Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Prosper Dembedza Herald Correspondent

TWO Harare men have appeared in court on allegations of masquerading as police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to engage in fraudulent activities.

Innocent Chimutsi (44) and Tawanda Marabada (36) were facing two counts of impersonation when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi yesterday.

They were remanded out of custody to April 4 on US$100 bail each.

It is the State’s case that sometime in January 2024, Mr Andsen Patson saw an advertisement on Facebook in which the duo was claiming to facilitate Certificates of Sponsorship (COS) for people seeking employment in the United Kingdom.

Mr Patson responded to the advert since he wanted a COS for his wife who wanted to travel abroad.

The court heard that the duo charged Mr Patson 5 500 British pounds and a deposit of 4 000 pounds was made through Mr Patson’s uncle who is based in the United Kingdom.

The parties agreed to pay the balance upon receipt of the COS. After the money transfer, Mr Patson received an offer letter via WhatsApp account number +447400352877 and a COS.

During the application for a British visa, Mr Patson discovered that the COS was fake and failed to contact the accused persons. The court heard that Mr Patson never made a police report after he noticed that he had been duped and tried continuously to contact Chimutsi and Marabada.

On February 20, Chimutsi contacted Mr Patson using the same Facebook account and indicated that he was a police detective.

Chimutsi allegedly misrepresented that he was investigating the matter. However, Mr Patson became suspicious since he never made a police report.

Mr Patson sought advice from officers at Harare Central Police Station who told him to contact Chimutsi in their presence. Chimutsi demanded US$100 for fuel to go and recover the money and 500 pounds upon recovery of the money.

A trap was laid leading to Chimutsi’s arrest in the city centre. He was in the company of Marabada who was also masquerading as a police detective.

Prosper Dembedza Herald Correspondent

A 50-year-old American national has been fined US$300 after he was found guilty of contravening the Immigration Act and escaping from lawful custody.

Austin Ray was facing two counts of contravening the Immigration Act and escaping from lawful custody when he appeared before Harare Magistrate Mrs Ruth Moyo.

Ray is from the United States of America and is a holder of an American passport number A07061933.

The State’s case was that on February 19, Ray arrived at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Harare, aboard Airlink flight number 42104.

Upon his arrival at the immigration checkpoint, the accused tendered his American passport to an immigration officer intending to apply for a holiday visa.

After perusal of the passport, it was discovered that the accused was issued with a notice to visitor, to leave the country on or before February 7, 2024.

The court heard that Ray did not have written authorisation to enter the country from the Minister as required.

As a result, Ray was denied entry and was placed in the Immigration temporary holding cells pending deportation.

On the same date, Ray then made his way into the country illegally, without a valid permit.

On another count, Ray escaped from lawful custody at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

The court heard that he was refused entry into Zimbabwe by immigration officials after failing to meet the requirements.

Ray was placed in a temporary holding facility at the airport pending deportation, he tempered with the locking system of the holding cell and made his way into the country thereby escaping from lawful custody.

Bulawayo Bureau

POLICE have arrested and exposed 28 more illicit drug dealers across the country as they ramp up efforts to curb drug and substance abuse, with this batch now convicted in court and sentenced to fines and or jail terms.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the most prominent drugs seized in recent arrests are crystal meth, mbanje and a new drug called masca.

Referring to police statements on December 12 and 19 last year January 22 this year, where police named and shamed drug lords and suppliers, Asst Comm Nyathi said the police were now updating the lists of convicted drug dealers with the latest batch of 28.

Most of the criminals were handed jail terms ranging between12 months to five years, which were a preventive measure to curtail the spread and use of drugs and substances.

But police are now worried about the high rates of women involvement in criminal activity, 13 out of the last 40 arrests, especially in drug peddling.

“It is worrying to note that women are actively involved in such criminal activity. Women are known to be responsible and the nurturers of family bonds, but instead there are some female elements that are bent on destroying that culture,” he said. “It is indeed a great shame to note that they too are part of this list and are serving custodial sentences, instead of raising and caring for their families,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said he believed that women’s involvement in the drug trade may be attributed to lack of choice or coercion from men.

“In these male-dominated environments women are often sexually abused, exploited and face rampant threats and victimisation from drug lords, which at times leaves them with no option but to comply,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said the continued naming and shaming of drug dealers was aimed at uncovering the criminals while raising awareness about the ongoing fight against drug and substance abuse.

The arrests were done across the country including in rural areas. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that through the National Committee on the Elimination of Drugs and Substance Abuse, it will continue naming and shaming drug barons and suppliers in any part of the country,” he said. 

“The public is urged to continue forwarding information regarding drug barons and suppliers through the National Complaints Desk number (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Government declared drug and substance abuse a national threat and has established a technical committee to address the scourge.

Recent studies done in Zimbabwe show that an estimated 7,1 percent of young people abuse drugs, with the most prevalent drugs and illegal substances being mbanje, crystal meth, skin lighteners, illicit beverages and body enlargement products.

According to the police, the illicit drugs in circulation in the country are classified into the following categories: depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens, narcotics, skin lighteners, body enlargement products, and sex enhancers. Drug abuse is also contributing to the rise in crime.

The latest convicted drug dealers and the drugs they were dealing in are: Taurai Chitsungo (crystal meth), Innocent Zanorehamba (crystal meth and Congo dust), Melody Chikaronga (crystal meth), Keepmore Sajeni (mbanje), Ultimo Madziwa (mbanje), Tendai Chikoore (crystal meth) Kudakwashe Mangenge (mbanje) Tafadzwa Muchemwa (cocaine), Cuthbert Jongwe (unlawful possession of mbanje), Patience Rambi (crystal meth), David Kabvara (crystal meth), Zakaria Mariano (crystal meth), Anyway Ngona (crystal meth), Febbie Machangara (crystal meth), Naison Kabvara (crystal meth), Leeroy Solomon (crystal meth), Lindiwe Marume (crystal meth) and Reason Ncube (masca possession), Pierry Ndlovu (masca), Kwanda Ngwenya (masca), Tatenda Sibanda (masca), Phiwokwakhe Ncube (masca), Tafadzwa Kanemeya (possession of mbanje), Terrence Nyandoro (crystal meth), Emmanuel Majoni (mbanje possession), Justice Gutsire (possession of unregistered medicines),Wilson Nyamuka (mbanje) and Barbra Goto (possession of unregistered medicines).

Joseph Madzimure Senior Reporter

ENVIRONMENT, Climate and Wildlife Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has hailed the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa for appointing youths in decision-making positions as that will make them realise their full potential and help grow the economy.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day held at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre in Masvingo on Wednesday, Minister Ndlovu said the younger generation should focus on developing the country.

“The youth are expected to be at universities championing innovations and even handicrafts where we are building our country using our hands,” said Minister Ndlovu.

He commended President Mnangagwa’s leadership style for empowering young people.

“We have a leader who has demonstrated his desire to empower young people, a leader who has demonstrated his desire to see young people in decision-making positions. We have youths in Cabinet and also deputy ministers, youths in the Zanu PF Politburo, cutting right across, in boards of directors for companies, permanent secretaries and in Parliament,” he said.

Minister Ndlovu said the President made sure that the Constitution was amended because, in its 2013 form, it overlooked the importance of young people.

“Why can’t we as young people take advantage of a leader who cares for the younger generation,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He challenged the youth to rise to the occasion and become an economically empowered generation.

Young people, Minister Ndlovu said, should defend their country to fulfil a second generational mission.

“We have our current leaders who fulfilled their generational mission of delivering a free Zimbabwe. We were born in a free Zimbabwe. Anyone who is a youth was born in an independent Zimbabwe. We now have a day, a day where we need to reflect and ask ourselves what is our generational mission,” he said.

The youth, the Minister added, should be wary of the country’s detractors who want to reverse the gains of the liberation struggle by destroying the young generation.

“Our country is at a time when our detractors, who imposed sanctions, are determined to destroy the young generation.

“The proliferation of drugs is not a coincidence, it is a deliberate strategy by our detractors to make sure that our young people are distracted,” said Minister Ndlovu.

He said the National Youth Day is a reminder to the younger generation that they have a role to play in national  development.

Precious Manomano Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe has so far this year exported over 52 million kgs of tobacco worth over US$351 million compared to 21,5 million kg valued at US$106 million sold last year during the same period as the country continues to make strides in tobacco production.

So far, for the whole of last season, Zimbabwe exported a record crop of US$1,2 billion slightly below its target of over US$1,6 billion. While the crop is sold over a few weeks by the farmers, the merchants continue exporting throughout the year which is why a significant amount of tobacco is exported in the first few months of each year before the new crop is delivered.

Zimbabwe exports partly or whole stemmed and stripped tobacco, some that is not stemmed or stripped, tobacco refuses, cigars, cheroots and cigarillos containing tobacco, cigarettes and manufactured tobacco.

Statistics indicate that Zimbabwe is the largest grower of tobacco in Africa and is ranked sixth globally following China, India, Brazil, the United States of America and Indonesia. These top five have very  large populations, with India, China, USA and Indonesia being the four biggest countries by population and Brazil coming seventh, so they absorb a lot of their crop for local consumption, with China even importing from Zimbabwe. Just one percent of the local crop goes to local demand, with Zimbabwe 74th on world population ranking.

Last season the country produced 297 million kg of tobacco the largest crop in the history of Zimbabwe since tobacco growing started.

Statistics from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) indicate that 38 859 852 million kg of tobacco worth US$307 745 562 million was exported to Far Eastern countries at an average price of US$7,92 per kg.

About 4,017 945mkg of tobacco worth US$11 902 342 million was sold to African countries at an average price of US$3,46 per kg.

Over 22 million kg valued at over US$54 million was exported to the Middle East at an average price of US$ 2,96 per kg.

About 2 978 554 million kg of tobacco valued at US$8 466 644 million was exported to the European Union at an average price of US$2,84 per kg.

Over 1,1 million kg of tobacco was exported to Europe at over US$5,3million at an average price of US$4,72.

The country exported 1,9mkg of tobacco valued at over US$8,7 million to the Americas at an average price of US$4,7 per kg.

Tobacco farmers are geared for a smooth marketing season which is set to open on 13th March for auction floors while the contract tobacco sales will commence the following day.

Currently, farmers are in the process of reaping the crop in preparation of the marketing season.

Last season, growers were paid 75 percent directly into their foreign currency accounts and this was treated as free funds while 25 percent local currency was deposited into the growers’ local bank accounts or e-wallets. The authorities have said this will be maintained this year.

TIMB has also indicated that the US dollar retention was standardised at 75 percent in line with the retention level for other market players so 25 percent will continue to be paid to tobacco growers in local currency.

Agriculturist and Tobacco Farmers Union Trust vice president Mr Edward Dune said merchants are benefiting more in tobacco production adding that farmers who are the primary producers are not getting enough.

‘’Tobacco is labour intensive and tobacco production is viable at large scale and above. Farmers need to diversify into less intensive crop like Shisha because it is more friendly to the smallholder. Less labour is needed and there is no high nicotine content. In order to get into productive farming farmers should sign contractual agreements which they fully understand to ensure that they get what they deserve,’’he said.

He also said farmers were geared for the marketing season adding that a meaningful harvest is expected although climate change affected the crop.

‘’We can achieve 70 percent of last year’s product. The climate was tricky because some of the crop was compromised by the climate. This is the right time to sell our crops. We want money to circulate because this is the agro-based economy,” he said.

Export of tobacco products has been on an upward trend, with earnings of US$795 million in 2020, US$837 million in 2021 US$998 million in 2022 and US$1,2billion last year.

Recently, Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association chairman George Seremwe indicated that farmers are doing well in tobacco farming although he would like to eliminate middlemen to ensure that farmers get what they deserve.

‘’Farmers are working hard and we hope they will make profit if they continue growing the crop, TIMB must work on reducing or eliminating the participation and licensing of surrogates (middlemen) who are putting huge mark-ups on their services to the detriment of farmers,’’ he said.

Currently, more than 70 percent of tobacco is produced by small-scale farmers and this is in line with the Government’s economic transformation agenda that leaves no region, no village , no category of farmers behind.

Zimbabweans smoke under one percent of what their farmers grow, and hence the crop is almost entirely an export crop.