Dr Mangudya

Golden Sibanda Senior Business Reporter
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has reached an agreement with banks to cap interest rates at 18 percent as part of measures to reduce the prohibitive cost of finance.

This brings relief to the borrowing public and corporates who have had to endure high interest rates.

Banks are, therefore, required to effect the new lending rates for both existing and new borrowers, with effect from October 1, 2015, the central bank said.

RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya announced the new interest rate framework in his Mid-Term Monetary Policy Review Statement released yesterday.

He said in view of high interest rates obtaining in the economy, there is scope for reduction to ensure lending rates support economic recovery.

The pronouncement will bring relief to borrowers, especially those with existing loans who were forced to take expensive debt due to limited options.

Local banks have been charging interest rates as high as 35 percent, excluding default rates of equal or higher thresholds.

“In this regard, banks are urged to reduce their cost structures to enable them to contribute to the reduction of the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe,” he said.

As such, prime borrowers with low credit risk will be charged 6 percent to10 percent per annum, borrowers with moderate risk 10 percent to 12 percent; borrowers with high credit risk 12 percent to18 percent per annum.

Housing finance loans will attract annual interest rates between 8 percent and 16 percent, while loans for consumptive purposes will cost 10 percent to 18 percent.

Defaulters will be charged penalty rates from 3 percent to 8 percent over and above the interest rate they would have been charged for the loans obtained.

Dr Mangudya said banks thrive when business is both willing and able to timely repay their loans, which has not been the case since dollarisation in 2009.

The review of bank charges and interest rates is envisaged to stimulate aggregate demand, promote resuscitation of industry and cut cost of doing business.

Early this year, RBZ deputy governor Dr Kupukile Mlambo told Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce in Victoria Falls that interest margin should not exceed 5 percent over the cost at which the banks obtain the funds.

This means that while banks can charge as much as 18 percent on loans, rates can really be lower on loans given from funds obtained at cost of about 10 percent.

This comes as Parliament recently rapped banks for charging exorbitant interest rates, which are significantly higher than rates that are found in war zones.

Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said Zimbabwean banks obtained lines of credit at high cost due to the perceived country risk premium on the country.

He said that he would not consider controls, as he preferred market friendly policies to ensure that loans are priced fairly to stimulate economic growth.

The high cost of funding has been blamed for the collapse of many companies, which were burdened by debts and ran into losses due to high interest accruals.

Punitive interest rates have also been blamed for high prevalence of non-performing loans, as they have made it difficult for companies to repay.

This resulted in the central bank forming the Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation to takeover secured debt to free banks balance sheets.

ZAMCO has since assumed $157 million secured NPLs while evaluation of more bad loans is underway in a sector with about $800 million such loans.

The banks have also reduced lending to the productive sectors with most focusing on individual salary-based consumptive lending due to high levels of NPLs.

Going forward, Dr Mangudya said, the bulk of resources should be channeled to support the key productive sectors.

“Banking institutions should therefore re-orient their lending towards productive and export sectors such as horticulture and mining that generate foreign exchange enabling Zimbabwe to exploit its competitive and comparative advantages in these areas,” the central bank governor said.

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
Cabinet has approved proposed amendments to the Labour Act that are expected to protect both employers and employees. The amendments have been triggered by massive job cuts in the past two weeks following a Supreme Court ruling that common law still subsisted.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a Zanu-PF Politburo meeting yesterday, party spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said the revolutionary party expected the Labour Act amendments to be expedited to protect workers who have been on the receiving end of late.

He said: “The law, which has led to massive retrenchment of workers, was being reviewed to contain a possible crisis in the labour market.

“The Labour law amendment Bill will be presented to Parliament shortly as it has already been approved by Cabinet.”

ALSO SEE

• State entities join firing bandwagon

• Zuva managers have no right of appeal

• ZCTU rapped for double standards

While Cde Khaya Moyo was reluctant to get into the details of the proposed amendments, he said the ruling party was hopeful that once passed by Parliament, the amendments would bring the job loss situation under control.

He said the amendments sought to protect both employers and employees and plug loopholes that in the Act as currently constituted.

Cde Khaya Moyo said in the event that further loopholes were identified after the amendments have been passed, Government would not hesitate to amend the Act again.

While some quarters have been imploring President Mugabe to invoke the Presidential Powers to halt the job terminations, Cde Khaya Moyo said the ruling party believed amendments to the Labour Act were ideal.

“As I said, nobody wants to see any worker suffer. There is nobody who is also keen to see the Presidential Powers invoked. We don’t want to go that route.

“There is a Labour Act. There were loopholes or there are loopholes in it. We have looked at it and the lawyers have looked at it and I believe that in their wisdom the amendment shall suffice. So we don’t want to take any other route,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

Workers unions claim that over 18 000 people have been fired countrywide following a Supreme Court ruling on July 17 allowing companies to terminate employment on three months notice.

He said during President Mugabe’s introductory remarks, he condemned land grabs in the city where it was also revealed that some party youths were extorting money from those who wanted land.

“There was a long debate on illegal settlements, which are mushrooming across the country particularly in large cities for example Caledonia in Harare.

“There are a lot of young people who have been going around extorting monies from innocent citizens for the purpose of these settlements. “This must stop forthwith because the law enforcement agents are going to be pursuing this matter with utmost vigour,” he said.

Cde Khaya Moyo said the politburo mandated Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere to issue a “very strong statement on this matter and also to handle the challenge with utmost urgency.

“We are hearing of thousands of dollars taken from people promised stands which are not even theirs. We cannot as a party of discipline accept such misconduct which is criminal.”

He said party officials who will be found on the wrong side of the law would be dealt with according to party rules and the Constitution.

Cde Kasukuwere who is the national political commissar also briefed the politburo on recent by-elections that were won by the revolutionary party as well as primary elections that were held in Marondera Central and Mbire constituencies that were won by Cdes Lawrence Katsiru and Douglas Karoro.

Primary elections will be held in Epworth on Sunday following the death of Ambassador Amos Midzi.

There have been numerous cases of people whose houses were demolished after they were hooked into buying stands on land not suitable for habitation.

Bulawayo Bureau
Professional hunter, Theodro Bronkhorst, who allegedly facilitated the killing of iconic lion, Cecil, has roped in an advocate into his defence team after his lawyer, Givemore Muvhiringi, yesterday indicated to the court that the matter was “complex”.

Bronkhorst is appearing before the Hwange courts facing a charge of failing to prevent an illegal hunt in early July that resulted in the killing of Cecil by American dentist, Walter Palmer.

Muvhiringi of Dube and Company law firm said he had engaged Advocate Perpetual Dube of the Advocate Chambers in Bulawayo because of the complexity of the case.

ALSO SEE

• Cecil, the lion: Things not adding up

• Mourning beloved Cecil

• Lion’s shooting spawns changes

• Another lion killer arrested

• Mourning Cecil the lion — or just trying to look good?

• Lion lives matter, but what about Palestinian kids?

He told magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa that he had briefed Adv Dube, but she could not attend court yesterday as she was tied up at the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.

Muvhiringi said this as he made an application for postponement of trial to September, 28.

“I am instructed to bring an advocate into this matter. I have since briefed Adv Perpetual Dube of Bulawayo who has indicated that she is not available for the start of trial until September 28,” he said.

“She has prior commitments at the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court hence our prayer that the matter be remanded to September 28 to enable the defence to prepare for trial”.

The magistrate postponed trial to September 28 although the prosecutor, Namatirai Ngwasha, had opposed the application.

Quizzed outside the courtroom on why he needed an Advocate, Muvhiringi said it was because of the complexity of the case.

Bronkhorst, 52, of Riverside suburb in Bulawayo, said he felt sorry for Palmer, who allegedly killed the Big Cat on July 2 in the Gwayi area.

He told hordes of international journalists who converged on Hwange that the case was “frivolous”.

The hunter is being charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt that resulted in the slaying of the protected collared lion. Cecil had a GPS tracker on his neck as he was being monitored by researchers at Oxford University in the UK.

It is alleged that Palmer paid about $50 000 to kill the lion to Bronkhorst and his associates who include the owner of Antoinette Farm, Trymore Honest Ndlovu, on which the hunt took place.

Ndlovu is yet to appear in court as prosecutors are battling to come up with an “appropriate charge.”

It is alleged that Palmer used a bow and arrow to shoot Cecil and finished him off 40 hours later, after luring him out of his protected area with another animal’s carcass.

Bronkhorst, who owns Bushmen Safaris, is out of custody on $1 000 bail. He was ordered to report three times a week at Hillside Police Station in Bulawayo as part of his bail conditions.

Appearing before a different magistrate at the same court in Hwange, is another safari farm operator, Headman Sibanda, 55, also from Bulawayo.

Sibanda is charged with permitting a person who is not a resident of Zimbabwe to hunt on any land.

This was after Sibanda, who owns Railway Farm 31 in Gwayi where another lion was killed, allegedly connived with yet another American hunter, Jan Casmir Sieski, to kill a lion.

Prosecutors said the illegal hunt was carried out between June 22 and July 2 this year.

Sibanda, a professional hunter who is also director of Nyala Safaris, also faces an alternative charge of failing to prevent an illegal hunt.

Cde Shadreck Mashayamombe

Herald Reporters
HUNDREDS of houses were yesterday destroyed by the Sheriff of the High Court at an area known as Mokum in Harare South after owners of the land on which the houses were built were granted a writ of ejection.

The houses were reduced to rubble, leaving thousands homeless when the writ of ejection granted in favour of Tobacco Sales Limited (TSL) and HGP Vostermans Private Limited was effected.

This came as Government has intensified the fight against land barons, politicians and co-operative chairpersons illegally settling people on council, private and State land.

The High Court order was granted on November 12, 2014 permitting TSL and HGP Vostermans Ltd to access the land that had been illegally taken over by Tirivepano housing co-operative and Nyasha dzaMwari housing co-operative.

The writ of ejection also granted the police the go-ahead to arrest those engaging in unlawful activities on the land and help restore law and order.

Officials from the Sheriff of the High Court destroyed the houses under the watchful eye of the police to avoid violence.

The two housing co-operatives illegally occupied the land last year and sold residential stands of different sizes to unsuspecting prospective home owners for between $2 500 and $5 000.

The co-operatives’ senior officials Mr Caiphas Njaira and Mr Obert Masaletulini disappeared when the demolitions started.

National Assembly member for Harare South Cde Shadreck Mashayamombe appealed to people in his constituency not to buy residential stands without verifying the status of the land.

“I want to warn people in the constituency not to resettle themselves,” he said.

“They must check with the Ministry of Local Government and the city council before getting the land.”

Cde Mashayamombe said he will compile a report and submit it to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to find ways to assist those displaced.

“In the meantime, we will approach TSL and try to negotiate with them to accommodate the people until we find a suitable area to relocate them,” he said.

“We will also reach out to them to find out if they cannot compensate those who lost their houses.”

Temba Mliswa

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
Electoral Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu has ruled that a registered voter can lawfully stand as a candidate in a National Assembly election even if he or she is not registered in the particular constituency vied for.

He also said a criminal record was not a reason to bar one from contesting in an election.

Justice Bhunu made the landmark decision during the pre-trial conference held in a matter in which former Zanu-PF chairman for Mashonaland West Province Mr Temba Mliswa is contesting the victory of Cde Keith Guzah in the Hurungwe West parliamentary by-election.

In his challenge, Mr Mliswa — the immediate-past MP for the constituency — argued that Cde Guzah was not eligible to contest in the by-election because he was not a registered voter in Hurungwe West.

Also Read:

• Guzah hits back at Mliswa
• Mliswa wants Guzah victory nullified
• Mliswa to contest Guzah poll victory
• ZEC stands by Keith Guzah
• Mliswa’s bid to stop by-election flops
• Electoral Court hears Mliswa’s case today

He also argued that Cde Guzah had a criminal past and that he was at law not allowed to contest in an election.

Mr Mliswa further argued that Cde Guzah used violence, vote-buying and intimidation to win the by-election.

The pre-trial conference was held in Justice Bhunu’s chambers yesterday, but lawyers representing all the parties confirmed that the judge found that Section 125 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe does not specifically require a candidate to be a

registered voter in the contested constituency.

The judge, according to the lawyers, said as long as one is a registered voter, he or she can qualify to contest for any seat in Zimbabwe before striking down the two grounds — that Cde Guzah was not a registered voter in the constituency and that he had a criminal past.

Cde Guzah’s lawyer Advocate Sylvester Hashiti said:

“The judge ruled that in terms of Section 125 of the Constitution, you must only be a registered voter to qualify as a candidate and that the Section does not specifically indicate that the candidate must be registered in that particular constituency.

“It was also the judge’s finding that the same section of the Constitution does not regard criminal past as a bar.

“The judge then struck off the two grounds and referred to trial the issue of whether or not Cde Guzah used violence, intimidation, vote buying or bribery to win an election.”

Mr Musindo Hungwe, who acted for Mr Mliswa, confirmed the same position.

“The judge ruled that Section 125 of the Constitution was silent on whether or not a candidate must be registered to vote in the constituency in question,” he said.

“He then interpreted it to mean that as long as one is a registered voter anywhere in Zimbabwe, he or she can qualify to contest in any constituency. The judge also found that the same section does not take having a criminal past as a disqualifier.”

In the by-election held on June 10 this year, Cde Guzah polled 5 961 votes against Mr Mliswa’s 4 239 ballots.

The by-election arose after Mr Mliswa was expelled from Parliament when Zanu-PF wrote disowning him.

He had been first expelled from the party for acting against the party’s leadership in conniveance with expelled former vice president Dr Joice Mujuru.

President Mugabe welcomes Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Lin Lin, Vice chairman of China International Cooperation Association of Small and Medium Enterprises Mr Dong Songgen and researcher, director of Economics Research Institute of National Development and Reform Commission (partly obscured) Mr Zheng Anyuan at State House in Harare yesterday

Felex Share Senior Reporter
Mega deals signed by President Mugabe during his State visit to China last year are set for take-off, with the Asian economic giant announcing yesterday that it will immediately bankroll a number of selected infrastructure projects.

Identified projects, whose funding is ready, will be implemented this year, with special economic zones being constructed in Harare and Bulawayo, major roads being dualised, national railway links being rehabilitated and water projects being completed.

The financial support to the much-needed key economic enablers is expected to create thousands of jobs and spur economic growth in line with Zim-Asset.

The finalisation of the deals was revealed when visiting Chinese experts from the National Development and Reform Commission met President Mugabe at State House in Harare yesterday.

The NDRC is the economic planning body of China and has been in Zimbabwe to verify the bankability of the projects before starting to finance them.

Speaking after the meeting, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said the projects would revive the economy by rehabilitating, upgrading and building key physical and social infrastructure and utilities as espoused in Zim-Asset.

He said as a follow up to the mega deals, President Mugabe sent Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to China in a move that saw an “upgraded” Memorandum of Understanding being signed between the NDRC and the Office of the President.

Also Read:

• Zim, China sign nine mega deals
• Mega deals: Chinese experts jet in
• Mnangagwa follows up on mega-deals
• Sino-Zim deals’ progress hailed
• China mega deal projects to start soon
• Chinamasa speaks on mega Sino deals
• More mega deals struck in China

“It is the upgraded MoU which has resulted in the sending of a six-member delegation to concretise the deals and work out a framework on going forward,” Dr Sibanda said. “The identified projects agreed will be implemented this year.”

Dr Sibanda said special economic zones would be built during the first phase of the mega deals.

“We have identified special economic zones as a definite programme of action, that is SunWay City in Harare as well as one in Bulawayo, entailing a construction of an industrial economic zone covering beef to leather industry, cotton to textile industry, steel and foundry, entailing the rehabilitation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe, the headquarters of our rail system,” he said.

“We have projects in the infrastructure area to be done and this includes the road system from Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare-Chirundu as well as rehabilitation of rail links spanning Bulawayo through Gweru and Harare up to Mutare and going as far as Mozambique.

“The phase will also see works being done on the railway line to Victoria Falls passing through Hwange from Harare where it will link with the Copper Belt and eventually Angola.”

Dr Sibanda said the Gweru-Chiculacula railway line up to Maputo will be refurbished, while the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway would also be dualised.

He said Government had identified some Chinese companies that are in the country to work on some of the projects.

“They are familiar with the risky environment and have accepted it,” said Dr Sibanda. “We are going to simplify the procurement system and we will discuss with the State Procurement Board. If people are bringing in their money there is no need to take long to approve the procurement.”

Other special economic zones, Dr Sibanda said, would be created along the way.

“This means thousands of jobs for the local people and Zim-Asset picking up pace,” he said. “The Kunzvi Dam, Musami and Osborne water projects will also be undertaken.”

Leader of NDRC, Dr Liu Jianxing, said it was all systems go with the implementation of the projects set to start soon.

“We are starting this as soon as possible,” he said. “We have talked to different officials from different departments and we had some field visits in Bulawayo.

“We visited the Cold Storage Company in Bulawayo and we think it is a good project with great potential to drive this country’s economy. We have heard that the beef from Zimbabwe is the best in the world and a lot of my people hope to eat that beef.”

He added: “We also visited the NRZ and we know that it is a State-owned company and has played a very important role in terms of development. Even though it has faced a host of challenges, we hope to bring in Chinese investment and advanced technology to revatilise the company and turn it into a competitive one in the African region.”

Dr Liu said China was prepared to take economic risk and assist Zimbabwe in transforming its economy.

The mega deals were signed as part of Zim-Asset, the five-year development programme that was crafted to provide solutions to problems facing the economy that rose due to the West’s illegal sanctions regime.

Special Economic Zones are areas in which foreign and domestic companies can trade and invest without the same control and regulations from central Government.

These areas are designed to encourage overseas investment and boost the country’s economic growth.

In China, the concept has been a huge success and saw towns growing into big cities after they were turned into SEZ areas.

Shenzhen, in Southern China near the border with Hong Kong, was among the first four locations in the country to be given SEZ status.

At the time, the city was just a small town, now, 33 years on, it is a booming trade hub and one of China’s largest cities.

The other areas that have established big cities due to the SEZ concept are in China’s Guangdong and Fujian provinces.

President Mugabe stresses a point while addressing the zanu-pf Central Committee at the party headquarters in Harare yesterday

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter—
Cabinet ministers and senior Zanu-PF officials must be content with their positions since they serve at the mercy of the party and can be redeployed or replaced at any given point when the need arises, President Mugabe has said. As such, he said, officials were being deployed to serve the people. President Mugabe, in his capacity as the Head of State and Government and First Secretary of Zanu-PF, is empowered to appoint both Cabinet ministers and Politburo members.

Addressing the second session of the Zanu-PF Central Committee since the party’s National People’s Congress in December last year, President Mugabe said there were some Zanu-PF officials and Cabinet ministers who complained about positions assigned to them.

“Amongst yourself also, when you are in a position, that position is a party position.

“It does not become your post. Just as in Government, you are minister of this, Minister of Industry, Minister of Mines.

“The fact that you are that minister does not mean you own that ministry. It means you are put as a servant of the people to supervise that ministry. You may be changed tomorrow and someone else takes the place. And when you are shifted again, you shout ‘why was I changed’?

“I don’t want this ministry which I have been given. I preferred this. It is me who did this or who did that, now the President does not recognise me. I don’t recognise you for working for a place. I recognise you for working for the people, for the party not for a post. We are not there to work for posts.

“We are there to work for the people and the people will recognise us. We are there to serve the people, but at the end of it all, well human beings are human beings. You cannot avoid to be some, you cannot avoid to look forward and say where shall I be if so-and-so is going to take over from the President, must I not be next to him. Must I not do what he wants?

“When you are like that, you are a finished person, completely finished person and you have become a puppet and don’t be a puppet. Stand your ground. Whatever happens in future you will be there as a member of the party and serving the party.”

President Mugabe took a swipe at some party officials who rushed to vent their grievances relating to party business on the Internet.

He said issues relating to the party should be dealt with through party structures.

“Let us also not undermine each other,” said the President.

“Throwing on the Internet this about so-and-so. No. If you are making objective accusations, why should they go to the Internet first?

“They should come to us. You have the various fora, the various levels where you can make your reports. We will accept those reports and address them, receive them. But the Internet mind you is the ground where all sorts of people play.

“It becomes the swimming pool for everybody and you go to the Internet you want to see what the Internet says today, you get what it says, what the newspapers, the opposition papers say. You can get South African also, some filthy stories about (Jacob) Zuma. But that does not work. If you want to depend on the Internet for your own direction then you are being wrong-minded.”

President Mugabe urged Zanu-PF members to be focused and refuse to be used by some people with misguided ambitions.

He said no one owns people in the party as they all belong to the party.

President Mugabe also said some party members got lost along the way when they sided with former Vice President Joice Mujuru thinking that she was about to take over both party and State presidency.

“Some, of course, we know were quietly moving with ‘Gamatox’, but we said we could not get everybody,” he said.

“Some thought what they were being told that the President will retire and give people way and they, therefore, were beginning to plan for themselves. Where shall I be when the President is going?

“Okay, I must do this to Mai Mujuru, do this to that. Be strong as yourself. The members of Zanu-PF will make their decision properly. You don’t have to belong to someone. You don’t even belong to me. You belong to Zanu-PF. I am only your leader. I am a member of Zanu-PF, so are you. But you have made me your leader. Let’s be ourselves. Be what you are. The honest person you are. Don’t pretend to be someone else.”

President Mugabe said yesterday’s Central Committee, acting on behalf of the Congress, would hear some of the disciplinary cases reported to the Politburo.

He also spoke strongly against tribalism, saying all Zimbabweans were bound by one nation.

President Mugabe said unity was imperative for the development of the nation, adding that members of the party should be conversant with the party constitution.

In addition, President Mugabe urged party members to pay up their subscriptions, saying the party relied on them more for sustenance over and above the donations from its well-wishers and friends.

The President also said the month of August was important in the history of Zimbabwe as the nation remembers the ultimate sacrifices made by the living and departed heroes who fought to liberate the country from the yoke of colonialism.

Happison Muchechetere

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Reporter—
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has, with immediate effect, dismissed suspended chief executive Mr Happison Muchechetere, general manager-finance Mr Elliot Kasu, acting radio head Mr Allan Chiweshe and finance head Mr Ralph Nyambudzi. This comes as Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited yesterday terminated the contracts of 109 employees, including journalists, and gave them three months’ notice in line with the recent Supreme Court ruling.

Mr Chiweshe was suspended last November together with general manager News and Current Affairs Mr Tazzen Mandizvidza on allegations of misconduct and prejudicing the corporation of over $7 million.

Mr Mandizvidza has since been reinstated following his option to cooperate with investigations.

Messrs Kasu and Nyambudzi were suspended, together with Mr Muchechetere, early last year on allegations of costing the national broadcaster millions of dollars.

ZBC board chairperson Father Gibson Munyoro said Messrs Muchechetere and Kasu were sacked for prejudicing the corporation because of their unethical and destructive behaviour.

He said the other two managers — Chiweshe and Nyambudzi — had their contracts terminated on three months’ notice.

“Hearings involving the accused were concluded and on the basis of the findings, ZBC has decided to fire chief executive Happison Muchechetere and general manager-finance Elliot Kasu on the basis of their unethical and destructive conduct while at ZBC in the past few years,” said Fr Munyoro.

“Their actions, decisions and behaviour contributed immensely to the destruction of the national broadcaster to a desperate financial depression it is currently suffering.”

Fr Munyoro said the cleansing exercise was a means of stemming the decay at the national broadcaster.

“The ZBC board is cleaning up all destructive elements within the corporation and opening a new page, on which a new story of ZBC shall be written. We believe it is possible for a parastatal to be run on the basis of good moral values, the principles of good governance and professional and effective business strategies. This is what we want ZBC to be, and it is indeed becoming that,” said Fr Munyoro.

Fr Munyoro said the exercise was meant to renew the moral and business-oriented face of the broadcaster as it gears itself for the digitisation exercise.

“As we migrate into the digital era, we want to ensure that ZBC is cleansed of all regressive and destructive elements, all corruption and unethical attitudes that obstruct the exclusive focus on digital broadcasting in competition with new arrivals in the broadcasting playfield.

“We want to engage new minds that ensure the development and adoption of an effective business strategy for the corporation.”

The senior management executives were also accused of allegedly awarding themselves hefty salaries at a time when the troubled national broadcaster’s employees went for more than six months without salaries.

Other allegations were that Mr Muchechetere and his top management entered into an agreement with China National Instruments Imports and Exports Corporation (Instrimpex) for the purchase of an Outside Broadcasting (OB) van worth $100 000, whose price was inflated to $1 050 000 with the connivance of some Instrimpex officials.

After the suspensions, ZBC instituted disciplinary proceedings against Messrs Muchechetere, Kasu, Mandizvidza, Chiweshe and Nyambudzi.

A hearing tribunal chaired by retired judge Justice James de Vitte was set up which led to the recall of Mr Mandizvidza after he opted to cooperate with investigations. checked kachere

Zimpapers’ letter of termination signed by respective general managers of the firm’s branches indicated that the termination was with immediate effect.

“This letter serves to inform you that Zimpapers (1980) Limited has decided to terminate your employment contract on notice,” reads the letter.

“The Group has passed a decision to exercise its right under common law which allows either party to terminate the employment contract on notice.

“In accordance with the provisions of Section 12 (4) of the Labour Act, we hereby give you three (3) months’ notice to terminate your contract of employment.

“The notice shall start to run on delivery of this letter, or to the domicilium that you chose under your employment contract or such other address notified to Human Resources Department at your Branch by you in writing.

“Notwithstanding the effective date of the termination, you are hereby directed not to report for work with immediate effect (that is, on your receipt of this termination letter).”

The firm said in the letter that it was going to pay cash in lieu of notice over a three months period.

Accordingly, the amount due to you is as follows:-

(i) 3 months’ salary in lieu of notice paid over three (3) months from August 2015 to October 2015.

(ii) Payment of seven (7) days worked for the month of August 2015.

(iii) Cash in lieu of accrued leave, if any would be paid on the last month of instalment – October 2015 due to cash flow constraints.

(iv) Pension payouts will also be processed according to the scheme.

Those affected were told to “immediately hand over any company assets in their possession upon receipt of the termination letters.

Cde Mutsvangwa

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter—
All the multi-billion dollar projects that Chinese investors have accepted to fund in Zimbabwe will be launched by December this year. President Mugabe signed the mega-deals with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping when he went to China on a State visit last year. Experts from both countries working on the modalities of the projects are now working with specific timelines to ensure implementation of the projects start in earnest.

Chinese experts, under the auspices of the National Development and Reform Commission who met President Mugabe on Thursday also met Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday where specific timelines were spelt out.

Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, former Political Detainees and Restrictees, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa who was in the meeting yesterday said the Chinese delegation expressed its readiness to get the ball rolling.

“There are about 13 to 20 mega projects that would have been launched by end of the year,” he said.

“The team is now working with a tight schedule with specific timelines because what they were waiting for was the go-ahead from the Government of Zimbabwe. President Mugabe has already approved the priority projects. The team is now fine tuning the details before presenting to the Chinese investment community.

“For most of these projects, scores of global Chinese companies are already in the country working with their counterparts on feasibility studies.

“Some of the companies have already opened offices here including the Chinese Investment Bank not the commercial bank. This is the bank that will channel funding through the Chinese financial system.”

Minister Mutsvangwa who is a former ambassador to China said Chinese investors viewed Zimbabwe as a viable investment destination despite the negative onslaught from Western media.

He said they did not see any geographical and political risk in Zimbabwe, which is a major factor in attracting investment.

He said contrary to the Bretton Woods institutions’ conditions, the Chinese investment was purely business driven.

“When VP Mnangagwa was in China, he was shown a map of the projects that the Chinese want to construct here, for instance, the railway line.

“The International Monetary Fund is not a business organisation, but just a debt management agency. When you get funding from the IMF, it requires guarantees from the Government and when you don’t perform you are then told to go for austerity measures.

“Funding from the IMF is limited. The biggest funding is in the form of international private capital which Chinese companies are ready to bring here.

“Chinese investors have concluded that there is a strong business case for Zimbabwe. They see Harare as Africa’s next growth tale. They want to go ahead of the pack now,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

He said China also wanted trade between the two countries to be done in Chinese currency Yuan to avoid the use of third party currencies that were expensive.

He said South Africa and China already swopped currencies in their trade which was favourable to both countries.

VP Mnangagwa also met with Angolan ambassador to Zimbabwe Pedro Hendrik Vaal Neto who also encouraged Zimbabwe to embrace Chinese investors.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Ambassador Neto said the two countries had close relations and would continue to strengthen them.

Ambassador Mutsvangwa, who also attended the meeting, said the Angolan ambassador was encouraging Zimbabwe to embrace the Chinese with both hands given the development Luanda experienced after engaging China.

“They want us to see post-war recovery and the development agenda that has happened in that country since they engaged the Chinese,” said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.

“Their economy was devastated by the war while ours was devastated by sanctions. So they are saying to Zimbabwe ‘don’t listen to the propaganda that China is a colonial power’. They want Zimbabwe to come and feel the comfort of a friend who has walked with China.

“China, in this short period, has invested at least $220 billion in Africa while America which used to be the lead investor in Africa is now at $88 billion and the whole of the European Union is at $146 billion.”

Dr Made

Felex Share Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has released $15 million to the Grain Marketing Board for payment to farmers who delivered their grain to the national granary.

The development will enable farmers to prepare for the forthcoming agricultural season.

This comes as farmers’ representatives yesterday called on Government to put in place mechanisms that ensure ordinary farmers who delivered their grain also benefit from the disbursement.

Farmers claim GMB prioritises politicians and those “with big names” when paying for grain delivered to the national silo.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made confirmed the release of the funds last Friday saying the money was ready for disbursement and farmers with outstanding amounts from last season would be paid.

“The Treasury has released $15 million and the resources are already with the GMB as of yesterday (Thursday),” he said.

“This is in line with the promise by Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa during the Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review Statement last week that he was going to prioritise the farmers such that they start preparing for the new season coming.”

He added: “He (Minister Chinamasa) has recognised farmers who have delivered grain which is being used in depressed areas. The money would cover grain delivered the season preceding the current one and also that grain which is being delivered.”

In his Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review Statement, Minister Chinamasa said Zimbabwe required at least $1,3 billion to fund crop production during the 2015-2016 summer cropping season.

Dr Made said favouritism would not be tolerated.

“They should give priority to every farmer, in particular small-scale farmers who have sacrificed a lot by delivering what they have to the GMB,” he said.

Though the money is not enough to pay farmers, they have continued delivering maize to the GMB with 26 950 tonnes of maize having been delivered to the national silo this year.

This year farmers delivered grain worth $10,5 million.

Zimbabwe Commercial Famers’ Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said most GMB officials were not following Government instructions to also prioritise ordinary farmers.

“A farmer does not have another name except being called a farmer and anyone who has made deliveries should be considered and treated equally,” he said.

“In fact, those who deliver first should be paid first. People have been calling us complaining that instead of covering two seasons at once, Government should have cleared arrears from the previous season and then pay those who are currently delivering grain at a later stage when the resources become available.”

Mr Chabikwa said food security at household level was also important and small-scale farmers needed to be treated with great respect.

“They also need to plan and all along they have been complaining that they are not being treated fairly,” he said.

“To them, money disbursements will remain nothing if they do not get hold of the money themselves and they would see as if Government is doing nothing.”

Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers’ Association Nkomo Trust president Mrs Depinah Nkomo said there should be no bureaucracy when it came to farming.

“We all contribute to the national silo and our efforts should be considered equally,” she said.

“If the current situation is not addressed, it means smallholder farmers will never grow. What pains us is that some of those with big names who get paid first are not even farmers. They use their financial power and go around provinces buying grain from stranded farmers at lower prices for resale to the GMB.”

This year Government targets to assist 300 000 vulnerable households through inputs support schemes at a cost of $28 million.

The inputs support package will comprise a 10kg bag of maize seed, a 50kg bag of Compound D and a bag of Ammonium Nitrate for top dressing fertilisers.

Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association held elections over the weekend that ushered in new leadership in all the country’s 10 provinces.

According to names released by the ZNLWVA secretary-general Cde Victor Matemadanda, Cde John Guta is the new chairman in Harare and will be deputised by Cde J. Bhillah.

Cde Conelious Muoni is the new Mashonaland West chair and his deputy is Cde Mark Dube.

Cde Wellington Chitewe was declared the new Mashonaland Central provincial chairman with Cde Elias Mkikazika as his deputy, while Cdes Daniel Sigauke and Beater Chinga are the new Mashonaland East provincial chair and deputy, respectively.

In Midlands, Cde Virginia Mpasu is the new chair, deputised by Cde Amos Mapingire, while Cde Samy Mguni was declared Matabeleland North chairman and Cde Boniface Sibanda his deputy.

Cde Obedingwa Mguni is the new Matabeleland South chair and his deputy is Cde Phillimon Mbedzi.

In Masvingo there was a tie between the two contestants, but the new vice chairman is Cde Ignatius Murindi.

Cde Cephas Ncube is the new Bulawayo chairman and will be deputised by Cde Themba Ndlovu.

Cde Matemadanda told The Herald yesterday that in Manicaland there were some disturbances during the elections and ZNLWVA had to set an interim committee.

“There were some disturbances in Manicaland and the chairman (Cde Chris Mutsvangwa) had to set up an interim committee,” he said.

“The task of the committee is to superintend over the restructuring of the district.

“We made sure that the people in the interim committee are those people that do not have any ambition to be in the substantive provincial leadership.”

The Manicaland interim committee is chaired by Cde Gift Kagweda, who is deputised by Cde Emilda Mangandaire.

The position for secretary for legal affairs was left vacant after it turned out that the post was not appearing on the ballot paper. Elections will be held soon to fill in the post, including that of Masvingo provincial chair.

By Lloyd Gumbo and Costa Mano

1312: The proceedings have ended and with that we conclude our updates.

1309: The National Anthem is now being played.

1254: President Mugabe is now leading the procession to lay wreaths on the graves of heroes at the shrine. He lays a wreath at Cde Sally Mugabe’s grave.

1235: The President is followed by First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe, then came Vice Presidents Mnangagwa and Mphoko.

1232: The laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier started. President Mugabe has laid a wreath.

1222: A choir is now entertaining the crowd.

1219:  President Mugabe ends his address after thanking those gathered.

1216: We will ensure that they’ll be fairness on the part of employers who should be served by hardworking and honest people but also for the employees that they will not be fired unfairly. (He was referring to the labour law amendments underway)

1215: We are ranked highly in terms our literacy but it’s not only literacy we need. We now want real advanced forms of education, education at tertiary institutions. we now have some 10 universities in our country, we have a number of other tertiary education centres offering diplomas. The ICT field is one we would like to master fully.

1212: We want to thank the service chiefs who are here for the peace we are in at the moment so quarrels should be resolved peacefully. We should concern ourselves now with the improvement of our condition. we are grasped with the task of transforming our economy.

1206: Our main concern now is to provide quality education for all….Government has also embarked on teacher capacity development. Government is also prioritising and strengthening early childhood development.

1203: As Government we are prepared to listen to investors with aim of reducing the cost of doing business to the barest minimum.

1201: Because Zimbabwe is drought prone we should employ strategies that help us avert the effects of drought.

1158: Heroes proved to be heroes as they fought and lived for the independence of Zimbabwe they never abandoned the struggles, they never were rebels or selfish or what we call now sellouts. Instead they were abundantly generous as they committed themselves to the struggle.  As  Government our concern and care does not restrict itself to dead heroes as again been suggested by misguided elements. Government has given itself the task of looking after the heroes and their descendants.

1153: Let me make it abundantly clear that our shrines are solely for our heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country…heroes don’t become heroes when their dead…kana uri gamba chairo unozviratidza urimupenyu..kwete nekuti wanga uchiita chi MDC nekoko.

1149: We are gathered here at the National shrine to remember our heroes..without their courage we would have not emerged triumphant from the liberation war.

1147: Ehe takapiwha nhaka izera, nehupfumi hwenyika..masango nemadziva..shiri, nyoka dzingarume asi ndedzedu..madzvinyu, matawha. Hapana chisiri chenyu..zvimwe tinozviseka..ehe takazvipiwha kuti tizvisekese. Izvizvi nezvizvizvi zvinotipa hupenyu asi zvimwe hazvidyike, tochengeta, hazvipfuurwe ne pfuti kana museve. Ndakarambidzwa ndiri mudiki netumu seve twangu, ndaifamba  ndichitema madzvinyu zvikanzi unozvitemerei? Ndikati hazvidyiwe zvikanzi kwete zvisiye zvakadaro.-President Mugabe

1143: The sovereign right, supreme in its essence over all that is under Zimbabwe, all that is above the land, growing, the forests, all the creatures, those creeping, those running on fours even Cecil the Lion is yours…he’s dead but he was yours to protect but you failed to protect him. There are vandals who come from all the world..some are ordinary visitors but some would like to vandalise, to irregularly acquire and vandalise those resources.-President Mugabe.

1138: President Mugabe speaks of how the heroes sacrificed their freedom to fight for the country.

1137: Tanzwa kuti misoro yedu yanga yakaunganidzwa ku museum ku Britain..vati tiuye kuzotora..Tichaitora tichigunun’una. Hameno kuti yaMbuya Nehanda tichaiwana here ipapo.-President Mugabe

1134: I want to begin by expressing my gratitude..first father Mukonori for that scripture passage that he and and on which he preached..a short sermon. I want also to thank our choirs especially the last one for that beautiful music. Baba Mukonori vatidzizdisa kuti vadiki vedu handi vekungo tuma tuma chete nekuva dherera kuti havasati vadza zera..kwete vanepfungwa, pfungwa dzaka dzama chaidzo.-President Mugabe

1131: President Mugabe is now on the podium.

1130: Dr Chombo has invited President Mugabe to address the gathering.

1128: Dr Chombo is now addressing the gathering. He narrates the purpose of Heroes Day and pays tribute to fallen heroes.

1114: Father Fidelis Mukonori is now giving a sermon at the National Heroes Acre.

1112: Minister of Home Affairs Dr Ignatius Chombo is leading proceedings.

 1100: President Mugabe is now inspecting the Guard of Honour mounted by the Presidential Guard.

1055:  President Mugabe who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe have arrived at the National Heroes Acre. The National anthem is played.

1051: Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko have arrived at the National Heroes Acre.

Vice President Mnangagwa and wife Auxillia arrive at the National Heroes Acre

1043: Service Chiefs led by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander Dr Constantine Chiwenga arrive at the National Heroes Acre.

People arrive at the Heroes Acre.

Some of the foreign diplomats at the Heroes Acre

Members of the Presidential Guard, Quarter Guard go through their drills at the National Heroes Acre

1016: Zimbabweans from walks of life as well as foreign diplomats are already gathered at the National Heroes Acre for the Heroes Day commemorations.

People walk to the Heroes Acre. All pictures by Lloyd Gumbo

Senior Government officials among them Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo as well as Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere have already take their seats. Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo, Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Chris Mushowe and War Veterans Minister Chris Mutsvangwa are among those who are already gathered here. The atmosphere is electric here with people dancing to revolutionary songs as well as church choirs.

Thousands of people who gathered for Heroes Day commemorations that were presided over by President Mugabe at the National Heroes Acre yesterday.

Herald Reporters
Heroes Day celebrations yesterday drew much interest from thousands of Zimbabweans from all walks of life who thronged shrines countrywide where heroes of the liberation struggle are buried.

The main event was at the National Heroes Acre in Harare where President Mugabe led the commemorations.

His speech was read in the country’s provincial capitals by provincial affairs ministers.

In Harare, the national shrine was full quite early and some people had to follow proceedings from a nearby hill, while others were perched on trees.

Banners inscribed “Sando Dzenyu Magamba”, “Remembering Our Heroes”, “Zimbabwe Ndeyeropa”, “Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans”, “Celebrating Heroes and Heroines”, “Law for the People Not against the people”, “Vending Yes, Disorder No” denoted the celebrations, while highlighting issues that were uppermost the people’s minds.

Among the dignitaries were the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and members of the First Family, Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko and their spouses, diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, Government ministers and legislators, among others.

Foreign dignitaries included Angola’s Deputy Chief of General Staff for Patriotic Education General Antonio Edidio De Sousa Santos and Pakistan’s Vice Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Saeed Muhammad Khan.

Official proceedings started with the national anthem where there was a flypast by the Air Force of Zimbabwe.

Director of Ceremony and Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo invited Father Fidelis Mukonori to give a word of prayer.

This was followed by President Mugabe’s keynote address which was well received from the floor.

Watch President Mugabe’s address below:

After the President’s address, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces led in the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Also Read:

Safeguard natural resources: President

He was followed by Amai Mugabe, the two Vice Presidents, Senate President Edna Madzongwe, Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa, Harare mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni and service chiefs.

President Mugabe and his two deputies then visited graves of the fallen heroes buried at the national shrine where he spoke to their relatives.

Entertainment was provided by choral groups and the Zimbabwe Republic police band.

In Bulawayo, scores of people converged at the Provincial Heroes Acre in Nkulumane for Heroes Day.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Bulawayo Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo led the people in commemorating the day.

She laid the wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and was later joined by the acting commander of ZNA One Infantry Brigade, Colonel Mpulaeng Siziba, the officer commanding police in Bulawayo province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Mutamba and his counterpart from the ZPCS, Senior Assistant Commissioner Mailos Njomani in doing the same.

Among those who attended the event were Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, the ruling party’s Politburo member Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and former Zanu-PF Youth Secretary Cde Absolom Sikhosana.

In Masvingo, a bumper crowd packed the Masvingo provincial Heroes’ Acre to join the rest of the nation in commemorating Heroes Day amid pomp and fanfare.

Proceedings started just before 9am with war veterans accompanied by drum majorettes marching from Pangolin suburb to the provincial shrine in a procession that drew hundreds of curious onlookers.

Masvingo provincial affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa presided over the event.

In the Midlands province, hundreds of people thronged the Midlands Provincial Shrine in Gweru.

The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Jason Machaya read President Mugabe’s speech and gave hampers and vouchers to the 175 families of the heroes and heroines buried at the Provincial Heroes Acre.

In Mashonaland West, the main event was in Chinhoyi where hundreds of people – including relatives and colleagues of fallen heroes – gathered at the Chinhoyi Heroes Acre.

Mashonaland West Minister of State Cde Faber Chidarikire led proceedings, before reading the President’s speech.

In Matabeleland South, the main event was at the provincial heroes acre in Gwanda where hundreds turned up.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Abednico Ncube presided over the commemorations that were attended by service chiefs and senior Government officials.

In Manicaland, thousands of people thronged the provincial heroes’ acre in Mutare where the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Cde Mandi Chimene read the President’s speech.

Dendera, music icon Sulumani Chimbetu was the star attraction as he belted revolutionary songs that took many back to the days of the liberation struggle.

In Mashonaland Central, the main event was led by Minister of Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha in Bindura, while newly appointed Provincial Affairs minister for Mashonaland East Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri did the same in Marondera.

In Matabeleland North, provincial affairs minister Cde Cain Mathema led the proceedings and performed all the rituals associated with the Heroes Day.

In Beitbridge, National Security Minister Cde Kembo Mohadi, who is also legislator for Beitbridge East, led the celebrations and read the President’s speech.

Herald Reporter
Turkish businesses are keen to invest in the Zimbabwean economy, particularly in agriculture.

This was confirmed by Turkish ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Kadir Hidayet Eris in an interview with The Herald on the sidelines of an official hand over of scholarships to 23 Zimbabwean students recently.

The students would be studying at universities in Turkey.

“Our relationship with Zimbabwe, first of all, depends on the mutual respect of the internal affairs,” he said. “Political dialogues come later as our priority focuses mainly on the economic side of the relationship.”

Mr Eris said Turkey was aware that Zimbabwe was going through difficult economic times and his country was ready to assist.

“We would like to introduce our assistance programme through our agencies like Turkish International Co-operation Agency (TIKA),” he said.

Mr Eris singled out the agricultural sector as an area of interest for his country to invest in Zimbabwe.

“Our main area of interest here is agriculture because of the cotton industry,” he said. “We are good in textile as we are second from China in the world when it comes to textiles.”

Mr Eris said he had already engaged Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made and discussions were underway.

Mr Eris said it was his desire to see Turkish companies investing in their numbers in Zimbabwe.

“Little by little, we intend to increase the presence of Turkish companies here in Zimbabwe,” he said.

“We want to create job opportunities.”

President Mugabe

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
President Mugabe has castigated Britain for displaying skulls of some of Zimbabwe’s heroes and heroines from the First Chimurenga in their museums as symbols of colonial conquest.

He said the British government had since invited Zimbabwe to repatriate the remains, adding that Government would collect them begrudgingly and bury them at the country’s sacred shrines.

The President reiterated that sacred shrines such as the National Heroes Acre were a preserve of heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the country and were consistently loyal to the liberation cause.

He made the remarks while addressing thousands of Zimbabweans who thronged the National Heroes Acre in Harare yesterday for Heroes Day celebrations.

“Tanzwa kuti misoro yevanhu vedu, vakuru vedu, yanga yakaunganidzwa mumuseum kuBritain. Varikuti tizoitora. Tichaitora tichigunun’una kuti makaidimurireyi? WaMbuya Nehanda hameno kuti tichauwana here pakati pacho? (We are told that skulls of our people, our leaders, are being displayed in a British museum and they are inviting us to repatriate them. We will repatriate them, but with bitterness, questioning the rationale behind decapitating them),” he said.

“The remains of our heroes, sacred to us, which were taken out of the country during the colonial period, have now been identified in the British History Museum.

“The remains, skulls, we strongly believe are the skulls of beheaded heads of Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi, Chingaira Makoni, Chinengundu Mashayamombe, Mapondera, Mashonganyika and Chitekedza Chiwashira, among others.

“The First Chimurenga leaders, whose heads were decapitated by the colonial occupying force, were then dispatched to England, to signify British victory over, and subjugation of, the local population. Surely, keeping decapitated heads as war trophies, in this day and age, in a National History Museum, must rank among the highest forms of racist moral decadence, sadism and human insensitivity.”

President Mugabe said once the necessary processes to repatriate the remains were complete, Government would consult with traditional leaders about how to bury them at the sacred shrines in Zimbabwe.

He said he took great exception to some Zimbabweans who denigrated heroes and heroines and the sacred shrines where the gallant fighters were laid to rest.

“The misguided elements, whom we share Zimbabwe with, have the absurdity and fertile imagination to suggest who, in their unsolicited and weird and wayward opinions, should be declared a hero,” said President Mugabe.

“Here and now, such people better be advised to stop entertaining themselves with mirages, that only exist in the minds of the misguided. Let me make it abundantly clear that these sacred shrines are solely for our heroes who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of this country.

“Heroes were, and are, consistently loyal to the liberation cause, have their patriotism, selflessness, courage, determination never questionable, or in any doubt, at any point in time. Heroes do not become heroes after they are dead.”

President Mugabe added: “Hu hero hahumuki munhu afa. Kana urigamba chairo unozviratidza urimupenyu nebasa rako. Vanhu vanozokukudza chete paunezenge wafa. Kwete kuti wanga uchiita chi MDC nekoko uko kana chimwe chibokawo. Kwazvo, kwazvo chiboka chinotumirwa mari nevemhiri kuti vakanganise ndima dzatiri kurima dzevhu rakatorwa nevanhu ridzokere kuvarungu zvekare.

“Varipo varikudaro. Murikuzvinzwa muhurukuro dziri kuitwa ku MDC. Wozoti apa wafa zvonzi aah muiteyi hero! Wei? Nokuti akangoitawo politics chete? Handizvo ba. Ava inyanzvi ka idzi dzatirikukudza nhasi uno.

“They proved to be heroes as they fought, lived for, and died for the liberation of Zimbabwe. They never abandoned battle! They never were rebels. They never were the weak-hearted. They never were selfish, or sell outs, but instead they were abundantly generous with their sacrifice for their country.”

Dr Undenge

George Maponga in Masvingo
Feasibility studies on the construction of the $3 billion Batoka Hydro Power plant on the Zambezi River by Zimbabwe and Zambia have shown that the project will generate 2 400 megawatts, up from the previously projected 1 600MW.

Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge said in an interview last Thursday that the two countries will share the power equally.

Speaking to The Herald on the sidelines of the commissioning of a rural electrification project in Gutu, Masvingo, Dr Undenge said work on the plant was set to commence soon.

“Work on the Batoka Hydro Power plant will start any time from now after the completion of feasibility studies, that actually revealed that the plant has the capacity to produce 800 megawatts more than earlier thought,’’ he said.

“The World Bank was involved in the funding of the feasibility studies for the Batoka project and the contractors managed to successfully complete the exercise, paving the way for work on the project to kick-off.”

Dr Undenge said Zimbabwe and Zambia had already struck a deal on payment modalities for the $30 million Central African Power Corporation (Capco) debt that Harare owes its northern partner which is threatening work on the joint project.

The Capco debt was for the shared cost of the Kariba Dam construction and associated infrastructure in the early 1950s.

It also included proceeds of the sale of assets belonging to Capco, a power firm jointly owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia when the two countries were still members of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which was dissolved in 1963.

Capco was running the Kariba power project for the two countries, but was disbanded in 1987.

“We have agreed with the Zambians on the payment plan for the Capco debt, and there are no more problems between us that can hinder us from jointly working on the Batoka power project,’’ said Dr Undenge.

Zimbabwe and Zambia have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly construct the Batoka hydro plant.

The agreement on the project, situated about 50 kilometres downstream of the resort town of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River, was initially stalled by the dispute over the Capco.

The Batoka project is expected to be built and operated by a private company.

Zimbabwe has already started investing in new power generation projects to ease electricity deficit with the expansion of Kariba South power station that will add 300MW to the national grid.

There are also plans to expand Hwange Power station by adding two units with a combined output of 600 megawatts.

Hwange Thermal Power Station produces 920MW, while Kariba produces 750MW when fully operational.

Herald Reporter
South Africa’s labour body, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), has praised Zanu-PF for steering the country in the right direction despite an onslaught from the United States and its allies.

Cosatu provincial secretary Mr Dumisani Dakile heaped praise on Zanu-PF’s policies on land and the indigenisation of the economy.

He also praised Mozambique’s revolutionary Frelimo party for standing by its people.

Mr Dakile was quoted by Times Live yesterday as saying Zanu-PF’s electoral victory proved that the people of Zimbabwe rejected the opposition MDC-T.

“The elections exposed the narrow and shallow policies of the MDC to the electorate,” he said.

“Liberation movements faced a total onslaught from the USA‚ and they survived.”

Delivering a report at the trade federations’ Gauteng provincial congress in Johannesburg, Mr Dakile criticised the US for meddling in the affairs of African countries and institutions such as the African Union.

He accused the United States of‚ among other things‚ funding the extremists group Boko Haram in Nigeria.

“There is a Boko Haram extremist that has placed millions of lives under serious threat as it bombs and kidnaps women and children,” he said.

“Boko Haram might be funded by the USA‚ but I don’t have evidence of that.”

Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi was credited for uplifting the lives of people of Libya, but Mr Dakile said since his removal from power and his ultimate death there had been no stability in Libya.

“The country has been a shadow of itself and there is no order and stability,” he said.

“The USA and its allies are no longer in control. The serious gains which were registered by the previous government under Gaddafi are no more.

“The USA will now be in control of the natural resources of Libya and the people will never benefit from the oil and its profit as multinationals will be the main beneficiaries.”

Mr Dakile said the AU would not fulfil its mandate as it was dependent on the USA for funding.

“The main challenge is the resources required to carry its responsibility as it still relies upon donors for more than 50 percent of its budget,” he said.

“In our view the AU will never be able to fulfil its task and mandate as long as it depends on the USA and European Union for its financing.”

President Mugabe

President Mugabe’s speech on the occasion of Zimbabwe’s National Heroes Day celebrations at the National Heroes Acre in Harare yesterday.

I WANT to begin by expressing my gratitude and deep appreciation first, Father Mukonori for that scripture passage that he read and on which he preached a short sermon and also want to thank our choirs especially the last one for that beautiful music.

Baba Mukonori vatidzidzisa kuti vadiki vedu handi vokungotuma tuma chete nokuvadheerera kuti haaaa havasati vabva zano. Kwete, vane pfungwa dzimwe nguva dzakadzama chaizvo izvo.

Zvino tanzwa kuti ah, mwana uyu aive mucheche achine makore gumi nemaviri, mwana waMwari. Ndokurasika, pavakanga vaenda kupasika kuchidyo chegore negore chekurumbidza Mwari . Sezvinoita vadiki vaye, ko aendepi ko aendepi, vomutsvaga ndokuona ah akatogara pane vaye vainzi ndivo chaivo vapi vepfungwa dzakadzama, magweta nevamwe vadhara, ndebvu chena vakati ah kamwana kanopenga aka.

Ko uri kuitei pano, ko imimi muri kunditsvagireiwo, ko tiri kudaka kuenda kumusha. Hamuzive here kuti ndiripo pakuita basa rababa vangu ah ndobva vashama. Havana kuziva kuti zvaanoreva ndezvipi.

Isuwo taive nemazano akawanda, asi zano guru guru raive revakuru vedu vaye vakarwa Chimurenga, vaye vaive vakazotongwa vamwe vavo vanana Mbuya Nehanda. Vakatiudza zvatakaudzwawo tichiri vacheche tichiri vadiki kuti kwaive naMbuya Nehanda vakatungamirira Chimurenga asi mudzimai iyeye akatongwa pamwe chete nevamwe varume, akadimurwawo musoro.

Tanzwa kuti misoro yevakuru vedu ivavo yaive yakaunganidzwa muMuseum, kuBritain vari kuti tizoitora, tichaitora tichigunun’una, tichigunun’una kuti makaidimurirei?

WaMbuya Nehanda hameno kuti tichauwana here pakati pacho. Mazwi avakapa kuti vana vadiki vagotererawo nevakuru ekuti mandiuraya zvangu, ndichirwira zvangu asi mapfupa angu achamuka. Anonzi akati achamuka, vachireva kuti vachakumukirai, zvakateererwa izvozvo nevakomana nevasikana vakanga vabve zera kwete vakange vaine makore gumi nemaviri.

Hongu vakanga vanzwa shoko iri richitaurwa nevakuru asi vazokura shoko raMbuya Nehanda vakati ngatirimutsei. Ndivo vatiri kuchema zuva nezuva, ndivo vatiri kuchema nhasi asi tinovarumbidza kunyanya hatingarambi tichichema. Ndivo nhungamiri vakatungamira, vakazvipira kufa nekutambudzika, ndivo vakada kuti tizova nezuva ranhasi remufaro reIndependence yedu, zuva rekuchengetedza zvese zvatinazvo zvicherwa, masango edu nemhuka dzedu. Saka zuva ranhasi isuwo toteerera zvavari kutaura vari pano apa, nekuti zviito zvavo ndozviri kutaura, ndomuromo wavo nhasi.

We fought, we are saying for the freedom of everyone, for justice and for the right of self-determination to come to Zimbabwe. So we are free, every man and woman and those to be born also shall be born free. We are here to tell you that the country we now call Zimbabwe has had a new baptism, baptism of blood. We sacrificed for it. It’s ours, its yours.

It’s also for those who shall be born, we indulge you through our actions as matters with the right of sovereignty. The sovereignty rights, supreme in its essence over all that is under Zimbabwe, all that is above the land, growing, the forests, all the creatures those creeping, those running on floors, even Cecil the Lion is yours. He’s dead but he was yours to protect and you fail to protect him.

There are vandals who come from all over, of course they come maybe just ordinary visitors but alas would want to vandalise, to irregularly and illegally acquire part of those resources.

We said the independence you are getting that you celebrate year in and year after is now an instrument for you to transform your economy.

But it is also an instrument for you to arm yourself with and defend and protect your country and its natural resources so, don’t cry anymore don’t mourn anymore. Joy everlasting shall be yours and your future generations forever and ever.

Ehe, takapihwa nhaka izere yehupfumi hwenyika, masango nemhuka, madziva, makarwe unova mutupo wavaMugabe. Angarume asi ndeedu, shiri , nyoka dzingarume asi ndedzedu, zvose madzvinyu, matahwa, hapana chisiri chenyu. Zvimwe tinozviseka, asi ehe takazvipihwa kuti tisekese.

Makudo, tsoko zvese, hapoka! Tizvichengete izvi nezvizvizvi zvinotipawo hupenyu imhuka dzatinodya asi zvimwe hazvidyike, zvinombogara mumasango mumadziva, tochengeta hazvipfurwe nepfuti. Chitema.

Kana miseve. Ini ndakarambidzwa, ndaiti ndiri mudiki ndaiita tumiseve twangu twekufamba ndichitenderera pasi pematenga emba kupfura madzvinyu. Zvikanzi unoapfurirei? Ndikati haadyiwe. Zvikanzi, aiwa zvisikwa zvaMwari. Regera kudaro. Ndikabva ndaregerawo. Ndaive nemakore ndofunga masere kana mapfumbamwe.

Zvino hezvoka tauya pano nhasi, tauya mushure memakore akawanda tichiuya pano. Hatina kutanga tiine nharaunda ino iyi nezvese, zviri pano, nemakuva ari pano, kwete takapavaka kuti chive mucherechedzo kwatiri tose chekuzvipira, chive chicherechedzo kwatiri tose chechido chine vanhu veZimbabwe kupa rukudzo kune avo vakazvipira kuti tiwane nhaka yatiinayo yekuzvitonga.

Saka pavakwa takazovamba kuti gore negore tinopa chicherechedzo ichocho. Gore negore tinenge tiine mhemberero yatinoita yekuti nyika yedu yakauya asi yakauya nemutowo iwoyu.

As many other compatriots gather around various shrines across the country and in neighbouring countries, we are gathered here at the National Shrine to pay tribute to the gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe. Our heroes who sacrificed life and limb in order to fight an oppressive, indeed a ruthless, racist settler colonial system.

Without our people’s fearless resolve, courage and self-determination and support, we would not have emerged triumphant against imperialism. The enduring spirit of the legendary struggles of the First Chimurenga of the 1890s propelled Nationalist struggles of the 1950s and 1960s, and later gave birth to the unrelenting liberation struggle, which culminated in our hard won sovereign Independence celebrated on the 18th of April 1980.

Today as we salute these fallen and living heroes for their unyielding tenacity and unflinching courage, we are sadly reminded of the human remains of some of our First Chimurenga heroes and heroines. The remains of our heroes, sacred to us, which were taken out of the country during the colonial period have now been identified in a British history Museum. The remains, skulls we strongly believe are the skulls of beheaded heads of Mbuya Nehanda, Sekuru Kaguvi, Chingaira Makoni, Chinengundu Mashayamombe, Mapondera, Mashonganyika and Chitekedza Chiwashira among others.

The First Chimurenga leaders, whose heads were decapitated by the colonial occupying force were then dispatched to England to signify British victory over and subjugation of the local population.

Surely, keeping decapitated heads as war trophies in this day and age in a national history museum must rank among the highest forms of racist moral decadence, sadism and human insensitivity.

Once all the necessary processes have been completed for the return of these illicitly removed remains of our ancestors, it is our wish in consultation with our traditional leaders that they be given lasting rest at sacred shrines on the very land against whose occupation they bravely fought.

Fellow Zimbabweans,

Often I have found some misguided elements in our society denigrating our heroes and the shrines at national, provincial or district levels, where we have laid our heroes to rest. The misguided elements whom we share Zimbabwe with have the absurdity and fertile imagination to suggest who, in their unsolicited and weird and wayward opinions, should be declared a hero. Here and now, such people better be advised to stop entertaining themselves with mirages that only exist in the minds of the misguided.

Let me make it abundantly clear that these sacred shrines are solely for the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of this country. Heroes were, and are, consistently loyal to the liberation cause, have their patriotism, selflessness, courage, determination, never questionable, or in any doubt, at any point in time.

Heroes do not become heroes after they are dead! Let us hear that, uhero haumuke munhu afa kana, uri gamba chairo unozviratidza urimupenyu nebasa rako vanhu vanozokukudza chete paunezenge wafa kwete kuti wanga uchiita chiMDC nekokoko kana chimwe chipokawo kwazvo kwazvo. Zvimwe zvipoka zvinotumirwa mari nevemhiri kuti vakanganise ndima dzatiri kurima dzevhu rakatorwa nevanhu kuti ridzokere kuvarungu zvekare variko vanotodaro. Murikuzvinzwa kuhurukuro dzirikuitwa kuMDC. Wozoti apa wafa zvonzi ah muitei hero. Wei? Nekuti akaita politics chete? Handizvoba. Ava inyanzvika. They never abandoned battle! They never were rebels. They never were weak-hearted. They never were selfish, or sellouts, but instead they were abundantly generous with their sacrifice for their country.

As Government, our concern and care does not restrict itself with the dead heroes, as has again, been suggested by misguided elements. Instead, Government has given itself the mammoth task of adequately ensuring the welfare and of addressing the plight of veterans of Liberation and of cause their dependence.

Accordingly, Government has now established a fully fledged Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex- Political Detainees and Restrictees.

Although Government acknowledges that no enough resources have yet been channelled towards this new Ministry, disbursements have been made to cater for school fees, medical assistance, and funeral expenses for the dependents of our Heroes. The provision of the National Heroes Dependants Assistance Act (Chapter 10:06), should guide War Veterans to work closely with the new Ministry, in order to formulate sustainable projects that are targeted at benefiting them.

The sacrifices made by our gallant heroes can only be consolidated through the building of a vibrant economy that empowers all our people. This should remind us all, particularly those in leadership positions in all spheres of our society, to focus all our energies in ensuring that the economy is fully recovered, for the prosperity of all Zimbabweans.

In our quest for sustainable social and economic development, Government is pursuing, since 2013, the accelerated implementation of Zimasset, which is certainly yielding fruits. Having registered a growth rate of 3.1 percent in 2014, economic performance, to date, indicates some modest growth, which is driven by key sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism and hospitality, construction, financial services as well as the public sector.

On the other hand, the depressed growth resulting from the 2014/2015 agricultural season, underlines the importance of Agriculture as the anchor of our economy. There is need for drought proofing the economy, in order to ameliorate the adverse effect of climate change.

In a bid to adopt strategies that improve and boost food production, and to ensure Food Nutrition Security, both at household and national levels, Government has secured US$98.6 million loan facility from Brazil under the More Food–for–Africa Programme. The loan is for the acquisition of new agriculture machinery and irrigation equipment, which is targeted at enhancing smallholder farmers’ capacity to produce food crops. Because Zimbabwe is drought-prone, we should employ all strategies that help us to avert the consequences of drought and subsequently starvation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and friends

Mineral output during the first half of 2015 was on an upward trend, with gold, nickel, platinum and palladium recording significant increases. With regard to gold, good performance was on account of the supportive fiscal incentives, on-going investment, as well as the institution of measures targeted at plugging leakages of our mineral resources.

To address the challenges faced by our local industries, a National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) is going to be established. The Commission will be responsible for reviewing business related legislation and the repealing of old laws, which tend to impact negatively on business activities. Being a country that observes and respects the rights of investors, as Government, we are prepared to listen to all investor concerns, and address them, with the aim of making sure that we bring the cost of doing business in Zimbabwe to the barest minimum.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Tourism sector continues to experience tremendous growth and development. Based on the results of the first quarter of 2015, that is this year, arrivals are projected to reach 2 million by year end. Zimbabwe recently received another award, the award titled, “The Routes Middle East and Africa Destination Marketing Award” so we got that award.

The international recognition comes at a time the country was ranked “number one” in the world, under “The Incidence of Terrorism Sub-Index”, we have not experienced terrorism, thanks to the peaceful nature of our people. In the 2015, Travel and Tourism Competitiveness report compiled by the World Economic Forum. This is the recognition I have made reference to that does come from that body.

Colonial education was, for us Africans, shallow, inferior, and most inappropriate. This indeed was one of the main reasons we fought the war of liberation. Expansion and provision of education for all was what we declared at Independence. After thirty five years of attaining Independence, our main concern now is to provide “quality education for all.”

Government has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the foundation, relevance and quality of our education. In line with the new Constitution, the revision of the curriculum recognises the use of indigenous languages as a medium of instruction. Government has also embarked on teacher capacity development programmes, for both primary and secondary school education personnel, in order to address training gaps and the quality of education. Government is also prioritising and strengthening Early Childhood Development in order to inculcate necessary skills at an early stage.

After the war of liberation, Government has always been seized with providing our youth with requisite technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills. Government thus passed various legislation provisions and policies, targeted at the youths.

As part of the Youth Empowerment initiatives, in 2015, 8 422 youths have been empowered with technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills through the Integrated Skills Outreach Programme(ISOP), Training for Rural Economic Empowerment (TREE) and Informal Apprenticeship programmes.

The training programmes are implemented through the Government’s 42 Vocational Training Centres and supporting satellites that are located throughout the country.

In pursuit of promoting decent accommodation for all, Government has started implementing the new National Housing Delivery Programme that aims at delivering the Zim-Asset target of 313 368 urban housing units and serviced stands by December 2018.

Presently, various rural and urban centres are busy rehabilitating existing water and sewage infrastructure. Furthermore, regularisation processes of some settlements has begun. It is expected that in excess of 23 000 housing units will be provided in urban centres.

The rural housing programmes have been resuscitated in order to improve rural living conditions. Government has started to produce house designs of typical rural model homesteads which can be accessed free of charge through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing offices countrywide. Plans are already underway to introduce the Rural Housing Loan Fund that will provide affordable loans to communal, A1 and A2 farmers.

In the Health Service sector, we are pleased that, as reflected in the latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, there is a remarkable decrease in maternal, child, and infant mortality.

In addition, full immunisation of children has improved from about 36 percent to nearly 70 percent. Measles immunisation is at 82 per cent. The country has also recorded a remarkable increase of clients accessing treatment for HIV from 565 675 to 825 978 in March alone, this year.

Despite the budget constraints, Government will continue to mobilise resources to cater for the 500 000 who still need to be put on treatment. There is much development across all our sectors which we continue to advance as we equally continue our enrolment, environment of peace and security and with that I want to thank you and thank our forces represented here by our service chiefs who are here, to thank them for the peace and tranquillity that the country is enjoying.

Let’s remain peaceful. We discuss our problems in a peaceful way even quarrels must be handled in a manner that should lead to settlements we don’t want quarrels that end up in violence, No. We should concern ourselves with the improvement of our condition. We are still grappling with the task of transforming our economies.

Although we have the resources, the resources lie underground, even where they are above ground, they are yet to be transformed into wealth and transformation of the raw resources into wealth is quite a task.

Thats a task which requires investment, capital and that resource, investment capital that ourselves have is inadequate that is why we invite investors from abroad especially those from friendly countries to come and join us in partnerships so we can transform our economy but in the meantime, will do our best, carry on with our social sectors.

We are at the moment reckoned by the United Nations as the most, the number one literate country in Africa, so on the basis of literacy we are quite above all the others. But it’s not just the literacy we require. We now want real advanced forms of education, education at tertiary institutions we now have some 10 universities in the country, we have a number of other tertiary institutions that give diplomas and we should also reckon what the entirety of the developed world, you see is grappling with, the ICT, you see that is the ICT field that’s a field we are entering, a field we would want to master very much.

But I also thank the institutions, the institutions that lead us, Government institutions and private ones for having conducted their various business in peace. We are worried of course that recently, there has been that, shall I say, freedom on the part of the private sector to get rid of workers , workers who I understand now are in their thousands in the streets and we do not accept that even though it’s in accordance with the law but as I said the law can be disadvantages to certain sectors and I quoted Dickens he said “The law is an ass” and I think that part of our law is a stupid ass.

So we want amendments. I think we proceeded already to draft a bill and to introduce it in Parliament and we will ensure that there is fairness, fairness yes on the part of the employers because they must be served by honest people, sincere people, hard-working people but also for fairness that they shall not just dismiss workers any how because they want to widen their margin of profits no, no that we say no to and we will protect workers, workers legally.

Your coming here is an indication that we continue to recognise the good work done for us by our dear departed, the heroes but tell their story to your children those who are twelve years and above.

Let them hear the story of how this country was freed, how our independence was won and let them hear that told in a manner which makes them also want to be heroes tomorrow, want to defend the legacy that has been bequeathed by our departed national heroes we are celebrating today.

Ndinoda kukutendai zvakare, ndichitendesesa kuuya kwamaita ndichiti shoko rekuzvisunungura ishoko guru. Kuzvipira pabasa rakanaka, kuzvipira kuyamurana, kuzvipira kune vanotambudzika, kuzvipira kana zuva rasvika rekuti muzvidzivirire, muzvirwire,kana nyika yave kuda kutorwa zvakare, kuona uti zviito pakati penyu zvevamwe vari kupfekenyedza iye zvino vari kuda kudzoka kumapurazi nekune dzimwe nzvimbo, zviito izvozvo zvibva zvadziviswa zvisati zvaenda kure kure.

Nekuti mukazviregerera mangwana zvinozova dambdziko guru. Hatingave neimwe hondo zvekare yekutora nyika yedu yatakatora kare. Takanga tataura kuti aiwa taiotora nyika yedu hapana zvichaitika.

Zimbabwe will never be a colony again.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends,

Cognisant of what our heroes suffered and died for Government has, since Independence, made and will continue to make, improvements targeted at raising our people’s quality of life.

I thank you.

 By Lloyd Gumbo and Costa Mano

 1319: Other dignitaries are also leaving the NSS and with that we end our updates

1317: President Mugabe and First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe is now leaving the NSS.

1312: While Jah Prayzah belts his hit Tsviriyo, the crowd has an acrobatics side show to watch.

1258: Jah Prayzah is back on stage and is really rocking this place.

1238: Paratroopers are now descending onto the National Sports Stadium pitch.

1227: Jah Prayzah is now entertaining the crowd.

1206: The President thanks those gathered and ends his speech.  The National Anthem is played.

1203: He commends the Defence Forces for remaining resolute for discharging their constitutional mandate. President Mugabe says the Defence Forces cherish the support from communities and individuals and as the Commander in Chief he wants to see such cooperation continuing.

 1157: He applauds the Defence Forces for their community work which includes the construction of a clinic at Chingwizi, an Early Child Development centre at Nyadiri as well as four classrooms at Chakari among other programmes.

1153: The President speaks on how Pakistan assisted Zimbabwe during the liberation war as well as current cooperation programmes. He says since 1980 the Defence Forces have grown into a reputable armed force. He says they are instrumental in our socio-economic development by guaranteeing us peace and stability.

1151: The Zimbabwe Defence Forces were formed by the integration of warring parties with ZIPRA and ZANLA on one side and the Rhodesian forces on the other..this was a difficult exercise that needed tact.

1147: President Mugabe is now on the podium.

1146: Dr Sekeramayi says the Defence Forces would not have achieved the great milestones they have  achieved over the years if it were not for the visionary leadership of President Mugabe. He narrates the community assistance projects undertaken by the Defence Forces which include a clinic in Buhera constructed by the Defence Forces.

He invites the President to deliver his keynote address.

1139: Minister of Defence and Master of Ceremony Dr Sydney Sekeramayi is now on the podium.

1131: Chaplain General Colonel Joseph Nyakudya is now delivering a sermon.

1114: The parade is now marching in formation.

1049:  President Mugabe is now inspecting the Zimbabwe Defence Forces parade.

1043: The National Anthem is played.

1041: President Mugabe’s motorcade arrives and beamed on the giant screen inside the stadium to rapturous applause from people  as First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe enters the stadium accompanied by their son Bellarmine.

 1036: Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, Chief Justice  Godfrey Chidyausiku and National Assembly Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda have also arrived.

 1031: Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and wife Auxillia have arrived

1029:  Senior service chiefs led by Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Dr Constantine Chiwenga arrive at the National Sports Stadium to rapturous applause.

1005: Some of the Ministers who are already here include Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, Dr Ignatius Chombo and Cde Josiah Hungwe. Also here are Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda and Civil Service Commission chairperson Mariyawanda Nzuwah.

0954: Alick Macheso is currently entertaining the early birds here with his guitar skills. He is pelting some popular song such as Shedia.

Some of the military hardware on display at the National Sports Stadium. Picture by Lloyd Gumbo.

0953: Scores of people are already queuing at the National Sports Stadium as Zimbabweans from all walks of life are attending the main Defence Forces Day celebrations.

Herald Reporter
Two Zanu-PF-linked housing cooperatives in Harare have fleeced over 500 home-seekers of nearly $1 million, an audit commissioned by the revolutionary party has revealed.

The two housing cooperatives, Tushasha and Mukuvisi Tashinga, operated in Msasa.

The report shows that at least 140 stands measuring between 400 to 600 square metres were allocated to more than one person each.

At least 20 people who were duped reported the scam at Hatfield Police Station.

Zanu-PF secretary for Legal Affairs in Harare Province Cde Dan Musukuma, who led the audit team, told The Herald that although the two housing cooperatives had 557 stands, they received money from 610 home-seekers.

An evaluation of work done on the ground revealed that work worth less than $100 000 was covered, despite officials collecting close to $1 million.

Cde Musukuma said the audit report with a raft of remedial recommendations, would soon be presented to the Zanu-PF Harare provincial leadership.

“There is $750 000 which is not being accounted for,” he said.

“The money was deposited through the banks and was received by the cooperatives’ management committees who include Catharine Kudamba as chair, Munetsi Marere (vice chair), Lloyd Mutsipa (secretary) and two other members — Tendai Katsa and Crispen Dzuda.

“The money that was deposited in the bank was withdrawn without any proof of expenditure.

“Another $4 220 which was received in cash by the cooperative is also not accounted for.

“The cooperatives were receiving money and receipting it using fake receipt books,” said Cde Musukuma.

“We also discovered that 610 people paid their subscriptions to the cooperatives, yet there are only 557 stands. There is also the issue of double allocation of stands, and in excess of 140 stands were allocated to more than two or three people each,” he said.

“Our main worry is that more than 20 people who were duped reported the cases at Hatfield Police Station three months ago, but no case has been prosecuted so far.”

Cde Musukuma said the land that was being parcelled out by the cooperatives had been allocated to Zanu-PF through its subordinate organ of Tashinga District in Hatfield.

He said Cde Kudamba and her associates later formed a splinter cooperative and illegally divided the land between two housing cooperatives.

Cde Musukuma said Zanu-PF Harare Province realised the name of the party was being soiled by unscrupulous elements and instituted the audit.

He said the audit of the two cooperatives should be used as a template on other cooperatives linked to the party to weed out corrupt elements.