Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Rutendo Nyeve

Bulawayo Bureau

THE Government is working on a raft of measures aimed at strengthening the local currency and addressing the runaway black market exchange rate that has seen workers’ earnings and buying power being eroded.

In an interview in Bulawayo yesterday, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the local currency instability was driven by various factors including mischief, speculative behaviour and positioning, as well as high demand of foreign currency due to softening commodity prices, among other factors.

Prof Ncube said the Government was aware of what was happening and was working on putting in place measures and policies to deal with the instability that would be announced soon.

“The parallel market currency has been weakening. I have been given the prices and obviously as Government this is an issue of concern to us, and we have a programme of dealing with it. As we speak, we have certain programmes that we are crafting and putting together in order to deal with it and ensure there is stability within the economy and our domestic currency has value and ceases to be volatile. We are working on that as Government,” said Prof Ncube.

He said the local currency was depreciating due to various factors, some of which were contributed by players in the local market.

“It is a combination of things; first of all, just sheer speculation, players in the market taking positions because they are striving for profits — they always do that. We have traders and also retailers who have different ways in which they can take advantage of volatility and position themselves all for the sake of making profit. So, for some it is mischief, some speculative behaviour and positioning,” said Prof Ncube.

However, he said it was the time of the year when foreign currency demand was high and at the same time the supply was lower because of the fall in commodity prices which also contributes towards the depreciation of the local currency.

“Over the past year, commodity prices have been falling. The prices of lithium, platinum and other commodities have been falling and this has been showing in our receipts in terms of export earnings in hard currency. All of this is having a negative impact on the currency. You will notice that Zimbabwe is not alone in this currency volatility, we are seeing this across the region and across Africa and this is a sign of the times that reflects the fall in commodity prices and other challenges that other currencies are facing. So we are taking action as Government,” added Prof Ncube.

The parallel market rates have been skyrocketing, with some pegging it at US$1: $17 000, while the official rate was $10 501.4715 against US$1 on Friday.

Professor Ncube was at Mkhithika Primary School, Cowdray Park, yesterday, where he donated soccer uniforms to six schools at the suburb.

This was in fulfilment of a promise he made during the run-up to the 2023 general harmonised elections.

Mkhithika Primary School, Mahlathini Primary School, Tategulu Primary School, Cowdray Park School, Luveve High School, Vulindlela High School and Cowdray Park High School were the recipients.

X: @nyeve14

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Theseus Shambare

MICHAEL GOREDEMA is a genius.

The former Kwekwe-based Shungu High School learner secured 30 points in his Zimbabwe School Examinations Council Advanced Level exams.

He had an A in each of the six subjects he sat — Pure Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Accounting, Statistics and Computer Science.

This comes barely two years after the Redcliff-born teenager got 15As and one B at Ordinary Level.

“My father, who is an internal auditor at a local steel company, has been my motivation. He got 13 points at A-Level and I have told myself I should outdo him,” Goredema told The Sunday Mail.

To manage his time, he adhered to a strict timetable for both studies and hobbies.
“There is no insurmountable obstacle if you strike the perfect balance. I stuck to a schedule of five hours of study per day from the very first day of school in Lower Six, with two days of rest per week.

“I would retire from the intensive study on Wednesdays and Saturdays, devoting the time to school clubs and other social activities. I was also a member of the school choir.”

He credited his school for maintaining a standardised study programme.

“There were two regular hours of mandatory evening study at school, which had to be observed religiously by everyone, including myself.

“After that, I would study for an hour in the wee hours of the morning, then for two hours during the day. For the two years, I managed to strictly adhere to this timetable.”

His dream is to study actuarial science at a top university in the hope of contributing positively to society.

“I will help people get good healthcare, good financial cover in the event of certain risks occurring and assist them to protect themselves in old age, too. At the same time, I will be doing what I love and enjoy most — Maths and Statistics,” he added.

“I hope to get a scholarship to a top university like Oxford (United Kingdom) or Stanford (United States) or University of Cape Town, if it’s to be in Africa.

“Locally, I would prefer the University of Zimbabwe, which is a source of national pride.”

While many children struggle with Mathematics and Science subjects, Goredema believes it takes the right mindset and perfect balance.

“I always refer to my Bible when I face any challenge; I find strength from the Word,” he said.

In addition to thanking his parents, Goredema also credited his success to the support he got from his teachers, especially Ms Gamuchirai Marcani, who was his mentor from Form One.

While many learners of his calibre usually tend to be “nerds” or anti-social, Ms Marcani said, Goredema, who was also a deputy head boy at the school, is cut from a different cloth.

“Michael was always jovial and would socialise with anyone at school, even those from junior classes. He has been a well-behaved young man, who is always eager to learn since the time I identified him as a bright learner whilst he was still in Form One.”

Goredema’s close friend at school, Darrell Muchungurambi, passed with 25 points. He got an A in each of the following subjects: Pure Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Statistics and Computer Science.

When Goredema was enrolled at Shungu High School in 2018 for Form One, he was quickly integrated into the quiz and debate teams.

His academic abilities resulted in him being voted captain.

At 14, he made his debut appearance at the national championships for the Orate Africa competition, where he ended up in an impressive sixth position despite facing off against many learners who were older than him.

During his A-Levels, he was in first position in the Provincial Spelling Bee contest.

He also made it to the top five in the regional edition of the Orate Africa competition.

X: @TheseusShambare

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Source: Moyo urges Gukurahundi hearings rethink – The Southern Eye

Former speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo has cast doubt that the yet to be held Gukurahundi public hearings will deliver justice, healing and reconciliation as he urged authorities to consider the Rwandese and South Africa models on addressing atrocities.

Traditional leaders have been tasked to lead the public hearings to find closure to the 1980’s mass killings in Matabeleland and Midlands.

 

 

The government has not announced when the hearings will start, and the time frame. There has also been secrecy surrounding the formula that the chiefs have been directed to use by the government.

The traditional leaders underwent training in January on how they will conduct the exercise.

Moyo, who is also the leader of the United Movement For Devolution (UMD), said the secrecy surrounding the formula to be used was concerning.

 

According to Moyo, adopting the Rwandese or South African model towards a more comprehensive approach that includes truth-telling, justice, healing, and reconciliation between victims and perpetrators is vital.

“We urge the government to consider abandoning the current proposed Gukurahundi genocide resolution model and adopt either the South African or Rwandan models in order to achieve closure to the Gukurahundi issue,” Moyo told the Southern Eye on Sunday.

“For the record, we made our views publicly known and crystal clear in an article entitled “Gukurahundi genocide: Framework for Resolution” published on the 10th of November 2020 in which we submitted recommendations for consideration and possible inclusion in the development of the Gukurahundi genocide resolution matrix.”

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, thousands of people were arrested, and many were charged and tried under the Rwandese Gacaca system for the genocide that killed an estimated 800 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Gacaca took its name from a community-based dispute resolution mechanism traditionally used to resolve minor disputes, but drew heavily on a more conventional model of punitive justice.

Its objectives included not only delivering justice, but also strengthening reconciliation, and revealing the truth about the genocide.

A gacaca pilot phase began in 2002, but it was not until 2005 that gacaca courts began functioning.

Gacaca courts then processed almost two million cases until their closure in June 2012.

South Africa adopted a court like Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995 to deal with human rights violations that occurred under apartheid.

Its emphasis was on gathering evidence and uncovering information from both victims and perpetrators. The South African model was hailed as an innovative model for building peace and justice as well as holding accountable those found guilty for human rights violations.

“Therefore, we firmly submit that there’s a need for the government to rethink about the current Gukurahundi resolution processes and consider facilitating public hearings on  truth telling, justice, healing and reconciliation involving the victims and perpetrators face to face,” Moyo said.

“We argue that an inquiry must be conducted by an independent commission comprising of international and local eminent personalities.”

Moyo said it was clear that the proposed public hearings have failed to pass the general public court of opinion and victims’ credibility test.

 “More importantly, the proposed Gukurahundi genocide resolution does not meet the international standards, norms, and practice,” he said.

“The question of security of the victims, relatives, and participants cannot be guaranteed given the history of our security agencies in dealing with Gukurahundi genocide related activities.

“Our firm contention relates to the lack of equilibrium in the envisaged Gukurahundi resolution processes where there’s dead silence on the role of the perpetrators of these heinous crimes against humanity.”Suspected state security and Zanu PF agents have in the past been accused of destroying memorial plaques at identified mass graves for Gukurahundi victims.

Human rights groups have said this is an attempt to instill fear on victims as well as suppress the truth on the mass killings that were later classified as genocide.

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Source: Zanu PF linked space barons cause havoc – The Southern Eye

SUSPECTED Zanu PF linked space barons are giving Gweru City Council a torrid time at the Mtapa fresh produce market as they collect fees from vendors, a situation that has forced the local authority to privatise the place, it  has been established.

Mayor Martin Chivhoko (pictured) said politically connected space barons were collecting money from about 400 informal traders they illegally allocated stalls at Mtapa.

Chivhoko said his council was expected to offer services at the busy market place housing close to 3000 vendors, but the plans were being derailed by the space barons.

“We are expected to put order at the market, but the challenge is that there are politically connected space barons who are collecting money from vendors and not remitting to the council,”Chivhoko said.

“When we send our enforcement officers they refuse to pay, become violent and chase away our workers and recently one of our security officials was assaulted.”

 

 

Chivhoko said the situation was now out of hand such that the council was considering privatising the vending market in a bid to realise income from the council owned marketplace.

“We are going to privatise that place so that at least we get something just in the same way we did with City Parking and Kudzanayi bus terminus,” he said.

“The partner will run the market and then pay us at the end of the month.”

Council had set between US50 cents and US$1 per day as fees for the spaces occupied by vendors.

Most of the vendors at Mtapa were relocated during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 when the government ordered the demolition of structures in urban areas to promote what it called the smart city concept.

In 2021, Zanu PF activists from the Midlands capital allegedly grabbed vending stalls at Mtapa market and demanded money from people who they illegally allocated the space.

During that time, ruling party youths were moving around the market claiming at least US$2 per week from the approximately 600 informal traders who benefitted from the unprocedural allocations.

Zanu PF has repeatedly distanced itself from the unscrupulous people illegally collecting fees from vendors saying those affected should report to law enforcement agents.

But records show that although council reports the barons to police, there were no arrests because of the powerful Zanu PF Midlands bigwigs behind them. The ruling party’s Gweru district spokesperson Victor Maride said Zanu PF was a disciplined party, which did not engage into illegal activities but could not be drawn to comment further as he said he was “busy attending to by-elections preparations.” The by-elections were held yesterday.

Zanu PF linked space barons are causing headaches in other cities such as Bulawayo and Harare, and are blamed for the flood of informal traders in the streets.

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Source: ‘Register your children at birth’ – The Southern Eye

Peters said it was concerning that some children end up failing to enrol at local schools because of not having the much needed identity document.

Bulawayo provincial registrar Jane Peters, has urged parents to ensure their children acquire birth certificates at birth.

Peters said it was concerning that some children end up failing to enrol at local schools because of not having the much needed identity document.

 

“My appeal to all of us is to educate each other that children need to be registered,” Peters said during a provincial development committee meeting held at the Mhlahlandlela government offices in Bulawayo last week.

“You have to register that child, by law children should be registered within the first 42 days of birth.”

During the meeting, Education ministry officials had raised concern over the influx of early childhood development (ECD) learners without birth certificates in schools.

 

“Our responsibility is registering people with the right documentation,” Peters said in response.

“In Bulawayo, there are eight offices that offer births and deaths registrations, including mobile registration available, and outreaches we have carried out as a department to register children.”

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