you can’t re-engage in your own country and there is no national dialogue. It’s a pity and it’s actually getting things upside down. It would never work, what is required is to have a national alignment process. Let people discuss the issues affecting Zimbabwe first. Let’s close the chapter of a disputed election first and say what is the way forward under these circumstances.”

On the military, the commission said the soldiers responsible for gunning down civilians should be brought to book.

“Those particular members of the military and the police found to have been in breach of their professional duties and discipline on August 1, 2018 should be identified as soon as possible for internal investigations and appropriate sanction, which should include a hearing from the victims and their families for impact assessment and to provide the necessary compensation,” the report reads.

But sources said the Zanu PF leaders, who came into power on the back of a military coup in November 2017, would not want to disenfranchise their power base and bringing to book the military officials would send a wrong signal.

Just before the commission’s report and findings were made public, Mnangagwa promoted the commander of the National Reactional Force, Brigadier-General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe to Major General.

Our sister paper, the Zimbabwe Independent, last month reported that while Mnangagwa ruled out talks and a power-sharing arrangement with Chamisa’s MDC-Alliance on the basis that Zanu PF won a two-thirds majority in the July general elections, dialogue was unfolding behind-the-scenes, facilitated by prominent former Kenyan chief justice Willy Mutunga.

The paper said Mutunga arrived in the country before Christmas and met senior MDC officials, including Chamisa, and has been secretly coming to Zimbabwe for the talks since August.

Correspondent|The Zimbabwe Football Association’s new president Felton Kamambo says they are working on securing a reputable kit sponsor for the Warriors before the Afcon encounter against Congo in March.

The national team currently has no sponsor after parting ways with a Malaysian sportswear company, Mafro last year.

Kamambo also confirmed that they want to start selling the replica jerseys well before the last Group G encounter.

“We want to make sure that we make the best out of our last game for the Warriors.

“We want to have a reputable kit sponsor for the team, and we want to start the sale of the replica jerseys well before March. So we intend to start the sell of the replica jerseys soon as well,” said Kamambo.

Meanwhile, ZIFA will also start selling tickets for the game as early as in January.

Thousands of people got free entry during the most recent home tie against DRC due to poor planning and the association wants to avoid a repeat of such scenario.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be making changes to the cabinet in mid January. A source in the Office of the President and Cabinet has revealed to us that the discussions that took place at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm during the festive season were likely to produce the following changes.

However it must be noted that only His Excellency President has the final prerogative to choose whom he wants.

Dr Sekai Irene Nzenza is likely to be reassigned to a new Ministry of Youth , Arts and culture , deputised by Yeukai Simbanegavi

Kirsty Coventry will be Minister Sports without a deputy .

Mangaliso Ndlovu has failed to reign in Retailers and industry his job is seriously on the line with Raj Modi likely to be promoted as an experienced business man.

Lovemore Matuke likely to be full minister at the Public Service as a retired major he will bring discipline ku public service.

Victor Matemadanda to be dropped and sent to a full-time post at party HQ.

Mangaliso Ndlovu to replace Monica Mutsvangwa who will be heading to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

John Mangudya is on his way out and Mthuli will be asked to pick someone he can work with. The Gono errors and structures at RBZ will be demolished by Mthuli and his new ally.

Engineer Elias Mudzuri likely to be minister of state for Harare province.

Energy Mutodi will survive he is likely to lead a ministry of state that will be responsible for the fight against sanctions we are not sure how the Presidency will structure it but they are working on it.

Source – Byo24News

 

Following Strive Masiyiwa’s remarks on Facebook yesterday on the alleged “cyberbullying” that saw his wife shut down her Twitter account, Jonathan Moyo has reacted with fury to the businessman’s sentiments.

Moyo said Strive Masiyiwa’s accusations against Dewa
Mavhinga were shocking and outrageous.

“One needs not to hold a brief for
@dewamavhinga to realise how
shocking, outrageous & unacceptable it is for Strive Masiyiwa to accuse Dewa of cyberbullying his wife; & top that by peddling his crap accusation on the Internet while name dropping, in the hope of costing Dewa his job!
…who are the “some” & what gives
Strive the notion that Tsitsi has a right to condemn the “some” without any objection from anyone?

The apoplectic response by Strive
Masiyiwa is disproportionate. And it’s

particularly nauseating that Strive
drags Dewa’s employer into the
imbroglio!” Moyo argued.

 

Police have been unable to identify the three women who died during the stampede at Shepherd Bushiri’ s church and they have appealed for
assistance in finding their next of kin.

The attempted identification of the
three women started at 10:00.The church is situated at the Tshwane Events Centre in Pretoria.Police believe that a thunderstorm prompted members of the congregation to push each other as they panicked, leading to the stampede.

The service began around 20:00 on Friday. Meanwhile, Bushiri’s lawyer, Terrance Baloyi of Baloyi Ntsako Attorneys, earlier told News24 that those who were injured had been transported from hospital and were provided

with accommodation and catering. News24

Possible side effects  

Side effects of skin-lightening creams can include:

• skin irritation and inflammation (redness and swelling)
• a burning or stinging sensation
• itchy and flaky skin

What could go wrong

Possible risks of creams containing hydroquinone, corticosteroids or mercury include:

• skin turning dark or too light
• thinning of the skin
• visible blood vessels in the skin
• scarring
• kidney, liver or nerve damage
• abnormalities in a newborn baby (if used during pregnancy.

…………………..

Skin lightening, or skin bleaching, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to lighten dark areas of skin or achieve a generally paler skin tone. It’s usually used to improve the appearance of blemishes such as birthmarks and melasma (dark patches). Skin-lightening procedures work by reducing the concentration or production of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its colour and helps protect it from the sun. The main techniques used to lighten the skin include:

• chemical peels
• skin-lightening creams
• laser treatment

Trying a skin-lightening procedure is a major decision. It can be expensive, time-consuming, and the results can’t be guaranteed. If you’re thinking of going ahead, be absolutely sure about your reasons for wanting to try it and don’t rush into it. It’s a good idea to discuss your plans with your GP first. They might want to chat about your reasons for wanting to lighten your skin, and there might be a medical reason why the procedure isn’t appropriate for you. Skin-lightening techniques can result in serious side effects and complications. People with darker skin tones are particularly at risk of these problems.

Skin-lightening creams

Powerful skin-lightening creams are available on prescription from a doctor. These usually contain one or both of the following medications:

• hydroquinone
• corticosteroids (steroid medication), such as hydrocortisone

Products containing these ingredients that haven’t been prescribed by a doctor are banned in the UK, as they can cause serious side effects if used incorrectly. Products containing other potentially harmful substances such as mercury are also banned. Make sure you check the ingredients of any product before you buy it. Avoid it if hydroquinone, corticosteroids or mercury are listed in the ingredients, or if it doesn’t come with a list of ingredients. Many alternative skin-lightening products containing natural ingredients are available online and in shops without prescription. These are legal and unlikely to be harmful, but there’s no guarantee they work.

How to use your skin-lightening cream

Your doctor will advise you how to use your skin-lightening cream. You’ll normally be advised to:

• use it sparingly once or twice a day on the darkened area of skin only
• avoid getting the cream on the surrounding skin or in your eyes, mouth and nose
• apply the cream with a cotton bud, or wash your hands thoroughly before and after applying the cream
• avoid touching the treated area against another person’s skin for at least a few hours after applying the cream
• use sun cream to protect your skin from the aggravating effects of sunlight

Most people will need to continue the treatment for around three or four months. Your doctor may recommend stopping treatment after this time, or only using it very occasionally.

Possible side effects

Side effects of skin-lightening creams can include:

• skin irritation and inflammation (redness and swelling)
• a burning or stinging sensation
• itchy and flaky skin

What could go wrong

Possible risks of creams containing hydroquinone, corticosteroids or mercury include:

• skin turning dark or too light
• thinning of the skin
• visible blood vessels in the skin
• scarring
• kidney, liver or nerve damage
• abnormalities in a newborn baby (if used during pregnancy

If you’re prescribed skin-lightening cream by a doctor, they should let you know about the potential risks and how common these are.

What to do if you have problems

If you experience side effects while using a prescribed skin-lightening cream, contact the prescriber for advice. If you have any alarming symptoms that require urgent medical attention, such as a nasty rash, swelling or increasing pain, go to your local accident and emergency (A&E) department.

Laser skin lightening

A laser can also be used to lighten blemishes or dark patches of skin. This works by either removing the outer layer of skin or damaging the cells that produce melanin. The results of laser skin lightening tend to be quite variable. It may work for some people, while for others it may not have any effect, or the skin lightening may only be temporary.

Cost

Laser skin lightening isn’t usually available on the NHS, so you’ll normally have to pay for it privately. The cost of each session may vary widely across practitioners and is dependent on the size of the skin area, the extent of the lightening, and the equipment used. Several sessions are often needed to increase the chances of the procedure being effective.

What it involves

Before the procedure starts, a test may be carried out on a small area of skin to see how it reacts. If you don’t experience any problems, you’ll usually have your first session a few weeks later. You may experience a stinging or pricking sensation during the procedure, so a local anaesthetic cream may be used to numb your skin beforehand. During a session:

• you’d be given special goggles to wear to protect your eyes from the laser
• a small handheld laser device would be held against your skin – this may feel like a rubber band snapping at the skin
• a jet of cold air may be blown onto your skin to keep it cool throughout

Each session will usually last around 30 minutes to an hour. You can go home when it’s finished.

Recovery

It can take a week or two for your skin to recover from laser skin lightening. You may want to take a few days off work until your skin’s appearance starts to improve. Your skin would normally be red and swollen for a few days, and may be bruised or crusty for a week or two. Over the next few weeks, your skin should start to fade to a lighter colour. It will be sensitive to the sun for up to six months. You can aid your recovery by:

• only washing the treated area gently with unperfumed soap and carefully dabbing it dry
• regularly applying aloe vera gel or petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) to cool and soothe the treated area
• not picking at any scabs or crusts that develop
• taking painkillers such as paracetamol for any discomfort and holding an icepack to the skin to reduce any swelling
• applying sun cream to the treated area for at least six months to protect it from the aggravating effects of the sun

Side effects to expect

It’s common after laser skin lightening to have:

• redness and swelling
• bruising
• crusting
• blistering

These effects normally pass in a week or two.

What could go wrong

Serious complications of laser treatment are generally uncommon, but can include:

• scarring
• skin infection
• the skin turning darker or too light

You should be told how likely these complications are, and what could be done about them if they occurred.

What to do if you have problems

Cosmetic procedures can sometimes go wrong and the results may not be what you expected. If you have laser skin lightening and are not happy with the results, or think the procedure wasn’t carried out properly, you should take up the matter with the hospital or clinic where you were treated. It is best that you go back to the practitioner who treated you if you have any complications. If this is not possible, you can go to your GP or local A&E department. – NHS

Terrence Mawawa| Mr Elvis Mugari, a human rights and member of the Friends of Shabanie and Mashava Mines(SMM) has dismissed claims by Norton MP Temba Mliswa that Emmerson Mnangagwa assisted Mutumwa Mawere to acquire SMM shares.

This comes after Mliswa’s interview with ZimEye.com.In the interview Mliswa stated that Mnangagwa had assisted Mr. Mutumwa Mawere to acquire SMM Holdings Private Limited (SMM) in 1996 from T & N Plc.

This was followed by a tweet in which Mliswa stated that he looked forward to seeing ED empower his generation of business people because Shumba, Strive and Mawere were allegedly empowered by the Mugabe regime.

“It is true that it is not only Hon. Mliswa who believes that ED was instrumental or the driving force in Mawere’s business enterprises including the acquisition that is generally perceived as having been hatched by ED as part of a Karanga’s economic strategy to assume state power.

I find it in bad state that Hon Mliswa who has been in one of the Whats Up groups that I belong to until he left the group would take no cognizance of the information that was shared regarding as to how SMM was acquired and financed.

I have always said that Hon. Mliswa if he cares to listen at all would know that the issue of the existence and operation of the Reconstruction Act is not about Mawere losing his company or falling out it with anyone but is and ought to be about the constitution of Zimbabwe and the rule of law.

I have spoken at length on this matter and the importance of the background facts surrounding the introduction of this draconian legislation.

Having listened to Hon. Mliswa, I think the issue of continuity between the First and Second Republic of Zimbabwe needs to be put into consideration.

It is in this respect that Hon. Mliswa’s utterance was totally unacceptable, shocking, and appalling to say the least. I believe that playing a person like Mawere as seems to be the case in attitude displayed by Hon Mliswa.

I would rather that we engage in a fight that speaks to the fundamental issues rather than gossip.

It is my view that ED as the President has to be accountable and not be protected by a legislator who is and ought to be representative in government.  I believe that one of the laws that needs to be repealed is the Reconstruction Act as one of the laws that is part of the basket of laws that need urgently to be repealed.

It is encouraging that the government has now accepted the principle of repealing AIPPA and POSA which I believe to be laws that are meant to answer political questions.

It is instructive that our legislators are is eloquent in its silence on the constitutionality of such laws.

I am appalled that Hon Mliswa exposes his ignorance about the prescripts of the constitution and he often tries to divert our attention when facts expose his principals.

It is and should not be Mawere and his relationship with the Reconstruction Act and also Mawere’s relationship with Masiyiwa but about what direction are we going as a country.

I think it is important that we focus on solving the root problem.  The problem to me is the rule of law. We, in the civil society, are pushing for the repeal of this draconian Act whose effect is the same as AIPPA and POSA.

It must be accepted that Zimbabwe is indeed in a deep crisis when we hear our legislators praising this draconian laws yet we are very far from restoring the country to constitutionalism.

It is strange that Mliswa alleges that ED supported Mawere on the basis of tribe and not because there was merit in business in question.

This makes Zimbabwe a very dangerous and any attempt to import tribalism into the Reconstruction Act narrative is regrettable. I did not expect such utterances from an Honourable member of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe.”

Jane Mlambo| Unconfirmed reports indicate that Zanu PF Supporters In Mutawatawa, Mrehwa and Nhakiwa, Mashonaland East are now scared of putting on their party T-shirts due to the current economic hardships Zimbabwe is going through.

Posting on Twitter Open Space said Mashonaland East, one of Zanu PF strongholds has become an MDC territory with people bitter over Mnangagwa’s failure to steer the country out of the economic mess that has seen prices of basic commodities doubling up, doctors downing tools and teachers threatening industrial action demanding to be paid in United States dollars.

In Mutawatawa, Mrehwa & Nhakiwa in Mashonaland East it's now becoming difficult moving around wearing E.D or Zanu PF t-shirt. The grassroots rebellion is visibly seen. People nd to be tought about tolerance, nt politics of hate.@nelsonchamisa @edmnangagwa #Openspacezw

— Open Space (@OpenSpaceZW) January 1, 2019

 

 

TEACHERS yesterday warned that a strike was inevitable when schools open next week unless the government act fast to meet their demands to raise salaries from the current $500 to $3 000 per month among other demands.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general, Raymond Majongwe told NewsDay that they were still waiting for a positive response to their petition, which they presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a meeting last month.

“Schools will not open if the demands we put forward to the government are not met. What they should understand is that I represent the teachers and this is what they are saying. They (teachers) don’t have the money to even report for duty,” Majongwe said.

“Prices of basic goods have gone up, bus fares have gone up and the salaries have not gone up. Government should act fast before schools open.”

In the petition presented to Mnangagwa, teachers also said they wanted payment for invigilating Grade Seven examinations as well as the introduction of special teacher allowances among many other demands.

According to Majongwe, Mnangagwa pledged to look into the issues before making a formal response.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu said the 3 000 teachers which government want to employ were too few considering that at least 20 000 new educators were needed to fill the existing gaps.

“Teachers must be employed as this is the right thing to do, but the figure is too low. There is very little excitement about this figure. We have a shortage of 19 000 teachers who need to be replaced according to the new curriculum. The pupil to teacher ratio is at 1:70 and sometimes goes up to 1: 101 in worst case scenarios. If we look at the budget it was not increased and is at a standstill,’’ Ndlovu said.

He said the teacher to pupil ratio must be reduced to 1:25 at infant, 1:30 at junior level.

The government on Monday announced that it will from tomorrow up to Thursday recruit 3 000 teachers in a bid to improve the teacher to pupil ratio as it moves to enhance the quality of education in schools.

-Newsday

Members of the House of Assembly have demanded that they be served three full-course meals a day, plus dessert while attending Parliamentary sittings.

They also want Parliament to provide gym facilities or to pay membership and subscription fees for them at sports clubs for recreational purposes, including enabling them to play golf.

The legislators said it was critical that they be served with sumptuous meals plus fruit salad and ice creams as dessert each time they attend sessions.

The lawmakers said this recently in the National Assembly while debating the 2019 National Budget that was presented by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.

The new demands are on top of requests the legislators have made such as demand for top-of-the-range Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles, a raise in their allowances and pensions, among others.

Making his contribution, Norton legislator Mr Temba Mliswa (Independent) said the current provision of lunch meals alone by Parliament was not enough.

“You expect people to work yet they do not even get lunch when they are here. This budget must address our welfare. We are talking about having a world class Parliament, but we only have a one course meal and the dessert is an apple and a banana yet when we go out to other areas we get trifle, a nice fruit salad, custard, ice cream and all that. But, look at what we get here — a mere banana and apple! There is no soup.

“The diet for Members of Parliament is important. Nutrition is important because when Members do not eat well, they do not function well.

“So, it is important that the nutrition of the Members of Parliament is maintained for them to discharge their duties well,” said Mr Mliswa to wild applause from the floor across the political divide.

“Mr Chairman, the Hon. Minister (of Finance) must understand that there is a programme called wellness. Wellness is the well-being of the Members of Parliament. They do not even have a gym where they can go to. They do not even have a sports club where they can go to and recreation is important for the mind. They are stressed in here. We have Members of Parliament that have died because of high blood pressure and stress that you know. So, how many more have to die before we rescue the situation. We must have a recreation club where we play golf or choose any sport that we want to partake in. We must be able to have world class gyms where we are able to train because when you are strong physically, mentally, it equally helps you.”

Further, he said legislators should be given laptops or Ipads.

“I want to talk about the role of the Members of Parliament and ICTs. Today we are in the ICT world – but we do not have Ipads. MPs do not have computers yet we are expected to follow global trends. You can see even at times Parliament does not even give us this Order Paper on time but, if we all have Ipads, we are able to take notes. This is the world that we are faced with at the end of the day and it is important that Parliament is capacitated in that way,” he said.

In her contribution, Mashonaland West legislator Cde Goodluck Kwaramba (Zanu-PF) said Government should raise the amount of money for their vehicles so that they get better cars.

“Whatever assignment has to be done in the constituency, the electorate expect our cars to carry out those duties. I am pleading with you to increase our allowances for us to get better cars to maintain our integrity and status,” said Cde Kwaramba.

Hwedza North MP Cde David Musabayana (Zanu-PF) said legislators would end up moonlighting if Treasury did not pay them well.

“We have a challenge in this August House and time and again, the Speaker is complaining about members who come and sit in the House for a few minutes. It is not their fault, it is because they are moonlighting, and they are trying to eke out a living,” said Cde Musabayana.

Prof Ncube eventually agreed to increase the budget for Parliament before the National budget eventually sailed through.

-State Media

MAKING his recently in the National Assembly while debating the 2019 national budget that was presented by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Norton legislator Mr Temba Mliswa (Independent) said the current provision of lunch meals alone by Parliament was not enough.

There was wild applause from the floor across the political divide when Mliswa said: “You expect people to work yet they do not even get lunch when they are here. This budget must address our welfare.

“We are talking about having a world class Parliament but we only have a one course meal and the dessert is an apple and a banana yet when we go out to other areas we get trifle, a nice fruit salad, custard, ice cream and all that.

“But, look at what we get here — a mere banana and apple! There is no soup. The diet for Members of Parliament is important.

“Nutrition is important because when Members do not eat well, they do not function well. So, it is important that the nutrition of the Members of Parliament is maintained for them to discharge their duties well.”

MPs also want Parliament to provide gym facilities or to pay membership and subscription fees for them at sports clubs for recreational purposes, including enabling them to play golf.

The legislators said it was critical that they be served with sumptuous meals plus fruit salad and ice creams as dessert each time they attend sessions.

The new demands are coming after the legislators recently demanded top of the range Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles, a rise in their allowances and pensions, among others.

Mliswa further said: “Mr Chairman, the Hon. Minister (of Finance) must understand that there is a programme called wellness. Wellness is the wellbeing of the Members of Parliament. They do not even have a gym where they can go to. They do not even have a sports club where they can go to and recreation is important for the mind. They are stressed in here.

“We have Members of Parliament that have died because of high blood pressure and stress that you know. So, how many more have to die before we rescue the situation.

“We must have a recreation club where we play golf or choose any sport that we want to partake in. We must be able to have world class gyms where we are able to train because when you are strong physically, mentally, it equally helps you.”

Further, he said legislators should be given laptops or Ipads.

“I want to talk about the role of the Members of Parliament and ICTs. Today we are in the ICT world — but we do not have Ipads. MPs do not have computers yet we are expected to follow global trends. You can see even at times Parliament does not even give us this Order Paper on time but, if we all have Ipads, we are able to take notes. This is the world that we are faced with at the end of the day and it is important that Parliament is capacitated in that way,” he said.

In her contribution, Mashonaland West legislator Cde Goodluck Kwaramba (Zanu-PF) said Government should raise the amount of money for their vehicles so that they get better cars.

“Whatever assignment has to be done in the constituency, the electorate expect our cars to carry out those duties. I am pleading with you to increase our allowances for us to get better cars to maintain our integrity and status,” said Kwaramba.

Hwedza North MP David Musabayana (Zanu-PF) said legislators would end up moonlighting if Treasury did not pay them well.

“We have a challenge in this august House and time and again, the Speaker is complaining about members who come and sit in the House for a few minutes. It is not their fault, it is because they are moonlighting, and they are trying to eke out a living,” said Musabayana.

Prof Ncube eventually agreed to increase the budget for Parliament before the National budget eventually sailed through.

Correspondent|TEACHERS yesterday warned that a strike was inevitable when schools open next week unless the government act fast to meet their demands to raise salaries from the current $500 to $3 000 per month among other demands.

This comes as doctors yesterday rejected government pleas to go back to work, saying they will on the 4th of January carry out a massive demonstration in a bid to exert more pressure on Government to act on their grievances.

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) secretary-general, Raymond Majongwe said yesterday that they were still waiting for a positive response to their petition, which they presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at a meeting last month.

“Schools will not open if the demands we put forward to the government are not met. What they should understand is that I represent the teachers and this is what they are saying. They (teachers) don’t have the money to even report for duty,” Majongwe said.

“Prices of basic goods have gone up, bus fares have gone up and the salaries have not gone up. Government should act fast before schools open.”

In the petition presented to Mnangagwa, teachers also said they wanted payment for invigilating Grade Seven examinations as well as the introduction of special teacher allowances among many other demands.

According to Majongwe, Mnangagwa pledged to look into the issues before making a formal response.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive Sifiso Ndlovu said the 3 000 teachers which government want to employ were too few considering that at least 20 000 new educators were needed to fill the existing gaps.

“Teachers must be employed as this is the right thing to do, but the figure is too low. There is very little excitement about this figure. We have a shortage of 19 000 teachers who need to be replaced according to the new curriculum. The pupil to teacher ratio is at 1:70 and sometimes goes up to 1: 101 in worst case scenarios. If we look at the budget it was not increased and is at a standstill,’’ Ndlovu said.

He said the teacher to pupil ratio must be reduced to 1:25 at infant, 1:30 at junior level.

The government on Monday announced that it will from tomorrow up to Thursday recruit 3 000 teachers in a bid to improve the teacher to pupil ratio as it moves to enhance the quality of education in schools.

Meanwhile, negotiations between health workers and Government yesterday failed to lure striking doctors back to work as they insisted on their demands despite the employer offering to review their allowances in the first quarter of the year.

Government had offered to review health workers’ allowances in April 2019 together with those of the rest of the other civil servants.

It also assured the health workers that the remaining $6 million vehicle loan scheme coupled with a duty- free facility would be availed by end of day yesterday.

However, the duty-free facility would only benefit those who accessed the loan facility.

“We are not happy at all with this arrangement. We had asked for a duty-free facility to cater for all our members. Government wants to provide itto those who will benefit from the vehicle loan scheme only,” said ZHDA in a statement released last night after the bipartite negotiating forum.

Government also promised to avail $10 million for the creation of 402 new posts for the entire health sector, committed to continue improving the drug and equipment situation in hospitals and said working hours were still under evaluation and standardisation.

It also said the proposed contracts for incoming junior resident medical officers would be done in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

However, the doctors refused to take up the offer arguing that it was a bad one.

“For the whole month, the Health Services Board (HSB) has invested all its energy on dragging ZDHA to court and firing our members,” read part of the statement.

“They completely forgot to answer matters raised by doctors for the whole month. They have shown no sense of urgency at all in restoring normalcy in hospitals.”

According to ZHDA, Government assured them that $2,2 million worth of medicines were stored at the National Pharmaceutical Company and in the process of being distributed to different Government hospitals. It also said funds for hospital equipment had also been availed but the situation in hospitals would take time to improve.

On salaries, the ZHDA said Government reiterated that it was not feasible to pay them in United States dollars since 99 percent of its revenue was in RTGS.

“We have repeatedly asked the Ministry of Health and Child Care to honour the collective bargaining agreement by paying 100 percent of our salaries in foreign currency as agreed. The Government continues to ignore our call citing a litany of excuses,” said ZHDA.

Earlier on, the junior doctors’ bid to have their urgent application seeking leave to appeal against the Labour Court ruling declaring their strike illegal flopped.

The Labour Court ruled that the application was not urgent. “We went to the Labour Court today seeking leave to appeal in an application that was brought under a certificate of urgency. The court deemed our application not urgent enough and it will now be brought to court as a normal court application,” said their lawyer, Mr Munyaradzi Gwisai.

END OF YEAR ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT, CDE E.D. MNANGAGWA

My fellow Zimbabweans,

As the year draws to a close, I take this opportunity to thank you all for working hard for your families, for your communities, and of course for your country.

In doing so, I am confident that the year ahead holds promise of better fortunes for our Nation, all built on the strong foundation we have already laid for economic recovery and growth.

Quite often this year, the going has been tough and challenging, all the time testing our mettle and resilience to the fullest.

We have risen to the challenges, in every instance drawing from our inner inventiveness and broad, collective unity.

Already, we see strong signs of recovery and growth, which the transient challenges we came across this year, appeared to be dim.

Still we need to do more, and to remain singularly focused more than ever before.

Focused on getting the macroeconomic environment stable once more, in order to make it supportive of the sustainable recovery we all yearn for.

That means intensifying fiscal consolidation through a raft of measures and adjustments which we are determined to see through.

Focused on mustering greater support to our agriculture, so we remain a food-secure Nation, and so that our Industry continues to have enough raw materials for more activity.

We remain hopeful that the predicted El Nino-induced drought will not be as severe, or that if it is so, that our water reservoirs and growing irrigation capacity will offset it.

Focused on mobilising more and more resources and better technologies for modernising our Industries whose recovery is already underway.

We need to manufacture more and better, to export more and trade competitively, so we create more and better jobs for our youths.

Focused on stimulating higher production in our mines, as well as opening new mining projects, so our abundant mineral deposits become huge wealth that lift us all.

We have to increase output across a whole range of minerals we have in the country, while expanding both domestic and foreign investments for greater value addition and beneficiation to the mineral wealth we have.

That way we earn more from our depletable mineral resource.

Focused on rehabilitating, modernising and expanding all infrastructures, to support and anticipate greater economic activity in the country.

Already, work on our major highways has begun, with more projects on rail planned in the year about to begin.

Projects in the energy sector are steaming well ahead, all the time taking our Nation nearer and closer to the goal of energy self-sufficiency.

More housing projects and related infrastructures are planned for the coming year.

Budgetary provisions on decentralisation and devolution will see more and more dispersed yet nationally focused economic activity at the local level, as envisaged by our constitution.

Focused on doing more and better in our services sector, where tourism, among other service activities, continues to grow and increase our earnings.

This vital sub-sector will be stimulated through the rehabilitation of the Robert Mugabe International Airport; by new, far-reaching decisions we will take on operationalising our open skies policy, and of course through developing new tourism products for more markets.

We dare not slacken on this low-hanging fruit.

Focused on building an industrially usable knowledge and skills base from our legendary high literacy level.

The gap between high literacy and low skills level must narrow and eventually close, starting in the year about to commence.

This is a task for all our tertiary institutions and for our mentors in entrepreneurship.

Yes, focused on a broader and more aggressive engagement and re-engagement thrust, principally targeting countries, economies and regional blocs which are friendly and hospitable enough to become source markets for the vital capital, investments, technologies and skills we need to change our fortunes.

Fellow Zimbabweans, the year ahead must thus mark a turning point.

With elections now behind us, the time has now come to refocus on improving our economy in order to improve livelihoods and the general welfare for our citizens.

We must draw on our sense of unity and purpose, indeed on our political maturity, in order to move ahead.

I thus urge all of us to rally behind our Government so we realise our national goals.

As you return from the much-deserved break, please do so always mindful of the need to be careful and responsible on the roads.

We have lost many people in traffic accidents this year alone, lost many needlessly. We must close this tragic chapter as we begin the New Year.

This means thinking of our own fellowmen and fellow-women playing the same roads; indeed, thinking of the little precious souls aboard whose lives may be at risk because of our reckless driving.

I eagerly look forward to meeting and interacting with you more and more in the New Year, which I am confident will be better and more prosperous.

A Happy New Year Zimbabwe!

May the good Lord continue to favour our nation.

I thank you.

Iran, Sudan and Zimbabwe are among 23 embassies named and shamed by the UK Foreign Office for dodging UK tax bills worth £1.5 million.

A string of foreign embassies owe the taxman more than £1.5million of unpaid business rates, official figures reveal.

Diplomatic representatives from foreign countries are exempt from national, regional or municipal taxes.

But embassies are encouraged to pay a portion of their bill, equating to just 6 per cent of what a normal firm would fork out.

The Foreign Office has now named and shamed 23 foreign embassies and diplomatic organisations that each owe more than £10,000 in business rates which should have been paid 12 months ago.

Robert Hayton, head of UK business rates at property firm Altus Group, said: ‘Many of these embassies operate from prime central London real estate and are actively dodging their tiny tax contributions.’

He added that the revelation that foreign embassies are not paying up is likely to anger companies which have seen major hikes to their bills.

Business rates are based on the estimated rental value of a property.

Traditional retailers are often subject to sky-high bills due to the size of stores.

Struggling Debenhams paid out £80 million in business rates last year, while John Lewis paid £174 million.

The amount owed by foreign diplomatic missions and embassies has rocketed by 43 per cent compared with a year earlier.

The bills were due to be paid on December 31, 2017.More than £73,000 of the debt is owed by Syria, which the Government is unable to collect because the country is currently not represented in the UK.

The embassy run by Sudan was the biggest culprit for failing to pay its business rates bill, according to a written statement to Parliament by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon.

The embassy, which is situated between Green Park and St James’s Park in London, owes £137,122 in business rates to the Government.

Iran is next on the list with £123,570 in business rates debts, followed by Zimbabwe, which owes £101,694.

Embassies from Qatar, Ukraine and Egypt all have so far refused to pay their business rates, as have the High Commissions of Malaysia and Pakistan, despite demands from officials at the Foreign Office.

— Daily Mail

Correspondent|Several illegal gold panners are feared dead after the collapse of a mine shaft at Wanderer Mine in Shurugwi.

The number of people trapped inside is not known but police and experts are on the ground carrying out investigations.

It is a treasure trove of gold and at any given time they are thousands of fortune hunters who are underground looking for the precious mineral.

It is, however, not clear whether they were illegal miners underground when Wanderer Mine curved in engulfing a road and the foot of a nearby mountain.

Some illegal miners who were at the scene said the mine had given them a warning prior to its collapse and they had managed to vacate before the disaster struck.

Those who managed to escape did not rule out the possibility that some people could still be trapped underground.

Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Larry Mavima expressed shock and regret over the incident saying a team of experts is on the ground to ascertain the cause of the mine collapse.

In a telephone interview with the ZBC a mining expert said the mine could have collapsed due to illegal miners who are destroying remnant pillars that give stability to the mine.

He said when German miners were still running the mine the same area popularly known as Wafa Wafa Massive collapsed and claimed more than 50 people whose remains were never retrieved.

He said illegal miners have no capacity to do proper mining and as a result they go for underground pillars creating instability that might have resulted in the mine curving in.

Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from the provincial mines director were fruitless.

State Media

Correspondent|Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Ezra Chadzamira has said Zanu PF was closely monitoring the movements of members of the G40 cabal, whom he said used to torment their rivals in the Team Lacoste faction at the height of internal squabbles in the ruling party.

“A number of events have passed, so let’s forgive each other and let’s move in unity. But we don’t forget. We forgive, but we don’t forget. It was a phase of knowing each other. We now know each other, and we will be monitoring those whom we know are suspects,” he said.

Speaking at a Christmas party held at Malwate in Marondera that was organised by the Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial leadership on Saturday, Chadzamira said the harassment and trauma they faced at the hands of G40, which was linked to former President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace, was still fresh in their minds.

A number of senior Zanu PF officials aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa were expelled from the party at the height of the fights pitting the two factions.

Chadzamira, who is also Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chairperson, took a swipe at a group of war veterans who recently stormed Mnangagwa’s office demanding an improvement of their welfare.

“They lifted placards at Munhumutapa Building saying ‘ED (Mnangagwa) are we still together?’ Together where? True war veterans know protocol if they want something to be addressed. They should engage in dialogue,” he said.

Zanu PF Mashonaland East chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza said it was time to concentrate on development rather than politicking.

“This coming year, we need to work hard. We need to move forward with our President’s vision of putting the economy ahead of politics. It is the time to embrace the issue of devolution to develop our province,” he said.

Notables who attended the Christmas party include Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Apollonia Munzverengi, youth league provincial chairperson, Kelvin Mutsvairo, politburo members Mike Bimha and David Parirenyatwa, among others.

Harare Bureau Zimbabweans should train their focus on building the economy and achieving sustainable recovery in the New Year, President Mnangagwa has said.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said following elections held

---

Gin the mid-year, attending to the economy and improving the livelihoods and general welfare of the people would be prioritised.
In his 2019 New Year message which was also aired on ZTV yesterday, President Mnangagwa acknowledged challenges faced
in 2018 but noted that Zimbabwe showed signs of economic recovery on which it would build on.
“We have risen to the challenges, in every instance drawing from our inner inventiveness and broad, collective unit,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Already, we see strong signs of recovery and growth, which the transient challenges we came across this year, appeared to bedim.
Still we need to do more, and to remain singularly focused more than ever before. With elections now behind us, the time has now come to refocus on improving our economy in order to improve livelihoods and
the general welfare for our citizens.

We must draw our sense of unity and purpose, indeed on our political maturity, in order to move ahead.” Chronicle

State Media– Members of the House of Assembly have demanded that they be served three full-course meals a day, plus dessert while attending Parliamentary sittings.

They also want Parliament to provide gym facilities or to pay membership and subscription fees for them at sports clubs for recreational purposes, including enabling them to play golf.

The legislators said it was critical that they be served with sumptuous meals plus fruit salad and ice creams as dessert each time they attend sessions.

The lawmakers said this recently in the National Assembly while debating the 2019 National Budget that was presented by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.

The new demands are on top of requests the legislators have made such as demand for top-of-the-range Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles, a raise in their allowances and pensions, among others.

Making his contribution, Norton legislator Mr Temba Mliswa (Independent) said the current provision of lunch meals alone by Parliament was not enough.

“You expect people to work yet they do not even get lunch when they are here. This budget must address our welfare. We are talking about having a world class Parliament, but we only have a one course meal and the dessert is an apple and a banana yet when we go out to other areas we get trifle, a nice fruit salad, custard, ice cream and all that. But, look at what we get here — a mere banana and apple! There is no soup.

“The diet for Members of Parliament is important. Nutrition is important because when Members do not eat well, they do not function well.

“So, it is important that the nutrition of the Members of Parliament is maintained for them to discharge their duties well,” said Mr Mliswa to wild applause from the floor across the political divide.

“Mr Chairman, the Hon. Minister (of Finance) must understand that there is a programme called wellness. Wellness is the well-being of the Members of Parliament. They do not even have a gym where they can go to. They do not even have a sports club where they can go to and recreation is important for the mind. They are stressed in here. We have Members of Parliament that have died because of high blood pressure and stress that you know. So, how many more have to die before we rescue the situation. We must have a recreation club where we play golf or choose any sport that we want to partake in. We must be able to have world class gyms where we are able to train because when you are strong physically, mentally, it equally helps you.”

Further, he said legislators should be given laptops or Ipads.

“I want to talk about the role of the Members of Parliament and ICTs. Today we are in the ICT world – but we do not have Ipads. MPs do not have computers yet we are expected to follow global trends. You can see even at times Parliament does not even give us this Order Paper on time but, if we all have Ipads, we are able to take notes. This is the world that we are faced with at the end of the day and it is important that Parliament is capacitated in that way,” he said.

In her contribution, Mashonaland West legislator Goodluck Kwaramba (Zanu-PF) said Government should raise the amount of money for their vehicles so that they get better cars.

“Whatever assignment has to be done in the constituency, the electorate expect our cars to carry out those duties. I am pleading with you to increase our allowances for us to get better cars to maintain our integrity and status,” said Kwaramba.

Hwedza North MP David Musabayana (Zanu-PF) said legislators would end up moonlighting if Treasury did not pay them well.

“We have a challenge in this August House and time and again, the Speaker is complaining about members who come and sit in the House for a few minutes. It is not their fault, it is because they are moonlighting, and they are trying to eke out a living,” said Musabayana.

Prof Ncube eventually agreed to increase the budget for Parliament before the National budget eventually sailed through.

HARARE – Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) secretary- general Victor Matemadanda said there is no tiff
between him and his chairperson Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Matemadanda told Daily News that the much talked tiff between himself and Mutsvangwa doesn’t exist. “…We are not fighting with Mutsvangwa, those are fabricated stories, and
we are not at loggerheads with Mutsvangwa. I bam seeing this in the media.”
Last month, Mashonaland West war veterans
passed a vote of no confidence on Mutsvangwa
accusing him of being “self-centred and
disrespectful of Mnangagwa”.
While there was speculation that Matemadanda
wanted to take over the chairmanship, he flatly
denied it.
“The fact that I refused to comment on the
position taken by Mashonaland West is the
reason why they are saying it’s me who is
interested in the chairmanship post.
“The stupidity of whoever is saying that is, the
constitution is very clear that if Mutsvangwa
steps down today, his deputy is the one who
takes over until we elect a new chairman,” said
the ZNLWVA secretary-general.

 

TANGIBLE economic turnaround would be witnessed this year if Government remains steadfast in dealing with the twin terrors of
fiscal deficit and the failure to implement proper foreign currency management systems.

This was said by prominent academic Professor Ashok Chakravarti in an interview
yesterday. Already, Government has set in motion plans to address the fiscal deficit side following the
introduction of sweeping measures to curtail excessive Government expenditure.

Some of measures including sacking over 3 000 youth officers, effecting a 5 percent salary cut for top Government officials and a
moratorium on the importation of brand new service vehicles for Cabinet ministers and heads of parastatal.

Prof Chakravarti said the economy has great potential to recover this year if it solves its

“two major problems”.
“There were two major problems that the economy was facing recently and if those problems are addressed, the prospects for economic transformation in 2019) would
improve,” said Prof Chakravarti.State media