Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge Bureau
Government is ready to fully implement social and economic development policies to transform the country into an upper-middle economy by 2030 as outlined in the ruling Zanu PF party’s 2018 election manifesto.

This was said by Vice President Kembo Mohadi yesterday during a tour of outstanding Government housing projects in Beitbridge, which have been stalled by fiscal-related challenges.

About US$6,5 million is needed for the outstanding Beitbridge housing project.

VP Mohadi said a lot of ground had been covered towards delivering 1,5 million medium-income housing units over the period 2018-2023.

He said the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities was created to ensure that feat was achieved within the set target, adding that security forces were also supposed to get decent housing within their cantonments.

“A number of housing projects had been stalled in the old dispensation and we cannot let that go unattended under the new dispensation,” said VP Mohadi.

“I am moving around with the ministers who fall in that cluster to have a feel of the needs and situation on the ground so that we make corrective measures. There is nowhere you can push for development as a leader without getting to the people on the ground.

“When we went to elections, we promised Zimbabweans a number of things which we are fulfilling as we inch towards our envisaged Vision 2030. We have started working on these in order of priority. We are action people and not concerned with talk shops.”

Under the current housing development policy, Government would immediately commit more resources to complete 16 duplex flats, 52 F14 houses and several garden flats to accommodate scores of civil servants deployed to Beitbridge.

VP Mohadi expressed concern over the dilapidated state of the Beitbridge housing project, which had received little attention in the last decade.

He noted the outstanding works on the project during his tour with Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, and National Housing and Social Amenities Minister, Daniel Garwe.

“We have seen, we have conquered and this can’t go on forever,” said VP Mohadi. “We are going to bring the Minister of Finance and Economic Development on the ground so that he gets the quantum of the resources required and make funds available.

“This project should be completed by the first quarter of next year, considering that the technocrats on the ground say they need at least three months to complete inside and outside infrastructure.”

Beitbridge is the preface of the country to those entering from South Africa, hence the need to afford the housing project along the major highway to inland Zimbabwe, the urgent attention it deserved.

VP Mohadi said Zimbabweans should be proud of working together to build their economy and infrastructure from their own resources. He said the country was under attack internationally and was not getting anything from anyone.

“We are on our own and we will do things in our own way to achieve the targets of our manifesto,” said VP Mohadi. “Note that we have rebuilt the Cyclone Idai-ravaged areas in Manicaland and we are gradually upgrading national roads and we will get there.

“We have been relying on our local brains to turn things around and in no time, we will be one of the strongest economies in the region.”

Government was also concerned about the plight and dignity of civil servants and would continually attend to their welfare.

“That can only be achieved if we cater for the foot soldiers’ housing, health and remuneration needs and provide quality, affordable and decent accommodation for them,” said VP Mohadi.

Tawanda Musarurwa
Senior Business Reporter
The modest reduction in Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product this year of minus 4,5 percent due to Covid-19, will be counterbalanced by growth of 7,5 percent next year as the Zimbabwean and global economies cope with the pandemic, the Treasury has predicted.

“In 2021, the economy is predicted to recover from a projected contraction of -4,5 percent in 2020 to a growth of 7,4 percent, driven by consumption (2,6 percent) and investment (5,8 percent) improvements,” said Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube yesterday.

Launching the 2021 Budget Strategy Paper in Harare, a document expected to guide wider consultations on the upcoming 2021 National Budget, the Minister said: “The recovery in consumption is mainly anchored on expected stabilisation of inflation through ongoing policy interventions which should aid restoration of purchasing power of consumers.

“Employers including Government will continue to review wages and salaries in line with inflation developments and budget capacity to restore eroded incomes as the economy recovers.”

The 2021 Budget Strategy Paper marks the transition from the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, which is coming to an end this December, paving way for the longer term National Development Strategy from 2021-2025.

The stabilisation programme was designed to sort out the major structural fiscal and monetary problems inherited by the Second Republic, with success now seen in stable market-driven exchange rates and resulting low monthly inflation.

With the fundamentals fixed and distortions removed, the Government can now switch to rapid economic growth based on real increases in production.

The 2021 Budget Strategy Paper is themed “Building Resilience and Economic Recovery Post Covid-19”.

“Government is launching the 2021 Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) in line with the New Dispensation’s commitment of ensuring broader stakeholder involvement in policy formulation processes, that way generating effective public participation in policy and programmes implementation,” said the Minister.

“Accordingly, the 2021 Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) constitutes a valuable tool, meant to guide consultative discussions and sharing of ideas on national priority policies, programmes and projects for the forthcoming 2021 National Budget,” reads part of the document.

“Under the theme “Building Resilience and Economic Recovery Post-Covid-19”, the Budget Strategy Paper focusses on strengthening the economy to withstand any potential climatic (drought, cyclones, floods, pests) and macro-economic shocks, as we focus on attaining inclusive and sustainable growth towards Vision 2030.”

Monthly inflation is now falling to almost trivial levels and this will be seen in revised annual inflation predictions with the 12-month rate by year-end now expected to be 134 percent, down from the initial prediction of 300 percent.

This is a result of the high monthly inflation recorded in the last five months of last year fall out of the calculation to be replaced by trivial monthly rates already seen and predicted for the rest of this year.

Annual inflation measures the rise in the cost of living over the previous 12 months. With monthly inflation rising steadily from February last year until July this year, when it peaked at 35 percent, the running 12-month figure also rose in line with the monthly rates to a peak of around 837 percent.

But since the introduction of the foreign currency auction system, which has brought about macro-economic stability, high monthly figures from August and September last year have already been replaced by very low figures from the same two months this year, which in turn has seen the resulting annual inflation figures falling to almost 660 percent.

Even the 134 percent now predicted by year-end will be largely due to the rising monthly figures between February and July this year, after an anomalous very low January figure.

“The slowdown in inflation will be attributed to deepening of the foreign currency auction market which is expected to sustain exchange rate stability,” said the Minister.

“Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is also expected to continue to curtail growth in money supply, which is one of the major drivers of inflation.”

Prof Ncube said economic prospects for the coming year will be underpinned by “macro stability characterised by currency stability, declining annual inflation averaging 134 percent, and fiscal stability.”

The foreign currency auction system has brought about price stability as a good number of retailers and service providers are now utilising market-based pricing, and this is being reflected in recent inflation trends.

The stability has been predicated on the fiscal discipline of the Second Republic with Government living within its means, that is what it collects in taxes, instead of wild borrowing and then printing, in later years printing digitally, extra money and thus driving up money supply without corresponding increases in production.

The month-on-month inflation rate in September 2020 was 3,83 percent, reinforcing the dramatic fall seen in August, when it had fallen to 8,44 percent.

Mukudzei Chingwere
Herald Reporter
Security services are redoubling efforts to fight violent crime and corruption and want the public to help by reporting suspicious behaviour.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe yesterday said violent crime, corruption and the abuse of social and other media, and the resulting upsurge in fake news reports remained high on the law enforcement agenda.

In his statement, Minister Kazembe urged citizens to be on the guard against criminals and report suspicious behaviour wherever it manifested.

“With regards to violent crime, the security services have gone a gear up to sharpen the identification, tracing, apprehending and presenting for prosecution of all suspects implicated in violent crime in the country,” he said.

This comes after a series of incidents in recent weeks where police exchanged gunfire with criminals with several people, including security personnel, dying in gun battles.

Last month in Chivhu, two suspected criminals killed a soldier and fled with two AK-47 rifles while soldiers were also badly injured in a shoot-out with the thugs. But after a smart operation mounted by the security forces, the two suspects were tracked down and killed a day after killing the soldier.

This week, an armed gang attacked the Mt Pleasant home of Lieutenant-General (Retired) Engelbert Rugeje where a suspected criminal was killed.

On Thursday, another suspected criminal was killed by police in a gunfight after he had been holed up with hostages in a stand-off that lasted 14 hours in Beitbridge. The suspect was on the police wanted list in connection with several armed robberies.

On corruption, Minister Kazembe said citizens must play an active role in reporting cases and help in the identification and location of suspects.

“Corruption remains a cancer that gnaws slowly against our thrust as a nation towards the Vision 2030 trajectory set out by His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa. The law enforcement agencies are rebounding their efforts to tackle the scourge, working in concert with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President and Cabinet.”

Minister Kazembe said authorities were also seized with securing the return of fugitives from justice that were scattered in various parts of the globe.

Zimbabwe was renowned for its fair justice system which meant the courts would clear innocent suspects and convict the guilty.

“As law enforcement agencies, our role is to bring suspects to justice, then the normal procedures take effect. We urge the suspects to do themselves a favour by voluntarily returning to clear their names if they are innocent.”

“The abuse of social media and the scourge of fake reportage, which are often motivated by subversive intentions, will remain closely monitored to protect peace and stability in the country. They are trying to subvert our economic revival efforts,” said Minister Kazembe.

He said peace and stability were needed in the country’s quest to attain an upper middle income society by 2030.

“The peace and stability in Zimbabwe is what guarantees and secures the path to the attainment of Vision 2030, which we must all rally behind.”

“I call upon all peace-loving citizens to play their part in this journey and help fight violent crime, corruption and subversion spearheaded by malcontents whose only mission is to try to grab power unconstitutionally and violently for their own personal greed purposes and against the dictates of our democracy and constitutionalism.”

From George Maponga  in Masvingo
Zimbabwe’s universities must consolidate modernisation and industrialisation agendas in line with Vision 2030 and use their innovation hubs and industrial parks to produce goods and services that impact on all sectors of the national economy, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.

Speaking after Great Zimbabwe University (GZU)’s 14th graduation ceremony held virtually in line with Covid-19 regulations, the President said universities should be nerve centres of the drive to accelerate modernisation and industrialisation through coming up with inventions and solutions to challenges afflicting the country.

Already, GZU is at the forefront.

The President commissioned a $10 million textile factory at GZU Industrial Park Complex in the Masvingo Industrial area. This park is also booked for a food preservation factory and a science innovation factory that will include a bottling plant and a sanitiser-manufacturing plant.

GZU’s textile factory has been central in the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers in the province and face masks for ordinary people in the battle against Covid-19.

Prior to the virtual graduation ceremony and opening of the factory, the President, who is GZU Chancellor, had commissioned the Robert Mugabe School of Education nearby, which was built under the university’s multi-campus system and named after former President Robert Mugabe in recognition of his leading role in the development of education in post-independent Zimbabwe.

President Mnangagwa said institutions of higher learning should always focus on registration of patents, research output, development of prototypes and continuous development of appropriate products. “Under Education 5.0, we

must not look at those outside as our saviour. Innovations, inventions and solutions which accelerate the modernisation, industrialisation and development of robust rural industry systems must come from among us. In this regard the centrality of local institutions of higher learning cannot be over-emphasised,” said President Mnangagwa.

He underscored the crucial role to be played by institutions of higher learning as centres of solutions to challenges threatening the Second Republic’s industrialisation and modernisation agenda.

“Construction of innovation hubs and industrial parks are not the ultimate end. The main interest of my Government is in the products and services that must be churned out of these facilities impacting on every sector of our economy.”

The President urged GZU and other universities to register their patents, taking a leaf from the University of Zimbabwe which was leading in that regard.

He also challenged local institutions of higher learning to draw a lesson from the GZU which has immortalised local and regional luminaries in the struggle for self rule by naming schools and theatres after them.

Among them are former Vice President Simon Muzenda (Simon Muzenda School of Arts and Heritage Studies), Julius Nyerere (Julius Nyerere School of Social Sciences), Gary Magadzire (Gary Magadzire School of Agriculture), Robert Mugabe School of Education and Hebert Chitepo Law School.

“This warm gesture immortalised their contribution to the liberation struggle and independence of our region and nation.

“The ideological ethos, culture and values which they bequeathed to us; that independence without economic emancipation is empty. What must inspire and guide present and future generations is to leapfrog our economic, scientific and technological development,” said the President.

He commended GZU for being the first local university to have an on-campus radio station.

The President challenged the local media, both private and public, to promote national unity, love and honest hard work for the good of the country.

In his address Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira underscored the importance of Education 5.0, saying it would give impetus to the national drive towards Vision 2030.

Institutions of higher learning were at the centre of the country’s modernisation agenda and industries did not “fall from the sky” but needed people with skills to develop them.

Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira paid tribute to GZU and Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo for creativity and projects like sanitisers production and the Campus Radio among others.

This had positively impacted on the province’s economy especially under Covid-19.

The opening of the textile factory by the university, he said, would go a long way in easing shortages of personal protective equipment especially amongst frontline health workers in the Covid-19 fight.

Professor Zvobgo said besides being a laboratory for students to learn practically, the industrial park complex would also be a commercial wing of the university to generate revenue to augment its working capital.

He singled out the Campus Radio as one of the institution’s strategic business units that was already making a huge impact in society.

Earlier on in his welcome remarks before the graduation ceremony, Professor Zvobgo had highlighted a number of milestones made by his institution in the fight against Covid-19.

GZU had manufactured more than 40 000 litres of hand sanitiser, made face masks and used the Campus Radio to promote virtual learning. The radio was now accessible in Masvingo, Mashava and Chiredzi where the university had campuses.

GZU was in the process of setting up a centre for research in dryland agriculture in the semi-arid Chivi district while the institution’s medical school was under construction with a lot of ground having been covered.

A total of 4 779 students were capped but only 116 were physically present with the rest graduating virtually because of Covid-19 precautions.

Those who were physically present excelled in their studies with distinctions and received awards. Among them was Chief Mugabe, Mr Matubede Mudavanhu, who graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) in Archeology, Museums and Heritage Studies. He won a university book prize and is a beneficiary of the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship.

Also present at the ceremony was State Security Minister Owen Ncube, GZU council chair Professor Mandivamba Rukuni and senior Government officials.