Source: Mat South farmers, villagers clash over livestock – NewsDay Zimbabwe Stray cattle in a field BY SILISIWE MABALEKA WOODLANDS commercial farmers have clashed with Mzinyathini villagers in Matabeleland South province over stray livestock that is reportedly destroying their crops. Obert Chinhamo, a farmer in Woodlands, accused the villagers of destroying perimeter fences and deliberately […]
WOODLANDS commercial farmers have clashed with Mzinyathini villagers in Matabeleland South province over stray livestock that is reportedly destroying their crops.
Obert Chinhamo, a farmer in Woodlands, accused the villagers of destroying perimeter fences and deliberately letting their livestock into their fields.
He said efforts to engage the community had been futile.
“My neighbour had maize and sugar beans destroyed by Mzinyathini cattle,” Chinhamo said, adding that some of the cattle came from eSikhoveni, Bonjeni new line and Doyana villages.
“We estimate that 40 to 50 hectares of our farm produce have been destroyed by the villagers’ livestock. We have tried to talk to them, but they seem not to care. We are trying to work with the impound master in Bulawayo so that they can help us impound the animals,” he added.
Mzinyathini traditional leader, Chief Stanley Gwebu said he was not aware of the issue since no reports had been made.
“I am not aware that my people’s livestock is a problem at Woodlands Farm. The farmers should come and report the matter to me so that I will be in a position to help them,” Gwebu said.
Ward 3 village development co-ordinator, David Mpofu said farmers were in a confrontational mood and reluctant to engage in a dialogue.
“These people are not willing to come to terms with us so that we resolve this matter amicably. We are not aware that their fences were stolen. We only know that their farms are not properly fenced and some don’t have fence at all,” Mpofu said, adding that the villagers did not support the idea of impounding livestock.
Umzingwane Member of Parliament Levi Mayihlome said there was need for dialogue.
“I urge the Mzinyathini and Woodlands farmers to resolve this matter through dialogue. We don’t choose neighbours, but they are imposed on us so people should learn to live together peacefully,” he said.
Source: ZRP, Saps in joint cross-border operation – NewsDay Zimbabwe Zrp roadblock BY REX MPHISA THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the South African Police Services (Saps) have embarked on a joint cross-border operation against crime between their two countries. This follows a spate of car smuggling cases across the border, among other crimes. According […]
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the South African Police Services (Saps) have embarked on a joint cross-border operation against crime between their two countries.
This follows a spate of car smuggling cases across the border, among other crimes.
According to statistics, about 73 suspects were arrested for gender-based violence and related cases, 75 immigrants were picked up for lack of documentation, while illicit goods valued at R382 300 were confiscated during the operation on the South African side.
Another five suspects were arrested on allegations of rape and two for attempted rape and a similar number for illegal gambling.
About 28 people were arrested for traffic crimes, while scores were arrested for dagga and liquor-related offences as well as malicious damage to property in Musina alone.
Zimbabwean statistics were not readily available, but the officer commanding Beitbridge district Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo confirmed the joint operation.
The operation, featuring mostly policewomen, is code-named operation Basadi (Women) focused on domestic violence against women and children.
“I can confirm that there was a simultaneous regional operation called Basadi. The main focus was on reducing issues to do with all forms of domestic violence, and gender-based violence mainly against women and children.
“However, as law enforcement agents, we do not turn a blind eye on other crimes, though. Since we are enjoying a cordial relationship with our neighbours, Saps, we parade together at the Limpopo Bridge boundary and exchange notes, before and after such operations,” Nyongo said.
In a related media release, Saps spokesperson for Limpopo province, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the South African operation, led by their provincial commander Commissioner-General Thembi Hadebe, also accounted for cross-border stocktheft and illicit cigarette smuggling, among other serious crimes.
The joint operation was conducted on both sides of the border around Beitbridge and Musina from the early hours of May 20, 2022.
Other stakeholders included Home Affairs, Customs, Traffic and Bargaining Council.
Source: Prominent advocate reported to LSZ – NewsDay Zimbabwe BY STAFF REPORTER PROMINENT lawyer advocate Keith Kachambwa has been reported to the police and the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) on allegations of consenting on behalf of a client without their knowledge or instruction on a matter that was at the High Court. In a […]
BY STAFF REPORTER PROMINENT lawyer advocate Keith Kachambwa has been reported to the police and the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) on allegations of consenting on behalf of a client without their knowledge or instruction on a matter that was at the High Court.
In a letter addressed to the LSZ, copied to the Prosecutor-General, Chief Justice, and the police, businessman Chemist Siziba said Kachambwa acted unprofessionally and fraudulently in High Court proceedings under HC9051/13 when he consented to an argument that resulted in the order issued against him without his knowledge or instructions.
“I am bitterly complaining about the unprofessional and fraudulent conduct of one of your members of the legal profession, Advocate Kachambwa. The basis of my complaint arises from a court order of the High Court issued on September 27, 2018 and granted with what purports to be by consent of the parties,” Siziba complained.
He said he came to know of the order in October 2021, adding that he was shocked and perplexed about the circumstances under which Kachambwa had entered into that consent.
“The revelation and the said court order only came to my attention in early October 2021. Upon learning about such an order, I became extremely shocked and perplexed about the circumstances under which my advocate had entered into such consent without my knowledge.”
Siziba said he confronted Kachambwa, who claimed to have been given instructions by the instructing counsel Chenaimoyo Gumiro of Moyo, Chikono, and Gumiro Legal Practitioners.
“However, Gumiro went on to express his astonishment on the issue of the consent. He categorically stated that he had not instructed our advocate to enter into such a consent. He stated that at law, a legal practitioner is not permitted to enter into a consent, a compromise, or deed of settlement without the express instruction or express authority of the client,” Siziba said.
Gumiro, in an affidavit seen by NewsDay, distanced himself from the consent order issued by Kachambwa, saying he had not instructed him to enter into a consent order.
He said it would not make sense for him to have consented to “such a ridiculous arrangement” as there was no way he could reasonably be expected to disown the acquisition of shares that he bought in Great Insight Investment and Nyland Enterprises Private Limited on behalf of his client.
Siziba said he had been prejudiced as a result of the fraudulent conduct of Kachambwa.
He is now challenging Kachambwa to produce the instruction which made him act in that manner.
Source: Teachers hit back at Mthuli – NewsDay Zimbabwe Raymond Majongwe BY HARRIET CHIKANDIWA /TAFADZWA KACHIKO TEACHERS yesterday hit back at Finance minister Mthuli Ncube for “insulting” the teaching profession by claiming that government had done much to improve their lot. Ncube told Parliament last week that demands by teachers for the US$540 pre-October 2018 […]
TEACHERS yesterday hit back at Finance minister Mthuli Ncube for “insulting” the teaching profession by claiming that government had done much to improve their lot.
Ncube told Parliament last week that demands by teachers for the US$540 pre-October 2018 salaries were misleading.
Teachers and other civil servants are pleading incapacitation as they push for United States dollar-indexed salaries as the local currency continues to lose value.
Educators Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Tapedza Zhou told NewsDay that Ncube’s utterances misinformed the nation.
“Mthuli Ncube should not misinform the nation and himself as well by some cheap semantics. To then claim that they have done a lot to improve salaries for civil servants when he presided over the loss of value for the local currency makes us want to know if the minister is good at addition and subtraction,” Zhou said.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said Ncube should be called to order.
“He can’t create falsehoods. If he isn’t aware that we earned US$540, he can go back to government files and see that,” he said.
“Soon, we’ll be told that we are not Zimbabweans. The so-called middle-income economy can’t be achieved without teachers. Our families are here and we want the country’s wealth to be shared equally.”
Zimbabwe Union of School Heads secretary-general Munyaradzi Majoni said Ncube’s remarks were very unfortunate.
“The statements are not only untrue, but unfortunate. We don’t know the technical explanations he will use to justify his false assertion on pre-October 2018 salaries,” Majoni said.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said teachers had no option, but to go on strike.
“The statement is reckless and hinges on arrogance. It is a fact that the cost of living is rising both in US$ and local currency terms,” Masaraure said.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary-general Goodwill Taderera also said the statement was unfortunate.
“As we speak, it’s about the consumer price index. Prices have gone up and the cost of living has gone up. So, he is the one who is misleading the nation,” Taderera said.
Source: Maize farmers plead for a 50% USD payment – NewsDay Zimbabwe BY KUDAKWASHE TAGWIREYI FARMERS are pleading with the Grain Marketing Board to raise to 50% United States dollar (USD) offer to maize farmers. Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) president Abdul Nyathi: “We welcome the 30% offered although we would have wanted it to be […]
FARMERS are pleading with the Grain Marketing Board to raise to 50% United States dollar (USD) offer to maize farmers.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) president Abdul Nyathi: “We welcome the 30% offered although we would have wanted it to be 50% for a start. We hope in the next season or when it comes to the selling season it will be revised maybe to 50%.”
“We welcome the government’s move that it has at least understood that the purchase of all supplies, in fact, all inputs is in the USD,” Nyathi said.
Nyathi added that it was difficult for farmers to access foreign currency on the parallel market to purchase inputs.
“It was very difficult for farmers to use the parallel exchange rate even the bank rate was too little to make anything towards the cost of inputs so with this move that has given us 30%, we welcome that and we also hope that they will also see that it needs to be improved as times goes on,” Nyathi added.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Shadreck Makombe said the move by government was welcome as farmers were looking at insulating themselves from the current economic hardships.
“The granting of 30% is in the right direction for a start by the government, however, as farmers, we would want to recover our costs if we look at what is prevailing in the economy, the fluctuations and the inflation are indicating that we may not go back to the field.
“Yes we are happy with the 30%, but we are hoping that it adds up to 50% and 70% and eventually 100% as it is saving imports expenses,” Makombe said.
GMB last week advised farmers that it was paying them 30% for their maize and traditional grains in United States dollars and 70% in the local currency.
“The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) advises the nation that it is paying farmers 30% of the amount due on maize and traditional grains delivered in USD and 70% in the Zimbabwe dollars,” GMB chief executive Roki Mutenha said.
“Farmers are, therefore, urged to urgently open USD nostro accounts with their respective banks. The GMB is encouraging farmers to update their nostro banking details with supply chain managers at all depots throughout the country for timeous payment,” he added.
A Marondera farmer and agronomist, Kennedy Mapawona said the offer was too little given the high prices of inputs.
“I feel the 30% is a bit low given the high prices of inputs. What I would have preferred for GMB, it would rather offer me part payment as inputs. I cover myself in terms of inputs then whatever comes is another story. 30% will not cover the purchase of inputs we are buying using forex,” Mapawona said.
