Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

HARARE Magistrate Victoria Mashamba on Thursday 28 March 2019 set free freelance journalist Edmund Kudzayi, who had been on trial after he was arrested and charged for allegedly possessing an army uniform, which is a criminal offence under Zimbabwe’s tough security laws.

Source: Court acquits Kudzayi after “umbrella possession” trial – The Zimbabwean

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CONTEMPORARY musician Jah Prayzah’s much anticipated Kwekwe show slated for tonight at King Solomon’s Lifestyle Cafe will go ahead despite threats of a machete bloodbath. A message making the rounds on social media platforms in the mining town is said to be discouraging people from attending the gig. “Rival mining gangs are planning a bloodbath […]

Source: Harare to rotate staff to curb bribe-taking | Daily News

Harare City Council will start rotating its staff in the markets and the Environmental Patrol Units (EPU) after allegations of corruption and bribery were raised.

In ordinary council minutes, attention was drawn to how the community service department was mismanaging the informal sector.
This comes as council recently established the informal sector department that will solely manage the affairs of the growing sector in the city.

“Council queried why officials who worked and collected revenue at the markets were not rotated.  “Council also noted allegations that EPU members received and pocketed cash and were allegedly never rotated creating loopholes in the process,” read part of the minutes.

“Council then enquired plans to plug the loopholes in revenue collection. It also pointed out that illegal market space barons pocketed market fees.”

Allegations of corruption were levelled against the council employees who were being paid late. Mayor Herbert Gomba however, said even if they were getting paid on time, there was a propensity for bribe-taking which must be nipped in the bud.

Gomba told a full council meeting that the employees in the markets and some municipal police were in the habit of warning offenders when a blitz was about to happen. “I know that there are employees who tell vendors and some of the illegal market operators to be ready when they are about to go on a blitz.

“Afterwards, they then demand bribes from individuals as protection money.  “Some of them get as much as $800 per week which is more than their salary. We need to start making sure that our employees are paid well to avoid these things otherwise we will not reach world class city status by 2025,” he said.

According to the informal sector committee minutes, revenue from markets dropped last year amid inadequate funding for the informal sector projects. “Revenue collection from the informal sector or the period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 amounted to $1,53 million.

“Revenue collection had declined by 23,39 percent during the year under review and this was attributed to political interference and allocation of market stalls to vendors and revenue collection and economic hardships resulting in traders failing to pay market fees to council due to sudden devaluation of the local currency,” read part of the minutes.

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Source: Chitungwiza trade fair roars to life | The Herald March 28, 2019

Chitungwiza Municipality

Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
This year’s edition of the Chitungwiza Trade Fair roars to life today with organisers expecting to lure investors into the dormitory town.
The annual trade fair which promotes Chitungwiza-based firms was organised by Chitungwiza Publicity Association and will run until Saturday.

The four-day event is running under the theme: “Marketing and Networking in Chitungwiza.” In an interview, Chitungwiza Publicity Association director Mr Lexcy Mrewa said over 25 companies will be exhibiting.

“This time the trade fair has become bigger and much better and over 25 reputable companies will be showcasing their staff and services,” he said. “We anticipate to lure investors who can bring more development to the town.

“The main thrust of this fair is also to promote business opportunities within Chitungwiza and also expose other potential goods and services beyond Chitungwiza.”

Mr Mrewa said the town had companies which were producing on a large scale and residents needed to be aware of their existence.

“We have various local companies who explored not only the Zimbabwe market, but now Africa and beyond,” he said. “Some of them include Pure Drop cooking oil, Chibuku and Energy peanut butter. It is these gems that we want to highlight.

“Sometimes because some of our people are not aware of available services and products in this town they go elsewhere to get the same products and services.”

Chitungwiza acting mayor Councillor Lovemore Maiko is expected to officiate at the event. The fair, established in 2009, returned last year after a two-year hiatus due to financial constraints.

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Source: Innscor gives cyclone victims a helping hand | Daily News

Innscor Africa Group of Companies has moved to ensure basic dietary requirements are achieved for communities affected by Cyclone Idai.

Innscor Africa Limited — which consists of major food manufacturers Baker’s Inn Bakeries, National Foods, Colcom Holdings, Irvines, ProBrands and ProDairy together with other subsidiaries Capri, ProBottlers, NatPak, Paperhole Investments-PHL, Providence Human Capital, TV Sales & Home and Profeeds — mobilised its collective strength to donate a large consignment of foodstuffs at a ceremony officiated by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister July Moyo in Mutare last weekend.

Speaking on behalf of Innscor at the handover ceremony in Mutare, Baker’s Inn Bakeries chief executive officer Ngoni Mazango said the donation was a practical response to an appeal by the government to assist communities affected by the fatal cyclone which destroyed homes, infrastructure, crops, and livestock.

“It is our duty as corporates and citizens to assist our government to help the surviving victims in any way we can,” Mazango said.
The donated goods include 100 tonnes of maize-meal, 10 000 loaves, 12 tonnes of salt, 200 blankets, two accommodation tents, 2 tonnes of canned meat, 2 000 crates of eggs which we can always add if need be, 6 tonnes of self-raising flour, 1.5 tonnes of sugar beans, 1 tonne of peanut butter, 1 tonne of jam, 3 000 litres of milk, 4 tonnes of rice, 1 9000 litres of soft drinks, 23 tonnes (1 050 hampers) with roller meal, flour, rice, cooking oil, salt, sugar, candles, soap and cordial drinks.

Moyo said the State was grateful for the assistance from private companies to help the victims. “On behalf of the president of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa we would like to thank Innscor for the quick response and for the assistance,” he said. “We particularly want to thank Innscor for this donation and I was particularly happy that you are willing to personally take the goods that you have donated to the affected areas yourselves, so that we can have a first-hand distribution system.”

Moyo said there were areas outside Chimanimani which were also hard hit by the cyclone. “These areas include Chipinge, Buhera, Gutu and Bikita. Going up north, there is Mutasa and Nyanga which also need assistance,” he said. “We have not been able to reach these areas as quickly as we would have wanted. Areas like Biriwiri, Nhedziwa and Nyanyadzi are still inaccessible because bridges have been destroyed.”

Going forward, Innscor Africa Limited through government is exploring the possibility of helping with the resuscitation of housing infrastructure in the affected area and ensuring that roads are accessible. There are also plans to assist affected retailers to restart their businesses.

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