Minister Contradicts Self, Concedes Zanu PF In $ 3 Million Debt

Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo| The ruling party, Zanu PF, has failed to settle a $ 3 million debt incurred during the Bikita West By-election campaign programme, it has emerged.

After boasting of Zanu PF’ s invincibility in Mwenezi at the weekend, the party’s secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, later contradicted himself and conceded the revolutionary party was broke.

Party sources revealed to ZimEye.com Chombo told Zanu PF officials after the rally held at Avhunga Secondary School the ruling party had no cash to settle the debt.

The debt ballooned to $ 3 million due to unpaid printing and transport bills, party officials said.

“Chombo was grilled by Minister (Shuvai) Mahofa over the debt and he said the party was broke and the coffers were empty,” said a party official.

Chombo also conceded the party could not print posters for Mwenezi East Candidate, Omar Joosbi because of bankruptcy.

Ironically Chombo donated $5,000 which he claimed was his personal money.

Angry Zanu PF members accused senior party members of dumping Omar ahead of the Saturday by-election.

“We do not know where the money is going. We are totally confused. Although we understand there are unsettled bills incurred during the Bikita West campaign programme, we feel there is no commitment towards the Mwenezi East By-election,” said a disgruntled party official.

Although Omar could not be reached for comment on the matter, party officials in Mwenezi said the businessman was using his personal resources to bankroll activities in the constituency.

Mpilo Central Hospital’s cancer unit was officially opened yesterday, bringing relief to thousands of people from the country’s southern region who had to travel to Harare and neighbouring countries to seek treatment.

The facility, which had been closed since 2009, has state-of-the-art machines similar to those used for cancer treatment in developed countries.

Speaking before officially opening the radiotherapy centre, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa urged the Mpilo Central Hospital management to consider the poor when charging for services.

“This is one of my happiest days first as an individual and as a minister because this cancer unit had been a burden for a long time. I hereby ask the chief executive officer Mr Leonard Mabandi and his team to consider the poor when coming up with charges as cancer is the most expensive disease to treat,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

“We last carried out a thorough cancer research in 2014 when 7 000 new cases were recorded countrywide and I am sure the number has shot up now. I hereby hope Government will avail funds for us to maintain this unit so that even the less privileged can get quality health care.”

A specialist from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is doing quality control for the unit which is divided into two departments — nuclear medicine and radiotherapy.

Nuclear medicine is a medical speciality in which minute quantities of radioactive substances are administered to a patient through injection, inhalation or swallowing in order to diagnose or treat diseases.

Dr Xolani Ndlovu who heads the nuclear medicine department said he was happy that for the first time in Zimbabwe there was a functional nuclear medical facility.

“Today through the support from the Government of Zimbabwe in partnership with IAEA, Mpilo is proud to have the only functional nuclear medical facility in the country. There has been no facility for a long time due to lack of equipment and trained staff and patients all along had been flocking to South Africa,” said Dr Ndlovu.

He said the main challenge was the acquisition of radio pharmaceuticals which can only be purchased in South Africa.

“We hope that as time goes on the procurement system will be more efficient in order to reduce patient waiting time,” he said.

Dr Tatenda Chingonzoh who heads the radiotherapy department said for the first quarter of 2017, the unit had diagnosed 122 new cases.

“The burden of cancer is increasing in Zimbabwe and so far we have carried out 228 chemotherapy administrations at our centre. The administration of chemotherapy may be done here but acquisition of drugs is done by patients at private pharmacies which has resulted in many failing to access treatment due to financial constraints,” said Dr Chingonzoh.

“The cost of a single cycle of chemotherapy can range from $150 to $1 000 or more. It is thus critical that resources be availed to enable chemotherapy drugs to be stocked in our hospital pharmacy to help subsidise the cost to patients.”

Dr Ndlovu and Dr Chingonzoh are the only specialists who have been trained to operate the unit. Experts say at least two people need to operate one machine at any given time for maximum results.

Corruption delayed the opening of the cancer unit by about four years.

Chronicle lifted the lid off the corruption in February 2015, when a $3 million tender, which had been awarded to Bulawayo businessman Mr Ashton Mpofu’s New Planet Company, was cancelled after he allegedly refused to bribe former CEO Dr Lawrence Mantiziba and fired operations director Mrs Regina Duduza Moyo.

The tender — according to an audit report — had been illegally and unnecessarily split into smaller tenders.

The auditors said if the contract had been given to one company, it would have cost approximately $1,049 million.

After being split up, it ended up costing about $3 million.

Mr Mpofu was awarded the tender to refurbish the hospital’s radiotherapy centre towards the end of 2012.

The cancer unit was closed for the duration of the project, forcing patients in the southern region to travel to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare for treatment.

The southern region covers Bulawayo, Masvingo, Midlands, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. – State Media

A taxi driver from Zvishavane who allegedly lured his passenger aged 17 to his house and sodomised him at knife point has appeared in court.

Tawedzerwa Mashingaidze (46) of Nill Township in Zvishavane appeared before Gweru Magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire facing two counts of indecent assault.

Mashingaidze pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to April 13.

Prosecuting, Mr Lloyd Mavhiza told the court that Mashingaidze used to provide transport for the complainant from Zvishavane town to his place of residence.

“On count one, in February last year at around 9PM the accused ferried the complainant home as usual. Whilst they were on their way, the accused person asked the complainant to spend the night at his house and he agreed.

“During the night, the accused person woke up and started fondling the complainant’s manhood,” said Mr Mavhiza.

He said that the complainant asked Mashingaidze to stop what he was doing and he complied, promising that he would not do it again.

“They went back to sleep but after an hour the accused person woke up and put on a condom. He took a knife and threatened to kill the complainant if he did not comply with his orders. The accused person sodomised him once,” said Mr Mavhiza.

The court heard that the complainant did not tell anyone about the matter for some time.

On June 9 last year, he allegedly told his workmate who accompanied him to make a formal report at the police station.

“The complainant was referred to Zvishavane District hospital for medical examination and a medical report was compiled,” said Mr Mavhiza.

THE Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) has fired a pastor who indecently assaulted a prominent Bulawayo lawyer last year.

The disgraced “man of God” Brighton Ndebele (32) was convicted of indecently assaulting the lawyer in October 2016 by Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure.

Ndebele was sentenced to 12 months in jail and three months were suspended for three years on condition that he did not within that period commit a similar offence.

The remaining nine months were further suspended on condition that he performs 315 hours of community service at Hillside Police Station.

According to a letter of dismissal dated February 23, 2017, the church voted at a church business meeting that Ndebele should be relieved of his duties as a pastor.

The letter, which was addressed to Ndebele, was signed by one P Ncube who is the SDA’s Bulawayo City Centre head elder and two church clerks only identified as S Hanyane and N Nyathi.

“This letter serves to notify you that on the 18th of February 2017, the church voted at a church business meeting that your name be removed from the Bulawayo City Centre Church records. This follows our letter advising you of the church board recommendation dated January 28, 2017,” reads part of the letter.

The church’s Bulawayo City Centre deputy head elder Mr Daniel Musundire also confirmed Ndebele’s dismissal in papers filed before the High Court last month.

Mr Musundure’s court filing was in response to an urgent chamber application by the abused lawyer’s husband challenging the church’s decision to slap him with a seven month censure without conducting a proper disciplinary hearing.

The censure barred the applicant from participating, by voice or vote, in the affairs of the church.

The lawyer’s husband, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his wife, argued that he was censured by members of the board, deacons and deaconess and elders’ councils for confronting the pastor who indecently harassed his wife and reporting him to the police.

In papers before the court, the lawyer’s husband cited SDA’s Bulawayo City Centre branch and the church’s headquarters, South Zimbabwe Conference of the SDA Church as respondents.

The lawyer’s husband sought an order nullifying the censure.

However, the church leadership said the lawyer’s husband was being silenced for disrupting church activities and perpetrating violence.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi last month blocked SDA from censuring the lawyer’s husband.

However, the church had disputed that the conviction of Ndebele was linked to the censure and said the disgraced pastor had since been fired.

“I can confirm that the pastor (Ndebele), for his actions, has been disciplined by the SDA Bulawayo City Centre. His name was removed from the church register on the 18th of February 2016,” said Mr Musundire.

On April 20 last year at around midday, Ndebele went to the lawyer’s workplace to discuss church business since the complainant was also a head of social committees in the church.

After the discussion and when he was about to leave office, the pastor solicited for a hug from the complainant and she declined.

He then forcibly pulled the woman by the hand and squeezed her to his chest, before holding her waist and caressed her back and buttocks.

The complainant narrated her ordeal to a fellow congregant before she reported the matter to the police leading to Ndebele’s arrest. – State Media

Air Zimbabwe (AirZim) management has made significant cutbacks in route network to curtail serious write-down, triggered by aircraft shortages, plummeting load factors and foreign currency bottlenecks.

Reports say aircraft shortages have forced the airline to quietly pull out of the Harare-Lusaka route.This was one of the routes that AirZim had projected to push passenger numbers and revenue, until the Chinese assembled MA60 plane that it was operating on the route developed technical faults and was grounded in January last year.

In Kariba, low load factors forced chief executive officer (CEO), Ripton Muzenda, to suspend flights after he was appointed last year.

There have been low tourist arrivals in the resort town, which usually drive passengers.

In June 2015, the airline took the bold move to reopen the Harare-Lusaka route to compete with global airlines that have dominated African skies, four years after discontinuing service.

With colossal debts estimated at well over US$300 million, and with new management battling to fulfil the airline’s role as a catalyst for recovery, AirZim has been staggering on since re-launching operations in November 2012.

AirZim chairperson, Chipo Dyanda, declined to comment on operational matters, referring questions to Muzenda, who is said to be battling to prevail over an intense power struggle that has engulfed the airline and disrupted operations.

She also dismissed reports that there were squabbles between board members and management.

“There is no bad blood between board and management or within management. There is so much work to be done at AirZim by both board and management such that the so-called bad blood trivialises the great work that has been achieved so far; commitment and energy that is being put by the shareholder, board, management and employees in general, to revive the company. Second, the so-called bad blood is also a luxury we cannot afford.

Both board and management are clear on their mandate, and that is to revive Air Zimbabwe. Generating bad blood is not one of the mandates; therefore, we would never give it space at AirZim. We are fully occupied and have no time for distractions and detractors,” she said.

There has been a worrying decline in passenger numbers in the past few months, according to sources.

AirZim’s aged fleet comprises of two Boeing 767s, three B737s, three MA60s and two Airbus A320s.

Out of these planes, only two have been flying in the past few weeks, forcing management to hire a B737 aircraft from South Africa’s Star Air as a stop gap measure.

“AirZim suspended Zambia operations and we have closed the offices,” a source said.

Aviation industry experts said many of the routes that AirZim had opened since 2015 require some form of government subsidies before they become self sufficient.

But because government, which controls 100 percent shareholding in the airline, has been struggling to balance its books, there has not been such support.

This is why management has made the decision to pull out of certain routes. – Fingaz

A new President for Zimbabwe is imminent. Join in the discussion as key analysts and stakeholders discuss:

Olinda Chapel is now better than Joice Mujuru and other politicians at pulling people; why is this? Critics and analysts discuss this today. FULL LIVE INTERVIEW:

LIVE-BLAST: This week will forever be on Andy Muridzo’s mind after his estranged lover Bev Sibanda had a miscarriage at the weekend.

ZimEye.com can reliably confirm that Bev had a miscarriage and had to spend day in hospital.

She had a miscarriage last Sunday at Hollys hotel soon after her show.

Bev’s manager, Hapaguti Mapimhidze confirmed the development to ZimEye Thursday afternoon saying she has since recovered. “She is now okay and had to be nursed for six days, had to be cleaned and so on,” he said.

He added saying she is now heading for her latest show tonight upon which our reporter grilled him on health and safety concerns to which he insisted saying “she is now okay, she can now work.” THE LIVE PROGRAM WILL AIRED AT 4pm (UK time) Thursday afternoon.

By Sukoluhle Sibanda| National Peoples Party Spokesman Jelousy Mawarire has called it quits, resigning from both the party and his post, also attacking his boss, Dr Joice Mujuru.

Mawarire says she is responsible for the mess surrounding his physical fight with Dr Joice Mujuru’s personal spokesman Gift Nyandoro last week. Following the brutal fighting which left Nyandoro in a wheelchair, hospitalised, Mawarire announced today he is hitting the streets.

The development also follows Mrs Mujuru’s coming out during her weekly ZimEye program last week Friday to take motherly responsibility for the fighting between “the two boys.”  Below was Mawarire’s letter (BELOW VIDEO):

The Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors (ZUDAC) has bemoaned the recent introduction of a presumptive tax on commuter omnibuses by Government, saying it could trigger a hike in targets by operators, putting pressure on drivers.

Commuter omnibus operators will now pay $45 per vehicle in presumptive tax.

According to a Government Gazette of March 24, informal traders like commuter omnibus operators, hairdressers and cross border traders are expected to pay a monthly presumptive tax.

“The presumptive tax chargeable in terms of Section 36C of the Taxes Act shall be in the case of . . . (e) operators of omnibuses for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward having seating accommodation for not less than 15 or more than 24 passengers, 45 dollars per month for each such omnibus operated.”

ZUDAC chairperson Mr Fradreck Maguramhinga yesterday said the tax would affect their operations in a big way.

“As ZUDAC we are not in support of the introduction of this new tax that Government has imposed on kombis.

“We have so many other monies being paid to enable us to operate on a day-to-day basis, hence the introduction of this tax will increase the burden,” he said.

Mr Maguramhinga said it was not fair to continue taxing operators without providing a conducive environment for them to operate.

“We do not have proper ranks in town and passengers end up going to the ‘mshikashika’ vehicles while kombis lose customers,” he said.

“For those kombis following the correct channel of being in the ranks, they rarely have three trips a day, which is not sustainable.

“When the time comes for us to pay the taxes, the money is hardly adequate to do so.

“We were not going to have problems with the tax if we were operating on an even ground,” he said. – State Media

Ray Nkosi | Forced out Zanu PF deputy secretary for women’s affairs, Eunice Sandi-Moyo, had been shut out from all party internal communications, including her Ministerial offices it has emerged.

Moyo comes out guns blazing this morning challenging the State Media to name the prophet who gave her $100 000 which is among the list of allegations being leveled against her. Writes Moyo on her newly set up twitter account, “If there is any prophet who gave me $100 00 may he pliz come forward. Why not name him/her.”

Moyo told the local weekly paper Fingaz that she is completely clueless about her situation, but does not blame anyone for the predicament.

Moyo who was yesterday forced out of the Zanu PF Women’s League is accused of attempting to topple her boss; setting up parallel structures in the league and allegedly conniving with secretary for finance, Sarah Mahoka, to steal money and other donations meant for the league’s programmes.

“I read from your paper and other papers. I watch the television. I have no idea what is happening at all. I don’t know where all this came from and I don’t know where it is going,” she said.

The High Court has dismissed a sentence appeal by Richard Magwenzi (34) of Mzilikazi, currently serving a 15 month jail term for possessing bottles of intoxicating cough syrup and 3,92 kilogrammes of mbanje.

The drug had a street value of $4 000 that was found hidden in 12 bags at his house.

Magwenzi was convicted on his own plea for possessing dagga and unregistered drugs and sentenced an effective 15 months in jail in February last year.

Through his lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers he filed an appeal at the Bulawayo High Court arguing that the magistrate in the matter misdirected himself by giving him a harsh sentence. He sought an order setting aside the sentence and substituting it with a fine.

In dismissing the application, Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese sitting with Justice Maxwell Takuva ruled that the appeal lacked merit. The judge said the quantity of dagga involved in Magwenzi’s case called for nothing less than a custodial sentence. – state media

Terrence Mawawa| Zvishavane, Desperate government controlled Zimbabwe Revenue Authority(ZIMRA) is persistently exploiting Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by imposing exorbitant tax charges, it has emerged.

Disgruntled leaders of various SMEs told ZimEye. com on Monday, they regretted the formalisation of their businesses because ZIMRA was asking for prohibitive taxes. SMEs here have threatened to close their business in protest at the persistent cash raids by ZIMRA.

They said the Small to Medium Enterprise sector should not be seen as a cash cow by ZIMRA.
It has also emerged ZIMRA is under immense pressure from the government to boost its revenue collection base.
With many companies battling to remain afloat in the wake of the dwindling economy, the Small to Medium Enterprise sector has become the target of ZIMRA’s incessant cash raids.
The Secretary General for SMEs in Zvishavane, Bigboy Murenga, said there was heightened tension between ZIMRA and his organisation because of unrealistic tax charges. “ZIMRA officials are visiting registered SMEs frequently to collect taxes. We will close our businesses because we are literally working for ZIMRA. This effectively means the ZIMRA taxes are prohibitive,” said Murenga.

He added, “As a result of the high tax charges, unregistered SMEs are unwilling to register their businesses because formalisation has become a crime.”
Business owners here slammed ZIMRA’s rigid tax regime and called for a paradigm shift towards tax collection.

Business people who spoke to ZimEye.com said ZIMRA’s rigid approach was contributing towards the loss of revenue in the country.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has come out strong in the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe.

This emerged yesterday when the politburo met in Harare and the layout of structures showed that Mnangagwa has gone beyond the G40 barricade. One could easily tell the croc is now unstoppable and for the first time the succession plan now clearer. Zimbabwe’s future could easily be told in one line, by simply observing Mai Mugabe’s dressing top seen to have been copied by only two other ZANU PF politicians from her faction, Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukwuere. Everyone else was in their normal British suits. Even though Mnangagwa was outshined by Saviour Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo, the latter who stuck to their Grace Mugabe taylor made regalia, it was all clear Mnangagwa is now at the lead. This was further buttressed by the fact that the Kasukuwere aligned Sarah Mahoka and Sandi Moyo were on the same day removed from their positions. Kasukuwere is now next in line for demotion, the state media says.

Friends, fiends, or foes? 

The two alleged G40 leaders Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo, were shining in an open political exterior, obeying the First Lady’s orders that loyal party members should wear her jacket brand. But they were the only ones in the rastafarian colours. The political statement was loud and clear on whose side the First Lady is on and coming hot on the heels of calls for Kasukuwere to step down, the dressing was enough to silence any voice of rebellion against the President’s wife and her powerful faction. Mnangagwa could be seen later in footage talking to the First Lady. PICTURES:

Terrence Mawawa Mwenezi| The ruling party, Zanu PF will remain in power because it stands for the will of the people, the party’s secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo has said.

Addressing party supporters at a rally held in Mwenezi East constituency on Sunday, Chombo said Zanu PF would continue to win elections because of sound economic policies. Chombo castigated former Masvingo State Minister, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and described him as a hopeless political misfit. “Bhasikiti is very confused. He pulled out of the by-election because he knew he would lose heavily,” said Chombo.He went on to say  “Zanu PF is the people’s party.The land reform programme epitomises our resounding success as a party”.
He urged Zanu PF members to rally behind party candidate Omar Joosbi in Saturday’s  by-election. “I am confident of victory because our policies are consistent with the will of the people,” Chombo said.

Chombo also described leaders of opposition parties as tired and hopeless political charlatans. Contrary to Chombo’s claims, there is documented intimidation of villagers in the area. Political analysts have described the electoral process as “fraught with irregularities and massive rigging.”

“Chombo’s utterances indicate that he is totally out of sync with what is happening on the ground. The chaotic land grab exercise contributed to the economic demise. Chombo is totally confused,” said Mwenezi based political analyst, Rindai Matavire.

President Robert Mugabe’s wheelchair topped the features at yesterday’s NERA rally with several leaders blasting against the 93 year old.

Opposition leaders yesterday said they will not be silenced and stopped by a “wheelchair-bound” President Robert Mugabe, vowing “maximum resistance” against policies that favour Zanu PF ahead of next year’s general elections.

Speaking at a National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) feedback meeting in Harare, opposition parties claimed they were being denied adequate campaign space by the Zanu PF-led government, including disruption of their rallies by the police.

Reacting to the police’s prohibition of their rally at Africa Unity Square, Nera head of legal affairs and MDC-T secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora said it was now time to turn the heat on Mugabe and his security apparatus, so they give in to calls for electoral reforms.

“We cannot accept oppression by this tyranny. We refuse discrimination and oppression by black on black and we are going to resist that,” he said, constantly making reference to the “special gym and massage chair” presented to Mugabe on Monday as a belated 93rd birthday present from his Cabinet ministers, which had initially been reported to be a special mobile chair.

Mugabe’s critics have described the donation as a wheelchair disguised as a massage chair for the ageing Zanu PF leader.

“They have completely forgotten that they have health institutions to run, the infrastructure to take care of, education sector to take care of and investment to attract,” Mwonzora continued.

“They have completely forgotten about this and this shows that this government is no longer suitable for the people of this country and we must get rid of it.”

He said, as Nera members, they had been patient with law enforcement agents, but it was now time for defiance.

MDC-T deputy president, Elias Mudzuri, also took potshots at Mugabe over his reluctance to reform the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) as a strategy to manipulate election results and further extend his stay in office.

“We made a mistake to allow (Justice) Rita Makarau to head Zec as she is a member of Zanu PF,” he said.

Nera official, Edmore Mukushwa, said “wheelchair-bound” Mugabe had caused a lot of trouble for the country.

He said it was time for the opposition to defy oppression and start fighting together for the common cause of electoral reforms.

MDC-T deputy chairperson, Morgen Komichi, rallied opposition parties to unite and dislodge Zanu PF from power by demanding a level political playing field.

“We cannot be led by a leader, who is in a wheelchair and we must reject that. Zanu-PF cannot rig the next elections because we are united and working together as opposition political parties,” he said.

Mugabe’s wife, Grace, has declared that even if the President was incapacitated, a special wheelchair would be made for him and he would continue ruling from it.

A representative of Joice Mujuru’s National People’s Party, Munyaradzi Banda, accused Mugabe of running down the country through his “ruinous” policies.

He said Mujuru had done her homework and had what it takes to fight and win against Zanu PF.

The feedback rally, where several other opposition leaders presented solidarity messages, was meant to apprise supporters of Nera’s fight for electoral reforms.

The parties also demanded the disbandment of Zec and allow Sadc, the African Union and the United Nations to run the elections to ensure credible results.- Newsday

A fierce storm has reportedly hit the MDC-T after its electorate directorate recently proposed a raft of contentious internal election guidelines that seek to shield members of the party’s national executive, among them sitting legislators, from being challenged by their subordinates ahead of the 2018 general elections.

Party spokesperson, Obert Gutu confirmed that the party was in the process of crafting a template to guide the selection of candidates for the 2018 elections, but appealed for calm as the guidelines were still at the draft stage.

“I have always said this, it is work in progress. The document that you are talking about is work in progress and deliberations on it are still there. People should not rush to the Press because we are still consulting and when all is done, party structures will be told,” he said.

The proposed election guidelines, which were tabled before the party’s standing committee on Monday, were reportedly dismissed by some members in the MDC-T national council, provincial and district structures as meant to protect unpopular and underperforming legislators.

“According to the template, there shall be 50% women seats and 20% of the 50% shall be reserved for young women. The party shall also reserve 20% for youths,” an MDC-T insider said.

“Seniority is going to be considered, that is, no one is going to contest someone senior to him/her. This means anyone who is occupying a position at national level cannot be challenged by a member from the province even if the person is not popular. That is undemocratic.

“There are some people, who are in lower ranks, but have been in the party for many more years than some in the national leadership.
This deprives the right of party cadres to contest for any post as stated in the party’s constitution.” – Newsday

Millers have been barred from buying maize directly from farmers this season and will now procure it from the Grain Marketing Board, while Government has suspended the importation of maize with immediate effect.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made confirmed the development yesterday and said the decision had since been communicated to the millers.

This came as Government has tasked the Agricultural Marketing Authority to establish selling points for grain and cotton across the country to cushion farmers from travelling long distances to the market.

“Cabinet has approved the proposed new payment and marketing structure in terms of maize that millers will be purchasing this season,” said Dr Made.

“Millers have agreed that they will not buy maize directly from farmers, but from GMB. The price at which they will be buying will be determined as each miller comes forward to GMB to buy the grain. This is a fundamental decision and a strategic decision.”

Dr Made said the chairman of GMB board would engage other board members on the matter.

“Government has also agreed that we are no longer going to issue any new maize import permits,” he said. “But wheat imports may continue as we are not yet self-sufficient. We will continue to import wheat and we will also be selling to farmers at an agreed position.
“The price of grain will be $390 per tonne for farmers, but for the millers we will have a different price. Farmers should speedily deliver their grain to GMB as millers are now waiting for the maize.”

Dr Made said the GMB board should work around the clock.
“This structure signals that in future we will look at all commodities very closely to ensure farmers are supported first,” he said. “We will also be talking to stockfeed manufacturers and private importers. Only those with existing permits will continue with their orders and no further permits relating to maize will be issued out.”

Dr Made said Government had tasked the Agricultural Marketing Authority to establish selling points for grain and cotton across the country to cushion farmers from travelling long distances to the market.

He said the selling points should ensure farmers did not travel more than five kilometres to sell their produce. – State Media

Government has reversed a decision announced last week to levy a 10 percent tax on gross sales of tobacco farmers who do not have clearance certificates.

This follows a meeting between Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made and his Finance and Economic Development counterpart Cde Patrick Chinamasa over the emotive announcement which rattled the tobacco selling season, with farmers threatening to withhold their crop in protest.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority last week instructed tobacco auction floors to deduct a 10 percent tax on gross sales of farmers who failed to produce valid tax clearance certificates as at March 31.

Dr Made said farmers had pleaded with Government to reconsider the tax which they argued could cripple the nascent industry. He said they had resolved the matter with Minister Chinamasa that no farmer would have his/her money deducted.

Dr Made urged tobacco growers to continue delivering their crop to the floors without fear as the tax issue had been resolved.

“Farmers had made a plea to Government. We had a discussion with Minister Chinamasa and I am pleased that we have amicably resolved the matter and reached an agreement that is expected to satisfy farmers and the Zimra,” said Dr Made.

“Farmers should not blame Zimra as it was working within the confines of the law.
“Farmers should go on with their business. Tobacco should continue to come to the floors especially now as we are approaching the Easter and Independence Day holidays,” he said.
herald

A man from Bulawayo who was on the run for nine years after allegedly defrauding a resident of P26 000 has been arrested.

Zenzo Sibanda (53) of Selbourne Park suburb is also accused of duping another resident of $15 000 by selling him a house that did not belong to him in 2015.

A court heard that Sibanda conned Mr Michael Nyoni (29) and Mr Thembinkosi Mlauzi (49).

He appeared before magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ncube facing two counts of fraud yesterday.

Ms Ncube did not ask him to plead and remanded him in custody to April 19.

Prosecuting, Mr Alfonse Makonese said in 2008, Sibanda placed an advertisement in a local newspaper that he was selling a stand in Emganwini suburb.

“Mlauzi saw the advertisement and responded by visiting the accused’s offices at Ramjis Complex. The complainant told the accused person that he was interested in buying the stand and deposited P14 500 into the accused’s bank account,” said Mr Makonese.

“The complainant later paid instalments making a full total payment of P26 000. The accused converted the money into his personal use before even showing the Mlauzi the stand. After that, he changed his address and contact details and was nowhere to be found.”

In March 2015, Sibanda placed another advertisement in a local newspaper that he was selling a house in Old Luveve Suburb.

“On March 10, 2015 Nyoni went to visit the accused person in his office which was at Nicoz building. The accused person introduced Nyoni to Sitemamulus Ncube as the seller of the house and himself as an estate agent. However, the house was in the name of Ntombana Ncube, Sitemamulus’ late sister,” said Mr Makonese.

The court heard that a memorandum of agreement was drafted by Sibanda between two parties.

“The accused person received $15 000 from Nyoni as payment for the house on the pretext that he would deduct $4 000 for his commission and surrender $11 000 to Ncube,” said Mr Makonese.

The prosecutor said Sibanda converted the money to his personal use and did not give Ncube anything.

Mr Makonese said Nyoni discovered that he was duped after two weeks when he wanted to occupy the house.

“Efforts to locate the accused person were fruitless as he was already on the run. The complainant made a report to the police leading to the accused person’s arrest,” he said.- State Media

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has embarked on lifestyle audits as one of its initiatives to improve tax compliance levels and to assist taxpayers with information on tax matters.

The audits are carried out to verify compliance of individual taxpayers in terms of the statutes administered by Zimra, which include Income Tax Act 9Chapter 23:060; Capital Gains Act (Chapter 23:010); Value Added Tax Act (Chapter 23:12) and Customs and Excise Act (Chapter 23:02).

What is a lifestyle audit?

This is a type of audit carried out with specific attention on income received by individuals. It involves verification of a person’s personal expenditure patterns to determine if it is consistent with his declared taxable income to Zimra. Any variances noted will result in an amendment to the declared income and recovery of any additional tax.

Objectives of lifestyle audits

Lifestyle audits are carried out to:

• Assess and collect additional revenue
• Educate clients on how to correctly declare their income and make self-assessment of their tax status in terms of the law
• Promote compliance
• Update clients tax affairs

Benefits to the client

• Tax status will be regularised and a tax clearance certificate can be issued
• Increased knowledge by the client on tax matters
• Greater understanding of the client of their personal tax status

Focus of the audit

The lifestyle audit focuses on every individual who is in receipt of income. The income may be from employment, pension payments, business operations, dividends, rental income, disposal of shares and or real estate, among others.

• What is involved and the intended outcome?
• The verifications will involve the following, among others:
• Interviewing clients

Requests for information to support sources of income and/or expenditure

Education of clients on tax matters

Issuing of amended assessments where discrepancies are noted and collection of any tax due

Why clients should cooperate

• The following are benefits for cooperating with Zimra officers as they carry out lifestyle audits:
• Reduction in cost of compliance by clients
• Client’s cooperation is taken into consideration whenever penalty reduction is considered
• Reduction of time spent by the clients on traditional audits
• Results in regularisation of the client’s tax affairs
• The issued tax clearance certificate can enhance clients’ business opportunities and prospects.

Disclaimer

This article was compiled by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority for information purposes only. Zimra shall not accept responsibility for loss or damage arising from use of material in this article and no liability will attach to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.

Tune in to Radio Zimbabwe every Wednesday from 1900-2000 hours for a discussion on Tax and Customs matters.

You can write or think whatever you like, Dairibord chief executive Anthony Mandiwanza somberly told assembled analysts and the media at the group’s presentation of its financial results for 2016 last Wednesday.

He had just announced a net loss of $5,4 million for the period, from a $2,3 million profit recorded in the preceding year, and an operating loss of $3,99 million from a $3,97 million operating profit previously and the stunned audience wanted answers.

“We know that our performance last year was very bad due to a number of issues and we know you have a negative impression about it, but we promise to improve  this year going forward,” he added.

Zimbabwe’s largest milk processor, Dairibord reported a rather disappointing set of results for the full-year to December as the company failed to  align production costs to the level of revenue generated citing a number of challenges — a decline in average prices, supply constraints and  high production costs among others.

The theory of expansion 

When an analyst suggested that in the current environment, the company should focus more on managing costs of the existing operations rather than continue with expansion initiatives which were not bearing economies of scale, Mandiwanza retorted that the company will not held back from expanding because the results were not immediate.

“We are not going to shrink ourselves to get outside of the pit but we do believe that we should  grow out of it,” he said.

The group invested a total of $5,4 million in 2016.

It splashed on the UHT carton processing and filling plant to localize production of cartonised ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk which will result in import substitution and some savings. Mandiwanza said the plant has capacity to process and pack cartonised juices.
It expanded the capacity of the Pfuko/Udiwo maheu plant to meet demand and increased the number of flavours.
Additionally, the company invested in peanut butter processing to enhance capacity and product quality.

This, according to Mandiwanza, means that the business has sufficient capacity to meet current and future demand.

Dairibord should be one of the companies to benefit from the import restrictions but dairy products continue to be smuggled into the market so foreign competition remains a challenge and will continue to put pressure on the topline.

Additionally, the company is facing the threat of new entrants in the market with relatively cheaper products.

In the period, revenue declined by 10 percent from $103,4 million recorded in the preceding year to $93,4 million chiefly as a result of price reductions to address affordability and competitiveness.

The company revised prices downwards in the period resulting in a significant 9 percent decline in consolidated average price from $1,23 per litre in the previous year to $1,13 per litre.

Sales volume declined by one percent to 83 million units as a result of lost production although this was partially offsetted by a surge in raw milk intake which was up 18 percent to 31 million litres.

The company experienced supply constraints emanating from the mismatch between raw milk and demand, worsened by delays in the commissioning of the UHT plant.

As a result the company said it lost 2 million litres of liquid milk, a disruption which had a very significant impact on revenue.

Foreign currency shortages also led to supply challenges for raw materials, putting further pressure on volumes.

Nevertheless, Dairibord’s raw milk intake increased 20 percent and was above the 14 percent increase in national raw milk production for 2016 because of better supplies from contracted farmers benefitting from its heifer importation scheme initiated two years ago.

The company’s market share of the national raw milk stood at 47 percent. Additionally the company’s Pfuko/Udiwo product line continues to thrive, with volumes  rising 18 percent on increased capacity and additional flavours.

Challenges, fears
The twin challenges, lower prices and volume decline had a material impact on revenue which declined by 10 percent. In terms of revenue contribution by portfolio, liquid milk and food portfolios contributed 33 percent and 26 percent respectively while beverages accounts for 41 percent with the logistic portfolio contributing less than a percent in 2016.

Liquid milk prices per litre fell 15 percent to $1,09 while food and beverages declined by 9 percent and one percent to $2,21 and $0,87 per litre respectively.
However, Mandiwanza hopes that prices will hold steady after inflation moved into positive territory for the first time in February and looks likely to spiral amid currency challenges.

“The trend of price reduction for the entire portfolio is not expected to continue going forward given the positive shift in inflation from January 2017,” Mandiwanza told analysts.

Production costs remained flat at $20,9 million but gross profit fell 23 percent to $18,9 million on lower revenues.

Overheads increased by 10 percent from $20,7 million in the previous year to $22,8 million partly on the back of a $2,8 million once off impairment of inventories, receivables and equipment.

However, even if the impact of these impairments is excluded, the business still remained unprofitable due to misalignment of the cost structure to the level of production.

The company incurred significant costs to get alternative sources of water as outages in the second half of the year impacted the beverages portfolio as the company was forced to buy in water at $12 to $17 per cubic metre from third parties versus $1,4 per cubic metre from local authorities..
Mandiwanza told analysts that erratic supply and high cost of water procured from third parties for Simon Mazorodze and Chitungwiza factories significantly add to costs incurred during the period

Such exorbitant prices led to very high production costs, thereby stifling the company’s operational efficiency.

Exports will remain subdued as the average cost of raw milk in Zimbabwe at 57 cents/litre, remained high relative to regional competitors, making Zimbabwe’s milk and milk related products uncompetitive on the regional markets.

Dairibord Malawi which contributed three percent of group revenue, posted an operating loss of $200,000 in the year and has been an albatross for a while now.

Mandiwanza said it Dairibord will hold on to the loss-making operation and explore other options to extract value from the business.
Not all gloom and doom
On the downside, foreign currency constraints are most likely to continue with negative effect on supply materials.
Milk powder prices are also projected to be lower than in 2016, thereby continuing to put pressure on revenue.
Additionally, competition will increase as new entrants invest in processing capacity and this might as well force the company to further revise prices downwards to protect its market share.
However the company has taken significant steps to counter the downside risks.
This include the realignment of its business model to reduce costs which saw the company consolidating Dairibord, Lyons and NFB logistics operations in a bid to eliminate duplication across the value chain, roles and responsibilities as well as reducing distribution costs.
Subsequently, the company projected a minimum savings of $2 million with a rationalisation cost of $1 million from retrenchments, head office relocations and relocation of plant and equipment.
Additionally, investment in 1,5 million litres water storage capacity with one week cover at the Chitungwiza factory will minimise water supply disruptions, thereby curbing exorbitant costs experienced in the previous period owing to water outages.
Mandiwanza said Dairibord would invest $2,5 million for the year towards water reservoirs, cold chain equipment and distribution vehicles in a bid to improve its operational efficiency.

The company also targets to import 300 heifers this year to increase milk production.
Given the investments in the preceding year and the ones on the books for 2017, the management is optimistic that the business has sufficient production capacity to support growth in demand going forward.
However, success will be depend on how far the measures instituted to reduce costs and expand capacity will yield positive results in an operating environment that is worsening by the day. Or more dark days lie ahead. – The Source

We regret to let our valued readers know that due to circumstances beyond our control the Hazel Cheuka program has been lifted to Sunday 4pm.

NEW TIME: Sunday 9th April

TIME:         4pm (DURATION 1Hour)

Zimbabwe has run out of cash and fuel ZimEye can report.

A ZimEye reader reported that fuel stations had run dry on fuel, “Bulawayo petrol stations running out of fuel. 3 service stations NO FUEL.”

The three stations in Bulawayo are, Bobs garage, Ascot service station and the service station corner Robert Mugabe and 5th street.

Meanwhile the local Daily News reports of a severe cash crisis which is worsening, forcing banks to reduce further their daily withdrawal limits — in addition to suspending dispensing money through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

This prompted analysts who spoke to the paper yesterday to say that this confirmed that the local economy was dying and “hurtling towards total collapse”.

It also comes as most banks are now disbursing a maximum of $30 dollars a day, down from their usual $100 — while those that had capped the maximum withdrawal limit at $500 a week have pulled this back to $200.

The cash shortages are also continuing to worsen despite the recent opening of the tobacco marketing season, where more than $47 million worth of the leaf has so far been sold.

Economic advisor to President Robert Mugabe, Ashok Chakravarti, told the journalists yesterday that the escalating cash crisis was a result of “long-term problems” that came after the country opted to have one of the world’s strongest currencies, the US dollar, as its anchor currency.

“We have close to $6,5 billion in deposits and at the end of January we had a little over $300 million in cash circulating.

“Under such circumstances, it only makes sense that we have shortages. Do not blame the banks, it is not their fault, they are only looking for a coping mechanism,” Chakravarti said.

He recommended that the government should adopt the South African rand and ditch the dollar.

“I have said this before, we need a weaker currency. The weaker, the better for us. As South Africa has just been downgraded, this is an opportune time. What we just need is a weaker currency,” he added.

Veteran economist John Robertson said the cash problems were going to persist until the government urgently fixed the country’s economic fundamentals.

“This has been going on for the past year and in my view, the situation is not likely to improve in the near future because economic fundamentals remain the same.

“Government’s wage bill still makes up the majority of deposits and as soon as those deposits are recorded, civil servants want to withdraw the money. But there is essentially no money in the system . . . Not even tobacco earnings will save us this time” Robertson said.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) increased the bond notes withdrawal limit from a maximum of $150 a week to $100 per day, and $300 per week towards the end of last year.

It has so far injected $102 million worth of the surrogate currency into the system.

The cash shortages come as there are growing fears that the country’s economy may soon hit the disastrous lows of 2008 — as bond notes continue to lose their value against the United States dollar, with the coveted greenback now almost completely unavailable on the open market.

At the same time, economists have previously told the Daily News that poverty levels in the country are skyrocketing, with average incomes now at their lowest levels in more than 60 years — and with more than 76 percent of the country’s families now having to make do with pitiful incomes that are well below the poverty datum line of more than $500.

Mugabe and his warring ruling Zanu PF, in power since Zimbabwe’s independence from Britain in 1980, stand accused of turning the once-thriving local economy, which at one time was regarded as the bread basket of Africa, into a much-derided basket case. – Daily News

Ray Nkosi | Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)  leader Morgan Tsvangirai did not attend the much publicised NERA demonstration amid speculation that he is back in South-Africa for treatment.

His office could not be immediately reached for comment.

Tsvangirai was last year diagonised with colon cancer and has been recovering steadily over the past weeks. Tsvangirai was represented at the NERA demo by his deputy Nelson Chamisa and secretary general Douglas Mwonzora.

Mwonzora expressed  dissatisfaction with the Zimbabwe Election Commission’s response to the #NERAdemo petitions.

ZLHR MOUNTS FREEDOM BID FOR MAN CHARGED OVER ANTI-MUGABE SLUR

GWANDA Magistrate Willard Mafios Moyo will on Tuesday 11 April 2017 deliver his ruling on a freedom bid filed by a 49 year-old man, who was summoned to stand trial for allegedly undermining authority of or insulting President Robert Mugabe.

49 year-old Themba Nyoni, appeared at Gwanda Magistrates Court on Tuesday 04 April 2017 after he was summoned to stand trial on charges of undermining authority of or insulting the President in contravention of Section 33 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:27 after he allegedly told Abedinico Ncube, the Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage Minister that President Mugabe was too old and should consider stepping down from his position as the leader of the country.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers who arrested Nyoni alleged that the former MDC councillor uttered the following words in isiNdebele: “Mina angisoze ngi-join ZANU PF, hambani liyetshela uMugabe a-step down kuthi ngize ngijoine iZANU PF” which the law enforcement agents translated to mean; “Go and tell Mugabe to step down so that I can join ZANU PF.” This reportedly incensed Ncube, who reported Nyoni to ZRP officers and who immediately arrested the former MDC councilor, who has retired from being a politician.

Nyoni’s lawyer Lizwe Jamela of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on Tuesday 04 April 2017 challenged the prosecution of his client by filing an application for exception to the charge preferred against the former MDC councillor in Gwanda and argued that the allegations complained of against his client do not disclose an offence.

Magistrate Moyo will on Tuesday 11 April 2017 rule on Nyoni’s application.

Nyoni was arrested on Saturday 28 January 2017 and charged with undermining authority of or insulting the President in contravention of Section 33 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:27.

He was set free on Wednesday 01 February 2017, when he appeared at Gwanda Magistrates Court after Jamela argued that his client had not committed any offence to warrant him to be put on trial.

However, the National Prosecuting Authority on 13 February 2017 issued a certificate authorising Nyoni’s prosecution hence he was summoned to stand trial on Tuesday 04 April 2017.

ZLHR has in recent years noted a dramatic increase in the arbitrary application of Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23, where individuals have been charged with allegedly “”insulting or undermining the authority of the President’.

ZLHR’s records compiled since 2010 show that the organisation has attended to close to 150 cases where clients have fallen foul of this law and the bulk of the victims are residents and villagers residing
in the politically volatile Mashonaland Central province.

ZLHR has challenged the constitutionality of Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) on several occasions, on the basis that it infringes on freedom of expression, particularly of a public figure, and one who must be subjected to scrutiny as a political candidate.

In courts, the NPA has in recent years and months been withdrawing charges against several suspects after declining prosecution and conceding before Constitutional Court judges that the allegations do not disclose the commission of an offence. This would be after ZLHR lawyers would have petitioned the country’s apex court seeking orders challenging the constitutionality of the insult law.

The B737-800NG taxied through a fireman salute upon it’s arrival in #Harare.Thank you @caaz.#Zimbabwe #Rwanda #FlyTheDreamOfAfrica pic.twitter.com/c04oGm1T9B

— RwandAir (@FlyRwandAir) April 5, 2017

Rwanda Air flew into Zimbabwe for the first time this morning.

State media reports that Rwanda Air flew into Harare amid ululations from stakeholders on the local tourism industry.

The inaugural flight to Harare is part of the open skies policy that government has adopted in recent years.

Permanent Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural  Development Mr Munesushe Munodawafa, Civil Aviation Authority General Manager Mr David Chawota and the Rwandan community were on hand to welcome the new baby in the Zimbabwe skies.

Cleric Phillip Mugadza is refusing to settle a $15 medical bill incurred when he was treated at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (Parirenyatwa), demanding that President Robert Mugabe must foot the expense.

The man of cloth — who made headlines after prophesying that 93-year-old Mugabe will die on October 17 this year — was treated at the public hospital after alleged torture while in police custody.

In an April 3, 2017 letter addressed to Parirenyatwa’s administrator, Mugadza said he was economically incapacitated and could not pay the bill “either in United States dollars or bond notes”.

“I hereby acknowledge receipt of your text message on my mobile phone on March 29, with reference number PGH680239. It was informing me of what I owe you for the treatment I got from your hospital on November 22, last year,” read the letter.

“Regrettably, I am so much unable to raise that $15. Secondly, I was not treated for a natural affliction. It was inflicted on me by the President’s Office; therefore it goes without saying that the president will have to pay for it,” Mugadza said.

“ . . . don’t hesitate to inform him that is what I said because he is so much aware of it, and besides, he is able to offset that little amount,” he said.

In his initial court appearance on the criminal nuisance charge, Mugadza, through his lawyer Gift Mtisi, complained that he had been assaulted by police officers in plain clothes at Parliament Building.

Zimbabwe Republic Police cops have launched a manhunt for a man who allegedly killed a 29 year old man over a love triangle.

Edgar Moyo (21) of Somgolo village under Chief Mabhikwa, allegedly stabbed a herdboy, Moyana Nyoni (29) over a 16-year-old girl both men were in love with.

Nyoni was stabbed once in the chest at around 11PM last Thursday and died the following morning on the way to St Lukes Hospital. A source said Nyoni, who came from Munana village under Chief Shana in Jambezi, was employed as a herdboy in Somgolo village in Lupane. The girl at the centre of the fatal fight allegedly lives with her parents at their homestead where Nyoni was stabbed.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm we received a report of a 21-year-old man who stabbed a 29-year-old man over a girlfriend. Moyana Nyoni visited the girl first that evening and Moyo also arrived at around 11 PM. A misunderstanding arose and Moyo produced a knife and stabbed Nyoni once in the right side of his chest.

“He was rushed to Mbembesi Clinic and was transferred to St Lukes Mission Hospital for further management. He died on the way to the hospital,” said Asst Insp Nkala.

His body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for post-mortem.

Asst Insp Nkala said police were appealing for anyone with information on the whereabouts of Moyo to report at any nearest police station.

In January, another man was axed in the same village over a woman and he died last week at St Lukes Mission Hospital.

Last week, Officer Commanding Lupane district Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo announced a ban on the carrying of catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives or daggers or any traditional weapon in public for the next three months due to violent crimes committed using the weapons. – state media

A love affair has ended tragically for a married man who allegedly died in the arms of his girlfriend three days after they moved in together in Bulawayo’s Old Lobengula suburb.

Samson Ndebele, whose age could not be ascertained but was said to be in his late 30s, died yesterday morning at around 9AM after allegedly complaining of excruciating stomach cramps for about an hour.

A family member, Mr Daniel Sibanda, refused to comment on the incident and referred questions to a family spokesperson, who asked The Chronicle news crew to leave.

“This is a family matter. You are not welcome. Please show yourselves out,” said the brother to the deceased, who was only referred to as Baba Ndebele.

However, a family member who preferred anonymity said foul play is suspected as Ndebele was in perfect health.

“We are definitely going to launch a probe because we cannot understand how somebody can just die yet he was so well and fresh (sic). We will not bury him until we get transparency in the form of a detailed postmortem,” he said.

Ndebele, who is said to be a father of four, had moved in with his girlfriend on Saturday evening into their new lodgings. His family allegedly stays in the rural areas where he visits often.

Neighbours said Ndebele’s girlfriend, who refused to speak to the Press, had not informed her landlord about her boyfriend’s death but had told her employer who lives about a kilometre away.

Police were called to the scene at around 9:30AM but arrived after 1PM, with a Runyaradzo Funeral parlour hearse.

After the body was taken, the family left the deceased’s lodgings and proceeded to his aunt’s place where they held the funeral wake.

Nobody seemed to notice Ndebele’s girlfriend, who was alone crying in a corner while most of the women were comforting the deceased person’s mother.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango was not available for comment. – State Media

THE Meteorological Services Department yesterday warned that aftershocks of an earthquake that shook Botswana on Monday night and felt in many parts of Zimbabwe can damage buildings and injure people.

The department also warned members of the public against following “dangerous” messages about earthquakes on social media, advising instead that people should get accurate information from the department’s website.

An earth tremor, triggered by an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale which hit Botswana at 7:40PM on Monday, ripped through most parts of Zimbabwe.

In a statement yesterday, the Met office said members of the public would feel the aftermath of one of the greatest earthquakes in the history of Botswana.

“This was a large regional earthquake thus we expect aftershocks hours, days or weeks after the main earthquake. Aftershocks can cause building damage and falling debris that can injure people. People should check for infrastructural damage to their properties as this earthquake was widely felt in Plumtree, Gwanda, Bulawayo, Hwange, Victoria Falls and even Harare.  This should give us lessons as a country that we are not safe from earthquakes and that earthquakes are a hazard,” reads the statement.

The Met Dept added:

“This is a very big earthquake thus it has higher chances of causing infrastructural damage. A comprehensive intensity survey would need to be carried out in areas like Plumtree and most parts of south western Zimbabwe. This would generate a well detailed intensity survey report thus helping to map the areas the earthquake was felt and intensity in each area.”

The department said it received phone calls from all over the country yesterday from concerned members of the public.

“They felt the ground shaking. Some also said they heard rumblings, the shaking of door panels and the rattling of windows. A number of people in Plumtree were frightened as they felt their houses vibrating, door panels shaking heavily,” reads the statement.

South Africa experienced a 5.2 quake earlier on Monday at 5.08AM with no reported casualties.  According to the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) earthquake data, a 5.2 magnitude tremor of a depth of 5km was felt 8km south of Stilfontein in the North West Province.

Meanwhile, the Met Dept and the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) have noted that there are some misleading messages that are being circulated on the social media in the aftermath of the earthquake.

“Of concern are some messages that have now gone overboard to the extent of misleading the general public such as where and when the next earthquake will take place and that people should sleep outdoors,” reads a joint Press release from the organisations yesterday.

“While we have no problem with social media, we take exception to those messages that become sensational on matters of life and death.”

The organisations appealed to the media to help in ensuring the general public is protected from taking wrong decisions based on wrong information.

“Accordingly, let us respect the authoritative voice principle which ensures that all official communication on warnings and alerts that are a matter of life and death come from a single source. Too many sources of information may lead to confusion under these circumstances. A recognised or designated authority communiqué enables a person to make informed decisions based on official information. In Zimbabwe, the Meteorological Services Department is responsible for monitoring earthquakes. The general public in the country is urged to check with the department for confirmation and decision making.

It costs nothing to check,” the release added. – State Media

THE MDC-T has described its late Matabeleland North provincial chairperson, Thembinkosi Sibindi, as a great unifier whose leadership qualities will be solely missed as the opposition party gears for the crunch 2018 general elections.

Sibindi died in a car crash in Hwange on Saturday and is set to be buried at his rural home in Silobela at the weekend.

MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday said Sibindi’s death had left the party poorer.

“Sibindi was a down to earth veteran of the democratic struggle who never raised his voice high, but was very strategic on grassroots mobilisation,” he said.

“We are very saddened by his sudden passing on and we will dearly miss him and his strategies which had put up the party structures into a solid entity in Matabeleland North.”

Matabeleland South MDC-T spokesperson Ekem Moyo said his province was saddened by Sibindi’s passing on.

“Mat South would like to mourn the sad and untimely death of one of the revered and dedicated freedom fighters, human rights activist and MDC-T Mat North chairperson Sibindi,” he said.

“On behalf of Mat South MDC-T province, the chairman Njaemnyama Solani Moyo and observing all protocol, we are expressing our heartfelt condolences to MDC-T family. We mourn with grieving hearts the loss of Sibindi. Our deepest condolences also go to our president Morgan Tsvangirai and all party leaders.

“We find it difficult to accept the loss of a strategist and tactician in this point and juncture of our struggle for freedom.

“To the family and supporters; such is life. No one can change the will of God. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Moyo said. – Newsday

A BULAWAYO political pressure group, Ibhetshu Likazulu, has told Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko he is the wrong person to try and bring about closure to the emotive Gukurahundi issue, as the 1980s killings continue to dominate discourse in the Matabeleland region.

The pressure group’s leader, Mbuso Fuzwayo said by virtue of belonging to Zanu PF, the party in power during the massacres, Mphoko was approaching the Gukurahundi issue with dirty hands.

“It is unfortunate that the perpetrator is now prescribing the solution.

“Mphoko, representing the State that is the perpetrator, cannot prescribe on what must be done,” Fuzwayo said, although he conceded that by facilitating the issuance of identity documents, which has long been a sore issue for those affected by the killings, the Vice-President was on the right track.

“What I don’t know is what they are going to do about death certificates, especially for those who were abducted and never returned.”

Fuzwayo said Mphoko must expend his energies on ensuring the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission was set up and open up the way for restorative justice.

“The victims must be allowed to say how they want the whole process to be done, not the top (perpetrator) prescribing, we will not allow that,” he said.

“Reburials cannot be done without experts because there is a need for forensic experts, and pathologist.”

Addressing members of the Late Chief Malaki Masuku’s family in Nathisa in Matobo district at the weekend, Mphoko said the government had embarked on a programme to address challenges posed by Gukurahundi in order to bring closure to the issue.

Mphoko said the government was in the process of issuing birth certificates to children whose parents were victims of the massacres and was constructing monuments on mass graves to bring the issue to finality.

But, Fuzwayo said the issue will never be closed by anyone until the perpetrators, particularly President Robert Mugabe, publicly apologises for the State-sanctioned massacres of an estimated 20 000 people.

“We are talking about genocide, not just a crime. Truth telling, justice and so on is the way to go,” he said.

Terrence Mawawa, Chinhoyi| Zim PF national executive member, Hilda Wasiya, has rejoined the ruling party Zanu PF.

Wasiya officially announced his return to the ruling party in Chinhoyi yesterday. “I am back and I will never desert Zanu PF again. Zanu PF is my home and I thank you for the warm reception.

Joice Mujuru has nothing to offer to the people,”said Wasiya to a thunderous applause from Zanu PF supporters.

Public Service Minister, Prisca Mupfumira congratulated Wasiya for making what she described as a bold move.

Terrence Mawawa, Gweru | An official in President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party, Zanu PF, has been arrested for raping a minor.
Zanu PF chairperson for Lalapanzi District, Vitalis Nyesvu(59) appeared before Magistrate Morgan Nemadire last Tuesday facing rape charges. Nemadire of Chishuku Village 2A, Lalapanzi, forced himself on the juvenile as she was going to school.

Nyesvu allegedly threatened the girl’s parents before offering them a beast to atone for the crime.
Facts were that on September 8, 2016, around 12pm, the minor was on her way to Savana Primary School when she met Nyesvu in a bushy area.Nyesvu who was coming from the opposite direction, greeted the girl and she responded since she knew him.
Nyesvu grabbed the juvenile and dragged her to a secluded spot where he raped her.
He also allegedly threatened to stab the minor with a knife and ordered her not to disclose the matter to anyone.
However, the girl mustered the courage to relate the incident to her aunt.
“The minor was given some sweets by Nyesvu and when her aunt asked her who had given her the sweets, she then disclosed the matter,” the court heard.
The girl’s aunt then reported the matter to the police leading to Nyesvu’s arrest.
Nyesvu was remanded in custody to April 7, for continuation of trial.

An Upper Six pupil at Tennyson Hlabangana High School drowned while swimming with schoolmates at a dam in Hope Fountain.

Ngqabutho Ncube (18) left school in the company of his 19-year-old friend on their way home but decided to go swimming first on Monday afternoon. They met other schoolboys at the dam and he ended up drowning.

Bulawayo Metropolitan province police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident.

“We received a report of an 18-year-old pupil who went on a swimming escapade with a friend. At the dam, the two found three other schoolmates and the group started swimming together. After swimming about halfway across the dam, Ngqabutho Ncube drowned,” she said.

“His friends rushed to school and reported the matter which was brought to our attention and the Sub Aqua team rushed to the scene. They found Ngqabutho already dead and the body was immediately retrieved.”

Insp Simango warned members of the public to stay away from dams and other water bodies especially if they cannot swim.

Acting Bulawayo Provincial Education Director Mrs Ollicah Kaira expressed her condolences following Ncube’s death.

“We are saddened by the loss of one of our pupils, a Form Six student who drowned yesterday (Monday) afternoon on his way home. He was a day scholar and on his way home he was tempted to join three others who were swimming in the dam resulting in him drowning,” said Mrs Kaira.

“On behalf of the ministry and the school, we would like to express our deepest sympathy to the Ncube family. We urge pupils to be extra careful at all times to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.”

Meanwhile, a 10-months-old toddler also drowned in a dish in Tsholotsho over the weekend.
Lastgirl Moyo was left unattended by her mother, Sithabile Moyo (48) of Mswigana area under Chief Tategulu.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala said: “The toddler’s mother, who was attending a funeral at their neighbour’s home, was asked to serve drinking water to some elders at the funeral. When she returned to where she had left her child, she found her head in the water and the legs up. She was already dead”. – State Media

A-21-year-old man from Lupane is on the run for allegedly stabbing a herdboy over a 16-year-old girl both men were in love with.

Edgar Moyo of Somgolo village under Chief Mabhikwa allegedly stabbed Moyana Nyoni (29) after clashing at their girlfriend’s homestead in the same village.

Nyoni was stabbed once in the chest at around 11PM last Thursday and died the following morning on the way to St Lukes Hospital.

A source said Nyoni, who came from Munana village under Chief Shana in Jambezi, was employed as a herdboy in Somgolo village in Lupane.

The girl at the centre of the fatal fight allegedly lives with her parents at their homestead where Nyoni was stabbed.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala confirmed the incident.

He said the suspect was on the run.

“I can confirm we received a report of a 21-year-old man who stabbed a 29-year-old man over a girlfriend. Moyana Nyoni visited the girl first that evening and Moyo also arrived at around 11 PM. A misunderstanding arose and Moyo produced a knife and stabbed Nyoni once in the right side of his chest.

“He was rushed to Mbembesi Clinic and was transferred to St Lukes Mission Hospital for further management. He died on the way to the hospital,” said Asst Insp Nkala.

His body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospitals for post-mortem.

Asst Insp Nkala said police were appealing for anyone with information on the whereabouts of Moyo to report at any nearest police station.

In January, another man was axed in the same village over a woman and he died last week at St Lukes Mission Hospital.

Last week, Officer Commanding Lupane district Chief Superintendent Johannes Govo announced a ban on the carrying of catapults, machetes, axes, knobkerries, swords, knives or daggers or any traditional weapon in public for the next three months due to violent crimes committed using the weapons.- State Media

While many disregard rubbish and rush to dispose of it, some women in Plumtree have ventured into waste management projects in order to sustain their families and to maintain hygiene in their community.

They have formed health clubs where they collect waste and recycle it into different wares, which they sell to raise income.

Some of the waste they recycle include cardboard boxes, empty mealie meal bags, bottles, drink cans and pieces of cloth, which would have been dumped.

They produce hats, mats, caps, sanitary wear, artefacts for decoration, bags, washing baskets and learning material for Early Childhood Development pupils among other things.

Members of health clubs from Plumtree recently commemorated Africa Environment Day, which was organised by the Environmental Management Authority (Ema) where they displayed their wares and also educated members of the public on the advantages of waste management.

Mrs Miriam Moyo, a member of Simidzilani Health Club, said the waste management project had assisted her to fend for her family. She said they formed the club in 2015.

“As a club we collect cardboard boxes, pieces of cloth, empty drink cans, plastic bottles and clothing items from the rubbish dump. We recycle this rubbish to produce different products. We produce hats, caps, bags, washing baskets, mats, sanitary wear, artefacts for decoration and learning material for Early Childhood Development learners among other things.

“We sell these wares to residents, motorists and schools. These products range from 0.50 cents up to $10 depending on what customers buy,” said Mrs Moyo.

She said the money she made through recycling waste helped her to buy food supplies and groceries for her family.

Mrs Moyo said she was encouraged to recycle waste during a training programme that was held under the Water and Sanitation Hygiene (Wash) Programme. She said they were educated on the importance of hygiene and how to make products using waste.

She said they were trained on how to make a few products but as a club they used their imagination and innovation to broaden their scope.

“While many look at rubbish and continue to disregard it and rush to dispose of it I see it as a source of livelihood. I may not be able to earn a lot of money through selling these products but I’m able to put food on the table for my family,” she said.

Mrs Khethiwe Ngwenya who is also a member of Simidzilani Health Club said recycling was not only about raising income but it also promoted hygiene in the border town.

She said they constantly conducted clean up campaigns in the border town in order to promote hygiene.

“When we collect waste our focus isn’t only on raising income or ensuring we have a source of livelihood but it also ensures that our town is clean. We don’t only collect rubbish from the dumpsite but we also hold clean up campaigns in the town.

“During these campaigns we are able to collect waste for recycling and at the same time ensure that the town is clean. This project that we have embarked on has made us realise that there is no waste which is useless,” she said.

Mrs Ngwenya, however, said they faced challenges in accessing markets for their products.  This, she said, discouraged some women from participating in the clubs.

She said only a few residents were aware of their products as they sold their wares from their homes. She said there was a need for more fairs to be organised to help them market their products.

“As health clubs our main focus is to promote and be pioneers of hygiene and we do this through various activities. It is our desire that more women join us and be part of these clubs.

“If our town is dirty then it means we will putting the lives of our families, especially our children at risk of contracting diseases. If more people join in this initiative we will realise the benefits of recycling to full capacity,” said Mrs Ngwenya.

Ema held the belated Africa Environment Day commemoration at Dingumuzi Community Hall in Plumtree. To mark the day the environmental agency spearheaded a cleanup campaign in the border town.

Speaking during the commemorations Environmental Education and Publicity Officer for Matabeleland South Province, Mrs Sithembokuhle Moyo said this year’s Africa Environment Day was celebrated under the theme “Empowering communities through sustainable waste management”.

She said the theme sought to ensure that communities recycled waste for sustenance.

“It is the responsibility of every resident to ensure that their town is clean and this is only possible through waste management. It’s not only about throwing away rubbish but recycling it is equally important.

“Women from Plumtree have formed health clubs which have contributed immensely in ensuring hygiene is maintained. They have gone a step further from collecting waste only but they recycle, reuse and recover. It’s, however, not the responsibility of women only to recycle but men have to be actively involved as well,” said Mrs Sithembokuhle Moyo.

She said in towns where health clubs had embarked on waste management there had been significant progress in ensuring that they remained clean.

“Plumtree Town has improved in terms of cleanliness when compared to previous years and health clubs have significantly contributed towards this success. Another town, which has made significant progress is Gwanda, as it has similar clubs that are engaged in waste management,” she said.

Mrs Sithembokuhle Moyo said community members were expected to carry out livelihood sustaining activities that were not harmful to the environment.

She, however, raised a concern over the state of littering on highways and laybys in Matabeleland South Province. She said there was a need for travellers and motorists to exercise hygiene and take responsibility in maintaining cleanliness.

Africa Environment Day was established by the then Organisation of African Unity in 2002 as a way of raising awareness on the pressing environmental challenges facing the continent. Since 2012 the Africa Environment Day has been celebrated on March 3 in conjunction with Wangari Maathai Day, in order to pay tribute to the late Nobel’s Laureate’s green legacy. – State Media

Police in the Midlands province have banned the carrying of dangerous weapons for the next three months.

Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said: “Yes there is a prohibition order to that effect and we have even gone as far as placing advertisements in The Chronicle to that effect. Carrying of dangerous weapons is prohibited in three districts namely Zvishavane, Gokwe and Kwekwe.”

Two weeks ago, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya told a Zanu-PF Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting that the province tops the list when it comes to violent murders using dangerous weapons especially machetes.

“I must inform the leadership that it has come to the attention of Government that Midlands is topping the list of violent murders using machetes. Over a dozen people have lost their lives and many have been seriously injured,” he said.

“Kwekwe, Zvishavane and Gokwe have been singled out. Illegal gold mining is the major cause of the violence. Some politicians are being accused as being the ringleaders of the violence and beneficiaries of the process. As a province, we must seriously address the issue.”

Recently, police held an outreach programme at Amaveni Shopping Centre in Kwekwe — the hotspot of the killings  — in a bid to stop the violence.

Addressing residents, the Officer Commanding Midlands Province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Abigail Moyo, said they were concerned about the high number of cases of violence involving the use of machetes.

“Of these cases, at least 10 people have been murdered, 30 injured including three police officers and 10 displaced. To date we have arrested around 20 suspects,” she said.

Snr Asst Com Moyo said it was a crime for members of the public and especially gold panners to carry machetes or dangerous weapons.

Bans on the carrying of dangerous weapons have also been effected in Harare, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South provinces. – State Media

Staff Reporter| A story circulating on Tuesday claiming that Local Government Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is in intensive care, is not true.

The minister has been noted for his sudden absence from the micro blogging website, Twitter over the last 3 days.

But sources close to Kasukuwere have revealed he is not at all in hospital and at the time of writing was at work (this is a developing story and latest updates will availed once established). ZimEye was at the time of writing still investigating a second report that claims the minister was unwell when the Bindura march was conducted yesterday. More to follow – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR UPDATES.

Mrs Anna Masukangoto of Ngundu Village who spent almost seven hours while chained to a fence with handcuffs by a ZRP cop has begun speaking.

Local NGO, ZimRights is investigating this case of human rights violation which happened on Sunday, April 2, 2017.
ZimRights Director, Okay Machisa, said the organisation will continue to fight such bad practices by law enforcement institutions and personnel. “ZimRights will leave no stone unturned on this matter as we fight to uphold our constitution,” said Machisa.

Mrs Masukangoto said she was chained to a fence after she resisted to be force-marched to the home of a teacher at Nyamandi High School, believed to be the leader of Morning Glory Church, that had built a church on wetlands before villagers in the area, including Mrs Masukangoto teamed up and demolished it.

It is not clear why police targeted Mrs Masukangoto for arrest yet the church was allegedly demolished by all the villagers in Ngundu.

“The police officers approached me when I was in my maize field fetching some maize cobs and pulled out handcuffs to arrest me and when I asked why they were doing that, they said I was responsible for destroying the church (built on wetlands) in the village,’’ she said.

“I asked them why they were targeting me alone yet the church in question was destroyed by all the villagers in the area and the cops said I was supposed to reveal the identity of the other alleged perpetrators,’’ Mrs Masukangoto added.
She added that she wrestled with the cops as they tried to handcuff her before allegedly overpowering her and dragging her.

“I refused to be taken to Nyamandi High School, where they wanted to take me and they started dragging me, even touching me on sensitive areas, something which I do not know whether or not police are allowed to do when arresting a suspect,” she said.

Mrs Masukangoto alleged that the cops dragged her on the ground for five metres and chained her to a fence, bragging that they wanted to discipline her for resisting arrest.

Other villagers allegedly arrived at the fence and kept vigil after the police officers had left.
Mrs Masukangoto alleged that the cops returned around 2pm and freed her.
Ngundu Village committee member Mr Cassian Jaravaza confirmed the incident.

“The victim (Mrs Masukangoto) teamed up with other villagers in our area and destroyed a Morning Glory Church building that had been built on wetlands, which were reserved for grazing,’’ he said.

“I do not know why the police targeted her but we hear they suspected that she was the ringleader and one of the two policemen by the name Dzumano chained her to the fence from around 7am in the morning and freed her after 2pm,’’ said Mr Jaravaza.

He said action should be taken against the police officer in question as what he did tarnished the good image of the police.

Zimrights director Mr Okay Machisa said his organisation would not rest until action was taken against the police officer.

“It is very clear that our laws and Constitution do not tolerate torture, the police officer in question needs to face the law because what he did is criminal,’’ he said.

“During the recent Universal Periodic Review meeting held in Geneva, (Switzerland), the Vice President Emmerson Mnangangwa, who attended the meeting, was very clear and categorical that Zimbabwe does not condone torture,’’ said Mr Machisa.

“Such behaviour (by the police officer) is unacceptable and we will leave no stone unturned in making sure the officer faces the law,’’ added Mr Machisa.

The High Court has ruled that a local firm operating a bonded warehouse has no right to confiscate third parties’ goods over outstanding storage costs.

Amcotts Trading (Private) Ltd, which runs a bonded warehouse, had confiscated two Toyota Hilux Revo 2.8L double cabs belonging to the State (Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Ministry), over non-payment of $49 000 in storage fees.

Justice Owen Tagu recently granted an application by Peppy Motors (Private) Ltd seeking an order against Amcotts and Blackbox Investments (Private) Ltd for the release of the two vehicles.

Peppy Motors had a contract with Government to facilitate the purchase and importation of 10 vehicles at a cost of $480 000.

The firm then brought in 43 vehicles to be kept at Amcotts bonded warehouse, but accumulated storage costs from the bonding of all the vehicles. As at November last year, Amcotts was owed $49 038 in storage fees.

After Peppy Motors failed to pay the outstanding storage costs, Amcotts held on to two vehicles as lien over its debt. But Justice Tagu refused to accept Amcotts’ defence of lien over storage costs that arose from bonding the 43 vehicles.

“The amount does not refer to the two vehicles in question alone,” said Justice Tagu.
To make matters worse, said the judge, while the bonding costs were to be paid by Peppy Motors, the vehicles that had been confiscated by Amcotts belonged to a third party, which is Government.

“The respondents (Amcotts and Blackbox), in my view, cannot exercise a lien over property of third parties,” said Justice Tagu. The two vehicles are not owned by the applicant (Peppy Motors), but by the Government of Zimbabwe.”

Justice Tagu said Peppy Motors was a mere agent through which the two vehicles were imported and cleared into Zimbabwe. The two companies, he said, could only exercise a lien over Peppy Motors’ property.

Mawadze and Mujaya Legal Practitioners acted for Peppy Motors, while Coghlan, Welsh and Guest argued the matter for Amcotts and Blackbox Investments. herald

THE National Building Society (NBS) yesterday torched a storm after it placed an advert in the print media with incorrect isiNdebele spellings.

The bank joins several institutions which have disregarded consulting when coming up with adverts resulting in them misspelling isiNdebele words. Instead of putting an advert reading “vaka yako” in Shona and “yakha eyakho” meaning build yours, the bank wrote ‘yaka eyako’ — a meaningless statement in isiNdebele.
The advertisement infuriated isiNdebele speakers who said misspelling a word violates a people’s language and the country’s constitution.
Social commentator Mr Cont Mhlanga said Government through the Ministry of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage should take advertising agencies to task for improper spellings.
He described the spelling mistake as defacing a heritage because language is part of a people’s heritage. Mr Mhlanga said a language needs to be protected from being changed through such mistakes as it will end up being distorted.

“A people’s culture becomes destroyed through inactivity of the monitoring of their culture because if people do not monitor their language it will suffer extinction. What is clear is that there are people who want to use isiNdebele to communicate,” said Mr Mhlanga.

He said universities who teach African languages should move in to address the problem that seems to have found a home in the business sector.

A Journalism and Media Studies lecturer with the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), Mr Thando Nkomo, said the spelling mistake shows lack of professionalism by the advertising agency involved.

He said NBS should be leading in terms of promoting local languages as it was a Government’s baby.

“One would expect that Government agencies and parastatals would be at the forefront of setting a positive example of creative and appropriate use of national languages. It is really in the best interests of these organisations and also in the interest of nation building.

“Such careless mistakes not only tarnish the images of these companies but they cause rifts between affected communities and the rest of the nation,” Mr Nkomo said.

A local researcher Dr Samukele Hadebe said the spelling mistake would attract negative attention for the bank and obscure the message it wanted to put across.

He said generally, adverts are supposed to attract customers but if an advert faces a backlash from potential customers it defeats its purpose.

After being lambasted by social media users, NBS apologised through its micro blogging site Twitter saying: “We’re sorry about the error that was made. We have rectified it”.
Later they posted another advert with proper spelling on their social media page. – Agencies

Police in Harare yesterday reportedly ordered opposition parties under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) to change the venue of tomorrow’s planned feedback rally from the city centre, citing security concerns.

The rally had been scheduled to take place at Africa Unity Square, but police ordered Nera members to meet at an open space opposite the Harare Showgrounds. Nera legal representative and MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the development, saying they might be forced to oblige with the police directive.    
“They (Joint Operations Command) said we should continue with our feedback rally, but they said we should move to Freedom Square because there is an international ministerial conference at Meikles Hotel,” he said.

“The rally is going on, but we have not agreed on the venue as yet. We wanted to do this at Africa Unity Square, but we are reviewing our position in view of the reason given, but definitely we will have the feedback rally on Wednesday (tomorrow),” Mwonzora added.
Police recently sanctioned the rally, but imposed stringent conditions reportedly to curb incidents of violence.

The rally is meant to update opposition activists on the police ban on demonstrations against procurement of biometric voting registration kits by government and its reluctance to implement electoral reforms.

Tomorrow’s rally comes at a time when leaders from various opposition parties met last week to map the way forward, after having declared a deadlock with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).

They declared an electoral crisis and now want Zec disbanded and allow the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations to conduct the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe. Newsday

Who is telling the truth?

The national broadcaster, ZBC in the afternoon yesterday announced that President Robert Mugabe was on Monday presented with a wheelchair. They termed it “a special mobility chair.”

After 2 hours, that breaking news item was changed to portray rather “a massage chair.” Below was a discussion following the news release:

Gweru City Council has said it might be forced to re-tender for $1,2 million earth-moving equipment after a local company Rubitech which won the tender failed to deliver within the stipulated period.

Rubitech won the tender in November last year for the supply of equipment that include a grader, bulldozer, backhaul loader, and excavator.

The equipment was supposed to have been delivered last year, but only a grader has been delivered.

Town clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza said the delay in delivering the equipment has resulted in council failing to maintain its road network as well as service stands in Mkoba 21.
“We have not received all the equipment that we tendered for because the company that was awarded the tender to procure the equipment has not delivered. They keep telling us that they are yet to be allocated foreign currency for them to bring in the equipment,” she said. “The process has hampered our plans to repair our roads and servicing of Mkoba 21 stands and it’s now incumbent upon council on whether we vary the conditions of the initial tender or we go for the company which came second in the tendering process. I think all things being equal we need to go to the second one depending on whether the second one is within our budget.”- State Media

FUNERAL parlours are allegedly scrambling and touting for bodies at Mpilo Central Hospital, a development that has infuriated residents and hospital authorities.

The Chronicle news crew yesterday visited the hospital and observed a number of agents scrambling to talk to bereaved families for business.

A nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity said some of the agents also go into hospital wards to check for bodies at any time of the day.

In an interview, the hospital’s clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the institution was having a headache dealing with representatives of funeral parlours who have become a public nuisance.

“We don’t condone businesses who clandestinely conduct their operations. They must follow proper channels. We wouldn’t want people to be touting for bodies. Death is sacred and it is unAfrican for individuals to make business on death,” said Dr Ngwenya.

He said the problem of touting for bodies has persisted for some time and the hospital engaged an association representing funeral parlours to no avail.
Dr Ngwenya did not immediately provide the name of the funeral parlours association the hospital engaged.

“It appears this has been going on for some time although it might have not been reported,” he said.

A Bulawayo resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “A relative recently lost a child and as we learnt about his death, these funeral parlour agents were all over us pleading that they can provide the best funeral services. Has society lost its humanity to the extent of taking pride in making money over death? Where is the decency?”

The Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe (REIZ) says more businesses are deserting expensive offices in central business districts (CBD) of towns and cities across the country in favour of cheaper converted residential units.

REIZ president, Mr Siza Masuku said a number of companies have closed CBD offices citing high operating costs and prohibitive rentals.

“We have noted especially here in Harare that between 40 to 50 percent of the buildings are being vacated. Most occupants have closed down while some have relocated to cheaper places.

“This is because of high rates and rentals being charged in the CBD. Some occupants are being affected by the tough economic conditions and that is why they now favour cheaper rates,” he said.

A similar situation is being experienced in Bulawayo where there are many empty buildings and office space in the CBD. Shopping malls like Nkulumane and Entumbane, have also been deserted and now few businesses operate there because of rentals.

Mr Masuku said his organisation was trying to bridge the gap between property investors and tenants through analysing the market to come up with measures to help reduce high operating costs, which frustrate businesses.

He told Business Chronicle that the other challenge they face as REIZ was that landlords and tenants were not willing to give them information that can help the property sector in the country.

“Property owners are not willing to give us information, which we then put together and help analyse the sector.

“We want to see how the sector is performing overall and this would help to compete for attention for foreign investment. We also want the foreign investors to see us as important in the property sector,” said Mr Masuku.

He added that if information was made available the association would help advise landlords and tenants on fair rentals and the value of buildings.

According to REIZ, Zimbabwe’s real estate sector experienced a slowdown in the uptake of commercial property developments in the first quarter of this year due to high cost of capital.- State Media

Fourteen years after she was paralysed following a road traffic accident, a 62 year old Bulawayo woman is appealing for assistance.

Ms Margaret Moyo was injured while on her way to her rural home in Plumtree in 2003 when a Dokotela bus she was travelling on plunged off a bridge into Gwayi River.

She suffered a broken spine which has rendered her unable to move from the waist downwards ever since.  Ms Moyo used to work in Botswana, but stopped following the accident.

The woman who lives in a hallway in Mabutweni suburb, said she was appealing for well-wishers to assist her to go through physiotherapy as she has not given up on walking again.

She also requires food and other essentials.

Ms Moyo said she would be grateful if she can also be provided with accommodation at a place like a church or some premises which her family can look after.

She said she approached Dokotela Bus Company for compensation to no avail.

“Life is hard, as you can see, we live in a hallway. I cannot call this a room because it is the passage to every other room in the house, being central. I cannot move, so I use this peanut butter bottle to urinate in and that bucket over there to relieve myself. This room is the bathroom, kitchen, toilet, bedroom and lounge all in one. My husband was retrenched from work and life is just unbearable,” she said.

Ms Moyo said her family had become nomads as they are often evicted due to her condition.

“People cannot bear my condition and almost every two months we have to secure a new place to stay. People fear the health risk that my condition brings. No one can be ok with a person pooing in the house. I am confined to this bed and it is hard for my husband and daughter to lift me onto a wheel chair because of my weight,” she said.

“If I didn’t have kids I would have given up because it is so hard, so painful,” said Ms Moyo in a bedside interview.

“They’re my motivation; they are what is keeping me going.”

She said she used to enjoy doing her household chores and worked in Gaborone for her family but she can no longer manage.  She now uses a wheelchair and has limited upper-body movement.

“I wish I could afford physiotherapy because I still have hope that I will someday feel better and be able to stand on my own feet. I also wish for my own space that I will someday call a home,” she said as she tried to force a smile on a weary face.

Ms Moyo’s husband, Mr Mehluli Mpala (64) narrated how much his family’s life changed for the worse following his wife’s disability.

“We were both employed but she was the major breadwinner as she worked in Botswana. I lost my job and the little pension that I get is not enough for paying rent. My wife tries to make some reed vases for sale but she tires easily of late due to her deteriorating condition,” said Mr Mpala.

“I feel sorry for my daughter who has had to give up her childhood and dreams to help me take care of her mother. We assist each other to lift her off the bed to the floor, bathe her and help her when she needs to relieve herself. It’s unfair for the landlord and other tenants because we live in the open space that has doors to their rooms. The smell can be unbearable, and I feel that at times we are asking for too much if we expect people not to complain.”

Well-wishers can contact the family on 0774 780 751- State Media 

Shyleen Mtandwa | Monsignor – Fr. Kizito Mhembere who was Parish Priest at St. Canisius Catholic Church in Marlborough, Ward 41 has died.

MP for Harare West Jessie Majome said of his passing, “I am saddened by the news of the death of Fr,Kizito Mhembere. I extend my deepest sympathies to St. Canicius Parish and the Archdiocese of Harare and his family.” More to follow…

Ray Nkosi | President Robert Mugabe received a wheel chair from his Ministers this morning as a belated birthday gift, immediately earning himself the nickname ‘Chair Leader.’

Zimbabweans have taken to social media to poke fun at the 93 year old leader who has in recent months been seen at international gatherings, struggling to walk, stand and many times captured on camera fast asleep.

News of Mugabe’s birthday gifts from his wife and cabinet ministers was broadcast on the national broadcaster ZBC, which announced the “mobile chair”, while the Emmerson Mnangagwa controlled Herald gave it a black out. The Herald also ignored Mugabe’s please for disputes to be resolved outside the media and demos.

Linking the special event today, Mugabe’s wife, Grace had already prepared the nation, telling the world that her husband would rule to a 100 years from a ‘special wheelchair.’

“We are going to create a special wheelchair for President Mugabe until he rules to 100 years, because that is what we want,” Mrs Mugabe said. “That is the people’s choice. We want a leader that respects us.”