Justice Francis Bere has dismissed with costs, the High Court challenge on the use of the party name and logo, MDC T by the faction led by ousted former Vice President of the party, Thokozani Khupe and her allies Abednico Bhebhe and Obert Gutu.

Gutu, the newly elected Vice President of the MDC T led by Thokozani Khupe revealed on twitter that the application launched by Morgen Komichi, from the Nelson Chamisa led MDC T was dismissed with costs.

“Justice Bere has dismissed with costs the High Court application that was launched by Morgen Komichi et  al  against myself, Hon Dr Thokozani Khupe and Hon Abednico Bhebhe. We are on a roll,” wrote Gutu on Twitter.-Online

The government of Zimbabwe is pursuing an agenda for economic recovery and promoting itself as a trade and investment destination following a presidential transition in November 2017.

This ‘new economic order’ includes ambitions to normalize relationships with international partners, creditors and investors. Delivering on promises of growth is imperative in a country where over 80 per cent of economic activity is informal, and citizens’ resilience is being severely tested by acute liquidity shortages, among other things.

But rebuilding foreign, trade and investment relations will require political legitimacy and stability, and a clear and consistent policy agenda.

HE Sibusiso Moyo, minister of foreign affairs and international trade of Zimbabwe, discusses the government’s plans for re-engagement and renewal of Zimbabwe’s international economic relations.

HARARE – Emotions ran high during the Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting in Chinhoyi, with Provincial Minister of State, Webster Shamu being accused of attempts to destabilise the party.

Shamu however did not attend the meeting, where members sought explanations on how the Commissariat Department confirmed some individuals deemed ineligible to participate in the intra-party elections set for this coming Sunday.

The meeting also called for the censure of Provincial Affairs Minister, Webster Shamu, whom the house accused of destabilising the party by allegedly setting up candidates to contest against the Chief Advisor to the President, Chris Mutsvangwa in Norton Constituency and Provincial Chairperson, Ziyambi Ziyambi in Zvimba West Constituency.

The meeting also sought an explanation from Minister Shamu why Ziyambi was on Independence Day barred from sitting at the high table yet he was the only cabinet minister attending the celebrations at Chinhoyi Stadium.

“He is the one fighting the entire Chegutu, in Norton, he is giving people cash amounting to $100 per person. The Provincial Chairperson was victimised four days ago. What is so special about Shamu,” queried Cde Rickson Zuze.

“Mutendereki has two years and three months in the party but is being allowed to contest in Norton while the constitution clearly states that a candidate should have served the party for at least five years in the district level. What is really happening?” asked Sheila Mabasa.

Both Mutsvangwa and Ziyambi made a commitment to engage the Commissariat Department and even the Politburo over the issues raised during the PCC.

Mutsvagwa further dug into Minister Shamu, accusing him of misleading the President in Kariba on 28 march , after allegedly advising him that there were no people to address at Nyamhunga Stadium, yet the stadium was full.

The president however went ahead to address the party supporters at the venue.

“We will carry your concerns to the Commissariat and the Politburo. I don’t know why the resident minister is not here with us. In Kariba, Minister Shamu lied to the President that there were no people in the stadium, while it was full,” said Mutsvangwa.

“We will take your concerns forward,’’ said Ziyambi.

Zanu PF holds its primary elections next Sunday ahead of the harmonised polls set for July or August. – ZBC

Members of the MDC-T formation led by Thokozani Khupe fight over posts at the party’s Extraordinary Congress being held in Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo.

The election of political activist Linda Masarira is among the most controversial moves being criticized some members of the party.

The MDC-T breakaway faction led by Thokozani Khupe held an extraordinary congress on Saturday in Bulawayo were she was elected as the president of the party unopposed.

Below is the list of the faction’s leadership:

Thokozani Khupe- President

Obert Gutu – Vice President

Linda Masarira- Spokesperson

Yvonne Musarurwa- Organising Secretary

Alfred Ncube- Deputy Organising Secretary

Abednigo Bhebhe- National Chairperson

Isabel Mwonzora- Secretary for youths

Lynette Mudehwe- Secretary General women’s assembly

Nickson Nyikadzino- Secretary General

Dr Hadebe deputy Security General

Chief Ndlovhu- Treasurer

Miriro Tsvangirai sister to the late MDC founding President Morgan Tsvangirai has died.

MDC-T Deputy Treasurer General Charlton Hwende announced in a statement on Facebook on Saturday morning that Miriro died on Friday night.

“Miriro Tsvangirai, sister of our icon, Morgan Tsvangirai, passed away last night. MHSRIP,” said Hwende.

In one of her interviews during Tsvangirai’s long illness, Tsvangirai’s mother, Mbuya Tsvangirai indicated that her daughter was also ill as was the MDC-T leader.

GOVERNMENT has stopped funding 18 pupils attending former first lady Grace Mugabe’s private school under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) programme after it emerged that the school controversially benefited from the state-sponsored initiative, the Zimbabwe Independent can report.

By Wongai Zhangazha

At the peak of her husband’s 37-year rule which came to an end last November following a military coup, Grace expanded her empire to areas such as real estate, farming and education.

She built a private school in Mazowe.

The Independent has learnt that government has since stopped paying fees totalling US$3 800 per term for each of the 18 pupils enrolled at Amai Mugabe High School under the Stem programme, forcing parents to look for places elsewhere.

The Stem programme was meant to benefit pupils attending government, council and mission schools but not elite private schools. Maximum fees the government was required to pay was US$1200 per child per term.

In a year government was paying Amai Mugabe High School a total of US$205 200 for the 18 students for three terms.

Following the withdrawal, government advised parents to either pay for the fees individually or look for affordable schools for the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) to continue to pay.

The Stem initiative was introduced at the start of 2016. It provides free education to Advanced Level students registered for Stem undertaking subjects like Maths, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

In January, government suspended taking new entries under the programme. The government is however paying for pupils who had already enrolled.

An official from the ministry said government had stopped paying for the fees at Grace’s school because it was privately-owned and also because the fees were above the agreed threshold.

“When the policy was initiated, it was meant to assist government, mission and community schools, or schools in farming areas. The target was to help students from underprivileged backgrounds that are good in science subjects. However, questions were asked as to why Grace Mugabe’s school was enrolling students for Stem as it is a private school and did not fall under the required schools. It was a controversial issue but then it was a directive,” said the government official who preferred anonymity.

Contacted for comment on Wednesday Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister, Amon Murwira confirmed that government had stopped paying for Stem students registered at private schools.

“All schools that were irregularly benefiting from Stem including private schools, I stopped paying for them without fear or favour. The policy is we do not pay for students enrolled at private schools instead we pay for those enrolled at government, mission or council schools. The policy is that the fees should not exceed US$1 200,” Murwira said.

During a tour of universities and polytechnics in Bulawayo in January, Murwira said, there was going to be a forensic audit of the Zimdef financial accounts.

“We are re-examining Zimdef and its allocations, its public knowledge that we are doing a forensic audit on Zimdef. What we are trying to find out with the forensic audit is how money has been used. It’s not a witch hunting exercise but a fact finding mission so that we completely understand what happened with the money,” Murwira said.

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development chairperson Temba Mliswa revealed that former Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri is receiving medical treatment outside the country. He did not disclose the nature of the sickness or the country Chihuri is in.

Chihuri has failed to appear before the Mliswa led committee a number of times with the police saying they were not aware of his whereabouts.

He also failed to appear for a maintenance case on February 26 this year at the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court forcing his estranged mistress based in Bulawayo to publish a notice in the national media to notify him of the summons.

However, in an interview with The Chronicle, Mliswa said Chihuri had written to the committee saying he is unable to attend the hearings as he is currently receiving medical treatment outside the country. Said Mliswa:

The former Commissioner-General of Police has written to Parliament to say he is not feeling well and that he is out of the country. He expressed his readiness to come, so we will have to determine when he can come.

HARARE – Vice President Kembo Mohadi is unwell and in South Africa were he is receiving medical attention. This was revealed by the Chairperson of the Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee Temba Mliswa on Thursday afternoon.

Mohadi also failed to attend a hearing last week and sent his apologies as saying he was out of the country. It is not clear what the Vice President is suffering from.

Mohadi was scheduled to appear before the portfolio committee today in his capacity as  former State Security as well as Home Affairs Minister, to answer questions on the alleged disappearance of $15 billion worth of diamonds from Chiadzwa.

The announcement that Mohadi is in South Africa comes at a time when his counterpart Vice President Constantino Chiwenga dismissed nurses for striking.

Source: Pindula

Former ZIFA president Leo Mugabe tells his uncle, former president Robert Mugabe that he was also removed from office through a coup. The video shows the former president inside his home after dinner. However, Mugabe does not seem amused by the joke.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by United States magazine Time.

Although appearing on the list is often seen as an honor, Time magazine makes it clear that entrants are recognized for changing the world, regardless of the consequences of their actions.

Mnangagwa came to power in November last year following military intervention that ended 37 years of President Robert Mugabe’s rule, the first seven as Prime Minister.

Mnangagwa is now facing his own test as he is heading for elections in three months.

The write up in the magazine, by one of Mugabe’s nemesis, Evan Mawarire, reads:

“The elation that greeted the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year reign naturally enough transformed into hopes for his successor. And in his first 100 days, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa spoke of re-engaging, forgiveness, democracy and unity.

“But though words matter, so does the survival of a system that destroyed the hopes and dreams of generations. For four decades, Zimbabwe’s new President was the protégé of the dictator he eventually deposed.

“Mnangagwa says very little of his own volition. He waits for you to speak and only responds when absolutely necessary.

“As Mugabe learned, he is extremely patient, choosing his moments of response or retaliation carefully.

“Mugabe described him as a man who does not forgive or forget very easily. Maybe that’s why for years, Mnangagwa has kept his liberation war nickname, the Crocodile.

“The undeniable paradox of Zimbabwe’s moment of healing is that the doctor was once the butcher.”

BULAWAYO-Zimbabwe’s High  Court has set a verdict date of April 24  following the urgent chamber application over the use of the MDC-T party symbol and name by Advocate Nelson Chamisa’s camp against Dr Thokozani Khupe’s faction.

The Tuesday decision by the Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Martin Makonese follows a bitter fight between former MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s deputies over who should lead the party. Tsvangirai,  died aged 65 in South Africa after battling colon cancer for at least two years, but his condition deteriorated rapidly despite treatment.

The MDC-T camp led by Advocate Chamisa through their lawyers Atherstone and Cook Legal Practitioners made their submissions before the judge challenging the opposition of the application by Dr Khupe.

Advocate Chamisa’s MDC-T camp lawyer, Lucas Nkomo said according to the parliament’s mandate, Dr Khupe is not obliged to conduct a congress as she is expected to get clearance from the parliament’s secretariat.

On the other hand, Dr Khupe’s lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, argued that their rivals did not submit the MDC-T party’s constitution during the urgent application to the chamber claiming that they knew that Dr Khupe was the legitimate leader of the party.

If the appeal is accepted, it will put to rest the squabbles in the MDC-T party over the party’s legitimate leader.

Speaking during an interview on ZiFM Stereo with Larry Kwirirayi on Monday evening Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joram Gumbo justified why Zimbabwe Airways set up offices at his brother’s daughter Mavis Gumbo’s Gletwin house.

Gumbo said Zimbabwe Airways were operating from Air Zimbabwe offices and they had to leave so as not to cause confusion. Said Gumbo:

In order to separate this deal at that time when we had not come to this situation where we are at today, they had to move out. So they looked for accommodation all over and they were impressed and liked to have the accommodation at Mavis Gumbo’s house. A purely business deal that was done through estate agents and why Zim Airways took up the premises as I understand; is because it is spacious, it has got offices and they are using it as accommodation for their staff. So its accommodation and offices. I don’t think anybody who is a Gumbo or related to a Gumbo or related to somebody in any position will be barred to do any business because there is a relationship. It’s not by me, it doesn’t benefit me, it’s her house, it’s being rented out, it’s taken from estate agents. What’s wrong with that?

Asked what procedure was used to decide that Mavis Gumbo’s house should be used as Zimbabwe Airways offices Gumbo said:

Government is people and institutions or corporates are run by people and offices are for corporates. Those running Zim Airways were looking for offices. I don’t know where they could get offices other than houses and that’s what they did.

THE country’s war veterans have, in a rare show of solidarity, ganged up with opposition parties in a fresh campaign to strip former President Robert Mugabe of his multiple farms for redistribution to millions of deserving Zimbabweans.

BY RICHARD CHIDZA

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association spokesperson Douglas Mahiya confirmed the development yesterday, with the opposition MDC-T and little-known Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) saying they stood ready to join the campaign to dispossess Mugabe of his reported 20 farms and leave him with one in line with government’s one-man-one-farm policy.

“We fought Mugabe because of his corruption and have demanded for a long time that the policy of one-man-one farm should be implemented without exception. We are not in this supporting or personalising issues against Mugabe, but this has been our clarion call that Mugabe’s corruption was stinking across Zimbabwe, beginning with the multiple farms that he owns,” Mahiya said.

Mugabe has literally been under siege from the governing Zanu PF party apparatchiks since losing power last November, amid reports his Mazowe properties, where former First Lady Grace Mugabe runs an orphanage, citrus plantation and dairy project, had been invaded by gold panners.

MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora said their campaign was not only targeting Mugabe, but all multiple farm owners.

“There are other senior people in Zanu PF and government who are multiple farm owners. It would be a misnomer to target one person or one family. All people who own multiple farms should be encouraged to return them for allocation to landless Zimbabweans,” he said.

EFF leader Innocent Ndibali said they would soon petition President Emmerson Mnangagwa demanding that he forces Mugabe to relinquish 20 of his 21 farms.

The radical opposition group, whose leadership is in the Diaspora, said it would soon agitate for the invasion of Mugabe’s properties, if no action was taken.

“We, as EFF, are calling on the freedom fighters, traditional leaders and landless citizens to join us as we are lobbying to take over 20 of 21 Mr Mugabe’s farms. We are not apologetic on this and it is not political, but a fair practice, as it addresses the past imbalances.

“Our fathers did not fight and die for one man to have 21 farms. Our fathers did not fight and die to have other races displaced, but to uplift every citizen into same living standards,” the opposition group said.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba, however, seemed to suggest that Mugabe could be done in by his own creation.

“The official policy position is one person one farm. This is a government policy. It was not created by President Mnangagwa, but by the former President (Mugabe),” Charamba told NewsDay.

Last month, State-controlled media claimed that Mugabe had defied his government’s one-person-one-farm policy and allocated multiple farms to his family and close relations, leasing out some of the land to white commercial farmers.

Among other farms Mugabe is believed to have allocated to himself include Gushungo Estates (4 046 hectares) in Mazowe, Gushungo Dairies

(1 000ha), Iron Mask Estate in Mazowe

(1 046ha), Sigaru Farm in Mazowe (873ha), Gwebi Wood (1 200ha) in Mazowe, Gwina Farm in Mazowe (1 445ha), Leverdale Farm in Banket (1 488ha) and Highfield Farm in Banket (445ha).

In Norton, the former President reportedly owns Cressydale Estate (676ha), Tankatara Farm (575ha), John O’Groats’s Farm (760ha), Clifford Farm

(1 050ha) and Bassiville (1 200ha), putting the land holding of Mugabe’s family to about 16 000ha.

Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri has reportedly also launched an investigation into Mugabe’s land ownership.

Zimbabwe has been invited to the Commonwealth Heads of State Summit that begins in London Monday and ends next Sunday, marking the latest sign of thawing of relations between Harare and London, state media reported Sunday.

However, the country will only have observer status and will not participate in deliberations to take place.

Former President Robert Mugabe withdrew Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth in 2003 following differences over governance issues.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Joey Bimha said the Commonwealth invitation was an indication of reciprocity to Zimbabwe’s re-engagement efforts.

He said foreign minister Sibusiso Moyo would attend the summit.

“The minister has been invited by his British counterpart for a visit. He is going to attend the meeting, but he will not participate,” he said.

“We are not privy to the agenda of the summit since we are not participants… But this shows that our re-engagement exercise is working,” he said.

Prior to the summit, Moyo will make an official call on the United States to meet American government authorities, the paper said.

After London, Moyo will travel to Brussels, Belgium, to meet European Union head of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

Bimha said Zimbabwe’s re-engagement missions had been going well.

“The President has been on record as saying we should make overtures to woo the West again following a long period of isolation. I think the exercise is going on well. We have been to Japan, UK, Portugal, China and Spain,” he said.

“To signal the level of reciprocity Zimbabwe has been enjoying from the West, delegations have visited the country from the European Union, the UK, the U.S. and other countries,” he said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s first foreign visitor following his inauguration last November was then British Minister for Africa Rory Stewart.

UK minister for Africa in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development Harriet Bladwin also visited him in February.

The Zimbabwe chapter of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) has been launched in Harare, with the capital city’s Minister of State, Cde Miriam Chikukwa being cloaked as World Peace Ambassador.

11 countries were represented at the launch of the federation that seeks to promote peace at the family level and then cascade to national level

The World Peace Ambassador for Zimbabwe pledged commitment to promote peace as the country prepares for the general elections set for July or August.

The national chairperson of trustees for the foundation, Archbishop Johannes Ndanga reiterated that promoting peace is everyone’s responsibility and called on journalists to promote peace through responsible reporting.

As preparations for the general elections get underway, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reiterated the need for political parties to be tolerant and ensure peace before, during and after the national plebiscite.-zbc

Zanu PF has refused to disclose the source of millions of dollars oiling its campaign machinery ahead of crucial elections later this year after former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo exposed the ruling party’s abuse of State resources to fund its participation in previous polls.

Moyo, who fled Zimbabwe in November last year when the military moved to topple former president Robert Mugabe, revealed that in previous elections, Zanu PF spent a staggering $70 million buying campaign regalia from China and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The former Zanu PF strategist claimed the money was diverted from diamond revenues and warned similar manoeuvres were already being made to bankroll President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s campaign.

This was after Zanu PF commissar retired Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje revealed that the ruling party had bought 15 million T-shirts, 15 million caps and two million body wrappers for women.

Moyo claimed Mnanagwa used the trip to China to get campaign materials and State funds were abused. According to Zanu PF’s own records, the party is insolvent.
Last year, Zanu PF had a $19 million debt and membership card sales, its key revenue source, were down by a 75%.

The ruling party had a $1,2 million outstanding telephone bill and its companies were insolvent.

Zanu PF secretary for finance Patrick Chinamasa dismissed Moyo’s claims that the party was diverting money from State coffers to bankroll its campaign, but refused to disclose the source of the millions of dollars used to buy the regalia.

“That [Moyo’s claim] is obviously a lie. It’s false anyway,” he said.

“That [source of funds]is confidential, but obviously we are on a fund-raising mission to raise the money to fund our elections.

“That we always do, but I am not in a position to give details of that.”

Obert Mpofu, the Zanu PF secretary for administration, also brushed aside Moyo’s allegations, but said he did not know where the money for the previous election campaign came from.

“It’s an allegation [$70 million diverted from sale of diamonds to fund the 2013 campaign] that will remain an allegation,” he said.

“I am not aware of that and the party has always mobilised its resources for its programmes.

“I have been secretary for finance of the party although by that time I wasn’t.

“I have no record whatsoever to confirm what he is saying.

“He was a member of the politburo, but I don’t think he was privy to the operations of the finance department.

“If he has evidence to that effect, let him provide it than to speculate on something that he has no record of.”

Mpofu said Zanu PF relied on its members to fund election campaigns. He said the party had already secured funds for this year’s campaign.

“We have resources and we are ready for the elections. All that needs to be done will be done. I can assure you the resources are not from any institution of government,” the Home Affairs minister added.

“We mobilise for elections like any other party does. Our system is very efficient.

“We always mobilise for our programmes and actually we have a very big membership in the country and our members alone contribute a substantial amount of our operational budget and no one should worry about that.

“[Moyo] was a politburo member and was also making contributions to the party.

“We have the biggest membership in the country and we have the biggest number of well-wishers in the country and even outside the country.”

Besides the regalia, Zanu PF has also bought top-of-the-range cars and buses to use ahead of the watershed elections. Mpofu could not be drawn into revealing how the vehicles would be used during the campaign.

“We have not yet publicly announced our programmes,” he said.

“We are coming up with a big function to launch our manifesto and our roadmap and it is then that you will be told what Zanu PF intends to do in preparation for the elections.”

Former Finance minister Tendai Biti said Zanu PF had always abused State institutions during election campaigns.

“This shows that Zanu PF is a criminal party. It is a predatory party that has captured state institutions so these institutions have also become predatory and it’s a problem,” he said.

“It’s a criminal political party that has commodified the state. The state is now a commodity, the state can now be sold and this is what they are doing.

“This is why there are a lot of fights in African states because it’s a commodity open to the highest bidder. He who has money will capture the state.”

Biti, who is the leader of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, said the only way to end the abuse of state resources by the ruling party was to send those at the forefront of the looting to jail.

“The way forward is to send them to Chikurubi [Maximum Security Prison],” he charged.

“We should also make sure that there is genuine change in Zimbabwe so that these institutions become independent and serve the people of Zimbabwe, not a tired, old and bankrupt political party.”

His sentiments were echoed by MDC-T spokesperson Tabitha Khumalo, who said there was nothing new about the theft of government funds to fund Zanu PF activities.

“Zimbabweans are aware that Zanu PF has been looting resources of this country. This started soon after gaining independence. These people must be brought to book and be accountable,” she said.

“As the incoming government, we will make sure that those that have committed those crimes must pay back.

“We are sick and tired of living like nomads in our own country when others are munching into the national resources. This is so unacceptable,” she said.

Dewa Mavhinga, a political analyst, said nothing would stop Zanu PF from repeating the 2013 tactics in this year’s elections.

“Unfortunately, Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption institutions are either too weak or too partisan to effectively deal with such problems, leaving the door wide open for Zanu PF to again do the same in the 2018 elections,” he said.

Harare-based activist Patson Dzamara said there was need to build strong institutions to protect the country’s resources from plunder by selfish politicians.
“Since the attainment of independence, Zanu PF has plundered the resources of this nation on avarice and greed,” he said. “It’s totally repugnant how that party has treated Zimbabwe and its resources as its private property,” he said.

“There is just, but one way to stop this madness: we must vote Zanu PF out. Zimbabweans must resoundingly vote for a better Zimbabwe this year. We cannot afford to prolong our suffering.”

Harare Residents’ Trust director Mfundo Mlilo said the failure to separate the ruling party from the State was the root cause of most of Zimbabwe’s problems.

“The conflation of the state and party is a major political problem in Zimbabwe,” he said.

“There is widespread abuse of state resources both at the centre and even peripherally in state enterprises and even local authorities.

“It is the Achilles heel of the reform movement and opposition in the coming elections. It is a clear sign that the new administration is not new after all.”

Farai Maguwu, who rose to prominence while campaigning for transparency in the mining of Chiadzwa diamonds, said the $70 million figure raised by Moyo could be an understatement.

“We all know Zanu PF doesn’t run a single thriving company and yet they run very expensive campaigns,” he said. “They have bought hundreds of vehicles for the party and chiefs to ensure they win the forthcoming elections.

“Where is the money coming from? Is it part of the missing $15 billion stashed somewhere whilst our hospitals have become death traps?”

Former president Robert Mugabe once alleged $15 billion worth of diamonds were looted from Chiadzwa, but has since recanted the claims, saying he only threw in the figure to illustrate the extent of the plunder.-Standard

 

• Meet Nelson Chamisa’s Wife Sithokozile In Pictures

 

 

• Meet Nelson Chamisa’s Wife Sithokozile In Pictures

 

WHILE parliament is intensely probing the alleged syphoning of US$15 billion in diamond revenues, the person who first spoke about it in public, former president Robert Mugabe, says the figure has no factual basis as it was just an urban legend — an untrue story.

In February 2016, Mugabe publicly said the country had lost gems worth US$15 billion through leakages at the Chiadzwa diamond fields, while Treasury received less than US$2 billion in revenue.

“We have not received much from the diamond industry at all. I don’t think we have exceeded US$2 billion, yet we think more than US$15 billion has been earned,” Mugabe said during his 92nd birthday with the state–run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

However, in an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent on March 15, when probed about the missing US$15 billion, the former president said: “It was just a figure. I was given that by some officials, that figure had been circulating around, but really it was not confirmed; it was just a story and there was that figure involved.”

The remarks of the lost US$15 billion caused public uproar, with citizens demanding that the matter be investigated, while industry players argued that the country could not have lost US$15 billion in revenues, a figure equal to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Mugabe in 2016 also pointed out that those he had appointed “to be the eyes and ears” of government supervising operations in Chiadzwa had failed in their task.

After Mugabe’s remarks government ordered a forensic audit of the seven diamond companies, although the probe has stalled.

Of late, parliament has been investigating people and companies involved in diamond mining as it seeks to establish whether it was true that US$15 billion was siphoned.

Parliament has suggested it is going to call Mugabe for questioning.

So far the Themba Mliswa-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, has questioned the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Mbada Diamonds, former Mines ministry officials, including current Home Affairs minister Obert Mpofu, former Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss, Happyton Bonyongwe.

While the military had shares shares in Anjin, they have not been summoned to respond to questions in parliament. Anjin has also not yet been summoned.

It is understood that Anjin did not contribute much to fiscus, while its books remained unaudited.

According to chartered accountant Daniel Ngwira, the belief by many that the country could have lost US$15 billion is mainly due to the lack of transparency around the diamond sector not facts.

Ngwira said indeed a lot of money leaked in revenues, but it is impossible that it reached US$15 billion.

“Contextually, what is US$15 billion worth? It is three times the size of the country’s bank deposits. In the diamond sector, it means the entire annual global output. This amount is worth roughly the world diamond output of around 130 million carats,” Ngwira said.

“While I doubt that US$15 billion in earnings was lost; I believe even the near US$2 billion should have gone a long way in transforming the face of the local communities as has happened in Botswana. The magnitude of the transformation is not only a function of the tenure of mining, but most importantly of governance.”-ZimInd

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general Victor Matemadanda on Wednesday said defended Emmerson Mnangagwa’s refusal to debate with Nelson Chamisa saying he has no time to “respond to a goat that is scratching the walls from outside.”

Said Matemadanda:

If Chamisa wants a debate, maybe he can engage the Zanu PF youth league that is his level. We can’t imagine the President taking time off serious bread and butter issues to respond to a goat that is scratching the walls from outside. How can someone who does not know the basic cost of setting up a rail track for a bullet train debate with the President?

More: NewsDay

 

President Mnangagwa has achieved notable successes in the few months that he has been in power and the nation should resoundingly vote for him in the forthcoming elections to guarantee continued progress as the country is now on the right path to sustainable development, Vice President General Constantino Chiwenga (Retired) said yesterday.

Addressing thousands of people, including farmers, gathered for a Field Day at President Mnangagwa’s Pricabe Farm on the outskirts of Kwekwe yesterday, VP Chiwenga, who was the guest of honour, described President Mnangagwa as the Biblical Joshua who is destined to lead Zimbabwe into a new age of economic development.

“President has been in office for only four months, but as a country, we have registered some notable successes. We have attracted billions of foreign direct investment (FDI). We have many achievements in the shortest period and what does that mean? He is our Biblical Joshua who will lead us to Canaan.

“We must vote for our President and the Zanu-PF party in the forthcoming elections because he has shown that his leadership is unquestionable,” said VP Chiwenga.

He said President Mnangagwa was a successful farmer who, despite his busy schedule, had managed to produce one of the best crops nationally.

The President’s farming prowess, he said, was a clear indication that he was a consummate leader.

“He is a leading farmer, he is leading us in turning around the economy and this is clear that he is an ordained leader and should be accorded chance to fulfil his vision to turn around the economy,” he said.

VP Chiwenga added that Zimbabweans have to vote wisely and peacefully in the forthcoming national polls.

President Mnangagwa will soon move around the provinces to drum up support for the revolutionary party, he said.

“He (President Mnangagwa) is here today. He has invited us and will not be saying anything, but soon we will be going around the provinces to drum up support for the party. We should vote resoundingly for our Joshua, but peace should also prevail. We don’t want violence,” he said.

He said people should remain focused and support the Head of State’s efforts to transform the economy.

He also said the President has been on a regional and international diplomatic offensive, which has yielded positive results that have seen the country moving in the positive direction under the new administration.

“President has been on a diplomatic re-engagement effort and recently, he has been in China where mega deals were clinched.

“But while doing all this, President, through his farming activities, is also saying we should make sure that there is enough food security in the country and this is what we are witnessing today,” he said.

VP Chiwenga implored people to remain united and let bygones be bygones for the good of the country.

“Another major score by the President is his call for unity and peace. He has reiterated that people should let bygones be bygones and work as one in rebuilding our economy.

“As a nation, we should ignore those who spend time on social media trying to discredit the efforts that are being made to turn around the economy. We must remain focused and united as we did during Operation Restore Legacy as we move step by step in rebuilding our country,” he said.

MDC-T president and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has threatened to pull out of this year’s presidential election, if Zanu PF’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa fails to implement electoral reforms demanded by the opposition.

BY RICHARD CHIDZA

Chamisa yesterday told thousands of MDC Alliance supporters at Chinhoyi’s Gadzema Stadium that he would not agree to be railroaded into an election without the necessary reforms to ensure a level playing field for all the parties.

“MDC will not go into elections before electoral reforms. We are getting briefs from intelligence officers who are telling us of plans to rig the elections. The election is a mere formality because there’s no way ED (Mnangagwa) can win an election,” Chamisa said.

Mnangagwa rose to power on the back of a military intervention led by then Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga that forced former President Robert Mugabe to resign in November last year. The former army chief is now Mnangagwa’s Vice-President.

“We want to thank General Chiwenga for helping us remove Mugabe, but it is time he goes home to rest,” Chamisa told supporters. The MDC-T leader assured supporters that his administration would adopt devolution and resolve the cash crisis within two weeks in office by joining the Rand Union.

“The governance culture will change. The president would be required to answer questions in government every two months (sic). Civil servants above 65 (years) must be retired,” he said.

Chamisa also took a dig at partisan traditional leaders campaigning for Zanu PF.

“Traditional leaders are being abused by Zanu PF. Food aid must be distributed fairly not according to party affiliation,” he said.

“The first thing the MDC will do is ban the bond note and return to multi-currency system, using (South African) rand and (US) dollars. The MDC will reopen industries and give people their pensions that were wiped out by inflation.”

The opposition leader mocked Mnangagwa for introducing diesel locomotives at a time most countries were using electric trains.

“Surely, we cannot introduce and celebrate diesel trains in 2018. The MDC will build a new rail system with bullet trains between Harare and Bulawayo.
“(Former Rhodesian leader) Ian Smith had a plan to build a road and gas pipeline from Lupane (Matabeleland North) to Mozambique. The MDC will simply revive that plan because a good plan has no colour or race.

“Zimbabwe needs $14,9 billion for infrastructure development and those who want to provide that money asked what we have in return. We told them we have 60 different minerals. Zimbabwe has enough gas to feed the rest of Africa for the next 200 years,” Chamisa said.

People’s Democratic Party leader Tendai Biti addressed the same rally, saying the MDC Alliance government would have an economic plan to revive the economy. Zimbabwe People First leader Aggripah Mutambara claimed that there was a sinister plot to assassinate Chamisa.

“But we will not allow it, we are more than them. So, let’s not allow them the chance. Chamisa is the link with the future, Mnangagwa is link with the past, he is link with violence and Mugabe, but we link with the future,” Mutambara said.

MDC-T president and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has threatened to pull out of this year’s presidential election, if Zanu PF’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa fails to implement electoral reforms demanded by the opposition.

BY RICHARD CHIDZA

Chamisa yesterday told thousands of MDC Alliance supporters at Chinhoyi’s Gadzema Stadium that he would not agree to be railroaded into an election without the necessary reforms to ensure a level playing field for all the parties.

“MDC will not go into elections before electoral reforms. We are getting briefs from intelligence officers who are telling us of plans to rig the elections. The election is a mere formality because there’s no way ED (Mnangagwa) can win an election,” Chamisa said.

Mnangagwa rose to power on the back of a military intervention led by then Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga that forced former President Robert Mugabe to resign in November last year. The former army chief is now Mnangagwa’s Vice-President.

“We want to thank General Chiwenga for helping us remove Mugabe, but it is time he goes home to rest,” Chamisa told supporters. The MDC-T leader assured supporters that his administration would adopt devolution and resolve the cash crisis within two weeks in office by joining the Rand Union.

“The governance culture will change. The president would be required to answer questions in government every two months (sic). Civil servants above 65 (years) must be retired,” he said.

Chamisa also took a dig at partisan traditional leaders campaigning for Zanu PF.

“Traditional leaders are being abused by Zanu PF. Food aid must be distributed fairly not according to party affiliation,” he said.

“The first thing the MDC will do is ban the bond note and return to multi-currency system, using (South African) rand and (US) dollars. The MDC will reopen industries and give people their pensions that were wiped out by inflation.”

The opposition leader mocked Mnangagwa for introducing diesel locomotives at a time most countries were using electric trains.

“Surely, we cannot introduce and celebrate diesel trains in 2018. The MDC will build a new rail system with bullet trains between Harare and Bulawayo.
“(Former Rhodesian leader) Ian Smith had a plan to build a road and gas pipeline from Lupane (Matabeleland North) to Mozambique. The MDC will simply revive that plan because a good plan has no colour or race.

“Zimbabwe needs $14,9 billion for infrastructure development and those who want to provide that money asked what we have in return. We told them we have 60 different minerals. Zimbabwe has enough gas to feed the rest of Africa for the next 200 years,” Chamisa said.

People’s Democratic Party leader Tendai Biti addressed the same rally, saying the MDC Alliance government would have an economic plan to revive the economy. Zimbabwe People First leader Aggripah Mutambara claimed that there was a sinister plot to assassinate Chamisa.

“But we will not allow it, we are more than them. So, let’s not allow them the chance. Chamisa is the link with the future, Mnangagwa is link with the past, he is link with violence and Mugabe, but we link with the future,” Mutambara said.

MDC-T president and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has threatened to pull out of this year’s presidential election, if Zanu PF’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa fails to implement electoral reforms demanded by the opposition.

BY RICHARD CHIDZA

Chamisa yesterday told thousands of MDC Alliance supporters at Chinhoyi’s Gadzema Stadium that he would not agree to be railroaded into an election without the necessary reforms to ensure a level playing field for all the parties.

“MDC will not go into elections before electoral reforms. We are getting briefs from intelligence officers who are telling us of plans to rig the elections. The election is a mere formality because there’s no way ED (Mnangagwa) can win an election,” Chamisa said.

Mnangagwa rose to power on the back of a military intervention led by then Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga that forced former President Robert Mugabe to resign in November last year. The former army chief is now Mnangagwa’s Vice-President.

“We want to thank General Chiwenga for helping us remove Mugabe, but it is time he goes home to rest,” Chamisa told supporters. The MDC-T leader assured supporters that his administration would adopt devolution and resolve the cash crisis within two weeks in office by joining the Rand Union.

“The governance culture will change. The president would be required to answer questions in government every two months (sic). Civil servants above 65 (years) must be retired,” he said.

Chamisa also took a dig at partisan traditional leaders campaigning for Zanu PF.

“Traditional leaders are being abused by Zanu PF. Food aid must be distributed fairly not according to party affiliation,” he said.

“The first thing the MDC will do is ban the bond note and return to multi-currency system, using (South African) rand and (US) dollars. The MDC will reopen industries and give people their pensions that were wiped out by inflation.”

The opposition leader mocked Mnangagwa for introducing diesel locomotives at a time most countries were using electric trains.

“Surely, we cannot introduce and celebrate diesel trains in 2018. The MDC will build a new rail system with bullet trains between Harare and Bulawayo.
“(Former Rhodesian leader) Ian Smith had a plan to build a road and gas pipeline from Lupane (Matabeleland North) to Mozambique. The MDC will simply revive that plan because a good plan has no colour or race.

“Zimbabwe needs $14,9 billion for infrastructure development and those who want to provide that money asked what we have in return. We told them we have 60 different minerals. Zimbabwe has enough gas to feed the rest of Africa for the next 200 years,” Chamisa said.

People’s Democratic Party leader Tendai Biti addressed the same rally, saying the MDC Alliance government would have an economic plan to revive the economy. Zimbabwe People First leader Aggripah Mutambara claimed that there was a sinister plot to assassinate Chamisa.

“But we will not allow it, we are more than them. So, let’s not allow them the chance. Chamisa is the link with the future, Mnangagwa is link with the past, he is link with violence and Mugabe, but we link with the future,” Mutambara said.

Figtree farmer David Connolly, who lost his farm to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top aide — Ray Ndhlukula — has cried foul after the latter this week moved to destroy his farm house, at a time he felt that he had not exhausted all the legal channels to get back what belongs to him.

Ndhlukula, who is the deputy chief secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, might have felt vindicated to erect new structures by the recent victory in the legal battle over ownership of  the Figtree Farm, being Subdivision “A” of Centenary situated in the Bulilima District of Matabeleland South Province, following a Supreme Court ruling.

• Top Zimbabwan White Commercial Farmer Phillip Worswick Prays to Get His Stolen Land Back

The apex court said the farm in dispute was State land and had been gazetted under the land reform programme by government.

The farm was gazetted for acquisition by the State on January 31, 2003 under General Notice 37 of 2003 and was subsequently acquired by the State in 2005 by virtue of the Constitutional Amendment No 17 of 2005.

Connolly, who last week said he was being persecuted because of his skin following the ruling, yesterday told this publication that Ndhlukula has started destroying his farm house.

“Those people have started destroying my farm house, my wife is from there right now. She is telling me that they have removed the roof and are also destroying the structure. How can they do that, honestly?” Connolly, who still hopes that one day he will return to the farm he has called home for close to half a century, said.

He, however, could not be drawn into revealing his next move in the wake of the latest developments.

The commercial farmer, who could not hide his bitterness at the way government has treated him in all the court battles, said these were clear signs of a lawless government that claims to respect the rights of its people.

Last week Connolly said; “We have a Constitutional Court; I think we have to challenge the Constitution there. We just have to see what is good for us but we should be able to do that before the elections such that the international community is aware that President Mnangagwa is all about rhetoric.”

In January this year, Connolly told Southern News that he had taken the matter to Southern African Development Community (Sadc) for redress.

“It’s quite shocking how the government has treated me on this matter. I know it’s because I have a white skin hence I am being denied my rights which I deserve like any other Zimbabwean citizen,” he said.

The white commercial farmer did not hide his bitterness against Mnangagwa whom he felt should have saved his farm from Ndhlukula’s occupation.

“Mnangagwa is saying Zimbabwe is open for business, yet on the other hand, is doing the opposite. He can’t do that when he is expecting to win in the next election. He is chasing away white farmers at a time he has promised to address their plight,” Connolly said.-Dailynews

Robert Mugabe is set to appear before a Zimbabwean parliamentary committee to answer questions relating to alleged looting at the Marange diamond fields.

This will be the first time that Mugabe will be forced to account for his actions while in charge of the country. The former president ruled the country for nearly four decades before being forced from office in November last year. His replacement, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has pledged to crack down on corruption.

Temba Mliswa, the chairperson of Zimbabwe’s parliamentary committee on mines and mining development, confirmed that they were preparing a summons for Mugabe.

“He is not being prosecuted. We are just going to get oral evidence from him on the time he was President. It’s very legal, it’s above board. He is not being arrested. He will give oral evidence pertaining to the area of diamonds mining he presided over, that is in order,” Mliswa told the Mail & Guardian.

Zimbabwe’s vast diamond wealth has been largely squandered through mismanagement and corruption. Even Mugabe himself once admitted that some $15-billion in diamond revenue remains unaccounted for.

Unprecedented

Political analyst and Tshwane University of Technology lecturer Ricky Mukonza said that the prospect of Mugabe being interrogated by members of parliament represents a decisive break with the past. “The summoning of Mugabe before the parliamentary committee is unprecedented as he has been used to running a government that does not account to the people. Top government officials, including Mugabe have largely operated on the basis of impunity.”

Mukonza added: “On Mugabe’s part, it will now dawn that he no longer has power and can now be brought before committees and even the courts to answer on his conduct when he was still in power. For the new government, this maybe a way of demonstrating that Mnangagwa’s era is a break from the past. It seems to suggest that there is willingness to embrace tenets of good governance such as accountability and transparency.”

The parliamentary mines committee has been very active in recent months, summoning some of Zimbabwe’s most powerful figures to account for the missing diamond billions. Home affairs minister Obert Mpofu, former state security minister Didymus Mutasa, former police minister Ignatius Chombo and others have already appeared before the committee.

On Monday this week, former mines secretary Francis Gudyanga appeared before the committee and said his life was under threat from “dark forces” if he discloses what he knows about diamond-related corruption.

Testimony from top security officials has confirmed long-standing reports that security agencies such as the Central Intelligence Organisation and the Zimbabwe Republic Police at times used diamond mining to fund their operations. The Zimbabwe Defence Forces, which has previously been implicated in serious human rights abuses at the Marange diamond fields, including the killing of civilians, did not turn up to a scheduled parliamentary hearing on Monday.

Robert Mugabe’s direct links to Marange are thought to run through Robert Mhlanga, a Zimbabwean businessman and close associate of the former president who is also the chairperson of Mbada Diamonds, which which used to own a concession at Marange. Mhlanga is Mugabe’s former personal pilot and is alleged to operate as a proxy for the Mugabe family.

The Mail & Guardian reported in 2012 that Mhlanga had been on a R185-million property-buying spree in South Africa, acquiring prime real estate on the Durban north coast and in Sandton, Johannesburg.

His property dealings raised eyebrows because he appeared to be content to pay up to six times the going rate for the properties. The M&G also reported that he was at the centre of an opaque network of companies based in South Africa, Mauritius, Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.

Since his ouster, the former president has largely kept out of the private eye, staying at his official Blue Roof residence in Harare. In December the new administration approved a retirement package which included the residence, private air travel, a fleet of vehicles, and a staff of at least 20 people.Mail&G