Top Stories – The Herald

zanu-pf Women’s League Secretary First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe (left) greets Deputy Secretary for Environment and Tourism Cde Auxillia Mnangagwa at the Women’s League National Assembly meeting in Harare yesterday. — Picture by Justin Mutenda

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter—
Zanu-pf Secretary for Women’s Affairs First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe says the Women’s League is in full support of the party’s two Vice Presidents, Cdes Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa. She dismissed wrong insinuations and misunderstandings drawn from the women’s cry to be represented in the party’s Presidium as implying efforts to remove one of the two VPs. Speaking at a Women’s League National Assembly meeting in Harare yesterday, Dr Mugabe said proposed amendments to a section of the zanu-pf constitution were wrongly misinterpreted as a strategy by women to oust one of the reigning VPs, stressing that the league was solidly behind the VPs’ leadership.

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“Your Excellency, just to put the record straight, our resolution was misunderstood and misinterpreted. “The resolution was never meant to dispense with anyone. On this note, I wish to assure ubaba uVice Presidents and Second Secretary, Cdes Mnangagwa and Mphoko that you have our full support,” said Dr Mugabe.

During the 15th National Annual People’s Conference in Victoria Falls last year, the Women’s League resolved to push for the amendment of the revolutionary party’s constitution to allow for the appointment of a female Vice President. They wanted Article 7 (1) (b) of the ruling party’s constitution amended to reinstate the previous provision that one of the two VPs and Second Secretary shall be a woman.

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The women gave the party up to the end of this year to effect the amendment ahead of the 2019 Congress. Yesterday, the women hailed Government, under the leadership of President Mugabe, for making great strides in promoting gender equity.

“It is gratifying to note that amongst our National Assembly members are women, whom you elevated to positions of decision-making both in the Party and Government, to promote gender equity as well as to dilute the male-dominated political space.

“In this regard, Cde President, on behalf of members of the Women’s League National Assembly and on my own behalf, I wish to express my sincere gratitude for your invaluable support. Furthermore, we appreciate the initiatives undertaken by Government under your (President Mugabe) wise stewardship in transforming the lives of women in Zimbabwe through progressive policies and legislation enacted since 1980,” said Dr Mugabe. She urged the private sector to play its part in complementing Government efforts to empower women.

“In this regard, we call upon the private sector to take a cue from the initiatives being undertaken by Government towards attaining 50:50 gender representation at all institutional levels as the constitutional obligation equally applies to them. We are hoping that the newly formed Gender Commission will work tirelessly towards the realisation of this constitutional requirement,” she said.

The Women’s League hailed President Mugabe for his stance against child marriages. The First Lady reiterated the women league’s support for the President in in 2018 elections.

“We want to reiterate our first resolution passed during the 15th National Annual People’s Conference that is, ‘to support President Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe as the sole candidate for position of President and First Secretary for Zanu – PF as well as the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe for 2018 and beyond’.

President Mugabe confers with Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, while Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and zanu-pf Secretary for the Commissariat Saviour Kasukuwere looks on at the Women’s League National Assembly in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Justin Mutenda)

Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter—
Zanu-PF is solidly united and will not allow rumours to divide and destroy its top leadership, including the two Vice Presidents with liberation war credentials, President Mugabe has said. He said factions did not exist in the revolutionary party, which only had distinctive organs. Addressing the zanu-pf Women’s League National Assembly at the party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday, President Mugabe emphasised the need for unity.

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The meeting was also attended by Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekhezela Mphoko, Women’s League National Assembly members, National Executive Council members, Politburo and Central Committee members among others. The President warned those spreading rumours of divisions between him and his deputies that they would yield nothing.

“We are united at the top. Whatever people might say, we just continue and continue to do our work. Lots of things have been said about my VPs and we have said let’s do our work and ignore them. Serve the people and that’s it.

“Rumours hatidi, hatidi marumours isusu. Talk to the people using the voice of unity, language of unity and not language of division. Don’t divide. Rumours hatidi, running from one area to another. No that’s not zanu-pf. You may see the information coming to you, fine. But you should not be the rumourmonger yourself nekuti dzimwe nhema dzinotitemesa musoro, dzimwe dzehuroyi dzimwe dzei aah. Unosvika kupi nadzo uchiti pautatu hwedu apa, tinotovareva? Chero mumwe auya oti musapiwa maranjisi navanaMnangagwa anenge azodzwa vanenge vabva kun’anga dzavo. Iro ranjisi rine makoko! Kana! takabvira kupi nerwendo urwu tiri pamwechete?

“This is 2016, takararama jeri tiri tose tikabuda, kunanaMozambique tiri tose, tikaona independence tiri tose. Muroyi azouya nhasi? “Ndingade kuziva anonzi ndiye muroyi wacho, ndonzi ndiye n’anga yacho ndogoionawo ini. “So let’s be united. But unity must recognise others who do not belong to us. Leave them in peace.”

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He commended youth secretary, Cde Kudzai Chipanga, for organising the One Million Man march, which he said went on well. President Mugabe said the youths were important in the party as they were the future and heirs of the inheritance.

“Vana Chipanga tinoda kukutendai. I am glad you are here. Mukomana uyu akaorganiser One Million Man March yakavhundutsa. That was a demonstration of what we can do in the future and the party. So we say to you well done congratulations. Ndimi the youths vanotumwa nanamai vanodefender vanamai nababa. Ndimi vagari venhaka and you should be worried about the future of the party much more than the Women’s League.

President Mugabe said factions did not have any place in the ruling party as Zanu-PF operated on organs and not factions. “To hell with factions I would say. The party knows nothing that is a faction. Muconstitution yedu hamuna zvefaction, mune maorgans. Mune maorgans eparty but you will find people wanting to divide the party.

“There had been some instances by outsiders thinking the party is divided, demonstrating and appealing nationally for persons within the party to join and I am glad they have been shown that our party is not that stupid,” he said. He said Pastor Evans Mawarire of the #This Flag, failed to divide the people when he called for demonstrations against the Statutory Instrument 64.

“Vana Mawarire unouya achijamba, kujambira neukoko achiti taita nyaya yekuBeitbridge futi yekuti vanhu vange vachidemonstrator ikoko nekurambidzwa kwavakaitwa kuunza muno munyika zvatinogona kuwana muno nekuti zvinokanganisawo vashandi vedu. Mawarire wakabva nepi. Afunga kuti vanhu vachauya mirwi vachibva mumaparty mese akanyara. Ndobva akatiza hoyo takazonwa kuti ave kuAmerica,” he said.

He dismissed that there were demonstrations against him at the United Nations and said he did not see the demonstrators, but only members of the December 12 movement. “Vakaenda kuUnited Nations ini handina kumbovaona ini. Takangonzwa chete kuti kwanga kuine 19 vakauya kuzodemonstrator but group yedu ye December 12 did well,” he said.

“So let’s remain this tight and not allow these outsiders to penetrate us. Maparty aya, anana Mai (Joice) Mujuru ana Dumiso (Dambengwa), Welshaman Ncube kana vana (Tendai) Biti vanoramba vachingodimbuka dimbuka kudaro vachiita zvipiece zvipiece sechinhu chiya chi amoeba.

“The outsiders will not stop their attempts – their efforts to undermine our unity. They will look at the various ways of dividing us. Madilpomats anotipindira nenyaya yekuda mari yekuorganiser kana mari chaiyo yekushandisa vachiita in-bite.

When diplomats in-bite our people vachivafurira, quite often, we get the stories that so and so and so was invited nemaAmeriacans nemaBritish. You have stood firm. Let’s continue to stand firm as we have done before,” he said.

President Mugabe applauded the support the party got from the Women’s League and said he preferred to attend their meeting than going to Botswana where he was invited for an independence anniversary.

President Mugabe

Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
President Mugabe on Friday expressed concern over the high rate of divorce that was destroying many families.

He said in most cases, men were to blame for the break-ups.

President Mugabe said this while addressing hundreds of women who attended the Women’s League National Assembly at the Zanu-PF headquarters in Harare.

The meeting was attended by First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Women’s League members, National Executive Council members, Politburo and Central Committee members among others.

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President Mugabe said it was disturbing that the rate of divorce in the country was increasing at an alarming rate.

He urged couples who face problems to approach elders for counselling rather than resorting to divorcing.

“Kurambana kwanyanya, mungandiudzawo here kuti sei kana muine ruzivo? Tinenge tichida kana vanhu vasarudzana, vanogarisana.

“Maproblems angavepo apa nepapa, but that is why we recommend that there should be wiser sisters within the family to assist. I suppose the majority of cases, we men are responsible. We marry small houses far too often.

“In other cases, it is just the fact of prestige, yekuti aah! You only have one and I have two. Munhu otozvirova dundundu.”

President Mugabe said this was not only happening among the most educated, but also even among the uneducated.

He said some women also did not care if they went into relationships with married men.

“The girls don’t mind kuti murume uyu ane mukadzi wake kare, wongoti chero ndaroorwa, ndiwanewo wandingati husband. There are many unmarried girls so it is a social problem, a very serious one,” he said.

He said in most cases the polygamous marriages were also sources of conflict as the wives and children born out of these marriages would not want to stay together.

“The women will not want to stay together. Havadi kuonana and the children will stay apart in most cases. It is in rare cases where you can get children who belong to different mothers working together, calling each other sister or brother. It is now worse than it was in the past,” he said.

He bemoaned how fast the marriages were ending and said in some cases, the couples did not even bother to legalise the marriages, but only stayed together.

“Michato yacho haisi michato yokuenda kuchechi kana kwanamudzviti. There is no legal binding. Havaneyi nekuti hazvibvumirwe nemurawo.

He also complained of the behaviour of some pastors who took advantage of their positions to abuse young girls.

“Nemapastors aya, mamwe acho ave enhema. Vovaka ivo dzimba dzakanaka, machurch akanaka ekukwezva vanhu. Zvino mapastors kana votora vana vachiita hupombwe chii? Chava chii iye achiti munhu waMwari?” he said.

President Mugabe also raised concern over the corruption and nepotism taking place in the society.

“Umbavha hwakawanda muvarume. I don’t know what we should do.

“If you appoint a person in circumstances, when the job he is doing enables him access to funds, sooner or later in majority of cases you will hear of funds having been swindled or funds having disappeared. Dzakawanda nyaya dzerudzi urwu,” he said.

President Mugabe said women were important to both the party and the nation as they were the mothers who had the duty to bring up children.

He said there should be equal representation of men and women in politics.

He said the party did not like imposing candidates on positions in party structures.

President Mugabe said appointing people from outside politics proved difficult as some of them abandoned the party.

He said Zanu-PF had also worked hard to uplift women in different spheres.

“Government has since independence adopted various policies, programmes and legislative measures all aimed at improving the position of our women in the country,” he said.

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
The Kariba South Power expansion project has been thrown a lifeline after a leading financial institution last month agreed to fund Zimbabwe Power Company’s counterpart payment, which will result in 150 megawatts being generated by December next year and another 150MW by March 2018.

China’s Export and Import Bank is providing the bulk of the funding of about $320 million to cover engineering, procurement and construction while ZPC is expected to chip in with about $213 million from development finance institutions.

The bank (name withheld) will avail $60 million and R650 million or equivalent. The money will only be available on a progress need basis reportedly to avoid diversion to other requirements.

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The project, being undertaken by a Chinese contractor, Sinohydro, had been hanging in the balance as ZPC struggled to raise its part of the funding.

But Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira last week said the project was back on course following the funding agreement with the bank.

“Kariba Extension is progressing well with 57 percent of the construction works completed to date,” said Mr Gwasira in emailed responses to The Herald.

“It is anticipated that the first 150MW would be fed into the national electricity grid by December 2017 while the other 150MW would be dispatched onto the grid by March 2018,” he said.

“Kariba South expansion project was facing challenges to secure part of the counterpart funds . . . but a loan agreement was signed with (the bank) in September 2016 to cover the relevant outstanding costs and the works are now well on course.”

President Mugabe commissioned the $533 million power project in 2014, which is in line with ZimAsset’s cluster on development of infrastructure and utilities.

The cluster identifies energy and power development as key economic enablers to productivity and socio-economic development.

The sector has been experiencing challenges over the years due to dilapidated and obsolete generation equipment and infrastructure as well as lack of adequate capitalization.

However, the $320 million loan agreement for engineering, procurement and construction that was extended by the Chinese government through China Exim Bank made the project a reality.

The balance of $213 million from ZPC’s development finance institutions will cover consultancy services, supervision, water supply agreements and related costs.

Zimbabwe’s total peak demand is about 2 000MW but is producing about half of that. It supplements the shortfall through power imports from neighbouring countries.

Kariba South’s current generation capacity is about 750MW but was generating about 600MW as at September 30, 2016 while Hwange Thermal Power Station generated 432MW on the same date.

Munyati Power Station in the Midlands generated 17MW while Bulawayo and Harare Power stations did not produce anything as of Friday last week.

VPs Emmerson Mnangagwa (left) and Phelekezela Mphoko

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Zanu-PF provinces have welcomed the step taken by the party’s Secretary for Women’s Affairs, Dr Grace Mugabe, last Friday to clarify misunderstandings and misinterpretations of their proposal to have the party’s constitution amended to have a woman in the Presidium.

The proposal was read to imply that one of the current Vice Presidents should be removed to make way for a woman.

Addressing the Women’s League national assembly in Harare on Friday, Dr Mugabe said the two VPs – Cdes Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko – enjoyed the full support of the Women’s League.

Zanu-PF provincial chairpersons yesterday welcomed the clarifications by Dr Mugabe saying this put to rest unnecessary speculation in the party that one of the VPs would be axed at the forthcoming Annual National People’s Conference set for Masvingo in December.

The party’s Harare provincial chairperson, Cde Charles Tawengwa, welcomed Dr Mugabe’s remarks, saying it was President Mugabe’s discretion to choose his deputies.

“It’s a welcome development,” he said.

“It lays to rest all the speculation that one of the VPs was going to be removed from office. It’s you the newspapers who were writing about this – saying so and so is going to be removed.

“The First Lady has come out in the open and clarified the issue and I think this is a welcome development for the party.”

Cde Tawengwa’s views were supported by Midlands deputy chair Cde Daniel Mackenzie Ncube who said: “We respect the resolution that came out of the Victoria Falls conference (to amend the party constitution) and we also respect the decision made by His Excellency the President in picking his deputies.

“The First Lady should be applauded for that clarification.”

He continued: “Some of the misinterpretations on that resolution were bent on sowing divisions in the party by certain individuals.”

Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo said: “We gave all the powers to the President at our last congress. He is the appointing authority. He appoints his deputies and all Politburo members.

“When the women made their resolution, it was not said that it should be implemented tomorrow. Some people were already running around saying one of the VPs is facing ouster. We welcome the clarification by the First Lady because it makes everything clear.”

Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairman Cde Richard Makokove said they were already holding outreach meetings to explain the correct position to the people.

“Dr Mugabe’s remarks cleared the air on that matter. I think about 90 percent of the people had misinterpreted that resolution,” he said.

“During our district outreach meetings that we started in Chikomba yesterday, we are already explaining that to the people. We also resolved during our provincial coordinating committee meeting that we should disseminate information to the people clearing those distortions.”

Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Cde Ephraim Chengeta thanked Dr Mugabe for removing distortions around the matter.

“I have nothing to add or to subtract on what the First Lady said apart from thanking her for such remarks,” he said.

“Some were already saying things that are not part of that resolution. I think the First Lady did a good thing that we welcome as a party.”

In Mashonaland Central, provincial chairman Cde Dickson Mafios said the message from the First Lady was clear.

He said the resolution calling for the inclusion of a woman in the Presidium was part of the Zanu-PF constitution which was used to elevate former Vice President Dr Joice Mujuru.

He said when Dr Mujuru was expelled the party constitution was not expelled as well.

“We concur with what the First Lady said,” he said.

“There is nothing wrong with having a woman in the top leadership of the party and it was there (in the party constitution) ever since. The First Lady was clear that they want their representation and she did not say today or tomorrow but in the future.”

Matabeleland South provincial chair Cde Rabelani Choeni said he had not yet heard about Dr Mugabe’s remarks and he would only comment on the matter today.

Provincial chairpersons for Masvingo and Manicaland provinces Cde Amasa Nhenjana and Samuel Undenge respective views could not be ascertained as they did not answer their mobile phones.

Crime Reporter
Police have released the names of 11 of the 13 people who died in separate road traffic accidents in Murehwa and Shangani last month.

The Shangani accident occurred near the 340km peg along the Harare-Bulawayo Road while the other one occurred near the 44km peg along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the 11 were identified by their next of kin.

She said the Shangani accident victims are Brian Mutondo (64), Ignatius Chivese (29), Charles Sibanda (45), Alfred Matsverege (34), Mlilo Fanuel (32), Bekezela Dube (35) and Ibanech Chitsatso (26).

The Murehwa victims are Doreen Sanyatwe (61), Tapiwa Josephine Sanyatwe (26), Mahwehwe Shakemore (36) and the other one only identified a Lindiwe aged 35.

“Police are appealing to those who are missing their relatives to proceed to Murehwa Hospital mortuary and identify the remaining two female bodies,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

She urged members of the public to carry their particulars whenever they are travelling.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said five other people died in a road traffic accident which occurred at the 35km peg along the Birchenough-Mt Selinda Road in Chipinge on September 25.

“Circumstances are that a MAN diesel truck was travelling along the said road towards Birchenough Bridge with 115 passengers on board. On approaching the 35km peg, the loading gates of the truck opened and 32 passengers fell onto the tarmac. Two of them died on the spot while three others died on admission at Mutare Provincial Hospital,” Snr Asst Comm Charamba said.

She urged motorists to ensure that their vehicles’ loading gates were properly secured and avoid over- loading.

Last month, six Johane Masowe Apostolic Sect church members died while 14 others were injured when a commuter omnibus in which they were travelling overturned along the Harare-Nyamapanda Road.

The accident occurred near the 44km peg around 7.15am in Murehwa. The Toyota Hiace was travelling along the Harare-Nyamapanda Road with 22 passengers on board.

On approaching the 44km peg, the vehicle burst its rear left tyre resulting in the driver losing control and the vehicle veering off the road to the right and overturning.

Earlier last month six people died after a Toyota Ipsum they were travelling in left the road and overturned along the Harare-Bulawayo high- way.

Justice Chigumba

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter—
The fate of High Court judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba who is accused of soliciting for a $20 000 bribe from a litigant is likely to be sealed in two weeks’ time when the Judicial Service Commission meets to consider the matter.

This comes as unconfirmed reports indicate that panic has gripped High Court judges as the likely bribery probe against the judge, would open a can of worms. Justice Chigumba was among the eight High Court judges that were interviewed by the JSC to be considered for elevation to the Supreme Court bench.

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JSC secretary Justice Rita Makarau yesterday said, the JSC will meet on October 13 where the matter would be considered. “The JSC is now seized with the matter,” said Justice Makarau. “It is at that meeting where the commission will come up with a decision on the way forward.”

A cross-section of lawyers who spoke on the corruption accusation against Justice Chigumba said the allegations were likely to open a Pandora’s box, and, several judges were deeply disturbed.

A city lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa said she could not give an informed comment on one-sided facts, which have not been established through due process. She, however expressed hope that the JSC would look into the complaint and make an informed decision based on veritable facts.

“The issue of corruption in the justice delivery sector has been with us for a long time and one hopes that all other corruption complaints in the sector will also be thoroughly investigated,” she said.

“I also hope that corruption will not be given a narrow definition, which is limited to money changing hands. There is a lot of corruption associated with political power and influence where the due process is subverted at every turn because powerful litigants are able to pick and choose judges.”

Corruption, she added, was not limited to judicial officers as prosecutors, practicing lawyers, the police had been “known to facilitate corruption, one way or the other”. “Perhaps a commission of inquiry to look into corruption should be set up to look into this evil cancer.”

Another lawyer, Mr Farai Chinhema said the allegations of corruption against the learned judge were not shocking. “Virtually on a daily basis, the Press is pregnant with reports of corruption that permeate every strata of society,” he said.

“All allegations of corruption have not led to any meaningful investigations, let alone prosecution. It means that either the corruption allegations are hollow or, corruption has now been accepted as a way of life.”

Mr Chinhema said he would not be shocked when other persons in society, more important than the learned judge, are implicated in serious cases of corruption. He however, commended the JSC for affording Justice Chigumba an opportunity to comment on the allegations levelled against her.

“It would have been improper for them not to raise the issue with her seeing as it is that JSC’s take on the matter has a bearing on the assessment of the learned judge’s suitability for the post,” he said.

“It’s heartening to note that there is an arm of State that considers corruption a vice worth rooting out.” Mr Joel Mambara, also a senior lawyer, said an agent in the matter, whose name was withheld, should also be censored.

“He is an accessory to the offence,” said Mr Mambara. “He cannot go scot-free. The mere fact that he (allegedly) agreed to carry the message and obviously to receive the loot, and go with it to the judge does not absolve him from the offence. In fact, bribe is a two way traffic — the giver and the receiver.”

Mr Obert Gutu a senior partner at Gutu, Chikowero Law Practice, said corruption should never be tolerated whether it is within the justice delivery system or in any other sector for that matter. “That said, I am unable to condemn Justice Chigumba simply because unproven allegations of corruption have been levelled against her,” he said.

“If there’s a prima facie case of corruption against the learned judge, then the relevant constitutional provisions should be activated to ensure that the allegations are fully and adequately investigated. Let us not rush to crucify and condemn Justice Chigumba before due process has been conducted and concluded.”

Mr Gutu, however, added that corrupt, lazy and incompetent judges have absolutely no business remaining on the High Court bench. The office of a judge, he said, was an honourable and dignified one that should not be occupied by corrupt and dishonourer individuals. It emerged during the interview last week that Justice Chigumba attempted a bribe-harvest of $20 000 from one of the parties in a case she was presiding over.

Justice Chigumba was grilled by members of the JSC led by Chief Justice Chidyausiku over a complaint that it received to the effect that the judge had sent an agent to solicit for a bribe from a Mr Kanokanga who was one of the parties in a case in which she was presiding over.

Justice Chidyausiku said the JSC had received a written complaint from Mr Kanokanga and said while they had asked Justice Chigumba to make a written response, she was obliged to comment on the allegations since the commission was troubled over the allegations given that she was now seeking higher office.

ZIMRA offices

• Millions lost to dealers, corruption • Smuggling, under-valuations rampant

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter—
A forensic audit on the operations of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has revealed endemic corruption, violation of Government laws and poor corporate governance among other shenanigans.

According to the report, all these happened under the stewardship of suspended Commissioner-General Mr Gershem Pasi and five other executives. Mr Pasi and the five managers were suspended in May amid revelations that they corruptly imported vehicles.

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It also emerged that the revenue authority was losing millions of dollars to dealers who processed counterfeit undervalued import documents to smuggle vehicles and other products into the country.

As a result, the Zimra board, chaired by Mrs Willia Bonyongwe, requested the Auditor-General’s Office to carry out a forensic audit to verify the claims. “The board was troubled when the scandal, relating to the importation of vehicles by the executive management broke out,” said Mrs Bonyongwe in a statement yesterday. “The CG (Commissioner-General) had neither disclosed it to the board, nor taken any disciplinary action against the executives involved, four months after it happened.

“Naturally, the board sought to investigate the issue and on May 6, 2016, resolved to request the Office of the Auditor-General to carry out a forensic audit to investigate this matter and other issues relating to executive packages, procurement procedures among other things. To facilitate the audit, the board placed the CG and five executive managers on leave.”

Mrs Bonyongwe said the audit firm, HLB Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants, won the tender and started their investigations on July 1, 2016. She said it was later discovered that the audit must be broken down into two parts following further revelations, which in essence changed the scope of the audit.

It was resolved that HLB Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants would proceed with the old scope while a new tender to investigate the ICT operating systems, procurement and governance structures would be floated. Mrs Bonyongwe said Deloitte and Touche was awarded the tender on July 29, 2016 with their report expected in a fortnight.

On the latest report, Mrs Bonyongwe said: “HLB Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants have submitted the same to the Auditor General. We are obliged to report that the Zimra board has now received the audit report. “The report contains various adverse observations with respect to the operations of Zimra.

“The Zimra board shall study the audit observations but some of the key observations or findings of the audit relate to the following: systematic corrupt practices, abuse of office and fraud; violations of the Zimbabwe Revenue Act, as well as the Customs and Excise Act; poor corporate governance practices and weak internal control systems; disclosure issues with regard to the Board and parent Ministry; violations of procurement procedures; and abuse of the whistle blower facility, among others.”

Mrs Bonyongwe said the board would deliberate on the audit report and come up with remedial measures in accordance with the Zimbabwe Revenue Act, Zimra Code of Conduct and the Labour laws of Zimbabwe. She said in the interest of transparency, an executive summary of the report would be availed once all the necessary procedures had been done.

Mrs Bonyongwe said while the Revenue Authority Act Chapter 23:11, Section 5(1), mandated the control of Zimra to its directors, corporate governance principles stipulated that the board was the accounting authority.

To that end, she said, the board was liable for any systematic failure of Zimra despite the fact that the day-to-day running of the revenue collector was delegated to management.

“Furthermore, the board has fiduciary and legal duties to the Zimra, but the ability of the board to discharge these duties is contingent upon the competency and cooperation of its management principally the Commissioner General (CG).

“The accuracy, timeliness and completeness of the flow of information to the board is vital to avoid any shocks, which may have considerable effects to stakeholders,” said Mrs Bonyongwe.

Minister Mupfumira

Felex Share Senior Reporter—
Government yesterday began a three-day engagement with civil servants to apprise them of their conditions of service and non-monetary incentives, such as housing, that are being worked out.

The workers are also expected to be informed about the ongoing rationalisation exercise, the shift in pay dates, impending introduction of bond notes as well as pensions and medical aid benefits. Government has also invited experts in different fields to the meetings.

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Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Ngoni Masoka said the engagement was a culmination of the meetings civil servants had with Ministers Prisca Mupfumira and Patrick Chinamasa, and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya two months ago.

“In the same spirit, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mupfumira has considered it necessary for staff association representatives and their Government counterparts to continuously engage in the National Joint Negotiating Council and others, on matters of mutual interest, which include among other things, shift of pay dates and ways to improve revenue collection,” he said.

“The programme for this engagement includes various topics for issues that generally affect members of the public service and their conditions of service. To this end, the ministry has invited various experts in the different areas that have an impact on conditions of service for civil servants, be they monetary or non-monetary.

“It should be borne in mind that the aim of improving conditions of service for the worker is to ensure continued and quality service delivery in the public service. Conditions of service can only be improved through negotiations and as we continue with the process, we should not renege on our mandate of providing the essential services to the public.”

The civil servants representatives welcomed the engagement saying it should “become the culture.” “The process of engagement must not be cherry-picked,” said Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Mr Raymond Majongwe.

“We must discuss everything. We must not discuss for window dressing purposes. It must become part of our psyche; it must become a culture that workers and the Government need to disagree or to agree. At the end of the day, when these things happen, we benefit as a nation.

“These initiatives must not be meant to create an environment of selling out, but it must be a notion of enrichment on both ends. Government must know the psyche of their workers, why they are angry or are making these demands,” Mr Majongwe said.

Added College Lecturer Association of Zimbabwe president Mr David Dzatsunga: “Most of the things we have presented to Government have not been given enough time to be digested, and we hope such ample time will take us somewhere. As workers, we have a lot of unanswered questions and we hope some of them will be answered by this engagement.”

Sports Reporter
ZIFA president P Chiyangwa’s statement followed concerns raised by former ZIFA Disciplinary Committee chairman Andrew Musengezi, who questioned the committee that sanctioned the individuals in the Limpopogate saga given his committee did not conclude the case. In a letter written to FIFA development officer for Eastern and Southern Africa Ashford Mamelodi on September 16, Musengezi alleged that former Warriors’ assistant coach Nation Dube was slapped with a five-year ban even though the proceedings before his committee, which was later disbanded, had not been concluded.

Musengezi also said they had only done preparatory work for Dube’s case and the cases of his co-accused, former ZIFA chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya and former ZIFA board member Edzai Kasinauyo.

“On April 25, 2016, the committee sat to hear the matter and evidence was heard from two witnesses and the matter was postponed for further evidence. The committee was not reconvened to hear further evidence and no reasons were advanced from the ZIFA offices why that was so,” reads part of the letter.

“The next thing we gathered in respect of these cases was a report in the local Press that judgments had been pronounced on these persons by the new committee. “ It is pertinent to note that the Nation Dube case was not finalised by the Disciplinary Committee.

“The Disciplinary Committee is not aware what procedure was employed to make the decisions on these cases pending before it.” Last night, Chiyangwa said the sanctions were aboveboard.

“It is in the public interest for me to enlighten on the correct position on the penalties imposed on a number of football practitioners by ZIFA through the ZIFA Congress in light of the completely groundless allegations made by one Andrew Musengezi,” he said in a statement.

“Firstly, it must be understood that Andrew Musengezi was improperly appointed as chairperson of the ZIFA Disciplinary Committee by the previous ZIFA Executive Committee in flagrant contravention of Article 55 (1) of the ZIFA constitution, which strictly requires the chairman of the Disciplinary Committee to be legally qualified.

“It is common cause that Andrew Musengezi is not a lawyer and does not have a law degree. His appointment was therefore null and void ab initio. “Any decisions and proceedings that were done under his chairmanship are obviously a legal nullity at law. This is a clear position of the law.

“Musengezi has over the years masqueraded as being properly qualified and has created a serious legal catastrophe for ZIFA in presenting himself as such. “ZIFA is taking serious action to deal with the misrepresentations by Andrew Musengezi, which is why the Disciplinary Committee he was chairing was disbanded notwithstanding some of the committee members are distinguished legal professionals.

“Unfortunately, the work of the whole committee had to be set aside owing to the non-qualification of Musengezi as chairman. “As a clear manifestation of the brazen ignorance on elementary legal provisions of the ZIFA constitution, Musengezi has wrongly alleged that is the function of the ZIFA Disciplinary Committee to ban errant members of ZIFA from football activities. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“It is only the ZIFA Congress which may dismiss a person in terms of Article 36 (1). The decision must carry a two thirds majority in terms of Article 36 (4). Pending confirmation of the dismissal of a person by Congress, the ZIFA Executive Committee has the power to provisionally dismiss a person.”

Chiyangwa said ZIFA stood by its decisions. “The people who were dismissed from ZIFA by the ZIFA Congress on the 4th of June 2016 were properly dismissed by the unanimous decision of all members present in strict accordance with Article 36 (1).

“Match-fixing is a serious offence in football and ZIFA Congress does not tolerate, in any manner whatsoever, corruption in football,” the statement said. “The contention by Andrew Musengezi is therefore utterly nonsensical as it parades serious ignorance on the elementary elements of the ZIFA statutes.

“It is clear that Andrew Musengezi is a bitter man but he has nobody to blame, if he wants to be appointed as the ZIFA Disciplinary Committee chairman he must first go to law school and obtain a law degree.”

Golden Sibanda: Senior Business Reporter

BANKS in Zimbabwe could still be fleecing borrowers through a litany of charges and the high cost of loans, despite the central bank putting a cap on lending rates; findings from the draft national competitiveness report have shown. The report says borrowers could be paying effective interest rates on bank loans in excess of 24 percent annually made up of the lending rates, establishment fees and insurance costs.“This makes borrowing in Zimbabwe very costly, with actual cost of borrowing in excess of 24 percent per annum,” the report says. Banks charge up to 6 percent annually on balances. The study confirmed earlier assertions that the high cost of funding is among a cocktail of factors making it difficult to do business in Zimbabwe and rendering it unattractive to investors.

In terms of the interest rate framework put in place by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, banks may charge interest of up to 18 percent per annum on loans, excluding other loan charges.

Lending rates may, however, vary and may be as low as 8 percent per year depending on the class of the borrower and risk.

The findings are part of a study on national competitiveness, which was carried out by the National Economic Consultative Forum, instructed and funded by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and its development partners.

The study concluded that even the most profitable companies in Zimbabwe may not earn returns enough to cover the cost of such punitive borrowing from the local banks.

“This cost directly affects the demand for bank loans and subsequently on how goods and services are priced in the economy.”

While Kenya and Zambia were found to also have high lending rates, standing at 18,08 percent and 19,5 percent respectively compared to Botswana (7,5 percent) and Mauritius (8,5 percent), interest rates in Zimbabwe are regarded too steep for a country that uses stronger currency, US dollar.

“Zimbabwe’s costs are in real terms compared to comparator countries whose interest rates are charged in local currencies whose value to the dollar fluctuates with any changes to the exchange rates,” the draft report by NECF noted.

The high lending rates are attributed to poor credit of the country (credit rating institutions), lack of investment vehicles in Zimbabwe (Government bonds), the political risk attached to the country, levels of Non-Performing Loans (higher than in the region) and problems with the collateral mechanism.

Generally, factors often cited for hindering business viability in Zimbabwe are high cost of borrowing, tight liquidity, outdated technology, use of old plant and machinery, declining agriculture output, low aggregate demand, electrical power outages and competition from cheap imports.

Government has since broadly responded to some of the issues constraining investors through policy reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business environment to attract investment, which would address factors at micro level.

In spring trees shed old leaves for soft fresh ones magnificent with their various colours of red, yellow, green, orange and rustic brown

Sekai Nzenza On Wednesday

THIS time last year, I was driving to the village with my cousin Piri as usual. As we were heading towards the Hwedza Mountains at sunset. I said to her, “Have you ever been to Victoria Falls?” Piri shook her head to say she had not been to Victoria Falls. “And have you been to Great Zimbabwe?” She shook her head again, her eyes focused on the road ahead, resting a big bottle of beer comfortably between her legs.I teased her some more, deliberately. “Have you been to Mana Pools? Hwange Safari Lodge? Nyanga in the Eastern Highlands? Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River? Matopos in Bulawayo?” She shook her head again and said nothing, clearly showing that she had no interest in all these places that I was talking about.

I stopped the car on a high plateau. The sun was a big red ball surrounded by red, yellow, orange and streaks of blue and purple clouds. I got out of the car and took a couple of pictures with my iPhone. Piri stayed in the car, listening to music. I felt the cool breeze and gazed at the silent valleys, the colours, blue orange sky and the peaceful slow pace of everything.

Spring of the soft fresh leaves we call pfumvudza was here and the trees looked magnificent with their various colours of red, yellow, green, orange and rustic brown. During this time of the year, I drive to the village slowly, looking at the changing colours of spring.

I told Piri to stop and look at the amazing changing colours of the sunset. Piri yawned, and then burped loudly.

“Where is it beautiful? Kunaka pai?” Piri asked, with this big frown on her face. I said, “Because you have not been to these places I mentioned, you cannot fully appreciate Zimbabwe’s beauty. But most Westerners do. Why else do you think we were colonised? The land, the rivers, the animals, the mountains, the minerals, everything brought the Europeans here. And as for our weather, what can I say? Ndingati chiiko? We are blessed to be born here.” Piri looked at me and laughed with some slight tone of sarcasm.

“You and Reuben. You are mad. Munopenga chete,” she said. Reuben is my cousin, the one who has finally returned home from Australia, leaving his wife and children back there. Piri said, “You run away from this country to seek a better Western lifestyle, education, jobs, good money and nice clothes, nice everything. Then you come back here after many years and say Zimbabwe is beautiful. Was it not beautiful when you left it? Where is it beautiful now? There is poverty and hunger everywhere.

“Nzara yega yega. If I was educated, would I still be here? No. I would be in England or America or even Australia too, choosing to eat raw vegetables because I am sick of meat. You ask me if I have seen Victoria Falls. Have you seen this, have you seen that? Where would I have seen what? What for?”

I did not respond. What else could I say? We drove in silence for a while. We still had another 20km to get to the village. Then Piri put on the voice and tone of an evangelical preacher. Pointing to some deserted villages and lonely graves on the outskirts of the village compounds, she said.

“There is nothing beautiful about disappearing villages Sis.” She pointed to the scrubby bushes, thorns and anthills. Dry, bare and barren. Along one side of the road we noticed that a fire had just ravaged the trees and grass, leaving the ground covered with black ash and burnt pink mushuku leaves. It looked desolate.

I did not want to see the silent sadness of lonely village ruins. No. I was in the mood for Spring. I kept gazing everywhere, looking at pfumvudza, and the blossoming fresh leaves of our Zimbabwe spring after a spell of rain that came here few days ago.

Bumharutsva is what the elders call the rain that comes during this time of the year in September or October. Sometimes they called it Gukurahundi, the rain that takes away the rusks and empty shells of millet and sorghum after the harvest. After the rains, the trees suddenly came to life, celebrating the new season of heat, waiting for the cicadas to sing louder and ask the rain to come early.

When I see the colours of the pfumvudza, I long for the freedom that it brought when we were young, growing up in the village. This was the season of playing and swimming. There was no hard work to be done in the fields. We were free to roam the mountains, the forests and the hills looking for wild fruits.

At night, while the adults talked to the ancestors during dry season ceremonies, we children played games like chinungu, gwendere gwendere, jejejeje jerekuje, chidhange chidhange, dzwitswi, vasikana iwe, pfukumbwe, zvirahwe, tsoro, mapere, pada, nhodo and many others whose English names we never had.

While I buried myself in memories of the past gone by, Piri continued her meaningless humming. Within half an hour or a bit more, the sun was gone and we arrived in the village.

The following day, I woke up to the familiar sounds of birds celebrating the sunrise.

I took a walk up the hill and sat on the rocks near the homestead.

It is the beginning of October and we are still in the dry season. The smell of the veldt fires from last night is everywhere. Smoke shoots up to the sky from the scattered village huts below. Then it spreads out like a thin cloud to join the mist from the valley. I sit here and wait to see the sun rise over the Mbire Mountains.

The morning birds greet each other and there is the odd distant rooster’s cry. I hear baboons fighting high up in the Mbire mountains further down the Save River. I listen to the wind. It comes from down below and blows over the granite rocks. The big trees that used to shield this place from the wind are gone. When Mbuya, Sekuru Dhikisoni and the rest of the extended family were settled here by the Southern Rhodesia government in the 1930s, this was virgin land.

Lions, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, elands, kudus, impalas and rhinos roamed these mountains and valleys. Sekuru Dhikisoni and his brothers used to hunt and shoot elands, wild pigs and bucks up in the Hwedza mountains and in the Save river basin. Those big animals are gone now. Some were hunted and eaten as game meat.

The rest were all rounded up and taken to the game parks. All that is left in these hills are baboons, rabbits, snakes, birds, squirrels, skunks and all kinds of butterflies and insects. People still slash and burn in the dry season. Every night I see fire burning on the mountains and in the valleys. When the fire burns the trees and grass it moves fast, burning everything. There are burnt axe-mutilated tree trunks everywhere. Black soot and white ash blowing in the cold early morning wind. The winter rains came, leaving the burnt grass thirsting for more.

But village life continues. People gather almost every day for various meetings: kurova guva — the ceremony bringing the deceased spirits back home, burial society meetings, political meetings, funerals, donor food distributions, community development meetings and occasionally, roora, the bride price ceremony.

Down at the village project borehole, Piri and the other women are already watering the Simukai Project garden before it gets too hot. There is loud laughter, chikwee, as they normally do when they catch up on village gossip.

This time of the year Zimbabwe is dry but beautiful. We celebrate the changing of seasons, the new tender leaves of spring, the feel of love and laughter, the joy of seeing another spring and the hopeful expectation of abundant rains.

Sekai Nzenza is a writer and cultural critic.

Minister of Home Affairs Dr Ignatius Chombo (right) and Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri look at some of the ZRP operational vehicles during commissioning in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

Move to bolster effectiveness against merchants of violence, errant motorists

Freeman Razemba: Crime Reporter

Police have acquired buses, utility trucks and traffic enforcement vehicles worth $1 million to be used to maintain law and order countrywide. The vehicles include two buses, 25 Ford Ranger single cab trucks and 28 traffic enforcement Ford Fiesta B-Cars.Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the vehicles in Harare yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo, said the two buses were outstanding from the previous delivery commissioned by President Mugabe in May last year.

President Mugabe officially commissioned a fleet of 97 vehicles at a ceremony held at Morris Depot in May last year. The fleet included 77 trucks and 20 buses.

Said Dr Chombo; “So, today (yesterday), we are in essence commissioning 25 operational Ford Ranger single cab trucks and 28 traffic enforcement Ford Fiesta B-cars, which were purchased at a cost of $948 250.

Chombo and Chihuri

“It is no doubt that this new fleet of vehicles will go a long way in enhancing your efforts in maintaining law and order, in particular, enforcing good behaviour by road users,” Dr Chombo said.

He said due to the high carnage on the roads, road safety was a matter of national urgency. Police Commissioner-General Dr Augustine Chihuri, said the force’s visibility was a deterrent measure and essential ingredient to the prevention of crime.

Some of the ZRP operational vehicles which were commisioned by Minister of home affairs Dr Ignatius Chombo in Harare yesterday.(Picture by Innocent Makawa)

“Consequently, with these additional vehicles, the Government has obviously extended to us the armour and ammunition to swiftly respond to the demands and dictates of policing services,” he said.

Dr Chihuri lauded President Mugabe’s continued support of the force including replenishing the force’s aging vehicle fleet.

“For some time now, Honourable Minister (Dr Chombo), the ZRP has been grappling with and aching of the adverse consequences spawned by an aging inadequate vehicle fleet.

“Service delivery by the 17 police operational provinces, various stations and sections, demands not only that police officers be readily accessible as and when required by our clientele, but also maintain enduring presence and visibility,” he said.

Police cars 1

Dr Chihuri said the force was aware that peace could never be provided on a ‘piecemeal basis’ and should be sustained at all costs and times.

“Peace is just like a balloon, once perforated, no matter how small the puncture may be, it becomes useless and a candidate for the trash-bin. This is the reason why we get extremely perturbed when criminally-minded people take peace for granted, juggle with it and putting unnecessary dents on it,” he said.

Police cars 3

He said the vehicle was going to further burgeon the efficiency and effectiveness of police officers in dealing with merchants and architects of the wave of violence, which was currently threatening national security.

“We always stand ready to lawfully and decisively deal with criminal malcontents, who quite often, are drenched in sheep skins when in actual fact they are shameful agents of the tired crusade of the illegal regime change agenda in Zimbabwe. The law will indeed be applied squarely, fairly and without fear or favour,” Dr Chihuri said.

Morgan Heritage

Renowned Jamaican group Morgan Heritage is expected in the country tomorrow ahead of their show at Harare International Conference Centre on Saturday.The group was initially scheduled to land in Harare tonight, but their flights have been changed and they will arrive tomorrow morning in separate teams.Dee Nosh of 2Kings Entertainment who are organising the show said they will receive the first team around 1am tomorrow while others will land at 930 am.He said the group is coming two days before the show to give fans assurance about the show since many other aborted attempts to bring them have created doubt around any of their advertised trips.

“Because of their previous advertised trips that did not materialise, many people are still doubting the trip. On Thursday morning the team will be here to tell Zimbabwe that their dream has finally come true. They are happy that they will have their first show in Zimbabwe. Many people have been asking us about the authenticity of the coming gig and we will let Morgan Heritage confirm everything as soon as they arrive,” said Dee Nosh.

“The slight change in their flights will see the first team arriving in the early hours of Thursday. A previous announcement said they would arrive on Wednesday, but they will now land a few hours into the following day. They would have been happy to arrive earlier since they have been looking ahead to this show for many years.”

During the show, they will share the stage with Oliver Mtukudzi, Winky D, Freeman and popular reggae DJs.Morgan Heritage is a reggae band formed in 1994 by five children of reggae artiste Denroy Morgan, namely Peter “Peetah” , Una, Roy “Gramps” , Nakhamyah “Lukes”, and Memmalatel “Mr. Mojo”. They have had a number of successful reggae albums.

Known as the royal family of reggae, the group is known for songs that include “Down by the River”, “A Man is Still a Man”, “Don’t Haffi Dread” and “She is Still Loving Me”.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba

Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau—
Eight people died on the spot, while four others were seriously injured when a Toyota Fun Cargo and a Toyota Voxy collided head-on seven kilometres outside Chegutu yesterday. Tragedy struck at around 9:45am along the highway between Chegutu and Chinhoyi. The Fun Cargo, which had eight passengers on board, dislodged a right front lower ball joint, resulting in the driver losing control and encroaching into the lane of the oncoming Voxy.

Five of the deceased were in the Fun Cargo, while the remainder were in the Voxy. Police national chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba attributed the accident to a mechanical fault.

“The vehicles collided head-on, killing eight people on the spot and five of the deceased including the driver were in the Toyota Fun Cargo, whilst three were in the Toyota Voxy.”

The injured were ferried to Chegutu District Hospital and two of them have since been transferred to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare for further treatment.

The Fun Cargo had just picked Chinhoyi-bound passengers in Chegutu when the accident occurred. Snr Asst Comm Charamba warned motorists against speeding, overloading and to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.

“Police are urging motorists to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before they embark on journeys. They should also avoid speeding and overloading vehicles to minimise chances of fatal road accidents.” The accident comes barely three days after at least 12 people lost their lives in separate road crashes countrywide.

Stendrick Zvorwadza

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter—
JUDGE President Justice George Chiweshe yesterday dismissed with costs three separate constitutional challenges by some pressure groups against the ban on demonstrations by the police in Harare, a development that will maintain peace in the city up to October 15. Justice Chiweshe, who heads the High Court bench, discharged with costs an earlier provisional order issued by Justice Priscilla Chigumba in favour of the pressure groups after finding fault with parts of the draft final order.

Also read:

The terminated provisional order, invalidated Statutory Instrument 101 A of 2016, which brought into effect the initial two-week ban on demonstrations in Harare’s Central Business District by the police in August.

Justice Chiweshe’s latest decision confirmed the validity of the police’s 30-day ban on demonstrations in Harare’s CBD, putting to rest contestations by pressure groups and political activists.

The Judge President threw out two urgent chamber applications by the Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment (DARE), Combined Harare Residents Association, National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA), an activist Stendrick Zvorwadza and the Zimbabwe Divine Destiny.

The pressure groups were seeking to invalidate Statutory Instrument 245 of 2016 banning demonstrations in the city between September 16 and October 15 this year for public order reasons.

They contended that the notice was unconstitutional and that it ought to be quashed. In a comprehensive judgment that also took into account arguments by the pressure groups to have Justice Chigumba’s provisional order confirmed, the Judge President terminated his fellow judge’s temporary decision.

“I conclude therefore that this application cannot succeed.
“Accordingly, it is ordered as follows:

1 The application under case Number HC 9469/16 (DARE, NERA, Zvorwadza and CHRA) be and is hereby dismissed with costs.

2 The application under case number HC 9470/16 (Zimbabwe Divine Destiny) be and is hereby dismissed with costs.

3 The provisional order under case number HC8940/16 (by Justice Chigumba) be and is hereby discharged with costs.”

The JP ruled that the police acted lawfully and that Section 27 of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) which brings limitations to the people’s right to demonstrate and petition was fair and justified.

“Taking all these factors and considerations into account, I am satisfied that based on a value judgment, the provisions of Section 27(1) of the Public Order and Se3curity Act satisfy the requirements set out under Section 86(1) of the Constitution, namely that the limitation it imposes on the right to demonstrate as enshrined under Section 59 of the Constitution is fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society based on openness, justice, human dignity, equality and freedom.

“Accordingly, I would hold, as I hereby do, that Section 27(1) of POSA is not ultra vires the Constitution. It meets the requirements of constitutional validity,” ruled the Judge President. In determining the fairness and reasonable of the limitation imposed by POSA, the JP relied on value judgment.

“As already discussed, there is no special scientifically determinable yardstick for determining what is fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable in a democratic society. “The court must arrive at a value judgment, taking into account all relevant factors of the case at hand.”

Discharging Justice Chigumba’s provisional order, Justice Chiweshe said he disagreed with various parts of the draft final order. “I am inclined to discharge that provisional order for the following reasons:

“Firstly, having now heard full arguments, I do not agree in principle with the import of paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of the draft final order. “My views on these issues have been canvassed in this judgment. Secondly, paragraph (a) seeks to saddle the first respondent personally with costs.

“There is no basis for doing so in view of my reluctance to confirm the provisional order. My sentiments in this regard apply equally with regards paragraph (e) where it is proposed without basis to award costs against third and fourth respondents.”

This means no demonstrations shall be held in Harare’s CBD up to October 15 this year. Attorney General Advocate Prince Machaya appeared in court in person to successfully argue the matter with the assistance of a director in charge of the Civil Division Mrs Fortune Chimbaru following criticism on the competence of the esteemed office of Government lawyers. Mr Tendai Biti and Advocate Fadzai Mahere represented the pressure groups.

Mr Chikore

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
The Air Zimbabwe board has appointed, with immediate effect Mr Simba Chikore as the new chief operations officer, making him the second in command at the parastatal. Mr Chikore is President Mugabe’s son-in-law who is married to his only daughter Mrs Bona Mugabe-Chikore. He is an experienced pilot.Air Zimbabwe board chairperson Professor Chipo Dyanda confirmed Mr Chikore’s appointment yesterday, saying he had become the best candidate for the job after having excelled in the interviews that were conducted for the post.

“It is correct that Mr Chikore has been appointed to the post. He does exceed the minimum requirements. He also excelled in psychometric tests and interviews,” she said. Mr Chikore’s appointment comes hard on the heels of the appointment of the parastatal’s chief executive officer Mr Ripton Muzenda in August.

The airline has been facing various challenges, among them delays in flight schedules and revival of lucrative regional and international routes, employees welfare, among other issues.

Commenting on the appointment, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo said he had approved recommendations by the board after he was satisfied by Mr Chikore’s credentials. Dr Gumbo said Mr Chikore was among 134 applicants who applied and attended interviews conducted by the board and a team of consultants.

“He has a lot of experience in the aviation industry that he gained initially at Air Zimbabwe, and subsequently with international airlines like Qatar. He excelled during the interview, and we are satisfied that his credentials actually surpass the required qualifications,” said Dr Gumbo.

He said the appointment had nothing to do with his relationship with the First Family where he is a son-in-law.

“We appointed him in his own right as Simba Chikore. Remember, he is a Zimbabwean who is entitled to take up any job as long as those offering it are satisfied that he is the best person. Remember, in any society, there are relations and that should not distract us from appointing competent people.

“There is nothing untoward about that. In any case, the President is my nephew. Can people therefore objectively allege that I was appointed in irregular circumstances? We cannot deny someone a job on the basis that he is related to another person even when we are satisfied that he is the best for the post,” said Dr Gumbo.

Dr Gumbo said the appointment of Mr Chikore was consistent with his thrust to restructure and reorganise the national airline so that it returns to viability.

“This is why we are making all these changes. Right now, I am looking for a partner to work with Air Zimbabwe. I want a strong management that will bring Air Zimbabwe back to profitability. I have confidence in the board, and we need to strengthen the management team,” said Dr Gumbo.

Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Correspondent
Government has assured the nation that no one will starve as the country has enough grain for the next 10 months, zanu-pf chief whip Cde Lovemore Matuke said. Cde Matuke said they have also been assured by Vice President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa to kick-start the Command Agriculture programme, with Mashonaland Central being the first province to receive farming inputs and implements.

Cde Matuke was speaking after the party’s caucus in Harare yesterday where VP Mnangagwa, Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colonel (Retired) Christian Katsande, national political commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere and the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Cde Joseph Made were in attendance.

“Vice President Mnangagwa appraised the party on the progress made so far on Command Agriculture with a detailed report to be tabled in the Politburo today. Farming inputs under the Command Agriculture and the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme are ready for collection from various suppliers across the country, with Mashonaland Central being the first recipient,” said Cde Matuke.

The Command Agriculture programme aims at raising maize production and reducing grain imports. Two million tonnes of maize on 400 000 hectares are expected to be produced.

Cde Matuke also said the Deputy Chief Secretary apprised them on the reasons why President Mugabe did not assent to the Special Economic Zones Bill.

He said President Mugabe had reservations on a clause which seeks to suspend the Labour Act whose effect would have exposed workers to serious abuse by employers.

“As the party, we want to thank President Mugabe for the observations he made regarding the Bill. Both houses had omitted serious issues and the deficiencies that were seen by the President need to be addressed by both houses,” he said.

First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe

Lahja Nashuuta Herald Correspondent—
The First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe will tomorrow deliver a keynote address at a one-day NamZim Newspaper Empowering and Mentoring Women in Leadership Conference at a local hotel in Harare. NamZim Newspapers is the publisher of The Southern Times, a regional weekly newspaper born out of a joint venture project of Zimbabwe (zimpapers) Limited and New Era Publications Corporation.

The Southern Times general manager Mrs Gwen Synders said the seminar was being hosted for the second time following another one held in Namibia in 2015.

She said the conference offered a platform of bringing together most influential women in the region under one umbrella in order to share experiences and how they have overcame challenges that are likely to be faced by other women in the region.

“Our publishing company is an aggressive source of information for SADC and we are a strong advocate for economic growth and uplifting of women and girls,” said Mrs Synders.

Mrs Synders said the conference seeks to instil positive reinforcement in women from all spheres of life and encourage them to take leadership roles whenever opportunities present themselves.

“It has been noted through research and other informed literature that the economic inclusion of women is pivotal for the growth of the region and has profound impact in the upliftment of the living standard of a household as well as the entire society, it is through this notion that we were motivated to host such (a) conference.”

Notable speakers at the conference include Tufana Mumba-Phiri, a Zambian legal practitioner and a company secretary and legal counsel for Zambia Daily Mail Limited. Phiri is expected to make a presentation on how women could succeed in a men’s world.

Prominent Malawian lawyer Seodi White will talk about women’s rights, gender justice and corporate governance while Twapewa Kadhikwa, a Namibian business woman and owner of Xhama Cultural Village and Traditional Restaurant will deliver a presentation on women entrepreneurship.

The founding director of Women Excel, Ms Edna Mukurazhizha is expected to moderate a discussion on women in business and how they can break out of mediocrity to greatness. Nancy Sumari, a former Miss Tanzania and Miss World Africa, is also expected to give a speech on women beauty and healthy living.

Elroy Akbay

Tedious Manyepo and Faith Mutema

HIGHLANDERS coach Erol Akbay was voted the best coach for the second time when he won the September coach of the month as CAPS United’s Leonard Tsipa was voted the best player. Akbay’s team have managed to win five last matches. Bosso opened their winning streak on Week 19 when they defeated How Mine 2-0 before they went on to beat Border Strikers 1-2 as they picked momentum.On Week 23 they were at home against old enemies Dynamos winning 2-1. They continued with the winning trend with a victory at Harare City. Their last match was against Ngezi Platinum and they won 2-1. Tsipa on the other hand has been a revelation for CAPS United where he scored crucial goals and is now the League’s top goal scorer. Akbay said he is overwhelmed by receiving this accolade, which for him came as a surprise.

“It’s very nice and I’m very happy to be named the best coach of the month.

“This means a lot for a coach as it shows that everyone appreciate and respects what you are doing for the team.

“I am also very happy with myself because I know that I have done my part to my full potential and I have done my best for the team.

“This would be the second recognition for this year and I am hoping for the best,” said the coach.

Akbay is expected to receive the accolade on Saturday when they face Chapungu, while Tsipa may be handed his at Dulivhadzimu when they clash with Border Strikers. Turning on to the game, the Bosso mentor knows any slip up by his charges at this stage of the league marathon will virtually rule them out of the championship reckoning in a race they desperately need to win to end their decade-long wait for the premiership crown.

The Bulawayo giants are on the road to Gweru for a date with tricky customers Chapungu at Ascot this Saturday in a match the Dutch mentor has described as a “must-win”. Bosso are third on the log standings with 47 points, four adrift of table-toppers FC Platinum who are eyeing their first league title with only five games to play before the curtain comes down on the season. Akbay’s charges have gone for six matches without dropping a single point, but he sounded diplomatic ahead of the Midlands tie.

“Chapungu is a very dangerous opponent. They come at you like a house on fire and if you are not well prepared for their raids then you just crumble.

“They play good football and they have a very good coach who knows how to play his cards well.

“But, we are Highlanders, a team with a realistic chance of winning the title if other fixtures go our way. We are ready for the game and I am sure fans will be in for a treat come Saturday.

“This is a must-win game for us. We need to bag the points if we are to retain our chances of winning the league title.

“We have to win all our remaining games including the one against Chapungu, but one thing is for certain, we need to respect our opponents because we know what they are capable of doing,” said Akbay.

Highlanders won the reverse fixture 1-0 at Babourfields early in the season, but Akbay reckons his team will not read much on their good record against Chapungu. Akbay has no injury or suspensions to worry about as he has the whole pool of his players available for the encounter. The expatriate has endeared himself with the Bosso faithful this season after he masterminded a double over bitter rivals Dynamos for the first time in 10 years.

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