Donald Trump

WASHINGTON. – US President Donald Trump says he is “least racist person you’ve ever interviewed” as he denies making comment

Trump has insisted he is not racist following an international outcry over an offensive comment he is accused of making about some African, central American and Caribbean countries.

The US president was criticised by the UN and the African Union (AU) after it was credibly reported that he had referred to Haiti, El Salvador and nations in Africa as “shithole countries” during an Oval Office meeting on Thursday.

Trump defended himself on Sunday, telling reporters “I am not a racist” as he arrived for dinner at his private golf club with the House majority leader, Kevin McCarthy.

“I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you,” he said.

On Friday, the UN human rights spokesman, Rupert Colville, condemned the “shocking and shameful” comment.

“You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as ‘shitholes’ whose entire populations are not white and, therefore, not welcome,” he told reporters at a news briefing in Geneva.

Trump has previously tried to pass a ban on travel to the US from various Muslim-majority countries, which a judge said was a continuation of his “promise to exclude Muslims from the United States”.

Colville said: “This isn’t just a story about vulgar language. It’s about opening a door to humanity’s worst side. It’s about validating and encouraging racism and xenophobia that will potentially disrupt and even destroy the lives of many people.

“And that’s perhaps the single most damaging and dangerous consequence of this type of comment by a major political figure.”

The AU, made up of 55 countries, also condemned the remark and demanded an apology.

“This is even more hurtful given the historical reality of just how many Africans arrived in the United States as slaves and also terribly surprising, as the United States remains a massively positive example as just how migration can give birth to a nation,” said a spokeswoman for the union’s chair.

Trump has faced claims of racism throughout his adult life. He insisted Barack Obama was not born in the US during his presidency and demanded that his predecessor release his birth certificate to demonstrate otherwise.

In 1989, he took out full-page ads in four New York newspapers demanding the return of the death penalty after five black teenagers were arrested over the rape of a woman in Central Park. They were innocent.

In 1973, the family business, of which Trump was president, was sued by the Department of Justice for refusing to rent apartments to African Americans. The suit was settled “without an admission of guilt” and the organisation was required to make a series of changes designed to ensure it complied with anti-discrimination laws.

The comment about other nations was reportedly made during a bipartisan meeting aimed at finding a compromise deal for Dreamers, young people without legal immigration status who were brought to the US as children. Unless an agreement is reached, the Daca program will be scrapped in early March.

Hopes of reaching a deal were unravelling on Sunday amid a war of words over the remark.

After the meeting, the Democratic senator Dick Durbin said Trump had made repeated “hate-filled, vile and racist” remarks. Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator, described the reports as “basically accurate”.

Two other Republican senators, David Perdue and Tom Cotton, issued a statement on Friday saying they did not “recall the president saying those comments specifically”. Two days later, they backtracked.

Perdue described the reports that Trump used the word as a “gross misrepresentation”. He said Durbin and Graham had been mistaken. All four senators were at the meeting.

“I am telling you that he did not use that word. And I’m telling you it’s a gross misrepresentation,” Perdue said on ABC’s This Week.

Cotton told CBS’s Face the Nation that he did not hear the word being used “and I was sitting no further away from Donald Trump than Dick Durbin was”.

On Sunday, Trump said: “Did you see what various senators in the room said about my comments? They weren’t made.” – The Guardian

Dr Utete-Masango

Auxilia Katongomara Bulawayo Bureau
THE first school term calendar, which in the past has been 13 weeks, has this year been shortened to 11 weeks. Schools opened on January 9 and will close on March 28, yet in the past schools used to close during the first week of April. The shortening of the school term was necessitated by the Easter holidays that start on March 30 ending on April 2. The second school term will start on May 9 and ends on August 9 while the third term will begin on September 11 and ends on December 6, both terms having 13 weeks.

Some parents fear that public examinations sitting classes would be affected by both the short first term and harmonised elections later in the year. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, permanent secretary, Dr Sylvia Utete Masango said learning would not be affected.

“We have not yet really looked into that and we will advise but at the moment I had not checked when Easter is starting. The other issue is that election dates are yet to be announced,” said Dr Masango. Parents normally resort to extra lessons for examination sitting pupils but Government has maintained that it is illegal to offer extra lessons to pupils for a fee.

Recently, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima said paid extra lessons were creating problems in the civil service. He said Government will not allow teachers to be paid for extra lessons.

“Extra lessons are a problem because we cannot have a rational civil service with extra lessons. What if teachers then do not teach during the normal time waiting for parents to pay something in order to receive a service that you were supposed to receive from Government anyway? So the issue of extra lessons had serious problems,” he said.

“So we are not going back to a situation where teachers are paid for extra lessons but we are not saying no to extra lessons per se. What we are saying no to is the payment.”

Patrick Chinamasa

Business Reporter
Government will soon lower tax brackets for various economic players as an incentive to encourage investment in the country and grow the tax base. Addressing Zimbabweans and investors in Namibia on Monday where he had accompanied President Mnangagwa on a working visit, Finance and Economic Planning Minister Patrick Chinamasa, conceded the country had a higher tax regime.

President Mnangagwa’s administration has placed economic recovery high on it’s agenda and has been on an offensive creating an environment that promotes business growth as well as luring new investment.

Responding to contributions from participants that the country was losing out on investment opportunities due to comparatively higher taxation, Minister Chinamasa said Government is aware local taxes are high.

Minister Chinamasa, however, said Government is working on lowering the same, a move he said will grow the cake. “Taxation, I agree with you is too high,” said Minister Chinamasa. “It’s a matter that we are going to address so that we can proceed to a position where we get more taxes from more volumes,” he said.

Despite slow growth of the economy in 2017, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), managed to meet its annual revenue target that played a part in reducing the country’s budget deficit.

With an annual target of $3,4 billion, Zimbabwe in 2017 recorded its highest revenue receipts with a gross total of $3,978 billion that translated to $3,75 billion in net collections. The collections for the year were 17 percent higher than what had been targeted for.

The target for 2018 has, however, been revised by 26, 47 percent to $4,3 billion and Zimra has promised to upscale and redouble its efforts not only to achieve, but to surpass the target. President Mnangagwa also used the same meeting to urge Zimbabweans in the diaspora to come back home and play a part in the country’s quest for economic recovery and growth.

The President highlighted investment opportunities in such sectors as mining, agriculture, education, tourism and infrastructure development among other sectors.

Peter Ndlovu

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor—
FORMER Zimbabwe captain Peter Ndlovu yesterday joined the world football family in mourning the death of Coventry City legend Cyrille Regis, a man whom the ex-Warriors talisman revealed had influenced the Blues into signing him while he was still a raw teenager. Ndlovu told The Herald from his base in Pretoria, South Africa, last night that he had been shocked by the news of the death of the man who literally changed his life after recommending to then Coventry coach John Sillet to take him on board in 1990.

At that time, “King Peter’’, who himself would later assume legendary status at both Coventry City and the Warriors was playing for Highlanders together with his late brother Adam. Last night, Peter paid glowing tribute to Regis, who also starred for West Bromwich Albion and England. Regis, a trailblazing striker during his time, reportedly died suddenly from a heart attack, aged just 59. He had spent Sunday at his local church with friends and family before collapsing at his home in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Since his death, tributes have been pouring in from stars across the football world and Peter joined the bandwagon in mourning the passing on of Regis. Peter, in mourning the death of Regis, described him as a brother, father and mentor who helped shape his professional career and also assisted in his adaptation to life at Highfield Road, where he would go onto become the first African to play in the English Premiership in 1992.

“I am shocked and saddened by his death. I really express my deepest condolences to his family and to Coventry City. “It is a sad loss especially for some of us who had time to speak to him, to learn from him and to interact with him on and off the field of play. I was a young boy when I first met him at Rufaro when the national team played against Coventry. I saw him again at Barbourfields when Coventry city played against Highlanders and I remember that after the game at Barbourfields he said to the Coventry coach that I think you need to take this boy, he has given us a hard time in both matches and he and his brother are worth looking at,’’ Peter said.

John Sillett, Coventry City’s FA Cup winning manager, with the help of Regis scouted Peter and Adam. Sillett explained: “We went on a pre-season tour to Zimbabwe in 1988 and played against their national side. Both Adam and Peter were playing for them. “Afterwards I said: ‘What chance have we got of getting the two of them to England? “We were allowed to bring both of them over. Eight months later I signed Peter — I wanted to sign both of them, but the board would only let me sign one of them.

“Adam went off to Switzerland and had a good career, but Peter was the most talented player I have ever seen. They were both cracking lads, and were very, very close as brothers,” Sillett said. But it was Regis who really made a telling impact on Peter and the former Zimbabwe skipper, now team manager at Mamelodi Sundowns, acknowledged as much. Regis was a model of a professional.

“He had a big impact and influence in my dream of making a professional career a reality in a short space time (eight months) after he had come to Zimbabwe I was called to Coventry City. When I arrived at the club, he was always looking out for me, and not just myself, but all the other young players there. To him there was no black or white, he made it easy for me as a young black player to settle at the club and he was always encouraging and guiding me at training.

“In fact, he was always an influence on and off the field and he helped me to adapt to a new culture and he played a big role in my development. But now that he is gone all we can have now are memories of him . . . he however, left a legacy and he put Coventry on the map and we will remember him as a father-figure and brother and I’m sure all those who played alongside him and against him can attest to that. It was a privilege working with him for three years at Coventry and may his Dear Soul Rest in Peace,’’ Peter said.

Former Zimbabwe Saints and Warriors goalkeeper Pernell McKop also mourned the death of Regis via a post on his Facebook wall. “One of my heroes in the 1980s who played for WBA and then Coventry and had the privilege to play against when Coventry toured Zimbabwe. Sad news on his passing,’’ McKop said.

Across the globe tributes poured in from different personalities including Prince William of England and Regis’ former teammates at the clubs he played for and in the national team. Former England defender Viv Anderson also spoke of his time with Regis in his tributes to the Coventry legend. We came through a time when you had to laugh the racism off or you wouldn’t make a living in football in England and no one felt that more than Cyrille Regis — a player I was so proud to call my friend.

“I remember the occasion, in 1982, when he received a bullet through the post because he happened to be black and selected to play for England. “I got a bullet, but you got nothing!” he joked, when we were together with the national team. Laurie Cunningham, who’d been picked to play for England a few years earlier, received some very unpleasant letters, too, but I escaped what those two got because I was just born to defend and kick people, which made people look at me in a different way and maybe feel less threatened.

“Cyrille displayed skill and the ability to create things on the field. He sometimes wore gloves and long-sleeved shirts and that made him a ‘fancy dan’ in the racists’ eyes. It made him someone they could hate. We would talk about this sometimes — Cyrille, Laurie, their West Brom team-mate Brendan Batson and me. It was Cyrille’s refusal to take the abuse to heart which stays with me, as clear as day, all these years on. He arrived at West Brom after two years in the non-League so he’d had a taste of exactly how difficult things were going to be.

“He talked about how we were sure of ourselves, in a way that the little people who gave out this abuse never would be. Cyrille knew that if he’d reacted to any of it — the monkey chants and other casual abuse — he’d be seen as the one with a chip on his shoulder.

“So he just got on with what he did and we didn’t even talk about it all that much. To be honest, my main objective when he and I were together in the England set-up was to avoid playing against him in training. He was so quick, powerful and strong — big shoulders and big arms — incredibly fit and so good in the air. When you’d been called up for England you wanted to impress the manager, Bobby Robson. Facing Cyrille in training was one sure way of not doing that,’’ Anderson wrote.

A devoted West Brom fan Adrian Chiles, writing in The Sun, also recalled the inspirational player he met as an awestruck teen — and who he later got to know as a friend. “It is probably sound advice to avoid meeting your heroes lest you are disappointed. But I’m so glad I got to know Cyrille. The first time I met him in the flesh I must have been about 15 years old. My dad had taken me shopping on a Sunday morning to some big wholesale place in Halesowen in the West Midlands.

“To my complete consternation, five of West Brom’s first team were in this shop promoting something. Mouth agape, I presented to Cyrille the only thing I had to hand for him to sign. This was an LP I’d just bought. So it is that I have a copy of ChangesTwoBowie signed by Cyrille Regis. It was many years before I met him again. I was at The Hawthorns, West Brom’s ground, doing a radio piece about goalkeeping with our then goalkeeping coach Nigel Spink.

“After we’d finished, Nigel said to go and have a shower. “What?” I said. “In the actual dressing room? ““Er, yes,” said Nigel. “Where else?” “I got undressed and made for the communal showers. “I turned the corner and there was my all-time hero under the water, naked. I honestly felt I might faint, but I pulled myself together — just. Hi, how are you?” I asked, with as much nonchalance as I could muster.

“He smiled, but before he could reply I heard myself blurting out: “I’m sorry, I know this isn’t the time or place, but I want you to know I’ve always loved you.” He seemed more pleased than alarmed, which tells you everything you need to know about his ability to muster grace under pressure,’’ wrote Chiles.

Transport Minister Dr Joram Gumbo makes a point at the NRZ Harare Station yesterday while board members, including the chair, Mr Larry Mavhima (in white cap), pay attention

Business Reporter—
GOVERNMENT and a consortium led by the Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG) and South Africa’s Transnet, have signed a framework of agreement as efforts to revive the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) gather momentum. DIDG/ Transnet, won the bid to invest $400 million into NRZ, a key parastatal that Government wants to revive in the near future.

Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo yesterday told The Herald Business on the sidelines of a tour of NRZ’s infrastructure at the Harare Station that the deal is now at an advanced stage.

“We have now agreed on the ‘framework of agreement’. We now have it; they brought it to me and I have already signed it. What remains is to take it to Cabinet for analysis,” said Dr Gumbo. Cabinet resumes sitting on February 6 but the law allows Government officials spearheading projects of national importance to go ahead even before Cabinet analyses the framework of agreement.

Some of the issues addressed in the framework of agreement include what both parties – Government and DIDG/ Transnet – can do for each other; how payments will be made, how long the payments would be made and the rate of interest.

Said Dr Gumbo: “My coming here is to tell NRZ staffers that Transnet/ DIDG already have wagons and locomotives waiting to be taken to Zimbabwe because they are determined to ensure that work begins in earnest. I am assessing when they can bring the locomotives.” Dr Gumbo said the investors have agreed to bring 120 new wagons, 14 locomotives and 20 coaches in the next two weeks.

“These will be part of the $150 million that the investor has set aside for 24 mainline locomotives and 13 rail shunters or shunting locomotives,” he said. Dr Gumbo promised to fast-track the process to ensure the deal is sealed inside the first 100 days of the new administration led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Currently, NRZ’s infrastructure is in bad shape, with the signal system being affected by the vandalism of copper wires, resulting in officials using word of mouth to communicate, in some cases. On some parts, the railway line is uneven, posing a danger to travellers.

Dr Gumbo said: “Everyone is aware that NRZ’s infrastructure has been in a bad state for a long time. NRZ is now unable to perform its functions – carrying passengers and agricultural produce and minerals as they used to do in the past.

“We have now come to a point where we are working for an investor to help us restore NRZ to its previous state. I have spoken with management on issues they have been raising with me through letters, and I have come here to see for myself on the ground.

“We are going to work with the DIDG/ Transnet and I decided to see for myself as minister responsible for the railway before the investors come.” Vandalism of copper wires on the signal system has forced NRZ to consider switching to a new method the does not employ copper wires. Similarly, the collapsing railway line on some stretches – which is caused by rotting wood – is set to see NRZ replace it with concrete because it is not readily available.

Dr Gumbo, who slammed management for neglecting infrastructure, is today expected to tour the NRZ Kwekwe station, Zimasco rail operations, Gweru station and Dabuka. Tomorrow, Dr Gumbo is expected to tour NRZ’s Bulawayo workshops, the Bulawayo station and Mpopoma.

On Friday, he is expected to tour the Mutare workshops, Mutare stations, and ends the tour on Saturday when he tours the Nyazura, Rusape and Marondera stations. Resuscitating NRZ infrastructure has become critical now when Government is working towards reviving key industries such as Zisco and other mines that had either scaled down or mothballed operations due to economic challenges.

(FILE PIC) President Emmerson Mnangagwa seen off at Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare to Namibia. Picture by Justin Mutenda

Prosper Ndlovu Bulawayo Bureau—
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will today visit Mozambique where he is expected to meet his counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi and Zimbabweans resident in that country. The President has embarked on a regional tour to apprise fellow Sadc leaders on political developments in Zimbabwe following the resignation of former President Robert Mugabe on November 21 last year.

Cde Mnangagwa has already visited South Africa where he met President Jacob Zuma, who is the chairperson of Sadc. Las Friday the President visited Angola and met his counterpart Cde Jao Manuel Goncalves Laurenco who chairs the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation before visiting Namibia on Monday where he met President Hage Geingob.

He is also scheduled to visit Zambia this Friday where he will meet President Edgar Lungu.

Cde Mnangagwa’s ascension to the Presidency has received widespread local, regional and international endorsement with higher expectations that the new political dispensation would deliver robust economic development and reposition Zimbabwe on the international scene.

Since his takeover Cde Mnangagwa has been preaching peace, unity and his main focus is on economic turnaround. His Government has clearly articulated its keen desire to normalise relations with the international community for increased investment and also wants to rope in the Diaspora to participate in national development as Zimbabwe is now open for business.

President Nyusi, the fourth president of Mozambique since independence, attended Cde Mnangagwa’s inauguration on November 24 last year where he said Mozambique stood with Zimbabwe in its transition. Zimbabwe and Mozambique enjoy cordial relations dating back to the liberation struggle when Mozambique provided training and refugee camps for Zimbabwean guerillas.

Yesterday’s edition of The Herald had a very curious story of a Harare couple that fell victim to robbers who got away with $37 000 from them. An interesting anecdote to the story is the torture used by the gun-toting criminals to force the Glen Norah C couple to give away the location of their “treasure trove”. The daring criminals used a hot pressing iron to extract details from their victims.

But how a couple in a high-density suburb is able to hoard more than $37 000 in their family home when people claim that Zimbabwe has more banks than it needs — 18 banks — is nothing short of astounding.

And this is not an isolated incident.

A maid was this week convicted by a Zvishavane magistrate of stealing $9 800 from her employer. Again curiously, the money was being kept in a wardrobe.

If such amounts can be found in households in high-density suburbs, one shudders to think of the mountain-sized cash piles that are possibly stashed away in mansions in the country’s plush neighbourhoods.

It seems we have become the authors of our own daily struggles: $37 000 can pay 740 desperate bank depositors, assuming that they are being paid $50 each.

Also, $10 000 can serve 200 bank clients.

Hypothetically, more than 1 000 depositors could have been served from cash stockpiles that were stolen from just two households. But such anomalies also speak to the aberrations of the country’s financial institutions, where it has become lucrative to trade in money rather than to trade with money.

They also speak to how difficult it is for the banks, which have literally squandered public funds and goodwill for years, to push back on the trust deficit that currently exists. The introduction of Bond notes in November 2016 as an export incentive has helped stimulate exports, but this has also spawned different exchange rates on the market.

Trading in cash has now become lucrative business and arbitrage opportunities — created by different exchange rates for hard currencies and the bond note — are also having a direct impact on the price of local commodities.

The law that was passed on September 26 last year through the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 122A of 2017 (Exchange Control (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (No 5) has not helped stop cash vending.

So Government, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) in particular, still has a lot to do to restore public trust. There are currently no incentives for potential depositors to put their money in banks.

The high service charges for maintaining a bank account and the pitiably low interest gained from savings accounts have become a huge disincentive.

Most banks know they can profitably survive through punitive service charges. The danger with this model is that such profits are made at the expense of banks’ core business, which is to promote development through financial intermediation.

This means offering incentives for potential depositors to keep their money in banks which channel the same to the productive sectors of the economy. The highest office in the land is obviously alive to this fact.

In his inauguration speech on November 24 last year, President Mnangagwa noted that there was need for financial institutions to give a fair reward to depositors.

“To this end, Government will ensure financial sector viability and stability as well as put in place measures that encourage savings through bank deposits and other appropriate financial instruments which bring fair rewards to depositors,” he said.

The onus is now on the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, including the RBZ, to protect depositors from being ripped off by financial institutions.

Jason Machaya

Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent—
FORMER Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs, Jason Machaya, who is facing allegations of criminal abuse of office, has been further remanded to February 20 after the State requested more time to proffer charges against him. Machaya, who was being represented by lawyer, Mr Norman Mugiya of Mugiya Macharaga legal practitioners, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before Gokwe magistrate, Ms Sithabile Zungula.

He is out of custody on $1 000 bail.

The prosecutor, Mr Tineyi Tirigo alleged that during a period extending from 2011 to 2017, Machaya, who was the Minister for Midlands used his official powers to acquire land for 1 000 residential stands in Mapfungautsi area which was under Gokwe Town Council’s jurisdiction.

Mr Tirigo told the court that the acquisition of the land in question was contrary to Government policy which allowed the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development to acquire only 10 percent of total stands as per requirement of the Commonage Law.

The court heard that as a result of Machaya’s actions, Gokwe Town Council lost revenue in respect of 700 stands. Mr Tirigo further alleged that Machaya went on to impose a land developer known as Striations World Marketing Property Developers to service the stands without following proper tender procedures.

by Tichaona Zindoga

THE world has been caught in an extraordinary storm following United States President Donald J. Trump’s reference to Haiti and other African countries as “sh*thole” countries. The term is considered derogatory and many people believe that Trump was being racist in using that vulgar term with reference to African countries, while he suggested that America ought to accept immigrants from countries such as Norway.

The contrast is clear: Africa is black and Norway is white, by race and wealth.
Africa is the poorer.
Poverty is considered bad and in certain countries, including America, the attitude towards the colour black is negative, that is, symbolically and physically.

Many Africans were hurt by the remark, even when Trump did not mention many countries by name, and many people were not sure exactly whether Trump referred to a physical amenity of waste or a part of a person’s anatomy.

But American ambassadors have in the past week been summoned to explain the remark — which Trump now disowns — and protestations have been recorded with countries, blocs and individuals demanding answers.
Sadc and the African Union registered their displeasure.

Expectedly, social media platforms have been agog in people’s reaction.
Some people have been ragingly angry, others defensive, while others have been ambivalent.

In Zimbabwe, which may not even have been Trump’s idea of a sh*thole country for its distance and perhaps negligent number of problem immigrants, the pattern has been similar.

An interesting sub-plot in this debate has been how those who are not happy with the way their countries are run by Governments and leaders, or are not patriotic even, have hyped up and celebrated Trump’s comments.
As such, a divisive and polarising war has raged.

However, it is rather superfluous for Zimbabweans to be detained by and lose sleep over Trump’s alleged racist slur.
It is common knowledge that Donald Trump is racist and has done very little to mask that fact.
In the run up to his election in November 2016, he rode on a racial platform on which he preached white supremacy over the baseness of black Americans and Hispanic peoples.

He became endeared to the conservative, sometimes uneducated white people who accounted for the majority of his votes.
He is the face of white America, the America that he promised to make great again.
It is an almost Utopian and pure America of white people, hence Trump’s aversion to darker skinned people like blacks and Mexicans.

He may as well want them killed.

Incidentally, a picture of Trump with his parents wearing Ku Klux Klan gear, has been circulating.

It should not surprise anyone.

That is Trump.

He is also vulgar, uncouth and unrefined — and he doesn’t care: perhaps he could say that he doesn’t give a sh*t about what we think.

No one will change him.

This should be the least of Zimbabwe’s worries.

Rather, more substantively, Zimbabwe ought to worry about what US policy towards the country is and this can only be appreciated in the next 60 days. Between February and March the President of the United States renews Executive Order 13288, the sanctions policy that was begun by former President George W. Bush.

And last year, in one of his final actions in office, just a week before Trump took office on January 20, Obama said in a statement: “I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency originally declared in Executive Order 13288 of March 6, 2003, and renewed every year since then, is to continue in effect beyond March 6, 2016.”

“The threat constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons to undermine Zimbabwe’s democratic processes or institutions, contributing to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law, to politically motivated violence and intimidation, and to political and economic instability in the southern African region, has not been resolved.

“These actions and policies continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue this national emergency and to maintain in force the sanctions to respond to this threat.

“Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for one year the national emergency originally declared in Executive Order 13288.”

We have argued to town and back about these sanctions and their justification. Harare likes to call them illegal, including the mother legislation called Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act.

All the same, this policy is value-laden and it is also known that America is friends with some very nasty regimes, monarchs and murderous rulers to whose level Zimbabwe would never sink.

Obama and Bush Jnr before him were just being hypocritical in touting “democratic processes or institutions” and rule of law, and human rights as excuse to punish Zimbabwe.

We cannot vouch for what Trump would have done in his first few days in office.

It is an office, which was reeking so strongly of Obama and his poisonous politics of the Democrats under the rubric of the so-called value laden politics.

Some of us are happy that we were never fans of that little devil called Barack Hussein Obama.

His toxic politics, which could have been worse had Hillary Clinton succeeded him, helped maintain a stranglehold on Zimbabwe.

Obama renewed sanctions on Zimbabwe for the duration of his tenure.

Trump, as we are likely to see in the next couple of months, may extend these sanctions.

Yet it is easier to take it from a racist bully like Trump.

He is like Dickens’ roaring lion as compared to the smooth and varnished Devil like Obama.

Trump can come out openly and tell us what he doesn’t like about Zimbabwe and that forthrightness is good.

It’s far more useful than the deceptive values that little devil Obama hid behind.

So, in the coming days, Zimbabweans ought to worry more about the material issues that will be presented by the Trump administration.

We have a new administration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his man at Foreign Affairs is Lt-Gen S. B. Moyo (Rtd) of the transactional diplomacy fame.

It will be naïve to expect miracles — even when they are known to happen — but Harare may take significant cue from what the Trump administration will do with the odious Executive Order 13288 and later Zidera and we are sure that some groundwork to engage the Americans has already been made.

It is far easier to suspend the Executive Order, which is a decree of war, than a whole congressional process needed for the removal of Zidera.

These are the things that should be worrying Zimbabweans rather than some careless and vulgar expletive from a man known to often run short of etiquette and common decency.

The real sh*t is coming!

Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
THREE Mberengwa minors, two girls aged 3 and 4 as well as a boy aged 2, were last night burnt beyond recognition when a hut they were sleeping in caught fire. The three minors Mitshel HamaNdishe (4), Yvonne Nyoni (3) and the boy Unit Masundire (2) were left alone sleeping with a candle on when the hut later caught fire.

Police acting spokesperson for Midlands Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said she was still to get the details. According to the deceased boy’s father Mr Garai Masundire, the minors were left alone by their uncle when the hut later caught fire.

Details to follow…

President Mnangagwa

Prosper Ndlovu in MAPUTO, Mozambique
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa this afternoon met with his Mozambican counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi at the State House in Maputo. He also met with Mozambique former Heads of State Joaquim Chissano and Armando Guebuza.

The President said Zimbabwe would always remain grateful to Mozambique for that country’s support during the liberation struggle. President Mnangagwa briefed President Nyusi, former Presidents Chissano and Guebuza on the political situation in Zimbabwe revealing that former President Mugabe is safe and his legacy is being preserved.

He further revealed that he stayed in Mozambique for many years during the struggle and that it is the country he initially fled to after being unceremoniously fired from the ruling Zanu-PF last year before coming back to take over leadership of the party and presidency after former President, Cde Robert Mugabe resigned.

“I assure the regional leadership that the forthcoming harmonised elections will embrace all the tenets of democracy, fair play and standards set by Sadc in relation to the conduct of polls. I will ensure Zimbabwe delivers a free, credible, fair and undisputable election to ensure the country engages the world as a qualified democratic state,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Nyusi in congratulating President Mnangagwa on his ascension to the Presidency pledged Mozambique’s continued support to Zimbabwe. He said more economic opportunities can be harnessed through trade ties and partnerships in project implementation vowing to work with the Zimbabwean government in preserving peace and security in the region.

President Mnangagwa is scheduled to meet Zimbabweans resident in Mozambique. This is the fourth leg of the President’s regional tour. He has already visited South Africa where he met President Jacob Zuma, who is the chairperson of Sadc.

Last Friday the President visited Angola and met his counterpart Cde Jao Manuel Goncalves Laurenco who chairs the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security before visiting Namibia on Monday where he met President Hage Geingob. He is also scheduled to visit Zambia this Friday where he will meet President Edgar Lungu.

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter—
MDC-T is on the brink of yet another split after senior party officials from Matabeleland — led by co-vice president Dr Thokozani Khupe — boycotted the party’s Standing Committee meeting chaired by acting president Engineer Elias Mudzuri in Harare yesterday. Dr Khupe is the only elected deputy to Mr Tsvangirai who picked Messrs Nelson Chamisa and Mudzuri to assist him in his duties in the wake of his affliction by cancer of the colon.

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• EDITORIAL COMMENT: MDC violence must not be glossed over
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• Another MDC-T official bashed at Harvest House
• Police quiz Mwonzora
• Factional looting rocks MDC-T
• Rowdy MDC-T supporters slammed
• 18 injured as Zanu-PF, MDC-T clash in Epworth
• Western diplomats snub Tsvangirai
• Mangoma case: Photos queried
• Violence rocks MDC-T
• Tsvangirai’s conduct stirs violence
• Top official celebrates attack
• MDC-T bigwigs bashed in Byo
• Mangoma relives attack
• Mangoma makes formal police report
• Violence: MDCs members speak out
• Biti’s house petrol-bombed
• Biti slams culture of violence in MDC-T
• MDC-T violence spreads to Mash Central
• Another MDC-T official bashed at Harvest House
• Harvest of blows at Harvest House

MDC-T national chairman Mr Lovemore Moyo also boycotted the high-level meeting, which reflected on the state of the party. The Herald is reliably informed that Dr Khupe and Mr Moyo boycotted yesterday’s meeting in protest over the decision by Mr Tsvangirai to appoint Eng Mudzuri as acting president. They argue that Dr Khupe was more senior to Eng Mudzuri, yet she was overlooked by Mr Tsvangirai.

Eng Mudzuri is currently MDC-T acting president, while Mr Tsvangirai is in South Africa for treatment. Mr Tsvangirai was diagnosed with cancer of the colon and has been in and out of hospital, a development that has seen him unable to effectively discharge his duties. This saw Mr Tsvangirai appointing Eng Mudzuri as acting MDC-T president.

He also appointed Adv Nelson Chamisa to represent him in the MDC-Alliance, a coalition of opposition parties formed to launch a united challenge in this year’s harmonised elections. A source in the party told The Herald that Dr Khupe and Mr Moyo did not attend yesterday’s meeting. “Our party is now on the brink of a split. It is now written all over and it’s there for everyone to see. Ms Khupe and Mr Moyo boycotted the meeting. In fact, our meeting today noted that Mr Moyo last attended meetings in May last year,” said a source.

MDC-T spokesperson Mr Obert Gutu issued a statement yesterday on deliberations of the meeting. He was silent on the absence of Dr Khupe and Mr Moyo. Mr Gutu, who according to sources belongs to a rival faction that is against Adv Chamisa’s ascendancy, repeated what his party has always said about the need to invite the United Nations to observe elections, among other issues.

When asked if Dr Khupe was present, Mr Gutu admitted that she did not attend. “VP Khupe, national chairperson Lovemore Moyo and national deputy chairperson Morgan Komichi could not attend the meeting because they had other engagements elsewhere,” said Mr Gutu. Dr Khupe, however, attended Parliament sitting yesterday in the afternoon well after the MDC-T standing committee meeting.

“That shows that an attempt to link her failure to attend party meeting to Parliament sittings as a lie from some spin doctors. VP Chamisa and acting president Mudzuri are both Members of Parliament and were on time for Parliament sitting,” said another source. “This clearly shows that there is more than what meets the eye. A storm is brewing and one does not require a rocket scientist to tell that the party is now headed for a split.” Jostling to succeed Mr Tsvangirai escalated in recent weeks after the opposition leader hinted that he was considering retiring from politics on health grounds.

Dr Parirenyatwa

Paidamoyo Chipunza and Sibongile Maruta—
The Global Fund to fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria yesterday availed a $502 million grant to the Government of Zimbabwe towards HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. The grant will run for the next three years. It is expected to sustain gains achieved in the fight against HIV, TB and malaria. Out of the total funding, $426 million will focus on ensuring universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.

This will include specific focus on eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission and ensuring prevention programmes are serving adolescents and youths and key populations mostly at risk of HIV. Speaking at the official signing ceremony of the grant in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa applauded the Global Fund for its continued support.

“We are indeed grateful to The Global Fund for allocating that amount to our country. Over the years The Global Fund has increased its support to become the largest donor partner in the entire health sector in Zimbabwe. This is very commendable,” said Dr Parirenyatwa. He said this support will go a long way in contributing towards the country’s attainment of set global targets.

“With support from the grant we are signing today and support from other partners, the country’s priority is to be able to sustain the gains made so far through optimisation of grant and Government resources. The country remain committed to the 90-90-90 targets for HIV, the malaria pre-elimination agenda and the stop TB targets of ending TB by 2030,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.

The 90-90-90 targets seeks to have at least 90 percent of people living with HIV know their status, of those who know their status, 90 percent of them should be on antiretroviral drugs and from those on treatment 90 percent of them should have their viral load suppressed. Dr Parirenyatwa said over the years, Government had made tremendous progress in revamping the health sector with notable achievements in domestic health financing and unfreezing of posts.

He vowed to ensure that resources provided by the Global Fund are put to good use. Speaking at the same occasion,the Global Fund representative Mr Mark Edington commended the country for registering progress in the health sector. He said the Global Fund was committed to assist Zimbabwe. Mr Edington said given the country’s history in fighting the three diseases, the Global Fund was confident that Zimbabwe will achieve the United Nations 90-90-90 targets.

“We will continue looking up to Zimbabwe in its leadership in reducing new HIV infections,” he said. He said while the Health Levy and the Aids Levy were commendable initiatives for domestic funding, the country could do more to ensure sustainability. United Nations resident coordinator Mr Bishow Parajuli, whose organisation is the Fund manager, said the UN was proud to be a strategic partner in managing the grant.

He said through the partnership, the UN was supporting capacity strengthening in public finance system, internal audit and also ensuring value for money. US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jnr said through transparency, accountability, and the power of partnership, the grant could accelerate progress, even within a context of financial constraints and economic challenges.

“The US Government applauds Zimbabwe for developing a technically sound proposal and being a successful early applicant to the new funding model,” he said. America, France and UK are the biggest contributors to the Global Fund. They account for at least 50 percent of the resources in the Fund. In Zimbabwe, the Global Fund is the major financier in the health sector.

President Mnangagwa

Prosper Ndlovu in MAPUTO, Mozambique—
President Mnangagwa has said Zimbabweans should brace for harmonised elections in the next five months, which should be transparent, free and fair for the progressive good of the country. Speaking here during the fourth leg of his tour of the region in which he is apprising Sadc Heads of State and Government on political developments in Zimbabwe, Cde Mnangagwa said free and fair polls were critical in repositioning Zimbabwe as a democratic State within the international system.

“Zimbabwe is going for elections in four to five months’ time and we have to preach peace, peace and peace because we know it is good for us and we have no doubt that we will have peaceful elections,” said Cde Mnangagwa who has vowed to defeat the weak opposition parties. “I assure the regional leadership that the forthcoming harmonised polls will embrace the tenets of democracy, fair play and standards set by us in the Sadc.

“We will ensure that Zimbabwe delivers free, credible, fair and indisputable elections to ensure Zimbabwe engages the world as a qualified democratic state.” The President met his Mozambican counterpart Cde Filipe Nyusi at State House for nearly three hours and exchanged views with him about the political situation in the country. The two leaders also affirmed commitments to mutual cooperation in development programmes and deepening bilateral ties for the benefit of their countries and the region at large.

President Mnangagwa also exchanged notes with former Mozambican presidents Cdes Joaquim Chissano and Amando Guebbuza and assured them that former President Mugabe’s safety and welfare were taken care of saying his legacy would be preserved as he has contributed immensely to the country. The President said Zimbabwe will continue to embrace regional commitments including guidelines on the holding of elections.

To that end Cde Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s forthcoming polls will be a Sadc, African Union affair and all states that subscribe to democratic values. As such, he said transparency during the entire electoral process was paramount in ensuring legitimacy, which is an asset in national development. He urged the Diaspora community to exercise its constitutional right to participate in the election process urging them to take advantage of the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise being conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. He, however, said Government was not capacitated logistically to facilitate voting outside Zimbabwe although the idea was desirable.

President Mnangagwa has so far visited South Africa, Angola and Namibia and is scheduled to visit Zambia tomorrow and Botswana in coming weeks, among other states. In all the engagements he has been explaining the political transition that saw him ascend to power and applauded the region and the international community for support. He said Zimbabwe was now geared for economic turnaround and was willing to work with diverse partners in rebuilding the economy and creating cordial relations with the international community.

The country is already implementing a raft of reform measures meant to improve the ease of doing business and attracting increased foreign direct investments. A 100-day turnaround plan is already being implemented with various Government departments and ministries working on set targets. The President, who left Harare at 7.30am, returned home yesterday evening and was welcomed at Robert Mugabe International Airport by the two Vice Presidents and senior Government officials.

Minister Chinamasa

Business Reporter
Bond notes will remain in circulation until Zimbabwe introduces its own currency, Finance and Economic Planning Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said. Responding to questions on the fate of the bond notes after media reports claimed they will be phased out, Minister Chinamasa said the introduction of a local currency will mark the end of bond notes.

“Nowhere did the Deputy Minister (of Finance and Economic Planning Terrence Mukupe) say the bond notes are going to go away and that is the sort of negativity that is not going to get us anywhere,” Minister Chinamasa said at a breakfast meeting in Harare yesterday. It’s not true; bond notes will stay until we have our own currency and the Governor (of the Zimbabwe Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) and myself have been at pains to spell out the macroeconomic fundamentals that we need to put right before we can do that.

“We need to address the budget deficit; we need to address the issues of exports and we need to build foreign currency reserves of at least three months, at the moment we are at 0,7 months,” the Minister added. Minister Chinamasa said the country needs to boost production.

“This is why we are coming up with all these proposals or incentives to incentivise production so I just want to plead with you, please let’s look at the positive side, let’s not dwell on the negative, let’s not be driven by some of the falsehoods that are peddled through social media. You are intelligent enough to distinguish between an obvious falsehood and that which may have credibility,” he said. Minister Chinamasa said Government was working on a cocktail of measures to improve the economy.

For instance, Government has more than doubled export incentives for tobacco producers to 12, 5 percent, from 5 percent. Gold producers will also be prioritised in the export incentives. Gold and tobacco, Chinamasa said, contribute 86 percent of export receipts.

Minister Chinamasa said Government is also cutting down on expenditure to reduce fiscal deficit. Government is also rationalising expenditure on wages and at the same time grow the economy to ensure recurrent expenditure finds its right proportion within a bigger cake. Minister Chinamasa said Government is normalising relations with the United Kingdom, The European Union and the United States. The key, he said, is normalising relations with the United Kingdom.

Moreover, an investor friendly environment is being created. The huge RTGS balances, Minister Chinamasa said, are going to be used for infrastructure development and to fund the production. Minister Chinamasa also commented on the country’s arrears clearance plan which he said is still on course.

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa today launched Investment Guidelines and Opportunities in Zimbabwe document that sets out the country’s new economic order aimed at improving the well-being of Zimbabweans. The President launched the guidelines at a preparatory meeting for the World Economic Forum meeting to be held in Davos, Switzerland next week.

In his foreword to the policy he said the policy also acknowledged Zimbabwe’s historical realities.

Details to follow…

Dr Mpofu

Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
GOVERNMENT has wielded the axe on more than 30 senior police officers from the rank of senior assistant commissioner and above, as it moves to transform the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Police sources today confirmed the developments and said most of the senior officers had been issued with retirement letters with effect from today.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said he was not aware of these developments and referred all questions to the Police acting Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga.

In an interview, Acting Comm-Gen Matanga said, “There is something happening. Can you contact me tomorrow.”

Details to follow…

Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Professor Paul Mavima respond to questions during parliament sitting in Harare. (Picture by Memory Mangombe)

Abigail Mawonde Herald Correspondent
The November 2017 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Advanced Level results are out and candidates may start collecting them as from tomorrow. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima made the announcement during the celebrations to mark the release of the results held at Holiday Inn in Harare today.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) are pleased to announce the release of the November 2017 Advanced Level examination results.  We would like to commend all centre heads for running this examination session with integrity and due diligence,” he said.

The overall pass rate for the ZIMSEC A’ level examinations last year was 82.6 percent as compared to the November 2016 pass rate which was 84.2 percent.

More details to follow…

President Mnangagwa

Samuel Kadungure Mutare Bureau—
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will today visit Zambia on the fifth leg of his tour of SADC countries to apprise his regional counterparts on political developments in Zimbabwe. He will meet President Edgar Lungu and Zimbabweans living in that country. President Mnangagwa will use the visit to explain opportunities presented by the new dispensation following the resignation of former President Mugabe on November 21 last year.

Read More:

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• UPDATED: ED briefs Angola on Zim transition
• ED addresses Zimbabweans in Angola
• UPDATED: Zim encouraged by Sadc, global support
• Davos beckons •Zim set for maiden appearance
• President off to Mozambique

Since his takeover, President Mnangagwa has embarked on a regional tour to brief fellow Sadc leaders on political developments in the country. The visit is more like homecoming as the Mnangagwa family fled to Zambia in 1955 in the wake of Rhodesian repression. President Mnangagwa later became a member of Zambia’s United National Independence Party (UNIP).

He was tasked to help organise the party at Chililabombwe until the end of 1961. He had joined the UNIP student movement at college and was elected into its executive. On his return to Lusaka, President Mnangagwa became Secretary for the UNIP Youth League while working for a private company.

He underwent military training in China and Egypt and proceeded to lead a group of freedom fighters who were called the Crocodile Gang, which committed sabotage and attacks on lonely farms. President Mnangagwa was captured and spent seven years in jail in Zimbabwe and was deported by the Ian Smith Regime to Zambia in 1972 on his release.

He devoted his time in prison to study, and upon release, the party resolved that he completes his Law Degree first and he enrolled at the University of Zambia from 1973 to 1974. In 1975, he did his post-graduate LLB degree and another post programme in Advocacy. After successfully completing his law studies, he was admitted to the Bar of the High Court of Zambia in 1976.

He practiced law with the late Cde Enoch Dumbutshena and doubled up as Secretary for Zanu for the Zambia division in Lusaka. The closer relationship was honoured when Zambia dispatched its triumvirate of founding President Cde Kenneth Kaunda, the surviving predecessor President Rupiah Banda and President Lungu at President Mnangagwa’s inauguration on November 20 last year.

President Mnangagwa has already visited South Africa, Angola, Namibia and Mozambique. His ascension to the presidency has been widely endorsed by world leaders, amid optimism that the new political era will deliver robust economic development and reposition Zimbabwe on the international scene.

President Mnangagwa

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter—
Zimbabwe will take concrete steps to re-engage with nations it had disputes with in the past and will comply with international obligations, President Mnangagwa has said. He said this at a preparatory meeting with the business community for the World Economic Forum (WEF) to be held in Davos, Switzerland, next week. “The manner in which we previously managed our politics, both nationally and internationally, led our country to be labelled a high risk pariah State,” he said.

“My Government acknowledges that Zimbabwe is a member of the global community and cannot go it alone. “We will, therefore, take definitive steps to re-engage those nations that have had issues with us in the past and Zimbabwe will comply with its international obligations. We are also ready to take measures that we settle our debts and enter into new relationships.”

President Mnangagwa urged the media to change their manner of reporting by desisting from focusing on politics only, but turn their attention to other issues that promote the country’s economic growth. He reiterated that Government would not tolerate corruption in all spheres of life. “My Government has made a commitment to fight corruption in all its forms,” said President Mnangagwa.

“I am aware that the scourge does not only exist in the public sector, but is also rampant in the private sector. Let me, once more, warn those involved, that they must desist from corrupt practices forthwith. Swift justice will be served wherever corruption exists. We should all aspire to be a clean nation.”

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would honour all Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs), adding that he had directed Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Lieutenant-General Sibusiso Moyo (Retired) to ratify all international treaties that Zimbabwe is a signatory to. “My Government has embarked on an extensive process to revamp our physical and social infrastructure to position Zimbabwe in readiness for investment,” he said.

“In this endeavour, we are willing to get into Public Private Partnerships with both local and foreign investors. A legal framework by the way of the Joint Ventures Act has already been put in place to facilitate such partnerships.”

President Mnangagwa encouraged the business community to continue engaging Government on any areas of concern. The WEF preparatory meeting was attended by businesspeople from various sectors of the economy, including some in the Diaspora.