Felex Share Senior Reporter
Government is not obliged to consult anyone when taking measures on civil servants’ conditions of service and has discretion to withdraw vacation leave and reset it for another day.

Any civil servant aggrieved by lawful directives should follow the “grievance procedure” as provided for by the Public Service Commission regulations, the Government said.

This emerged in a case in which the Zimbabwe Teachers Association took Government to court challenging the deferment of vacation leave for all teachers.

The union, together with two of its members Samson Chinowoneka and Axilia Musekiwa, made an urgent chamber application at the Labour Court seeking to stop their recall from vacation leave this school term.

The educators argued that the move by Government was unfair labour practice and unlawful, as it violated labour rights enshrined in Section 65 of the Constitution.

They cited the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, the Ministry’s permanent secretary, the Civil Service Commission and the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare as respondents.

Labour Court judge Justice Bridget Chivizhe this week declared the matter was not urgent and should be set on the ordinary roll.

In its response to the court papers filed by the union, Government, through the Public Service Commission, said the decision to scrap vacation leave for teachers was justified and it was guided by Section 58 of the PSC regulations which allowed for the heads of Ministry to suspend the operations of a working rule.

In any case, the PSC argued, there was no provision that made it mandatory for them to consult members before deferring the vacation leave.

The Commission said the teachers were not denied their leave, but had “simply” been recalled until a proper policy had been adopted.

“Section 20 (2) of the Public Service Act clearly states that conditions of service fixed shall not be invalid solely on the ground that there were no consultations done prior to the fixing of such,” read the PSC response.

“There is no provision that stipulates that the respondents must give the applicant an opportunity to be heard before the decision could be taken. There has not been any violation of labour rights. The applicants failed to realise that in as much as leave is a right, the employer reserves the right to call one from leave in times of a crisis in this case.”

In their application, the teachers said they would suffer “material economic harm” of reporting to work urgently against their plans and those of their families, including travelling expenses.

They argued that they would suffer irreparably as their vacation leave had a school term’s duration which could only be applied for after seven years’ service of accrual of such leave days.

Responded the PSC: “There is no reasonable economic harm that can be suffered by the applicant in the matter. In any event, most members have reported for duty and its business as usual without any prejudice suffered.

“Vacation days for the applicants have not been forfeited and could be then used after a sustainable policy has been passed. The vacation days have no limit on accrual, but only that there is a maximum cap on the number of days one takes for their vacation leave. In essence, the members’ days will continue to accrue beyond 132 days.”

The PSC said the decision to delay commencement of vacation leave was a measure adopted to address current fiscal constraints.

This school term, 2 000 teachers wanted to go on vacation leave and it meant Government engaging a similar number of relief educators at a cost of $2,5 million for the three months substantive teachers would be away.

The relief teachers draw full salaries and allowances, a habit which a Government audit carried out last year recommended should be stopped.

The rest of the civil service, outside the education sector, do not bring any financial burden to Government if they go on vacation leave because they are not replaced.

RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya

Elita Chikwati Agriculture Reporter
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is developing an Agricultural and Rural Credit Policy to boost production while ensuring the country’s self-sufficiency. This is also meant to increase exports.

Announcing the Monetary Policy Statement on Thursday, RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya said the policy was aimed at making agricultural credit more disciplined, methodical and easily available to all farmers.

He said banking institutions were required to scale up their lending support to the agricultural sector.

“The policy aims to make agricultural credit easily available to all farmers and expand banking services to rural areas and maximising use of agricultural land. It covers the major sectors of agriculture including crop, livestock, and fish production, agri-equipment, irrigation equipment, grain storage and marketing.

“In complementing Government efforts to revolutionalise agriculture through introduction of modern farm-mechanisation, improvement in production yields, promotion of better market access, and integration of farming with other diverse markets, banking institutions should provide more innovative and sustainable value- chain financing products to small holder farmers and rural farmers,” he said.

Dr Mangudya urged the banking sector to prioritise lending for the production of maize, cotton, tobacco and horticulture to boost exports.

“Total lending to agriculture should constitute a minimum of 20 percent of a banking institution’s total loan portfolio. Banking institutions are required to report on quarterly basis information on their agricultural portfolios with effect from quarter period ending June,” he said.

Dr Mangudya encouraged the Agricultural Marketing Authority to identify and promote the development of vibrant markets and linkages.

He said it was Government’s thrust to make the nation self-sufficient in food through increasing production of all crops; ensure a profitable and sustainable agricultural production system and improve farmers’ income generation capacity.

Government was also promoting production of several crops to reduce excessive dependence on any single crop to minimize risk.

“It is Government’s thrust to increase cropping intensity, yield and create opportunities for establishing agro-processing and agro-based industries,” he said.

Farmers have always complained over lack of funding which they said affected production.

According to farmers, the available funding is not conducive for agriculture as the banks require collateral and do not accept 99 year leases as security.

Agriculture economist, Mr Midway Bhunu said the move taken by the RBZ was noble since farmers were in need of funding but said the institution should understand the real challenges being faced in the sector.

“The banks should understand farmers’ real challenges and capacities so that before the money is released to the banks it is packaged correctly.

“Because banks are in business, they will administer the funds so as to make money. RBZ should do proper costing that accommodates the farmer and the banks,” he said.

Mr Bhunu said it was important that RBZ, together with other banks, work with all key agricultural value chain actors and come up with priority areas.

Banks have been prioritising funding of tobacco because of the well-organised market which makes it easier for the financial sector to recover its money.

Mr Bhunu urged banks to consider other lucrative crops such as sugar, beans, potatoes and ground nuts.

Zimbabwe is an agro-economy with agriculture contributing about 12 percent of the country’s GDP in 2014 and more than 60 percent of inputs to the manufacturing sector.

Access to financial services, particularly by smallholder farmers, however, remains a major bottleneck to agricultural performance in Zimbabwe.

Mr Tsvangirai

Felex Share Senior Reporter—-
PUNCH-drunk MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday said he had lost hope of winning elections against President Mugabe, saying he only fancied his chances after the latter’s demise.Mr Tsvangirai, whose party has been boycotting by-elections since the heavy drubbing it got in the 2013 harmonised elections, was speaking as he addressed journalists at his party’s Harvest House headquarters.

He, however, did not explain why he believed he would outlive the President. The embattled opposition leader surprised many when he blamed Government for the El Nino-induced drought, calling on MDC-T supporters to protest over the lack of rain.

“We all know that instead of fighting for succession, let us wait until he dies,” he said. “He (President Mugabe) has made a declaratory order and indeed Zimbabweans must wait until he dies.”

Asked why he was pushing for the so-called electoral reforms ahead of the 2018 elections when he knew that he was heading nowhere, Mr Tsvangirai said: “It is the duty of leaders to be dealers of hope.”

“Suppose he dies tomorrow, does that question still stand?” he retorted. In all the national elections his party has contested since its launch on September 11 1999, the MDC has lost to Zanu-PF, suffering its heaviest defeat in the 2013 harmonised elections.

Mr Tsvangirai garnered a mere 33,94 percent of the vote to President Mugabe’s 61,09 percent. “Iii nyangwe dai muri docile, munosimukawo panzara,” Mr Tsvangirai said.

“Ndofunga pachikafu pacha-simukawo vanhu apa. We have to mobilise the people. No one is going to take action unless they are mobilised. To continue to be docile is not the solution. We must continue to mobilise until we get the attention of Zanu-PF. A hungry person is an angry person.”

President Mugabe has assured the nation that despite the natural disaster caused by El Nino, no one would starve and on Thursday he declared the 2015/6 agricultural season a national disaster due to the dire effects of the El-Nino weather phenomenon.

The El-Nino, which has affected the whole of the Southern region, has seen Zimbabwe receiving normal to below normal rainfall. The declaration by President Mugabe is aimed at mobilising resources to alleviate food shortages and seeks to undertake the tasks of ensuring and supervising the programme of effective delivery of relief supplies for people and livestock as well as emergency irrigation programmes.

Departing from his earlier refrain of blaming Zanu-PF for the drought, Mr Tsvangirai said: “As a region and as a country we are bearing the brunt of climate change, a serious issue that needs attention at policy level, especially now as the entire Sadc region faces a food crisis.

“So, yes, we are facing very serious national crisis because of climate change, but there is no response from Government.” Contrary to Mr Tsvangirai’s assertion, that Government was doing nothing, just last week Government secured $200 million in lines of credit for grain imports, as it stepped up efforts to ensure that no one will starve due to drought.

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya said the country had enough stocks to last almost a year.

Minister Saviour Kasukuwere

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday said Zanu-PF had no time discussing social media issues in its Politburo meetings, accusing the media of trying to craft the agenda for the ruling party.

Speaking to journalists after meeting the party’s provincial chairpersons and some members of its affiliate organisations in Harare yesterday, Cde Kasukuwere said Zanu-PF had serious issues to discuss.

His remarks differ from party spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo’s assertion that the abuse of social media by some party members was cause for concern and might be up for discussion at the Politburo meeting set for next Wednesday.

Organs of the party such as the Youth League have also expressed grave concern over the abuse of social media, while the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, which is an affiliate organisation, also registered displeasure on the same issue with the police weighing saying social .

The concerns came in the wake of frenzied tweeting by Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, who has been attacking fellow Zanu-PF members on social media.

Said Cde Kasukuwere: “I am actually surprised that you make social media an issue. It’s not an issue and we hear you telling us about the Zanu-PF Politburo agenda. You think we meet here to talk about WhatsApp?

“We meet here to discuss serious business, so stop dragging us into your small issues of the social media. We have much more serious work to do. We have much more serious things to worry about. That kind of directionlessness will not be part of what Zanu-PF stands for.

“We are surprised that you have already crafted an agenda for the Politburo when it meets. That agenda is approved by His Excellency and the secretary for administration. They are the ones who work on what the party will discuss and I want to say please no to agenda setting.

“We don’t discuss what you want us to discuss. We discuss issues that affect the generality of our party membership and how to assist the people of Zimbabwe.”

Cde Kasukuwere said social media was not an issue to the party.

“I want to say to the Press please, please don’t misquote us and don’t turn around and make social media an issue,” he said. “It’s not an issue for us here. If it is an issue to you, let it be to you, but for Zanu-PF we are clear on what we stand for.”

When asked that President Mugabe in his official capacity as the First Secretary of Zanu-PF once implored party members from abusing social media, Cde Kasukuwere interjected and said: “Don’t create problems to say Kasukuwere has gone against ah, ah no, no, please I have said don’t agenda set for the party.

“Please let the party do its work. If we are to discuss anything of that nature, can’t you allow us to discuss it quietly in our confines as a party?

“Why does it have to be the President said this, the President said this. Aah, aah, please when the President speaks we all listen to him, but don’t then go overboard and try and blow things out of proportion. The party is intact.”

Without elaborating, Cde Kasukuwere said in a few days there would be some action to show support and loyalty to President Mugabe.

Cde Kasukuwere said the party was ready for the 2018 elections and next week the commissariat department would be meeting provincial structures, starting with Matabeleland South.

He said he was not happy with the kind of reportage coming from the public media.

“We want to call upon our State-owned newspapers to help build the party,” he said. ‘’Like I said, let us not allow individual desires to become national desires. We have a country, we have a party, we have a leadership.

“I am appealing to the Press, please tone down the volume. We are not excited at all with the amount of noise that continues to occupy the front pages of this country. We deserve better news. We deserve better stories that unite, develop and move our nation forward. We are making a genuine appeal to all the leadership in the media that let us build our nation.”

Cde Kasukuwere said the party leadership should disseminate developmental information on Zim-Asset and how the party and Government were dealing with challenges confronting the country.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa flanked by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku (left), Judicial Service Commission secretary Justice Rita Makarau (right) and Senate president Edna Madzongwe at the launch of the “Against Corruption Together campaign” at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts yesterday. — (Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter—-
Zimbabwe has stepped up the fight against corruption, with stakeholders in the justice delivery system launching an anti-corruption green card that will be distributed to the public to promote the culture of whistle-blowing.The card was launched at the anti-corruption campaign dubbed “Against Corruption Together” in Harare yesterday. Officiating at the event, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa — who oversees the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry — castigated corrupt legal officials, saying not a single day passes without him receiving complaints against them.

“This difficulty stems from the numerous complaints that are lodged at my office against your offices regarding allegations of corruption. “Not even a day passes without receiving one or two complaints against members of the legal profession, the bench particularly at the lower courts, the sheriffs and even the Messengers of Court.”

VP Mnangagwa urged the legal profession to stand up and share the responsibility of combating corruption. “Corruption will be hard to beat and could even become more widespread if the legal profession maintains a business as usual mindset towards it. Corruption is not just a character problem or wrong behaviour, but it is both an economic crime and crime against humanity,” he said.

He said the launch was a turning point and also urged the media to play a key role in creating a culture of hatred against corruption in the society. “Corruption can be fought off when all of the players and stakeholders share the same commitment. Without such concerted efforts, we will not be able to eradicate the contagious disease of corruption,” the VP said.

The card is inscribed “O % NO CORRUPTION” and has contact numbers of eight stakeholders namely, Attorney General’s Office, Judicial Service Commission, Law Society of Zimbabwe and Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

Also involved is the National Prosecuting Authority, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services and the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Judicial Service Commission acting secretary, Justice Rita Makarau said the public can access the cards from the stakeholders’ offices or at courts of law country wide.

If asked for a bribe, a member of the public will flash the card on the perpetrator’s face before calling the numbers provided.

Justice Makarau said it was everyone’s responsibility to fight corruption adding that justice was for free and no one should pay for it. Speaking at the same occasion, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku urged members of the public to shun corruption.

He said the public should report all incidents of corruption and avoid participating in bribery issues. “In my view, certainty of detection and arrest for corruption will go a long way in curbing corruption. If every person who wishes to commit the crime of corruption were convinced that the chances of detection and arrest are nine out 10, the probabilities are that he or she will step back or think twice before going ahead in committing the offence. In this regard we are looking up to the police and members of the public generally to provide leadership in assuring that this is achieved,” he said.

Updates by Simiso Mlevu, Costa Mano, Happiness Chikwanha

1607: The meeting has come to an end and that concludes our updates.

1604:  Cde Dube has finished his closing remarks.

1554: Cde Dube has expressed gratitude to His Excellency for fulfilling his promise to meet veterans of the liberation struggle. He also thanks the two Vice Presidents for making time to attend the meeting.

1553: Cde Dube: ”Cdes, I want to break some very good news to you. Our patron has heard your cries, he has directed that the little money that I have, be used to clear all the fees owed to various institutions starting next week.”

President Mugabe’s address

1551: President Mugabe concludes his address and delegates break into song ‘Jongwe’ as he moves to his seat. Minister of War Veterans Cde Tshinga  Dube is now giving vote of thanks.

1549: ”We will try our best. All of us. When we say may we have this, finance, please provide us with money if it is there,” says President Mugabe.

1547: ”You are the brave ones. Thank God you are still alive. I am sorry we have not had this opportunity before, but we have tried to come up with a ministry that will look into the affairs of the members of the association.”

1543: ”During the war we wondered if our country will ever be ours again. (Ian) Smith declared that not in a 1000 years. But because of unity, here it is today, as ours.”

1541: ”We have met. We have interacted. I am glad I have seen faces I had not seen in a very long time. Some of you we never met because you were operating from elsewhere. But the most important thing is we fought the common enemy and won the struggle as one.”

1539: He said as a country Zimbabwe owes a number of institutions. “We borrowed maize from Malawi during Bingu waMutharika’s time. We could not pay that on time. We only managed to pay back last year.”

1534: ”People want to borrow, borrow but not pay. It is wrong. Let us use loans to generate money and pay back.”

1533: President Mugabe also spoke strongly against non debt payment syndrome saying creditors are not happy with it.

1529: On his health: ”Some of you have been speculating that President has gone to Singapore therefore he is not well. He will die soon. Noo. I am not dying,” he said.

1525: On Sanctions, President Mugabe has urged War Veterans to work hard to circumvent challenges faced by the nation. “We have sanctions which have led to shortages. Shortages of money in the banks. Shortages of this and that. Let us work hard.”

1518: Of Socialism: President Mugabe says as a government,  they adopted part of socialist values but not all of them. We adopted some of the values. In some of those friendly socialist countries which assisted us, during the liberation struggle, they did not tolerate religion. But here we said no, let there be freedom of religion.

1516: President Mugabe also narrates the story of some young men who went to a neighbouring country to do Junior Certificate (of education) but when they came back, they would speak to elders in English. Elders were shocked that the young men did not know Shona anymore.

1514: ”I respect elders. Even when I go to my chief in the rural area, Chief Zvimba, I humble myself. He also respects me as President but i give him due respect. But some of you have lost that respect,” he says.

1512: “As War Veterans we need to have self respect.” President Mugabe  narrates to delegates his trip to Chief Tangwena’s homestead with the late Cde Edgar Tekere.

“They demanded we take off our shoes. We obliged. This is exactly how people should behave. Do not insult people because you have a position. No. We can not tolerate that.”

1507: President Mugabe says liberation war heroes fought for the people. ”You fought for everyone. Now that the country is back to its rightful owners, let us not segregate against them. Let us work together.”

1503: He also urges War Veterans to approach the Ministry of Local Government for plots and he adds: “If you get that piece of land, it is for you to stay.”

1501: President Mugabe has called on veterans of the liberation struggle to desist from marrying many women for assistance in the field adding that people should marry for love.

1459: No-one will get a a piece of land without approval by the President. ”All the papers have to go through my office for approval.”

1456: On the issue of land, President Mugabe says War Vets are saying they did not benefit from the land and advised them to make applications adding that he will approve their applications.

1454: ”What exactly do you mean? You want this to be part of the constitution, why should we include that in the constitution? This land is yours. Please start mining,” he said.

1453: President Mugabe seeks clarity on what War Veterans mean when they say they want to be given 20 percent. ”Why do you want to be given 20 percent? Who is going to own the other 80 percent? The land is ours, why don’t you start your own mines,” he asks.

1449: “Coming to War Veterans, we decided to establish a ministry specifically to look into the affairs of the veterans of the liberation struggle. The ministry falls under Cde Tshinga Dube.

1446: The Patron of war vets says when the GNU came to an end, the party mobilised and won resoundingly.

1443: President Mugabe says he endured the insults during Government of National Unity (GNU). ”They would make fun of us at AU. They would tell me, that seat is not yours. Tsvangirai should be sitting there, but I persevered.”

1440: “The whole idea was to work with Tsvangirai as President. They didn’t know that our executive system of governance does not work like that. The winner forms his own government,” he says.

14:38: “They did that and I lost. I got 43% and Tsvangirai got 47%. What served us as a party was the constitution which says for one to be a winner, they have to garner at least 50+ 1 percent,”

1437:  ”When Makoni, Dabengwa and Mujuru left Zanu PF, they were working with some members of the party mobilising people to vote against me.

1437: President Mugabe  says a few years back, there were some disturbances in the party which resulted in the formation of Mavambo. The split led to the formation of the government of national unity which saw Zanu-PF joining hands with the MDCs to form a government.

1433: ”This is your gathering veterans of the liberation struggle. We need to meet regularly. Like around this time next year again. We need to meet regularly so that we see how Comrades are and how best to help those who are not well,” he says.

1430: “However some left. The likes of Dumiso dabengwa. They left to form Mavambo but when it failed, he said he is forming Zapu. Forming Zapu? What happened to the one which joined forces with Zanu?”

1428: The same thing applies to the army. We combined members of the two liberation forces, Zanla and Zipra to form Zimbabwe National Army which is led by Commander Defence Forces Constantine Chiwenga. On top of Chiwenga there is Commander-in-Chief who is VaMugabe,” President Mugabe says.

1426: “You know well that there were two parties, PF Zapu and Zanu. We came together to form Zanu-PF. We have two Vice Presidents who come from the two former liberation movements,” says President Mugabe.

1418: President Mugabe says the idea of forming a War Veterans Association was motivated by the desire to provide for their well being and also for them to provide guidance to the party.

1416: Secretary for War Vets in the Politburo now takes over as Director of Ceremony and invites President Mugabe to make his address.

Liberation War Heritage: 

1413: Zimbabwe is said to be a Christian nation but again the country provides for freedom of worship. There is a contradiction there, war vets have said.

1408: Veterans of the liberation struggle have also agreed that there is need to secure monuments as was done in Chimoio.
1405: Since Independence, no effort has been made to rename streets and  schools. The fact that Zimbabwe was born out of the liberation struggle should conjure oneness.

Threats to the Party

1404: In conclusion, the War Vets say they are the solution to threats against Zanu-PF.

1403: The War Veterans are also demanding that Zanu-PF’s Central Committee be the custodian of discipline in the party.

1400: ”There is a difference between stake holders and stockholders because the former can leave anytime but never the latter.”

1357: War vets say they are stock holders of the party while others are stake holders. (edited)

1355: The War Vets also noted that dating back to the days of the liberation struggle, they were commissars. ”We are militarised commissars”

1354: The West tried many machinations and failed. They tried using MDC, NGOs and now they have infiltrated the party and are destroying from within

1352: They say it is in that light that they have gathered to identify threats to the party

1350: War Vets say they are the permanent vanguards of the party as stipulated by the constitution.

1349: War Vets have also castigated  members who accuse fellow comrades of being successionists through the media. They have also castigated those willy nilly  dismissing fellow members from the party.

1347: They suggested that disciplinary cases should be handled by independent individuals.

1345: They have proposed that elected party members who didn’t go to war need to go through ideological orientation in order to effectively represent the people.

1341: They also feel delays in the construction of the Herbert Chitepo Ideological college is not good for the party.

1339: War Vets also resolved that they need to meet with their patron every year and discuss various issues affecting them the country and the party.

1336: They also agreed that politics and the gun should co-exist quoting President Mugabe’s statement during the liberation struggle that the gun is the guarantor.

1333: War vets have also proposed that party commissar  should be a veteran of the liberation struggle. Cde Saviour Kasukuwere is Zanu-PF’s current Commissar.

1331: War vets also feel it is not proper to celebrate individuals who are members of an organ of the party and not President saying it creates divisions.

1330: They also said lack of a clear party ideology is the cause of factionalism in the party. They expressed their concern over suspensions in the party, saying it now appears it has become  Zanu-PF’s primary focus to hire and fire members.

1327: War vets also agreed that loyalty has evaded members of the party.

1326: Indigenization: War Vets agreed it is a progressive policy but highlighted that they have not benefitedfrom it. They appealed to the government to allocate them twenty percent shares on each and every indigenized company.

1323: On party ideology, the committee agreed that the party is trying with its Gutsaruzhinji programme but there are impediments like cash. They have appealed to the government to set aside a fund for veterans of the struggle.

1321: He says war vets agreed their ideology is derived from article 2: 11 of Zanu PF constitution adding that Zanu PF is a socialist party and must remain so. They also looked at whether songs and slogans being chanted encourage unity or forment divisions in the party. Cde Machacha says the thematic committee also deliberated on the supremacy of politics over the gun.

1317: Cde Machacha is now presenting on party ideology.

1316: Cde Dube has finished his address.

1312: Government must also ensure that the veterans of the liberation are allocated 10 percent mining rights on mining concessions.

1308: War vets also want preferential appointments to posts such as ambassadors, chief executive officers, commissioners, permanent secretaries among other senior Government positions.

1307: ”The ministry has registered Power Zimbabwe Private Limited as a Special Purposes Vehicle company to do business on behalf of the association”

1300: “Veterans of the liberation struggle should be exempted from paying land taxes on allocated land.”

1259: They quote sections of the Constitution which reinforce the importance of liberation war heroes saying lack of an enabling Act of parliament has been a big hindrance. War Vets say they are entitled to 20 percent of all land acquired by government for recognition of their role in liberating this country. Some war vets have remained without land. They say the issue of 99 year leases must addressed and it must be automatic.

1256: War vets say their empowerment will ensure stability of the country arguing that their current state is not reflective of their historic contributions to the liberation of the country.

1255: Economic Empowerment and Preferential Treatment to Economic Opportunities thematic committee is now making its presentation led by Cde Edward Dube.

1251: Still on welfare, war vets are saying some of them are losing properties to banks for failing to service loans. They are also appealing to the treasury to allocate budget to their ministry.

1250: Accomodation: War Vets are appealing to local authorities to allocate them stands so that they build decent houses.

1249: War vets are also saying schools have been chasing away their children because of non payment. They also want 20 percent quota on presidential scholarships. On pension, they are saying $260 is too little and they are pleading with their patron to increase the money.

1246: War vets say most of them need medical assistance especially hearing aids and also to be taken outside the country to been seen by specialists.

1245: Thematic Committees start presenting their deliberations. The first presenter is Cde Patrick Magororo

1240: Cde Sekeramayi has concluded his address. Delegates break into song, Kunenzira dzemasoja.

1240: “Your excellency, these are the war veterans, they came from all the 10 provinces to meet with you. We have our army commanders, commissioners from police and prisons. We have Director General from President’s office and other senior people”

1238: “Your excellency, we also discussed how best to handle matters related to war heroes who perished during the struggle.”

1238: Cde Sekeramayi said party ideology and threats to the party were touched during thematic committees deliberations.

1237: “We are going to map the way forward and also see how best we can move the country forward in terms of development. We will also see how best to empower ourselves as War Veterans.”

1236: Cde Sekeramayi is now on the podium. He says President Mugabe is here to deliberate on their welfare.

1230: War vets minister Cde Tshinga Dube is now addressing the meeting. he calls for unity amongst the war vets. He says President Mugabe listens to the war veteran’s issues and that’s the reason he has chosen to meet with them.

1223: The provincial associations as well as the leaders are being introduced.

1220: A minute of silence has been observed.

Delegates stand at attention as the National Anthem is being sung.

1211: The National Anthem is now being played.

President Mugabe making his way to the podium

1205: President Mugabe is making his way to the main auditorium. He walks waving a clinched fist as delegates sing Vakuru musazokanganwa kuti Zimbabwe taitora. He is accompanied by Vice Presidents Mnangagwa and Mphoko as well as the four security ministers and service chiefs.

War vets sing at the City Sports Centre

1204: The atmosphere is electric here and interviewed war vets have expressed their delight at the prospect of meeting their patron whom they have described as an unwavering leader.

1202: Delegates break into a revolutionary songs as Cdes Muchinguri-Kashiri and Chinomona join in dance.

1157: Cdes Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Simon Khaya Moyo, Mabel Chinomona and Webster Shamu are some of the dignitaries sitting on the VIP side.

1146: War Veterans Chairman Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa and the association’s Secretary General Cde Victor Matematanda are also in attendance and sitting in the front row.

Some of the comrades in attendance. Pictures by Simiso Mlevu

1144: Some of the war veterans present here include Dr Obert Mpofu, Cde Cain Mathema, Cde Oppah Muchinguri, and Cde Eunice Sandi Moyo.

1136: President Mugabe has arrived and is in a briefing with security ministers and service chiefs.

1126: Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Min of State Security Cde Kembo Mohadi has also arrived

1120: Service chiefs and other Government ministers have arrived here at City Sports Centre

1115: The City Sports Centre is packed to the brim with members of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) who came in their numbers to meet their patron, President Mugabe, who is set to address them this afternoon.

Some of the gathered war veterans. Pictures by Simiso Mlevu

President Mugabe Addressing war veterans who thronged the City Sports Centre in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Munyaradzi Chamalimba)

Tendai Mugabe and Felex Share
President Mugabe yesterday spelt out the need for unity, discipline and respect among Zanu-PF leaders, saying those in leadership should not abuse their positions to undermine others.

Addressing over 10 000 war veterans who thronged the City Sports Centre in Harare, President Mugabe urged party supporters not to be pre-occupied with talk of succession, saying he served at the pleasure of the people, and if they wanted him to step down, he would as they were the final arbiters.

“But having said that, I am there at the mercy of the people. If the people say no, go, I go, the party I go. But the people say no, we still want you, I stay on. Let’s get organised. Let’s not bother ourselves with succession and things like that. We have enemies who are trying to destroy us.”

Also read:

• We must remain disciplined

Or Listen to the audio clip below:

The crunch indaba between the war veterans and their patron was aimed at looking at best ways of addressing welfare matters of the former freedom fighters and do an introspection of Zanu-PF’s operations.

The President decried lack of discipline in some party members, saying that the war of words now characterising most party meetings should be stopped.

“Kwete kuti ungazoburitsa parurimi rwako izwi rekutuka vakuru. Hazviitwe, hazvibvumidzwe. Vakuru vanoti hoo, uchaona zvauchaona. Havataure zvakawanda. Don’t ever do that because you have a position. I never do that. Kana ndine machief, even when I go to my own chief kwaZvimba ndinotovaomberawo. Ivo vanondipa rukudzo as President, but customarily I am a child of the clan. So you have to have that discipline. Zvino vamwe venyu, you have lost that discipline. That’s not good.”

He went on: “You can’t say big words–you should never, never be heard saying big words to your elders. Never! The discipline we give in the army; that’s it. Right turn, left turn, forward march. Whether you like it or not you must right turn, left turn, about turn and forward march whether you like it or not, that’s military. It’s external but in life its internal discipline and what you give yourself, you forward march yourself, right turn, left turn yourself. Know that there are these two forms of discipline –the external and the internal.”

President Mugabe urged the war veterans to forge ahead with the unity that was hammered between Zanu-PF and PF Zapu in 1987 to ensure national development.

He said although the two revolutionary parties parted ways in 1963, they never lost vision that the country was supposed to be built on the pillars of unity.

“Asi takazofunga kuti hazvibatsiri tikabatana va (Joshua) Nkomo neni. Takazosara torwa hondo 1976 patakaenda ku Geneva, 78 nemaBritish tichikurukura navo, 79 nemaBritish tichikurukura navo futi dakara azobvuma kuti kuve negungano kunyika yavo muguta re Lancaster tikaramba takabatana kudaro. Vana (Josiah Magama) Tongogara vanga vachiri vapenyu. Vanana (Simon Vengai) Muzenda vachiri vapenyu, vese vamwe commanders vatisisinavo eeh vaye vatakaisa kuheroes acre vakanga vachiri vapenyu vana (Joseph) Msika, John Nkomo vese vanga vari kuZapu. Unity iyoyi tinoramba takaibata, kuibata kuichengetedza.

‘’Hatidi kuti tiiputsunure. Wakatiza Dumiso (Dabengwa), wobva vakamboita chimusangano chavo, chemavambo chiya ichi zvikatadza vakabuda imomo. Kwakunoita hanzi ndaakunovamba Zapu, Zapu yakare yapinda mu Zanu Patriotric Front ichiri kupi. Saka kune mamwe ma comrades ikoko. Ndinovimba kuti nekuona kubatana kwamakaita pano zuva ranhasi nemhomho iyi, vamwe vavo vachadzoka.”

President Mugabe said it was always ideal for leaders to humble themselves and respect those they worked with.

“You (war veterans) had that self discipline. Self discipline yekukudza. Giving respect to the culture of the people and then you give respect yourself – to humble yourself pane vanhu.’’

“Iwe pachako wobva wati ndine basa ini. Wozvipa iwe discipline yakakomba pavakuru, uri kupinda mutsika dzavo, uri kupinda mutsika dzavo, unoombera. Teerera unzwe kuti vanotevedza tsika dzakaita sei. Ndekupi kune zvinoera, ndekupi kusingaendwe? Kana uchienda kunzvimbo dzinoera, vanoita sei? Dzimwe nguva vanoti ombera, dzimwe nguva huya pamuti wakati, muti usina zita. Zvese maiita izvozvo.”

The President chronicled his journey to Mozambique on April 4, 1975, adding he respected the views of Chief Tangwena and his wife who was a spirit medium.

“Tasvika nava (Edgar) Tekere tabuda zvino, kwaChief Tangwena, taienda navaTangwena. SaChief taivaombera zvichinzi apa vana vangu munobvisa shangu taitobvisa shangu. Apa munoita zvakati, asi mobva maenda pakati nepakati. Mudzimai wavo aive nesvikiro, taiteerera kwavari. That is how we behave. You don’t ignore, you don’t despise. Ndoozvinoitwa. Kwete kuti, at the end of the day, kana wadaro kana wange uchipira kuzvityora during the war, after the war you must have the same discipline.”

President Mugabe said war veterans were the custodians of the party’s ideology and should not be seen supping with the imperialists.

“War veterans tisu tinoziva gwara, ideology. We should not be seen supping with the imperialists. Tonzwa kuti vamwe mawar veterans avo tinovaona nemaAmericans kuma restaurants uko. Ko vanenge vachitaurei navo? It’s the work of Foreign Affairs to interact with those external representatives. Are you a spy or are you an agent? It will be misinterpreted by your own people, so take care.”

On party ideology, President Mugabe said; “Then, within the party, we may be aggrieved on the other aspects of our ideology but the party has within it even now ambitious people.

“Umwe anoda kutora position yakati kumaprovince, position yakati apa, apa and some are looking forward kuti ah tomorrow President is going to die. Vamwe vanonyora kumapepa, ah the President is sick.

“He is going to Singapore or kuMalaysia, ari kurwara so he is on his way dying. Woona zvino vanhu vave kumhanyidzana kuti zvazvadai President ave kuzofa. Handisi kufa ini, kuti munyare!

On the welfare of war veterans, President Mugabe said the freedom fighters were free to start new mines where they could own them 100 percent.

This was in response to a request from the war veterans that they wanted 20 percent stake in the mining sector.

President Mugabe said locals should form groups and engage in meaningful mining activities rather than to work as employees of the whiteman.

He said since the country was endowed with abundant resources, several Asian countries were willing to help Zimbabwe.

He urged the war veterans to apply for land for resettlement as all the applications were coming through him following complaints of corrupt tendencies within the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement.

“Mapurazi nzvimbo dzakuita dzichipera asi nzvimbo dzichiripo munoaplaya,” he said.

“Handifungi kuti kana maapplications aripo ari mawar veterans, ahhhh, hatingashayi nzvimbo nekuti achiripo mabhunu atinokwanisa kubvisa mumapurazi. Ndakati hapana vanhu vachapiwa mapurazi usina kuuya nawo iwe minister maapplications kwandiri. Saka maapplication, mukaita maapplication, hapana application inoitwa yeland isingauyi kwandiri. Zvino kana muchiti makanyimwa zvinoreva kuti inenge isina kupiwa kwandiri. Hapana angapiwa land iye zvino ndisingazivi.”

Some of the war veterans who thronged the City Sports Centre for an indaba with their patron President Mugabe in Harare yesterday. — (Pictures by Munyaradzi Chamalimba)

Felex Share and Tendai Mugabe
WAR veterans yesterday strongly criticised the zanu-pf commissariat department and called for its complete overhaul, saying it should be led by a person with liberation war credentials.

The commissariat is under the leadership of Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, who was a pre-pubescent youth at independence in 1980.

The freedom fighters said the department, as currently constituted, was spending time and energy suspending and expelling party members instead of concentrating on its primary role of mass mobilisation and political education.

Read more:

• War vets in historic meet
• War vets affirm loyalty to Patron
• Moyo, Kasukuwere must go: War vets

Presenting their thematic reports during a frank exchange of views with their patron, President Mugabe in Harare yesterday, the war veterans also took a dig at the revolutionary party’s National Disciplinary Committee saying it was surprisingly “the police, prosecutor and judge” at the same time.

War veterans sing revolutionary songs during their meeting:

“The meeting resolved that the primary role of the commissariat department must be mass mobilisation and political education of the party members and never that of expelling and suspending members from the party,” read the resolutions of the thematic committee on party ideology that were presented by Cde Munyaradzi Machacha.

“Kudzingana nekususpendana zvoita kunge ndiro basa remusangano. It is recommended that war veterans take over in the departments of security, commissariat and welfare not only to stop this rot, but to gain back the trust and support of the people of Zimbabwe.”

Click below for the audio

Further, the resolutions stated that: “As a party, zanu-pf never antagonises its members but allows constructive criticism and punishes its members through its disciplinary structures as stated in the party constitution Article 10, section 69-74 resulting in the Central Committee deciding on which offence a member is to be expelled or suspended. The meeting observed with concern the trend of members of the National Disciplinary Committee who act as the police, prosecutor, jury and judge in cases they have vested interests. The meeting resolved that such members must recuse themselves when they are conflicted.”

The freedom fighters said they were the bedrock of the party as stipulated by the zanu-pf constitution, saying a war veterans wing should be added to the revolutionary party’s organisational structure.

The war veterans took great exception to certain slogans and songs now being chanted at party functions.

They said party songs and slogans should never be tribalistic or praise anyone other than the President and First Secretary of zanu-pf.

They said new songs or slogans in the party should be approved by the Central Committee, the party’s supreme decision making body outside Congress.

“It was resolved that slogans be done in recognition of the party, the masses, the President of the party and various organs and structures of the party and not directed at any other living individuals within the organs or structures of the party,” read the solutions.

“It is also recommended that all party songs and slogans be submitted first to the Central Committee before they can be used as was the case in the past to avoid songs and slogans sprouting from everywhere further dividing the people. The Central Committee is the disciplinary organ of the party but the Politburo had taken over that role.”

They said it was fallacy that the army was apolitical and as such the Commissariat should have someone with military background as was the case with the Communist Party of China.

“It was agreed that politics and the gun established symbiotic relationship that ensures a creation of complementary roles that result in sustainable peace and stability, creation of inclusive wealth and fostering a non-antagonising environment under the Zanu-PF flagship,” the war veterans resolved.

They quoted President Mugabe’s address on Radio Maputo towards the end of the liberation struggle when he stated that: “Our votes must go together with our guns. After all, any vote we shall have, shall have been the product of a gun. The gun, which produces the vote should remain its security officer – its guarantor.”

Given the deterioration of patriotism and unclear understanding of ideology in Zanu-PF structures, the war veterans said the long-awaited Chitepo Ideological School should be immediately operationalised.

“It is ideology which formed the core of mobilisation in both Zanu and Zapu during the liberation struggle throughout the operational zones,” the freedom fighters said.

“It was resolved that the Chitepo Ideological School should not be viewed as that which should start after the establishing of brick and mortar buildings but should be a school even without walls.”

The freedom fighters pledged their unwavering support to President Mugabe and condemned any debate on succession.

They said it was worrying that some senior party members were labelling others as ‘’successionists’’ yet they were unconstitutionally firing loyal and dedicated cadres from the party without giving them a fair trial or any room to appeal.

Resolutions on ‘Threats to the Party and Revolution’ stipulated that those who were plotting to destroy Zanu-PF from within would never succeed.

“We are the custodians of the party and we guarantee continuity of the party ideology,” the freedom fighters resolved.

“Opposition parties and non-governmental organisations tried but they have now decided to infiltrate us using people from within but this will come to naught. While there are stakeholders of the party, we are stockholders of the party. The difference between the two is that stakeholders can go away but we the stockholders don’t have anywhere to go.”

The war veterans expressed their willingness to meet President Mugabe once every year to constantly review the party ideology and matters affecting the party.

They lamented the absence of films and programmes portraying heroic sacrifices of the fighters and the masses during the liberation struggle in mainstream media.

The war veterans said Zim-Asset and the 10-Point Plan for EconomicGrowth can only succeed if Government Ministers are held accountable through performance based contracts and that they should be fired if they failed to meet expectations of the contract.

Minister Gumbo

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
The National Railways of Zimbabwe will now demand cash upfront for all its services as part of a cocktail of measures aimed at improving revenue and viability, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo told Senate yesterday that NRZ had rationalised salaries for senior management and would vigorously pursue its debtors.

Minister Gumbo said this while responding to a question from Mashonaland Central Senator Damien Mumvuri (Zanu-PF) who wanted an update about an industrial action by NRZ workers and what Government was doing to ameliorate the situation.

Also read:

• NRZ bosses receive $1m for salaries
• NRZ requires $500 000 for grain movement
• Govt engages NRZ debtors

“We have realised that some of the debtors were State entities and to that end, we will be requesting Treasury Bills so that we can pay some of our obligations like salaries. Some of our debtors have made some payments like ZPC, but we will also not render service before we are paid,” said Minister Gumbo.

He appealed to the workers to return to work to salvage the little of what was at the company.

In a related matter, Parliament’s portfolio committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development urged Government to recapitalise NRZ either from the fiscus, investment or accessing loans.

“The committee observed that NRZ has become a liability to the Government and noted the need for the shareholder to recapitalise it,’’ said committee chairperson Cde Dexter Nduna (Zanu-PF).

He urged Government to ensure that NRZ exploited mineral rights owned by the parastatal outside the country.

Cde Nduna was making reference to what was said by the then Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Dr Obert Mpofu when he gave evidence where he said NRZ has several properties worth millions of dollars outside the country.

Dr Mpofu had also told the committee that Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa jointly owned vast mineral rights across Limpopo, but NRZ had no money to exploit them.

“The then Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development also informed the Committee that NRZ has mining claims in South Africa running into millions if not billions of dollars under Pan African Minerals Development Company,” said Cde Nduna.

The committee also noted that NRZ acting general manager Engineer Lewis Mukwada sat on the board of Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway Limited despite the fact that both entities were competitors.

“Workers felt that this was bad ethics for corporate governance,” said Cde Nduna.

Melody Mashaire Herald Reporter
AN Epworth woman and her two children died from serious burns when the floor polish she was making caught fire.

Petrine Vambe (20) died from burns and injuries she sustained while trying to save the toddlers — Tapiwanashe (3) and Sharma Muchenje (1) — from the fire which was spread by a curtain dividing the family’s room.

Tapiwanashe died in the fire on Sunday while Sharma died on Monday — the day she was turning one. Vambe succumbed to burns on Tuesday.

The family survived on selling floor polish prepared by Vambe’s husband, Mr Nyengeterai Muchenje (29).

Tragedy struck when Vambe attempted to make floor polish in the absence of her husband who was running late from a Mathematics lesson.

“I was not there when this happened, but the little that I gathered from my wife in hospital is that she had managed to produce about eight containers of floor polish and placed them in the room,” Mr Muchenje said.

“She then used a candle to check if the cobra had dried. The candle fell into one of the containers while she was carrying one of the toddlers.

“They all caught fire after the curtain that divided our room caught fire.

“One of my children was sleeping and was burnt to death.”

Mr Muchenje said he delayed arriving home because of the rains when the incident occurred.

“I was supposed to have been back at home by the time it happened.

“We were in the business of making floor polish and I was the one who made the floor polish everyday.”

Ellah Mukwati Herald Reporter
Twenty people died of diarrhoea countrywide last month, bringing to 85 the number of people killed by the ailment since January, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said.

So far 118 278 cases of diarrhoea have been reported countrywide.

According to the ministry’s diseases surveillance report update, Masvingo province is the hardest hit. The report says 11 229 cases were reported during the last week of March.

“Of the reported cases, 5 083 and six deaths were from the under five years of age,” reads part of the report.

The deaths were reported from Harare Central Hospital (3), Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (2), Mpilo Central Hospital (1), Masvingo province (5), Zvishavane district (3) and Gokwe South district (1), Goromonzi district in Mashonaland East province (1) and Chitungwiza Central Hospital (4).

The provinces that reported the highest numbers of diarrhoea cases are Manicaland with 1 699 and Masvingo with 694.

Herald Reporter
Zanu-PF Politburo member, Cde Victoria Chitepo, the widow of the late national hero and former Zanu chairperson Advocate Herbert Chitepo has died.

She was 89.

Cde Chitepo was found dead today by a relative who had come to take her to the Zanu-PF Central Committee meeting.

Her daughter Thokozile Chitepo confirmed the death.

Details to follow…

President Mugabe

Felex Share Senior Reporter—
President Mugabe has commended war veterans for exhibiting exceptional discipline during the meeting he held with them at the City Sports Centre in Harare on Thursday. The President, who is the patron of the Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association, said he would work tirelessly to ensure their welfare and concerns were addressed. He made the remarks while addressing members of the Zanu-PF Central Committee in Harare yesterday.

“I want to thank those of you who have worked with the war veterans. You should have seen the discipline they had yesterday (Thursday),” President Mugabe said. “They came and listened so intently to our speeches, but all previously to my interaction with them, having been divided into clusters, groups to discuss the themes and that went well.

“There was no noise, no abuses at all. They wanted to be informed about their welfare including health and school fees, pensions, funds for their funerals among other issues.” President Mugabe, who met more than 10 000 war veterans drawn from all the 10 provinces, said he was moved by the humility displayed by the war veterans.

“They are part of the markers of what we are, that is our Independence,” he said. “I was actually moved just by the fact of their discipline. They came as war veterans and I promised them that I will be meeting them annually and I know that annually is a bit far and we have created deliberately, a ministry that takes care of their welfare.”

He said he would equip the Ministry of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Political Detainees and Restrictees with resources such as computers.

Said the President: “That ministry, I will equip it with computers and we will have come in provinces to monitor the situation of the comrades. We will computerise the system and that way we get to know each and every one, that is the state he or she will be in. That ministry is the medium and we will rely on it for information and the situation about war veterans.”

The war veterans had about five thematic areas they presented to the President, namely, statutory benefits, economic empowerment and preferential treatment to economic opportunities and indigenisation, party ideology, threats to the party and revolution and liberation war heritage.

Zimbabwe, President Mugabe said, had about 37 000 war veterans who deserved to be catered for as they contributed immensely to the liberation of the country. Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association spokesperson Cde Douglas Mahiya, said the meeting with the President was a success as it had opened avenues for communication with their patron.

“One of our expectation was to open a channel of communication for us to be able to meet him from time to time and that we achieved because he promised to meet us once per year,” he said.

“Secondly, he agreed with us that we are the custodians of the party and we put to him things which we think have gone wrong in the party especially the commissariat department and he listened. The President also talked about us working hard to ensure the party is back on its rails and that we will do.”

Victoria Chitepo

Herald Reporters—
President Mugabe has mourned Zanu-PF Central Committee member Cde Victoria Fikile Chitepo (88) who was found dead in Harare yesterday morning. She was the widow of national hero and former Zanu-PF chairman Advocate Herbert Chitepo. Cde Chitepo was found dead yesterday morning by her granddaughter at her Mount Pleasant home while she was preparing to go for a Central Committee meeting.

Breaking the news to the Zanu-PF Central Committee, President Mugabe described Cde Chitepo as a staunch member whose contributions during and after the liberation struggle were beyond reproach. “I have received sad news that Mai Chitepo is no more and the circumstances are not yet clearly defined to us, but from what we have heard so far, she was preparing to come to this meeting.

“Apparently all this happened when she was alone, but when a granddaughter drove to the house so she could bring her to this meeting, she found her dead. “Everyone knows the role she has played during and after her husband’s death and right up to now she has been one of us here.

“One of us politically, one of us intellectually, even physically and amongst women, all of us she was known as a staunch member. Her loss is a severe loss to all of us. As we await the full story of what happened, let us pay her tribute with a minute of silence.” Cde Chitepo’s daughter Dr Thokozile Chitepo confirmed the death, saying her mother had been well despite a hip replacement operation.

“Between 1000 and 1030 hours, her granddaughter came to pick her for a Central Committee meeting at the Zanu-PF Headquarters. She did not find her and proceeded to her bedroom where she found her fallen by her bed. She had already died. Because of her old age, doctors were monitoring her heart condition after that hip replacement.”

Dr Chitepo, who is also Secretary for Sports and Recreation, said doctors were still to establish the cause of her death. “She had no hypertension, neither was she diabetic. But as a cautionary measure, doctors were just monitoring her heart condition after that operation”.

Born on March 27, 1928 in South Africa, Cde Chitepo was a teacher by profession. She married Cde Herbert Chitepo in Durban on November 29, 1955. During the liberation struggle, inspired by her husband, she organised women to march in protest and co-ordinated care for detainees who were in prisons in places such as Marondera and Sikhombela.

After independence, Cde Chitepo was one of the three female ministers in Independent Zimbabwe (1980) as Deputy Minister for Education and Culture (1980-1982). She served as Minister of National Resources and Tourism (1982-1990), Minister for Information, Post and Telecommunications and Minister of Local Government (1990-1992).

She was once a Member of Parliament in Manicaland’s Mutasa and Buhera West Constituencies between 1980 and 1995. Cde Chitepo was United Nations eminent person and special advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Mr Boutros Boutros Ghali on the preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women (1994-1995).

Cde Chitepo was Women Voters Association of Zimbabwe chairperson in 1995 and was appointed a member of the Commonwealth observer group of the Kenyan elections in 1992. She was appointed a member of the Commonwealth Mission to South Africa (Comsa III) in 1993, replacing Justice Simbi Mubako.

She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism and Hospitality Management Degree for her contribution to national development by Midlands State University in 2010. Amai Chitepo is survived by four children and grandchildren.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Patron, President Mugabe addresses the war veterans indaba at the City Sports Centre in Harare

Felex Share Senior Reporter—
Senior Zanu-PF members fuelling incessant factional fighting in private newspapers and on social media should be born again or get expelled from the revolutionary party, President Mugabe has said. The Zanu-PF First Secretary and President said it was clear some party members no longer trusted each other and there was a lot of back-biting going on. Addressing the first Zanu-PF Central Committee for 2016 in Harare yesterday, the President also spoke against senior members who were using their influence of youths and women to cause divisions in the party.

He said it was worrying that after the elimination of the Dr Joice Mujuru-led putchist cabal from Zanu-PF, divisions continued and they were destroying the party. “We have discovered that some are working on the succession issue, where they will be in the event the President goes and that there are factions,” President Mugabe said.

“Factions that accuse each other and have found a right boxing ground which is that of opposition papers. That is where the fighting takes place. “This is said against someone and that someone also, sometimes in defence but sometimes in his own offensive way, makes a critical statement damaging the other side.”

He went on: “It is not just the newspapers, the opposition papers that constitute the fighting ground, it’s also the Internet I understand. It’s on the Internet where we get all kind of abuses of the party, of individuals, all of us who hold positions are attacked on one occasion or another. There are no holds there at all.

“The language is abusive and quite rotten and people take cover because the Internet nets shield them. I don’t know whether that way we can achieve true unity. We may have physical togetherness, bodies together as we are now but the minds quite in contest with each other.”

The Central Committee, the party’s supreme decision-making body outside Congress, discussed progress made on the implementation of Zim-Asset, preparations for the winter-wheat farming season, National Disciplinary Committee report and drought relief activities taking place around the country.

The President bemoaned lack of trust among party members. “So one asks where are we going? Are we really trusting each other or that trust been eroded somehow? Let’s have an exercise of introspection, looking inwardly at ourselves and examining whether we are guilty of this criticism or we are not,” he said.

“But what is very clear is that we do not trust each other. Lots of back-biting of each other, organising against each other and wishing the downfall of each other. I would wish to appeal to you to turn over a new leaf and be born again so you can redirect your energy towards revamping and injecting a new life into the party and setting ourselves as models for the youths.”

He said youths should be united, focused and policy driven.

Said President Mugabe: “Surely the leadership of the party should provide that element of unity, provide that historical understanding that enable us to be what we are as an example that our youths should follow. Compare what we are now with what we used to be especially during the times of the struggle. Even as we stood apart, Zanu and Zapu, we still realised that that apartness did not prevent us from being united in terms of policy, in terms of forward looking, to see a struggle against a common enemy. That is what led us to form the Patriotic Front in 1976.”

President Mugabe said because thousands had perished from bombings inflicted by the whites during the liberation struggle, Government had no apologies on land reform and the indigenisation and economic empowerment programmes despite negative comments from detractors. “The losses were heavy on us and that’s why we take our independence seriously and our policies of indigenisation and empowerment in their exclusive way,” he said.

“This is how we were treated and those who treated us so badly, inhumanly brutally, cruelly, callously are those who ran away from here and have come back smiling appearing to be very human, polite now. Ukazvifunga you don’t want to see a white skin.”

The President added: “That’s why our programmes must unfold and unfold in service to our people, answer issues which have to do with their lives. When we say to the outside world we have a policy of indigenisation and empowerment and they react by saying you are driving way investment, we should not worry. We know what we have suffered and we know what we should not do to suffer again or to benefit those who made us suffer in this bloody way.”

Some of the mourners gathered at the funeral wake of Cde Vivian Mwashita in New Craneborne, Harare on Saturday. — (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

Abigail Mawonde Herald Correspondent—
ZANU-PF has expressed grief over the loss of two party cadres, Cde Vivian Mwashita and Cde Chinhamo Chinamano, saying their untimely deaths were a great loss to the nation. Party spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo described the two as dedicated liberation war fighters who sacrificed their youth for the cause of the nation. “The untimely death of war veteran and Zanu-PF stalwart, Cde Vivian Mwashita is a sad loss not only to her family but to the nation at large,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

“The late Cde Mwashita fought battles during the liberation struggle particularly in the Rushinga area. She was a very courageous cadre of the revolution. “After independence she served in various capacities, remaining a strong and staunch member of Zanu-PF. The family has lost a mother of admirable resilience and Zanu-PF is without an unflinching servant. We will miss her greatly. May her soul anchor and rest in eternal peace,” he said.

Cde Mwashita (58) died last Friday at Parirenyatwa Hospital. She succumbed to diabetes. She leaves behind three children and six grandchildren. On Cde Chinhamo Chinamano, Cde Khaya Moyo said: “Zanu-PF has learnt with shock and dismay of the untimely death of Cde Chinhamo Chinamano, the son of the late national liberation war heroes, Cde Josiah and Ruth Chinamano.

“His body was found yesterday in a trench near his home in Old Highfield, Harare. Anyone of adult age in Zimbabwe who never heard of the Chinamano family could never have been part of the liberation struggle.

“The Chinamanos were a household name who bore the brunt of the liberation struggle with incredible tenacity.” Cde Khaya Moyo said unlike his parents, Chinhamo had played a quiet role in the struggle as he always showed visible irritation at settler oppression, suppression and repression since he grew up without his parents who were always either in detention, restriction or in prison.

“His untimely death is a loss not only to his family but to all revolutionaries of repute who are familiar with the settler oppressive history of this country. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

Cde Chinamano (60) died on Saturday. He is believed to have fallen into the trench on his way home from a local beer hall during the late hours of the day. He survived by his wife, son and grandson. Cde Khaya Moyo said funeral arrangements for the two would be announced in due course.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Christopher Mushohwe flanked by his Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development counterpart Professor Jonathan Moyo talks to former Mashonaland West governor Cde Peter Chanetsa at Cde Victoria Chitepo’s residence in Mt Pleasant, Harare, yesterday. — (Picture by Munyaradzi Chamalimba)

Felex Share and Tendai Rupapa—
ZANU-PF Central Committee member Cde Victoria Chitepo who died last Friday will be buried at the National Heroes Acre on Wednesday. Cde Chitepo (88), the widow of national hero and founding Zanu national chairman Advocate Herbert Chitepo, was accorded national heroine status for her colossal contribution to the country before and after Independence.

Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Cde Ignatius Chombo yesterday said Cde Chitepo’s body would be flown to her rural home in Manicaland Province today. “We sat down with the family and it requested that her body be taken to Bonda tomorrow (today) morning, where it will lie in state with relatives paying tribute to her,” he said.

“On Tuesday, the body will be taken back to Harare where it will again lie in state at the family’s Mt Pleasant home and we will lay her to rest on Wednesday morning.” Cde Chombo added: “The detailed programme is being worked on by our committees and by yesterday (Saturday), they had already begun working on it.”

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In his emotional tribute at the Chitepo residence on Saturday, President Mugabe, who reassured the Chitepo family that he would stand by them, described Cde Chitepo as steadfastly loyal. He said after her husband’s assassination in 1975, Cde Chitepo remained committed to the liberation struggle and continued to work tirelessly for the party.

“Tarasikirwa naMai. Vanga vari Mai vanyerere asi vari Mai vemusangano. Ndakanzwa kuti vakanga vaita shungu yekuti vauye kumusangano wedu weCentral Committee nezuro, ndokubva zvakona vakafira mubathroom.

“I am sure every one of us here has a different story; everyone here has her own story to tell about Mai Chitepo. That story will always have an element of love, an element of her preparedness to assist, (her) charitable disposition, wanting to assist and wanting reconciliation.

“She never was quarrelsome. No, never! She was never involved in conflicts. She also always encouraged harmony in the party, dialogue in the party, and togetherness in the party.” More mourners yesterday thronged Cde Chitepo’s home to pay their condolences.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe described Cde Chitepo as a “mother to the Manicaland Province” who never looked back even after the death of her husband in 1975. “I heard of her death while attending the (Zanu-PF) Central Committee meeting (on Friday) and I could not believe it,” he said.

“I just went outside, and drove straight to her house to see for myself. Imagine, she wanted to attend the Zanu-PF Central Committee meeting. This shows how committed she was to the country. She would always attend even our provincial co-ordinating committee meetings. It was rare for her to miss our meetings.”

Dr Mushohwe said it was sad that Cde Chitepo passed on before the operationalisation of the Chitepo Ideological College. “When I was still a governor (of Manicaland), she would often ask me on the progress of finding land in Mutasa District to establish the college,” he said.

“She wanted to be afforded an opportunity to do projects with youths at the college. We actually discussed this on Wednesday in the Politburo and in my own opinion, it would be a befitting tribute to her if the party was to build that college to honour her.”

Politburo member and Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo said the fact that Cde Chitepo died while preparing to attend the Central Committee meeting showed she was an exceptional revolutionary committed to the struggle and development.

“Nobody showed commitment in the manner she did,” he said.

“It is a coincidence that it has happened just after the commemoration of the death of her husband Cde Herbert Chitepo on March 18. We were told by her daughter, Zanele, that she went to her husband’s grave to clean and put flowers on it, something that she never used to do. It’s like she was going there to say goodbye to him. It was somehow a premonition.”

Prof Moyo said he first met Cde Victoria Chitepo in Tanzania in 1977 when she was a chief librarian and realised that she was accessible to everyone.

Professor George Kahari, a close friend to Advocate Chitepo, said: “She was a woman of character with a lot of understanding of the meaning and significance of fighting for democracy. I worked with her in the Herbert Chitepo Association where I was a member. She did not brag about being Cde Chitepo’s wife. There is a lot that can be said about her. All I can say is she has left a legacy.”

Born on March 27, 1928 in South Africa, Cde Chitepo was a teacher by profession and married Advocate Chitepo in 1955. During the liberation struggle, inspired by her husband, she organised women to march in protest and co-ordinated care for detainees who were in prisons in places such as Marondera and Sikhombela.

At Independence she held several Ministerial positions and was a former Member of Parliament in Manicaland. Cde Chitepo was United Nations’ eminent person and special advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Mr Boutros Boutros Ghali on preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women (1994-1995).

She was appointed a member of the Commonwealth Mission to South Africa in 1993, replacing Justice Simbi Mubako. Cde Chitepo was awarded an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism and Hospitality Management degree for her contribution to national development by the Midlands State University in 2010.

Cde Chitepo is survived by four children and grandchildren.

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter—
THE State Procurement Board has sent its principal officer Mr Cledwyn Nyanhete on indefinite forced leave as investigations into the operations of the board under former chairperson Mr Charles Kuwaza widen. Mr Kuwaza, who was at the helm of the SPB from early 2000, was frozen out of the state procurement agency in November last year after Government resolved not to renew his contract and ordered an audit into the board’s operations.

The Office of the President and Cabinet and external tax consultants are conducting the audit. During Mr Kuwaza’s tenure, the SPB made headlines for wrong reasons bordering on corporate malfeasance.

SPB board chairperson, Ambassador Buzawani Mothobi, who came in with a new board in December last year, confirmed Mr Nyanhete’s suspension last Friday. “We have been carrying out investigations and an audit on the operations of the SPB, so in this instance, we felt those who were in charge of the board’s affairs need to step aside to allow investigations,” Ambassador Mothobi said.

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“We want to come to the conclusion of these investigations so it was necessary for us to send him on forced leave so that those doing the investigations and audit can do so without interference,” he said.

Meanwhile the board has appointed an acting principal officer, Mr Samson Mutanhaurwa. In a notice sent to all accounting officers and suppliers last week, Ambassador Mothobi said Mr Mutanhaurwa would be the acting principal officer from April 7.

Mr Cledwyn Nyanhete, shall not conduct any business on behalf of the State Procurement Board from April 7, 2016 until further notice following a board resolution to place him on forced leave to facilitate uninterrupted on-going due diligence on the operations of the board.

“The State Procurement Board shall not be bound by any commitments entered into by Mr Cledwyn Nyanhete on its behalf during this period,” said Amb Mothobi. Sources said the board made a resolution to suspend Mr Nyanhete on April 5.

“Mr Nyanhete was advised that the board felt the audit and investigations were watershed of various human resources and financial management decisions that the board and other stakeholders would make,” said one source.

“So they resolved that he must be sent on forced leave but on full benefits from April 7 until he is called back. They also advised him to surrender all SPB stuff in his possession and barred him from entering the premises without the invitation of the board,” said the source.

Another source said Ambassador Mothobi’s board wanted to start on a clean slate given the irregularities associated with Mr Kuwaza’s tenure. “There were complaints of underhand dealings with companies where SPB officials were suspected to have interests. This is why these investigations are being carried out.

“The media has also been awash with irregularities at the board while courts were clogged with lawsuits from bidders, which paints a bad picture of the state procurement system,” said the source.

Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter

The health sector is an essential service and its employees will no longer be allowed to strike as Government moves to implement provisions of the new national Constitution, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has said.

Responding to questions on newly introduced contracts for junior resident medical officers (JMROs), Dr Parirenyatwa said Government was simply interpreting the law but health workers still have room to air their grievances through appropriate channels.

“Any grievances are allowed to be aired but what is happening now, the new Constitution says that the health sector is an essential service and that is what they should read and that is what we are interpreting into this,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

Government through the Health Services Board (HSB) introduced contracts for JMROs which they finally signed last week following intense negotiations.

Part of the contract states that the JRMOs are not allowed to go on industrial action because they are deemed an essential service.

Details to follow….

Political Editor
Leaders in the country’s 10 provinces have until the end of the month to hand over cattle they pledged to President Mugabe after he donated 300 cattle to the African Union in February.

Kadoma businessman and farmer Mr Jimayi Muduvuri, who is co-ordinating the collection of the cattle and is looking after the beasts at his farm, over the weekend said provinces should be on the ready with their cattle as transport had been secured to collect the beasts.

“We are reminding all provincial administrators, ministers of state and Zanu-PF provincial chairmen to wind up their mobilisation and hand over the cattle to President Mugabe as a way of thanking him for the work he did at the African Union,” said Mr Muduvuri.

“We will be sending trucks to the provinces to collect all pledges. I will be calling the provinces soon and we want to update the AU on the progress we have made,” he said.

Mr Muduvuri for his own part donated 30 cattle to President Mugabe.

He said, “I am the one who said President, you cannot do that for yourself, being the chairman for AU (by then), it is not his job. He is working for us and that is our duty to support our President.”

President Mugabe had during his tenure as AU chair promised to assist the continental body and in February AU Commission deputy chairperson Mr Erastus Mwencha came to Zimbabwe to receive the gift which is being channelled to the African Union Foundation.

The African Union Foundation is the brainchild of the African Heads of State and Government, and was created for the purposes of collaborating with the private sector, philanthropists, individuals and people in the Diaspora to solicit donations and seek voluntary contributions towards the financing of Africa’s development priorities in pursuit of Agenda 2063.