The damaged bridge over Nkankezi River in Filabusi

Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
THE Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has embarked on a programme to assess the damage caused by floods across the country during the last rainy season and come up with measures to reduce the impact of similar disasters in future.

Speaking at a workshop for Matabeleland North districts held yesterday in Bulawayo, CPU Deputy Director Mrs Sibusisiwe Ndlovu said they were assessing the damage that was caused by floods across the country and identifying priority areas for emergency intervention.

“The damage caused by floods during the last rainy season was generally catastrophic in some parts of the country. We are therefore trying to assess the damage to avoid finding ourselves in the very same situation should disaster strike again,” she said.

“We are holding a workshop today for Matabeleland North Province and we are meeting the provincial administrator and district administrators so that we get to have a detailed report of what transpired in every district.

“We would then be in a position to act in a manner that would suit each district as the problems caused by heavy rains manifested differently from one area to the other.”

She said an action plan would be put in place after consultations and assessments have been done.

Mrs Ndlovu said the CPU would come up with a clear budget of how much money would be needed to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure.

“We are here today because we need to consolidate and verify all the information and data with regards to damage to people and infrastructure. Damage due to rains, wind, lightning and other associated elements needs to be assessed,” she said.

“We will then come up with a priority action plan in place. At the end of it all we want to bring any lessons that we can gain so that we improve, in case we face a similar situation in future.”

Mrs Ndlovu said the assessment was important because some of the information they have was gathered hurriedly during the state of emergency as the CPU was trying to assist people.

She said now that the dust has settled, all districts across the country will benefit after the needs assessment exercise is completed.

“It is crucial to ensure that information on disaster risk management is available to all, and it is even more important to invest in disaster risk management education, to help avoid and deal with disasters,” she said.

Matabeleland North Provincial Administrator Ms Lathiso Dlamini and District Administrators for Umguza, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Nkayi, Binga and Bubi Districts attended the workshop.

@andile_tshuma

Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
A 28-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo was arrested after claiming to be a “famous journalist from The Chronicle,” in a bid to avoid paying a $10 taxi fare.

Nkosi Ndebele of Emakhandeni suburb allegedly went on to steal the taxi driver’s cellphone at Luveve Police Station where the driver had taken him to.

Mr Mandla Emanuel Ndebele, the driver, said Nkosi told him on Saturday night that he was the “well-known” Chronicle reporter, Nqobile Tshili. He allegedly threatened to write a negative story that he said would destroy the driver and expose his scandals if he did not give him a free ride home.

“He asked me to take him to Emakhandeni suburb at around 11PM from a night club in the city centre. I charged him $10. He told me that he did not have the money on his person but would pay upon arrival at his house,” said Mr Ndebele.

“When we got to his home, he refused to give me my money and started telling me that he was the famous Bulawayo journalist, Nqobile Tshili. He said he could make my life a living hell if I pestered him for my money,” said Mr Ndebele.

Nkosi, apparently unaware that journalists cannot just write negatively about someone out of spite without evidence, is said to have warmed up to his theme saying he had relatives in high places that could run the taxi driver out of town. “He told me that he had relatives in high places and that his uncle was a high ranking police officer in Harare,” said Mr Ndebele.

He said he started fearing for his life as Nkosi took him from one place to another, promising to get money from friends during the night. “I started getting scared. I thought maybe he was working with a group of thugs and they were planning to rob me. It was after midnight then. I decided to drive to Luveve Police station.”

Nkosi allegedly stole Mr Ndebele’s cell phone that was in the car, outside the charge office. “I realised that my phone had been stolen. The police searched him and found it in his possession and told me to file a report for theft. He apologised and I forgave him for the phone. They fined him $20 for being a nuisance and refusing to pay my money. They also instructed him to pay me my $10.”

Mr Ndebele said Nkosi spent a night in police cells and was released on Sunday.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango said:

“It is a criminal offence to impersonate someone and the public should desist from such acts as they risk getting arrested. Those found impersonating will be dealt with accordingly.”

@andile_tshuma

Honest Moyo

Richard Muponde, Gwanda Correspondent
A 22-YEAR-OLD Gwanda man who was allegedly found with a human head and male private parts last week has a pending case of attempted murder, investigations have revealed.

In the latest case said to have happened on Tuesday last week, Honest Moyo allegedly murdered a mentally ill, homeless man and harvested the body parts for suspected ritual purposes after being promised $25 000.

Moyo, of Mawane area in Guyu but residing at Capital Block Farm in Colleen Bawn, was once charged for axing a fellow herdboy at the farm after an argument last year.

The complainant was admitted at Gwanda Provincial Hospital for some weeks in a serious condition.

According to a court record at the Gwanda magistrates’ courts, Moyo first appeared in court in June last year and was put on remand.

However, the matter could not go to trial because the complainant who was not named in court papers “disappeared” and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Moyo was eventually put off remand.

A court official who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday confirmed Moyo was brought to court under Colleen Bawn CR 08/06/16.

“He appeared here in June last year and the matter was put on remand. He continued being remanded but the trial could not take off because we could not locate the complainant and he was eventually put off remand. However, the matter is still pending and once we locate the complainant the matter will go to trial,” he said.

Moyo appeared in court on Saturday for his alleged murder of the mental patient, popularly known as Mduna, in Collen Bawn.

He was not formally charged when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Ms Nomagugu Ncube.

Moyo apologised to the court for his brutal actions against the now deceased, Mduna.

“I’m very sorry your Worship for what I did to the now deceased. I regret my actions,” said Moyo.

Prosecutor, Mr Takudzwa Mafudze told the court that on June 20, Moyo found the now deceased Mduna near Colleen Bawn dumpsite.

He allegedly killed and decapitated him. Moyo also cut off his testicles.

The court heard he buried the body in a shallow grave at the dumpsite.

He allegedly packed the head and the testicles in his bag and took them to his rural home in Mawane.

The matter came to light after he was visited by his cousin, Mr Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu, who discovered the head in a kitchen hut before bolting out and alerting other villagers.

The villagers apprehended and handed him over to the police.

In a disturbing video recording that is in the possession of The Chronicle and available on our website www.chronicle.co.zw, Moyo nonchalantly explains how he cut the parts from the body of the man.

He speaks in a conversational tone with villagers who apprehended him last Thursday, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the offence.

“Ngimthole evele etshayiwe elimele, efile, mina ngasengithatha engikufunayo (I found him already dead and I took what I wanted),” he said.

Moyo allegedly told police he had met one Cosmas Zhou from Chiredzi at a bar who promised him $25 000 for the body parts.

On Friday, Moyo led police to a dumpsite in Colleen Bawn where he allegedly said he had left the mutilated body in a shallow grave.

Detectives recovered the headless body and conveyed it to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

@richardmuponde

President Mugabe

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
PRESIDENT Mugabe has appointed councils for nine State universities including the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo as well as the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) board.

Nust had been operating without a council since its dissolution in November last year and its absence reportedly delayed the appointment of a new vice chancellor.

The university’s last substantive vice chancellor Professor Lindela Ndlovu died in November 2015, weeks after his contract had expired.

In a notice yesterday, the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development said President Mugabe had appointed retired diplomat Ambassador Zenzo Nsimbi as the chairman of Nust council replacing Dr Mike Ndubiwa who led the dissolved board.

Other prominent figures that make up the council are city lawyer, Mr Job Sibanda, Bulawayo City Council Director of Engineering Services , Engineer Simela Dube, Zimbabwe International Trade Fair General manager, Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu, businessman Mr Obert Sibanda, former Bulawayo mayor, Mr Japhet Ndabeni Ncube, outgoing Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Matabeleleland Chapter chairperson, Mr Christopher Mugova and Mimosa Mines chairman Mr Winston Chitando.

Other university council members are Dr Mbongeni Ndlovu, Mr Israel Ndlovu, Mrs Kezinet Ndhlovu, Ms Sithembiso Nyathi, Ms Bridget Chipungu, Reverend Jeffrey Sibanda, Eng Edwin Gwaze, Mrs Josephine Makuvara, Mrs Mildred Mkandla, Mr Casper Ronney, Mr Stephen Nyambuya, Mrs Elizabeth Chikwanda, Ms Fiona Gandiwa Magaya, Mrs Alois Muzuwe, Eng Garfield Nkiwane, Mr Godwin Manyonganise, Reverend Dr Rudo Moyo and Engineer Gratitude Charis.

The President also appointed former Nust Vice chancellor Professor Phenias Makhurane as Gwanda State University council chairman.

The other Gwanda State University council members are Retired judge of the Labour court, Mr Selo Maselo Nare, Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Public Relations Manager Ms Stella Nkomo, retired diplomat Ambassador Dr Aaron  Maboyi-Ncube, FBC Holdings Limited group chairman Mr Hebert Nkala, Bulawayo businesswoman Mrs Ntombenhle Moyo, Zimplow Managing director, Mr Walter Chigwada and Standards Association of Zimbabwe director general Dr Eve Gadzikwa.

CNM-YBJ Consulting engineers Managing Director Engineer Caleb Makwiranzou was appointed chairman of Midlands State University with retired High Court judge, Justice Maphios Cheda deputising him.

Other councils that were appointed are for Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE), Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences, Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), Manicaland State University for Applied Sciences and Harare Institute of Technology (HIT.

President Mugabe also appointed former Midlands State University Vice Chancellor Professor Ngwabi Bhebhe as the chairman for ZIMCHE.

Prof Bhebhe will be deputised by Professor Fanuel Tagwira.

Other members of the ZIMCHE board are Prof Levi Nyagura, Prof Munashe Furusa, Prof Eddie Mwenje Professor Alois Ngara, Prof Kuzvinetsa Dzvimbo and Prof George Payne Kahari among others.

All the appointments are with immediate effect.

The appointment of the councils comes at a time when the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education has rolled out a reform process to re-align institutional governance and legislative frameworks, programmes, projects and research plans for industrialisation and modernisation through STEM.

@AuxiliaK

Mrs Mildred Chiri

Daniel Nemukuyu, Harare Bureau
The Department of Roads Fund has failed to properly account for road construction funds amounting to nearly $16 million, a situation auditors blame on its poor accounting system.

The Fund was established to provide financing for road development, rehabilitation and maintenance works. In her audit of the department for the year ended December 31, 2015, Auditor-General Mrs Mildred Chiri noted that financial statements produced by the Fund did not follow the principles of construction accounting as outlined in the International Public Sector Accounting Standards.

She said there was no evidence how the $15 949 143 was used for the construction projects.

“The financial statements produced by the Fund did not disclose construction and rehabilitation costs that were incurred on different projects as required by best accounting practice,” said Mrs Chiri in the audit report.

“Project costs funded by Zinara amounted to $15 949 143. These were not assigned to the respective projects. Furthermore, the value of materials on hand for various projects at year end were not disclosed.

“The draft Accounting Officer’s Instruction in use did not provide guidance on construction accounting nor disclosure requirements.”

Such a failure to apply appropriate construction accounting systems, Mrs Chiri said, could result in stores material disappearing without trace.

Mrs Chiri said such loopholes promoted fraud and cost overruns.

She recommended that the department should follow principles of construction accounting as outlined in the International Public Sector Accounting Standard Number 11.

“The Accounting Officer’s Instructions should provide guidance on construction accounting,” said Mrs Chiri. “Carrying amount of construction materials on hand should be disclosed in the financial statements and an inventory system should be put in place to record all construction materials on project sites.”

Management at the Department of Roads pledged to approach Treasury for guidance on how to properly do accounting for construction projects.

Auditors also noted inconsistencies relating to amounts of funds at bank.

“Financial statements disclosed cash at bank amounted to $1 763 245, while certificates of balance from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had a total of $1 527 998, giving a variance of $235 247, which was not reconciled,” noted Mrs Chiri.

“Following my audit query to the Accounting Officer, a new set of accounts with 29 further adjustments to the financial statements was resubmitted and the new cash balance was $1 610 876.

“The magnitude of the proposed adjustments clearly showed the books of accounts were unreliable.”

This comes as many of the country’s roads are in a deplorable state and need rehabilitation to enable smooth trafficking by the motoring public.

The situation was worsened by the heavy rains that hit the country during the 2016-17 rainy season, which caused floods in some areas that damaged the roads and swept away bridges.

Government is in the process of rehabilitating the damaged roads and bridges, but more funds are required to speed up construction.

Commander General Constantino Chiwenga

Sydney Kawadza, Harare Bureau
Zanu-PF structures, war veterans and political commentators yesterday rallied behind Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Guveya Chiwenga calling for the dismissal of Professor Jonathan Moyo from both Government and Zanu-PF.

Gen Chiwenga warned the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister and his Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment counterpart Patrick Zhuwao against attacking Government’s Command Agriculture programme.

The ZDF chief said the security services were fully aware of the forces sponsoring the spirited attacks.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association chairman Mr Christopher Mutsvangwa yesterday backed Gen Chiwenga for defending, firstly President Mugabe, and secondly, Zimbabwe’s integrity under attack from malcontents within the party and Government.

He said it was high time someone knocked Professor Moyo off his pedestal.

“It is about time,” said Mr Mutsvangwa. “ZNLWVA is on one and same page with Gen Chiwenga. Jonathan Moyo has carved a notorious reputation as the James Bond 007 knock off of the celluloid spy.

“He started his treacherous journey as a Zanla wartime deserter from Mgagao camp. He turned traitor as commander of Chimwenje, the ill-fated rag tag army of (Ndabaningi) Sithole that was trained by Idi Amin, the Ugandan dictator.

“Of late, he is a Wiki-Leaks spy morphed into kleptocratic thief of Zimdef funds.”

Mr Mutsvangwa said Professor Moyo was taunting President Mugabe and should resign from both Zanu-PF and Government.

“Jonso is an incorrigible deviant who trashes all that has attributes of history and the Chimurenga pedigree,” he said. “Even as the success of the Command Agriculture rings loud and clear, Jonso runs amok in sulking opposition.”

Mr Mutsvangwa called on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and police to be given the executive and judiciary latitude to arraign Prof Moyo over fraud allegations at Zimdef.

Zanu-PF provincial chairman for the Midlands, Cde Daniel Mackenzie Ncube, said Gen Chiwenga was right in defending Government’s integrity and programmes.

He called on the party to take necessary steps to deal with the errant ministers.

“These malcontents should be censured and brought to book,” he said.

Political analyst Mr Goodwine Mureriwa said Gen Chiwenga was guided by the principles of the liberation struggle.

“No-one can doubt the historical narrative between Government and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” he said. “It is premised on the liberation struggle where cadres were guided by strict disciplinary measures.

“These are the principles that guided the fighters. The principles of honesty to the people. The attacks are coming from Politburo members who are in Cabinet, hence betraying the people.”

Mr Mureriwa said Gen Chiwenga noticed the indiscipline that could breed chaos in Zimbabwe.

He said Zanu-PF should take a stance against those trying to destablise the party and Government.

Another political analyst Mr Elton Ziki said people should understand Gen Chiwenga’s constitutional mandate and other State security agents.

“It is necessary for these arms of the State to defend and work towards the success of Government spearheaded programmes,” he said. “For the CDF to issue that statement is to make sure that these programmes reach fruition.

“He is key and integral to what is happening in the country because when such a programme fails they would be food shortages leading to strife.”

Mr Ziki said Zimbabwe fought for land so that people would be productive, hence programmes like Command Agriculture.

“Criticising programmes aiming to ensure food security and stability with a potential for economic development leaves a lot to be desired,” he said.

Tanzanian-based Zimbabwean political analyst Mr Tafadzwa Mugwadi said: “It should be treated and handled as a serious security breach for Cabinet members who have sworn to their confidence, all matters discussed therein.

“This is serious breach in a sovereign, the world over and smacks of fatal treason.”

Mr Mugwadi said Command Agriculture was a success.

“No amount of factional malice and Twitter rants will erase it,” he said. “However, it is ironic that Zanu-PF has allowed a parallel Government to exist with its own parallel agenda that is documentarily, historically and factually nurtured around Professor Moyo whose ‘full of I know it all’ approach to policy discourse is both academically disproved and realistically errant to say the least.”

Mr Mugwadi said Prof Moyo’s behaviour illustrated “how gate-crushers, late-comers and sell outs turned revolutionaries in a people’s revolution behave.”

Prof Moyo has been on rabid campaign against Command Agriculture deriding it as “Ugly-Culture’’ and equating reports of its success as ‘‘Command Lies’’.

Minister Zhuwao has also rapped Zimpapers, accusing the group’s titles of promoting Command Agriculture at the expense of Zim-Asset.

This is despite that Command Agriculture falls under the Food and Nutrition Cluster of Zim-Asset.

President Mugabe is also on record hailing the success of Command Agriculture, amid indications that the programme would exceed the projected yields.

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Bulilima attacked his 35-year-old brother until he lost consciousness for using his bath soap without permission.

Pride Mloyi of Khethekhethe Village was not asked to plead to attempted murder when he appeared before Plumtree magistrate Mr Joshua Mawere.
He was remanded in custody to July 10.

Prosecuting, Mr Elisha Mazorodze said Pride flew into a rage after his brother, Coli Mloyi used his bath soap without permission.

“On 23 June around 2PM, Coli took his younger brother’s bath soap and used it without asking. Pride wasn’t pleased by this and he followed his brother to his bedroom hut and demanded his soap back.

“A misunderstanding arose between the two brothers. Pride pinned his brother to the ground and closed his mouth and nose until Coli lost consciousness before fleeing from the scene,” he said.

Mr Mazorodze said Coli later regained consciousness and sought assistance at a neighbour’s homestead.

The matter was reported to the police resulting in Pride’s arrest.

In another incident, a 25-year-old Bulilima man appeared before the same magistrate facing attempted murder charges after he stabbed his friend three times.

Naison Moyo of Masendu area was not asked to plead when he appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Joshua Mawere. He was remanded in custody to July 5.

Prosecuting, Mrs Rose Sibanda said Moyo attacked Mr Solviet Ngwenya (24) while they were on their way home from a drinking spree.

“On 19 May at around 8PM, Moyo and Ngwenya left Manguba Business Centre where they had been drinking together and they headed to their homesteads in Phakama West Village.

“Along the way, Moyo picked up a brick and struck Ngwenya once on the head causing him to fall to the ground. He further stabbed Ngwenya three times on the head and once on the upper lip with an Okapi knife. Ngwenya lost consciousness as a result of the attack,” she said.

Mrs Sibanda said Moyo left Ngwenya lying on the ground and went to his homestead. She said Ngwenya was later assisted by a passer-by who took him to a nearby clinic.

She said the matter was reported to the police resulting in Moyo’s arrest. — @DubeMatutu

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
BUSINESS came to a standstill at the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday when a woman who was being accused by her landlady of failing to pay $60 for water, collapsed in the courtroom.

Court proceedings were adjourned as an ambulance was called to rush Ms Simangele Ndlovu, whose age could not be established, to Victoria Falls District Hospital.

The woman had been dragged to court by Mrs Monica Moyo of 1337 Chinotimba suburb for failing to pay $60 for water charges.

Ms Ndlovu started shaking soon after the magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa pronounced that the charges had been withdrawn.

Court officials tried to administer first aid on Ms Ndlovu who ended up failing to speak or move, before eventually collapsing.

The magistrate had just read her ruling when Ms Ndlovu raised a hand indicating that she wanted to say something.

She, however, failed to utter a word after Ms Maphosa gave her the chance to speak.

“The matter is withdrawn on the insistence of the plaintiff,” the magistrate said.

Ms Ndlovu had denied owing her landlady, claiming she had been overcharging her and other tenants for water bills.

“I paid all her money. Instead the plaintiff was not telling us the truth about how much we were supposed to pay. We were five tenants and we were supposed to pay $6 each per month because the water charges are fixed at $29 but she was charging us $10 which is way above what we were supposed to be paying. That’s why I didn’t pay because I realised that I had overpaid,” said Ms Ndlovu in her defence.

In her summons, Mrs Moyo claimed that Ms Ndlovu owed $60 after defaulting in paying between January this year and May.

She said Ms Ndlovu had on numerous occasions given excuses saying she didn’t have money.

The court ordered Mrs Moyo to produce water bills for the house, but the landlady indicated that she was withdrawing the matter. — @ncubeleon

Mr Fredrick Mandizvidza

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) has so far invested more than $15 million in the STEM initiative.

Zimdef Chief Executive Officer Mr Fredrick Mandizvidza said 10 000 students are being supported by the fund.

“We have invested quite a significant amount of resources in the STEM initiative. In 2016 we invested $7,4 million, in 2017 we invested $7, 8 million and the total so far is $15,2 million and these are Government resources coming from industry. So we have 10 854 pupils that are being supported today,” said Mr Mandizvidza.

Speaking at a business luncheon on the Role of STEM and universities in Industrialisation and Modernisation in Bulawayo on Monday, the Zimdef boss said universities must now change their curriculum due to a backlash from industry that their products are half-baked.

“The purpose of education is to create people who are able to confront problems and solve them in a sustainable manner. Unless we have a critical mass of people in our society who are prepared to confront the problems of today and resolve them then we have a challenge,” he said.

Mr Mandizvidza challenged the country’s engineers and other technocrats to be innovative and relevant in the mordenisation and industrialisation drive.

“With all due respect to engineers, surveyors and any type of engineers who are here, the fact remains, if we look at our roads today, if we look at our town planning, if we look at the challenges with water, energy, perennial energy shortages and so on. These speak volumes about the calibre of our engineers and therefore I hazard to say this kind of engineer we have today, although he has gone through the engineering process, he is not adequately prepared to solve challenges,” he said.

“I find it difficult for an engineer to want to co-exist with potholes because honestly an engineer should be able to confront the pothole problem and address them if the kind of knowledge they have acquired is up to scratch.”

Mr Mandizvidza said Government, universities and private companies must take a long term view of the education system and act now.

“By 2025, there is going to be massive demand for industrial data scientists, robot engineers, digital engineers and 3D-computer-aided design experts.
Universities must transform and also take advantage of opportunities offered by “Massive Open Online Courses” (MOOCs), including Industry 4.0 into their curricula,” he said.

The Zimdef CEO said this can only be achieved by building the right kind of knowledge, skills and capabilities for Industry.

Mr Mandizvidza said it was high time the country adopted emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), big Data & Data Analytics, 3D Printing, automation and cloud computing.

“We should now focus on embedded Intelligence Systems, genomic medicine, nanotechnology, smart grids, digital Transformation, virtual Technologies (AR & VR), cyber Physical Systems and wireless sensor networks,” he said. — @AuxiliaK

Amanda Chikari, Midlands Reporter
TWO men from Redcliff town have been arrested for allegedly stealing 1 698 litres of diesel from boosters after breaking into four Econet Wireless Base stations in Kwekwe.

The value of both the damaged property and fuel was pegged at $5 000.
Norbert Rukasha (40) and Triumphant Maphosa (32) of Rutendo Suburb appeared before Kwekwe magistrate Ms Vimbai Mutukwa facing three counts of theft.

They were granted $100 bail each before being remanded out of custody to July 19 for trial.

Rukasha and Maphosa were also ordered to report to the nearest police station once every Friday as part of their bail conditions.

Prosecutor, Mr Kudakwashe Chekayi said the two connived to steal diesel from three Econet Wireless Base Stations and used Maphosa’s vehicle to carry it from the base stations to his house.

“On June 15 and at Zhombe-Runyararo Base Station at around 2AM, the accused persons used an unknown object to cut the fence and gained entry. While inside they went on to break the base generator reservoir fuel tank censor and siphoned 454 litres of diesel,” he said.

Using the same modus operandi, the court heard that on the following day Rukasha and Maphosa went to Redcliff Primary School and stole 467 litres of fuel.

On June 22 and June 24 they allegedly went to Amaveni and Gaika Econet Base stations in Kwekwe and stole 110 litres and 667 litres of diesel respectively from the two boosters.

The court heard that on June 24, the mobile phone operator discovered the offence and reported the matter to the police.

“The police working on a tip off went and searched Maphosa’s vehicle and discovered 2×25 litre containers full of diesel. The duo then told the police about all the boosters they had broken into and stole diesel leading to their arrest,” Mr Chekayi said.

The value of the damaged property and stolen diesel is $5 000 and only $202 was recovered. — @Amanda49

Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
THREE men from Masvingo masquerading as policemen arrested, stripped naked a taxi driver they had hired before robbing him of his car which was later involved in an accident.

The three men took $27 from their victim.

Victor Raja (19), Panashe Blessing Ncube (19) of Zimuto Camp and Kudzai Musaye (23) of Mucheke suburb pleaded not guilty to robbing Mr Mathias Tauyanarwo of Mucheke suburb.

Masvingo regional magistrate Mrs Dambudzo Malunga, however, convicted the trio due to overwhelming evidence.

She sentenced each of them to 10 years in prison.

Raja and Ncube will serve an effective seven years in prison after Mrs Malunga suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.

Musaye who is the oldest will, however, serve an effective 10 years as nothing was suspended.

Delivering sentence Mrs Malunga said all the three are former convicts of unlawful entry and theft.

She said the trio were unrepentant hence deterrent sentences were called for.

For the State Ms Shamiso Masokovere said sometime this month, the accused hired a taxi from Ritz Night Club in the central Business District heading to Mucheke suburb.

She said when they were near the Stadium, Ncube pretended to be a police officer and asked Tauyanarwo if he had authority to pirate.

The court heard that Ncube produced a pair of handcuffs telling Tauyanarwo that he was under arrest for flouting the Road Traffic Act.

Raja and Musaye stripped Tauyanarwo naked and also took away $27 from his wallet.

Ncube drove back to Ritz Night Club where he parked the vehicle outside with Tauyanarwo in the car while his accomplices got into the night club to buy beer.

The court heard Tauyanarwo managed to escape.

He rushed to Masvingo Central Police where he reported the matter and a manhunt was launched.

Ncube drove towards Masvingo-Harare road but was involved in an accident.

Police swiftly reacted to the report and found the car near the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) offices.

All the three were arrested the same day. – @walterbmswazie3

ZPWMA director conservation Mr Arthur Mutsakwa (left) hands over fingerlings to Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Jason Machaya before they were stocked in Insukamini Dam in Lower Gweru on Tuesday

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief

THE Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has distributed more than 700 000 fingerlings in 20 districts across the country following the successful launch of the National Command Fisheries Programme by President Mugabe at Tokwe Mukosi Dam in May.

On Tuesday, Zimparks took the programme to the Midlands province where 10 000 fingerlings were stocked in Insukamini Dam in Lower Gweru bringing the number to 110 000 of fingerlings stocked in three dams in the province.

Speaking at the launch of the Midlands Province Command Fisheries Programme at Insukamini Dam, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Jason Machaya said the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate has embarked on a Command Fisheries and Aquaculture programme to rejuvenate the fisheries industry and complement the Command Agriculture programme to ensure food security in the country.

He said Zimparks is the implementing agency for this programme as part of ZimAsset. Cde Machaya said Command Fisheries follows the Government’s successful Command Agriculture programme.

“The Command Fisheries programme is a national programme that has been started in all our 10 provinces. My office together with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority will draw up a detailed work-plan for an extensive fisheries recovery programme which will benefit the youth, women and other vulnerable groups in our province. The programme aims at food fish production and commercial fish production at grassroots level in order to improve food security and livelihoods of many rural communities in the country,” he said.

“The programme to stock dams with fish has already started nationwide, with almost 700 000 fingerlings already distributed in 20 districts around the country. Within the Midlands Province we have so far stocked three dams with 110 000 fingerlings. Communities, orphanages, schools and interested individuals are expected to benefit from this programme.”

Cde Machaya said there is a huge opportunity to harness fisheries to promote food security among vulnerable communities in the country.

“It is imperative to emphasise that the success of the Command fisheries initiative requires participation of all stakeholders,” he said.

Zimparks director for conservation Mr Arthur Mutsakwa said the Command Fisheries Programme would ensure that food and nutrition needs are met within communities. He said the programme will also create employment opportunities and therefore contribute to the national economy.

“It is important to note that some communities in the Midlands province have so far benefited from the on-going fish restocking in their areas and individual ponds. These include dams and individual ponds in Gweru, Kwekwe and Shurugwi Districts. A cumulative total of 44 400 fingerlings have been stocked in dams and individual fish farmers have received 2 400 fingerlings,” Mr Mutsakwa said.

He said more dams will benefit from the programme by either receiving for the first time or further restocking to acceptable sustainable quantities of fish fingerlings. — @pchitumba1

President Mugabe

Levi Mukarati in Gaborone, Botswana
President Mugabe will today join other leaders here for the burial of former Botswana President Sir Ketumile Masire at his birthplace in Khanye, southwest of Gaborone.

Sir Masire, who was Botswana’s second post-independence president from 1980 to 1989, died in hospital in Gaborone last week. He was 91.
President Mugabe landed at the Sir Seretse Khama Airport in Gaborone last night, where he was received by Botswana’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Vincent Seretse and officials from the Zimbabwean embassy.

Botswana declared three days of national mourning following the death of Sir Masire.

The former President played a leading role in the region, especially in peace initiatives to end Mozambique’s long civil war pitting Renamo rebels against the government .

He also mediated in political crisis that hit Kenya, Swaziland and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A respected statesman, Sir Masire was also chairperson of the International Pannel or Eminent Personalities which investigated the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Announcing the death of the former President, his private secretary, Fraser Tlhoiwe, said Sir Masire; “died peacefully at Bakamoso Private Hospital surrounded by his family at 10:10pm on June 22, 2017.”

Sir Masire was hospitalised for surgery on June 16 in intensive care and was thought to be stable.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
GOVERNMENT is overwhelmed with inquiries from potential investors keen to partner local companies in the implementation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, said here yesterday.

Officially opening the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) 2017 annual congress, VP Mnangagwa also bemoaned high costs of electronic transactions and challenged financial institutions to review charges to promote the use of plastic money.

He told delegates that Government has come up with a string of strategies to address economic challenges in the country including effecting legislative reviews to entice investment.

VP Mnangagwa said Chinese investors have already jumped to grab opportunities in SEZs following the Zimbabwe-China Zhejiang Province Investment Conference where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed. The deal will see Chinese investors exploring investment opportunities in Zimbabwe and constructing an industrial park.

“I am happy to announce that ever since the signing into law of the (SEZs) Bill, we have had numerous inquiries from investors who are interested in investing in various sectors of the economy under the SEZs facility,” said VP Mnangagwa.

The SEZ Act was signed into law late last year and Government has identified three pilot SEZs namely Victoria Falls Integrated Tourism Park, Bulawayo Industrial hub and Sunway City Integrated park in Harare.

On Monday, Government appointed former central bank Governor, Dr Gideon Gono, to lead a new SEZs board that has been tasked with spearheading the implementation of the economic model. VP Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was open to investors both local and foreign.

“I, therefore, invite bona-fide local and foreign potential investors to come on board and seize the vast trade and investment opportunities available in various sectors and engage in projects that yield fair returns while benefiting our country and its people in a win-win situation in terms of the country’s statutes,” he said.

The VP said the SEZs vision hovers around making Zimbabwe a hub of industrialisation, commerce and international trade in the quest to achieve an empowered society and growing economy.

He said every Zimbabwean has a collective obligation to harness their strength, competencies and skills to meet or surpass a 2.3 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth projection by the World Bank in its June 2017 Global Economic Prospect Report, up from 0.7 percent.

VP Mnangagwa said significant progress has been made in realignment and enactment of Bills for Ease of doing Business.

“To date significant progress has been made in drafting eight pieces of legislation, which include the National Competitiveness Act (Chapter 14:36) Number 6 of 2017, Deeds Registries Amendment Act, 2017, and the Judicial Laws Amendment Act (Ease of Settling Commercial and other disputes) Act, 2017 Number 7 of 2017, among others and identifying 13 Statutory Instruments for amendment,” he said.

“Out of these, 11 have been amended and gazetted with only two still outstanding. Currently nine Bills have been drafted to ease the process of doing business in Zimbabwe.”

VP Mnangagwa, who is also Minister of Justice, said the Bills were aimed at improving the investment climate and luring prospective investors to the country.

He said the external sector still remains a threat to economic recovery largely due to weak exports leading to an unsustainable trade deficit although imports have been coming down lately due to SI 64 of 2016.

The VP said the congress’ theme: “consolidating the new normal economy through policy reforms”, dovetails with Government multi-faceted initiatives, which seek to maximise opportunities available in the current environment from both a national and a global perspective guided primarily by Zim-Asset.

He said robust economic reforms, good corporate governance, hard work and diligence were essential in reviving the economy, adding that Government continues to work on improving exports through the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) of the Ease of Doing Export Business, with a number of reforms both in the public and private sector being implemented.

VP Mnangagwa said austerity measures were being carried out to restructure the budget by reducing the wage bill and incentivising exports. He said other measures include Command Agriculture and financing arrangements, which will all operationalise SEZs.

He said the manufacturing sector should also be harnessed in recovery strategies as he called for a review of the cost of production. On the financial sector, VP Mnangagwa said charges on the use of plastic money were comparably high, adding that a majority of rural folk were yet to embrace the concept.

He said this has led to continued demand for cash, which will only ease if the cost of transacting is reduced.

“The sector has been identified as a key strategic partner in financing the economy from being a primary producer to a producer of diversified manufactured products and services.

“Industry, commerce, insurance, retailing, wholesaling, agro-processing, manufacturing, domestic, and international trade thrive on a vibrant financial sector characterised by depositors’ confidence, funds protection, performing loans, and reasonable lending rates. I, therefore, urge our banks to consider reviewing these transaction costs downwards,” said VP Mnangagwa. The three-day conference started yesterday and ends tomorrow. — @ncubeleon.

Ms Paurina Mpariwa

Pamela Shumba,Senior Reporter
MPs have accused the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) of overspending public funds by failing to adhere to expenditures stipulated by an Act of Parliament.

Responding to the Public Accounts Committee report presented in Parliament on Tuesday, MPs said local authorities were not benefiting much from Zinara funds.

The committee was examining the findings of the Auditor General on the Appropriation accounts for Funds administered by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

The funds include the Department of Roads Fund, the New Limpopo Bridge Fund, the New Vehicle Number Plate Revolving Fund and the Traffic and Legislation Fund. Bulawayo South MP Eddie Cross said institutions like Zinara should be monitored to make sure that they operate within their mandates.

“When I look at Zinara, I see an institution which is spending twice what it is supposed to be spending on administration. In the Act, Zinara is supposed to limit its administrative costs to 7 percent.

“Last year, they spent 19 percent of revenue on administration. They have a luxury head office and they have expensive vehicles. This kind of situation cannot be tolerated. These institutions must be brought under State control and they must operate within their mandate,” said Mr Cross.

He said although the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development ordered Zinara to allocate funds to municipalities, the institution was not doing much for them.

“Zinara today is collecting about $300 million a year and that is the revenue that is received by NSSA. It seems to me that Zinara is treated as a cash cow by many ministries and by individuals in Government and it is doing all sorts of things.

“Zinara is allocating $10 million for the municipalities, which is absolutely nothing. Harare by itself used to collect $36 million a year from licence fees and all of this goes to Zinara now. In Bulawayo, we used to collect $9,5 million and we now receive $800 000 from Zinara which is less than 10 percent of what we used to collect,” he said.

The MP also accused Zinara of not communicating with local authorities when working on projects within cities.

“The changes to the road system outside Borrowdale Village in Harare, which have just been completed, were conducted without the permission, knowledge and consultation with the City of Harare. Not even plan approval was sought. This is totally unacceptable.

“In another instance in Bulawayo, the Mayor was driving to work one morning and found a contractor fixing Hillside Road. The road was refurbished from one end to the other. The City of Bulawayo was not consulted, there was no plan approval and no cash transfer to the municipality,” said Mr Cross.
Harare West legislator Ms Jessie Majome implored Parliament to resolve issues of corruption and misuse of funds.

“I want to implore upon this House to resolve issues of mismanagement of public funds at Zinara and other public institutions. We can’t afford to sit in this Parliament and be entertained by endless reports of pilferages. We have to take action,” said Ms Majome.

She also urged the Attorney General’s Office to take a more proactive role in drafting contracts to ensure transparency.

In her report, the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, Mrs Paurina Mpariwa, recommended that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) takes disciplinary action against former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Mr Munesu Munodawafa, for the “pathetic” administration that has prejudiced the ministry millions of dollars.

The committee accused Mr Munodawafa, who is now the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, of not safeguarding public funds and undermining the 2014 annual audit report. – @pamelashumba1

Tshinga Dube

Sydney Kawadza, Harare Bureau
President Mugabe on Tuesday engaged Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees Minister Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube on why he has not named his successor saying that was the prerogative of Congress.

Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Minister Dube dismissed solidarity demonstrations organised by a faction of the Zimbabwe National War Veterans’ Associations led by Cde Mandi Chimene at the Zanu-PF headquarters yesterday.

“His Excellency talked to me yesterday about the issue, to say, look, I am only mandated by the Constitution to choose my deputies not my successor.

“We should leave that to the constitution. As a trained man as I am. How would I answer? I would say, yes sir! That is all.

“I thought that was the end of the issue. As far as I am concerned the President is a respectable man.”

Minister Dube said the engagement on Tuesday should put a lid to the debate triggered by his comments in Bulawayo.

President Mugabe engaged Minister Dube after the Tuesday Cabinet meeting at Munhumutapa in Harare.

“I love him. I respect him and when he said that sincerely as a teacher, as a leader, as the Commander-in-Chief, that is what he said to me yesterday.

“And there was no other issues raised.”

He said President Mugabe had answered his concerns. “I do not want to dwell on that problem anymore. He has said the problem of choosing his successor lies with congress. I have just put a full stop to that issue. I am not going to discuss it anymore because my Commander-in-Chief has said so. I do not want to appear like I am raising issues against him.”

The Chimene-led faction mobilised supporters from all provinces to demonstrate “in solidarity with President Mugabe”.

Minister Dube reportedly told supporters in his Makokoba Constituency in Bulawayo that there was nothing wrong with President Mugabe naming his successor.

Cde Chimene and her deputy Cde George Mlala told the supporters that the minister had gone overboard.

They announced that the former freedom fighters were “against what Minister Dube said” and were not part to the statement. They further urged Minister Dube to resign and form his own party.

Cde Chimene further announced that they were calling for the ouster of Minister Dube from both Government and Zanu-PF.

Minister Dube dismissed the demonstrations as dubious.

“I do not think it is taboo or any sin to talk about succession. So what I mean is that, yes, I said that and I did not think it was demonising anybody or was intended to confront anybody but people translate it the way they want,” he said.

Minister Dube said his comments were guided by his military background.

“In our training whenever you are deploying, the first thing to do is to appoint a commander who will take over from you in case something happens to you.

“That is what we call orders. When you are given orders as you go for a battle that is what you do,” he said.

The war veterans’ minister said his statements were not political.

He further dismissed calls to have him fired from Cabinet.

“I do not think the President is told by the Mlalas or Chimenes to hire or fire ministers. He has got his own criteria of choosing and firing.

“I am an appointee of the President. When the President feels that I am not doing the job right, he has the right to fire me.”

Minister Dube said war veterans had the right to take an interest in what happens in Zimbabwe.

He said war veterans were human and would be interested in the affairs of the country.

“We are interested in the future of the country. We are interested in what goes on in our country. We are interested in everything that is Zimbabwe. That is why we sacrificed for our country,” he said.

Minister Dube also express doubt over Cde Mlala’s war credentials. “I have never heard of a soldier who says he was in a section commanded by George Mlala. I do not know about Mandi but I have never met any soldier who says he was commanded by George Mlala or anyone who says he carried any operation led by George Mlala or commanded by George Mlala.

“I just hear his name coming up. He is new to me. He does not impress me. I do not have to be appointed by them to be a minister.”

Secretary in the Ministry of the Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Former Political Detainees and Restrictees Brigadier General (Rtd.) Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi said his department was not worried by what Minister Dube said in Bulawayo.

“When the minister spoke in his constituency Makokoba in Bulawayo, he was speaking as a politician, as a citizen and a commentator outside the protocol of the ministry.

“It is not that we have an interest to what he said. But we have an interest when a faction of the war veterans purports to speak on behalf of all war veterans,” he said.

Brig-General (Rtd.) Tapfumaneyi said their interest was in the unity of war veterans. “Our main interest, the political interest, is for the war veterans to be united once again and not to be divided by those who claim to follow Mandi Chimene or those who follow Mutsvangwa.

“We are one and we work well with the Government of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Thandeka Moyo, Health Reporter
BULAWAYO remains burdened by tuberculosis amid reports that multiple drug resistant TB which is costly to treat is on the rise.

Recent statistics from the local authority show that multiple drug resistant tuberculosis cases rose from 77 in 2015 to 85 in 2016. Of the 85 detected last year, 83 were treated and the other two people died.

Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs and is transmitted via droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the active respiratory disease.

TB continues to be the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, and approximately 70 percent of Zimbabweans suffering from TB are co-infected with HIV.

Speaking during a media briefing, council chief nursing officer Ms Thokozile Hove said the TB success for Bulawayo is around 83 percent as some patients die before they can treated.

“Through our community education programmes this year, we managed to identify 460 TB patients, 11 of those were drug resistant to the first line of TB treatment. Our treatment success is 83 percent, a high number among those deaths are comorbidities where you find that people who have TB also have conditions like anaemia, renal failure and liver failure,” said Ms Hove.

“Drug resistant TB coming up slowly, we started in 2010 and over the years we are identifying more and more patients with DR TB. We are treating them though some die before they receive treatment.”

She said most of the TB patients who were tested were also found to be co-infected with HIV. “This year we had targeted to reach out and we managed to put 11 percent of those we met on ART. As of May 2017, about 50 233 patients are receiving ART from our 19 clinics and we continue to scale up programmes to spread health messages so that at least 90 percent of our population can know their status,” said Ms Hove.

Its costs $30 000 to treat one person for multiple drug resistant TB.

According to the 2016 World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report, Zimbabwe is part of 30 countries highly burdened by TB.
Zimbabwe is one of only 14 countries around the world designated as a TB “high burden” by WHO.  – @thamamoe

Amanda Chikari, Midlands Reporter
THE younger brother to the late notorious robber and murderer Edmond Edgar Masendeke, Andrew, who was facing armed robbery, unlawful entry, carjacking and kidnapping charges was yesterday sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Masendeke (21) of Mukarati Village under Chief Mukaro in Gutu had pleaded guilty before Gweru Regional Magistrate Mr Morgan Nemadire. Seven years were suspended on condition that he restitutes some of his robbery victims $4 067.

The other seven years were suspended on condition of good behaviour leaving him with 12 effective years in prison.

Mr Nemadire said he had considered that Masendeke is a young first offender.

“I considered that you have no savings in your name, you survive on gold panning, you committed the crime under the influence of your accomplices some of whom are still at large and you are willing to restitute the victims. What is aggravating is that you benefited from the property you stole.

“Because you are a first offender you will receive what we term a discount on your sentence but your offences deserve the most severe punishment that will discourage and serve as a lesson to you that you do not commit similar crimes,” he said.

The younger Masendeke and his three accomplices Tapiwa Chimuti (29), Anyway Madala (27) and Simbarashe Machiritsa (40) who are all from Ascot Infill high-density suburb in Gweru targeted a cop, miners and businesspeople in the Midlands province and Bulawayo getting away with more than $25 000, a vehicle and six rifles. Two other suspects Matrimony Nyathi and Sydney Mangisi are still on the run.

Chimuti, Madala and Machiritsa were previously sentenced to a collective 188 years after being linked to a spate of armed robberies committed in Bulawayo, Zvishavane, Gweru, Shurugwi, Kwekwe and Kadoma. Chimuti was sentenced to 91 years, Madala 76 and Machiritsa 21.

The State led by Mr Ernest Mzembi said between February and June this year, Masendeke and his accomplices committed a series of robberies in the Midlands and Bulawayo and kidnapped a police officer.

Police recovered the vehicle and guns which were used during the robberies and the property has since been forfeited to the State.

The gang also robbed mines and business people of money, vehicles and rifles – @amanda49

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development deputy Minister Dr Godfrey Gandawa

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE private sector has been challenged to fund research at institutions of higher learning to complement government efforts to transform the economy through science and technology.

The call was made at a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) luncheon held in Victoria Falls on Wednesday.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development deputy Minister Dr Godfrey Gandawa reiterated calls for tertiary institutions to transform themselves from basic education centres to produce problem solving researchers with patents.

A patent is a legal title granting a researcher the right to exclude others from making, using or selling the claimed invention.

“Industry needs to come in and fund research. It’s myopic to think government alone can fund research hence the private sector must fund universities so they are able to research and patent their work. If we don’t produce patents, we will continue talking without anything happening and if we want to industrialise in 15 years, then we must start now and STEM should be our driver for industrial revolution which is about automation,” said Dr Gandawa.

He said the current curriculum where institutions concentrate on standard tests was archaic and retrogressive.

“Institutions should desist from concentrating on grades and focus on the product of a graduate. Distinctions amount to nothing if the graduate does not contribute to development. Technology is the human world hence you should focus on research, design and development to lead to the creation of a physical product.

“Our graduates are not trained to solve problems hence we need research that identifies problems such as water challenges, potholes or industry closure.

You have Nust allowing a student to do a research about Mutoko, that’s irrelevant. You should look at problems affecting Bulawayo and have research inclined to solving such problems. If a student proposes a research that doesn’t solve local problems, throw it away,” said Dr Gandawa.

He said universities should “move away from this toxic culture of education driven by an archaic curriculum and train graduates for future jobs.”

Speaking at the same occasion, Zimdef chief executive officer Mr Fredrick Mandizvidza called for collaborative efforts to come up with a STEM agenda.

“We have embarked on a path that is exciting and will lead us to the 4th revolution through creating jobs for the future. There is a need for concerted funding, government has done its part and industry must come in with its share. While industry transforms to a technology driven approach, industry should respond to the internet of things,” he said.

Lupane State University Vice Chancellor, Professor Pardon Kuipa and Engineer William Goriwondo, a lecturer at Nust said both institutions have embraced new trends in line with technological demands.

“As universities we have resolved to shift from basic to applied research because ZimAsset requires institutions of higher learning to produce experts,” said Prof Kuipa. — @ncubeleon

President Mugabe

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
PRESIDENT Mugabe has passed three Bills into law in a move that is expected to improve the ease of doing business.

The National Competitiveness Commission Bill, the Judicial Laws Amendment (Ease of Settling Commercial and Other Disputes) Bill as well as the Deeds Registries Amendment Bill have been passed into law, Parliament said in a notice.

The National Competitiveness Commission Act establishes the National Competitiveness Commission and provides for its functions and management.

The law also seeks to enable a competitive environment for Zimbabwean businesses through the development, co-ordination and implementation of key policy improvements as well as repeal of the National Incomes and Pricing Act of 2007.

The Judicial Laws Amendment (Ease of Settling Commercial and Other Disputes) Act provides for an Intellectual Property Tribunal, constituted in terms of the Intellectual Property Tribunal Act, to be declared a specialised division of the High Court.

The law alters sections of the High Court Act, the Magistrates Court Act and the Small Claims Court Act to speed up and facilitate the settlement of  disputes.

The law brings legal proceedings in the country up to speed with the realities of the digital era and facilitates the settlement of matters in a rapid and effective manner.

On the other hand, the Deeds Registries Amendment Act will ensure that the deeds registry process will be conducted electronically as part of the ongoing ease of doing business reforms being championed by the Government.

The provision for online deeds is set to revolutionise business operations particularly issues around property ownership transfers.

“The registrar may establish an electronic registry, for which purpose notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, the Registrar may – (a) digitise every register, deed, document or other record under his or her charge; and (b) establish and maintain a computer system for the purpose of applying information technology to any process or procedure under this Act, including the despatch and receipt and processing of any deed, return, record, declaration, form, notice, statement or other document for the purposes of this Act. (2) The electronic registry shall become operational from such date as the Registrar, in consultation with the Minister, shall specify by notice in a statutory instrument,” reads part of the Act. – @AuxiliaK