Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Twitter users woke up to the news that beloved South African actor and comedian Themba Ntuli got hitched over the weekend. Pictures were posted on twitter and facebook and fans could not stop congratulating the newlyweds after their special day. Ntuli shot to fame for his role as young car guard, Pule, on Rhythm City. […]

Source: 'Harare's new parking fees  now at par with Sadc cities' | Daily News

THIS month the City of Harare hiked parking fees by 100 percent, citing an increase in operational costs. The Daily News on Sunday’s Helen Kadirire sat down for an interview with City Parking spokesperson Francis Mandaza to hear more about his development which has infuriated motorists.

Q: Please explain the hike in parking fees from $1 to $2?
A: While parking fee tariffs have been increased, we will not be charging per hour as we had done in the past. We are going to be charging per 30 minutes.

The reason for this is that we want to cushion those who park for less. For those who do not do much business in the city centre, they will pay less, so that is why we had to change the billing.  It is not that motorists had complained but we are socially sensitive. We did not want to charge a flat fee of $2 per hour. If people want to park for 30 minutes, you pay $1 and if you want to park for 15 minutes, you pay 50 cents.

Q: What if you had outstanding or unpaid parking fees?
A: If you have unpaid parking fees that accrued when we were still paying $1 per hour, we will still collect them as is. We will not change the parking fees in retrospect.
Q: What research did you conduct to arrive at the new parking tariffs?
A: When we set these parking tariffs, we do research from other countries in the region and our recent survey shows that our parking in Harare is at par or at least in the region of most Sadc cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa and Lusaka, Zambia. The tariff that we are charging here is equivalent to what South Africa is charging, which is between nine rand and 10 rand.

Q: Motorists fear that arrears from the previous tariff regime may be charged under the new tariff structure.
A: We have not finished installation of the enhanced bay sensor system but if you pay a dollar or whatever amount, it is valid wherever you park within the time limit. There is no confusion there. If you park where there are sensors you can still use the same ticket in bays where there are no sensors.
Q: How many parking lots and parkades does City Parking have and how are they managed?
A: We have four parking spaces — two parkades and two parking lots that are spread across town. The spaces are safe, reliable and ideal for those who want to park for long durations. They cost $80 per month for unlimited parking time. These parkades and lots collect maximum revenue from the motorists as we have controlled entry and exit points. We also have prepaid parking cards which are sold for $10 — $5 is preloaded parking time. The cards can be loaded with the amount of choice by a motorist and they can use it in bays with sensors or to tap and go on a marshal’s device.

Q: Will City Parking increase parking bays in the city?
A: We are going to be adding more parking bays and that is in our medium to long term plan, albeit not on street bays but in the form of parkades and the rotary parking system to increase our capacity.
The rotary parking system is the new technology that is being used in developed countries and being adopted by developing nations like ourselves, where a small space can host a number of vehicles either through high-rise buildings or the creation of basement.  The specific technology uses the pulley system to lift vehicles up the floor or down. At the moment it is still a concept we are working and cannot fully divulge intricate details of costs and funding.
Q: Motorists complain about the clamping and towing away of their vehicles. It seems motorists are under threat of constantly having their vehicles clamped and towed away for arrears they did not accumulate?
A: Motorists need to understand unequivocally that City Parking is not in the business of clamping and towing away vehicles — that is the city traffic enforcement department under Harare City Council. Council is the one that is charged with that responsibility and what they are trying to do is enhance the compliance and sanity on our streets.
There are motorists who double-park and also park on pavements and that is not ideal especially for a capital city that is aspiring to be a World Class city.

There has to be some compliance and semblance of order. Motorists have to understand that no council traffic enforcer is allowed to clamp their vehicle without a parking marshal present.
This is done to avoid any misunderstandings.
Q: What plans does City Parking have to grow the business and provide quality services to motorists?
A: In the long term we want to increase our capacity in terms of the number of bays available in the city and we also want to go entirely cashless in our transactions. We want to make it convenient for motorists to pay so we are going to either transact by mobile phone or through the use of our mobile application which we will be launching soon. They can just upload parking time wherever they are without the need for cash. We think that will improve efficiency and customer service.

The post ‘Harare’s new parking fees  now at par with Sadc cities’ appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Difficult democracy – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary: 16th March 2019

Zimbabweans in the UK have enthusiastically engaged in the Brexit debate on whether the country should pull out of the European Union. Many have passionately taken sides – most, it appears, keen to stay in the Union.

Since the dangerously narrow victory of the Brexiteers in the referendum three years ago, there has been fierce debate on what would be best way for the nation to leave, not surprising since most members of parliament disagreed with the electorate.

But despite the differences there has been remarkably little violence – in contrast to the situation in neighbouring France, which has seen months of riots against the policies of President Macron, or the clashes in Germany involving the emergent right wing party opposed to Muslim immigration.

Despite the irritation and regret of the other 27 members of the EU at the UK’s difficulty in reaching agreement on the type of post-Brexit relations it wants with them, there has been an unexpected side effect: fascination with the Britain’s parliamentary system.

Television audiences in Germany, particularly, have been transfixed by scenes from the House of Commons, where 650 members of parliament have crowded in for boisterous, close-quarters debate. This audience has found it to be high drama, not just something to be exasperated by. It is democracy in action, not some dry, token, neat, pre-determined affair characteristic of hygienic European legislatures.

We Zimbabwean exiles in the UK still don’t know how this drama will end. But following President Ramaphosa’s visit to Zimbabwe we are profoundly depressed about how Zimbabwe’s situation will turn out. Ramaphosa’s refusal to even meet MDC president Chamisa seems to rule out hope of his playing a role in bringing about a dialogue between the rival parties in Zimbabwe. Not much democratic debate there – more the usual Afro-elite self-interest..

The Brexit debate has embraced all voices and tried to reach a consensus. This used to be known in Africa as Ubuntu. In the UK it has indeed taken time – but not nearly as long as Zimbabwe’s failure to fully implement the 2013 constitution . . . And unlike in Zimbabwe, the UK has an economy which is buoyant, with employment at a record high, while Zimbabweans face the total collapse of the vestigial health service, where gynaecological oncologist Bothwell Guzha of Parirenyatwa Hospital said ‘I am just seeing patients, make a diagnosis and send them away to die.’ See: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-zimbabwe-doctors/zimbabwe-doctors-say-patients-dying-due-to-drug-equipment-shortages-idUKKCN1QU2HT and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPsHSV1Wpe0.

Other points

• The Vigil supports a non-partisan initiative called ‘Save our Hospitals’ (see: https://nehandaradio.com/2019/03/15/save-our-hospitals-initiative-launched-in-zimbabwe/).
• For a view of how the international media sees no change in Zimbabwe, see: https://correspondent.afp.com/travels-through-zimbabwe.
• On a day of fierce winds, thanks to those who came early to help set up the front table and put up the banners: Shylette Chipangura, Patrick Hale, Thomas Mahasoh, Gertrude Mudede, Agnes Mukumba, Farai Muroiwa, Tapiwa Muskwe and Simon Nyanhi. Thanks to Farai and Shylette for looking after the front table, to Agnes, Getrude, Thomas, Simon, Tinotenda Chihope and Collen Mupazviriho for handing out flyers and to Farai and Agnes for photos.
• For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.

FOR THE RECORD: 16 signed the register.

EVENTS AND NOTICES:

• ROHR Reading Branch outreach and general meeting. Saturday 23^rd March. Community outreach from 11.30 am – 1.30 pm. Venue: Broad street, Reading. Awareness campaign on deteriorating human rights in Zimbabwe. General meeting from 2 – 5 pm. Venue: The RISC, 35-39 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS. Contact: Sihle (Vice Chair) 07985712749, Josephine (Vice Organising Secretary) 07455166668, Shylette (Vice Secretary) 0782892980.
• ROHR general members’ meeting. Saturday 13^th April from 11 am. Venue: Royal Festival Hall. Contact: Ephraim Tapa 07940793090, Patricia Masamba 07708116625.
• ROHR fundraising dinner. Saturday 27^th April from 6 – 11.30 pm. Venue Zazas, 108 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JE. Contact: Sipho Hobane 07400566013, Esther Munyira 07492058109, Fungisai Mupandira 07468504393, Casper Nyamakura 0757766912, Margaret Munenge 0739211743, Bianca Mpawaenda 07400566013 and Patricia Masamba 07708116625.
• The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents us.
• MDC Reading Branch restructuring meeting. Saturday 23^rd March from 12 noon – 4 pm. Venue: RISC, 35-39 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS. Contacts: Charles Mararirakwenda 07588275745, Josephine Jombe 07455166668, Deborah Harry 07478894896.
• MDC London Branch meeting. Saturday 6^th April from 12 noon – 2 pm. Venue: Royal Festival Hall. Contact: Netsai Makarichi 07592619201 and Flemming Diza 07960838847.
• The Vigil’s book ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’ is based on our weekly diaries. It records how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. It chronicles the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved. It is available at the Vigil for £10. All proceeds go to the Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe’s work in Zimbabwe. The book is also available from Amazon.
• Facebook pages:
  Vigil: https://www.facebook.com/zimbabwevigil
  ROHR: https://www.facebook.com/Restoration-of-Human-Rights-ROHR-Zimbabwe-International-370825706588551/
  ZAF: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zimbabwe-Action-Forum-ZAF/490257051027515

The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 17.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.

The post Difficult democracy – Zimbabwe Vigil Diary appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Land audits fail to resolve disputes: Farmers | Newsday (News)

BY NIZBERT MOYO

FARMERS have expressed reservations over the effectiveness of the government-initiated land audits in resolving land ownership disputes across the country.

This emerged at the second launch of the national land policy meeting held in Bulawayo on Thursday last week.

Farmers said the government had over the years carried out several land audits which failed to resolve the land disputes.

They also called upon government to do away with 99-year leases which they said were not bankable.

Lovemore Dube from the Commercial Farmers Union said banks do not recognise the 99-year leases.

“I support title deeds rather than the 99-year leases. The government should also create separate title deeds for farm workers as these workers die poor after retiring from work. Zimbabwe National Water Authority should consider charging boreholes not water as the charges are so expensive, thereby affecting farmers’ production,’’ Dube said.

Chief Sibasa also said the land policy should address issues of offer letters indicating that lands officers give people offer letters without involving chiefs in their respective areas.

He said when those people go to occupy the land they fail to recognise traditional leaders. Traditional leaders also said the land policy should consider culture and shrines in the country.

However, Douglas Karoro, who represented Agriculture, Lands, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement minister Perrance Shiri, defended the commission saying it had resolved several land disputes.

“There are a number of cases that have been resolved by the Land Commission, the land policy will also bring more sanity and more bigger cases will be resolved,’’ Karoro said.

He said the launch comes in the backdrop of many changes brought about by the land reform programme adding that at independence, 15,5 million hectares of agricultural land was owned by 6 000 white commercial farmers who constituted 1% of the country’s population.

“A greater percentage of Zimbabwe population depends on agriculture and other land-based livelihoods. With the land being a finite resource, it is imperative that a comprehensive and gender sensitive land policy be put in place,’’ he said.

Food and Agriculture Organisation representative, Urvoy Jean-Claude said issues of governance were important for poverty alleviation.

The post Land audits fail to resolve disputes: Farmers appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

The post Land audits fail to resolve disputes: Farmers appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

President Mnangagwa on Wednesday notified Parliament of his decision to deploy members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to assist the police in the wake of riotous and unlawful demonstrations on August 1, 2018 and January 14 to 16, 2019. The demonstrations saw lives lost and left a trail of destruction after soldiers opened live fire […]