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Source: UN, USAID pledge $25m | The Herald March 1, 2019

Mr Mupamhanga

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe yesterday got US$25 million from development partners for humanitarian assistance.

The United Nations committed $10 million.

The United States through its arm, US Agency for International Development, pledged $15 million at a function attended by several ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe, senior Government officials and development partners.

The $10 million was announced by visiting UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr Mark Lowcock while the $15 million was pledged by the US ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Brian Nichols during a Flash Appeal, in which the global body is requesting the international community to assist the country overcome drought-induced humanitarian challenges.

In his address, Mr Lowcock bemoaned the recurrent droughts affecting the Southern Africa.

He said the assistance would be extended to both people in urban and rural areas based on need.

“The reason is because of a combination of factors that include climatic phenomenon such as El Nino and economic crisis. I am releasing $10 million today as a first contribution. I can only do that because member states of the UN contributed to that. What we are trying to do with this allocation is to identify the most vulnerable people in this country like child-headed families and people with disabilities. The approach we are going to take is exclusively on the need,” said Mr Lowcock.

Deputy Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Justin Mupamhanga said Government will pursue irrigation construction as part of long term measures to end recurrent droughts.

“It is in this light that Government is taking measures with the support of cooperating partners of making Zimbabwe arrive at a point that it will be self-sufficient. Our desire is to go beyond that. You will recall that our President said we must move into irrigation. He said 300 000 hectares will go under irrigation. When that happens I can assure you that Zimbabwe will be self-sufficient but let me hasten to say for us to have that infrastructure we need a conscious appreciation from UN agencies and cooperating partners to arm us with the necessary capacity,” said Mr Mupamhanga.

UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Bishow Parajuli said they were compelled to act following analysis projecting high level of food insecurity in both rural and urban areas.

“Flash Appeal is targeting 2,2 million people in both rural and urban communities for the period January to June 2019. These are the people who have been hardest hit by economic and climate shocks. Urban vulnerability is complex and we are gathering evidence and lessons learnt from the initiative currently being piloted in Epworth,” said Mr Parajuli.

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Source: President speaks on national dialogue | The Herald March 1, 2019

President Mnangagwa

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
President Mnangagwa says he has opened the avenue for dialogue with other political parties in Zimbabwe to ensure that they also have an input in the country’s governance discourse.

Further, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in- Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said the fiscal and monetary policies introduced by Government were already yielding positive fruits.

President Mnangagwa said this while officially opening the inaugural session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission in Harare yesterday.

So far two meetings involving political parties that participated in the July 30 2018 general elections had been held.

Four committees were set at the last meeting and they are expected to report their feedback today.

“My administration continues to push for greater national peace, unity and harmony and cohesion,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Fully aware that a nation at peace with itself is a nation that can achieve socio economic development. As such, a national dialogue platform has been established to allow a broader cross section of the political players to express their views and input into the governance discourse of this country. We are therefore committed to dialogue at home, across the entire region and beyond. Together we shall create a new reality for our people.

“Today Zimbabwe is in a process of transformation and national renewal. We are making steady progress with regards both economic and political reforms in Zimbabwe. The fiscal and monetary policies we have introduced in Zimbabwe are also humble successes of where want to go.”

Turning to global issues, President Mnangagwa said: “At the international level, there is an ever growing demand for strengthening of global governance and transformation of the global governance system. The constant challenges in the international balance of power heighten the need to foster an international order that is fair, equitable and more rational to ensure that the common interests of our countries and other developing countries are assured.

“We remain convinced that the United Nations should always be guided by its Charter and serve the interests of all its member states, without prejudice. To this end, we continue to advocate for the reform and democratisation of the United Nations Security Council so that it serves as the pedestal of international justice, peace and security.

“I am aware that Botswana will hold its general elections in the course of 2019; a process that will deepen democracy in your country and the region at large. We wish you, Your Excellency, and people of Botswana, great success during your elections.”

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A South African preacher has tried to confront another pastor for "bringing Christianity into disrepute" by staging a bogus resurrection. Self-styled prophet Paseka 'Mboro' Motsoeneng stood outside the locked gates of Pastor Alph Lukau's church and shouted "I'm here to get answers". He said if the pastor really had the power to resurrect, they should […]

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.

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

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.”

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