President Mugabe is welcomed by Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko in this file picture.

Caesar Zvayi recently in NEW YORK
President Mugabe has arrived back in Harare from the United Nations where he joined over 170 world leaders for high-level thematic debate on Sustainable Development Goals and the historic signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The President, who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri landed just after 9:30am Monday and was welcomed by the two Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi, State Security Minister Kembo Mohadi, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Christopher Mushohwe, Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa, Chief Secretary to the President and cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, service chiefs and senior Government officials.

Details to follow…

Henrietta Rushwaya

Herald Reporter
FORMER ZIFA chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya was arrested yesterday in the latest chapter of the Limpopogate match-fixing scandal which erupted a few months ago, with ZIFA claiming they had busted a cartel that allegedly intended to fix, among other matches, the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers between Zimbabwe and Swaziland.

Rushwaya’s name has featured prominently in the saga since a whistleblower provided ZIFA with information that the cartel, which the association claims also involves former Warriors’ assistant coach Nation Dube, axed ZIFA board member Edzai Kasinauyo and former Warriors’ coach Ian Gorowa were manipulating matches in South Africa.

Rushwaya concedes that she interacted with Asian match-fixers from last year up to the time the scandal exploded but says she was working undercover to try and nail them after she promised investigators working for FIFA that she would bring the culprits to book.

Documents show that Rushwaya contacted Terry Stearns, a British national who used to work on the FIFA crack team battling match fixing when she was first approached by serial match-fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal, a Singaporean nation who is one of the leading figures in that underworld and has served jail on a number of occasions on match-fixing offences.

However, ZIFA and their whistleblower, believed to be Leeroy Waguta, a man with close ties to a number of prominent Zimbabwean footballers based outside the country, maintain that Rushwaya was, in fact, part of a match-fixing web that was trying to fix matches in the South African Premiership.

ZIFA officials also claim that Rushwaya and her cartel were in the process of infiltrating the Warriors camp using Dube as their point man, to try and influence the outcome of the 2017 AFCON games between Zimbabwe and Swaziland.

Waguta claims in the dossier that he provided to ZIFA that a meeting was arranged in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Rushwaya allegedly mooted the idea of fixing the games between the Warriors and Swaziland, with Gorowa and Kasinauyo playing leading roles in the operation.

ZIFA reported the case to police on the advice of Sports and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane, who reiterated that Government did not tolerate attempts to compromise the integrity of Zimbabwe football and shame the national game.

ZIFA have also been working closely with their South African counterparts who launched their investigations into the case with a number of players and officials in that country charged.

Last night, The Herald was advised that Rushwaya had been arrested as part of police investigations into the scandal.

“Henrietta was picked up today (yesterday) and she is in police custody, as we speak, helping police with their investigations,” sources at ZIFA told The Herald.

“We are told that the police also want to interview Edzai Kasinauyo and Nation Dube as part of their investigations into the case. Obviously, this is a massive development and we will now wait and let the law take its course.”

National police spokesman Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said he was not aware of the developments as he was away in Bulawayo.

“I am in Bulawayo right now. Contact Senior Assistant Commissioner (Charity) Charamba on her official mobile,” said Nyathi.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charamba said she was attending a funeral.

“Sorry, I am attending a funeral but I don’t have that information.”

A number of Zimbabwean footballers plying their trade in South Africa, have been dragged into the scandal but all of them have been featuring for their clubs, with goalkeeper George Chigova in goals for his team Polokwane City in their Nedbank Cup quarter-final tie against lower division side Baroka FC on Sunday.

Herald Reporter
Zanu-PF wings and war veterans have welcomed President Mugabe’s move to establish the National Disciplinary Appeals Committee (NDAC) saying the structure will bring peace and stability in the party.

President Mugabe, who is the Zanu-PF First Secretary, called for the establishment of the NDAC to consider appeals from party members aggrieved by either their suspension or expulsion as overseen by the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).

The setting up of the new tribunal comes after some party members expressed reservations with the NDC, whose officials sometimes brought cases as complainants and at the same time arbitrated over them without giving the alleged offenders an opportunity to defend themselves.

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, who used to chair the NDC, will take over chairmanship of the NDAC.

Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Cde Patrick Chinamasa becomes the NDC chair.

Other members of the NDAC would be drawn from the Central Committee, which is the party’s highest decision making body between Congresses.

Zanu-PF Youth League secretary Cde Pupurai Togarepi yesterday said with the new panel, Zanu-PF was headed for endless stability as party cadres would not be fired or suspended wantonly.

“It has always been the President’s call for fairness in dealing with disciplinary issues,” he said.

“The committee will obviously create checks and balances in dealing with disciplinary issues and appeals thereof. We applaud His Excellency for giving leadership to this important organ. It will create a sense of fair treatment among party cadres.”

It has emerged that since the establishment of the NDAC, about 30 Zanu-PF cadres have since lodged appeals with the party’s secretary for administration, Dr Ignatius Chombo.

The majority of the appeals want the new tribunal to forgive them for what they did while others are complaining that the penalties imposed on them were “too harsh”.

Zanu-PF Women’s League national commissar Cde Mabel Chinomona said: “We welcome and support this initiative because this shows that the party has democracy. If someone is not satisfied with the outcome of the NDC, he or she has a right to appeal and this constitutes democracy which we have always preached since the liberation struggle.

“Party members simply have to go to another stage or committee where they think their cases can be understood in a just manner, there is nothing wrong with that and this is a step in the right direction.”

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association spokesperson Cde Douglas Mahiya said the much desired solidity in Zanu-PF would be brought by the new arrangement.

“I am informed that the Vice President (Mphoko) is going to chair that committee and as war veterans we say this is a good move made by the President which will definitely bring peace and stability in the party,” he said.

“As an association we are very grateful about that. All the same we would have wanted to see, among the Central Committee members, war veterans being involved as stockholders. Even other stockholder associations like the Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators Association should be involved because these are the groups that had raised eyebrows that there is something wrong in the party. This will ensure people, like what happened before, wont filter in their personal interests. To avoid a repeat or come up with an improved product this is a better move we are happy about.”

It is understood the majority of those who have appealed against their suspensions are those suspended for allegedly aligning themselves to sacked former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her cabal which sought to unseat President Mugabe.

Among those said to have lodged appeals are former Politburo members, Cdes Webster Shamu and Nicholas Goche.

The two have not joined Dr Mujuru, who has since formed a political party, Zimbabwe People First.

Former secretary for Administration in the Women’s League, Cde Esphinah Nhari, who got a three-year suspension for chanting a slogan “Down with G40”, has also lodged an appeal.

The NDC was composed of VP Mphoko (chairperson), Cdes Chinamasa and Togarepi, national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere and Women’s League Secretary, Amai Grace Mugabe.

Morgan Tsvangirai

Bulawayo Bureau
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said his party is not involved in any coalition talks with the Joice Mujuru-led Zimbabwe People First. Tsvangirai, speaking in Gweru last Friday, said there is no truth to reports of the alleged talks with Mujuru.

“Coalition with ZimPF, there is no truth in that. It remains a speculative position by the media. Some have even concluded that the MDC has walked away from the talks. There are no talks, if there are talks, the nation would be informed and if there are any points of difference or agreement for convergence, the nation will know, but we can’t work on the basis of speculation by the media,” he told The Chronicle in an interview.

The MDC-T leader claimed that a “national convergence of opposition parties” was needed if they were going to entertain any thoughts of winning the 2018 election.

“A national convergence position is needed to make sure in 2018, the country takes a new direction.

“We said we need a big tent so there’s need for people to discuss, to negotiate and work together,” he said.

Tsvangirai was also overcome by nostalgia for his days working with President Mugabe and claimed that the two worked reasonably well during the Government of National Unity (GNU) between 2009 and 2013, when his party lost dismally to zanu-pf.

He said during the GNU, he shared some private moments with President Mugabe, which he said were not forced upon the leaders.

“We shared some private moments because we had to share since we had agreed. We had to share State issues, issues of Government work programmes and we worked reasonably well and achieved positive results,” said Tsvangirai.

He said demonstrations held two weeks ago in Harare and others planned in the remaining provinces were just a way by the MDC-T to express itself and not to stage a coup as the Government in place was constitutional.

This is a departure from the MDC-T’s leader’s unsubstantiated claims of vote rigging in the aftermath of the 2013 polls.

“We said that our intention of expressing ourselves is never to be misinterpreted as an attempt to oust or overthrow the Government. We made that clear. This is not an expression of overthrowing a Government which is constitutionally in place,” he added.

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
War veterans are solidly behind every party activity meant to prop up President Mugabe’s support ahead of the 2018 elections, and will not sabotage preparations for the proposed One Million-Man March in expression of confidence on the party’s President and First Secretary.

The war veterans said those planning the march had failed to mobilise people and were thus looking for a scapegoat to cover their failure.

The Zanu-PF Youth League deputy spokesperson for Manicaland province Cde Passionate Dandajena, at the weekend, told the private media that some war veterans and cabinet ministers from the province were sabotaging the preparations for the proposed march.

She claimed that war veterans had sabotaged their efforts by not contributing funds towards transport money for the 100 000 party cadres from the province.

They had budgeted about $50 000 for the event.

Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association secretary-general, Cde Victor Matemadanda, said war veterans were fully behind President Mugabe and as such, would support all party activities meant to support him. “He is our patron and he is a war veteran, so he is one of us,” said Cde Matemadanda.

“So, anything good that is done on behalf of the President, is also done on our behalf because the President is one of us.

“ I was with the Manicaland war veterans chairman (Cde Gift Kagweda) yesterday (Sunday).

“We were in Mashonaland Central together. There is nothing like war veterans sabotaging.

“What we know is that those people have failed to mobilise. The problem is that they have not put this thing open. It is done clandestinely such that people don’t know how they can support it.

“They have even gone further to try and attack some ministers who unfortunately are being attacked when they were not asked to assist in any way.

“This is why some people think that this is a factional thing because if it is supposed to be a State occasion, it must be told to people who should help in time through proper communication channels, (and) not to tell a person what they must do at a rally or by trying to character assassinate.”

Cde Matemadanda said the manner in which the march was being planned did not instil confidence in party cadres as the preparations were being done clandestinely.

He said the war veterans were already campaigning for the President ahead of the 2018 elections, as such, would welcome the march.

“The bottom line is that they are having problems in mobilising, so if they have failed, they should not try to associate their failure with any association or anyone.

“We are not going to hinder anything that is done for the President. This is our position. We have said we do support the President. We are one with the President. We are campaigning right now for the President ahead of the 2018 elections.

“So, if the march is to prop support for the President now and 2018, why should we be a kingdom that fights itself? We don’t do that.

“They must try to remobilise and not to blame other people.”

Cde Matemadanda said they were welcome to work with the youths to prepare for the march once terms of reference were clearly spelt out by those planning the march.

“But I don’t think they will be comfortable to tell us because they said we are sick, a spent force and that they want to fight us.

“But they are our children. We don’t hold grudges against them. We know they need to be taught.

“Any legacy in a revolution is not captured, but is transferred.

“And they will only get the transfer from us. They cannot take it from anywhere or anyone else. What they need to know is that we are now old people.

“We know the energy that they have, and we know that there are people who can abuse and mislead them. But we won’t say someone has done this or that, so let’s throw them away. No! We are very patient.

“We will try to teach, correct and re-orient them in preparation for legacy takeover because obviously one day they are going to take over and we want them to take over with a very clear understanding of what is expected of them,” said Cde Matemadanda.

Meanwhile, zanu-pf deputy Youth League secretary Cde Kudzai Chipanga said they had not faced any sabotage as they mobilised support for the march.

“We have not faced any sabotage in our mobilisation. Our programme has been going on well.

“We are actually going to give the war veterans a slot so that they give a solidarity message on the day, just like the women and other organs of the party.

“If our members are facing any challenges in the provinces, they must alert us at the national level so that we will see how to handle the matter,” he said.

He said the Youth League was almost done with mass mobilisation as they have been to seven of the 10 provinces.

Cde Chipanga said they would now go into resource mobilisation.

However, Zanu-PF secretary for Finance in the Women’s League, Cde Sarah Mahoka, was also quoted in the private media at the weekend claiming that indeed war veterans were sabotaging the mobilisation.

Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa

George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Government will soon make a final determination on the future of the lucrative Save Valley Conservancy in line with the wildlife-based land reform policy as it can no longer tolerate a situation where the sector remains a preserve of a few whites, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

Wildlife-based land reform opens the door for indigenous blacks to be directly involved in the wildlife sector.

He said this last Friday in response to an appeal by Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa during her tour of Nandi-Arda Estate in Chiredzi, that the province wanted black players in the Save Valley.

Sen Mahofa said there was need to ensure black players returned to Save Valley after Government withdrew hunting permits from scores of indigenous players.

VP Mnangagwa said he would ask President Mugabe for permission to visit Save Valley to have an assessment of the situation.

‘’We will visit Save Valley in the near future and I will ask President Mugabe for permission to visit the conservancy because we want to bring closure to the problems that are there. However, I want to make it clear that we cannot accept a situation where an area is said to be an exclusive territory for white people, that cannot happen here,’’ he said.

‘’Indigenous black people should also be involved in operations at Save Valley and we will take a decision that makes the majority of our people happy.

“The decision that we will make at Save Valley will surely make others happy while others will be sad but that will be the obtaining situation that will not change.’’

He said the remaining crop of liberation war leaders led by President Mugabe wanted to leave all the country’s natural resources and heritage in the hands of Zimbabweans.

“We cannot have an area that is said to be a preserve of white people only. Black people should also benefit alongside white people because this country is ours,’’ he added.

Sen Mahofa said the Masvingo provincial leadership wanted indigenous players to return at Save Valley. She said beside benefiting from the lucrative conservancy operations, blacks would also guard against looting and externalisation of resources.

‘’The issue of indigenous black people being involved in operations at Save Valley is also a security issue because we need our people to be involved and partner whites so that our wildlife is not stolen and illegally taken out of the country,’’ she said.

‘’Indigenous blacks who qualify should be given hunting leases to run operations at Save Valley because we cannot have a situation where only white people are benefiting,’’ she added.

The Minister, who was among bigwigs whose hunting permits at Save Valley were cancelled, said indigenous blacks kicked out of the conservancy should also be considered in future allocations at Save Valley.

Government cancelled Save Valley hunting leases for several bigwigs, mainly from Masvingo, after declaring that most of the beneficiaries were in possession of farms elsewhere allocated under the land reform programme.

Save Valley was incorporated into the parks estates run by the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

However, white operators are still at Save Valley especially those whose properties are protected under Bilateral Investment and Promotion Agreements.

PRESIDENT Mugabe

Caesar Zvayi: Editor
PRESIDENT returned home yesterday from New York, the United States where he joined other heads of state and government at two high-level events at the United Nations headquarters.

First on the President’s hectic two-day programme was a High-Level Thematic Debate on Sustainable Development Goals that the President co-chaired together with UN General Assembly president Mr Mogens Lykketoft.

In his address to the thematic debate, President Mugabe called on the duplicitous western rabble-rousers to drop the path of destructive engagement manifest in instruments of coercion like economic sanctions in favour of co-operation to help the world achieve the post-2015 development agenda enshrined in the SGDs.

The SDGs are a set of aspiration Goals with 169 targets adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in the wake of the lapse of the Millennium Development Goals that were tenable in 2015. They encompass 17 goals with 169 targets covering a broad range of sustainable development issues among them ending poverty and hunger, improving health and education, making cities more sustainable, combating climate change, and protecting oceans and forests.

The President also signed the highly subscribed Paris Climate Change Agreement that drew over 170 world leaders — the largest ever single-day turn-out for a signing ceremony at the UN — where world leaders vowed to fight climate change.

In his address after the High-Level signing of the Paris Climate Agreement on Thursday, President Mugabe pledged Zimbabwe’s commitment to global efforts at climate change mitigation and adaptation saying Zimbabwe had since set up a High-Level Committee in his Office to drive the efforts.

Zimbabwe, he said, aimed to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent below the projected business as usual energy emissions per capita by 2020.

Under the Paris Agreement that was adopted by all 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at COP21 in Paris last year, countries set their own greenhouse gas emission reduction targets with the objective of limiting global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and given the grave risks of continued warming, to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Though the targets are not legally binding on member states, countries must update them every five years.

Already, member states are under pressure to do more to curb global warming amid revelations the initial targets pledged before COP21 were at variance with the Paris Agreement’s long-term objective to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.

Global average temperatures have already climbed by almost 1 degree C, and last year — which was the hottest on record — saw Zimbabwe experience, first hand, a heatwave that broke decades-old temperature records throughout the country culminating in some road surfaces melting and livestock dying due to heat stress.

President Mugabe; who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, and Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri; was welcomed at Harare International Airport by the two vice presidents Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, State Security Minister Kembo Mohadi, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Chris Mushowe and Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo, chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda and service chiefs.

Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor—
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has suspended four managers for allegedly engaging in corrupt activities at an agency set up to combat graft.The Herald is reliably informed that ZACC suspended Sukai Tongogara; General Manager Investigations, Christopher Chisango; General Manager Finance, Administration and Human Resources, Edwin Mubataripi; General Manager, Prevention and Advocacy and Gibson Mangwiro; Chief Accountant/Manager Finance.

The quartet was reportedly suspended a week ago, although The Herald was unable to establish the period and conditions of the suspensions. Reliable sources told The Herald that the quartet was being linked to corrupt activities involving former ZACC chief executive Ngonidzashe Gumbo.

Gumbo, a former Senior Assistant Commissioner in the Zimbabwe Republic Police, was jailed for two years last year for defrauding the commission of $435 000. Gumbo bought offices to be used by the commission in Mt Pleasant, Harare, using Government funds, but registered the property in the name of a company he jointly owned with four of his subordinates.

The State proved that in 2010, ZACC approached the Home Affairs Ministry seeking alternative accommodation when their landlords were about to evict them. The ministry instructed Gumbo to look for alternative property and he identified 872 Betterment Close in Mt Pleasant that belonged to Diane Spalletah.

Gumbo then requested $1 680 000 from the ministry to buy the property and Government deposited $1,7 million into a ZACC account. He instructed his subordinates Tongogara, Mubataripi, Chisango and Mangwiro to form a shelf company called Property Mortgage where they became directors with equal shares.

A ZACC administration and human resources manager deposited the $1 680 000 into a CBZ account for Perpetual Properties trust account. It is believed Gumbo’s daughter was an administrator for Perpetual Properties and is suspected to have carried out the transactions.

The property was bought for $1.2 million, which was fully paid to the owner, Spalletah, by Perpetual Properties. Perpetual Properties deducted their commission amounting to $44 500, leaving a balance of $435 500. The court heard that $160 000 was used for the purchase of a property owned by Poptechnologies where Gumbo and Popatlal Samir are directors.

A person called Da Silva was given $100 000, while Samir received $95 000. Gumbo is said to have allocated $80 000 for renovations.” ZACC chairman Mr Job Wabira would neither deny nor confirm the suspensions when contacted by The Herald. “The matter is not for newspapers,” he said.

When asked whether the four were reporting for duty, he said: “They are not for now.” The Herald also sought Mr Chisango’s comment over the matter and he promised to call later. He never did. When The Herald phoned him again, a man who answered his phone claimed “he has left the phone in my custody and I will relay the message to him”.

Ms Tongogara denied being suspended although sources at the anti-graft body confirmed she was not reporting for work. “Get in touch with acting ZACC secretary (Silas) Pondo,” said Mr Mubataripi when The Herald sought his comment.

When contacted for a comment over the matter on Friday last week, Mr Pondo said: “I have no authority to make any statement. I have to consult the commission first. Get in touch with me on Monday (yesterday),” he said. Yesterday Mr Pondo all but confirmed the suspension.

“I have been talking to the chair about what you have been saying. Something is being worked out and I have nothing more to comment.”

Prosper Dembedza Court Correspondent
Former ZIFA chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya, who faces bribery charges for allegedly organising the Limpopogate match fixing scandal with accomplices and attempting to bribe Zimbabwe national soccer team players to lose games against Swaziland in February, has been granted $100 bail.

She was arrested yesterday.

As part of her bail conditions, Rushwaya (49) was ordered to report once a week at CID Serious Frauds, not to interfere with state witnesses and to reside at her given address when she appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.

Allegations are that between January and February this year Rushwaya, working in cahoots with Edzai Kasinauyo,Ian Gorowa and Nation Dube, was involved in acts of soccer match fixing targeting South African Premier Soccer League.

The court heard that Rushwaya, together with Leeroy Kundishora Waguta who turned out to be a whistle blower, was working in connivance with Chan Sankran, a well-known Asian match fixer who was the financier.

Details to follow…

Felex Share Senior Reporter
President Mugabe yesterday mourned former Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union president, Mr Silas Hungwe, commending him for his immense contribution in imparting knowledge and skills to indigenous farmers.

President Mugabe consoles Mrs Rhoda Hungwe, the widow of former Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union president Mr Silas Hungwe, while her sister Stella Kazie (second from right) and other mourners look on in Mabelreign, Harare, yesterday. — (Picture by Justin Mutenda)

Mr Hungwe, brother to Minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education Cde Josiah Hungwe, died on Monday morning after a long illness.

He was 91.

President Mugabe, who visited the Hungwe family home in Mabelreign together with Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Cabinet Ministers, said for his role to the development of Zanu-PF and Government, Mr Hungwe would get a State assisted funeral.

“Mumwe wedu aenda tongomukungurutsa here? Saka ndati kuvakomana vangu hazvingangoite kuti titi mutoro uyu uremere mhuri, ngautiremere tose, hurumende ive nekumususukidza nekubatsira mhuri zvakakwana. Ndinovimba tichabatsirana pakuronga pakuti mumwe wedu timuradzikise ndozvatati tiitewo. Vamwe vangu vagutsurira musoro vakatiwo zvakana ngatimupurerekedze nemutowo iwoyo.”

Also read:

• Former ZFU president Hungwe dies

President Mugabe said to show his dexterity, the Zimbabwe Open University had accorded the now deceased an Honorary Doctorate in Agricultural Management even when he was not well.

“Looking at his work for the development of indigenous farmers, it was benefiting even though he was not leading a normal life as he was in a wheel chair,” he said.

“Today he is gone, yes we might all die in the end but no one will rush or volunteer to die.”

President Mugabe said Government had worked with Mr Hungwe for a long time.

“I saw a lot in him,” he said. “First he was principled in his work, leading and mobilising farmers. He showed vast knowledge in this area and he was also courageous in mobilising and uniting farmers to partner with Government. We had fought the liberation struggle to do away with the injustices created by the whites and our winning meant we are now owners of the land.”

President Mugabe added: “Hatingoreva kuti rakauya raingova ivhu chete rekuvakira musha pariri, kufudzira mombe kwete, zvaireva kuti ivhu iroro rinotoda zvino kushandwa nemasimba. The power that we applied to fight for that land is the same power that was needed for the land to bring prosperity and that is where people like Mr Hungwe were needed.”

“He did not tire, he went all places and came to us with farmers’ grievances. It could be lack of money for equipment or lack of land on the part of others. It was not possible for Government to go it alone.”

Minister Hungwe said most family members, including himself had been raised by Mr Hungwe.

“To be what I am today is because of him,” he said. “His contribution to the party (Zanu-PF) and Government centred on food security and this is what he died doing. Everyone in the family is happy with his works.”

He also thanked President Mugabe for finding time to console the Hungwe family.

Born Sarayi Dunira Hungwe on August 24, 1924 in Masvingo, Mr Hungwe attained an Advanced Master Farmer Certificate, majoring in groundnuts, sorghum, livestock and farm management.

Between 1974 and 1979, he became the vice chairman of the then Victoria Farmers’ Association, a grouping of black farmers that was formed primarily to advance the interests of indigenous farmers in Rhodesia.

In 1981, he became the vice president of National Farmers’ Association of Zimbabwe.

He became the ZFU vice president in 1991 after the merger of National Farmers’ Association of Zimbabwe and National Farmers Union under the banner of ZFU.

In 1996, Mr Hungwe became the president of ZFU.

Mr Hungwe received a number of awards from regional and international organisations.

He was awarded an Honorary Diploma in Appreciation of Exertion, Profound Efforts for Sustainable African Agricultural Development by the International Federation of Agriculture Producers (IFAP).

The Zimbabwe Open University accorded him an Honorary Doctorate in Agricultural Management. He was also a founding member of various regional and continental farmer interest groups such as the Southern African Confederation of Agriculture Unions (SACAU), which represents 14 national farmers’ unions and the Pan African Farmers Organisation (PAFO), representing farmers across Africa.

ZFU, under his leadership, became a member of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO).

In 2014, Mr Hungwe was conferred the status of honorary president of ZFU.

Mr Hungwe is survived by wife Rhoda, five children and several grandchildren.

He will be buried in Masvingo tomorrow.

James Matiza

Felex Share: Senior Reporter
The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) has slashed salaries of top management by more than 25 percent and scrapped other perquisites that were gobbling millions of dollars of workers’ monthly pension contributions.

The new framework took effect on April 1.

This follows massive corruption and maladministration by the previous management that saw some top managers earning more than $40 000 every month.

The top management, led by former general manager Mr James Matiza, also pampered their lovers with dubious loans using the authority’s funds.

Mr Matiza has since been retrenched together with four other directors — Messrs Shadreck Vera (investments), Patrick Mapani (finance), Tendai Mafunda (corporate services) and Bright Chidyagwai (ICT).

TOPICS: CORRUPTION

• 4 anti-corruption bosses suspended
• System protects criminals: Chihuri
• Join hands to fight graft: Mnangagwa
• Of thieving school heads, corrupt SDCs

NSSA acting general manager Mr Hashmon Matemera yesterday confirmed that with the guidance of the board led by Mr Robin Vela, the authority had agreed to cut the salaries of top management as well as reduce a litany of benefits the managers were getting.

The benefits, he said, included holiday, education and child school fees, among others.

He said NSSA was moving towards a “cost to company” model of employment in line with modern global trends.

“We have implemented this beginning April 1 and we got sign off from all the relevant worker representative bodies in the authority,” he said.

“It entails remunerating employees on a total cost to company and the impact has been a total reduction in our wage bill by more than 25 percent. There has also been a reduction in the number and amount of some benefits.”

It is understood the company car scheme has also been replaced with an individual vehicle ownership scheme.

Mr Matemera said the five retrenched managers went home empty-handed as their benefits and pensions compensated for what they looted.

They had also returned assets and cars belonging to the authority.

Said Mr Matemera: “Four of the directors returned the cars and one opted to buy his car at the agreed price.”

Public Service, Labour and Social Services Minister Prisca Mupfumira said the new framework was in line with the prevailing economic environment, which was equitable and fair to both the authority and staff.

She said the model was aimed at striking a balance between what NSSA was paying its staff against payments to pensions.

“They have also reduced the employer pension contribution from 18 percent of basic salary to 7,5 percent in line with other Governmental department caps,” she said.

The previous NSSA management had often been vilified for their choice of investments, including concentration in the equities market and financial institutions where it recently lost about $20 million after dabbling in the affairs of cash- strapped Capital Bank.

NSSA spent $100 million on investments that included shareholdings in broke companies and properties with inflated prices.

About $2,5 million went into the now defunct CFX Bank, while $12 million was splashed on overpriced starafricacorporation shares and $1,5 million on Africom Continental.

At least $45 million is locked in Interfin Bank, which is now under curatorship after being fingered in the alleged abuse of depositors’ funds.

The bank had non-performing insider loans worth $60 mil- lion.

In addition, NSSA lost $11,2 million worth of property to local authorities for non-development.

The institution also dished out “non-profitable” loans to parastatals, with the National Oil Company of Zimbabwe getting $3,1 million and Zesa $9 million.

Cottco got $5 million in November 2009 and another $3 million in April 2010 at a 124-day tenor and interest rate of 18 percent per annum.

The Grain Marketing Board received $5 million for a flat 2 percent facility fee and 4 percent per annum on a 90-day tenor.

These questionable investments were detailed in a forensic audit report compiled by the National Economic Conduct Inspec- torate.

The journey that Jonathan Mashingaidze traveled as ZIFA CEO . . .

2004

He gets his first appointment as ZIFA CEO by the Rafik Khan Leadership and plays a key role in the saga that leads to the suspension, and eventual ban, of seven councilors including Francis Zimunya.

2006

He is sucked in the 2006 world cup ticket scam, where tickets for the global football showcase end up being sold, at grossly inflated prices on the black market and in August that year, he is suspended from his job.

2009

After three years at the sidelines, he bounces back at ZIFA, after the Association fails to sustain their legal battle against him, and – given that someone had already taken his job- he accepts to work in the backroom at 53 Livingstone Avenue.

2010

He bounces back as ZIFA CEO, after the suspension and subsequent expulsion of Henrietta Rushwaya over the Asiagate match – fixing scam and transforms himself as the then ZIFA president Cuthbert Dube’s right- hand man, a loyal lieutenant who is his boss’ all-weather friend

2013

He finds himself in a fix, with one newspaper even accusing him of lying, after it is proven that, contrary to his claims, he did not send documents related to the Asiagate scam, which was being demanded by FIFA, to enable the world football governing body to bring closure to the case.

2014

He is I involved in a nasty public fallout with the then warriors’ coach Ian Gorowa, who calls him a “HABITUAL LIAR” while former Warriors fitness trainer Gerald Maguranyanga, is even more damming in his criticism as he describes Mashingaidze as a “PATHOLOGICAL LIAR.”

2015

He plunges into the eye of a hurricane, but somehow survives, after the Warriors are banned from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers amid reports from FIFA that a number of warnings sent to ZIFA piled up on his desk despite the gravity of their contents. ZIFA’s longest serving Councilor, Brain Chishanga, publicity calls for his dismissal and other Councilors sign a petition calling for his removal.

2016

After surviving Dube’s dismissal, he appears –like the proverbial cat with nine lives-to be safe after ZIFA boss Philip Chiyangwa says his job is safe but FOUR months after the fall of Dube, he is told his services are no longer required as his contract is not renewed.

Dr Mushohwe

Rutendo Rori Herald Reporter
NO presidential scholarship applicant should pay for consideration and all beneficiaries should report any culprits who solicit for bribes, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe has said.

This comes after the arrest of an official from the Office of the President and Cabinet in Charge of the Presidential Scholarship Scheme on allegations of soliciting for bribes.

In a statement yesterday, Dr Mushohwe , who is also Presidential Scholarship executive director, said scholarships were awarded to deserving applicants after serious consideration by a committee of senior Government officials.

“Following the allegations in the newspapers of 25/04/2016 on acts of fraud by an official in the Presidential Scholarship Department in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Government is perturbed and disturbed by such allegations.

“The awarding of scholarships is made to deserving applicants after serious consideration by a committee of senior Government officials put together for the purpose. No applicant is required to pay for the consideration in cash or kind whatsoever.”

Dr Mushohwe encouraged the public and all former applicants to report any solicitation for bribes by officials, to Office of the President and Cabinet.

“Government wishes to appeal to the public and or all former applicants to report any solicitation for bribes in cash or kind by any officials or members of the public as consideration for the awarding of scholarship funding or university place.”

Tafadzwa Mawufu, a senior executive to the director of the Presidential Scholarship is being accused of soliciting bribes ranging between $500 and $1 500 from prospective students who wanted to study under the Presidential Scholarship scheme.

Mawufu allegedly employed Paidamoyo Mwandiyambira, a receptionist at Masaisai Primary School in Westgate, Harare, and the Headmistress of Martin Luther King Junior School, Martha Chigama.

The two would then scout for potential students and the trio would share the earnings.

The three appeared in court last week Friday and were released on $200 bail each.

The Presidential Scholarship programme is run by President Mugabe and administered by his Office and Cabinet to support financially challenged students who would have excelled in their Advanced Level examinations.

The programme benefits students to undertake their degree studies at various universities in South Africa.

Cde Kasukuwere

Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
MDC-T has blocked a forensic audit at Harare City Council- owned firms and joint ventures, dismissing the exercise as a witch-hunt by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

The entities have never declared a dividend to council, raising fears of either mismanagement or looting.

MDC-T, which dominates council, has reportedly connived with workers at firms supposed to be audited to frustrate the audit.

Also read:

• AG orders audit of council firms

Price Waterhouse Coopers, which was appointed by the Auditor-General to carry out the audit, has since written to the AG’s Office stating that they were denied access to documents at the companies.

The firms in question are EasiPark, City Parking, Pearl City Limited, Shawasha Business Complex, Mabvazuva Village, Sunshine Meats, High Glen Textile Factory, CC City and Sunshine Development.

The appointment of the forensic auditors followed an order by Minister Kasukuwere last year.

The audit firm was supposed to obtain and review agreements related to the establishment of the entities as well as carry out detailed reviews of all agreements and contracts signed between each company and service providers or other parties.

It also sought to scrutinise cash flow at the companies.

An insider told The Herald that councillors were made to sign papers at Harvest House declaring that they oppose the audit.

They were also forced to support the appointment of Mr James Mushore as the city’s town clerk.

“They were made to sign documents supporting the party’s position to oppose orders from Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere. The party is actually controlling what happens at Town House,” said the source.

The MDC-T allegedly fears the audit would unearth anomalies in recruitment of employees, the majority of which were appointed on partisan basis.

Harare Sunshine Holdings chairperson Mr Percy Toriro said the board was not against the audit but wanted clear instructions from the ministry.

“The shareholder needs to communicate to us in a clear manner. At the moment there is no clarity between instructions from the mayor (suspended Mayor Manyenyeni) which had acceded to the audit and the current indications from the business committee which is indicating that there is no agreement for an audit.

“We are waiting for clarity on the matter,” he said.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu all but confirmed that his party was opposed to the audit.

“Kasukuwere (Minister Kasukuwere) has got no business ordering the city council what to do or what not to do. He has absolutely no constitutional mandate and/or basis to order that particular audit. This is a witch hunt. We know it. He is motivated by utmost bad faith.

“He has got ulterior motives. The MDC will not allow Kasukuwere to have his cake and eat it. If he alleges that our councillors are corrupt, can he himself furnish the nation with a full explanation, chapter and verse, of how he can afford to build a 50-roomed mansion in Harare, worth no less than $2 million?’’ he said.

Mr Gutu said MDC-T members were guided by the party and anyone who challenged its decision faced disciplinary action.

Minister Kasukuwere was unreachable yesterday for comment at the time of going to press.

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe and Belarus are moving fast to operationalise multi-million dollar deals signed by the two countries last year. The deals, which cut across almost all sectors of the economy, fit in the 10-point-plan that was enunciated by President Mugabe in his State of the Nation Address last year.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the deals during his visit to Minsk last year, where he was accompanied by Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made and Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mangudya.

Speaking to journalists after meeting VP Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa Offices yesterday, Belarus Ambassador to Zimbabwe who serves from Pretoria, South Africa, said his country was happy with the political commitment shown by the Zimbabwean leadership to implement the deals.

Read more:

• Belarus deals get Presidential nod
• $150m deals: Belarus team arrives
• Zim seals Belarus fertiliser deal
• VP Mnangagwa meets Belarusian president
• Mnangagwa tours giant Belarus firm
• VP Mnangagwa leaves for Belarus

He said the two sides were finalising a few technicalities after which Harare would receive the equipment. Once finalised, Zimbabwe would receive highly mechanised agriculture equipment, road construction equipment and dam construction equipment among other fields. “I must say that the position of your leaders is constructive and we are moving very fast,” he said.

“Two years ago we didn’t have any mutual projects but now we have dozens of such projects.

“Very soon we will see projects on the ground. When we are talking of such a project, it takes time because it is quite complicated because there is a wide range of equipment involved and financial support,” he said.

“It’s not easy to do, but I must say that all contracts have already been agreed on and we are waiting for the financial conclusions of those contracts and supply of the machinery to Zimbabwe.

“After the conclusion of this project, hopefully we will receive financial support from the banking institutions of Zimbabwe and Belarus and probably by the end of the year you will see Belarusian trucks and tractors in Zimbabwe.”

Ambassador Molchan continued: “Zimbabwe has great potential in all spheres and this is why the Republic of Belarus has decided to establish close relations with this country because we see the future benefits of such cooperation.

“The two countries are working hard in the development of mutual activities in such areas such as agriculture, industry and infrastructure. Belarus can suggest to our Zimbabwean friends the wide range of special agriculture industrial equipment for example tractors and huge mining trucks. Belarus is very strong in its agriculture development and we are ready to share that with our Zimbabwean counterparts.”

He said Belarus was open to training Zimbabwean students in agriculture, industry and IT development. Ambassador Molchan said modalities were being put in place to establish a permanent diplomatic mission in Harare.

He said that would depend on the level of the cooperation between the two countries, which he said was blossoming.

Daniel Shumba

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
Parliament has stopped the implementation of the 120 megawatt emergency Mutare Power Peaking Plant after it emerged that the State Procurement Board awarded the tender to a company that had failed to meet technical specifications stated by the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC).

The SPB unilaterally awarded the tender to technically non-compliant Helcraw Electrical (Pvt) Ltd because it charged $92 million against a recommendation by ZPC to award the tender to technically- compliant Pito Investments that had charged $120 million for the emergency diesel power plant.

Pito Investments is owned by Mr Alexio Chideme, while Mr Farai Jere is the proprietor of Helcraw Electrical.

Also read:

• Helcraw secures $120m for plant
• SPB pulls plug on ‘corrupt’ ZPC power plant tender

• Intratrek wins another power tender

The technical requirements were that the winning bidder must build at least three units with at least 30MW to 40MW per unit to ensure that when one of the units is down, the power plant would remain with 80MW running.

ZPC management and Pito Investments representatives told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy yesterday that the SPB proceeded to award the tender to Helcraw Electrical, whose bid had two units of 58MW each, contrary to a ZPC recommendation of Pito Investments that met the technical requirements of at least three units of between 30 and 40MW.

But the committee chaired by Zanu-PF MP for Masvingo Urban, Cde Daniel Shumba, took the ZPC to task on why it did not disqualify Helcrow Electrical after realising that they did not meet the technical specifications.

ZPC operations director, Engineer Joshua Chirikutsi, who represented managing director Mr Noah Gwariro, told the committee: “ZPC adjudication recommended the award of the tender to Pito Investments at $120 million, which was then reviewed by State Procurement Board who awarded the tender to Helcraw at a price of $92 million.

“Due diligence was then carried out by ZPC on Helcrow and its technical partners. After the due diligence we then sought a waiver from our ministry through Zesa Holdings and we got a response to proceed to the contract signing as awarded by State Procurement Board. The contract was duly signed on the 31st of December 2015.”

ZPC project manager, Mr Peter Mapfumo, also admitted to the committee that Helcrow Electrical did not meet the technical specifications hence their decision to award the tender to Pito Investments.

He said after making their recommendation to SPB, they then got an SPB resolution “telling us to go Helcraw way”.

However, legislators queried how Helcraw Electrical’s name made it to the SPB when they should have been disqualified by virtue of failing to meet the technical requirements.

Cde Shumba demanded to know how ZPC forwarded Helcrow Electrical’s name to the SPB when they failed to meet the technical requirements.

“From your evaluation here, the reason you scored Helcraw less than Pito was purely on technical,” he said.

“It’s here and even the tender board confirms it. You only scored Helcrow higher on price because their price was $92 million yet they were not bidding for the same thing.

“In terms of process, once you got the commercial envelop, you should have set aside the non-compliant bids so that you invest in the adjudication of compliant bids. Be that as it may, you proceeded to evaluate all the bids and sent to the tender board the non-compliant bid and then the tender board reversed your recommendation and went for the non-compliant. But you opened that window by evaluating further a non-compliant bid.”

Cde Shumba said Helcraw Electrical documents that the ZPC presented to the committee indicated they proposed to build two units of 58MW each making it impossible for the plant to have 80MW running in the event of one plant failing.

“What was your motivation in including something that violated your own technical specifications, your RFP specifications and your board approval? Why did you proceed to waste company resources?

“You must remember that you travelled all the way to India to look at these non-compliant technical units and still proceeded to sign a contract for things you knew were not consistent with your technical specifications.

“Your technical visit to India to look at the wrong items, you used State money, State resources and came back and still concluded a contract that is in violation of specifications, technical recommendations and board approval,” said Cde Shumba.

Zanu-PF MP for Mashonaland West, Cde Jennifer Mhlanga, also demanded to know why the ZPC proceeded to evaluate Helcraw Electrical’s bid when they had failed to comply at the technical level.

“Why did they proceed to include Helcrow when in the first instance it did not meet the specifications? If they had thrown Helcraw bid away because it didn’t meet the specifications, we wouldn’t be discussing about this,” she said.

Added MDC-T MP for Bulawayo East, Ms Tabitha Khumalo: “What then made you come up with a decision that Helcrow qualifies after realising that the financial envelop is proving otherwise? Technically already they have failed and should be disqualified. Then why did you score them in the first place after realising that the funding was wrong?”

Manicaland MP, Ms Fanny Chirisa and Musikavanhu MP Mr Prosper Mutseyami (MDC-T), said ZPC was complicit in the irregularity by forwarding Helcrow Electrical’s bid to SPB.

But ZPC supply chain manager, Mr Alfred Maunganidze, said the ZPC told the SPB the reasons why they did not recommend Helcraw Electrical.

“In our response we told them that Helcraw’s total capacity of the generators offered were less than the requirement of 120MW.

“In the commercial envelop, Helcraw clearly indicated that they will provide two units against a requirement of tender document of at least three modular units. Helcraw technical proposal also clearly states that the units will be AE63.4A ,which would provide the gross output of 58MW each unit as indicated in the document that we gave them,” said Mr Maunganidze.

However, Cde Shumba concluded: “For the purposes of noting, we don’t want to close the stables when the horses have already bolted. You are aware now that this issue is before this committee up to the end when we have concluded this process.

“We do not expect that you shall be in violation of Parliament procedures or in contempt of Parliament by proceeding and further complicating this bid which we are sure you are going to hold at the stage that it is at both financially, technically and legally until such time that you implement our final report. You aware that Parliament is one of the three pillars of the State and we are seized with this matter. We don’t expect you to circumvent us it has got consequences to you and your corporate.”

Chris Martin

Arts Reporter

Jamaican musician Chris Martin is expected in the country today ahead of his show at Glamis Arena on Friday. The “Cheater’s Prayer” hitmaker is expected to touch down at the Harare International Airport at 5pm with his 10-member band. Organisers have availed free transport from the city centre to the airport for fans that want to welcome the musician.“It is all about celebrating the relationship between Zimbabwean and Jamaican artistes and we want the party to begin as soon as Chris Martin lands in Harare. We are taking his fans to the airport for free and the pick-up point is Red Rose Salon along Kwame Nkrumah. Let us celebrate as one people,” said one of the organisers Barbara Chikosi of Red Rose Entertainment.

Martin will be the main act at “Together as One” concert that also has another Jamaican artiste D-Major and an array of local acts that include Jah Prayzah, Winky D and Ninja Lipsy.

A sound clash featuring almost 15 sound houses will also take place at the show. Judgement Yard will lead the clash that will also have the likes of Fyah Links, Legendary Sounds, Mighty Ducks, Stan Splash, Body Slam, Digital One and Silverstone among others.
WATCH VIDEO HERE

Chikosi said today is their last day for selling the discounted $10 advance tickets that they released last week.

“It was an offer to our fans and we are happy with the response. Tomorrow (today) is the last day for discounted tickets and thereafter we resort to our actual price of $15 ordinary tickets and $20 for VIP.

“We have also created a VVIP section following requests from our community of executives and that part will be a special area adjacent to the stage. There will be special treatment for special people because they will be served with drinks and snacks upmarket style. We want everyone to feel comfortable in their section of choice and there is everything for everyone.

“Tickets to the show are available at all Red Rose salons, all Coloursell Furniture shops, Sopranos Restaurant in Avondale, Hard Sound Gulf Complex branch and Shop 143 at Long Cheng Plaza. We encourage people to purchase tickets in advance to avoid congestion at gates on the night of the show. We are doing our best to make everything smooth to give people a memorable show.”

Martin is self-proclaimed “Big Deal Boss” following the success of his song “I am the Big Deal”, which saw him signing a big deal with KFC Jamaica recently. Last month he did a collaboration titled “Steppin” with Busy Signal and they signed the KFC deal together.

Martin should be coming with much information about performing in Zimbabwe because his ally, Busy Signal, had a massive show in the country last year.

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter

There was commotion at a press conference organised by Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy leader Mr Temba Mliswa after some student leaders stormed the venue and accused him of hijacking the student movement in the country.

This was after Mr Mliswa convened a press conference to denounce Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union for dabbling in party politics particularly Zanu-PF under a topic “The ongoing Students’ Union saga.”

During the press conference, some handpicked YARD members, claiming to be Zicosu members, accused the student movement of deviating from its constitution to dabble in Zanu-PF politics.

Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union led by Tonderai Chidawa and treasurer Obey Mashanda, then interjected, asking Mr Mliswa on what basis he was speaking about student activism when he was not one.

An argument ensued lasting 10 minutes as Mr Mliswa and Zicosu executive members exchanged words.

There were chaotic scenes of shoving and pushing between Zicosu executive members and youths aligned to Mr Mliswa before normalcy returned.

Details to follow….

Minister Dokora

Tafadzwa Ndlovu Herald Reporter
Government has secured 40 000 tonnes of grain for the schools feeding scheme expected to start next month. In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said the schools feeding programme would be carried out in three phases starting with the infant level, that is from early childhood development to Grade Two levels.

He said the programme would be extended to junior school next year and to secondary schools later.

“We now know that we need 37 000 to 40 000 tonnes of grain over a term for distribution nationally to all our schools in the rural areas.

“We are looking at feeding more than 3,2 million children and we should begin to see activity when schools open next week. Urban areas have been excluded to the extent that we demarcated certain wards, for instance wards in Epworth and peri-urban settlements like Caledonia,” he said.

Dr Dokora said schoolchildren would receive one hot meal a day, adding they realised that most children came to school on an empty stomach last term, while others dropped out of school due to hunger.

“Kids are not going to be given foodstuffs to carry home, but will get one hot meal a day. There are donations that are coming in as well as purchases being made of beans, rice and cereals and in some cases we will ask those communities that have access to other forms of carbohydrates to chip in.”

Cabinet, a fortnight ago, approved a $200 million national schools feeding scheme to feed schoolchildren, to ensure food security following the prevailing El Nino-induced drought.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has launched the national food control assessment tool, which is set to improve the process of monitoring the quality and safety of food imported and produced in the country, writes Bianca Leboho.

The monitoring system is being done in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The tool, which will be field tested in the country, is meant to ascertain Zimbabwe’s competence in monitoring food safety and quality and ensure that the country continuously improves its food monitoring system.

Launching the tool in Harare on Tuesday, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Gerald Gwinji said food safety was of importance to Government hence the need to support the initiative.

“The safety of food is of paramount importance hence why FAO, WHO and Government have come together in order to look at our food control tools,” he said.

“We must ensure the safety of food that is imported into the country and also of food that is grown and reared locally.”

Dr Gwinji said the process of monitoring the safety of food in the country cut across many Government ministries and agencies, which include the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development and local authorities.

“Zimbabwe has food security assessment tools already in place but these agencies are not coordinated,” Dr Gwinji said.

“The launch of the assessment tool in Zimbabwe by FAO and WHO will help us to coordinate all the food security assessment agencies and ensure that we develop a standard tool which will help us to measure the standard of food that is produced and imported into the country.

“We import a lot of food and sometimes it comes in through informal borders hence there is need for a good structure with which to monitor food.”

FAO sub-regional coordinator and Country Representative Mr David Phiri said the food control system assessment tool has already been tested in The Gambia, Zambia, Morocco and Sierra Leone.

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Zanu-PF has dismissed as “utter rubbis” reports in some sections of the private media that party members were making manoeuvres to stampede President Mugabe from power before the end of his term of office.

The party’s provincial structures on Tuesday reacted angrily to the reports and reaffirmed unconditional support for the President, saying the media were fomenting non-existent divisions in the party.

This followed a litany of concocted stories by the private media projecting alleged deep-rooted divisions in the party based on factional and succession lines.

The stories alleged that some senior Zanu-PF officials did not want President Mugabe to finish his current term of office though voted for in the 2013 harmonised elections.

In separate interviews, Zanu-PF provincial chairpersons said the stories, which were always confirmed by faceless sources, were a creation of the media in a foiled bid to destabilise the party.

One such story was published by the Daily News on Tuesday claiming that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa wanted to force President Mugabe to retire before the end of his current term, which expires in 2018.

Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Cde Dickson Mafios (pictured) said: “We do not know where that speculation is coming from and we do not run the party through the media.

“We have taken a resolution that our candidate for 2018 is President Mugabe and why should people talk about succession when his term of office is still running?

“We cannot talk about the wishful thinking of the media because our President was endorsed by thousands of Zimbabweans who voted for him in 2013. That position was further endorsed by our Congress and by our annual National People’s Conferences. There is no way the party can be directed by the media to deviate from its resolutions.”

Cde Mafios said instead of being obsessed with succession issues, the media should direct its efforts towards development.

He said the picture portrayed by the media was not good for prospective investors.

“Unless the media wants to cause political upheavals in the country, this kind of reportage is not good,” he said.

“We have other things to concentrate on rather than succession.”

In Harare, provincial chairman Cde Charles Tawengwa said: “It’s hallucination of the media. The President was endorsed long back and I do not know where that is coming from.”

Mashonaland West provincial chairman Cde Ephraim Chengeta said they stood by their endorsement of President Mugabe as the party’s sole candidate for 2018 national elections and 2019 party Congress.

“In any case, the President’s support is actually growing in our province. Reports of divisions and other unsubstantiated things in the party are mere talk by the media that should not be taken seriously.

“You will see at the upcoming one million men march that President Mugabe is a darling of the people and as a province we are mobilising massively for that event,” he said

Cde Bernard Makokove, who is the ruling party’s Mashonaland East acting provincial chair, said: “There is no change to our Congress resolution. As a province we do not have any talk about succession and we are solidly behind our President and First Secretary.”

Masvingo acting provincial chair Cde Amasa Nhenjana said: “Some of these newspapers want to create fictitious divisions in the party and we are not going to be moved by that. President Mugabe commands great support and thinking of dislodging him will be a matter of wasting time.”