Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Mnangwagwa was ‘jittery’ over Harare vote – The Standard

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in for a second term last Monday

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is said to have been so worried about the Harare vote in the August 23 and 24 elections so much that he had to repeatedly check with officials during counting of votes, insiders say.

 According to sources, Mnangagwa constantly checked with his top aides if counting of Harare votes had been concluded as counting of votes was going on.

 Harare Metropolitan province has about 1 578 000 people, with 907 700 being registered voters in Harare district and 176 000 in Chitungwiza district, while Bulawayo has 287 000 registered voters.

 Mutare has also not been an easy support base for the ruling Zanu PF party.

 Urban areas have always been safe hunting grounds of votes for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, which contested in past elections as MDC.

On August 23, many polling stations in the capital failed to open on time due to late delivery of election material and this forced many to give up their votes, but sources said this still did not calm Mnangagwa’s nerves.

“The president would constantly get updates from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) director (Isaac Moyo),” a source privy to the goings-on said.

 “Every two hours or so, the CIO director would drive to the State House to update the president.

 “Even during counting of votes, (Mnangagwa) would ask how he was faring in Harare.

 “He knew he would perform better in rural Zanu PF strongholds, but was more worried about the Harare vote.

 “When (Mnangagwa) was told that counting was almost over in Harare, he asked repeatedly if the information he was getting was correct.”

 In the run up to the August elections, Zanu PF concentrated its campaigns in rural constituencies, with party officials indicating that they had no confidence in urban voters.

 The stance also saw the provincial leadership in Mashonaland West struggling to find a venue for Mnangagwa’s star rally, which was eventually held at Magunje in Hurungwe District.

 The Zanu PF commissariat had dismissed Karoi and Chinhoyi as potential venues.

Mnangagwa’s lieutenants Constantine Chiwenga, Kembo Mohadi and Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri also concentrated their rallies in rural constituencies.

 The source added that Forever Associate Zimbabwe (Faz) agents, who were designated as constituency specialists, were asked to give “honest assessments” from their bases.

 Information on Faz’s website says it is a registered private voluntary organisation, but reports indicate that it has strong links to the CIO and is run by the spy organisation’s deputy director-general, retired Brigadier-General Walter Tapfumaneyi.

 “They were told not to inflate anything, but present honest situational reports,” the source added.

 “Apparently, if it was not for Faz, the president would not have reached the percentage he got. He would have gotten maybe 48% or so.”

 “There were constant updates from the polling stations and collation of votes was being done at Chaminuka Building (the CIO headquarters).

 “The military intelligence was doing its own collation of votes, but they predicted a higher percentage than the one predicted by the CIO.

 “It’s the same as happened in 2018, where the military intelligence predicted around 56% win for ED, yet the CIO said he could get around 53%.”

 In the 2018 elections, Mnangagwa got 51,44%, while his rival Nelson Chamisa, who then led the MDC Alliance, got 45,07%.

 The source said voter intimidation, late distribution of election materials such as ballot papers, state media blackout and voter assistance could be singled out as the electoral malpractices that were employed by Zanu PF in tilting the scale in its favour.

 At around mid-morning, Mnangagwa is said to have received information that Faz members had set up poll exit interview desks near polling stations, some within the 300 metre range of the polling stations, in violation of electoral rules, and he “immediately ordered them to move away”.

 This publication understands that the Joint Operations Command the supreme organ for the co-ordination of State security in Zimbabwe was camped at Chaminuka Building and were given a floor to operate from.

 It is comprised of Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri, Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant General David Sigauke, Air Force of Zimbabwe commander Air Marshal Elson Moyo, police commissioner-general Godwin Matanga, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services commissioner-general Moses Chihobvu and CIO director-general Moyo, among others.

It is understood that Zanu PF hierarchy and Cabinet ministers that attacked Southern African Development Community head of election observer mission, Nevers Mumba, were first debriefed at Chaminuka Building before lashing out at the former Zambian vice president.

 Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa discredited Mumba as an election observer accusing him of overstepping his role after he released a damning report flagging the elections as not credible.

 Acting Foreign Affairs minister Amon Murwira told ambassadors from the Sadc region that the report presented by Mumba was a threat to the territorial integrity of Zimbabwe and a departure from Sadc rules and guidelines and should, therefore, be edited before the final report is delivered.

Source: Polls dispute: Pressure mounts on Mnangagwa – The Standard

President Mnangagwa’s government was particularly stung by findings of the Sadc Election Observer Mission (Seom) led by former Zambian vice-president Nevers Mumba.

Pressure is mounting on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to deal with his fallout with the country’s main opposition following the disputed elections amid revelations that there is a strong push for the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to organise an extraordinary summit to tackle the Zimbabwe question.

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has refused to accept defeat after President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared winner of the presidential election on August 26.

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), Mnangagwa garnered 52,6% of the vote against Chamisa’s 44% in the August 23 and 24 elections, the CCC leader dismissed the results as a gigantic fraud.

Chamisa immediately launched a diplomatic offensive to court the support of regional leaders over the election dispute and his position was bolstered by reports from election observer missions, including the one from Sadc, that said the elections did not meet regional and international standards.

Mnangagwa’s government was particularly stung by findings of the Sadc Election Observer Mission (Seom) led by former Zambian vice-president Nevers Mumba.

Some Zanu PF and government officials have issued statements accusing Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema of pushing a regime change agenda in Zimbabwe through the Seom.

Hichilema appointed Mumba to head the Seom in his capacity as chairperson of the Sadc organ on defence, politics and security.

Zimbabwean officials believe the Zambian leader is lobbying for the extraordinary Sadc summit to aid Chamisa’s push for fresh elections.

Their fears were exposed by Information ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangwana who took to social media yesterday to lash out at an unidentified country that he claimed was lobbying for Zimbabwe’s election dispute to be tackled by the regional bloc.

“There is some treacherous lobbying going on by one Sadc member state to have an extra-ordinary summit on Zimbabwe,” Mangwana posted on social media site X, formerly Twitter.

“The other members are seeing through this and it’s not going to happen.

“This agenda being pushed by this member state is not its own. It’s a hatchet job for some powerful nations.”

Zanu PF says Hichilema is working with Western countries that want regime change in Zimbabwe.

Chamisa yesterday told The Standard that his party’s diplomatic offensive was bearing fruit.

“We won in this election convincingly and comprehensively in an election that was fundamentally flawed,” Chamisa said in an interview.

“We disputed the results that were announced.

“That is why our chief election agent did not sign for the results as required by the law because we had queries on the announced figures.

“There was no election at all in the rural areas as voters were coerced by Forever Associate Zimbabwe (Faz), Zanu PF, and traditional leaders.”

Faz is a Zanu PF affiliate with links to dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation.

“Even within Zanu PF they can’t celebrate because they know they did not win,” Chamisa said.

A  CCC delegation is said to have held a series of meetings with several leaders in the Sadc region last week.

 “If we allow this electoral violation and impunity to continue they will repeat themselves in 2028,” Chamisa said.

“The will of the people should prevail.  Zimbabwe has been perennially trapped in a crisis of disputed elections.

 “There has to be a transitional environment to reconstitute an independent electoral body.

 “All stakeholders should be involved, that is why we are saying there should be a dialogue and a conversation because Zimbabwe is not a one-party state.”

Exiled former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s chief election agent Jacqueline Sande said they had also reached out to Sadc.

“For us, we believe that there can be no election where one of the participants is able to cherry pick his opponents the way that Mnangagwa did,” Sande said in an interview.

Kasukuwere was barred from contesting the election on the basis that he had lived outside the country for more than 18 months.

 “There were many other anomalies which were prevalent during the conduct of the election which had the net effect of having the elections null and void,” Sande said.

“The elections were not in tandem with the constitution.

“They were not in line with the Sadc guidelines on democratic elections, so we are very much in conversation with the Sadc principles.”

CCC official and senator Jameson Timba said they had received a favourable response from Sadc.

 “A flawed election can therefore only be cured by a proper and fresh election, which is lawful, free, fair, transparent and credible,” Timba said.

 “This is the position of the majority of Zimbabweans who were denied their right to freely express themselves.

“The Sadc position on this matter is as expressed by its observer mission…”

 The Platform for Concerned Citizens whose co-convener is academic, Ibbo Mandaza, has also launched an online petition to Sadc calling for a transitional authority.

 By mid-morning yesterday, over 33 000 Zimbabweans, including those in the diaspora, had signed the petition convened by Mandaza and Tony Reeler.

 Mandaza, however, said they were yet to officially submit the petition to Sadc.

 “We are still collecting information. We will decide next Thursday, and we hope that Sadc will intervene,” he said.

In 2008, there was another disputed election between the late former president Robert Mugabe and his long-time rival, the late MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

 The impasse between Mugabe and Tsvangirai resulted in the formation of the government of national unity after Sadc appointed former South African president Thabo Mbeki to mediate.

United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, has extended his congratulations to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his victory in the recent presidential election in Zimbabwe. In a letter addressed to President Mnangagwa, Mr. Guterres expressed his appreciation for the government’s efforts to promote women’s participation in national governance. The UN Secretary-General also pledged to work closely […]

Tanyaradzwa Rusike

Pilot mining has commenced at Karo Resources’ integrated platinum project in Mhondoro-Ngezi, while construction of a high-voltage power line to connect the mine to the national grid is set to begin shortly.

Karo is a unit of Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Tharisa Resources.

The multi-million-dollar venture — one of the Second Republic’s signature mining development projects — involves mining platinum, chrome and coal, and the establishment of a power plant, smelter and refinery to beneficiate platinum group metals (PGM).

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Karo Resources head of investor relations and communications Mr Ilja Graulich said pilot mining at the site had commenced.

Pilot mining is a small-scale mining operation that is conducted to test the feasibility of a larger-scale mining project.

It is typically done on a property that has already been explored and where there is a high degree of confidence that there is a commercial amount of ore.

He said: “The project, as it stands, remains on track. The major development since we last spoke is that the pouring of cement for the major metallurgical complex has started and we have begun opening the pits for trial mining. Pilot mining commenced, with the contractor and staff on site to start operational tests. Concrete foundation pouring is progressing well, with earthworks nearing completion.

“The manufacturing of long-lead items is progressing as planned, with the first major deliveries scheduled for the fourth quarter (of the year), while construction of the power line will commence this quarter.”

Mr Graulich said Karo was finalising discussions with financiers to fund completion of the project.

“At this stage, Tharisa has provided the funding. As you know and as publicly stated, we are finalising discussions on debt funding for Karo. On project-specific financing, capex numbers have not shifted; we have budgeted US$391 million for the project to reach production.”

While implementation of the project has faced some major hurdle, he said, it was still within set time lines.

“The challenges we have faced are all in line with development of a project of this scale.

“However, we have an excellent team on site, who have dealt with these issues in the past.

“So, nothing unusual that we have not encountered before,” said Mr Graurich.

Plans to build a PGM refinery and a 300MW solar power plant remain on course.

“The 300MW project was always in phases, with phase one being 30MW.

“The time line for this project’s completion has also not changed, and it is coming online, in time for first production from Karo.

“Construction of our PGM refinery is our phase two, when we start our initial mining at Karo.”

To date, 540 people have been employed under the project’s first phase.

Emmanuel Kafe

MORE than 4 000 girls aged between 10 and 14 years fell pregnant and were booked to deliver babies at health institutions countrywide between 2019 and 2021, a newly released official survey has established.

According to the National Assessment on Adolescent Pregnancies in Zimbabwe report, 0,2 percent of maternity bookings in Zimbabwe over that period were for children under the age of 15.

The study, which was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in conjunction with UNICEF and UNESCO, also revealed that a huge number of maternal deaths were recorded among young women over the same period.

“An estimated 1 706 946 ANC (antenatal care) bookings were made in 1 560 health care facilities captured in the DHIS (Demographic and Health Survey) platform across the study period (four years, January 2019 to December 2022).

“Of these 0,2 percent (4 070) were among the age groups 10-14 years; 21 percent (355 962) among 15-19 years; 28 percent (473 475) among the 20-24 years; 21 percent (357 328) among the 25-29 and 30 percent (516 111) above 30 years.

“2021 had the highest number of pregnant adolescent girls aged 10-14 years.

“21 percent of ANC booking from 2019-2022 were among adolescents aged 10-19 years,” reads the report in part.

A total of 1 532 maternal deaths were recorded and of these, 376 (25 percent) were among adolescents and young women under 24 years during the same period. The survey also found that an increasing number of pregnant adolescent girls were testing positive for HIV upon booking at antenatal clinics.

“Of the estimated 50 957 pregnant women newly testing HIV positive, 0,1 percent were among adolescents aged 10-14 years. About 0,2 percent of adolescents aged 10-14 years old tested HIV positive in 2021, compared to 0,04 percent in 2019; 0,1 percent in 2020; and 0,04 percent in 2022.

The report attributes the increasing incidences of pregnancy among adolescents to the closure of schools and the reported increase in domestic violence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The study also found that 30 percent of adolescent girls were sexually active.

Approximately 31 percent (134) reported having had forced intercourse in their first sexual encounter.

Approximately 75 percent (315) of the first sexual encounter was with boyfriends, only 23 percent (97) with husbands, 1,5 percent (10) with strangers, 0,8 percent (6) with relatives, and 0,1 percent (2) with casual partners.

Mr Itai Rusike — executive director of the Community Working Group on Health, a local health lobby group — said: “Adolescent girls need to be well equipped with strategies that address sexual reproductive health rights by increasing coverage for adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in schools and strengthening their participation in health issues at all levels. ”