Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Zimsec ‘fails’ to pay exam transporters -Newsday Zimbabwe

OWNERS of vehicles hired to transport the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) 2023 examination papers are still to paid, five months after they rendered their services, it emerged this week.

The vehicles were hired through government’s Central Mechanical and Equipment Department (CMED) at a rate of US$152 per day, to deliver examination papers for Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced levels to various centres across Zimbabwe.

 

This was after Zimsec introduced a new exam delivery strategy to ensure the safety of question papers and curb leaking of examinations.

Zimsec has already released all the results for the 2023 academic year.

Vehicle owners, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they rendered services for up to 30 days but were informed that CMED had not received the funds from Zimsec to pay them.

This is despite CMED having promised to pay for the services at the end of the examination sittings, according to a contract signed between the two parties, seen by NewsDay.

 

The amounts due, someclose to US$4 000, were to be paid in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate.

“CMED shall pay the hire fee in respect of the vehicle(s) either at the end of the programme or monthly into bank accounts supplied herein within a reasonable time frame. (A 30% withholding tax charge will be deducted from all payments due to the contractor unless a valid tax clearance certificate is availed).

“In the event that the service rendered by the contractor’s vehicle or driver is found to be unsatisfactory, CMED shall have the right to terminate the contract in whole or part in terms hereof,” read part of the contract.

Contacted for comment, Zimsec spokesperson Nicholette Dlamini said CMED received the funds and “would continue to receive the funds” as there was a continuous business partnership between the parastatals.

“How or who they pay after we have remitted is not under Zimsec’s purview. CMED and Zimsec are parastatals which are engaged in ongoing business partnerships.”

CMED spokesperson Tarisai Muzorori said Zimsec paid part of the service providers’ dues while some were yet to receive theirs.

“We have a solid working relationship with our support services and all our operations are done transparently. Every business agreement we enter into with our stakeholders is bound by a contractual agreement that we honour to the satisfaction of parties involved.

“We have a good working relationship with Zimsec and any other State enterprise through our reputable and unmatched quality service provision.

“CMED has received part payment for the service rendered to Zimsec. However, the money was disbursed to the support service providers in accordance to the portion received.”

Muzorori said they were engaging Zimsec regarding payment of the balance.

“We promise our support service providers to settle our obligation at the earliest possible time once we receive the final payment.”

The post Zimsec ‘fails’ to pay exam transporters  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

OWNERS of vehicles hired to transport the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) 2023 examination papers are still to paid, five months after they rendered their services, it emerged this week. The vehicles were hired through government’s Central Mechanical and Equipment Department (CMED) at a rate of US$152 per day, to deliver examination papers for Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced

Source: Edgars eyes VFEX listing –Newsday Zimbabwe

CHAIN clothing store retailer, Edgar’s Stores Limited, will delist from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and join to the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX), lured by incentives offered by the foreign currency-only bourse.

In a cautionary statement yesterday, Edgars said further details of the transaction would be provided to shareholders once all regulatory processes had been finalised.

“The directors of Edgars Stores Limited wish to advise all shareholders and the investing public that the board, subject to shareholder approval and the granting of all necessary regulatory authorisations, has approved the delisting of the company from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, immediately followed by its listing on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange,” company secretary Chipo Mafunga said.

Edgars will become the first company to list on the VFEX in 2024.

Last year, blue-chip Innscor Africa Limited, Axia Corporation Limited, hospitality group African Sun Limited, Zimplow Holdings Limited, First Capital Bank and property firm WestProp Holdings Limited, listed on the VFEX.

The delisting of Edgars comes as the firm is currently implementing turnaround strategies to remain profitable against the depreciation of the local currency and an influx of cheap imported second-hand clothing.

According to financial services firm, IH Securities, VFEX provides currency protection, improving US dollar liquidity and some hard currency dividend yield, despite limited capital gains.

The delisting of Edgars, however, comes despite the ZSE adding US$1,32 billion year to date to its overall market capitalisation owing to the depreciation of the local currency.

Edgars also announced the appointment of a new company secretary.

“The Edgars Stores Limited board of directors wishes to advise its valued shareholders and other stakeholders that it has changed the company secretary,” Edgars said.

“Chipo Mafunga of Chimuka Mafunga Commercial Attorneys has been appointed as company secretary effective January 1, 2024. The board sincerely thanks Sikhumbuzo Mate for his dedication during the last two years.”

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Source: Our figures are correct, says ZimStat -Newsday Zimbabwe

THE Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) has dismissed reports that figures on deaths registered in the country are inaccurate arguing the number remains accurate regardless of whether they are registered officially or not.

ZimStat was reacting to concerns raised over the accuracy of mortality figures collected during the 2022 Population and Housing Census.

 

In an interview yesterday, ZimStat demography and social statistics director Aluwisio Mukavhi dismissed claims that the population figures are possibly distorted due to unregistered deaths.

“We want to set the record straight as far as our census is concerned. The census figures are correct with regards to mortality numbers.

“What happened is that during the census, our enumerators were approaching households and they were asking about deaths which would have occurred in the past 12 months of the census,” he said.

Mukavhi said ZimStat had recorded the deaths per household.

 

“After that we would ask if the death is registered or not and we would further ask the sex of the deceased so that at the end of the day we can calculate the numbers by sex.

“We also capture their age, we also capture the issue to do with maternal mortality so that we are able to calculate maternal mortality which are deaths due to maternal causes.

 

“So, basically that was the whole idea of collecting this data so that we are able to calculate mortality rates.  There are under-fives mortality, neonatal mortality, post-natal mortality and maternal mortality,” Mukavhi said.

 

He clarified the difference between data collection and official registration.

“So going to the issue of distortion of numbers due to registration or non-registration of a death, those two things are different, they are not linked.

“If at household level let’s say we have captured that two people have died, then if the deaths are not registered, it does not distort the cumulative number of the deaths which would have occurred during the census period.

“The numbers are accurate, the registration is something else.  For example if there are 10 deaths that would have occurred, then they remain that number regardless of registration status.”

Mukavhi said ZimStat adhered to international standards in data collection and processing.

“The distortion which needs to be corrected is that ‘the census figures might be distorted because some deaths were not registered — it is not correct,” he said.

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Source: ERC concerned over low voter turnout -Newsday Zimbabwe

THE Election Resource Centre (ERC) has expressed concern over the decline in participation in electoral processes among Zimbabweans, adding that many people stopped voting in protest of recalls of opposition members.

In a statement after the February 3 by-elections, ERC attributed the declining voter participation to a form of protest to recalls.

 

The ruling Zanu PF won all the seats in the by-elections held in Chegutu West, Seke, Goromonzi South, Mkoba North, Pelendaba-Tshabalala and Zvimba East constituencies.

“The influence of recalls on the democratic character of elections is apparent in the decreasing voter participation witnessed in by-elections subsequent to the 2023 harmonised elections. Voter apathy erodes the core principles of democracy,” ERC said.

The election watchdog also noted that inadequate intra-party democracy, procedural deficiencies, and candidate selection regulations contributed to low turnout impacting voter motivation and active participation.

“Moreover, inadequate intra-party democracy, procedural deficiencies, and shortcomings in the regulations governing the selection of candidates could be recognised as elements contributing to the low turnout, impacting voters’ motivation and active participation in electoral processes,” the report read.

Meanwhile, ERC has also called on the youths to actively participate in the electoral process.

“Out of 215 16 register voters 112 570 were females (52,3%), males 60 496 (28%) and youths 42 096 (19%). We urge youth and all Zimbabweans to actively participate in these by-elections given that elections remain a key hallmark of any democracy as citizens are accorded the right and opportunity to choose their leaders and give them legitimacy to act on their behalf as part of the social contract,” it said.

 

“The challenges facing youth participation in Zimbabwe’s elections remains evident and, therefore, the need for increased efforts to address these disparities.”

It also called on authorities to ensure the safety and security of observers when discharging their duties without fear of reprisal to ensure public confidence in the electoral process and electoral credibility.

“It is imperative to establish clear mechanisms for the protection of observers, including legal frameworks that explicitly prohibit any form of harassment or reprisal against them.”

ERC also called on political parties to promote a culture of non-violence and tolerance to ensure that citizens participate freely in electoral processes.

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