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Source: Civil servants wade into Zanu PF politics | Newsday (News)

JOSTLING for top positions in the ruling Zanu PF party has gone into full swing ahead of the district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections on December 5 and 6, with some bigwigs fearing being kicked out for flouting rules.

BY RICHARD MUPONDE/KENNETH NYANGANI/TATENDA CHITAGU

NewsDay understands that civil servants, including teachers and headmasters, have thrown their hats into the ring, while some bigwigs have scaled up name dropping President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga to gain traction.

Zanu PF last week announced that the highly-contested internal polls will be held across the country’s eight rural provinces next week.

But concerned members fear that the DCC elections could further divide the party and chaotic scenes that have characterised the campaign period could be prolonged unless leaders intervene.

Divisions in the party were apparent when, at a charged meeting in Mashonaland East, Senate president Mabel Chinomona claimed that members of the vanquished G40 group were still sitting on the “top table” with Mnangagwa and Chiwenga, while fomenting chaos ahead of the polls.

Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa yesterday said all the issues pertaining to the DCC and PCC elections would be addressed this week.

“We are not going to talk about that now,” Chinamasa told NewsDay.

“Keep your questions because they will be attended to on Wednesday at our weekly Press conference. Be there with your questions and I will
address them,” Chinamasa said.

But NewsDay understands that divisions have reached boiling point, forcing the top leadership to read the riot act to those at the centre of factionalism.

Those flouting the party’s regulations face the chop, insiders said.

“The leadership is not happy with how things are going especially candidates that are using the names of President Mnangagwa and VP Chiwenga to fan factionalism. There are fears that the party will emerge from the elections divided instead of fostering unity. Those who are found offside or flouting party rules risk being disqualified or fired from the party,” a source revealed.

He said the party was also unhappy with civil servants who wanted to contest for positions before resigning from their jobs.

Zanu PF is said to be afraid that this might tarnish its image because civil servants are supposed to be apolitical.

“A decision is going to be taken on those civil servants who have flouted the rules by vying for party positions. The party is running away from the narrative that government officials are captured by the party,” he said.

In Masvingo, a headmaster and a teacher based in Mwenezi district are campaigning in DCC elections.

Master Makope, a headmaster at Dhiziri Secondary School and Marvelous Chifumuro, a teacher at Sangwari Secondary School were said to be gunning for the positions of political commissar and secretary for finance, respectively.

Yesterday, Makope confirmed that he had decided to take on bigwigs in the polls.

He said there was nothing wrong with him vying for political office.

“Yes, it is true I am campaigning. Maybe we are basing this issue on a different law. The law says I should resign if I win, but if I don’t win I will retain my post. You want me to resign, what if I lose?” Makope charged.

Chifumuro could not be reached for a comment.

Mwenezi district schools inspector Philip Gumbo refused to comment on the issue.

“I am not in a position to comment on that issue, talk to my seniors,” he said.

Masvingo provincial education director Zedius Chitiga also turned down a request for comment.

“Refer to the Constitution and you will see what it says,” Chitiga said.

Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana has said no government employee should contest for political office or assume any position in a political party before resigning from the civil service.

Section 200 of the Constitution stipulates that no government employee is allowed to further the interests of any political party or cause or act in a partisan manner.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima could not be reached for comment.

Zanu PF had banned DCCs in 2012 after the late former President Robert Mugabe said they were causing divisions within the party.

In the highly-charged Makoni district in Manicaland, war veterans are also reportedly fighting over the district’s chairmanship.

The district is considered one of the ruling party’s political hotbeds and is home to former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, who was the province’s godfather before he was expelled from the party in 2014.

Three candidates are fighting for the Makoni chairmanship.

These include Makoni South MP Misheck Mataranyika, who is said to be the favourite to win the race.

Other candidates are former provincial vice-chairman Joseph Mujati and Albert Nyakuedzwa.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Manicaland provincial deputy chairperson Musindo Sendekera said they are not in support of Nyakuedzwa because of his “dark past”.

Nyakuedzwa was jailed for killing war veteran Tina Wilson Mukono in 2005 over disagreements in Makoni district.

He was jailed for three years and was released through presidential pardon at the behest of his political godfather Mutasa.

“There is a group of war veteran moving with Nyakuedzwa giving a false impression that war veterans have agreed and endorsed his candidature in Makoni. I want to make it clear that no such endorsement was made because how can we endorse him when we are very much aware that he killed one of our war veterans in 2005,” Sendekera said.

“They will come and tell you that war veterans have agreed and endorsed Nyakuedzwa’s candidature, but that is a lie. No sane war veteran will endorse the candidature of a man who killed and served time in jail for the murder of a fellow war veteran,” he said.

The war veteran’s vice-secretary for health Joseph Nyamapfeni also added: “At which meeting did we endorse him? Nyakuedzwa has been bribing some war veterans and people should not be deceived.”

Nyakuedzwa, however, dismissed the allegations, claiming that he was associating with everyone in the district.

“I have support from everyone. I am just one of the people who submitted their curriculum vitaes ahead of the DCC elections. We need these elections to be peaceful and we don’t want provincial members to jump the gun, and we want people to respect the constitution of the party,” Nyakuedzwa said.

The post Civil servants wade into Zanu PF politics appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Phugeni trial in false start | Newsday (News)

THE trial of former MDC-T national spokesperson Khaliphani Phugeni who faces rape charges failed to start last Wednesday and was postponed to today.

BY SILAS NKALA

Phugeni (44) appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Sibongile Marondedze charged with contravening section 65 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 (rape).

The MDC T senator, who is out of custody, has denied the charges.

The court was told that in the period extending from June to November 2018 and at Emhlangeni and Magwegwe West in Bulawayo, Phugeni unlawfully had sexual intercourse with a woman (name withheld) without her consent.

The aggrieved woman later made a report to the police leading to Phugeni’s arrest.

Following his arrest and appearance in court Phugeni stepped down from his position as MDC T spokesperson.

In a letter to MDC-T president Thokozani Khupe dated November 13, Phugeni requested for leave of absence from his position until his case, which he described as false and politically influenced, is finalised.

“As you know I am defending myself in court against malicious, politically motivated charges. I am, therefore, requesting a leave of absence from November 13, to the conclusion of the aforementioned court process. I will be back at my desk with my full attention to the information and publicity department as always,” Phugeni said in the letter seen by NewsDay.

Hatfield legislator Tapiwa Mashakada who is the deputy spokesperson has since taken over the spokesperson position.

Follow Silas on Twitter @silasnkala

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Source: Govt commits to fight skin diseases | Newsday (News)

GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its commitment to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with a particular reference to Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a skin condition likely to mutate to cancer and blindness if left untreated.

BY VANESSA GONYE

The condition is a genetic disorder which it decreases the ability to repair DNA damage such as that caused by ultraviolet (UV) light.

Speaking on behalf of Health and Child Care deputy minister, John Mangwiro, at a Press conference to raise awareness on the disease last week, NCDs director in the ministry, Wenceslus Nyamayaro urged hospitals to accommodate cases of the rare condition and if need be, create whole units for its treatment.

“In line with the Health and Child Care ministry restructuring exercise and thrust to provide top-notch heathcare services, I urge hospitals where possible, to chip in and allow XP Zimbabwe to use a selected room for XP registration at their premises.

“I now call upon the corporate world and other related bodies to extend donations in cash or kind to XP Zimbabwe in support of its noble work towards assisting XP patients. Sponsors can also construct or rent a house to accommodate the XP children when they come for treatment to Harare from other provinces,” Nyamayaro said.

Pauline Mapuvire, Founder of Xeroderma Pigmentosum Family Support (XPFS), a non-profit organisation said undiagnosed and untreated XP could lead to early onset of skin cancer and blindness.

She said 20% of XP patients also developed progressive neurological disease, making it a deadly skin disease that needs more urgent attention and swift action.

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Source: Govt mulls ending GMB monopoly – NewsDay Zimbabwe

GOVERNMENT is resuscitating the agricultural commodities exchange, effectively ending the Grain Marketing Board (GMB)’s monopoly over the marketing and sale of maize and wheat in the country.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

This was revealed by Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube in the 2021 National Budget.

Government last year came up with Statutory Instrument 145 of 2019 which gave GMB a monopoly over the importation and sale of maize in the country.

The GMB went on to fix the maize floor price at $1 400 per tonne.

The legislation, which made it illegal for people to trade in maize among themselves, also banned the transportation of more than five bags of maize except when making deliveries to the GMB.

It empowers police to seize any grain they suspect is being moved without authority and compliance with the law.

In the budget, Ncube said functional agricultural markets were important in attracting investment into the agriculture sector.

“The 2021 budget is, therefore, allocating resources to capacitate DDF (District Development Fund) to maintain feeder roads that have been deteriorating over the years affecting farmer viability and access to markets.

“Furthermore, government is resuscitating the Zimbabwe Agricultural Commodities Exchange project, which was abandoned when the GMB assumed monopoly over maize and wheat,” Ncube said.

“The commodities exchange would address the agriculture marketing problems, which undermine market access and financial viability of farmers,” he said.

The exchange, to be supported by the warehousing receipt system, in particular offers organised marketing where future delivery contracts for graded commodities such as grains, cotton, sugar and coffee are bought and sold, he revealed.

“The project is private sector-driven in partnership with government.

“A pilot project is underway and is expected to be officially launched in March 2021,” Ncube said.

Farmers have been accusing GMB of payment delays as well as poor prices.

Ncube said agriculture remained central not only to driving economic growth but also in powering industrialisation and the value chain strategy.

He said interventions in the agriculture sector were informed by the agriculture and food systems transformation strategy, whose objectives included assurance of national and household food security.

In addition, the strategy seeks to transform farmer mindset from subsistence orientation to taking farming as a business.

Starting with the 2021 National Budget, Ncube said the target was to increase agricultural output to US$8,2 billion by 2025 and accordingly $46,3 billion was allocated to the Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement ministry when he presented the 2021 budget last week.

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