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Source: 29 death row inmates resentenced – herald

Tanyaradzwa Rusike

TWENTY-NINE former death row inmates have been resentenced by the High Court, with 19 other cases still pending before the courts, following Zimbabwe’s historic abolition of capital punishment last year.

The resentencing process is part of a broader judicial review involving 48 inmates whose sentences are being reconsidered under the new legal framework.

This follows President Mnangagwa’s signing of the Death Penalty Abolition Bill into law on December 31, 2024.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary Mrs Vimbai Nyemba told The Herald that following the passage of the Death Penalty Abolition Act, a stakeholder coordination meeting was held in February to develop an action plan for resentencing individuals.

“The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service provided the Judicial Service Commission with 21 records, which included information on 48 inmates on death row,” she said.

“This submission is intended to facilitate the review and resentencing process for these individuals.”

The inmates were convicted of murder under aggravating circumstances, including premeditation, extreme violence or the loss of life involving vulnerable individuals such as children or older adults.

Mrs Nyemba said the High Court was actively working to finalise all cases and progress was being made.

“Out of these cases, 19 remain pending resolution, while 29 inmates have been resentenced and received a range of alternative penalties,” she said.

“These sentences differ considerably, including options such as extended custodial terms and life imprisonment, based on the unique circumstances of each case.

“At present, there are still 19 inmates whose situations remain unresolved.”

Abolition of the death sentence, she added, marked a deliberate shift from a punitive and retributive justice system to a more rehabilitative approach.

“The abolition of the death penalty represents a significant and progressive advancement for Zimbabwe, which had previously maintained a moratorium on executions,” said Mrs Nyemba.

“The Constitution of 2013 had partially terminated the application of the death penalty, limiting its enforcement to instances of murder under aggravating circumstances.

“Notably, the imposition of this sentence was prohibited for women, individuals under the age of 21 at the time the offence was committed and those over 70 years of age.

“The complete abolition of the death penalty finalises this reform and highlights the importance of the right to life, as well as the promotion and protection of the rights to equality, human dignity and freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, among other fundamental rights.”

Mrs Nyemba said Zimbabwe’s decision aligns with international and regional calls for the abolition of capital punishment.

“By abolishing this practice, Zimbabwe contributes to the global discourse against capital punishment, thereby encouraging other member states to consider similar actions,” she said.

“The Act has amended various provisions within the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, the Genocide Act, the Geneva Conventions Act and the Defence Act.”

Mrs Nyemba said individuals previously sentenced to death represented a risk to society.

“These individuals have committed serious crimes that our judicial system has deemed so severe that they do not warrant mercy,” she said.

“The State is committed to upholding its principles and distinguishing itself from such unacceptable behaviour. While we support the pursuit of leniency, it is crucial to recognise the gravity of the actions committed by these individuals.”

Since independence, the country has carried out 105 executions, with the last one being conducted in July 2005.

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Source: ZiG moving to become main currency – herald

THE ZiG is moving steadily towards becoming the main commercial currency in Zimbabwe as more businesses and people trust the currency and the solid backing it has through growth of gold and foreign currency reserves.

More importantly, the solid fiscal and monetary discipline of the authorities has improved confidence in the ZiG.

At present rates of increased use, it will become the main currency within a couple of months, creating a milestone in Zimbabwe’s progress to becoming a country where all local transactions are in local currency.

When the ZiG was introduced in April last year, just 26 percent of transactions in the formal economy were denominated in the local currency.

By the end of May this year, 43 percent of transactions by value processed through the Zimbabwe National Payments System were using ZiG, and with economic growth this has seen ZiG use rise from ZiG7,86 billion in April last year to ZiG56,8 billion last month.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has also seen more businesses and individuals retaining ZiG holdings in their bank accounts for longer on average, rather than seeing how fast they could spend the local currency.

That rapid turnover in local currency had arisen as a practical response to falls in value in the old Zimbabwe dollar and high resulting inflation.

So everybody tried to convert their local currency to foreign currency or buy goods and services as quickly as possible. There is growing trust in ZiG, not just for transactions as might be expected, but very importantly, more use of the currency for normal business purposes, which includes keeping cash in the bank until it is needed for purchases or investment or, for that matter, paying taxes in the next month or the next quarter.

A number of careful policies and measures by the Government and the Reserve Bank, pushing in the same direction although the two authorities are independent of each other, has contributed to the arrival of a respectable local currency earning ever higher degrees of trust where it counts, in the business world and the market place.

The tight fiscal discipline of Government, that is with all recurrent and most capital spending coming out of taxes and zero creation of money, has ensured that the Government has not been a source of money supply creation since the advent of the Second Republic.

There is a small percent of borrowing on the capital account, but only for things that produce an immediate flow of direct income that can service and retire the debt.

The two authorities hunted down all the taps that were just creating new money without backing and some of these were far from obvious even for economists and accountants.

All these unguarded taps were turned off. That in itself was a return to what should be normal conditions, since several of these taps were the creation of quasi-fiscal operations by the Reserve Bank.

A second major contribution to the stability of the new currency was the decision by the Government to assign half the mineral royalties to the Reserve Bank to build up reserves in kind to back the currency and the general economy.

For practical reasons, the reserves have been built up in gold, with the reserve portion of the royalties from producers of other minerals converted to gold.

That has seen the gold reserves in the vaults of the Reserve Bank rise from 1,5 tonnes at the launch of the ZiG to 3,4 tonnes last week, when President Mnangagwa went to inspect the bars, as he had done at the beginning.

These inspections, and the accompanying photographs, overcome conspiracy theories that there is little or no gold by showing the actual bars.

The Reserve Bank now sees the reserves rising to around 5 tonnes by the end of the year, well over three times what they were when the ZiG was launched.

While all modern currencies are fiat currencies, that is based on a decree by a Government or central bank, the ZiG is effectively unique in the world in that it is backed by large gold reserves.

A pile of 3,4 tonnes of gold is worth around US$370 million or close on ZiG10 billion.

The Reserve Bank has the major role in managing liquidity in the market. This requires that liquidity increases only as fast as the economy grows and transactions increase.

Too much liquidity and you get inflation: too little you get deflation and economic contraction. There is an ideal amount that allows economic growth with minimal inflation and this is what the Reserve Bank aims to ensure.

The business world is generally happy that the Reserve Bank has managed that interesting feat of having adequate liquidity with a stable currency that is growing in use.

This is not a simple process, especially with the switch to market forces for most purposes and is a sign that the Reserve Bank, now concentrating purely on monetary policy for the first time since the middle 1960s, is able to get things right.

One major switch in buying and selling in recent years has been the growing almost total dominance in electronic transactions rather than people carrying bundles of cash.

Even in foreign currency transactions there has been more use of digital money and in ZiG transactions banknotes have become very rare.

There are still small transactions where banknotes can be useful, such as bus fares or buying vegetables at a market stall, and the Reserve Bank is in the process of introducing a range of ZiG notes, although the highest value will be just ZiG200, worth a little over US$6 at the general retail rate of exchange.

This keeps banknotes as small change, useful for buying a hamburger or a bus ticket, but not for important shopping, let alone business transactions.

In time physical cash, like banknotes, are likely to die out across the world, with everyone using digital money from their phone or some similar sort of device. But there are still a lot of old-fashioned people who still want something in their wallet besides a card, and enough business people who want to avoid taxes, to keep some use for banknote transactions.

But no one should confuse availability or use of banknotes with transactions and liquidity.

The banknotes are simply a convenience, just like a card or a phone, to making some payments in some circumstances.

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Source: Fire guts CBD mall, leaving traders with heavy losses – herald

Remember Deketeke

Herald Reporter

A RAGING fire, suspected to have originated from an electrical fault linked to a corn snacks production unit, gutted XGX Mall, a busy complex that housed over 40 tuckshops, leaving traders counting heavy losses running into thousands of United States dollars.

The inferno, which broke out on Saturday afternoon, quickly engulfed the entire complex despite efforts by shop owners and bystanders to douse the flames.

When The Herald arrived at the scene, the fire had already been contained, but the destruction was widespread. Charred remains of goods, scorched metal shutters and broken glass painted a picture of devastation.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway.

“Investigations are still ongoing to establish the cause of the fire and the total value of the goods and property destroyed. Several shops were destroyed and no one was injured,” he said.

Eyewitnesses said the fire may have started at the back section of the mall, where one of the tenants operated a corn snacks production facility and is suspected to have been triggered by an electrical fault.

Eyewitness Mr Leeroy Muchina said the day had started normally until someone raised the alarm. “Everything was okay. We were just serving customers when a friend of mine who had just come from Copa Cabana bus terminus rushed in and told us there was smoke coming from the back of the complex,” he said. “At first we thought it was just a small incident, but within minutes, smoke started billowing through the roof and people began to panic.”

Another witness, Mr Bothwell Makaza, said the fire appeared to have started at a shop where corn snacks were made.

“The fire could have started at the back. There is a shop that makes maputi (corn snacks) and that area is full of electrical appliances and heating equipment. It is likely that something short-circuited and sparked the fire,” he said.

Despite quick efforts by those on site to salvage goods, most of the property was consumed by the flames before emergency services arrived. “We tried to break in and pull out our stock, but the flames were already too strong,” said Mr Makaza. “I lost everything: my groceries, cash, even records. It is thousands and thousands of dollars gone in minutes.”

Several other shop owners could be seen sifting through the ashes in a desperate attempt to recover any salvageable items. Many expressed frustration over the lack of fire extinguishers and poor fire preparedness within the complex. XGX Mall, located near a busy commuter and vending area, was a popular marketplace offering everything from groceries and electronics to clothing and fast food. Most of the traders operating in the complex were informal retailers with no insurance coverage.

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Source: Harare faces surge in STIs – herald

Yeukai Karengezeka

Herald Correspondent

HARARE is grappling with a surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to the latest reports from the National Aids Council (NAC).

Speaking in Hopley last Friday, NAC provincial manager Mr Adonijah Muzondiona revealed that the province recorded 25 457 new STI cases in 2024, with 7 523 of these being repeat cases.

The data paints a worrying picture of STI prevalence, particularly among older populations, with the age groups 40–44 years and 45–49 years recording the highest numbers of new infections: 3 927 and 3 229 cases respectively.

Notably, women bear a disproportionate burden, with more females reporting STI cases in most age groups, especially among 45–49-year-olds where 1 844 cases were recorded.

“This increase in STIs highlights a significant public health challenge in Harare, one that requires urgent attention and targeted interventions,” said Mr Muzondiona.

The rise in STI cases is attributed to various factors including risky sexual behaviours, low condom use and a lack of awareness among certain population groups.

While progress has been made in addressing HIV/Aids, with Harare achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for epidemic control, the increase in STIs signals gaps in sexual health education and preventive measures.

Another contributing factor is the high mobility of people in Harare, particularly in informal settlements and among vulnerable groups, which exacerbates the spread of infections.

The guest of honour, Minister of Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Charles Tawengwa, who was represented by his permanent secretary Mr Cosmas Chiringa, said financing the response to HIV and AIDS and the entire health sector remains a major challenge.

“While we have the National AIDS Trust Fund, it is evident that we must continue being innovative and increase domestic resources to support the response.”

He added that more still needs to be done in identifying children being born with HIV.

The NAC has shifted to using data-driven models to better target interventions and allocate resources efficiently.

Mr Muzondiona said specific population groups including adolescent boys and girls, young women, sex workers and the informal business community are the focus of STI prevention programmes.

Community-driven initiatives such as Sista2Sista, Brotha2Brotha and DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, Aids-free, Mentored and Safe) are critical components of the response.

These programmes aim to generate demand for STI and HIV-related services while addressing social and cultural barriers to accessing healthcare.

However, despite these efforts, recurring STI cases indicate the need for sustained public health campaigns and improved community outreach.

The integration of STI prevention with other health services such as HIV testing and non-communicable disease management has also been prioritised to provide holistic care.

Mr Muzondiona acknowledged that while resources for addressing HIV/AIDS and STIs have been resilient, they remain insufficient to meet the growing demand.

“It is imperative that we sustain the gains we have made in epidemic control and continue scaling up prevention and treatment services for vulnerable populations,” he said.

As Harare battles this surge in STI cases, NAC is calling on stakeholders, communities and individuals to contribute to the fight against STIs by promoting safe sexual practices, reducing stigma and supporting access to healthcare services.

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Source: ‘Zim values religious freedom’ – herald

Farirai Machivenyika

Senior Reporter

ZIMBABWE’S Constitution values freedom of conscience and religion, among other rights, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said.

The Speaker said this in his address to the second Inter-Parliamentary Union Interfaith Dialogue in Rome, Italy organised by the IPU, Italian Parliament and the Religions of Peace last week.

The dialogue is running under the theme: “Strengthening trust and embracing hope for our common future”.

“Zimbabwe’s Constitution of 2013, enacted by the Parliament of Zimbabwe, in article 60, elevates freedom of conscience, religion, thought and belief as a fundamental right, creating what legal scholars dub a “positive liberty framework”, one that not merely prohibits interference, but actively anchors religious expression.

“This constitutional provision guarantees every citizen “the right to freedom of religion and belief, including the right to practice, propagate, and give expression to their faith or belief.

“Thus, this provision recognises the communal and evangelical dimensions that give many faiths their standing,” Advocate Mudenda said.

The Speaker added that in Section 56, the Constitution fortifies the prohibition of discrimination based on religion or belief.

He said the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission buttresses religious freedom and its attendant tenets.

“That is why Zimbabwe is a proud signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whose Article 18 proclaims that ‘everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion’ apart from the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” he said.

The Speaker said Zimbabwe has also acceded to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights whose Article 8 protects freedom of conscience and religion grounded on African values and traditions of the Ubuntu philosophy.”

“That is why Zimbabwe is an interfaith country that is inclusive of all lawful religious persuasions under the banner of the Ecumenical Zimbabwe Council of Churches. Accordingly, there is no hatred based on religion or belief in Zimbabwe, which canvasses polarisation, dehumanisation or weaponisation of religion or belief,” he added.

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