Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
PAMUSHANA High School in Bikita District, Masvingo Province has produced 30 pupils with 15 points in the 2017 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Advanced Level exams whose results were released last week.

According to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education provincial snap survey, the school dislodged traditional academic powerhouses like Gokomere High in Masvingo and St Anthony’s in Zaka.

Pamushana High School, according to the ministry, also had a number of pupils who got more than 15 points.

St Anthony’s had 25 pupils who scored 15 points and above followed by Dewure with 14 pupils while Ndarama High, a day school in Masvingo City, produced 13 pupils with the same number of points.

Ndarama shares the fourth position with Gokomere after the school had the same number of pupils scoring the same number of points, to complete the province’s top five best 2017 A-Level examination results.

Silveira Mission in Bikita came sixth with 11 pupils with 15 points and above, Mukaro High and Gutu High in Gutu produced seven pupils each, with 15 points while Chibi in Chivi and Serima in Gutu complete the top 10 best schools with six pupils who have scored 15 points and more.

Provincial Education Director, Mr Zadius Chitiga said although the final analysis is yet to be done the province has performed exceptionally well in the A-Level examinations.

“We have just made a snap survey.

“The final analysis is yet to be done but generally, we took top position in the country and the national best pupil came from Dewure High School in Gutu. The whiz kid is called Tapiwa Marinda,” said Mr Chitiga.

Mr Chitiga said it was refreshing to note that there were emerging giants within the A-Level schools in the province.

“We have schools that were not performing well in the past but now they have beaten some traditional power houses.

“This shows every teacher is making an effort to improve level of education in the province,” he said.

@walterbmswazie3

Dr Joram Gumbo

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
GOVERNMENT is planning to build a state-of-the-art airport in Beitbridge as part of an initiative to transform the town, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo who toured the proposed site with a team of civil aviation experts yesterday, said the project will be undertaken at an estimated cost of $100 million.

He also said they had acquired locomotives and coaches from South Africa, which will be delivered in two weeks’ time, as part of efforts to revive the ailing National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).

“This is part of enhancing national development and unpacking opportunities in tourism, transport and logistics sectors.

“I have brought a team of experts here and we have agreed on a site which is located 15km outside Beitbridge town.

“We regard Beitbridge as a very important entry point in Zimbabwe. In actual fact it is the busiest port south of the Sahara and we want to make sure it is transformed to become an economic hub for both cargo and human traffic in the region,” said Dr Gumbo.

“This project we are visiting here today, is very important considering that very soon we will be rolling out the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) concept between Zimbabwe and South Africa at Beitbridge border post.”

He said Government was considering constructing the Beitbridge Airport under the build operate and transfer concept.

The Minister said they would also roll out similar initiatives in Mutare, Hwange, Masvingo and the Midlands province.

“We believe that the coming in of the new airport will create opportunities for warehouses for cargo and other amenities we find across the Limpopo River in South Africa.

“We are looking at starting the project as soon as possible, which we feel is very critical. As we move forward we are considering upgrading those we have in other areas,” said the minister.

He said they have also identified a contractor to modernise the Beitbridge border post.

Dr Gumbo said work on the border transformation would start at the end of February.

“The dualisation of the Beitbridge-Chirundu road will also increase traffic to Beitbridge.

“We expect the machinery to carry out the upgrading of the road in two weeks. At the moment it is being assembled in South Africa.

“In addition, we intend to revive passenger trains and also reduce the amount of commercial cargo on our roads, with the support of viable goods trains,” he said.

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe general manager Mr David Chawota said relevant studies will now be undertaken for the Beitbridge Airport project implementation.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Happiness Zengeni in Davos, Switzerland
GLOBAL business giants and political leaders were lining up to secure appointments with President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is here attending the 48th World Economic Forum annual meetings.

President Mnangagwa is attending the global conference, a first for Zimbabwe.

He is leading a delegation, which includes senior Government officials and private business leaders.

The President had already hinted ahead of his departure Monday morning that over 60 heads of State and Government had requested to meet him on the sidelines of Davos meetings, one of the biggest global business gathering.

Special Advisor in the Office of the President, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, who is part of the Zimbabwean delegation said the President had already confirmed a number of meetings, including with representatives from Dutch technology giant Phillips, New York headquartered global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Royal Dutch as well as a number of Indian business leaders during his historic visit to Davos.

“You know the top companies, which have delivered highest level of prosperity to the world are all here. For example we have companies like Mckinsey, Royal Dutch asking for appointments; Phillips, Goldman Sachs, Lazard and we have top Indian companies like Hinduja,” Ambassador Mutsvangwa said.

Zimbabwe is using the global conference to mend relations with the global community as it seeks to revive the economy.

It comes as President Mnangangwa has indicated since he took office in November last year that it was critical that Zimbabwe reintegrates itself in the international community as part of broader efforts to rebuild the economy.

As such, the 48th WEF provides President Mnangagwa a befitting platform to make his pitch to an array of global investors to consider Zimbabwe, as part of shrill calls for foreign capital to track its way to Zimbabwe, which presents innumerable investment and business opportunities under a new economic order.

“Here we are not focused on Zimbabwe as a market itself except in so far as we are selling our resources, our very high human resource index, to produce world class goods made for global community, we have absolutely no reason why Zimbabwean goods cannot be found on the shelves of department stores across the globe,” he said.

Ambassador Mutsvangwa said the President was ushering a new economy, premised on a huge injection of capital.

“A huge injection of capital is premised upon what a country is capable of doing in terms of utilising that capital, and the competence of Zimbabwe’s educated labour force is not in doubt. We have a sample of it already, which has left the country as the diaspora; they do well earning hard currency in various host countries where they have gone to, which shows that generally Zimbabweans are very competent. If those who went abroad can be so competent it means those who remained at home can deliver miracles,” he added.

Yesterday, President Mnangagwa had a lunch meeting with Angola president João Lourenço, Mauritius president Ameenah Gurib, as well as representatives of Indian company, Ashok Leyland. An Ashok representative said the company was confident that Africa was the next growth frontier.

“Ashok has been around for a long time and in that period we have always seen ahead of time. We were the first ones to leave Iran when we noticed that things have turned. We did the same thing in the Middle East.

“At present we are just in love with Africa. We see a great future and we feel we have to help and support its economic growth,” said the official.

Prince Sunduzani, Chronicle Reporter
FUEL dealers in Bulawayo are yet to comply with the Government’s directive to reduce the prices of fuel.

On Tuesday, the Government ordered fuel dealers to reduce the price of the precious commodity with immediate effect, a day after the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning slashed excise duty on diesel, petrol and paraffin.

Energy and Power Development Minister Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo directed dealers to effect a 3,6 percent reduction on the retail petrol price to $1.35 per litre, 5.4 percent cut on the retail price of diesel to $1.23 per litre and a 5.6 percent cut on paraffin price to $1.17 per litre.

Prior to the downward review of duties, petrol was selling at an average price of $1.40 per litre while the prices of diesel and paraffin were about $1.30 and $1.24 per litre, respectively.

A snap survey by Business Chronicle yesterday revealed that fuel dealers in Bulawayo have maintained the old prices.

Petrol was being sold for between $1.37 and $1.46 while diesel was being sold for between $1.27 and $1.30, with paraffin selling at $1.22.

Motorists commended the Government for the efforts to reduce fuel prices and called on relevant authorities to deal with defiant dealers.

“I read in the newspaper today that fuel prices were to be dropped with immediate effect. The Government made a great move as it had become very expensive to run a kombi without changing the fares,” said Mr Marvellous Dube, a kombi driver.

“The problem is I’m seeing no change in fuel prices showing that there are some dealers who are yet to comply with the Government directive,” he said.

A motorist, Mr Mzwanele Ncube, said the Government should consider revising further downwards fuel prices.

“This reduction is welcome but they should further reduce the prices because they are still very high if compared to South Africa and Botswana,” he said.

The cost of fuel in Zimbabwe remains the highest in Sadc followed by South Africa which sells petrol at $1.17 per litre and the lowest being Angola at $0.89 per litre.
High fuel prices in the country have largely been blamed on multiple taxes and levies.
The Government has committed itself to implementing a raft of measures aimed at making Zimbabwe an attractive investment destination by reducing taxes and levies. -@PrinceNkosy102

Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi

Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
ZION Christian Church (ZCC) members from Gweru held a clean-up campaign in the Central Business District yesterday, ahead of a conference to be addressed by the church’s leader Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi today.

Bishop Mutendi who kicked off his yearly pastoral tours across the country recently to strengthen ties with congregants will head to the mining town of Kwekwe tomorrow after the Gweru conference.

Hundreds of members of what is probably the largest indigenous church in the country painted the City of Progress green, blue and white as they moved around the CBD during the clean-up exercise.

Church members who sang songs such as Ndire Ndire nearly brought business to a halt as people wanted to get a glimpse of the sea of green, blue and white that was cleaning the city.

Bishop Mutendi’s tours are running under the theme “Chiyedza Chenyeredzi yeZion” (The light of the star of Zion) and will culminate in a massive conference set for the National Sports Stadium in Harare from March 2 to March 4.

ZCC Gweru Centre coordinator Mr Lameck Tirivanhu said it was vital to live in a clean environment.

“We decided to celebrate our year of ‘Chiyedza Chenyeredzi yeZion’ by embarking on a clean-up campaign. Cleanliness is next to godliness as the Bible states in Deuteronomy 26:13. It is everyone’s mandate to keep the environment clean,” said Mr Tirivanhu.

“After the clean-up campaign we will have a service at our Windsor Park church with our Bishop Mutendi as part of his pastoral tours across the country.
“We are expecting to fill the National Sports Stadium to capacity because there will be people coming from outside the country. Everyone who wishes to attend is welcome.”

The house in Nkulumane, Bulawayo where the late Makhosi Dumoluhle Mbano’s funeral wake is being held

Nyaradzo Bakari, Chronicle Reporter
A TEENAGER from Bulawayo’s Northend suburb allegedly hanged himself in his bedroom on Tuesday after collecting his Advanced Level results.

Makhosi Dumoluhle Mbano (19), a former Premier High School pupil allegedly hanged himself when his family members were away.

A source said Makhosi’s stepfather Mr Pieter Cloette found his body hanging in a room at around 3PM on Tuesday.

Bulawayo Police Provincial spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the incident.

She said reasons for committing the suicide were unknown.

Insp Simango said people should not resort to suicide when faced with challenges.

Family members, who seemed to be in shock, refused to discuss the tragedy saying they did not want their family matters to be made public when The Chronicle news crew visited Makhosi’s grandparents’ house in Nkulumane Five suburb where mourners were gathered.

A neighbour in Northend where the teenager lived, however, said they heard that the teenager failed but that could not be verified immediately.

“His stepdad had left early in the morning that day and returned later in the afternoon. When he returned he asked his wife and the maid where Makhosi was but none of them knew.

“Mr Cloette went to check in the boy’s bedroom but discovered it was locked from inside. He had to break into the room. When he got into the bedroom, he found Makhosi’s body hanging from the roof truss,” said a source.

Last year, an Upper Sixth pupil from Sizane High School in Bulawayo allegedly tried in vain to commit suicide twice after she was caught cheating in a Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) Biology Paper 3 examination.

@NyarieBakie

A ‘smuggled’ vehicle recovered from Limpopo river in this file photo

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
SOUTH Africa’s organised crime unit, the Hawks have arrested nine people including five policemen and one immigration officer from the neighbouring country on corruption charges, fraud and smuggling of stolen vehicles into Zimbabwe.

Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo province, Captain Matimba Maluleke said the suspects were arrested on Monday and Tuesday during an operation code named “Mirror.”

He said the group had been under surveillance for two years.

“The nine suspects aged between 32 to 51, including five police officers and a Home Affairs official were arrested on January 22 and 23 in Limpopo for alleged corruption, fraud and smuggling of suspected stolen vehicles out of South Africa, ”said Captain Maluleke.

“The arrests are a culmination of a Hawks’ investigative project dubbed “Mirror” aimed at addressing corrupt and illegal activities which includes, smuggling of suspected stolen vehicles through Beitbridge Border Post.

“The five police officers who were stationed at Tom Burke SAPS and the border post as well as  the home affairs official and three runners, were under Hawks’ radar since 2016 following complaints from members of the public,” said Captain Maluleke.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly forged documents to facilitate the smuggling of stolen vehicles through the Beitbridge Border Post.

Captain Maluleke said one of the police officers, Sergeant Israel Mandiwana who is stationed at Beitbridge has since appeared before a Makhado magistrate’s court.

Mandiwana was remanded in custody to February 1 for bail application.

Captain Maluleke said Mandiwana’s accomplices will appear in different courts today.

“We are not leaving any stone unturned as we seek to reduce cases of cross border crimes relating to smuggling and theft of motor vehicles,” he said.

More than 40 people have been arrested in the last 12 months for smuggling stolen vehicles into Zimbabwe from the neighbouring country through the Limpopo River.

The smuggling of vehicles between Zimbabwe and South Africa’s border is rife amid reports that most of the cars are destined for Tanzania and Malawi while others find their way into the local market.

A worker prepares to feed donkeys awaiting slaughter at the abattoir in Manningdale, Bulawayo yesterday

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
SIXTY EIGHT donkeys are expected to be put down at a proposed donkey abattoir in Bulawayo’s Manningdale suburb and 10 of them were euthanised on Tuesday.

The Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Zimbabwe (VAWZ), and the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services officials recommended that the animals be put down following an inspection.

The 68 are among 200 donkeys that were bought in areas such as Kezi, Plumtree, Nkayi and Gokwe by a company Battlefront Investments that intends to operate the abattoir.

VAWZ Animal Welfare Officer, Ms Mel Hood said the putting down of the donkeys follows an inspection they carried out last week.

“We did an animal inspection last week, which was actually the fourth one since the announcement of the proposed donkey abattoir. During the inspection, it was discovered that about 68 donkeys were in poor condition; suffering and had to be put down.

“Actually these donkeys were supposed to be put down sometime back but some procedures by the Environmental Management Agency delayed the process. This is a huge animal welfare issue which we will continue to look into as animal welfare is our major priority,” she said.

Ms Hood said the abattoir was unlikely to be licensed.

“The donkey abattoir hasn’t been licensed and we don’t see that coming to reality at all. The donkeys are not being kept in good condition, hence their health has deteriorated,” she said.

Ms Hood said their team would continue to monitor the remaining donkeys.

“Should the animals’ welfare be compromised in any way and their health deteriorate, we will not hesitate to put them down. We may be forced to charge the owner and he will be prosecuted,” she said.

Bulawayo SPCA Veterinary Surgeon, Dr Anele Dube said they were concerned about the welfare of the donkeys at the proposed abattoir.

Mr Gareth Lumsden, of Battlefront Investments refused to comment.

@winnie_masara

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
MPILO Central Hospital is being forced to cancel some theatre operations due to critical shortage of blood Group O in the country.

Fifty percent of the country’s population has blood type O which has been in short supply for weeks, a development that has seen the National Blood Services Zimbabwe making an urgent plea for donations.

The blood group is in high demand as it can be transfused into people from other blood groups.

However, those in the O blood group cannot be transfused with other blood groups.

Mpilo Hospital clinical director, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the critical blood shortages had affected operations although no lives had been lost.

“The situation is very critical. We’ve been having this problem for weeks now. So far we are lucky, we haven’t lost lives directly but it’s an inconvenience to patients because some of them have their operations cancelled because their blood type is not available,” said Dr Ngwenya.

National Blood Services of Zimbabwe public relations officer, Mr Sifundo Ngwenya said blood group O was universal hence its demand is higher than any other blood group.

“Blood Group O is actually called a universal donor so as a result what then happens is that quite a number of the population makes use of blood group O which is what triggers its high usage in hospitals.

“It’s a universal donor, blood group A and B or AB can be transfused from blood group O but unfortunately those with blood group O can only receive from those with blood group O,” said Mr Ngwenya.

Blood types are based on the type of a molecule, called agglutinogen, found on the surface of red blood cells. Types A, B, or AB can clump together if mixed, but type O does not react with other blood types.

Mr Ngwenya said all institutions need high stocks of blood group O at any given time.

“It’s easier to work with O because there are some institutions that don’t have the human capital particularly hospitals in rural areas to do cross matching. They would rather have something that is universal for emergencies like maternal cases and accidents so that it’s easy for them to manage with the available stocks. If we don’t have O in place for them, it’s a challenge because the chances of O being needed are higher than any other group,” he said.

Mr Ngwenya said the demand for blood has been high since the recent lowering of blood prices from $80 to $50 per pint.

The slashing of the price of blood at Government health institutions followed the injection of a $4,2 million subsidy from the Health Levy.

Mr Ngwenya appealed to Zimbabweans to donate blood.

“Now that schools have opened, we are really working hard to boost stocks and we are also imploring the communities to be forthcoming especially blood group O so that we can meet demand and fulfil our mandate as an organisation,” he said.

Mr Ngwenya said there were groups assisting in the mobilisation of donors.

“In the Southern region, we have walk-in centres at UBH and along Josiah Tongogara and 4th Avenue. We are calling on people to just walk in there and donate blood,” he said.

The Southern region, Mr Ngwenya said, needs about 700 to 1 000 units per month.

Last week, Health and Child Care permanent secretary, Major General (retired) Dr Gerald Gwinji said with adequate support, they are planning that by the end of 2018, the price of blood will have been reduced to $10.

Dr Gwinji said the $10 which they project will also include the fees levied by hospitals for a cross match test which will determine whether the recipient will not react to the blood.

@AuxiliaK

President Mnangagwa

Happiness Zengeni in Davos, Switzerland
President Mnangagwa accelerated his interactions with key global institutions and leaders here yesterday, some of them who tabled big plans to invest in the country.

The President, together with his delegation, also met some financiers who will help the country clear its external debt arrears as well as invest in the country.

The World Economic Forum’s 48th Annual Meeting underway in Davos, Switzerland, ends tomorrow.

According to its organisers, Davos brings together thousands of business leaders, senior government officials and policymakers, and social-change advocates to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world such as: inequality, climate change, a sustainable economy, youth employment, Syria and peace process in the Middle East.

In the meeting rooms and on the sidelines, people argue and inform, change their minds, and make new friends.

The forum is an opportunity for international investors to exchange notes on business opportunities as the CEOs who gather control a huge chunk of the world’s investment capital.

President Mnangagwa, who said the invitation to attend the forum had been obtained a couple of weeks ago, believes that the interactions are part of his efforts to communicate to the world that Zimbabwe is open for business.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Lieutenant General (Retired) Sibusiso Moyo, told our Harare Bureau that the business environment at the forum was “quite buoyant with a highly packed series of courtesy calls on the ‘global man of the moment’ President Mnangagwa.”

He added that commitments were being made by ‘huge’ corporates, financial institutions and from political leaders across the board.

“New relations seem to be developing from a bilateral perspective. Different groupings are growing familiar and accustomed to our new administration.”

Courtesy calls yesterday included a visit from Jose Laroca, the head of Trafigura, officials from Nestle, UNDP and VT Bank of Russia, following hard on the heels of a meeting with the Standard Chartered on Tuesday.

The President also held meetings with a group of top executives who included Andre Wilkins, chief executive African Rainbow Minerals, Tongaat Hulett ceo Peter Staude, National aviation services head Hassan El Houry, Jacques Aigran – senior advisor and chairman designate at Puma, a representative from Agility Tarek sultan.

The Zimbabwean delegation was also supposed to meet African Development Bank officials at the time of going to print last night.

And politically, efforts towards reengagement with the West were boosted when former US Deputy Secretary of State, and the first ever US Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte paid a courtesy call on the President.

In an interview after the visit Mr Negroponte said he would take a message back to Washington that it has “to be serious about its cooperation with the country, now that political change has occurred.”

After Davos, President Mnangagwa is scheduled to meet over 50 investors in Zurich over a luncheon tomorrow.

Some of the corporations expected to attend include Quantum Global, Deutshe Bank, ABB, Swiss Re, Norvatis.

Food aid recipients offload grain from a truck in this file photo

Zimbabwe is once again staring a possible drought right in the face, particularly the Midlands, Masvingo and the Matabeleland provinces, regions that are prone to receiving less rain than is enough for cropping.

Some say that several localities in various Mashonaland and Manicaland regions have been receiving some rain occasionally, but certainly not enough for agricultural purposes.

In the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries, those with usually reliable rain patterns are Angola, the DRC, northern and central Zambia, north-western, north-eastern Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa’s Gauteng Province, and northern Mozambique.

Some of those regions are on high altitudes as is the case with Swaziland and the Gauteng area, and some are in the inter- tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) path.

However, this season there has been no rain even in most of those generally wet regions, as is the case in Zambia’s Mkushi belt. The DRC could be an exception because it lies in the equatorial region where droughts are virtually unknown.

Zimbabwe is an agricultural nation, and, so, droughts have a much greater adverse effect on people’s lives than in other countries where sources of livelihoods and life styles are different.

The Government has, of course, assured the nation that the country has adequate grain in its silos, and that no-one will starve. There may certainly be enough maize and rice in the national silos, but how accessible are those supplies and/ or distribution centres to the majority of the people, particularly the rural communities?

Accessibility of food supplies is a major problem in various parts of Zimbabwe. That problem can be solved if food distribution can be handled by the Government’s social welfare department personnel working closely with chiefs, headmen and village heads.

Rural district councillors could also play an important role such as giving information to their respective wards. Distribution points should be chosen by either the chiefs or by the headmen, each of those traditional leaders being assisted by village heads and councillors.

Supplies should be stored at social welfare facilities at district administrative centres, with the district administrators’ offices and local ZRP being responsible for their security.

National food supplies should always be a government responsibility and not that of a political party whether it is in power or it is an opposition. That is simply because a government is responsible for every citizen’s welfare, rights and security whereas a political party is very narrowly responsible for its members’ rights.

It is undoubtedly a form of corruption for a political party’s official to store some national food supplies in or on his or her personal premises, to say nothing about distributing it to his or her party’s members.

Such a practice would make recipients of such food supplies feel indebted to the giver and his or her party and, in that way, obliged to vote for him or her party; the giver would have been, in effect, turned himself into a modern feudal lord, and the recipients into serfs.

Chiefs and headmen can and should store and distribute food supplies because it is a part of their traditional duty to take care of their respective communities. Traditionally, they should have what is called zunde ramambo, hhunde lahe, a reference to a day on which every adult subject of a headman or of a chief goes to plough for him or her.

The yields of such zunde or hhunde fields are stored in special granaries from which they are distributed to the people if and when it is necessary. That is an old African practice and it is also very clearly stated in the Bible’s first book, Genesis, in the story about Joseph.

In Zimbabwe, chiefs and headmen should have such granaries, and every adult should supply a publicly agreed minimum quantity of a particular cereal yearly to his or her headman or chiefs.

The construction of the granaries as well as traditional court yards should be a national responsibility financed by taxation of the headman’s or chief’s subjects.

Since food administration is a sensitive issue in Zimbabwe due to unemployment, frequent droughts and a relatively high population growth rate, headmen and chiefs would be well advised to have administrative communities comprising people of acknowledged integrity to assist them.

That every district should have food storage facilities is quite obvious; similarly, that every chiefdom should have zunde/hhunde granaries is not debatable.

We must always remember that lack of food is one of the causes, if not the major cause for people to leave rural areas for urban centres, especially in Third World countries.

Sadc demographers say that populations double every seven years in some urban centres and every 12 years in others.

Urban centres are perceived to offer more and better survival opportunities than rural areas. However, the high urbanisation rate has its own dangers one of which is inadequate water supplies, a strain on health and accommodation facilities and over loaded sewage systems.

Outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid occur quite frequently as a result in such urban centres. That type of situation could be avoided if rural areas are taken care of as it is where presently a larger number of people live particularly in Zimbabwe.

* Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu is a retired, Bulawayo – based journalist. He can be contacted on cell 0734 328 136 or through email. sgwakuba@gmail.com

Vice President Chiwenga

Freeman Razemba, Harare Bureau
Vice President Constantino Guvheya Nyikadzino Dominic Chiwenga met a high powered delegation from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa at his Munhumutapa Offices in Harare yesterday.

IDC is keen to invest in Zimbabwe.

The delegation comprised officials from Guma Group owned by South African business tycoon Mr Robert Matana Gumede.

Mr Gumede was in Zimbabwe recently to cement a $1, 2 billion investment deal in key sectors of the economy.

Mr Gumede is the founder and executive chairman of Guma Group.

In an interview after meeting VP Chiwenga, Mr Eric Langalakhe Mahamba Sithole who is responsible for Functional Champion (Rest of Africa) at IDC said they were keen to invest in various sectors of the economy.

“We are here to explore opportunities, further invest in this country in the various sectors of this economy. We came to meet the Vice President who showed a lot of support to this initiative.

“He welcomed us very warmly and assured our counterparts here, the IDC of Zimbabwe, that they have his full support,” he said.

“We are looking to invest in many sectors but at the moment we are looking at chemical beneficiation in terms of fertilizer processing and will go on to other sectors such as tourism, hotels and agro beneficiation, among others.”

IDC Zimbabwe board chairman Mr Herbert Nkala said as business they were implementing the wishes of President Mnangagwa.

“The President has said to the world that Zimbabwe is open for investment and us as businesspeople are at the forefront of implementing the wish and desire by our President.

“There are people who say talk is cheap and what we are seeing today is the actual manifestation of that wish by the President,” said Mr Nkala.

He said IDC South Africa was probably the biggest industrial investor in Africa.

Guma Group business development executive Mr Emmanuel Charumbira said they will visit Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries (ZimPhos) and Chemplex Corporation, which are in dire need of resuscitation and investment.

“When Guma Group visited Zimbabwe with our executive chairman Mr Robert Gumede, we made a commitment to his Excellency the President, His Excellency the Vice President and the Governor of the Reserve Bank that our first mandate will be to quickly mobilise funding for various institutions that require urgent cash injections in their projects,” said Mr Charumbira.

The director of a local company, Brookes Enterprises, Mr Samson Paul who is also a Guma Group representative in the country, said Mr Gumede was in the process of mobilising more South African institutions to invest in Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa visited South Africa in December last year and assured investors that Zimbabwe was open for investment.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Happiness Zengeni in Davos, Switzerland
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has a difficult, but surmountable task in fostering economic growth and development after two decades of isolation, and he believes the multi-pronged approach that Zimbabwe is pursuing will yield significant results for its population.

The approach is anchored on the need for the country to create a conducive business environment, which ultimately culminates in the increase of foreign capital inflows in the country.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2018, underway here, presents a platform for the country to present itself to the world on the opportunities and guarantees it is giving to foreign investors.

In an interview with  our Harare Bureau on the sidelines of the ongoing WEF here, President Mnangagwa was optimistic that Zimbabwe would attract foreign direct investment (FDI) going forward.

“Already, we have seen increased inflows of foreign capital in the country in just over 50 days,” he said. “The volume of commitments is already beyond what we would get in a year in the past. At the end of the year, in my personal view, we might close the year catching up or possibly outstripping some of our neighbours in terms of the capital we will attract to the country.”

Last week, President Mnangagwa while addressing youths during a meeting organised by Global Shapers Community in Harare, said “billions” had been brought into the country since his inauguration.

A positive change in foreign inflows would immediately help deal with the liquidity crisis, which has resulted in the shortage of foreign currency, reduce interest rates and the overall cost of capital.

But in line with globalisation, Zimbabwe urgently requires FDI targeted at technology to mainstream its value chains and produce goods at competitive rates, ultimately creating a perpetual investment cycle that is yet to be achieved in much of the developing world.

President Mnangagwa reiterated that Zimbabwe was open for business, but this is largely a message to international investors.

To Zimbabweans, he emphasised the desire to bring economic growth while commending the support Government was getting from its citizens.

“I am happy that Zimbabwe is united and that its populace continues to support Government,” said President Mnangagwa. “They have high expectations and I would not want to fail them. We must make sure we create jobs, jobs and jobs. And to do so, we must have FDI coming in.”

President Mnangagwa said the approach to economic growth was multi-pronged, spread across the sectors.

“Ours is three, possibly four pronged approach,” he said. “We have investors looking at agriculture (in its value chains), looking for mining opportunities in both primary and secondary sectors.

“We also have investors interested in infrastructure development, especially from China, to construct railway networks in and outside the country. We also have projects for the dualisation of the highways. There are also people interested in energy here and they are mostly French, you know there is a deficit in that space in Zimbabwe.”

President Mnangagwa said that could not be achieved in just over two months, but it’s a medium to long-term outlook.

“These projects cannot be completed in 60 days, but the point is, work on them has started,” he said.

The President was upbeat about the interactions he made at the WEF.

“I don’t know how the conference felt about my presence,” he said. “But I was quite at home. I met people I have never met before like Al Gore (former US Vice President), John Kerry, former US secretary of State and other world leaders.

“But more importantly, I had businesses, banks and other institutions lining up to see me. I am unable to fulfil some of the requests (for meetings). So many leaders I have met who have promised to send representatives to Zimbabwe and are interested to invest.

“But there are two categories; some are saying they will wait for elections. It’s understandable because of the past events and the perception about Zimbabwe, some people would like to ‘wait and see’. But the majority, however, are keen to find a niche and are therefore eager to invest in Zimbabwe.”

In between the conference, President Mnangagwa and his delegation were holding bilateral meetings with countries and institutions.

The Davos WEF which ends tomorrow, is running under the theme “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.”

Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Court Reporter
A GWERU-based non-governmental organisation is suing Mkoba Teachers’ College for $250 500 in damages for potential revenue lost after the college forced the organisation to cancel its graduation ceremony at the eleventh hour.

Macronet International Association of Zimbabwe (MIAZ) had hired Mkoba Teachers’ College premises for use during its graduation ceremony, which was scheduled for April 28 last year.

MIAZ, through its lawyers Murambasvina Legal Practice, filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Mkoba Teachers’ College as the defendant. In papers before the court, MIAZ said it made an application to Mkoba Teachers’ College on March 22 last year for the use of the tertiary institution’s facilities and the college agreed.

“The plaintiff (MIAZ) made an application to Mkoba Teachers’ College on 22 March 2017 for the use of the college’s facilities during a certification ceremony that was due to be held on 28 April 2017. Defendant granted the plaintiff application and charged $900 for the hall, public address system, kitchen,” said MIAZ’s lawyers.

However, on April 27 at around 4.45PM, staff members from MIAZ who were tasked to prepare for the ceremony were denied access despite full payment having been made.

“The principal told MIAZ staff members that the facilities were not available for use and this resulted in the cancellation of the event,” said MIAZ lawyers.

MIAZ said Mkoba Teachers’ College’s actions prejudiced them of potential revenue which they stood to generate from the graduation ceremony of 3 000 graduands.—@mashnets.

Vice President Chiwenga

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
VICE President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga has urged Zimbabweans to unite to ensure the country’s development.

Rtd Gen Chiwenga said this while responding to MDC-T deputy president Mr Nelson Chamisa in National Assembly’s question and answer session on Wednesday.

Mr Chamisa had quizzed the Vice President on Government’s commitment to take care of the welfare of war veterans.

Rtd Gen Chiwenga said it was encouraging that legislators were showing maturity in debating national issues saying opposition members should exhibit the same spirit when they speak about Zimbabwe in other countries.

“I wish that all of you would have the same spirit in this august House and suspend going to America and other areas that you have been to,” said Rtd Gen Chiwenga .

Mr Chamisa, People’s Democratic Party president Mr Tendai Biti among others in December rushed to United States and appeared before the US Senate claiming that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration was illegitimate.

Rtd Gen Chiwenga said some of the problems that have affected the country could have been avoided if people were was united.

“I was saying that we need to understand the history behind that journey of the past 37 years that we have gone through. If we had worked together as a nation and not a divided people, we would not be talking about under development or poverty,” said Rtd Gen Chiwenga.

He said Government was committed to improving the welfare of pensioners.

“Everyone would want to see our ex-combatants receiving meaningful pensions but it has to do with what the nation can afford, the capacity to generate wealth which in turn can then be disbursed,” said Gen Chiwenga.

“I hope this is what this august House and every Zimbabwean is trying to achieve and we would want not only war veterans but every Zimbabwean, every pensioner to receive a meaningful pension. As Government, we are seized with that matter. We would want to see all our people, those working, those who are on pension receiving meaningful income, but that money has got to be generated and this is what we are all trying to do.”—@nqotshili

Cde George Mlala

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
ZANU-PF and war veterans’ Bulawayo provincial leaders have reconciled, pledging to work together in rebuilding the party ahead of harmonised elections slated for later this year.

The Professor Callistus Ndlovu-led Zanu-PF provincial executive yesterday met war veterans’ leaders led by Cde Cephas Ncube at Davies Hall party’s provincial offices.

In a briefing after the meeting, the party’s provincial spokesperson Cde Christopher Sibanda said the meeting between the party and Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association Bulawayo provincial leaders was meant to mend broken relations.

“You might be aware that in the old dispensation war veterans were no longer welcome at Davies Hall except for those who were preferred by the previous provincial executive. So it’s a new dispensation hence war veterans came to meet up with the new party’s leadership so that we can plan ahead together on matters concerning Zanu-PF,” said Cde Sibanda.

He said during the meeting, it was resolved that war veterans will hold positions in the party’s structures from cell level going up.

“We resolved that war veterans should be involved in all the party’s structures from cell up the hierarchy. War veterans had become fed up with what was happening in the party. The situation was so bad that even party members were discouraged from attending meetings at the war veterans’ provincial headquarters at Entumbane,” he said.

In 2015, some senior party members including Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Angeline Masuku were suspended from Zanu-PF after they attended a war veterans’ meeting at Entumbane.

Davies Hall had become home to a war veterans’ splinter group led by fugitive, Mr George Mlala.

Cde Sibanda said Zanu-PF and war veterans agreed to start on a new page which will see the affiliate organisation using its structures to mobilise people to support the party.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Cde Rodwell Mpofu said the relations between Zanu-PF and its affiliate organisation had become toxic but they have now reconnected.

Meanwhile, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial executive will from today hold meetings with its districts to apprise them on the new political dispensation which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa coming to power.

“Tomorrow (today) at 4PM Area1 will hold a meeting at Davies Hall with Area 2’s meeting being held at Magwegwe sub office on Saturday at 2PM while Area 3’s meeting will be held on Sunday at Njube police grounds at 2PM,” said Cde Sibanda.—@nqotshili

President Emmerson Mnangagwa

Happiness Zengeni in Davos, Switzerland
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to hold free, fair and non-violent elections this year, and to respect the outcome even if Zanu-PF loses.

International observers, principally from the European Union (EU), will be invited to monitor the elections as the country seeks to entrench its democracy, he said.

President Mnangagwa said this during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

“I have said that this time around, Zimbabwe is open and transparent,” he said. “We want to have free, fair, credible elections. Free of violence. If you have that criteria, why would you want to deny international observers coming into our country?

“Obviously, like in the past, Sadc, whether it is political parties in Sadc, whether it’s the government or parliament, its automatic they come.

“This is the understanding that we have between them and ourselves. The same with the continental body, that is the AU, they can observe.

“But this time, I have gone further and said the EU, if they want to observe our elections, I will welcome them. Other nations outside the EU who want to observe our elections, let them apply.”

President Mnangagwa said the observers would have unfettered access to every place.

Western nations have previously discredited the outcome of Zimbabwe’s elections, claiming they were not free and fair, even when they had not monitored them.

But President Mnangagwa said every regional bloc and/or nation wanting to observe the 2018 harmonised was welcome, as there was nothing to hide.

He said Zimbabwe would hold harmonised elections any time before July.

The last harmonised elections – which were resoundingly won by the revolutionary party Zanu PF – were held on July 31, 2013.

President Mnangagwa said: “In my own view, we want to consolidate and deepen constitutionalism in Zimbabwe, and in terms of our current constitution, every five years, we are required to submit ourselves, to seek a new mandate.

“So, the five year term ends in July. The constitution allows us to have elections even six months before the last date in July. So, I believe that elections would not be in July, they would be earlier than July.”

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is conducting a voter registration mop-up exercise.

The exercise is expected to end on February 12, and immediately after that, President Mnangagwa said, he would proclaim the election date.

President Mnangagwa said in the event that Zanu-PF lost the elections, it would accept the results and allow the elected party to form the next government.

“Remember, we had a constitutional referendum (in the year 2000) where Zanu-PF lost and immediately after the results were out, we said we abide by the results. We are very clear,” he said.

“The purpose of elections is to have the electorate to select a team of persons who think they address their challenges and their needs. If we lose elections, that’s it.

“Whichever party that wins the election will proceed to take the reins of power because they would have appealed to the electorate, perhaps with better policies and so on.”

President Mnangagwa said his Government would work on embracing the international community and would also expect the international community to do the same to Zimbabwe.

He said Zimbabwe had no problems with other countries, including the United States, saying these countries were welcome to invest in the country.

“I believe that the people of Zimbabwe have no case against the people of America, nor do the people of America have a case against the people Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa.

He spoke on rejoining the Commonwealth, saying now that the land reform programme was behind, there is no impediment between Zimbabwe and the requirements of rejoining the grouping.

“Going into the future, we would want to embrace the international community, we also want the international community to embrace us and to do so we must look at what is necessary to be done in order for the international community to accept us in order for the international community to say today Zimbabwe is suitable for investment, is ready for investment,” he said.

“So, we must look at the constraints which investors were saying these are the things that determine their bringing capital into any destination. As you are aware that capital can go only where it feels comfortable. Why was it not feeling comfortable before in Zimbabwe? We must address those issues.”

On land, President Mnangagwa said his Government would not discriminate on racial lines.

“We as the new administration we don’t want to think on racial lines that there are white and black farmers, that should be the philosophy of the past,” he said.

“Farmers are farmers, we have a lot of white former commercial farmers who have happily integrated into our system by accepting their farms to be reduced, downsized in terms of ecological regions.”

Giant Moyo

Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
A 41-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sodomising and assaulting his workmate while they were at work.

A court heard that the suspect Giant Moyo, a welder, accused his 51 year old workmate of informing their manager that he was conducting his personal business at work.

He assaulted his workmate who is employed as a security guard with a fan belt that is about a metre long and then sodomised him.

Moyo pleaded guilty to assault and aggravated indecent assault charges before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze.

Mrs Msipa-Marondedze sentenced him to 10 years in prison and suspended three years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Moyo, a father of seven, will spend an effective seven years in jail.

He pleaded with the court to be lenient saying six of his children were still minors.

“I got angry after I arrived at work and found the gate locked. I don’t know what came over me and made me commit this crime as I have never done something like that,” he said.

For the State, Miss Concilia Ncube said Moyo went to his work place at around 3AM on Tuesday while his workmate was on duty and violently shook the gate.

“The moment the gate was opened Moyo started interrogating the man as to why he had told the manager that he was doing his personal business of welding after working hours. The man denied the allegations and Moyo started assaulting him with a fan belt which is about one metre long,” she said.

“The man fell down and Moyo stepped on his face. He ordered the man to go with him to his workplace about 100metres away. Once inside Moyo locked the door, ordered the man to lie down and assaulted him again with the fan belt.”

The court heard that he sodomised him and threatened to cut off his head if he told anyone about the matter.—@MondelaC

The departed Reverend Reuben Mabhena

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
POPULAR Brethren in Christ Church pastor in Bulawayo, Reverend Reuben Mabhena has died.

He was 68.

Rev Mabhena passed on at Mpilo Central Hospital yesterday after battling cancer for a long time.

In 1999, the revered pastor invited former President Robert Mugabe to attend a service at the church. Cde Mugabe attended the service together with the late Vice Presidents Joshua Nkomo and John Nkomo. That is the day when, speaking at the service, the ex-President opened up on the early 1980s political disturbances in the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces, describing the period as a moment of madness.

A family spokesperson, Mr Timon Mabhena confirmed Rev Mabhena’s death.

“He passed on at Mpilo Hospital today (yesterday) where he had been battling cancer. He had been admitted for close to three months,” said Mr Mabhena.

He said there would be a service at the church every day at 6PM until Sunday when Rev Mabhena would be buried.

“Other funeral arrangements would be announced in due course,” said Mr Mabhena.

He described Rev Mabhena, who was a pastor for the greater part of his life, as a man of the people.

“He was very likeable by all his parishioners, he had a big heart, very welcoming and worked well with a number of politicians. We are really saddened by his loss,” said Mr Mabhena.

Rev Mabhena had been pastor at the Bulawayo Central branch since the 1980s.

In 2013, he suffered a stroke while delivering a sermon but recovered and continued with his work.

Parishioners at the church said Rev Mabhena stepped down as the branch’s main pastor last year due to old age and played the role of mentor and father figure to younger pastors.

Rev Mabhena is survived by a wife.

Mourners are gathered at Brethren in Christ Church Central branch in Bulawayo. — @AuxiliaK.

Minister of State at the Department for International Development, Lord Bates

Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
BRITAIN is working on scaling up its re-engagement with Zimbabwe with its new Africa Minister Mrs Harriett Baldwin expected to visit the country soon.

The outgoing Africa Minister Mr Rory Stewart was the first envoy to meet President Mnangagwa soon after his inauguration last year.

Responding to questions in the House of Lords on Tuesday, the Minister of State at the Department for International Development, Lord Bates said Zimbabwe has a lot of potential in terms of education and natural resources.

“When the opportunity came, after the former President Mugabe left office, one of the first there was Rory Stewart when he was a joint Foreign Office and DFID Minister. I know that the new Africa Minister, Harriett Baldwin, will be looking to make a visit early on. It is precisely the type of country that has been locked into instability for too long, and yet has immense potential in terms of education and its natural resources, which can be liberated,” said Lord Bates.

His response came after the Earl of Sandwich Crossbench had asked if Britain’s engagement with Zimbabwe.

“My Lords, is not Zimbabwe a good example of what the noble Lord, Lord Bruce, was suggesting? The new President of Zimbabwe is looking for friends.

Are we active enough in the Foreign Office at the moment in seeking ways of introducing longer-term development to balance humanitarian aid?” he asked.

Lord Bates assured the British Parliament that they would continue to support sub-Saharan Africa in sustainable services, especially in health, education, equality, social security and good governance.

After meeting President Mnangagwa last November, Mr Stewart said discussions were already underway to ensure that Zimbabwe starts getting international financial assistance.

“We will be working closely with the Government to understand their needs and what sort of support they require,” he said. “We will be looking at what Government is doing on corruption, elections and other things.”

Early this week, the European Council said it was open for dialogue with the new Government and other political players in the country.

“The EU reaffirms its availability to engage constructively with the new authorities including through a structured political dialogue, with political actors across the spectrum, and with civil society, on the basis of a mutual commitment to shared values focused on human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. It will do so in coordination with African and international partners,” the commission said in a statement.

It said the Government can open the way towards a full return to the rule of law, within a constitutional framework and under civilian rule, allowing for the preparation and implementation of much-needed political and economic reforms.

The bloc said it would assist the country in its re-engagement efforts with international organisations. — @AuxiliaK.