Category: zimbabwe

Source: Zim registers US$52,8m trade surplus against South Africa – NewsDay Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE recorded a US$52,8 million trade surplus against South Africa, its major trading partner, after exporting goods worth US$218,4 million to the neighbouring country in the month of January 2020, official figures have shown.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

Latest data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) shows that Zimbabwe exported goods worth US$218,4 million to South Africa in January this year against imports of US$165,6 million, giving a trade surplus of US$52,8 million.

During the same period in 2019, Zimbabwe recorded a trade surplus of US$58 million, with imports at US$97,4m against exports of US$155,4m.

Exports rose by 41% while imports increased by 70%.

Exports to the neighbouring country included scrap metal, agricultural produce, beef, minerals as well as wines.

Zimbabwe’s imports from South Africa included vehicles, mealie-meal, fish, sausage casings, biscuits, electricity, electrical gadgets, chemicals, disposable napkins, incontinence pads, and wooden furniture, among others.

Globally, exports reached US$397,7 million against imports of US$383,6 million, giving a trade surplus of US$14,1 million.

Last year in the same period, the country recorded US$366,7 million imports against US$292,6 million exports, giving a trade deficit of US$74,1 million.

Other notable trading partners for Zimbabwe in the period under review were United Arab Emirates, Mozambique, Zambia, China and India, among others.

In his 2020 national budget, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube revealed that forex supply constraints compressed importation of essential inputs and capital equipment and as a result merchandise imports declined by 31%, to US$3,2 billion from US$4,6 billion recorded in the comparable period in 2018.

He said production in 2019 was depressed by an unconducive macro-economic environment and energy shortages, which weighed down merchandise export performance.

Analysts say trade between Zimbabwe and countries in the world is under threat due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

“Most of Zimbabwe’s diaspora remittance is from South Africa. A severe outbreak may significantly slow down the business in South Africa, thereby affecting incomes of the employees especially in non-regulated industries where most Zimbabweans are employed,” economic analyst Believer Mhlanga said.

“This in turn will affect the much-needed foreign currency availability in Zimbabwe. Foreign direct investment will also be affected,” he said.

Another economic analyst Godfrey Kanyenze said much of the huge demand for Zimbabwe’s commodities was coming from China.

“As we speak, there is little demand for our commodities. This is going to affect us in terms of remittances and exports,” he said.

The post Zim registers US$52,8m trade surplus against South Africa  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Poor stadia drive soccer matches away from Harare . . . at least for now | The Herald

The post Poor stadia drive soccer matches away from Harare . . . at least for now appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

SINGER Greatman, real name Tongai Gwaze, has married his sweetheart Silibaziso Masara amid a barrage of negative comments from some quarters. He confirmed the marriage to the Daily News yesterday as the rumour mill ran wild with claims that the woman was after the singer’s money. However, Greatman declared he would not heed the haters, […]

Source: AMHVoices: Chitown activists exposes judicial officers capture – NewsDay Zimbabwe

IT is now clear, transparent and open that the Judicial Service Commission is a catalyst to expedite and accelerate the military regime’s agenda and squashing of anyone who tries to speak for the voiceless.

It is sad to note that the 12 Chitungwiza youths who had been constitutionally and legally exercising their rights as enshrined in the Constitution are now victims of a lawless banana republic as the judicial officers play micky mouse, or rather Tom and Jerry antics with the lives of people as they suffer torture and torment in remand prison.

This torment and torture continues to happen due to the fact that the judiciary which is arguably captured, has started giving silly, unethical and totally unprofessional excuses just to punish anyone as a way of sending a warning to anyone who tries to exercise or implement his/her constitutional rights in this banana republic.

It is saddening that the right of bail for the 12 Chitungwiza youths and comrades couldn’t kick off for two consecutive days and went for a mis-trial due to the following reasons:

Judge couldn’t see properly the handwriting of the judicial officer of the court aquo;

The High Court intended to verify the RRB number from the judicial officer who handled the matter; and

Instructions on how to proceed.

This is the total death of the rule of law and justice when our courts are stooping so low in setting an unprecedented bad precedence in the Roman Dutch jurisdiction.

It is also sad and a sorry state when the judicial officers are coming up with silly excuses which totally don’t go in conformity with the alde alterum partem rule and also the rights of the accused person as enshrined in the Constitution.

If the Zimbabwean Constitution can’t protect its citizens and if the judicial officer can’t understand how to interpret the law and enforce the constitutional rights, then this automatically means that we are under a despotic tyrant and a terrorist regime which is far much worse than blood vampires who are trying to put everyone in their so-called “cool, cold mortuary rooms”.

It is our appeal to the Zimbabwean citizens to stand with the 12 Chitungwiza comrades and we appeal to everyone to come together and fight this injustice and judicial capture.

Emmanuel Zellers Gumbo,Friends of Job Sikhala Solidarity Trust

The post AMHVoices: Chitown activists exposes judicial officers capture  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

A Gauteng family which tested positive for Covid-19 and fled from the hospital has been nabbed by the police after the provincial health department approached the courts to quarantine the family. The family had refused to be quarantined after they were confirmed to be have been infected with the coronavirus. Kwara Kekana, a spokesperson for […]