President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sworn in cabinet ministers and ministers of state this morning  at the State House.

Iconic Zimbabwe entreprenuer and businessman Strive Masiyiwa poked fun at ousted president Mugabe during a recent interview is which he was discussing overcoming his business obstacles in Zimbabwe.

Norton MP Temba Mliswa lampooned former Agriculture minister Joseph Made saying during his tenure he spent time managing former President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace’s farms instead of inspecting government agricultural projects at different institutions in the country.

Mliswa was contributing to debate on a motion on a report by the Christopher Chitindi-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture on command agriculture and agricultural colleges on Thursday when he alleged that agricultural colleges failed to perform because they were not properly supported or funded.

“Government had become dysfunctional, and how do you run agricultural training institutions without a board? Made spent time at his farm instead of him spending time doing his ministerial mandate,” Mliswa said.

“All he did was to go to Gushungo Dairies with foreigners, showing them Mazowe with the former First Lady Grace (Mugabe), but we never saw him going to tertiary institutions. I think his job was to work for the First Family,” he said.

Mliswa said if command agriculture is to succeed, then every Zimbabwean regardless of colour or political affiliation should benefit and get inputs from the programme.

While presenting the committee report, Chitindi said farmers had experienced problems such as late distribution of inputs, while others had to travel long distances to collect their inputs.

“For example, Norton farmers collected their inputs from Chegutu, while Umzingwane farmers collected inputs from Filabusi and Gwanda.

“There was also a negative perception on command agriculture with one ward in Kwekwe, where only three people took up the programme, while others said they feared joining it because of the consequences that will be meted by the military if they failed to deliver,” he said.

Chitindi said the name “command” had negative connotations to farmers, who thought that it was a military programme.

Southerton MP, Gift Chimanikire (MDC-T) said there is need for farmer training before people are given huge tracts of land to do farming.

He said the ruling party should desist from selective distribution of farm inputs, where opposition supporters were excluded from the presidential input scheme or command agriculture.

Uzumba MP, Simbaneuta Mudarikwa (Zanu PF) said there is need to ensure fertilisers and herbicides are affordable. He said it is imperative for the government to come up with a policy to ensure supermarkets get their vegetable supplies from local farmers.

Kuwadzana East MP, Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) said if Zimbabwe is to improve in farming and restore its lost glory as the bread basket of Africa, there is need to mechanise even peasant farming so that rural farmers use modern equipment to also increase their yields. Newsday

Staff Reporter| ThisFlag pastor Evan Mawarire yesterday responded to criticism by people who have alleged that he has received money from President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mawarire was reacting on his article that has his full recorded announcement to Zimbabweans which was published on ZimEye.com. He had submitted his recorded speech late Friday night during the time when Zimbabweans were grovelling in anger against Emmerson Mnangagwa. The article did not have either mention or inference of the alleged Mnangagwa connection, but Mawarire wrote out his new rebuttal saying he has not received any resources from Mnangagwa.

“I remain committed through my own resources to standing up for what is right for Zimbabwe,” he wrote.

Many Zimbabweans feel that contrary to Mawarire’S claims, Mnangagwa as a President is nothing different from the former Head Of State Mugabe for the nation and the removal of Mugabe was just purely a cosmetic Lacoste faction affair which was accomplished by the army for their own agenda and purposes, nothing to with the povo. The povo were only used for a plastic demonstration to sanitize the coup last month. But Mawarire addresses the general public claiming that they are the ones who removed Mugabe and installed the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government.

“…How dare we believe in every voice that was raised… kushaiwa hope(sleep), after we have been able to change the government and build something new, they said we couldn’t do anything wrong, but we proved them wrong…,” says Mawarire in the below –

https://youtu.be/F6CiYDGlPlU?t=4m12s

State Media – Newly-appointed Cabinet ministers will take their oath of office before President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare today. President Mnangagwa last week announced a 22-member Cabinet to run Government business until harmonised elections next year.

In a statement on Saturday, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda, said the swearing-in ceremony starts at 9am.

“Cabinet ministers are invited to State House for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 0900hrs, 4th December, 2017,” reads the statement.

The invitation was also extended to Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Deputy Ministers.

However, there have been adjustments to the original list of Cabinet ministers that was announced on Thursday last week in order “to ensure compliance with the Constitution and considerations of gender, demography and special needs”.

Cde Lazarus Dokora, who had been appointed Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, was dropped and replaced by his former deputy, Professor Paul Mavima.
Goromonzi West legislator Mrs Petronella Kagonye becomes the new Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, taking over from Professor Clever Nyathi, who becomes Special Advisor on National Peace and Reconciliation.

Mrs Kagonye was formerly the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development before she was fired in December 2014.
President Mnangagwa also brought in two other special advisors to the President — Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa and Cde Joshua Teke Malinga (Disability Issues).

Cde Victor Matemadanda, who was initially designated as Deputy Minister for Defence, Security and War Veterans, has been reassigned to lead the ZANU-PF commissariat.

He replaces the sacked Mr Saviour Kasukuwere. Similarly, Cde Pupurai Togarepi will no longer be taking up the post of Deputy Minister for Women and Youth Affairs but will concentrate on his role as ZANU-PF Secretary for Youth Affairs, a position that was previously held by the embattled Kudzanayi Chipanga.

Some of the ministers-designate did not represent parliamentary constituencies as required under Section 104(3) of the Constitution.

These are Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, Cde July Moyo, Major-General Sibusiso Moyo, Ambassador Mutsvangwa, Prof Amon Murwira, Mr Winston Chitando, Cde Matemadanda, Professor Clever Nyathi and Cde Pupurai Togarepi.

Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba highlighted last week that President Mnangagwa was alive to the constitutional requirement for him to appoint only up to five Cabinet ministers from outside Parliament.

The new team will have its work cut out as it needs to deal with the current economic challenges.

The 2018 National Budget, which is expected to be presented by Finance and Economic Planning Minister Mr Patrick Chinamasa, is tentatively scheduled for Thursday.

In his inauguration speech on November 24, President Mnangagwa said the country’s economic recovery would be predicated on agricultural performance.

“Our economic policy will be predicated on agriculture, which is the mainstay, and on creating conditions for an investment-led economic recovery that puts a premium on job creation.

“Key choices will have to be made to attract foreign direct investment to tackle high levels of unemployment while transforming our economy towards the tertiary,” he said.

Already, Government has given an ultimatum to individuals and corporates who externalised money and other assets to bring them back.
The amnesty will run until February 28.-state media

The humiliated former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo has written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaking among other things about job prospects.

Chombo wrote a short letter to Mnangagwa saying he wises to serve him in any capacity he deems fit.

“I saw your inauguration as the second Executive President of the Republic of Zimbabwe with pride and contentment, especially after the goings on in both the party and Government during the last six weeks.

“I wish I could attend but I couldn’t because I am in hospital for some health problems that doctors are attending to. I missed all recently held meetings because I was away, learning some few hard lessons.

“I wish to heartily congratulate you for your elevation to the position of President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, as well as the First Secretary of our beloved revolutionary party Zanu-PF,” he said.

Chombo continued saying he will support Mnangagwa.

“May God give you strength and guidance as you lead us into the future. You have my full support and loyalty in equal measure as I served the former President R.G. Mugabe during his tenure in office.

“I am available to serve you in any capacity as you deem fit. Once again, I wish you all the greatest good and may God bless you ever more,” he said. – state media

By Foster Dongozi | The year was 1997 and the setting was the foyer of the world famous Ritz Hotel in Paris, France.

Zimbabwean government officials, diplomats and the media were lounging in the vast and opulent lobby of the hotel.

It is a very classy hotel for the well-heeled. My reason for being in the world capital of fashion and cuisine was an assignment, which had nothing to do with good food or understanding fashion.

I had accompanied President Robert Gabriel Mugabe as part of the Zimbabwean press corps.

The world was still mourning Princess Diana who had died in a horrific accident while fleeing from the Paparazzi from the Ritz Hotel with her lover, Dodi Al Fayed.

Mugabe and his wife, Grace had gone somewhere and we waited for them to return.

There were whispers that they had gone to eat Zimbabwean food, which had been prepared at our embassy in Paris with others adding that they could have passed through some upmarket places for a spot of shopping.

Prior to this trip, I had never seen Grace from close range nor had I heard her speak.

It was on the flight to France from Harare that I had seen the country’s new first lady from very close range and heard her speak.

All along, since her marriage to Mugabe, she had always remained in his shadows and portrayed as a withdrawn person.

She barely spoke to the press, if at all, the perception among some was that she was a trophy wife.

The only time she came out of her shell was along with other prominent people and reportedly looted funds for a civil servants housing scheme.

With the proceeds, she was said to have built a monstrous edifice in Borrowdale.

So it was with a bit of surprise, thousands of kilometers away from home that I learnt from the hushed conversations that some in the delegation were actually terrified of her.

Before she officially wedded Mugabe, legendary stories were told among veteran journalists about how a certain young lady always found herself on the presidential entourage together with one or two kids who would cause absolute racket on the plane.

According to the legend, several high ranking officials on the plane would receive generous amounts of slaps to their faces and thank the kids or apologise to them.

Nobody has come forward to confirm or deny the legend.

Anyway, as a way of whiling up time as we waited for the Mugabes and their delegation to come, I had struck a conversation with the late Foreign Affairs minister, Stanislaus Mudenge, known by some as Cde Stan.

Mudenge was a giant of a man and had a booming voice and was well-schooled in history and literature.

If he had taken sport as a career, he would have been ideal in the boxing ring and probably traded leather in the heavyweight division.

I sat facing the entrance into the hotel.

It was a basic safety and awareness exercise driven into me while covering stable and unstable countries so that one could not miss unfolding news.

Mudenge sat with his back to the entrance of the hotel.

The conversation had eventually turned into an interview as he had begun to narrate developments he was overseeing in his province of Masvingo.

Sure enough, as I sat during the interview with him, I noticed Grace, accompanied by female aides and a few males stroll into the hotel lobby.

In the biting cold of Paris, she had short black and immaculate hair and was wearing a long black skirt with a grey top which, was covered by a black poncho.

She reminded me of a raven.

My attitude then, as I observed her sashay into the hotel lobby was that she was in every sense a trophy wife and would not be interested or influence the politics of the country.

A fatal mistake,  particularly for  those involved in the internal politics of Zanu PF.

Everybody appeared to have made the mistake of not taking the former typist in Mugabe’s office seriously.

As she approached, heading for the elevators she appeared to notice and identify some of the officials on the presidential entourage and she nodded to them.

The officials did not disappoint either — they all but rolled over like obedient puppies to have their bellies tickled.

She appeared to be enjoying the adulation and the fawning behaviour of government mandarins.

Mudenge and a few officials who had their backs to the entrance did not take notice so we continued with our conversation, although I was now watching the fascinating display of power being exhibited in the foyer of a hotel in far off France.

She appeared to notice Mudenge and a few officials and for the first time, I heard her speak.

At the top of her voice, she shrilled in the vernacular Shona language: “Murikupira midzimu yekupi?” (What traditional rituals are you conducting?)

I was shocked by the reaction from Mudenge and other government officials.

Zimbabwe’s chief diplomat at the time for all his size, appeared to turn grey before he sprang up with the agility of a gazelle.

“I am going!” he all but screamed at me curtly as he made a beeline towards Grace and appeared to be apologising profusely for dereliction of duty.

He escorted her into the elevator of at the Ritz Hotel and appeared to continue prostrating himself before Grace as she looked at him sternly.

I had just witnessed an awesome display of power and flexing of muscles by the perceived mild tempered wife of the president far away from home in Zimbabwe, Africa — on European shores.

I immediately changed my opinion that this was anything but a laid back woman happy to stay in Mugabe’s shadow.

This woman was powerful and wielded a lot of influence. Grace Ntombizodwa Marufu Mugabe had arrived.

Seventeen years later, in 2014, Zimbabweans would witness her awesome display of power as she hounded vice-president Joice Mujuru out of Zanu PF, while her husband looked on indulgently.

South African born, Grace Ntombizodwa had arrived. Many assumed it was because she wanted to replace her with her chosen proxy to protect her family’s vast business empire.

Again they were wrong, as she was putting together an elaborate plan to become vice-president.

Maybe even succeed her husband as president of Zimbabwe. We will never know following the military intervention which was “targeting criminals around” Mugabe. Standard

Staff Reporter| Chimurenga music guru, Thomas Mapfumo has denied ever being interviewed by the Associated Press. A recent article published by the Zimbabwe Independent claims Mapfumo said the following words,  “I think there’s nothing to celebrate about,”

“It’s still the old train that we’re riding but they’ve got a different driver now.” The quotes were ascribed to the Associated Press.

But Mapfumo told ZimEye Sunday afternoon, “I never spoke to such journalists, I was interviewed only by the BBC and by yourselves ZimEye.”

Meanwhile Mapfumo has warned musicians against singing songs that praise politicians and his comments will be featured in a ZimEye feature presentation late Sunday afternoon. – ZimEye

Former Finance minister, Ignatius Chombo, wrote to President Emmerson Mnangagwa two days after he had been sworn into office offering to work for him in any capacity.

In a passionate congratulatory message to Mnangagwa, Chombo wrote from his hospital bed pledging he would be unwaveringly loyal to Mnangagwa in the same way he was to former president, Robert Mugabe, who was deposed last month.

https://youtu.be/9C2gaTBMcaQ?t=2

“I saw your inauguration as the second executive President of the Republic of Zimbabwe with pride and contentment, especially after the goings on in the party and government during the last six weeks. I wish I could attend but I couldn’t because I am in hospital for some health problems that doctors are attending to. I missed all recently held meetings because I was away, learning some hard lessons,” Chombo wrote.

“I wish to heartily congratulate you for your elevation to the position of president of the Republic of Zimbabwe as well as first secretary of our beloved party Zanu PF. May God give you strength and guidance as you lead us into the future.

“You have all my full support and loyalty in equal measure as I served the former president, … Mugabe during his tenure in office.

“I am available to serve in any capacity that you deem fit. Once again, I wish you all the greatest good and may God bless you ever more,” he wrote.

Mnangagwa did not heed to Chombo’s adoring plea as he overlooked him in his Cabinet announced on Friday night.

He replaced Chombo with his long-time associate, Patrick Chinamasa.

Chombo, who was swept aside in a military intervention code-named Operation Restore Legacy, is currently languishing in remand prison after being arrested on several counts of corruption and criminal abuse of office.

He recently appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts where he was denied bail.

He has since appealed against the denial of bail at the High Court where the bail application will be heard on Wednesday.

Chombo was also kicked out of Zanu PF for aligning with the vanquished Generation 40 (G40) faction, which had been fighting to forestall Mnangagwa’s rise to the highest office in the land.

He also lost his lofty secretary for Zanu PF administration position and his Zvimba North National Assembly seat following his recall from Parliament.- Daily News

Zimbabwe’s immediate-past President, Robert Mugabe, is yet to receive his retirement package as the Civil Service Commission is determining the sum.

https://youtu.be/9C2gaTBMcaQ?t=11

Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba told our Harare Bureau that the process involved multiple stages, including Cabinet approval. Last week, the Zimbabwe Independent newspaper claimed Mugabe got US$10 million plus other retirement benefits as a precondition for his resignation.

The false claim followed Mugabe’s resignation on 21 November on the back of the military’s “Operation Restore Legacy” — a popular political and socio-economic stabilisation initiative targeting a gang of criminals that had surrounded the former President. Mr Charamba, a negotiator during transition talks between Mugabe and Zimbabwe Defence Forces commanders, said no such package had been discussed.

“There is a false story that has been flying on false wings and that has to do with an alleged package which was purportedly agreed between the former President and the military. This is a blatant lie. It’s a media creation.

“Speaking as part of the negotiating team, I confirm before my good Lord that there was never an issue, either on the part of the President, or on the part of the negotiators let alone the generals who remained generals throughout the process.”

Mr Charamba said it was unnecessary to discuss the former President’s retirement package as all his benefits are provided for in the Constitution.

“The military were not a substitute for civilian authority. They never intended to overthrow Constitutional authority. So, you cannot then suggest that they were cutting deals with the outgone President without implying that they were now the new Constitutional authority of the land, but, more importantly, without also implying that they had overthrown the Constitution, which is a matter of fact, stipulates the entitlement of a sitting President when he retires.

“The package of the former President will be in terms of the laws of the land and will be worked out by the Civil Service Commission, not by generals, not by negotiators, not by the previous Head of State. After all, we are not in a unique position by way of having a retired Statesman or President. We had that experience towards the end of the 1980s when President Banana retired. A package was done for him in terms of the law.”

Mr Charamba also said: “Looking around the region, we have experiences to draw from: Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana and so forth. So, really, this idea of trying to interpose processes which are so straightforward at law, through some fictitious organs, stems from ignorance on a good day and a sinister intention on a bad day.

“As we speak right now, that issue has not been dealt with because it can’t be dealt with before the Cabinet is in place. Whichever way it’s going to be handled, the package will take into account the role that the former President played in the making of this nation. We must acknowledge that role.”- state media

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new Cabinet announced late on Thursday night remains a chauvinistic and ‘‘old people’s home’’ where there is no space for youth, women and progressive technocrats, social and political analysts contend.

Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) said they were disappointed by the gender composition of the Cabinet and say this is signalling that Mnangagwa’s administration is not prioritising the alignment of his decisions with the constitutional imperatives requiring equal representation in State institutions.

“We are concerned at the perennial contempt to which our public political officers hold to the constitutional provisions of gender equality and non-discrimination. The new Cabinet represents 13.6 percent which falls far short of the required 50 percent. This is contrary to His Excellency’s inaugural speech which committed to a renewed Zimbabwe based on principles of inclusivity and equality.

“We must recall that gender equality and non-discrimination is enshrined in the Constitution including Sections 17, 56 and 104, among others, and further prescriptively sets 50 percent as the representation target of women in all State institutions, including the Executive to which only six women out of 33 men (15.3 percent) have been announced. It is glaring that there are no positive measures being taken to rectify gender discrimination and imbalances resulting from past practises and policies.

“We wish to underscore that Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development, the Post-2016 Agenda as reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 5 on Equality, the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and that such actions undermine the status of Zimbabwe in the community of nations,” said WCoZ.

She added that it was gender discriminatory to always pair the youth portfolio with economic empowerment while the women who are similarly disempowered were left out.

“The rest is a major betrayal of the expectations of the throngs that filled the streets to push Mugabe out in the following ways; it flouts the Constitution by having nine non MP ministers instead of the maximum five. Zec has confirmed that it will not hold by-elections and there are very few proportional representation seats they can fill; the appointment of serving army officials quarrels with the constitutional requirement to keep the military surest to civilian control, apart from it obfuscating plain good governance; the shocking lack of women is contrary to the Constitution’s Section 17 imperative of good governance; the appointment of provincial ministers is a continuation of Mugabe’s overriding, sidestepping and substitution of the constitutionally-elected provincial councils and bloats government unconstitutionally;  the inclusion of people with pending corruption charges just undermines his anti-corruption drive; the retention of the Scholarships and Local Government ministries is unconscionable as well as that of the cyber security function,” said Majome adding that Mnangagwa should have condensed the Transport, ICT ministries into a Communications ministry.

Social commentator Farai Maguwu is of the opinion that the new Cabinet is a clear statement of intent on the part of Mnangagwa.

“There has not been a shift from Mugabe’s ruinous policies. Cabinet remains chauvinistic and a misogynic old people’s home where there is no space for youth, women and progressive technocrats.

“Zimbabwe has been downgraded to a fully-fledged military State. The recycling of corrupt ministers who ruined our country for the past 37 years clearly means Zimbabweans must not expect any miracles from this government.

“The second factor is the metamorphosis of the State into a military unit. Our uniformed forces are trained to protect the State from foreign enemies. They must remain in the barracks for the good of the country,” said Maguwu.

He added that moving the war veterans to the ministry of Defence is also another misnomer.

“War veterans must fall under the ministry of Social Welfare as the main issue government must address pertaining to them is their welfare. Bringing them under the ministry of Defence means they are now a reserve army, or a militia to be unleashed on the people at the right time.”

Political analyst Precious Shumba thinks the Cabinet is still too big, with 32 Cabinet ministers, including the 10 Provincial Affairs ministers.

“The Provincial Affairs ministers are merely political appointees serving no genuine purpose in terms of national development. The same old faces who served under Mugabe feature more in this new Cabinet. Mnangagwa should have done away with deputy ministers who do not act as ministers in the absence of the substantive ministers. This Cabinet is not as lean as we had anticipated.

“We hope that the president is not going to appoint the same permanent secretaries to head the ministries, because as long as we have the same bureaucrats as heads of ministries, the results are going to be the same,” said Shumba.

Communications specialist Maggie Mzumara said it would appear as if Cabinet choices have been compromised by old allegiances as seen by same old faces, many of whom do not inspire confidence based on past performance or lack thereof.

“I would have wanted to see more new blood — more technocrats, more women, some youths. Not all new blood, but significantly more new blood. On the plus side, I like the reductions. This will usher in considerably less expenditure. On the whole I would say we lost some and won some.”

Journalist Stanley Kwenda believes what is important is what Mnangagwa wants to achieve for the country.

“These new ministers can all do as good as Mnangagwa wants them to do. We’ve had technocrats under Mugabe but all their ideas were shot down because he was fixated with power. I am not worried about identity of the new ministers; I am instead worried about what they can do.”

Kwenda added that we need grafters and Mnangagwa should give these guys space and if they do not perform he should not be afraid to ship them out.

“We have an election in eight months’ time and I am sure the new president wants a direct mandate from the people and he has no option but to do the right thing.

“Some had suggested a hybrid government made up of people from different political parties and other spheres. I think it was too much to expect Mnangagwa to appoint opposition figures in what is effectively a Zanu PF government in charge of the country.

“For now let’s give these guys a chance to prove they can do better than Mugabe,” said Kwenda.- Daily News

Former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko is being sued for $2,1 million by a Bulawayo businessman for alleged abuse of office.

The businessman says the former Vice-President allegedly used his influence to stop a company owned by Pakistan businessmen from compensating him after they delivered expired flour to his bakery. According to summons filed by Mr Mthonisi Nsingo, the proprietor of Dial Direct Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd which owns Double Fresh Bakery, at the Bulawayo High Court on Friday, the former Vice-President is being sued together with the company which supplied the expired flour — Bulk Commodities and its directors Imran Shazaan and Qaumar Shazaan.

Mr Mphoko, cited as the 4th defendant, allegedly used his then political office to defend the Pakistan businessmen and stop them from compensating Double Fresh Bakery for the supply of rotten flour which resulted in loss of business and subsequent closure of the firm.

According to the summons, it is alleged that sometime in February last year, Bulk Commodities intentionally supplied Double Fresh Bakery with expired flour. It is said Bulk Commodities continued to supply expired flour until July culminating in Double Fresh Bakery experiencing a significant drop in bread sales.

“This continued from February 2016 to July 2016 with the plaintiffs (Double Fresh Bakery and Mr Nsingo) initially believing that the problem was with their marketing strategy as sales went down drastically with 70 percent of the bread being returned to the plaintiffs.

“The plaintiffs would deliver 10 000 loaves daily but within time, daily production went down from 10 000 loaves to 2 500 loaves and bread shelf life was shortened from six days to two days. The plaintiffs were eventually reported to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe and investigations were carried out which revealed that the problem was with their flour. The flour did not look rotten but in actual fact it was,” read part of the summons.

Sunday News broke the story then, which was titled: “Flour row costs bakery $18k in revenue” in its 15 May 2016 publication.

The summons stated that when Mr Nsingo approached the Shazaan brothers, the two took a sieve and some unidentified liquid which they used to “clean” the flour and the product appeared to have been rectified.

Mr Nsingo reportedly managed to film the “cleaning proceedings”.

“Subsequently, investigations were done against the 1st and 3rd defendants and they were arrested, when they were raided they were found to have in stock expired goods which they were selling as well as expired flour.

“At that stage, the 1st and 3rd defendants had acknowledged liability to pay plaintiffs and had made arrangements to pay plaintiffs, however, at just about that time they refused to pay claiming that they were under the protection of the 4th Respondent (former VP Mphoko),” read part of the summons.

It is said Mr Nsingo later received a call from the former VP’s principal director Dr Temba Ndlovu instructing him to visit his office for a meeting with Mr Mphoko. It is further claimed that during the meeting, Mr Mphoko “uncategorically” told Mr Nsingo to leave the Shazaan brothers alone.

“After that all charges against the defendants seemed to disappear and nobody wanted to pursue the matter for plaintiffs’ compensation as everyone simply said they could not assist the plaintiffs because they received instructions from above,” read part of the summons.

Mr Nsingo says his bakery was forced to shut down due to lack of adequate working capital as a result of Mr Mphoko’s intervention into the matter and action to protect the Shazaan brothers from compensating him. The entrepreneur had his property attached and the matter is still pending at the Bulawayo magistrates court.

“This was clear abuse of office from the 4th Respondent (former VP Mphoko) which abuse resulted in pecuniary loss to the plaintiffs as they could not be adequately compensated by the other defendants simply because of the protection they were afforded by the 4th respondent,” read part of the summons.

According to the summons, Mr Nsingo is claiming from all the involved parties $1,7 million being loss of earning capacity and profit due to closure of his company and investigation from December 2016 to the date of issue of summons at the rate of $200 000 per month.

In addition, he is also claiming general damages amounting to $200 000 from Mr Mphoko for shock, pain and suffering as a result of his abuse of office in protecting the Shazaan brothers from being prosecuted or paying him. He is demanding another $200 000 from  Bulk Commodities and its two directors for general damages for loss of goodwill and reputation as a result of low estimation in the eyes of the public created by delivery of expired flour.

He is also claiming $150 000 restitution for the expired flour paid for to the Shazaan brothers in the last month of operations including payment of costs of suit on an Attorney-Client scale. Mr Nsingo is being represented by lawyer, Mr Russel Dzete of Maseko Law Chambers. The former VP and Shazaan have been given 10 days to enter an appearance to defend by making an appropriate entry in the appearance book kept in the office of the Registrar of the High Court. – state media

By Kenyan Standard Media – Two of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s key allies have fled to Kenya with their families, according to Zimbabwe media. Kenyan authorities are yet to confirm reports of the foreigners’ alleged presence in the country amid claims in Zimbabwe media that Jonathan Moyo, who was allied to Mugabe’s wife Grace, has waged a Twitter campaign against President Emmerson Mnagangwa’s new government.

Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere fled to Kenya after the Zimbabwe Defence Forces seized the capital, Harare and parts of the country, according to media reports that indicate that the two left the South African nation in the wake of Mugabe’s detention by the military on November 14.

Moyo, a controversial character even within the Zanu PF, from which he was ostracised, belongs in the G40 cabal that the new administration and military has branded as criminals for plundering the economy. Kasukuwere was local government minister whereas Moyo served as Cabinet minister and spokesman.

The G40 group includes military and intelligence officers, politicians and businessmen allied to the Zanu PF youth wing. Yesterday News24 reported on its online edition that Moyo and Kasukuwere are, most likely hiding in Kenya and indicated that while Grace is believed to be in Zimbabwe, her children are scattered in Singapore and South Africa. “Grace’s allies Moyo and Kasukuwere, who sought refuge at Mugabe’s house, the Blue Roof after the army intervention, have also left the country.”

Meanwhile, The Herald of Zimbabwe reported yesterday that former Zimbabwe Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, who is also among the G40 group, has been forced to leave Botswana by Gaborone authorities and return to Zimbabwe.-standard media

The ruling Zanu-PF has deployed Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general Victor Matemadanda to the party’s Commissariat department, the party spokesperson, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo has said.

In a statement yesterday, Ambassador Moyo said the party has also deployed Pupurai Togarepi to the Youth League. He said the deployments were aimed at further making sure that the party wins next year’s elections resoundingly.

“Following recent developments in the party which have affected key departments, principally the Commissariat and Youth League and in view of a clear indication from the President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF, E D Mnangagwa that the country is going for elections in 2018 as scheduled, the party has decided to deploy Victor Matemadanda and Pupurai Togarepi to the Commissariat and Youth League respectively.

“His Excellency the President has agreed to release them from commitments to Government as announced early on. We thank the President for that decision, pledging that the two cadres will be available for any assignments including in government as the President may see fit after the elections which Zanu-PF is sure to win resoundingly,” said Ambassador Moyo.

By Paul Nyathi | The late Joshua Nkomo’s iconic building, the Castle Arms in the Richmond Suburb of Bulawayo went up in highly suspicious flames on Saturday night.

The building which is part of the properties that were confiscated from Nkomo by Robert Mugabe’s government during the Gukurahundi period of the mid 80s, went up into flames under very unclear circumstances, and nearly destroying the entire complex.

The ruling party ZANU PF forcibly confisticated the building which was used by Nkomo’s PF ZAPU as a luxury hotel to raise funds for the party and accommodate party visitors in 1985, claiming that it was being used to fundraise for dissident activities.

After the unity accord of 1987, the several PF ZAPU properties including the Castle Arms Motel were never handed over to the party and have been under heavy dispute between ZANU PF and the ZAPU Veterans Trust.

In recent weeks the ZAPU Veterans have been threatening to invade the place and evict the unknown people staying there while the ZANU PF Bulawayo Province and War Veterans loyal to the party have been heavily resisting the move.

The building is heavily over populated accommodating over 30 families who all claim to be paying rentals to undisclosed persons suspected to be senior ZANU PF officials.

The war veterans alleged that a Mr George Mlala went to the place with some property which the war veterans were not impressed with.

Allegations are that the late former chairman Themba Ncube left his lover Sinikiwe Sibanda and her son living at the place and she boasts of having documentation that allows her to stay at Castle Arms.

Neighbours interviewed by ZimEye.com said that the building burst into a huge flame which could either have been a petrol bomb or an electrical fault.

Members of the Bulawayo Fire Brigade would not comment on the matter referring ZimEye.com to the police who would also neither comment on the incident.

By Dorrothy Moyo| The events of the last few months culminating into yesterday morning have stripped one of Zimbabwe’s deeply intriguing and disturbing ministerial appointments in the name of Lazarus Dokora.

Dokora is guilty of diverting over 1.2 billion dollars in school fees to a dodgy bank account accessed by his office, while at the same time officially instructing headmasters to dip their fingers into their  schools’ bank accounts to take out the last remaining cash so to fund trips to holiday resorts like Kariba and Victoria Falls. Many schools were left struggling particularly those in rural areas and the situation was worsened when the minister then instructed parents to pay school fees using goats. Dokora’s instruction was fully official and he even announced it in the state media saying his aim was to access the whole total $1.2 billion paid by parents in all schools across the country. He would also force headmasters to for the first time wear uniforms.

“They (parents) contribute US$1,2 billion every year. That is the money that goes directly into the hands of SDCs (School Development Committees),” said Dokora in February.

He continued saying, “Teachers are paid the tune of US$900 million, that brings the money in the education sector to US$2,1 billion. I then top up with what I get from education partners. With these kinds of figures we can do anything so nothing should stop us from implementing our programmes.”

This chaos described by all teachers as “nonsense” also came at a time when Dokora had introduced a chaotically implemented new curriculum which requires computers and this electricity and also new textbooks. Complaints to former President Robert Mugabe fell on deaf ears as teachers and parents were ignored. One of these schools in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s home town of Zvishavane was profiled by ZimEye.com and the local senator Lilian Timveos gave the below account.

https://youtu.be/Bx1lH1BEHP8

By Farai D Hove | President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba has announced saying the Head Of State chose his cabinet ministers based on the quality of performance. The president is currently under fire for choosing military generals above many other qualifying citizens. This critics said, was a reflection that he was merely appeasing soldiers who assisted him in taking over government.

But Charamba denied as he said everything was based on performance.

“You are going to see a lot of cracking of whip. This inertia that we had developed in Government is going to be broken. We have a propensity to read the politics of faces rather than the execution of value which some faces do have, ” he told the state media.

He continued saying, “it tells that we are moving in a direction where we are ‘projectivising’ development. You will hear less and less of ministries and more and more of cross-ministry collaboration around flagship projects. Our budget and performance as ministries will seize to be democratic.”

He then spoke on Major-General (Retired) Sibusiso Moyo, Air Marshal Perrance Shiri and Professor Murirwa saying they were appointed on merit. “Air Marshal Perrance Shiri has been driving Command Agriculture,” he said.

He continued saying, “it’s not like he is coming from the barracks into the cornfields. He had long left the barracks for the cornfield. His appointment is consistent with the phrase ‘hitting the ground running.

“The Minister for Higher Education, Professor Murirwa, has been a leading brain in applied research. What you are looking at is an enhancement of that ‘vocationalisation’ of Higher and Tertiary Education so that it has a practical bearing as a hatchel for solutions to the industrial question.”

Government will save millions of dollars following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision to trim the number of Cabinet ministers and their deputies.

The President appointed a 22-member Cabinet down from 26, while the number of deputy ministers was slashed from 22 to six.

Ministers of State in the Office of the President were reduced from four to two.

Each minister is entitled to two vehicles – normally the latest Mercedes Benz E-Class sedan which costs around US$1000 000 and a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) such as a Land Rover Discovery or the latest Range Rover valued also at about US$100 000.

This means the learner Cabinet could save up to US$4,5 million on vehicle purchases, minus fuel and high maintenance costs of top-of-the-range vehicles.

Ministers are also entitled to a monthly salary, accommodation in a low-density suburb, travel and subsistence allowances, high-end cellphones, airtime, support staff: Personal assistants and secretaries.

The cost of these can easily run into millions of dollars per annum, meaning the streamlining of the ministers will save the much-needed resources.

The cut in ministers’ numbers is in line with what President Mnangagwa said last week; “I am currently in the process of putting together a new Government structure, which should essentially be leaner.

“This, of course, will entail the merging of some line ministries in order to remove functional duplication as well as contain unnecessary expenditures, so as to enhance productivity and efficient delivery of service.”

Observers have given a thumbs up to President Mnangagwa’s move to appoint a leaner Cabinet, saying it was a step in the right direction.

A bloated Civil Service has for years been gobbling about 90 percent of the national budget, thereby negatively affecting implementation of capital projects.

President Mnangagwa pledged that no civil servant would be fired though those who had reached retirement age would be let go.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has been pushing austerity measures such as reviewing of class travel arrangements of all public officials, and a reduction in foreign travel allowances.

The measures were anticipated to reduce employment costs to around 60 percent of total revenues by 2019.

A former Cabinet minister, however, said perks paid to the executive were lower than in other countries, saying being a minister in Zimbabwe was “more of national service”.

The ex-minister said, “Zimbabwean ministers are among the most poorly paid in the world. The conditions of service are pathetic. That is probably the reason why we tend to have so much corruption at the top because most people who get appointed probably for the first time believe that ministers are paid a lot.”- state media

A police officer in the Drug and Narcotics section yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing criminal abuse of office charges after exhibits left in his custody by colleagues went missing.

Vhunzanayi Kanyongo (46) was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa, who remanded him to January 10 on $50 bail.

It is the State’s case that on November 30 this year at around 9am, Kanyongo was on duty together with his workmates. They proceeded to Mupedzanhamo Flea Market in Mbare after receiving information that there was a contraband of illicit drugs.

Upon arrival at Mupedzanhamo cloakroom Kanyongo and his colleagues seized contraband of skin lightening creams which was taken to Harare Central Police Station. Kanyongo and other members remained at the scene guarding the remaining exhibits.

The accused allegedly called for another vehicle to ferry the remaining goods and another truck was dispatched to the scene where the goods were loaded.

It is alleged three sacks containing various prohibited skin lightening creams were left at the scene, but on the arrival of the vehicle Kanyongo could not account for the sacks, leading to his arrest.- state media

https://youtu.be/9C2gaTBMcaQ

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has spoken out against recent allegations by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s special advisor that he blocked MDC from joining the new government. Tsvangirai says noone has ever approached him. Watch for more..

https://youtu.be/9C2gaTBMcaQ

The parliamentary committee on Lands, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development has exposed flaws on the Command Agriculture programme.
Presenting a report in the National Assembly on Thursday, the committee chairperson Christopher Chitindi said most farmers did not get inputs on time.

“In all the provinces that were visited by the committee, the recipients complained that they did not get the inputs on time.  In one case, at Chibero College, they received their Ammonium Nitrate (AN) fertiliser on March 9, 2017 and this was of no use because the crop had been badly affected. The college highlighted that they would store the fertilisers for use in the next season.

“Most of the farmers who interacted with the committee learnt of Command Agriculture through secondary sources such as neighbours and not from the official channels.
“This is due to the fact that most smallholder farmers do not belong to farming associations and Agritex officers are not mobile due to lack of vehicles.”

https://youtu.be/9C2gaTBMcaQ

The committee also said the people were not comfortable with the word command as they believed it was linked to the military.
“The committee encountered both negative and positive perceptions about Command agriculture.

“In KweKwe District, in one ward, only three farmers were courageous enough to participate in the programme.

“The rest of the farmers shied away because of fear of the word ‘Command’.  The perception was that this is a military programme and if one does not live up to the expectations, the consequences will be meted out military style.

“In Norton, the farmers expressed displeasure that some people who did not have land or had small hectarage received inputs which they went on to sell on the black market.
“Furthermore, while waiting to collect their inputs at Chegutu depot, various trucks received first preference and the army were at the forefront in initiating the speedy collection of these inputs.

“One farmer in Norton refused to collect his inputs after being told he would only get seed and was not given assurance of when he would receive the rest of the inputs.
“His fear was that he would experience total disaster given that he did not have resources to acquire other inputs such as fertilisers and chemicals.” Daily News

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has moved to gazette the reinstatement of fired Prosecutor-General (PG) Ray Goba.

This follows a decision by the High Court stopping the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) from removing or interfering with his appointment without following procedures outlined in the Constitution.

Section (259) (7) of the Constitution says the PG can only be removed from office by a tribunal after conducting a judicial inquiry.

However, last month former president Robert Mugabe rescinded the earlier appointment of Goba to the substantive post of PG when he shockingly fired him via an extraordinary gazette signed by the chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, who ironically had issued the previous gazette confirming his appointment.

On Friday, Mnangagwa through an extraordinary gazette again signed by Sibanda nullified the firing of Goba.

“It is hereby notified that, pursuant to the judgment in the case of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) v Mugabe and others (HC 10-49917), the captioned general notice that was published in the extraordinary gazette on the 27th of October 2017 is repealed,” said Sibanda.

This comes as High Court Judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba issued an interdict sought by the ZLHR stopping Mugabe and the JSC from instituting any processes for the appointment of a new PG to replace Goba.

ZLHR executive director Roselyn Hanzi had appealed against the October 27 decision by Mugabe to reverse the appointment of Goba.

In an urgent chamber application filed on November 1, ZLHR had instructed Advocate Eric Matinenga to argue the matter on its behalf, and wanted the High Court to interdict Mugabe and the JSC from removing or in any other way interfering with Goba’s constitutional appointment without following the removal from office procedures provided for in Section (259) (7) of the Constitution.

In a founding affidavit, Hanzi argued that the organisation has a direct and substantial interest in the obedience and observance of the provisions of the Constitution by all individuals and organs bound by it and that the Constitution is the supreme law of Zimbabwe and every conduct inconsistent with it is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.

The human rights organisation contended that the PG can only be removed from office upon the advice of a tribunal set up in terms of section 187 of the Constitution and that the supreme charter does not provide another different route that can be followed to remove the PG from office.

Goba was viewed as sympathetic to Mnangagwa who previously held dual roles as VP and Justice Minister before his powers were first whittled down by Mugabe in a Cabinet reshuffle and later fired from both government and Zanu PF.

Goba was appointed to the position by Mugabe, after serving a year in the job on an interim basis — following the suspension and subsequent sacking of his predecessor, Johannes Tomana.

However, his appointment — announced via an extraordinary gazette — was contested by factions of the brawling ruling Zanu PF, just as they did during the selection of the new chief justice, where they fought viciously to have their preferred candidate take over from the late Godfrey Chidyausiku.

Goba had come out joint top in the interviews held by the JSC to find a worthy candidate for the office.

Mugabe picked him from a list of the top three candidates who were submitted to him by JSC.

The results of the interview process showed that Goba was tied joint top, on 59 percent with Misheck Hogwe, while Wilson Manase was third with 53 percent.

Deputy PG Florence Ziyambi — who was touted as a worthier contender for the top prosecution job in some Zanu PF quarters — actually performed dismally in the interviews by coming a distant fifth in the eyes of the JSC with 37 percent.

According to the JSC’s list of six candidates, Tecler Mapota scored 38 percent, Ziyambi 37 percent and prominent criminal lawyer Charles Chinyama had 23 percent

The appointment of Goba drew mixed feelings among observers, with some questioning his suitability for the job after he was convicted in Namibia for drunken driving and attempting to defeat the course of justice.

During the interviews to choose the new PG, Goba vigorously defended himself.- Daily News

Former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo has lashed out at President Emmerson Mnangagwa, claiming the incumbent was under a false sense of victory that would soon come to an end.

Currently in the sanctuary of self-imposed exile, Moyo warned Mnangagwa that if he thought he has succeeded in taking over power, he has not seen anything yet.

“Only an idiot would think it is smart for a genocidal junta to violently shoot itself into power to install a fellow genocidal ‘gukurahundist’ under the mantra of stockholder entitlement,” he wrote on microblogging site, Twitter.

“If you and your lot think that will last, then you ain’t seen nothing yet; come rain or shine!” he continued on Thursday.

Mnangagwa was State Security minister during the Gukurahundi massacres and has been alleged to have been the chief architect of the operation that claimed more than 20 000 lives in Matabeleland and the Midlands regions between 1983 and 1987.

Moyo’s father was allegedly killed in the decade-long crackdown on dissidents in the southern provinces described by former president Robert Mugabe as a “moment of madness”.

He has never forgiven Mnangagwa, who denies any wrongdoing.

The former Tsholotsho Member of Parliament also did not have any kind words for the recently-appointed Cabinet, referring to it as a “Coup Cabinet”.

“So General S.B Moyo who announced the ‘intervention’ on ZTV& misled the world by claiming it wasn’t a coup, is one of the commanders in the #CoupCabinet as minister of Foreign Affairs & International Trade. Even #Nigeria didn’t have so many commanders in Cabinet in its coup days!” he opined.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo rubbished Moyo’s claims, saying no one takes him seriously.

In September this year, Mugabe revealed that the tiff between Mnangagwa and Moyo could be traced as far back as 2004 when the former Cabinet minister was expelled from the ruling party.

This was the period when several Zanu PF provincial chairmen were suspended for their role in a plot that became known as the “Tsholotsho Declaration”.

Moyo had been the mastermind of the plot whose objective was to push for Mnangagwa to replace former vice president Simon Muzenda, who had died a year earlier.

Mnangagwa, who was the party’s secretary for administration, survived that purge but was demoted to the post of Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs.

Since then, Moyo has been working against Mnangagwa’s presidential bid under the banner of Generation 40 (G40), a faction that drew its support from the young Turks in Zanu PF.

G40 suffered a major setback when the huge strides it had made were reversed last month when the military intervened on behalf of the rival Team Lacoste faction to pluck out “criminals” around Mugabe.

Moyo was one of the alleged “criminals” who skipped the country to escape the full wrath of his pursuers.

As the G40 alliance crumbled like a deck of cards last month, their rivals regrouped and ensured Mnangagwa who had been fired from Zanu PF before making good his escape on fears that his life was in danger, ascends to the highest office in the land.

Earlier in the week, Moyo came out swinging on micro-blogging site twitter.

While congratulating Mnangagwa for going after individuals and corporates that externalised foreign currency, he made disparaging statements claiming the president should come clean on what happened in the controversial Marange diamond fields.

Mugabe in February last year claimed government had not received meaningful returns from the diamond fields and that the State could have been prejudiced of $15 billion.- Daily News

An advisor to government on the Ease of Doing Business, Ashok Chakravarti, has called for an investigation into the externalisation of funds, as it has emerged that US$5 billion could have been siphoned out of the country since dollarisation in 2009.

Speaking at the Special Policy Dialogue Forum on the quest for political and economic reform in Zimbabwe last night, Chakravarti said there is need to look into the externalisation of funds from the country.

“There is need to be an inquiry into what has been happening in the last few years,” Chakravarti said. “So many resources have gone out of the country. It cannot just be swept under the carpet. It has to be looked at carefully and addressed.”

Chakravarti also spoke of the need for the country to open up on investment, saying it was “pathetic” that the country received a paltry US$319 million in foreign direct inflows last year.

Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Simba Makoni said there is need to provide a platform for a national conversation on the future of the country which did not take place at Independence.

Chakravarti and Makoni’s remarks come amid revelations that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration believes close to US$5 billion was externalised via official means since dollarisation in 2009. There are reports that several Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed companies and diamond mining companies played a major role in siphoning money out of the country.

A source in the financial sector said: “The stock exchange-listed companies siphoned the money as management fees paid to their offshore accounts via official means.”

“In most cases the amounts were so big and suspicious such that they would force foreign central banks to notify the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) of payments in case the money was laundered. So the RBZ has a record of all the transactions and the actual amounts that were deposited in offshore accounts.”

“Between US$3 billion and US$5 billion is reported to be in offshore accounts and the RBZ has been advised to approach the individual companies so that the money is returned before the law takes its course.”

The source also said several mining companies eternalised money under the pretext of buying equipment from abroad.

The money was taken out with the RBZ’s approval, but the equipment was never delivered. The companies failed to provide the bill of lading to the RBZ upon request.

This week, Mnangagwa granted a three-month moratorium within which individuals and corporates that externalised money and assets are expected to bring them back. During the period, government will neither ask questions nor prefer charges against those that will be repatriating back the money or assets.

Sources said Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa in June this year appointed a probe team to investigate and identify individuals and companies involved in externalising foreign currency from Zimbabwe. Chinamasa was, however, stopped in his tracks when former president Robert Mugabe reshuffled his cabinet, demoting him to the less influential Cyber Security ministry.

“When Chinamasa was moved from the ministry he had names of individuals and corporates that are fingered in the externalisation scandal,” a source close to Mnangagwa said. “Many of the corporates were involved in the diamond mining industry in Chiadzwa,” said the source, adding: “Companies such as the Diamond Mining Company, fronted by well-known smugglers and connected to former first lady Grace Mugabe, externalised huge amounts.”

As first reported by the Zimbabwe Independent, other diamond-mining companies like Anjin Investments, a joint venture between the Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co Ltd (Afecc), and Matt Bronze Enterprises — a front for the Defence ministry and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces through Glass Finish Investments (Pvt) Ltd — also siphoned millions of dollars to offshore accounts. Anjin formed a subsidiary company, Sogecoa Zimbabwe Ltd, which was used as a conduit to siphon millions of dollars outside Zimbabwe.

Last year, Afecc was dragged to court on allegations of having externalised close to US$500 million. The company then paid about US$50 million to Sogecoa. A local bank acted as a conduit to wire the money out of Zimbabwe through Botswana banks. The bank account was opened on January 3 2013, with US$50 million, but the company transferred US$40 million to Sogecoa Zimbabwe days later before transferring another US$4 million to the same company on January 10 2013. On January 17 2013, Jinan transferred another US$2,9 million to Sogecoa Zimbabwe.

The money was externalised on the pretext that Afecc was investing in equipment. Jinan deputy general manager Tapiwa Goronga told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, chaired by Zanu-PF MP for Gokwe-Nembudziya Justice Mayor Wadyajena, that the matter was under investigation by the police Serious Frauds Section. Last year, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) announced stringent measures which include capping cash withdrawals without one-day prior notice to US$10 000, restrictions on offshore investment and suspending free funds to tackle illicit money flows and capital flight remittances after nearly US$2 billion evaporated from the capital-starved economy through externalisation. Announcing the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS), RBZ governor John Mangudya said the apex bank would implement prudential measures, which will come into force to mitigate illicit financial flows currently haemorrhaging the economy.

He said out of the US$1,8 billion externalised in 2015, US$1,2 billion was siphoned out by corporates with outward individual remittances accounting for the balance. He added that government will operationalise an economic crimes court to plug revenue leakage.- state media

A 49 year old man from Sizinda suburb in Bulawayo allegedly turned his daughter into a sex slave, raping her five times, at one point during her menstrual period during a period spanning from February 2014 to November this year.

The rape occurred in South Africa where the woman (23) was offered a job by her father at a company he owns in Johannesburg.

The rape victim eventually fled from her father last month after maternal relatives advised her to come back home.

She is currently staying at a safe shelter with her three-year-old daughter who witnessed one of the sex attacks.

The woman yesterday opened up in court before Bulawayo Senior Regional Magistrate Tranos Utahwashe.

She said she bled after every sexual encounter with her father. Mr Utahwashe remanded the man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, to next week for continuation of trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Robin Mukura alleged that on February 11 in 2014, the woman left Bulawayo for South Africa to look for employment while she was four months pregnant.

“When she arrived, her father, who was resident in South Africa, took her to his home in Natalspruit. The woman retired to bed and was surprised to see her father locking the doors from inside and joining her in bed,” he said.

“He then raped her once and went to work. The woman notified her cousin the following day but she could not help as she insisted that the accused was their father.”

Mr Mukura said sometime in January 2016, the woman was employed by a Pakistan national who fired her after six months on her father’s orders.

“She eventually went and worked for her father as a cashier. Sometime in June, the man instructed one of his workers to go to the bank granting himself an opportunity to be alone with his daughter. He then went into her room and raped her once,” said Mr Mukura.

He said during the same month, the man instructed his daughter to go and wash dishes in his room.

“The woman went into her father’s room and found no dirty dishes. As she was about to leave the room her father entered, undressed and raped her once. She decided to narrate her ordeal to one of her father’s workers as the two were now in a relationship,” said Mr Mukura.

“The fourth incident occurred when the man’s wife (victim’s stepmother) had just travelled to South Africa. He told his daughter that he wanted to show her around Johannesburg and she accepted.”

They went to a lodge and at that time, her stepmother had not joined them.

“The man paid R200 and got keys to a room before dragging his daughter to the room. He locked her inside and took a bath before asking her to do the same. The woman refused saying she was even on her menstrual period but her father turned a deaf ear and raped her several times the whole night.

“In the morning, she was forced to wear a used sanitary pad and they went away. On November 8, the woman’s daughter was taken to South Africa and her father secretly took her to his home,” said Mr Mukura.

“She went to her father’s home fearing that he would rape her daughter. Upon arrival she took her child while questioning why her father had taken her without her knowledge. At that moment he pushed her onto the bed and raped her while the child was crying.”

The matter came to light when the woman notified her uncle.

“Her uncle asked her to come back to Zimbabwe and upon arrival they made a report at ZRP Waterfalls in Harare. The matter was referred to Bulawayo when the family got wind that the man was in Sizinda,” said Mr Mukura. – state media

By Dorothy Moyo| Former Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has announced saying President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s firing of controversial minister Lazarus Dokora early Saturday morning has got nothing to do with people’s concerns.

“Just a word of caution. The cabinet adjustments this morning have nothing to do with the outcry over the quality of Ministers.

“The objective of the adjustments was to address the illegality of the Cabinet with respect to the number non-constituent Ministers. Dokora frees a non/ constituenct slot, while Nyathi and Mutsvangwa are no longer officially Cabinet Ministers.

“These adjustments allow the number of the non constituent Ministers to go to the constitutionally provided for number of 5.

“The adjustments have absolutely nothing to do to sensitivity to the public outcry about the unimaginative Cabinet appointments.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday capped 1 218 graduates at Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT)’s colourful 13th graduation ceremony.

The conferment of degrees was preceded by the installation of President Mnangagwa as the Second CUT Chancellor, his first role as the chancellor of all State universities.

“Given the number of PHD holders among the teaching staff, it is our belief that the number of students graduating with Master and Doctor of Philosopy is too low given the university’s academic standing,” he said.

There are 65 senior lecturers with PHD qualifications and nine associate professors and 13 full professors. He said with a well-defined research agenda targeting the value addition cluster of Zim-Asset, the academics at CUT had the ability to produce more in creative, innovative prototype technologies and engineering products.

University Council chairperson Dr Obadiah Moyo said President Mnangagwa’s presidency signalled a new era in the country’s socio-economic and political direction.

Students Representative Council president Nesbert Bhonzo said students were optimistic that the country’s socio-economic fortunes would change under President Mnangagwa’s leadership.

Most of the students interviewed said they expected Government to create jobs and opportunities that will help them express themselves in creating wealth.
A carnival atmosphere engulfed the marquee as the graduands and those in attendance took every opportunity to express their joy.

Musical and poetry interludes heightened the excitement.
As has become the norm at gatherings graced by President Mnangagwa, the DJ did not miss the opportunity to play Jah Prayzah’s hit songs “Kutonga Kwaro” and “Mudhara Vachauya”.

Poet Tatenda Chinoda gave a spell-binding performance that left the expectant crowd eating out of his palm, particularly with a rendition of his poem on contemporary political and economic realities.

President Mnangagwa got a standing ovation from the graduands when he was introduced, with the crowd spontaneously breaking into the “Kutonga Kwaro” chorus. – state media

There was drama at the Gweru City Council chambers on Thursday when MDC-T councillors demanded that former President Robert Mugabe’s portrait be taken down, as he was no longer head of State.

The full council meeting proceedings were briefly interrupted after ward 3 councillor, Nokuthula Mbano (MDC-T) raised a point of order that the portrait should be removed.

“Your worship (the mayor) a point of order please, may the portrait of the former President be removed,” she said.

Mayor Charles Chikozho concurred and said the issue had been previously deliberated on before a municipal officer was ordered to take down the portrait.

The visibly nervous municipal police officer took time to remove the portrait much to the amusement of councillors in the chambers.

Ward 1 councillor, Hamutendi Kombayi then said the municipal police officer should move with speed before announcing that the portrait be replaced with that of incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“Move with speed my friend to remove that portrait and it should be now replaced by that of the crocodile [Mnangagwa],” Kombayi said.

Meanwhile, councillors unanimously agreed to shoot down a proposal by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa-Zimbabwe) to install wireless internet facilities at its information kiosk housed at Mkoba 6 council administration offices.

The councillors argued that such facilities would congest the administration offices and compromise security since council handled cash paid by ratepayers.

The councillors recommended that Misa be allowed to set put its internet facilities at an alternative site.
Residents currently access free newspapers, council documents and pamphlets among other things at the information centre.- Newsday

A Redcliff couple whose three-year-old child was electrocuted when their house caught fire following a spark emanating from unsecured power cables, is suing the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for $182 000.

Mr Tichafa Moses Chiwanza and his wife Ms Kudakwashe Chekai lost one of their twin sons in January this year after he was electrocuted when their house was gutted by fire emanating from faulty electricity cables. The other twin child suffered severe burns.

The couple, through its lawyers, Mutatu and Partners, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing ZETDC as the defendant.

In papers before the court, Mr Chiwanza and Ms Chekai are demanding $182 000 from the power utility.

“On January 7, 2017 and at Number 17 Quorn Road, Redcliff there was a fire outbreak which occurred as a result of defendant’s fault in that it wrongfully and negligently created a dangerous situation by failing to properly maintain its power service cables on one of its distribution poles which supplied electricity to the plaintiffs’ house,” said the couple in its court papers.

“Due to defendant’s wrongful and negligent conduct, electricity sparked from the cables on the pole which connected electricity to our house thereby igniting the fire which resulted in the inferno. ZETDC had a duty of taking care and maintaining the poles and power cables, but failed to do so.”

The couple said despite demand, ZETDC has failed, refused or neglected to pay the money. ZETDC has not yet filed a notice to defend the summons.- state media

Terrence Mawawa, Gutu| A teacher here was severely bashed after being caught with a local villager’ s wife.

Henry Munodawafa, a teacher at Dambwara Primary School in Gutu District was trapped by the woman’s husband, William Charara.

Officials at the school told ZimEye.com, the woman, identified as Acquilina, came to the school to sell vegetables since she was a vendor.

Munodawafa then asked for the woman’s mobile number since he had bought some vegetables from her.

“Munodawafa told the woman he wanted to pay for the vegetables via Ecocash and he obtained her mobile number.

He began to send to send love messages to her and she reported the issue to her husband who mooted a plan to trap him,” said a source at the school.

The woman then began to respond positively.

Oblivious of the fact that Charara was aware of his attempts to have sex with his wife, Munodawafa was invited to the couple’s homestead under the pretext that the woman’s husband was away.

On arrival, Munodawafa entered the couple’ s bedroom, sat on the bed and removed his jacket and sandals.

Charara who was hiding behind the door suddenly emerged and Munodawafa took to his heels, leaving the jacket and sandals.

There was drama when on the following day, Charara went to the school and related the issue to the school head and Munodawafa pleaded guilty in what was like a kangaroo court. Almost instantaneously, Charara took a cattle skin whip and severely beat up Munodawafa in front of other staff members. Munodawafa was beaten up for a continuous 5 minutes and nearly heavily assaulted with fists. He was only saved by the presence of the headmaster and two other teachers, witnesses told ZimEye. His health condition could not be ascertained at the time of writing.

Chitungwiza Central Hospital staff yesterday demonstrated against management citing poor working conditions and shortage of resources needed for providing proper health care services.

The placard-wielding staff, who directed their message to the health institution’s chief executive officer Dr Obadiah Moyo, also demanded the disbandment of unproductive partnerships with private entities.

A matron from the hospital, who spoke to The Herald on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said they wanted the hospital to address their grievances.

“We are working without proper medical resources and the authorities are failing to heed our call to resource the institution in order to help us discharge our duties,” said the irate matron.

“Besides, we want to know the purpose being served by the private public partnerships (PPP) which the hospital entered into because as far as we are concerned, they (the partners) are nothing but a liability.

“Their services are too expensive to be afforded by the community. Patients are being ordered to go and purchase everything from this pharmacy from sterile gloves, needles and syringes, among other items.”

In a memorandum dated November 29, 2017 addressed to the hospital’s CEO, director of clinical services, director of finance, principal nursing officer, human resources officer and administration officer, the striking nurses said conditions at the institution are now untenable.

“Of late we have noted with great concern the downfall of our hospital due to lack of resources. There are no surgical and stores resources like oxygen, drugs (operating drugs), food, fuel sterile gloves and mattresses.

“This has been too much on us as nurses and we are stressed. We watch patients dying yet we cannot offer any help. We wish you could also give us clarity on how the private partnership is helping us; their services are extremely expensive for our community and staff,” reads part of the memo.

In response, Dr Moyo said they were attending to the issues raised by the unhappy staff.

“They wanted to be addressed on the issues to do with shortage of resources and we did exactly that after they wrote to us seeking dialogue. On the issue of resources, indeed we are facing financial constraints and today (Friday) trucks were off-loading some of the resources they claimed.

“We have even sourced cash from the Ministry of Finance. However, it looks like these issues have nothing to do with the shortages because even after addressing them yesterday (Thursday), they were not convinced. They had their own agenda, which needs to be investigated, since a few only took to the picket, which is not a reflection of what is happening on the ground,” he said.- state media

Government says there is need to academically train members of the security service on how to respond to asymmetrical measures being deployed by hostile superpowers aimed at undermining the security systems of sovereign countries such as Zimbabwe.

Addressing 55 graduates who were conferred diplomas in Defence and Security Studies and Adult Education at Zimbabwe Staff College yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Security and War Veterans Mr Martin Rushwaya said the programmes trained officers to reason strategically in dealing with security challenges.

The diplomas are affiliated to the University of Zimbabwe and drew participants from Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Office of the President and Cabinet, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, including defence force members from the sadc region.

“The Diploma in Defence and Security Studies is unique in its thrust as it equips the graduands with the skills to enable them to discharge their duties professionally in an environment where asymmetrical measures are being deployed by hostile super powers to undermine the security systems of sovereign countries, Zimbabwe included,” he said.

“The strategic and defence concepts and applications covered in the programme provide students with valuable skills to assess and evaluate the effects of the same concepts on national and international military, political, economic and social systems pertaining to national security in particular and global security in general.”

Mr Rushwaya said inclusion of other non-Zimbabwe Defence Force members was aimed at en- abling a cross-pollination of ideas, which will enhance security cooperation and socio-economic transformation in the region and beyond.

Blending of academic modules into the military training programmes, he said, has indeed enriched the military curriculum in line with international military training trends the world over.

“The academic platform availed to students from both local and regional security forces by the Zimbabwe Staff College in association with the University of Zimbabwe is a crucial pedestal for enhancing professional and academic training and development that will lead to a vibrant regional force,” he said.

He also applauded University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Professor Levy Nyagura and the deans from the faculties of Arts and Education for partnering with the Staff College.

“I wish to implore the Vice Chancellor and his dedicated team to maintain this fruitful, strategic and professional union into the future and be the guiding beacon in the college’s desire to be a critical factor in its mission to serve society,” he said.

In his remarks, Professor Nyagura pledged to continue working hand-in-hand with the Staff College.

“We will continue to offer the college the necessary professional guidance in all its academic endeavours as part of our efforts to develop high skilled human resources for the nation,” he said.

“Our vision is to assist the Staff College to become a world-class training centre offering several degrees relevant to the defence and security sector.”

He added that the Diploma in Adult Education enabled officers to understand the philosophical base, guiding principles and socio factors that guide the provision of adult education programmes in the defence forces.

Among the dignitaries that attended the event were ZDF Commander General Constantino Chiwenga, Ministers Air Marshal Perrance Shiri and Major-General Sibusiso Moyo.- state media

Germany has joined other world powers in congratulating President Emmerson Mnangagwa following his inauguration last Friday as Zimbabwe’s Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

President Mnangagwa becomes the country’s second Executive President since independence in 1980.

He took over from President Mugabe, who resigned after being in charge for 37 years.

Other world powers such as Russia, China and the United States have sent their congratulatory messages.

In her congratulatory message, Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to support Zimbabwe as it opened “a new chapter.”

“Please accept my sincere congratulations on taking office as the new President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,” she said in a letter to President Mnangagwa.

“Germany will support you as a partner in your endeavours to start a new chapter in the history of Zimbabwe — one characterised by democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.”

Dr Merkel said the joy exhibited by Zimbabweans last week was an indication that they had high hopes.

“The images of the people in Zimbabwe, who have responded with great joy and relief to the events of the past days are a clear reflection of the hopes and expectations in this area,” she said.

“I wish you strength, perseverance and every success for the great challenges ahead of you.”

The Indigenous Business Development Centre (IBDC) — a black economic empowerment organisation — also congratulated President Mnangagwa.

“The national IBDC leadership and all members of the indigenous business community would like to congratulate Cde E D Mnangagwa on your appointment as the President and the First Secretary of the revolutionary party Zanu-PF and President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” read their congratulatory message.

IBDC said it was happy with President Mnangagwa’s pledge to fight corruption.

The organisation said an end to corruption would see more investors flocking into the country.

“We would also like to congratulate you on your inauguration and on your inauguration speech where you promised to fight corruption, which issue we raised in 2013 at the Zanu-PF National People’s Conference in Chinhoyi and nothing was done about it,” IBDC said.

“This will open the doors for foreign investment which will lead to the opening of once closed industries and the creation of employment for the thousands of jobless people in our society.”

“As IBDC and knowing you as we do as a man of action we are confident that the promises that you have made will be achieved. Corruption kills the economy and must be tackled with vigour.”

IBDC added: “We as the indigenous businesspeople are greatly honoured that at last we have someone with the aspirations of the black person at heart. We wish you all the best as you embark on your journey of steering the Zimbabwe ship to economic prosperity.”- state media