Blessings Chidakwa and Amanda Chikari, Midlands Reporters
A TEACHER and a pupil from Tsungai High School in Nembudziya, Gokwe North, died on the spot when a vehicle they were travelling in overturned near Kwekwe yesterday morning.

The accident occurred near Truckers’ Inn at Gokwe turnoff along the Kwekwe- Harare highway about, 5km from Kwekwe town centre.

Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the accident.

“I confirm that we received such a report where two people died in an accident in Kwekwe this morning. Investigations are underway,” she said.

Kwekwe mayor councillor Matenda Madzoke said the vehicle was carrying pupils and a teacher from Tsungai High School in Nembudziya and was going to Gweru for a schools function.

He said on approaching the Gokwe turn off, the driver of the vehicle who is a teacher, failed to stop at the intersection.

Clr Madzoke said on realising that he was entering the Kwekwe-Harare highway, the driver tried to suddenly turn and the vehicle over turned killing a teacher and a pupil on the spot.

“We suspect the driver was speeding hence he almost drove through the junction,” said the Mayor.

Clr Madzoke urged drivers to exercise caution when driving to avoid unnecessary loss of life.

@Amanda47

Midlands Correspondent /Patrick Chtumba
The Sheriff of the High Court yesterday attached vehicles, machinery and other movable property belonging to the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco) following an execution order granted by the High Court over retrenched employees’ unpaid salaries.

Zisco’s former employees, who were represented by Matsikidze-Mucheche and Partners Legal Practitioners, are owed more than $60 million in unpaid salaries dating back to eight years ago.

The Deputy Sheriff was yesterday seen collecting machinery and other movable property for auction at the company’s plant in Redcliff. The news crew was barred from entering the company premises by the security personnel.

The property attached is believed to be worth millions of dollars.

According to a High Court case No. 4024/16, Judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba awarded by consent an arbitration award to 1 388 employees amounting to $38, 2 million being net salaries owed workers by Ziscosteel and Essar Africa Holdings (Pvt) LTD.

Ziscosteel is listed as the first responded while Essar Africa Holdings (Pvt) LTD is the second.

A former Zisco employee who refused to be named said the workers had gone for eight years without being paid salaries prior to their retrenchment on a three months’ notice by Government in 2016.

“On Tuesday, the Messenger of Court came and attached movable properties that include vehicles,” said the employee. “Today (yesterday) the Messenger of Court came and took some equipment from stores and an assortment of machinery from the machine shop.

“We have not been paid for about eight years before we were dismissed from work last year. We are owed more than $60 million by Government in unpaid salaries. When we were retrenched we were not paid retrenchment packages as agreed.

“We also noticed that some prospective investors came to the site and we are informed they are from China.”

Benedict Moyo, the workers representative chairperson declined to comment on the matter.

Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa could neither confirm nor deny the development.

“Well, the administration of the ministry cannot be discussed in the newspaper,” she said. “What I can say to you is that the Zisco situation is under control and that it will be resuscitated regardless of the existing challenges.

“We are not going to fold hands because of the issues of the Messenger of Court. Resuscitation of Zisco is part of the ministry’s priorities. We are not saying there are no challenges but we are addressing them. If there is anyone who got frustrated and roped in the Messenger of Court it is understood. However, that would not hamper Government’s efforts to resuscitate Zisco.”

@pchitumba1

Minister Walter Mzembi

Collen Murahwa, Harare Bureau
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Dr Walter Mzembi yesterday expressed frustration over the continued existence of numerous police road blocks on the country’s highways, saying Zimbabwe was not a war zone.

He said road blocks were a blow to the tourism sector.

Speaking at the launch of the Economic Development in Africa Report 2017, Dr Mzembi urged the police to revise their policing culture.

“My frustration is with tourism facilitation,” he said. “I have been in the news pleading for a more judicious, reasonable policing of the travelling public, whether it is domestic tourism or international traffic.”

“The arguments are really between us the sector, ministries and the sectors that facilitate and enable us.

“If it takes so long as it has done or has been the case, to be heard for things that are so apparent then that is what we call frustration.

“You know what is right for the market and you keep on pushing. You shout about it and the world has international benchmarks and standards that speak to how policing should be done.”

Dr Mzembi said police played an integral role in any country, but their operations should be within international standards.

“We are not asking not to be policed,” he said. “We want to be policed according to international benchmarks. We are not a war zone. We are not a conflict zone, but we want to be policed decently so that we facilitate legitimate travel.”

Dr Mzembi said he was yet to meet Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo over the matter, but would push for such a meeting. He also condemned the use of spikes by the police.

“I do not know where there is a workshop that makes these things, but perhaps maybe only in Zimbabwe,” he said. “We should not try to do things that are questionable to the international best practices.”

Dr Mzembi said it was beneficial for the country to adopt good practices.

“That is not sabotage,” he said. “It is actually making a plea for the greater good of the economy and this does not happen in policing only, we also see it at immigration.

“There is absolutely no reason for a country with 14 million people to create queues. We are only 14 million and creating queues for everything. These are small things, but they speak to markets.”

Dr Mzembi appealed for a larger share of resources in the National Budget to boost tourism.

Innocent Ruwende, Harare Bureau
Zimbabwe’s major local authorities are owed more than $1 billion in unpaid bills by residents, Government, industry and commerce, a situation partly to blame for poor service delivery by most councils.

Some of the local authorities are reportedly failing to collect refuse and provide other basic services as well as pay salaries.

Residents, commerce and industry are said to be the biggest culprits.

Harare finance director, Mr Tendai Kwenda said Harare was owed more than $658 million and the city was using various strategies including evictions of those leasing council properties as well as issuing summons against defaulters in an attempt to recover its dues.

The city, armed with court orders, is in the process of evicting defaulting tenants over debts amounting to more than $10 million in Highfield and Glen Norah.

“We have employed various strategies to recover the money we are owed. We have availed easier bill payments with various banks including Ecocash, One Wallet and Telecash. We are entering into debt set off arrangements with larger organisations like Government debts with Zimra indebtedness, NetOne with council bills, Zimphos rates for water chemicals, Local Authorities Pension Fund set off with retired personnel pension,” he said.

The city says it hired private debt collectors — Wellcash debt collectors —who were efficient but their operations were frustrated by pressure groups.

Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo said council was owed more than $150 million by residents, Government and business.

“We are engaging our residents because the revenue we are getting is declining. We are encouraging our residents to enter into payment plans but sometimes we are forced to disconnect water supplies,” he said.

Mutare Mayor Mr Tatenda Nhamarare said council was now resorting to debt collectors as it was owed more than $41 million.

Chitungwiza ratepayers owe the local authority close to $60 million in unpaid rates and bills as of June 21, 2017.

Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze said ratepayers and Government owed the city more than $42 million.

“We are encouraging ratepayers to enter into payment plans. We are getting 60 to 70 percent of what we bill. We are using debt collectors in some instances for the business community,” he said.

The Kwekwe Mayor Tatenda Madzoke said council was owed over $30 million by Government, residents and business.

“We are now requesting our senior employees, including directors, to chase up debts. We are collecting less than 50 percent of what we bill, a situation which is affecting service delivery,” he said.

Clr Madzoke said under normal circumstances, council collected more than $2 million but it was now getting between $700 000 and $1 million on a good month.

Gweru City Council was owed more than $52 million by ratepayers as at May this year.

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has smashed a massive fuel smuggling scandal at Beitbridge Border Post after it intercepted two tankers carrying over 40 000 litres of petrol worth more than R233 000.

The petrol had been declared as Jet A1 fuel.

Petrol attracts $0,45 per litre in excise duty, while Jet A1 is duty free.

A litre of petrol is sold for $1,34 on the local market and the State stood to lose $18 000 in revenue.

Our Harare Bureau is reliably informed that the contraband was being cleared by Fortune Freight of Beitbridge and carried in two South African registered trucks belonging to (Wardens).

A source within the Ferret team made up of Zimra, police and other security agents said the two trucks were intercepted on Monday following a tip off.

He said the incident comes a few days after another two trucks were intercepted while carrying petrol disguised as soya oil.

“In most cases, these syndicates make false declarations claiming they are shipping in paraffin, bulk cooking oil or soya oil to evade paying import duty,” said the official.

“No arrests have been made as yet, but the information we have is that the consignment was destined for Kaladan Investments of Bulawayo The petrol was bought from South Africa and the owners declared it as Jet A1 petrol destined for Joshua Mqabuko International Airport.

“We acted on the information when the consignment reached Beitbridge Border Post. The vehicle drivers disappeared on Monday soon after getting wind of the interception, but later came back on the same day.”

The source said samples of the fuel were taken for laboratory test and proved to be petrol.

The trucks were impounded pending further investigations.

By the end of the day yesterday, the two trucks were still parked on the customs yard’s commercial export section.

“We suspect the syndicate has been in operation for a very long time and we want to warn the others culprits that the honey moon is over,” said the source.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele said he was yet to be briefed.

“You may find out from customs and excise authorities,” he said.

Zimra’s acting board secretary, corporate and communications Ms Ropafadzai Majaja could neither confirm nor deny the incident.

“I am unable to furnish you with specific details pertaining to clients cleared by Zimra because of secrecy provisions of the Revenue Authority Act [Chapter 23:11],” she said.

“The Revenue Authority Act precludes the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority from divulging specific details pertaining to its clients to a third party.”

Ms Majaja said fuel clearance process involved the verification of documents submitted by the importer or clearing agent.

After that the tankers pass through the scanner to confirm the nature of its load.

“A post-clearance verification is done by Zimra’s Anti-Smuggling Unit in line with the authority’s risk profiling parameters,” she said. “In addition, we may verify documentation with counterparts such as the South African Revenue Service (SARS), where necessary.

“Electronic seals are attached for monitoring the trucks from point of entry to exit where the fuel is in transit through Zimbabwe.”

In February, Zimra intercepted four fuel tankers which entered the country carrying 140 000 litres of diesel purportedly destined for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The fuel was offloaded in Chitungwiza and the tankers were filled with water.

The State was prejudiced of $55 650 as a result of the scam.

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
SIX Bulawayo women have been arrested after they were intercepted at the Plumtree Border Post trying to smuggle 514 kilogrammes of copper valued at $5 225 from the country into Botswana.

Sithokozile Ngwenya (46) was found in possession of 120 kilogrammes of copper, Grace Murimi (55) had 70 kilogrammes, Nompumelelo Zulu (35), 137 kilogrammes, Celesani Ndlovu (41), 58 kilogrammes, Like Ndlovu (46), 51 kilogrammes while Sibusisiwe Dube (50) was found in possession of 78 kilogrammes of copper.

The six women, who appeared separately, were convicted on their own plea of guilty when they appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Taurai Manwere facing charges of dealing in copper without a licence.

They were each fined $200 which must be paid by July 31. Each will be jailed for two months imprisonment in case of default.

Prosecuting, Mr Stanley Chinyanganya said the six women were intercepted at the Plumtree Border Post on July 3 at around 10PM while travelling in a GN Zikhale Bus.

“On 3 July at around 10PM, the women were travelling aboard a GN Zikhale Bus which was bound for Botswana. The bus was searched by Zimra officers at the Plumtree Border Post. They discovered that Ngwenya was in possession of 128 kilogrammes of copper worth $1 280 which was hidden in a sack among her luggage.

“Mirimi had 70,5 kilogrammes valued at $705 also hidden in a sack. Zulu had 137,5 kilogrammes valued at $1 370 hidden in a sack. Ndlovu was found with 58 kilogrammes valued at $580. Like had 51 kilogrammes valued at $510 and Dube had 78 kilogrammes valued at $780,” he said.

Mr Chinyanganya said a report was made to the police who established that the six women intended to smuggle the copper into Botswana for sale.

He said the women were each asked to produce a licence to deal in copper but they all failed resulting in their arrest.

In mitigation, all women said they committed the offence to raise money to fend for their families.— @DubeMatutu

Amanda Chikari, Midlands Reporter
REDCLIFF municipality has approached Government seeking approval to retrench over 50 employees by the end of this month as part of a staff rationalisation process.

The local authority which is in arrears in terms of paying salaries for its 234 workers says the move to retrench is aimed at bringing down the council’s wage bill.

In an interview yesterday, Kwekwe mayor Councillor Fred Kapuya said council was struggling to meet its salary obligations.

Clr Kapuya said the municipality could not continue to increase monies owed to workers in workers’ salaries and packages, hence it has to retrench and remain effective in terms of service delivery.

“As a local authority we are struggling to pay our workers because we are cash strapped. We have seen it fit to retrench and we are seeking government approval to undertake the exercise by the end of this month because that is the only way for us to survive,” he said.

Clr Kapuya said the drastic and unpopular decision was arrived at after workers refused to accept pay cuts to save jobs.

“We engaged them wanting to cut their salaries but they refused that route and we have no option but to retrench. We had 300 employees but we have not  been replacing those who would have retired, fired or died leaving us with this current 234 workers,” he said.

Clr Kapuya said they were also seeking a new town clerk after Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza left the local authority for Gweru City Council last year to assume the same post.  He said they were in the process of submitting three candidates to the Local Government Board for approval.— @amanda49

Cde Saviour Kasukuwere

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
MORE than 1 300 housing stands were commissioned in Victoria Falls yesterday, paving the way for their allocation to beneficiaries.

Last year Victoria Falls municipality entered into a $12 million partnership with CBZ bank to service the housing stands targeting low income earners.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister, Christopher Chingosho,  commissioned the 1 353 low density and medium density housing.

One stand was handed over to a beneficiary Mr Reason Nyoni, with more allocations expected to start today.

CBZ Holdings chief executive officer Mr Never Nyemudzo said all the stands had been sold out as he invited beneficiaries to start applying for mortgage loans from the bank. Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Sifiso Mpofu said the completion of the project is a milestone.

The housing scheme has been hanging in the balance as more than 400 home seekers in the resort town were at loggerheads with the municipality over a piece of land, which they invaded to stop the bank from allocating beneficiaries.

However, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere who was in Victoria Falls for the 36th Shelter Afrique annual general meeting on Wednesday said none of the concerned beneficiaries would lose their stands. Shelter Afrique, an organisation that deals with financing of housing projects in the continent, is in partnership with the bank in funding the project. — @ncubeleon.

Gift Banda

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
THE High Court has ordered an independent tribunal that recommended the axing of former Bulawayo deputy mayor Mr Gift Banda to immediately release a record of its proceedings pending the review of the matter.

Mr Banda who was sacked from council by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere following recommendations made by the independent tribunal, is challenging his dismissal.

Mr Banda was fired in February this year together with Ward 21 Councillor Reuben Matengu after appearing before the independent tribunal for gross misconduct and mismanagement following their suspension in September 2016.

In papers before the High Court, Mr Banda cited Minister Kasukuwere, Bulawayo City Council, the independent tribunal and its members Advocate Hilda Makusha Moyo, Midard Khumalo and Lucy Manhokwe as respondents.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi ordered the independent tribunal to immediately release the record of proceedings of the hearing following an application by Mr Banda.

The fired deputy mayor through his lawyers TJ Mabhikwa and Partners sought an order directing the independent tribunal to release the record of proceedings pending an application for review of the decision by Minister Kasukuwere to fire him.

In his application for review, Mr Banda wants the court to reinstate him without any loss of allowances and benefits.

Mr Banda was found guilty of unprocedurally getting a lease for the construction of a social club at Hume Park but was exonerated in the purchase of a piece of land at Ascot race course for the construction of town houses.

Mr Matengu on the other hand was found guilty of selling a residential stand in Southwold suburb, which he had bought under a special facility which gave him a 40 percent discount on the purchase price. He was not supposed to resell it according to the agreement of sale.

In his founding affidavit, Mr Banda said the tribunal erred when it found him guilty of gross misconduct, arguing that its decision was premised on irregular and unreasonable findings.

“The basis of this application is that the decision of the first respondent (independent) finding me guilty of an act of gross misconduct in the acquisition of lease by Entertainment Headquarters is grossly irregular and unreasonable.

“It is premised on the independent tribunal’s grossly irregular and unreasonable finding that by co-signing the application for a lease by Entertainment Headquarters I wanted to influence the decision on the application yet council did not approve or grant the application, which I had co-signed,” he said.

Mr Banda said he co-signed an application for lease for Entertainment Headquarters in respect of the construction of a social club situated between 2nd and 4th Avenue along Samuel Parirenyatwa Street in Bulawayo. He said the application was unsuccessful.

He said there was no evidence that he tried to influence the process.

“In fact, evidence before the tribunal proved that procedure was religiously followed in the application made by Entertainment Headquarters, and there was no evidence of interference by myself with the processing of the application. The decision of the tribunal is not supported by evidence in the record of proceedings which is incomplete and inconclusive,” he said.—@mashnets.

VP Phelekezela Mphoko

Pamela Shumba,  Senior Reporter
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko has said chiefs and MPs must ensure that locals benefit from resources in their areas.

The VP said this as he warned corrupt business people who loot timber from Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North to enrich themselves at the expense of locals to stop their activities.

VP Mphoko made the remarks while officially commissioning a new settlement for Tsholotsho flood victims at Tshino Primary School on Monday.

He tasked Tsholotsho North Member of Parliament Professor Jonathan Moyo to make sure that people in the area benefit from their resources.

“We have timber here but people must know that it belongs to the people of Tsholotsho. I was disappointed when I was informed that there are people coming with haulage trucks to loot timber at the expense of our local people.

“This is what happened in Chiadzwa. The villagers in that area remained with nothing after people from other areas looted everything. We’ll not accept it in this province. The local MP and the traditional leaders must make sure that these greedy people don’t come here looting our resources,” said VP Mphoko.

He said authorities in Tsholotsho must help locals to establish factories to manufacture furniture for sale.

“We have been preaching about value addition and beneficiation. Even President Mugabe is always encouraging beneficiation, not only in gold but across the board.

“This is what we want to happen in Tsholotsho. We want a factory to be built so that locals can manufacture furniture and sell outside the province and outside the country. These business people can then come here and buy furniture from the villagers,” said VP Mphoko.

Villagers in Tsholotsho have over the years urged Tsholotsho Rural District Council to make sure that they are involved in the exploitation of their natural resources.

They have also demanded that the RDC consults them when making decisions on how to use proceeds from the sale of timber to safeguard the interests of locals.— @pamelashumba1

Professor Arthur Mutambara holds his book, “In search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream,” at its launch at the Small City Hall in Bulawayo yesterday

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
FORMER Deputy Prime Minister in the inclusive Government, Professor Arthur Mutambara, yesterday said he is considering bouncing back into politics.

Prof Mutambara, who was MDC leader, withdrew from politics and public life at the end of the inclusive Government in July 2013, following a heavy electoral defeat of opposition parties by Zanu-PF.

He resurfaced last month to launch an autobiography, In Search of the Elusive Zimbabwean Dream: An Autobiography of Thought Leadership (Volume One.).

The autobiography details his life from his formative stage as a child, his stint as a student at the University of Zimbabwe, up to the time when he was one of the principals in the Global Political Agreement in 2009.

He launched it in Harare and Johannesburg, South Africa last month and in Bulawayo yesterday, at an event attended by politicians, academics and civic organisations and members of different political parties.

Responding to questions from guests at yesterday’s launch in Bulawayo, Prof Mutambara said he was revising his retirement from politics.

“I retired from politics by the way but I have to revise my retirement. I seek to gain political power, combine it with ideas and make a difference in this country,” said Prof Mutambara.

He called on Zimbabweans to move away from nationalism and embrace globalisation for economic revival.

“My triangle talks about vision, strategy and execution. Execution is missing. We’re very good at planning and dreaming but we lack execution. I’m a believer of execution.

“A poorly cast strategy is better than a perfect strategy which is never implemented. The Zimbabwean dream is the African dream. Think about it, every African nation has a problem around those areas, inclusive economic growth, shared economic prosperity, peace, stability and freedom are missing in Malawi, Rwanda, Nigeria and many other African countries,” said Prof Mutambara.

He emphasised on the need to work on creating and developing the Zimbabwean dream through working with other African countries.

“The framework is applicable to Malawi, DRC and Rwanda. But more importantly under globalisation, Zimbabwe won’t make it alone but as Sadc, South Africa won’t make it alone but as Sadc.

“Just 55 million people in South Africa is too small a number, Zimbabwe has only 14 million people, Botswana two million. These are small numbers. You can’t negotiate with the Chinese with two million people when they have 1,3 billion people,” said Prof Mutambara.

Numbers, he added, are fundamental under globalisation.

“We’ll make it as we think about Sadc, the free trade area, Comesa, East African Community -600 million people. Imagine if we were to go and talk about 1,1 billion people in Africa to the Americans, Chinese or the Japanese.

“They will listen to us not out of love but out of economics because we represent 1,1 billion people as a market and source base,” said Prof Mutambara.

He added national competitiveness and attractiveness was a thing of the past and there was need to talk about regional attractiveness.

“As Zimbabweans let’s make sure that we work with others to create a united and integrated African continent. This will allow us to succeed as Africans.

You’ll never be respected as an African until we’ve done well as a continent. “We can’t be a super star unless the African economy is a superstar economy.”

“Our destinies as Africans are super twined together. Be an African first, a member of Sadc second and a Zimbabwean third,” said Prof Mutambara.

Speaking at the same occasion, academic Professor Phineas Makhurane commended Professor Mutambara for writing his book, saying he was proud of him.

“I’m proud to produce such a student. I’m encouraging fellow academics not to think about becoming ministers, but administrators.

“Let’s think of bringing new ideas that Professor Mutambara has brought in the different sectors of the economy,” said Prof Makhurane. — @pamelashumba1.

Simesihle Mildred Ndlovu kisses the trophy she was awarded for being the best student in Environmental Science with distinctions as well as best overall student in the Pre-service Programme during the United College of Education graduation ceremony at the college in Bulawayo yesterday. (Picture By Dennis Mudzamiri)

Auxilia Katongomara/Nyaradzo Bakani, Chronicle Reporters
GOVERNMENT has bemoaned the sharp decline in the enrolment of teachers for Special Needs Education (SNE) with that at the United College of Education in Bulawayo falling from more than 60 students to five over four years.

There is a high need of SNE teachers in the country’s primary and secondary schools in line with the all-inclusive curriculum.

Special needs classes cater for children with severe learning difficulties, arising from physical or behaviourial challenges.

Addressing guests at the 49th graduation ceremony at the UCE yesterday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo said while the college had recorded commendable growth in other disciplines, the decline in SNE enrolment was regrettable.

“It is regrettable, however, that there has been a 50 percent decline in the number of in-service Special Needs Education graduands. I am informed that their number dropped from 67 in 2013 to 56 in 2014, 43 in 2015, 26 in 2016 and today we have only 13 who are graduating,” said Prof Moyo.

“I’m told that this decline, among other reasons, is due to competitors on the market; such as the Reformed Church University and Great Zimbabwe University who offer a higher qualification than the diploma at UCE.

“This is despite the fact that UCE has competitive advantage of having better, if not the best, technological equipment, infrastructure and teaching competency to enable it to stand up to the competition in the provision of Special Needs Education,” said Prof Moyo.

Prof Moyo challenged the institution to offer a degree in Special Needs Education through Open Distance Learning to increase enrolment as teachers would study while at their work stations.

From the 491 graduands who graduated yesterday, 354 were from the General course, 124 from Early Childhood Development and only 13 from SNE, nine of them female and four males.

“Our Ministry has also given UCE the mandate to directly enrol teachers into the Special Needs Education programme. The Ministry is aware of the infrastructure challenge facing UCE,” said Prof Moyo.

He said to assist with the construction of the requisite infrastructure for SNE, the Government had engaged a Lead Financial Advisor to raise resources to support the Ministry’s thrust to develop and train high-end skills at teachers colleges to support Zimbabwe`s industrialisation and modernisation.

Prof Moyo said tertiary institutions should take advantage of the infrastructure bonds to construct stemitised laboratories and modernised accommodation for students and lecturers.

UCE Principal Mr Adam Luthuli said the SNE enrolment continued to dwindle as they had only five students in the present intake.

Mr Luthuli said they had come up with an intervention called the Inclusive and Special Education Needs (ISEN).

“The new breed of teacher to be produced through the ISEN programme has the versatility to teach the regular learners as well as learners with special educational needs. We believe our ISEN teacher is the teacher for tomorrow,” said Mr Luthuli.

The college principal said they were working on increasing minority languages and they had already come up with draft for the Nambya syllabus which had already been sent to the University of Zimbabwe for approval.

The ceremony also saw the inaugural graduation of ChiTonga students which was also witnessed by Senator Chief Nkathazo Siansole.

University of Zimbabwe Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Pedzisai Mashiri said the Tonga students who had graduated with diplomas from UCE could now enrol for a Bachelor’s degree at their institution and would immediately enrol as second year students.

The graduation ceremony held under the theme “Creating an adaptable 21st Century teacher for sustainable development was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, principals from other teachers’ colleges as well as polytechnics among other guests.

Since the college’s inception, a total of 15 509 students have graduated, 11 628 graduated in the General Course Programme, 2 005 in ECD and 1 876 in SNE.

VP Emmerson Mnangangwa

Oliver Kazunga in Victoria Falls
VICE President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday urged Zimbabweans to support the consumption of domestic products and drift from the mindset that foreign goods are superior to those produced locally.

Addressing delegates to the 7th Buy Local Summit and Investment Forum here yesterday evening, the VP, who was the guest of honour, said the Government would continue coming up with strategies aimed at promoting industrial productivity and export competitiveness and resuscitation of ailing industries.

“I would like to conscientise our citizens to drift away from the notion that anything foreign is good for them, irrespective of contents, long-term after effects and packaging, as some Zimbabwean products are equally good if not better.

“As Government, we will continue coming up with strategies to promote industrial productivity and export competitiveness and through resuscitation of ailing industries or retooling and optimal utilisation of industrial space,” he said.

“I therefore, urge industrialists and investors to take advantage of policy instruments gazetted by Government to set up new companies and/or plants in a number of supported sectors and increase their capacity and competitiveness.”

This, VP Mnangagwa said, can also be implemented through Public Private Partnerships, Build Operate and Transfer, Build Own Operate and joint ventures, among others in line with the 10-point Plan enunciated by President Mugabe.

As financial literacy levels were improving, he said the Buy Zimbabwe campaign should be blended with more use of plastic money.

He said to fully industrialise and integrate the mainstream economy, there was a need to ensure effective demand where consumers would be willing and able to buy products and services for their needs.

The Buy Local Summit and Investment Forum, which began on Wednesday and ends today is running under the theme, “Driving industrialisation through local content”.

The VP noted that the theme dovetailed with the Government initiatives for promoting industrial growth and economic development through regulatory framework that promotes local production and the Buy Zimbabwe initiative.

VP Mnangagwa noted the need to ensure locally available equipment and products should not be imported.

“Our industrial sector, by and large, remains the major driving force in turning around the fortunes of the economy not only from a productivity point of view but also for its potential to enhance the country’s export earnings.

“Local production and value chains as well as forward and backward linkages need to be strengthened in order for the Buy Zimbabwe initiative to be successful with the long-term objective of penetrating the global market,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa pointed out that Buy Zimbabwe should not in any way be an opportunity to inculcate monopolistic behaviours, instead companies must be cognisant of the regional and international pricing and productivity trends. He said this would ensure Zimbabwean products are globally competitive.

“I therefore exhort the Competition and Tariff Commission to execute their statutory function in terms of Section 5 of the Competition Act (Chapter 14:28) which encourage and promote fair competition in any sector of the economy, reduction of barriers to entry into any sector of the economy or to form any economy activity, to investigate, discourage and prevent restrictive practices as well as monitoring prices, cost and profits in any industry or business,” said the VP.

He challenged industry and commerce to be pro-active and forward-thinking regarding the business potential of other Government projects such as Tokwe Mukosi and Gwayi Shangani dams, and the development of irrigation infrastructure, implementation of Command Livestock programme, Special Economic Zones, and renewable energy programmes. – @okazunga.

Justice Rita Makarau

Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) yesterday ruled out the possibility of foreign-based citizens voting from outside the country saying the law does not provide for voting in foreign jurisdictions.

Zec chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau, said external voting was a settled issue after the Constitutional Court dismissed a case in which one Mr Tavengwa Bukaibenyu lost a bid to compel the electoral management body to provide mechanisms for those in the diaspora to vote.

Justice Makarau said this yesterday while addressing political parties and senior media practitioners during an update on the 2018 polls.

She said those in the diaspora should return to Zimbabwe not only to register to vote but to exercise their right to vote while in the country.

“There is an issue that has come up time and again and we need to put an end to that. Will diasporeans be able to register to vote? Yes, they can register to vote. They can come back here, present themselves before a voter registration officer, with their proof of identity and an address within Zimbabwe. Come voting day, voting has been allocated to a polling station. Will we establish polling stations outside Zimbabwe? No!” said Justice Makarau.

She said they were bound by the Constitutional Court ruling dismissing the application for those in the diaspora to vote where they are based.

“We will not and the reason that we will not is not necessarily that we do not want to. It is because the law as it currently stands does not give us powers to do so,” said Justice Makarau.

“The Constitutional Court, although it was using the old constitution said ‘no’. We are being guided by that ruling unless it is changed. I just wanted that to be clear. We are not going to set up a polling station outside Zimbabwe not because we do not want to but because the law said we cannot and the Constitutional Court which is the highest court in the land has come up in support of that position. So if you are to fight that battle do not bring it to Zec, please take it back to court.”

Mr Bukaibenyu had cited the Minster of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Zec and the Registrar General as respondents.

Justice Makarau’s assertion dovetailed with a view by University of Zimbabwe law lecturer Professor Lovemore Madhuku who told legislators recently that the right to vote is not absolute.

He said in terms of the Constitution, the right to vote was not listed among those rights that cannot be taken away, meaning such a right can be withdrawn in certain circumstances.

Prof Madhuku was addressing legislators and civic society last week during an interface meeting aimed at considering a petition to Parliament by the Election Resource Centre that wanted the Government amend the Electoral Act.

Felex Share, Harare Bureau
The Command Agriculture programme will be subjected to an audit by the Auditor General’s Office to ensure transparency and accountability, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has said.

This comes amid revelations that by the end of June, $2,4 million of $32 million disbursed for maize deliveries by the Grain Marketing Board had been recovered from Command Agriculture farmers.

The money is being deposited into the Command Agriculture Fund at a local bank.

The fund, which was established last year and approved by Parliament, is being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development.

Documents obtained from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development yesterday revealed that Command Agriculture would be audited by the country’s supreme audit institution, the Auditor General’s Office.

The office is mandated by the Constitution to inspect accounts, financial systems and financial management of all departments, institutions and agencies of government and local authorities.

“Within three months following the end of each financial year, the secretary for Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development shall submit to the Auditor General, financial statements and other relevant information for audit as required under the Public Finance Management Act and as directed by the Treasury,” the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said.

“All monies recovered from the beneficiaries under Command Agriculture Scheme are accounted for under the Command Agriculture Fund approved by Parliament for the purpose. The Command Agriculture Fund was established in November 2016, and is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development with recoveries maintained by Agribank. Furthermore, all recoveries under this fund are subject to internal audit by staff from the line ministry.”

This is far from claims by Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo that the programme lacked accountability.

He claimed there were no monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Prof Moyo, a beneficiary of the programme, has been attacking the programme daily on social media alleging abuse of funds.

He has also tried to divide Government officials on the issue, bringing in succession politics into play.

Command Agriculture, which President Mugabe has described as “beautiful” is the brain child of First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe aimed at ensuring food security.

It was adopted by Cabinet with Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa being assigned to supervise its implementation.

The Vice President chairs the Cabinet Committee on Food Security and Nutrition.

Command Agriculture is one of the quick-win deliverables under Zim-Asset’s Food Security and Nutrition Cluster.

It is also encapsulated in President Mugabe’s 10-Point Plan under the goal: “Revitalising agriculture and the agro-processing value chain”.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said beneficiaries of the programme had begun paying back what they owe with peak deliveries expected next month.

“To plug any repayment leakages, for those farmers whose stop order forms are still to reach the GMB, 80 percent of the value of maize delivered by the farmer is retained by GMB for depositing into the Command Agriculture Fund until the farmer compiles by depositing the stop order form as required under the programme,” the ministry said.

The Finance Ministry said a number of private sector potential financiers made submission of expression of interest to support the programme but some were offering unfavourable terms and conditions.

Government settled for Sakunda Holdings which funded the programme together with the Presidential Input Scheme to the tune of $192 million.
Government offered security on behalf farmers through non-tradable Treasury Bills.

“In this regard, total expression of interest, inclusive of those from banks and insurance and pensions sector amounted to over $1 billion,” the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said.

“Terms and conditions varied with interest pricings of up to 12 percent.”

The interest rate on the Sakunda Holdings facility was five percent and was approved by Cabinet on October 3 last year.

On monitoring and evaluation of the programme, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development had enough mechanisms to ensure “effective utilisation of inputs, production and recovery of on-lent resources form farmers.”

The ministry said 10 provincial teams with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, security Ministries, Office of the President and Cabinet and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development were in the field evaluating the exercise.

Vice President Mnangagwa

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Zanu-PF Midlands provincial leadership have started holding rallies in Chiwundura ahead of a star rally to be addressed by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa next Wednesday, just days before a local by-election on July 15.

The party’s provincial chairperson Cde Daniel Mackenzie Ncube said central committee members and provincial members have descended on all wards addressing party members and recruiting more people.

He said next Wednesday, there would be a star rally addressed by VP Mnangagwa.

Cde Ncube said they were confident of retaining the Chiwundura parliamentary seat.

The party’s candidate Cde Brown Ndlovu will battle it out with three other candidates: Mr Takudzwa Guzete of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Mr Brighton of the Mudzwiti FreeZim Congress and Mr Webster Zulu- of Progressive Democrats of Zimbabwe (PDZ).

“Our campaign in the constituency is in full swing and we have been holding rallies in all the 67 polling areas. Members from the provincial leadership including central committee members invaded the constituency addressing party members and we are optimistic of retaining the seat. We have received support from the people,” said Cde Ncube.

“We don’t just want to win the seat but do it convincingly registering our presence as a party in the constituency, the province and the country at large. We are sending a clear message that Zanu-PF is a party to vote for come the 2018 elections. We are going to have a rally on Sunday before a star rally on Wednesday that will be addressed by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.”

Cde Ndlovu has been funding self-help projects for the youth and women’s league in the constituency.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared the Chiwundura parliamentary seat vacant following the death of the incumbent Cde Kizito Chivamba in April.

President Mugabe subsequently declared July 15 as the date for the by-election.

Cde Chivamba, a former Zanu-PF Midlands deputy chairman, was declared a liberation war hero and buried at the Midlands Provincial Heroes’ Acre in Gweru. — @pchitumba1.

THE new magistrate Ms Rachel Rumbidzai Mukanga (left) raises her right hand while being sworn in by the Chief Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe (right) at Tredgold Building courts yesterday (Picture by Dennis Mudzamiri)

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
CHIEF Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe yesterday slammed corrupt judicial officers and warned the public to desist from influencing magistrates through bribes.

Mr Guvamombe, who was speaking at the swearing-in of a new magistrate, Ms Rachel Rumbidzai Mukanga (27), at the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Courts, said those caught on the wrong side of the law would be dealt with.

“Our stance against corruption is well documented. Never be tempted to make corrupt decisions and we are saying any magistrate who engages in corruption is not worth to be a judicial officer. If you are caught, all the years of toiling at university will come to naught, and in the same vein the litigating public must not tempt the new magistrates with bribes,” he said.

Mr Guvamombe said litigants must desist from using the complaints mechanism as a way of removing a magistrate from a case by making false allegations.

“While we welcome genuine complaints, litigants must not resort to administrative measures to solve their issues. There is always the review or appeal mechanism to follow in the event that one is dissatisfied with the procedure or outcome of his or her matter. Litigants must not cast aspersions on judicial officers as this demoralises a magistrate,” he said.

Mr Guvamombe commended under-staffed magistrates who are forced to work long hours to clear the backlog of cases.

Out of the authorised 250 magistrates, only 194 are employed. There are 56 vacancies due to the job freeze imposed by Treasury.

Last year two Bulawayo magistrates left the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in protest after they were redeployed to new stations. Mr Abednico Ndebele, who was based at the Western Commonage magistrate’s courts had been transferred to Esigodini while Ms Marylin Mutshina had been redeployed to Mutoko.

Mr Guvamombe urged the new magistrate to make decisions guided by law and not social standing, creed or colour.

The newly sworn magistrate holds a law degree from the Midlands State University (MSU). She joined the JSC in November last year as a trainee magistrate. Between July 2015 and October 2016, Ms Mukanga worked as a judge’s assistant at the Harare High Court. — @mashnets

Thandeka Moyo in Kadoma
TEENAGE pregnancies, which are a major contributor to maternal and child mortality, remain high at 22 percent in the country at a time Government has set a target to reduce them to 12 percent by 2020.

Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council assistant director for evaluation and research, Mr Lovejoy Gamba, said Government is concerned with the high percentage of teenage pregnancies.

Speaking during a media sensitisation workshop, Mr Gamba said about a quarter of maternal deaths are caused by teenage pregnancies.

“During our time, teenage pregnancies were not even an issue but by 1994 we started crafting programmes to address the scourge. However, teenagers are not responding to any of the programmes hence the reason why we only managed to reduce teenage fertility by 2 percent from 24 against a target of reaching 12 percent by 2020,” said Mr Gamba.

He said the Ministry of Health and Child Care would present its findings and review of the targets next year before a global family planning summit audience.

“We may have to revise our targets as we only have about three years to reach the 2020 target of reducing teenage fertility rate to 12 percent. We are, however, working on improving programming for youth centres which requires huge investments,” said Mr Gamba.

Reasons for the high teenage pregnancies include among others child marriages, some beliefs in apostolic sects as well as unmet needs of family planning in adolescents.

The unmet need is the percentage of sexually active teenagers who wish to limit or postpone child bearing but are not currently using contraceptives.

“Our efforts are like a drop in the ocean and much needs to be done especially for teenagers in rural areas,” said Mr Gamba.

By preventing unintended pregnancies, family planning helps women avoid health risks.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF), family planning averts approximately 310 000 unintended pregnancies in Zimbabwe each year.

By investing in family planning now, the country can increase this number to almost 500 000 per year by 2020.

The UNPF also says Zimbabwe’s contraceptive prevalence rate is one of the highest in Africa at 59 percent. —  @thamamoe.

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
THE High Court has dismissed an application by a Bulawayo-based organisation representing prostitutes which was suing Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo and the police for refusing to sanction a march by its members to commemorate International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers.

The International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers is observed annually by sex workers, their advocates, friends and families in several cities around the world on December 17 each year.

The ruling by the Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese follows an application by Sexual Rights Centre which sought an order interdicting police from interfering with its future marches.

The organisation also wanted an order declaring the prohibition of its march, which was scheduled for December 17 last year, a violation of its members’ rights.

Sexual Rights Centre last year applied to the police in Bulawayo seeking permission to hold a march in Bulawayo.

Police, who are the regulating authority in terms of the Public Order and Security Act (Posa), refused to grant the organisation permission to demonstrate, arguing that prostitution was an illegal practice in the country.

In papers before the court, Sexual Rights Centre cited Minister Chombo, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Chief Superintendent Fungai Dengu, the officer commanding police in Bulawayo Central District, as the respondents.

Justice Makonese said prostitution was associated with immorality.

“The court does not operate in a vacuum and has to be sensitive to the acceptable moral standards of the society it operates in. It cannot be said that the sex industry is something that can be glorified or celebrated even in an open and democratic society,” said the judge.

He said although sex workers ply their trade for the purpose of fending for their families, societal values and expectations do not promote prostitution as a legitimate means of earning a living.

“It is not a trade the young generation is encouraged to emulate. It is a trade devoid of moral values and is demeaning and the normative values in our jurisdiction do not sit well with the promotion and glorification of sex trade and what it represents,” said Justice Makonese.

The judge said the promotion of sex work by holding commemorative marches further stigmatises sex workers.

“If this court allows prostitutes to parade, promote and glorify their trade, other groups of like-minded persons will be encouraged to promote perverse acts. A court of law cannot sanction such an absurdity. I am of the view that the enjoyment of the fundamental rights under section 58 and 59 of the constitution must recede and give way to the values of decency, human dignity and morality.

“I hereby dismiss the application with costs,” ruled Justice Makonese.

Sexual Rights Centre, through its lawyers Phulu and Ncube Legal Practitioners, said police had no legal basis to bar its members from staging a march, arguing that the cops’ actions was a violation of their constitutional rights.

Mr Humphrey Melusi Ndondo, who is director of the organisation, in his founding affidavit, said the march sought to bring to the fore the challenges faced by sex workers in the country as they go through day-today business.

“We merely wish to exercise our constitutional rights to freely demonstrate and assemble peacefully. We do not intend to harm anyone, but to create awareness on acts of violence and abuse perpetrated against sex workers,” said Mr Ndondo.

“Many sex workers and women in Zimbabwe and around the world are victims of harassment, stigma and violence. The first respondent (Chief Supt Dengu)’s decision to deny us the right to demonstrate is based on misinterpretation of the law and therefore it was unlawful and irrational.” — @mashnets

Professor Jonathan Moyo

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
CONSULTATIONS on proposals to turn 23 teachers’ colleges and polytechnics into degree awarding institutions have been completed, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has said.

Two committees were set up to transform the institutions; one for teachers’ colleges and another one for polytechnics respectively headed by Prof Chipo Dyanda and Prof David Simbi.

Their findings and recommendations are set to assist in the formulation of legal processes required to turn the institutions into degree awarding institutions.

In his address at the 49th graduation ceremony at the United College of Education in Bulawayo on Thursday, Prof Moyo said the two committees had completed their work.

“I’m aware that Principals of our 14 teachers’ colleges and eight polytechnics are keen to know how far the consultations on the transformation of tertiary institutions have gone.

“It is common cause that the two committees, led by Professor Chipo Dyanda for teachers’ colleges and Professor David Simbi for polytechnics, set up to assess the readiness of our tertiary institutions, have completed their assignments.

“We are, as a Ministry, arranging to have the findings and recommendations of the two Committees formally submitted in the next two or so weeks,” he said.

Prof Moyo said their recommendations would feed into the drafting of the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Bill as well as state the policy implications to be handled by the Taskforce on the Transformation of Higher Education in Zimbabwe.

“First, the findings and recommendations of a legal nature will be taken into account in the drafting of the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Bill. The drafting of that Bill has now gone into the second draft,” said Prof Moyo.

He said they were expecting the Bill to be tabled before Parliament by the end of next month.

“So we are now coming to some legislative clarity and closure on this important matter on the transformation of tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions. With regards to the policy implications of the proposal to transform tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions, the respective reports of the Dyanda and Simbi Committees will be submitted to the Task Force on the Transformation of Higher Education in Zimbabwe headed by Professor Levi Nyangura, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe,” said Prof Moyo.

He said the Task Force would come up with proposals that would enable Government to make an informed final decision, among many other strategic policy decisions, on the transformation of tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions.

Prof Moyo said the proposal to transform colleges into degree-offering institutions is “a clear message that STEM is not a jingle”. — @AuxiliaK.