Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

PHILADELPHIA — Kylian Mbappé laughed and smiled — and scored, of course — when Paraguay tried to bait him and his French teammates into fouls and provoke fights, as hot heads became a recurring theme during one of the steamiest World Cup games on record.

After the final whistle, Mbappé kept on walking and left Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill hanging as Gill extended his right hand in a show of sportsmanship.

In response, Gill thew the ball right at the No. 10 on Mbappé’s jersey.

Mbappé got the last laugh as he scored his 19th career World Cup goal, and France survived stifling heat to beat Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday, sending Les Bleus into the quarterfinals for the fourth straight time.

“We knew what kind of match it was going to be,” Mbappé said in French. “We can also get our hands dirty, we know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. Guess they were thinking we were going to show up in tuxedos, but we were ready.”

France advanced to play Morocco on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

With an extreme heat warning in effect throughout the match as temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), Mbappé finally broke through against a physical, defensive-minded Paraguay side when he converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute.

That was enough for Les Bleus, whose red, white and blue-clad fans looked plenty patriotic on July Fourth in the city where the United States was founded exactly 250 years earlier.

Mbappé was awarded the penalty when Diego Gomez was called for tripping after a video review. Then he stutter-stepped on his way to his 19th goal in 19 World Cup appearances, one behind career record holder Lionel Messi of Argentina. Mbappé and Messi each have seven goals in this tournament to top the Golden Boot race.

Mbappé won that award four years ago, but Messi and Argentina beat France in the final.

Mbappé — who frequently trash-talked the Paraguayans in Spanish — is now the only player to score at least three goals in the knockout stage of three World Cups.

Mbappé botched a breakaway attempt in the second half, and Manu Koné had his top-corner shot knocked away by Gill after he was wiped out in the netting by Ousmane Dembélé only moments earlier.

Gill also stopped two strong attempts by Mbappé in second-half stoppage time.

The 26-year-old Gill had bested German great Manuel Neuer in a penalty shootout in the previous round. He then lost his cool after the loss to France when he chucked the ball at Mbappé.

“I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper,” Gill said. “But anyway, that was all I did; I calmed down afterward.”

For the criticism that hydration breaks have watered down the pace of play at the World Cup, they were never more needed for the players than in the midst of a miserable heat wave. Sprinklers showered the Kentucky bluegrass field during the breaks and at halftime.

“Given our style of play, it was harder to give high intensity,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.

More than in any of the five other World Cup games played before 68,000-plus fans at Lincoln Financial Field, spectators fled for the concourse at halftime, seeking shade and refuge from the sun.

Maybe they were looking for some action of any kind.

Les Bleus scored 13 goals in the first five games of the tournament but were stymied in the first half by a Paraguay team trying to turn the match into a rock fight. Tempers flared when Andrés Cubas took down Mbappé and the teams briefly pushed and shoved each other. Matías Galarza also threw his right elbow into Mbappé and sent him crashing to the grass.

Paraguay advanced by beating Germany in a penalty shootout on Monday, the biggest upset of this World Cup. But after a gritty effort by La Albirroja, it’s France that’s moving on.

After defeating Croatia for the 2018 title, France lost to Argentina on penalty kicks in the 2022 final. Les Bleus are 5-0 in this year’s tournament, outscoring opponents 14-2.

“As I said to the players, we’ve had easy games so far, so it is good to have a tough one,” Deschamps said.

The city soaked in the moment as the 250th anniversary of American independence was celebrated. More fans honored America — draped in flags or wearing Uncle Sam hats as they tailgated in the parking lot — than at any of the other games in Philadelphia, and Idina Menzel, The Roots and DJ Jazzy Jeff all performed.

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HARARE – Economic policy think tank Africa Economic Development Strategies (AEDS) has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to transition Zimbabwe to a fully fledged single-currency economy centred on the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), proposing that the country could achieve this milestone as early as 2028 through a carefully managed, phased reform programme.

The proposal was presented during the Mid-Term Economic Review and High-Level Policy Dialogue held in Harare last week, as policymakers, economists and business leaders continue debating the long-term future of Zimbabwe’s monetary system ahead of the 2026 Mid-Term Fiscal and Monetary Policy Review.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, AEDS Executive Director Professor Gift Mugano, according to State media, argued that Zimbabwe’s current multi-currency framework remains overwhelmingly dominated by the United States dollar, significantly limiting the effectiveness of domestic monetary policy.

“We believe it is critically important to sustain these policy conversations if Zimbabwe is to guarantee durable macroeconomic stability,” Prof Mugano said. “As long as the US dollar remains the dominant medium of exchange, it effectively weakens the Reserve Bank’s ability to influence economic activity through monetary policy.”

Restoring Monetary Sovereignty

Zimbabwe has operated under a multi-currency regime for more than a decade following the collapse of the Zimbabwe dollar during the hyperinflation era. While the Government had initially indicated that the economy would fully migrate to a domestic currency by 2030, authorities have since abandoned a fixed deadline in favour of a conditions-based approach.

Officials now maintain that the transition will only occur once critical macroeconomic fundamentals—including exchange rate stability, low inflation, sufficient foreign exchange reserves and sustained public confidence—have been firmly established.

Recent economic indicators suggest that progress is being made towards those objectives.

Strong export earnings, growing diaspora remittances and improved monetary discipline have contributed to steadily rising foreign currency reserves, with Zimbabwe expected to achieve approximately two months of import cover by the end of the year, moving closer to the internationally accepted benchmark of between three and six months.

At the same time, the ZiG has maintained relative stability on the interbank foreign exchange market, while annual inflation has remained within single-digit levels, strengthening confidence in the country’s broader macroeconomic framework.

Finance Act Amendments Proposed

Central to the AEDS proposal is an amendment to the Finance Act that would fundamentally reshape demand for the local currency.

Under existing legislation, businesses pay taxes in the same currency in which they conduct transactions. Although major exporters—including mining companies—are required under Reserve Bank regulations to surrender 30 percent of their foreign currency earnings in exchange for ZiG, they subsequently convert much of that local currency back into US dollars to meet tax obligations and other foreign currency commitments.

According to Prof Mugano, this cycle undermines efforts to deepen circulation of the local currency.

“A key structural reform would be to require major tax obligations such as Value Added Tax (VAT), customs duties and other significant fiscal payments to be settled in ZiG,” he said.

“Such a measure would immediately change corporate behaviour by encouraging businesses to retain and utilise local currency rather than treating it as a temporary holding instrument.”

The think tank believes that creating sustained transactional demand for ZiG would strengthen the domestic monetary transmission mechanism while improving the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s ability to manage liquidity and influence economic activity.

Tax Incentives to Encourage ZiG Adoption

Beyond regulatory reforms, AEDS recommends introducing preferential tax incentives designed to encourage businesses to adopt the local currency voluntarily.

Under the proposal, companies settling tax obligations in ZiG would benefit from lower effective tax rates than firms choosing or required to pay in US dollars, creating a direct financial incentive for greater use of the domestic currency.

The think tank argues that market-based incentives would encourage gradual behavioural change while minimising disruption to industry.

Phased Transition Critical

Prof Mugano cautioned against an abrupt shift to a mono-currency system, warning that sudden policy changes could undermine confidence, disrupt production and reignite inflationary pressures.

Instead, AEDS recommends a carefully sequenced implementation over the next two years that would allow businesses, financial institutions and consumers sufficient time to adapt.

“This transition must avoid the mistakes associated with abrupt policy shocks,” he said.

“A gradual, programmatic approach allows economic agents to adjust while safeguarding productivity, preserving confidence and maintaining macroeconomic stability.”

Backing ZiG With Foreign Currency Reserves

The roadmap also proposes a structured liquidity management framework designed to expand ZiG circulation without triggering inflation.

Under the model, Treasury would sell part of its accumulated US dollar tax revenues to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in exchange for newly issued ZiG.

The mechanism would simultaneously strengthen the central bank’s foreign exchange reserves while providing Government with local currency resources to finance domestic expenditures, including payments to contractors and suppliers.

Importantly, every additional ZiG introduced into circulation would be directly backed by foreign currency assets held by the Reserve Bank, reinforcing confidence in the currency and reducing concerns over excessive money creation.

According to AEDS, because businesses would already require ZiG to meet tax obligations under the proposed reforms, the additional liquidity would be naturally absorbed within the productive economy rather than spilling into speculative parallel market activity.

Continued Policy Dialogue Essential

Prof Mugano emphasised that maintaining dialogue among policymakers, financial institutions, businesses and other stakeholders would be essential to ensuring the long-term success of Zimbabwe’s monetary reforms.

“We feel it is very important for us to continue these conversations on how we can continue to guarantee durable economic stability,” he said.

As Government prepares its forthcoming Mid-Term Fiscal and Monetary Policy Review, AEDS’ proposals are expected to contribute to ongoing discussions surrounding Zimbabwe’s long-term monetary strategy, fiscal reforms and the conditions required for an eventual transition to a sustainable single-currency economy anchored by the ZiG.

The post Research Group Unveils Roadmap for Zimbabwe’s Transition to ZiG Single-Currency Economy appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

BULAWAYO – The Bulawayo High Court has refused to compel the transfer of a Kwekwe house sold nearly 25 years ago after ruling the agreement was illegal, but ordered the seller to pay the buyer’s estate US$35,000 to prevent her from benefiting from her own unlawful conduct.

Justice Mpokiseng Dube found that Rita Hwata had no legal authority to sell the Mbizo property in April 2001 because she had not yet been appointed executrix of her late husband Douglas Hwata’s estate and had failed to obtain the Master of the High Court’s consent as required by law.

The court declared the agreement with the late Bernard Timothy Hove null and void.

Hove had paid the full purchase price in 2001, and his family has occupied the property continuously since then. After Hove died in 2004, Phillip Hove, acting as executor of his estate, sued for transfer of ownership or, alternatively, damages.

Hwata opposed the claim, arguing it had been prescribed because more than three years had elapsed since the sale. She also maintained that the contract was invalid because she lacked the legal capacity to sell the property.

Justice Dube rejected the prescription argument, ruling that the debt had not become due in the circumstances of the case.

However, the judge agreed the sale itself was unlawful.

“It is an undisputed fact that Rita Hwata was not the executrix of her late husband’s estate when she signed the agreement in April 2001,” Justice Dube said.

The court said the estate property can not be sold without the authority of a duly appointed executor, and the consent of the Master was required under Section 120 of the Administration of Estates Act.

As a result, the court refused to order specific performance, saying it could not compel the transfer of property under an illegal agreement.

But Justice Dube found that allowing Hwata to retain both the house and the purchase money would amount to unjust enrichment.

“The court cannot ignore the fact that the 1st defendant (Rita Hwata) entered into a transaction, took the purchaser’s money, and allowed him and his family to live in the house for nearly a quarter of a century,” the judge said.

“To allow the 1st defendant to now claim the house back without any consequence, relying on a nullity that she herself created… would be to permit the law to be used as an instrument of fraud.”

The judge noted that after being appointed executrix in December 2001, Hwata could have approached the Master to regularise the transaction but failed to do so for more than two decades.

The court ordered Hwata in both her personal capacity and as executrix of her late husband’s estate to pay Hove’s estate US$35,000 within 90 days as compensation for unjust enrichment.

Until the money is paid, the Hove family will be entitled to remain in occupation of the property under a right of retention and can not be evicted.

Hwata was also ordered to pay the legal costs of the suit. – ZimLive

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JOHANNESBURG — South African police say they have no active investigation into Wicknell Chivayo, the politically-connected Zimbabwean tender tycoon.

The revelation is a blow to public finance accountability activists in Zimbabwe, who had pinned their hopes on South African authorities after Zimbabwean investigators shut down probes linked to the awarding of contracts for the supply of election materials in 2023.

A company linked to Chivayo was paid over R1.6 billion to supply nearly all election materials, including ballot papers, biometric machines and stationery. Despite public outcry, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission said it found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Hopes then turned to South African police after the country’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) flagged several transactions totalling just over R800 million in payments to Chivayo by Renform CC, the company awarded the 2023 election contracts.

Now the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, has clarified that Chivayo is not under investigation. The clarification comes after South Africa’s presidency, without naming him, stated that Chivayo was under police investigation, as it sought to dismiss suggestions that he is known to president Cyril Ramaphosa.

This followed a May trip to Zimbabwe by Ramaphosa for a meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, during which Chivayo flew on the same helicopter as the two leaders as a guest of Mnangagwa.

Hawks spokesperson colonel Katlego Mogale told News24 on Friday: “The DPCI has no such case [on Chivayo] in our system.”

The DPCI is a unit of the South African Police Service set up to prevent, combat and investigate national priority crimes, with a focus on serious organised crime, serious commercial crime and serious corruption. It also investigates transnational crimes, including money laundering, and would lead any investigation into alleged corruption involving a foreign national and R800 million.

The FIC, for its part, said it does not conduct investigations but provides financial intelligence reports to law enforcement and regulatory authorities for use in investigations and asset forfeiture.

Meanwhile, News24 has issued an apology to Chivayo after his high-powered legal team led by advocate Dali Mpofu and Eric Mabuza threatened a lawsuit. The publication said it had “erroneously reported that Wicknell Chivayo was currently under investigation by the FIC and Hawks in connection with money laundering.”

“News24 apologises for the error,” it added.

The lawyers acting for Chivayo said the only matter erroneously linked to the fraud claims was the civil divorce dispute involving Chivayo and his estranged wife, which they stressed “is not a criminal matter” and “does not constitute or involve any commission or allegation of fraud.”

They said assets such as the private jet, ZAS-ACT, which his estranged wife sought to have preserved through a non-dissipation order, belong not to Chivayo personally but to Intratrek Holdings, a company in which he is a shareholder and director.

They also clarified the nature of the Pretoria High Court order obtained by his estranged wife earlier this year, describing it as a rule nisi – an interim order obtained through an ex parte application, meaning Chivayo was not heard at that initial stage. The High Court has since heard the matter and reserved judgement.

The lawyers welcomed the Hawks’ confirmation and News24’s correction as vindicating Chivayo, but said they would “assess the broader legal implications of these developments,” and reserved his right to pursue anyone who had falsely claimed he was under investigation.

Chivayo has recently pledged multi-million-dollar investments in Kenya, Swaziland and Tanzania after meeting leaders of those countries.

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