Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

PARLIAMENT has called on Treasury to fully fund the employment costs for the Auditor-General’s Office to improve operations at the government arm.

The report presented by the Public Accounts Committee, said funding would ensure that the AG’s Office conducted more audits according to its mandate.

It said the funding would raise income from audit fees while reducing reliance on the Treasury allocation in the long-term.

“Treasury should promptly disburse the allocation for digitalisation and retooling in the first quarter to accelerate the automation of all audit office processes by the government’s e-governance, e-procurement and international auditing best practices,” the committee said.

“Treasury should disburse 50% of the budget allocated towards the renovation of the Burroughs House in the first quarter of 2025 to kickstart renovations and avoid prolonging paying rentals at PAX House, which are US$11 551,56 per month.

“Treasury should allocate foreign currency to the Office of the Auditor-General so that it can directly purchase motor vehicles from suppliers.”

The parliamentary committee said that would also avoid challenges related to fluctuations in exchange rates that could impact the delivery of the vehicles.

The report said Treasury should fully fund training and development so that the audit office can enhance human capital capacity and professional development.

“Treasury should fully fund the staff loan revolving fund to enable the audit office to retain staff,” the committee said, adding that training and development should be fully funded as it is fundamental for auditors to continuously upgrade their skills.

“Treasury must release the audit office’s budget allocation in the first and second quarters as audit work is at its peak in these periods.”

ZANU PF national secretary for youth affairs Tinoda Machakaire’s political clout was yesterday badly shaken after the party’s secretary-general Obert Mpofu admonished him for unilaterally reshuffling the youth league’s national executive.

Sources in the Zanu PF youth league accused Machakaire, who was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, of using provincial chairpersons to run the department, while sidelining the elected national executive.

His activities, according to the sources, have created factions with elected party cadres aligning themselves withhis deputy John Paradza, who was also elected to his position.

The tension between Machakaire and Paradza, which has been simmering for a long time, played out in the public this week when the former unilaterally reshuffled members of the national executive.

Paradza checkmated Machakaire’s move by urging the national executive to ignore the directive, while seeking guidance from Mpofu.

In a letter addressed to Machakaire, Mpofu reminded the youth league boss of the need to stick to the Zanu PF constitution.

“The restructuring exercise appears to have been implemented without consulting the national assembly of the youth league or the youth executive council or securing ratification from the politburo or central committee, as required by article 26 section 330(2) and (3) of the 2022 party constitution,” part of the letter read.

“The secretary’s supervisory powers under section 88 must be exercised within the confines of constitutional principles, which prioritise democracy and collective leadership.

“Without explicit authority to remove or restructure elected positions, the directive risks being ultra vires (beyond the powers granted), the restructuring perceived unilateral and undemocratic, may create division within the youth league and erode confidence in leadership decisions.”

Mpofu said Machakaire should have sought recourse through the appropriate procedures instead of a unilateral reshuffle as his actions undermined democratic principles and collective leadership.

“There is a need to adhere to the Zanu PF constitution, consultation and procedural integrity so as to maintain legitimacy, unity and respect for democratic norms,” Mpofu said in the letter.

“Therefore, future decisions of this magnitude should involve thorough consultation with the relevant organs of the youth league and formal ratification by the politburo or central committee.

“In addition, the rationale and procedures followed for restructuring should be clearly documented to enhance transparency and accountability.

“Please be advised that this matter will be referred to party leadership for deliberation and guidance.”

The Zanu PF youth league was this week engulfed in a storm with Machakaire and Paradza at loggerheads over the shake-up announced on Monday.

Machakaire reshuffled the league’s national youth leadership where he removed elected national youth executive council members as the succession-linked internal fights intensified.

The reshuffle resulted in a tug-of-war between Machakaire and Paradza.

NewsDay also heard that the developments were linked to on-going factional fights within the ruling party over a plot to extend Mnangagwa’s term from 2028 to 2030.

Zanu PF adopted the controversial resolution to extend Mnangagwa’s rule at the party’s annual conference in Bulawayo in October.

Mnangagwa has, however, stated categorically  that he is not interested in extending his term of office.

Behind the scenes manoeuvres by 2030 agenda supporters, mainly from Masvingo and Midlands provinces, have left the party divided with national and provincial executive members at odds with grassroots structures opposed to Mnangagwa’s term extension.

Paradza is reported to be leading the 2030 drive amid allegations that he sponsored activities to mobilise youths towards the agenda.

Machakaire, who is also the Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training minister, restructured the league in line with what he termed this year’s national conference resolutions which sought to align teams to the 2030 national agenda.

After Machakaire’s reshuffle, Paradza with the support of provincial chairpersons from the Matabeleland region, dismissed the announcement leading to a tussle between the two leaders.

LIQUID Intelligent Technologies, a business of Cassava Technologies, a leading pan-African technology group, has announced the completion of its fibre network extension from Ramatlabama to Ramokgwebana.

This enhanced independent network spans over 730 kilometres. Marking the first-ever direct connection from northern Botswana along the A1 road and bringing key towns, such as Francistown, Mahalapye, and Palapye, into the fold.

“This fibre extension project is a milestone for Botswana, strengthening the country’s economic hubs and connecting major commercial centres,” Odirile Tamajobe, managing director of Liquid Botswana, said.

“The high-speed connectivity access is set to benefit urban centres and rural communities along the route and further expand our presence in Botswana and the continent through the One Africa Digital Network. It will bring additional multi-terabit capacity and resilience to the region.”

In addition to providing enhanced services to local users, the fibre expansion project extends beyond national boundaries, becoming a connector of countries by connecting with the fibre networks in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan to provide a robust, cross-border digital infrastructure.

The fibre extension project is a testament to Liquid’s ongoing investment in Botswana’s digital infrastructure and its pivotal role in supporting Africa’s digital transformation journey.

This increased access will further solidify Liquid’s position as a leader in the region’s digital transformation, ensuring that no Motswana is left behind. The initiative also empowers local Internet Service Providers to expand their services to retail customers, indirectly benefiting household users across the region and further contributing to regional employment opportunities.

Liquid’s new fibre network, supported by local contractor companies, is a significant step towards advancing Botswana’s national digital transformation strategy. This reinforces the country’s goal of becoming a digitally connected and economically empowered nation.

The network delivers critical connectivity for businesses and enterprises in major towns along the route, including significant commercial and retail centres, financial services, and educational and hospitality entities.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies is a business of Cassava Technologies (Cassava), a technology company of African heritage with operations in 40-plus markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, where the Cassava group companies operate. Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading provider of pan-African digital infrastructure, with a 110 000 km-long fibre broadband network and satellite connectivity, that provides high-speed access to the Internet anywhere in Africa.

Liquid is also leveraging its digital network to provide Cloud and Cyber Security solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players. Liquid is a comprehensive technology solutions group that provides customised digital solutions to public and private sector enterprises and SMEs across the continent.

A HARARE businesswoman has approached the court seeking an interdict after she was evicted from her business premises by council barely 24 hours following the expiry of her lease.

Tatenda Chimunye cited Rufaro Marketing and its operations manager Nyasha Jongwe and City of Harare as respondents.

In her submissions, Chimunye argued that she was supposed to be given the priority to extend her lease.

According to court documents, Chimunye, who had been a tenant from December 1, 2016, had her lease renewed on a yearly basis.

Her last lease expired on November 30, 2024.

Chomunye submitted that she had a legitimate expectation for her lease to be renewed as in previous years.

She said she was in peaceful and undisturbed possession of Kugarika Bar stand number 8167 Kuwadzana 4 Shopping Centre in Kuwadzana, Harare and had been renting the property from Rufaro Marketing (Pvt) Ltd since December 1, 2016.

She was booted out on December 2 and the respondents locked the premises without a court order when her lease expired.

“There is no other alternative remedy that can avail itself as expeditiously as required under the circumstances as applicant is a law-abiding citizen and cannot resort to unlawful means to deal with the respondent.

“The applicant want the due process of law to address the situation on an urgent basis.

“It is only the intervention of this honourable court that can stop the pandemonium that has engulfed,” she submitted.

She averred that there was no notice of eviction, adding that the matter was extremely urgent.

Chimunye said productive time was being lost as all her employees were not able to work as they had been denied access to the premises.

The businesswoman further submitted that she stands to suffer irreparable harm.

“I have been reduced to a destitute with nothing to do for survival since bar, bottlestore and butchery are my livelihood. I will, indeed, suffer irreparable prejudice.

“The requirements for spoliation and interdict have also been proved and met. I have been despoiled without resort to the law or court orders from any competent court of jurisdiction,” she submitted.

The matter is pending.