Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: ED grants relief to death row inmates -Newsday Zimbabwe

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has granted relief to some prisoners on death row after he commuted their sentences to life imprisonment.

Mnangagwa also announced amnesty for prisoners serving various sentences ahead of today’s independence celebrations.

Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty in February this year giving relief to 63 inmates who were destined for gallows for various crimes.

The country carried out its last execution in 2005, but the death sentence has continued to be imposed.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs secretary Vimbai Nyemba promulgated the Clemency Order in a General Notice published the Extraordinary Government Gazette early this week.

According to the notice, commutation of the death sentence to life imprisonment was granted to all inmates who have been on death row for 10 years and above.

Full remission of the remaining period was also granted to inmates who had served life imprisonment for at least 20 years.

“This includes — inmates sentenced to life imprisonment; inmates whose sentences were commuted from death to life imprisonment.

“In this case the period of 20 years will include the period when the inmate was serving as a prisoner under the sentence of death; inmates whose sentences were altered to life imprisonment on appeal or review,” the notice indicated.

It further announced remission of sentences for convicted female inmates, save for those convicted of specified offences.

“The inmate should have served one-third (1/3) of the sentence by 18th April, 2024. Full remission of the remaining period of imprisonment for all juveniles that is, those inmates under the age of eighteen (18) years.

“The inmate should have served one-third (1/3) of the sentence by 18th April, 2024. Age determination will be based on the birth certificate or dental age estimation of the concerned prisoner.”

The amnesty, however, excluded inmates charged under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23].

The amnesty has also been extended to prisoners sentenced to 48 months and below and who would have served a third of their sentence by April 18, 2024, provided they are not convicted for specified offences.

Remissions were granted on medical grounds, prisoners at open prisons, those aged 60 years and above and inmates with disabilities.

A quarter remissions were extended for inmates serving an effective sentence above 48 months and who would have served at least a third of the sentence including those under specified offences.

Prisoners excluded from amnesty include former amnesty beneficiaries, those serving a sentence imposed by Court Martial and inmates who have records of escaping from lawful custody.

Inmates serving sentences of murder, treason, rape or any sexual offence, carjacking, robbery, public violence and human trafficking will not benefit from the amnesty.

Also excluded are prisoners jailed for unlawful possession of firearms, contravention of the Electricity Act, Postal and Telecommunications Act, Public Order and Security Act or Maintenance of Peace and Order Act and any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any of the listed offences.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Meya Khanyezi said the presidential amnesty served as a tangible demonstration of the government’s commitment to the rehabilitation of offenders.

“It is a significant step towards building a harmonious and inclusive society where every individual has the opportunity to contribute positively,” she said.

Khanyezi called on beneficiaries to seize the opportunity for personal growth and transformation.

“This release is not only a second chance; it is a chance to rewrite the narrative of their lives and become productive members of society coming from bars to business,” she said.

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Source: I’ll report back if ZiG fails: RBZ governor –Newsday Zimbabwe

RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor, John Mashayavanhu, has said he will  report back to the citizens if the newly-introduced Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency fails to work.

Mushayavanhu said this yesterday while unpacking the monetary policy statement at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo yesterday.

The engagement with captains of industry and other stakeholders  was organised by Alpha Media Holdings (AMH).

AMH are the publishers of The Standard, NewsDay and Zimbabwe Independent newspapers and runs online radio station HSTV.

Mushayavanhu said he was a listening governor.

“I can say we are monitoring all the issues that you raised in the monetary policy and the solutions to see if it’s working,” he said.

“I have a dashboard to check if we are on track or not.

“If we are not on track I will do the consultations again and come back to the people and say this thing is not working and what can we do to make it work.”

The ZiG replaced the Zimdollar that had been severely battered by hyperinflation, pushing up the cost of living.

ZiG notes and coins will be rolled out on April 30.

Mushayavanhu said players in the fuel sector would be required to settle their dues in ZiG which will drive demand and boost confidence in the new currency.

“We have more than enough cover for ZiG.  80% of transactions are in foreign currency while 20% are in local currency. The exchange rate of ZiG will be market driven,” he said.

Mushayavanhu said government would scrap the 10% mark up that businesses charge on the interbank rate as it was making goods and services more expensive in local currency.

He said fuel players would scramble for ZiG to pay the 50% on the quarterly payment dates (QPDs) in local currency. The second QPD is June in which businesses are expected to pay 25% of their annual taxes.

This, Mushayavanhu said, will force fuel operators to accept ZiG so that they meet their tax obligations.

He said stakeholders should not be fooled by money changers who have started speculating on the ZiG exchange rate.

“We realised that we were competing with stronger currencies and it [Zimdollar] was in a free fall because we did not have gold reserves,” he added.

Mushayavanhu said the central bank was engaging the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority after noting that its systems were not yet ready to accept ZiG as a mode of payment.

He emphasised the need to honour local transactions in ZiG reserving the US dollar for foreign obligations.

AMH chief executive officer Kenias Mafukidze said the media house was providing a platform for nation building.

“This is because we win together or we lose together,” he said.

“We need to create a rapport because success can only come when there is trust and confidence. The decisions made by the RBZ play a pivotal role in the course of our economy,” he said.

“Last year, we saw one of the worst deterioration of our currency. The last quarter between January and March was quite dramatic…”

He added: “The issue is we must work together to make it (ZiG) a success because if it does not then we go wrong.

“So we are here to investigate collectively on how we can make sure that it doesn’t meet the same fate as the Bond note had and how we can all make it work.”

Authorities say the ZiG is backed by gold and foreign currency reserves as well as other minerals.

The Zimdollar was reintroduced in 2019 after a decade of dollarisation.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has insisted that there is no reverting to dollarisation as he forges ahead with his de-dollarisation strategy.

Zimbabwe was forced to introduce the use of the United States dollar and other foreign currencies in 2009 when the local unit had become moribund.

Critics have accused authorities of experimenting with the local currency, resulting in its rapid depreciation.

The post I’ll report back if ZiG fails: RBZ governor  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: ZRA repackages Batoka Gorge project -Newsday Zimbabwe

THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) is engaging key stakeholders to finalise the packaging of the 2 400 megawatt Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Scheme in a bid to resume tendering for prospective developers next year, NewsDay Business can reveal.

Zambia and Zimbabwe are re-tendering the project they previously awarded to General Electric and Power Construction Corp of China.

Work on the project was initially scheduled to begin in 2020, but it encountered several delays, including the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and difficulties in securing funding.

The project scope includes construction of the dam wall for US$1,4 billion, power station at US$1,3 billion and other aspects giving a total of US$4,5 billion.

 “Construction of the Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric scheme is yet to commence. The preparatory activities, however, have advanced and are now substantially completed,” said ZRA chief executive officer Munyaradzi Munodawafa.

“The authority is currently engaging key stakeholders to finalise the packaging of the project to pave the way for competitive tendering which will result in the engagement of a potential developer, which is scheduled for 2025. This follows the disengagement with the initially appointed project developer,” Munodawafa told NewsDay Business.

 

He noted that key updates are being made on the initial environmental and engineering studies, which were completed in 2022 and 2019 respectively.

“In terms of studies, the engineering feasibility studies were completed in 2019. Some key updates are now being undertaken on selected sections due to the time that has elapsed since the completion of the studies,” he said.

“The environmental and social impact assessment studies were also completed and approved in 2022 by the environmental management regulators in both countries.”

The authority is working on developing additional upstream reservoirs for flood management to mitigate climate change.

“The development of additional water storage infrastructure is one of the key measures to mitigate climate change. The construction of additional upstream reservoirs is key in terms of flood management and indeed, reservoir level regulation at Kariba Dam,” he said.

“The planned reservoir operating rules entail maximising hydropower production at the upstream schemes during the wet months while banking the water in the big Kariba reservoir and peaking at the Kariba hydropower scheme during the dry months when the Zambezi River flows reduce significantly.

“Such a conjunctive operation mechanism is a climate resilience measure since it ensures that the same water cascading from the upstream will be used to generate power at the downstream power plants.”

The multi-billion-dollar power plant to be constructed on the Zambezi — which flows through Zimbabwe and Zambia — has been on the cards since 1972.

On completion, the power plant is expected to ameliorate power shortages affecting the two countries.

ZRA is a bilateral organisation mandated to operate, monitor, and maintain the Kariba Dam and its reservoir.

It is also expected to develop additional water storage infrastructure along the stretch of the Zambezi River located along the common border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The 2 400MW will be shared equally between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

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Source: ‘Guard against weaponisation of food aid’ –Newsday Zimbabwe

The call by Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT) comes after the ruling Zanu PF party revealed that it will be superintending the distribution of food aid by either government or its development partners.

THE Department of Social Welfare should guard against the weaponisation of food aid as Zimbabwe grapples with adverse effects of the El Niño-induced drought, a peace-building organisation has said.

The call by Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT) comes after the ruling Zanu PF party revealed that it will be superintending the distribution of food aid by either government or its development partners.

 

 

In a statement, HZT said the political weaponisation of food aid had led to the marginalisation and coercion of vulnerable members of our society particularly those who support opposition political parties.

The organisation said the statements made by Zanu PF officials not only undermined the democratic fabric of Zimbabwe, but laid bare the conflation of the State and the ruling party which has violated the fundamental rights of individuals and communities to receive aid without discrimination.

“We call upon the government of Zimbabwe to ensure that the distribution of food aid is done only through the Department of Social Welfare working with local traditional and elected leadership.

“The Department of Social Welfare must design mechanisms to guard against the abuse and weaponisation of aid for political purposes,” HZT said.

 

 

It implored the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to guard against corruption and abuse of food aid financed through tax and multilateral donors and agencies.

“Political parties must also rein in their members who are bent on manipulating food aid distribution activities across the country.

“Heal Zimbabwe further calls on civil society organisations and other developmental partners to vigilantly monitor and hold accountable the government and all stakeholders involved in the efforts to alleviate poverty and food insecurity as the country faces the devastating effects of the El Niño-induced drought,” the watchdog said.

 

The ruling Zanu PF has for long been accused of using food handouts as a weapon to control vulnerable people in remote areas.

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Source: Sikhala to speak at global human rights summit -Newsday Zimbabwe

FORMER Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala’s star continues to shine after the politician was invited to speak at the Geneva Summit on Human Rights and Democracy, a major conference that spotlights urgent human rights situations that require global attention.

The politician, who spent 595 days in pre-trial detention, is now the chairperson of the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) after cutting ties with the Citizens Coalition for Change following its alleged infiltration by the ruling Zanu PF party.

 

“Hon Advocate Job Sikhala has been invited to speak on his experience during his incarceration for a period of almost two years and the human rights situation in Zimbabwe as it obtains today,” NDWG spokesperson Darlington Chigwena said yesterday.

Sikhala will share the stage with other human rights  activists that include Gambian women rights campaigner, Fatou Baldeh, and exiled Cuban  art historian, writer and human rights activist Carolina Barrero, among others.

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