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Source: Cyclone Idai: SA, Motsepe donate R75m | The Herald March 29, 2019

Chairman of African Rainbow Minerals Mr Patrice Motsepe (right) and wife Precious Moloi-Motsepe donated R15 million towards the cyclone relief efforts.

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
THE government of South Africa and businessman Patrice Motsepe’s family yesterday donated a combined R75 million to victims of Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe.

The cyclone mainly affected Chipinge and Chimanimani in Manicaland Province as well as some parts of Masvingo.

The South African government donated R60 million, while the Motsepe family chipped in with R15 million.

Both South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ms Lindiwe Sisulu and the Motsepe family handed over their cheques to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo at Manyame Airbase last night.

Speaking after the donations Minister Sisulu, who was accompanied by the Motsepe family, said the donations to Zimbabwe followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for the people of South Africa to respond to the disaster caused by the cyclone.

“We have decided as a Department of International Relations to make a financial donation apart from other donations that are coming your way,” she said.

“This is what we have brought to you at short notice to assist you provide the urgent relief to the affected,” she said handing over the cheque to Minister Moyo.

South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu (second from right) hands over a R60 million cheque donation to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo (second from left) to assist victims of Cyclone Idai while Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (left) and South Africa’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Mphakama Mbete look on at Manyame Airbase in Harare yesterday.

Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri commended the gesture.

“We are in great pain and what you have done gives us a lot of hope when we find that we have friends around us who have a big heart, big hand who donate both in kind and cash towards the disaster to help us address the challenges our people are facing,” she said.

Minister Muchinguri said climate change was real.

She said the disaster that struck Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique was a wake up call that must never be taken for granted.

“This challenges us to be always prepared for natural disasters as a region and continent and put in place mechanisms to deal with such disasters,” she said.

“The donation will go a long way in our quest to provide assistance to the affected people.”

Minister Moyo said the gesture symbolised great friendship between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

He said the South African government and its people had shown empathy.

“We look forward to such kind of interaction, assistance and brotherhood to continue,” he said.

Minister Moyo assured the South African government that Zimbabwe would remain grateful for the assistance.

Cyclone Idai has killed close to 200 people and left a trail of destruction especially in Manicaland Province.

Government has released $100 million towards the disaster but it is not enough considering the extent of the damage.

The post Cyclone Idai: SA, Motsepe donate R75m appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Inflation seen dropping below 15% by December – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 29, 2019

BY FIDELITY MHLANGA

The RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) expects inflation to tumble significantly to less than 15% this December, indicating that threats of receding to hyperinflation were remote.

Last month, inflation was at 59,4% according to government statistics agency ZimStat, but United States economist Steve Hanke has put it at 198% as of March 23, 2019.

RBZ deputy director for economic research division Nebson Mupunga, unpacking the monetary policy to accountants yesterday, said inflation would tumble as the apex bank was geared to control money supply in the market.

“We will pin down inflation to go down 15% by year-end. We will ensure that we control money supply. Broad money supply growth peaked at 47,5% in July 2018 and decelerated to 23,7% by December 2018. If the decline in money supply growth is sustained, inflation will stabilise,” he said.

Mupunga added the fact that both fiscal and monetary policies were in harmony was good for controlling inflationary pressures. “The fiscal consolidation and austerity measures being implemented by government create a conducive environment for monetary policy to focus on the core objective of price and financial stability, including a stable and predictable exchange rate. So this complementarity will make the economy move forward,” he said.

Over the past few years, money supply has been accelerated by the issuance of Treasury Bills and recourse to the central bank to finance the budget deficit.

Consequently, excessive reliance on RBZ financing resulted in money creation through excess real time gross settlement balances, which had the effect of driving inflation upwards.

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Source: Masiyiwa to pour over US$225m into Harare | The Herald 29 MAR, 2019

Mr Masiyiwa

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Higherlife Foundation is set to plough over US$225 million into Harare’s water and sanitation sectors as part of broader efforts to fight water-borne diseases like cholera and typhoid.

The two partners are working on a Cholera Strategic Plan 2019-2025, which is set to change the way council does its business.

Benchmarking and skills audit are some of the thematic areas set to be introduced in council. Higherlife Foundation is a family foundation founded by Econet founders Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa.

As part of the strategy, Harare Mayor Herbert Gomba is supposed to make an announcement to the city that council has adopted a new way of doing business and highlight key areas of focus and implementation.

According to recent minutes of the Joint Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee and the Human Resources and General Purposes Committee, town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango reported that Clr Gomba and his office had engaged Higherlife Foundation for funding.

“Higherlife Foundation had assisted the City of Harare during the peak of the epidemic and the current thrust was to move from crisis management to sustainability,” he said.

“The total cost of the project was US$225 734 725 and this project will be implemented using a phased approach.”

The proposed Cholera Strategic Plan 2019-2025, which was adopted by council on March 18, had four thematic areas namely, reinforcing City of Harare’s management capabilities, operational systems and skills base, strengthening City of Harare’s preparedness and response, upgrading the city’s water and sewer infrastructure in the hotspots and improving the city’s solid waste management.

“The following were the next steps as agreed in the joint review meeting held on March 21, (i) finalisation and subsequent implementation of strategy aimed at eradicating water-borne diseases, (ii) as the city strives to achieve a World Class City status by 2025, there is need to benchmark with other world-class cities in terms of service provision in water, sanitation and hygiene sectors, emergency preparedness and response, project implementation and performance management,” reads the minutes.

The others are to ensure that the structure is lean, dedicated and responsive to the implementation of the strategy and that council acceded to the recommendation to conduct a skills audit. “The skills audit would also assists in identifying the skills gap,” reads the minutes.

“The data collected in the skills audit would be one of the underpinning elements of a personal development plan.”

Council is supposed to implement a values-based transformation and realign structure to strategy, train and develop skills, hire new skills, scrutinise processes and ensure that they assist in strategy execution.

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Source: Solar buses for Harare | The Herald 29 MAR, 2019

Models of solar-powered buses in China

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
A Chinese company, China Nanchang Engineering, has approached Harare City Council with a deal to supply 600 green energy (solar-powered) buses and additional fixed and working capital to service routes in Greater Harare Metropolitan.

The project will include a central business district (CBD) shuttle service and the Harare Urban Route will service all suburban routes.

It’s divided into Norton, Southern, Eastern and Western suburbs.

According to recent minutes of the Environmental Management Committee, in the initial stage, 35 buses will service the Harare-Norton route.

Chitungwiza will have 45 buses and Ruwa 20.

“Operations would be managed from four established depots, two in Harare, one in Chitungwiza and one in Norton,” read the council minutes. “Depots would be firstly fitted with maintenance and recharging facilities and would be large enough to cater for some 200 buses each.

“The project would have 12 battery swapping stations and they would act as charging centres. The bus types would be a new energy concept and Harare would be the first city to implement it in Africa. Transport services would run 19 hours every day from 4am to 11pm.”

Environment Management Committee chairperson Councillor Kudzai Kadzombe said the project would help the city in sprucing up its image while at the same time providing residents with decent transport.

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Source: No to corruption, indiscipline: President | The Herald 29 MAR, 2019

President Mnangagwa arrives for the 327th Ordinary Session of the Politburo at Zanu-PF Headquarters in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa has commended efforts by the ruling party in assisting communities affected by Cyclone Idai.

The cyclone left a trail of death and destruction in Chimanimani and Chipinge.

The President commended the ruling party during yesterday’s 327th Ordinary Session of the Politburo.

Addressing a Press conference on Politburo proceedings, Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said  the President warned against indiscipline and corruption.

“In his opening remarks, His Excellency the President expressed the importance of the party to be ever vibrant and visible in every part of the country. Introspection is the key, hard work and honesty must remain the compass. His Excellency also highlighted the effects of Cyclone Idai and commended the party for its role in assisting in all disaster-affected areas.

“He warned on indiscipline and corruption. He further called for unity of purpose and emphasised that party programmes must have a national outlook.”

Cde Sithembiso Nyoni, who was standing in for the Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare Cde July Moyo, gave a report to the Politburo on Cyclone Idai.

“On behalf of Cde July, who is Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare and also the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, the Secretary for Business Liaison Cde Sithembiso Nyoni gave a comprehensive report on the Cyclone Idai disaster which has been covered extensively by all media houses so far.

“Government and the international community have given tremendous assistance to all the affected areas and His Excellency on behalf of the nation has extended his deepest gratitude to all concerned. The aid continues to pour in.” Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Cde Obert Mpofu gave a comprehensive departmental report which was discussed at length, and recommendations to strengthen party programmes were made and welcomed.

“His Excellency clearly made his observations and advised on the way forward which were applauded by the Politburo,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

The Politburo also received a report from the Secretary for Finance, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, on the ongoing inter-party dialogue.

“The Political Commissar, Cde Engelbert Rugeje, presented his commissariat report,” said Cde Khaya Moyo.

“He informed the Politburo that the restructuring exercise for the dissolved Harare and Bulawayo provincial executives was going on well.”

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