Don’t detain the court, magistrate warns Katsimberis lawyer 

Source: Don’t detain the court, magistrate warns Katsimberis lawyer –Newsday Zimbabwe HARARE magistrate Vongai Guwuriro has warned property developer George Katsimberis’ lawyer against detaining the court with several requests before his application for referral of his trial matter to the Constitutional Court is completed. Guwuriro made the remarks today while responding to requests by Katsimberis’ […]

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Source: Don’t detain the court, magistrate warns Katsimberis lawyer –Newsday Zimbabwe

HARARE magistrate Vongai Guwuriro has warned property developer George Katsimberis’ lawyer against detaining the court with several requests before his application for referral of his trial matter to the Constitutional Court is completed.

Guwuriro made the remarks today while responding to requests by Katsimberis’ lawyer Tino Chinyoka  for the court to help his client access some missing information required in his application for referral to the ConCourt.

The lawyer wanted information on the matter which was presided over by magistrate Letween Rwodzi who has since recused herself from the trial.

“We need a complete record. The clerk of court must search the missing part of the record. If the record cannot be found, he must for look for the recordings and reconstruct,” Chinyoka told the magistrate.

But the State represented by prosecutor Michael Reza advised Chinyoka to approach the superior court for recourse. Chinyoka, however, disputed claims that he was making a fresh application, saying he was simply requesting a complete record of the transcript.

But the magistrate said the requests were delaying the matter.

“I will not agree for you to detain the court on an application for referral to ConCourt. This application for referral should proceed,” Guwuriro said, urging the lawyer to approach magistrate Rwodzi for the missing information.

The application for referral to the ConCourt then commenced with Katsimberis testifying.

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Granny (75) escapes death by a whisker as man sets her hut on fire over witchcraft accusations

In a harrowing incident that unfolded in Domboshava, a woman narrowly escaped a tragic fate when the kitchen hut she was sleeping in was set ablaze by her cousin, who accused her of being a witch. The distressing event occurred on October 20, sending s…

In a harrowing incident that unfolded in Domboshava, a woman narrowly escaped a tragic fate when the kitchen hut she was sleeping in was set ablaze by her cousin, who accused her of being a witch. The distressing event occurred on October 20, sending shockwaves through the community. The accused, a 37-year-old named Mica Jacob, […]

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Govt pegs property rentals in US$ 

Source: Govt pegs property rentals in US$ -Newsday Zimbabwe GOVERNMENT has pegged monthly rentals for all its properties in United States dollars ranging from US$5 to US$160, as the Zimdollar continues to lose value against the greenback. A Finance ministry memorandum seen by NewsDay written on October 2 by the former National Housing and Social […]

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Source: Govt pegs property rentals in US$ -Newsday Zimbabwe

GOVERNMENT has pegged monthly rentals for all its properties in United States dollars ranging from US$5 to US$160, as the Zimdollar continues to lose value against the greenback.

A Finance ministry memorandum seen by NewsDay written on October 2 by the former National Housing and Social Amenities secretary Joyce Makumbe, indicates that the new rentals will become effective from January 1, 2024.

This comes despite government’s refusal to dumb the Zimdollar. In August this year, ahead of the general elections, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the Zimdollar was here to stay. He, however, on Friday last week extended the use of US dollars to 2030 from 2025.

“Please be advised that the Treasury has approved to peg monthly rentals for government residential estates in US dollars, but payable at the official interbank rate on the day of payment,” Makumbe wrote.

“You are, therefore, advised to notify all tenants in your province of the new fees in US dollars on or before November 30, 2023. The new fees are to be effected on January 1, 2024.”

On October 20, estates management and provincial co-ordination deputy Owen Nhoro attached new fees in a memorandum to all provincial heads.

“Reference is made to the secretary’s communiqué dated October 2, 2023, on approved rental reviews on all government properties. Please be advised to implement a new rental structure using the secretary’s simplified extract rent schedule.”

Rent for a one-bedroomed government pool flat was reviewed from ZWL$75 to US$80, two bedrooms from ZWL$150 to US$100, and three-bedroom from ZWL$225 to US$120 in cities

Structures in provincial towns and districts have their own approved rentals.

Partially developed properties are rented for US$5, while a four-bedroom house is rented for US$160.

Coalition for Market and Liberal Solutions director Rejoice Ngwenya told NewsDay that the development was a clear indicator that the government will not dump US dollar for Zimdollar anytime soon.

“The multiple or more accurately dual currency is still legal, so there’s nothing amiss. However, beyond the clutter of propagandaabout the strength of bonds and ‘economic growth’, the government knows the true value of the US dollar. The US dollar will not be dumped anytime soon,” he said.

Economist and policy adviser Prosper Chitambara said: “It’s a way of trying to preserve value given the depreciation of the local currency that we have been seeing. When you peg in US$ you will be able to preserve value.”

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MISA seeks to livestream recalled MPs’ court challenge 

Source: MISA seeks to livestream recalled MPs’ court challenge –Newsday Zimbabwe The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) and Technomag Private Limited have written to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) requesting permission to livestream court proceedings in a matter where 15 opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators are challenging their recall by the party’s […]

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Source: MISA seeks to livestream recalled MPs’ court challenge –Newsday Zimbabwe

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) and Technomag Private Limited have written to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) requesting permission to livestream court proceedings in a matter where 15 opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators are challenging their recall by the party’s self-proclaimed interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu.

The case is set for hearing at the High Court on Thursday.

Misa and Technomag, through their lawyers from Scanlen and Holderness, said the case was of national interest hence the request to have a live broadcast.

“MISA is a duly registered trust, and its mandate is to defend and promote media freedom, freedom of expression, and access to information. Technomag is a duly registered and licensed media house in Zimbabwe.

“Our clients are seeking permission to broadcast and livestream the court proceedings in the case of Prince Sibanda and Others versus Sengezo Tshabangu and Others HCH 6649/23 which is set down for hearing on the 2 of November 2023.

“Broadcasting and livestreaming in this case will involve the use of video cameras and audio equipment that allows the real-time airing of the court proceedings.”

The lawyers also argued that the JSC had the power to grant the request by virtue of Section 190 (2) of the Constitution.

The section mandates the JSC to promote the effective and transparent administration of justice in Zimbabwe.

“The same section confers all the powers that are needed for you to fulfil your mandate and we believe granting leave to broadcast, and live-stream court proceedings is one of such powers,” the letter said.

The JSC has developed an online platform to manage cases through the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) which requires electronic handling of all court proceedings and documents.

It also requires trial proceedings to be done virtually which disadvantages the public who may want to follow the proceedings as it only allows parties to the cases to follow the proceedings.

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New Edgars shareholders make sweeping changes

Source: New Edgars shareholders make sweeping changes -Newsday Zimbabwe TWO executive directors at the clothing maker and retailer Edgars Stores have resigned with effect from today, as new firm owners make sweeping changes at the helm. The group’s majority shareholding is now controlled by a Mauritian investment management firm, SSCG Africa Holdings. Tjeludo Ndlovu, the […]

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Source: New Edgars shareholders make sweeping changes -Newsday Zimbabwe

TWO executive directors at the clothing maker and retailer Edgars Stores have resigned with effect from today, as new firm owners make sweeping changes at the helm.

The group’s majority shareholding is now controlled by a Mauritian investment management firm, SSCG Africa Holdings.

Tjeludo Ndlovu, the group’s chief executive officer, and Happiness Vundla, the group’s chief finance officer, resigned from the board and are leaving the garment maker today, according to a shareholder update released yesterday.

Ndlovu has been with the group for 11 years, having joined in 2012 as group accountant. Vundla took responsibility of the finance department in 2021.

The board of directors have replaced Ndlovu with Sevious Mushosho. Vundla is yet to be replaced.

“The board would like to announce the appointment of Sevious Mushosho as the chief executive officer of the group with effect from November 1, 2023. Sevious is a fellow chartered accountant Zimbabwe with over 20 years of multinational experience in cross-functional management, financial management, audit, insurance, banking, retail and distribution,” the update read in part.

Mushosho has worked at executive level in various companies in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Mauritius, including Sub Sahara Capital Group, Distribution Group Africa, AfriAsia Holdings limited and Innscor Africa, among others.

He has been on the board since July 2022 as a non-executive director and from May 2023 as the group chief operating officer.

The board also appointed Peter Mnyama executive director-retail chains with effect from November 1, 2023.

A career fashion retailer with over 25 years’ experience, Mnyama joined the group as merchandise trainee back in 1998. He rose to group merchandise controller in 2004 and later became express merchandise executive.

He then moved to Edcon in South Africa in 2008 and returned to Zimbabwe as the marketing and sales executive for Carousel Private Limited in 2013, a role he played until 2016 when he became merchandise executive for the Jet Chain.

In 2020, he became the Jet Chain managing director and moved to become Edgars Chain managing director in 2022.

Mark Robb, who has been appointed non-executive director, is an IT professional with over 22 years’ multinational experience across fintech, banking, FMCG, media, manufacturing and agricultural sectors. He has a BCom Honours Degree in Information Systems and Management from Rhodes University in South Africa and many other IT qualifications obtained from various institutions.

SSCG bought 100% of Bellfield, the investment vehicle through which Edcon held 41,07% of Edgars. The Competition and Tariff Commission approved the takeover in 2019 without conditions.

SSCG Africa Holding also has interests in local micro-finance Untu Capital.

Following the consummation of the deal, the new owners have relocated the retail chain management offices from Bulawayo to Harare where they have more shops in order to manage them on a day-to-day basis.

Edgars is the largest clothing retailer, with 25 branches throughout the country. It also controls 25 Jet stores, the Club micro-finance unit as well as Carousel, the garment manufacturing factory based in Bulawayo.

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