President Mugabe, who is Zanu-PF President and First Secretary, addresses party supporters during a solidarity meeting at the the party’s headquarters yesterday. Seated to his left is First Lady Dr Amai Grace Mugabe

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
President Mugabe has blasted his former deputy Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa for sponsoring the disturbances that happened during the ninth Presidential Youth Interface rally in Bulawayo on Saturday to further his narrow- minded ambitions to succeed him. Some hooligans allegedly hired by Cde Mnangagwa booed First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe while she was addressing the meeting.

President Mugabe yesterday exonerated the party’s Bulawayo leadership for what happened last Saturday. Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at the party’s headquarters in Harare yesterday, President Mugabe said everything that happened in Bulawayo was pre-planned to embarrass him and the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe.

“Saka makanzwa kuchibva mazwi ekutuka. Booing yakaitwa kumativiose, zvakanga zvakarongwa. Zvikanzi tikazviita izvozvo, President opinda kurega kushaudhwa kurega kumutambira zviya zviya. Asi ini kana ndapinda, mudhara achauya, zvino ndobva ndadai ini mudhara achauya, mudhara achauya.

“Ah, simba ratouya hazvichachinja zvikadzimara zvanzarwo. Hameno sometimes ndangariro dzinomboputsika nokuda masimba. Wofunga chokwadi kuti chokwadi kamwena aka kanopinda mbeva ndingapinde nepo, panopfura netsuro neniwo ndingapinde nepo. Aihwa, hazvidaro. Nzira yekuenda kuukuru yakareba yakaoma. Haina zororo. Ndinofunga mese munoziva rwendo rwatakafamba.

“Tanga tisingafunge nezvekuva maPresident parwendo rwacho kudakara kuna Lancaster House kuya uko. Taiti tiri kurwira vanhu vedu chete asi vanhu vanozoona kuti ah, patsika, pazvinangwa zvemberi, pakuzvibata padiscipline, papfungwa dzokuendesera musangano wedu mberi kuti ufambe uende mberi, papfunga dzezvinangwa dzekusimudzira nyika yedu nekusimudzira vanhu vedu watingade ndingana.

“Kune vamwe hazviko izvozvo. Zvinonzi ndikamira padhuze naPresident akava nekundiziva ndikava nekufara naye kana kumbobikirawo tea ndizvozvo watova wangu. Aiwa, uno haadaro, hanzarwo kwete. Tinodyidzana zvakanaka. Ungabike doro rinonaka sei kana rinondidhakawo zvakadii, asi gwara redu remusangano igwara remusangano haritengeswe pamhamba aihwa. Hautengeswe necup of tea, aiwa. Hatitengwe nechingwa kana necake. Aiwa, hatidaro.”

President Mugabe said it was shameful that one of his deputies (Cde Mnangagwa) could stoop as low as organising thugs to boo him and the First Lady to further his ambitions. “Haasi mucheche mumusangano watingati achiri kufunda, arikumusoro uko ouya kuzasi kuzoita zviito zvinotinyangadza kudaro, zviito zvinosemesa kudaro, zviito zvisiri mugwara rezvinangwa zvemusangano. Lacking supreme discipline which we should show at the top,” said the President.

“Vanhu havana kutiisa kumusoro kungoti endai ikoko nokuti hatina gwara tinongoita semadzvinyu anongomhanya kwese kwese, kana zvitototo kana zvura zvinongotauka-tauka aihwa. Tiri ikoko netsika dzavakaona kwatiri, nepfungwa dzavakanzwa dzichibva kwatiri nemaitiro edu ediscipline avakaona nezvido zvevanhu zvavakatiratidza, nekuda kubatanidza vanhu kuti tive munyika yeZimbabwe vanhu vamwe chete pasina mutsauko pasina kuti avanekuti ava varikubva ku Mash East ndevemberi, ava varikubva kuMidlands ndevemberi, ava havasi kubva kune vatinoti vedu. It doesn’t matter kuti ndeveChikaranga, ndevechiVenda.

“You are not greater than any other people because you belong to a particular province which has prescribed greatness to its people, hapana. Ndosaka ndakati hondo payakarwiwa haina kurwiwa ichinzi kwaZvimba ndokuchabva vepamusoro, kuManicaland ndokune vepazasi, veChikaranga ndovachava pazasi. Hatina kumborwa hondo yakadaro.” President Mugabe continued: “Tinotenda tichange tichienderera mberi nemisangano yedu kwanga kwasara Harare asi ndoda kuti kuBulawayo hamusirimi makakanganisa kwete.

“Tisu vepamusoro takakukanganisirai. Makanga mashanda kunyangwe izvozvo vanhu vakanga vauya. Bulawayo is not Harare haina vanhu vakawanda seHarare kwete, asi huzhinji hwakabuda. Hwakandimuka. We were very happy. “We were very happy, very proud of our leadership yeBulawayo, but we are sorry we offended all the good work that you had done. It was just one person who decided to disorganise.

“You disorganised all of us, but we dealt with you and I hope we can deal with others who were conspirators, who were conspirators alongside him. Vaishanda naye. Mberi kwatinoenda, hongu tichanatsa hedu tasarirwa neHarare imomu mudhorobha muno umu.

“Toshanda nesimba kuti the last interaction yatichaita vana vedu nevakuru ibva yaridza mutsindo wokupedzisirawo tozoenda kuCongress kwedu takabatana tichizivana kuti isu tiri mugwara.” President Mugabe said the party should work hard to ensure that what happened in Bulawayo would never be repeated.

HARARE International Airport is set to be renamed Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport at a colourful event to be held on site starting this morning. The renaming is in recognition of President Mugabe’s liberation and black empowerment efforts which have seen Zimbabwe becoming arguably the first African country post-independence to win back its land through a sustained land reform programme that saw the allocation of agricultural plots to thousands of landless blacks who had suffered through colonial deprivation.

President Mugabe goes through his acceptance speech during the event to rename Zimbabwe’s biggest airport to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, 9 November 2017.

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REPORTER: Simiso Mlevu, PHOTOGRAPHER: Wilson Kakurira; PICTURE EDITOR: Joseph Murisi;  ONLINE EDITOR: Happiness Chikwanha. 

11:00 – Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo confirmed that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had recently approved the renaming process since it is a requirement as all international airports have codes which have to be globally updated. After the renaming, the airport will have its code updated under the new name internationally.

Oliver Mtukudzi belts out golden oldies to entertain guests who attended the event to rename Harare International Airport to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, 9 November 2017.

 11:17 - Multitudes are already gathered at the airport for the official name change ceremony. Also here are senior government officials, service chiefs, ministers and Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.

11:18 - President Mugabe and the First Lady Dr Amai Grace Mugabe have arrived.  And the plaque bearing the new name has just been unveiled.

 11:23 - Music legend, Oliver Mtukudzi has been entertaining the crowd with his golden oldies.

11:24 – Minister of Transport Dr Joram Gumbo is now addressing the gathering. He says the name change is part of the implementation of the Victoria Falls 2015 Zanu PF conference resolutions.

First Lady Dr Amai Grace Mugabe

11:25 - To match the stature of the man His Excellency is, Dr Gumbo says the ministry will undertake some renovations of the airport. Also, the Ministry is embarking on an aviation development plan and Dr Gumbo says he shall be sharing the plan with other colleagues in Government.

11:26 - Dr Gumbo has invited Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko to introduce the Guest of Honour, Hies Excellency President Mugabe.

Members of the Mbare Chimurenga Choir

11:27 - Vice President Mphoko has invited His Excellency to address the gathering.

11:28 -  President Mugabe begins by making salutations and he recognises the presence of various dignitaries.
“May I on behalf of Government, the people of Zimbabwe and my own behalf, thank most sincerely the Ministry of Transport for the honour bestowed in me by renaming the Harare International Airport to Robert Mugabe International Airport.

“My government recognizes that air transport is pivotal to economic growth. While transport in general facilitates the movement of goods and people in general, air transport promotes tourism and investment. It promotes international trade.

Delegates arrive at the airport

11:31 – His Excellency concludes by thanking the Ministry of Transport for the gesture  adding that he is certain even the First Family appreciates as well.

President Mugabe says his family is not just his wife and kids, but the whole nation is part of it adding that he is certain they also share the same joy.

11:33 – President Mugabe has finished giving his acceptance speech.

11:34 - Police band takes to the stage to entertain the crowd here before vote of thanks is given.

Some delegates follow the proceedings at the event to rename Harare International Airport to Robert Mugabe International Airport, 9 November 2017.

11:35 - The police band belts a rendition of ‘Jesu Makanaka’

11:38 - The renaming of the airport to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport presents a new era which marks the transformation of the airport into world class.

Cde Dickson Mafios

11:39 – Minister of Local Government, Hon Saviour Kasukuwere now rises to give vote of thanks.

11:40 - ”As the party and government, we are proud to have renamed this airport in your (President Mugabe) honour,” says Cde Kasukuwere. He says the airport is a historic landmark with its conical tower which tells visitors that one has arrived in Zimbabwe.

11:41 – Cde Kasukuwere thanks Dr Amai Mugabe for making time to be here adding that her presence warms everyone.

11:42 – Cde Kasukuwere thanks Dr Gumbo and the Ministry of Transport officials for making the resolution a reality.

11:48 - He concludes his vote of thanks by thanking thousands of Zimbabweans who came to bear witness to this historic name change.

11:49 – President Mugabe has been presented with a present, a conical tower inscribed with the name Robert Mugabe International Airport.

This brings to an end our updates.  Thanks you for following. 

Join the discussion below on this and related issues.

More images coming soon.

Aldrin Musiiwa

Paidamoyo Chipunza Senior Health Reporter—
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) has availed an $82,1 million grant to the Government in support of the resilient health system programme aimed at boosting women and children’s heath and fighting diseases. A huge chunk of the grant will finance programmes under the Health Development Fund such as improvement of sexual, and reproductive health, and nutritional services for women, adolescents and children, while $2,2 million will go towards strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks.

Key components of the programme include increasing the number of children receiving Vitamin A supplements from current 624 248 to over one million, reducing the percentage of adolescents with unmet need of family planning from 13 to nine percent and increasing the number of children with severe acute malnutrition that are being cured and discharged from 62 to 70 percent.

The grant also seeks to increase the number of women screened for cervical cancer from 240 000 to 465 000 and to increase the number of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence accessing services within 72 hours per year from 1 600 to 2 300.

Speaking at the official launch of the support in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Mr Aldrin Musiiwa applauded DFID’s continued support in the health sector saying it will not only go a long way in addressing some of the key challenges facing the health sector, but will also assist in ensuring sustainability of gains already made from previous support.

“The earlier support has helped to revive the health sector and this new support should enable the country to continue reducing the maternal mortality rate from the current 614 deaths per 100 000 live births,” said Mr Musiiwa. He urged all development partners to support the health sector through the HDF, which he said has proved to be effective in achieving results.

“We applaud the use of the HDF as this mechanism has encouraged integration of ideas and resources for better results for the health sector,” he said. Speaking at the same occasion, DFID head of mission Ms Annabel Gerry said although Zimbabwe has made tremendous progress towards improving the health sector since 2009, a lot still needed to be done.

She said the country has put in place innovative domestic revenue initiatives but the health sector is still heavily reliant on donor-funding. She said DFID through the latest funding seeks to maintain all gains that have been made in the health sector. “The challenges that are face by the Health Sector require strong partnerships,” she said.

Acting United Nations resident coordinator Dr Mohamed Ayoya called on the Government to increase resource allocation towards social sectors, health included. Dr Ayoya said the UN was however committed to working with the Government and development partners to ensure all resources are put to good use. “The UN values these strong partnerships that enable the people of Zimbabwe to access quality health services at all times as their basic inalienable human right,” he said.

Joram Gumbo

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter—
THE Harare International Airport was yesterday renamed the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and will undergo massive rehabilitation to match the stature of President Mugabe, a global icon. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo said Government had since negotiated with China Jiangsu International that refurbished Victoria Falls International Airport to work on the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Read More:

• ‘Renaming airport captures national spirit, sentiment’
• ICAO approves renaming of airport
• RG Mugabe Int Airport: We have made a statement

“I am pleased to inform you, Your Excellency, that in order to match your stature, the airport will soon undergo a massive rehabilitation and development programme. The rehabilitation process will include, among others, construction of three additional aero bridges, a new fire station, a modern terminal building and a new VVIP pavilion,” said Minister Gumbo.

“Negotiations for the financing of the project are progressing well and nearing completion and we expect the work to commence before the end of the year. The contractor, China Jiangsu International, who did us proud at the Victoria Falls International Airport has vowed to outdo themselves on this project as befitting your stature.” Minister Gumbo said his ministry was now working on an Airports Development Master Plan to be shared with the rest of the Government.

“The plan will guide aviation development in the country, in pursuit of our goal of creating a hub of aviation services in the country. My ministry is pursuing alternative and innovative funding modalities to ensure that the plan comes to fruition,” he said.

In renaming the airport to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Minister Gumbo said, the ministry was implementing a decision of the Zanu-PF conference to name the country’s biggest and busiest airport in honour of the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere said his ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to ensure the availability of additional land for the expansion of the airport.

“As this airport is set for further expansion, we will continue to work with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development to ensure that the land required for future expansion is made available,” said Minister Kasukuwere.

“This airport is part of your legacy, wise leadership and you have given priority to infrastructure and utility development in the country for the entirety of the people of Zimbabwe.” Minister Kasukuwere said the airport was renowned for its distinctive conical tower which he described as landmark.

“For visitors it is their first glimpse of Zimbabwe. For those returning from their trips, it is a welcome first sight of home. As you are the face of Zimbabwe, it is only befitting that this airport be named after you, we want to express our gratitude to you for accepting this honour bestowed on you by your grateful nation. It is therefore appropriate that the airport be named after an illustrious son of Zimbabwe,” Minister Kasukuwere said.

Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Mirriam Chikukwa said the renaming of the airport demonstrated the pride by Zimbabweans in President Mugabe. She said Harare was honoured to host the airport. “I am, therefore, delighted that with this renaming, the airport will soon undergo a development programme, which will make immense contribution to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset within the infrastructure and utilities cluster,” said Cde Chikukwa.

President Mugabe unveils a plaque to mark the official renaming of the Harare International Airport to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in his honour in Harare yesterday. Flanking him is Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo (in grey suit). – Picture by Presidential Photographer Joseph Nyadzayo

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter—
The Harare International Airport was yesterday renamed Robert Mugabe International Airport at a ceremony attended by thousands of people, senior Government officials and captains of industry. The airport was renamed by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development following recommendations made at the 2015 Zanu-PF Annual People’s Conference to rename the country’s busiest and largest airport in the President’s honour.

Read More:

• Harare International Airport upgrade to commence
• Govt applies for $153m China EximBank loan

In his address to the gathering President Mugabe thanked the nation for honouring him. “On behalf of Government and the people of Zimbabwe and on my own behalf I want to thank most sincerely the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development for the honour bestowed on me by renaming the Harare International Airport the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport,” he said.

President Mugabe added that Government recognised the importance of air transport to the country’s economic growth. “It is indeed a great honour for me and I am humbled by this gesture. My Government recognises that air transport is pivotal to the economic growth of our country and we have been debating this issue of economic growth, the issue of development, the issue encompassing all our people and try to improve their condition.

“While transport in general accelerates the movement of people and goods in a cost-effective way, air transport facilitates and promotes national and regional trade, tourism, investment and integration,” President Mugabe said. He commended the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development for completing various projects that included the upgrading of Victoria Falls International Airport, which can now handle 1,5 million passengers annually from 500 000.

“This development signifies exciting times ahead especially for our aviation and tourism sectors and the country at large. Visitors and tourists from Europe, Asia among others now fly directly into the country to experience one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the mighty Mosi oa Tunya, the Victoria Falls. We therefore would like to commend the ministry for coming up with various initiatives and projects that meaningfully and immensely contribute to our country’s economic development,” President Mugabe said.

He added that Government was committed to assisting the ministry in accessing funding for various projects to grow the transport sector including expansion of various airports across the country. President Mugabe said the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development had various exciting projects lined up.

“I want you to keep your appetite up and expect surprises that will come our way. Madyira panze vaJoram (Gumbo; Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development) hava dyire mumba, I Gumbo kwete rimwe chete, kwete maviri anotenge matatu kana mana,” he said drawing laughter from the crowd. He reiterated his gratitude on behalf of himself, his family and the entire country on the honour bestowed on him saying it had brought joy to all Zimbabweans.

The Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport was built in 1956 and was commissioned in 1957 mainly to serve colonialists. It was renamed Harare International Airport from Salisbury International Airport at independence.

Ruth Bataumocho in NEW DELHI, India
THE 13th International Higher Education Global Summit opened here on Thursday, with academics calling for the implementation of futuristic higher education systems that are in line with emerging trends in information and communication technology (ICT).

Officially opening the summit, the chairperson of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Dr Raman Saxena, said a paradigm shift in learning models for students was needed to ensure that their skills remain relevant to the needs and aspirations of modern-day industries.

The summit is being attended by over 2 000 delegates from 50 countries, among them Zimbabwe.

“The Internet and other automation technologies have impacted organisations and societies in an unprecedented manner.

“Automated and artificial intelligence have today shortened the life cycle of jobs and skills. Skills acquired by students in their graduate schools help them only for possibly next three to four years. Higher education institutions and policies cannot remain untouched with these developments,”said Dr Saxena.

“Just as the customer is at the epicentre of business today, it is the student who is at the core. Hence, learning models have to be redefined to enable this digital savvy student to learn in a 24×7 mode from global resources.”

Dr Saxena added that such models will only be achievable once higher education institutions do away with conventional education systems that are mass-based and have no scope for individualisation and experiential learning.

“For the student, the value of conventional education has ceased to exist because it is not equipping him or her for new jobs and skills. Institutions would need to adopt the education 4,0 model, which encourages personalised learning in both physical and virtual learning environment,” he said.

Now in its 13th year, the summit brings together university personnel, the business community, government officials and diplomats from different foreign missions across the globe to deliberate on the role tertiary institutions can play in strengthening collaborations between learning institutions and industry.

During the global summit, which ends tomorrow, participants will deliberate on effective ways of adopting and implementing technology in the teaching and learning processes of the 21st century.

The global summit also provides a forum for international education providers interested in partnering and engaging Indian higher education institutions on a number of areas, among them exchange programmes for both students and teaching staff.

Speaking on the sidelines of the global summit, a Zimbabwean student studying engineering at Chandigarh University in India, Mr Maxima Mutena, said there were vast reservoirs of learning resources in the world that students could also take advantage of and equip themselves with virtual knowledge.

“Global trends on any subject are changing everyday as information communication systems become the integral part of any society. The student will need to focus on integrating these global resources of knowledge,” he said.

India has successfully linked tertiary institutions with the industry.

It has the largest higher education system in the world in terms of the number of institutions and the second largest in terms of higher education students enrolled at its universities and colleges.

More than 20 million tertiary students, 3 000 of them from Zimbabwe, are studying in India’s 677 universities and nearly 40 000 colleges.

Dr Made

George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
GOVERNMENT has relaxed import restrictions on agricultural inputs to allow individuals with free funds to augment supplies on the local market, a Cabinet minister has said.

Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made said the move was expected to counter the sharp input price increases.

There are also fears price increases, especially of agricultural inputs, could scupper the country’s agrarian reforms. Manufacturers and retailers recently hiked prices citing shortage of foreign currency.

In an interview on Wednesday, Dr Made said Cabinet was concerned at the spike in prices of agricultural inputs.

“Cabinet has noted with concern the increases in prices of agricultural inputs for both livestock and crops. The whole situation appears as if it’s an attempt to undermine the agricultural sector and in particular as we enter the 2017-18 season,” he said.

Minister Made said Government will put in place several measures to make sure Zimbabwe’s land and agrarian reforms were not undermined.

“We have said, as Government, that those who have their own resources should import agricultural inputs, but what will be critical is that if it is allowed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, we will just appeal for those who will be importing to comply with the standards,” he said.

He said Government was against importing such critical inputs as the country ran the risk of getting either expired or ineffective products.

The issue of the recent hikes, Dr Made said, has since been discussed in Cabinet, which subsequently tasked the ministries of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, Finance and Economic Development, and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to look into the problem.

“It is as if it’s an attempt to lay the recipe for an unsuccessful 2017-18 agricultural season. Cabinet has since directed that the matter gets the urgency it deserves,” said Dr Made.

“We have to make sure there are measures in place to deal with the problem and one of the measures is to allow those with their own resources to import agricultural inputs.”

He said Government will make sure that the imported inputs are subjected to strict vetting.

“We will be on high alert because we do not want our country to be a dumping ground for sub-standard goods.”

Minister Made said Zimbabwe will continue to gradually roll out additional measures to reduce the country’s exposure to elements trying to undermine the land reform programme.

“More measures are coming, but in relation to this season, we are allowing those with their own resources. We cannot take control of entities that supply agricultural inputs but we need to futuristically look at measures that make agricultural inputs readily available to our farmers and that prices are not exploited.”

He said it was disturbing to note that some companies were withholding inputs under the guise of foreign currency shortages. According to Dr Made, it was unacceptable for firms to withhold inputs after receiving foreign currency allocations from Government.

He added that the prevailing high cost of agricultural inputs vindicated President Mugabe’s incessant calls for Zimbabweans to be masters of the own destiny by taking control of key economic pillars so that the country is not exposed to foreign evil machinations.

Dr Made said that farmers needed to fully embrace Government’s soya- bean programme as it had the potential to enhance nitrogen supply to the soil, hence improving its fertility.

“Other countries whose agricultural programmes have been undermined had successfully used the soyabean programme to boost productivity after using the crop as a nitrogen fixer in the soil that would, however, start bearing fruit in subsequent farming seasons,” he said.

Minister Made said Government will work flat out to make sure that the 2017-18 farming season does not fail.

“If we can get good rains, we can try our best and work with the limited resources that we have,” he said.

He applauded the Brazilian More Food for Africa programme for boosting Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.

“We would also like to pay tribute to other countries such as China, Japan, Italy, France and Russia together with the European Union for assisting with agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and equipment.”

Dr Made commended the Grain Marketing Board and Cotton Company of Zimbabwe for the efficient distribution of agricultural inputs under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme.

The scheme is expected to benefit at least 1,8 million households this season.

Minister Khaya Moyo

Innocent Madonko Bulawayo Bureau
GOVERNMENT and Zanu-PF have taken note of a statement attributed to former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa which he allegedly issued after being fired by President Mugabe, but will not respond to it since it is neither addressed to the ruling party or the Head of State and Government, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

The Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said Zanu-PF is not a press club and is thus not compelled to respond to press statements.

Former VP Mnangagwa was dismissed from Government over allegations of, among other things, disloyalty, disrespect, deceit, unreliability and lack of probity in the execution of his duties.

Read more:

• President slams Mnangagwa
• More ED allies axed in Masvingo
• No short-cut to leadership: President
• Zanu-PF expels Mnangagwa
• Politburo may seal ex-VP’s fate
• 9/10 provinces back ED sacking
• VP Mnangagwa fired from Govt

His discharge of duties had also become inconsistent with his official responsibilities.

On Wednesday, Cde Mnangagwa was expelled from Zanu-PF following recommendations made by all the party’s 10 Provincial Co-ordinating Committees.

The decision was made during the 313th ordinary session of the Politburo which unanimously endorsed his dismissal from Government.

In an interview yesterday, Cde Khaya Moyo, who is also the Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity, said contrary to reports in sections of the private media which inaccurately quoted him as confirming that various arms of the State were studying Cde Mnangagwa’s statement and an announcement on the appropriate action would be made “shortly”, Government is under no obligation to respond.

“The press statement is not addressed to the leadership of Zanu-PF and besides, Zanu-PF is not a press club. Therefore, we have just taken note of the statement but we don’t have to respond to it,” he said.

Cde Khaya Moyo’s clarification comes in the wake of an article in a private daily newspaper yesterday alleging that President Mugabe could lay treason charges against former VP Mnangagwa on allegations of undermining him.

Quoting unnamed Government sources, the report also alleged that the former VP could alternatively be charged with conspiracy to overthrow a constitutionally elected Government.

“Information minister Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday confirmed that various arms of the State were studying Mnangagwa’s statement, saying an announcement on the appropriate action would be made shortly,” the article said.

Cde Khaya Moyo said the report was inaccurate.

“All I said was as Zanu-PF we have taken note of the statement, but we don’t have to respond to it,” he said.

Former VP Mnangagwa on Wednesday issued a statement from an unknown location outside the country in which he alleged that he would return in a few weeks’ time to take control of all levers of power.

Six people died on the spot when this Isuzu KB truck they were travelling in was hit by a train after the driver failed to stop at a railway crossing in Mt Hampden yesterday. – Picture by Tariro Kamangira

Fungai Lupande Herald Reporter
SIX people died on the spot yesterday morning after an Isuzu pick-up truck they were travelling in crashed into a goods train while overtaking at a railway crossing in Mt Hampden along Chinhoyi Road on the outskirts of Harare.

National police spokesman Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident.

He said the driver of the Isuzu truck overtook a haulage truck that was giving way to the goods train when the accident occurred.

“The truck was travelling towards Chinhoyi and on approaching the railway crossing in Mt Hampden, the haulage truck had stopped to give way to the train,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

“The driver of the Isuzu truck overtook the haulage truck and collided with the goods train. All six people in the truck died on the spot.”

Chief Supt Nyathi urged drivers to exercise caution on approaching railway crossings.

“It is unfortunate that the accident was caused by human error. Our message as the police is clear and it is that railway crossings are not a place for speed,” she said.

“All drivers should exercise caution and should not speed at railway crossings. Motorists should also keep their windows open to allow them to hear the trains’ siren. If a motorist approaches a railway crossing while others have stopped to give way to trains they should follow suit. There is no need to be in a hurry.”

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
THE South African government has extended the closing date for submission of applications for Zimbabweans willing to get Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) to January 31 next year.

The three-year Zimbabwe Special Permit (ZSP), which allows Zimbabwean nationals to work, study and conduct business in South Africa, started in 2014, and over 197 941 were issued.

However, they are due to expire on December 31, 2017.

South Africa’s Home Affairs director-general Mkuseli Apleni announced the extension of the ZEP project at a media briefing in Pretoria yesterday.

“Due to the large number of ZSP (Zimbabwe Special Permit) holders who have completed the online applications thus far, the department has extended the closing date for the submission of supporting documents and biometrics to 31 January, 2018,” said DG Apleni.

“Therefore, people must present themselves to VFS (Visa Facilitation Services) offices until this date – 31 January 2018.”

DG Apleni said they initially expected to complete the ZEP project, including finalising adjudications and issuing the new permits, by the end of September this year.

He, however, stressed that the November 30 deadline was only for submission of online applications.

“Flooding of VFS offices actually defeats the aim of using technology to improve service delivery,” he said.

“Just as it is comfortable to apply for exemption permits at home, where you do not have to queue, we want to ensure that people are not subjected to the discomfort of spending hours in a queue.

“The extension, up to 31 January 2018, is only for scheduling appointments for the purpose of submitting biometrics (fingerprints) and supporting documents at VFS offices.”

DG Apleni implored ZSP holders to complete their online applications, to make necessary payments, and schedule appointments by November 30 at any of the 10 VFS Global offices across South Africa.

He said ZEP permits would be issued for a maximum period of four years, effective January 2018 and expiring on 31 December 2021, notwithstanding the date of issue.

DG Apleni added that there was no requirement for ZSP holders to apply for other permits outside South Africa, but could apply for mainstream permits in that country.

“ZSP holders who want to travel outside South Africa for the festive season will be able to do so. They only need to produce their passports with the ZSP stickers, and their ZEP application stickers,” he said.

In terms of the special dispensation granted by Pretoria in 2014, Zimbabweans who had previously been granted permits under the Dispensation for Zimbabweans Project were permitted to re-register for the non-renewable three-year ZSP, which has now been substituted by ZEP.

DG Apleni commended Zimbabweans living and working in that country for expeditiously transitioning from the special dispensation permits to the conventional permits issued under South Africa’s immigration legislation.

He said exemption permits are not permanent or long term.

“They are there only to serve a specific purpose, with a view ultimately to having people returning to their countries of origin to build their lives anew,” he said.

To date, 169 078 ZSP holders have completed their applications online, and 135 913 have scheduled their appointments, while total of 72 612 applicants have completed the entire process.

Cde Chombo

John Murwira and Heather Charema
ZANU-PF National Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo yesterday warned party members against abusing the ongoing attempts to flush out party members accused of working with former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to settle personal scores or for political expediency as he called for soberness and adherence to party procedure in all cases.

Cde Chombo, who nullified the suspensions and expulsions in Mashonaland West province; spoke barely 24 hours after party spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo underscored the importance of due process and the need to refer the cases to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.

Over 100 Zanu-PF officials, among them some Politburo and Central Committee members, have been recommended for suspension or expulsion for allegedly supporting a bid by Mr Mnangagwa to clandestinely succeed President Mugabe.

Also read:

• More ED allies axed in Masvingo
• Masvingo wants four heavies fired

Addressing the Mashonaland West provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting in Chinhoyi, yesterday Dr Chombo said there should be no short cuts in expelling party cadres who are perceived to have been loyalists to the axed VP Mnangagwa.

“To those who have names submitted to the party for expulsion, they must not be short-cuts. Let us follow procedure to the point. The province needs to clarify issues as stipulated in the Green Book. There must not be short-cuts. We also know that people are eyeing certain positions and might abuse the situation to label others. Let us follow procedure.”

Dr Chombo said those who had issues with fellow party members should lodge their complaints in writing.

“Party members who have issues should go back to their constituencies and put in writing every allegation they are levelling against each other and follow all the party procedures from cell level up to national level,” he said.

Dr Chombo also took a swipe at some party members who were now jostling for positions ahead of next year’s harmonised elections.

“A lot of people are looking for positions and people might be pin- pointing at each other without necessarily getting to the bottom of the story,” he said.

Dr Chombo said party members should instead form a united front ahead of next year’s elections.

“During this election period we should be united more than any other party,” he said.

Mashonaland West Province last week recommended the expulsion from the party of Zvimba West National Assembly member Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi and former Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Ms Prisca Mupfumira.

Harare recommended the expulsion of Politburo members Cdes Cleveria Chizema and Omega Hungwe, and Harare East National Assembly representative Cde Terrence Mukupe; while 22 others face suspension.

In Matabeleland South, recommendations were made for the axing of provincial chair Cde Rabelani Choeni, Central Committee members Cdes Reni Kibi and Tambudzani Mohadi, Matabeleland South provincial war veterans’ chair Cde Section Ncube and former Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Abednico Ncube.

In Masvingo, the PCC recommended the expulsion of party Deputy Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Paul Mangwana, Deputy Secretary for Security and Parliamentary Chief Whip Cde Lovemore Matuke and Central Committee member Cde Clemence Makwarimba. The province also wants its chair, Cde Ezra Chadzamira, booted out.

Manicaland recommended the expulsion Cdes Mike Madiro, Joshua Sacco, Moses Gutu, Winnie Mlambo, Joseph Mujati, Christopher Chingosho, Alice Chitima, Oliver Mandipaka, Gorden Chikwanda, Timothy Mapungwana, Monica Mutsvangwa, Ellen Gwaradzimba, Tasin Dube, Hubert Nyanhongo and Judith Mawire.

In Mashonaland East, there is a push to eject Cde Joel Biggie Matiza and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Cde Marbel Chinomona.

Those underfire in the Midlands include Cdes July Moyo, Auxilia Mnangagwa, Owen Ncube, Cornelius Mupereri and Justice Mayor Wadyadyena. Former provincial chairman Cde Mackenzie Ncube was also relieved of his duties with Cde Jason Machaya taking over on an interim basis.

Minister Bimha

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Government has relaxed regulations on the importation of basic commodities into Zimbabwe and has invited people and organisations with free funds to approach the Industry and Commerce Ministry to obtain licences to import the goods.

Speaking at a press conference to address measures that Government had taken to ensure availability of basic commodities and stabilise prices ahead of the festive season, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Mike Bimha (pictured left)said his ministry was ready to process permits and licences for importers.

Prices of basic commodities have been rising in the past two months due to foreign currency shortages that have seen manufacturers struggling to get hard currency to procure basic commodities.

“What we would want to announce today is that, we want to call upon companies and individuals who have free funds to import basic commodities and my ministry is ready to process permits and licences to that effect. You will recall that some of the basic commodities were removed from the Open General Import Licence and were now covered under various Statutory Instruments including SI 64 of 2016. But as we had said time and time again these SIs such SI64 of 2016 were not intended to ban the importation of products but were intended to regulate their importation and where we believe that there is demand exceeding supply we will obviously want to facilitate the importation of such commodities which is the case in point because of the demand as a result of the coming festive season and again because of the limited foreign currency available to local producers we would want to make sure that those with free funds be they individuals or companies they should come forward to obtain the necessary permits and licences to bring products into the market,” Minister Bimha said yesterday.

He added that the Cabinet task force monitoring prices would also meet this week to receive reports from inspectors monitoring prices of the basic commodities.

“We have increased the number of inspectors who have been going around monitoring prices and recording the same and we are of the view that sometime this week by Wednesday our taskforce will meet again to review progress now that a lot of information would have been made available. But the information we have received so far is that there are sectors and companies that have increased prices without any justification and some of these companies are in the brickmaking industry, some of them in the packaging, some of them the pharmaceuticals. What is disturbing, though, is that some of these companies are companies that are getting a lot of support from Government,” he said.

Dr Bimha said Government would not hesitate to take action against companies that were raising prices without just cause.

“While Government is committed to supporting local producers Government cannot watch such companies profiteering for their own interest. We are not averse to price increases, but we believe price increases should happen where there is justification. There are number of measures that Government can take, but our approach is really not to come up with a blanket intervention. We would want to isolate the culprits and deal with them individually. If it is the entire sector we will then address them as a sector. Most of our companies have licences that govern their operations and if we believe that some of these companies do not want to operate like other responsible companies we will not hesitate to withdraw their licences and take other necessary measures. So when we meet this week as a taskforce we will be able to identify such culprits and decide on what action to take,” he said.

Former VP Mnangagwa

Nqobile Tshili Bulawayo Bureau
ZANU-PF has shut the door on former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s loyalists ahead of this week’s Central Committee elections. The party is set to hold Central Committee elections this week ahead of the Extraordinary Congress scheduled for next month.

In separate interviews yesterday, Zanu-PF provincial leaders said a Zanu-PF member who is facing disciplinary action cannot contest for any party position and will be left out of Central Committee elections. Zanu-PF Matabeleland South interim chairman Cde Saul Mahalima Ncube said the former VP’s loyalists, who were recommended for expulsion, cannot contest in the coming elections.

Last week, the province recommended the expulsion of among others the Minister for State Security, Cde Kembo Mohadi, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Cde Obedingwa Mguni, provincial chairman Cde Rabaleni Choeni, Central Committee members Cdes Reni Kibi, Tambudzani Mohadi, Abednigo Ncube among others for working with the fired Vice President.

Also read:

• Zanu-PF expels Mnangagwa
• More ED allies axed in Masvingo
• 9/10 provinces back ED sacking
• Masvingo wants four heavies fired
• Knives out for Muchinguri

Zanu-PF has since said disciplinary proceedings will be instituted against members its provinces want expelled from the party.

“According to the party’s constitution, a member who has a pending disciplinary issue cannot contest for any position in the party until their issue is resolved. Hence, we don’t expect those we recommended for expulsion to participate in the coming elections,” said Cde Ncube.

He said the province would hold a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting on Wednesday ahead of the Central Committee elections to be held on Friday.

Cde Ncube said the province did not hold a PCC yesterday as stated by Cde Choeni last Wednesday.

Cde Choeni had claimed that the Provincial Executive Committee meeting, which recommended their expulsion, did not constitute a quorum hence its resolutions were null and void. But Cde Ncube said last week’s meeting was constitutional and Cde Choeni has been barred from holding any meeting as they await their disciplinary hearings.

“The only PCC meeting that is coming will be held on Wednesday. They (Choeni and colleagues) did not hold the meeting as they no longer have the mandate to hold such a meeting. That was communicated to them from headquarters,” said Cde Ncube.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chairman Cde Richard Moyo said they would also hold a PCC meeting on Wednesday.

The province has not taken any action against any individuals saying no one from the province has any factional links. Cde Moyo challenged the party’s supporters to elect Central Committee members whom they know will represent them well on issues affecting them.

“We are not going to impose leaders on the people. On Friday we are going to hold Central Committee elections and the new Central Committee members will be announced on Saturday. We want the people to elect people whom they know will represent them as we go to Congress,” said Cde Moyo. “We are aware that there are some leaders that the people are not happy with. It’s their chance to replace them.”

Bulawayo provincial chairman Cde Dennis Ndlovu could not be reached for comment as his cellphone rang unanswered.

However, the province has recommended that Central Committee members Cdes Tshinga Dube, Eva Bitu, Anna Moyo, Douglas Gangaidzo and Elphas Mashava be expelled for their links to former VP Mnangagwa.

Paul Mundandi

Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ZIMPAPERS Sports journalist Paul Saul Murambiwa Mundandi was buried at Zororo Memorial Park yesterday with several mourners drawn from the media and football fraternity converging at the cemetery to bid the writer farewell.

Mundandi died at Zvishavane Hospital last Friday after a short illness. His colleagues in the media fraternity, supporters, coaches and officials came to join the Mundandi family in taking Paul to his final resting place.

Harare business executive George Manyaya described Mundandi as an industrious worker who had left a void in the sports media. “It is a big loss to the media fraternity, he was very industrious and passionate about what he did.

“You could find him everywhere covering different matches and indeed he was an epitome of the biblical Paul who partook in the missionary journey. He toured everywhere preaching salvation with the mission to develop sport in Zimbabwe. He fought a good fight he finished the race and he reminds me of the late Roy Matiki who we also buried a few years ago,” said Manyaya.

FC Platinum who played a big part in facilitating Mundandi’s burial said they had lost a man who had become a member of the platinum miners’ family. Club spokesperson Chido Chizondo said they had “not only lost a colleague but a family member.

“To us the relationship went beyond work as we took him as one of us. We are saddened by the departure of Mundandi who was more of a family to us and we shared a special bond.

“The death came as a surprise to everyone we will always miss him,” said Chizondo.

ZRP Morris coach John “Toto” Ncube said they are left with a huge void and the death came as a shocker to everyone.

“We worked together quiet well since the time we were in the Premiership. He would write good stories about our club and the loss is a big one,” said Ncube.

Mundandi was also a personal friend to CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe who however, could not attend the funeral as he was away in Namibia with the Warriors. Chitembwe’s wife Pelagia said her family had been shocked by Mundandi’s death.

“It’s so painful that babamunini Paul is no more he was more of a brother to my husband who after he lost his only brother he had Paul as the other brother.

“They were like blood brothers with Ba Ashie and he is someone whom he could give an ear and my kids still don’t believe he has passed on after he was at our home last week and promised to come back for the Warriors Legends’ match but unfortunately we are gathered here to pay the last respects for him,” said Pelagia Chitembwe.

Former women’s soccer league boss Miriam Sibanda said it was painful to lose Mundandi who was very loyal to his job.

“We worked well together and it is difficult to believe that he is gone,” said Sibanda.

Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association chairman Bhekimpilo Nyoni, CAPS United assistant coach Fungai Kwashi, and officials and supporters from different clubs including FC Platinum, Shabanie Mine, Dynamos, CAPS United, Harare City, Black Mambas and national teams cheerleader Chris “Romario’’ Musekiwa also attended the burial of Mundandi.

From virtually every room in the Cutty Sark Hotel, the view of Lake Kariba is fascinating throughout the day although the best sights come at sunrise and sunset.

Own Correspondent
The shores of Lake Kariba are ever busy. The gigantic water reservoir attracts tourists from many parts of the world as they come to experience some of the fascinating activities that Zimbabwe offers. Kariba offers ultimate tourism experience as people of various backgrounds get leisure time in water and on the shores.

Various players in the tourism industry have taken advantage of the lake’s lure to showcase their capacity in hospitality. Among leisure providers in Kariba is Cutty Sark Hotel that is situated at a strategic location, offering a scenic view of the lake. For many years, the hotel has offered facilities that would make a visitor want to return to the place over and over again. From its special rooms, the view of the lake is fascinating throughout the day although the best sights come at sunrise and sunset.

In the morning guests at Cutty Sark can enjoy the view of a rising sun painting the water orange. As the sun’s rays begin to light up the sky, the orange carpet in water seems to gradually fold to the shore in the east, disappearing as if retreating from numerous water activities that begin with the morning.

Some people prefer morning boat cruises while on the land others go for game drives. Both facilities are available at Cutty Sark. Sunset boat cruises are more popular because of the fascinating view of the setting sun, which again makes an extending orange reflection, and seems to slip into the Lake when it disappears. During a recent visit to the hotel, this writer preferred to be indoors in the morning, observing the activities from the spacious room’s window and also its balcony.

There was activity at the hotel as those that like morning cruises rushed to the boats to get the best seats for a morning voyage. In about 30 minutes, the boats could be seen sailing leisurely as their occupants took photos and used their binoculars to get further view of the vast waters. But the waters seem to stretch endlessly, especially through a view from the balcony of the exquisite room that this writer occupied at Cutty Sark.

Other guests from the hotel opted for a game drive and they disappeared into Kariba forests, returning later with fascinating stories of wildlife sights and sounds. Then, from the room’s balcony, this writer could see the boats making their way back after about two hours on the Lake. It seems as if they had been swallowed by the blue waters before the waves began pushing them back to the shore. The boats come in sight as tiny objects that grow bigger as they come back to the land.

As the boats drew closer to the hotel, the occupants’ merrymaking voices filled the air, growing louder as they got closer to the shore. They had indeed had a great time and they shared their excitements and fears about their two-hour cruise. It was a refreshing morning for the guests. It was a morning that was also complemented by first-class breakfast served at Cutty Sark.

The hotel offers world-class cuisine and some chose to have it in the nicely-designed Nyaminyami restaurant while others preferred room service and enjoyed the food in the comfort of their rooms. Around mid-morning, this writer decided to have a chat with officials at the hotel to learn more about their services. The officials were Ellen Nyazema and Martin Mutsiwawo, who are part of the management at Cutty Sark. Nyazema gave a brief background of the hotel. She has been with the hospitality facility for 10 years.

“It used to be a family business until it was taken over by Chas hotel that is directed by Louis Chasakara. He did not change the name from Cutty Sark because the hotel has been here since the 1960s and many people know it by that name. We also believe this is a brand that should maintain its identity as we take its standards up,” she said.

“We have given the hotel a facelift and brought in new changes from the outlook to the rooms. The linen, the air-conditioning, the beds, the TVs and many other things that will make our guests comfortable. We have also renovated the conference room, which is one of the biggest in Kariba.

Our guests are loving our services and most of them always stay with us when they are in Kariba.” Mutsiwawo spoke about the services of the hotel. We have various services that beat our competitors. People want to spend more time beside the pool, where we have our popular bar that is complemented with braai. Others prefer our Bridge Bar which is on the upper side,” he said.

“We have entertainment in the bar and at some occasions we call musicians to come and perform soothing music for our patrons. Our restaurant serves various dishes and our guests get the best. We also have an exciting natural walk where guests walk down to the lake and feel the breeze on the shore. We have boat cruises and game drives that are popular. When people leave this place, they buy souvenirs in our curio shop for memories of their exciting stay here.”

After the chat, it was time for this writer to go for a tour of Kariba that was concluded by a sunset boat cruise, probably the most fascinating activity in the resort. Back to Cutty Sark, it was time to join others for dinner. In the restaurant, stories of experiences in water competed with tales of wildlife as guests evidently cherished their stay.

Bill Gates

Eric London Correspondent
According to a report published recently by the Institute for Policy Studies, the three richest Americans — Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett — now own more wealth than the poorest half of the US population, some 160 million people. America’s “60 families”, whose massive wealth was documented in journalist Ferdinand Lundberg’s 1937 exposure, have been replaced by just three billionaires whose combined wealth is over $264 billion.

The Institute for Policy Studies report, “Billionaire Bonanza: The Forbes 400 and the Rest of Us”, reveals that the richest 25 Americans are wealthier than the bottom 56 percent of the US. The net worth of the 400 richest is roughly equal to that of the bottom two thirds of the country, a total of 200 million people. According to the report’s authors, the US has become “a hereditary aristocracy of wealth and power”.

Warren Buffet

Warren Buffett

The unprecedented concentration of wealth is an international phenomenon. Oxfam reported in June 2017 that the world’s five richest people own as much as the poorest half of the world’s population, down from 80 people in 2015. Today, each of the top five billionaires owns as much as 750 million people, more than the total population of Latin America and double the population of the US.

The IPS report explains that the US data “underestimate[s] our current levels of wealth concentration” because “the growing use of offshore tax havens and legal trusts has made the concealing of assets more widespread than ever before”. A 2017 report published by Alstadsaeter, Johannesen, and Zucman titled “Who owns the wealth in tax havens?” estimates that the world’s super-rich have between $5,7 and $32 trillion hidden from taxation or statistical analysis.

Jeff Bizos

Jeff Bezos

While the super-rich dominate the commanding heights, the bottom 90 percent face hardship and crisis that vary only in terms of immediacy. The IPS report measures the net worth of working class families by subtracting the value of durable goods like automobiles, household appliances and furniture. According to its estimate, over 19 percent of US households — roughly 60 million people — have “zero or negative net worth” when durable goods are sub- tracted. Beyond the poorest 20 percent, the report explains, “even those low- and middle-income families who do have some wealth often don’t have any liquid assets — cash or savings — at their disposal. Over 60 percent of Americans report not having enough savings to cover a $500 emergency”.

Even above the roughly 200 million people with nothing saved, conditions for the 60th to 90th percentile are similarly difficult. The bulk of this section of the working class’s net worth derives from housing equity, and when this is subtracted, most lack enough to survive through a few years of retirement. According to a recent study of Census data by the Economic Policy Institute, retirement account savings have plummeted in recent years among all age groups.

The IPS report is based on data from the US Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, which the World Socialist Web Site analysed in detail last month. While the extremely wealthy have accumulated vast sums of wealth, a broader layer, comprising the top 10 percent, has also greatly enriched itself in recent years at the expense of the working masses. The richest 10 percent of the US — the social and political base for gender and identity politics — owns 77,1 percent of total wealth, while the bottom three quarters owns just 10 percent.

The explosion of social inequality is not an accidental process. It is the product of a decades-long campaign by both the Democratic and Republican parties to transfer trillions of dollars from the working class into the pockets of the rich. The “accomplishments” of both parties over the course of the last forty years are a litany of tax cuts for the wealthy, cuts to social programs, the de-industrialisation of broad swaths of the Midwest, gutting corporate regulations and spending trillions on imperialist war, state surveillance and mass deportation and incar- ceration.

The Obama administration marked a milestone in this protracted social counter-revolution defined by the Wall Street bailout of 2008-2009, the restructuring of the auto industry in 2009 and the bankruptcy of Detroit in 2013-14. With the help of the Democratic administration, the ruling elite cashed in on the financial crisis.

As a result, the United States is now an oligarchy. Through its immense wealth and control of the major corporations, the super-rich have established total domination over all of the official institutions of political, cultural and intellectual power. The courts, the congress, and the president not only operate on behalf of competing interests within the aristocracy, they are increasingly personally staffed by millionaires and billionaires, as expressed most directly in the figure of Donald Trump. The military wages permanent war across the globe to protect corporate profits. The mainstream media is nothing more than the official propaganda wing of the American oligarchy. The trade unions, in their typically brutish and corrupt form, are paid off by the corporations to police the workers and suppress opposition.

The obsessions and preoccupations of this privileged layer of the population are entirely alien to the concerns of the bottom 90 percent. The cost of health care is skyrocketing; thousands of immigrant families are torn apart each week by deportation; nearly 100 people die each day from opioid abuse; student debt crushes a whole generation; millions remain devastated by floods, fires and hurricanes; entire states have been stripped of women’s health clinics; one veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes; and on and on. Congress holds no hearings on these subjects. Its calendar is booked full with hearings on alleged Russian interference in US politics and the need to bring social media and tech companies to heel by censoring antiestablishment media. The Democrats and Republicans are working around the clock to reach a deal on a tax bill that will hand over trillions to the wealthy and corporations, with Senate Republicans announcing their version just yesterday.

The astronomical growth of inequality and the absence of any institutional mechanisms by which the population can address its social grievances presages an historic explosion of the class struggle. Strikes and protests involving tens of millions of workers and youth are inevitable, but they must be guided by a socialist programme. The billionaires’ wealth must be expropriated and redistributed to those in need. The corporations through which they derive their riches must be seized, placed under democratic control and reorganized by the workers themselves to serve public need and not private profit.

Companies like Bezos’ Amazon can be used to deliver medicine, food, water and construction equipment to disaster zones and impoverished areas. Gates’ Microsoft software and programming development can be harnessed to introduce an unprecedented degree of social planning into the world economy, allowing for production to be controlled so as to eliminate scarcity of basic resources and reverse environmental degradations. All industries can be made to serve the interests of the human race. Under socialism, across all industries and in all countries, workers will come together in their workshops, plants and offices to plot a course for wielding the world’s productive forces in pursuit of equality and progress. But the ruling class will not give up its wealth voluntarily. — www.ustoday.com

Mr Chedeme

Mr Michael Chideme

Tanaka Vungnai Herald Reporter
Construction of new bus termini would include the creation of vending spaces within the structures, Harare City Council has said. Harare corporate communications manager Mr Michael Chideme said vendors would be provided with vending marts as part of the ancillary services at all new bus termini . He said the construction of the new bus termini and upgrading of old ones is at an advanced stage.

“All the new bus termini that we are constructing will have ancillary services such as shops and vendor marts. Vending and transportation go hand in hand. Where there are people boarding buses, there is also a market for the vendors. These vending marts will only be at the designated sites,” he said. Mr Chideme said council is also constructing additional ablution facilities at other bus termini around Harare for the convenience of the public.

“We are also constructing additional ablution facilities at all these bus ranks so that we provide convenience to all the commuting public, vendors and their customers. Work is already at an advanced stage.” Places where new bus termini are being constructed include the Coca-Cola Corner and opposite Rhodesville Police Station.

Mbare Musika Bus Terminus is also being renovated to match modern standards. The renovations include resurfacing, putting new sheds and fencing of the termini to make sure that council is able to collect its revenue and to get rid of touts. The move by council to remove vendors from undesignated sites as well as establish new bus termini comes after President Mugabe last month bemoaned the vendor menace and lack of order in the central business district, saying Harare should be the smartest city in the country as it is the capital.

DEFT TOUCH . . . Walter Magaya (right) passes the ball with his outfoot while Ronald Sibanda watches during the exhibition match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday

Sports Reporters
PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance Ministry founder Prophet Walter Magaya might not have previously played for the Warriors but he lived his dream yesterday as he literally brought the house down after receiving vociferous applause when he featured in a Zimbabwe against Barcelona Legends exhibition tie at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

The soccer-mad prophet was introduced as a second half substitute late on but even the visiting former Barcelona stars could not resist but marvel at his iconic status as very touch he made was greeted with huge cheers from the terraces.

Magaya, who has been ZIFA’s all-weather friend with his benevolence benefiting the association especially with the national teams, was invited to play as a guest of the association in the match which featured former Warriors stars and the Barcelona counterparts.

The prophet had earlier been appointed liaison officer of the team when the squad was being assembled before being invited to be part of the team.

On his part Magaya offered the two teams in the exhibition match, accommodation facilities and transport to the match venue.

The prophet might not have turned up for the national team but he used to feature for his Yadah Stars when they were still a Division One side.

Yesterday he not only lined up together with some of the players he idolised while growing up but also brought the house down, initially capturing attention when the Warriors legends were warming up before the decibels hit the roof, the moment he was about to be introduced late on in the second half.

A host of Magaya’s PHD congregants skipped the church’s afternoon service to join thousands of Zimbabweans drawn from different sectors and races who thronged the National Sports Stadium to watch yesterday’s match.

Although ZIFA’s critics, some of whom appear more obsessed with negativity, might have been quick to out that Magaya should not have been included in the squad, it is a trend the world over that gust players can be invited for exhibition matches.

More importantly it is ZIFA who are entrusted with running the Warriors brand and that they decided to repay one of their major benefactors with an invitation to feature in an exhibition was as good a decision as they come as the prophet also lured with him hordes of his followers to the stadium.

The 34-year-old prophet, who was introduced as a 75th minute substitute for Johannes Ngodzo and the crowd erupting into a frenzy when the public address system announcer confirmed that he was coming on for the former Highlanders man.

Magaya did not disappoint either, making some deft touches and fine passes in a game that also featured former greats like Edgar Davids, Ludovic Giuly, Francesco Coco, Gianluca Zambrotta, Frederick Degu and Giovanni Silva.

His first touch, an out-footer to Edward Sadomba which was followed by a string of fine passes from the middle where he played alongside the likes of Tinashe Nengomasha, Ronald Sibanda, Harlington Shereni and Desmond Maringwa silenced some doubting Thomases.

In the end many in the crowd were left calling on ZIFA to arrange more of such games. Such sentiments were also echoed by skipper Peter Ndlovu who said the Warriors Legends need to maintain the tradition of playing such matches regularly and paid tribute to the backing by the thousands who braved the persistent threat of an afternoon shower to watch their yesteryear heroes.

“We hope this is not the only time the supporters come just because this is Barcelona. Even if we play South Africa Legends or Namibia Legends these are the kinds of things that keep us together as a country.

“You know there is a lot that’s going on at the moment in our country but football will always unite us.

“Even the Vice-President came here to watch football. So this is the place where people should be holding hands.

“Of course when called and as long as it really doesn’t clash with work but for our country it’s always important that it comes first.

“I had to ask from Mamelodi Sundowns personally and we also have coaches here.

“Kaitano Tembo is at SuperSport and preparing for a cup final (CAF Confederation Cup) but when Zimbabwe calls in he puts it first,” said Ndlovu.

The visitors got their first goal when Davids sent in an inviting cross that was headed home from close range by Kluivert five minutes into the game.

The Dutchman returned three minutes later with another crisp header that gave goalkeeper Brenna Msiska no chance after Davids was brought down on the edge of the box by Dinha.

Rivaldo stepped up and curled in a quality delivery from the dead ball.

They could have made it three on the 23rd minute when Rivaldo threaded a neat pass through the middle and William Mugeyi had to make a desperate clearance after Kluivert had beaten the goalkeeper with a slight touch.

But the finest moment of the afternoon was when Zenzo Moyo’s big frame defied gravity and met a cross flighted in from the right by Ronald Sibanda in the 54th minute with a bicycle kick that was rich in quality. Another second half substitute Sadomba also weighed in with a beautiful strike that beat the keeper Angoy from a distance.

Warriors Legends coach Sunday Chidzambwa said they drew a lot of lessons from the high level of organisation of Barcelona Legends who were coming from another exhibition match against Mozambique on Saturday.

“This was a good outing for the fans and all of us. We saw some former players playing very good football. As coaches we also learnt one or two things from the Barcelona Legends. They are old but they can still play football.

“I think we need more of these games. It’s entirely up to the mother body. Players like Ronald Sibanda, Desmond Maringwa are still able to entertain people and I think we need a bit of sponsorship so that we have more of these kind of games,” said Chidzambwa.

Barcelona Legends spokesperson Rayco Garcia said the visit by the legends was worthwhile.

“We are very happy. It was a very competitive match. We gave a nice spectacle. I think all the people enjoyed with us.

They had an opportunity to come to the stadium where they saw the local stars and the international stars of Barcelona. For us it’s a pleasure to be in this country, to see and feel the passion of the local people,” said Garcia.

The cost of constructing this Beitbridge Hotel jumped from $3 million to $44 million

Africa Moyo Business Reporter
AS the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) board sifts through the wreckage of the previous management’s “calamitous” investment deals such as the Beitbridge Hotel and Celestial Park in Harare, a decision has been made to keep the assets until the Authority gets value from them. The NSSA board, led by Mr Robin Vela, had indicated that it was going to assess the viability of some of the investments and consider withdrawing from unviable ones. Mr Vela told The Herald Business last week that while plans to pull out of some shoddy investment deals remain on course, it would be appropriate to do so gradually.

“Yes, some of those (bad) investments were things like Beitbridge Hotel but ultimately, we can’t just pull out. We need to ensure that we get value from the investments. If you look at even Celestial Park, we have had to patch it up and we have had to make it as fully tenanted as we can. In this environment (of inflation), holding on to property is better that holding on to cash,” said Mr Vela.

According to documents seen by The Herald Business, it might take NSSA up to 278 years to recover its investment. In other words, it is almost difficult for NSSA to generate any meaningful return from the property unless it is disposed to interested bidders. A 668-page forensic audit report done by Grant Thornton also raised concern on the seemingly inflated cost of acquiring another property, Celestial Park in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb. The audit report points to a sloppy tendering process in engaging an out-of-sorts contractor for the project, Costain Zimbabwe; inordinate delays in construction, which negatively impacted on the cost; and endless alterations to the terms of the contract between NSSA and the contractor.

The scope of the project also changed midway. The anomalies saw NSSA being fleeced of $30 million through inflated project costs. In terms of the Beitbridge Hotel, a brainchild of Government’s 2006 push to redevelop the border town, initial costs suggested that it would costs $3 million to construct a 140-room hotel.

However, the forecast was based on incomplete drawings and architectural designs. When the initial tender to identify the major contractor was then floated on October 30, 2009, NSSA put the pre-tender estimate at $18,9 million. The tender had to be re-floated in February 2010 after bidders were deemed to have failed to meet the specifications of the tender. After several other tendering processes, NSSA ended up paying $44 million for the project, under unclear circumstances. The auditors concluded that using the $50 per night per room rate that was being used by NSSA, it would take 278 years to recover its investment.

“Assuming an average rate per room of $275 was to be charged at Beitbridge Hotel, the payback period would be about 51 years,” said the auditors. But rates of between $200 and $300 are typically charged by five-star hotels. On the Celestial Park investment, it emerged that the purchase price of $32 million could have been inflated given that BARD Real Estate Company had done a valuation for the property on May 27, 2014 and rated it at $24 million. GreenPlan Limited – a company owned by a director who used to do business with NSSA before – also did a valuation of the property and put it at $36,5 million as at June 15, 2014. Interestingly, the GreenPlan report had been compiled 19 days later.

However, only the GreenPlan report found its way to both the management and investment board committees, and auditors believe management could have used the BARD report to negotiate a favourable price for Celestial Park.

Minister Undenge

Oliver Kazunga in Victoria Falls
LEGISLATORS recently took Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge to task over the $5 million his ministry paid to a local contractor for the Gwanda Solar Power project.

Intratek Zimbabwe, which is owned by flamboyant Harare businessman Mr Wicknell Chivayo was awarded the tender for the $202 million 100MW Gwanda solar project in October 2015. The project remains in limbo to date.

Parliamentarians attending the parliamentary 2018 pre-budget conference grilled Dr Undenge during a question and answer session to explain how the $5 million was paid to Intratek.

Dr Undenge admitted that the project had stalled and had been taken over by the Zimbabwe Power Company.

Mr Chivhayo

“The tender for the Gwanda solar power project was awarded to a company owned by Wicknell Chivayo (Intratek) and in the contract there was a provision for the payment of pre-commencement works, which was supposed to be paid to the company for topographical studies and feasibility studies,” said the minister in response.

Chivayo Wicknell

“I don’t know how much was paid for the pre-commencement services such as topographical and feasibility studies. The Zimbabwe Power Company has taken over management of the project.”

The Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, then directed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy to investigate the matter.

“In terms of Standing Orders, the committee is allowed to ask for documentation in order for the matter to be fully distilled. The Committee on Mines and Energy has men and women of integrity; they will have to carry with them the Auditor-General’s report as a point of departure and the Minister (Dr Undenge) has to answer,” he said.

Minister Undenge (left) and Wicknell Chivayo

Dr Undenge was bombarded with questions by legislators who sought an explanation over progress in the implementation of the project.

“We need to know how the $5 million is going to be recovered from Intratek as there was no service done and the contract has been given to another company. Part of the $5 million was also paid to his (Dr Undenge’s) personal account, let him account for the money,” Norton MP Mr Temba Mliswa (independent), said.

Mabvuku-Tafara legislator Mr James Maridadi (MDC-T) said the pre-Budget gathering had given them an opportunity to ask Dr Undenge to account for the money his ministry paid to Intratek for a project that has not been done.

The Environmental Management Agency has since approved the Environmental Impact Assessment report for the development of the 100-megawatt solar plant in Gwanda.