Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Zora music star Leonard Zhakata, 51, says former President Robert Mugabe is a genius and everyone knows that. At the peak of his musical career Zhakata used to grace the annual 21st February Movement meant to celebrate the former leader’s birthday. “He listened to my music with objectivity, hence did not take things at face […]

Source: Mandiwanzira acquitted | The Herald April 4, 2019

Supa Mandiwanzira

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
Former Minister Supa Mandiwanzira heaved a sigh of relief yesterday after the High Court acquitted him on one of the criminal abuse of office charges involving a $218 million auditing contract signed by NetOne and a South African company.

Justice Nicholas Mathonsi granted the defence application for review of the trial court proceedings, in which Mandiwanzira sought to set aside the charge relating to procurement of services from the South African-based Megawatt Energy.

Mandiwanzira was accused of unprocedurally cherry-picking Megawatt Energy to investigate a $218 million contract that was signed by former NetOne chief executive Reward Kangai.

The Nyanga South legislator had denied all the charges and was cleared of the first count.

He now faces one charge involving the appointment of his personal assistant Tawanda Chinembiri, a civil servant at director level, to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz) board and Universal Services Fund in violation of corporate governance principles.

Charges against Mandiwanzira were that on June 26, 2013, Kangai and a Chinese company Huawei Technologies entered into a contract for the supply of network expansion and modernisation equipment to the tune of $218 954 843.

After signing the contract, NetOne secured a loan with China Exim Bank through the Finance Ministry then represented by former minister Patrick Chinamasa. It was alleged that on January 19, 2015, Megawatt Energy, a South African company owned by Lui Xiadong wrote to Mandiwanzira, seeking a meeting with him. Mandiwanzira agreed to engage Megawatt supposedly on a pro bono basis.

Megawatt, it was alleged, jointly owned a property in Johannesburg with Mandiwanzira’s company Blue Nightingale. Mandiwanzira engaged Megawatt without going to tender and in the absence of a contract, according to the State case.

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Source: China to assist ICT sector | The Herald April 4, 2019

Ambassador Guo

Victor Maphosa Herald Correspondent
China is committed to assisting the Government in developing the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector, Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Guo Shaochun has said.

Addressing the media after his courtesy call to the Information Communication Technology and Courier Services Minister Kazembe Kazembe in Harare yesterday, Ambassador Guo said his Government is committed to fulfilling and completing all the projects in the area of ICT in Zimbabwe.

“We had a very successful meeting with the Minister of Information Communication Technology and Courier Services in the areas of ICT,” he said.

“As you are aware, China and Zimbabwe have a relationship that has been in existence for a long time and we enjoy mutual trust in economic and political spheres.

“There are five ICT projects we have been doing here and two of them which include the one in Beitbridge were successfully completed. Three are underway and we are committed to complete them, working in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe.”

“We are hopeful that these projects will help in improving the economy of Zimbabwe and for the Government to provide better living conditions for its people.”

Minister Kazembe Kazembe described the meeting with Ambassador Guo as a success.

“We had a successful meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe which bordered mainly on the ICT arena. There are a number of projects that they are helping us with and one of them is the multi-million dollar TelOne fibre optic link in Beitbridge which was recently commissioned by President Mnangagwa in Beitbridge, courtesy of our partners from China.”

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Source: ZDF to second troops to SADC, AU missions | The Herald April 4, 2019

Major-General Sigauke

Columbus Mabika Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) will continue to second troops to SADC, African Union and United Nations Observer and Staff Missions in fulfilment of international obligations, an officer said yesterday.

Zimbabwe National Army Chief of Staff (General Staff) Major-General David Sigauke made the remarks while officially opening  the Peace Support Operations Study Seminar in Harare.

He said Zimbabwean troops had a long history of participating in peace operations regionally and internationally.

Major-General Sigauke said deployed personnel in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and at the United Nations’ peacekeeping arm continued to raise the country’s flag high.

“With the aforesaid achievement we will continue subscribing personnel for peace support operations,” he said.

Major-General Sigauke said Zimbabwe’s continued participation in regional and international peace operations was testimony of the force’s unparalleled commitment to protect civilians.

Speaking at the same event, Brigadier-General Mpulaeng Siziba said the Peace Support Operations study seminar was aimed at perfecting members of the ZDF skills in the conduct of Peace Support Operations in pursuit of achieving regional and international peace and security.

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FOREIGN Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo yesterday claimed that more foreign countries were warming up to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, but said Zimbabwe would not rush to re-engage the West. Addressing ambassador designates at a diplomatic [...]