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Source: Billion pula boon for Zim | The Herald February 26, 2019

Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade permanent secretary Ambassador James Manzou (centre), his Defence and War Veterans Affairs counterpart Mr Martin Rushwaya (right) and Botswana’s permanent secretary for International Affairs and Cooperation Mr Gaeimelwe Goitsemang (left) follow proceedings at the official opening of the Zimbabwe-Botswana BI-National Commission conference in Harare yesterday

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Botswana is extending $600 million in two major facilities to Zimbabwe’s private sector and diamond industry that will give ties between the two countries a huge lift.

Zimbabwe this week hosts Botswana for a Bi-National Commission (BNC) which will consummate in the signing of the agreements by Presidents Mnangagwa and Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday.

Preparatory meetings for the event began yesterday and Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador James Manzou, who opened the two-day meeting pitting officials from both countries, revealed the details.

“Zimbabwe welcomes with much appreciation that Botswana proposed a BWP1 billion (approximately US$94,5 million) credit facility, in support of the Zimbabwe private sector. I would like to encourage all of us as officials to fully utilise our two working days to synthesise the remaining issues that will lead to the operationalisation of this facility.

“Zimbabwe is also appreciative of the US$500 million diamond facility offered to it by Botswana. I also urge this meeting of officials to work in earnest to ensure that all outstanding issues relating to this facility are finalised,” Ambassador Manzou said.

He thanked Botswana for supporting Zimbabwe’s efforts to turnaround the fortunes of its economy, especially the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).

“I wish to express my gratitude for the support extended to Zimbabwe by Botswana as our country embarks on a fresh development trajectory under the new dispensation.

“That support has not only come in the unyielding commitment towards enhancement of relations through the BNC, but also in programmes that will support our economic recovery in line with Zimbabwe’s Second Republic’s seminal blueprint, the Transitional Stabilisation Programme,” he said.

Ambassador Manzou said at least three Memorandums of Understanding in Diplomatic Consultations and Rules of Procedure (meant to operationalise the BNC) and that of Agriculture and Mining were ready for signing, saying the latter two were at the heart of driving the two countries’ economies.

“We should speedily activate the Joint Technical Committees in the two sectors to ensure actionable programmes take off immediately. In the mining sector, Zimbabwe is especially keen to emulate how Botswana managed to harness its diamond resources giving it a critical role in transforming the country into one of the most prosperous on the continent,” he added.

In his remarks Botswana’s permanent secretary for International Affairs and Cooperation Mr Gaeimelwe Goitsemang said the BNC should further improve ties between the two countries.

“It’s my hope that the outcomes of this BNC will improve the bilateral relations between the two countries with economic diplomacy taking centre stage,” he said.

“I hope this new arrangement (the BNC) will improve coordination of our activities. The BNC is a strong expression of the good relations between our two nations.”

Zimbabwe and Botswana upgraded their relations to a BNC in last year following President Mnangagwa’s visit to that country.

President Mnangagwa and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi will head the BNC when it sits on Thursday.

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Bus Stop TV actor Samantha Kureya popularly known as Gonyeti was on Tuesday taken away by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning. The plainclothes police officers nabbed the social media personality at her Mufakose home in Harare. It is not known what charges the police could prefer against her. Bustop TV posts comedy and […]

Source: Breaking: Mahiya remanded to March 12 | Newsday (News)

Harare Magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa has remanded Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CIZC) chairperson, Rashid Mahiya, in custody to March 12.

Mahiya, who handed himself to police on Monday afternoon, is being charged with subverting a constitutionally elected government in connection with the January 14 to 18 protests.

The State alleges that Mahiya held a meeting in December last year and incited ‘members of non-governmental organisations and the general populace to subvert a constitutional government by urging all to engage in acts of civil disobedience, passive resistance to the law, public violence, hooliganism and rampant looting across the country.

On January 14, Zimbabweans began protests against government’s 150% fuel price hike, and soldiers, as recorded by human rights organisations, allegedly killed 17 civilians and injured dozens in response to the protests.

Mahiya, who was represented by Tonderai Bhatasara, was advised to approach the High Court for bail.

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Source: 5,3 million Zimbabweans need food aid: UN | Newsday (News)

BY BLESSED MHLANGA /RUTENDO MATANHIKE

The United Nations estimates that a total of 5,3 million Zimbabweans will need food aid and has started efforts to raise funds to bridge the food deficit to avert a massive humanitarian crisis.

In a press release, the UN said its humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock will be in Harare tomorrow, where he will launch the call for funding.

“The United Nations humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock will visit Zimbabwe from February 27 to March 1 to see the current humanitarian situation in the country. This visit will mark Mr Lowcock’s first visit to Southern Africa as emergency relief coordinator and under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs,” the UN said.

Lowcock will meet with senior government officials, the diplomatic community, humanitarian organisations and members of civil society during his working visit in Zimbabwe.

“Lowcock is also expected to meet with people in Epworth and Mudzi district, who have been affected the most by increasing food insecurity. Zimbabwe is facing rising humanitarian needs as a result of erratic rains and the economic challenges, with 5,3 million people estimated to be in urgent need of assistance,” the statement reads.

Together with the UN ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bishow Parajuli, on behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team, Lowcock will launch the Zimbabwe Flash Appeal on Thursday in Harare.

“The Flash Appeal calls on the international community to further contribute to the aid organisations’ efforts to save lives in response to Zimbabwe’s economic challenges and deteriorating humanitarian situations,” the UN said.

Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavima has already indicated that nearly 50% of the crop in the province is a write-off owing to poor rains.

“We are in the process of assessing the crop situation in the province, but things are not looking good. We have to have a detailed report first before we can give out figures,” he said.

The drought comes amid a massive economic meltdown, which has left workers struggling to put food on the table amid high fuel prices.

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Source: Chamisa dumps rallies to meet MDC structures | Newsday (News)

BY OBEY MANAYITI

MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is embarking on a whirlwind countrywide tour meeting structures to update them on the state of the party and the upcoming congress, which has been slated for May.

According to party spokesperson Jacob Mafume, Chamisa’s tour is expected to end mid-March. The tour is seen as a campaign by Chamisa to drum up support and avoid any possible challenge at the upcoming congress.

Already, some structures are falling over each other to endorse Chamisa, who took over from the late party founding president Morgan Tsvangirai.

“The rationale behind meeting the structures is that we need to take stock of what is happening. As you might be aware, a lot has been happening and our members have been arrested and harassed, property being damaged and we need to take stock of that,” Mafume said.

“We need, as a party, to get an appreciation of all that and then map the way forward.

“We have also announced congress dates through the national council and so the president needs to give the structures some feedback and the way forward.”

The MDC spokesperson said they religiously meet with their structures beginning of each year, adding there is nothing sinister about Chamisa going to meet structures because he will not be going out alone.

“It is the beginning of the year and a political party survives like a church. You cannot pray with people you do not meet. He [Chamisa] is the president of the party, but he doesn’t go alone on these meetings. He is going with the whole leadership,” Mafume said.

He said Chamisa would also take the opportunity to update their structures on their position on the national dialogue.

Despite calling for dialogue, MDC has snubbed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advances and the latter is currently negotiating with little-known parties that failed to make any significant impact in last year’s harmonised elections.

At the national dialogue, the parties were ordered, among other things, to find a suitable convener and to draw up the agenda.

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