The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association is set to take its dispute to with the government to the Supreme Court. In an interview with the Daily News, Munyaradzi Gwisai of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said:

I have instructions to file an application for leave to appeal at the Supreme Court because there are serious human rights issues which were raised.

We have received the court order and when we receive the judgment detailing the reasons for ruling, we will approach to the Supreme Court.

The doctors however, declined to comment on the issue. ZHDA president Elias Muzoremba had this to say:

I cannot give you our position right now. We have not yet been served with the Disposal Order. The 12 hours have not yet lapsed. For now, I cannot comment on that.

Gwisai said that the doctors were not given a fair opportunity to be heard before the Labour Court delivered its ruling. He said

The Labour Act calls for just resolutions and section 69 of the Constitution calls for the right to a fair hearing. Our client did not get that. On Friday (December 21) and around 12 noon, we received communication that the matter has been set for hearing on Monday (today). Around 3 pm on the same day, we received a Show Cause Order instructing our clients to appear in court on Saturday (December 22) at 10 am as earlier communicated.

We closed offices and I left for home. At 16:47, one of our junior lawyers received a new notice from the assistant Sheriff instructing us to appear at the Labour Court at 5:15 pm. We had less than 30 minutes to prepare for the hearing despite receiving formal communication earlier in the day.

What kind of justice is that? I did not even have time to take instructions from my client. What is it that made the court decide to change dates? The court did not explain the sudden change in dates.

… Is it not true that members of the executives and ministers seek medical attention outside the country? If the hospitals are good, why are they not treated here? Is it not in the public domain that government is running around seeking medicines for the hospitals?

Daily News

By Own Correspondent| Senior doctors have expressed anger and dismay by the manner in which junior doctors were summarily suspended recently by the Health Services Board (HSB) for engaging in what the Labour Court ruled on Saturday as an illegal job action.

All the junior doctors and radiographers who had been on strike, 550 in total, have been suspended.

Senior doctors who have been hitherto attending to critical patients since the strike began on December 1 have now thrown their weight behind the junior doctors.

In a letter written by the senior doctors and General Medical Officers (GMOs), they are withdrawing their services with immediate effect:

By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabweans to unite this festive season as the nation celebrates Christmas day tomorrow (Tuesday).

In his Christmas message, the President said he is aware of the economic challenges that the nation faces as it begins the process of national renewal and recovery but urged all to work together with resilience towards achieving national cohesion and prosperity.

Mnangagwa wished all a Merry Christmas and called on families to reflect on the importance of the day as a moment to love, share and forgive.

He thanked all those who voluntarily go out of their way to assist the less privileged for their compassion which brightens the lives of those in need.

President Mnangagwa also reached out to the nation, acknowledging that this Christmas may be difficult owing to economic challenges but called for resilience, patience and love as the nation begins the process of renewal.

His message comes at a time the new order adopted the austerity for prosperity measures aimed at clearing the huge internal and external debts and achieving an upper middle class economy by 2030.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| War veterans from across the country have disowned a group of members who demonstrated at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Munhumutapa offices in Harare last week pressing to have their demands met.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairpersons from seven provinces and some national executive members met in Kadoma where they condemned a group of people that demonstrated purporting to be representing the interests of the freedom fighters.

The chairpersons said the demonstrators are not part of the rank and file of the war veteran structures.

Sonny Mguni Chairman for Matabeleland North Province said:

“Bonafide freedom fighters understand protocol and in the case of last week’s incident, the manner in which the demonstration was staged shows those behind the action have no clear understanding of the ethos and values of the liberation struggle.”

The Kadoma meeting also discussed the issue of former ZIPRA properties, which they hope to retain.

The properties are said to be under judicial management.

Present at the Kadoma meeting were chairpersons from Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo, Harare, Mashonaland East and the Midlands provinces.-StateMedia

Correspondent|THE Health Services Board (HSB) has suspend over 550 junior medical doctors and radiographers for defying yesterday’s Labour Court order for them to go back to work within 12 hours.

At least 553 doctors and radiographers are on strike and the order for them to return to work expired at 9 am yesterday.

However, the doctors have accused the HSB of acting in bad faith for taking the issue to the Labour Court in the middle of negotiations after Cabinet last week assigned Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to oversee the process.

The new twist to the health workers’ industrial action comes after a Labour Court on Saturday night ordered doctors to return to work within 12 hours saying the 23-day strike was illegal.

Labour Court judge Ms Betty Chidziva ruled in favour of the HSB, which hires doctors. In her ruling, she noted that doctors offer what is classified as an “essential service” and therefore cannot engage in collective job action.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, HSB vice-chairperson Professor Auxilia Chideme-Munodawafa said all the striking health workers had chosen to ignore the court order. This, she said, had led the HSB to institute disciplinary action against them.

“Most or all of the health workers who had withdrawn their labour have not reported for work in the timeframe stipulated in the disposal order made by the Labour Court,” she said.

“Government is accordingly proceeding to institute disciplinary action against all health workers who participated in the unlawful collective job action,” she said.

Doctors working in public health institutions went on strike at the beginning of the month citing low remuneration, lack of drugs at hospitals and poor working conditions.

Radiographers joined the strike six days later without formal 14-day notice to Government as stipulated by the law.

In Press statement yesterday, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) accused the HSB of acting in bad faith after they were given an impression by the Ministry of Health and Child Care that negotiations were being finalised, but the latter chose to drag the ZHDA to the Labour Court.

The association said it had hoped, following a Cabinet decision on Wednesday, that Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga would now provide oversight in the negotiations, the strike action should have ended by yesterday.

The “HSB has negated and reversed all the progress thus made to terminate the industrial action,” read the ZHDA statement.

“To the best of our knowledge, a communication was made to Vice President Dr CGDN Chiwenga regarding the grievances raised by doctors and hence we are still waiting in anticipation for the response before any further deliberations are conducted,” it said.

“To this effect, we are suspending all negotiations with HSB and Ministry of Health until such a time that an honest, comprehensive and satisfactory offer has been proffered through the Bipartite Negotiation Panel (BNP).”

The association said it blamed the HSB for failing to manage the industrial action that entered its 23rd day yesterday.

After a nationwide consultation with its members, the association said doctors agreed not to return to work until their grievances have been addressed.

“It is indeed shocking that in this day and age, HSB expects doctors to report for duty without a salary and further wishes to conduct disciplinary proceedings on all members who engaged in the industrial action,” said ZHDA.

Further, the association said it was difficult to comprehend how the negotiation platform had been abandoned with the board spending more time in the court than addressing the grievances raised by doctors.

The doctors said even if they were to return to work, they doubted that they could discharge their duty to patients optimally in a poor working environment and without their salaries. They also accused some officials at HSB of politicising the industrial action to gain favours with those in authority instead of resolving their grievances.

 

Terrence Mawawa|Respected political analyst Jeffryson Chitando believes Gukurahundi shadows are haunting Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa such that he does not have the “will power” to celebrate Unity Day.

Read Chitando’s statement below:”The so called new despensation has failed to commemorate the 22nd of December Unity Day as former President Mugabe used to do.Its no surprise to many as to why the ED Mnangagwa’s ZanuPF government has failed to honour the peace agreement between Dr Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe- it is because of the fear to open old wounds.

The people of Matebeleland have alleged that the new despensation is led by Gukurahundi ringleaders. Mnangagwa was the Minister of State security during the political disturbance in the western parts of the country. Perrance Shiri was head of the most hated 5th brigade,accused of committing atrocities in Matebeleland and Midlands Provinces.

Politically it would be misfiring for Mnangagwa government to celebrate the Unity Day for it would be like celebrating the atrocities.

MDC president Nelson Chamisa could be arrested for addressing joyous crowds at Mbare Musika today without police clearance as required under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

According to an MDC official, Charlton Hwende, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (in a news bulletin) said that Chamisa could be arrested. Writing on microblogging site Twitter this afternoon, Hwende had this to say

ZBC is now reporting that Police is threatening to arrest President @nelsonchamisa for violating POSA by visiting Mbare Musika without notifying the police. This is ludicrous and ridiculous #ZimbabweYatiChamisaCheteChete.

https://twitter.com/hwende/status/1077199266744012802?s=19

 

Terrence Mawawa|The Progressive Teachers Union, Masvingo Province, has described this year’ s Christmas period as a wasted season due to the economic abyss.

See the PTUZ statement below:”We bring to you our Christmas message.
Cdes it is with a sad reality that we are having a unique Christmas for the first time in the history of Zimbabwe.

Unique in that this is the first Christmas we have had without a full bonus.Unique in that this the first Christmas we are having with our salaries having been directly translated from US to bond at no compensation in the guise of the draconian Mutulian 1 to 1 correspondence which exists only in the inner circles of the ruling elite.

Unique in that this is a Christmas we are having without our close relatives due to exorbitant transport cost.
Unique in that this is the first Christmas we have had without even a budget for next year fees because we either don’t have it or we don’t know it.

Unique in that for someone like me who used to enjoy cookies for there is neither cooking oil nor flour.
Unique in that this is the first Christmas we have had without a tomorrow destine because there is neither light at the end of the tunnel nor the tunnel itself.
Unique in that for the history writers but will be recorded as the first Christmas without Coke and by coke in Zim language I also refer to Fanta Spar Letta etc.

Unique in that we have a basket full of demands to the authorities that be which the President has acknowledged but never said a thing.
In light of these and many other issues confronting us it would be deserving to have a special Christmas message of hope. We have no hope and and if ever it’s there it’s hope to nowhere.

As we face this festive period filled with bleak tomorrow let’s take our time to reflect on issues that confront us as a unity. Cdes these issues ranging from professional economic to social demand that we introspect and sharpen our combat in preparation for bruising battles. Nothing comes on a silver platter cdes and we have to fight for what is ours. Without our fight we will get nothing. The diluted Christmas demands that we turn the anger into action come January. In our multitudes of numbers let’s discuss and create in us an appetite for a lasting resolution.

Let’s enjoy that little on our table remember the birth of Christ as the birth of hope. Let’s share the little we have with the many we can.
Let the new year bring us a hope for action. For those traveling journey mercies cdes. Don’t drink and drive. It’s better to be late than to be the late.

 

Terrence Mawawa|FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza faces
disciplinary action from CAF after beating his player Gift Bello for running onto the pitch to celebrate his team’s qualification for the group
stage of the Champions League on Saturday.

Gift Bello was not in the squad on the particular day as he was serving a CAF suspension for accumulating two yellow cards.

The assault is said to have taken place in the full view of ZIFA president Felton Kamambo. Mapeza
has since apologised for his indiscretion.

FC Platinum issued a statement after the assault incident. The statement read as follows:” We wish to apologize to our valued supporters and stakeholders for the altercation that took place involving our head coach Norman Mapeza and Gift
Bello after the match against AS Otoho D’Oyo.
While the full investigation to ascertain what triggered the scuffle is still being conducted, FC Platinum will make it abundantly clear that it does not condone any acts of violence at any level as it is not a reflection of our values and ethos.

Our commitment to our stakeholders is to continue being a brand of choice and be the Zimbabwean flagship for

African football.”

 

Terrence Mawawa|Scores of disgruntled Zimbabweans have told MDC leader Nelson Chamisa that this year there are no Christmas celebrations due to the dire economic situation in the country.

Today Chamisa visited populous Mbare Musika Terminus where he interacted with travellers a day before Christmas.

“MDC Zimbabwe President Chamisa today took time to interact with Zimbabweans at Mbare Musika who were intending to travel to their rural homes for Christmas.

People openly told him that there is no Christmas because the economic situation continues to deteriorate everyday,” said MDC official Luke Tamborinyoka.

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said this year’s Christmas day celebrations have been rigged by a failed leadership just like the July 30 harmonised polls.

Speaking after visiting travellers at Mbare musika bus terminus in Harare, Chamisa promised Zimbabweans that 25 December 2018 marks the last christmas for citizens under such a difficult and economically challenging environment.

Said Chamisa:

“….Well this is a worst christmas ever, it is a bleak christmas. Of all rhe christmases we have had, it is very difficult to share anything because people have nothing…people have no money in their pockets, there is no fuel, there are no goods and services.

…..This is the worst christmas ever, I must say, yes, elections were rigged on the 30th of July but you can see again that christmas has been rigged. People are being robbed the opportunity to enjoy, the opportunity to be happy, the opportunity to merry, the opportunity to enjoy with their families.

Some cannot go to their rural areas because they do not have money and some cannot be with their families because there is no transport.”

By Farai D Hove| The Emmerson Mnangagwa government run Health Services Board (HSB) has with immediate effect suspended over 550 junior medical doctors and radiographers.

The announcement was read out by the HSB on Monday afternoon.

The development is set to create more chaos since the striking doctors had announced yesterday that they will continue with the strike and suspend talks with HSB because of dishonesty on the government’s part.

After Mnangagwa’s deputy, Constantino Chiwenga had officially taken over negotiations, the Labour Court on Saturday ordered them to go back to work within 12 hours.

this is a developing story and ZimEye.com will bring the updates as events unravel…

 

Terrence Mawawa|MDC A leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa has assured the long suffering millions of Zimbabweans of a better future following his via to South Africa.

Chamisa met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in that country.

“A few days ago I had a fruitful meeting in Pretoria with my distinguished brother and fountain of wisdom, the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa .

Our discussion focused on a wide range of urgent and important issues regarding the wellbeing of the

people of Zimbabwe,” said Chamisa in a statement he posted on Facebook.

IS IT A CRIME TO VISIT MBARE MUSIKA?

Is it a crime to visit Mbare musika and taking to hama neshamwari? @PoliceZimbabwe wants to arrest the people's president @nelsonchamisa

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) December 24, 2018

By Dorrothy Moyo| The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation reports that MDC president Nelson Chamisa faces arrest for visiting Mbare musika without police clearance and later talking to  crowds who became joyous upon seeing him.

The report says this is required under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

Chamisa today made a surprise visit to Mbare to experience The Troubles that people are facing and was suddenly greeted by crowds who became exuberant upon seeing him.

Said Chamisa, “Christmas misery at Mbare Musika-I’m here at the Mbare bus terminus to experience how the majority of Zimbabweans are coping under the current hardships.Also assessed the fuel queues.I’m really broken by the sufferings people are going through!I wish I could say merry Christmas.”

MDC Treasurer General, Charlton Hwende, says ZBC (in a news bulletin) reported that Chamisa could be arrested as punishment for failing to abide by POSA. Writing on microblogging site Twitter this afternoon, Hwende said, “ZBC is now reporting that Police is threatening to arrest President @nelsonchamisa for violating POSA by visiting Mbare Musika without notifying the police. This is ludicrous and ridiculous #ZimbabweYatiChamisaCheteChete.”

Paul Nyathi|Fed up with being fed lies by government that the country has more than enough fuel in stock, Bulawayo business people have opted to go out and source Botswana fuel suppliers to deliver the commodity into the city to keep business running.

The business community in Bulawayo signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the private investors from Botswana to supply fuel into the city and setting up investments in different economic sectors in the province.

The deal, which would see Bulawayo business people and their counterparts co-operating in different areas, was facilitated by the Bulawayo industry think-tank.

In an interview after the signing of the MoU at Minister Ncube’s offices housed at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex on Friday, chairperson of the Bulawayo advisory board and think-tank Mr Kwanele Hlabangana said:

“Our thrust is to create employment in Bulawayo. We believe that the Government can do all it can but as a business community, we also have to play our part so we are sharing our knowledge and experience in business to complement Government efforts to turnaround the economy.

“The fuel situation in the country is dire as you can see from the long queues and therefore the intervention by the Botswana business people has come at the right time. They have promised to give us enough quantities of fuel to meet the city’s demands.”

The Botswana business delegation was led by Kelebogile Shomanah, the managing director of Hangana, a diversified Botswana-headquartered concern with interest in petroleum, mining and manufacturing, among others.

Hlabangana said in light of the prevailing supply gap, the Botswana investors were looking at starting with the fuel venture in Bulawayo before going national.

“We are ready and very excited. The investors have not only proposed to invest in the fuel sector but are also going to do manufacturing, diamond and pharmaceuticals.

Hlabangana said following the signing of the MoU, they will soon convene a meeting with all the city’s fuel dealers to work out how they can access the Botswana fuel.

“We have come up with good fuel prices but I cannot tell you the figures now. All what I can say now is that we are going to offer the public very good prices and also make sure that each and every filling station in the city has access to this fuel. In terms of supply, they have promised us that they will be able to supply on a daily basis. We are expecting more than two million litres per day of both diesel and petrol that will be coming through South Africa,” said Hlabangana.

He said they have set up a revolving fund, which was a 30-day payment where the local fuel dealers would be able to pay for the supplied fuel within a month.

“We will be getting the fuel on consignment and only when we have sold it that’s when we will pay the suppliers,” he said.

In a separate interview, Hangana legal representative Lewis Maunze said the MoU opened opportunities for them to invest in various economic projects in Bulawayo and Zimbabwe at large. For our projects, the most urgent one is to address the fuel shortage.

“We supply diesel, petrol, kerosene and even aviation fuel and what is urgent for most people is diesel and petrol.

“We really need to supply those as soon as possible but I’m sure we have to go through these processes guided by the MoUs we signed,” he said.

By Own Correspondent| The Health Services Board (HSB) has issued a statement notifying doctors who engaged in illegal industrial action that they face displinary action from their employer including the withdrawal of their salaries for the period they did not present themselves for duty.

Said the HSB in a statement:

1. Doctors working in some of our public health institutions, through their association, the Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association (ZHDA), abruptly withdrew their labour on the 1st of December 2018. Radiographers in the public health sector also abruptly withdrew their labour on the 6th of December 2018. Other Doctors later joined the industrial action.

(iii)the Health Service Board shall be no under obligation to remunerate members of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, all Doctors and Medical Staff who engaged in the unlawful job action for the time each such member, Doctor or staff has been away from work;

(iv)the Health Service Board is entitled to take disciplinary action against members of the Zimbabwe Hospitals Doctors Association, Doctors and members who participated in the unlawful job action; and (v)respondents bear Applicant’s costs on the ordinary scale.

7. Most or all of the health workers who had withdrawn their labour have not reported for work in the timeframe stipulated in the Disposal Order made by the Labour Court.

8. Government is accordingly proceeding to institute disciplinary action against all health workers who participated in the unlawful collective job action.

 

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=979294662281535&id=307873449260323

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC president Nelson Chamisa made a suprise visit at Mbare Musika in Harare and ended up addressing a rally as people jostled to get a glimpse of the “People’s President”.

Chamisa, who visited Mbare musika bus terminus to get an appreciation of the current settings for travellers ahead of the festive season, was mobbed by a huge crowd and he ended up saying a few words to the people who had gathered.

Said Chamisa:”I understand that this Christmas is one of the most difficult festive seasons that you have ever experienced but I want to assure you that it is the last.”

Watch the video below for this and more:

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By Own Correspondent| Delta, the country’s largest manufacturer of beverages requires between $60 million to $100 million in foreign currency per annum to import critical raw materials.

The sparkling beverages unit takes up at least 50% of these foreign currency requirements to pay for concentrate as well as packaging materials from external suppliers.

The company reported that it owes foreign suppliers US$41 million and that it was also unable to remit dividends to its foreign shareholders. Anheuser-Busch InBev holds a significant stake in the company through South Africa’s SAB Miller.

Delta corporate affairs executive Patricia Murambinda said the soft drinks bottling plants had been adversely affected by the challenges in securing raw materials, leading to extended periods of production stoppages and out of stock situations.

Said Murambinda:

“Delta bottling plants have been running intermittently during the last six months due to the limited availability of imported raw materials.

Of late, the factories have been on shutdown since late November, as evidenced by the current limited market supply of soft drinks.

We were availed a small allocation of foreign currency by the Reserve Bank, which will allow the plants to run for a week leading to Christmas.

The shortage of forex is well articulated, and is beyond the control of the company. In short we are unfortunately heading for a dry festive period. We can only apologise to our valued customers and consumers”.

Delta dominates Zimbabwe’s beverages sector with its share of the market estimated to be upwards of 70%.

Varun Beverages, which is licensed to produce rival brand, Pepsi, as well as Miranda and Mountain Dew has only just recently entered the Zimbabwean market but it has not invested much in terms of capacity to fill in the gap in supply

-The Standard

By Own Correspondent| The National Aids Council (NAC) Midlands Provincial Aids Co-ordinator, Mambewu Shumba has said his organisation is currently putting condom dispensers at Midlands State University in a move aimed at preventing new HIV infections among tertiary students.

This comes shortly after the NAC revealed a shocking statistic – almost half of the female students at tertiary institutions either have or will contract HIV during their course of study.

Said Shumba:

“We have put 21 condom dispensers at MSU and nine more are coming. We are doing this to promote condom use among youths.

“It has been discovered that there are more new HIV infections among people between 15 and 24 years. Most of these students, particularly females, interact with men who are above 50.

“There are various intervention strategies that we have deployed as a province to ensure that we close the tap of HIV. We have reached out to various key populations in the province.”

The National Aids Council has since called for the government to introduce a law which will require compulsory HIV Testing for all prospective couples before they get a marriage certificate.

By Own Correspondent| In his christmas message to Zimbabweans, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has acknowledged that this year’s holidays will be difficult one calling on citizens to be resilient collectively for a better Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa said while he was aware that many will have a difficult Christmas, citizens should be patient and they must work hard in unity towards creating a democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe for all.

Said Mnangagwa:

Fellow Zimbabweans

Christmas is a time for celebration. A time to take a break from the daily pressures in order to eb together with the family and to appreciate those closest to us.
It is a time to cherish the greatest gift of God Almighty; the birth of his Son Jesus Christ.

This Christmas we reflect on the lessons from Christ’s birth and life; lessons around faith, love and forgiveness. I give thanks for the Christmas miracle, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Christmas is also a time to recognise those who work daily for the benefit of others. Whose contributions often go unnoticed.

I would like to encourage all our brothers and sisters who volunteer their time and energies to help those in need and less fortunate than ourselves. This spirit of volunteerism is a true blessing and should be celebrated by us all. As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember to ‘Love our neighbour as ourselves’ and to ‘do to others what we want them to do to us.’

2018 was a historic year for our beloved nation, as we begin the process of national renewal and recovery. There is so much more to be done and there will be further bumps along the road. I am aware that many will have a difficult Christmas. I encourage all of us to be patient, resilient and to work hard in a collective unity, as we create a better, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe for all.

From my family to yours, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy year.

God bless you all

By Own Correspondent| Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba is seeking a meeting with the new Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) board and Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube over the $171 million which council owes the tax collector.

The City of Harare initially owed ZIMRA $20 million before the debt increased to $171 million due to non-payment. Gomba said they hoped Zimra would offer them relief by removing penalties that have accrued over the years.

Said Gomba:

“We are making efforts to meet with the Zimra board and the Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube through our parent ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

We think it is an opportunity for Zimra to save local authorities that are choking in debt from collapse by removing the penalty and leaving us with our legacy debts.

We are highly indebted and we really need to get out of the hole. We have implemented some cost containment measures that we hope will assist us to mitigate the effects of the challenges we are facing.”

Speaking at a full council meeting held last week Harare’s acting finance director Stan Ndemera said they had written to ZIMRA saying they are unable to pay their proposed $4,2 million per month to service the debt.-State Media

Fellow Zimbabweans

Christmas is a time for celebration. A time to take a break from the daily pressures in order to eb together with the family and to appreciate those closest to us.
It is a time to cherish the greatest gift of God Almighty; the birth of his Son Jesus Christ.

This Christmas we reflect on the lessons from Christ’s birth and life; lessons around faith, love and forgiveness. I give thanks for the Christmas miracle, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Christmas is also a time to recognise those who work daily for the benefit of others. Whose contributions often go unnoticed.

I would like to encourage all our brothers and sisters who volunteer their time and energies to help those in need and less fortunate than ourselves. This spirit of volunteerism is a true blessing and should be celebrated by us all. As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember to ‘Love our neighbour as ourselves’ and to ‘do to others what we want them to do to us.’

2018 was a historic year for our beloved nation, as we begin the process of national renewal and recovery. There is so much more to be done and there will be further bumps along the road. I am aware that many will have a difficult Christmas. I encourage all of us to be patient, resilient and to work hard in a collective unity, as we create a better, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe for all.

From my family to yours, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy year.

God bless you all

By Own Correspondent| Delta beverages shut down its plants citing inadequate foreign currency to keep them running.

Delta, the country’s largest manufacturer of beverages requires at least $60 million to $100 million in foreign currency per annum to import critical raw materials.

The sparkling beverages unit takes up at least 50% of these foreign currency requirements to pay for concentrate as well as packaging materials from external suppliers.

The company reported that it owes foreign suppliers US$41 million and that it was also unable to remit dividends to its foreign shareholders. Anheuser-Busch InBev holds a significant stake in the company through South Africa’s SAB Miller.

Delta corporate affairs executive Patricia Murambinda said the soft drinks bottling plants had been adversely affected by the challenges in securing raw materials, leading to extended periods of production stoppages and out of stock situations.

“Delta bottling plants have been running intermittently during the last six months due to the limited availability of imported raw materials,” she said.

“Of late, the factories have been on shutdown since late November, as evidenced by the current limited market supply of soft drinks.

“We were availed a small allocation of foreign currency by the Reserve Bank, which will allow the plants to run for a week leading to Christmas.

“The shortage of forex is well articulated, and is beyond the control of the company. In short we are unfortunately heading for a dry festive period. We can only apologise to our valued customers and consumers”.

Delta dominates Zimbabwe’s beverages sector with its share of the market estimated to be upwards of 70%.

Varun Beverages, which is licensed to produce rival brand, Pepsi, as well as Miranda and Mountain Dew has only just recently entered the Zimbabwean market but it has not invested much in terms of capacity to fill in the gap in supply.

-The Standard

Grace Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s millionaire former First Lady forced from power in last year’s coup, has not paid her farm workers for months, despite living a luxury lifestyle paid for by the state she and her husband once ruled.

Workers on the Mugabes’s network of Zimbabwean farms – several of which were appropriated from white farmers – have not received salaries for three months.

Robert and Grace Mugabe have a vast property portfolio in Zimbabwe and South Africa worth more than €60m.

Despite being ousted last year, the Zimbabwean state still spends millions flying the couple by private jet for medical treatment in Singapore.

Zimbabwe’s government also said this week that it would not extradite Mrs Mugabe (53) to South Africa, which issued an arrest warrant last Wednesday for allegedly attacking a 21-year-old model with an electrical extension chord in a Johannesburg hotel last year.

Mrs Mugabe is deeply unpopular in Zimbabwe, where she was seen by many as a free-spending, greedy, aloof and arrogant puppet master operating in the shadows behind her husband.

Known as ‘Gucci Grace’, her excessive spending – including on Rolls-Royces – was shamelessly flaunted while millions went without basics amid grinding poverty.

However, her 94-year-old husband, who can reportedly no longer walk, still has many supporters among the people and in the government. Zimbabwean officials are unlikely to move against Mrs Mugabe while her husband is still alive.

South African prosecutors allege that Mrs Mugabe burst into a hotel room where her sons, Robert Jr (26) and Chatunga Bellarmine (21) were drinking with Gabriella Engels, a 21-year-old model.

Mrs Mugabe allegedly struck Ms Engels with a power chord, leaving her with injuries to her forehead and to the back of her head, as her sons looked on. She faces up to two years in prison if convicted on charges of grievous bodily harm.

South African police allowed Mrs Mugabe to leave the country, which had become the base for her second home, after the incident when she claimed diplomatic immunity. Her diplomatic status was revoked by a South African court following last year’s coup which forced the Mugabes from power.

Zimbabwe’s deputy information minister said his country would view any attempt to extradite Mrs Mugabe as “harassment”.

“We will not smile on any attempt to embarrass, ill-treat or diminish the image of former president Robert Mugabe or his immediate family members,” they said. “An attack on Grace Mugabe is an attack on the former president… our founding father and liberation icon and his misery is undesirable to us.”

Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s replacement as Zimbabwe’s president, pledged to continue supporting the Mugabes’s generous pension package which includes healthcare for both of them in Singapore.

The couple dislike commercial travel and so Mr Mnangagwa hired private jets several times this year which flew Mr and Mrs Mugabe directly from Harare to Singapore’s exclusive Gleneagles Hospital. The medical treatments and travel cost Zimbabwe at least €30m this year.

Zimbabwe cannot afford to import basic medication for its public hospitals and most state medical staff, including senior doctors, are on strike over poor wages. Sources close to Mrs Mugabe in Singapore say she “spends money like water”. The Mugabe cash is reportedly held outside the country.

Mr Mugabe bought a farm in 2000 but went on to seize a further four adjoining properties from white farmers, who were expelled without compensation. They employ 100 workers across 12 farms.

The state ran the farms for the Mugabes and also secretly bought Zimbabwe’s most successful dairy in 2003 for Mrs Mugabe from a white farmer. She invested heavily in the dairy, but it has never yet covered its costs.

Most of their rural assets and the two expensive schools built by Mrs Mugabe on appropriated land are no longer fully operational since Mr Mugabe was ousted from power in last November’s coup.

Farmers told reporters they were hoping Mrs Mugabe would pay them by Christmas Eve.

“We are worried for the last months, but we got a message we will be paid next week,” said one worker.

Mrs Mugabe, her associates, and the Zimbabwean government, did not respond to requests for comment.

Telegraph

Correspondent|Movement for Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa today disclosed that he met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa a few days ago to discuss “a wide range of urgent and important issues”.

He did not give the exact date but on Wednesday Chamisa tweeted that he met South African lawyer Dali Mpofu at Oliver Tambo International Airport on his way back to Zimbabwe.

He tweeted: “I was pleasantly surprised to meet a special brother and Cde, @AdvDali_Mpofu at the OR International Airport. I’m on my way back home after attending to some crucial business in South Africa.”

It seems the business was a meeting with Ramaphosa as Chamisa tweeted: “A few days ago I had a fruitful meeting in Pretoria with my distinguished brother & fountain of wisdom, the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa on a wide range of urgent & important issues regarding the wellbeing of the people of Zimbabwe.”

A few days ago I had a fruitful meeting in Pretoria with my distinguished brother & fountain of wisdom, the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency @CyrilRamaphosa on a wide range of urgent & important issues regarding the wellbeing of the people of Zimbabwe. pic.twitter.com/iWsjW6BKZz

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) December 23, 2018

Ramaphosa was one of the Southern African leaders who attended President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration on 26 August after the Constitutional Court upheld his victory on 24 August.

Chamisa had challenged the victory and insists up to today that he does not recognise Mnangagwa as President of Zimbabwe.

He also argues that the present crisis in the country is because of Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy and things will only turn right when Mnangagwa talks to him.

Mnangagwa has ruled out any government of national unity and his lieutenants have said he will only talk to Chamisa once Chamisa has recognised him as the Head of State.

Although Chamisa’s did not disclose the nature of his talks with Ramaphosa, he made the trip at the same time Mnangagwa released the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the 1 August violence which was chaired by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe.

The report blamed the death of six people killed on that day on the military and the police. It,however, said the military deployment was justified because of the violent demonstrations which it said were pre-planned and organised by the MDC.

The Commission recommended that political parties should be encouraged at all times to preach unity for the benefit of all Zimbabweans in order for the people to be able to live together as citizens of one nation despite their political differences.

Econet boss, Strive Masiyiwa’s wife, Tsitsi on Monday morning was found to have deactivated Twitter account after publishing a post deemed by many as offending.

The tweet post read as follows: “Some outcries and actions in pursuit of justice seem and look so right until you discover the source of the outcry and sponsor of the cause. Take a step back and reflect on some of the things we consider good and just causes.” 

 

 

Meanwhile, below is an open letter to Mr. Tsitsi Masiyiwa, a philanthropist in her own right and the wife of Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, the founder and Econet Wireless Private Limited, (Econet), written by Ms. Miriam Mutizwa, in response to the storm that has ensued following Ms. Masiyiwa’s tweet that she has since deleted on her worldview that some of the people calling for justice are not genuine as in her considered opinion that such campaigns are in truth and fact sponsored by nameless and faceless principals.

https://twitter.com/hwende/status/1077069805067345920?s=19

“Having read Ms. Masiyiwa’s threat and the outcries that followed, we believe that it is in the public interest that we carry Ms. Mutizwe’s take on the contents as she is increasingly emerging as one of the lonely voices on the importance of the rule of law and constitutionality in lifting Zimbabwe from its current economic morass,” said Mr. Stanley Dube, the Station of the 1873 FM radio www.the1873fm.com, a sponsor of the Banking on Africa’s Future (BOAF) initiative.

The letter reads as follows:

Dear Mrs. T. Masiyiwa

I am writing this open to you in my capacity as an active citizen of Zimbabwe who like you and many others have been battling to correctly understand and comprehend the true nature of the Zimbabwean question.

I currently reside in the United Kingdom. Until recently, I was one of the people who never truly understood that illiteracy about the causal connection between the rule of law and the full and unfettered unlocking of the human potential can be decisive in limiting outcomes as seems to be the case in Zimbabwe’s narrative.

I must congratulate you for having the courage to add your voice into the link between the quest for justice that you believe is principally driven by self-interest and the kind of society that we should build for ourselves.

The Hwange Colliery Company Limited (Hwange) saga has given me a new perspective to life and also helped in exposing the fact that in our discourses about the future we want, the voice of the moral centre is missing on many issues that matter.

I am sure you will agree that when the Econet matter was litigated in the Courts, many of us were on the side of justice, equity and fairness.

I found myself associating with the judiciary who played a key part in delivering a license to Econet based on the contestation that the monopoly that the government people thought was reserved for the state-owned Posts and Telecommunication Corporation (PTC) was unconstitutional and, therefore, of no force and effect.

I was one of many who believed that the triumph of Econet was a landmark in challenging an ideology that was and remains anti-market and socialist. This ideology resulted in the introduction of a law whose existence and operation was brought to the fore because of the Hwange affair.

This law permits the Minister of Justice to issue an extrajudicial order whose operation divests and deprives shareholders like your husband of their control and management of a company.

Until the events of Hwange unfolded, I was totally and naively illiterate about this law. The more I read about this law, I began to ask myself difficult questions about the absence of a coherent voice from business persons about the adverse impact of this law.

I engaged the likes of Mr. Busise Moyo, the former President of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industry (CZI), hoping that he would agree with me that injustice against anyone is injustice against everyone.

When it appeared that your husband was being unfairly treated, I could see myself in him and appreciate the justice in the cause.

Having navigated through the corridors of injustice, I was taken aback by your tweet as follows:

The full text you shared was as follows: “Some outcries and actions in pursuit of justice seem and look so right until you discover the source of the outcry and sponsor of the cause. Take a step back and reflect on some of the things we consider good and just causes.”

I thought I was the only one who was troubled by the content and context of your message and the intended effect of it.

I have been encouraged to say the least that many of my compatriots have been provoked and ignited to respond.

Rarely do we get such robustness arising out of sharing one’s thoughts on an issue of national importance.

I am reminded by Martin Luther King Junior’s contention that:

“In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.

This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned.

Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds,” to give me a proper context to address your considered view that justice is not part of the constitution’s promise but a consequence of some kind of ulterior motive to drive it.”

It is my view that in 1980, my sister, the founding fathers of the First Republic signed to which every Zimbabwean was to fall heir without any limitation and I should have thought that your own life experiences would have taught you better that justice is neither a gift or privilege.

The question that I would have expected a person of your stature in our nation and at this defining juncture in our development is whether the check that MLK spoke eloquently about has been honoured rather than focus on the acceptability and appropriateness of the messengers.

In reading your text, I immediately felt guilty of reminding my compatriots to reaffirm and acknowledge that justice flows from the laws of nature and administrative systems that only human beings can put in place to protect the rights of nature that include life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

In light of the esteem that you are rightly or wrongly held in, it would not be just if I accept that your deleting of the message that you must have authored should mean that the debate must be alienated from your thoughts on this important subject matter.

This is the message I now got when I searched for the message above.

It is unfortunate that your voice seems to have been intimidated by the reaction of the public to what I think should be a basis for us to inquire as to the real causes of the disappearance of the voices that led to the judicial intervention on the issue of the kind of regime that Zimbabwe should have on mobile cellular technology.

I should like to believe that if the struggle for justice was for self-promotion and preservation then the decision by the Courts to grant Econet a license should be subject to review as what was meant to liberalize the ecosystem has led to the enrichment of a few.

Would it then be fair and just to use the same paradigm that you now wish to use that the pursuit of a market-led and competitive cellular industry was driven by ulterior motives?

Recognizing that the content of your message raises far reaching moral, legal and constitutional questions, I will as part of my civic duty attempt to unpack word by word what I think really motivated your timely intervention.

I will, therefore, proceed with Part 2 through 10 being my conversation with you through your tweet message as I have no doubt that you are no longer reachable to people like me who would like to believe that no system can claim to be just if it leaves anyone behind including the weakest member in the chain.

I also recognize that there is a missing centre of gravity in resolving the deeper questions you raise regarding motive, outcome and integrity.

I believe my message above will help in giving a better context to use in developing the ideological positions that may seem to divide us.

I also hope that my contribution to the debate will assist in provoking people to be engaged on issues that matter.

I trust that you will find the above in order.

Sincerely Yours,

Miriam Mutizwa

By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwean journalist and Khuluma Africa contributor Maynard Manyowa has made sensational allegations that the former first lady Dr Grace Mugabe and South African based Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa Mawere had an affair.

In a twitter thread directed at Mawere, Manyowa alleged that besides being intimately involved with the former first lady, Mawere engaged in fraudulent activities and is a renowned conman and convicted fraudster.

Below is the thread by Manyowa:

https://twitter.com/iAmKudaMaynard/status/1076913746151391233?s=19

https://twitter.com/iAmKudaMaynard/status/1076914095545376772?s=19

 

ENERGY and Power Development Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo has warned fuel traders and filling stations that are withholding fuel and
those supplying the black market that they risk losing their trading licences.

In an interview, Dr Gumbo said Police and Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) have since descended on rogue fuel dealers and are making intermittent raids.
He said police officers and ZERA officials have been deployed all over the country carry out random raids on service stations.
Dr Gumbo said Government has discovered that some service stations are withholding fuel to supply the black market and pirate
taxis.
“We are suspecting that some of the fuel shortages might be political. What we have noticed is that pirate taxis and public transport operators are also hoarding and stocking fuel. The spiking demand could have
been triggered by the festive season and holiday makers travel.
“There is adequate fuel in the country this festive season. For instance cities like Harare and Gweru, there are short queues which show there is enough fuel,” he said.
Said Dr Gumbo: “As Government we are monitoring the situation after receiving reports that there are fuel traders and service stations that are withholding fuel. I would want to warn them that they risk losing their
trading licences.Chronicle

 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday urged Zimbabweans to work together to create a prosperous Zimbabwe desired by all as he wished the nation a Merry Christmas.

He described 2018 as a historic year which marked the start of a process of renewal and recovery.
In his Christmas message to the nation, President Mnangagwa said the road to recovery would be bumpy in some cases but urged people to be patient.

“2018 was a historic year for our beloved nation as we began the process of national renewal and recovery,” said the President.

“There is so much more to be done and there will be further bumps along the road. I am aware that many will have a difficult Christmas. I encourage all of us to be patient,
resilient and to work harder in collective unity as we create a better, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe for all. From my
family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas

and a happy New Year,” he said. State media

By Own Correspondent| An apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) pastor who was facing charges of sexually harassing a female congregant was found not guilty and acquitted of all charges by Harare magistrate Victoria Masamba.

Benny Hwata, the pastor of AFM Highlands, was being accused of molesting a congregant while praying for her to pass her driving test.

The court ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had indeed committed the offence.

Part of the court’s ruling reads as follows:

The complainant in this matter was lying because she only reported this matter some months after the so-called offence happened.

If she was telling the truth she could have told anyone from the church because she alleged that congregates were in the church while she was being molested in the other room on the same building. She only reported the matter after her husband forced her to do so.”-Mail and Telegraph

 

SIX people were killed on Sunday morning in a head-on road accident in Masvingo near Mutimurefu Prison, according to state media reports.

Information on the terrible crash is still sketchy, more to follow…

 

ENERGY and Power Development Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo has warned fuel traders and filling stations that are withholding fuel and
those supplying the black market that they risk losing their trading licences.

In an interview, Dr Gumbo said Police and Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) have since descended on rogue fuel dealers and are making intermittent raids.
He said police officers and ZERA officials have been deployed all over the country carry out random raids on service stations.
Dr Gumbo said Government has discovered that some service stations are withholding fuel to supply the black market and pirate
taxis.
“We are suspecting that some of the fuel shortages might be political. What we have noticed is that pirate taxis and public transport operators are also hoarding and stocking fuel. The spiking demand could have
been triggered by the festive season and holiday makers travel.
“There is adequate fuel in the country this festive season. For instance cities like Harare and Gweru, there are short queues which show there is enough fuel,” he said.
Said Dr Gumbo: “As Government we are monitoring the situation after receiving reports that there are fuel traders and service stations that are withholding fuel. I would want to warn them that they risk losing their
trading licences.Chronicle

By Own Correspondent| Energy and Power Development minister Jorum Gumbo has said government has instituted random checks on fuel stations across the country as it moves to curb hoarding amid suspicions that some of the current fuel shortages are political.

In an interview with the state media, Dr Joram Gumbo said that the police and Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) officials had been deployed across the country and fuel traders and stations found withholding fuel or selling it on the black market risked losing their trading licences.

He said Government had learnt that some service stations were withholding fuel and selling it on the black market and to pirate taxis.

“We are suspecting that some of the fuel shortages might be political. What we have noticed is that pirate taxis and public transport operators are also hoarding and stocking fuel. The spike in demand could have also been triggered by the festive season.

“As Government we are monitoring the situation closely.

We have deployed police and ZERA to go around conducting intermittent raids on fuel stations and fuel traders. Those that are found stocking a lot of fuel will have their licences withdrawn.

We have deployed some in Kwekwe, Gweru, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo, Harare and other cities and small towns. We are not joking and there won’t be any sacred cows.”-StateMedia

“A few days ago I had a fruitful meeting in Pretoria with my distinguished brother & fountain of wisdom, the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa on a wide range of urgent & important issues regarding the wellbeing of the people of Zimbabwe…” – President Chamisa

By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has vowed to continue with the ongoing strike which is now in its 23rd day despite a labour court ruling  which declared the strike illegal.

On Saturday evening the Labour Court ordered the doctors to resume their duties after ruling that their job action was illegal.

The Court further directed the Health Services Board (HSB) to withhold the salaries of all the junior doctors who are on strike.

However, in a new development, the ZHDA said in a statement that the HSB erred in approaching the Labour Court while they were still engaged in negotiations.

The doctors announced that they are now suspending all negotiations with HSB and the Ministry of Health until such a time that an honest, comprehensive and satisfactory offer has been offered through the Bipartite Negotiation Panel (BNP).

Below is the full statement from the ZHDA:

ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday took time to preach about unity and about Jesus Christ while totally and completely avoiding mentioning the man he is seen to have caused serious harm, Nelson Chamisa.

In a choreographed message, Mnangagwa wished the nation a merry Christmas while urging Zimbabweans to work together to create a prosperous Zimbabwe desired by all.

He described 2018 as a historic year which marked the start of a process of renewal and recovery.

In his Christmas message to the nation, Mnangagwa said the road to recovery would be bumpy in some cases, but urged people to be patient.

“2018 was a historic year for our beloved nation, as we began the process of national renewal and recovery,” said Mnangagwa.

“There is so much more to be done and there will be further bumps along the road. I am aware that many will have a difficult Christmas. I encourage all of us to be patient, resilient and to work harder in collective unity, as we create a better, democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe for all. From my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year,” he said.

Mnangagwa appeared to acknowledge the role played by those who volunteer their time to help the needy.

“I would like to acknowledge all our brothers and sisters who volunteer their time and energies to help those in need and less fortunate than ourselves.

“This spirit of volunteerism is a true blessing and should be celebrated by us all. As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember to love our neighbour as ourselves and to do to others as we would have them do to us,” said Mnangagwa.

“Christmas is a time for celebration. A time to take a break from daily pressures in order to be together with the family, and to appreciate those closest to us. It is a time to cherish the greatest gift from God Almighty: the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Mnangagwa continued: “This Christmas, we reflect on the lessons from Christ’s birth and life, lessons around faith, love and forgiveness. I give thanks for the Christmas Miracle, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

“Christmas is also a time to recognise those who work daily for the benefit of others, whose contributions often go unnoticed.”

Mnangagwa also wished the nation a prosperous 2019 ahead of New Year celebrations next week.

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has vowed to continue with the strike which is now in its 23rd day. On Saturday evening
the Labour Court ordered the doctors to resume their duties after ruling that their job action was illegal.

The Court further directed the Health Services Board (HSB) to withhold the salaries of all the junior doctors who are on strike.

However, in a new development, the ZHDA said in a statement that the HSB erred in approaching the Labour Court while they were still engaged in
negotiations. The doctors announced that they are now suspending all negotiations with HSB
and the Ministry of Health until such a time that
an honest, comprehensive and satisfactory offer
has been offered through the Bipartite
Negotiation Panel (BNP).

The outspoken Deputy Minister for Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Energy Mutodi has attacked his own boss for allegedly lying.

Mutodi accused his boss, and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana.

Mutodi denied the allegations that he was given a chauffeur to drive him around by the Ministry as claimed by the two. Writing on microblogging portal Twitter on Sunday evening, Mutodi said, “I have never been allocated a state driver as claimed by Nick Mangwana & Minister Monica Mutsvangwa instead I’ve relied on CIO operatives to chauffeur me.

“The false story that I need $500 per day for using my own car for official business is their own creation.”

 

MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume has said that the National Unity Day celebrations held on 22 December every year are meaningless.

He believes that as long as the government fails to compensate the people who were affected by the
genocide, the celebrations will be devoid of meaning.

“There cannot be total healing if you
have not compensated the affected ones. So, there cannot be total unity if you are walking with the person you have beaten up and not taken to the hospital. We need that to be addressed,” said Mafume.

The Unity Day celebrations are held to commemorate the signing of the Unity Accord between ZANU PF and PF ZAPU in 1987 after years of conflict. The conflict which killed an
estimated 20 000 people is referred to as Gukurahundi. During this period, the government deployed a North Korean-trained army unit, the
Fifth Brigade which allegedly massacred thousands of civilians for who were accused of

supporting rebels in the Matabeleland and
Midlands provinces.True Zim Patriots

By Advocate Thabani Mpofu| Dear All

My attention has been brought to some stories carried in your publications in which you claim that I face de-registration. I wonder why it became important for you to go to “print” before hearing my side of the story.

The correct position is that your story is false, malicious and possibly designed to cause harm. It is so frivolous, it merits no attention. Kindly take it down and retract your nonsense as a matter of urgency.

I have also consulted Advocate Hashiti who has made it clear that he never spoke to anyone about this issue. I know it is not a difficult thing for you to retract the story. For your information, I desire no apology from any of you.

I do not believe I need to open the year by suing people.

Blessed holidays.

 

Government has undertaken to pay
severance packages as well as offering entrepreneurial skills to over 3 700 national youth service workers fired from the civil service by
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube.
Ncube cut loose the youths, mostly drawn from the controversial national youth service (green
bombers) to slash the wage bill as part of his Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) launched recently.
Government is expected to make an annual saving of $13,8 million following their retirement from service.
While they were engaged as youth officers, they were being used by the ruling party in previous elections to coerce villagers to vote for fallen
despot Robert Mugabe.
Most of the youths graduated from the late Zanu PF political commissar Border Gezi-initiated national youth service programme which government abandoned in 2003.
Public Service Commission (PSC) secretary Jonathan Wutawunashe said from giving them retirement packages, the ministry will also avail
empowerment opportunities to those interested.
“The affected youth officers will receive their full retirement benefits in line with Public Service Statutes and these will be communicated to the affected individuals.
“In order to enable the affected members to remain productive outside Public Service, information on empowerment opportunities will
be made available to those interested, particularly in view of the prompt disbursement of their
benefits upon retirement,” Wutawunashe said, while explaining that the main criterion used to retire the Border Gezi youth officers was their lack of requisite qualifications to be engaged as public officers.Daily News

By Own Correspondent| The opposition MDC has said an attempt by government to resolve their impasse though the courts is not only ill informed but extends the period of crisis resolution.

Said MDC Spokesperson, Jacob Mafume in a statement:

“Having a court of law dealing with the legality of a job action does not entail the problem has disappeared.

Infact the issues being raised by the medical practictioners are legitimate and reasonable.

The doctor’s want the ratio between patients and clinical personnel reduced, drugs procured, health facilities improved, equipment sourced and medical supplies ensured.

All these are selfless demands meant to save the lives of Zimbabweans yet the government is happy with a cosmetic appearance of doctors at work while unable to save lives or adequately serve the people.

The government therefore reduces the discourse to the issue of the welfare of the practictioners just to misinform the public, assassinate the character of the profession as one driven by greed and even worse decide to use scare tactics.

Scaring the practictioners using court orders will only prolong the crisis period.

Dialogue would have found a lasting solution, it seems the government is allergic to this phenomenon.

Even if doctors return to work today with the working conditions as deplorable as they are lives will still be lost to avoidable causes.

There is danger in a hospital manned by disgruntled personnel.

More importantly labor is not forced, people’s rights in this respect are Constitutional, they cannot therefore be taken away through the courts.

The route taken by the government has a potential of a long winding legal battle which at the end will cost the public.

The government ought to address the issues being raised at this stage when budgets for the following calendar year are being discussed.”

By Own Correspondent| Political analysts have blasted the promotion to the rank of Major General of Anselem Sanyatwe, one of the Zimbabwe National Army representatives who testified before the Mothlanthe led August 1 Commission of Inquiry.

The analysts alleged that the promotion shows that the government is unwilling to be accountable.

Major General Sanyatwe was promoted a few days before the Motlanthe Commission released the report of its findings.

The report said that the military and police were responsible for shooting and killing civilians on Agust 1.

Part of the report reads as follows:

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

Legal expert and political analyst, Alex Magaisa wrote on his Saturday blog that

The Commission’s verdict dismisses as false and dishonest, the weak defences and explanations that were given by senior military commanders during the hearings.

They had protested that the deaths were not from the actions of their troops whose professionalism they defended.

The effect of the Commission’s damning verdict is that these testimonies were false. This is a serious indictment on the integrity of military commanders who had vehemently vouched for the professionalism of their forces.

However, resignation on account of embarrassment is not something that exists in the vocabulary of Zimbabwe’s establishment. They will just pretend that the Commission they set up did not say anything.

Another analyst, Macdonald Lewanika said Mnangagwa must come clean on the military. He said

It is curious that directly involved parties would be promoted prior to the finalisation of a matter that they are party to.

But that is the nature of this state and its regime, accountabilities virtually none existent, and promotions appear based on personal loyalties to those who hold the levers of power more than any discernible successes and competencies that the public can identify and identify with.-DailyNews

 

Terrence Mawawa| Leading bread and confectionary supplier Bakers Inn is failing to cope with the demand for the basic commodity raising concerns from affected consumers.

Local residents are likely to celebrate Christmas without bread for the first time since Independence, political analyst Jeffryson Chitando has said.

Chitando argued:”This is the worst Christmas period this generation has ever witnessed.

A Christmas without bread is unthinkable. Zanu PF under E D Mnangagwa has spoiled the important event because of arrogance.

If the voice of the people is the voice of God then Mnangagwa must pay attention to the screaming voices of the people of Zimbabwe. “

Terrence Mawawa|Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is worse than Ian Douglas Smith’ s colonial rule, Former National People’s Party spokesperson Jeffryson Chitando has said.

Chitando accused Mnangagwa of depriving the people of Zimbabwe of social interaction associated with the festive season.

“Mnangagwa must emotionally abuse children in this country.He has pushed them too far and in near future we are likely to see a similar uprising of children just like what happened in South Africa during the Apartheid era.

Even during the Smith regime Mnangagwa enjoyed his Christmas in new clothes and he also got several dozens of bread,” said Chitando.

Terrence Mawawa|Energy and Power Development Minister Jorum Gumbo has blamed hoarding and panic buying- for the shortage of fuel in the country.

In an interview with state run weekly publication, The Sunday Mail, Gumbo castigated petrol attendants for conniving with motorists to hoard fuel for reselling on the black market.

“Some motorists are now conniving with petrol attendants to hoard fuel for the black market, that habit must stop and we are going to do something about these people.”

“The shortages we are experiencing in the country are a result of things like hoarding, panic buying and parallel market trading,” Gumbo claimed.

“On the black market, fuel is selling at $ 4 or $ 5 per litre, so the fuel challenges we are facing arise from mismatch on the rating between the US dollar and the bond note,” added Gumbo.

By Own Correspondent| Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has said Zimbabwe’s developmental agenda is being stalled by questions of legitimacy around Zanu Pf leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ascendancy to presidency.

Chamisa, vowed to increase pressure on Mnangagwa in the new year, revealing that 2019 is the year to implement the transformation agenda and resolve the country’s legitimacy crisis

Said Chamisa:

“We have to put a full stop to tyranny, dictatorship and be on the path to reform, nation building and peace building. It will be a turnaround year.

It is a take-off year, remedying the ailment affecting our country.

It is also the year to revitalise and rejuvenate the organisation through organisational renewal and deepening of our internal democratic processes with the intention of giving effect to the party’s new direction.”

The youthful politician insisted that he was not power hungry and challenging the president’s election victory was not for his personal glory.

Said Chamisa:

“We are not driven by love of power, but the love of our country, love of peace, our people, resources, and the love for each other.

Power is meaningless if it is not serving its countrymen.

He does not understand that there is nothing that can beat dialogue — this is what separates humans from other animals.”- TheStandard

By Own Correspondent| The Labour court has declared as illegal the ongoing junior doctors’ strike ruling that the doctors did not follow the notification procedures prescribed by the law.

The Labour Court ruled on Saturday night that by embarking on a job action without following procedure, doctors had violated provisions of the Labour Act.

Justices Betty Chidziva and Gladys Mhuri ruled that the doctors and members of staff who participated in the unlawful job action should report for work within 12 hours.

Ruled the labour court:

“The findings of the court, in terms of Section 107 of the Labour Act, are as follows: Having listened to both parties’ submissions, the court found that the collective job action embarked on by the respondents (Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association) and its members on the 1st of December 2018 is unlawful.

This finding is based on the fact that the respondents in the critical services category, as provided for by the provisions of SI (statutory instrument) 137 of 2003, are prohibited from engaging in the collective job action.

Respondents even, through their witness Dr Muzoremba, failed to prove that they were exposed to any occupational hazard which they reasonably feared to pose an immediate threat to their health and safety.

All members of the Zimbabwe Doctors Association, doctors and members of staff who participated in the unlawful job action should report for work within 12 hours of service of this order on the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association at Parirenyatwa Doctors’ Lounge, Harare.”

The Court further ruled that the Health Services Board (HSB) should withhold the salaries of doctors who have been on strike.

Continued the court:

“The Health Service Board is entitled to take disciplinary action against members of the Zimbabwe Hospital Association, doctors and members who participated in the unlawful job action and also that the respondents are to bear application costs on the ordinary scale”.-StateMedia

By Own Correspondent| Former cabinet minister who is currently in self imposed exile, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that Chairperson of  the August 1 Commission on Inquiry former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe pocketed $250k while the other six commissioners got $150k each.

The former Minister for Higher and Tertiary Education Professor Moyo sensationally claimed that each member of the Motlanthe Commission received $150k for a report “which is not up to scratch”.

Writing on Twitter Sunday morning, Moyo said:

“Members of the Motlanthe Commission whose published Report is not up to scratch are laughing all the way to the bank. The Commission’s Chairperson is taking home at least a quarter of a million US dollars and Commissioners are pocketing at least USD 150K each for their botched job!”

 

By Dorrothy Moyo| Each member of the Motlanthe Commission pocketed $150 000, the prolific former Minister for Higher and Tertiary Education Professor Jonathan Moyo has alleged.

At a time when the Commission has caused an uproar amid widespread condemnation, the group of Mnangagwa appointed arbiters could have gone away with more than a million US Dollars.

Writing on Twitter Sunday morning, Prof Moyo said, “members of the Motlanthe Commission whose published report is not up to scratch, are laughing all the way to the bank.

“The Commission’s Chairperson is taking home at least a quarter of a million US dollars & Commissioners are pocketing at least USD 150K each for their botched job!”

THE Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has questioned the engagement of two prominent politicians for work-related training at the Harare Magistrates’ Court despite the duo facing serious graft-related charges at the same courts.

Former Cabinet Ministers Saviour Kasukuwere and Supa Mandiwanzira — who are studying for law degrees with the University of Zimbabwe — are currently engaged as interns at the lower courts.

Kasukuwere is charged with four counts of abuse of office from his time in Government while Mandiwanzira is facing the same charges after he allegedly engaged South African firm, Megawatt Company, to provide services to NetOne without going to tender.

He is also accused of appointing his personal assistant, Tawanda Chinembiri, to the Postal Telecommunications and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) board.

Head of the OPC’s corruption-busting unit Mr Tabani Mpofu told our Harare Bureau that the engagement of the two former Cabinet Ministers is untenable.

“We are very concerned that two accused persons who are appearing at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing corruption charges have been accepted and allowed to do their attachment for their law studies at the same courts. That inevitably does not inspire confidence in the public with regards to the criminal justice system operating efficiently and transparently, where these two accused persons are concerned: these are Supa Mandiwanzira and Saviour Kasukuwere,” said Mr Mpofu.

“This runs the risk of undermining public confidence in our criminal justice system and our sincerity in the fight against corruption. They are working in the very same corridors where we have our records. For example, Supa Mandiwanzira was in the corridors a day before he was to appear in court.”

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Deputy Secretary Mr Sithembinkosi Msipa, however, declined to comment.

“I am not able to comment about that. What we need is proper communication and then we will be able to issue a statement on that, but I’m not at work today (yesterday); I am not in a position to give you any comment.”

According to Mr Mpofu, the special unit has begun lifestyle audits for individuals suspected to have amassed ill-gotten wealth. Authorities are also looking into corruption-related cases raised in the Auditor-General’s recent report with a view of starting prosecutions.

“Zimra (Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) is currently undertaking those (lifestyle audits) and we have got a few cases in the pipeline emanating from that exercise. We don’t want to jeopardise the integrity of investigations, but what I can tell you is there will be prosecutions emanating from lifestyle audits, not only for people from Zimra. When we approach these cases it is only incidental what professions these people are but we are looking at a number of individuals in the public service and politicians.

“And also, you know that the Auditor-General presents a report to Parliament; we are now carefully studying the report with the view of preferring criminal charges against those implicated in the reports.

The AG’s report will not just be another report presented to Parliament and allowed to gather dust in Government offices. We want to assist the AG by taking corrective measures in our courts. Come 2019, we will see prosecutions emanating from irregularities of the report.”

The team is confident that the 22 cases of high-level corruption it is presently prosecuting will result in conviction.

Mr Mpofu said most of the accused persons are employing legal technicalities of applying for exception to charges at higher courts in order to frustrate proceedings. Accused persons can apply for exception to charges if the prosecution fails to prove a prima facie case against them.

“We have seen many court applications at the commencement of the trial whose effect is to delay the commencement of the trial. To members of the public this may appear to be vindication for those who say that criminal corruption cases will not be successfully prosecuted, but that is not the case. Due process has to be followed . . . Our first trial commenced in August; the Wicknell (Chivayo) case was the first one we worked on . . . As we speak, Wicknell Chivayo made an application for exception to the charges; that application was thrown out by the Magistrates’ Court and he has since appealed to the High Court against the magistrate’s decision to throw out his exception charges.

“As I speak to you, the matter is with the High Court after the Judge reserved judgement on the matter.

We have got many other cases that we sought to start prosecuting in court and we face similar applications, but convictions will come after due processes. Due processes cannot be short circuited; there is no way around it.”

The crack unit was established by President Mnangagwa to improve efficiency in prosecuting graft cases.

State Media