Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: ‘Holistic approach needed in fighting corruption’ | Newsday (News)

BY OBEY MANAYITI

ZIMBABWEANS from across the divide must work together and meaningfully to fight corruption and stop the country’s record from getting worse, stakeholders have said.

Speaking at a strategic workshop in Harare yesterday to craft a shared approach in the fight against corruption, different stakeholders from the government, policing authorities and private players said it was imperative to work together and bring down the cancerous scourge.

The meeting was aimed at gathering input from various sectors in terms of drawing a national anti-corruption strategy.

From the government side, secretary for State Enterprises Reform, Corporate Governance and Procurement, Willard Manungo said government was unhappy with high levels of corruption in the country.

“As government, we are unhappy with the way we have been fighting corruption even if you follow what the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) has been saying, it’s an area of concern and if we are going to realise the Vision 2030, it is critical that we change the way we have been fighting corruption and otherwise as government we are unhappy with the way we are fighting corruption,” he said.

Manungo said there were many cases involving corruption that were being highlighted in different cycles, but there was no finality on the cases and that this undermined the confidence of the public.

He said yesterday’s meeting was called for to draw different opinions and have a shared view to fight corruption. Manungo said individuals fingered in corruption must be held accountable.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) general manager, Sukai Tongogara said there was no coordinated effort among key stakeholders.

“As a country, we are obliged to comply with the United Nations convention against corruption and other regional anti-corruption conventions and protocols. But as Zimbabwe, we don’t have a strategy that we look at and review in terms of how we are fighting corruption,” Tongogara said.
She said Zimbabweans must have a by-in and own the fight against corruption.

“We are actually on the negative because we have each institution doing its own things, it’s not a coordinated effort. We have police doing their own, Zacc doing their own and Judiciary their own, so we really need to come down with a strategy that is coordinated by all key stakeholders,” Tongogara said.

“Our rankings in terms of the Transparency International index has gone worse and this is an indication that something is not right in terms of strategy and fighting corruption.”

She also raised concern in terms of corporate governance and the current situation whereby the commission has executive commissioners and an executive secretariat which usually steps on each other’s toes.

The post ‘Holistic approach needed in fighting corruption’ appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

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Source: Masisi signs off 1bn pula facility | The Herald March 1, 2019

SIGNED AND SEALED . . . President Mnangagwa and his Botswana counterpart President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi smile as Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo (right) and his Botswana counterpart Dr Unity Dow, sign Memorandums of understanding in Harare yesterday

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has confirmed the 1 billion pula Botswana credit facility that will be channelled towards Zimbabwe’s private sector.

Fielding questions from journalists at the close of the inaugural session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission Summit jointly presided over with President Mnangagwa in Harare yesterday, President Masisi said Botswana had increased the facility from 600 million pula to a billion.

“We increased from 600 million pula to 1 billion, the details of which will be sorted out later on,” he said.

President Masisi also handed over health assistance worth 2,1 million pula to the Government of Zimbabwe.

The facilities came as a tonic to a number of agreements that the two Southern African neighbours made in a culmination of meetings that were held since the start of the week under the aegis of the inaugural BNC.

Zimbabwe and Botswana signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) spanning political, social and economic fields that will bring the two countries closer.

The MoUs included the Extradition Treaty, Diplomatic Consultations, Rules and Procedures Governing the Meetings of the Bi-National Bi-National Commission, Mining, Geology and Metallurgy, Cooperation in the Energy Sector and  Science and Technology.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo and his Botswana counterpart Dr Unity Dow signed the MoU on Diplomatic consultations.

The two ministers also signed the MoU on Rules and Procedure governing meetings of the Bi-National  Commission.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira signed the MoU on cooperation in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation while Botswana was represented by Minister Dow.

The Extradition Treaty was signed by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema and Botswana Defence, Justice and Security Minister Shaw Kgathi.

Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Jorum Gumbo signed the MoU on Cooperation in Geology, Mining and Metallurgy on behalf of his counterpart Minister Winston Chitando, while Botswana was represented Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Eric Molale.

The two ministers also signed another MoU on Cooperation in the field of Energy Development.

In his remarks at the closure of the highly successful summit, President Mnangagwa said: “I am pleased that at this inaugural session, we witnessed the signing of six agreements which set the legal framework for broad cooperation in the agreed areas. Through our collective efforts, may the conclusion of these agreements not be an end in itself, but the beginning of greater bilateral cooperation for the benefit of our people and future generations. History has shown us that where people and nations get used to working together, they grow to share the same vision and aspirations.

“I am confident that Zimbabwe and Botswana have set themselves along this path.”

President Masisi who was also the co-chairman of the summit echoed the sentiments saying: “Today’s meeting is the beginning of a strong and long journey which is ahead of us. More work still needs to be done especially to open our private sector business people and private citizens to play a meaningful role in our efforts to further strengthen our bilateral relations. There is no doubt that our success in implementing the commitments we make today will go a long way in ensuring a conducive environment for our people and businesses to increase their interaction.”

He said the Extradition Treaty would go a long way in serving justice between the citizens of the two countries.

Reading out the communique issued after the summit, Minister Moyo (Foreign Affairs and International Trade) said the two Presidents underscored the importance of the MoU on Geology, Mining and Metallurgy in enhancing cooperation in the mining sector especially in the diamond sector where Botswana had considerable experience and expertise.

“The two (Presidents) also noted the importance of the MoU on cooperation in the energy sector in the development and industrialisation efforts of the two countries,” said Minister Moyo.

“The two Presidents directed the senior officials to expedite the conclusion of the outstanding agreements and MoUs by the midterm review to be held in November 2019. The two Presidents noted the need to increase volumes of trade and investment between their countries. In this regard, they directed that a business forum be convened on the margins of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair to bel held in Bulawayo in April 2019.”

Dr Moyo said the two Presidents welcomed decision by Botswana to consider joining the Kaza uni-visa system as this would assist in the promotion of tourism in the countries involved.

He said there was also a briefing between the two Heads of State and Government on the political situation in the two countries.

On the international front, Dr Moyo said: “The Presidents also welcomed the statement by Sadc calling for the unconditional lifting of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and noted Botswana’s commitment to continue advocating for the removal of the sanctions.”

The post Masisi signs off 1bn pula facility appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: False start to Magaya tax evasion trial | Newsday (News)

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

The trial of Walter Magaya’s Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries on charges of failing to declare tax for nearly $29 million revenue accrued from 2013 to 2018, failed to kick off yesterday after the State failed to furnish the accused with the court papers on time.

PHD Ministries board member finance Nelson Marimo, who was represented by lawyer Everson Chatambudza, appeared before magistrate Hosea Mujaya, who remanded the matter to March 21.

Chatambudza applied for the postponement of the case, saying they received the 366-page court papers a day before the scheduled trial and needed time to prepare for their defence.

The State, represented by George Manokore, consented to the postponement of the matter, saying there were some issues which they wanted to agree on before the trial could start.

PHD Ministries raises revenue through selling church regalia, anointing oil and holy water, among other products, and it also operates guest houses at Yadah Hotel and various places in Harare.

Allegations are that in October 2018, the complainant, Tinashe Madakadze who is employed by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority as chief investigation officer, conducted tax investigations on PHD Ministries.

He recovered financial statements from one of the church’s computers covering the period 2013 to 2017.

Madakadze also recovered other statements from CBZ Bank, which were submitted by PHD Ministries for a loan application.

The financial statements showed that the church had realised sales amounting to $28 706 040,60.

The State alleges that the accused did not declare or submit income tax returns for the said period to Zimra, in violation of the Income Tax Act.

It is alleged that during the same period, the accused paid remuneration amounting to $954 522,99 to Tendai Magaya and $2 403 658,24 to the church leader.

The State alleges the accused did not honour the pay-as-you-earn tax, in violation of sections of Income Tax Act.

The post False start to Magaya tax evasion trial appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

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Source: Tobacco farmers seek late start to auction season – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 1, 2019

BY FIDELITY MHLANGA/XOLISANI NCUBE

TOBACCO farmers are pushing for the tobacco marketing season to be opened at a later date to allow farmers to finalise the harvesting of the crop and to put in place logistical arrangements before the season kicks off.

For authorities who rely on exports of the crop for foreign currency inflows, an earlier date would mean more liquidity for an economy which is hard pressed for foreign currency.

Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s second biggest export earning commodity after gold.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) director Jeremiah Tevera, who attended a meeting with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB), said the farmers had proposed that this year’s tobacco marketing season’s opening date be pushed to March 21.

He said while the curing of tobacco was under way, some farmers still need to finalise other logistical issues before selling their crop.

“We, as tobacco associations, proposed that this year’s tobacco marketing season be opened on March 21, but government and the RBZ wanted an earlier date. But we analysed the implications of that and we said we want March 21,” Tevera said.

At the meeting held Tuesday, the RBZ succumbed to pressure from tobacco farmers and agreed to increase the foreign currency retention threshold from 30% to 50%.

In the Monetary Policy Statement last week, the central bank had pegged the tobacco farmer’s foreign currency retention at 30% and 80% to tobacco merchants, drawing a backlash from farmers.

“I think it was noble for the RBZ to yield to our pressure. We argued a valid position that our farmers’ production costs have been going up. Our position was 60%, but they have agreed to move from 30% to 50%. It was not the best of our interests, but a move of 20% is remarkable,” Tevera said.

RBZ governor John Mangudya confirmed the increase of the farmer’s retention threshold and also justified the 80% given to merchants, saying the bulk of that money would be spent as advancements of inputs to farmers.

“We agreed with the tobacco growers for retention of 50% of net tobacco proceeds. The 80% for the merchants is not retention per se, but funds brought in advance to support tobacco contract farming,” he said.

As of February 22, the number of tobacco farmers had grown by 44% to 170 842 from 118 338 last year.

The post Tobacco farmers seek late start to auction season appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

A 34-YEAR-OLD unemployed man yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court charged with unauthorised access to a computer linked to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) Paynet server where he allegedly paid himself $2 385 073, through a fraudulently registered company. Manase Manjovha was not asked to plead when he appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa, who […]